Author: space4knews

The US military has claimed that Iran launched ballistic missile strikes on American military bases in the Middle East. In response, US and Saudi forces conducted joint operations targeting Iran-backed facilities, addressing recent drone attacks. Although tensions escalated amid potential talks between the US and Iran, Tehran has yet to issue any official response. Kathmandu, 13 Shrawan.

The US military asserted that Iran suddenly attacked its military bases in the Middle East by firing multiple ballistic missiles. However, the US said all missiles were successfully intercepted. According to the US Central Command, the attack occurred Tuesday evening. No specific details about the targeted bases have been disclosed.

In retaliation, US and Saudi Arabian forces carried out joint operations against “Iran-supported terrorist bases” located in eastern Iraq. The Central Command stated that this operation was a response to 30 drone attacks on US bases over the past 72 hours, which have been attributed to Iranian support. Tehran has not officially commented on either the missile strikes or these accusations. Direct attacks between the two countries had subsided in recent days, and hopes for renewed negotiations were growing. US President Donald Trump noted on Monday that there had been “very friendly talks” with Iran.

The Delhi government has launched an ambitious policy to make most new vehicles electric by 2027 as part of efforts to control air pollution. Under this policy, electric vehicle buyers will be exempt from registration fees, and incentives of up to one lakh rupees will be offered to those who phase out old petrol vehicles. While experts agree this policy could help reduce pollution, they cite challenges such as inadequate charging infrastructure and consumer skepticism. 13 Shrawan, New Delhi (RASAS/AP): India’s capital, Delhi, is implementing a policy to ensure that all newly registered vehicles are electric by 2027 to combat rising pollution levels. However, experts and users say the lack of necessary charging infrastructure, reliable electricity supply, and consumer confidence remain key challenges.

Effective from July 1, the policy aims for nearly all new vehicle registrations to be electric by 2027. Existing petrol and diesel vehicles are not being banned immediately, but their use will be gradually reduced. Since about 70 percent of vehicles in Delhi are two- and three-wheelers, the policy prioritizes these categories. Starting in 2027, all new three-wheelers and small goods vehicles must be electric, with two-wheelers included thereafter. Under the plan, buyers of electric vehicles will receive exemptions on registration and certain road taxes, while those scrapping old petrol vehicles will be eligible for cash incentives.

The local government estimates the program will cost approximately 150 billion Indian rupees. Electric vehicle purchasers may receive incentives up to 50,000 rupees, and individuals removing old petrol vehicles could get as much as 100,000 rupees. Currently, only five percent of the roughly 8.7 million registered vehicles in Delhi are electric. However, last year saw over 100,000 new electric vehicles registered, mostly two- and three-wheelers. Registration for petrol cars and heavy trucks will continue for the time being. Jaydeep Saraswat of the Vasudha Foundation, which works in clean energy, described Delhi’s policy as one of India’s most ambitious electric vehicle initiatives.

According to Saraswat, the fixed timeline sends an unambiguous message to manufacturers and consumers that the transition to electric vehicles is inevitable. While states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu also promote electric vehicles, Delhi is the first state to set clear targets for phasing out petrol and diesel vehicles. Delhi is considered among the most polluted cities globally. Pollution spikes, particularly in winter, often force school closures, halt construction, and trigger public health crises.

Studies indicate that roughly one-quarter of the capital region’s pollution comes from vehicles, with two- and three-wheelers responsible for around half of this. Energy analyst Ruchita Shah from the Global Energy Research Institute Amber noted that the expansion of electric vehicles will significantly reduce pollution. In fiscal year 2026, 12.7 percent of new vehicle sales in Delhi were electric, compared to the national average of 8.3 percent. She emphasized that the most crucial aspect of the new policy is to stop new registrations of internal combustion engine vehicles after a fixed deadline.

Sunil Dahiya, founder of the environmental research organization Envirocatalyst, stated that electric vehicles can substantially reduce the risk of roadside pollution exposure for the general public. However, he noted that petrol, diesel, and CNG vehicles will remain on the roads for many years, so the full benefits of the policy will take time to materialize. Consumers remain concerned about charging facilities, battery capacity, and vehicle durability. Siddhant Jha, a 22-year-old software engineer from North Delhi, expressed doubts about electric two-wheelers’ lifespan, cost, and the impact of flooding during monsoons on the equipment. Siddhant said he plans to purchase an electric vehicle only after more advanced models become available.

Shyam Singh, who rides an electric scooter and uses Delhi’s charging stations, highlighted the difficulty of choosing electric vehicles for long-distance travel. According to him, the current charging stations and battery range do not meet expectations. Energy analyst Ruchita Shah stated that the policy’s success depends on expanding adequate charging infrastructure, improving the electricity distribution system, and ensuring supply from renewable energy sources. She added that without fast-charging facilities especially for buses, goods vehicles, and cars, meeting the targets will be challenging.

After a 36-day protest at Jantar Mantar organized by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), the Modi government has reportedly agreed to all demands made by the demonstrators, even accepting the resignation of a minister. Protest leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka have expressed their commitment to carrying the movement forward at the grassroots level without completely ruling out future political involvement. The government has also agreed, through CJP’s initiative, to release students detained in Assam and Bihar and to withdraw cases against them.

July 13, Kathmandu: Since the protest ended on July 25 at Jantar Mantar, all signs of the demonstration have been removed. The graffiti created by ‘Gen Z’ protestors has been painted over with white paint. Videos from CJP’s celebration parties have surfaced, marking a festive atmosphere at the site that had witnessed 36 days of resistance through scorching heat and monsoon rains, with handheld fans, umbrellas, soaked tents, and protest slogans.

The Jantar Mantar protest is considered one of the most effective demonstrations during Modi’s tenure, with no doubts about its impact. Abhijit Deepke returned to India on June 6, and since then the protest ensured its demands were met.

What is CJP’s core team saying? The last time the Modi government yielded to protests was during the 2020-21 farmers’ movement. On Saturday, CJP spokespersons Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka held a press conference alongside JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh, confirming that the government had accepted all their demands. This development took many by surprise, given the government’s reputation for rejecting protest or opposition demands.

Remarkably, the CJP movement secured the resignation of a central minister in record time. Following the protest’s visibility, widespread discussions about CJP’s future began.

For the past month, Saurav Das has been vocal at numerous press conferences. In one interview, he stated, “We want to take this movement to the grassroots level. We want to raise awareness among people. Regardless of who is in power, the public should be able to hold them accountable.”

“I believe the time has come for more youth to engage in politics. Those in power are around 70 years old. They don’t understand what Gen Z means. They don’t know how Gen Z thinks. They can’t simply post a reel at midnight saying ‘hello friends’; the public won’t accept that,” he added.

In an interview with India Today, CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka shared his views, saying, “We have many dreams and aspirations. Education and accountability are key issues for us. Our goal is to provide a platform where young people can raise their issues and get solutions. We will do whatever is necessary to sustain this platform.”

When asked whether he ruled out entering politics himself, Ranka responded, “From my limited political experience, I’ve learned one thing: no possibility should be completely dismissed.”

While both spokespersons did not completely reject the idea of entering politics, the key figure of the protest, Abhijit Deepke, is more hesitant about a political career. He originally coined the term ‘Cockroach Janata Party Movement’ based on Chief Justice Surya Kant’s comment.

Deepke considers public life difficult. In a video interview with Indian Express, prior to the July 20 “Chalo Sansad” march, he stated, “I don’t want to enter politics; public life is very tough. People have shown us a lot of support and have high expectations. If we do nothing, we’d regret having missed the opportunity.”

The movement began in May of this year when Deepke posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), “What if all cockroaches came together?” The ‘Cockroach Janata Party’ started as a satirical social media movement after Chief Justice Surya Kant described unemployed youth criticizing the system online as “cockroaches.” Deepke traveled to India on June 6 to translate the virtual support into a ground movement, which went on to make history.

What is the CJP currently doing? Presently, CJP spokespersons are advocating for the release of students detained after protests in Assam and Bihar by engaging with the government and police in those states.

On Monday night, spokespersons Saurav Das and Ratna Singh shared on X, “Within hours of our press conference, government representatives met with us for almost two to three hours. They shared notifications from the Bihar and Assam governments promising to withdraw all FIRs, halt future actions, and release all detainees and arrested protestors.”

“The central government and other BJP-ruled states are expected to issue similar notifications by tomorrow. We hope the exact language of the agreement will be used,” they added.

“No protester will be left alone. We are all together in this struggle,” they wrote.

Whether CJP will evolve into a political force remains to be seen, but the leaders who emerged from this movement have not dismissed these possibilities.