India makes ACs, tea, school supplies cheaper to mitigate shock of US tariffs
India has cut Goods and Services Tax (GST) rates to spur consumption and soften the blow of steep US tariffs, BBC reported.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the tax structure has been simplified to two slabs—5 percent and 18 percent—with a 40 percent levy on cigarettes. Essentials like food, school supplies and insurance will become cheaper, while imported liquor and premium cars will cost more. The new rates take effect on 22 September, ahead of the festive season.
Markets cheered the move, with analysts saying lower taxes could lift demand, ease inflation and support corporate earnings, though states fear revenue losses of up to $6bn.
The cuts follow earlier income tax relief and coincide with lower borrowing costs. Economists believe stronger consumption could offset losses and cushion the impact of President Donald Trump’s 50 percent tariffs on Indian goods, according to BBC.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the reforms a promise delivered, saying they will benefit farmers, the middle class, small traders and youth while making business easier.
Hamas releases video of two Israeli hostages held in Gaza
Hamas has released new footage of two Israeli hostages taken from the Nova music festival during its October 2023 attack. The video shows 22-year-old Guy Gilboa-Dalal, filmed in Gaza City in August, pleading for his release, and Alon Ohel, appearing for the first time since his abduction nearly 700 days ago, BBC reported.
The two are among 48 people still held in Gaza, with only about 20 believed to be alive. Their families, shaken by the footage, urged the government to return to negotiations. “Those who truly want the hostages home must act immediately,” said the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which held a rally in Tel Aviv marking 700 days since the attack.
Isareli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with both families after the video’s release, insisting Israel’s war would end only if all hostages were freed. He dismissed the footage as “propaganda,” while far-right minister Itamar Ben Gvir called for the full occupation of Gaza. Opposition leader Yair Lapid countered that talks must resume to secure a deal.
According to BBC, mediators from Qatar and Egypt have proposed a plan for a phased release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, but Israel has rejected anything short of all captives being freed at once.
Meanwhile, Gaza’s health ministry reported dozens killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza City, where the UN warns famine and mass displacement are worsening.
Hundreds of South Koreans detained in massive ICE raid at Hyundai plant
Nearly 500 workers have been detained in a major immigration raid at Hyundai’s electric vehicle plant in Georgia, a southeastern US state. Officials said it was the largest workplace operation under President Donald Trump’s second term, according to BBC.
Homeland Security said the raid followed months of investigation into unlawful employment practices. About 300 of those arrested are South Korean nationals. Hyundai said none of the detainees were directly employed by the company and production remains unaffected, though its battery partner LG Energy Solutions paused construction.
President Trump defended the action, saying it targeted illegal workers, while South Korea voiced “concern and regret,” sending diplomats to ensure the rights of its citizens are respected.
The raid underscores tensions between Trump’s push to expand US manufacturing and his strict immigration crackdown, even as South Korean firms invest heavily in American industry, BBC reported.
Mark Zuckerberg - no, not that one - sues Facebook for account shutdowns
An Indiana lawyer named Mark S. Zuckerberg is suing Meta, claiming Facebook repeatedly suspended his account by wrongly accusing him of impersonating the platform’s founder, BBC reported.
The bankruptcy attorney, who has practiced law for nearly four decades, says his account has been disabled five times over the past eight years, costing him business and nearly $11,000 in lost advertising. He argues Meta breached its contract by removing ads he had already paid for.
Zuckerberg says he provided extensive proof of his identity, but Facebook continued to challenge his name’s authenticity. His account was restored only after he filed the lawsuit.
Meta admitted the account had been disabled in error, reinstated it, and said it was working to prevent similar mistakes. The lawyer has since launched a website documenting mix-ups caused by sharing a name with the tech billionaire, according to BBC.
