The BBC sees a crowd surge in Damascus as rumours spread that a hated Assad henchman is about to be executed. 

​The BBC sees a crowd surge in Damascus as rumours spread that a hated Assad henchman is about to be executed.  

Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar faced an opposition attempt to remove him from his Rajya Sabha chairman post, but remained defiant. BJP and allies defended him, demanding an apology from Congress for “insulting” a “son of the soil.” Dhankhar alluded to forces trying to “divide the nation” and “insult” its institutions.

Former President Ram Nath Kovind advocated for ‘One Nation, One Election,’ highlighting its potential to boost India’s GDP by 1-1.5%. He emphasised the need for consensus-building, positioning the initiative as beneficial for the nation. The Union Cabinet approved the proposal in September, aiming for simultaneous elections within a 100-day timeframe.