Your Express Catch-Up: Top Stories from November 29
Good evening. While a power tussle in Karnataka and a major solar explosion grounding flights captured headlines, several other significant events unfolded across India and the world. Here is your curated guide to the stories you need to know.
West Bengal Government Implements Centre's Waqf Law
In a significant policy shift, the West Bengal government led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has officially accepted the Centre's new Waqf Amendment Act, 2025. After months of refusing to implement the legislation, the state has now issued directives to upload information for a staggering 82,000 waqf properties across its districts.
The state authorities are working to meet the December 5 deadline to list all district-wise information on the central portal, umeedminority.gov.in. This law was originally passed by both Houses of Parliament in April of this year, marking a pivotal moment in the management of Muslim charitable properties.
Rajasthan HC Mandates 15% Women Drivers on Ride-Booking Apps
The Rajasthan High Court has delivered a landmark order aimed at enhancing safety and inclusivity. The court has directed the state government to ensure that at least 15 per cent of drivers on ride-booking applications are women.
This directive was issued by Justice Ravi Chirania during the hearing of bail applications for two individuals from Gujarat. The accused are currently in Jodhpur Central Jail for allegedly impersonating law enforcement officers and extorting Rs 2.02 crore from an elderly couple. The court rejected their bail plea and, in a broader move, also ordered the establishment of a Rajasthan Cyber Crime Control Centre and the registration of all gig workers in the state.
Drunk Man Finds Himself in a Leopard's Trap in UP
In a bizarre incident in Bahraich district, a 28-year-old man named Pradeep Sharma ended up trapped inside a metal cage set up by the Forest Department. The cage was intended to capture a leopard suspected of killing a woman in the Kaiserganj area.
The incident occurred on Thursday when Sharma, who is suspected to have been under the influence of alcohol, somehow got locked inside. He managed to call his friends and relatives for help using his cellphone. Alerted by the ensuing commotion from villagers, forest officials rushed to the scene and unlocked the trap to free him. Officials confirmed that no FIR was filed in connection with the unusual event.
Australian PM Anthony Albanese Ties the Knot
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, aged 62, has married his long-time partner, finance professional Jodie Haydon. The private ceremony took place in Canberra, making Albanese the first Australian Prime Minister to get married while in office.
Trump Vows to Revoke Biden's Autopen Executive Orders
In a major political announcement, US President Donald Trump declared that all executive orders passed by his predecessor, Joe Biden, using an "autopen" will be declared null and void. Trump made this statement in a post on Truth Social, claiming that approximately 92 per cent of Biden's orders were signed using the automatic pen device.
He stated that these orders "are hereby terminated, and of no further force or effect." An autopen is a machine that replicates a person's actual signature using a real pen.
