Punjab has witnessed a 65% increase in AIDS cases over the past five years, according to a report presented in the Lok Sabha. Experts attribute this surge primarily to drug abuse in the region. The report reveals that 2,45,939 AIDS cases were recorded between 2019-20 and 2023-24, with the numbers rising annually. Notably, women account for 30-35% of the total cases. Additionally, the number of transgender individuals infected with HIV grew from 117 in 2019-20 to 186 in 2023-24, highlighting a concerning upward trend.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah visited Chandigarh today, where they unveiled three new criminal laws during a function at Punjab Engineering College. This marks the first time both leaders were in Chandigarh together. To ensure law and order, around 4,000 police personnel and 10 units of paramilitary forces were deployed across the city. Speaking on the new criminal laws, Prime Minister Modi emphasized the nation’s journey towards becoming a developed India, acknowledging the collective efforts behind these reforms. He credited judges for their significant

Ahead of their proposed march towards Delhi on December 6, a Punjab farmers' delegation met top Ambala police officers in Haryana on Monday and informed them about the details of their plan. The delegation was led by farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher. Speaking to reporters after meeting Superintendent of Police (Ambala) SS Bhoria, Pandher said the delegation informed the police administration about the route of the farmers' march.

Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who was detained by the Punjab Police at the Khanauri border, has been discharged from a hospital in Ludhiana. Upon his release, Dallewal stated that even mobile phones were not allowed in the ward where he was kept. Dallewal is now rejoining the farmers' protest at the Khanauri border. He was detained by the Punjab Police on November 26, just before he was set to begin a hunger strike at the border. He had been under strict surveillance in the Ludhiana hospital since his detention. Following pressure from farmers demanding his release, the state governmen

Priyanka Gandhi took the oath as a Lok Sabha member today, holding a copy of the Constitution in her hand. She is the 10th member of the Gandhi-Nehru family to be elected to Parliament. Currently, besides Priyanka, her brother Rahul Gandhi and their mother Sonia Gandhi are also in Parliament. Sonia Gandhi is a member of the Rajya Sabha. Rahul Gandhi serves as the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. He represents Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh, while Priyanka is a Member of Parliament from Wayanad in Kerala. Sonia Gandhi is a Rajya Sabha member representing Rajasthan.

The first picture of farmer leader Jagjit Dallewal, who was detained by the Punjab Police at the Khanauri border, has emerged from DMC Hospital in Ludhiana after 44 hours. In the picture, he is seen entering the hospital with police personnel accompanying him. Farmers have been expressing growing concern about Dallewal's health. However, the police are still restricting access to him. Dallewal had announced his intention to begin a fast-unto-death at the Khanauri border in protest over farmers' demands. Prior to this, the Punjab Police took him to the hospital, citing concerns about his health

Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Ravindra Vasantrao Chavan will take oath as Members of Parliament in the Lok Sabha on Thursday. Notably, Priyanka Gandhi will become the third member of the Gandhi family to enter Parliament. Congress' Ravindra Vasantrao Chavan won the Nanded Lok Sabha seat in a by-election with 5,86,788 votes. The seat fell vacant following the death of the sitting Congress MP, Vasantrao Balwantrao Chavan, necessitating the bypoll. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra secured the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat with a margin of 4,10,931 votes, defeating Sathyan Mokeri of the Communist Party

The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed former Union minister Ajay Mishra's son Ashish Mishra to respond to allegation that witnesses were being threatened in the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence case that claimed eight lives. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan asked senior advocate Siddharth Dave, appearing for Mishra, to file an affidavit clarifying his stand after he refuted the allegations. At the outset, a counsel appearing for one of the complainants in the case told the court that he has filed a plea in which he has said that witnesses were threatened by Mishra.

Punjab BJP leader and Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu has stated that neither the central government nor any of its agencies are involved in the detention of farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal. He clarified that the responsibility for taking Dallewal into custody lies entirely with the state police. It is important to note that Dallewal was planning to begin a hunger strike at the Khanauri border on Tuesday, but was detained by the police in the early hours of the morning before he could carry out his protest. In the meantime, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher has issued a 10-day ultimat