Analysis: The tragic accident involving Indian truck driver Harjinder Singh immediately prompted tighter immigration controls on foreign truck drivers seeking visas. Marco Rubio's ban appeared quite in tune with the facts. But it is not. Harjinder has a legal status, has a work permit renewed by the Trump administration and has a valid driver’s licence issued by the State of California. He is on par with any other truck driver. Immigration is not a relevant issue here. The accident, however tragic, cannot be linked to immigration. But by the unwarranted and uncalled for ban Rubio has put the life of hundreds of thousands of families into a state of uncertainty as to what would happen next. It is a matter for the court to decide, not for the administration. Let it be adjudicated on its own merits. Echoing Trump, Rubio risks conflating immigration enforcement with public safety.

WASHINGTON/NEW DELHI, Aug 26: The US has halted issuing new visas for truck drivers following a fatal crash in Florida involving an Indian driver. Three people—American citizens—were killed in the accident.

Harjinder Singh (28), the driver who was at the wheel, has been accused of making a prohibited U-turn which led to the collision on August 12. He has been charged with homicide, traffic rule violation and illegal immigration. He also failed an English test. The authorities allege Harjinder had entered the US illegally from Mexico in 2018.

Harjinder, who escaped to California after the accident, was caught and brought back to Florida. Produced in the court, he was denied bail bond on Saturday. He is being held in the St. Lucie County Jail.

He made the illegal turn on the highway about 80 km north of West Palm Beach, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. A minivan in the next lane rammed the truck’s trailer, killing the minivan’s driver and two passengers. Harjinder and a passenger in his truck escaped without injuries.

The crash led to a fight between US Department of Homeland Security and California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom over how Harjinder, allegedly an illegal immigrant, obtained a work permit and driver’s licence in the State.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, “The increasing number of foreign drivers operating large tractor-trailer trucks on US roads is endangering American lives and undercutting the livelihoods of American truckers”. And the ban on new visas for foreign truck drivers was imposed.

How did Harjinder get the licence: In 2018 Harjinder entered the US illegally via Mexico and settled in California. In 2021 he was granted work authorisation under the Biden administration after applying for asylum. In 2023 he received a CDL from California, which met Federal REAL ID requirements. Later travelled to Florida. denied bail bond, West Palm Beach, Marco Rubio, settled in

In a nutshell, Harjinder's work permit was federally approved, allowing him to legally work and obtain a CDL. The California DMV confirmed that it followed Federal verification protocols when issuing his licence.

Following the crash, Harjinder flew back to California, but was later arrested and extradited to Florida to face charges.

The case has sparked a debate on how States handle licensing for illegal immigrants with pending asylum claims.

Punjabi drivers in the crosshairs: The fallout of the ban is likely to affect the Indian diaspora. Although not directly affected by the ban, it has raised concerns among an estimated 150,000 Punjabi truck drivers working across the US about what next. Many hail from the Sikh community, which has become the backbone of the long-haul freight industry. With the visa ban, thousands of aspiring drivers have also lost hope. At the same time, the drivers already working fear heightened scrutiny and potential deportation on flimsy grounds.

Explainer on drivers ban: The US Government's ban on visa for drivers is a pause on the issuance of new worker visas for foreign commercial truck drivers—not a cancellation of existing visas held by current foreign drivers working in the US.

What’s paused: New visa applications for foreign truck drivers under categories like: H-2B (temporary non-agricultural workers); E-2 (investor visas); and, EB-3 (skilled workers, including truckers)

Who are not affected: The ban has not affected existing visa holders. Those already in the US with valid truck driver visas are not being deported or having their visas revoked. Drivers with B-1 visas (used by Mexican and Canadian truckers for short-term entry) are also unaffected.

The number of truck drivers entering on these visas is relatively small—around 1,500 to 1,400 per year under H-2B. That is, the visa pause affects only a small number of people aspiring to come.

Currently foreign drivers make up about 18% (637,200) of the US trucking workforce of 3.54 million as of 2025.

However, the accident is leading to heightened scrutiny of foreign drivers and licensing standards.

Global ripple effects: The visa freeze may impact several other countries too that supply drivers to the US like Mexico, Ukraine and the Philippines. Meanwhile, Canada, which has a large number of Punjabi drivers, may experience rush of applicants with the US market blocked. As for the US, any review of existing drivers could likely disrupt supply chains and raise costs for consumers. To speak of political ramifications, the case is deepening partisan divides. California’s Democratic administration defended its licensing procedures. Critics argue the ban risks undermining economic resilience while advocacy groups are calling for better vetting and training rather than exclusion.

Industry experts warn that the decision could exacerbate existing labour shortages in the US trucking sector.

Whatever, the uncertainties looming over thousands of Punjabi and other drivers and their families cannot be wished away.

• The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla line provides Kashmir with all-weather connectivity and integrates the Valley with the rest of India.
• The saying 'Kashmir to Kanyakumari' is now a dream come true.
• The Chenab bridge on the line, an engineering marvel, is the world's highest railway bridge, taller than the Eiffel Tower. (Video: File)

A comment on social media on Kanimozhi's answer on the question of national language read: "Daughter of Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi. Delivered the Birthday Present to her Father!!" (Karunanidhi was born on June 3, 1924) (Today's headlines )

Trump said, "Elon is not really leaving" and will be "back and forth" to the White House because DOGE is his "baby." "I think he’s going to be doing a lot of things.”

Musk wrote: "My scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end... The @DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government." Now on it will be on auto-pilot.

PROGNOSIS: DOGE was prematurely born to protect the country by aborting an impending socio-economic disaster which very few people could see coming.

Although its immediate job was to save American taxpayers billions by slashing waste, eliminating fraud, cutting Government bloat and ensuring utmost efficiency in administration for the good of the people. (Today's headlines )

"Coming from a system like in England, empowering," she says she never had an idea of this sort of experience... being asked to “socialise with middle-aged men” who financed the event...humiliating...

Originally from Junagadh, Gujarat, Pataudi was relocated to Etawah Lion Safari in September 2019 before being transferred to Gorakhpur Zoo in 2021. Recently it was receiving treatment for pancreatic and liver infections. After tigress Shakti died in the zoo on May 7 due to bird flu, Pataudi was shifted to Kanpur. Some birds are also reported to have died mysteriously around Gorakhpur. All zoos in UP are closed for fear of a bird flu outbreak.

Three other animals too had died - a tiger, a leopardess and a female wolf. Wolf Bhairavi died last Saturday, leopardess Mona died the Thursday before that and tiger Kesari died on March 30. Some of them had Shakti's symptoms but the cause of death has not been confirmed yet.

As tourist inflow is an indicator of normalcy returning to an erstwhile terrorist infested Valley, the Government has been trying hard to make everything travel-friendly, launching lot many projects and bringing Kashmir on the national rail map that physically completes the process of Kashmir's integration with the rest of India. And that defeats the designs of Pakistan eyeing Kashmir and simply explains a recrudescence of terrorism in J&K.

The committee headed by justice Kurian Joseph will study Centre-State relations and make proposals to ensure foolproof separation of powers.

"It's a big victory not just for Tamil Nadu but for all Indian States. DMK will continue to struggle for and win State autonomy and Federal polity," Chief Minister MK Stalin said.

Of 2.08 km in length, it features 99 spans and a 72.5-metre vertical lift span that rises up to a height of 17 metres, facilitating smooth movement of ships while ensuring seamless train services to the holy town of Rameswaram on Pamban island.

ANALYSIS: There is a lot of hue and cry around the world over Trump's tariffs. But tariff, simply put, is a tax. But unlike tax, it affects the exporting country too. Domestic prices will go up for some time. Nothing more will happen, good or bad!

What motivated Trump's newfound policy, apart from being a stunt to justify his existence in the White House, is a false realisation that increased tariff will make foreign goods prohibitive, thereby boosting local production, and create more jobs, and more prosperity will ring in! If that is true, India would have been shining by now: Producing own Rolls-Royce La Rose Noire Droptail and Scotch Whiskies! And what about coconut and palm oil by America! (Today's headlines )

PROGNOSIS: It looks a Real New Trump is emerging - courageous, balanced, powerful and disinterested. Determined to save his country from the cliff, he has done quite a few draconian things that will reduce the burden of debts of the Federal entity, like the golden handshake, stopping senseless funding, pulling out of a worthless WHO. Shutting the Education Department is another. On the other hand, running it is also not the Centre's job either (We will convincingly elaborate it in the next chapter).

In India the scene is just the opposite. Centralisation is the core agenda and identity of the ruling dispensation without which it has no existence, or in other words, it exists for that set of schemes only. A realisation of this never dawned upon any Opposition party in 2014 or any time thereafter, what to talk of being able to see it coming 70 years ago! The consequence of all this violation of basic natural law of the universe we cannot predict.

THE AMERICAN CONUNDRUM: Political venom has migrated to top echelons in the US. It was reported last year NASA has become politicised, vitiated. But NASA refuted the charge. How Boeing developed a glitch but its unmanned return was smooth. When Suni-Wilmore were stranded last June, why the return was set for February? Because that comes only after January 20! SpaceX called the shots, for itself and for Trump. Then the mission was manipulated for March for a better bargain! In between, what made Elon Musk 'predict' during campaign if Kamala Harris wins he would be in jail. In politics, it is said, "the only rule is there are no rules." Difficult times for Americans too.

The terminations are part of a large-scale exercise going on all across Fed departments and organisations to reduce wasteful Government expenditure as decided by a Trump in a mess gone berserk, and improve administrative efficiency following the whims of billionaire and his associate Elon MusK and his DOGE. It has not been shared how terminations are going to raise the efficiency bar! It looks like Trump has stolen some of the prescriptions meant for India. But the American problems are quite different.

Suddenly these colonial clerks feel this effortless, little rule will tremendously enhance security and convenience for the railway passengers manifold. More stations will be covered in the next 77 years! (Also See: New Delhi station stampede... What went wrong?)

ANALYSIS: "The standard operating procedure for deportations by aircraft used by ICE that is effective from 2012 provides for the use of restraints," says the Government. That means, it is taken for granted the US will set the standard for deportations. For another, the Government is more interested in comparing with what happened in 2012 under a different Government to justify its own compliance! No surprise, others are trampling upon us. (How we conduct ourselves inside decides, inherently, how we are treated outside) Thirdly, the Government blamed the gangs doing the business of human trafficking for the illegal migration. For all the crimes taking place in the country, let us blame the criminals! Funny! We will never move an inch forward! The mindset defines what we are.

Meanwhile, a UN-returned Congress leader Shashi Tharoor sounded like a layman when he said, "If they are citizens of India we have an obligation to take them back." Who said 'No'?. He should know that is not the issue now. Who will identify an undocumented person, and how?

The function was held indoors from 12 pm (10:30 pm IST) at the rotunda of the US Capitol building because of unusually intense cold and snow. Delivering his inaugural address, Trump remarked, “The golden age of America begins right now," and just hours later signed a slew of executive orders to redeem the election pledges.

The issue: Trump says he is open to 'economic force' to acquire Canada as its '51st State' if it does not stop the flow of illegal migrants and drugs into the US and secure its border.

Trudeau gets ready for the battle: Trudeau under Trump's onslaught had appeared quiet as a lamb because he was facing serious internal problems and now the situation has changed. He has resigned and has enough space for a single-minded counter-attack as acting PM. And that is what he is doing to Canada's advantage. He will prapare Canada to take the 'bull' by the horns (literally) when he takes office on January 20.

There is more to it: On the same page now, Conservative Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre has also outlined his plan to deal with the US President-elect's threats. Both will stand united against the common enemy, and take on him adequately when he assumes office.

And the latest: The counter-attack begins. In a CNN interview, Trudeau strategically addresses the Americans, tells them a ghostly 25% tariff will create a recession in Canada but will be equally devastating for the US economy. And he has a point.

• A President-elect at the instance of 'sensible' aides has declared, “A smaller Government, with more efficiency and less bureaucracy, will be the perfect gift to America.” A Trump statement said he will chop off the bureaucratic flab, or in his own words, “drain the swamp” in Washington. This contrasts with India where millions and millions of clerks rule the roost with the blessings of petty vote bank politicians, who badly needed them, all these 77 years.
• The South African migrant who will benefit more than Trump himself from the election victory has climbed to the helm - Elon Musk will be the monarch of all he surveys in Washington!
• Musk will lead a 'Department of Government Efficiency' with Vivek Ramaswamy, the eccentric dreamer.
• They will slash bureaucracy and Government spending and restructure Federal agencies. (But no mention of what next and how!)
• The irony lies here: Musk will also be the boss of all Federal agencies, including those currently investigating business frauds in his own companies like Tesla, SpaceX and Starlink, which receive Government funding, inter alia making him the richest man on earth.