Himanta Sarma Has A Requirement For Rahul Gandhi's Yatra To Return To Assam

Guwahati: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's Yatra is reentering Assam today following its Meghalaya leg, but the Himanta Biswa Sarma government in Assam has refused to allow it to pass through major roads in Guwahati. The action is the result of a contentious discussion between Congress leaders and the Chief Minister of Assam, who they claim is erecting obstacles for the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra.The state administration has requested that the rally follow the national highway route as it travels towards lower Assam, citing that it is a working day in Guwahati and permitting the yatra to pass through important city roads could cause traffic jams. The National Highway 27, which circles the city like a ring road, has been requested to be used by the yatra.  This occurs one day after dramatic events occurred close to the shrine of an Assamese social reformer from the fifteenth century. Mr Gandhi had intended to travel to Srimanta Sankardeva's birthplace, which is close to Guwahati, yesterday. Chief Minister Sarma advised Mr. Gandhi not to visit the shrine prior to the Ram Mandir 'pran pratistha' ceremony in Ayodhya shortly after the plan was revealed. Rahul Gandhi should not give the impression that Ram Temple and Batadrava Satra are in competition with one another, as the TV channels will show him visiting Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardeva's birthplace on one side and the Ram Temple Pran Pratishtha ceremony on the other. Assam won't benefit from this. stated Mr. Sarma. The managing committee of the shrine also declared that Mr. Gandhi would not be permitted entry prior to 3 pm. While en route to the shrine, the Congress leader and his associates were halted. They then took a seat at the location of the roadblock on a dharna. Following their visit to the shrine, Batadrava MLA Sibamoni Bora and Party MP Gaurav Gogoi said prayers. Later, during an interview with the media, Mr. Gandhi expressed his belief in Sankardeva's philosophy. Like him, we think that fostering unity among people is preferable to fomenting hatred. He provides us with guidance and is similar to a guru. "I therefore believed that I should pay my respects to him when I arrived in Assam," he remarked.   'Gaurav Gogoi and all can go, but only Rahul Gandhi cannot go. I don't know, there may be some reason, but I will go to Batadrava when I get an opportunity," he said.   Now, the Congress yatra has been denied permission to enter Guwahati roads. Instead, it must travel via the National Highway 27, bypassing Guwahati.The Himanta Biswa Sarma government is accused by the Congress of putting obstacles in the way of the yatra. They have also brought up the episode when some laborers began yelling "Jai Shri Ram" and "Modi, Modi" as Mr. Gandhi's yatra was passing. "Since our entry in Assam, the most corrupt CM in India has been carrying out relentless attacks on our convoys, properties and leaders using his goons," according to the Congress.  

Odisha Government Transfers 41 Senior Bureaucrats in a Major Reshuffle

Bhubaneswar: According to a notification, the Odisha government reorganized its bureaucracy by moving 41 IAS officers. According to a notification released on Monday by the General Administration & Pension and Grievances Department, 17 district collectors were among those who were transferred.   According to officials, the reorganization was done with consideration for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and assembly elections, which typically take place concurrently in the state.Revenue Divisional Commissioner (Central Division) Ranjan Kumar Das, the chief administrator of SJTA, was appointed to the position. In addition, he will serve as the Southern Division Revenue Divisional Commissioner. Temjenwapang Ao, the Revenue Divisional Commissioner for the Southern Division, was named the Public Enterprises Department's Commissioner-cum-Secretary.   ADMs and sub-collectors were appointed to the ten IAS officers from the 2020 and 2021 batches, while the officers from the 2018 and 2019 batches were appointed as district collectors for the first time.Samarth Verma, the collector from Puri, was appointed as the SJTA's additional chief administrator. Verma will be replaced as Puri's Collector by Bijay Kumar Das, Secretary of the State Election Commission. K Sudarshan Chakravarthy, the Collector of Khurda, was named the Director of Minor Minerals. Chanchal Rana, the district collector of Bolangir, was appointed as the new Khurda collector. Nikhil Pavan Kalyan, a commissioner of the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC), was named director of rural development. Siddharth Shankar Swain, Collector of Angul, will take his place as CMC Commissioner.According to the notification, Abadaal Akthar, the Koraput Collector, was relocated to Angul, and Keerthi Vasan, the CDO-cum-EO of Ganjam Zilla Parishad, was appointed as the new Koraput Collector.   

"Amit Shah Lights Diyas After Ram Temple Consecration, Per PM Modi's Request

New Delhi: Following the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony of the idol of Ram Lalla in the recently constructed Ram Temple in Ayodhya, Union Home Minister Amit Shah lit "Ram Jyoti" (earthern lamps) on Monday evening. The whole country is jubilant today over Shri Ram Lalla's arrival at his opulent temple. On the request of Prime Minister @narendramodi ji, the entire country is celebrating Diwali by lighting the Ram Jyoti. I also lit lamps with my family on the arrival of Lord Shri Ram," Amit Shah posted on X.Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated the 'Pran Pratishtha' of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya earlier today by lighting 'Ram Jyoti' at his New Delhi residence. The prime minister posted the images to X with the comment, "Ram Jyoti."To commemorate the auspicious occasion and welcome Ram Lalla, the prime minister has urged the public to light the "Ram Jyoti." In the meantime, BJP National President JP Nadda and his family also lit oil lamps at his residence in Delhi to celebrate 'Pran Pratishtha' of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya. Meanwhile, RSS workers and their families celebrated 'Deepotsav' at RSS headquarters in Maharashtra's Nagpur.Additionally, 'Deepotsav' was celebrated at the homes of Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Haryana Chief Minister ML Khattar.   Pushkar Singh Dhami, the chief minister of Uttarakhand, participated in the 'Pran Pratishtha' of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya by lighting lamps with his family in Dehradun.   Suvendu Adhikari, a BJP leader and member of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly LoP, announced that the "Pran Pratishtha" of the Ram Temple had finally occurred after nearly 500 years.

Ram Temple Raised Exactly Where It Was Resolved To Be Built: Adityanath Yogi

Ayodhya: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath stated that the shrine has emerged precisely where it was decided to be built following the grand opening of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, which was met with unending celebrations and joyful chants and drumrolls. "The temple has come up exactly where it was resolved to be built several years ago," Chief Minister Adityanath said, addressing dignitaries in attendance at the grand 'Pran Pratishtha' event on Monday. After 500 years, the moment had finally arrived that had been eagerly awaited by generations. At times like these, a wide range of emotions arise, making it difficult to express one's feelings. I am also experiencing a whirlwind of emotions in my mind. As I stand here, I am incredibly moved and overwhelmed."Every city and village in the nation has become Ayodhya Dham on this historic and extremely sacred occasion. Today, all paths lead to the location where Shri Ram was born," the Chief Minister continued.As many people cheered "Jai Shri Ram" and "Ram, Ram," Chief Minister Adityanath observed that many of them were crying with happiness. "The entire country is 'Rammay' (obsessed with Lord Ram)," he said. We might feel as though we have entered the "Treta Yug" based on the sights and sounds around us. Today, when Prabhu Shri Ram ascends to the throne, a resolve is fulfilled. We're all flooded with feelings. Every Ram Bhakt has immense contentment, pride, and joy in their hearts on this auspicious day. The day that each of us has been"Everyone rose above their caste, creed, thoughts, philosophies, and ways of worship and dedicated themselves to the cause of Prabhu Ram, including ascetics, seers, priests, Nagas, and Nihangs as well as intellectuals, politicians, and tribal people. The happy and significant conclusion of their labors, which resulted in this magnificent temple rising from the ruins once more, is today. Millions of Sanatanis, or followers of Sanatan dharma, reaped the rewards of their penance and sacrifices today. Mr. Adityanath expressed his profound satisfaction that the temple is currently located precisely where it was decided to be built many years ago.   Also expressing his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, under whose leadership the centuries-old temple dispute saw closure after the landmark Supreme Court ruling in 2019, the Chief Minister said, "I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for helping us realise this long-held 'sankalp' (resolve) and 'sadhana' (devotion) and bringing an end to our prolonged wait. It is with great privilege that we have all been present for the 'Pran Pratishtha' of the 'Bal Vigraha' of Ram Lalla, which took place inside the sanctum sanctorum as per Vedic customs. Blessed be the maker who gave a concrete shape to our sacred impression of Shri Ram Lalla." "The virtues of our beloved saints are brought to mind even as I am overcome with a wide range of thoughts and emotions. After all these years of suffering, our souls are at last at peace. I offer my deepest respect to the sacred memory of our forbears who sacrificed their lives for the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mukti Yagya. It was a test of our national awakening as well as our Santani heritage and beliefs. It was the thread of unity that ties us all together," the Chief Minister added.  

Mamata Banerjee: "Congress Can Contest 300 Lok Sabha Seats, But..."

Kolkata: Amid an internal discord over seat-sharing within the INDIA bloc, TMC chief Mamata Banerjee on Monday batted for the idea of regional leaders spearheading the fight against the BJP in specific regions, suggesting that Congress independently contest 300 Lok Sabha seats. Ms Banerjee, the chief minister, also accused the CPI(M) of striving to control the opposition grouping's agenda, underscoring that no one confronts the BJP as directly as she does."I insist that particular regions should be left to regional parties. They (Congress) can fight on 300 (Lok Sabha) seats alone, and I will help them. I will not contest those seats. But, they are adamant about doing what they want," she said at an 'all-faith harmony rally' in Kolkata, which coincided with the consecration ceremony at the Ram temple in Ayodhya.Ms Banerjee's comments followed her assertion during a recent internal party meeting that the TMC is prepared to independently contest all 42 Lok Sabha seats in Bengal if not given "due importance". "I have the power to take on the BJP and fight against it. But, some people don't want to listen to us about seat-sharing. If you don't want to fight the BJP,Ms. Banerjee chastised the Congress for postponing talks on seat-sharing in the state, but she did not specifically mention the party. The leader of the TMC stated that she could not accept the CPI(M)-led Left Front dictating the agenda for the INDIA bloc meetings. "I proposed the name INDIA at an opposition bloc meeting. But whenever I attend the coalition's meetings, I find the Left trying to gain control. This is not acceptable. I cannot agree with those with whom I had fought for 34 years," she said.Ms. Banerjee chastised the Congress for postponing talks on seat-sharing in the state, but she did not specifically mention the party.I've adjusted and gone to the INDIA bloc meetings in spite of these insults," Ms. Banerjee said. "Just going to the temple isn't enough," she remarked, seemingly in reference to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi being prevented in Assam from seeing the birthplace of Vaishnav saint Srimant Sankardeva.  She emphasized her proactive approach towards the saffron camp by asking, "What percentage of politicians today confronted the BJP head-on? Someone visited one temple and believed it to be adequate, but it wasn't. I am the only one who visited the temple, gurudwara, church, and mosque. When the Babri Masjid issue (demolition) happened, and violence was taking place, I wasMs. Banerjee's remarks provoked strong responses from the CPI(M) and the Congress.   "We are unable to comment on the caprices and whims of the TMC hierarchy. Let them do whatever they feel like," Bengal Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said.

George Soros’s Texas cash infusion shows Democrats are afraid of losing: Mayra Flores

The move by left-wing billionaire George Soros to pour major cash into turning Texas blue in 2024 shows Democrats are afraid of the GOP’s momentum in the state, Republican candidate and ex-Rep. Mayra Flores told the Washington Examiner in an interview.Soros personally has transferred at least $100,000 since August 2023 to the Democratic Party Executive Committee in Cameron County, which is part of the Lone Star State’s 34th Congressional District, where Flores is seeking to unseat Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX). The Democratic megadonor also made donations to Hidalgo and Dallas counties and has wired hundreds of thousands of dollars to the liberal Texas Majority PAC, according to financial disclosures.Soros personally has transferred at least $100,000 since August 2023 to the Democratic Party Executive Committee in Cameron County, which is part of the Lone Star State’s 34th Congressional District, where Flores is seeking to unseat Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX). The Democratic megadonor also made donations to Hidalgo and Dallas counties and has wired hundreds of thousands of dollars to the liberal Texas Majority PAC, according to financial disclosures.Meanwhile, the GOP-led House Judiciary Committee released a report Thursday putting forth that the Biden administration’s “actions in dismantling interior immigration enforcement, which enables illegal aliens to stay in the United States indefinitely.”“Over the past six months, we’ve been traveling and sharing our message of faith and the American dream with voters, who are seeing the disaster that Joe Biden created in South Texas,” Flores said. “I was in Brownsville, and we brought in over 100 women who are Spanish-speaking who voted for Biden in 2020. And I went to speak with them about my campaign. ”Toward the end of that meeting, Flores said the women all told her they would not be voting for Biden in 2024. She underscored how the attendees are living paycheck-to-paycheck and upset, searching for better economic opportunities and safer communities.In Texas, the immigrant crisis hits home for voters, who view border security as a top concern heading into 2024, according to recent polls. Soros’s helping hand in 2024 to Democrats in the Lone Star State comes after nonprofit groups affiliated with the billionaire have dished out millions of dollars in recent years to entities pushing for open borders and, in some cases, have been accused of violating federal law while doing so. In the 2022 election, Flores was trounced by more than 11,400 votes. It was a major disappointment to the Republican Party, whose consultants in Washington and across the country communicated that there would be a “red wave,” but it never materialized. That year, Gonzalez highlighted how the Flores campaign spent more than $7 million against him and still could not capture the South Texas district.    

Biden’s slow trickle approach to student debt pleases no one except small slice of borrowers

President Joe Biden continued his slow rollout of student debt transfers Friday morning with the announcement that his administration will write off $5 billion worth of loans for 74,000 borrowers.The White House touted the move as the president using “every tool at our disposal” to cancel student debt, yet the trickle approach has outraged conservatives who say the actions are illegal, while “forgiveness” advocates are urging the administration to go bigger.“President Biden continues to defy the Supreme Court and Congress by forgiving yet another round of student debt,” Job Creators Network Foundation President Elaine Parker said. “His lawless actions make a mockery of the separation of powers and set a dangerous precedent that consolidates more power in the executive branch.”Parker said college students are the “biggest losers of the move,” as colleges have been given a “blank check” to continue overcharging with the push. Conservatives also like to point out that any unpaid loans fall on the backs of taxpayers.But the other side isn’t satisfied, either. Biden initially tried to cancel up to $20,000 in loans for anyone making less than $125,000 a year or up to $40,000 for married couples earning up to $250,000. The total price tag exceeded $400 billion but never went through, as the Supreme Court ruled it illegal.Instead, the relatively smaller amounts canceled affect 3.7 million borrowers, or less than 10% of the 40 million-plus people who hold student loans. “The student loan issue was not something addressed by the White House in the end in a comprehensive way, according to many young voters,” CNN’s Audie Cornish told press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre earlier this month. “Are you going to try to finish those jobs in particular?”Jean-Pierre, who had not mentioned student loans when asked about the White House’s 2024 priorities, responded by saying Biden “took steps” despite the obstacles. “The president put forth a plan,” she said. “He wanted to keep his promise on dealing with the student loan debt that is really crushing families across the country, and he took steps even though the plan that he put forth was stopped, certainly, by folks in Congress.”The latest round, like every round since the Supreme Court loss, was described as a fix to existing loan programs, often crediting late, partial, or deferred payments toward completion of them. “From day one of my administration, I vowed to improve the student loan system so that a higher education provides Americans with opportunity and prosperity — not unmanageable burdens of student loan debt,” Biden said on Friday. “I won’t back down from using every tool at our disposal to get student loan borrowers the relief they need to reach their dreams. ”Some borrowers may be waiting for more tools to emerge.Loan payments did not have to be made during a pandemic-related pause that stretched well over three years before ending last fall.A recent survey found that 60% of borrowers have missed payments since the pause ended, 25% still haven’t made any payments, and 9% are intentionally “boycotting” in hopes of pressuring the government to cancel more debt. “Biden’s latest student loan debt vote-buying scheme comes just days after his Education Department failed its independent financial audit for the second year running,” said Bob Eitel, who helped craft regulations under the Betsy DeVos-led Department of Education. “These bailouts will only encourage more borrowers to renege on their loans, add fuel to the fire of tuition inflation, and punish hardworking Americans who either never went to college or repaid their loans.”    

Top things to do in the UAE this weekend

Embark on a weekend adventure in the UAE with our curated list of top things to do. Get ready to explore, indulge, and create unforgettable moments across the Emirates. Every Saturday, from 1 pm to 4 pm, the acclaimed B.I.G Brunch at Garage, W Abu Dhabi, sets the stage for a lively weekend kick-off. With 5 Culinary Hubs, 11 Beverage Taps, and an upbeat party vibe, January's edition boasts an enticing selection, featuring treats like oysters, edamame, cumin beef bao buns, and more. With prices starting at Dh320 for the Soft Package, Dh420 for the House Package, and Dh589 for the Sparkling Package, guests can relish a delightful mix of tasty food, energetic tunes, and live entertainment, making B.I.G Brunch the perfect Saturday spot. For reservations and additional details, reach out at 02 656 0000. Experience serenity and rejuvenation with a complimentary yoga session hosted by wagamama at its Motor City Dubai branch on January 20, from 10 am to 11 am. Guided by the renowned instructor Chandnee Kaurani, participants can embark on a journey of mindfulness while enjoying revitalizing beverages. As a bonus, attendees will receive a discount voucher for the crystal shop 'Heal Quartz.' This session is designed to seamlessly blend tranquility with vitality, providing a holistic wagamama experience that transcends the culinary realm. To secure a spot, participants are encouraged to fill out the form at least one day before their chosen session date. Costa Coffee proudly presents its new flagship store in Al Seef, Dubai, seamlessly blending modernity with the city's historical allure. The sandstone structure, adorned with vintage wooden accents, serves as a tribute to the UAE's rich history, creating a space that embraces the tradition of sharing coffee. Within the Al Seef store, an AI art installation unfolds the area's captivating history. Introducing exclusive limited-edition drinks like the Iced Spanish Flat White and Hazelnut Vanilla Latte, Costa Coffee invites both residents and tourists to savor a premium coffee experience in a venue that pays homage to the city's cultural heritage. Operating daily from 8 am to 12 am, the store provides seating for up to 41 guests. This weekend, treat yourself to a rejuvenating winter getaway at The SPA, Abu Dhabi, featuring the enticing 'Treat Yourself' offer. Pamper yourself with a 60-minute personalized massage, tailored to your preferences, and receive a complimentary 30-minute full-body scrub for an added touch of opulence. Alternatively, indulge in facial treatments, meticulously designed to address your unique skincare needs. As a special perk, guests enjoy an exclusive 40% discount on any Skin Regimen Facial Products to maintain their radiant glow. Available daily from 11 am to 10.30 pm, The SPA's offer assures a revitalizing experience, leaving you refreshed and renewed with a radiant winter glow. To secure your reservation, dial 02 656 0000.  

India for finding solution to food stockholding issue first at WTO; then talk on other agri matters

India would not negotiate any other issue in the agriculture sector till a permanent solution on public stockholding for food grains is found by the WTO members, an official said on Thursday. The issue would prominently figure in the 13th ministerial conference (MC) of the WTO (World Trade Organisation), scheduled from February 26-29 in Abu Dhabi.MC is the highest decision-making body of the 164-member global trade watchdog WTO."The public stockpiling of food grain is the longest pending issue. The promise was made by the members in Bali MC, and then later endorsed by subsequent conferences. "Without that, we will not take part in any discussion on any other issue on agriculture, unless the mandated issue is settled. This is our first ask," the official said.Developed countries have raised flags over India's food security programmes, such as buying rice and wheat from farmers at a government-administered price for distribution through public ration shops. They allege that this public procurement at subsidised rates and storage distorts global agri trade.However, India has maintained they have to protect the interest of poor and vulnerable farmers, besides taking care of the food security needs of a large section of the population.The government provide 5 kilogrammes of free foodgrains per month to around 80 crore poor people, free ration to about 80 crore people under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY). The Covid-19 pandemic has proved the importance of such initiatives. The Geneva-based 164-member multi-lateral body deals with global exports and import-related norms. Besides, it adjudicates trade disputes between the member countries.The official said that taking the ERP at 1986-88 basis will give a distorted picture of the support measures. "In a session on agriculture, we gave a presentation about how the India programme is beneficial and also on the ERP, many delegates were surprised to see the kind of stark comparison in the ERP...what caught their attention was that one burger price is equivalent to 1,000 kg of wheat or rice prices...because ERP is 1986-88 price," the official added.  

What's Trending Globally

Asia

News 2344

Australia/New-Zealand

News 42

Canada

News 15

China

News 49

Europe

News 40

France

News 1

Gulf

News 11

India

News 3384

Pakistan

News 20

Russia

News 20

Ukraine

News 0

United Kingdom

News 51

AAI to spend ₹5,000 crore on capex annually 

Airport Authority of India (AAI) plans to spend ₹5,000 crore annually on capital expenditure in the coming years with a strong pipeline of projects, AAI chairman Sanjeev Kumar told businessline. While new terminals are being built and airside capacity is being expanded at various airports to handle extra flights, AAI is also working on a roadmap for expansion of Agatti airport in Lakshadweep.   “As against the capex target of ₹ 4,000 Crores in FY 2023-24, AAI till December, 2023 has achieved Capex of ₹ 3,416 crores. We will be surpassing the target of ₹ 4,000 Crores and touching capex of ₹ 5,000 Crores or more,” he said. The authority is building new terminals at airports in Patna, Leh, Vijayawada, Tuticorin and has started construction of new terminal buildings in Jodhpur, Udaipur, Jammu and Rajahmundry.   “We are also adding new terminal building in Hubli, Belagavi and Kadapa Airport. Investment proposals for expanding the capacity of terminals and airside is also in pipeline for Keshod in Gujarat, Agra, Ayodhya Phase-II & Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, Bagdogra in West Bengal and Darbhanga in Bihar,” he said.  Expansion of Agatti Airport is under discussion with union territory administration of Lakshadweep, ministry of home affairs and other stakeholders.  “We soon expect a roadmap for expansion of Agatti airport,” he added. AAI is also working with partners and stakeholders to finalize research areas at its R&D centre in Begumpet airport in Hyderabad.  Developed at a cost of ₹350 crore, the Civil Aviation Research Organisation (CARO) will serve as a collaborative research platform in air navigation services.    “We have also engaged with our employees and encouraging them to write “problem statements” for the situations faced by them with suggestions for improvement and increasing efficiency. These problem statements would become core of the development of solution by our stakeholders including start-ups either in their own premises or in CARO. We have almost finalized our architecture of processes to populate CARO with an objective to make it vibrant research & Development facility,” Kumar said.  

Introducing the New England DEI Patriots

If racism is America’s original sin, then Democrats and others on the Left are the biblical Babylonians of the 21st century. For a group of people who claim to want racism gone, they wickedly do everything possible to make sure it remains alive — or at least the insinuation of it. Incidentally, this phenomenon is a core tenet of the much-maligned diversity, equity, and inclusion movement often referred to as DEI. At his introductory news conference after being named the new New England Patriots head coach, former NFL player Jerod Mayo garnered significant attention after answering a question from the media about race and being the first black head coach in the team’s history. It was a question asked to Mayo and Patriots owner Robert Kraft. “Let me say this to you: I’m really colorblind in terms of I know what I feel like on Sunday when we lose, and I can just tell you that after my family, my passion is with the New England Patriots, and there’s something else very close second, but winning at the Patriots is my passion,” Kraft said. “I want to get the best people I can get. I chose the best head coach for this organization. He happens to be a man of color. But I chose him because I believe he’s best to do the job.”“Yeah, and Mike T, he reached out. He’s actually from our hometown back in Virginia as well. We haven’t really talked about the challenges. I appreciate Thunder and the organization selecting me to be a black head coach,” Mayo said. “I would say what Thunder just talked about, that was in the locker room. You want your locker room to be pretty diverse, and you want the world to look like that.”  This is a typical answer in the DEI-obsessed society we live in. It’s somewhat silly because diversity really has no impact on whether the Patriots win or lose games. The only thing that matters is the level of play by the players on the team’s roster. However, if diversity is as important as Mayo claims (and I seriously doubt it is), he might want to add significantly more Asian, Latino, white, and Native American players to the roster.And then Mayo said the kind of comment we have become all too familiar with in the race-crazed DEI era. “What I will say, though, is I do see color because I believe if you don’t see color, you can’t see racism. Whatever happens, black, white, disabled person, even someone with disabilities, for the most part, people are like — when they’re young, they kind of make the spot hot. Younger people know what that means,” Mayo said. “But what I would say is, no, I want you to be able to go up to those people and really understand those people. It goes back to whatever it is, black, white, yellow, it really doesn’t matter, but it does matter, so we can try to fix the problem that we all know we have.”  

What’s next for Fani Willis?

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has become a top target for scrutiny in Georgia after she was hit with scandalous allegations that she used taxpayer dollars to hire a romantic partner to prosecute former President Donald Trump. Willis has not formally responded to the allegations, which surfaced in a court motion filed last week by one of the co-defendants in the case, Michael Roman. Roman has asked a judge to dismiss the case in its entirety and to disqualify Willis from it, and how she defends herself could determine her fate in the most high-profile prosecution of her career.Judge Scott McAfee, who is overseeing the case, said last week that he would schedule a hearing to examine the matter for sometime in mid-February.Willis can file a response to Roman before then, although she has not yet done so.Roman’s attorney accused Willis in a detailed 127-page filing last week of failing to disclose a conflict of interest in the case and potentially committing honest services fraud. The attorney said she estimated through invoice attachments that Willis had thus far paid special prosecutor Nathan Wade, a private sector attorney and her alleged lover, nearly $1 million for his work on the case, far more than any state employee would make. The attorney also alleged that Willis appeared to have covertly reaped the benefits of Wade’s income by going on private vacations with him. A review of the amount of money that the special prosecutor has been paid by the district attorney and the personal activities of the district attorney and the special prosecutor duringthe pendency of this prosecution shed light on just how self-serving this arrangement hasbeen,” Roman’s attorney wrote.Wade is going through a divorce, and that case is currently under seal. However, Willis was subpoenaed in the divorce proceedings and is scheduled to appear for a deposition on the morning of Jan. 23, according to a source with knowledge of the case. The source said Willis has now also hired her own lawyer.Roman and several major media outlets have urged a judge to unseal the proceedings, citing a newfound public interest in them Willis’s office did not respond to a request for comment.Payments to Wade, which county records show amount to at least $654,000 since he joined the Trump case, first raised eyebrows months ago.A local attorney at the time told the Washington Examiner the payments were “unorthodox.” Another attorney drew attention to Wade’s nonexistent experience with Georgia’s racketeering laws, which Willis has accused Trump, Roman, and 17 others of violating.   

Trump allies warn of coup if Haley selected as VP

Former President Donald Trump is being warned by allies about potentially choosing former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley as his running mate in 2024. Close Trump allies warned that selecting Haley as his vice president would result in an “intra-party coup,” Politico reported, with Republican senators moving to use every tool at their disposal to remove Trump to install Haley instead. They also believe that she would actively subvert the administration.“Nikki Haley as VP would be an establishment neocon fantasy and a MAGA nightmare,” Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) told the outlet. “On Day One she would convert the Naval Observatory into an anti-Trump, resistance headquarters, undermining him at every step.” Most of Trump’s closest allies have pledged to do everything in their power to prevent her from taking the VP spot, including his son, Donald Trump Jr.“I wouldn’t have her, and I would go to great lengths to make sure that that doesn’t happen,” he told Newsmax’s Eric Bolling about the possibility of a Haley VP selection in a December interview.“Nikki Haley wants never-ending wars. She’s a puppet of the establishment in Washington, D.C. She’s the new favorite candidate of the billionaire class because they want control,” he continued. “No different than academia and Harvard and using their billions to exercise influence. They want someone they control.” Trump and Haley are viewed as ideologically different, with much of the old guard of the pre-Trump GOP supporting her. Therein lies a significant argument for selecting her as VP — were Trump to win, her selection could be an opportunity to unite the party. But most in Trump’s circle have suggested they would view the move as a betrayal of the America First movement, seeing her as an enemy on par with their Democratic rivals. Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who dropped out of the 2024 race and endorsed Trump after coming in fourth in Iowa, has made himself known throughout the race for his blistering critiques of Haley, critiques he leaned into in his first speech in New Hampshire after endorsing the former president.“And you know what, we do have some enemies that we need to defeat on the other side, but we have challenges to address in our own party right here at home. So you know what, if you want somebody who’s going to foist onto you, to use your social media account, you want to use a driver’s license to do it, to have the right to use the internet? This man is not your man,” he said, referring to Trump. “There’s another candidate in this race who will do that for you. It’s Nikki Haley.” You want to cut Social Security? You want to cut Medicare, you want to cut veterans benefits, so we can fork over more money to Ukraine, so some kleptocrat can buy a bigger house? Vote for Nikki Haley, not this man right here,” he continued.   

Johns Hopkins University weaponized DEI against ‘white, heterosexual, Christian males’

There has been ample evidence of this over the years, of course, from discrimination in employment opportunities to college admissions to the inflammatory rhetoric used by many on the Left. The latest example of anti-white prejudice and bigotry comes from Johns Hopkins University, and it involves the malignant toxicity known as diversity, equity, and inclusion, or DEI.Early last week, the X, formerly Twitter, account “End Wokeness” posted the January 2024 newsletter from Johns Hopkins University’s Monthly Diversity Digest. The message was from Chief Diversity Officer Dr. Sherita H. Golden, who discussed the (fictional and made-up left-wing ideological) concept of privilege. In her despicable list, Golden targeted “whites, Christians, males, and heterosexuals,” among other people, as those who benefit from “privilege” even if they were unaware of it. The message read like a public decree identifying enemies of the state rather than a monthly communication letter at a university. “Privilege is a set of unearned benefits given to people who are in a specific social group,” the newsletter read. “Privilege operates on personal, interpersonal, cultural and institutional levels, and it provides advantages and favors to members of dominant groups at the expense of members of other groups.”Golden then claimed that essentially anything people in these groups earned was not legitimately attained. They just benefited because they were “white, heterosexual, Christian, or cisgender.” It was the kind of discrimination, bigotry, and prejudice that has become all too common with left-wing academic aristocrats and DEI acolytes. They embrace and encourage racial bigotry so long as it is the kind that aligns with their ideological beliefs. “Privilege is characteristically invisible to people who have it. People in dominant groups often believe they have earned the privileges they enjoy or that everyone could have access to these privileges if only they worked to earn them,” the newsletter claimed. “In fact, privileges are unearned and are granted to people in the dominant groups whether they want those privileges or not, and regardless of their stated intent. ”I spent considerable time trying to contact Johns Hopkins University and seek their comment regarding Golden’s racial bigotry and prejudice. Among other questions, I asked the school’s media relations department if the 20 million white people in the country who are living below the poverty line should feel fortunate for the privilege of their economic adversity. Additionally, I asked the college if the white student applicants who were denied admission to Johns Hopkins University should feel fortunate for being rejected by the school because the teenage students were not the school’s admission officers’ choice of preferred skin color. Unsurprisingly, no one answered.Johns Hopkins issued a retraction last week. The university claimed Golden’s newsletters did not portray the school’s values. However, if the letter didn’t represent the school’s values or those of the people working there, it would have never been sent out. It is not sorry about the newsletter — Johns Hopkins regrets the newsletter was exposed to the public.    

Davos elites go green and make green

Global elites of all sorts are traveling to Davos, Switzerland, for the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting this week. The theme this year is “Rebuilding Trust.” Perhaps a good place to start is distinguishing capitalism from environmentalism. They could also stop trying to make business serve the environment rather than people.Consider the irony of Sultan Al Jaber, a major oil baron and the CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, presiding over the global climate conference, COP28, in 2023. Yet the subversive strategy of enlisting a “capitalist” in the climate agenda paid dividends. The United Nations agreement reached at COP28 explicitly mentions phasing out fossil fuels.While the chief executive of a major oil company supporting the phaseout of oil is ridiculous on its face, it is only the most recent example of many high-profile “capitalists” advancing environmental agendas. In a video earlier this year, for example, Apple CEO Tim Cook and his team appeased an angry mother nature by planting forests, reducing water usage, using higher amounts of renewable energy, and creating “net zero” products.Cook’s fiduciary duties to the board and shareholders of his publicly traded company still require him to continue serving consumers. But if those duties are weakened or abolished, it will not take long for one of the world’s most valuable and profitable companies to go the way of the world’s largest universities and foundations, and now Abu Dhabi National Oil Company — pursuing policies antithetical to their original purpose. After all, there are a lot of folks who stand to gain from the green agenda — those who collect paychecks or fees by providing guidance, oversight, verification, and other environmental, social, and corporate governance-related services when companies pursue environmental goals.The CEOs of Persefoni & Position Green eagerly work toward the day when Apple and every other Fortune 500 company purchase their services to track, report, and reduce their carbon footprint. The leaders of Ceres, Principles for Responsible Investing, the Sustainable Accounting Standards Board, McKinsey & Company, and dozens of other environmental consulting firms are eager to have Cook and other CEOs come knocking on their doors for advice — with checks in hand. The owners of green firms — those that plant trees, recycle water, create solar panels, wind farms, and batteries, bury biomass, or sequester carbon out of limestone — cheer the widespread adoption of their products. This includes Sultan Jaber, who runs the United Arab Emirates’s renewable energy company Masdar. They are good capitalists — I mean environmentalists — after all. Their industries will experience billions of dollars of growth as government officials around the world push aggressive ESG criteria such as removing the legal shackles of fiduciary obligation, requiring companies to report their climate impact and commit to net zero goals, exempting green bonds and social bonds from ordinary taxation, and requiring investors to hold some fraction of their investment assets in ESG-related funds.But ordinary citizens are rightly suspicious of claims by the Davos elite that all they need is a little more legal firepower to transition the world to a prosperous, green, low-carbon, net zero economic future. Europe has already implemented some variations of these ideas, from the European Green Deal in 2020 to the European Climate Law in 2021 to the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Requirement to the German Due Diligence in Supply Chains Act that went into effect in 2023. These rules range from what kinds of vehicles Europeans can drive to mandating that all investors report sustainability analysis on their investments broken down by vague ESG criteria.In Europe, companies also have legal stakeholder responsibilities that give management broad leeway to orient policy and direct resources to any groups they choose. They have created an ESG nexus involving tens of thousands of people and hundreds of billions of dollars that, remarkably, does not add a single thing to the ordinary citizen’s standard of living. In fact, most of what they do makes it more expensive and difficult for companies to create and provide goods and services.    

Fishermen head to Supreme Court to cast Chevron overboard

Attorneys representing Northeastern fishermen will make their case at the Supreme Court on Wednesday that the 40-year-old precedent most commonly cited to support federal agency regulatory power should be cast into an oceanic abyss.A group of fishermen from New Jersey will see the justices consider their lawsuit against a Commerce Department regulation through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which required their boats to pay roughly $700 per day to fund the salary of human “at-sea” monitors for each fishing venture. The heart of the case asks the court to overturn the 1984 precedent from a case called Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council.The core of the Chevron doctrine states that if a federal rule is challenged in court, the court should defer to the agency and its “reasonable” interpretation of the congressional statute it says grants them permission to create the rule.“You can’t even promise to pay the crew $780 per day,” Jerry Leman, founder of the New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association, told the Washington Examiner, referring to the financial setbacks on his business by the required at-sea monitors. Leman’s group filed an amicus brief to the high court asking it to curb the Biden administration’s power over the fishing industry. The 1976 Magnuson-Stevens Act is the primary law that allows at-sea observers to board private fishing boats in U.S. federal waters. While its objective was to prevent overfishing, Leman contends fishermen should never be the ones to front the bill to pay for the government’s monitoring work.The challenge against the at-sea monitors eventually reached the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, which held that the statute was ambiguous on the question of monitor salary. But under the Chevron deference, that meant the government won.Lawyers for the New Jersey fishermen will tell the nine justices the payment mandate violates Article 1 of the Constitution and that the court should overturn Chevron, an outcome that court watchers say could be a stretch too far even for the Roberts Court, positing that the justices might go as far as to find a replacement for Chevron. Representing the New Jersey fishermen will be veteran attorney Paul Clement, a former solicitor general under the Bush administration. Another lawsuit brought by fishermen based in Rhode Island will be argued by attorneys for the New Civil Liberties Alliance. The high court’s two argument hearings on Wednesday will focus on the question of Chevron’s fate, meaning the justices will be toiling over the matter for several hours. “Overruling Chevron is overdue,” said Mark Chenoweth, president of NCLA. “Many administrative state pathologies can be traced to the malign influence that Chevron has in encouraging unlawful administrative power grabs. By putting this genie back in the bottle, the Supreme Court can restore federal court oversight to ensure that agencies execute the law as Congress wrote it.”The Justice Department’s position will be headed by Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar in the pair of back-to-back oral arguments. Prelogar has said overruling Chevron would be a “convulsive shock” to the legal system.“All three branches of government, regulated parties, and the public have arranged their affairs for decades with Chevron as the backdrop against which Congress legislates, agencies issue rules and orders, and courts resolve disputes about those agency actions,” she wrote in a brief in the Loper Bright case.Chevron doctrine critics see the challenge as a way to rein in meddling federal bureaucrats, symptoms of a creeping administrative state in which regulatory overreach is rampant, while defenders of the doctrine worry the 6-3 conservative high court majority is poised effectively to let business interests kill off environmental and other expertly crafted regulations created for the public interest. Groups that favor the government’s position in the dispute, such as the Center For American Progress, say that the real goal of the cases is to give “unelected judges free rein to implement their own partisan policy agendas and disregard scientific analysis, the opinions of policy experts, and the will of Congress. ”If the justices rule the way the fishermen are calling on them to, then the upheaval of Chevron could lead to a “geometric increase in court challenges to federal rules,” Steve O’Day, a partner at Smith, Gambrell & Russell and head of the firm’s Environmental Law, Energy, and Sustainability practice, told the Washington Examiner. “Ending the so-called Chevron deference could have dramatic effects on judicial treatment of expansive federal regulatory programs, but those effects could be favorable or unfavorable to regulated businesses, depending on the rules being challenged,” O’Day said.Leman said his hopes are for the court to deliver a ruling in favor of the fishing groups, adding the current Chevron framework isn’t cutting it for businesses across the nation.Business groups ranging from farm, timber, and home-building sectors are backing the efforts by the fishermen. Meanwhile, conservative interests that have recently scored victories limiting regulation of air and water pollution are hoping to see another domino fall against the administrative state.“Chevron deference is a pernicious doctrine that has enabled federal agencies to take over the courts’ power to interpret the law and Congress’ power to legislate,” Carrie Severino, president of the conservative legal advocacy group JCN, told the Washington Examiner. “To its credit, the Supreme Court has not applied Chevron in recent years, but lower courts nonetheless continue to rely on it, creating confusion and inconsistency in the law.”  

Miss America 2024, Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha & Israel-Hamas War

16 January 2024 News Headlines in English for School Assembly: You can check the list of detailed news headlines for the morning assembly from all major sectors like politics, entertainment, politics, sports, world affairs, technology and more here.The format of the assembly isn’t set and can differ from school to school. However, the key activities remain the same. The principal says a few words, and students read the news headlines. Talent shows, debates, speeches and role plays are often included in the school assembly.The format of the assembly isn’t set and can differ from school to school. However, the key activities remain the same. The principal says a few words, and students read the news headlines. Talent shows, debates, speeches and role plays are often included in the school assembly.Prayers, yoga and physical exercise can also be a part of the morning school assembly. However, today we bring you the top news headlines, which increase awareness among the students about global and domestic affairs.You can check out the news headlines for 16 January to be read during the morning school assembly below.9-year-old Indian-American schoolgirl Preesha Chakraborty was named in the “world’s brightest” students list by the Johns Hopkins Centre for Talented Youth, based on the results of above-grade-level tests of over 16,000 students across 90 countries.  

FULFILMENT OF LONG CHERISHED DEMAND: AGARTALA – ANAND VIHAR TEJAS RAJDHANI EXPRESS NOW STOPS AT MALDA TOWN

The much-awaited stoppage of the 20501 Agartala – Anand Vihar Tejas Rajdhani Express at Malda Town station marks a significant stride in the development of railways in West Bengal, addressing the long-standing demand of the inhabitants of Malda.The 20501/20502 Agartala – Anand Vihar (T) Tejas Rajdhani weekly Express now to run via route through Malda Town – Bhagalpur – Jamalpur with commercial stoppages at Malda Town, Bhagalpur & Jamalpur  for the train leaving Agartala w.e.f. 15.1.2024 and leaving Anand Vihar (T) w.e.f. 17.1.2024.On the first day of the run of Agartala – Anand Vihar Tejas Rajdhani Express via Malda Town, the train was flagged off from Malda Town station this afternoon by Shri Khagen Murmu, Member of Parliament, Smt. Srirupa Mitra Chowdhury, Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) and Shri Gopal Chandra Saha, MLA.The Rajdhani Express, now traversing a new route via Malda Town-Bhagalpur, promises not only enhanced connectivity but also commercial stoppages at crucial stations such as Malda Town, Bhagalpur, Jamalpur, and Patna in both directions. The train has commenced its journey on January 15, 2024, from Agartala at 15:10 hrs. and will reach Malda Town station today 16.01.2024 at 15:00 hrs. The train will run weekly, reaching Anand Vihar at 10:50 hrs on Wednesdays. The return journey of 20502 Anand Vihar – Agartala Tejas Rajdhani Express will depart from Anand Vihar Terminal at 19:50 hrs on Wednesdays, reaching Agartala at 15:40 hrs on Fridays. This train will stop at Ambassa, Dharmanagar, New Karimganj, Badarpur, Hojai, Guwahati, Rangia, Barpeta Road, New Jalpaiguri, Malda Town, Bhagalpur, Jamalpur, Patna, Pt. Deendayal Upadhyay Jn & Kanpur Central stations enroute in both the directions.