Top Trending Politics News & Highlights
Pawan Singh of the BJP Discusses Running for the Lok Sabha
Pawan Singh, an actor and singer from Bhojpur, stated on Monday that "time would tell" if he decided to run in the next Lok Sabha elections. Speaking to the media following his meeting with BJP president JP Nadda, Singh—who had been scheduled to run as the BJP candidate from Asansol in West Bengal but declared he would not after receiving negative feedback on his candidacy—avoided discussing the reasons behind his decision. "I spoke with the president of the party. After meeting with Nadda, Singh told the media, "Whatever happens in the future will be good." "That only time would tell," he responded when asked if he would run in the upcoming elections. I'll let you know if something occurs. Put it on hold for the time being "... On the other hand, Singh declined to respond to inquiries regarding the reasons behind his choice.Singh withdrew his name from the Lok Sabha election contest on Sunday from the West Bengal seat of Asansol, one day after the BJP announced him as its candidate from the seat currently held by Shatrughan Sinha of the Trinamool Congress (TMC).Singh thanked the BJP leadership in a post on X, but he also stated that he would not be able to run from Asansol "due to some reason," without providing an explanation.
Published 04 Mar 2024 05:25 PM
In Kolkata, Mamata Banerjee meets with PM Modi
"Following protocol, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee described her interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Raj Bhavan on Friday night as a courtesy meeting. According to Banerjee, she also discussed with the PM the matter of the state's unpaid bills. ""In addition to chatting with the prime minister, I brought up state-related issues with him,"" Banerjee told reporters following the meeting.Beginning on Friday, PM Modi will spend the night at Raj Bhavan while on a two-day tour of West Bengal. The prime minister arrived at the governor's house shortly after Banerjee's convoy pulled in. Governor C V Ananda Bose took to X and said he met the PM at the Raj Bhavan. Earlier in the day, Bose had also attended the prime minister's official program at Arambagh, where Modi dedicated, inaugurated, and laid the groundwork for several development projects totaling more than ₹ 7,200 crore.Banerjee met with Prime Minister Modi in New Delhi in December of last year to demand the release of the state's outstanding debt. The TMC claimed that West Bengal owed the Center ₹ 1.18 lakh crore. According to the Union government, two tranches of tax devolution were released to all states on Thursday. West Bengal received ₹ 10,692 crore, which is the fourth-highest amount after Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh. On Monday, the state government started paying over 30 lakh MGNREGA workers their outstanding debt of ₹ 2,700 crore, which had been unpaid since March 2022."
Published 01 Mar 2024 09:04 PM
Congress To Defend 18 Seats in Maharashtra Opposition Seat Deal
According to sources who spoke with NDTV on Friday morning, the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance in Maharashtra has decided on a seat-sharing agreement for the 2024 Lok Sabha election. In 48 hours, there'll probably be an official announcement. Sources claim that 20 of the 48 Lok Sabha seats in the state will be contested by the Shiv Sena faction, which is led by former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. The Nationalist Congress Party unit under Sharad Pawar will field candidates for the remaining 10 seats, with the Congress contesting 18 of them. The Sena (UBT) will give two seats to regional parties like Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi, and Mr. Pawar's share will give a ticket to an independent candidate named Raju Shetty.Additionally, according to sources, the Sena (UBT) will run for four of Mumbai's six Lok Sabha seats; the VBA may receive one of them, potentially the Mumbai North East seat. The MVA's seat-sharing agreement is a significant step forward for the opposition bloc in India, which is attempting to finalize agreements as soon as possible because the election is scheduled for a few weeks from now. State parties have consistently pushed the national outfit to secure a larger share of seats, making it difficult for the Congress-led group—which was founded in June of last year with the specific goal of unseating Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party—to reach agreements.Its task has been made even more difficult by the Congress's miserable electoral record over the past ten years, particularly in 2014 and 2019, when it won a combined total of fewer than 100 seats. In Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi Party has been riding the alliance to an almost impossible level. After the Congress persisted in negotiating Mamata Banerjee's "final" offer of two seats—the same (and only) two it had won the previous time—the Trinamool Congress in Bengal even ended all negotiations with the party.
Published 01 Mar 2024 10:24 AM
The Himachal Crisis and Congress: Navjot Sidhus War Cry
Navjot Sidhu's War Cry During Congress' Himachal Crisis: "Purge The Party" After launching a fierce attack this morning on six party lawmakers who crossed-vote in Tuesday's Rajya Sabha election, which the party should have easily won, Navjot Singh Sidhu, the leader of the Congress in Punjab, appeared to be siding with the Bharatiya Janata Party. A political crisis in the hill state, where the Congress won less than two years ago, has been brought on by the shocking Rajya Sabha loss. The BJP is now demanding that Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu's weakened government demonstrate its strength in the 68-member House.Next, Mr. Sidhu attacked "masqueraders" who were "secretly dancing to the tunes of agencies like CBI, ED" and said that leaders in the Congress should be removed for "prioritizing personal gain over the collective good." "'Masqueraders' (for) plum posts, covertly dancing to the tunes of agencies like Central Bureau of Investigation, Enforcement Directorate, and Income Tax Department, have spelt doomsday for us many-a-times!" said he.
Published 28 Feb 2024 05:25 PM
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Many items in my business are designed: Piyush Pandey
I spent a brief time working at Ogilvy Mumbai in the early years of my profession. I was definitely looking forward to meeting Piyush and simply watching and learning from his talent. It was the strongest incentive to sign up. However, deep down I was also realistic about it. I was aware that he would never have a conversation with a junior. After joining, I came to the realization that he most likely would have, but I also understood it was impossible given the amount of work he had to accomplish each day. And boy, was I glad I was. Apart from the fact that he is an advertising genius, these are the things I picked up from him during my tenure, even though I never worked directly with him.I learned the power of words from him. On my first day there, I recall being sucked into a film short for a newly launched bank. I expected an assignment when I walked in, but instead I got a really good poem. It was exquisite. The story and the slogan were both brimming with skill. Written specifically for the pitch, Piyush delivered it to the group by reading it aloud. The client gave it their blessing because it was so clever. It was enjoyable to come up with ways to carry it out. That day made me proud to be a copywriter because he demonstrated to me the power of words to accomplish goals that so many rounds of PowerPoints couldn't. I learned from him that leaders are people too.Everyone gathered on the floor to celebrate Piyush's birthday by cutting cakes. He was asked to speak a few words, as custom would have it. He became so overcome by the festivities during his remarks that he started crying. The largest agency leader in our nation displayed weakness during a time when all of them exuded strength and conceit. Furthermore, this was taking place in front of 200 or more workers. And we all cherished it. He taught me early on that leaders are people too and that it's appropriate to occasionally display your feelings as a leader since it's the right thing to do.
The biggest shake-up in Congress history
"The Congress announced significant organizational changes on Saturday in advance of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, including the removal of Priyanka Gandhi as the party's leader in Uttar Pradesh.The ancient party has named Ramesh Chennithala as its Maharashtra in-charge and Sachin Pilot, a former deputy chief minister of Rajasthan, as the leader of the Chhattisgarh Congress.With no designated job, Priyanka Gandhi will continue to serve as the party's general secretary, the Congress stated in a statement.The Congress president, Mallikarjun Kharge, presided over a meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), the party's highest decision-making body, two days prior to the appointments. Senior leaders, including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, were present. Senior leaders Randeep Singh Surjewala, K C Venugopal, Mukul Wasnik, and Jairam Ramesh continue to serve as general secretaries, with responsibility for Gujarat, Karnataka, communication, and organization, respectively. According to the statement, Deepak Babaria is in charge of Delhi and Haryana, while Jitendra Singh, the general secretary in charge of Assam, was assigned the additional charge of Madhya Pradesh."
Congress rearranges the leadership group, giving Sachin Pilot a major role
"With the Lok Sabha elections quickly approaching, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge completed the much-needed reorganization of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) secretariat on Saturday. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was relieved of her duties as general secretary for the crucial state of Uttar Pradesh, and Sachin Pilot was named general secretary for the state of Chhattisgarh. These nominations followed the party's appointment of a manifesto committee, chaired by former Union Minister P Chidambaram, to formulate the party's platform and issues for the Lok Sabha election campaign. Several leaders of the party urged the Congress Working Committee (CWC) to act quickly and begin organizing for the general elections on Thursday. As general secretary, Priyanka will remain so ""without any assigned portfolio."" There are rumors that she might receive a significant position within the company. The AICC general secretary Pilot's promotion and Ashok Gehlot's appointment to the national alliance committee earlier this week suggest that the Congress may consider a different candidate for Rajasthan's Leader of the Opposition position. granted that Pilot has been granted a function outside of the state and that Ashok Gehlot was included in a national alliance group earlier this week, Congress may be considering a new candidate for Rajasthan's Leader of the Opposition."
Avinash Pande is who? The new UP chief for the Congress, who took over for Priyanka Gandhi
"In the party's reorganization ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Avinash Pande took over as the Congress General Secretary overseeing Uttar Pradesh, replacing Priyanka Gandhi. Ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress party named senior leader Avinash Pande as the General Secretary responsible for Uttar Pradesh on Saturday. Pande responded to the appointment by writing on X, ""I swear, Smt. Priyanka ji, to uphold your legacy."" I shall fully utilize the authority bestowed upon me as the General Secretary in charge as well as the task that has been assigned to me."
"Those who receive a summons from Lord Ram...”: BJP as CPM's Yechury turns down an invitation to Ayodhya
"Following the CPI(M)'s confirmation on Tuesday that it will not be attending the inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22, a furor broke out. Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi stated, ""Invitations were sent to all (but) only those called by Lord Ram will come,"" in an interview with news agency ANI.I received the invitation from Nripendra Mishra ji and a leader of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. The CPI(M) respects and upholds each person's freedom to practice any religion they so choose. But now, the state is funding this inauguration ceremony. Attendees at the event will include the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, the Prime Minister, and other constitutional officials. Politicization like this is wrong, Yechury said to India Today TV. ""According to the Constitution and the Supreme Court, the state shall not profess any particular religion or have any religious affiliation,"" he added.Our stance is to uphold each person's freedom to practice their religion and their beliefs. Religion is a matter of personal preference that should not be used as a political tool. Despite being invited, Comrade Sitaram Yechury will not be attending the ceremony, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) announced on X."
Amit Shah and JP Nadda are scheduled to meet in Kolkata prior to the Lok Sabha elections.
"On Tuesday, December 16, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP President JP Nadda arrived in Kolkata to evaluate West Bengal's organizational readiness for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Throughout the day, West Bengal BJP workers are expected to attend a number of organizational meetings with Amit Shah and JP Nadda. On the occasion of Veer Baal Diwas, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president JP Nadda attended and offered prayers at Gurudwara Bara Sikh Sangat in Kolkata on Tuesday."
Caste, religion, and god in Kannada: How Karnataka Rakshana Vedike came to represent the state's language war
On Wednesday, the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) made headlines once more when its members destroyed non-Kannada signage and vandalized commercial establishments in Bengaluru, demanding that they have 60% Kannada. The demand has been made by pro-Kannada organizations previously. However, Wednesday’s vandalism came after the state government directed all establishments to sport Kannada signboards prominently and the Bengaluru civic body – Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) – set a February 28, 2024, deadline for the same.Parties have refrained from confronting the KRV due to its influence and network, which have been established over 20 years, and Siddaramaiah government's cautious response to the most recent wave of vandalism."
Congress seeks to determine a ""safe"" path after the Ram Temple event, where the road was paved with mines.
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust invited the Congress to the Pran Pratishtha, or consecration ceremony, of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22, but the Congress is not at all happy about the invitation. The Congress is caught in a political minefield, trying to craft a stance that won't do too much electoral damage, knowing that the BJP stands to gain political ground from the ceremony on the eve of the Lok Sabha elections. The matter may also cause rifts within the INDIA alliance. The Trinamool Congress has hinted that Mamata will speak at the function, although the CPI(M) has formally announced that its general secretary Sitaram Yechury will not be there and has criticized the BJP and RSS for combining religion and politics. In response to the Cong predicament, Shashi Tharoor says that invitees ought to have the freedom to choose, ""rather than being described as 'anti-Hindu' if they don't go, or 'playing into BJP hands' if they do."""
The main political events of 2023, in numbers
Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated the new Parliament building on May 28. The Lok Sabh However, in terms of Parliament's operations, the year was still turbulent. It started with the chaotic Budget Session, which saw the second-lowest amount of time this government has ever spent in office. Though the Monsoon and Winter Sessions saw some of the most Bills passed since 2019, the productivity of the next two regular Sessions of Parliament suffered as well. However, there were constant interruptions during each session, and many important and divisive bills were passed with little to no debate. The government called a Special Session in September and unveiled the women's reservation bill, which aimed to give women 33% of the seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, shocking the electorate ahead of the Assembly poll. During this session, the Bill was approved by both Houses.a chamber now has 888 seats, up from 543 in the previous building. Additionally, the Rajya Sabha chamber's capacity was increased from 250 to 384 seats. Although the precise amount has not been disclosed, the construction is thought to have cost around Rs 1,200 crore. However, because the PM was launching the Parliament and ""sidelining"" President Droupadi Murmu, the legitimate head of state, twenty opposition parties, representing 242 MPs in both Houses, boycotted the inauguration."
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.
Assam govt threatening people not to join Cong yatra, says Rahul Gandhi
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday alleged that Assam's BJP-led government has been threatening people against joining the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, and refusing permissions for programmes along its route.People, however, are not afraid of the BJP, Gandhi asserted at a public gathering in Biswanath Chariali, the headquarters of Biswanath district.He also said the Congress will win by a huge margin against the BJP in the upcoming elections."We don't make long speeches as part of the yatra. We travel every day for 7-8 hours, talk to delegations, meet people and listen to their issues. And then, we fight for your issues; that is the aim of this yatra."When elections come, Congress will defeat BJP by massive margins," Gandhi asserted, urging party workers to march forward despite being threatened, and beaten up, as the fight is for the people.The yatra is in its fourth day in the state, having re-entered after a night halt in Arunachal Pradesh. It is scheduled to travel through Assam till January 25, covering a total of 833 km across 17 districts.Gandhi also alleged that flags and banners of the Congress are being damaged in the state."They (government) think they can threaten the people and suppress them. But, they are not realising this is not Rahul Gandhi's yatra. It is a yatra for the voice of the people," he said."Neither Rahul Gandhi nor people of the state are afraid of them," the former Congress chief said.He continued to target Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, terming him as the most corrupt CM in the country."Everyone knows that the CM and his entire family are the most corrupt. The Assam government is run for the benefit of one family... the Congress MP alleged.He said that injustice was being done to farmers, who don't get the price for their produce, youths who don't find jobs after finishing studies and traders who bore the brunt of demonetisation and GST.
Ram temple tourism: Hospitality, travel industries create up to 20,000 jobs in Ayodhya
A surge in tourist inflows has already increased demand for accommodation and travel, “leading to a significant upswing in Ayodhya’s hospitality sector, with a particular focus on the establishment of adequate infrastructure to host travellers”, he said. “At least 10,000 jobs and up to about 20,000 positions were created in various roles related to hospitality, travel and tourism – including hotel staff, cooks, servers, drivers, etc. in the last six months,” said Balasubramanian A, vice president and head - consumer & ecommerce at TeamLease. According to several officials in the hospitality sector, thousands of jobs in areas such as hospitality managers, restaurant and hotel staff, logistics managers, drivers, etc are likely to open up towards the end of this year or the first half of 2025 – not just in Ayodhya but in neighbouring cities like Lucknow, Kanpur, Gorakhpur, etc - with hotel companies and restaurant owners keeping a close eye on how the demand-supply situation pans out.“In the next three-four months, we should get a clearer picture of the everyday traffic at the temple and the demand for manpower to cater to the devotees,” an industry executive said on condition of anonymity. According to estimates, Tirupati Balaji Temple, which is among the world’s richest temples and remains crowded all year round, attracts an average 50,000 daily devotees in a steady state and the number goes up to 100,000 on festival days or holidays.According to various estimates, the Ram Temple in Ayodhya is likely to see traffic of between 300,000 to 700,000 people in the first week post inauguration.However, most of these jobs are temporary in nature and the count may go up or down, depending on how the demand pans out and the number of devotees that visit the temple, industry experts said. Typically, a hotel from construction stage to getting operational takes about 3-4 years, said Nandivardhan Jain, chief executive of Noesis Capital Advisors. Typically, a hotel from construction stage to getting operational takes about 3-4 years, said Nandivardhan Jain, chief executive of Noesis Capital Advisors. However, in the case of Ayodhya, various permissions could be fast-tracked and, so, the demand for manpower is expected to pour in within the next 18 to 24 months, he added.Hotel companies are watching how the demand-supply situation pans out. Currently Ayodhya is short in supply with only two big, branded hotels – Park Inn by Radisson and Cygnet.
Cyprus faces backlash over use of British bases to bomb Houthis
The Cyprus government is facing growing criticism over British military bases on the island being used by UK and US forces to stage airstrikes on Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.President Nicos Christodoulides has been accused by activists of turning a blind eye to the risks the EU’s most easterly state might confront if the strategic facilities on the island continue to be deployed in military operations.The Guardian has learned that both the US ambassador and British high commissioner briefed the Cypriot president of imminent military action in Yemen before the first round of airstrikes last week.“There are ever more war planes taking off every day,” Tassos Costeas, a prominent Greek Cypriot peace activist, told the Guardian. “The dangers of Cyprus becoming a target are evident. The two installations, retained by the British after the country won independence in 1960 to end decades of colonial rule, operate as sovereign overseas territories beyond the reach of the republic. Both extend across 3% of Cyprus’s land mass, or 98 sq miles.Although never confirmed, EU diplomats in Nicosia, the island’s war-split capital, say US forces are present on the military installation. “If you look over the fence at Akrotiri you’ll see US military surveillance and other aircraft,” one said.On Tuesday, the Cyprus government’s spokesperson, Konstantinos Letymbiotis, emphasised the eastern Mediterranean island was not involved in any military operations, intimating that under the bases’ treaty of establishment, the UK was not obliged to inform Cypriot authorities about activity in the facilities. “The government is in constant communication with the UK within the framework established in relation to the bases’ use,” he said.Protests mounted last week after RAF Akrotiri was used as a launch pad for Typhoon fighter jets conducting targeted airstrikes on Houthi strongholds in Yemen in retaliation for attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea. The pro-Palestinian militia has justified its assaults – with one of its missiles recently hitting a Greek-owned cargo ship – by saying it was acting in response to Israel’s ongoing offensive. In an apparent attempt to calm nerves in Cyprus, the British defence minister, Grant Shapps, was on the island on Friday meeting the president. “We want to do everything possible to ensure the security of Cyprus, which is in everyone’s best interests. We appreciate that you are in a difficult neighbourhood and want to do everything possible to make it easier,” he said. The Houthis, he claimed, “do not pose an immediate threat to Cyprus”.The US and UK strikes have exacerbated concerns of the Israel-Gaza war becoming a wider regional conflagration. Washington and London have vowed to continue the airstrikes if necessary. Cypriot activists say they are deeply concerned the British bases may also be used by the US and UK to send military aid to Israel, a claim neither country has confirmed.At Sunday’s protest, demonstrators chanted “out with the bases of death” outside the entrance of RAF Akrotiri, close to the coastal city of Limassol in the island’s south.Within weeks of the Hamas attack, Israel’s Haaretz newspaper reported that “more than 40 US transport aircraft, 20 British transport aircraft and seven heavy transport helicopters [had] arrived at the British Akrotiri base on the island. They carried equipment, arms and forces.”
South Korea crowd crush: Seoul police chief charged over Halloween disaster in which 158 died
Seoul’s chief of police has been charged with professional negligence over the deadly Halloween crush in 2022 that killed nearly 160 people, prosecutors in the South Korean capital have said.Kim Kwang-ho, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (SMPA), was charged with professional negligence resulting in injury or death, Seoul’s western district prosecutors’ office said in a statement released on Friday.As the chief of the SMPA, it is alleged he “did not take necessary measures, such as deploying sufficient police forces and ensuring proper command and supervision” on the day of the crush, the statement claimed, although he was able to “foresee potential dangers arising” from overcrowding in the nightlife area.Kim, the highest-ranking police official to face trial over the tragedy, was charged without detention.On 29 October 2022, tens of thousands of people – mostly in their 20s and 30s – had been out to enjoy post-pandemic holiday celebrations in Seoul’s Itaewon nightlife district. But the night turned deadly when people poured into a narrow, sloping alleyway between bars and clubs, leading to a crowd crush.In January last year, Kim and 22 other officials from the police, rescue and district offices were referred to prosecutors by a special police investigation team for their alleged involvement in the government’s mishandling of the crush. Prosecutors subsequently charged the heads of the police station in Seoul’s Yongsan district, which includes Itaewon, and the Yongsan Ward office, but had been undecided about charging Kim for more than a year.Friday’s statement alleged Kim, “along with the chief of the Yongsan police station and the head of the Yongsan Ward office who are currently on trial, collectively caused the deaths of 158 individuals and injuries to 312 individuals as a result of professional negligence”.Families of the victims said they regretted the prosecution’s lengthy decision-making process before charging Kim.“Chief Kim must immediately step down from his position and face trial,” the families said in a statement. “President Yoon Suk-yeol must dismiss Kim immediately.”Here in the UK, the prime minister, Rishi Sunak, had promised us a government of stability and competence – not forgetting professionalism, integrity and accountability – after the rollercoaster ride of Boris Johnson and Liz Truss. Remember Liz? These days she seems like a long forgotten comedy act. Instead, Sunak took us even further through the looking-glass into the Conservative psychodrama. Elsewhere, the picture has been no better. In the US, Donald Trump is now many people’s favourite to become president again. In Ukraine, the war has dragged on with no end in sight. The danger of the rest of the world getting battle fatigue and losing interest all too apparent. Then there is the war in the Middle East and not forgetting the climate crisis …But a new year brings new hope. There are elections in many countries, including the UK and the US. We have to believe in change. That something better is possible. The Guardian will continue to cover events from all over the world and our reporting now feels especially important. But running a news gathering organisation doesn’t come cheap.
Three AAP Leaders Submit Nominations for the Rajya Sabha Elections on January 19
Delhi, New: Officials said that former Delhi Commission for Women chief Swati Maliwal, Aam Aadmi Party candidates for the Rajya Sabha elections on January 19 and N D Gupta and Sanjay Singh filed their nominations here on Monday. On January 27, Sanjay Singh, Sushil Kumar Gupta, and N D Gupta's six-year terms come to an end. The party has put forward Ms. Maliwal's name to succeed Sushil Gupta. The AAP has put ND Gupta and party leader Sanjay Singh in jail up for second terms.On January 19, if an election is required to fill the three positions, it will take place. Nominations must be submitted by January 9 in order to be considered; nominations will be reviewed on January 10. January 12 is the deadline for withdrawing a candidacy. On Friday, Ms. Maliwal tendered her resignation as the DCW chairperson following her nomination by the AAP for the Rajya Sabha.
Media companies rise sharply as election advertisement spending soars.
Expectations of increasing ad sales during the next election season, together with other stock-specific factors like lowering newsprint prices, have propelled media companies to an incredible five-day run.The Bennett, Coleman and Co. subsidiary Entertainment Network India Ltd (ENIL), which runs Radio Mirchi, has increased by 17% during the last five trading days. Rival print media company HT Media Ltd, which publishes Mint and Hindustan Times, saw a 2.65% increase over that time.DB Corp., the publisher of Dainik Bhaskar, and Network18 Media & Investments Ltd. and Sun TV, the television network operators, spearheaded the first boom. However, investors are now banking on print and radio companies as well. Over the last half-year, Network 18 and TV18 Broadcast Ltd have had gains of 87% and 53%, respectively, while DB Corp has experienced a 63% increase and Sun TV has seen a 35% increase.Moneycontrol spoke with analysts who linked the recent jump to anticipation of increasing ad revenues in the run-up to the elections, but stock-specific factors also played a part.Among the largest gainers from political party expenditure in the run-up to elections have been media corporations. Television, print, and radio media companies are expected to benefit from the upcoming advertising frenzy by the Bharatiya Janata Party and its competing political parties over the next six months.According to Karan Taurani, Senior Vice President at Elara Capital, "there is an expectation that advertisement spending will see a strong momentum over the next six to eight months due to the elections." He also added that the rally in media stocks is a result of the general elections' positive impact on radio, television, and print advertising.According to Ashish Goel, Managing Partner and CEO of InvestSavy PMS, political parties are expected to provide media firms with significant revenue growth.Indeed, the rise in advertising revenue in the last quarters of the fiscal years 2014 and 2019 (which happened to be years when there were parliamentary elections) was essentially the same as in years when there were no elections. According to a Moneycontrol research, in the fourth quarter of 2013–14, advertising sales climbed for Jagran Prakashan, HT Media, and DB Corp, respectively, by 12.7 percent, 14%, and 14.3 percent over the same period the previous year. These increases were consistent with the growth observed in non-election years.
Nagaland is the second stop of Rahul Gandhis Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, after Manipur.
Senior Congressmen Rahul Gandhi and others left for Manipur in anticipation of the party's "Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra."As the party prepares to launch its 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra,' former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, accompanied by other prominent figures including Salman Khurshid, Digvijaya Singh, and Ashok Gehlot, departed for Manipur on Sunday. The yatra would begin at a private location in the Thoubal district and travel through 100 Lok Sabha seats spread over 15 states. The district of Thoubal in Manipur's Khongjom is gearing up for the Congress march.News agency ANI earlier claimed that a special IndiGo flight meant to transport Congress officials to Imphal for the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra was delayed at the Delhi Airport.In the meantime, ahead of the Yatra, numerous hoardings and enormous cutouts of Rahul Gandhi were placed on the streets. Gandhi's Yatra will begin today in Thoubal and travel approximately 6,700 kilometers in 67 days, passing through 110 districts.The images from Thoubal, where the preparations were well underway, were released by ANI. Congressman Rahul Gandhi honored World War II soldiers at the Kohima War Cemetery in Nagaland on Tuesday as the third day of his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra began in Kohima. The 53-year-old left Thoubal, Manipur, to begin the Yatra.Leader of the Hamro Party Ajoy Edwards, who won the local body elections in Darjeeling in 2023, departed for Imphal on Saturday, January 13, in order to accompany Rahul Gandhi on his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, which is scheduled to begin on Sunday, January 14. The Nyay Yatra intends to travel more than 6,000 kilometers in total and is anticipated to arrive in Mumbai by the middle of March.A general overview of the new political alignment that is developing in the hills may be found in Edwards' involvement in the rally. Planning overseas with friends in the INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) grouping suggests that the Indian National Congress is trying to pursue a cooperative strategy. One goal would undoubtedly be to retain the Darjeeling parliamentary constituency, where the Congress formerly held a majority."A political party is organizing the yatra, but anyone in need of justice is welcome to participate in the march. According to Edwards, "We are walking for the Gorkhas who need justice," The Telegraph reported.In the North Bengal tea belt, where it had a long-standing strong base along with its trade union front, INTUC, the Congress has been trying to win back support there. Party insiders claim that after Edwards' December meeting with Gandhi, there were signs that the Hamro Party was inclined toward working with the Congress and could perhaps join the INDIA group. Gandhi will traverse Manipur to Assam on his yatra, and four days later, he would pass into Bengal from Baxirhat, which is located on the Assam–Bengal interstate boundary.According to The Telegraph, which cited party sources, the Nyay Yatra is scheduled to pass through Cooch Behar on January 26, Republic Day, when it arrives in Bengal.
Pongal Exhibitions The Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat Spirit Prime Minister Modi Takes Part in Festivities
Wearing traditional Tamil clothes, which included a black coat and white lungi, PM Modi took part in the rites before speaking to the crowd.At MoS L Murugan's Delhi home, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was present as he celebrated Pongal. Wearing traditional Tamil clothes, which included a black coat and white lungi, PM Modi took part in the rites before speaking to the crowd. "The festival of Pongal depicts the emotion of 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat'... This emotion of unity will give strength to the 'Viksit Bharat' of 2047," he remarked, discussing how Pongal represents the feeling of 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat'.Moreover, the Prime Minister discussed the Kashi and Shaurastra Tamil Sangamams, where people join with great passion and the feeling of 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat' is evident.On the occasions of Makar Sankranti and Bihu, PM Modi also sent greetings to the nation, stating, "Today, the nation observed the Lohri festival." I'd want to greet my fellow citizens on these holidays as some are commemorating Makar Sankranti today, while others will celebrate tomorrow. Magh Bihu is also approaching."Afterwards, PM Modi attended the cultural event hosted at MoS Murugan's home.Besides him, the governors of Telangana and Puducherry, Tamilisai Soundararajan, were also visiting MoS Murugan's house. Nirmala Sitharaman, the minister of finance, was also spotted sitting among the spectators.Participating in Pongal celebrations at Union minister of state L Murugan's home in New Delhi, the PM stated that the strongest factor in creating a "Viksit Bharat" by 2047 is the sense of oneness among people.New Delhi: As he sent his best wishes to all residents for the current holiday season, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated on Sunday that the Pongal celebration embodies the national ideal of "Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat."
Despite losing the Bat
Islamabad: Barrister Gohar Khan, the leader of the beleaguered Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, declared on Monday that his party would not abstain from the February 8 election, even though they were compelled to run without their cricket bat poll symbol. Mr. Gohar made his remarks a few days after the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party was forced to field its candidates as independents for the elections after losing its famous cricket bat, which served as its electoral symbol. "With God willing, we will participate fully in the elections," Mr. Gohar declared. He also mentioned that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party would release a list of its endorsed candidates along with their corresponding electoral symbols in three days.In a decision released late on Saturday, a three-judge Supreme Court panel maintained the Election Commission of Pakistan's (ECP) ruling from December 22, which had deemed the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's intra-party polls "unconstitutional" and removed the party's poll symbol. Speaking to the media outside the Adiala Jail, he claimed that the ruling of the top court was a "conspiracy against democracy" and that it had an impact on Pakistanis' fundamental rights. Additionally, he announced that the party would file a review petition against the ruling, pointing out that since the case involved Article 17 of the Constitution, a five-member bench of the top court should have heard the case.
