Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday said U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s talk of possibly annexing Canada was a tactic designed to distract people from the impact of his proposed tariffs.
Trump, who says he will impose 25% tariffs on all Canadian imports unless Ottawa boosts border security, on Tuesday said he was considering economic force to acquire Canada.
“What I think is happening in this is President Trump, who is a very skillful negotiator, is getting people to be somewhat distracted by that conversation,” Trudeau told CNN when asked about Trump’s remarks.
“Oil and gas and electricity and steel and aluminum and lumber and concrete and everything the American consumers buy from Canada (are) suddenly going to get a lot more expensive if he moves forward on these tariffs,” he said.
Trudeau, who this week said there was not “a snowball’s chance in hell” that Canada would become part of the United States, reiterated to CNN that Ottawa would impose countermeasures if Trump made good on this threat.
Trudeau recalled that during a bilateral trade dispute in 2018, Canada put tariffs on Heinz ketchup, playing cards, bourbon, and Harley Davidson motorcycles – “on things that would hurt American workers.”
He added: “But we don’t want to do that because it drives up prices for Canadians and it harms our closest trading partner.”
US President Joe Biden said Thursday the wildfires ravaging Los Angeles were the worst in California’s history, as he pledged extra federal funds and resources to help the state.
“This is the most widespread, devastating fire in California’s history,” Biden said as he convened a special meeting of senior administration officials at the White House.
He said people in Los Angeles were “living through a nightmare” and hailed as “heroes” the firefighters whom he said had been running into the flames to battle the blazes.
The outgoing president canceled a trip to Rome scheduled for Thursday to stay in Washington and coordinate the US government response to the fires, which have killed at least five people.
He said the federal government would cover 100 percent of costs of dealing with the disaster for the first 180 days, at the request of California’s Democratic governor Gavin Newsom.
Biden said he was surging 400 federal firefighters and 30 firefighting planes and helicopters to Los Angeles, while the Pentagon will send eight large planes and 500 wildfire clearance personnel.
Vice President and former presidential candidate Kamala Harris, who hails from California, described the fires as “apocalyptic.”
She also highlighted what she said were cases of insurance companies canceling coverage for families who lost property in the fire.
Biden meanwhile sought to debunk claims pushed by incoming president Donald Trump that there was a water shortage which had left firefighters struggling to put out the inferno.
Biden said the problem lay with power outages — after utility companies cut electricity amid fears that faulty power lines could spark more fires — that took water pumps offline.
Trump, who will be inaugurated for his second term on January 20, has used the fires to launch political attacks on Biden and Newsom.
Chandra Arya, Member of Parliament for Nepean, announced on Thursday that he would join the race to become the next Prime Minister of Canada.
In a video statement, Arya emphasised that he would lead an efficient government to rebuild the nation.
“I am running to be the next Prime Minister of Canada to lead a small, more efficient government to rebuild our nation and secure prosperity for future generations. I have always worked hard for what is best for Canadians. For the sake of our children and grandchildren, we must make bold decisions that are absolutely necessary,” he said.
I am running to be the next Prime Minister of Canada to lead a small, more efficient government to rebuild our nation and secure prosperity for future generations. We are facing significant structural problems that haven’t been seen for generations and solving them will require… pic.twitter.com/GJjJ1Y2oI5
“If elected, as the next leader of the Liberal Party, I offer my knowledge and expertise to do so. We are facing significant structural problems that haven’t been seen for generations and solving them will require tough choices. Our economic growth and fiscal strength are not benefiting many Canadians. Today, many Canadians, especially younger generations, face significant affordability issues,” he said.
My full statement. More details, including expanding policy proposals stated in this statement, will be updated on my website https://t.co/Wiq07oCsOy which will be operational later today. 2/2 pic.twitter.com/mKLPkaITMK
He also promised that he would revitalise the economy if elected.
“The working middle class is struggling today and many working families are retiring directly into poverty. We must make tough decisions now, not only to revitalize our economy but also to ensure a stable society. I have the solutions and the real determination to make it happen. With prudence and pragmatism as my guiding principles, I will make the big and bold decisions needed to rebuild our economy and foster prosperity for all generations,” he said.
Arya vowed to create better economic opportunities for Canadians.
“Canada can do better. Imagine a country where our younger generation has equal opportunities, economic freedom, and financial security. Imagine a Canada where entrepreneurs are unshackled and unleashed, driving economic growth for prosperity. Imagine a nation where our children and grandchildren embrace family values and take pride in a renewed, vibrant, Canadian identity. Canada deserves leadership that isn’t afraid to make big decisions. Decisions that rebuild our economy, restore hope, create equal opportunities for all Canadians and secure prosperity for our children and grandchildren. Bold political decisions are not optional, they are necessary. I am stepping forward to take on this responsibility and lead Canada as its next Prime Minister,” he said.
Arya asked Canadians to join him on his journey.
“Join me in this journey. Let’s rebuild, revitalize and secure the future for all Canadians and for generations to come,” he said.
This announcement comes after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Monday that he would resign as leader of the Liberal Party and as Prime Minister as soon as a new candidate is found for the post. He said that the Canadian Parliament would be prorogued or suspended until March 24.
Chinese President Xi Jinping will send a high-level envoy to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, the Financial Times reported on Thursday.
Beijing has told Trump’s transition team that the official would attend instead of Xi, the report said, citing several people familiar with the talks.
Following the tragic stampede at the Tirupati Balaji Temple, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday announced an ex-gratia of Rs 25 lakh for the families of the deceased, along with providing contract jobs. The injured will also be granted special darshan at the temple on Friday.
The announcement came after CM Naidu visited the site of the stampede, which took place on January 8 and resulted in the loss of six lives, with nearly 40 people sustaining injuries.
“Rs 25 Lakhs ex-gratia and contract job will be provided to the families of the deceased. 35 injured victims will be provided darshan tomorrow,” said CM.
Speaking about the incident, Mr Naidu assured that a judicial inquiry would be ordered to conduct a thorough investigation and provide a detailed report.
“Judicial inquiry will be ordered into the incident to submit a detailed report. Two officials – Goshala director Arunadh Reddy and one police personnel have been suspended. SP, AEO Gautami and one more person are being transferred,” he added.
Mr Naidu further acknowledged that the security arrangements for crowd management had “failed”.
“I’m not blaming anyone. I’ve been in politics for the last 45 years. Security was deployed but more precautions should have been taken. The officials who were deployed failed. If they had released them half an hour or one hour prior, this wouldn’t have happened. Better coordination is required,” said the Chief Minister
Meanwhile, YSRCP chief and former CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy visited Tirupati to meet with the victims and offer support.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin also expressed his condolences and announced financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh to the families of the victims who died in the stampede.
Days before president-elect Donald Trump’s second term begins at the White House, the world is on the edge. Canada, Greenland and Panama are at stunned as Trump threatens plans of invasion. Political Analyst Garland Nixon talks about what it tell us about Trump’s foreign policy, or as Nixon puts it, ‘bullying’. Watch the video for details.
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Hundreds of Panamanians marched on Thursday to mark the anniversary of a deadly uprising against U.S. control of the Panama Canal in 1964, with some protesters burning an effigy of President-elect Donald Trump who has threatened to retake the vital global waterway.
More than 20 Panamanians, many of them students, died during violent clashes across the country in January 1964, which escalated after U.S. security forces opened fire in response to mass demonstrations against the U.S. presence in the country and control of the canal. At least three U.S. soldiers also died.
The incident, remembered every January 9 as “Martyrs’ Day,” is regarded as paving the way for the eventual transfer of the canal to Panama in 1999. It also serves as a reminder of a bloody past that still dominates national feeling over the canal in Panama, at a time of rising tension with Trump.
“Today is a day to remember the sacrifice of our martyrs, but also to say to the world that Panama is sovereign and the canal is ours,” said Sebastian Quiroz, an 84-year-old retired unionist who was a student during the uprising.
The marching crowd chanted “spilled blood will never be forgotten” and “hands off Panama” as they approached the monument of the eternal flame, built to remember those that died in 1964. Earlier in the day President Jose Raul Mulino laid a wreath at the site in a formal ceremony.
Trump on Tuesday refused to rule out using military or economic pressure to seize control of the canal, an 82-km (51-mile) artificial waterway connecting the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans that is a core international shipping route.
The president-elect has criticized the cost of moving goods through the canal and derided Chinese influence in the area. China does not control or administer the canal, but a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Holdings has long managed two ports located on the canal’s Caribbean and Pacific entrances.
Panama has strongly rebuked Trump’s threats.
“The only hands that control the canal are Panamanian and that’s how it will continue,” Foreign Minister Javier Martinez-Acha told reporters on Tuesday.
Ivan Quintero, a 59-year-old university worker attending the march, said no government could take away what Panamanians had fought so long for.
“Mr. Trump has been very disrespectful in threatening to take the canal away from us,” he said. “He has to learn to show respect.”
Historically, Greenland has been a part of several countries. Though early settlers reached the island many centuries ago, it was only in the last few centuries that claims were made over the territory.
When Denmark and Norway were one country known as the Dano-Norwegian Realm (Det dansk-norske rige), explorers and settlers from the country sailed to Greenland, then known as Kalaallit Nunaat, and claimed sovereignty over the territory. When Denmark and Norway separated in 1814, it was agreed between them that the colony of Greenland would henceforth be transferred to the Danish crown.
Greenland remained a territory of the Danish crown for nearly 140 years till Denmark was taken over by Nazi Gernamy. Under the code name ‘Operation Weserubung’, Nazi Germany attacked Denmark and Norway on April 9, 1940. Within a day Denmark surrendered and was occupied. At this time Greenland briefly became part of Hitler’s territory. But knowing Greenland’s strategic location, the United States acted swiftly and took control of Greenland before Hitler’s forces could land boots on the ground.
Greenland became a part of the United States and was under its control for five years between 1940 and 1945. At the end of World War II, five days after Hitler’s death, Denmark was liberated from German occupation on May 5, 1945. Months later, the US decided to return Greenland to Denmark. In 1953, Denmark officially integrated Greenland as a part of its country. This made the people in Greenland citizens of Denmark.
But administration of such a vast island from Denmark, located 3,000 kilometers across the Norwegian Sea (Atlantic Ocean) became a problem. People in Greenland weren’t happy. On May 1, 1979, Denmark decided to hand over governance to a large extent to residents of Greenland, allowing them ‘home rule’. But Denmark kept all matters of foreign affairs and security with itself – which is still the case till the current day.
Greenland however, has its own parliament, Inatsisartut, and sends two MPs to the Danish parliament, Folketing. With time, Greenlanders, as they are now called, started demanding complete independence. There was widespread outrage after Denmark came into an agreement with the United States to allow the US to set up its military base ‘Pituffik’ and ballistic missile command and early warning systems in Greenland during the peak of the Cold War with Russia. The US had started storing large amounts of its nuclear weapons stockpile in Greenland, and in 1968, a US military jet with four hydrogen bombs on-board had even crashed in Greenland.
Ties between Greenland and Denmark had soured even before home rule was implemented – when a mass-contraceptive scandal in the 1960s and 1970s ripped through the nation. For this Greenland’s prime minister had blamed Denmark, calling it ‘mass murder’ and ‘genocide’.
Even today, Greenland is not entirely free from colonial rule as Denmark controls security and foreign policy. This means any possible negotiations with Donald Trump would be done by Denmark and not directly by Greenland. This complicates the equation as Denmark has the final say in this uncertainty that looms over Greenland.
Donald Trump has said amply clearly that US needs full control of Greenland, and has described ownership of the island as “absolutely necessary” for the United States. This is not the first time Donald Trump has eyed Greenland. According to Donald Trump himself confirming reports, in 2019 too, he had asked his close advisers on ways to buy out Greenland entirely. He had called it “essentially a large real estate deal”.
Greenland is a very resource-rich island. It is rich in oil and gas reserves. It also has a massive supply of rare earth materials and raw materials required for green technologies. China is also looking to increase its presence in Greenland, and with Beijing controlling much of the world’s exports of crucial raw materials while threatening export curbs on it, Washington wants to avert that eventuality. By buying out Greenland, Trump believes he can stop China from dominating the world of technology and rare materials. Such is the urgency, that Donald Trump has even threatened the use of the military to take control of Greenland, should the need arise.
A couple and their three children were found dead at their residence in the Lisadi Gate Police Station area here on Thursday night, police said.
Meerut Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Vipin Tada, who visited the crime scene, said the police received a call about a locked house.
Upon reaching the location, the officers found out that the house had been locked from outside, he added.
“After gaining access through the roof, they found the bodies of Moin, his wife Asma and their three daughters — Afsa (8), Aziza (4) and Adiba (1),” Mr Tada told reporters.
“The manner in which the house was locked suggests that the individual involved in the crime may have been someone known to the family,” he said.
The SSP said the preliminary investigations point towards an old enmity as the possible motive behind the incident.
“A detailed investigation is underway,” he added.
The SSP further said the legs of one of the deceased were found tied with a bedsheet, adding a forensic team and senior officers are collecting evidence from the site.
The family had recently moved to the area and the police are investigating their background to find out more details, he added.
Moin, a mechanic by profession, and his wife Asma had been missing since Wednesday.
Moin’s brother Salim was the first to witness the horrifying scene.
Extremely concerned over his brother’s whereabouts, Salim arrived at Moin’s house with his wife.
After several unsuccessful attempts to open the door, they forced entry with the help of neighbours.
They found the bodies of Moin and Asma lying on the ground, while the bodies of the children were hidden in a bed box.
India ranks 85th among the top passports worldwide in the Henley Passport Index 2025. The index ranks countries based on the number of destinations their citizens can access without a prior visa. The Indian passport offers visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 57 destinations.
Singapore and Japan have secured the top two spots. Singapore leads the rankings, offering its citizens visa-free access to 195 destinations, followed by Japan with access to 193 destinations.
On the other end of the list, Afghanistan ranks last at 106th, with its citizens gaining visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to only 26 destinations. Pakistan also remains among the weakest, ranking lower than Somalia and North Korea.
Strongest Passports in the Henley Passport Index 2025
Top 10 Rankings
Singapore: 195
Japan: 193
Tied for 3rd:
Finland: 192
France: 192
Germany: 192
Italy: 192
South Korea: 192
Spain: 192
Tied for 4th:
Austria: 191
Denmark: 191
Ireland: 191
Luxembourg: 191
Netherlands: 191
Norway: 191
Sweden: 191
Tied for 5th:
Belgium: 190
New Zealand: 190
Portugal: 190
Switzerland: 190
United Kingdom: 190
Tied for 6th:
Australia: 189
Greece: 189
Tied for 7th:
Canada: 188
Malta: 188
Poland: 188
Tied for 8th:
Czechia: 187
Hungary: 187
Tied for 9th:
Estonia: 186
United States: 186
Tied for 10th:
Latvia: 185
Lithuania: 185
Slovenia: 185
United Arab Emirates: 185
Weakest Passports in the Henley Passport Index 2025
Bottom 10 Rankings
106. Afghanistan: 26
105. Syria: 27 destinations
104. Iraq: 31 destinations
103. Tied for 103rd:
Yemen: 33
Pakistan: 33
102. Somalia: 35
101. Nepal: 39
100. Tied for 100th:
Palestinian Territory: 40
Libya: 40
Bangladesh: 40
99. North Korea: 41
98. Eritrea: 42
97. Sudan: 43
The Henley Passport Index gets its data from the International Air Transport Authority (IATA). To keep it accurate, the team checks each passport against 227 travel destinations using trusted sources such as government websites and news.
In the whirlwind of Maharashtra politics, it doesn’t take long for friends to turn into foes. And vice versa, at times. In the midst of political attacks and allegations, especially during elections and the Parliament sessions, praises for the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) – ideological mentor of the BJP – have poured in from the opposition camp.
Sharad Pawar, the architect behind the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance and a key ally of the Congress, has praised the BJP and Sangh’s management for ensuring victory in the recently held assembly elections, according to sources.
The November elections saw the BJP returning to power in Maharashtra with the help of its allies – NCP and Shiv Sena – and Sharad Pawar’s party put up its worst performance.
Speaking about the election results, Mr Pawar said yesterday the organization committee of the Sangh and BJP succeeded in reaching every house due to proper planning, the sources suggest.
The former chief minister, who now heads a smaller faction of the Nationalist Congress Party after a split by his nephew Ajit Pawar, made the remarks at a two-day meeting of his party. All MPs and MLAs are attending the conclave being held at the YB Chavan Centre in Mumbai.
No major decision regarding organisational changes is likely to be taken at the meeting.
The Henley Passport Index 2025 has revealed a significant drop in India’s ranking, slipping five places from 80th to 85th, in the list of the world’s most powerful passports. This ranking is based on the number of destinations that can be accessed visa-free, using exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
As of the latest standings, Indian passport holders can travel visa-free to 57 destinations, sharing the 85th rank with Equatorial Guinea and Niger. In contrast, Singapore has maintained its top spot, with its passport holders enjoying visa-free access to an impressive 195 destinations worldwide.
Singapore (195 destinations)
Japan (193)
France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Finland, South Korea (192)
Belgium, New Zealand, Portugal, Switzerland, United Kingdom (190)
Greece, Australia (189)
Canada, Poland, Malta (188)
Hungary, Czechia (187)
Estonia, United States (186)
Lithuania, Latvia, Slovenia, United Arab Emirates (185)
The top 10 list is dominated by European countries, with Japan, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, South Korea, and Spain all securing spots. The UAE has made significant strides, climbing 32 places to secure the 10th spot, with visa-free access to 185 destinations worldwide.
In a surprising turn of events, the US has plummeted seven places from 2nd to 9th, with experts attributing this decline to the country’s increasingly inward-looking and isolationist political trends. Annie Pforzheimer, Senior Associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, noted that “American political trends had become notably inward-looking and isolationist… voters during the 2024 presidential campaign were fed a narrative that America can (and should) stand alone.”
On the other end of the spectrum, countries like Pakistan, Yemen, Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan continue to face significant travel restrictions, with limited visa-free access to destinations worldwide. Afghanistan, in particular, remains at the bottom of the Henley Passport Index, with its passport holders facing the largest mobility gap in the index’s 19-year history.
India’s ranking has experienced fluctuations over the years, reaching its highest rank of 71st in 2006. The country’s ranking dropped significantly in 2021, likely due to global travel restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, India’s ranking has shown signs of recovery since 2021, moving up to 80th in 2024 before dropping to 85th in 2025.
Speeches by Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam and others created a sense of fear after a common reference to CAA-NRC, Babri mosque, triple talaq and Kashmir, police argued before the Delhi High Court on Thursday.
Opposing their bail pleas before Justices Navin Chawla and Shalinder Kaur, police made its submissions in the UAPA case related to the violence which took place in northeast Delhi in February 2020.
“Speeches by Meeran (Haider), Sharjeel Imam, Khalid Saifi and Umar Khalid show a common pattern… All are on identical lines. They create a sense of fear in the people hearing them..(by talking about) CAA-NRC, Babri, triple talaq and Kashmir,” said special public prosecutor Amit Prasad.
He said aside from the speeches, Umar Khalid gave an “objectionable speech in Amravati” which was made “viral” at the relevant time.
He accused Umar Khalid of deliberately travelling outside Delhi at the time when violence erupted in the capital to evade any responsibility.
“There was a concerted plan to remain outside Delhi… When violence broke out, there was immediate reaction,” he said.
Khalid, Imam and others were charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and provisions of the IPC for allegedly being the “masterminds” of the violence, which left 53 people dead and over 700 injured.
The violence erupted during the protests against the CAA and NRC.
While challenging the trial court orders refusing bail, Khalid and others cited their long incarceration and parity with other co-accused who were granted bail.
SPP Prasad also referred to the statements of several protected witnesses to establish the accused persons were not “innocent bystanders” who merely organised protest sites, but planned to cause violence through WhatsApp groups, resulting in registration of 751 FIRs related to the riots.
He alleged the existence of meetings between various accused persons to show “meeting of minds”; the transportation and use of women for stone pelting and strategic management of protest sites by Jamia students.
“Each action was concerted and had a pattern.. It is important to appreciate the size of the violence. When we are looking at ‘terrorist act’, we have to fall within its meaning, whether the city was held to ransom,” said Prasad.
Some of the accused played a role in February 2020 and the December 13, 2019, violence, he said.
Prasad reiterated the accused in the present batch of cases could not claim any parity with those accused who were granted bail by the high court in 2021 on account of the Supreme Court’s order clarifying it would not be treated as a precedent.
The matter would be heard on January 21.
Prasad, in the meantime, was directed to prepare a short note of his submissions to explain the alleged conspiracy and other allegations.
Most bail pleas, including the ones by Imam, Gulfisha Fatima and Khalid Saifi, were filed in 2022, and heard by different benches from time to time.
Khalid moved the high court in 2024 seeking bail for the second time, after his plea was dismissed by the high court in October, 2022.
China’s Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has said that it had detected the new mutated mpox strain clade Ib. The Chinese Health authorities have declared that they have found a cluster outbreak of the Ib subclade that started with the infection of a foreigner who has a history of travel and residence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Later, four more cases have been found in people who were in close contact with the infected individual. The patients’ symptoms are mild and include skin rash and blisters.
Last August, WHO declared mpox a global public health emergency for the second time in two years, following an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that spread to neighbouring countries. These recent cases in China indicate that viral infection continues to spread to more countries.
The variant has spread from DRC to neighbouring countries, including Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, triggering the emergency declaration from the WHO.
Know more about mpox
Mpox is an infectious disease that causes flu-like symptoms with pus-filled lesions on the body. A painful rash, enlarged lymph nodes, fever, headache, muscle ache, back pain and low energy are a few symptoms of mpox. These symptoms are usually mild but can be fatal in rare cases.
According to the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, so far, clade Ib has a lower case fatality rate than clade Ia mpox.
The clade Ib variant appears to spread more easily through routine close contact, including sexual contact.
Treatment and vaccination
Getting vaccinated against mpox is the best way to prevent it. Treatment usually involves supportive care that can help control symptoms. There is no proven effective antiviral treatment for mpox.
Complication of mpox
Some complications of mpox include:
Loss of vision
Inflammation around heart
Bacterial infection
Pneumonia
Severe scarring
Inflammation in brain
China said in August last year it would monitor people and goods entering the country for mpox.
(With inputs from Reuters)
Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for a qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.
The Uttar Pradesh government has extended invitations to popular artists from across the country including singer Shankar Mahadevan Mohit Chauhan, Shaan and Kailash Kher to perform at the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025, according to Ministry of Culture press release.
The grand cultural event will take place from January 16 to February 24 in Prayagraj, with an impressive lineup of popular artists from various fields.
The festivities will begin with a performance by Mahadevan on the opening day, while Mohit Chauhan will close the event with his soulful music on the final day. Throughout the Maha Kumbh, several acclaimed artists, including Kailash Kher, Shaan Mukherjee, Hariharan, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Kavita Seth, Rishab Rikhiram Sharma, Shovana Narayan, Dr. L Subramaniam, Bickram Ghosh, Malini Awasthi, and many others, will perform at the event while creating a mesmerizing spiritual environment for the devotees, said Ministry of Culture in a press release.
Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited Prayagraj to review the preparations for the Maha Kumbh. He visited various akharas and met sadhus.
During his visit, the CM also took the ‘Nishadraj’ cruise in the Sangam ghat area and reviewed preparations. He was accompanied by officials during the visit.
Earlier, speaking about the security and safety arrangements, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak said that the administration has deployed 125 ambulances that have been equipped with 15 advanced life support (ASL) systems, which extend basic life support in case of emergency.
“One hundred and twenty-five road ambulances have been equipped with 15 Advance Life Support (ALS). Additionally, air ambulances and seven river ambulances have also been deployed. Of the seven river ambulances, you will get to see one of them being deployed today and the rest will be stationed from tomorrow. The government has made proper arrangements to deal with any kind of situation,” Pathak told ANI.
Inspector General of Police, Prayagraj Tarun Gaba on Wednesday said that a 7-layer security scheme is being implemented to avert any untoward incident in the mass religious gathering.
“Mahakumbh 2025 is the biggest gathering of humanity… We are committed to providing good arrangements here and the Mahakumbh festival should be celebrated in a very safe and orderly manner… We are ensuring impenetrable and foolproof security here. We have implemented a 7-layer security scheme in which people will be checked and suspicious persons will be identified at different levels. We are also coordinating with different agencies including state and centre agencies,” Tarun Gaba said.
“We are also trying to utilise AI-enabled cameras and using a total of 2700 cameras. And we are taking all necessary action to ensure a safe and secure completion of Maha Kumbh,” he added.
The Mahakumbh is being celebrated after 12 years, and over 45 crore devotees are expected for the event. During the Mahakumbh, devotees will gather at the Sangam, the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers, to take a holy dip believed to absolve sins and grant moksha (liberation). The Mahakumbh will conclude on February 26.
The main bathing rituals (Shahi Snan) of the Kumbh will take place on January 14 (Makar Sankranti), January 29 (Mauni Amavasya), and February 3 (Basant Panchami).
The World Economic Forum (WEF) released a comprehensive research report on Wednesday, outlining key factors expected to influence the future of jobs in India by 2030. The study takes into account critical elements such as geopolitical tensions, climate change mitigation efforts, and technological advancements. Notably, Indian businesses are set to make significant investments in robotics, autonomous systems, and artificial intelligence (AI), which are anticipated to reshape the job market.
The WEF’s ‘Future of Jobs 2025’ report forecasts that India will see the fastest growth in job categories such as Big Data Specialists, AI and Machine Learning Specialists, and Security Management Specialists. These fields are set to dominate the employment landscape as industries continue to embrace emerging technologies.
In an effort to address the growing demand for talent, the report reveals that 67% of companies in India are prioritising diverse talent pools, compared to 47% globally. Additionally, 30% of businesses are adopting skills-based hiring practices by eliminating degree requirements, a significant increase over the global average of 19%.
The report also highlights major trends shaping India’s future workforce, including increased digital access, geopolitical tensions, and climate-mitigation initiatives. Like their global counterparts, Indian companies are heavily investing in AI, robotics, autonomous systems, and energy technologies. Notably, 35% of Indian employers are expecting semiconductors and computing technologies to transform operations, while 21% anticipate breakthroughs in quantum computing and encryption.
In line with these technological advancements, 96% of Indian organizations are already implementing AI programmes, surpassing the global average of 88%. The demand for AI skills has surged, with India and the US holding the top positions in generative AI training enrollments on platforms like Coursera. Corporate sponsorship is playing a crucial role in boosting participation in these programmes, according to the report.
The research is based on the opinions of over 1,000 enterprises that employ more than 14 million people worldwide. These companies provided insights on the evolving job market, shifting skill requirements, and workforce strategies they are adopting to stay ahead in the face of change.
The report also addresses the demographic shifts affecting the global labor market. With the workforce in higher-income countries shrinking due to aging populations, countries like India and those in Sub-Saharan Africa, which have a growing working-age population, are expected to account for nearly two-thirds of new workforce entrants in the coming years.
The Special Investigation Team investigating the murder of Mukesh Chandrakar, whose body was found in a septic tank last week, has said the journalist was killed by his cousins who were enraged by his reportage on corruption in road construction contracts, some of which involved them.
Mukesh, an independent journalist who also contributed to NDTV, practised his craft in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar division, an area which is notoriously difficult for reporters.
The 32-year-old journalist was last seen leaving his home in Bijapur’s Pujari Para on New Year’s Day. His brother, Yukesh, filed a missing complaint the next day and informed the police about the last location updated on the journalist’s phone: a shed owned by his cousin and contractor Suresh Chandrakar in Chhatan Para Basti, not very far from their home.
A note by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) said police found 17 rooms for workers, which were locked, and a newly cemented septic tank. Suresh claimed the tank was cemented as part of renovations, but officials grew suspicious.
Call detail records revealed that Mukesh’s last two calls were from another cousin Ritesh Chandrakar, who is Suresh’s brother. CCTV footage revealed that Ritesh was seen on January 2 at Kondagaon toll plaza and later at Raipur airport, boarding a flight to Delhi. This deepened suspicions.
Police then took Dinesh Chandrakar, another of Mukesh’s cousins and brother of Suresh and Ritesh, into custody from Bijapur hospital. After hours of interrogation, he confessed that Ritesh and one of their supervisors, Mahendra Ramteke, murdered Mukesh using an iron rod and hid his body in the septic tank.
On January 3, police uncovered Mukesh’s body from the septic tank, in the presence of forensics and administrative officials.
Strangled, Stabbed
Mukesh, the SIT note said, had exposed corruption in road construction contracts linked to his cousins, leading to investigations against Suresh. This angered Suresh, Ritesh, Dinesh and Mahendra, who hatched a plan to kill the journalist.
On January 1, Mukesh was lured to the shed by Ritesh on the pretext of having dinner together. He was beaten, strangled, and stabbed. The body was hidden in the septic tank, which was later sealed with cement.
Mukesh’s phones were smashed and thrown into the Tumnar River to destroy evidence.
Suresh was arrested in Hyderabad on January 5 with the assistance of the Maharashtra, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh police.
The SIT note said tools like artificial intelligence and open source intelligence (OSINT) were used to analyse digital evidence, including over 100 call records and deleted mobile data.
The crime scene was recreated twice to verify the confessions. Forensic teams also recovered critical evidence, including the murder weapon and blood-stained clothes.
After meeting with Joint Commissioner of Crime Branch of Mumbai Police Lakhmi Gautam, Nationalist Congress Party leader and son of former MLA and NCP leader Baba Siddique, Zeeshan Siddiqui on Thursday expressed dissatisfaction over the investigation in his father’s murder and said that the law and order have been made a joke in Mumbai.
“I had given the names of those whom I suspect in my statement. When I asked if all of them had been questioned, I was told that they had not been questioned. When I asked the police why the statements of those builders were not recorded, they did not give me a satisfactory answer. Seeing this, I feel that law and order are being made a joke in Mumbai. This is not a fair investigation, for I will now meet our leader and Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Ajit Pawar. I will also meet Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who was my father’s friend. I hope I will get justice. I will take every possible step that I feel is right to get justice,” said Zeeshan Siddiqui while speaking to the media.
“After my father was killed, it was said that Bishnoi had done it. Why was this narrative set? I am not denying this but if it has been done by the Bishnoi gang, then the accused must be brought back to India. This is condemnable,” he added.
Notably, Baba Siddique was an NCP leader who was shot dead by three assailants near his son, MLA Zeeshan Siddique’s, office in Mumbai’s Nirmal Nagar on October 12.
The Lawrence Bishnoi gang claimed responsibility for the NCP leader’s murder.
Mumbai Police’s investigation into the Baba Siddiqui murder case has revealed that prime suspect Akashdeep Gill, arrested in Punjab, used a labourer’s mobile hotspot to communicate with key conspirators, including mastermind Anmol Bishnoi, police said.
Gill was identified as the logistics coordinator in the murder plot orchestrated by notorious gangster Anmol Bishnoi.
According to the information received from a senior officer of the Mumbai Crime Branch, the investigation of the Mumbai Crime Branch has revealed that after the murder of Baba Siddiqui, a big leader of Pune was also on the radar of the Bishnoi gang.
Musk Interview LIVE: Elon Musk-Alice Weidel Interview on X | Germany Election News | European Union
Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur and owner of X (formerly Twitter), is set to host Alice Weidel, the co-leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, in a live conversation. This highly anticipated discussion comes amid heightened political tensions in Germany, which faces a snap election on February 23.
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The ongoing selection process for BJP district presidents in Madhya Pradesh has turned into a heated political affair. Despite continuous meetings among senior leaders, a consensus on the names of district presidents remains elusive. Sources told NDTV that internal divisions and favouritism among senior party leaders have stalled the process, with some even sidelining names suggested by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
The political atmosphere at the BJP state office is anything but cold. Party workers in the state have expressed their views on the selection process and the deadlock has escalated, prompting several senior leaders to camp in Delhi to resolve the impasse.
BJP State General Secretary Bhagwan Das Sabnani, emphasized the adherence to guidelines, saying, “The process of selection of district presidents is going on in the BJP state organization. District presidents will be selected as per all guidelines now.”
Amid deliberations, fake lists and hoardings have gone viral, adding to the confusion. Former minister Gopal Bhargava urged party workers and leaders to exercise patience. “Everything will be clear after the meeting in a day or two. One waits, and the fruit of waiting is sweet,” he said.
Sources reveal that a key criteria being considered for finalizing district presidents — Presidents who have been in office for over four years will not be repeated. Those serving for less than 1.5 years may get a second chance. Candidates with no opposition will be prioritized. A panel of three names will be shortlisted based on merit, with a special focus on women and SC-ST representation, with 12-16 women likely to be appointed among the 60 organizational districts.
The Congress has criticized the BJP’s selection process, alleging it lacks transparency. Congress leader Bhupendra Gupta claimed, “Claims are made to conduct the most democratic elections, but slips are being sought. Names have already been decided; the district president will be selected based on these slips.”
The selection process faces further delays in major cities like Bhopal, Jabalpur, Indore, and Gwalior due to unresolved disagreements. The names of these crucial districts remain on hold as senior leaders struggle to reach a consensus.
The Election Commission on Thursday asked its Delhi chief electoral officer to probe the Aam Aadmi Party’s complaints against BJP leader Parvesh Verma and allegations of additions and deletions in the electoral roll of the New Delhi Assembly seat.
Hours after Delhi Chief Minister and AAP leader Atishi led a delegation to the poll authority, the Commission directed the CEO to get the complaint inquired into, ascertain the actual facts, and take “immediate appropriate action” as per the provisions of the Model Code of Conduct and electoral laws.
“Action Taken Report shall also be sent to the Commission,” EC told its top official in Delhi.
An AAP delegation met the Commission on Thursday to raise allegations of violation of the Model Code of Conduct against Verma, the BJP’s candidate from the New Delhi seat.
They also raised allegations of additions and deletions in the electoral roll of the Assembly constituency of New Delhi. A copy of the complaint by AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal against Verma was also submitted to the Commission by the party delegation.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday claimed that Gangasagar Mela is “bigger than Kumbh Mela” and thus the Centre should accord national fair status to it.
She said that the Centre provides thousands of crores of rupees for holding the Kumbh Mela, but the West Bengal government has to make all provisions for the annual Gangasagar Mela, held at Kapil Muni temple at the confluence of river Ganga and the Bay of Bengal on the occasion of Makar Sankranti.
“We have been trying to get the national fair status for the Gangasagar Mela in vain for the last 10 years,” Mamata Banerjee said after inaugurating the fair from Outram Ghat transit point on the bank of river Ganga (Hooghly) here.
“This is no less than Kumbh Mela, but is bigger than that,” she said adding that announcements will be made at the fair site in various languages for pilgrims coming from all corners of the country.
She said that it is easy to reach Kumbh Mela by road, air and train, but it is very difficult to go to Sagar Island, which is situated around 130 km from Kolkata, since the pilgrims have to cross a river by ferry on the way.
“If you see from the angle of difficulty in transit, Gangasagar Mela is much tougher than Kumbh Mela,” she said.
She said that one has to cross river Muriganga and then travel by road again for 30 kms.
Mamata Banerjee said that 32 vessels and 100 motor launches have been arranged for the pilgrims to cross the river, which will run for 20 hours a day.
The CM said that around 4,000 to 5,000 buses come from different places across the country with pilgrims.
She said that several NGOs and other institutions, apart from the police and administration, work in tandem to ensure safe and smooth pilgrimage during the fair from January 9 to January 17.
Mamata Banerjee said that her government abolished the pilgrimage tax, which used to be levied earlier, for the Gangasagar Mela.
She said that to facilitate the pilgrims to avoid any language-related barriers as they come from various corners of the country, the state government has arranged for volunteers to accompany each bus travelling to and from Gangasagar.
“Our government has arranged for an insurance cover of Rs five lakh for everyone visiting Gangasagar Mela from January 9 to 17,” Mamata Banerjee said.
The CM said that extensive medical facilities have been made for the pilgrims with a 550-bed hospital, air ambulance, water ambulance and other infrastructure.
The CM said that her government has been urging the central government for the last 10 years to construct a bridge over river Muriganga so that the fair site can be connected directly by road from Kolkata, but nothing has been done yet.
“So we have decided to construct the bridge on our own and have already allotted Rs 1,500 crore for the project,” she said.
Mamata Banerjee said that a detailed project report (DPR) has been completed and the tendering process for the project has also been done.
“It will take two to three years to complete the construction of the five-km long four-lane bridge,” she said.
Assuring devotees all amenities for a hassle-free pilgrimage, Mamata Banerjee said that the pilgrims are guests of the state and should always feel at home during their stay here.
The Centre’s panel on Delhi-NCR’s air quality on Thursday re-implemented stage 3 curbs under the Graded Response Action Plan amid a sharp rise in air pollution levels owing to unfavourable meteorological conditions, according to an official order.
Delhi’s air pollution levels showed an increasing trend and the 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) stood at 357 at 4 pm, up from 297 on Wednesday, owing to “calm winds and foggy conditions”.
The Commission for Air Quality Management, responsible for strategising air pollution mitigation in Delhi-NCR, directed authorities in the region to immediately implement curbs prescribed under stage 3 to prevent further worsening of the situation.
GRAP Stage 3, which was revoked on Sunday, entails a ban on non-essential construction work.
Classes up to grade V are required to shift to hybrid mode under Stage 3. Parents and students have the option to choose online education wherever available.
Under Stage 3, the use of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel cars (4-wheelers) is restricted in Delhi and nearby NCR districts. Persons with disabilities are exempt.
Stage 3 also bans non-essential diesel-operated medium goods vehicles with BS-IV or older standards in Delhi.
During winters, the Delhi-NCR region enforces restrictions under GRAP, which categorises air quality into four stages – Stage I (Poor, AQI 201-300), Stage II (Very Poor, AQI 301-400), Stage III (Severe, AQI 401-450), and Stage IV (Severe Plus, AQI above 450).
Unfavourable meteorological conditions, combined with vehicle emissions, paddy-straw burning, firecrackers, and other local pollution sources, lead to hazardous air quality levels in Delhi-NCR during winters.
Doctors say that breathing Delhi’s polluted air is equivalent to smoking approximately 10 cigarettes a day.
Wildfires are raging in several areas of Los Angeles, with high winds and extremely dry conditions fuelling their progress across thousands of acres of land.
Firefighters are so far unable to contain them, with one fire official telling the BBC on Thursday that they are still rapidly expanding.
The largest fire, in the Pacific Palisades area where many celebrities live, is the most destructive fire in the history of Los Angeles. More than 1,000 buildings have been destroyed.
It’s a rapidly changing situation – these maps and pictures chart how the fires have spread, where they are located and what they look like from space.
More fires broke out on Wednesday, including in the Hollywood Hills area, overlooking Hollywood.
Many of the roads near the fire were blanketed with thick smoke and Hollywood Boulevard, home to the Hollywood Walk of Fame, was gridlocked with traffic as people tried to leave.
Firefighters are tackling five blazes
Five fires continue to grow in the Los Angeles area:
Beachfront and hillside homes in Malibu, CA burn in the Palisades Fire on Wednesday, January 8, 2025
Two fires have been contained:
Woodley fire: Small fire reported in local parkland. Burnt area: 30 acres.
Olivas fire: Small fire first reported in Ventura county about 50 miles (80km) east of Los Angeles. Burnt area: 11 acres.
How did the Palisades fire spread?
The map above shows how rapidly the Palisades fire spread, intensifying in a matter of hours. At just after 14:00 on Tuesday it covered 772 acres and within four hours it had approximately tripled in size.
It now covers more than 17,000 acres and thousands of people have been forced to evacuate the area, as more than 1,400 firefighters try to tackle the blaze.
The Eaton fire has also grown rapidly from about 1,000 acres on Tuesday to more than 10,000 acres, forcing thousands more people to flee.
Largest fires have burnt thousands of buildings
As the maps below show, about 20,000 buildings may have been damaged or destroyed already – and many more could be at risk depending on how the fires spread.
How does the Palisades fire compare in size with New York and London?
To give an idea of the size of the Palisades fire, we have superimposed it on to maps of New York and London.
As you can see by 23:00 PST, 8 January, (07:00 GMT, 9 January), it was comparable in size with an area stretching from Clapham to Greenwich in the UK’s capital, or with large areas of lower Manhattan and Queens.
Effects of the Eaton fire
The Palisades fire is not the only one to have a devastating effect on neighbourhoods of Los Angeles.
Theses images show the extent of the destruction caused by the Eaton fire in the neighbourhood of Altadena.
The Jewish Temple in Pasadena was destroyed by the Eaton fire. The Centre’s website says it has been in use since 1941 and has a congregation of more than 400 families.
Rachel Reeves may soon have a big decision to make
Nothing has been more important to the Labour Party under Sir Keir Starmer than economic credibility.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has set out clear fiscal rules, such as getting debt falling as a share of national income by the end of this parliament, and she has made sticking to these rules a crucial test of the government’s credibility.
That’s what makes the recent rise in government borrowing costs potentially so dangerous for Reeves, the Treasury and – arguably – Sir Keir Starmer’s entire political project.
If the government has to spend a lot more money paying interest on debt, then it is less likely to meet its rules.
On current trends, 26 March is set to become a critical date.
That is when the independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) will deliver its latest forecasts, including an assessment of whether the government is on course to meet its fiscal rules or not.
Suppose the OBR says the government is not on course. It’s important to stress this may not happen – but it is something that senior government figures are growing more jittery about by the minute.
Reeves would have a decision to make.
She has previously committed only to make significant tax and spend announcements once a year at the autumn Budget.
A Treasury spokesperson said last night that “meeting the fiscal rules is non-negotiable”.
That would suggest she would have to break her commitment and announce, or at least pave the way for, measures to bring the government in line with its rules.
What could that mean?
In principle, it could mean either tax rises or spending restraint.
In practice, given the significant increase in employers’ National Insurance rates in October, the government’s view is that it would have to mean spending restraint – Darren Jones, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, practically said as much in the Commons today.
To be clear, spending restraint would not necessarily mean spending cuts, just much lower spending increases than would otherwise happen.
This is where economics could collide with politics fast.
It’s all very well for the Treasury to take measures to soothe the bond markets, where government debt is traded.
But just because a strategy is deemed the most economically viable available, that doesn’t mean it is politically viable in a Labour Party made up of MPs who have spent the past 14 years decrying Conservative austerity.
Many Labour MPs, among them cabinet ministers, believe there is little fat left to trim from the state.
They were already anxious about a tough multi-year spending review, expected to conclude around June, before borrowing costs rose.
There is almost a risk of a paradox: that any acts of spending restraint visible and significant enough to calm the markets might, by definition, be too visible and too significant to fly politically among Labour MPs – especially after the controversy of the cut to the winter fuel payment for pensioners.
Labour figures argue that successive Conservative governments dealt with similar problems by piling the most painful spending measures towards the end of five-year forecast periods – hoping that by the year at which those “pencilled-in” measures were reached, circumstances would have changed.
But some also voice a fear that – precisely because of the Conservatives having done this – repeating the trick would be given short shrift by the markets: the fiscal sins of previous governments being visited on this new one.
Unlike recent Conservative debates on economic policy, the Labour Party has one big asset.
In 2022, when Liz Truss decided to go big, with a radical tax-cutting agenda, the Conservative Party had no consensus on how to approach the economy.
The 2022 leadership election in which Truss defeated Rishi Sunak was essentially a clash of economic ideas.
She won that argument with Tory members, having lost it among the party’s MPs – and then lost it unambiguously with the public and the markets within 49 days.
The Labour Party, give or take some sotto voce debates about tax for the wealthiest and welfare for the poorest, does broadly have an economic consensus, especially when it comes to what the Conservatives did wrong.
But what if these shared beliefs in how best to run the economy turn out to be products of the low interest rate era?
And how do you maintain that consensus if the markets disagree?
This is a political worst case scenario for Reeves.
Asking influential Labour figures about the markets this morning was to be told that lines go down as well as up, that the markets can move the other way in rapid time.
But all acknowledge that it is a bad sign when the value of the currency goes down at the same time as the cost of borrowing goes up.
One government source said to me: “It’s definitely not tin hat time yet.”
But all are watching anxiously to see how things develop.
Why are UK borrowing costs rising and what does it mean for me?
Government borrowing costs have been steadily rising in recent months, and have now hit their highest levels for several years.
Why is this happening and how does it affect you?
What’s happening in the bond markets?
A bond is a bit like an IOU that can be traded in the financial markets.
Governments generally spend more than they raise in tax so they borrow money to fill the gap, usually by selling bonds to investors.
As well as eventually paying back the value of the bond, governments pay interest at regular intervals so investors receive a stream of future payments.
UK government bonds – known as “gilts” – are normally considered very safe, with little risk the money will not be repaid. They are mainly bought by financial institutions, such as pension funds.
Interest rates – known as the yield – on government bonds have been going up since around August.
The yield on a 10-year bond has surged to its highest level since 2008, while the yield on a 30-year bond is at its highest since 1998, meaning it costs the government more to borrow over the long term.
The pound has also fallen in value against the dollar over the last few days. On Tuesday it was worth $1.25 but is currently trading at $1.23.
Why are bond yields rising?
Yields are rising not just in the UK. Borrowing costs have also been going up in the US, Japan, Germany and France, for instance.
There is a great deal of uncertainty around what will happen when President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House later this month. He has pledged to bring in tariffs on goods entering the US and to cut taxes.
Investors worry that this will lead to inflation being more persistent than previously thought and therefore interest rates will not come down as quickly as they had expected.
But in the UK there are also concerns about the economy underperforming.
Inflation is at its highest for eight months – hitting 2.6% in November – above the Bank of England’s 2% target – while the economy has shrunk for two months in a row.
Analysts say it is these wider concerns about the strength of the economy that is driving down the pound, which typically rises when borrowing costs increase.
How does it affect me?
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has pledged that all day-to-day spending should be funded from taxes, not from borrowing.
But if she needs more money to pay back higher borrowing costs, that uses up more tax revenue, leaving less money to spend on other things.
Economists have warned that this could mean spending cuts which would affect public services, and tax rises that could hit people’s pay or businesses’ ability to grow and hire more people.
The government has committed to having only one fiscal event a year, where it can raise taxes, and this is not expected until the autumn.
So if higher borrowing costs persist, we may be more likely to see cuts to spending before that or at least lower spending increases than would otherwise happen.
Some people may be wondering about the impact of higher gilt yields on the mortgage market, particularly after what happened after Liz Truss’s mini-Budget in September 2022.
Although yields are higher now than they were then, they have been creeping up slowly over a period of months, whereas in 2022 they shot up over a couple of days.
That speedy rise led to lenders quickly pulling deals while they tried to work out what interest rate to charge.
Analysts and brokers say the current unease in the markets is having some effect on the pricing of mortgages. Many were expecting to see some falls in rates at the start of the year but instead lenders are holding off from cuts to see what happens.
However, the market is favourable to anyone currently buying an annuity – a retirement income for the rest of their life, bought only once.
One annuity expert told the BBC many people would get a better deal now than at any time since 2008.
What happens next?
The Treasury has said there is no need for an emergency intervention in the financial markets.
It has said it will not make any spending or tax announcements ahead of the official borrowing forecast from its independent watchdog, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), due on 26 March.
If the OBR says the chancellor is still on track to meet her self-imposed fiscal rules then that might settle the markets.
However, if the OBR were to say because of slower growth and higher-than-expected interest rates, the chancellor were likely to break her fiscal rules then that would potentially be a problem for Reeves.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday expressed concern over the deteriorating health of farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been on an indefinite hunger strike and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold talks with the farmers.
Accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Centre of showing ‘cruelty’ towards farmers, the Lok Sabha MP appealed to Prime Minister Modi to put aside his “ego” and initiate talks with the farmers.
किसान नेता जगजीत सिंह डल्लेवाल जी 45 दिनों से आमरण अनशन पर हैं। उनकी हालत लगातार बिगड़ रही है। लेकिन भाजपा सरकार उनकी सुध लेने को तैयार नहीं है। इसी हठधर्मिता ने किसान आंदोलन में 750 किसानों की जान ले ली थी। किसानों के प्रति इतनी निष्ठुरता क्यों?
“Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal has been on a hunger strike for 45 days. His condition is continuously deteriorating. But the BJP government is not ready to take care of him. This stubbornness took the lives of 750 farmers in the farmers’ movement. Why so much cruelty towards farmers?” posted Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on X.
The Congress leader called for an urgent dialogue between the government and the farmers to resolve the ongoing issue and end the hunger strike.
“I appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to put aside his ego and immediately initiate talks with the farmers and end Dallewal ji’s hunger strike,” her post read.
Dallewal, a key figure in the farmers’ movement, had begun his hunger strike as part of a protest against the “non-fulfilment of promises” made by the Central Government to the farmers during the 2021 agitation.
Dallewal’s worsening health condition has raised concerns among his supporters and the farmer community.
Earlier on Wednesday, Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh also expressed concern over the deteriorating health condition of Jagjit Singh Dallewal.
He said that the Punjab government is worried about his health and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to speak to farmer leader Dallewal.
“Punjab government is worried about his health condition. I appeal to the PM and the Union Agriculture Minister should talk to him. Even if the Prime Minister converses with him telephonically, then, also, the entire problem will be solved. The border of Punjab will also reopen. Common people have been facing difficulties. They (Farmers) are our people. When we need grain, we approach them. They are filling our stomachs and their children are getting martyred on borders. PM Modi himself says that communication is the only solution,” said Balbir Singh.
On Monday, a Supreme Court-appointed High-Powered Committee met farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been on an indefinite hunger strike at the Khanauri border.
Dallewal has been on a fast-unto-death since November 26. Speaking about the meeting, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Patiala, Mandeep Singh Sidhu, said that the farmer leader had refused to take medical assistance.
The Supreme Court on Monday adjourned the hearing of a plea regarding providing medical aid and hospitalisation of Dallewal, to Friday.
On Thursday, the Supreme Court clarified that its orders to provide medical aid and hospitalisation to farmers’ leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal were not to force him to end his fast but to ensure his well-being.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Sudhanshu Dhulia said that Dallewal could continue his hunger strike under medical aid.
It said there appears to be a deliberate attempt in the media by Punjab government officers to give an impression that the court is pressuring Dallewal to break the fast.
Dallewal, the convener of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political), has been on a fast-unto-death at the Khanouri border to press the Centre to accept the farmers’ demands, including a legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) for crops.
The top court has been asking the Punjab government to ensure Dallewal gets proper medical aid during the fast until death.
After the success of Sikandar Ka Muqqadar, Zoya Afroz has joined hands with filmmaker Neeraj Pandey once again as the lead for Netflix’s upcoming global series starring Emraan Hashmi. While fans are looking forward to the release of the next season of Kay Kay Menon starrer Special Ops series currently, Neeraj Pandey has jumped on to his next and has reportedly begun the shoot for his upcoming Netflix global series starring Emraan Hashmi, along with his female lead Zoya Afroz.
A source close to the project confirmed about the actress joining the cast and shared, “It is a thriller show, a genre Neeraj Pandey has masterfully aced over the years. This will be Emraan’s first collaboration with Neeraj, while second with Zoya Afroz. Her brief yet impactful performance in Sikandar Ka Muqqadar hugely impressed Neeraj, so when he was looking for the female lead for his upcoming project, which is expected to be the biggest show of 2025, he immediately chose Zoya.”
Zoya Afroz has scaled an impressive journey from a child actor to a pageant winner, and now carving her space for herself as an impactful performer with varied and interesting series like Matsyakaand, Mukhbir – The Story of a Spy, and the recent Sikandar Ka Muqaddar amongst others. Also, looking forward to the release of her theatrical film Objection My Lord, Zoya Afroz is paving her way as a rising star.
While details of the actress’ character and the series are currently being kept under wraps, earlier reports suggest that it will belong to the thriller genre, something that Neeraj Pandey is known for. We also hear that Emraan Hashmi fans are quite excited about him choosing such a subject and essaying this power-packed avatar.
Also Read: Zoya Afroz describes her journey ‘long yet fulfilling’ as she reflects on her career as a child artist, pageant winner, and now an actor
