Trump Speaks To Putin, Says Ukraine Talks To Start "Immediately"

US President Donald Trump said he had a "lengthy and highly productive" call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday in which they agreed to "immediately" start negotiations to end the Ukraine war.

Trump said on Truth Social that both leaders had extended invitations of "visiting each other's nations," while the US leader said he would be calling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky "right now" to inform him about the call.

In an extraordinary thaw in relations between Washington and Moscow, the Kremlin separately said the call lasted one and a half hours and that Putin and Trump had agreed that the "time has come to work together."

Putin also told Trump that a "long-term settlement" of the Ukraine conflict sparked by Russia's 2022 invasion of its pro-Western neighbor was possible, and invited the US president to Moscow, the Kremlin said.

The Trump-Putin call came after a prisoner swap this week that saw Moscow free US teacher Marc Fogel while Washington released Russian cryptocurrency kingpin Alexander Vinnik.

Trump heaped praise on the Russian president in his Truth Social post, saying that Putin "even used my very strong Campaign motto of, 'COMMON SENSE.'"

He said they "both agreed, we want to stop the millions of deaths taking place in the War with Russia/Ukraine" -- with Trump using an unconfirmed figure for the toll in the war.

"We agreed to work together, very closely, including visiting each other's Nations," said Trump.

"We have also agreed to have our respective teams start negotiations immediately, and we will begin by calling President Zelensky, of Ukraine, to inform him of the conversation, something which I will be doing right now."

Trump said he had asked US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz and his Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff "to lead the negotiations which, I feel strongly, will be successful."
 

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$10 Million Settlement For Family Of Black Woman Shot Dead By US Police

The family of a Black woman shot dead in her home by a police officer in the US state of Illinois has reached a $10 million settlement with the local sheriff's department and county board.

Sonya Massey, 36, a mother of two, was killed by a sheriff's deputy last July in a case that drew national attention and prompted then-president Joe Biden to say she "should be alive today."

Massey, who had received treatment in the past for mental health issues, called the 911 emergency line to report a possible intruder in her home and two Sangamon County sheriff's deputies arrived shortly after midnight.

Police body camera footage showed Massey talking to the officers and searching through her purse after they asked her for identification.

Sheriff's deputy Sean Grayson then asked her to check on a pot of boiling water on the stove, saying "we don't need a fire while we're here."

When Grayson stepped back into the living room, Massey asked why, and he responded with a laugh: "Away from your hot steaming water."

Holding the pot, Massey calmly responded "Oh, I rebuke you in the name of Jesus" -- prompting the deputy to draw his weapon and say: "You better fucking not. I swear to God I'll fucking shoot you in your fucking face."

Apologizing, Massey crouched behind a counter as the officer screamed "drop the fucking pot" and fired three shots, killing Massey with a bullet to the face.

The Sangamon County Board approved a $10 million settlement with Massey's estate at a meeting on Tuesday.

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who has represented the families of other African American victims of police violence, welcomed the agreement at a Zoom press conference on Wednesday, calling it a "first step in getting full justice for Sonya Massey."

"It is very bittersweet that on what would have been her 37th birthday, we announce this historic settlement, which is only the first step in the journey for justice," Crump said.

Antonio Romanucci, another family attorney, said "Sonya reached out to law enforcement for help and instead received brutal, horrific treatment.

"When Sonya called 911 she didn't know it but that was her death sentence," Romanucci said. "She called in her own death when she called for help."

Grayson, who is white, faces murder charges and has pleaded not guilty.

The United States was rocked by protests in 2020 following the murder of George Floyd, a Black man, by a white police officer in Minnesota.

Floyd's death revived scrutiny of race relations and sparked calls for police reform.

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Tulsi Gabbard Confirmed As Trump's Director Of National Intelligence

The US Senate has confirmed Tulsi Gabbard as the new Director of National Intelligence (DNI) under the Trump administration.

Although she has never served on an intelligence committee, as a former Representative from Hawaii, Gabbard brings a distinctive combination of legislative and military experience to the role. Her service in the US House of Representatives, which spanned from 2013 to 2021, was marked by her commitment to various causes. Additionally, her time in the Hawaii Army National Guard, including deployments to Iraq and Kuwait, has earned her recognition.

In her new position, Gabbard will oversee the United States' intelligence community, coordinating operations among various agencies to ensure national security and effective information-sharing. This role comes with significant responsibility, as the DNI plays a critical part in advising the President on intelligence matters.

Gabbard's appointment has raised some eyebrows due to her lack of direct experience in intelligence oversight. Furthermore, her past remarks on US adversaries, including Russia and Syria, have sparked controversy.

Some senators have expressed concerns about Gabbard's stance on Russia's invasion of Ukraine and her 2017 visit to Syria, where she met with then-President Bashar al-Assad while he was under US sanctions. Her previous defence of former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden has also been cited as a point of contention.

Despite these concerns, Gabbard has pledged to bring transparency and efficiency to the intelligence community. Her military background and congressional experience will undoubtedly influence her approach to this complex role. As she assumes the position of Director of National Intelligence, Gabbard will oversee 18 intelligence agencies with a budget of approximately $100 billion, advising President Trump on critical intelligence matters.
 

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Scientists Warn Of Climate Threat To Chocolate

Climate change drove weeks of crop-withering temperatures last year in the West African countries that underpin the world's chocolate supply, hitting harvests and likely further stoking record prices, researchers said Wednesday.

Farmers in the region -- which account for some 70 percent of global cacao production -- have struggled with heat, disease and unusual rainfall in recent years, which have all contributed to falling production.

That has caused an explosion in the price of cocoa, which is produced from the beans of the cacao tree, and is the main ingredient in chocolate.

A new report found that "climate change, due primarily to burning oil, coal, and methane gas, is causing hotter temperatures to become more frequent" in Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cameroon and Nigeria.

The study, by the independent research group Climate Central, found the trend was particularly marked in Ivory Coast and Ghana, the two biggest cacao producers.

Using observational data from 44 cacao-producing areas in West Africa and computer models, the researchers compared today's temperatures with a counterfactual of a world without the effects of climate change.

They looked at the likelihood of these regions facing temperatures in excess of 32 degrees Celsius (89.6 Fahrenheit) -- above levels considered optimum for cacao trees.

The report calculated that over the last decade, climate change had added an extra three weeks of above 32C heat in Ivory Coast and Ghana during the main growing season between October and March.

Last year, the hottest year globally on record, they found that climate change drove temperatures above 32C on at least 42 days across two thirds of the areas analysed.

Researchers said that "excessive heat can contribute to a reduction in the quantity and quality of the harvest".

Many other factors were also potentially harming cacao trees and boosting prices, they noted, including mealybug infestations, rainfall patterns, smuggling and illegal mining.

Christian Aid published separate research on Wednesday on the vulnerability of chocolate and cacao farmers to weather changes and extremes driven by global warming.

The UK charity said conditions in West Africa have whiplashed from extreme rainfall and spoiled crops during the dry season in 2023 to drought in 2024.

"Growing cocoa is a vital livelihood for many of the poorest people around the world and human caused climate change is putting that under serious threat," said Osai Ojigho, director of Christian Aid's policy and public campaigns.

'Existential threat'

Failed harvests helped drive a meteoric rise in cocoa prices since late 2023 on the London and New York markets where this commodity is traded.

New York cocoa prices were above $10,000 a tonne on Wednesday, below a peak of over $12,500 in mid-December.

New York prices have largely hovered between $2,000 and $3,000 a tonne for decades.

In January, Swiss chocolate maker Lindt & Spruengli said it would raise prices again this year to offset rising cocoa costs.

Narcisa Pricope, a professor at Mississippi State University, said the crop faces an "existential threat" largely because of increasingly dry conditions in cacao-producing regions.

Pricope was part of recent research from the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification that found more than three-quarters of the Earth's landmass has become drier over the past 30 years.

The emissions of planet-heating greenhouse gases are the biggest driver of this aridity, she said in a commentary on the Conversation on Monday, but practices that degrade soils and nature also play an important role.

"Collective action against aridity isn't just about saving chocolate -- it's about preserving the planet's capacity to sustain life," she said.

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Water From Toilet Tap Used For Cooking At Medical College? Video Sparks Outrage

A video from Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Medical College in Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur has sparked outrage after it allegedly showed water from a toilet tap being used for cooking during a national medical conference last week.

A national-level medical conference, attended by doctors and medical experts from across the country, was held at the medical college on February 6. During the event, food was arranged for participants. However, a viral video now circulating on social media appears to show water being filled from a toilet tap and then being used for cooking.

Amid the uproar, the medical college's administration has issued a clarification. The college's dean, Navneet Saxena said that the water was only being used to clean dirty utensils and not for cooking. He claimed that the context of the video was being misrepresented.

The health department has called for an investigation. Dr Sanjay Mishra, Chief Medical Officer, said, "The conference was organised in the New Academic Block and food is sometimes cooked in open spaces behind it. While the video shows water from a toilet tap being used, the information we have suggests it was meant only for washing utensils. However, since this has been brought to our notice, I have written to the dean for an official investigation."
 

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'Remove Any Kuki Tribes From ST List, Help Organise Peace Talks': Thadou Body Meets Manipur Governor

A top body of Manipur's Thadou tribe met Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla and requested for deletion of 'Any Kuki Tribes' from the Scheduled Tribes' (ST) list in the violence-hit state.

In a memorandum, which included suggestions for a peace restoration roadmap, the Thadou Inpi Manipur said the government must remove the "vague and ambiguous 'Any Kuki Tribes' from the Scheduled Tribes list of Manipur, as it is not only a threat to the integrity and unity of Manipur, but also a threat to national security from illegal immigrants."

The Thadou Inpi Manipur in the memorandum said the Manipur government "in a significant step forward to right a wrong" wrote to the Tribal Affairs Ministry in February 2023 to delete 'Any Kuki Tribes' from the ST list.

'Any Kuki Tribe' was added to the ST list in 2003 under the then Congress government in Manipur.

"Moreover, it [Any Kuki Tribe] cannot be changed to Kuki tribe simply because there is no such thing as Kuki tribe. There is baseless, false and deceitful propaganda by some ignorant or unscrupulous people that this 'Any Kuki Tribe' of 2003 is the same as the already deleted 'Any Kuki Tribe' of 1951-56," the Thadou Inpi Manipur said in the memorandum.

"The fact is that the tribes of Manipur were broadly grouped into 'Any Naga Tribe', 'Any Kuki Tribe' and 'Any Lushai' in 1951 as a temporary arrangement for the time being only for five years during the process of the linguistic survey of individual tribes of Manipur...

"Whereas Thadou is an indigenous tribe with its own distinct language, costumes, culture, traditions and rich heritage and history, the fake Kuki tribe (Any Kuki Tribe) was created in 2002, and fraudulently added to the Scheduled Tribes list of Manipur in 2003, so that their leaders could exploit this separatist movement for their own personal wealth creation and political control," the Thadou Inpi Manipur, which says it is the highest body of Manipur's recognised distinct Thadou tribe, said in the memorandum submitted to Governor Bhalla on Saturday, a day before Chief Minister N Biren Singh resigned.

The Thadou tribe organisation said all indigenous ethnic groups and tribes that call Manipur home should live in harmony and respect one another instead of battling over who is an illegal immigrant and who is an indigenous person.

"People who identify as 'Any Kuki Tribe' but are not illegal immigrants need not be alarmed since they can return to their original tribe if they are Indian citizens or members of one of Manipur's indigenous tribes and are not illegal immigrants or foreigners," the Thadou Inpi Manipur said.

The Thadou Inpi Manipur also requested for insertion of a clause in the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement to include "respect for Thadou human rights", alleging an alarming rate of human rights violations and persecution faced by the Thadou tribe at the hands of Kuki militants, "which has significantly eroded, suppressed, and subdued distinct Thadou identity in Manipur."

"... Thadou Inpi Manipur seeks to include a clause in the SoO agreement, if extended, which had elapsed in February 2024, that would mandate that SoO groups, specifically the Kuki militant groups, respect the rights of the Thadou indigenous tribe as this would also promote a more inclusive and peaceful coexistence among communities in Manipur," the Thadou body said.

While submitting the memorandum, members of the Thadou Inpi Manipur conveyed to the Governor to facilitate a meeting of Meitei and Thadou tribe leaders for community understanding. It said warring groups have unintentionally impacted numerous non-Kuki tribes in the Manipur crisis. The Thadou Inpi Manipur appealed to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Manipur Governor and other leaders to facilitate holding a meeting between the Meitei community and the Thadou tribe as soon as possible.

"The Thadou tribe will be represented by the Thadou Inpi Manipur. The Thadous have suffered rampant persecution and human rights abuses and are being forced to reject our own identity, our indigenous tribal name, Thadou," it said in the memorandum.

The memorandum was signed by leaders of the Thadou Inpi Manipur, Thadou Students' Association, Thadou Chiefs' Council, Thadou Elders' Association, and Thadou Human Rights Advocacy.

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Want To Pursue Medical Education In US? Here's What You Need To Know

In India, students aspiring to become doctors must first clear the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET). Every year, millions of students take this exam, competing for nearly one lakh medical seats. For many, NEET is a daunting challenge, and they fear that failing to score well could shatter their dream of becoming a doctor.

However, several countries do not require NEET for medical admissions, and the United States is one of them. With a growing number of Indian students opting to study MBBS abroad, the US remains a top choice. American medical schools do not mandate NEET scores for admission, though students must clear local entrance tests to qualify.

How Long Does It Take To Become A Doctor In US?

In the US, students must complete a four-year undergraduate degree before applying to medical school. Admission is based on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) score. Instead of an MBBS degree, students earn a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree, which takes around 4 to 4.5 years to complete. Overall, becoming a doctor in the US typically takes 7 to 8 years.

Top US Universities Offering Admission Without NEET

Harvard University

Ranked as the top medical university in the US by QS World Rankings.

Offers a 4-year MD programme at its Cambridge campus.

Annual tuition fee: Rs 73 lakh (approx).

Stanford University School of Medicine

Integrates medicine, technology, and business in its curriculum.
Graduates are trained as both doctors and innovators.

Annual tuition fee: Rs 61 lakh (approx)

University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)

Offers a 4-year MD programme in San Francisco.

More affordable compared to other private US medical schools.
Annual tuition fee: Rs 46 lakh (approx)

For Indian students looking to pursue medicine abroad without NEET, the US provides a structured pathway with globally recognized degrees and opportunities in cutting-edge medical research.

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British Council Offers These Free Online Courses For Students And Teachers

The British Council, in collaboration with the UK-based platform FutureLearn, is offering some free online courses aimed at enhancing language skills, teaching methodologies, and workplace communication. Open for registration, these courses provide students and teachers with an opportunity to upskill and expand their knowledge.

Courses For Students And Teachers

Exploring English: Shakespeare

This six-week course delves into the life and works of William Shakespeare. It helps learners improve their English skills while exploring Shakespeare's literary contributions. Both students and teachers can enroll, with a weekly study requirement of two hours.

Courses For Students

English For Your Workplace

Designed for non-native English speakers at a pre-intermediate level (A2 CEFR), this four-week course helps students enhance their English proficiency for workplace communication and career development. Weekly study time is two hours.

Exploring English: Language And Culture

This four-week course introduces students to various aspects of British culture, including music, literature, and the countryside. Participants will also explore English as a global language while dedicating two hours per week to the course.

Courses For Teachers

Teaching For Success: The Classroom And The World

Targeted at English language teachers, this four-week course focuses on integrating technology and essential 21st-century skills, such as critical thinking, communication, and creativity, into EFL classrooms. Teachers will engage in three hours of study per week.

Teaching For Success: Lessons And Teaching

This four-week course helps teachers refine lesson planning, resource management, and professional development strategies. It requires three hours of study per week.

Language Assessment In The Classroom

Aimed at secondary and high school language teachers, this four-week course provides insights into effective language assessment strategies. Teachers will explore different types of assessments and their applications, with a weekly commitment of three hours.

Interested participants can register for these free courses on the British Council's official website and start learning at their own pace.

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5-Year-Old Girl Allegedly Sexually Assaulted By Foreign Student In Delhi

Scores of people gathered outside a private school on Friday and held a protest after a five-year-old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted by a foreign national student in the national capital.

The girl's parents alleged that their daughter was sexually assaulted by her senior who is a foreign national, but police did not apprehended him even after five months of the incident.

On Friday, scores of people gathered outside the school and demanded strict action against the accused.

According to the sources, the incident took place in August last year and an FIR was registered in September under section 75(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and section 10 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

The incident came to light on September 16 last year after the child confided in her parents, using concerning language that prompted their inquiries, the sources said.

The parents of the victim reported the incident to the school principal and subsequently got a police complaint filed on September 18.

According to the complaint, the child said she was inappropriately touched by a boy, whom she had seen on the bus.

The family also reported that the child sustained injuries in the assault and has been severely traumatised by the incident, undergoing medical tests and questioning.

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Bengal Government Employee Attacks Colleagues With Knife, Arrested

At least four persons were injured when one of their colleagues attacked them with a knife following a disagreement at a West Bengal government office here on Thursday, police said.

Accused Asit Sarkar, a state government employee at Karigori Bhavan in the city's Newtown area, was arrested by the Techno City police station under Bidhannagar police commissionerate.

"Sarkar, a resident of Ghola in Sodepur, North 24 Parganas district, works in the technical education department. This morning, following a tiff with his colleagues over taking time off, he attacked them with a knife and then tried to flee. We have arrested him," a police officer said.

The injured were identified as Jaydeb Chakraborty, Santunu Saha, Sartha Late, and Sheikh Satabul. Two of them are in serious condition, police added.

"The accused was seen running through the streets of New Town with the knife. Police are investigating the incident to understand the motive behind his action," the officer added.

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IIT Madras Opens Applications For Summer Fellowship 2025, Check Stipend, Eligibility

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras is accepting applications for the Summer Fellowship Programme 2025. Interested and eligible candidates can apply for this two-month, goal-oriented internship online through the official website. The deadline for application submission is February 28, 2025, by 5pm.

The fellowship programme aims to foster a deeper interest in high-quality academic research among students from Engineering, Management, Sciences, and Humanities disciplines.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must be:

• In their 3rd year of Undergraduate studies (BE/BTech/BSc Engg) or
•  In the 3rd or 4th year of an Integrated/Dual Degree Master's Programme (ME/MTech/MSc)

Additionally, 1st-year MSc/MA and MBA students with outstanding academic record-such as high university exam ranks, published research papers, executed projects, design competition participation, Mathematics Olympiad scores/ranks, or other notable awards/distinctions are encouraged to apply.

Notably, IIT Madras students are not eligible to apply for the Summer Fellowship Programme 2025.

Application Process

•  Visit the official website 
• Click on the registration link available on the homepage.
• Register by verifying your email.
• Fill out the application form with personal and academic details.
• Upload the necessary documents and complete the registration process.
• Log in to your account and select your preferred department for the fellowship.
• Apply and save the confirmation page for future reference.

Participating Departments

Engineering Departments:

• Aerospace Engineering
•  Applied Mechanics and Biomedical Engineering
•  Biotechnology
•  Chemical Engineering
•  Civil Engineering
•  Computer Science & Engineering
• Data Science & Artificial Intelligence
• Engineering Design
• Electrical Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Medical Science and Technology
• Metallurgical & Materials Engineering
• Ocean Engineering
• Science Departments:
• Physics
• Chemistry
• Mathematics

Other Departments:

• Humanities & Social Sciences 
• Management Studies

Key Points To Note

• No need to send hard copies to IIT Madras.
• The submitted application can be accessed through the portal using the username and password sent to your registered email.
• Ensure that all required data and enclosures are uploaded online.
• Incomplete applications will be rejected.
• A bonafide student certificate issued by the Head of the Institution is required.

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CIA Staff Offered Buyouts As Agency Aligns With Trump Priorities

The CIA is moving "swiftly" to align its workforce with the Trump administration's national security priorities, the agency said Wednesday, with staff members understood to have received government buyout offers.

The CIA has become the first US intelligence agency to join a voluntary redundancy program initiated by President Donald Trump, who has vowed to radically downsize the federal workforce in the name of efficiency and frugality.

"Director (John) Ratcliffe is moving swiftly to ensure the CIA workforce is responsive to the administration's national security priorities," a spokesperson said in a statement.

"These moves are part of a holistic strategy to infuse the agency with renewed energy, provide opportunities for rising leaders to emerge, and better position the CIA to deliver on its mission."

Ratcliffe -- who served as the director of national intelligence from 2020-2021 during Trump's first term in office -- was confirmed by the US Senate last month.

He told lawmakers that under his leadership, the agency would "produce insightful, objective, all-source analysis, never allowing political or personal biases to cloud our judgment or infect our products."

"We will collect intelligence, especially human intelligence, in every corner of the globe, no matter how dark or difficult," and will "conduct covert action at the direction of the president, going places no one else can go and doing things no one else can do."

Addressing CIA officers, he said: "If all of this sounds like what you signed up for, then buckle up and get ready to make a difference. If it doesn't, then it's time to find a new line of work."

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Union Budget 2025 Provides For 200 Day Care Centres: PM's Big Announcement For Cancer Patients

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking in parliament today in his response to the debate on the Motion of Thanks to President's address, made a big announcement about the government's plans for cancer treatment.

Speaking on the World Cancer Day, he said the government is planning to open Day Care centres for cancer patients, that would come as a huge relief to them and their families. 

"If today is cancer day, i would like to say all the MPs can take advantage of this for patients in their area," PM Modi said.

"You know patients face problems because there are not enough hospitals, especially those who come from out of town. This budget envisages creating 200 day care centres. These will be a big help to the patients and their families," he said.

Taking the initiative to provide relief to patients of cancer and rare diseases further, 36 life-saving drugs have been fully exempted from basic customs duty in the Union Budget 2025.

Additionally, 37 more medicines and 13 new patient assistance programmes have also been exempted from the basic customs duty.

"To provide relief to patients, especially those suffering from cancer and rare diseases, I propose 36 life-saving drugs in fully exempted custom duties," Union minister finance Nirmala Sitharaman said while presenting her eighth consecutive Union Budget.

In 2018, PM Modi had launched the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), which has emerged as a revolutionary initiative. 

The scheme is designed to offer health insurance coverage to over 500 million people, especially those who are from the economically vulnerable sections.

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Speaking Marathi In Government Offices Made Mandatory In Maharashtra

The Maharashtra government on Monday made it mandatory for all officials in government and semi-government offices in the state to speak only in Marathi.

The Government Resolution (GR) issued to this effect also said that speaking Marathi is compulsory in local self-government, government corporations and government-aided establishments.

Errant officials will face disciplinary action, the GR cautioned.

The Marathi Language Policy, approved last year, had recommended the use of Marathi in all public affairs to further the steps taken for the preservation, conservation, promotion, dissemination and development of the language.

The GR also stated that PC (personal computer) keyboards in all offices should have Marathi Devanagari alphabets apart from Roman alphabets.

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Rajasthan Law Minister Uses Cuss Word In Assembly, Apologises After Uproar

The Rajasthan Assembly erupted in chaos on Monday when Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel used "unparliamentary" language in the House.

Mr Patel made the remarks during the Question Hour, which became a bone of contention when the house resumed after lunch for debate on the Governor's address.

The matter settled when Mr Patel apologised saying he did not mean to use the word.

The incident occurred during a discussion, when Minister Otaram Dewasi was replying to the question raised by Congress MLA Chetan Patel related to crop damage due to floods.

Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully expressed his displeasure over the minister's answer and asked counter questions, leading to an uproar.

And when Mr Jully asked the minister to give the figures of damage in Sangod of Kota, Mr Patel stood up and used an abusive word.

As soon as the House resumed after lunch, Congress state president Govind Singh Dotasra said, "The House was in session. When the Leader of Opposition was speaking, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister objected to the Leader of Opposition. He did not only objected, but also abused. There can be nothing more unfortunate than this." He added, "What can be more shameful that the Parliamentary Affairs Minister abusing? We come here for the issues of the common people, we do not come here to be abused."

Mr Patel responded by saying he and his party always respected and honoured the members.

"We present our point effectively, we do not lack in this. There was no intention to hurt anyone's dignity," he said.

"I never had the intention to speak unparliamentary words in the House nor will I have in the future. If someone gets excited while speaking in the flow, there was no such intention. Therefore, it should be deleted and such feelings will never be there towards any member in future. I feel sorry for this," he added.

Mr Dotasra reacted saying, "If it came in the record, then an apology should be made. Our Dhariwal ji had apologised, I had apologised on his behalf, you are the Law Minister."

Mr Patel said, "I have not said this and if I have said it, then I feel sorry. We do not remain adamant like you. We respect everyone."

Later, Speaker Vasudev Devnani directed the members to maintain decorum of the House.

"If something goes wrong, we should immediately take action against it. If something happens then I think there is no harm in apologising," he said.

The House proceeded for debate on the Governor's address and adjourned till Wednesday.

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US Secretary Of State Meets Panama Leader Over Trump's Demand For Canal

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio entered talks Sunday with Panama's leader to press President Donald Trump's demand that the United States take back control of the Panama Canal.

Trump has refused to back down on threats to seize the vital waterway and it remains unclear what Rubio can achieve diplomatically that would please him, with Panama firmly rejecting any claims against its sovereignty.

Rubio, in his first meeting abroad as the top US diplomat, walked past an honor guard outside the whitewashed walls of President Jose Raul Mulino's official residence in the tropical capital's old quarter.

Rubio shook hands with Foreign Minister Javier Martinez-Acha and flashed a thumbs-up sign before heading into talks with Mulino. They made no immediate comments to the press.

Rubio later in the day will tour the Panama Canal, the crucial link between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through which some 40 percent of US container traffic passes.

Trump and Rubio say that US competitor China has gained too much power around the canal and could shut it down in a potential conflict, with catastrophic consequences for the United States.

Mulino, in response to pressure, ordered an audit of a Hong Kong based company that controls ports on both sides of the canal.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Trump said it was not enough and that Panama has "totally violated" the understanding when the United States handed back the canal in late 1999.

"They've already offered to do many things," Trump said Friday of Panama, "but we think it's appropriate that we take it back."

Protests for sovereignty 

Scattered protests broke out in Panama ahead of Rubio's visit, with an effigy of him in a red, white and blue suit set on fire.

Diojenes Sanchez, a professor who took part in the protests, vowed to defend Panama's sovereignty.

"We firmly reject the claims of the United States to turn Panama into a protectorate and colony," he said.

The Panama Canal -- which Trump has dubbed as a modern "wonder of the world" -- was built by the United States at the cost of thousands of lives of laborers, mostly people of African descent from Barbados, Jamaica and elsewhere in the Caribbean.

The United States maintained control of the canal when it opened in 1914 but began to negotiate following deadly riots in 1964 by Panamanians angered over foreign control.

Jimmy Carter sealed the agreement that gave the canal to Panama at the end of 1999, with the late president seeing a moral imperative for the United States to respect a smaller but still sovereign country.

Trump takes a vastly different view and has returned to the "big stick" approach of the early 20th century, in which the United States threatened force to have its way, especially in Latin America.

In his first week in office, Trump prepared massive tariffs on Colombia to force the US ally to take back deported citizens on military planes, after the country's leftist president complained that they were not being treated in a dignified way.

Just as Rubio started his trip, Trump on Saturday signed off on sanctions on the top three US trading partners -- Canada, Mexico and China.

Rubio, the first Hispanic secretary of state and a devout Catholic, started his Sunday in Panama City attending Mass at a church built four centuries ago in the old city.

He will travel to four more Latin American countries -- El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala and the Dominican Republic -- where he is expected to press for cooperation on Trump's key priority of deporting migrants from the United States.

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Who Are Gig Workers? Nirmala Sitharaman Announces Major Benefit For Them

In a significant move under Budget 2025, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that gig workers will now be eligible for the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), the world's largest health insurance scheme. This initiative aims to provide crucial healthcare coverage to gig workers who do not receive traditional employment benefits.

Who Are Gig Workers?

Gig workers are individuals engaged in short-term, flexible jobs, such as driving cabs, online delivery services, or freelance work. This category is growing rapidly, and according to projections, by 2030, gig workers will constitute approximately 4.1% of India's total workforce, or around 23.5 crore people.

What is AB-PMJAY?

Launched in September 2018, AB-PMJAY is a health insurance initiative designed to provide free treatment for up to Rs 5 lakh per year for every eligible family. The scheme is managed by the National Health Authority (NHA) and offers immediate benefits with no waiting period, including coverage for pre-existing conditions. Initially covering 10.74 crore families, it now extends to 14.74 crore families, benefiting nearly 70 crore people.

The inclusion of gig workers in the scheme follows recommendations made by the NHA to expand coverage for those without any form of health insurance. This move aligns with the goals outlined in the National Health Policy 2017, which emphasizes universal health coverage for all.

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Delhi Records Warmest January Since 2019, Air Quality Sees Improvement

The national capital wrapped up a rather warm January with Friday's maximum temperature reaching 27 degrees Celsius, making it the city's warmest day in the month since 2019.

The month's average maximum temperature was 21.1 degrees Celsius, a notch above the long-period average of 20.1 degrees Celsius, marking it as Delhi's warmest January since 2019.

According to India Meteorological Department (IMD) data, nighttime temperatures were also higher than usual.

The average minimum temperature for the month settled at 8.5 degrees Celsius, a notch above the LPA of 7.5 degrees Celsius, and the highest since 2017 when it was 8.7 degrees Celsius.

Meteorologists attributed the warmer-than-usual January to the absence of strong western disturbances, which typically bring rain, lowering the temperature.

"This month, while western disturbances did pass through north India, most of them were feeble and did not result in substantial snowfall or rainfall," said Mahesh Palawat, a weather expert. "If we had one or two strong systems, we would have seen colder conditions due to icy winds and cloudiness. Instead, temperatures rose quickly." Palawat added that rainfall in northwest India was 81 per cent below normal, impacting winter chill and also reducing fog formation. "January usually sees dense fog, but this time, particularly in the latter half of the month, fog has been nearly absent," he said.

On Friday, Delhi's minimum temperature stood at 9.5 degrees Celsius, a degree above normal, while the lowest temperature recorded this month was 5.6 degrees Celsius on January 28. The coldest day of the month was January 1, when the maximum temperature was 15 degrees Celsius.

Higher temperatures this month contributed to a slight improvement in air quality, as warmer conditions help disperse pollutants. Delhi's average Air Quality Index (AQI) for January stood at 305, the cleanest January since 2022, when the average was 279.

In comparison, January's AQI was 355 last year and 311 in 2023. However, pollution levels remained high, with Friday's AQI recorded at 351 (very poor).

Forecasts suggest Delhi's air will continue to hover in the 'very poor' category until February 3, with slight improvements expected thereafter.

"From February 1 to 3, Delhi's air quality is likely to remain 'very poor.' It may be 'poor' in the subsequent days," stated the Centre's Early Warning System for Delhi.

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Mob Tries To Stop CRPF, Cops From Destroying Illegal Poppy Fields In Manipur's Kangpokpi, 4 Vehicles Damaged

A mob of around 80 people on Friday confronted a security team that went to destroy illegal opium poppy cultivation in Manipur's Kangpokpi district and damaged four vehicles, police said.

The incident happened in the Lhungjang hill range where personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the police had gone.

"Four light vehicles were broken, mostly the front windshield. The mob was later controlled by using minimum force. Later, reinforcements came... and poppy destruction at Lhungjang hill range resumed," the police said.

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Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma Rules Out Uniform Civil Code implementation

Uttarakhand has become the first state in the country to implement UCC, but the Chief Minister of another hill state has ruled out a similar step. The implementation of Uniform Civil Code is neither practical nor appropriate, given the country's diverse cultural and tribal communities, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said today.

He, however, acknowledged that certain aspects of civil laws could be made uniform while protecting the rights of indigenous communities.

Pointing at Uttarakhand, which became the first state to implement the UCC while excluding tribal customs from its purview, Mr Sangma said in a country as diverse as India, a Uniform Civil Code is not viable. 

His statement comes amid growing debates on the UCC, with Assam expressing interest in following Uttarakhand's lead in implementing the code.

"A Uniform Civil Code, as a concept of making sure that everything becomes uniform, is not possible in India," Mr Sangma said.

"There are tribal and indigenous communities with unique practices that may not align with the uniformity. To impose uniformity on every aspect of life, across all communities, would not be correct," he added.

To explain the situation, he further added: "If a bill at the national or state level were to declare that the entire country should adopt a matrilineal system, Meghalaya would support that, because we are a matrilineal society. It all depends on the content of the bill - what aspects are being made uniform and in what way".

"For us, as a state government, we are very clear. The Uniform Civil Code is not on our agenda. We respect the diverse identities of our tribal communities, and their traditional practices must be protected," he added. 

Mr Sangma had made it clear earlier also that his government will not support the UCC.

Two years ago, a tribal council in Meghalaya unanimously passed a resolution to oppose the implementation of the UCC in areas within its jurisdiction.

Uttarakhand has become the first state in India to implement a Uniform Civil Code (UCC), aiming to simplify and standardize personal laws related to marriage, divorce, succession, and inheritance.
The UCC applies to all residents of Uttarakhand, except Scheduled Tribes and protected authority-empowered persons and communities.

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MP Teacher Recruitment 2025: Registration Begins For 10,758 Posts, Check Details

MP Teacher Recruitment 2025: Madhya Pradesh Staff Selection Board (MPESB) has started the registration process for the recruitment of teachers. The recruitment drive aims to fill 10,758 posts of teachers who will be recruited from the Selection Examination 2025, including the posts of Secondary Teacher (Sports, Music, Singing, and Playing), Primary Teacher (Sports, Music, Singing, Playing, and Dance), Secondary Teacher under the Tribal Department, and Primary Teacher (Sports, Music, Singing, Playing, and Dance).  

MP Teacher Recruitment 2025: Important Dates  

Starting date of online application: January 28, 2025  
Last date for online application: February 11, 2025  
Last date for making corrections in the application: February 16, 2025  
Exam date: Starting from March 20, 2025  

MP Teacher Recruitment 2025: Steps To Apply  

Step 1. Go to the MPESB website, esb.mp.gov.in
Step 2. Register yourself on this website and login 
Step 3. Fill out the form by providing personal information 
Step 4. Pay the fees and click on submit
Step 5. Save the form and take a hard copy of the form for future references   

MP Teacher Recruitment 2025: Salary  

Secondary Teacher: Rs. 32,800 + Dearness Allowance  
Secondary Teacher (Sports): Rs. 32,800 + Dearness Allowance  
Secondary Teacher (Music, Singing, Playing): Rs. 32,800 + Dearness Allowance  
Primary Teacher (Sports): Rs. 25,300 + Dearness Allowance  
Primary Teacher (Music, Singing, Playing): Rs. 25,300 + Dearness Allowance  
Primary Teacher (Dance): Rs. 25,300 + Dearness Allowance  

MP Teacher Recruitment 2025: Selection Process  

The selection process will consist of a written exam, document verification, and medical exam.  

 

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50-Year-Old Doctor Found Dead At Noida Home, Tenants Missing: Police

A 50-year-old doctor was found murdered in a house he had rented out in Greater Noida, while the two tenants living there are on the run, police said on Tuesday.

Dr Dinesh Gaur's body was found soaked in blood in a room of his house in Sanjay Vihar Colony, Kulesara village, on January 26, police said.

Police suspect that a man and a woman who were living on rent in the house murdered the doctor.

The accused woman and man had rented the doctor's house just three days ago and have been on the run since the incident, they added.

"Gaur used to live with his family in Pocket-D, Kundli, Delhi. He also had a house in Sanjay Vihar Colony, Kulesara village, Greater Noida, where he had built a room to rent out. He had made this room his temporary rest area," said Lakshmi Singh, Media In-charge of Noida Police Commissioner.

"On the evening of January 25, Gaur came from Delhi to his house in Kulesara. His son called him on January 26 but did not get any response. When he reached the house late at night, the door of the room was found locked from outside," Lakshmi Singh further said.

Lakshmi Singh added that when the doctor's son opened the door, he found his father lying in a pool of blood following which he informed the police.

While Gaur's body has been sent for post-mortem, police said that the accused are being tracked using CCTV footage and a search team.

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21-Year-Old Nursing Student Found Hanging Inside Rented Room In UP: Cops

A 21-year-old nursing student was found hanging in a house in Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad district on Monday, police said.

Officials said that no suicide note was found from the spot.

Police received information in the morning about the body of Jyoti Singh (21), a BSc Nursing student, found hanging in a rented room in Kesari Kunj Colony, Superintendent of Police (City) Kumar Ranvijay Singh said.

A police team, accompanied by forensic experts, rushed to the spot and inspected the scene, he said She was a resident of Babni village of Deoria and her family was informed about the incident, the officer said.

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Congress Hits Back After Himanta Sarma Claim On Ambedkar, Jawaharlal Nehru

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, in his Republic Day address at Dibrugarh today, once again raised the issue of BR Ambedkar, claiming India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, kept him out of the Constituent Assembly that drafted the Constitution. Mr Sarma claimed this while emphasizing on the challenges Dr Ambedkar faced while drafting the Constitution.

"Babasaheb Ambedkar is the founder of our Constitution. His inclusion in the constituency assembly had many challenges. His name was not there in the first list of members of Constituent assembly who were to draft the constitution," the Chief Minister said. 

A Dalit leader from East Bengal, Jogendranath Mondal, proposed Dr Ambedkar's name in his place and only after that he had the opportunity to be part of the historic work, he said. 

"Today I remember a statement of Pandit Nehru about the inclusion of Ambedkar. Nehru had claimed that Ambedkar was a trouble-maker and wanted to keep him outside the constituent assembly," he said.

The Chief Minister further claimed that Ambedkar was included because Mahatma Gandhi recognised the merit in him and trusted his ability and took a stand against the position Nehru had taken.
 
"This decision of Gandhi was proved to be fruitful by the constituent assembly led by Ambedkar who gave us a constitution based on equality and brotherhood," he added. 

The Chief Minister's statement has drawn sharp reactions from the Congress.

Leader of Opposition in Assam assembly Debabrata Saikia condemned the remarks and alleged it was an attempt to defame Babasaheb Ambedkar and Jawaharlal Nehru by distorting the truth.

"Initially Ambedkar was elected to constituency assembly from Bengal. But after partition his constituency went to Pakistan and he has to vacate his seat. It was Pandit Nehru and Sardar Patel who went to Gandhi-ji to discuss this. After this Ambedkar was offered a seat in the constituent assembly by vacating a seat from Pune," Mr Saikia told reporters.

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Tamil Nadu Universities In Dire Financial Crisis, Autonomy Eroded: Governor

Many state-run universities in Tamil Nadu are starved of funds and are in a dire financial crisis and unable to pay salaries to teachers, Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi said on Saturday.

Their autonomy has been "severely eroded to such an extent that it was not the university syndicates but the state Secretariat that runs the varsities," the Governor alleged.

"Higher Education scenario in Tamil Nadu is no better. About 25 lakh students are enrolled in our 20 state universities. Most of the universities are starved of funds and are in dire financial crisis not even able to pay salaries to teachers," Ravi said in his address on the eve of Republic Day.

The universities, he claimed, have not received their due shares of fund from the state government for the last many years. And as a result, many were functioning with less than 50 per cent of teachers' strength.

"Universities have no money to recruit teachers. In Madras University, which used to be our nation's pride, 66 per cent of teachers' posts are vacant. Due to continuous non-receipt of government funds, some universities have begun filing their Income Tax returns declaring themselves non-state Universities," Ravi who is the Chancellor of universities said.

As many as 10 universities were without Registrars and Controllers of Examination for several years and the posts were being run on an ad-hoc basis. "Autonomy of universities have been severely eroded to such an extent that it is not the university syndicates but the state Secretariat runs them," he alleged.

With regard to framing the curriculum and syllabus which were statutorily under the domain of the Academic Council of the University, universities were compelled to follow a common sub-standard syllabus prepared by the state government Council for Higher Education. Upright and honest university officials were framed in false and fabricated cases and subjected to humiliating police harassment, he alleged.

"Absence of Vice-Chancellors practically brings universities under the direct control of the government because the Secretary, Higher Education, acts as the de-facto Vice-Chancellor. Not allowing appointments of Vice-Chancellors on untenable concocted flimsy grounds is a devious way to erode the autonomy of the university through back door," a Raj Bhavan release quoting the Governor said.

The net result was a steep decline in the quality of education. Due to such a decline more and more graduates were jobless as a majority were un-employable. General standards of research was very low. Of the over six thousand PhDs that our universities produce every year not even five per cent could qualify for NET/JRF - minimum eligibility standard for research. "Future of millions of students are in jeopardy," Ravi alleged.

In terms of learning outcome of students, especially in schools, Tamil Nadu was among the bottom few states. Quoting the Annual Status of Education Reports for the last few years he said the status of learning in government schools revealed a 'very disturbing truth.' "About 75 per cent of our high school students in government schools cannot read even second standard textbooks nor can they recognise all the two-digit numbers between 11 and 99," he said.

Since government schools catered largely to the economically poor, steep decline in standards of learning in the state-run schools further jeopardised the future of the poor and accentuated long-term social and economic injustice to them.

He expressed concern over the increasing menace of illicit drugs in and around the campuses, social discrimination, caste crimes, highest suicide rate in the state, and 'several modules and sleeper cells of terrorist networks operating in various parts of our state.' 

"This (modules and sleeper cells of terrorist networks) is a very serious national security concern. It is vitiating our social harmony and has potential to severely disrupt our economy. I urge the people to remain vigilant and the enforcement agencies to aggressively root them (terror networks) out," Ravi said.

He cautioned the people to be vigilant against anti-national elements and vested interest persons trying to disrupt the peace, divide and fragment the society in the name of race, religion, language, and caste. 

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Chinese Man Rejects Rs 2 Crore Offer, Lives In House Surrounded By Highway

A defiant old man, Huang Ping, who refused to leave his home, now lives in the middle of a highway under construction in Jinxi, a town southwest of Shanghai, China, according to The Metro.

Mr Ping admits that he has some regrets for not accepting the government's compensation offer. Despite the offer, he chose to stay in his two-storey house. In response, workers built the motorway around his home, which is set to open in the spring. 

To avoid the noise and dust from construction, Mr Ping and his 11-year-old grandson have been spending much of their time in the town centre. They return to their house each evening after work ends, as per news portal.

However, Mr Ping is concerned that once the motorway is operational, the noise will be constant, making it difficult for them to live in peace.

"If I could turn back time, I would agree to the demolition conditions they offered. Now it feels like I lost a big bet," he told The Metro.

The homeowner added, "I regret it a bit."

Watch the video here: 

The stubborn old Chinese man who refused to sell his house for a government project now regrets his decision.

Huang Ping, from Hunan province, hoped for more money but lost everything. The government built a road around his house, leaving it in the middle of a busy street. Now,… pic.twitter.com/it0rYe2fhd

— Ibra ❄️ (@IbraHasan_) January 25, 2025

While Mr Ping laments his decision, it seems locals are finding the whole thing rather fascinating and have flocked to the property to take pictures.

Mr said he had been offered CNY 1.6 million (Rs 1.9 Crore) and two other properties, which was later increased to three. The secretary of the Jinxi County Party Committee previously said that Huang refused to relocate because he was dissatisfied with the government's offer.

Now Huang Ping lives in the centre of a road that will soon be very busy highway. Ping must pass through a sizable pipe in order to reach his front door. The homeowner's roof is nearly level with the road's two lanes. Nowadays, his home is a popular tourist destination.

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How Can Indian Workers In Canada Secure Permanent Residency? Explained

Millions of Indians working in Canada aspire to secure Permanent Residency (PR). In 2025, the government is introducing four new pathways to help achieve this goal. These pathways are part of the Immigration Level Plan, which aims to reduce the PR target from 485,000 to 465,000. The new routes are designed to address the labour shortages in specific sectors across the country.

Despite tightening visa and PR rules in recent years, Canada continues to face labour shortages in certain industries, creating pressure on the government to offer PR to foreign workers. The four pathways introduced for PR include the Enhanced Caregiver Pilot Programme, Rural Community Immigration Pilot, Francoophone Community Immigration Pilot, and Manitoba West Central Immigration Initiative Pilot. Let's explore each of them in detail.

Enhanced Caregiver Pilot Program

Replacing the "Home Childcare Provider Pilot" and "Home Support Worker Pilot" launched in June 2024, the Enhanced Caregiver Pilot Programme will allow caregiver workers to enter Canada. Caregivers typically provide services to the elderly and sick in hospitals and care homes. This new route offers opportunities for these workers to obtain PR in Canada.

Rural Community Immigration Pilot

In 2025, the IRCC will launch the Rural Community Immigration Pilot to address labour shortages in smaller, rural areas. Those with in-demand skills in local labour markets or individuals willing to live in Canada's rural and remote areas for an extended period will be eligible for PR.

Francoophone Community Immigration Pilot

The Francoophone Community Immigration Pilot aims to settle individuals outside Quebec who are fluent in both French and English. As both languages are widely spoken in Canada, this program is designed to attract people who can contribute to the economy in French-speaking regions. Skilled workers who speak French will be eligible for PR through this route.

Manitoba West Central Immigration Initiative Pilot

Launched on November 15, 2024, the Manitoba West Central Immigration Initiative Pilot aims to address labour shortages in the Manitoba region. A recent study revealed that Manitoba requires 200 to 300 skilled professionals each year to meet its needs. This programme is designed to attract individuals who are willing to live and work in the province.

These new pathways will provide diverse opportunities for foreign workers to contribute to Canada's economy while addressing critical labour shortages.

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Padma Vibhushan Osamu Suzuki: The Man Who Gave India Maruti 800 Car

Osamu Suzuki, Suzuki Motor Corp's patriarch and long-time chairman who has been conferred Padma Vibhushan posthumously, headed the company for more than 40 years and revolutionised India's car market with the introduction of the popular Maruti 800 car.

Osamu Suzuki is among seven personalities who were conferred Padma Vibhushans, one of the highest civilian honours in the country, on Saturday.

Osamu Suzuki, who died in late December last year at the age of 94, shared a good rapport with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

According to PM Modi, Osamu Suzuki was a legendary figure in the global automotive industry.

“His visionary work reshaped global perceptions of mobility. Under his leadership, Suzuki Motor Corporation became a global powerhouse, successfully navigating challenges, driving innovation and expansion. He had a profound affection for India and his collaboration with Maruti revolutionised the Indian automobile market,” the Prime Minister had posted on X social media platform.

A former bank employee, Osamu Suzuki got his break in the automotive business after his marriage to Shoko Suzuki, granddaughter of Michio Suzuki, who founded Suzuki Motor's predecessor company in 1909. Osamu Suzuki took his wife's surname, in accordance with the Japanese custom when there are no male heirs.

His entry into India turned out to be a game-changer as the subcontinent-sized market, saddled with the mid-60s technology Ambassador and Fiat cars, drove up demand for the Maruti 800 small car. The waiting lists of customers stretched for as long as up to three years with the car selling at a premium in the second-hand market.

Suzuki Motor agreed to set up a venture with the Indian government outside New Delhi and acquired a 26 per cent stake in the state-owned carmaker Maruti Udyog in 1982. In December 1983, the venture rolled out the Maruti 800 small car which was an instant hit.

Maruti, now a unit of Suzuki Motor, quickly became the biggest car manufacturer in India and still commands more than 40 per cent share of the market.

Osamu Suzuki's more than 28 years as president made him the longest-serving head of a global automaker. After stepping down as president in 2000, he became Suzuki Motor's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. He came back as president at the age of 78 in December 2008, when Suzuki Motor was expecting its first profit decline in eight years amid the global recession to lead from the front.

Suzuki then passed on the presidency to his son in June 2015 and took over as Chairman and CEO, but then resigned as CEO over an embarrassing fuel-economy misstatement.

Suzuki was a man of spartan habits and was known to fly economy class even during his old age as part of his frugal lifestyle.

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Will Sign Order "Maybe Getting Rid Of" US Disaster Agency: Trump

US President Donald Trump said as he visited hurricane-hit North Carolina Friday that he would sign an executive order to overhaul or possibly scrap the federal agency that helps states cope with disasters.

"I'll also be signing an executive order to begin the process of fundamentally reforming and overhauling FEMA, or maybe getting rid of FEMA," Trump told reporters, referring to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

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Will Summon Social Media Users Who Try To Create Tension: Manipur Chief Minister

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Thursday warned social media page handlers who upload posts that violate law and personal space of others. Mr Singh also said a large number of new organisations have come up since the ethnic crisis began in May 2023 and several of them indulged in anti-social activities - extorting, detaining and assaulting people.

"We are seeing signs of calmness (in the state now) and I seek the support of the media for restoring normalcy," the Chief Minister told reporters.

Some posts have recently been uploaded on social media, which were communally charged and interfered with the personal lives of others, Mr Singh said.

"Interrogation of certain women (by unauthorised people) on personal matters was uploaded on social media. These incidents are extremely awkward, disturbing and uncivilised," he said.

Mr Singh said he has informed the police and intelligence agencies on this and soon formal notices will be sent to summon all social media page holders and admins of groups who engage in such practices.

"Who has authorised these groups to interfere in the private lives of individuals?" Mr Singh said, adding the government does not want to destroy the career of young people.

"Those involved in looting residences of elected representatives or torching them have been arrested. Some of them are now in prison while some of them may be charged under NSA (National Security Act). Their lives will be difficult, as their records will be with the police and those with FIRs won't be able to enter government services," he said.

Mr Singh said the state government has maintained restraint as people have suffered due to the violence, but now the situation has reached an intolerable level.

"So many organisations have emerged. Setting up organisations is alright as democracy allows that. But who has authorised these groups to apprehend and assault people?" he said, adding anything that can affect the society should be immediately stopped.

Mr Singh said special police teams will be set up.

"Office employees have been summoned (by them) for extortion. Who has authorised them? They are threatening officials with kidnapping if their demands are not met. This should be stopped," the Chief Minister said.

Mr Singh appealed to the people not to support those who have taken laws into their own hands.

Manipur has been in the grip of violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities since May 2023, leaving over 250 people dead and thousands homeless.

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Trump Tells Putin To Make Ukraine Deal "Now" Or Face Tariffs, Sanctions

US President Donald Trump told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Wednesday to make a deal to end the grinding Ukraine war "now" or face tariff hikes and more sanctions.

"If we don't make a 'deal,' and soon, I have no other choice but to put high levels of Taxes, Tariffs, and Sanctions on anything being sold by Russia to the United States, and various other participating countries," Trump said on his Truth Social network.

Trump said he was "not looking to hurt Russia" and had "always had a very good relationship with President Putin," a leader for whom he has expressed admiration in the past.

"All of that being said, I'm going to do Russia, whose Economy is failing, and President Putin, a very big FAVOR. Settle now, and STOP this ridiculous War! IT'S ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE."

Trump was taking a harder line than he had during a White House press conference on Tuesday, when he said it "sounds likely" that he would apply additional sanctions if Putin did not come to the table.

The US president also declined to say whether he would continue his predecessor Joe Biden's policy of sending weapons to Ukraine to fight off Russia's invasion, launched in February 2022.

"We're looking at that," he said at the press conference. "We're talking to (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelensky, we're going to be talking to President Putin very soon."

Prior to his inauguration on Monday, Trump had vowed to end the Ukraine war before even taking office, raising expectations he would leverage aid to force Kyiv to make concessions to Moscow.

In unusually critical remarks of Putin on Monday, Trump said the Russian president was "destroying Russia by not making a deal."

Trump added that Zelensky had told him he wanted a peace agreement to end the war.

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Liquor Shops To Remain Shut In Delhi On These Dates Due To Assembly polls

The Delhi government has ordered the closure of liquor shops and other establishments serving alcohol in the city from February 3 to 5, the voting day, and on February 8 when the results would be declared.

A gazette notification issued recently by the Delhi excise commissioner declared "dry days" under Excise Rules-2010 for various excise licenses on the day of voting to the 70-member Delhi Assembly and the counting day.

"It is ordered that dry days shall be observed (during 48 hours ending with the hour fixed for conclusion of the poll) from 6 pm of February 3 to 6 pm of February 5, and again on February 8 being the counting day on account of Assembly polls.

"During the dry days, no liquor shops, hotels, restaurants, clubs and establishments selling or serving liquor, will be permitted to sell or serve liquor to anyone whosoever," said the notification.

It added that non-proprietary clubs, star hotels, restaurants among others, and hotels run by anyone, even if they are issued different categories of licenses for possession and supply of liquor, should also not be permitted to serve liquor.

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"Look Forward To Working Together": PM Modi Congratulates "Dear Friend" Trump

Donald Trump took oath as the 47th US president for a historic second term on Monday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated his "dear friend" Trump on his inauguration and wished him a "successful term ahead".

"I look forward to working closely together once again, to benefit both our countries and to shape a better future for the world," PM Modi posted on X.

Congratulations my dear friend President @realDonaldTrump on your historic inauguration as the 47th President of the United States! I look forward to working closely together once again, to benefit both our countries, and to shape a better future for the world. Best wishes for a…

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 20, 2025

PM Modi didn't attend the inauguration ceremony - attended by several world leaders - but he sent External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to attend the event as his special envoy. "Privileged to represent India as External Affairs Minister and Special Envoy of PM at the Swearing-In Ceremony of the 47th President of the United States of America today in Washington DC," he said earlier on X.

Trump, with one hand raised in the air and the other on a Bible given to him by his mother, solemnly took the oath of office beneath the huge Rotunda of the US Capitol.

In his first speech after taking oath as the US president, Trump listed a number of executive orders he will be signing soon, including a national emergency at the Mexico border. The orders are mainly aimed at fulfilling his poll promises.

Tech giants like Elon Musk, Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg, Amazon boss Jeff Bezos and Google CEO Sundar Pichai all had prime seats in the Capitol alongside Trump's family and cabinet members.

While Trump refused to attend Biden's 2021 inauguration after falsely accusing him of electoral fraud, the former president restored tradition. Earlier, he, along with his spouse Jill Biden, met Trump and Melania for a traditional tea at the White House. Republican Trump and Democratic Biden then travelled by motorcade together to the Capitol where the inauguration ceremony was being held indoors against the initially planned outdoor venue for the first time in decades due to the bitter cold.

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"After So Much Pain...": Joe Biden Praises Israel-Hamas Truce In Gaza

President Joe Biden on Sunday welcomed the ceasefire taking hold between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, saying the "region has been fundamentally transformed."

"After so much pain, death and loss of life, today the guns in Gaza have gone silent," the outgoing president said, just hours after the ceasefire took effect.

Biden was speaking during a visit to South Carolina on the last full day of his presidency, with Donald Trump set to succeed him -- and to inherit the complex task of helping shepherd the initial ceasefire to a more lasting peace.

Defending his determined support for Israel against criticism that it could have drawn the US into a wider war, Biden said he had considered that possibility.

"But I concluded abandoning the course I was on would not have led us to the ceasefire we're seeing today. But instead, it would have risked the wider war in the region that so many feared.

"Now the region has been fundamentally transformed."

Expounding on that, Biden said Hamas's top leaders had been killed and its "sponsors in the Middle East have been badly weakened by Israel, backed by the United States.

"Hezbollah, one of Hamas's biggest backers, was significantly weakened on the battlefield, and its leadership was destroyed."

He said Israel's military campaign was "extremely successful," leading Hamas's Hezbollah allies in Lebanon to abandon it, making way for Lebanon to install a new president and prime minister, "both of whom support a sovereign Lebanon."

In addition, Biden said, "The Assad regime next door in Syria is gone, removing Iran's ready access to Lebanon. Iran is in the weakest position in decades."

The fighting in Gaza has preoccupied Biden's administration since Hamas launched a surprise and bloody intrusion into Israel in October 2023.

In his comments he did not refer to the other main criticism of his administration's support for Israel as many Americans, aghast at the soaring death count in the war, called during last year's presidential election for him to rein the US ally in.

Biden's aides have said the final terms of the ceasefire largely follow the outlines of the truce he proposed in May.

But President-elect Trump and his advisors say that only his tough talk and the involvement of his own aides alongside the Biden team helped finally quiet the guns in Gaza.

Biden on Sunday acknowledged the importance of the role played by Trump and his aides.

"Now it falls on the next administration to help them implement this deal," he said.

"I was pleased to have our team speak as one voice in the final days. It was both necessary and effective and unprecedented."

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On Camera, 1 Injured In Tel Aviv Stabbing Attack Ahead Of Gaza Ceasefire Deal

Israeli police said that an assailant stabbed and seriously wounded a person in the centre of commercial hub Tel Aviv on Saturday, before being shot and "neutralised" by a civilian.

The attack came hours before a ceasefire is set to take effect in the Gaza Strip, where Israel has been fighting Palestinian militant group Hamas for more than 15 months.

The police had initially spoken of a shooting with several wounded but clarified in a later statement that the "terrorist" was armed only with a knife. 

Israeli police use the term "terrorist" to refer to Palestinians who carry out attacks for political motives.

"Initial investigations reveal that a terrorist armed with a knife arrived at the restaurant area on Levontin Street and stabbed a civilian," the later statement said.

"An armed civilian nearby shot and neutralised" the attacker.

Police said the stabbing victim was taken to hospital with serious wounds.

Emergency service provider Magen David Adom said its staff were providing medical treatment to a 30-year-old male "injured from stabbing" in the 4:30 pm (1430 GMT) attack.

It said he was taken to hospital in a conscious state.

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Joe Biden Grants Clemency To 2,500 Convicts, Highest In US History

President Joe Biden on Friday commuted the sentences of nearly 2,500 people convicted of non-violent drug offenses in what the White House called the largest single-day act of clemency in US history.

Those whose sentences were commuted were serving "disproportionately long sentences" compared to what they would receive today, Biden said in a statement.

He called the move "an important step toward righting historic wrongs, correcting sentencing disparities, and providing deserving individuals the opportunity to return to their families."

"With this action, I have now issued more individual pardons and commutations than any president in US history," Biden said, adding that he may issue further commutations or pardons before he hands over power to President-elect Donald Trump on Monday.

The outgoing president said those receiving clemency had received lengthy sentences based on now-discredited distinctions between crack and powder cocaine, which have disproportionately impacted the Black community.

Historically, there have been considerably more crack cocaine convictions involving Black offenders than whites and the disparate sentencing policy has been condemned as racist.

Kara Gotsch, executive director of The Sentencing Project, which campaigns for prison reform, welcomed the White House clemency action, saying it would provide "relief for countless families who have endured punishments for loved ones that far exceed their utility."

"Cruel and excessive prison sentences that have overwhelmingly harmed Black communities have been the cornerstone of federal drug policy for generations," Gotsch said in a statement. "American communities, disproportionately Black and Brown, have long borne the scars of the Drug War."

Biden commuted the sentences of nearly 1,500 people and pardoned 39 others last month.

Among those pardoned in December was Biden's son Hunter, who was facing a possible prison sentence after being convicted of gun and tax crimes.

Biden has meanwhile reportedly been debating whether to issue blanket pre-emptive pardons for some allies and former officials amid fears they could be targeted for what Trump has previously called "retribution."

In December, Biden also commuted the death sentences of 37 of the 40 inmates on federal death row.

Three men were excluded from the move: one of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombers, a gunman who murdered 11 Jewish worshippers in 2018 and a white supremacist who killed nine Black churchgoers in 2015.

Trump has indicated that he will resume federal executions, which were paused while Biden was in office.

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Airfares Sky High, Railways To Run Two Special Trains For Coldplay Concert

Two special trains being run between Mumbai and Ahmedabad on January 25 and 26 by Western Railway are set to provide relief for those wanting to attend concerts of renowned rock band Coldplay amid skyrocketing airfares between the two cities.

An official on Thursday said though the two trains are "winter specials" as per the directive of the Railway Board, these are being operated to clear the extra rush of passengers in view of the Coldplay concerts on January 25 and 26 at Narendra Modi stadium in Gujarat.

"Both the trains will depart from Bandra Terminus at 6:15am and reach Ahmedabad at 2pm on January 25 and 26. On the return leg, the trains will leave from Ahmedabad the next day at 1:40am and arrive at Bandra Terminus at 8:40am. These trains will halt at Borivali, Vapi, Udhna, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara and Gertapur in both directions," the official said.

Other officials said airfares have soared between the metropolis and Gujarat's largest city due to the concerts, while trains on the route are also full.

Even these two 'winter specials' might not be sufficient if the popularity of Coldplay and the past experience of the railways with the cricket world cup were anything to go by, these officials pointed out.

For the Coldplay concerts to be held at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on January 18, 19 and 21, the organisers have booked Full Tariff Rate (FTR) suburban locals for the attendees.

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"We Have A Deal": Trump On Israel-Hamas Ceasefire, Hostage Agreement

US President-elect Donald Trump hailed a hostage release and ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas on Wednesday, agreed just five days before he returns to power.

"We have a deal for the hostages in the Middle East. They will be released shortly. Thank you!" Trump said on his Truth Social network, before there was any official announcement from outgoing President Joe Biden's White House.

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Customs Department Imposes Fine On IndiGo, Airline To Take Legal Measures

Leading airline IndiGo on Wednesday said the customs department has imposed a fine of little over Rs 25 lakh on the company in relation to duty on jet fuel.

The fine has been imposed by the Joint Commissioner (Customs), Office of the Commissioner of Customs, Ludhiana.

In a regulatory filing, InterGlobe Aviation, the parent of IndiGo, said there was "demand for additional duty of customs on remnant Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF)".

The company will take appropriate legal measures against it, the filing said and added that there is no material impact on financials, operations or other activities.

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Teen Girl Allegedly Raped On Pretext Of Birthday Celebration In Gurugram

A 14-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a youth who invited her to a guest house on the pretext of a birthday party, police said on Tuesday.

According to police, the incident occurred on Sunday night when the rape survivor reportedly left the house without informing her parents. She returned home the next day and narrated her ordeal to her family who then approached the police.

The survivor's mother in her complaint said that her daughter, a student of Class 8, had gone with her 'friend 'Anshu on his bike to celebrate the birthday of another youth, Avinash, police said.

The woman added that Anshu had told her daughter that they would return after Avinash cuts his birthday cake. While Avinash left the guest house, Anshu raped her.

"My daughter also revealed that Avinash had raped her twice earlier," the victim's mother said in her complaint.

Based on the mother's complaint, a case was registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act on Monday. The girl was sent to a hospital for medical examination and counselling.

"A special team has been formed to nab the accused. Both the accused are absconding but they will be arrested soon", said a senior police officer.

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4 Arrested For Killing Man With Bricks, Stones Over Dispute In Delhi

Four persons allegedly killed a 26-year-old man in east Delhi's Ghazipur area on Tuesday using bricks and stones, police said.

All four men were arrested while they were trying to flee Delhi, they said.

The accused and the victim allegedly had a dispute and they had a quarrel some days ago, they added.

According to police, on Tuesday, they received information of a murder in Ghazipur area. After reaching the spot, police found a body. The victim was identified as Deen Dayal alias Pawan, Deputy Commissioner of Police (east) Abhishek Dhania said.

Eyewitness Ankit said that Pawan was killed by Rahul Thakur (23), Irfan (24), Sandeep (24), Nikhil Gautam (25) and two others by using bricks and stones. Police said that the two parties had some differences, the DCP said.

Police caught the four assailants and recovered the weapon of crime -- a blood-stained brick -- and a blood-stained cloth from them, he said.

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S Jaishankar On India's Potential Role In Ending Global Conflicts

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has underlined India's potential role in ending global conflicts, saying that it is one of the few countries that is in a position to hold talks with both Russia and Ukraine, and with Israel and Iran.

Mr Jaishankar, who is on a two-day visit to Spain, made these remarks during an interaction with the Indian community in Madrid on Monday in an apparent reference to the wars in Ukraine and in West Asia, where Israel is fighting Iran-backed Hamas.

The minister said India is today seen as contributing to a global conversation that when the "world is looking at many, many challenges, different issues, we also come up with ideas and initiatives".

“There are very few countries today who are in a position to talk to Russia and to Ukraine,” he said.

He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year visited Russia twice and also went to Kyiv in Ukraine.

India is one of the few countries which is in a position to talk to Israel and Iran as well and Prime Minister Modi is able to do both, being a member of the Quad and BRICS, he said.

“So, this is something which is actually very, very unique. And it is unique because if you look at the world, it is a very polarised world,” he added.

The Quad consists of Australia, Japan the US and India while the BRICS grouping now has Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the UAE as its members.

Mr Jaishankar further said India was the one who brought the African Union into the G20 which should have been done years ago.

The minister said India has a plan to make 4,000 kilometres of new tracks every year, and every day 12 to 14 kilometres of new rail tracks are built.

The minister further said that 28 kilometres of highways are being built every day and in the last 10 years, the number of airports in the country has doubled from 75 to more than 150.

Mr Jaishankar said the number of metro trains in India has grown from six in 2014 to 21 today and we plan to take it to 60 cities.

The external affairs minister also highlighted India's achievements in sectors like space technology as it managed to land on the south side of the moon with its Chandrayaan-3 mission.

Mr Jaishankar said India and Spain would mark 2026 as a "dual year", where they would be celebrating culture, tourism and artificial intelligence in both countries.

Mr Jaishankar said he has been to Spain as a tourist a little more than 20 years ago and added that in 2017, he had the privilege of coming here with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2017.

He said President Pedro Sanchez's visit to India last year was a very successful one and his agreement with Modi that both countries should make a special effort to take their relationship forward.

Mr Jaishankar also announced that Spain will soon open a consulate in Bengaluru, calling it a “good sign” for deepening the relations between both the countries.

He urged the diaspora to remain in touch with India and follow the debates and conversations happening in the country.

“The biggest change I have seen in the last 10 years is the importance that the Government of India, the people of India have put on the contribution of diaspora,” he said.

Mr Jaishankar credited PM Modi for making Indians understand the invaluable contribution made by the diaspora.

This is Mr Jaishankar's first visit to Spain as the external affairs minister - nearly two-and-a-half months after Spanish President Pedro Sanchez visited India.

On Monday, Jaishankar met his Spanish counterpart Jose Manuel Albares and discussed regional and global issues. PTI GSP GSP

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BJP Points Finger At AAP Over Delhi School Bomb Threats

The BJP on Tuesday asked AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal to clarify if his party has any connection with those allegedly involved in sending bomb threats to more than 400 schools in Delhi recently.

This came after Delhi Police claimed that a Class-12 student had sent hoax bomb threats to more than 400 city schools and that his parents are linked to an NGO that supports a political party. The police, however, did not reveal the name of the political party.

A police officer also said that during the investigation, it was found that the NGO had voiced support for Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.

Hitting back, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) accused the BJP of "concocting stories" ahead of Assembly polls and asserted that "no evidence has so far come from the police".

Terming the police findings as "very sensitive and serious", BJP national spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Sudhanshu Trivedi claimed it has also been found during the probe that the student's parents were associated with some NGOs that were involved in the past in such activities considered inimical to national security.

"This news raises strong suspicion because we all know that AAP has deep links to such unwanted NGOs and others involved in anti-national activities," he told a press conference at the BJP headquarters here.

Stressing that it was not something pulled out of thin air, Mr Trivedi said, "Chief Minister Atishi Marlena's parents had supported Afzal Guru's clemency petition. AAP (government) kept the file of the case on the raising of 'tukde-tukde' slogan (in JNU campus) pending (for sanction of prosecution of the accused) for months," he alleged.

The BJP leader claimed that there appeared to be a "direct link" between the NGOs and the AAP leadership in the case related to bomb threats sent to schools in Delhi.

"Kejriwal talks all nonsense and makes false statements. I want to ask clearly if AAP will clarify what its links are to the horrifying and dangerous facts coming out because a direct ideological similarity with you is visible with the mechanism coming to light in the case," he said.

The BJP's Delhi unit chief Virendra Sachdeva also targeted AAP on the issue and claimed that given the direction of the investigation in the case, the "links between the said NGO, AAP and its leaders will become visible somewhere or the other".

"It's not a coincidence...Those emails were sent to 400 schools under a well-thought-out conspiracy so that an atmosphere of fear is created in Delhi because they had to win the elections," he charged.

"Arvind Kejriwal is not just an enemy of Delhi but of the country as well... May Delhi be free from this 'aapda' (disaster) because they (AAP) have destroyed Delhi," he added.

AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh mocked Trivedi over his allegations, calling him the "newly appointed Delhi Police Commissioner".

"He knows things that even the police is unaware of," the AAP leader said at a press conference.

Mr Singh also asked why the BJP is raising the issue eight months after the first bomb threat was received by a school in the city in May last year.

"No evidence has so far come from the police, while the BJP for political gain has now raised the issue and Trivedi is concocting baseless stories when the Delhi Assembly elections are hardly 15 days away," the AAP leader said.

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Rahul Gandhi's "Pollution, Inflation" Attack On Arvind Kejriwal. He Says...

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday launched a broadside against INDIA bloc ally and Delhi's former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal over rising "pollution and inflation" at his first public rally for assembly elections in the national capital.

"Arvind Kejriwal had said that he would clean Delhi, remove corruption, and turn the national capital into Paris. What actually happened - one cannot move around due to pollution and inflation is rising," Mr Gandhi said addressing his 'Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan' public meeting in Seelampur.

"Arvind Kejriwal had talked of removing corruption. Has he removed corruption? Pollution, corruption and inflation are on the rise in Delhi," he said.

The AAP chief reacted to the blistering attack by the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and said while Mr Gandhi was fighting to save the Congress, "my fight is to save the country".

"Today, Rahul Gandhi came to Delhi. He abused me a lot. But I will not comment on his statements," he wrote on X in Hindi.

Accusing the AAP of keeping mum on the issue of caste census, Mr Gandhi promised a caste survey in Delhi if the Congress formed the government in the national capital.

The former Congress president sought people's support to make the party victorious in Delhi, where it failed to win a single seat in the last two elections. He asserted that the party would ensure Delhi's development as in the past under Sheila Dikshit's government. "Neither (Arvind) Kejriwal nor the BJP can do what the Congress had done," Mr Gandhi said.

The Congress has been highlighting the achievements of the 15-year rule under Sheila Dikshit.

In 2013, Arvind Kejriwal - a rookie politician back then - defeated the three-time chief minister in her constituency of New Delhi.

For this year's election, the Congress has fielded Sandeep Dikshit, the son of Sheila Dikshit, against Mr Kejriwal.

The AAP and Congress have decided to go solo in the assembly elections, months after the parties fought the Lok Sabha Elections in Delhi together. Their Lok Sabha partnership ended in a debacle as the BJP won all the seven seats.

In the run-up to the Delhi assembly elections, the parties have engaged in bitter political fight, targeting each other over issues ranging from corruption and free welfare schemes, like free water, power, education, health and bus travel.

The Delhi Congress has even released a 12-point "white paper" against the AAP and BJP for mismanagement of pollution, civic facilities and law and order in the national capital.

In the 2020 assembly elections, the AAP won 62 of the 70 seats and BJP secured eight seats while Congress failed to open its account.

Polling for the 70-member Delhi Assembly will be held on February 5 and votes counted on February 8.

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