#Seven Summiteer of India

[ranveer-jamwal]

Colonel Ranveer Singh Jamwal: India's Best Mountaineer, Motivator, and Seven Summiteer

Colonel Ranveer Singh Jamwal is an Indian Army officer and best mountaineer in India. He is the first Indian to climb the Seven Summits, the highest mountains on each continent, along with Mount Everest three times. He is also a veteran of more than 45 mountaineering expeditions and the recipient of several awards, including the Sena Medal and the Vishisht Seva Medal.

Colonel Jamwal's accomplishments

Colonel Jamwal's accomplishments as a mountaineer are truly remarkable. He is the first Indian to climb the Seven Summits, and he has also summited Mount Everest three times. He is also a veteran of more than 45 mountaineering expeditions, and he has led several successful expeditions to remote and challenging peaks.

In addition to his mountaineering accomplishments, Colonel Jamwal is also a motivational speaker and author. He has written several books about mountaineering and motivation, and he regularly gives talks to inspire others to achieve their goals.

Colonel Jamwal's Har Shikhar Tiranga Campaign :

Colonel Jamwal is currently leading the Har Shikhar Tiranga Campaign, which aims to unfurl the Indian tricolour on all the major peaks in India. The campaign is a way to celebrate India's 75th anniversary of independence and to inspire Indians to achieve their goals.

Colonel Jamwal's impact:

Colonel Ranveer Singh Jamwal is an inspiration to millions of people around the world. He has demonstrated that with determination, anything can be achieved. He is a true patriot and a role model for all of us.

Conclusion:

Colonel Ranveer Singh Jamwal is India's best mountaineer, motivator, and Seven Summiteer. He serves as a source of inspiration for millions worldwide, illustrating that setting one's mind to it can make anything possible. He is a true patriot and a role model for all of us.

[rightnewshindi]

बिम्सटेक शिखर सम्मेलन में पीएम मोदी और यूनुस की मुलाकात: क्या सुलझेगा भारत-बांग्लादेश तनाव?

Delhi News: थाईलैंड की राजधानी बैंकॉक में चल रहे छठे बिम्सटेक शिखर सम्मेलन ने भारत और बांग्लादेश के बीच सियासी हलचल को एक नया मोड़ दे दिया है। प्रधानमंत्री नरेंद्र मोदी और बांग्लादेश के अंतरिम सरकार के मुख्य सलाहकार मोहम्मद यूनुस के बीच संभावित मुलाकात की चर्चा जोरों पर है। यह मौका तब आया है, जब हाल ही में यूनुस की एक टिप्��णी ने भारत में विवाद खड़ा कर दिया था। आइए, इस पूरे घटनाक्रम को करीब से…

[tenzingfilm]

Exciting news is brewing in the world of cinema: Hollywood stars Tom Hiddleston and Willem Dafoe are in Kathmandu, Nepal, to begin work on the highly anticipated biographical drama Tenzing.

Insiders suggest they’re gearing up to bring Tenzing Norgay Sherpa extraordinary story to life.

Jennifer Peedom is at the helm, with spring 2025 marked as the start of principal photography, and Kathmandu, rich in mountaineering history, is the perfect backdrop.

Here’s what we know so far.

The Insider Scoop

According to our source in India, Tom Hiddleston, who’ll play Sir Edmund Hillary, and Willem Dafoe, cast as Colonel John Hunt, are in Kathmandu to kick off pre‑production and possibly even some early filming.

This fits the spring 2025 timeline that the team announced.

While the production hasn’t made a formal announcement yet, word is that Tenzing is moving full steam ahead in Nepal.

About the Film: Tenzing

Tenzing celebrates Tenzing Norgay, the Nepalese‑Indian Sherpa who, alongside Sir Edmund Hillary, became one of the first people to summit Mount Everest on May 29, 1953.

The filmmakers aim to spotlight his remarkable journey, honor his cultural heritage, and highlight the vital role Sherpas play in mountaineering, stories that often get glossed over.

See‑Saw Films is producing, with support from Apple Original Films, promising both breathtaking visuals and a narrative with real heart.

The Cast

Tom Hiddleston as Sir Edmund Hillary: Best known as Loki in the Marvel universe, Hiddleston will portray the determined explorer who forged an iconic partnership with Norgay.

Willem Dafoe as Colonel John Hunt: The Oscar‑nominated actor (seen in Platoon and Poor Things) takes on the role of the expedition leader whose strategy made the historic ascent possible.

Tenzing Norgay: Casting for the legendary Sherpa is still under wraps, with the production committed to finding someone who can truly embody his spirit.

Casting for Tenzing Norgay

One intriguing possibility floating around is Tenzing Norgay Trainor, the actor and grandson of the climber, known for his work in Disney’s Liv and Maddie and Netflix’s Abominable.

His personal connection could bring an extra layer of authenticity, though the filmmakers have yet to confirm any names.

The Director

Jennifer Peedom, an Australian filmmaker who earned the Sherpa community’s trust through her documentaries Sherpa (2015) and Mountain (2017), is directing.

With a screenplay by Luke Davies (Lion), you can expect an approach that’s both respectful and deeply moving.

Why Kathmandu?

Kathmandu isn’t just a convenient shooting spot; it’s the heart of this story.

Roughly 160 kilometers from Everest Base Camp, its bustling markets, ancient temples like Boudhanath Stupa and Pashupatinath, and easy access to the Himalayas make it ideal for scenes depicting Norgay’s early life and the expedition’s final preparations.

If our intel is right, the cast and crew are already in full swing.

Hollywood’s History with Nepal

Nepal’s cinematic appeal isn’t new: Doctor Strange (2016) highlighted its mystical temples and winding streets, while Everest (2015) captured the raw power of the mountain itself.

With Tenzing, audiences worldwide will likely get another breathtaking glimpse of the Himalayas, and perhaps plan their own journeys there.

Production Details

Filming is slated to span both Nepal and New Zealand, with Kathmandu as the central hub.

Producers Liz Watts, Emile Sherman, and Iain Canning, known for their attention to detail, are overseeing the project, and Norbu Tenzing, the climber’s son, is on board as an executive producer to ensure cultural alignment.

While our source hints at significant activity already underway, the team seems determined to keep specifics close to the vest, perhaps to avoid crowds during filming.

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

Brazil announces Cuba, Bolivia, and seven other countries as new members of BRICS

The entry of new partners was announced on Friday (17) by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Cuba, Bolivia, and seven other countries are now part of BRICS. Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which currently chairs the group, announced the news on Friday (17). With the addition of these new members, the diplomatic grouping now includes the following partner countries: Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan. 

The partner country category was created at the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, in October 2024. As partners, the new members hold a lower status than full members but can participate in summits and thematic meetings. 

Initially, the group included Brazil, Russia, India, and China and was known by the acronym BRIC. In 2010, it added South Africa and adopted the name BRICS. 

Since January 1st, Brazil has held the temporary presidency of the group for a one-year term. However, the most recent members were included during Russia's presidency in 2024. 

Continue reading.

[panimoonchild]

Unpunished evil returns and grows stronger in its impunity

"13 houses in the residential area were damaged during the rocket attack, the houses have five floors. There is a very large number of broken windows, over 700. Seven humanitarian buildings were damaged," said Kateryna Yamshchikova, Secretary of the Poltava City Council, about the consequences of the missile attack in Poltava on June 17.

Utilities and rescuers are working at the site. They are trimming damaged trees and removing balcony structures. Social workers and psychologists are also assisting.

Also, Vadym Labas briefly explains why certain countries that arrived at the Global Peace Summit in Switzerland did not sign a joint declaration.

▪️ Saudi Arabia is a major hub for the transfer of components and units for Russian weapons, as well as a place of accumulation of billions of Russian money. ▪️ India - supplies units and components to Russia. It has joint military-industrial complex plants with Russia, from assault rifles to missiles. It is a hub for transshipment of Russian oil. ▪️ South Africa - everything is clear here: "Wagner", money and influence. ▪️ Thailand - supplies sanctioned products to Russia and also helps the Russian military-industrial complex with its production. For example, Russia could not produce cable products without Thailand. ▪️ Indonesia - supplies sanctioned products to Russia. ▪️ Mexico is a huge hub for the supply of drugs to Europe and Russian agents to the United States, which generates huge shadow earnings. ▪️ United Arab Emirates - helps to supply sanctioned products to Russia and has a lot of Russian money. ▪️ Armenia - has a huge Russian lobby and is one of the key players in the supply of smuggled military-industrial products to Russia.

All this brings super-profits either to these countries themselves or to influential clans in these countries. Therefore, they are quite satisfied with the current situation.

P.S.: these countries came to the Summit to "keep their finger on the pulse," but they are not interested in peace in Ukraine because they make super profits by helping Russia circumvent sanctions and supplying components. But if they were given a clear signal about the secondary sanctions that could be imposed for helping Russia, their "pulse rate" would increase significantly.

DPRK prepares for the arrival of the world's evil.

Now the most important news: The ratio of forces in the Pokrovsk sector is 1 to 7 in favor of the Russians, said a soldier of the 47th Brigade, pseudonym "Azimuth".

Photo: Approximate front line in the Pokrovsk sector/DeepStateMap.

The Russians are pressing near the villages of Novoselivka Persha, Sokil, and Novopokrovske, trying to reach the Pokrovsk-Konstantynivka highway.

Don't be indifferent. Make Russia pay. Please hear our cry out to the world, keep spreading our voices, and donate to our army and combat medics (savelife.in.ua, prytulafoundation.org, Serhii Sternenko, hospitallers.life, ptahy.vidchui.org, and u24.gov.ua).

[dertaglichedan]

Putin Hosts BRICS Leaders, Showing He Is Far From Isolated

(Bloomberg) -- President Vladimir Putin is playing host to Russia’s biggest gathering of world leaders since the invasion of Ukraine and using the BRICS summit to show the US and its allies that he’s no pariah.

With Russian troops advancing in eastern Ukraine and evidence of growing war fatigue among some of Kyiv’s allies, the Kremlin is seizing its opportunity to cast Putin as standing up to the West in attempting to reshape the global order. The US and its Group of Seven partners dismiss the argument, though it’s a message that resonates with some countries of the emerging world.  

Leaders of 32 countries, as well as top officials of regional organizations and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, will attend the three-day summit starting Tuesday in Kazan, Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa are joining Putin alongside leaders of the new BRICS members, Iran, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Ethiopia. Putin plans bilateral meetings with many of them, as well as with guests such as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. 

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Sunday canceled his plans to attend the summit after suffering a head injury in an accident at his home. Officials said he’ll participate by video link.

While BRICS favors greater use of national currencies in bilateral trade, members including India reject attempts to promote China’s yuan as an alternative reserve currency.

***WAKE UP!! This is NOT good for the US Dollar..

[digitaldetoxworld]

The Indomitable Spirit: The Story of Arunima Sinha

 In the annals of human history, memories of braveness and perseverance stand as beacons of idea. One such exceptional tale is that of Arunima Sinha, a woman who defied insurmountable odds to carve her name in history. Her story is not pretty much triumph over bodily obstacles but also approximately the boundless electricity of the human spirit.

Motivational story of Arunima Sinha for students

A Dream Cut Short

Arunima Sinha turned into born in 1988 in Ambedkar Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, India. A country wide-stage volleyball player, she harbored dreams of representing her united states of america at the international degree. Sports become now not only a ardour but her identification. However, destiny had extraordinary plans for her.

In 2011, whilst touring on the Padmavati Express educate to seem for an exam, Arunima became the victim of a tragic incident. A organization of robbers entered the educate and attempted to grab her belongings. When she resisted, they threw her out of the moving train. She landed on an adjacent track, and before she may want to pass, every other teach got here rushing in. The impact crushed her left leg underneath the knee. Alone, in excruciating pain, she lay at the railway tracks for hours, crying for assist till she became finally taken to a health facility.

Rising From the Ashes

The accident resulted within the amputation of her leg. When she wakened in the health facility, she changed into no longer just scuffling with bodily pain but also emotional devastation. Losing her leg intended dropping her dream of becoming a professional athlete. But in the ones darkest moments, Arunima made a preference that might redefine her destiny. Instead of succumbing to despair, she resolved to achieve some thing amazing.

During her sanatorium stay, she read about mountain climbing legend Bachendri Pal, the first Indian female to scale Mount Everest. Inspired via her story, Arunima made an audacious selection—she could turn out to be the arena’s first lady amputee to overcome Everest. Her announcement turned into met with skepticism, even ridicule, but she remained undeterred.

The Grueling Journey

Arunima approached Bachendri Pal, who took her under her wing at the Tata Steel Adventure Foundation. There, she underwent rigorous training, pushing her physical and intellectual limits. Learning to stroll with a prosthetic limb became a project in itself, however mountain climbing the best peaks on Earth appeared nearly impossible. Yet, she persevered. She trained inside the rugged terrains of the Himalayas, braving excessive climate, exhaustion, and the limitations of her synthetic limb.

After months of relentless schooling, she set her points of interest on Everest. On April 1, 2013, Arunima began her ascent as part of a crew. The adventure changed into fraught with peril—unpredictable climate, treacherous crevasses, and the regular hazard of altitude illness. Every step was a take a look at of endurance and willpower. At instances, the ache from her prosthetic limb have become unbearable, but she refused to show lower back.

Finally, on May 21, 2013, after fifty two days of relentless hiking, Arunima stood atop the sector's highest top. At 8,848 meters above sea degree, she had conquered not simply Everest however also every doubt, fear, and hindrance imposed upon her. She had come to be the primary lady amputee to obtain this feat, proving that dedication knows no limitations.

Beyond Everest

Scaling Everest turned into handiest the start of Arunima's outstanding journey. She went on to climb the highest peaks of all seven continents, which includes Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, Mount Elbrus in Europe, and Mount Aconcagua in South America, amongst others. With each summit, she shattered stereotypes and stimulated endless people to agree with in their dreams in spite of adversity.

Arunima also took up the motive of empowering in another way-abled individuals. She established the Arunima Foundation, which presents help and education to aspiring athletes and mountaineers with disabilities. Through her motivational speeches and social paintings, she maintains to uplift and inspire humans international.

A Legacy of Courage

Arunima Sinha’s journey is extra than a tale of resilience; it's far a testament to the countless power of the human will. Her story teaches us that actual courage isn't always the absence of worry but the willpower to push ahead regardless of it. She grew to become a moment of tragedy into a lifelong assignment, proving that no impediment is insurmountable for those who dare to dream.

From the railway tracks to the summit of Everest, Arunima’s lifestyles exemplifies the electricity of perseverance, religion, and unwavering dedication. Her legacy isn't always just inside the mountains she has climbed however in the countless hearts she has stimulated alongside the way.

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 1.22

Holidays

Apple Macintosh Day

Bell Let’s Talk Day (Canada)

Black Tables Day (Posaf)

Bóndadagur (Man’s Day; Iceland) [1st of Þorri]

Butcher’s Broom Day (French Republic)

Celebration of Life Day

Come in From the Cold Day

County Fair Day

Customs Officers’ Day (Tajikistan)

Dance of the Seven Veils Day

Day of Hungarian Culture

Day of Unity and Liberty (Ukraine)

Dia de la Fundación del Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia (Multicultural State Day; Bolivia)

Franco-German Day (Germany)

Grandfather’s Day (Dzień Dziadka; Poland)

Hi, How Are You? Day (Texas)

Justin Turner Day (Los Angeles)

Lord Byron Day

National Heroes Day (Cayman Islands)

National Law Enforcement Spouse Appreciation Day

National Polka Dot Day

National Sanctity of Human Life Day

Nemausa Asteroid Day

Nuclear Ban Treaty Day

Nude Beach Day

Our Town Day

Public Holiday (Saint Vincent and Grenadines)

Reunion Day (Ukraine)

Roe vs. Wade Day

Trans Prisoner Day of Action & Solidarity

Unity Day (Ukraine)

Food & Drink Celebrations

Curry Day (Japan)

National Blonde Brownie Day

National Hot Sauce Day [also 11.5]

National Southern Food Day

Nature Celebrations

Answer Your Cat's Questions Day

Curious Cat Day

Moss (Mother’s Love; Korean Birth Flowers)

National Yorkshire Territory Day

Talk to Your Cat Day

Independence, Flag & Related Days

Falkland Islands (Ceded to UK by Spain; 1771)

Guyana (Proclaimed Republic, but within British Commonwealth; 1970)

Liechtenstein (Founded; 1719)

Louisiana became a Royal French Province (1732)

Plurinational State Foundation Day (Bolivia)

Ukraine (Unification; 1918)

Vigan Cityhood Day (Philippines)

4th Wednesday in January

Hump Day [Every Wednesday]

Library Shelfie Day [4th Wednesday]

Wacky Wednesday [Every Wednesday]

Website Wednesday [Every Wednesday]

Weedless Wednesday (Canada) [4th Wednesday]

Weird Wednesday [4th Wednesday of Each Month]

Whatever Wednesday [4th Wednesday of Each Month]

Weekly Holidays beginning January 22 (3rd Full Week of January)

Energy Savers Week (thru 1.26)

National Clean Out Your Inbox Week (thru 1.28)

Festivals Beginning January 22, 2025

Idaho Potato Conference (Pocatello, Idaho) [thru 1.23]

Iowa Pork Congress (Des Moines, Iowa) [thru 1.23]

Kiwiburn (Hunterville, New Zealand) [thru 1.27]

Küstendorf International Film and Music Festival (Drvengrad, Serbia) [thru 1.25]

Sioux Falls Farm Show (Sioux Falls, South Dakota) [thru 1.23]

Solothurn Film Festival (Solothurn, Switzerland) [thru 1.26]

Sustainable Foods Summit (San Francisco, California) [thru 1.23]

Temple Bar TradFest (Dublin, Ireland) [thru 1.26]

Feast Days

Abraham (Positivist; Saint)

Anam-Chara (Soul-Friend Day; Celtic Book of Days)

Anastasius of Persia (Christian; Saint)

Basil Wolverton (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Berhtwald of Ramsbury (Christian; Saint)

Blesilla (Christian; Saint)

Catagogia (Erotic Festival; Ephesus, Ionia)

Dominic of Sora (Christian; Saint)

Erotic Festival Day

Feast of St. Vincent (Old Agricultural Calendar; Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Festival of Invoking and Banishing

Festival of the Muses (Everyday Wicca)

Festival of the Orgone

Gaudentius of Novara (Christian; Saint)

Imoinu Iratpa (Celebration of Emoinu, Sanamahism Goddess of Wealth, Prosperity and Vital Resources; India)

László Batthyány-Strattmann (Christian; Saint)

Laugh at Life Day (Pastafarian)

Laura Vicuna (Christian; Saint)

Quantum Cheese Day (Pastafarian)

Sunbeam Day (Sunshine today means wine will be more plentiful than water)

Vincent Pallotti (Christian; Saint)

Vincent of Saragossa (Christian; Saint)

Vincent, Orontius, and Victor (Christian; Saints)

William Joseph Chaminade (Christian; Blessed)

Xomfey and Melg (Muppetism)

Lunar Calendar Holidays

Chinese: Month 12 (Ding-Chou), Day 23 (Xin-Mao)

Day Pillar: Metal Rabbit

12-Day Officers/12 Gods: Full Day (满 Man) [Inauspicious]

Holidays:

None Today

Secular Saints Days

André-Marie Ampère (Science)

Francis Bacon (Philosophy)

George Balanchine (Dance)

Lord Byron (Literature)

Sam Cooke (Music)

John Donne (Literature)

Sergei Eisenstein (Entertainment)

George Foreman (Sports)

Robert E. Howard (Literature)

John Hurt (Entertainment)

Jim Jarmusch (Entertainment)

J.J. Johnson (Music)

Moise Kisling (Art)

Nicolas Lancret (Art)

Diane Lane (Entertainment)

Gotthold Ephraim Lessing (Literature)

Francis Picabia (Art)

Walter Raleigh (Polymath)

Ray Rice (Sports)s

August Strindberg (Literature)

Joseph Wambaugh (Literature)

Joseph Wolf (Art)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Butsumetsu (仏滅 Japan) [Unlucky all day.]

Premieres

All’s Well That Ends Well, by William Shakespeare (Play; 1742)

Andy Panda Goes Fishing (Andy Panda Cartoon; 1940)

Bad Luck Blackie (MGM Cartoon; 1949)

Broad City (TV Series; 2014)

Caprica (TV Series; 2010)

Chappelle’s Show (TV Series; 2003)

Columbia Phonograph Company (Music Manufacturer; 1889)

The Crucible, by Arthur Miller (Play; 1953)

D.E.B.S. (Film; 2004)

Dirty Grandpa (Film; 2016)

Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player, by Elton John (Album; 1973)

Extraordinary Measures (Film; 2010)

Five Corners (Film; 1988)

French Freud (The Inspector Cartoon; 1969)

Get Low (Film; 2010)

The Happy Highwayman, by Leslie Charteris (Short Stories; 1939) [Saint #22]

Hello, Ma Booby or Pleased to Beat Ya (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S4, Ep. 197; 1963)

Innertube Antics, featuring Ol’ Doc Donkey (MGM Cartoon; 1944)

A Knock for the Rock or The Lamp is Low (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S2, Ep. 92; 1961)

Knock on Wood or Bullwinkle Takes the Rap (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S2, Ep. 91; 1961)

Lady Soul, by Aretha Franklin (Album; 1968)

Legion (Film; 2010)

The Misadventures of Merlin Jones (Film; 1964)

Neil Young, by Neil Young (Album; 1969)

On Broadway, recorded by The Drifters (Song; 1963)

Ophelia (Film; 2018)

The Paneless Window Washer (Fleischer Popeye Cartoon; 1937)

Peggy Sue Got Married, recorded by Buddy Holly (Song; 1959)

Please Don't Eat the Daisies, by Jean Kerr (Essays; 1957)

Rich Girl, by Hall & Oates (Song; 1977)

Robin Hood (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1933)

Safety Not Guaranteed (Film; 2012)

Scrap For Victory, featuring Gandy Goose & Sourpuss (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1943)

Shoot the Moon (Film; 1982)

The Soul Cages, by Sting (Album; 1991)

Spinach Fer Britain (Fleischer//Famous Popeye Cartoon; 1943)

Sugar Blues, by Clyde McCoy and His Orchestra (Song; 1931)

These Boots Are Made For Walking, by Nancy Sinatra (Song; 1966)

The Tin Can Tourist, featuring Farmer Al Falfa (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1937)

Tooth Fairy (Film; 2010)

Under Bullwinkle’s Bowler or The Wide, Open Spaces (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S4, Ep. 198; 1963)

The Virgin Queen (TV Mini-Series; 2006)

The Vitamin G-Man (Phantasies Cartoon; 1943)

We Are Family, by Sister Sledge (Album; 1979)

Wouldn’t It Be Nice, recorded by The Beach Boys (Song; 1966)

Today’s Name Days

Vinzenz (Austria)

Anastazije, Irena, Vice, Vinko (Croatia)

Slavomír (Czech Republic)

Vincentius (Denmark)

Luule, Luuli (Estonia)

Visa (Finland)

Vincent (France)

Dietlinde, Jana, Vinzenz (Germany)

Anastasios, Timotheos (Greece)

Artúr, Vince (Hungary)

Domenico, Esmeralda, Linda, Smeralda, Teodolinda, Vincenzo, Vinzenz (Italy)

Austris, Meinhards, Vincents (Latvia)

Anastazas, Aušrius, Skaistė, Vincentas (Lithuania)

Ivan, Vanja (Norway)

Anastazy, Dobromysł, Gaudencjusz, Gaudenty, Marta, Wincenty (Poland)

Anastasie, Timotei (Romania)

Zora (Slovakia)

Vicente (Spain)

Viktor, Vincent (Sweden)

Tin, Timothy (Ukraine)

Enoch, Piper, Vicenta, Vicente, Vince, Vincent, Vincentia, Vincenzo, Vinnie (USA)

National Name Days:

National Ty Day

National Vincent Day

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 22 of 2025; 343 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 3 of Week 4 of 2025

Celtic Tree Calendar:

Druid Tree Calendar: Elm (Jan 12-24) [Day 11 of 13]

Graves Calendar: Luis (Rowan) [Day 2 of 28]

Chinese: Month 12 (Ding-Chou), Day 23 (Xin-Mao)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Coptic: 14 Tubah 1741

Hebrew: 22 Teveth 5785

Islamic: 22 Rajab 1446

J Cal: 22 White; Oneday [22 of 30]

Julian: 9 January 2025

Moon: 42%: Waning Crescent

Positivist: 22 Moses (1st Month) [Abraham]

Runic Half Month: Elhaz (Elk) [Day 1 of 15]

Season: Winter (Day 33 of 90)

Week: 3rd Full Week of January

Zodiac:

Tropical (Typical) Zodiac: Aquarius (Day 3 of 30)

Sidereal Zodiac: Capricorn (Day 8 of 29)

Schmidt Zodiac: Sagittarius (Day 22 of 25)

IAU Boundaries (Current) Zodiac: Capricorn (Day 3 of 28)

IAU Boundaries (1977) Zodiac: Capricornus (Day 4 of 28)

Calendar Changes

Elhaz (Elk) [Half-Month 3 of 24; Runic Half-Months] (thru 2.5)

[mariacallous]

While India’s Bharatiya Janata Party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi appear poised to return to power for a third consecutive term—a feat accomplished by a premier only once before in the country’s history—they are much diminished, having failed to secure a parliamentary majority on their own. In his 10 years in power, Modi has never had to rely on coalition partners. The election marks not only the end of single-party control in the Indian Parliament but also the BJP’s having peaked. Coalition governments—the natural order for India’s democracy since the late 1980s, except for the past decade—are back to stay.

The BJP’s supremacy over the past decade was the result of several factors. In Modi, the party had a once-in-a-generation leader whose charisma and communication abilities placed him head and shoulders above the competition in terms of popularity among voters. Religious appeals, welfare programs (especially those aimed at women and the poor), and organizational capabilities that gave the party a superior ground game all helped. So did a ruthlessness in deploying the dark arts of politics, a disunited and weak opposition, and access to oodles of campaign finance.

The BJP’s manifest hegemony appeared to presage its continued dominance of the Indian political landscape well into the future. But from the summit, the only way is down. Of course, the party may stay near its peak for a while and climb down slowly—but that is not a matter of if, but when.

Although robust political competition is a hallmark of democracies, a surprisingly large number have been dominated by a single political party for long periods of time. Examples include Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party, the Christian Democrats in Italy, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) in Mexico, and the Democratic Party in Botswana. India itself was dominated by the Indian National Congress party for many decades, and the communist Left Front ran the state of West Bengal unchallenged for three-and-half decades.

When in power, these dominant parties seemed unassailable—until they were not. In some cases, this happened when economic development and technological change altered the structure of the economy and the relative power of different social groups. The green revolution in India, for example, empowered farmers from middle castes who had long been excluded from the Congress party’s social coalition. Their economic ascendency translated into political power that pushed out the Congress in populous North Indian states. The shift from manufacturing to services and the concomitant decline of unions also undermined a major social base of the dominant left-of-center parties.

In many postcolonial states, the party that led the country to independence enjoyed a special legitimacy. But with each successive generation, societal memories of epochal historical events faded. It took seven decades with the PRI in Mexico and three decades with the African National Congress in South Africa (as last week’s election results demonstrate). India’s Congress party played a pivotal role in the nation’s freedom struggle, but while the halo effect persisted for decades, it inevitably dimmed.

Dominant parties can also fade because of national crises driven by international events—such as an economic shock or a defeat in wars. But for many of them, the longer that they are in power, the more that institutional sclerosis sets in. Call it the law of political entropy. As the French political scientist Maurice Duverger put it in the 1960s, the dominant party “wears itself out in office, it loses its vigor, its arteries harden. … Every domination bears within itself the seeds of its own destruction.”

The longer that the BJP was in power, the more that those seeds sprouted within the party. The BJP’s singular strength has been its leader, Narendra Modi. The Congress party also had such a leader in Indira Gandhi, who—like Modi—towered above her contemporaries. The popularity of both leaders far outweighed that of their parties.

But that very strength became their Achilles’ heel as a personality-driven style of party and politics emerged. For the BJP, increasing centralization, declining intraparty democracy, and the cutting-to-size of regional leaders who were not subserviently loyal to national the leader all took their toll. Efforts to engineer defections from opposition parties (through both blandishments and coercion) meant that gradually, the party became a magnet for opportunists rather than those with deep ideological commitments.

Under Modi’s rule, such coercion often took the form of dropping corruption cases against opposition party members who defected to the BJP. But this did not mean that the defectors became less corrupt; a leopard doesn’t change its spots. There’s little wonder, then, that even though the BJP had ridden an anti-corruption wave to power in 2014, preelection polls published in April this year found that more than half of respondents (55 percent) believed that corruption had increased in the past five years. Committed party workers have begun to lose interest as party hoppers brought in for short-term gains crowd them out in coveted positions. A favorite goal of the BJP’s leadership was to create a Congress mukt Bharat (“An India free of the Congress”). Ironically, in attempting to do so, the BJP became the embodiment of that very Congress culture.

If the art of victory is learned in defeat, for the BJP, the opposite is proving true. Each new victory brought a validation of the party’s strategies, whether muzzling critics, coercing opponents, or marginalizing religious minorities. The premium on loyalty increased, and voices of dissent become more quiescent. The initial self-confidence that allowed for risk-taking became an overconfidence spilling over to reckless behavior—exemplified by allegations of India’s intelligence agencies seeking to silence overseas critics in Canada and the United States.

The arrogance meant that the party overlooked three countervailing forces.

First, the manifest reality that no party in India wins with a majority of the votes. For a party to win in India’s first-past-the-post system, it needs a plurality of votes—which requires a fragmented opposition. The more hegemonic that the BJP became, the more authoritarian that it became, putting pressure on opposition parties and their leaders. But instead of weakening them, it brought them together. Nothing concentrates the mind like a fight for survival, and, while imperfect and incomplete, the opposition’s decision to join forces in the so-called INDIA coalition limited vote fragmentation.

Second, while successful political parties embody a set of ideas and ideologies that are yoked to policies and programs, all ideas have their life cycles. Postwar Keynesianism had its day for a quarter-century, and neoliberalism subsequently had its own for about three decades. Both are passé today. Political Islam rode high for around three decades after the Iranian revolution, but its energies have since flagged. In India, the secular socialist idea had a run for nearly a half-century, but its increasing opportunism tripped it up, and it was gradually pushed out as the BJP tapped into the plentiful waters of the anxieties and resentments of the Hindu majority.

But the Hindutva ideology has its limits, too. Even though the BJP did deliver on its promise on constructing a Ram temple on the site of a historic mosque, the expected political payoffs did not materialize. In this election, the BJP failed to win even the constituency where the temple was built. Populism can—and does—secure votes for a while. But India’s complex social mosaic cannot be easily pigeonholed into binary categories.

Third, ideologies do not address the quotidian challenges facing voters. The wellsprings of voter discontent run deep, and addressing them is—and will be—difficult.

The foremost challenge is the economy, which has simply been unable to supply decent jobs in adequate numbers. More and more Indians have formal education credentials but meager skills, a sad testimony to the poor quality of the country’s education system. Rising aspirations are hitting the brick wall of precarious jobs as India continues to struggle to strengthen its manufacturing sector. At some point, the millions of disgruntled youths will find ways to voice their frustrations.

These challenges will be greater given the extraordinary technological changes that are upending labor markets—not just in manufacturing, but also the tech services that have been India’s one categorical success. Even robust growth is unlikely to produce the sort of labor demand that one might have expected in the past. And a febrile politics will be rocked even more in the future, as technological change in the form of artificial intelligence is poised to further political turmoil. Managing this will be hard in the best of circumstances. In a polity where polarization is actively encouraged, it’s hard to be sanguine about where this may lead.

India’s election was held under a searing heat wave, a vivid reminder of the inexorable impacts of climate change, whose afflictions are mounting. Indian agriculture is particularly vulnerable as temperatures climb and rainfall patterns change. A bedraggled urban India will face further pressures as the recent water shortages in India’s booming information technology capital, Bengaluru, illustrate. And this is just the beginning.

These are all exceedingly difficult challenges no matter which political party is in power in India. But for now, the one silver lining is that while commentators and experts have been deeply apprehensive about India’s democracy, its voters clearly seem to be less so. Just ask the BJP.

[darkmaga-returns]

A new age of international relations is dawning.

With the West accounting for a declining share of global gross domestic product and the world becoming increasingly multipolar, countries are jostling to establish their positions in the emerging order. This includes both the emerging economies — represented by the recently expanded BRICS grouping — that seek a leading role in writing the rules of the new order and the smaller countries attempting to cultivate relationships that can safeguard their interests.

With the BRICS, what began as an asset class has become a symbol of the yearning for a more broadly representative global order, a hedge against Western-led institutions and a means of navigating growing geopolitical uncertainty. All this has proved highly attractive. Earlier this year, the BRICS expanded from five countries (Brazil, China, India, Russia and South Africa) to nine (adding Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates). And almost three dozen more countries — including NATO member Turkey, close U.S. partners Thailand and Mexico and Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim country — have applied to join.

While the diversity of the grouping’s members (and applicants) highlights the broad appeal of the BRICS+, it also creates challenges. These are countries with very different political systems, economies and national goals. Some are even at odds with each other: China and India have been locked in a military standoff in the Himalayas for over four years, following China’s stealth encroachments on Indian territory.

Translating shared interests into a common plan of action and becoming a unified force on the global stage was difficult even when the BRICS had just five members. With nine — and possibly more — member countries, establishing a common identity and agenda will require sustained effort. But other multilateral groupings that are not formal, charter-based institutions with permanent secretariats — such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Group of 20 and even the Group of Seven — also struggle with internal divisions.

Moreover, the BRICS have demonstrated considerable resilience. Western analysts have been predicting from the start that the grouping would unravel or drift into irrelevance. Yet this month’s BRICS+ summit in Kazan, Russia — the first since the expansion — may well bring movement toward further enlargement, as it underscores the West’s failure to isolate Russia following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

* * * * *

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

October 20, 2023

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

OCT 21, 2023

Last night, President Joe Biden spoke to the nation from the Oval Office to shore up U.S. support for Ukraine and Israel. “[H]istory has taught us that when terrorists don’t pay a price for their terror, when dictators don’t pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos and death and more destruction.  They keep going, and the cost and the threats to America and to the world keep rising,” he said. 

“[I]f we walk away and let Putin erase Ukraine’s independence, would-be aggressors around the world would be emboldened to try the same,” he said. “The risk of conflict and chaos could spread in other parts of the world—in the Indo-Pacific… [and] especially in the Middle East.” 

Biden noted that Russian president Vladimir Putin has suggested he might like to take part of Poland, while one of his top advisors has called three other NATO allies, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, Russia’s “Baltic provinces.” Russian aggression there would draw the U.S. into war. 

Iran is supporting Russia in Ukraine, he noted, and “it’s supporting Hamas and other terrorist groups” in the Middle East. 

“The United States and our partners across the region are working to build a better future for the Middle East, one where the Middle East is more stable, better connected to its neighbors, and—through innovative projects like the India–Middle East–Europe rail corridor that I announced this year at the summit of the world’s biggest economies—more predictable markets, more employment, less rage, less grievances, less war when connected. It…would benefit the people of the Middle East, and it would benefit us.”

Biden explained that he was sending to Congress “an urgent budget request to fund America’s national security needs, to support our critical partners, including Israel and Ukraine. It’s a smart investment that’s going to pay dividends for American security for generations, help us keep American troops out of harm’s way, help us build a world that is safer, more peaceful, and more prosperous for our children and grandchildren,” he said. 

That money, he said, would harden the Iron Dome that protects Israel’s skies after the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas that took more than 1,300 lives. But he also said that the U.S. “remains committed to the Palestinian people’s right to dignity and to self-determination. The actions of Hamas terrorists don’t take that right away” 

He explained that he had discussed with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu “the critical need for Israel to operate by the laws of war. That means protecting civilians in combat as best as they can. The people of Gaza urgently need food, water, and medicine.” Biden secured an agreement for such relief when he visited Israel on Wednesday, but so far the route from Egypt has not opened, at least in part because Israel and Egypt can’t agree on a way to inspect the trucks to make sure they are not carrying weapons. 

Ethan Bronner and Henry Meyer of Bloomberg reported yesterday that President Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin have pressured Israel more deeply than any recent administration, demanding they adjust their planned ground assault on Gaza to minimize civilian casualties and think about what happens when the assault is over. U.S. officials are worried that Israel’s response to the October 7 attack could prompt Hezbollah to join the war, scuttling the administration’s attempt to stabilize the region and drawing the U.S. further into the conflict. 

But Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition partners who have backed further settlements in the West Bank are eager to exact revenge on the Palestinians there, killing at least seven in the last week. U.S. officials told Thomas Friedman of the New York Times that “the representatives of those settlers in the cabinet are withholding tax money owed the Palestinian Authority [that exercises authority over the West Bank], making it harder for it to keep the West Bank as under control as it has been since the start of the Hamas war.” Netanyahu, who has been charged with corruption and fraud, needs those partners in order to remain prime minister and thus stay out of jail.

Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is worsening as Israel has launched extensive airstrikes, killing what U.N. observers estimate to be more than 2,800 Palestinians, including several relatives of former representative Justin Amash (Libertarian-Michigan) who had been sheltering in a church. It has also driven about a million people of the 2.3 million in Gaza from their homes. Hospitals are closed, and food and water are scarce. 

Foreign policy journalist Laura Rozen of Diplomatic gave Biden credit for his attempt to calm the region, support Israel, and protect Palestinian civilians but was, she said, “very worried” that the conflict would drag out and “inflame & destabilize [the] region & spark blowback & it will be very very ugly.” The U.S. had not been able to get “a single truck of aid into Gaza, much less set up a quasi-safe zone…five days after it thought it had a deal to do so.” It is not helping that X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter, is amplifying disinformation about the crisis. 

The U.S. and governments in Europe have pressured Israel not to go into Gaza while diplomats in Qatar try to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas. Today, Hamas released two dual U.S. citizens who had been held hostage in Gaza. 

In an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal, Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Roger Marshall (R-KS) took a different tack, noting that Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (believed to be the group responsible for the hospital explosion in Gaza) received more than $130 million in cryptocurrency in the past two years, and researchers believe this is just a fraction of the total. Cryptocurrency funds crime and terror, they wrote: more than $20 billion in illicit transactions last year “that we know of.”

Those exchanges are currently unregulated, and Warren and Marshall have introduced the bipartisan Digital Asset Anti–Money Laundering Act to bring digital assets under the same rules that regulate traditional payment systems.

Today the administration asked Congress for a little over $105 billion in funding for national security. The package would devote $61.4 billion to support Ukraine (some of it to replenish U.S. stockpiles after sending weapons to Ukraine); $14.3 billion to Israel for air and missile defense systems; $9.15 billion for humanitarian aid to Ukraine, Gaza, and other places; $7.4 billion for initiatives in the Indo-Pacific; and $14 billion for more agents at the southwestern border, new machines to detect fentanyl, and more courts to process asylum cases. 

But Congress is currently unable to act. Seventeen days after the extremists in the House Republican conference ousted then-speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), the Republican civil war continues to paralyze the House. After key Trump ally Representative Jim Jordan (R-OH) lost a second round of balloting on Wednesday, his allies apparently spent Thursday threatening the colleagues who didn’t vote for him. 

Representative Ken Buck (R-CO) explained: “So far I've had four death threats. I've been evicted from my office in Colorado…because the landlord is mad with my voting record on the Speaker issue. And everybody in the conference is getting this…. Family members have been approached and threatened, all kinds of things are going on….”

The threats simply hardened Jordan’s opposition. He lost a third ballot today, with 25 Republicans voting against him, and in a secret ballot the Republicans took privately over whether to keep him as their nominee for speaker, only 86 voted for Jordan, with 112 against. The House recessed for the weekend, despite the mounting crises that need to be addressed.

Having a key lieutenant in the House speaker’s chair, where he could, among other things, smear Biden by pushing to impeach him in the months before the election, would have been a huge boost for Trump. That Republicans refused to get behind Jordan even when he forced them into a public vote and then threatened them, much as Trump threatened them to line up behind him in the past, suggests they are starting to fear Trump less than they have for years.

Three plea deals in the past two days have intensified Trump’s legal troubles. Two of his own lawyers, Sidney Powell and Kenneth Chesebro, have pleaded guilty to some of the charges brought by Fulton County, Georgia, district attorney Fani Willis in the racketeering case against Trump and 17 others.

Yesterday, Powell pleaded guilty to trying to tamper with voting machines. In exchange for a lenient sentence, she will have to testify against others. As she was the person Trump considered tapping as a special counsel to investigate alleged voter fraud, she was at a key meeting with Trump allies Rudy Giuliani, former national security advisor Michael Flynn, and former Overstock chief executive officer Patrick Byrne.

Powell’s unexpected jump to the prosecution side—she was lying about the election just this week—put pressure on others, and today Chesebro also flipped. He was allegedly the one who designed the false electors scheme, although he has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to file false documents. In exchange for a lenient sentence, he has to turn over any evidence he has and testify truthfully against others in the case, including Trump. 

In Michigan, a Republican man charged with participating in the false-elector plot also entered into a cooperation agreement yesterday, meaning he will talk to investigators and, if necessary, testify. 

Finally, today, Judge Arthur Engoron, who is overseeing the fraud case against Trump and the Trump Organization, fined Trump $5,000 for violating the gag order he had imposed on October 3. Trump told Engoron that day he had taken down a social media post disparaging one of Engoron’s law clerks, but it remained up on his campaign website.

Engoron warned Trump that “future violations, whether intentional or unintentional, will subject the violator to far more severe sanctions, which may include, but are not limited to, steeper financial penalties, holding Donald Trump in contempt of court, and possibly imprisoning him pursuant to New York Judiciary Law.”

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

[iimm-delhi]

India’s Creative Renaissance or a Cinematic Crisis? Insights from WAVES 2025

Prime Minister NarendraModi inaugurated the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) in Mumbai on Thursday, marking a significant milestone for India's creative industries. Heralded as a first-of-its-kind summit in India, WAVES seeks to position the country as a global powerhouse in the audiovisual and entertainment sectors. Speaking at the event, PM Modi underscored the timeliness of the initiative, declaring, “This is the right time for ‘Create in India, Create for the World.’”

To commemorate the occasion, the Prime Minister also unveiled a set of postage stamps honoring five legendary icons of Indian cinema: Guru Dutt, P. Bhanumathi, Raj Khosla, RitwikGhatak, and SalilChowdhury. These stalwarts represent the rich, diverse legacy of Indian filmmaking, spanning genres, languages, and styles that have left an indelible mark on global cinematic culture.

The scale of WAVES 2025 is impressive. With over 10,000 delegates, 1,000 creators, 300 companies, 350 startups, and representatives from over 90 countries participating, the summit is envisioned as a catalyst for India’s creative economy, aiming to establish it as the next global growth engine. Workshops, panels, and networking sessions are focusing on emerging technologies, storytelling innovations, and new business models that could redefine entertainment as we know it.

Yet, even as India celebrates its creative might, a stark reality check came from none other than Shah Rukh Khan. The superstar’s remarks at the summit have ignited widespread debate and introspection within the film fraternity and beyond.

A Bombshell from Bollywood’s King

Shah Rukh Khan, speaking with characteristic clarity and passion, laid bare what he sees as a “critical contradiction” in India’s cinematic ecosystem. His diagnosis? Despite being the world's largest producer of films—churning out around 2,000 films every year across various languages—India’s theatrical infrastructure is woefully inadequate.

Khan made a compelling case for drastically expanding cinema access across the country. “We need a lot more theatres, simpler theatres, and cheaper theatres in smaller towns and cities,” he asserted. He highlighted the troubling trend of movie theaters being disproportionately clustered in metropolitan areas, leaving vast swathes of the population underserved.

“Otherwise, it is becoming very expensive and also, our cinemas are mostly concentrated in big towns,” he warned. His concerns echo what many industry experts have been saying quietly for years: while Bollywood and regional cinemas continue to produce films in record numbers, the means of distribution—particularly theatrical screenings—have not kept pace.

Startling Statistics, Stark Realities

The numbers paint a sobering picture. India has just about seven cinema screens per million people. Compare that to China’s 30 screens per million, the UK’s 68, or the United States’ staggering 125. These figures underscore a glaring gap between production and exhibition.

The decline of single-screen theaters is particularly worrying. Once the lifeblood of Indian cinema, these theaters were deeply woven into the social and cultural fabric of towns and villages. Today, fewer than 6,000 single-screen theaters remain, and only around 1,000 continue to function as operational cinemas. Many have either shut down entirely or been converted into shopping malls, wedding halls, or storage spaces.

This decimation of grassroots cinema infrastructure has created a paradox. On one hand, we see billion-rupee blockbusters making headlines and breaking box office records; on the other, the very foundation that allows widespread access to films is crumbling.

The Multiplex Mirage

The rise of multiplexes, while lauded for elevating the urban movie-going experience, has also inadvertently contributed to the problem. These high-end venues—complete with plush seating, gourmet snacks, and premium pricing—are financially out of reach for a significant portion of India’s population. The cost of a single movie outing at a multiplex can be prohibitive, especially for families or those living in smaller cities.

Khan’s critique of the multiplex-centric model strikes at the heart of this issue. He pointed out that concentrating cinemas in affluent urban pockets limits the reach of Indian cinema, effectively turning film-watching into an elite leisure activity rather than the mass cultural experience it once was.

“This isn’t just about industry profits,” Khan emphasized. “It’s about democratizing access to our cultural storytelling heritage.” His words resonated with many who believe that cinema’s true power lies in its ability to bring people together, transcend barriers, and reflect the diverse realities of society.

Learning from China

Interestingly, Khan also drew parallels with China’s cinema model, noting how the country’s aggressive push to expand its theater infrastructure has fueled both economic and cultural growth. By increasing cinema density, China has managed to boost footfall, making entertainment more accessible and affordable across regions.

This approach, Khan argued, could be replicated in India with the right mix of policy support, public-private partnerships, and innovative thinking. “We need to make entertainment cheaper and available in every corner of the country,” he said, urging stakeholders to rethink priorities and invest in sustainable cinema infrastructure.

The Bigger Picture

The WAVES summit, with its emphasis on global partnerships and cutting-edge technology, certainly signals a bright future for India’s creative industries. However, Khan’s candid observations remind us that technological advancements and international acclaim mean little if the domestic audience—India’s heart and soul—cannot fully participate in the cinematic experience.

The conversation around accessibility versus luxury is not new but has gained renewed urgency in light of Khan’s remarks. Should India focus more on building affordable, no-frills theaters in underserved areas rather than chasing high-end urban multiplex models? Can government incentives revive the dying breed of single-screen cinemas? What role can digital platforms play in bridging the accessibility gap without undermining the communal aspect of film-watching?

The Road Ahead

It is clear that if India is to realize its vision of becoming a global entertainment superpower, the growth must be inclusive. The cinematic ecosystem needs to be robust not just at the level of production but also in distribution and exhibition.

Policymakers, industry leaders, and creators must come together to address these systemic challenges. Perhaps the answer lies in a hybrid model—combining the immersive experience of theaters with the reach of digital platforms, while also investing in affordable infrastructure that brings cinema back to the masses.

The WAVES 2025 summit has undoubtedly set the stage for important conversations and potential breakthroughs. But as Shah Rukh Khan’s words remind us, true progress will be measured not just by international accolades or box office numbers, but by how well we ensure that every Indian—whether in a bustling metro or a remote village—can access and enjoy the magic of cinema.

What Do You Think? Is India’s theatrical business truly at risk despite our filmmaking prowess? Should we focus more on accessibility and affordability over luxury experiences? Share your thoughts!

[news365timesindia]

[ad_1] New Delhi: Talks on the much-anticipated Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and the United Kingdom have been revived, with both nations eager to push negotiations forward, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed on Wednesday. Addressing reporters, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal highlighted that seven rounds of discussions had already taken place, with the eighth round set to continue soon. “The FTA discussions with the UK are being relaunched, and both sides remain dedicated to moving them forward,” Jaiswal stated, emphasizing the goal of reaching an agreement at the earliest. The renewed push for the trade deal follows an announcement made in March by India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and UK Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds. During their meeting in Delhi, the ministers reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening economic ties through the FTA, which is expected to enhance bilateral trade and investment. #WATCH | Delhi | On PM Modi’s meeting with Senior General Min Aung Hlaing of Myanmar, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, “This happened on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC summit in Bangkok…The leaders exchanged notes on India’s relief assistance provided to Myanmar as part of… pic.twitter.com/St70fyMPai — ANI (@ANI) April 9, 2025 On the diplomatic front, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with Myanmar’s Senior General Min Aung Hlaing on April 4 during the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok. The conversation primarily revolved around India’s humanitarian support to Myanmar and the political situation in the neighboring country. Jaiswal noted that General Hlaing expressed appreciation for India’s aid under Operation Brahma, which provided critical relief assistance to Myanmar. PM Modi, in turn, reiterated India’s stance on the necessity of restoring democracy through inclusive and transparent elections. The two leaders also reviewed development projects that India is undertaking in Myanmar, reflecting New Delhi’s continued engagement in the region. Click here for Latest Fact Checked News On NewsMobile WhatsApp Channel For viral videos and Latest trends subscribe to NewsMobile YouTube Channel and Follow us on Instagram [ad_2] Source link

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

Zelensky criticizes Brazil, G20 leaders for showing 'weak position on war'

President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized Group of 20 (G20) leaders on Nov. 23 following the most recent summit in Brazil, adding that Brazilian President Lula da Silva, the current holder of the G20 Presidency, showed a "weak position" on Russia's war in Ukraine.

The group, which includes Russia among its members, also includes a number of countries who have contributed to Russia's economic development throughout its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, including China and India.

Despite ongoing divisions among G20 nations regarding the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, negotiators managed to reach a consensus on a final communiqué that broadly condemned the human suffering caused by both wars.

The G20 summit’s final communiqué devotes just one paragraph to the war in Ukraine, a stark contrast to the seven paragraphs in last year’s declaration from New Delhi. This year’s statement omits any condemnation of nuclear threats tied to Ukraine or appeals to halt attacks on food and energy infrastructure.

Continue reading.

[news365times]

[ad_1] New Delhi: Talks on the much-anticipated Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and the United Kingdom have been revived, with both nations eager to push negotiations forward, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed on Wednesday. Addressing reporters, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal highlighted that seven rounds of discussions had already taken place, with the eighth round set to continue soon. “The FTA discussions with the UK are being relaunched, and both sides remain dedicated to moving them forward,” Jaiswal stated, emphasizing the goal of reaching an agreement at the earliest. The renewed push for the trade deal follows an announcement made in March by India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and UK Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds. During their meeting in Delhi, the ministers reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening economic ties through the FTA, which is expected to enhance bilateral trade and investment. #WATCH | Delhi | On PM Modi’s meeting with Senior General Min Aung Hlaing of Myanmar, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, “This happened on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC summit in Bangkok…The leaders exchanged notes on India’s relief assistance provided to Myanmar as part of… pic.twitter.com/St70fyMPai — ANI (@ANI) April 9, 2025 On the diplomatic front, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with Myanmar’s Senior General Min Aung Hlaing on April 4 during the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok. The conversation primarily revolved around India’s humanitarian support to Myanmar and the political situation in the neighboring country. Jaiswal noted that General Hlaing expressed appreciation for India’s aid under Operation Brahma, which provided critical relief assistance to Myanmar. PM Modi, in turn, reiterated India’s stance on the necessity of restoring democracy through inclusive and transparent elections. The two leaders also reviewed development projects that India is undertaking in Myanmar, reflecting New Delhi’s continued engagement in the region. Click here for Latest Fact Checked News On NewsMobile WhatsApp Channel For viral videos and Latest trends subscribe to NewsMobile YouTube Channel and Follow us on Instagram [ad_2] Source link

[werindialive]

Yunus Pushes Bangladesh as Trade Bridge Between India’s Northeast and China

During a recent four-day visit to China from March 26 to 29, Bangladesh's interim government chief advisor, Professor Muhammad Yunus, emphasized Bangladesh's strategic role as a conduit to the sea for India's landlocked northeastern states.

In video clips shared by the interim government on social media, Yunus highlighted that the seven northeastern states of India, often referred to as the "Seven Sisters," lack direct access to the ocean. He stated, "We are the only guardian of the ocean for all this region. So this opens up a huge possibility. So this could be an extension of the Chinese economy. Build things, produce things, market things, bring things to China, bring it out to the whole rest of the world."

India has not officially responded to Yunus's remarks. The issue of access to and from the northeastern states, primarily through the narrow 'Chicken's Neck' corridor in North Bengal, has long posed economic and strategic challenges for India.

Over the past 15 years, this concern has been central to Delhi's engagement with Dhaka, with efforts focused on facilitating transit through Bangladesh. Yunus's recent comments suggest a shift in Dhaka's approach, potentially leveraging its geographic position to enhance ties with Beijing, a move that could add complexity to India-Bangladesh relations.

During his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on March 28, Yunus sought increased Chinese investment to rejuvenate Bangladesh's economy, which has been affected by political and economic challenges. President Xi expressed China's willingness to consider lowering interest rates on Chinese loans to Dhaka and reaffirmed commitment to encouraging Chinese investment in Bangladesh, including the relocation of Chinese manufacturing enterprises.

Discussions also encompassed enhanced cooperation in water resource management and the initiation of negotiations for a China-Bangladesh Free Trade Agreement. Additionally, both nations signed an agreement on economic and technical cooperation, along with eight memorandums focusing on cultural exchanges.

Yunus is scheduled to attend the BIMSTEC summit in Thailand later this week, where he has sought a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. While Modi will be in Thailand on April 3-4, India's confirmation of the meeting remains pending. The northeastern region of India continues to be a strategic focal point in Delhi's engagement with regional groupings.

Analysts observe that Bangladesh's strengthening ties with China, coupled with evolving dynamics with India, could reshape the geopolitical landscape of South Asia, potentially impacting regional security and economic collaborations. For more political news in Hindi, subscribe to our newsletter!