Athiya Shetty

Athiya Gives Glimpse Of Her Time Spent In SA With KL Rahul

Actor Athiya Shetty shared pictures from her quality time spent in South Africa, on Sunday.

The pictures show Athiya enjoying the scenic beauty of Cape Town.

“Life in Cape Town >>>,” she captioned the post.

Take a look at the adorable pictures

Athiya was in South Africa to be with her husband and cricketer KL Rahul, who participated in the two-match Test series in South Africa.

India managed to draw a Test series in South Africa. The second Test turned out to be quite a historic one, getting over inside two days.

Recapping the second Test match, South Africa elected to bat first and was bundled out for just 55 in 23.2 overs, with Kyle Verreynne (15) and David Bedingham (12) being the sole players to touch double digits.Mohammed Siraj’s fiery spell of 6/15 destroyed the Proteas’ top and middle order, while Jasprit Bumrah (2/25) and Mukesh Kumar (0/2) also took wickets.

In their first innings, India was 153/4 at one point, with solid scores coming from Virat Kohli (46 in 59 balls, with six fours and a six), Rohit Sharma (39 in 50 balls, with seven fours) and Shubman Gill (36 in 55 balls, with five fours), but a Lungi Ngidi three-wicket over sunk India to 153 all out in 34.5 overs.Ngidi (3/30), Kagiso Rabada (3/38) and Nandre Burger (3/42) took three wickets each for SA.

Later in their second innings, SA ended the day one at 62/3, with Aiden Markram (36*) doing the bulk of the scoring. Skipper Dean Elgar managed 12 runs in his final Test innings. Mukesh got two while Bumrah got one wicket. On the next day, though Markram scored a fighting century, a knock of 106 in 103 balls with 17 fours and two sixes, the six-wicket haul by Bumrah (6/61) bundled out SA for 176 in 36.5 overs, setting India just 79 runs to win.

Mukesh Kumar took two wickets while Prasidh Krishna and Siraj got one. With the help of knocks from openers Yashasvi Jaiswal (28) and skipper Rohit Sharma (16*), India chased down the total with seven wickets in hand in 12 overs.

Siraj won the ‘Player of the Match’ award and both sides shared the trophy with the scoreline at 1-1. (ANI)

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Kiara Advani

Kiara Shares Adorable Pic With Mom, Granna

On Sunday, actor Kiara Advani dropped an adorable picture with her mother and her grandmother.

The image shows Kiara sitting in between her mother and grandmother. She posted this particular snap to appreciate her “granna” as she decided to learn guitar at the age of 77.

“My darling Granna filled with joie de vivre, at 77 has decided to learn to play the guitar,” she captioned the post using a red heart emoji.

The three looked beautiful as they struck a pose together. Kiara has undoubtedly inherited her mother and grandmother’s elegant looks.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Kiara will be seen sharing screen space with Ram Charan in ‘Game Changer’. The film is billed as an action drama with current-day politics and will be released in three languages – Telugu, Tamil and Hindi.

‘Game Changer’ is jointly produced by Dil Raju and Shirish Garu under the banner of Sri Venkateswara Creations for a Pan-India release. The official release date of the film is still awaited.

If reports are to be believed, she is also a part of Hrithik Roshan and NTR Jr- starrer ‘War 2’. However, an official confirmation is awaited. (ANI)

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Maldive

Indian Celebs Rally Against Maldivian Leaders’ Derogatory Remarks

Indian celebrities have strongly criticized derogatory remarks by Maldivian leaders against India and expressed support for promoting Indian beach tourism.

This comes amid the row over derogatory and ‘anti-India’ remarks made by Maldives minister, leaders and other public figures after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the union territory of Lakshadweep.

Actor Akshay Kumar, in a strongly worded post on X, slammed Maldivian leaders for mocking PM Modi’s visit to Lakshadweep, and comparing beach tourism in India with Maldives through “hateful and racist comments.”

The ‘Khiladi’ actor emphasised India’s role as a major tourist contributor to the Maldives while pointing out that India sends the maximum number of tourists to the island nation.

“Came across comments from prominent public figures from Maldives passing hateful and racist comments on Indians. Surprised that they are doing this to a country that sends them the maximum number of tourists. We are good to our neighbors but why should we tolerate such unprovoked hate? I’ve visited the Maldives many times and always praised it, but dignity first. Let us decide to #ExploreIndianIslands and support our own tourism,” Akshay Kumar posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Superstar Salman Khan heaped praises on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for visiting Lakshadweep and posting ‘cool’ and beautiful pictures from the island.

“It is so cool to see our Hon PM Narendrabhai Modi at the beautiful clean n stunning beaches of Lakshadweep, and the best part is that yeh hamare India mein hain,” the ‘Tiger 3’ actor posted on X.

Actor Kangana Ranaut also hit out at Maldives MP Zahid Rameez over his racist remarks against Indians and called him “crass and vulgarly racist”.

“Smell?? Permanent smell?? What!!! Suffering from massive Muslim phobia, even though belonging to the same community. Lakshadweep consists of 98 per cent of Muslim population, this prominent public figure from Maldives calling them smelly and lowly is rather racist and uninformed. Mr Zahid, Lakshadweep’s entire population is hardly 60 thousands people, which means it’s almost untouched, unexplored and unexploited natural island. For most people tourism is not just filthy luxury, it is rather exploration of nature, alignment with the source and above all experiencing and enjoying the raw, untouched beauty of virgin beaches. Shame on you for being so crass and vulgarly racist,” the ‘Queen’ actor posted on X.

Ex-cricketer Venkatesh Prasad also slammed Maldives Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment Mariyam Shiuna for making derogatory remarks against India.

“A deputy minister using such language for our country. Maldives is a largely poor country largely dependent on upmarket tourism with over 15% tourists from India. India has very many unexplored beautiful coastal towns, and this is a great opportunity to develop many of them into tourist destinations,” Prasad stated on X.

Actor John Abraham also took to X to laud the specialities of Lakshadweep as a tourist site and echoed the idea of ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’.

“With the amazing Indian hospitality, the idea of “Atithi Devo Bhava” and a vast marine life to explore. Lakshwadeep is the place to go,” the ‘New York’ actor posted.

Cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar also took to the social media platform and lauded Sindhudurg, the coastal town in Maharashtra and its beautiful coastlines and pristine islands.

“250 days since we rang in my 50th birthday in Sindhudurg! The coastal town offered everything we wanted, and more. Gorgeous locations combined with wonderful hospitality left us with a treasure trove of memories. India is blessed with beautiful coastlines and pristine islands. With our “Atithi Devo Bhava” philosophy, we have so much to explore, so many memories waiting to be created,” Sachin posted on Sunday.

Director Madhur Bhandarkar also praised PM Modi’s visit to Lakshadweep.

“Discovering the enchanting allure of #Lakshadweep through Prime Minister @narendramodi’s recent visit has left me utterly spellbound! Adding this hidden gem to the top of my travel wishlist,” he said in a post on X.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Union Territory of Lakshadweep on January 2 and shared several pictures, including an ‘exhilarating experience’ after he tried his hand at snorkelling.

In a series of posts on X, PM Modi shared pictures of the white beaches and the pristine blue skies and the ocean, and tagged them with a message that read, “For those who wish to embrace the adventurer in them, Lakshadweep has to be on your list.”

“Recently, I had the opportunity to be among the people of Lakshadweep. I am still in awe of the stunning beauty of its islands and the incredible warmth of its people. I had the opportunity to interact with people in Agatti, Bangaram and Kavaratti. I thank the people of the islands for their hospitality. Here are some glimpses, including aerial glimpses from Lakshadweep,” PM Modi posted on X.

“During my stay, I also tried snorkelling – what an exhilarating experience it was! For those who wish to embrace the adventurer in them, Lakshadweep has to be on your list,” he added.

Prime Minister Modi also laid the foundation stone for development projects worth over Rs 1,150 crore in Agatti on Tuesday.

Notably, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu is considered close to China and he even ran the electoral campaign on the line of ‘India Out’. After coming to power, he has taken several steps that have been unconventional from the point of India-Maldives ties.

President Muizzu will be visiting China from January 7-12. This is his second foreign visit after assuming office following the visit to Turkey. Notably, he departed from a long convention by not visiting India on the first official visit.

Significantly, in December last year, the Maldives said it would not renew the Hydrographic Survey agreement made with India, a Maldives-based news website, The Press, reported.

The removal of Indian troops in the Maldives was the main campaign of Muizzu’s party. Currently, there are around 70 Indian troops, along with Dornier 228 maritime patrol aircraft and two HAL Dhruv helicopters, stationed in the Maldives. (ANI)

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Maldives Modi

Maldives Swings Into Damage Control Amid Min’s Remarks Against Modi

Amid the row and social media fury, the Maldivian government on Sunday sought to distance itself from minister Mariyam Shiuna’s derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying her opinion does not reflect the government’s views.

The government added that ‘appropriate action’ will be taken against the minister, who is in the midst of a social media firestorm over her post, mocking viral photographs from PM Modi’s recent visit to Lakshadweep.

Sharing photos of his visit to the virgin beaches of Lakshadweep, PM Modi sought to draw global attention to the untapped tourism potential of the archipelago.

The Maldivian government said it was aware of derogatory remarks on social media platforms against foreign leaders and high-ranking individuals. “These opinions are personal and do not represent the views of the Government of Maldives,” read an official release by the Maldivian Foreign Ministry on Sunday.

The government added that it believes that the freedom of expression should be exercised in a “democratic and responsible manner, and in ways that do not spread hatred, negativity, and hinder close relationships between the Maldives and its international partners”.

“Moreover, the relevant authorities of the government will not hesitate to take action against those who make such derogatory remarks,” the government release stated further.

In a post that has now been deleted, the Maldivian Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment, Shiuna, made a mocking and disrespectful reference to PM Modi over his visit to the Indian island cluster.

Her post even featured images of PM Modi from his visit to Lakshadweep.

Posting images from his visit to the Union Territory on January 2, PM Modi also shared an ‘exhilarating experience’ of him trying his hand at snorkelling.

In a series of posts on X, PM Modi shared pictures of the white beaches and the pristine blue skies and the ocean, and tagged them with a message that read, “For those who wish to embrace the adventurer in them, Lakshadweep has to be on your list.”

“Recently, I had the opportunity to be among the people of Lakshadweep. I am still in awe of the stunning beauty of its islands and the incredible warmth of its people. I had the opportunity to interact with people in Agatti, Bangaram and Kavaratti. I thank the people of the islands for their hospitality. Here are some glimpses, including aerial glimpses from Lakshadweep…During my stay, I also tried snorkelling — what an exhilarating experience it was! For those who wish to embrace the adventurer in them, Lakshadweep has to be on your list,” PM Modi posted on X.

He also laid the foundation stone for development projects worth over Rs 1,150 crore in Agatti on Tuesday. (ANI)

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cold delhi school

Delhi: Schools Closed Till Jan 12 Amid Cold

Due to prevailing cold weather conditions, schools in Delhi will remain closed for the next 5 days till January 12 for students from Nursery to Class 5, said Delhi Minister Atishi on Sunday.

“Schools in Delhi will remain closed for the next 5 days due to the prevailing cold weather conditions, for students from Nursery to Class 5,” Atishi said in a post on X.

The Delhi government, in the previous order, extended the winter break till January 10 in all the government-aided and unaided recognised private schools of the national capital territory (NCT) in light of ‘extreme cold waves and IMD’s yellow alert’. However, hours after the issuance, the Delhi government retracted that order pertaining to the extension of winter vacation in schools within the national capital.

A cold day to severe cold day was the state of the weather in Delhi, parts of East Rajasthan, northwest Rajasthan, Haryana and in isolated pockets over Punjab amid the unavailability of sunlight.

The maximum temperatures recorded at various stations displayed a significant departure from the normal range for this time of year.

Cold to severe cold conditions are likely to continue over Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan during the next 1 day and a significant decrease thereafter, according to India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Maximum temperatures are in the range of 9-12°C over many parts of Punjab and Haryana; and in the range of 13-16 °C over north Rajasthan, Delhi, northwest Madhya Pradesh and some parts of Uttar Pradesh. It is below normal by 4-9°C over these areas.

Minimum temperatures are in the range of 6-15°C over Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, northwest Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand. Today, the lowest minimum temperature of 2.0°C was reported at Sikar (East Rajasthan).

The skyline over Delhi remained grey as a cold conditions continued to grip the city.

As the temperature dipped in Delhi, people sat by the bonfire in a bid to keep themselves warm.

People were spotted by a bonfire in Agra also as the cold condtions continued in several parts of the state of Uttar Pradesh. As per IMD, Agra will experience ‘Fog/mist in the morning and mainly clear sky later’ with the minimum temperature dropping to 7°C and maximum temperature being 19°C.

A layer of fog blanketed Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.

As per IMD, Northwest and Central India are likely to receive a fresh spell of rainfall with thunderstorms/hailstorms from 08th-10th January.

Meanwhile, the rehearsals for the January 26th, Republic Day parade were conducted at Kartavya Path as cold conditions and fog continued in the national capital. (ANI)

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Modi To Kick-Start Election Rally From Bihar’s Bettiah On Jan 13

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to kick-off his campaign for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from Bihar’s Champaran on January 13 by addressing a rally at the Raman Maidan in Bettiah city, the sources said on Sunday.

During this visit, PM Modi is also expected to inaugurate and lay the foundation stones for various projects, including roads and bridges, across Bihar, according to party sources.

The BJP has formulated extensive plans for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Bihar, aiming for victory in all 40 seats. PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and BJP President JP Nadda are slated to address several rallies in Bihar during January and February. Key rallies are anticipated after January 15 when campaigning restrictions are lifted.

PM Modi is scheduled to address three rallies in Begusarai, Bettiah, and Aurangabad in the state.

Similarly, Amit Shah is expected to address gatherings in Sitamarhi, Madhepura, and Nalanda during January and February. JP Nadda might hold rallies in several places, particularly in the Seemanchal and eastern regions of Bihar.

Bihar’s political landscape has witnessed a shift, with the BJP now in opposition while the JDU is part of the Mahagathbandhan government.

Nitish Kumar has successfully united opposition leaders for the upcoming elections, marking a change from the previous alliance with the BJP. The battle is set for all 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar, where the NDA secured 39 seats in the last elections, with Congress winning one.

As Narendra Modi leads the BJP’s campaign again, the party has entrusted the state organisation to leader Samrat Choudhary. The political scenario in Bihar is gearing up for a significant electoral showdown. (ANI)

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Delhi Cold Train

Delhi: 22 Trains Running Late Due To Fog

At least 22 trains are running late in Delhi due to fog, resulting in low visibility in the region on Sunday morning, Railway officials said.

According to Indian Railways, Ajmer-Katra Pooja Express, Jammutawi Ajmer Express and Ferozpur-Seoni are running late by almost 6.30 hours while Khajuarao-Kurukshetra Express and Seoni-Ferozpur are running late by about 4 hours.

About 11 trains are delayed by about 1-1.30 hours including Puri-New Delhi Purushottam Express, Kanpur-New Delhi Shramshakti, Dibrugarh-New Delhi Rajdhani, Banglore-Nizamuddin, Rajendranagar-New Delhi Rajdhani and Saharsa-New Delhi Vaishali Express.

As per the Railways, three trains, including Muzaffarpur-Anand Vihar Express, Chennai-New Delhi GT and Jammutawi-New Delhi Rajdhani, are running late by 2 hours.

However, the maximum temperatures recorded at various stations displayed a significant departure from the normal range for this time of year.

According to the India Meteorological Department, cold to severe cold conditions are likely to continue over Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan during the next day and a significant decrease thereafter.

Maximum temperatures are in the range of 9-12 degrees over many parts of Punjab and Haryana; and in the range of 13-16 degrees over north Rajasthan, Delhi, northwest Madhya Pradesh and some parts of Uttar Pradesh. It is below normal by 4-9 degrees over these areas.

Minimum temperatures are in the range of 6-15 degrees over Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, northwest Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand. Today, the lowest minimum temperature of 2 degrees was reported at Sikar (East Rajasthan).

As per IMD, Northwest and Central India are likely to receive a fresh spell of rainfall with thunderstorms/hailstorms from January 8-10. (ANI)

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Rajnath Singh

Rajnath To Visit UK To Discuss Defence Issues

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will embark on a two-day visit to the United Kingdom on January 8, 2024 and will discuss bilateral issues with his counterpart Secretary of State for Defence Grant Shapps, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said in an official press release on Sunday.

The Defence Minister would be accompanied by a high-level Ministry of Defence delegation, comprising senior officials from DRDO, Service Headquarters, the Department of Defence, and the Department of Defence Production.

As per the Ministry, both leaders are expected to discuss a wide range of defence, security and industrial cooperation issues.

Rajnath Singh is also expected to call on UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and hold a meeting with Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs David Cameron. He will also interact with the CEOs and industry leaders of the UK defence industry and meet with the Indian community there.

Earlier in November, Rajnath Singh held a telephonic conversation with his British counterpart Grant Shapps and discussed means to bolster closer defence relations as well as the security issues in the Indo-Pacific region.

According to the Defence Ministry, both ministers discussed a range of defence and security issues, with particular emphasis on the Indo-Pacific. They briefly reviewed the ongoing engagements and discussed possible cooperation in new domains.

The two leaders explored ways and means to develop closer defence relations. Grant Shapps also invited Rajnath Singh to visit the UK in the near future.

Singh also congratulated Shapps on his appointment as Secretary of State for Defence.

“Had a telephonic conversation with the UK Secretary of State for Defence Mr Grant Shapps. We discussed a range of defence and security related issues with particular emphasis on the Indo-Pacific,” Rajnath Singh posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Shapps was appointed as the new Defence Secretary of United Kingdom in August, after Ben Wallace resigned from his position.

Notably, India and the UK are negotiating a Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Talks for FTA between India and the UK started in 2022 and the 12th round of negotiations took place from August 8-31 this year.

The India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership was launched in 2021 along with the India-UK Roadmap 2030, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. The Roadmap is a commitment to a partnership that delivers for both countries.(ANI)

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Earth’s Year of Elections

2024 Will Be Earth’s Year of Elections. What Should You Expect?

This year could be the year of national elections on Earth. In 64 countries (plus the European Union), two billion humans or one in every four of the eight billion of us that populate the planet will be set to go to the polls. An estimated 1.16 billion of these voters will be from the South Asian countries of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, with India alone accounting for more than 900 million voters, which is 100 million more than the number that was eligible to vote in the previous national election held in 2019.

After you have wrapped your head around those staggering numbers, consider also how the outcomes of some of those elections could impact the state of the world here on our planet. Take the big ones first. The US will hold its presidential elections in November. As of now, indications are that former Republican President Donald Trump, who served as the 45th president from 2017 to 2021, could be his party’s nominee for the 2024 election. Trump is facing a slew of legal problems but this does not seem to deter his supporters: with 52% of Republican voters or Republican-leaning independent voters, Trump is way ahead of his nearest rivals in the race for nomination.

If Trump, 77, is nominated, the face-off will likely be between him and the Democratic incumbent Joe Biden, 81. If Trump wins, as many analysts think he will if he is nominated, his policies and actions as President of the US will affect not only his country but also the state of the world. More on that soon. For now, turn to another election that will take place this year.

Two months from now, in March, Russia will go to the polls to elect a President. In all likelihood it will be Vladimir Putin who will be re-elected. Putin has been in charge of Russia since late 1999 or more than 21 years and is eligible for re-election this year, as a result of constitutional amendments that he orchestrated in 2020. The amendments reset his previous terms and allowed him to seek two more six-year terms, potentially extending his rule until 2036. Putin is 71 so, in theory, he can rule till he is 84.

Russia is a democracy only in theory. In reality it is an authoritarian state where elections are not free or fair. The Kremlin, Russia’s seat of power, controls the media, the security forces, and the election commission, and Putin has effectively suppressed all opposition, barred many of rivals from contesting the elections and either imprisoned dissenters or exiled them. 

A Trump-Putin Combo? If Putin is reelected, Russia will likely continue its aggressive foreign policy, especially in Ukraine and Eastern Europe, and face more international sanctions and isolation. Putin will also tighten his grip on domestic politics and suppress any dissent or opposition. If Trump is elected in 2024, the US will face more political and social turmoil, as Trump will try to overturn his 2020 election loss and pursue his populist agenda. Trump will also undermine democratic institutions and norms, and alienate many US allies and partners.

A Trump-Putin combo would mean that the world could face a more unstable and unpredictable geopolitical situation. Trump and Putin have a long history of mutual admiration and personal rapport, but their interests and agendas are often at odds. Trump could weaken NATO and other US alliances, while Putin could exploit the chaos and expand his influence in regions like Ukraine, Syria, and the Middle East. The risk of conflict and escalation between the two nuclear powers would increase, as well as the challenges for global cooperation on issues like climate change, human rights, and cybersecurity.

A third term for Modi? The biggest national elections this year will be in India, which has the largest electorate in the world, with over 900 million voters eligible to vote for the lower house of Parliament, Lok Sabha, which has 543 seats. India has a multi-party system, with two major alliances competing for power this year: the incumbent National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the opposition Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (I.N.D.I.A.), led by the Indian National Congress (INC) and its president, Mallikarjun Kharge.

India’s elections are held in multiple phases, spanning over several weeks, to ensure security and logistical arrangements. In 2019, the elections were held in seven phases, from 11 April to 19 May. The schedule for 2024 is yet to be announced by the Election Commission of India (ECI).

India’s elections also involve millions of polling staff, security personnel, electronic voting machines, and observers. In 2019, there were over 10 lakh polling stations, 17.4 lakh voting machines, and 23 lakh security personnel deployed across the country.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi is widely expected to win a third term in 2024, as he enjoys a strong popularity and because the Opposition is weak. In recent months, his party has scored significant victories in state elections, which could be an indication that voters’ support for it is strong.

A third term may see India becoming one of the top three economies in the world. India’s economy is one of the largest and fastest-growing in the world. According to the latest data from the World Bank, India’s nominal GDP was $3.73 trillion in 2023, making it the fifth-largest economy in the world after the USA, China, Japan, and Germany. India’s GDP growth rate was 7.6% in the second quarter of 2023-24, higher than most of the major economies.

India’s per capita income was $2,389 in 2022, which ranked 112th in the world. India’s per capita GDP on PPP basis was $8,379 in 2022, according to the World Bank. In comparison, China’s per capita GDP on PPP basis was $21,476 in 2022. This means that China’s per capita GDP on PPP basis was more than twice as high as India’s.

Prime Minister Modi faces some challenges such as poverty, inequality, infrastructure gaps, environmental issues, and fiscal deficits. However, during his tenure, which began in 2014, India has also undertaken several reforms and initiatives to boost its economic potential, such as the Goods and Services Tax (GST), the Make in India campaign, the Digital India program, and the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan. India aims to become a $5 trillion economy by 2027 and a $10 trillion economy by 2032.

Led by Modi, India recently had a successful G20 presidency and a lunar mission. For a country of its size, it has also managed a satisfactory a post-COVID-19 recovery and achieved robust growth. India has also been part of a new Indo-Pacific alliance against China, along with the US, Australia, and Japan, to counter China’s expansionist ambitions and assert India’s role as a key player in the region.

In crisis areas such as the Russian aggression in Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas war, India has protected its own economic and political interests instead of taking sides. That sort of strategy could be expected to continue on the international front. Relations with China remain tense, though, especially on border disputes between the two countries although under Modi, the foreign policy targeted at China and Pakistan (with which there are continuing disputes on the western borders of the country) has been assertive.

Modi may, however, face some challenges in balancing the interests of different Indian states and regions, as well as in addressing the issues of social justice, environmental protection, and democratic rights.

Elections in the rest of South Asia. India’s neighbours, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, will also go to the polls this year. In Pakistan, elections are scheduled to be held in February but the Pakistan Senate has passed a resolution seeking to delay the elections due to security and weather concerns. The resolution is not binding and the final decision rests with the Election Commission of Pakistan. With the former Prime Minister Imran Khan in jail on corruption charges, the main contenders are the Pakistan Muslim League (N), led by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, and the Pakistan Peoples Party, led by former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. In Pakistan, the army plays a key role in politics and the government and outcome of the election there will be keenly watched.

Elections will also take place this year in Bangladesh, where Sheikh Hasina of the Awami League has been in power since 2009 and where she is accused of silencing dissent and ruling with an authoritarian iron hand. She is expected to win another term.

India’s other neighbour, Sri Lanka, also goes to the polls this year. Two years ago, the then president of the island nation Gotabaya Rajapaksa was forced to flee his country after protests accused  him for the country’s worst economic crisis in 73 years. Inflation had soared and the nation had turned bankrupt leaving millions in the tiny country unable to get food, fuel or healthcare. That was when the current President Ranil Wickremesinghe took over. But elections haven’t been held in Sri Lanka since 2018 and if a date is finally announced for this year, all eyes will be on who gets the people’s mandate. Wickremesinghe, who helped get a loan from the International Monetary Fund and has led several reforms to get the economy back on track, will likely contest and hope for a second term.

Other notable elections in the world include Indonesia, where the current incumbent Joko Widodo (aka Jokowi) is ineligible due to term limits.

Besides this, there will be elections in Iran, South Korea, Panama, and several African Nations, including Rwanda, Libya, Mali, and Ghana. As I said, this year is the year of elections on Earth.

NDA Sarkar

Shiv Sena To Perform ‘Maha Aarti’ In Nasik On Ram Temple Consecration Day

Former Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena (UBT) Chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday said that the party will perform a ‘Maha Aarti’ at the bank of the Godavari River in Maharashtra’s Nasik on the Ram Temple consecration day on January 22.

Vedic rituals for the Pran-Pratishtha (consecration) ceremony of Ram Lalla (infant Lord Ram) in Ayodhya will begin on January 16, a week before the main ceremony.

A priest from Varanasi, Lakshmi Kant Dixit, will perform the main rituals of the consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla on January 22. From January 14 to January 22, Ayodhya will mark the Amrit Mahotsav.

Udhhav Thackeray said, “The birth anniversary of Bala Saheb falls on Janurary 23 but since the consecration ceremony of the Ayodhya Ram Temple is going to be held on January 22, the Shiv Sena will perform a ‘Maha Aarti’ on that day at the bank of the Godavari River in Nasik.”

“We do not want to indulge in matter of who has got the invitation and who has not. When the conseration ceremony will be held in Ayodhya, at the same time, we will participate by offering prayers at the Kala Ram Temple in Nasik. On the same day, we will hold party’s conference in Nasik itself,” Thackeray added.

Nasik’s Kalaram Temple is dedicated to Lord Ram. It is believed that Lord Ram stayed here in Panchvati with wife Sita and brother Laksham during their exile (‘Vanvaas’).

Udhav Thackeray has not been invited to the grand consecration ceremony. Earlier, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shiv Sena (UBT) engaged in a bitter falling out over the issue, with Thackeray saying that he had not been invited for the ceremony.

“First, I have not received any invitation. Second, I dont need an invitation to go there. Ram Lalla is not a party’s property, he belongs to everyone. I just want that this event not to be politicised…This decision was given by the Supreme Court, not the government,” Thackeray said.

Meanwhile, Union Minister Narayan Rane lashed out at the Shiv Sena leader stating that he should not attend the consecration ceremony.

“Uddhav is crazy, he has no right to speak about the Ram Temple. What was he doing all these years? and now he’s having a stomach-ache. Such people should not go to see the Ram Temple. It is a sacred place, and such crazy people should not go there,” Rane said. (ANI)

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