Menu
Search
Home Blog Page 250

Indian-American Vivek Ramaswamy Exits US Presidential Race, Backs Trump’s Bid

By
Manali Goswami
-
0
Indian-American Vivek Ramaswamy Exits US Presidential Race, Backs Trump's Bid

Indian-American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy ended his surprise bid for the 2024 US Presidential race on Monday after a lackluster show at the Iowa Republican caucuses. He then threw his weight behind former President Donald Trump’s re-election campaign.

The 38-year-old political newcomer announced his exit in a speech in Des Moines, as per reports. “We did not achieve the upset we were hoping to see tonight,” Ramaswamy told supporters after securing only 7.7% votes in Iowa.

Meanwhile, Trump scored a thumping win in the first nominating contest, bolstering his position as the frontrunner for the Grand Old Party’s nomination.

Ramaswamy, a second-generation Indian immigrant born in Ohio, was relatively unknown in political circles before announcing his candidacy last February. His fiery rhetoric on immigration control and nationalism attracted many conservatives.

Through his campaign, the Harvard alumnus attempted to woo Trump’s traditional voter base by echoing the former President’s hardline views. However, Trump lashed out at Ramaswamy in the closing stages of campaigning, terming him a “major fraud” which dented his prospects.

The millionaire businessman shot into the limelight after authoring the book “Woke, Inc” in 2021, slamming woke capitalism. During the debates, fellow Republicans like Nikki Haley mocked his political inexperience and grasp over key issues.

With his campaign failing to take off, Ramaswamy has now thrown his weight behind Trump, seen by many as the presumptive Republican nominee for 2024. The GOP is rallying behind Trump although he still faces a slew of legal probes over his conduct in office.

Kim Jong Un Calls South Korea ‘Primary Foe’, Warns Of Occupying Seoul

By
Manali Goswami
-
0
Kim Jong Un Calls South Korea 'Primary Foe', Warns Of Occupying Seoul

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ramped up war rhetoric against South Korea, calling it the “primary foe” while outlining plans to improve weapons capabilities and reclaim Seoul in case of a war.

In a speech to the North’s rubber-stamp parliament on Wednesday, Kim stated that unification with the South was no longer possible after Seoul termed Pyongyang its “enemy”. He called for amending the constitution to remove references to Koreans on both sides as “one nation”.

Kim stressed that the North must prepare to “occupy” the South by strengthening war readiness. “We don’t want war but we are not afraid of it”, he asserted while labeling the South’s government “our undoubted enemy”.

The belligerent speech comes days after North Korea fired a record number of missiles last week. Experts see this as an attempt by Kim to boost his leverage amid stalled tensions with the US and South Korea.

The North Korean leader outlined policy goals to develop satellites, missiles, drones, and a spy satellite while the US is distracted with inflation, polarization, and Ukraine.

According to Professor Lim Eul-chul of Kyungnam University, Kim appeared confident about the North’s weapons progress and wanted to pressure the South to change course. The speech could signal more provocations.

Analysts pointed out Kim’s increasingly aggressive rhetoric reflected his frustration over strained inter-Korean ties since the inauguration of conservative S Korean President Yoon.

With talks suspended, the risk of confrontation on the Korean peninsula remains heightened. The US and its allies have ramped up joint military drills to counter the North’s growing nuclear and missile programs.

Centre Cuts Windfall Tax On Domestic Crude Oil To Rs 1,700 Per Tonne

By
Manali Goswami
-
0
Centre Cuts Windfall Tax On Domestic Crude Oil To Rs 1,700 Per Tonne

New Delhi: The central government on Monday slashed the windfall tax levied on domestically produced crude oil by Rs 600 per tonne to Rs 1,700 per tonne, effective Tuesday.

This comes after the tax was hiked from Rs 1,300 to Rs 2,300 in the previous fortnightly revision on January 2nd. Windfall tax on the export of diesel, petrol, and ATF has however been kept unchanged at nil.

Imposed first in July 2022, the windfall tax aims to tap bumper profits earned by domestic crude producers due to high global oil prices in the aftermath of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The rates are moderated every 15 days based on international oil prices.

As per the notification, the Special Additional Excise Duty (SAED) on the supply of crude oil by domestic companies has been revised down by Rs 600 per tonne, owing to the softening of global crude prices over the past two weeks.

The cut is expected to boost local crude supply and ease the burden on domestic refiners like IOCL, BPCL, and Reliance who rely heavily on imported oil. It may also provide some cushion to heavily taxed petrol and diesel prices in India.

However, global crude oil benchmark Brent was trading marginally higher around $78 per barrel on Tuesday after the tax cut announcement.

Going forward, the government aims to calibrate windfall taxes to ensure domestic fuel supplies keeping in mind the dynamic global oil market. The next review is due in another 15 days.

Bigg Boss 17: Evicted Contestant Samarth Jurel Says ‘My Exit Was Undeserved’

By
Manali Goswami
-
0
Bigg Boss 17: Evicted Contestant Samarth Jurel Says 'My Exit Was Undeserved'

In a shocking eviction twist, popular Bigg Boss 17 contestant Samarth Jurel was voted out of the show on Sunday’s ‘Weekend Ka Vaar’ episode. The announcement left his fellow housemates and viewers stunned.

Samarth Jurel stepped into ‘Bigg Boss 17’ as a wild card entrant. ( Image Source : Instagram/@samarthjurel )

Samarth, better known as Chintu, had to bid an emotional goodbye to his co-contestants after host Salman Khan revealed he received the least votes among nominated participants. His girlfriend and co-contestant Isha Malviya broke down in tears hugging him before his exit.

The wild card entrant had become one of the most prominent and entertaining members of this year’s Bigg Boss since his entry. His revelation about his relationship with Isha, who initially denied it, became a highlight in the show.

“I took the exit decision with mixed feelings. While I’m grateful for the experience and opportunities Bigg Boss presented, I feel my contribution to the show did not warrant an eviction at this point,” said Samarth.

He added, “As several celebrity guests mentioned, I brought wholesome entertainment through my antics, spontaneity, and dynamism. I consciously maintained my dignity and integrity on the show without resorting to unnecessary drama or aggressive behavior. The love I received from the viewers and industry stalwarts will forever motivate me.”

Samarth emerged as a fan favorite due to his funny nicknames, one-liners, and energetic presence in the house. His bold personality and straightforward conduct earned praise from host Salman Khan and celebrity guests too.

Isha Malviya has been left heartbroken by the sudden exit of her boyfriend from the show. Fans are voicing disappointment on social media over Samarth’s elimination. He is expected to make appearances during his girlfriend’s remaining journey on Bigg Boss 17.

The grand finale of the popular reality show will air in February. Bigg Boss 17 is telecast from Monday-Friday at 10 PM and Saturday-Sunday at 9 PM on the Colors channel.

Ram Temple In Ayodhya Decked Up As Week-Long Consecration Rituals Begin Today

By
Manali Goswami
-
0
Ram Temple In Ayodhya Decked Up As Week-Long Consecration Rituals Begin Today

The stage is set for the grand inauguration of Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22nd as week-long consecration rituals commenced on Tuesday morning. Elaborate preparations are underway in the temple town which is decked up to celebrate the historic moment.

As per the schedule released by Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, the consecration ceremony, or ‘Prana Pratishthan’ will be spread over seven days starting January 16 till January 21. The formal installation of the deity idol of Ram Lalla will take place on January 22.

The rituals involve purification baths, application of cosmetics, perfumed oils, and clothing on the idol as per Vedic traditions. Chants, havans, and offerings to the deity are also part of the rituals.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be the chief guest at the inauguration along with UP CM Yogi Adityanath, Governor Anandiben Patel, and RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat. Over 7,000 other invitees include eminent dignitaries like cricketing icons Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, and Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan.

However, the four Shankaracharyas of Badrikashram, Puri, Sringeri, and Dwarka have declined to attend the ceremony citing pending completion of construction work. However several Hindu seers asserted that consecration can be done as temple construction progresses, giving an example of the Somnath temple.

Ayodhya has been decorated with flowers and lights for the mega event. Billboards with Ramayana scenes adorn the roads. The temple trust has sought to recreate Treta Yug’s grandeur in preparations for the inauguration of this important place of worship.

The construction of a grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya has been a long-standing demand of the Hindu community to build a temple at the site believed to be the birthplace of Lord Ram. The Supreme Court paved the way for its construction in 2019.

Low-Intensity Tremor Jolts Kishtwar Town In J&K; No Damage Reported

By
Manali Goswami
-
0
Low-Intensity Tremor Jolts Kishtwar Town In J&K; No Damage Reported

A mild intensity earthquake, measuring 3.6 on the Richter Scale, struck Kishtwar town of Jammu and Kashmir early Tuesday morning. However, no loss of life or property damage has been reported so far.

According to the National Center for Seismology (NCS), the earthquake occurred at 8:53 AM at a depth of 5 kilometers below the earth’s surface. In a tweet, the NCS said the quake epicenter was located at latitude 33.34 degrees North and longitude 76.70 degrees East in Jammu and Kashmir.

“Earthquake of Magnitude 3.6 on Richter Scale hit 33 km North-West of Kishtwar at 8:53 am today,” an official statement said.

Notably, the entire Himalayan region is highly vulnerable to tremors and witnesses frequent seismic activity. The latest incident comes just days after a 3.9 magnitude quake shook parts of J&K on January 4.

Before that, mild tremors were felt in the Doda region on January 2 and Kupwara district on December 30, 2022. Fortunately, no considerable damage to life or infrastructure has been recorded in any of these recent earthquakes.

Meanwhile, experts have warned about a high probability of a high-intensity earthquake occurring in the Kashmir valley, which is situated in Seismic Zone V. Last major quake in the region took place in 2005 when parts of J&K witnessed massive destruction.

Concerned authorities have been advised to maintain preparations and awareness campaigns to deal with any such natural calamity. Training people in emergency response and keeping medical units on standby is vital to counter earthquake threats.

Indian Equity Benchmarks Open Flat As IT, Healthcare Stocks Drag

By
Manali Goswami
-
0
Indian Markets Open Lower Amid Volatility

Indian equity benchmarks BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty 50 opened flat on Tuesday amid weak cues from Asian peers. The indices later pared losses as auto, metal, and capital goods stocks witnessed buying interest.

The Sensex opened 24 points lower at 73,304, while the Nifty 50 started the day at 22,090, down 8 points.

On the Sensex pack, Bajaj Finance, Tata Motors, Titan, Bharti Airtel, Maruti Suzuki, and Asian Paints were among the top gainers. On the flip side, heavyweights like HCL Technologies, Wipro, Tech Mahindra, NTPC, Infosys, and Mahindra & Mahindra faced selling pressure.

The broader BSE Midcap and Smallcap indices managed to hold onto mild gains of up to 0.2% each.

Sectoral indices painted a mixed picture, with IT, healthcare, power and realty stocks trading lower. Metal, auto, and capital goods shares defied the trend to trade in the positive territory.

In international markets, equities in Seoul, Tokyo, Shanghai, and Hong Kong lost ground amid concerns over rising coronavirus cases in China. US markets remained closed on Monday for a holiday.

On Monday, the domestic market started the week on a bullish note, with Sensex surging 759 points to end at 73,328. Nifty 50 index settled 203 points higher at 22,097.

As per provisional exchange data, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) purchased equities worth Rs 1,085.72 crore on Monday.

Overall, Indian indices once again kicked off Tuesday’s session flatly, as weakness in IT and healthcare stocks neutralized gains in metal and auto counters. Investors also remained concerned over the trajectory of economic recovery amid risks from rising global rates and inflation.

Bigg Boss Tamil 6 Winner Archana Discusses Her Victory

By
Manali Goswami
-
0
Bigg Boss Tamil 6 Winner Archana Discusses Her Victory

In her first interview after emerging victorious in Bigg Boss Tamil Season 6, Archana expressed gratitude and surprise over winning the show that has catapulted her into overnight fame.

Speaking to Indian Express, an emotional Archana said, “I planned only for two weeks. I didn’t expect it to last this long. I enjoyed each day as it came. Since childhood, I’ve been alone but this show gave me so many people around.”

The former video jockey, who endeared herself to viewers through her candid humor and one-liners on the show, thanked her family and supporters for backing her. She also expressed appreciation for host Kamal Haasan who she saw as a mentor.

“You have a big role in this win sir because I considered you my mentor. And to my fellow contestants for motivating me constantly. Thank you, everybody, I’m speechless!” an overwhelmed Archana remarked.

In his closing speech, Kamal Haasan congratulated Archana on the historic win and thanked fans of the massively popular show for their support this season. He hinted at a potential comeback for Season 8 next year.

31-year-old Archana, who hails from a humble background, said her priority would be to use the prize money wisely and help her family. Analysts feel the transparency and unique personality she showcased on television has made her a household name in Tamil Nadu.

Fans are now eagerly awaiting what’s next for the rising star who won hearts onscreen through emotional and funny moments during her 100-day journey on Bigg Boss Tamil, one of the most popular reality shows in South India.

Amitabh Bachchan Buys Rs 14.5 Cr Plot In Lodha Group’s Luxury Ayodhya Project

By
Manali Goswami
-
0
Amitabh Bachchan Buys Rs 14.5 Cr Plot In Lodha Group’s Luxury Ayodhya Project

Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan has purchased a premium plot worth Rs 14.5 crore in Mumbai developer Lodha Group’s ultra-luxury project ‘The Sarayu’ coming up in Ayodhya, it was announced on Sunday.

The Sarayu is a mixed-used development spread over 51 acres located just 1.5 km from the iconic Ram Janambhoomi temple site. Bachchan has acquired a 10,000 sq ft plot where he plans to construct a bungalow property, realty sources said.

“I am embarking on this journey with Lodha for The Sarayu in Ayodhya, a city that holds a special place in my heart,” Bachchan said about his investment. He added he shares an “emotional connection” with Ayodhya.

Lodha Group Chairman Abhinandan Lodha termed it a “milestone moment” to have Bachchan as the “first citizen of The Sarayu” which will become a “symbol of Ayodhya’s global spiritual significance.”

The lavish project will integrate a modern lifestyle with the spiritual heritage of Ayodhya, Lodha said. Facilities will include a five-star hotel by Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts. The company is eyeing completion by March 2028.

Land prices in Ayodhya and areas surrounding the temple town have surged after the Supreme Court verdict on the Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute. Analysts see high investor interest in luxury housing around the religious destination.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in Ayodhya on Jan 22 to inaugurate the grand Ram Temple, coinciding with the unveiling of The Sarayu bungalow project which has attracted high-profile buyers like Bachchan.

Former Pakistani Cricketer Kaneria Tweets Support For Ayodhya Ram Mandir

By
Manali Goswami
-
0
Former Pakistani Cricketer Kaneria Tweets Support For Ayodhya Ram Mandir

Ahead of the grand inauguration of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, former Pakistani spinner Danish Kaneria tweeted a photo of himself holding a saffron flag with the temple image, expressing eagerness for the event.

Kaneria, one of the few Hindu players to represent Pakistan, posted the photo on Twitter with a message saying: “The grand temple of our King Shri Ram is ready, now the wait is only 8 days! Say, Jai Shri Ram.”

The tweet has gone viral, garnering over 5,000 likes. Many Indian fans praised the cricketer for openly supporting the temple cause despite being from Pakistan.

Kaneria had faced discrimination in the Pakistan team for being a Hindu and was pressured to convert his religion. However, he enjoyed an impressive international career from 2000-2010 as Pakistan’s premier spinner, taking over 250 wickets.

Meanwhile, preparations are in full swing in Ayodhya for the inauguration on Jan 22, which will witness a grand three-story traditional temple come alive after decades of legal battles. Lakhs are expected to attend while PM Modi will preside over the religious rituals.

The tweet by Kaneria indicates even minorities from Pakistan harbor positivity towards India’s cherished Ram Janmabhoomi dream taking shape in the form of a magnificent, elaborately carved temple for Lord Ram.

Kaneria’s post also comes at a time when Pakistan is grappling with growing radicalization. Experts feel the Pakistani system must take cues from India’s tolerant ethos where both minorities and majorities thrive.

1...249250251...323Page 250 of 323

About us

At The News Grill, we're your trusted source for a diverse menu of news and insights, served hot and fresh daily. Our passionate team of journalists, writers, and experts covers a wide range of topics, from global headlines to local stories, technology trends, lifestyle, and beyond.

Usefull Links

The latest

Global Teaching Practices Reach Punjab Classrooms Through Partnership With Finland’s University of Turku: CM Bhagwant Mann

Punjab 0
A partnership between the Punjab Government, led by Chief...

Basmati Centre of Excellence Planned in Punjab to Strengthen Crop Diversification: CM Bhagwant Mann

Punjab 0
Punjab is moving toward a significant shift in agriculture...

CM Bhagwant Mann Invites Dutch Legend Bovelander to Engage With Punjab Athletes After Meeting

Punjab 0
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday connected...

© 2023 The News Grill. All Rights Reserved.