A new study has found that the composition of the gut microbiome helps in predicting how likely a person will succumb to potentially life-threatening infection with Klebsiella pneumoniae, E.coli and other bugs — and it may be altered by changing your diet.
The group of bacteria called Enterobacteriaceae, including Klebsiella pneumoniae, Shigella, E.coli and others, is present at low levels as part of a healthy human gut microbiome. However, certain catalytic factors such as increased inflammation in the body, or by eating contaminated food these bugs can cause illness and disease. In extreme cases, too much Enterobacteriaceae in the gut can be life-threatening.
Researchers have used computational approaches including AI to analyse the gut microbiome composition of over 12,000 people across 45 countries from their stool samples. They found that a person’s microbiome ‘signature’ can predict whether a person’s gut is likely to be colonised by Enterobacteriaceae. The results are consistent across different states of health and geographic locations.
The researchers identified 135 gut microbe species that are commonly found in the absence of Enterobacteriaceae. It likely protects against infection. The results are published in the journal Nature Microbiology.
Notable among the protective gut species is a group of bacteria called Faecalibacterium, which produces beneficial compounds called short-chain fatty acids by breaking down fibre in the foods we eat.
This seems to protect against infection by a range of disease-causing Enterobacteriaceae bugs.
The researchers suggest that eating more fibre in our diet will support the growth of good bacteria — and crowd out the bad ones to significantly reduce the risk of illness.
In contrast, taking probiotics — which don’t directly change the environment in the gut — is less likely to affect the likelihood of Enterobacteriaceae infection.
Source: ANI
Month: January 2025
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Fibre in diet may boost the body against infections: Study
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High levels of fluoride can lead to lower IQ in kids
High levels of fluoride exposure has been linked to lower IQ in children. Fluoride is a mineral that naturally occurs in water, soil, and plants. It is added to products to prevent tooth decay and in several over-the-counter drugs.
While fluoride consumption in given range is safe, large amounts of exposure can be dangerous. The US government’s National Toxicology Program (NTP) recently conducted a meta-analysis which highlighted the potential neurodevelopmental risks associated with excessive fluoride exposure.
The study found a statistically significant association between higher fluoride exposure and lower IQ scores in children, raising questions about the balance between fluoride’s dental benefits and its broader health implications.
Low IQ (intelligence quotient) in children refers to a measure of cognitive abilities that are below the average for their age group. IQ tests are standardised assessments designed to evaluate intellectual skills, problem-solving abilities, and reasoning.In children, low IQ could mean developmental delays in learning basic skills, struggling with communication, not understanding complex concepts or might need support in daily decision-making.
Since its introduction in 1945, fluoride has been a cornerstone of public health efforts to reduce dental cavities, the researchers revealed.
However, the meta-analysis, published in JAMA Pediatrics, evaluated 74 epidemiological studies from ten countries, including India, China, and Mexico, and revealed concerning trends.
Fluoride and IQ Decline: The analysis reported that for every 1 mg/L increase in urinary fluoride, children’s IQ scores decreased by 1.63 points.
High Exposure Threshold: Significant IQ reductions were observed at fluoride exposure levels exceeding 1.5 mg/L in drinking water or urine.
Limited Data on Lower Levels: There was insufficient evidence to conclude whether fluoride levels at or below 0.7 mg/L – the US Public Health Service’s recommended level – have adverse effects on IQ.
Excess fluoride exposure is not a new issue in India. Groundwater in regions like Haryana, Punjab, and Rajasthan often contains fluoride levels exceeding safe limits.
Dr. Kadam Nagpal, Head of Neuroimmunology at Salubritas Medcentre, explained that this has led to health complications such as dental and skeletal fluorosis and potential neurological impairments in children.
“Excessive fluoride gets deposited in teeth, bones, and soft tissues, altering metabolism. This can impair learning and memory in children,” said Dr. Nagpal.
India’s National Programme for Prevention and Control of Fluorosis (NPPCF) monitors and mitigates high fluoride levels in groundwater. Measures like installing reverse osmosis (RO) plants and raising awareness about fluoride-containing products are some critical components of the initiative. -
Best snacks for hearty health
Snacks are often considered to be unhealthy, but this is simply a matter of selection. When unprepared, most of us tend to grab the first thing that we see.
Usually, this is always an unhealthy snack as junk food is readily available at every nook and corner these days. Eating these junk foods leaves our hearts open to ailments and poor health, while increasing our waistlines. But what about healthy, heart-friendly snacks? Here are some snacks that will not only maintain your heart health but also help you shed extra kilos.
Mushroom egg white omelet
This combination of mushroom and egg white is perfect for your heart health. It is low in calories, delicious and requires not much time to prepare. Hence, it is an all time favorite snack.
Dalia upma
Dalia upma is a perfect snack to re-energize yourself because it provides you with valuable fibre, minerals and vitamins.
Just make sure you use less oil and more vegetables to make it more nutritive.
Whole wheat egg white crepes
Made with the mixture of wheat flour, skimmed milk and egg whites, these whole wheat crepes are perfect for a health conscious person.
This snack is blended with taste and nutrients, which makes it an ideal snack option.
Carrot, green peas & brown bread sandwich
This is an easy to prepare sandwich and is a great way to add protein, vitamin A and fibre to your diet. Add a dash of mayo, some ketchup, boiled carrots and peas and grill it to make it even more delicious.
Egg white spinach omelet
If you are watching your cholesterol level, and a big fan of eggs but can’t eat them, then this snack is just the thing for you.
When spinach is cooked with egg whites, it makes it a perfect calorie cutter snack for the day.
Hara dhania whole wheat roti
Replace your regular rotis with this healthy alternative. The hara dhania or coriander, and whole wheat flour, makes it a healthy and yummy snack.
Pudina egg white omelet
This omelet is prepared with a mixture of pudina and egg whites, making it a healthy, low calorie snack.
Idli sandwich
A light twist to the popular South Indian snack we all love. For best benefits, prepare this at home with a low-oil and low-salt recipe. Slice the idli and stuff with stir fried vegetables like cabbage or sprouts to make this a healthy snack for your day. -
How to manage your child’s anger and stubbornness?
When you have a child around, it’s common to see them get upset or angry when they don’t get what they want. A simple wish can quickly turn into a tantrum, with crying and howling when it’s unmet. But when their desires are fulfilled, their faces light up with a big grin.
Parenting isnt easy, and parents often find themselves criticised no matter what they do. If they give in to their childs demands, they’re accused of spoiling them. If they refuse, theyre labelled as heartless or uncaring.
But the question here is: should parents give in to their child’s stubbornness and anger, or is there a better way to navigate these moments?
Dr Sarthak Dave, an Ahmedabad-based psychiatrist, tells India Today that kids become stubborn and express their anger loudly because they absorb behaviours from their surroundings and consider them normal. If they frequently observe their parents displaying anger or reacting loudly, they learn to replicate this behaviour, believing it to be acceptable.
He explains, “At a young age, their idthe instinctual drive to fulfil their desiresis very strong, while their ego (logical reasoning) and superego (moral understanding) are still underdeveloped and grow with age and experience. When children want something, they struggle to think logically or anticipate the consequences of their actions. If they dont get what they want, they feel distress and express it in ways theyve learnt from their environment.”
Additionally, if theyve previously received what they wanted by acting out, this behaviour gets reinforced, encouraging them to repeat it.
Further, Riddhi Doshi Patel, a Mumbai-based child psychologist and parenting counsellor, tells us that kids can be stubborn or loud because they dont yet have the words or skills to express their emotions or because they feel ignored or misunderstood by adults.
She mentions that these outbursts are their way of coping with emotions they cant fully control or explain.
According to Patel, while kids do learn from their environment and often replicate their parents, stubbornness is also a natural part of development as children learn to assert themselves. It doesnt always mean parents are at fault.
A childs stubbornness, anger, and loud reactions are often ways of acting out due to their limited ability to handle emotions and distress.
“These behaviours indicate that the child may not yet be developing the emotional tools needed to cope effectively. If such reactions are not addressed or discouraged, they can become ingrained as primitive defence mechanisms, suggesting that the childs emotional growth is not progressing as it should,” says Dr Dave.
Meanwhile, Patel feels that stubbornness and anger are signs that a child:
– Is seeking attention, understanding, or control.
– May be feeling overwhelmed, insecure, or unsure how to handle a situation.
– Is in a stage of development where theyre learning to test limits and establish independence.
According to the experts, if left unchecked, constant anger and stubbornness can lead to issues such as difficulty managing emotions later in life, strained relationships with peers and family, and increased feelings of frustration or anxiety.
Parents should make sure they are not rewarding such behaviour. By rewarding them, you are feeding stubbornness and anger, and this will only increase the tantrums. Source: India Today -
Grilled chicken
Ingredients
8 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, 1 pinch salt and ground black pepper to taste, 2 cups peach preserves, 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 tablespoon finely chopped garlic, 1 tablespoon mustard, 4 ripe peaches, halved and pitted
Method
– Preheat grill for medium heat and lightly oil the grate. Season chicken breast halves with salt and black pepper.
– Stir peach preserves, olive oil, soy sauce, garlic, and mustard in a bowl; season with salt and black pepper. Reserve about 1/2 cup peach sauce.
– Place chicken on preheated grill; cook until golden brown, 6 to 7 minutes, then flip chicken. Continue cooking for 5 to 6 minutes. Brush both sides of the chicken with peach sauce. Cook until no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, 4 to 5 more minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
– Arrange peach halves cut side down on the grill. Grill for 2 minutes, flip, and brush with reserved 1/2 cup peach sauce. Continue to grill until peaches are tender, 3 to 4 minutes more. -
Avoid these acne-causing habits
– Not washing your face properly : It is important to use good medicated cleansers twice a day, but hard cleansers and washing too frequently can make the acne worse and face drier.
– Using dairy products on a daily basis : Dairy products have abundance of hormone IGF 1 (Insulin-like growth factor 1) which is specially found in milk. It can cause inflammation in humans. Milk causes insulin spike in humans that makes the liver produce IGF 1. This can cause excess sebum production causing more clogged pores and thus, the acne. Try to reduce dairy product consumption.
– Using smartphones too much : Smartphones are one of the common causes of breakouts. This is because when your phone is placed on skin while talking to someone, you press bacteria into your pores and ultimately, get pimples. So, use ear phones to keep a check on breakouts.
– Applying body cream on face : Many body care products can give you acne on your face. Some people apply body products on their face to get some more beauty benefits. But it is better not to use body products on face. Feel free to use face cream on dry patch of body, but using a body lotion on your face could cause acne.
This could specifically be the case if your skin is sensitive and the facial lotion you generally use is oil and fragrance-free, and then you reach for a scented and thicker body lotion in the hope to achieve the same hydrating results.
– Diet issue : Sweet food items may not always be good for skin. Diet rich in sugar or food with high glycemic index can be a cause for acne. Avoid sugar, carbohydrate-rich food and starch for acne-free skin. Eat small meals with diet rich in fruits and vegetables.
Here’s how you can choose your night cream smartly
Night time is when one’s skin gets the maximum rest, repair and time to rejuvenate. So always remember to wash and deep cleanse your face before you apply your night time moisturiser for the best results. But how do you decide what constitutes a good moisturiser? Divya Mehta, co-founder of skincare brand Epique, shares tips to keep in mind when deciding on a good night cream:
It doesn’t need to have the word ‘night’ to describe it : The difference between a night cream and any other is that it doesn’t have UV protection or any sunscreen ingredients in it. Hence you don’t necessarily need to use a cream that uses the word ‘night’ to define it. So long as the cream does not contain sunscreen, works well with your skin type and is rich in active ingredients, you are good to go!
– High concentration of active ingredients : Look for components such as boswellia serrata, coffee bean extract, centella asiatica, andrographis, liquorice, coleus forskolin, horse chestnut, oils, vitamins like E and C and other antioxidants to name a few (in your night creme). In addition to these, actives need to be highly concentrated to address specific mature skin issues.
– Deep penetrating and light weight in texture : Ensure the cream texture is light, penetrates deeply and is comfortable for your skin. Try avoiding creams that sit on the skin’s surface and don’t get absorbed well, causing the skin to feel oily. -
‘Wolf Man’ is a toothless reboot that’ll make you bark at the moon
Blake Lovell thinks taking his wife and young daughter to rural Oregon to pack up his dead father’s belongings is a good idea. It’s a break from their urban life, might help repair his fraying marriage and reconnect them all with nature. “It would be good for us,” he argues.
It will not, of course, because this is a Blumhouse movie called “Wolf Man.” It will not be good for Blake and it will not be good for the audience. That’s because this film is a terrible misfire using a classic movie monster poorly rebooted by the modern home of horror.
Slack when it should be terrifying, “Wolf Man” suffers from cheap sentimentality, laughably obvious script reveals, poor continuity and a creature that is less predatory than painful. Pity comes to mind.
Christopher Abbott stars as Blake, a father and husband whose own estranged dad was a tad unstable, constantly drilling in his son a survivalist ethic. “It’s not hard to die. It’s the easiest thing in the world,” his dad says. He being officially declared dead 30 years after he disappeared into the forest starts this sludgy movie off. -
Jennifer Lopez and Jharrel Jerome shine in crowd-pleasing wrestling drama
There’s nothing quite like the impact of a good sports biopic drama. A classic underdog story where the protagonist rises up against all odds and wins. But to a degree, sports biopics have reached a saturation point in the last few years. One can smell the next plot point a mile away, can predict the next dramatic meltdown right from the way the camera pauses for a close-up shot. Sadly, these are some of the cases that plague the new Prime Video entry Unstoppable, based on the extraordinary real-life journey of wrestler Anthony Robles, who was born with one leg.
Make no mistake. Unstoppable is very likeable and ultimately packs an emotional wallop. It has all the ingredients to make an amazing genre entry, but it stays so expectedly overwrought in its own formula that the story rarely takes shape. Marking the directorial debut of Oscar-winning Argo editor William Goldenberg, and produced by Ben Affleck, Unstoppable features a fierce central performance from Jharrel Jerome as Anthony, and an equally impressive supporting turn from Jennifer Lopez as his mother Judy. However, the film feels too caught up trying to impress, too one-note to add any texture to these characters to make them feel more than what they are offered on screen.
Unstoppable starts off with Anthony’s final years in high school, where he impresses with his agile moves in the match. His mother roots for him to excel, and his coach (Michael Peña) supports his dreams. But back home, he has to deal with his abusive stepfather (Bobby Cannavale), which amounts to his anxieties about his next steps. Should he take the offer of a full college scholarship at Drexel or pursue at Iowa, where he believes the best wrestlers go? During his search, his way will lead to coach Shawn Charles (Don Cheadle), whose push will keep Anthony striving for more. -
Hugh Jackman, Deborra-Lee Furness heading towards a ‘messy’ divorce
After nearly three decades of marriage, Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness are struggling to finalize their separation. Despite announcing their split in September 2023, the estranged couple has yet to file for divorce, reportedly due to complications surrounding their decision to forego a prenuptial agreement.
Daily Mail has reported that their split could become “messy” as they work to divide their substantial $250 million fortune. “One of the biggest reasons why they haven’t yet filed is that they never had a prenup,” a source close to the Wolverine star told the British outlet.
The couple, who met on the Australian TV show Correlli in 1995, married in April 1996 and went on to adopt two children, son Oscar, 24, and daughter Ava, 19.
“When they got married, they thought it would be forever. Who doesn’t?” the source told Daily Mail. “At the time, neither of them expected Hugh’s career to get as enormous as it has. Because there was no prenup, and he made a fortune during their marriage, this divorce is not going to be cut and dry. It may even get messy because the stakes are high.”
“They put their differences aside to co-parent and he cares a lot about is children.” the insider added.
The couple’s shared assets include a sprawling property portfolio, such as a $3.5 million estate in East Hampton, a $5.9 million Bondi beach house in Sydney, and a $21 million Manhattan penthouse purchased just a year before their split. “A lot of moving parts need to be worked out and there is a huge amount of money involved,” the insider noted, and the couple wants to “make this as easy as possible” for them.
Jackman and Sutton Foster confirmed their romance last week when they were photographed holding hands outside a Los Angeles restaurant. The relationship has only fueled the discord, as Furness has struggled with feelings of “resentment and an imbalance of power” during the final years of their marriage.
“They are cordial to each other, but they are no longer friends,” the insider told Daily Mail. “They put their differences aside to co-parent, and he cares a lot about his children.”
Jackman’s relationship with Foster began as a friendship during their time on Broadway, but the insider insisted there was no overlap between his relationships with Furness and Foster. But, Furness sparked speculation by “liking” a social media post claiming Jackman was “running off with the mistress.” -
Varun Dhawan preps for Border 2, shares pics with soldiers on Army Day
Actor Varun Dhawan, who is prepping for JP Dutta’s Border 2, shared photos with soldiers on Army Day 2025. He will star alongside Sunny Deol, who’s headlining the multi-starrer. The film will hit the screens next year.
On Wednesday, January 15, Varun honoured “the real heroes of India” as he prepped for his film. He is currently at the film’s shoot location, where he spent the day interacting with soldiers, gaining a deeper understanding of their lives and their unparalleled devotion to the nation.
Sunny Deol, too, shared photos and videos with soldiers on Army Day. However, whether his location is the same as Varun’s is not confirmed. “Saluting the courage, sacrifice, and unwavering dedication of our heroes. Happy Indian Army Day!”, wrote Deol, while sharing his glimpses in a turban.
Border 2 is backed by Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, JP Dutta, and Nidhi Dutta. Presented by Gulshan Kumar and T-Series in association with JP Dutta’s JP Films and directed by Anurag Singh, the sequel is set to carry forward the legacy of the original film which released in 1997.
The film was announced on June 13, 2024, marking 27 years of Border. Border 2 will release on January 23, 2026. -
Emergency: Kangana Ranaut brings ‘epic saga’ of Indira Gandhi to life but others fail to deliver
Kangana Ranaut is back on the big screen, but this time not only with her acting stint; she has taken over the chair of director for the first time. Her much-awaited biographical political drama ‘Emergency’ is out in cinemas after much delay. If you are willing to watch Emergency, then it is highly recommended that you read this detailed review of the film beforehand. The movie is touted to be a political biopic of Indira Gandhi and, most briefly, of the time when she imposed an Emergency in the country in 1975. However, the story of the film begins with her childhood time, and with bookmarking a few major events of the country, the plot reaches the era of her prime ministership. The film revolves mostly around her struggle to liberate Bangladesh and post her imposition of Emergency in the country. However, other incidents, including her assassination, are covered in the film in a gist.
On acting front, the film solely belongs to Kangana Ranaut, who portrayed the role of former late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on the screen. If you belong to those times when you somewhere saw Indira Gandhi on the screen or heard her on the radio, then you are bound to connect with the time and take a trip down memory lane. However, many other important characters of the political timeframe fail to impress, but Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw (played by Milind Soman) will steal your hearts even with his less screen time. Other characters can be called ‘okayish’ but not that impactful.
Apart from acting the most important role that Kangana had was the film’s direction. Since it was her directorial debut and some people have a notion of considered a biopic an easy one to begin with and so was the case. However, she perfectly managed the easy job. Of course, the tough one with acting BUT the first half of the film might be a bit boring for some as it begins when she was a teenager, watching her father in a political scenario, her struggle to get into the limelight. Still, the main ‘Dhamaka’ of the film begins when the story enters the time of the Indo-Pak War of 1971 (Bangladesh Liberation).
The movie is fine, and one with an eagerness to know about the intensity of the time during the Emergency must give it a try. And, if you are a political analyst and enthusiast, then one must give the movie a chance. It won’t give you goosebumps throughout but will surely showcase the ‘darkest chapter’ after India’s Independence in front of you with a blend of Indira Gandhi’s personal and political life till her death. Overall, the movie ‘Emergency’ deserves three out of 5 stars for Kangana’s effort in all segments. -
Mulling data, renewable energy corridors with India, says Singapore Prez
New Felhi (TIP)- Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam on Thursday, January 16, announced that India and Singapore are exploring the creation of a data corridor between Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) and Singapore. The proposed corridor aims to facilitate the secure and trusted exchange of data between financial institutions in both countries.
Speaking to mediapersons at Rashtrapati Bhavan, alongside President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Shanmugaratnam said, “We are exploring the possibility of a data corridor between GIFT City and Singapore so that our financial institutions can exchange data on a safe and trusted basis.”
He also highlighted ongoing efforts to establish a renewable energy corridor between India and Singapore, expressing optimism about the deepening partnership between the two nations. “We are natural partners,” he remarked. Shanmugaratnam emphasised the Indian Government’s focus on the eastern states. Recalling his earlier visit to Assam at the suggestion of Prime Minister Modi, he said, “We are doing some things in Assam.”
During his current state visit, he plans to visit Odisha, which he described as a state of special significance among the Eastern states. “India has high ambition for Odisha, and indeed it holds great promise,” he noted.
Earlier, President Murmu held extensive discussions with Shanmugaratnam. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the talks focused on avenues to further strengthen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and Singapore.
Meanwhile, Murmu and Shanmugaratnam jointly unveiled a commemorative logo to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Singapore. The logo features elements symbolising the deep ties between the two nations, including colours from the Indian and Singaporean national flags, the lotus (India’s national flower) and the orchid (Singapore’s national flower).
It also prominently displays the number 60, celebrating the milestone anniversary. The logo carries the text: ‘India Singapore 60 years of diplomatic relations.’ According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the design reflects the enduring partnership and shared aspirations of the two countries. -
Pannun inquiry report ‘positive first step’, but process not done yet: US envoy
An Indian inquiry committee’s report on the foiled plot to kill US-based Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun is a “very positive first step” but doesn’t mark a “closed chapter” for both countries as action remains to be taken, outgoing US ambassador Eric Garcetti said on Thursday, January 16.
Garcetti, a political appointee of US President Joe Biden who is set to step down this week, said in an interview that both countries have a deeper understanding of each other’s perspective on key matters such as New Delhi’s concerns about the activities of pro-Khalistan elements and Washington’s call for accountability and systemic reforms in the wake of the so-called “murder-for-hire” plot.
He said the US remains open to a positive role in helping India and Canada address the fallout of the killing of another Khalistani separatist, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, but made it clear that “a lot of people overplay” the cooperation between the US and Canada as members of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance.
Asked specifically if the Indian high-powered enquiry committee’s report, announced by the Union home ministry on Wednesday, marked a closed chapter as far as the foiled plot is concerned, Garcetti replied: “I see it as a very positive step. It’s the delivery of what India promised – accountability and systemic reforms. We haven’t seen the report yet and obviously there’s a case still going on in New York.”
Noting that the US and India have covered a lot of ground in the past few years in appreciating each other’s concerns and sensitivities, he said, “When it comes to threats to Indian diplomats like in San Francisco and things like that, there’s really been growth and understanding of the perspective of India and vice versa, when we’ve been very clear about lines that cannot be crossed.
“India has taken that seriously and governments make mistakes. People should be held accountable, and this is a very positive first step.”
He pointed out the legal case in the US on the foiled plot “has its own trajectory” but the Indian enquiry committee’s report “opens up the path”. He added, “It’s not a closed chapter for India or for America, because the report itself says [that it is] recommending action.” This action will have to be taken and US “prosecutors will have to win victories”, he said.
The Union home ministry said on Wednesday that the enquiry committee set up by the government in November 2023 to investigate allegations about the plot to kill Pannun on American soil has recommended legal action against an individual whose “criminal links and antecedents” came to light earlier. -
PM approves 8th pay commission for central government employees
New Delhi (TIP)- Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Thursday, January 16, that the prime minister has approved the formation of the 8th Pay Commission for central government employees.
The decision was shared by the minister during a press briefing to announce cabinet decisions in Delhi.
The minister highlighted that since India’s independence in 1947, there have been seven pay commissions formed to revise the salaries and benefits of central government employees.
He said “For your awareness, our Prime Minister has approved the establishment of the 8th Central Pay Commission for all central government employees”.
He also emphasized the commitment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to maintain a regular schedule for the establishment of pay commissions. The last such commission, the 7th Central Pay Commission, was initiated in 2016 and is set to complete its term in 2026.
He added “Following the commitment made by the Prime Minister to establish pay commissions in a regular rhythm, the 7th Pay Commission started in 2016, and its term will be completed in 2026”.
Vaishnaw stated that setting up the 8th Central Pay Commission well before 2025 will ensure sufficient time to review and finalize its recommendations. This proactive approach will enable the government to implement the proposed changes effectively before the 7th Pay Commission’s tenure ends.
The pay commission plays a crucial role in determining salary structures, allowances, and other benefits for government employees, and its recommendations significantly impact millions of workers and pensioners across the country.
The announcement of the 8th Pay Commission highlights that the government is committed to address the financial and professional needs of its workforce.
This announcement brings hope to central government employees who rely on pay commissions to ensure fair and timely revisions to their compensation.
With the 8th Pay Commission set to begin its work soon, employees can expect a thorough review of their pay scales and benefits in line with evolving economic conditions and government priorities. Source: ANI -
ISRO docks 2 satellites in space as India joins elite 4-nation club
New Delhi (TIP)- Setting at rest the uncertainties resulting from multiple deferments, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Thursday, January 16, successfully carried out the docking of two satellites in space, making India the fourth country in the world after the US, Russia and China to accomplish the feat.
In space, docking technology is essential when multiple rocket launches are required to achieve common mission objectives. The in-space docking experiment is crucial for the smooth conduct of the country’s ambitious future missions, including Chandrayaan-4, Gaganyaan, setting up a space station and landing an astronaut on the moon.
Last October, the government had announced that India would have by 2035 its own space station, “Bharatiya Antariksh Station”.
“Spacecraft docking successfully completed! A historic moment,” ISRO said in a post on X. “Let’s walk through the SpaDeX docking process: Manoeuvre from 15 metres to 3 metres hold point completed. Docking initiated with precision, leading to successful spacecraft capture. Retraction completed smoothly, followed by rigidisation for stability. Docking successfully completed,” the post added.
After docking, the control of two satellites—Chaser and Target—as a single object was successful, ISRO said, adding that undocking and power transfer from one satellite to the other would follow in the coming days.
“India’s space programme achieves historic milestone with the successful docking of the two satellites launched under Space docking experiment, SpaDeX!” President Droupadi Murmu wrote on X, congratulating ISRO.
“Congratulations to our scientists at ISRO and the entire space fraternity for the successful demonstration of space docking of satellites. It is a significant stepping stone for India’s ambitious space missions in the years to come,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a message.
Jitendra Singh, MoS, Science and Technology, said the feat was all the more memorable as the technology used was “indigenous Bharatiya Docking System”.
V Narayanan, ISRO chief, congratulated the team. The two satellites, each weighing 220 kg, were originally supposed to dock on January 7. The experiment was deferred to January 9 after scientists felt the process required further validation through ground simulations in view of an abort scenario identified by them.
A day ahead of the docking planned on January 9, the space agency initiated the drift on Spacecraft A (Chaser) to move closer to the other spacecraft (Target) from 500 metres to 225 metres. But the operation was postponed as the drift was found to be more than expected.
On January 12, the two satellites were brought as close as 3 metres from each other, but then moved away following signal issues. The two satellites were put in space in a low earth orbit by a PSLV rocket on December 30.
With the successful docking, ISRO has achieved the primary objective of the mission. Undocking and separation of the two satellites will follow. The satellites will be deployed for the operation of their respective payloads. -
Rahul Gandhi stirs up storm with ‘fighting Indian state’ remark, faces BJP fire
New Delhi (TIP)- Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi stirred a hornet’s nest on Wednesday, Jan 15, after claiming that the Congress was not only fighting the BJP and its ideological mentor RSS, but the “Indian state” as well. Addressing party workers after the inauguration of the new Congress headquarters, Gandhi went all guns blazing in attacking the BJP and RSS, accusing them of capturing all institutions of the country.
“Do not think that we are fighting a fair fight. There is no fairness in this. If you believe that we are fighting a political organisation called the BJP or RSS, you have not understood what is going on. The BJP and the RSS have captured every single institution of our country. We are now fighting the BJP, the RSS and the Indian State itself,” Gandhi asserted.
Gandhi also targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he wanted to “crush the voice” of the country by gagging the Dalits, minorities, backward castes and tribals.
The BJP was quick to pounce upon the Congress MP’s remarks, saying that the “ugly truth” of the party “stands exposed by their own leader”.
Firing the first salvo, Union Minister and BJP chief JP Nadda said Gandhi and his “ecosystem” have close links with “urban naxals” and the “Deep State” who want to “defame, demean and discredit” India.
“Hidden no more, Congress’s ugly truth now stands exposed by their own leader. I ‘compliment’ Rahul Gandhi for saying clearly what the nation knows – that he is fighting the Indian state! His repeated actions have also strengthened this belief. Everything he has done or said has been in the direction of breaking India and dividing our society,” Nadda tweeted. -
Farmers to make 4th attempt to reach Delhi from Shambhu border on January 21
A group of 101 farmers will make a fourth attempt to reach Delhi by crossing the Shambhu (Punjab-Haryana) border on January 21 to press for their demands, including a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) on crops, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said on Thursday, January 16.
The “jatha” (group) of 101 farmers, termed as Marjeevdas (those ready to sacrifice their lives), had earlier made three attempts to reach Delhi on foot on December 6, 8 and 14, last year, but their attempts were thwarted by the Haryana Police and paramilitary forces, who used tear gas shells, water cannons and pepper sprays to stop them from entering the state. Nearly 50 farmers were left injured in these attempts.
Unlike the earlier three attempts, this ‘Delhi Chalo’ march has been announced jointly by the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) and Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political).
KMM convener Sarvan Singh Pandher said, “I don’t think the Union government is in any mood to hold talks with us. Our group of 101 Marjeevdas will make another attempt to reach Delhi on January 21. It is now up to the government to either fulfil our demands or kill us.”
Announcing the action plan, Pandher said farmer leaders Manjit Singh Rai and Balwant Singh Behramke would lead the group.
“We have been told, in the past, by BJP leaders that we can reach Delhi on foot (not on tractors). However, we were not allowed to reach Delhi by the Haryana Police and Centre even when we were marching peacefully. I request Prime Minister Narendra Modi to allow peacefully protesting farmers to reach Delhi, and let us continue our demand for a legal guarantee on MSP,” said Pandher.
The fresh move of protesting farmers came a day after a group of 111 farmers began a fast-unto-death on the Haryana side of the border near Khanauri in solidarity with farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, whose fast-unto-death entered its 52nd day on Thursday.
The new ‘jatha’ sat on the Haryana side of the border — Dallewal has been sitting on a hunger strike since November 26 last year at the Khanauri border point on the Punjab side.
The Haryana Police has enhanced security on its side of the border near Khanauri. It has already imposed Section 163 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, banning gatherings of five or more people. -
Canadian Premiers to visit US on February 12
TORONTO (TIP): The threatened tariff stand-off between Canada and the US notwithstanding, premiers of various Canadian provinces will give it a try to keep the trade relations between two neighbors and traditional partners alive.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, as Chair of the Council of the Federation, will lead a joint mission of Canada’s Premiers to Washington, D.C. on February 12.
Doug Ford, who was the first to react to the US President-elect Donald Trump’s proclamation that the first thing he would do after assuming power for his second term in the Oval Office of White House would be to levy 25 per cent tariff on all imports from both Canada and Mexico. Doug Ford had threatened to snap power supply to the US. He, however, relented and started advocating for sustaining the strong bilateral trade relations with the US.
The Canadian Premiers will meet with key members of the new Administration, Congress, and business leaders to advocate for maintaining strong Canada-U.S. relations by addressing shared issues such as jobs and the economy, energy, critical mineral supply chains, border security and immigration.
The U.S. sells more goods and services to Canada than it sells to China, Japan, and Germany combined. Our economic partnership is worth more than a trillion dollars annually and supports millions of jobs on both sides of the border.
“Americans and Canadians are like family. We’ve been allies for generations,” said Premier Doug Ford, Chair of the Council of the Federation. “By working together, the U.S. and Canada have an enormous opportunity to grow our economies and bring good jobs back home on both sides of the border. Now more than ever, Canada’s Premiers are best positioned to carry this message and work alongside U.S. lawmakers and business leaders.”
In addition to the joint mission on February 12, some Premiers will also travel to Washington during the annual meeting of the National Governors Association from February 20 to 22.
The Council of the Federation comprises all 13 provincial and territorial Premiers. It enables Premiers to work collaboratively, form closer ties, foster constructive relationships among governments, and show leadership on important issues that matter to Canadians.
(Prabhjot Singh is a Toronto-based award-winning independent journalist. He was celebrated by AIPS, the international body of sports journalists, for covering ten Olympics, at its centennial celebrations held at UNESCO Centre in Paris during the 2024 Olympic Games. Besides, he has written extensively about business and the financial markets, the health industry, the public and private sectors, and aviation. He has worked as a political reporter besides covering Sikh and Punjab politics. He is particularly interested in Indian Diaspora and Sikh Diaspora in particular. His work has also appeared in various international and national newspapers, magazines, and journals. He can be reached at prabhjot416@gmail.com)
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Will Canada be represented at Donald Trump’s coronation?
By Prabhjot Singh OTTAWA (TIP): Notwithstanding recent visits of federal ministers, political delegations, and premiers of the provinces to Mar-a-Lago in Florida, the question of whether Canada would be represented at Donald Trump’s coronation on January 20 continues to elude an answer.
Going by the media reports, there is no indication of the US President-elect Donald Trump soliciting the presence of any of the political bigwigs of Canada or Mexico, the two immediate neighbors that he has threatened with extra 25 per cent tariffs over the contagious issue of cross border smuggling of both drugs and illegal aliens.
No official word has been said about whether or not the White House has extended any special invite to Ottawa’s Parliament Hill. The silence of the minority Liberal government caught in its political turmoil is understandable.
Justin Trudeau, who has already announced his decision to quit the leadership, was in the United States some days ago to attend the funeral of former President Jimmy Carter. During his two-day visit to Washington, he also met some US business leaders and gave an interview to a news channel.
This was his second visit to the US since November when he accompanied by some of his Cabinet members and other officials visited the US President-elect Donald Trump at his Mar-A-Lago resort in Florida where he was embarrassed when his host mocked for the first time saying Canada would better become 51st state of the United States and Justin Trudeau its Governor. It took more than six weeks for the outgoing Canadian PM to issue a rejoinder to the repeated mocks of Donald Trump.
Since the process to elect Justin Trudeau’s successor has already started, the country and the rest of the world have to wait till March 9 to know who the next Prime Minister of Canada will be. When Donald Trump assumes office for his second term in the Oval Office of the White House, Canada will still be under the command of a Prime Minister who has remained a subject of continuous mocking by Trump.
Some senior Canadian ministers, including Foreign Minister, Melanie Joly, and the new Finance Minister, Dominic LeBlanc, also made trips to the US in recent days as they still maintain a role in responding to the tariffs. They have maintained that they will not join the leadership race.
The recent statement of Donald Trump that it was not dependent upon Canada for any of its requirements aggravated the situation. Canada retaliated by quoting recent bilateral trade figures between the two nations.
Traditionally, the coronation ceremony of the President is treated as a “domestic” event with little or no participation of heads of friendly nations. But recently, invites were sent to some select heads of state. This time some heads, including those of Argentina and Italy besides China, were stated to be on the official invite list. Canada and Mexico, the two largest trade partners of the US, did not figure on that list.
From the Canadian side, the most talked about visit has been of the Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. She visited Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on January 11, as well as at his golf club the following day.
Smith, who appears with Trump and Canadian entrepreneur and “Shark Tank” investor Kevin O’Leary in photos she posted on social media from the visit on Jan. 12, said she talked about the importance of the Canadian energy sector to the United States.
“We had a friendly and constructive conversation during which I emphasized the mutual importance of the US-Canadian energy relationship, and specifically, how hundreds of thousands of American jobs are supported by energy exports from Alberta,” she said.
She said she also met with “key allies” of the incoming Trump administration during her visit, adding that she was “encouraged to hear their support for a strong energy and security relationship with Canada.”
Smith said that both countries need to maintain their independence while strengthening their partnership. Trump has said on different occasions that he wishes for Canada to become part of the United States, and that he may use “economic force” to merge Canada with his country.
“The United States and Canada are both proud and independent nations with one of the most important security alliances on earth and the largest economic partnership in history,” Smith said. “We need to preserve our independence while we grow this critical partnership for the benefit of Canadians and Americans for generations to come.”
After giving a miss to the President’s coronation, a delegation of Canadian premiers will visit Washington on February 12 to discuss the issue of trade.
In response to the tariffs, Ottawa has announced a $1.3 billion plan to strengthen border security, which includes creating special task forces, and deploying more helicopters and drones and other tools. Finance Minister and former Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc, who still maintains a role in responding to the tariffs, has said he will not join the leadership race to focus on his role, as has Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly.
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That voice. That power. That personality!
FROM BROADWAY TO NJPAC.
THAT VOICE. THAT POWER.
THAT PERSONALITY!
3X TONY AWARD WINNER
- By Mabel Pais
You guessed it!
PATTI LUPONE brings her latest show, ‘A Life In Notes’ to the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) on Sunday, February 2, 2025 at 3:00 p.m.
In her new concert, ‘Patti LuPone: A Life in Notes,’ the three-time Tony Award winner performs an array of songs that are touchstones and reflections on her life growing up in America. The songs range from her youth during the burgeoning rock ‘n’ roll scene of the 1950s, to coming of age in the politically and socially turbulent ’60s, to eventually achieving success with both career and family.
THEATER
She is a three-time Tony Award winner for her performances as Joanne in Marianne Elliott’s award-winning production of the Stephen Sondheim George Furth musical ‘Company,’ Madame Rose in the most recent Broadway revival of the Jule Styne-Stephen Sondheim-Arthur Laurents classic ‘Gypsy’ and the title role in the original Broadway production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s ‘Evita.’
Her previous New York stage credits include War Paint (Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle nominations); Shows for Days; The Seven Deadly Sins (New York City Ballet); Company (New York Philharmonic); Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle nominations); Sweeney Todd (Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle nominations); Noises Off; Master Class; Anything Goes (Tony nomination and Drama Desk Award); Oliver!; Accidental Death of an Anarchist; and The Robber Bridegroom (Tony and Drama Desk nominations). Ms. LuPone has also enjoyed a long association with David Mamet, starring on Broadway in productions of his plays The Anarchist, The Old Neighborhood, and The Water Engine; off-Broadway productions of Edmond and The Woods; as well as his films Heist and State and Main.
In London, she starred on the West End in Company (Olivier Award and WhatsOnStage awards); Master Class; and created the role of Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard (Olivier nomination). She was the first American artist to win an Olivier Award for her performances in The Acting Company’s production of The Cradle Will Rock and as Fantine—a role she also created—in the Royal Shakespeare Company and subsequent West End world premiere production of Les Misérables.
Ms. LuPone made her debut with the LA Opera in Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny before returning to appear in the company’s production of The Ghost of Versailles. Her other operatic credits include Jake Heggie’s To Hell and Back for San Francisco’s Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra and title role in Regina at the Kennedy Center.
A graduate of the first class of the Drama Division of New York’s Juilliard School and a founding member of John Houseman’s ‘The Acting Company.’
FILM
Her roles in film are in Ari Aster’s ‘Beau is Afraid’ opposite Joaquin Phoenix; ‘The School for Good and Evil’ (Netflix); ‘Last Christmas;’ ‘The Comedian;’ ‘Union Square;’ ‘Parker;’ ‘City by the Sea;’ ‘Just Looking;’ ‘Summer of Sam;’ ‘The 24 Hour Woman;’ ‘Family Prayers;’ ‘Driving Miss Daisy;’ ‘Witness.’
TELEVISION/STREAMING
Patti LuPone (Photo Credit : njpac.org) On Television and Streaming platforms, she has appeared in ‘Hollywood’ (Netflix); ‘Pose;’ ‘Crazy Ex-Girlfriend;’ ‘Penny Dreadful’ (Critics Choice nomination); ‘Girls;’ ‘American Horror Story: Coven & NYC;’ ‘Law & Order;’ ‘SVU;’ ‘Glee;’ ‘30 Rock;’ PBS Great Performances: ‘The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny’ (Grammy Award for the broadcast’s recording); ‘Ugly Betty;’ ‘Will & Grace’ (as herself); PBS Great Performances’ ‘Candide;’ ‘Oz;’ the TNT film ‘Monday Night Mayhem;’ PBS’ Evening At The Pops’ with John Williams and ‘Yo Yo Ma;’ ‘Falcone;’ ‘Bonanno: A Godfather’s Story;’ ‘Frasier’ (1998 Emmy nomination); ‘Law & Order;’ ‘An Evening with Patti LuPone’ (PBS), the NBC movie ‘Her Last Chance,’ Showtime’s ‘The Song Spinner’ (Daytime Emmy nomination, Best Actress); ‘The Water Engine;’ ‘L.B.J.;’ AMC’s Remember ‘WENN;’ and ABC’s ‘Life Goes On.’
RECORDINGS
Recordings include ‘A Life in Notes,’ ‘Don’t Monkey with Broadway,’ ‘Far Away Places,’ ‘Patti LuPone at Les Mouches,’ ‘The Lady with the Torch,’ and many original cast recordings including, most recently: the West End production of Company, ‘War Paint,’ ‘Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown,’ ‘Gypsy,’ and ‘Sweeney Todd’ (both the 2006 Broadway revival cast recording and 2000 live performance recording on NY Philharmonic’s Special Editions Label).
AUTHOR
She is the author of the NY Times best-selling memoir ‘Patti LuPone: A Memoir.’
TICKETS
To experience Patti Lupone live at NJPAC, visit njpac.org or the NJPAC Box Office or call 888.GO.NJPAC (888.466.5722).
The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC),
JPAC located in downtown Newark, N.J., is America’s most diverse performing arts center, and the artistic, cultural, educational and civic center of New Jersey – where great performances and events enhance and transform lives every day. NJPAC brings diverse communities together, providing access to all and showcasing the state’s and the world’s best artists while acting as a leading catalyst in the revitalization of its home city. Through its extensive Arts Education programs, which have reached almost 2 million children, NJPAC is shaping the next generation of artists and arts enthusiasts. NJPAC has attracted more than 10 million visitors since opening its doors in 1997, and nurtures meaningful and lasting relationships with each of its constituents.
Follow NJPAC Online:
Website: njpac.org
Twitter: @NJPAC
Instagram: @NJPAC
Hashtag: #NJPAC
Facebook: facebook.com/NJPAC
YouTube: NJPACtv
Follow NJPAC’s Standing in Solidarity Series Online:
Website: njpac.org/takeastand
Hashtag: #NJPACTakeAStand
Youtube: Standing in Solidarity playlist
(Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Spirituality, Cuisine, Health & Wellness, Business, and Education.)
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SUNDANCE BRINGS US ITS FORTY FIRST EDITION
- By Mabel Pais,
Featuring
Actor HIMESH PATEL in ‘BUBBLE AND SQUEAK’
Director/Co-Producer GEETA GANDBHIR’s ‘THE PERFECT NEIGHBOR’
Co-Producer SIMRAN SINGH’s ‘SELENA Y LOS DINOS’
Director/Screenwriter ROHAN PARASHURAM KANAWADE’s ‘SABAR BONDA’ (Cactus Pears) with Producers NEERAJ CHURI, MOHAMED KHAKI, KAUSHIK RAY, HAREESH REDDYPALLI, NAREN CHANDAVARKAR, SIDHARTH MEER
with Actors BHUSHAAN MANOJ, SURAAJ SUMAN, JAYSHRI JAGTAP
And many more
The SUNDANCE INSTITUTE has the list of 87 feature films and six episodic projects selected for the 2025 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL presenting its 41st year a revealing lineup of bold independent storytelling. The Festival (festival.sundance.org) will take place from January 23–February 2, 2025, in person in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah, with all of the competition films and more available online from January 30–February 2, 2025, for audiences across the country.
Single Film Tickets (festival.sundance.org/tickets/in-person) for in-person and online screenings are on sale from January 16 at 10 a.m. MT. Members (sundance.org/support) have access to a Single Film Ticket pre-sale, and limited quantities of passes and packages remain on sale (sundance.org/support). Visit the Sundance Film Festival site for more information @ festival.sundance.org.
The 2025 Festival will commence on Thursday, January 23, with premieres in Park City every day through the end of Tuesday, January 28. Additional showings will take place in Park City and Salt Lake City throughout the Festival until Sunday, February 2. Over 11 days, world debuts of projects across program categories will highlight fresh voices, entertaining stories, and groundbreaking works.
Beginning January 30, more than half the feature program will be available online for audiences nationwide to watch from home festival.sundance.org. The curated online program will include all competition titles (U.S. Dramatic, U.S. Documentary, World Cinema Dramatic, World Cinema Documentary, and NEXT presented by Adobe), as well as additional selections from the feature, episodic, and Short Film Program presented by Vimeo.
The film lineup includes 87 feature-length films representing 33 countries and territories. The 2025 program is composed of 36 of 87 (41%) feature film directors who are first-time feature filmmakers. Ten of the feature films and projects selected were supported by Sundance Institute in development through direct granting or residency labs. This year the film and episodic slate includes 89 (or 96%) world premieres.
GALA AND HONOREES
The annual fundraising gala, Celebrating Sundance Institute (sundance.org/blogs/michelle-satter-to-be-honored-at-2025-sundance-film-festival-gala-celebrating-sundance-institute-presented-by-google-tv) presented by Google TV and honoring artists and art supporters, will take place on Friday, January 24, at the Grand Hyatt Deer Valley in Utah. The Sundance Film Festival Awards ceremony will be held on Friday, January 31, in Park City. In addition to the feature film and episodic lineup, the 2025 Festival will offer short film programs, compelling conversations and talks, and special events. Festival updates will be available throughout January.
The winner of the 2025 Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize, an annual juried award granted to an artist with the most outstanding depiction of science and technology in a feature-length film. The prize has gone to ‘SALLY,’ screening in the Premieres category.
The 2025 Sundance Film Festival program was curated from 15,775 submissions from 156 countries or territories, including 4,138 feature-length films. Of these feature film submissions, 1,591 were from the U.S. and 2,547 were international. The six episodic projects were selected from 484 submissions. Director demographics are available in an editor’s note below.
For the complete Film & Event lineup, visit festival.sundance.org
(Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Spirituality, Cuisine, Health & Wellness, Business, and Education.)
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Los Angeles wildfires: Death toll rises to 24, winds may fuel blaze
LOS ANGELES (TIP): The wind-fed wildfires have killed at least 24 people and swept through 40,000 acres in the Greater Los Angeles area, destroying entire communities and more than 12,300 structures. Evacuation orders for the largest blaze, the Palisades Fire, expanded. It is 14% contained and threatens Brentwood, Encino and Westwood.
Aircraft dropped water and fire retardant on steep hills to stem the eastward spread of the Palisades wildfire in Los Angeles on Saturday as on-the-ground firefighting intensified amid warnings of wind gusts of up to 70 mph (110 kph) that could make matters worse.
Over the past 24 hours, the Palisades Fire spread over an additional 1,000 acres (400 hectares), consuming more homes, officials reported. Six simultaneous blazes that have ripped across Los Angeles County neighborhoods since Tuesday have killed at least 16 people as of late Saturday, the Washington Post and other media reported, citing the Los Angeles County medical examiner’s office. Reuters could not immediately reach the coroner.
The blazes have damaged or destroyed 12,000 structures, fire officials said. At least 13 people are estimated to be missing. The death toll is expected to mount when firefighters are able to conduct house-to-house searches.
Cal Fire official Todd Hopkins told a press conference that while 11% of the Palisades Fire was now contained, it has burned over 22,000 acres. Hopkins said the Palisades Fire had spread into the Mandeville Canyon neighborhood and threatened to jump into Brentwood, an upscale neighborhood where celebrities live and play, and the San Fernando Valley. It also inched towards the north-south 405 freeway.
The National Weather Service warned of worsening Santa Ana winds that it predicted would pick up Saturday night into Sunday morning in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, and again on late Monday through Tuesday morning, bringing sustained winds up to 30 mph and wind gusts up to 70 mph.
“We’re in a continued period of critical fire weather through Wednesday,” said NWS meteorologist Rose Schoenfeld.
Conditions were expected to moderate by Thursday. Evacuation orders throughout the Los Angeles area now cover 153,000 residents, putting 57,000 structures at risk. Another 166,000 residents have been warned that they may have to evacuate, said Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna.
But significant progress was reported in bringing electrical power back to Los Angeles neighborhoods. Southern California Edison CEO Steven Powell told reporters there are now about 50,000 customers without power, “down from over half a million just a couple days ago.”
Powell said there was no evidence that any of Edison’s equipment caused the Hurst fire but that the investigation was continuing. As state and local officials grappled with the worst cluster of fires in Los Angeles history, President Joe Biden spoke by phone with some of them to get an update on their efforts. He was also briefed by senior aides on federal resources that were being dispatched.
Biden’s major disaster declaration unlocked federal assistance for those affected by the wildfires, clearing the way for FEMA to provide support. Federal Emergency Management Agency officials were at the Pasadena Convention Center helping residents navigate FEMA aid applications.
Support can range from funding for home repairs to money to replace lost food or medication, said FEMA spokesperson Michael Hart, adding that assistance can be provided within days.
Los Angeles Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger told reporters she had invited President-elect Donald Trump to visit the county to get a first-hand look at the destruction.
Luna said the sheriff’s office has dispatched 40 search and rescue team workers to work jointly with other agencies, including the use of cadaver dogs to search for remains of victims and help reunite separated families.
“LA County had another night of unimaginable terror and heartbreak,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath. The fierce Santa Ana winds that fanned the infernos eased on Friday night. But the Palisades Fire on the city’s western edge was heading in a new direction as winds came off the Pacific Ocean.
The fire has razed whole neighborhoods, leaving the smoldering ruins of what had been people’s homes and possessions.
Before the latest flare-up, firefighters had reported progress in subduing the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire in the foothills east of the metropolis after it burned out of control for days.
In Altadena, official Don Fregulia said managing the Eaton Fire and its impact will be a “huge, herculean task” that he said will take “many weeks of work.”
The two big fires combined have consumed over 36,000 acres (14,500 hectares), or 56 square miles (145 square km) – 2-1/2 times the land area of Manhattan. Seven neighboring states, the federal government and Canada and Mexico have rushed aid and firefighters to California, bolstering aerial teams dropping water and fire retardant on the flaming hills and crews on the ground attacking fire lines with hand tools and hoses. Officials have declared a public health emergency due to the thick, toxic smoke.
HOMES REDUCED TO ASH
Pacific Palisades residents who ventured back to their devastated neighborhoods on Friday were shocked to find brick chimneys looming over charred waste and burnt-out vehicles as acrid smoke lingered in the air.
“This was a house that was loved,” Kelly Foster, 44, said while combing through the rubble where her house once stood. Foster’s 16-year-old daughter, Ada, said she tried to get inside but “I just became sick. I just couldn’t even… Yeah, it’s hard.”
In Rick McGeagh’s Palisades neighborhood, only six of 60 homes survived, and all that remained standing at his ranch house was a statue of the Virgin Mary.
“Everything else is ash and rubble,” said McGeagh, 61, a commercial real estate broker who, along with his wife, raised three children at their home.
On Friday morning, hundreds of people streamed into a parking lot near the Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena for donated clothing, diapers and bottled water.
Denise Doss, 63, said she was anxious to return to her destroyed home in Altadena to see if anything was salvageable, but officials stopped her due to safety concerns.
“At least to say goodbye until we can rebuild. I will let God lead me,” Doss said.
BILLIONS IN LOSSES
Many Altadena residents said they were worried government resources would go to wealthier areas and that insurers might short-change those who cannot afford to contest denials of fire claims.
Beyond those who lost their homes, tens of thousands remained without power, and millions of people were exposed to poorer air quality, as the fires lofted traces of metals, plastics and other synthetic materials.
Private forecaster AccuWeather estimated the damage and economic loss at $135 billion to $150 billion, portending an arduous recovery and soaring homeowners’ insurance costs.
California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara called on insurers on Friday to suspend pending non-renewals and cancellations that homeowners received before the fires began and to extend the grace period for payments.
President Joe Biden has declared the fires a major disaster and said the US government would reimburse 100% of the recovery for the next six months.
Law enforcement officials were warning residents to adhere to curfews, amid arrests with charges of burglary, looting and the possession of concealed firearms.
“You go out there and you violate this curfew, you are going to spend time in jail,” Luna warned.
(Source: Reuters) -
Anita Anand and Melanie Joly say they are not in the federal Liberal leadership race
By Prabhjot Singh Transport Minister Anita Anand – have opted out of the federal Liberal leadership race, the election process of which was formally made public last week. Of the four senior women members of the Liberal caucus, only two—former Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland and leader of the House Karina Gould—initially tipped as strong contenders are still considered in the running after both Anita Anand and Melanie Joly clarified that they are not in contention for the Prime Ministerial post. Another woman candidate in the running is the former Premier of British Columbia, Christie Clark. After Justin Trudeau announced his decision to step down as leader of the ruling Liberal Party, the Liberal Party has now set in motion the process to choose a replacement for him. The new leader would be named on March 9.
Chandra Arya, MP from Nepean, was the first to declare his candidature for the top political post even before the details of the election process were made public.
The new election procedure shows many changes from the process when the last election process to name the party leader was held in 2013. After a frenzy of formal and informal meetings last week, the Liberal Party’s national council decided to complete the process by March 9, ahead of March 24, the date on which the House of Commons, now prorogued, would resume its sitting.
In the election programme announced, the party has increased the entry fee for potential candidates from $ 75,000 it had set in 2013 to $350,000 — a significant jump. Candidates will have to declare their intention to run and pay the entry fee by January 23. Party followers can register to vote in the leadership race until January 27.
The party has also formalized the eligibility criteria for who can vote in the leadership contest. Canadian citizens and permanent residents, above the age of 14 shall be eligible to vote, contrary to the eligibility criteria for the general elections where the voting age is 18. In Canada, parties can set their age restrictions. The Conservatives allowed people 16 years or older to vote during their last leadership contest in 2022.
Previously, non-Canadian residents were allowed to vote in Liberal Party riding nomination and leadership contests. This was called a “gateway” for foreign interference, an issue that dominated the proceedings of the current session that was adjourned for holiday break on January 18. A growing number of Liberal MPs have urged the party executives to heed those warnings.
A number of cabinet insiders — including Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne, Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson and Employment Minister Steven MacKinnon — have said they are considering running for the top job, but said they want to see the rules first.
Former central banker Mark Carney has also said he is interested. Former finance minister Chrystia Freeland, former B.C. premier Christy Clark and House Leader Karina Gould are said to be gathering supporters, too.
Besides Chandra Arya, a former Montreal MP, Frank Baylis, is also in the running.
Whoever is chosen to take over for Trudeau, will have a tight timeline before the House of Commons returns. The possibility of the new Prime Minister running into a no-confidence motion immediately after the House resumes its sitting looks imminent as two of the main parties, including the official Opposition party, the Conservatives and the New Democrats, who had been bailing out the Trudeau government throughout, have declared the intent to bring down the government at the first possible opportunity.
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Tom Suozzi, Laura Gillen among Democrats open to deportation of criminal immigrants
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): In 2007, then-Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi barred federal immigration agents from the county after their raids seeking gang members here illegally — conducted without local police — also barged into homes of innocent U.S. citizens.
As President-elect Donald Trump calls for mass deportations of criminals without legal U.S. immigration status, now-U. S. Rep. Suozzi (D-Glen Cove) has offered support for those raids — but also advice.
“It’s really important that this is coordinated at the local level,” Suozzi told Newsday. “I think that corrections, jails, maybe even probation and parole should play a very heavy role in coordinating with the federal government.”
Just days before Trump’s Jan. 20 inauguration, many Democrats last week backed a Republican bill that would expand the required deportation of people living in the country illegally who are accused of lesser theft crimes like shoplifting, and would give states the right to sue the Homeland Security secretary for immigration enforcement failures.
WHAT NEWSDAY FOUND
Over the past year, Democrats have backed tougher border and immigration policies promoted by U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi of Glen Cove, who won a special election in February after talking about the need for a secure border.
Just days before President-elect Donald Trump’s Jan. 20 inauguration, many Democrats last week backed a Republican bill that would expand the required deportation of migrants accused of lesser theft crimes like shoplifting. Trump has said that after his inauguration he will declare a national emergency and issue executive orders to shut down the border and begin deportations.
Suozzi and first-term Rep. Laura Gillen (D-Rockville Centre) joined 46 other House Democrats — as well as Long Island Republican Reps. Andrew Garbarino of Bayport and Nick LaLota of Amityville — in voting for the Laken Riley Act, and 32 Senate Democrats voted with Republicans to take that bill up for debate.
‘Get the criminals out’
Trump has said that after his inauguration he will declare a national emergency and issue executive orders to shut down the border and begin deportations. At a rally at Madison Square Garden in the closing days of the presidential race, he declared, “On Day One, I will launch the largest deportation program in American history to get the criminals out.”
But he has not said exactly what those orders will entail, other than an initial focus on public safety and national security threats. Republicans successfully made a crackdown on the flow of noncitizens across the border a winning political issue for Trump and Republicans in Congress. Garbarino and LaLota, like most Republicans, declined to discuss Trump’s deportation plans.
Suozzi and Gillen both told Newsday last month that they back efforts to remove criminal noncitizens, but have concerns about how it will happen.
Over the past year, Democrats have backed tougher border and immigration policies promoted by Suozzi, who won a special election in February after talking about the need for a secure border and tough immigration enforcement while treating migrants humanely.
“Democrats have consistently supported robust border security and the enforcement of our laws — including immigration enforcement,” said Debu Gandhi, senior director at the Center for American Progress Action Fund, a Democratic-linked advocacy group.
“We keep on hearing over and over again that their focus is going to be on deporting criminals first, right?” Suozzi said. “And I’m 100% supportive of that, OK? And I will work with the administration to accomplish that and to work on keeping our community safe.”
Need for training
But Suozzi’s experience with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids nearly two decades ago shapes his advice to the incoming Trump administration.
“I’ve been in government long enough to know that government doesn’t always do things well. Sometimes they make mistakes,” Suozzi told Newsday recently in an interview. “If untrained federal officials come knock down the door of a house where a criminal used to live and now a family that has nothing to do with criminality is living there, well, that’s going to hurt their reputation tremendously,” he said.
He urged proper training of new immigration agents and close coordination between them and local law enforcement to make sure that the deportation raids hit the right targets.
Gillen also said she supports tougher enforcement.
“We need to reform our immigration system. We need to reform our asylum system. We need to secure our border,” Gillen said. “We need to make sure that people who come here illegally and commit crimes are not permitted to stay here.”
But she said she also is concerned about her constituents who are here on temporary protected status, known as TPS — many of them Haitians, whose TPS status ends in 2026.
“We have a large Haitian community in my district,” she said. “The situation in Haiti is extraordinarily dangerous and violent. And I want to make sure that the people who have come here lawfully are able to stay here.”
(Source: Newsday)