NEW YORK (TIP): The Venezuelan regime, now led by interim President Delcy Rodriguez following the capture of Nicolas Maduro, issued a decree ordering police to “immediately begin the national search and capture of everyone involved in the promotion or support for the armed attack” by the Trump administration.
Reuters noted that the decree has been in effect since Saturday but was published in full on Monday.
The decree comes even as Rodriguez called on the U.S. to “work jointly on a cooperation agenda” and appealed for peace and dialogue after assuming the role following the capture of Maduro.
In a message published Sunday, January 4, on her official social media channels, Rodríguez said Venezuela’s priority was to pursue “balanced and respectful international relations” with the United States and other countries in the region, based on “sovereign equality and non-interference.” She said the government is prepared to collaborate with Washington on an agenda “oriented toward shared development, within the framework of international law.”
“President Donald Trump: our peoples and our region deserve peace and dialogue, not war,” Rodríguez wrote, adding that Venezuela “has the right to peace, development, sovereignty and a future.” She described peace as essential not only for Venezuela but for regional and global stability.
Rodríguez’s statement came a day after Venezuela’s Supreme Court ordered her to assume the presidency on an interim basis following the aforementioned operation that captured not only Maduro but his wife, Cilia Flores, and included airstrikes in Caracas and nearby states.
Her call for cooperation also followed sharp warnings from Washington earlier on Sunday. Trump said in an interview with The Atlantic that Rodríguez would “pay a very high price, probably higher than Maduro,” if she failed to act in line with U.S. expectations. He later said she was “willing to do what we consider necessary,” but stressed that U.S. pressure would continue if American interests were not respected.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, on his end, has said the administration will judge Rodriguez based on her actions.
The administration has so far not propped up opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, with The Washington Post claiming that it is because she accepted the Nobel Peace Prize, which Trump has long wanted for himself.
One person close to the White House told The Washington Post that Machado’s acceptance of the award was the “ultimate sin” for Trump. “If she had turned it down and said, ‘I can’t accept it because it’s Donald Trump’s,’ she’d be the president of Venezuela today,” the person added.
Hundreds of people protesting the shooting of Renee Good march in freezing rain at night down one of Minneapolis’ major thoroughfares
MINNEAPOLIS (TIP): Hundreds of people protesting the shooting of Renee Good marched in freezing rain at night down one of Minneapolis’ major thoroughfares, chanting “ICE out now” and holding signs saying, “killer ICE off our streets”, reports AP.
Protesters earlier vented their outrage outside a federal facility that is serving as a hub for the administration’s latest immigration crackdown on a major city.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, President Donald Trump and others in his administration have repeatedly characterized the Minneapolis shooting as an act of self-defense and cast Good as a villain, suggesting she used her vehicle as a weapon to attack the officer who shot her.
Vice President JD Vance said the shooting was justified and Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, was a “victim of left-wing ideology.”
“I can believe that her death is a tragedy while also recognizing that it is a tragedy of her own making,” Vance said, noting that the officer who killed her was injured while making an arrest last June.
But state and local officials and protesters rejected that characterization, with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey saying video recordings show the self-defense argument is “garbage.”
The shooting happened on the second day of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown on the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, which Homeland Security said is the biggest immigration enforcement operation ever.
More than 2,000 officers are taking part, and Noem said they have made more than 1,500 arrests.
It provoked an immediate response in the city where police killed George Floyd in 2020, with hundreds of people turning up to the scene to vent their outrage at the ICE officers and the school district cancelling classes for the rest of the week as a precaution.
Good’s death — at least the fifth tied to immigration sweeps since Trump took office — has resonated far beyond Minneapolis, as protests took place or were expected this week in many large US cities.
“We should be horrified,” protester Shanta Hejmadi said. “We should be saddened that our government is waging war on our citizens.”
Protesters blocked the street where Good was shot with makeshift barricades constructed out of garbage cans, Christmas trees and canopies. People gave out coffee and water, while fires burned in metal drums to keep visitors warm.
Who will investigate?
The Minnesota agency that investigates officer-involved shootings said Thursday that it was informed that the FBI and US Justice Department would not work with it, effectively ending any role for the state to determine if crimes were committed. Noem said the state had no jurisdiction.
“Without complete access to the evidence, witnesses and information collected, we cannot meet the investigative standards that Minnesota law and the public demands,” said Drew Evans, head of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
Gov. Tim Walz demanded that the state be allowed to take part, repeatedly emphasizing that it would be “very difficult for Minnesotans” to accept that an investigation excluding the state could be fair.
Noem, he said, was “judge, jury and basically executioner” during her public comments.
Frey, the mayor, told The Associated Press: “We want to make sure that there is a check on this administration to ensure that this investigation is done for justice, not for the sake of a cover-up.”
Deadly encounter seen from multiple angles
Several bystanders captured video of Good’s killing, which happened in a neighborhood south of downtown.
The recordings show an officer approaching an SUV stopped across the middle of the road, demanding the driver open the door and grabbing the handle.
The Honda Pilot begins to pull forward, and a different ICE officer standing in front of it pulls his weapon and immediately fires at least two shots at close range, jumping back as the vehicle moves toward him.
It is not clear from the videos if the vehicle makes contact with the officer, and there is no indication of whether the woman had interactions with agents earlier. After the shooting, the SUV speeds into two cars parked on a curb before crashing to a stop.
Officer identified in records
The federal agent who fatally shot Good is an Iraq War veteran who has served for almost two decades in the Border Patrol and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to records obtained by The Associated Press.
Noem has not publicly named him, but a Homeland Security spokesperson said her description of his injuries last summer refers to an incident in Bloomington, Minnesota, in which court documents identify him as Jonathan Ross.
Ross got his arm stuck in the window of a vehicle of a driver who was fleeing arrest on an immigration violation. He was dragged roughly 100 yards (90 meters) before he was knocked free, records show.
He fired his Taser, but the prongs did not incapacitate the driver, according to prosecutors. Ross was transported to a hospital. A jury found the driver guilty of assaulting a federal officer with a dangerous weapon.
Attempts to reach Ross, 43, at phone numbers and email addresses associated with him were not successful.
DHS assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin also did not confirm his identity but said the officer involved in the shooting was selected for ICE’s special response team, which includes a 30-hour tryout and additional training.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP)- The House passed a bill on Thursday, January 8, to extend the Affordable Care Act enhanced subsidies for three years by a vote of 230-196 with 17 Republicans voting with Democrats and defying GOP leaders, Allison Pecorin of ABC News reported.
A tangible path forward that sends legislation through the Senate to the Resolute Desk to address the expired subsidies remains in question.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Thursday, January 8, that there’s “no appetite” for an extension in the upper chamber and pointed instead to ongoing bipartisan talks between senators and House members.
“We’ve had that vote, as you know, already,” Thune said. “But we’ll see what happens from the working group, and if they can come up with something that has reforms. And we’ll go from there.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries expressed pride in the “bipartisan coalition” created ahead of Thursday’s vote on a three-year extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies after nine Republicans crossed the aisle Wednesday night to set up passage in the House.
“I hope today there will be more Republicans joining this leader,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, gesturing towards Jeffries at a news conference Thursday.
Jeffries called the vote “an opportunity to take a meaningful step forward to lower the high cost of living for everyday Americans, particularly as it relates to health care, but it’s a battle that we will continue to wage on behalf of the American people.”
9 Republicans vote with Democrats to set up House vote on 3-year extension of ACA subsidies
Wednesday’s procedural vote passed by a 221-205 margin with nine Republicans voting with Democrats to pass it.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images – PHOTO: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and US House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries hold a press conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, January 8, 2026.
The subsidies, which expired at the end of 2025, were enhanced during the COVID-19 pandemic to increase the amount of financial assistance to those who were already eligible and to expand eligibility to more people.
A bipartisan group of House members and senators met for about an hour over lunch Thursday to grapple over various health care provisions, telling reporters afterward that they’ve struck an agreement to address widespread fraud, such as phantom accounts.
“We’re trying to see if we can get to some agreement that’s going to help them, and the sooner we can do that, the better,” New Hampshire Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen told reporters as she left the meeting. “So there was agreement on addressing fraud.”
Shaheen did not divulge details of an impending deal but said the next step will be crafting bill text in the coming days.
Many conservatives want to add Hyde Amendment protections to ensure that an extension of the ACA tax credits won’t provide federal funds for abortion services, generating Democratic opposition to GOP proposals.
But several moderates, including Reps. Don Bacon and Dan Meuser, conceded that the ACA already includes Hyde protections, so there is an ongoing debate among appropriators on whether that’s sufficient cover for conservatives if an extension of the subsidies does not explicitly codify those protections.
Nevertheless, some Republicans believe a bipartisan deal is within reach.
“Things are still being hashed out. There’s always the details — the so-called devil’s in the details, or maybe the angel’s in the details,” Meuser said, adding lawmakers hope to conclude discussions “as soon as possible.”
“I mean, it’s certainly a sense of urgency, to say the least,” he said.
Lawmakers did not reveal whether they scheduled another meeting but signaled that bill text could be ready soon.
“They’re very close,” said GOP Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, adding that the bill mirrors the language of a bill that he and Lawler and Democratic Reps. Tom Suozzi and Jared Golden introduced.
Suozzi said it was “a very hopeful feeling when you participate in a meeting like this,” citing an even split of Democrats and Republicans at the meeting while emphasizing everyone’s commitment to “moving beyond this toxicity and trying to find some common ground.”
The Senate last month rejected a three-year extension of the subsidies when the measure fell short of the 60-vote threshold, though four Republicans — Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Josh Hawley of Missouri, and Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan of Alaska — all crossed the aisle in support of the measure.
An estimated 22 million of the 24 million ACA marketplace enrollees are currently receiving enhanced premium tax credits to lower their monthly premiums, and many are seeing their premiums soar in 2026.
Rod Lamkey/AP – PHOTO: Senate Majority Leader John Thune speaks during the Senate Republican policy luncheon news conference at the Capitol, Jan. 6, 2026, in Washington.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates the bill would increase the federal deficit by about $80.6 billion over the next decade.
If the measure is enacted, the number of people with health insurance would increase by 100,000 people in 2026, 3 million in 2027, 4 million in 2028 and 1.1 million in 2029, relative to current law, the CBO reported.
According to the CBO, the 4 million increase in 2028 would result from changes in several types of coverage: 6.2 million more people would be enrolled through ACA health insurance marketplaces; 400,000 million more people enrolled in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program; 500,000 fewer people would purchase nongroup coverage outside the marketplaces; and 2.1 million fewer people would have employment-based coverage.
Senate back to square one on health care after both bills fail
President Donald Trump has publicly expressed his opposition to extending the enhanced subsidies.
“I’d like not to be able to do it. I’d like to see us get right into this. I don’t know why we have to extend — this can be done rapidly if the Democrats would come along,” Trump said on Dec. 18 in the Oval Office.
After Speaker Mike Johnson resisted pressure to allow a vote on the subsidies late last year, a quartet of House Republicans — Fitzpatrick, Lawler, Bresnahan and Mackenzie — banded together before the holiday break and signed on to a Democratic discharge petition to force a vote on an ACA extension, much to the chagrin of GOP leaders.
Lutnick’s remarks come a few days after Trump said that Modi knew he was unhappy with India’s purchases of Russian oil and that Washington could raise tariffs on New Delhi ‘very quickly’
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has said the trade deal with India did not happen because Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not call US President Donald Trump.
In an interview with the ‘All-in Podcast’ on Thursday, January 8, Lutnick detailed how the India-US trade deal has not happened till now.
“I’ll tell you a story about India. I did the first deal with the UK, and we told the UK that they had to get it done by two Fridays from now. That the train was going to leave the station by two Fridays, because I have a lot of other countries doing things, and you know, if someone else is first, they’re first. President Trump does deals like a staircase,” Lutnick said.
“(The) first stair gets the best deal. You can’t get the best deal after the first guy,” he said.
Lutnick said Trump does things that way “because that way it incents you to come to the table”.
He recalled that after the UK deal, everyone asked Trump which country will be next and while the president talked about a variety of countries, “but he named India a couple of times publicly”.
“And we were talking (with) India, and we told India, ‘you have three Fridays’. Well, they have to get it done,” he said.
Lutnick said that while he would negotiate the contracts with the countries and set the whole deal up, “But let’s be clear, it’s his (Trump) deal. He is the closer. He does the deal. So I said ‘You got to have Modi, it’s all set up, you have to have Modi call the President. They (India) were uncomfortable doing it, so Modi didn’t call.”
Lutnick said that after that Friday, the US announced trade deals with Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam.
He added that Washington was negotiating with other countries and “assumed India was going to be done before them”.
“I have negotiated them at a higher rate. So now the problem is the deals came out at a higher rate. And then India calls back and says, ‘Oh, okay, we are ready’. I said, ‘ready for what, it was like three weeks later’,” he said.
“I go, ‘Are you ready for the train that left the station three weeks ago?’ So what happened is they just…there’s sometimes there’s that seesaw, and people are just on the wrong side of the seesaw,” the trade secretary said.
“So what happened is India just was on the wrong side of the seesaw, and it was just they couldn’t get it done,” Lutnick said, imitating a seesaw with his hands.
“And so what happened is all these other countries kept doing deals, and they’re (India) just further in the back of the line,” he said. Lutnick said he wanted the trade deal with India to happen “in between the UK and Vietnam because that’s what I negotiate”.
“And they remember, and I remember, and they say, ‘but you agreed’. And I said, ‘then, not now, then’. So that’s the problem. India will work it out, but there’s a lot of countries and they each have their own deep internal politics, and to get something approved by their parliament… these are deeply complex things,” he added.
Lutnick’s remarks came a few days after Trump said that Modi knew he was unhappy with India’s purchases of Russian oil and that Washington could raise tariffs on New Delhi “very quickly”.
The threat by the US president came at a time when the two countries were negotiating a bilateral trade agreement.
So far, six rounds of negotiations have been held. The pact includes a framework deal to resolve the 50 per cent tariffs on Indian goods entering the US.
Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban are divorced and legally single. A Nashville, Tennessee, judge on Tuesday issued an order dissolving the 19-year marriage of the Oscar-winning actor and the Grammy-winning country singer.
The judge said in a court filing that the couple’s settlements on splitting assets and child custody are sufficient and granted them the divorce. Kidman filed for divorce in September. The superstar split was a surprise to most of the public, but it had clearly been in the works for a while. All the legal issues involving assets and custody had been settled and signed the day of her filing.
Tennessee requires a 90-day waiting period for couples with minor children before a divorce can take effect.
Kidman and Urban, both 58, have two teenage daughters together. Their divorce filing said they had “marital difficulties and irreconcilable differences.”
The plan they signed states that Kidman would be the primary residential parent to the children. It suggested they would remain living in Nashville, as they have all their lives. The filing states that neither parent would need child or spousal support and lays out a roughly equal division of their joint assets. Two of the biggest stars to come out of Australia in recent decades, Kidman and Urban met in Los Angeles in 2005 and were married in Sydney the following year. They were red carpet fixtures throughout their two-decade relationship, with Urban joining his wife at the Oscars and Kidman attending music events like the Academy of Country Music Awards. The couple had publicly but lovingly described some marital difficulties, yet there were still few outward signs the divorce was coming.
The marriage was the first for Urban and the second for Kidman, who was married to Tom Cruise from 1990 to 2001. Kidman also has two older children with Cruise.
It is confirmed. Actor Sydney Sweeney is officially stepping back into The Housemaid universe, reuniting with director Paul Feig for a sequel that has now been put into motion following the film’s unexpected box office surge. According to a report in Deadline, the studio has greenlit The Housemaid’s Secret, the follow-up to the psychological thriller that has rapidly emerged as one of the year’s standout theatrical performers.
The sequel draws from the second novel in Freida McFadden’s popular trilogy and has been quietly taking shape for months. Production is expected to begin later this year, with Sydney returning as Millie — the enigmatic young woman whose attempt at starting over led her into a deeply unsettling household. Meanwhile, Paul will once again direct, while Michele Morrone is set to reprise his role as Enzo, the Winchesters’ groundskeeper and a crucial presence in Millie’s journey.
For the unversed, released earlier this year, The Housemaid proved to be a commercial win, earning $75.7 million domestically and $133 million worldwide against a $35 million budget, as reported by Variety. The R-rated thriller also generated strong word-of-mouth and online chatter, capped by an ending that teased Millie’s next chapter and featured Taylor Swift’s I Did Something Bad over the credits. “It’s clear from both the global box office and from the outpouring on social media that audiences have responded strongly — and audibly — to the totally unique and truly theatrical experience of The Housemaid and want to know what happens next,” said Adam Fogelson, chair of Lionsgate’s Motion Picture Group.
“We believed in these stories from the very beginning, and we are beyond excited to bring the next chapter of Millie’s story to life on-screen in collaboration with our outstanding creative partners Todd, Paul, Laura, Carly, Alex, and Sydney. The Housemaid’s Secret is another wildly thrilling book in Freida’s series that has captivated readers worldwide, and we look forward to translating it into a similarly rousing and riotous moviegoing experience,” he added. Paul also reflected on the film’s reception and the opportunity to continue the story. “It’s been thrilling to see audiences around the world fall in love with The Housemaid and the incredible work of our talented cast and crew. We’re lucky that Freida McFadden has already extended Millie’s journey on the page, and that we get to work with Rebecca Sonnenshine to bring this next story to audiences,” he said.
Forget Jack Sparrow, Priyanka Chopra is charting a far grittier course into the pirate genre. The actor is stepping into a brutal, blood-soaked world with The Bluff, and the first look at her as the fearsome Bloody Mary charging at her co-star Karl Urban teased no-holds-barred action.
On Jan 7, Priyanka as well as Prime Video released the first look into the upcoming project The Bluff. Priyanka shared the look on her Instagram handle with the caption, “Mother. Protector. Pirate. Meet Bloody Mary #TheBluff February. 25. 2026 Only on @primevideo.”
The first-look image from The Bluff freezes a ferocious showdown against a rugged seaside backdrop, capturing Priyanka mid-air as she lunges at Karl Urban with a weapon raised high. Clad in battle-worn pirate gear, Priyanka’s face is set in a fierce snarl. Karl is seen in a long dark coat, and has his sword lifted in an attempt to block the blow. In another striking image, Priyanka is smeared in blood and dirt, her hand clenched around a conch shell like a makeshift brass knuckle as she gets ready to attack her enemy.
Other stills capture the film’s gritty mood from Priyanka peering through a monocular scope to a frame of her drenched in blood, standing by a window with a gun clenched in her hand.
Actor Chitrangda Singh says she would love to step into the shoes of cinema legend Smita Patil if a biopic on the late actor is ever made. She admits it feels special, given how often she has been compared to Patil over the years.
Speaking during a recent interaction with India Today, Chitrangda revealed that she has often been told she resembles Smita Patil. Recalling a particularly striking incident, Chitrangda said Prateik Smita Patil once mistakenly posted her photograph on Mother’s Day, believing it to be Smita Patil’s picture.
Talking about doing a biopic, Chitrangda said, “I would love to play Smita ji on screen. If there was ever anyone I’ve been compared to repeatedly, it’s Smita Patil. I’ve been told this so many times, and even her son Pratik has said it to me. In fact, Pratik once accidentally posted my picture on Mother’s Day, thinking it was Smita ji. Someone sent it to me and said, ‘I don’t think this is Smita ji—this is you, right?’ And I said, ‘Yes, that’s my picture.’ It was shocking and surreal,” she said.
Smita Patil remains one of Indian cinema’s most revered actors and is still remembered for her powerful performances in films like Bhumika, Arth, Manthan, Chakra, and Nishant. The actor added that the moment made her reflect on the similarities people often point out between her and the late icon. “So yes, if I ever get the opportunity to play her, I think it would be incredible. When people point out the similarities now, I can see it too. Let’s see if it happens someday, we can talk about it,” Chitrangda added. She will next be seen in The Battle of Galwan, starring Salman Khan.
Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal welcomed their first child together, a baby boy, on Friday, November 7, 2025. Earlier today, they took to Instagram to share that they have named their firstborn Vihaan Kaushal.
The caption read, “Our Ray of Light. Vihaan Kaushal. Prayers are answered. Life is beautiful. Our world is changed in an instant. Gratitude beyond words.”
Vicky Kaushal played the role of Major Vihaan Singh Shergill in Aditya Dhar’s Uri: The Surgical Strike. The film which released on January 11, 2019, will be clocking 7 years this week.
Uri is one of the most significant films in Vicky Kaushal’s career where he played the lead role as an Indian Army Major in the Para (Special Forces).
Katrina, 43, and Vicky Kaushal, 37, announced their pregnancy in September. Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal got married in 2021 in the picturesque locale of Six Senses Fort Barwara in Rajasthan. It was an intimate wedding that only had the couple’s family and close friends in attendance.
While Katrina Kaif maintained a low profile throughout her pregnancy, Vicky Kaushal was often spotted attending social and film events.
In a candid chat with Yuvaa, Vicky Kaushal recently said how much he was looking forward to fatherhood. “Just being a dad. Really looking forward to it. I think it’s a huge blessing and exciting times. Almost there, so fingers crossed. Mujhe lag raha hai main ghar se hi nahi nikalne wala hoon,” he had said.
Previously, Vicky Kaushal’s younger brother and actor Sunny Kaushal said the whole family was very excited about welcoming the new member of the Kaushal family. “Sabhi ko badi khushi hai and nervousness bhi hai ki kya hoga aage jaake. (Everyone is happy and nervous also. We do not know what will happen ahead). Waiting for that day to come,” he told Instant Bollywood.
Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal announced their pregnancy by sharing an Instagram post on September 23. The couple posted a Polaroid-style photo where Vicky is seen holding Katrina’s baby bump. She was dressed casually in a white top and jeans.
On the work front, Katrina Kaif was last seen in the crime thriller Merry Christmas, and Vicky Kaushal was most recently seen in the period drama Chhaava, one of the highest-earning films of 2025. NDTV reported that Katrina Kaif will take a long maternity break. Sources revealed that she wishes to be a hands-on mother.
The release date for the upcoming horror comedy Bhooth Bangla, headlined by actor Akshay Kumar, has been revised. The announcement confirmed that the film will now arrive in theatres on May 15, 2026.
Balaji Motion Pictures shared the news on social media, writing, “Bangle se ek khabar aayi hai! (The news has come from the mansion)” and added, “The doors open on 15th May 2026 (sic).”
Earlier, the makers had shared that the film would release on April 2, 2026. However, it has now been confirmed that the film will arrive in theatres a month after that. Bhooth Bangla brings together Akshay and Tabu after a 25-year hiatus. The duo previously worked together on films like Hera Pheri and Tu Chor Main Sipahi. Their reunion, under the direction of Priyadarshan, has drawn attention due to the legacy of their past collaborations and the genre’s growing popularity.
The film’s production team recently shared an image from the Jaipur set, capturing Akshay welcoming Tabu with a warm embrace. The caption read, “Some things get better and iconic with time! @priyadarshan.official, @akshaykumar and @tabutiful are back in action after 25 years for #BhoothBangla in Jaipur (sic).” The reunion has been highlighted as one of the film’s notable aspects since its announcement.
The film also stars the late actor Asrani. In an exclusive chat with India Today, Priyadarshan reflected on their last days together on set. “He was in my last two films, ‘Bhooth Bangla’ and ‘Haiwaan’. He is playing a very big role in both films. I wrapped up ‘Bhoot Bangla’ earlier, and he was not working for a long time before that film. So he told me, ‘Nobody calls me. Thank you for calling me.’ These are also his last films, and we shot both over just six months. So we actually spent a lot of time together,” the director said.
The production of Bhooth Bangla is led by Shobha Kapoor and Ektaa R Kapoor’s Balaji Telefilms, in association with Akshay’s Cape of Good Films. Co-producers Faara Sheikh and Vedant Baali are also involved, and the film’s story is credited to Akash A Kaushik.
New York (TIP)- The US Department of State has highlighted a “mission-defining challenge” during External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s visit here in November amid the US government shutdown, saying it put in a “bold contingency plan” to ensure his protection and security.
An article dated December 30, 2025, by Supervisory Special Agent Gabriel Macias said that when thousands of commercial flights were grounded due to the US government shutdown last year, Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) special agents from the Dignitary Protection Division (DP), New York Field Office (NYFO), and Buffalo Resident Office (BFRO) faced a “mission-defining challenge.” Jaishankar, who was in Canada for the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on November 11-12, 2025, had then travelled to New York, where he held a bilateral meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the UN headquarters. “The successful execution of the mission ensured the foreign minister’s diplomatic agenda proceeded without disruption, advancing strategic US foreign policy interests fully aligned with the administration’s ‘America First’ policy priorities.
“It also reflected the ethos emphasised by incoming DS leadership: disciplined execution, mission focus, technical proficiency, and unwavering readiness in support of American diplomacy,” the article said. The article, released Thursday, said that during Jaishankar’s visit to New York, DSS needed to adapt quickly amid restrictions due to the government shutdown to ensure his timely arrival and “uphold the bureau’s core mission: protection.”
Given that flights were cancelled nationwide due to the shutdown but diplomatic meetings were imminent, “DSS crafted a bold contingency plan” that involved a seven-hour road journey, one that commenced when agents received Jaishankar at the Lewiston–Queenston Bridge in Niagara in upstate New York and executed a “416-mile interstate motorcade to Manhattan”.
The article said that to execute the contingency plan, the mission mobilised 27 agents, including three from DP, who drove to Buffalo and New York to join BFRO and NYFO teams for a “rare long-distance” motorcade movement. “From the first mile to the last, the detail showcased hallmark DSS tradecraft — adaptability, resilience, technical proficiency, and disciplined execution,” the article said.
It outlined that the journey began with BFRO agents coordinating with officials from the Permanent Mission of India to the UN, Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers who protected Jaishankar while he was in Canada, and US Customs and Border Protection personnel at the international bridge between the US and Canada to expedite a smooth transition at the border.
Agents “meticulously” planned routes through portions of upstate New York, “managed fatigue through structured driver rotations, and ensured seamless continuity of protection while maintaining the foreign minister’s comfort across the seven-hour journey.”
“Despite freezing temperatures, limited visibility, and shutdown-related constraints, DSS agents executed with calm professionalism and unwavering focus,” it said.It further said during the entire operation, a K9 “alerted on the foreign minister’s armoured vehicle. Agents quickly secured the area, coordinated with local explosive ordinance disposal technicians, and, after a thorough inspection, cleared the vehicle, which served as an example of the team’s poise and adherence to DSS standards under pressure.”
India’s economic growth is expected to remain resilient despite rising global uncertainty and trade tensions, even as expansion moderates from last year’s highs, according to a United Nations report released on Thursday, Jan 8.
The World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) 2026 projects India’s growth to ease from an estimated 7.4 per cent in 2025 to 6.6 per cent in 2026, supported by robust household consumption, sustained public investment and a more accommodative interest rate environment. Despite external headwinds, India is expected to continue anchoring South Asia’s performance, with the region remaining among the fastest-growing globally.
South Asia’s gross domestic product (GDP) is forecast to expand by 5.6 per cent in 2026 and 5.9 per cent in 2027, following an estimated 5.9 per cent growth in 2025. This sharply contrasts with the global outlook, where output growth is projected to slow to 2.7 per cent in 2026 from 2.8 per cent in 2025, well below the pre-pandemic average of 3.2 per cent. The UN noted that global growth in 2025 showed unexpected resilience despite sharp increases in US tariffs, supported by strong consumer spending and easing inflation. However, it warned that subdued investment and limited fiscal space across many economies could lock the world into a prolonged phase of slower growth.
Mumbai (TIP)- Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Jan 7, directed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to immediately withdraw from local alliances with the Congress and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) in two municipal councils, declaring such tie-ups “not acceptable.”
Reacting to reports of alliances forged ahead of the January 15 BMC council elections, Fadnavis said strict instructions had been issued to break the arrangements in Ambernath (Thane district) and Akot (Akola district).
“Alliance with Congress and AIMIM is not acceptable. It will have to be broken. Accordingly, directives have been issued. The matter will be looked into, and disciplinary action will be taken if anybody has violated orders. The BJP cannot accept an alliance with Congress or MIM. We have made it clear,” Fadnavis said.
Ambernath Alliance Sparks Controversy
In Ambernath, located about 60 km from Mumbai, the BJP had formed the Ambernath Vikas Aghadi in an effort to keep the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena out of power. The alliance included 14 BJP corporators, 12 from the Congress, four from the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and one Independent.
A letter announcing the formation of the front and naming Abhijeet Gulabrao Karanjule-Patil as group leader was submitted to the Thane district collector.
Although the BJP secured the municipal chairman’s post, the Shiv Sena emerged as the single largest party in the council with 27 seats. Both Chief Minister Fadnavis’s party colleague and state BJP chief Ravindra Chavan, as well as Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde, hail from Thane district. Political observers say the alliance was driven by a local power tussle aimed at retaining control of key posts.
BJP–AIMIM Tie-Up in Akot
In Vidarbha’s Akola district, the BJP formed another alliance, the Akot Vikas Manch, in the Akot municipal council. The front included the AIMIM, which won five seats—second only to the BJP in strength.
The alliance also brought together both factions of the Shiv Sena (Thackeray and Shinde), both factions of the NCP (Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar), and Bachchu Kadu’s Prahar Janshakti Party. The registration of the alliance was submitted to the Akola district collector on Tuesday, with BJP corporator Ravi Thakur appointed as the group leader.
Under the arrangement, all corporators from member parties were required to follow the group leader’s whip. The front currently commands the support of 25 out of 33 elected members, with municipal council president Maya Dhule acting as the 26th member.
The alliance was set to vote collectively in elections for the deputy president and co-opted members scheduled for January 13. Dhule had earlier defeated AIMIM candidate Firojabi Sikandar Rana by 5,271 votes in the council president’s election.
Meanwhile, six Congress corporators and two members from the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi are expected to sit in the opposition.
The Karnataka Cabinet on Thursday, Jan 8, unanimously resolved to reject the implementation of the recently enacted VB-G-RAM-G Act and legally challenge its validity, alleging that it is “against the spirit of the 73rd and 74th amendments to the Constitution”.
VB G Ram G Act, which guarantees 125 days of wage employment a year, up from 100 days of work provided under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), came into effect on December 21 after receiving the assent of the President following the passage of bill in both houses of Parliament days before. The new law introduces the cost-sharing structure to a 60:40 share between Centre and states.
New Delhi (TIP)- Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday, Jan 8, said counter- terror operations targeting terrorist infrastructure and terror financing must continue in a “mission mode”, asserting that all the resources will be made available to achieve the goal of “terror-free” Jammu and Kashmir at the earliest.
Chairing a high-level security review meeting on the Union Territory here, Shah directed all security agencies to remain alert and continue to work in synergy to ensure that the gains achieved after abrogation of Article 370 are sustained.
He assured that all the resources will be made available in this endeavour. The meeting was attended by J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, Director (IB) Tapan Kumar Deka, and the chief secretary and DGP of the UT.
Heads of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and other senior officers were also present in the meeting.
Appreciating the efforts of the security agencies for strengthening security scenario of the UT, Shah stated that “counter-terror operations targeting terrorist infrastructure and terror financing in a mission mode should be continued”.
He said under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government is committed to lasting peace in J&K and completely eliminating terrorism.
Reiterating the zero tolerance policy against terrorism, Shah said that due to sustained and coordinated efforts of the Modi government, the terror eco-system in J&K has been crippled, according to an official statement.
New Delhi (TIP)- The motion for the removal of Allahabad high court judge, justice Yashwant Varma, was never admitted in the Rajya Sabha on account of being “defective”, the Lok Sabha speaker’s office has told the Supreme Court, marking the latest twist surrounding the sensational case following the discovery of wads of cash in his official residence in Delhi last year.
The top court was examining the plea of justice Varma finding fault with the speaker’s decision to unilaterally proceed with the inquiry on August 12, 2025 when a similar motion was also in the works in the Rajya Sabha.
On December 16, the court had sought the response of both Houses of Parliament, being prima facie satisfied about the grounds of challenge raised in the petition.
The response filed by the speaker’s office said that soon after the motion was presented in the Rajya Sabha, a communication was sent to the Lok Sabha, claiming that the same was “defective” and was never admitted in the first place. Acting on this information, the LS speaker admitted the motion on August 11 and proceeded under section 3(2) of the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968 by constituting an inquiry committee headed by a Supreme Court judge.
“At the time when Chairman, Rajya Sabha intimated the House about the motion having been received, neither any scrutiny of motion was done nor any decision about admission of motion by Chairman was taken. No decision to admit the motion was taken by Rajya Sabha Chairman nor any order of admission is passed by him either while intimating the House or thereafter,” stated the response filed by Lok Sabha secretary general Utpal Kumar Singh on January 1.
On July 21, then vice-president Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned on health grounds, hours after he presided over the first day of the monsoon session in the Rajya Sabha. Earlier that day, he had announced that he had received notice of motion to constitute a committee for the removal of justice Varma, signed by more than 50 members — as is constitutionally required for such a motion.
At the time, HT had reported that all 63 MPs who signed the notice were from the Opposition parties and the National Democratic Alliance had no idea that such a notice was being prepared. It had also reported that Dhankhar’s move to kickstart the impeachment mechanism took the government, which wanted the process to go through the Lok Sabha, by surprise, and it was the trigger that prompted the abrupt resignation.
Following that, the Rajya Sabha secretary general presented the motion before the deputy chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh, along with a report stating that the same was found “defective in many scores”. The deputy chairman decided “not to admit” the motion on August 11, and the following day, the speaker admitted the motion presented by 146 members of the Lok Sabha, the response said.
Taking up the response, a bench of justices Dipankar Datta and Satish Chadra Sharma said, “Prima facie we are not with you (justice Varma) on the construction of proviso and on the power of the deputy chairman to deny admission of the motion.”
The court was responding to arguments by senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi appearing for the judge that the proviso to section 3(2) of the 1968 Act requires a joint committee to be formed in the event a motion is given in both Houses on the same day.
The court said, “We need to see the intention of the legislature in providing the proviso to section 3(2). If one House rejects and another admits and a committee is constituted, we have to read it that way. If both Houses admit, only then a joint committee is to be formed by speaker and chairman. But if one House rejects, where is the bar on the Lok Sabha to constitute a committee.” Source: HT
The Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) searches on Thursday at the offices of a political strategy firm in Kolkata turned into a pitched political battle with West Bengal’s chief minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee claiming it was an effort by the agency to glean intelligence on her party’s election strategy and candidates, and the Bharatiya Janata Party, the main opposition in the state, countering that Banerjee was shielding the corrupt and interfering in the lawful functioning of a federal agency. The matter has now reached the Calcutta high court which will hear it on Friday, Jan 8.
ED said its searches were linked to an investigation of an illegal coal mining racket in the state that found illegal transfers to I-PAC, the political consultancy advising the TMC. Bengal is scheduled to go to polls in April or May. The federal agency carried out searches at the office of I-PAC and the residence of its director Pratik Jain. But even as the searches were on, Banerjee stormed into Jain’s residence, and took away documents and a laptop, accusing ED of seizing her party’s internal documents and sensitive data relating to the 2026 assembly polls, including the candidate list. Countering this in a statement, the agency accused the TMC?chief of interfering in the ED’s action and taking away evidence.
In parallel developments, additional solicitor general Dhiraj Trivedi, for ED, brought the matter to the notice of the Calcutta high court, seeking its intervention while Jain’s family approached the same bench, accusing ED of exceeding its jurisdiction.
AVERY SUNSHINE, 2025 GRAMMY® winner will captivate audiences with her smooth, vibrant, radiating power and joyful vocal music at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center on January 16, 2026.
Join in the celebration of Avery Sunshine’s GRAMMY® win! She was honored with the award for Best Progressive R&B Album in 2025 for her latest project, ‘So Glad to Know You’ (SGTKY). The GRAMMY® awards will be presented on February 1, 2026.
Be enchanted by Avery’s incredible voice — smooth, vibrant, and filled with power and joy. Her original songs are inspired by ’90s R&B, gospel, jazz, and neo-soul, all infused with contemporary lyrics. When Avery Sunshine sings, everyone shines. Her sound is uplifting and vibrant, perfectly embodying her name — filled with sunshine. She brings people together through her captivating stage performances, frank and often humorous banter, and uplifting anthems about love and life.
Born Denise White in Chester, Pennsylvania, her musical roots are deeply embedded in the church. Together with her Grammy Award-winning creative partner, Dana “BigDane” Johnson, who is a singer, pianist, and composer, Avery has crafted an unforgettable sound.
Avery’s signature soulful R&B style has earned her accolades from legendary artists, including Aretha Franklin, who exclaimed, “I love Avery Sunshine!” She has also received praise from icons such as Patti LaBelle, Berry Gordy, and Boy George, who expressed on Twitter, “@averysunshine love this woman’s voice.” Most recognized for her #1 Billboard chart hit single “Call My Name” from her acclaimed sophomore album *The Sunroom*, Avery and Dana were honored with ASCAP’s Rhythm and Soul Song of the Year Award.
Among her numerous awards and nominations are nods for both the Soul Train Award and the BET Centric Award. Avery has achieved significant milestones in her career, including sold-out shows, a UK tour opening for the late B.B. King, a performance on The Jools Holland Show, and four top 20 Billboard hits in the Hot Adult R&B category. As an endorsed artist with the Yamaha Entertainment family, she was honored to perform multiple times for and alongside the late Aretha Franklin.
TICKETS
For tickets to witness the extraordinary voice of Avery Sunshine, visit NJPAC.org or the NJPAC Box Office or call 888. GO.NJPAC (888.466.5722).
PARTICIPATE IN THE FIRST EVER STAGE SPECTACULAR OF ‘BRAINS ON!’
By Mabel Pais
**BRAINS ON!’ YOUR BRAIN IS MAGIC!** is the brand-new stage spectacular of the wildly popular kids’ science podcast ‘Brains On!’ This will be presented at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) on January 17, 2026 at 3 PM.
Brains On! team. (Credit : njpac.org)
NJPAC is excited to welcome this hilarious, high-energy, science-themed show which transforms the stage into a mind-bending adventure through the human brain — perfect for curious kids, families, and anyone who loves to learn through laughter. Brains On!® is a science podcast for curious kids and adults from Brains On Universe.
Each week, a different kid co-host joins Molly Bloom to find answers to fascinating questions about the world sent in by listeners. Like, do dogs know they’re dogs? Or, why do feet stink? Plus, we have mystery sounds for you to guess, songs for you to dance to, and lots of facts — all checked by experts.
‘Brains On’ is hitting the road with a hilarious science-themed show that takes the audience on an adventure through our brains.
Molly Bloom, Marc Sanchez, and Sanden Totten will be there with magic tricks, dance moves, out-of-body experiences, mystery sounds, and even a game show!
All the while, kids (and their grown-ups) learn how our brains take a handful of signals from the eyes and ears and turn them into a vibrant picture of the world.
Join beloved hosts Molly Bloom, Marc Sanchez, and Sanden Totten as they bring the award-winning podcast to life with interactive fun, unforgettable characters, and jaw-dropping science surprises. Packed with magic tricks, dance moves, mystery sounds, out-of-body experiences, and even a full-on game show, this immersive performance turns complex scientific ideas into excitement, imagination, and pure joy.
Designed to entertain as much as it educates, ‘Your Brain Is Magic!’ encourages young audiences to explore how the brain works — from memory and perception to creativity and emotions — using humor, storytelling, and hands-on participation.
Tickets to see Brains ON are available at NJPAC.org or by visiting the NJPAC Box Office at 1 Center Street, Newark, New Jersey or calling 888. GO.NJPAC (888.466.5722).
LADINO DAY, around the world since 2013, has been celebrated to honor the Ladino, the Judeo-Spanish, community. January 11th marks New York’s 9th Annual Ladino Day hosted by the American Sephardi Federation (americansephardi.org). This will take place at the American Sephardi Federation – Center for Jewish History, 15 West 16th Street, New York, NY, 10011.
Ladino is a bridge to many cultures. A variety of Spanish, it has absorbed words from Hebrew, Turkish, Arabic, French, Greek, and Portuguese. The mother tongue of Jews in the Ottoman Empire for 500 years, Ladino became the home language of Sephardim worldwide. While the number of Ladino speakers has sharply declined, distinguished Ladino Day programs like that of the American Sephardic Federation celebrate and preserve a vibrant language and heritage. These programs are, as Aviya Kushner has written in the Forward, “Why Ladino Will Rise Again.”
Tu Ke Bivas: An Illustrated Talk by artist Becky Behar
A Panel of Movers and Shakers of Ladino, with Lily Henley, Yinnon Sanders, and Aaron Shapiro
Fortuna, Brazilian Star of Ladino Song
with Guest Artist Frank London on Trumpet, and Alex Parke on Clarinet, Shoko Nagai on Piano, Satoshi Takeishi on Percussion, and Brian Glassman on Bass
WHEN: Sunday, 11 January 2:00-5:00PM EST
WHERE: In-Person @ the Center for Jewish History
15 W 16th Street, New York City
TICKETS
Tickets, on a 3-tiered basis, are available:
$26 General Admission
(Admission to Ladino Day)
$36 Friend of NY Ladino Day
(Includes a copy of the book: The Historic Synagogues of Turkey, and admission to Ladino Day)
$56 VIP Friend of NY Ladino Day
(Includes VIP reception prior to the program, a copy of the book: The
Historic Synagogues of Turkey, and VIP seating at Ladino Day)
American Sephardi Federation
The American Sephardi Federation preserves and promotes the history, traditions, and rich mosaic culture of Greater Sephardic communities as an integral part of the Jewish experience.
Director SHRUTI PAREKH’s Short film ‘HOMEBODY’ World Premiere
Co-Directors SANDRO RAMANI & COREY DEVON ARTHUR’s Short film ‘IN EXCHANGE FOR FLESH’
Director BAKHTAWAR TAGAR’s Short film ‘NAAZ’
And many, many more
DFW: Recently cited as one of MovieMaker’s “Coolest” film festivals
The Annual ‘DANCES WITH FILMS’ (DWF) New York City edition of the bi-coastal indie-Film Festival returns for the 4th year, January 15-18, 2026. The new year will present several feature-length narratives, documentaries, and midnight films making their debut, with pilots, family films, and short films also enjoying the singular cinema showcase that DWF provides as part of the only true-indie film festival with a foothold in both Los Angeles and New York City.
In Exchange For Flesh. (Credit : danceswithfilms.com)
Recently selected by MovieMaker Magazine as one of its “25 Coolest Film Festivals”, as well as being cited earlier in the year by Dread Central as a top 40 festival programming horror/genre films Dances With Films is now entrenched as a go-to film festival platforming true-indies. In less than five years, it has taken its place alongside NYFF (New York Film Festival) and Tribeca as a prime launching pad and showcase for cinema, while introducing fresh, new filmmaking talent on a big stage for audiences and critics.
This year’s highly anticipated DWF NY lineup includes 157 films, including 20 narrative, 9 documentary, and 4 midnight features, 21 television and streaming pilots, 6 family films, and 97 short films (56 narrative, 15 documentary, and 26 midnight). All screenings will take place at Regal Union Square (850 Broadway), New York city.
The 2026 Dances With Films NY Event Lineup
OPENING NIGHT FEATURE
VINDICTA
DIR: Dominik Sedlar; USA/UK; 124m
In just one moment a young girl’s world shatters when her parents are murdered in front of her. After fleeing, she seeks refuge with family friends before becoming the embodiment of rage and revenge towards those responsible for destroying her life. An unexpected connection with a handsome young Nazi Officer generates a moment of respite, but she is consumed by vengeance at any cost, no matter what or when.
Naaz. (Credit : danceswithfilms.com)
CLOSING NIGHT FEATURE
ROOF – World Premiere
DIR: Salvatore Sciortino; USA; 89m
Two co-workers facing terrible life choices get trapped on the roof of a skyscraper during a long, hot holiday weekend. The inconvenience becomes a fight for survival as they attempt increasingly dangerous ways to escape, while forming a unique and unexpected friendship.
ADDITIONAL NARRATIVE FEATURES
A SIMPLE MACHINE
DIR: Mark Hoffman; USA; 98m
ALIENS ARE COMING!! ON MONDAY!!! – World Premiere
DIR: Geoffrey Davin; USA; 67.5m
BANANA SPLIT – World Premiere
Director: Walter Kim; USA; 93m
BY THE GRAPE OF GOD – World Premiere
DIR: Colmcille Donston; USA; 96m
THE CEREAL AISLE EFFECT – World Premiere
DIR: Peter Odiorne; USA; 87m
DAMNED IF YOU DO
DIRS: Evan Metzold, Jake Rubin; USA; 107m
FANBOY
DIR: Bean McKee; USA; 83m
GAZELLE
DIRS: Nadir Saribacak, Samy Pioneer; USA/Turkey; 100m
UNTOUCHABLES: THE STORY OF ST. BENEDICT’S FENCING – World Premiere
DIR: Sabbuur Ikhlas; USA; 94m
VELVET VISION
DIR: Bart Everly; USA; 138m
THE WORK… A CONVERSATION
DIR: Eve Annenberg; USA; 89m
ZZASLOW K-427
DIR: Robert Ham; USA/Afghanistan; 78m
MIDNIGHT FEATURES
There are four midnight features.
PILOTS – TV & WEB
Twenty one films embrace this category.
FAMILY FILMS
There are six family films.
SHORT FILMS
NARRATIVE SHORTS
Fifty six films are in this category.
DOCUMENTARY SHORTS
There are fourteen in this category.
MIDNIGHT SHORTS
Twenty six films are found in this category.
Dances with Films (DWF)
Now in its 29th year, Dances With Films champions the unflinching spirit at the very core of the independent film scene. With most film festivals relying heavily on celebrity, DWF have relied on innovation, talent, creativity, and sweat equity that revolutionized the entertainment industry. And that reliance continues to prove successful with alumni moving on to write, direct, and produce celebrity-studded vehicles, star in blockbuster movies, and television series, produce multi-million-dollar films and create hot TV shows.
For more information about the Dances With Films NY film lineup, events, passes, and tickets, go to danceswithfilms.com.
Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Spirituality, Education, Business, Health and Wellness, and Cuisine.
MLK26: THE PAN-AFRICANIST – RESTITUTION & RECONCILIATION IN A GLOBAL STATE OF EMERGENCY
By Mabel Pais
WNYC celebrates the 20th Anniversary of its annual celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by partnering again with The Apollo for MLK26: The Pan-Africanist — Restitution & Reconciliation in a Global State of Emergency. Held for the first time at The Apollo’s new stages at the Victoria Theater, the event will take place on Sunday, January 18, 2026 at 2pm. It will be recorded and broadcast on WNYC and public radio stations across the country on Monday, January 19 (see local listings).
Anchored in the historic moment of Dr. King’s 1957 journey to Ghana, the program traces King’s vision and commitment to global liberation to the modern-day call for justice.Through conversation, performance, and reflection, this year’s gathering connects the struggle against colonialism and segregation to today’s fights for equity, freedom, and dignity across the African Diaspora. Together, let’s examine restitution and reconciliation not as lofty ideals, but as urgent imperatives, linking Accra to Atlanta, the global past to our shared present.
“For 20 years, WNYC’s Annual MLK event has brought together scholars, journalists, activists, and artists to honor Dr. King – not as a symbol of our historic past, but as a multi-dimensional leader whose legacy continues to speak loudly and urgently to our time,” said LaFontaine Oliver, President & CEO and Executive Chair of New York Public Radio. “We’re proud to do this work in partnership with The Apollo and March On!, and to make this programming available to audiences in New York and worldwide.”
“Dr. King called on us to listen deeply, act collectively, and remain accountable to one another,” said Michelle Ebanks, President & CEO of The Apollo. “Together with WNYC and March On!, we are honored to create space for reflection and dialogue that invites our communities to engage with Dr. King’s legacy — one that continues to shape our present and future.”
“Dr. King understood that the fight for justice was never confined by borders,” said Kim Callinan, Executive Director of March On!. “We’re proud to partner with WNYC and The Apollo to carry that global vision forward — through art, dialogue, and collective reckoning.”
The conversation will be hosted by WNYC’s Michael Hill, Brian Lehrer, and Janae Pierre, along with WQXR’s Terrance McKnight.
Guests include:
Robert Vinson, Director & Chair of the Carter G. Woodson Institute for African American & African Studies at the University of Virginia and author, ‘King in Africa’
Marc Morial, President, National Urban League
Sandra Babu-Boateng, Diasporic Digital Media Executive
Brandon Terry, John L. Loeb Associate Professor of the Social Sciences at Harvard University and the co-director of the Institute on Policing, Incarceration, and Public Safety at the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research; author of ‘Shattered Dreams,’ ‘Infinite Hope’ (The NYT’s 100 Notable Books of 2025)
LaFontaine E. Oliver, President & CEO and Executive Chair, New York Public Radio; Michelle Ebanks, President and CEO of The Apollo; and Isisara Bey, Artistic Director of March On! will give opening remarks.
Due to capacity constraints at the venue, seating is extremely limited. MLK26: The Pan-Africanist — Restitution & Reconciliation in a Global State of Emergency will be recorded for broadcast on WNYC on Monday, January 19 at 3pm & 8pm on WNYC 93.9 FM, AM 820, and wnyc.org, as well as on public radio stations across the country and on WNYC and The Apollo’s YouTube channels. For more information, please click here.
WNYC With an urban vibrancy and a global perspective, WNYC is New York’s public radio station, broadcasting and streaming award-winning journalism, groundbreaking audio programming, and essential talk radio to the city and beyond. WNYC offers its listeners a unique range of local, national, and international programming, including programming from NPR, American Public Media, and the BBC World Service, along with a roster of WNYC-produced local programs that champion the stories and spirit of New York City and the surrounding region, including ‘The Brian Lehrer Show’ and ‘All Of It.’ From its state-of-the-art studios, WNYC is reshaping audio for a new generation of listeners, producing some of the most beloved nationally-syndicated public radio programs including ‘Radiolab,’ ‘On the Media,’ and ‘The New Yorker Radio Hour.’ WNYC broadcasts on 93.9 FM and AM 820 to listeners in New York and the tri-state area, and is available to audiences everywhere at WNYC.org, the WNYC app, and through major digital radio services, all made possible through the generous support of our members, donors, and sponsors.
The Apollo
Audience at The Apollo Theater. (Credit : wnyc.org)
The legendary Apollo — the soul of American culture — plays a vital role in cultivating emerging artists and launching legends. Since its founding, The Apollo has served as a center of innovation and a creative catalyst for Harlem, the city of New York, and the world. In 2024, The Apollo opened The Apollo Stages at the Victoria Theater, marking the first ever expansion and renovation of The Apollo in its nearly 90-year history. In 2025, The Apollo embarked on its first major full-scale renovation and restoration of its Historic theater to modernize and upgrade its facilities and artist and audience spaces, and is expected to be completed in 2026. For more information, visit apollotheater.org.
With music at its core, The Apollo’s programming extends to dance, theater, spoken word, and more. This includes the world premiere of the theatrical adaptation of Ta-Nehisi Coates’s ‘Between the World and Me’ and the New York premiere of the opera ‘We Shall Not Be Moved’; special programs such as the blockbuster concert ‘Bruno Mars Live at the Apollo’; ‘100: The Apollo Celebrates Ella’; and the annual ‘Africa Now!’ Festival.
The non-profit Apollo Theater is a performing arts presenter, commissioner, and collaborator that also produces festivals, large-scale dance and musical works organized around a set of core initiatives that celebrate and extend The Apollo’s legacy through a contemporary lens, including the ‘Women of the World’ (WOW) Festival as well as other multidisciplinary collaborations with partner organizations.
Since introducing the first ‘Amateur Night’ contests in 1934, The Apollo has served as a testing ground for new artists working across a variety of art forms and has ushered in the emergence of many new musical genres — including jazz, swing, bebop, R&B, gospel, blues, soul, and hip-hop. Among the countless legendary performers who launched their careers at The Apollo are Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, Luther Vandross, H.E.R., D’Angelo, Lauryn Hill, Machine Gun Kelly, and Miri Ben Ari; and The Apollo’s forward-looking artistic vision continues to build on this legacy. For more information about The Apollo, visit ApolloTheater.org.
March On! March On!, originally founded in 2013 as the March on Washington Film Festival in Washington, DC, was established to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the historic March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The inaugural festival drew over 1,000 attendees to ten impactful events across the city over two weeks, laying the groundwork for what has become a powerful platform for storytelling and social justice.
Held annually in Washington, DC, the flagship March On! Festival celebrates and amplifies the untold stories and unsung heroes of the Civil Rights Movement while connecting them to today’s movements for equity and justice. Through film screenings, panel discussions, live performances, and community gatherings, the festival fosters dialogue and brings together audiences of all ages, classes, and ethnicities to reflect on history and inspire progress.
Over the past decade, the March On! Festival has grown into a national social justice arts movement, engaging tens of thousands of participants globally. Notable past contributors include literary icons Nikki Giovanni and Ta-Nehisi Coates; Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists Eugene Robinson and Hank Klibanoff; former U.S. Attorneys General Eric Holder and Loretta Lynch; celebrated artists like Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Diahann Carroll, Yara Shahidi, and 9th Wonder; and prominent Civil Rights leaders such as Joyce and Dorie Ladner, Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, Rep. Raphael Warnock, Julian Bond, and Judge Damon Keith.
Through its programming, March On! continues to honor the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement and inspire action for a more just and equitable future.
Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Spirituality, Social Issues, Education, Business, Health and Wellness, and Cuisine.
After the overwhelming response to the Canadian Hindu Chamber of Commerce in Assam, UP, and Haryana, BC Premier will lead a delegation to India
TORONTO (TIP): After a 20-member mission of the Canadian Hindu Chamber of Commerce (CHCC) received an overwhelming response in India, British Columbia Premier David Eby has decided to lead a trade mission to India next week. And these trade mission visits are being viewed in light of the upcoming visit of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to India next month.
Incidentally, the BC trade mission will be headed by its Premier, David Eby, and Jobs Minister, Ravi Kahlon. The BC delegation will visit India from January 12 to 17 and make stopovers in Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru, and Chandigarh. It will be the first visit by a provincial premier to India in recent years.
It was the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia, that led to a big spat in the bilateral relations between India and Canada. The BC Premier, while announcing his visit to India, said that he remains profoundly concerned about the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar and the accusation from the then Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that the “agents of India” were involved in his assassination.
Photos: CHCC
He said that it is the job of the federal government to work with the Indian government on “issues of shared concern.” The BC provincial government works at the level to look after the people of the province, including creating jobs in sectors struggling as a result of tariffs.
“We have challenges with the US; we still work with the United States. We have challenges with China; we still work with China,” he added. The BC ministers held that India was an important nation that has the fastest-growing and third-largest economy in the world.
British Columbia is one of the largest trade partners with India. Last year, the bilateral trade between India and BC was US $2.1 billion. The BC trade mission will be broadly looking at the forestry and clean energy sectors.
Meanwhile, the CHCC undertook a series of cultural, trade, and business engagements in Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and Haryana, aiming at strengthening people-to-people connections, deepening economic cooperation, and exploring long-term trade and investment opportunities between Canada and Assam.
Canadian Hindu Chamber Trade Mission comprises Ashutosh Singh, Kushagra Dutt Sharma, Umesh Raj Unnikrishnan, Mukundbhai Jitendra Sheth, Shankar Kumar Dey, Gagan Kumar, Nareshkumar Narayanbhai Chavda, Bhargav Jambalaya Chavda, Anandkumar Acharya, Rakeshkumar Maravilha Kantaria, Vipulkumar Shankarbhai Rabari, Saurabh Rattan, Falgun Gulabsha Bhanderi, Nilay Shaileshbhai Thakkar, Amit Bijoy Chowdhury Nayankumar Ghanshyambhai Brahmbhatt, Shool Pani Singh, Josh Leslie, Rebecca Greco, and Gopal Krishan Saini have been on tour of India since New Year’s Day.
Photos: CHCC
Besides signing a Memorandum of Understanding with Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gorakhpur University, members of the mission are also enjoying a religious pilgrimage as they were accorded the status of state guests by the Uttar Pradesh government to visit Ayodhya and Prayagraj. Earlier during their stay in Assam, they also paid their obeisance at some of the historic temples, including Kamakhya Temple, one of India’s most significant spiritual landmarks. The visit symbolized respect for Assam’s rich cultural and spiritual heritage and marked a meaningful beginning to the Chamber’s Assam engagements.
The visit of the CHCC has marked a significant step toward strengthening academic, research, and industry collaboration between India and Canada. The MoU with Deen Dayal Upadhyaya University aims to promote student and faculty exchange programs, joint research initiatives, skill development, entrepreneurship, and enhanced cooperation between academia and industry. This partnership reflects a shared commitment to fostering global knowledge exchange, innovation, and capacity building, while creating new opportunities for students, researchers, and businesses across both regions.
Starting its India engagements with a visit to the revered Kamakhya Temple, a high-level Canada–Assam trade & networking meet was successfully held at Hotel Apollo Grand, Guwahati, in collaboration with the Assam Chamber of Commerce. The event brought together senior business leaders, industrialists, and sectoral representatives from across Assam with members of CHCC.
The session was addressed by Rupam Goswami, Chairman of the Assam Chamber of Commerce, who highlighted Assam’s growing industrial base, investor-friendly policies, and the importance of long-term international trade partnerships, particularly with Canada. Prominent industry leaders, including Manohar Chowdhury, a leading industrialist, and Rajiv Kumar Burah, a noted hotelier, shared insights on Assam’s industrial, hospitality, and tourism potential.
Representing CHCC, Rakesh Kantaria, Secretary of the CHCC, outlined the Chamber’s mandate and its role in facilitating trade and investment linkages between Canada and India. Kushagra Dutt Sharma, President of CHCC, presented the objectives of the mission, identifying priority sectors such as tea, oil and gas, energy, agriculture, education, hospitality, infrastructure, and sustainable development as key areas for collaboration between Canada and Assam.
The CHCC Mission conducted a field visit to the 16,000-hectare tea garden of Bhardwaj Tea & Timber Company. The visit offered a breathtaking view of Assam’s vast natural landscape and provided an in-depth learning experience on the complete tea value chain.
The general manager shared detailed insights into the journey of tea—from plantation and cultivation to processing and the final product that reaches consumers. The interaction highlighted significant opportunities for the import of regular tea, green tea, and other tea-based products from Assam to Canada and the broader North American market, reinforcing Assam’s potential as a key sourcing destination.
The CHCC delegation also held a detailed meeting with Assam Industrial Development Corporation Ltd (AIDC) in Guwahati. Discussions focused on potential investment opportunities in Assam, government support mechanisms, infrastructure development, and policy facilitation. The meeting was described as highly productive, resulting in the identification of multiple investment avenues and future areas of cooperation.
An important Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gorakhpur University and the Canadian Hindu Chamber of Commerce (CHCC) on January 4, 2026, marking a significant step toward strengthening academic, research, and industry collaboration between India and Canada. The MoU aims to promote student and faculty exchange programs, joint research initiatives, skill development, entrepreneurship, and enhanced cooperation between academia and industry. This partnership reflects a shared commitment to fostering global knowledge exchange, innovation, and capacity building, while creating new opportunities for students, researchers, and businesses across both regions.
Photos: CHCC
Hemant Shah, Chair of the Trade Committee, said that the trade mission has already established a strong and solid relationship between Canada and India. Naresh Chavada, a trustee and founder of the Chamber, and President Kushagr Dutt Sharma, have worked tirelessly to make this trade mission successful.
The engagements on the first three days marked an important step in strengthening Canada–Assam relations through a balanced focus on culture, trade, industry, and institutional collaboration. The CHCC reaffirmed its commitment to continued engagement with Assam’s government and business community, with the intention of translating these discussions into tangible trade, investment, and partnership outcomes.
On arriving in Uttar Pradesh, the Hindu Trade mission received a warm welcome from the Chief Minister and the Governor. It called on Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister. It held discussions to explore investment opportunities across MSMEs, religious tourism, and hospitality sectors—reflecting growing global confidence in India’s growth trajectory and the emerging opportunities in Uttar Pradesh.
(Prabhjot Singh is a Toronto-based senior journalist. Widely traveled, he writes chiefly on Sports and politics.)
TORONTO (TIP): “Poaching the best and ignoring the rest” appears to be the new immigration mantra of the developed and flourishing West that it wants to portray and implement in 2026. Conveying a strong message to the nations overflowing with manpower resources, both raw and skilled, the elite group of nations—most sought after by prospective immigrants—has been gradually barricading the borders to minimize the “infiltration.” To cap it, member nations of this group have set in motion both legal and inhumane deportation processes to get rid of what they call “dead wood,” as most of their ageing sections of society have met their requirements of the workforce.
When the new Liberal government, led by Mark Carney, assumed office in April this year and presented its maiden budget in November, it clearly indicated that it would “look for the best of brains” to head new groups of scientific research. Bowing to the pressures, the Liberal government not only scaled down immigration levels but also introduced drastic cuts to the intake of international students. This major shift in the immigration rigmarole spells doom for hundreds of thousands of youngsters who want or aspire to make one of the developed Western nations their new home. Those with no skills find the immigration doors closed for them for now.
Donald Trump, soon after starting his second term in office in January of the outgoing year, started sending through full loads of US Air Force aircraft, bereft of basic passenger facilities, with immigration seekers without proper documents to the countries of their origin, including India. And the process has been continuing unabated since then. Hundreds of thousands have already been sent home unceremoniously. Aircraft loads of “unwanted immigrants” are even now leaving the shores of various North American ports for destinations in South Asia, Africa, and other parts of the world regularly. Incidentally, those being deported exclude the brain doctors, engineers, and scientists.
It is not only the closure of a channel that was taking a lot of loads off the governments of developing nations, but it has now started rebuilding the pressure on shrinking job opportunities and resources in these immigration feeder nations. While their best talent would be leaving the shores of the country, they would be left with numbers that they would find extremely difficult to adjust to under the tightening global economic norms.
The brain drain would continue unabated, thus putting additional pressure on these fund- and resource-starved nations. Producing a doctor with six to eight years in a government medical institution in India costs the state a minimum of Rs 20 lakh. The same is the case with an engineer or IT specialist groomed at a government institution; the money spent by the state is no less than that of a doctor. And once these young, bright doctors, engineers, and IT experts step out of their institutions, the developed nations are out poaching for them. Instead of repaying the society that spent on their training and grooming, they leave their homelands, lured by green pastures overseas.
The result is obvious. Their home turfs suffer from a shortage of doctors, engineers, technocrats, and other professionals. A simple case to illustrate this dilemma is the acute shortage of mental health officers in the country. Despite directions from the Apex Court that each district in the country must have a mental hospital, not even 20 per cent of districts in the country have such a facility. There is an acute shortage of super specialists in a country like India. Many medical colleges fake figures to show specialists and super specialists on their faculties, while in fact their services are requisitioned mostly from the private sector at the time of inspections.
It is not health care. Other areas, especially information technology, science and research, engineering, and related areas, would continue to be impacted by the changed immigration policies of Western nations.
Other than these technical or scientific “brains,” countries like India are also facing an acute shortage of middle-rung officers in their defense forces. One foremost reason is that pay packages are perhaps not as attractive as their counterparts’ pass-outs from IITs. Then some of the perks associated with jobs in the defense sector have been spiked so much that their added attractions have vanished in recent years. Even a lifetime career in the defense forces is not guaranteed under the Agnipath Yojana. Intriguingly, some of the able-bodied youth, looking for green pastures overseas and shirking jobs in uniform at home, were forced to join the armed forces overseas, as it happened in the case of Russia.
There is an urgent need for a fresh look at the immigration policies of the nations with abundant manpower or human resources. A country like India needs to regulate its brain drain as well as the outflow of its raw human resources. It also comes with a need to audit the education and healthcare infrastructure in the country. India, for example, can market both its education and health care potentials as a retort to the Western world.
Otherwise, developing economies would continue to lose their best to the West and keep the rest for their own use.
(Please print the detailed intro of Prabhjot here)
BUCHAREST (TIP): The Embassy of India hosted an engaging and interactive session with students of the University of Bucharest at the Embassy premises on 7 January, aimed at fostering greater understanding of India’s contemporary developments and its rich cultural heritage, with particular emphasis on the cultural diversity of India’s states and regions.
Students were presented India’s culture, yoga, and Indian dance traditions, highlighting the depth and diversity of India’s cultural heritage.
Ambassador Dr. Manoj Kumar Mohapatra, while interacting with the students, highlighted India’s robust economic growth, reform-driven development trajectory, and expanding opportunities across sectors. He underlined India’s emergence as one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies and discussed the country’s increasing role in the global economic landscape, driven by innovation, digital transformation, manufacturing, and sustainable development. In this context, he also referred to Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) as a flagship initiative, showcasing India’s ambition to emerge as a global financial and services hub through world-class infrastructure, regulatory reforms, and a conducive business ecosystem. The Ambassador also encouraged young scholars to explore academic, cultural, and professional engagement with India.
Ms. Veronica Mathew conducted special yoga session for the students.
Students from the University of Bucharest made insightful presentations on India, reflecting a deep appreciation of the country’s civilizational depth and cultural diversity. Special emphasis was laid on Yoga and Indian classical dance as enduring symbols of India’s soft power, holistic philosophy, and living traditions that continue to resonate globally.
A special Yoga session was conducted by Ms. Veronica Mathew, who introduced participants to the fundamentals of Yoga and guided them through select practices. The session offered students a firsthand experience of Yoga’s physical, mental, and spiritual benefits, while underscoring its relevance in today’s fast-paced and stress-filled world.
Ms. Mirela Cristea led an Indian dance session, familiarizing students with basic steps and movements.
The cultural engagement continued with a special Indian dance session led by Ms. Mirela Cristea, who familiarized students with India’s rich and diverse dance traditions of different states. Through a lively and interactive format, students were introduced to basic steps and movements, providing them with an immersive experience of India’s vibrant cultural expressions. The session also showcased folk dances from the Indian states of Gujarat and Haryana, reflecting the energetic rhythms of Garba and the lively spirit of Haryanvi dance forms, thereby offering participants a glimpse into the regional diversity and cultural richness of India.
University of Bucharest Students with Ambassador Manoj Kumar Mohapatra (Standing 9th from the right).
The event served as a meaningful platform for people-to-people engagement, strengthening academic and cultural ties between India and Romania. The Embassy reaffirmed its commitment to promoting dialogue, cultural exchange, and greater awareness of India’s cultural diversity of India’s states and regions, economy, and timeless traditions among Romanian youth and academic institutions.
(Based on a Press Release issued by the Embassy of India in Bucharest, Romania)
Ambassador Mohapatra Engages Arad County Leaders on Investment Opportunities in Strategic Special Economic Zone
BUCHAREST (TIP): Dr. Manoj Kumar Mohapatra, Ambassador of India to Romania, visited Arad County of Romania and met with key Arad County officials, including Mr. Iustin Cionca, President of Arad County Council, Mr. Glad Varga, Senator of Arad, and Mr. Ionescu Aurel, Vice President of Arad Chamber of Commerce. The dialogue underscored the mutual resolve to deepen economic cooperation, harnessing Arad’s unique advantages to attract Indian investments and foster bilateral trade growth.
Ambassador Dr. Manoj Kumar Mohapatra and Mr. Iustin Cionca, President of Arad County Council.
Arad occupies a pivotal geographical position in western Romania, bordering Hungary and serving as a critical node along Pan-European Transport Corridor IV, which links major European hubs from Germany through Hungary to Turkey. This connectivity, coupled with excellent rail and road infrastructure, including proximity to Timișoara International Airport and the Port of Constanța on the Black Sea, renders Arad an ideal logistics and manufacturing base for Indian companies seeking efficient entry into the European Union market. The Arad Special Economic Zone (SEZ), equipped with modern facilities, tax incentives, and streamlined regulations, further amplifies these benefits, positioning it as a prime destination for sectors like automotive components, electronics, textiles, and renewable energy equipment where Indian firms excel.
President of Arad County Council presenting a reproduction of “The Burial of Christ” to Ambassador.
India and Romania enjoy a multifaceted bilateral relationship rooted in shared democratic values, historical goodwill, and expanding economic synergy. Diplomatic ties, elevated through frequent high-level visits and the 19th India-Romania Joint Committee Meeting on Economic Cooperation, have propelled trade volumes beyond €1 billion annually, with robust growth in IT services, pharmaceuticals, infrastructure projects, and defense collaboration. Cultural exchanges, such as Diwali celebrations and Hindi language promotions in Romania, complement these efforts, while emerging domains like artificial intelligence, green hydrogen, and sustainable agriculture hold immense untapped potential. This partnership aligns with both India’s and Romania’s resolve for greater partnerships, creating win-win opportunities for mutual prosperity.
In a key outcome, Ambassador Mohapatra extended an official invitation for a delegation led by President Cionca to visit India, enabling direct interactions with Indian business leaders and government stakeholders. The parties committed to hosting a targeted Business-to-Business (B2B) forum in the second half of January or early February 2026. During this event, Arad representatives will present tailored opportunities within the SEZ to Indian companies expressing keen interest in Romanian investments, emphasizing local supply chain integration, skilled workforce availability, and EU-compliant manufacturing capabilities.
Ambassador met Dr. Nilima Rajpal Kundnani, a local community leader in Timisoara.
This engagement exemplifies the dynamic momentum in India-Romania relations, promising job creation, technology transfer, and innovation-driven growth. It reinforces Arad’s role as a bridge for Indian enterprises into Europe, while advancing Romania’s appeal as a reliable partner for India’s global ambitions.
Separately, the Ambassador visited injured Indian national Mr. Rakesh Kumar, who is undergoing treatment at Casa Austria Hospital, and interacted with both the patient and the attending doctors. The Ambassador conveyed his best wishes to Mr. Kumar and wished him a speedy recovery.
The Ambassador also met with Dr. Nilima Rajpal Kundnani, a local Indian community leader, to discuss proposed plans and activities for 2026, with particular emphasis on the welfare of the Indian community in Timișoara. The discussions focused on strengthening community support mechanisms, promoting cultural and social initiatives, and enhancing engagement between the Embassy and the Indian diaspora. Views were exchanged on organizing cultural events, community programs, and collaborative activities in 2026 aimed at promoting Indian culture and supporting the well-being and integration of the Indian community in Timișoara. (Based on a Press Release by the Embassy of India in Bucharest, Romania)
ITHACA, NY (TIP): Suby Valluri, an Indian American student who will graduate from Cornell Tech’s Master of Laws (LLM) in Law, Technology, and Entrepreneurship program this year, has won the first Michael Mills Memorial LegalTech Scholarship.
Created by a network of more than 50 donors to celebrate the legacy of Mills, an influential figure in legal technology, the scholarship will support students pursuing careers at the intersection of law and technology through the Cornell Tech LLM program, according to a media release.
Valluri, who holds a PhD in quantitative economics and an MA in law, is the co-founder and CEO of FinMont, a travel payments startup. His work combines law, artificial intelligence, and blockchain technology.
“Receiving the Michael Mills Memorial LegalTech Scholarship marks a profoundly meaningful step in my professional journey,” Valluri said. “Beyond its financial value, the award reflects Michael Mills’s legacy of mentorship, creativity, and his lifelong effort to reshape how law and technology intersect.”
Valluri plans to use the scholarship to develop “smart agreements” – contracts that combine traditional legal language with computer code. These agreements can automatically check compliance and trigger payments across different countries, reducing complexity and making global transactions faster and more reliable.
“My broader aim is to make cross-border transactions more transparent, affordable, and secure,” he said. “This scholarship gives me the space and confidence to deepen my research, test new prototypes, and participate more actively in Cornell Tech’s LegalTech community. Most importantly, it connects me with a network of thinkers and builders who share a common purpose: making legal systems more transparent, equitable, and adaptable through technology.”
The scholarship honors Michael Mills, who co-founded and led Neota, a company that enabled lawyers to build legal software applications without writing code. He also co-founded Central Park Conservancy and Pro Bono Net, a nonprofit that uses technology to expand pro bono legal services. Mills also funded innovation awards in the College of Law Practice Management and mentored professionals moving into technology roles.
Matthew D’Amore, professor of the practice and director of the Law, Technology, and Entrepreneurship Program at Cornell Tech and Cornell Law School, said the scholarship reflects the campus’s commitment to shaping the future of legal innovation. By supporting students working at the intersection of law and technology, the scholarship aims to advance innovations that make legal systems more efficient, accessible, and equitable.
With continued donor support, Cornell Tech plans to grow this fund into a permanent resource for aspiring legal tech leaders – ensuring Michael Mills’s commitment to progress lives on for generations.
“This scholarship will help us attract and inspire future pioneers in the field like Suby to carry on Michael’s legacy and join the growing ranks of legal tech founders and scholars coming out of Cornell Tech,” D’Amore said.
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