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Morning Bid: India rate call in focus, political crises cool

Mysuru: The Old Mysuru region experienced notable events throughout 2024. The region witnessed several political turmoils, including an FIR being lodged against chief minister Siddaramaiah, the arrest of the son and grandchildren of former PM HD Deve Gowda, BJP expelling one of its senior-most leaders, KS Eshwarappa from the party, and the appointment of CH Vijayashankar as the Meghalaya governor. An era ended with the demise of former CM SM Krishna. The year concluded with the grand success of the 87th Kannada Sahitya Sammelana in Mandya. The biggest political development in the region was Lokayukta cops filing an FIR against CM Siddaramaiah and his wife Parvathi on Sept 27, in connection with the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (Muda) sites scam. Later, both of them appeared before the Lokayukta SP for an inquiry in the city. In the Lok Sabha election 2024, Congress was able to wrest the Hassan constituency, which is considered the home turf of the Gowda family, after a gap of 25 years, while a member of the Mysuru royal family was elected as a Lok Sabha member for the first time after a gap of 25 years. BJP's decision to join hands with JD(S) in the 2024 Lok Sabha election helped both parties to wrest the majority of seats in the Old Mysuru region. Another major political development in the region was BJP's decision to leave the Mandya Lok Sabha constituency to its alliance partner JD(S), instead of retaining incumbent MP Sumalantha, who supported BJP after being elected as an independent candidate in the 2019 general election. After a gap of 18 years, Mandya got representation in the central cabinet with HD Kumaraswamy becoming the cabinet minister for steel and heavy industries. The arrests of former minister and MLA HD Revanna, son of former PM HD Deve Gowda, and his two children, Suraj Revanna (MLC) and Prajwal Revanna (ex-MP), in connection with an alleged sex scandal also made headlines. Revanna and his sons, Prajwal and Suraj, denied the allegations. A mammoth protest against the Deve Gowda family in Hassan, organised by like-minded organisations on May 30, also raised political tensions. End of an era Former CM SM Krishna's death on December 10 marked the end of an era. Krishna, who started his political career as an MLA from Maddur, was considered one of the tallest leaders of the state. Another veteran leader, KH Shrinivas from Shivamogga, passed away on August 30. Yettinahole project The ambitious but controversial Yettinahole drinking water project was inaugurated on Sept 6 at Hassan by CM Siddaramaiah. This project, which aimed at providing drinking water to the drought-hit areas of the southern districts, was criticised as an ecological disaster. No water crisis With southern districts recording heavy rain during the monsoon, there was no Cauvery water crisis this year. The KRS dam continues to remain filled even till the end of December, ensuring that there will not be a drinking water crisis in the summer of 2025. Sahitya Sammelana After a gap of 30 years, Mandya district hosted the 87th Akhila Bharata Kannada Sahitya Sammelana between Dec 20 and 22. Lakhs of people attended this Kannada festival, which attracted Kannada lovers from across the globe. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , Location Guesser and Mini Crossword .

Ghaus Bahauddin Zakariya stop restored at Jang Shahi Railway Station

The Seattle Seahawks placed leading rusher Kenneth Walker III on injured reserve due to an ankle injury and signed George Holani off the practice squad on Thursday afternoon. Walker had been ruled out earlier in the day ahead of Thursday's game against the host Chicago Bears. He returned from a two-game absence due to an ailing calf on Sunday before injuring his ankle in the Seahawks' 27-24 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Zach Charbonnet is set to shoulder the load in the backfield for the Seahawks (8-7), who have lost two in a row heading into Thursday's game against the Bears (4-11). Seattle is in a must-win situation. Even if the Seahawks can top Chicago and beat the Los Angeles Rams in Week 18, they still might miss out on the postseason because of the strength-of-victory tiebreaker. Walker, 24, leads Seattle in carries (153) and rushing yards (573) to go along with seven rushing touchdowns. Charbonnet, 23, has a team-best eight rushing touchdowns to go along with 106 carries for 453 yards. Holani, who turned 25 on Dec. 16, has three carries for 10 yards in three games this season. He is an undrafted rookie out of Boise State. The Seahawks also ruled out tight end Brady Russell (foot) and safety K'Von Wallace (ankle) for Thursday's game. Cornerback Artie Burns was elevated from the practice squad to the active roster for the contest. The Bears will be without defensive backs Elijah Hicks (ankle/foot) and Tarvarius Moore (knee), running back Travis Homer (hamstring) and offensive lineman Teven Jenkins (calf). --Field Level MediaSeahawks place RB Kenneth Walker III (ankle) on injured reserveChocorua Lake Conservancy repays its donors with diverse social and educational events throughout the year, including Winter Fest, Trail Clearing Dinner, Annual Meeting and Cookout, Annual Picnic and Parade of Lights. It maintains beautiful Chocorua Lake and environs as a pristine location for swimming, fishing and boating, and has currently embarked on an ambitious restoration of 1,000 feet of the Eastern shoreline. This project involved stabilizing the shoreline and planting hundreds of native shrubs and trees. In 2025, CLC will repair the Chocorua Lake Dam, and construct a rock ramp fishway to restore passage for native brook trout and other aquatic organisms between the Chocorua River and Chocorua Lake. Other benefits visitors to the lake enjoy are twice daily trash pickups seven days a week and a toilet. CLC Stewardship Director Debra Marnich says: "Throughout the project, many observations, key concepts, and insights were realized. However, reflecting on te process, it's now apparent that there is more than the physical construction of our project. Through each project phase, I observed the formation of a work of art, painted on a canvas, layer by layer, with conscious design, careful thought, and creativity. The final perspective of the painting reflects a place where natural resource conservation and human use coexist. In this shoreline space, natural balance and harmony are achieved for all, and more importantly, resiliency for generations to come.” Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

“We don’t keep large vessels at home for daily use to cook for 100 people, just as we don’t always have the vocabulary for moments like these,” poet-lyricist Javed Akhtar remarked, his words resonating deeply with the audience gathered at Mumbai’s Shanmukhananda Auditorium. The occasion was a special tribute to the legendary tabla maestro the late Ustad Zakir Hussain, who passed away on December 15, 2024. The event, organised by Zakir Hussain’s brothers Fazal and Taufiq Qureshi, was a celebration of the life and enduring legacy of the Padma Vibhushan recipient. It drew an extraordinary crowd that included not only members of the music fraternity but also prominent personalities from the worlds of cinema, advertising, politics and business, alongside family, friends and admirers. Together, they honoured the maestro whose music transcended boundaries and touched hearts across the globe. Akhtar spoke of Zakir’s unparalleled dual legacy: “Some artistes are average but great human beings, while others are exceptional artistes but not so great as people. Zakir Hussain was both, which is why this pioneer of a new era in music will always be remembered.” He shared an anecdote from santoor maestro Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, who once said, “Zakir can play the best in the style of all gharanas, and his music is a distillation of them all. No wonder every artiste, regardless of gharana, now aspires to play like him.” Violin doyenne Dr N Rajam recalled her first encounter with a young Zakir, then just eight years old. She had visited the home of Zakir’s father, the legendary Ustad Allarakha Khan, in Mahim. “I was barely 22 when my father took me there. Ustad Allarakha asked me to play and soon called Zakir in from playing cricket outside. The little boy played the tabla with such ease and perfection that I was stunned. I even felt guilty for interrupting his playtime and wound up quickly. When he affectionately called me ‘didi’ as he rushed back to play, I was touched. That memory, along with his charisma and brilliance, has stayed with me forever. Though his fame grew exponentially, Zakir never lost his warmth or humility.” The maestro’s younger brother, Taufiq Qureshi, described Zakir as “one of the most influential and transformative forces in the world of global music”. He continued, “I had the privilege of seeing him in many roles—brother, father, friend, guru, mentor, inspiration, motivator, colleague, and even a divine presence. His legacy will continue to inspire countless musicians and listeners across all forms of music.” Fazal Qureshi, the youngest of the siblings, expressed the family’s grief: “Zakir Bhai’s untimely passing has left us struggling to come to terms with this immense loss. His influence extended beyond percussionists to instrumentalists worldwide. He seamlessly navigated diverse musical styles—keeping classical music pure while embodying jazz and adapting to countless genres with unmatched authenticity. Even those who never met him felt the impact of his music and personality. As we gather to honour him, let us pray for his eternal peace and a place of the highest grace in God’s kingdom.” The evening began with a soulful Taal Pranam by Fazal Qureshi, Sabir Khan, and students, setting a reflective tone for the gathering. Sarangi exponent Sabir Khan, who grew up watching his father Ustad Sultan Khan accompany Zakir, was overcome with emotion and choked up while attempting to sing. Filmmaker Sumantro Ghoshal, who had created a documentary on Zakir’s life, also broke down, sharing, “He had a way of making everyone feel special and loved.” Maharashtra’s culture minister Ashish Shelar recounted an inspiring story of Zakir’s generosity. In November 1994, during a performance in Nagpur, news broke of a tragic incident where 114 members of the Gowari community were killed and 500 injured in police firing. Though unrelated to the event, Zakir insisted on donating all his concert fees to the families of the deceased. The evening was a poignant reminder of Zakir Hussain’s profound impact as a musician, humanitarian and global icon.Analysis: After pardoning son, Biden returns home to a credibility problemSTOCK MARKET SNAPSHOT FOR 06/12/2024

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday targeted the Congress-led UPA government for the largest power outage in the country in 2012 and said his government has worked towards 'One Nation, One Grid' and there is uninterrupted power supply in all parts of the country. Speaking in Lok Sabha during the discussion on the 'Glorious Journey of 75 Years of the Constitution of India', the Prime Minister said during the previous government, "we saw India being defamed in the world through headlines". "Several times, there was power in one part of the country but it was not supplied. So, there was pitch dark in the other part. During the previous government, we saw India being defamed before the world through headlines. We have seen those days. That is why, with the mantra of unity and upholding the sense of the Constitution, we fulfilled One Nation One Grid. That is why, today there is uninterrupted power supply in all corners of India," he said. The Prime Minister said that the success of Digital India has helped democratise technology. "Era has changed. We do not want haves and haves not a situation in the digital sector. That is why, we proudly say that the reason behind Digital India success story is that we tried to democratise technology," he said. The Prime Minister said the achievement of 75 years is not ordinary, it is extraordinary. "India's Constitution has brought us here by defeating the possibilities that were expressed for India at the time when the country attained independence. For this great achievement, besides the drafters of the Constitution, I would like to respectfully bow before the crores of people of India - they lived this new system...Citizens of India deserve all the praise," he said. "For all of us, for all citizens and all democracy-loving citizens across the world, this is a moment of great pride," he added. The two-day debate on 75 years of the Constitution started in Lok Sabha on Friday. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)In a lengthy speech at the Brookings Institution, a Washington, D.C. think tank, on Tuesday, President Joe Biden forcefully defended his economic legacy and harshly criticized his successor. “Most economists agree the new administration is going to inherit a fairly strong economy, at least at the moment, an economy going through fundamental transformation,” Biden said. “It is my profound hope that the new administration will preserve and build on this progress. Like most great economic developments, this one is neither red nor blue, and America's progress is everyone's progress.” RELATED STORY | What impacts will a Trump presidency have on the economy? The president pointed specifically to record job growth during his tenure and an historically-low unemployment rate, as well as solid GDP performance, major investments in infrastructure and a soaring stock market. Most economists agree Biden’s term in office has coincided with a strong jobs market, and note the economic forecast remains bright – especially when contrasted to that of other peer nations, many of which have struggled to rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic. And yet, Americans by and large disapprove of Biden’s economic tenure, particularly the high costs of goods and services. Though inflation has fallen some, it remains higher than when the president took office and has become a frequent point of attack for Republicans critical of the Biden administration. RELATED STORY | Wealthier Americans are driving retail spending and powering US economy President-elect Donald Trump’s victory last month served in some was as a repudiation of the president’s so-called “Bidenomics” policies, with most voters telling pollsters they were dissatisfied with the state of the U.S. economy and Biden’s handling of the issue. Since Trump’s election, attitudes towards the economy have improved slightly, particularly among Republicans; according to research from Gallup, just eight percent of Republicans in October viewed economic conditions as getting better, compared to 30% last month. Biden himself seemed to acknowledge some missteps in selling his economic vision to Americans. “I also learned something from Donald Trump,” Biden said. “He signed checks for people for $7,400 bucks,” the president noted of the pandemic-era relief measures. Even though Biden approved similar relief efforts during his term, his name never appeared on American’s checks. “I didn't – stupid,” Biden conceded. RELATED STORY | Powell says Fed will likely cut rates cautiously given persistent inflation pressures Seeking to bolster Biden’s economic legacy, the White House on Tuesday launched a new website hailing the “Biden Economy,” featuring statistics about economic performance during his term and complimentary videos from his supporters. Biden’s speach, meanwhile, also served as a warning of sorts to his successor, with the president arguing against tax cuts for the wealthy and the notion that such benefits would “trickle down” to middle class Americans. “You can make as much money as you can, good for you, but everybody's got to be they pay their fair share,” Biden said. Trump has pledged to extend the tax cuts he signed into law in 2017, telling NBC News he intends to submit a tax package to Congress within his first 100 days in office. “They’re coming due and they’re very substantial for people,” Trump said of his 2017 cuts. “That’s what led us to one of the greatest economies ever.” RELATED STORY | Amid corporate layoffs, 36% of workforce turns to gig economy for alternative employment A report by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office in December found that failing to extend those tax incentives would have a negligible impact on the economy, though Republicans are expected to pursue them and other business tax breaks after they retake both chambers of Congress next year. Trump has also promised to impose significant tariffs on the import of foreign goods from Mexico, Canada and China – despite economists’ and retailers’ warnings that will drive up consumer prices. Trump in the NBC interview said he couldn’t guarantee the move wouldn’t increase consumer costs, something Biden harshly refuted. “I believe we've proven that approach is a mistake over the past four years,” Biden said. “But we all know in time, we all know in time what will happen.”Shenzhen, China, Dec. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Yocan proudly unveils the Yocan UNI 3.0 , an upgraded version of the popular UNI Pro, designed to redefine versatility and user engagement in vaping devices. This enhanced model brings cutting-edge features, stylish design, and unparalleled customization to the forefront, making it a must-have for enthusiasts seeking a futuristic vaping experience. A Customizable Vaping Experience The UNI 3.0 stands out with its 1.93-inch HD Animation Screen, a vibrant display that provides real-time updates on battery life, voltage, and puff count. With three unique UI modes-Classic, Planet, and Shiny Cat-the device ensures a personalized and interactive vaping journey. Its adjustable height and width settings cater to cartridges of various sizes, ensuring a perfect fit for every preference. The addition of a practical hanging hole enhances portability, making it easy to attach the UNI 3.0 to lanyards or keychains for effortless access. Enhanced Power and Smart Features Equipped with a 650mAh battery, the UNI 3.0 ensures extended vaping sessions with reliable performance. The 1.8V 10-second preheat function prepares cartridges for consistent and smooth vapor production, while an auto-shutdown feature after one hour prioritizes safety during use. Stylish and Durable Design With a sleek zinc alloy construction and a variety of vibrant color options-including Black, White, Light Blue, Rosy, Green, and Violet-the UNI 3.0 combines durability with aesthetic appeal, offering something to match every user's style. About Yocan Since its founding in 2013, Yocan has been synonymous with innovation, quality, and user-focused design. The UNI 3.0 continues this legacy, reflecting Yocan's dedication to enhancing vaping through technology and craftsmanship. As the upgraded successor to the UNI Pro, it reaffirms Yocan's commitment to setting new standards in the industry. Yocan remains a global leader in vaping, offering solutions that promote healthier lifestyles and a refined approach to vaping for modern consumers worldwide. Website: https://www.yocan.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Yocantech Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yocantech/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/Yocantechnology CONTACT: Jimmy Wen Yocan Technolog Co., Ltd info(at)yocantech.com

Bitcoin shot past $100,000 for the first time on Thursday, taking the limelight away from stock markets that wavered as investors tracked political crises in France and South Korea. Oil prices fell modestly despite a move by the OPEC cartel and its allies to extend their supply cuts amid concerns about oversupply. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

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Drop in Boxing Day footfall ‘signals return to declining pre-pandemic levels’Nagpur: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh ( RSS ) chief Mohan Bhagwat said the British colonial rulers deliberately distorted Indian history in its educational curriculum to create an impression that India was always occupied by outsiders. "This was done after they saw during the freedom struggle of 1857 that despite so much internal strife, the people of the country could unite against a foreign aggressor," he said. "It was taught that Dravidians overthrew the original inhabitants of India. Later, the Aryans overthrew the Dravidians. The idea was to establish a false theory that these were all outsiders and that the people of India did not have the strength to rule on their own. It was done to show that if Indians opposed the British because they were outsiders, even they had foreign origins. Much evidence has now emerged which negates the theory that has been taught for ages," said Bhagwat. The RSS chief was addressing students of Somalwar Nikalas High School after the Annasaheb Somalwar Memorial Initiative for Rewarding Excellence (ASSMIRE) awards. Stressing the importance of education , he said money should not be the ultimate goal of learning. Bhagwat said Mahatma Gandhi himself did not own any wealth, yet industrialists like Jamnalal Bajaj would bow down before him because of his virtues. "Despite technological development and the increasing use of Artificial Intelligence, the role of teachers will always remain relevant because students learn from what they see, and teachers are their role models," he said. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , Location Guesser and Mini Crossword .