The Congress on Saturday claimed that the state funeral of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, organised by the central government, was a “shocking display of disrespect and mismanagement”. The BJP, on the other hand, slammed Rahul Gandhi for accusing it of insulting the former PM, saying he was playing "cheap politics". "The state funeral of Dr. Manmohan Singh was a shocking display of disrespect and mismanagement," said Congress leader Pawan Khera. "No news agencies except DD were allowed; DD focused on Modi & Shah, barely covering Dr. Manmohan Singh’ s family," he claimed, adding that only three chairs were kept in the front row for his family. "PM & ministers did not stand up when the National Flag was handed to the widow of the late Prime Minister, or during the gun salute. The family was given inadequate space around the pyre due to soldiers occupying one side. Public was kept out, left watching from outside the venue," Khera claimed in a post on X, which was also shared by Congress leader Jairam Ramesh. "Amit Shah’s motorcade disrupted the funeral procession, leaving family cars outside. The gate was closed, and family members had to be located and brought back in," he added. He claimed that diplomats were seated elsewhere and were not visible. "Shockingly, the PM did not stand when the King of Bhutan stood," he said. Khera further accused the government of "disgraceful treatment of a towering statesman". JP Nadda slams Rahul Gandhi, Congress Meanwhile, BJP president JP Nadda reacted to Rahul Gandhi's claim that the government insulted Manmohan Singh by not cremating him at a designated spot allocated for his memorial. "It's very unfortunate that former Congress president Rahul Gandhi and incumbent Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge are not refraining from playing politics even over the former prime minister's sad demise. No amount of condemnation is enough for such cheap thinking of Congress. The Congress, which never gave real respect to Manmohan Singh when he was alive, is now playing politics in the name of his respect," he said. The union minister also said the government under Prime MInister Narendra Modi had allocated space for Singh's memorial and also informed his family about it. Also read: Manmohan Singh was a visionary, always listened, never interfered, Raghuram Rajan says "Yet, the Congress is spreading lies...Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and other Congress leaders should refrain from indulging in such cheap politics," Nadda added. Manmohan Singh, who ruled India from 2004 to 2014, died on Thursday. He was 92. With inputs from PTIWill Matthew Boldy Score a Goal Against the Flames on November 23?
The presenter revealed in 2021 that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer and later underwent a mastectomy. Julia Bradbury said she has become more focused on her health than she has ever been after “death looked her in the eyes”. The 54-year-old TV presenter revealed in 2021 that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer and later underwent a mastectomy during which her breast plus two lymph glands were removed before reconstruction took place. Bradbury has since stopped drinking alcohol and has changed the priorities in her life, but revealed she has received some pushback on social media from sharing her approach. She told The Times Weekend magazine: “I wasn’t close to death, but death looked me in the eyes. So I am more focused on my health than I ever have been. “I don’t drink, I eat a healthy diet and exercise every day. “When I came home from my mastectomy, I promised I would spend time outside every day, and that is my mantra, however poor it might be in this shitty winter.” Bradbury, who has since been given the all-clear, said a doctor recently helped her reframe how she utilises her energy. She recalled: “He said, ‘This drive that you have – you’re running on a credit card. You can push through all sorts of things. But is that the best thing for you?’. “I realised you don’t have to win every race. You don’t have to overcome everything. I don’t want to max out the credit card.” The presenter previously discussed her experience in an ITV documentary, Julia Bradbury: Breast Cancer And Me, which followed her as she came to terms with her diagnosis and prepared to undergo her single mastectomy. She also regularly shares her wellness and fitness tips with her more than 270,000 Instagram followers. However, she revealed she has had pushback from people saying, “I was healthy, I go to the gym, I got cancer, and now its metastasised and I’ve got secondary cancer. So are you blaming me for my illness?”. Responding to the accusations, she added: “No. All I’m saying is, this is what I went through. It was a wake-up call, and it made me look at life differently. “It made me prioritise my sleep, emotional health, and give more time to my loved ones. “If I drink more than four units of alcohol a week, my risk of reoccurrence goes up by 28%. But people find me giving up drinking infuriating.” Bradbury, who has a 13-year-old son Zephyr, and nine-year-old twins Xanthe and Zena, said having children later in life has caused her to not be as “patient” as she feels she should be at times after becoming more set in her own ways. “People think that after you’ve got a cancer diagnosis, you become this beautiful angel with a halo, and a super mum and do everything right”, she added. “But no, you make the same mistakes. I lose my temper, and I can hear myself saying things that I can’t believe I’m saying. “None of us know what we’re doing, really. We’re just doing our best. I know they do have lots of love. They are told that they’re loved every day.”Stalled engines? Driverless routes and roboshuttlesOver the past few months, United States-based airlines, whether it would be the full-service carriers such as Delta Air Lines or companies on the other side of the spectrum, like Spirit Airlines, have emphasized that passengers have preferred more premium options, especially after the pandemic. While some of the changes that airlines have announced will take time to materialize, there has been a clear trend of US-based carriers adding more premium capacity to their domestic networks. Premium seats outpacing economy seats According to Visual Approach Analytics analysis, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways , and Spirit Airlines have added a substantial number – except Hawaiian Airlines – of premium seats to their networks in 2024 compared to 2019. The firm pointed out that scheduled economy seats on domestic US routes have grown by 4% since 2019, while premium seats have grown by 14%. While American is now leading the pack in terms of premium seats, overtaking Delta, which was the number one premium seat provider on domestic routes in the US in 2019. United Airlines has added 24.8% of premium domestic seats since 2019. Alaska Airlines and Spirit Airlines also added more than 20% of premium seats compared to 2019, showcasing that airlines that have not been associated with a premium travel experience – more in the case with Spirit rather than Alaska – have jumped on the trend and attempted to lure higher yield passengers with more comfortable cabins onboard. In July, the Seattle-based carrier announced that it would add 1.3 million premium seats to its Boeing 737 fleet annually starting this September. Earlier in 2024, Alaska retrofitted its entire regional fleet and added 400,000 premium seats to its Embraer E175s. When presenting the ‘Alaska Accelerate’ plan earlier this month, the carrier said it also plans to expand premium cabins on Hawaiian's widebody aircraft fleet. Currently, the airline’s Airbus A330-200 and Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner cabins have an 18-point and 12-point gap in premium seating compared to US competitors operating widebodies, respectively. By 2027, the group plans to have a 29% premium mix on Alaska and Hawaiian aircraft. However, the destinations were outlined to showcase potentially shorter flight times from Seattle than from Los Angeles or San Francisco. Following the money Meanwhile, during Delta's investor day last month, CEO Ed Bastian, noted that he always gets questions about the company’s strategy, including whether the carrier is worried that more airlines are trying to get into the premium space and potentially catch up. “I said if I were them, I [would] do the same thing. That's where the money is [...].” However, Bastian reflected that Delta has invested in its airport locations, fleet, technology, free Wi-Fi , international network, and people, noting that those investments are the foundation of a premium airline. Glen Hauenstein, the carrier's President, continued that train of thought, noting that once he bought his first nice car, he had not gone back. What the airline has garnered over the years is that travelers follow a similar pattern: after they have flown in a premium cabin, they tend not to go back to the lower classes. “[...] the life cycle starts when you're young, and fares were the only thing that matters. And then as you get older and you can afford more and want more and it's really been enlightening to unlock this life cycle of a customer and understand them.” Delta pointed out that premium consumers have been thriving, that millennials have more wealth than prior generations, and they are willing to spend their non-essential cash on luxury travel. “What I think is so exciting, a better future, as Ed [Bastian – ed. note] pointed out, is the millennials and how strong the Delta brand has been over the last 10 years to attract the best millennials.” When American's shareholders grilled the airline during the annual general meeting (AGM) in June, asking why its current management has been “treating this airline as a domestic low-cost carrier, while the other two leading network carriers are developing and branding their product more efficiently and productively,” the airline admitted that customers have been seeing premium experiences as a differentiator. “American currently offers more premium seats than any other U.S. airline, and that number will only grow. In fact, by 2026 the number of premium seats on our fleet is expected to grow by more than 20%.” American Airlines pointed out that its net loss was largely underpinned by one-time charges related to labor agreements. Low-cost carriers going upmarket In response to these changing customer expectations, US-based low-cost carriers, such as Frontier Airlines , Spirit, and Southwest Airlines , have announced changes to their cabins, underpinned by more premium experiences. While Spirit Airlines entered into voluntary Chapter 11 proceedings on November 18th, the airline still outlined that it plans to become more of an up-market carrier post-Chapter 11 , also admitting that following the pandemic, passengers have swayed toward premium experiences. Southwest changed something that has been the focal point of its passenger experience since its inception, introducing assigned seating , more premium seats, and other cabin-related improvements. On December 3rd, Frontier announced that it would introduce a first-class seat in the first two rows of its aircraft , which will be available to passengers starting in late 2025. Barry Biffle, carrier's CEO, said that the company listened to its passengers, who wanted more premium options, like first class seating, attainable seat upgrades, and others. Biffle concluded that the changes represented an exciting new chapter for the low-cost carrier. The following day, Biffle equated passengers who try to avoid paying for carry-on luggage to thieves in an interview with Reuters . The CEO added that he hoped the new administration would allow the airline to focus on important issues, such as safety, rather than “regulating prices and regulating experiences.” Buttigieg responded to the comments Delta Air Lines' CEO had made in November.Michigan, Ohio State fight broken up with police pepper spray after Wolverines stun Buckeyes 13-10
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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A fight broke out at midfield after Michigan stunned No. 2 Ohio State 13-10 on Saturday as Wolverines players attempted to plant their flag and were met by Buckeyes who confronted them. Police had to use pepper spray to break up the players, who threw punches and shoves in the melee that overshadowed the rivalry game. Ohio State police said in a statement “multiple officers representing Ohio and Michigan deployed pepper spray.” Ohio State police will investigate the fight, according to the statement. After the Ohio State players confronted their bitter rivals at midfield, defensive end Jack Sawyer grabbed the top of the Wolverines' flag and ripped it off the pole as the brawl moved toward the Michigan bench. Eventually, police officers rushed into the ugly scene. Ohio State coach Ryan Day said he understood the actions of his players. “There are some prideful guys on our team who weren't going to sit back and let that happen,” Day said. The two Ohio State players made available after the game brushed off questions about it. Michigan running back Kalel Mullings, who rushed for 116 yards and a touchdown, didn't like how the Buckeyes players involved themselves in the Wolverines' postgame celebration. He called it “classless.” “For such a great game, you hate to see stuff like that after the game," he said in an on-field interview with Fox Sports. “It’s just bad for the sport, bad for college football. But at the end of the day, you know some people got to — they got to learn how to lose, man. ... We had 60 minutes, we had four quarters, to do all that fighting.” Michigan coach Sherrone Moore said everybody needs to do better. “So much emotions on both sides," he said. "Rivalry games get heated, especially this one. It’s the biggest one in the country, so we got to handle that better.” Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballSen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) on Tuesday assailed President-elect Donald Trump’s suggestion that he and other former members of the defunct House Jan. 6 committee be imprisoned . Trump advocated that those on the former panel who investigated the 2021 U.S. Capitol riot and his role in overturning the 2020 election should “go to jail.” “I don’t think the incoming president should be threatening his political opponents with jail time,” Schiff told reporters on his first full day as a senator . “That’s not the kind of talk we should hear from the president in a democracy, nor do I think that a pardon is necessary for the members of the Jan. 6 committee.” President Joe Biden is weighing preemptive pardons over fears Trump may seek retribution against Schiff and other high-profile members of the bipartisan panel, including former Chairman Bennie Thomson (D-MS), Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), and former Rep. Liz Cheney. Biden is also considering pardons for other political foes who could come under Trump's microscope. “We are proud of the work we did in that committee,” Schiff continued. “It was a fundamental oversight obligation to investigate the first attempt to interfere with the peaceful transfer of power in our history.” Trump said in an NBC Meet the Press interview that aired over the weekend that he would not direct Justice Department officials to bring charges against the committee members but accused them of engaging in unspecified criminal activity. “For what they did, honestly, they should go to jail,” Trump said. In a separate portion, Trump said that “retribution will be through success.” He's also vowed to pardon those charged with and convicted of crimes related to the Capitol riot. KEY DATES FOR THE 2024 PRESIDENTIAL TRANSITION The apparent threat to jail political opponents left Republicans in the Senate, conservatives and centrists alike, dodging questions Tuesday about the incoming president’s rhetoric. “If there’s something that needs to be looked at there, I’m sure the appropriate authorities will look at it,” incoming Senate GOP Leader John Thune (R-SD) said of jailing Jan. 6 committee members. “But I don’t have a comment, really, on those statements.”
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Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy It's been well publicised that 2024 was a big year for elections, with billions of people in at least 60 countries going to the polls. The year started with votes in the world's largest country, India, and is ending in the wake of an annulled election in Romania over accusations of Russian interference. As a data correspondent, I spent most of this year covering what were arguably the two most influential polls: the UK general election in July, and the US presidential election in November. From an outside glance, the two electoral events had little in common; not least because Sir Keir Starmer and President-elect Donald Trump are far apart in most aspects of their character. In the UK, Labour won by a landslide; a majority of 156 seats, and a 10 per cent majority in national vote share. In the US, Trump dominated the electoral college, but in the end won just a 1.6 per cent national majority over Kamala Harris. In both cases, the incumbent government was voted out, in no uncertain terms. Indeed, these elections shared some key similarities which may point to trends in the future of global politics, particularly in the digital age. The toolmaker and the Apprentice Before comparing the common characteristics of the UK and US elections, we must acknowledge that the choice of leaders is what largely sets them apart. This summer, Brits ushered in a moderate left-wing government led by a man who, for all his undeniable achievements, was suggested to be "too boring" to be Prime Minister. The picture across the pond is almost a total opposite. Trump was elected to a second term - a right-wing candidate who is credited with pushing Republicans further right, and whose actions over the... Alicja Hagopian
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Happy Thanksgiving Eve, everyone. To some, Thanksgiving is the best holiday of the year. Who doesn't love food and football, after all? While there are of course some understandable criticisms of the holiday, given its origin and the treatment of Native Americans in this country, most seem to still enjoy it. However, in the wake of the 2024 presidential election, one prominent columnist is calling for Joe Biden to cancel the holiday. USA Today columnist Rex Huppke, a humor columnist for the prominent outlet, doesn't fee like celebrating the holiday this week. Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images The USA TODAY columnist published a piece on Wednesday titled, "Joe Biden Must Cancel Thanksgiving. MAGA And Non-MAGA Cannot Break Bread." The USA TODAY columnist believes that in the wake of the 2024 presidential election, the holiday should not go on. "In the wake of the presidential election," Huppke writes . "The last thing any of us need to be doing is walking into potentially volatile mixed-ideology settings that often feature alcohol, long-standing feelings of familial resentment and easily thrown pies." Wesley Hitt/Getty Images He believes that things could get heated at the table. "The social media posts I see from them, along with the regular MAGA missives I receive, are just as ornery as ever, He continued. "My ears are ringing from the loud and righteous calls that people like me need to ‘better understand Trump voters.’ But I can’t shake the fact that no Trump voter has ever been asked to understand me, or tried to for that matter." Adding: "Nobody’s telling them to spend time with a family who has a transgender child and understand the damage that comes from ignorant cruelty." While things could be a bit more heated this year, is it really any worse than in 2016 or '20? Honestly, it feels like people are more comfortable with where things are at. They might not like it, but the political climate does feel a bit tamed down, compared to where it was a couple of years ago. Of course, that could end up being a very wrong sentiment. We'll have to find out on Thanksgiving - as long as Biden doesn't cancel it!
Stakeholders have challenged leadership recruitment processes across Africa, especially on the political front. They have therefore called for more actions in support of initiatives aimed at liberating African minds across all sectors to rise to the challenge of repositioning Africa as a moral and technological superpower in the spirit of the African Renaissance. The call was made yesterday by stakeholders and participants at the 10th edition of the African Roots Renaissance Roundtable (AR3), held at Wigwe University in Isiokpo, in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State. The AR3 was initiated in 2015 by Nollywood legend and university don, Dr. Sam Dede. The roundtable is held annually, exploring various themes in line with its objective to reawaken the African mind and reignite the spirit of African consciousness, especially among young people. Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Marwan Al-Akaidi, at the event, charged African leaders and citizens to go beyond conversations and begin to take Afro-centric actions that would reshape the future of the continent. The conference was themed ‘Globalization, the New World Order and the Hijacked Concept of Africanism’. At the event, which drew participants from the university community and beyond, the Vice-Chancellor said the Roundtable re-echoes the vision of the founder of Wigwe University, the late Dr Herbert Wigwe, ‘to ignite Africa’s potential for prosperity, nurture responsible fearless leaders, and become the leading university in Africa’. The Convener, Dr Dede, said the initiative was inspired by the exigent need to confront dominant negative perceptions about Africa, illuminate young minds with new paradigms of knowledge, and empower them to go beyond boundaries in driving the true African narratives. This, according to him, will help achieve extraordinary feats to project Africa’s preeminent position in world leadership, a position denied for several years by deeply entrenched anti-Africa chronicles. On the theme, Dede said: “The pace of the race towards globalisation and the so-called ‘New World Order’ is extremely confusing and difficult to understand for some of us in Africa and the developing world. “Increasingly, the continent has become a mass of ordinary spectators around a specially designed grand chessboard, manipulated and manoeuvred by ‘forces’, sometimes spiritual, whose perception of us is that of a people with very little or no value whatsoever. And by far, the grand mind game has positioned us to accept and believe the same perception and narrative about ourselves. Given that evolution will always create the need for adaptation, Africa is desperately in a frantic race to adapt to the ‘New World Order’ and globalisation, against our original concepts of traditional or cultural values and philosophies.” In their contributions to the engaging conversation, various speakers, including Mr. Deinbofa Ere, Dr. Tayo Isijola, Dr. Kennedy Modugu, Prof. Kalu Nwosu, Dr. Henry Dienye, Dr. Ikenna Onyeachu, Mr Innocent Ekwulo, Chief Adi Wali, Dr. Gift Worlu, Mr. Emmanuel Ephraim, and Anthonia Tekuru, advocated for a redefinition of the concept of globalization to enable young Africans to locate it within the context of dignifying African values. Director of Academic Planning, Wigwe University, Professor Chinyere Ukaga; Dean, College of Engineering, Professor Makanjuola Oki; Dean, College of Management and Social Sciences, Dr. Kennedy Modugu; Dean, Faculty of Humanities, University of Port Harcourt, Professor John Yeseibo; Professor Friday Nwafor; Curator/CEO of Moriri Gallery, Mr. Kayode Adeoti; Dr. Obari Osaro; Professor B. Chima Onuoha; renowned poet, Chijioke Amu Nnnadi; Dr. Prolific Mataruse; Dr. Ekeoma Peter Kings; and publisher of Ojemba magazine online, Victor Nwokocha, were among the notable dignitaries present at the event. The convener applauded Wigwe University and the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Al-Akaidi, among others, for their support in making the ‘Roundtable’ a great success.UConn snaps ACC curse, beats North Carolina in Fenway Bowl
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No memorial site for cremation, Centre insulted Manmohan Singh: RahulThe standard Lorem Ipsum passage, used since the 1500s "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" To keep reading, please log in to your account, create a free account, or simply fill out the form below.
Hyderabad: Kancha Ilaiah’s support for women’s college new name stirs controversyMichigan, Ohio State fight broken up with police pepper spray after Wolverines stun Buckeyes 13-10No. 21 Arizona State on the rise in Kenny Dillingham's second season as coach
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