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Velumani issues clarification over meeting Nainar Nagenthran
PUNE The Vikhe-Patil family, a prominent name in Maharashtra politics, made a dramatic comeback in the recent state assembly elections, avenging their previous defeat in the Lok Sabha polls and ensuring their opponents faced significant setbacks. In the assembly election, the Mahayuti alliance clinched 10 out of 12 assembly seats in Ahmednagar district. This was a major reversal from 2019 elections when the Congress-Nationalisy Congress Party (NCP) alliance had won eight seats, an independent secured one, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-Shiv Sena bagged three seats. The political stakes were particularly high for the Vikhe-Patil family after Sujay Vikhe-Patil’s loss to NCP (SP) candidate Nilesh Lanke in the Ahmednagar Lok Sabha constituency. Sujay’s defeat had raised questions about the family’s political future. At that time, Balasaheb Thorat and other local Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) leaders played a key role in securing Lanke’s victory, with Lanke emerging as a giant killer. The tide turned in the recent assembly polls, with the Vikhe-Patils leading a calculated campaign to unseat their political adversaries. Sujay’s father, Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, retained the Shirdi seat he has held since 1995, defeating Congress’s Prabhavati Ghogare by a margin of over 70,000 votes, despite an intense campaign by MVA leaders. This time, the Vikhe-Patil family orchestrated a counter-attack, ensuring the defeat of major MVA figures. Eight-time MLA and Congress stalwart Balasaheb Thorat was unseated in Sangamner, a constituency dominated by Thorat’s institutions and influence. Similarly, Nilesh Lanke’s wife, Rani, faced defeat in Parner at the hands of a fresh face Kashinath Date from NCP. It was a tough time for the Vikhe-Patil family after the Lok Sabha loss, said Sujay. “Our political foes made numerous allegations. We waited patiently and, when the opportunity arose, delivered a fitting response in Parner and Sangamner,” he said. Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil and Sujay reportedly worked behind the scenes to script these key defeats in Ahmednagar district. In Sangamner, Radhakrishna ensured that his loyalist, BJP worker Amol Khatal, received the Shiv Sena ticket to contest against Thorat. In Parner, they persuaded NCP rebel Vijay Auti to back official NCP candidate Kashinath Date, preventing a split in NCP’s vote base and facilitating Date’s narrow victory over Rani Lanke. Khatal defeated Thorat by over 10,000 votes, while Date edged out Lanke by a slender margin of 1,500 votes. Thorat, who had been winning Sangamner for eight consecutive terms, had been confident of victory. Similarly, Parner, the Lankes’ stronghold since Nilesh became an MLA in 2019, witnessed an unexpected outcome. There are also rumours within Ahmednagar district that BJP leader Ram Shinde’s defeat to NCP’s Rohit Pawar in the Karjat Jamkhed constituency may have been influenced by the Vikhe-Patil faction. Shinde had distanced himself from Sujay’s Lok Sabha campaign, which reportedly led to strained relations. A close associate of the Vikhe-Patil family commented, “In Ahmednagar, whoever opposes Balasaheb Thorat is on our side, irrespective of party affiliations. This time, we conducted our own surveys, identified promising candidates, and planned meticulously to take revenge. The results speak for themselves.” Addressing victory rallies in Ahmednagar, Sujay openly acknowledged their role in defeating their rivals, cementing the Vikhe-Patil family’s resurgence in Maharashtra politics.In addition to government support, Chinese enterprises have also played a crucial role in sustaining foreign trade momentum. Many companies have actively adapted to the changing global market conditions by diversifying their export markets, enhancing product quality, and embracing digital transformation. Through these efforts, Chinese companies have been able to maintain and even increase their presence in international markets, contributing to the overall resilience of China's foreign trade sector.
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Throughout the trial, the defense argued that Smith had acted in self-defense and that his actions were justified given the circumstances. They portrayed Johnson as the instigator of the altercation, citing his alleged aggressive behavior as the catalyst for Smith's violent response. Despite these claims, the prosecution presented evidence refuting the notion of self-defense and emphasizing the disproportionate use of force by Smith.
Empowering educators: UoG-HEC collaborative workshop concludesThe Irish General Election 2024 will be held on Friday, November 29 after Irish President Michael D. Higgins dissolved the 33rd Dáil Éireann (Irish Parliament) at the request of Taoiseach Simon Harris on November 8. The last Irish General Election was held in February 2020. In the Irish General Election 2024, the number of members in the Dáil (Teachtaí Dála, "TDs") will increase to 174 from 160, and the number of Dáil constituencies will increase to 43 from 39. In Ireland, the party that wins the most Dáil seats gains control - or, sometimes, multiple parties will agree to govern as a coalition. The leader of the party in control is typically voted into office as Taoiseach (Prime Minister) by the Dáil when it enters session following the election. The outgoing Dáil saw three parties form a coalition to win control - Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil, and The Green Party. Leo Varadkar (Fine Gael) and Micheál Martin (Fianna Fáil) both served as Taoiseach during this term of the Dáil Éireann, while Simon Harris (Fine Gael) is the current Taoiseach. Ireland's Electoral Commission says that there are currently 30 political parties registered to contest elections in Ireland. RTÉ News reports that there are 20 parties running candidates in this year's election, as well as 171 Independents who are part of no party. In the 2020 Irish General Election, nine different parties won seats in the Dáil - Fianna Fáil (38 seats), Sinn Féin (37), Fine Gael (35), Greens (12), Labour (6), Social Democrats (6), People Before Profit - Solidarity (6), Aontú (1), and Independents for Change (4). 19 Independents also won seats. According to RTÉ News , there are 686 candidate nominations in the running to contest the Irish General Election 2024. RTÉ notes that no single party is fielding enough candidates to win a majority on its own in the next Dáil. On Wednesday evening, less than two days before polls open, a Red C / Business Post opinion poll of more than 1,000 people had Fianna Fáil in the lead by a slim margin: Ireland uses proportional representation (PR) for voting in elections, with each voter having a single transferable vote (STV). In this system, voters can choose to vote for as many, or as few candidates as they like, in order of their preference. The voter’s first preference vote – the candidate they give their number 1 vote to – is most important and is always counted. A voter’s second (and further preferences) may be counted if their preferred candidate is eliminated at the end of a round of counting, or is elected with a surplus. These are known as transfers. Counting the votes sometimes day several days to complete. Sign up to IrishCentral's newsletter to stay up-to-date with everything Irish! General Election 2024 slogan: "Moving Ireland forward, together." General Election 2024 issues: Helping families and businesses cope with high prices; A major programme of investment and reform in health services; Further expanding homebuilding and support for first-time buyers and renters; Support for safe, clean and successful communities; Protecting Ireland’s economy and its voice in Europe and the wider world; Investment in schools and all levels of education. Party leader: TD Micheál Martin, since 2011. Martin is currently Ireland's Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs; he served as Taoiseach from June 2020 through December 2022. Seats won in 2020: 38, the most of any one party. Candidates running in 2024: 82. (83 if you include Seán Ó Fearghaíl, the current who is automatically re-elected as a member of the next Dáil.) Social Media: Website , Facebook , X . You can read Fianna Fáil's General Election Manifesto 2024 here . Micheál Martin. General Election 2024 slogan: "Securing your future." General Election 2024 issues: Giving our children the best start in life; Delivering homes and building better communities; Having a fair but firmer migration and criminal justice system; Protecting the economy and investing in your future. Party leader: TD Simon Harris. Harris has been serving as Taoiseach since April 2024 following the shock resignation of party colleague Leo Varadkar which was announced in March. Seats won in 2020: 35, the third most of any one party. Candidates running in 2024: 80. Social Media: Website , Facebook , X . You can read Fine Gael's General Election 2024 manifesto here . Simon Harris. (RollingNews.ie) General Election 2024 slogan: "Greens deliver." General Election 2024 issues: Climate action that makes life better; More homes in the right places; Support for children and families. Party leader: TD Roderic O'Gorman, since July 2024. O'Gorman, currently Ireland's Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth, became leader of the Greens upon Eamon Ryan's resignation in June after 13 years at the helm. Seats won in 2020: 12. Candidates running in 2024: 43. Social Media: Website , Facebook , X . You can read The Green Party's General Election 2024 manifesto here . Roderic O'Gorman. (RollingNews.ie) General Election 2024 slogan: "The choice for change." General Election 2024 issues: Housing; Health; €10 a day childcare; Scrap the USC for average workers; Abolish the means test for carers; Planning for Irish Unity; Tackling government waste; Investing in communities. Party leader: TD Mary Lou McDonald, since 2018. McDonald is currently the leader of the Opposition in the Dáil. Seats won in 2020: 37, the second most of any one party. Candidates running in 2024: 71. Social Media: Website , Facebook , X . You can read Sinn Féin's General Election 2024 manifesto here . Mary Lou McDonald. (RollingNews.ie) General Election 2024 slogan: "Building better together." General Election 2024 issues: Housing; Cost of living; Climate; Work; Health; Childcare. Party leader: TD Ivana Bacik, since March 2022. Seats won in 2020: 6. Candidates running in 2024: 32. Social Media: Website , Facebook , X . You can read Labour's General Election 2024 manifesto here . Ivana Bacik. (RollingNews.ie) General Election 2024 slogan: #ForTheFuture, #ItStartsHere General Election 2024 issues: Building 50,000 affordable purchase homes; Fully implementing Sláintecare; Reaching climate targets; Appointing a full cabinet Minister for Disability; Building high quality public childcare. Party leader: TD Holly Cairns, since March 2023. Seats won in 2020: 6. Candidates running 2024: 26. Social Media: Website , Facebook , X . You can read Social Democrats' General Election 2024 manifesto here . Holly Cairns. (RollingNews.ie) General Election 2024 slogan: "End 100 years of Fine Fail / Fine Gael. Another Ireland is possible." General Election 2024 issues: Provide affordable housing; Stop rising inequality and protect the many from the Cost of Living Crisis; Provide public services free at the point of delivery; Provide care for those who need it; Cut carbon emissions and protect our biodiversity; Defend our neutrality and protect refugees; and Stand with Palestine. Party leader: TD Richard Boyd-Barrett, since October 2024. The party had previously run under collective ownership. Seats won in 2020: 6. Candidates running 2024: 42. Social Media: Website , Facebook , X . You can read People Before Profit-Solidarity's General Election 2024 manifesto here . Richard Boyd-Barrett. (RollingNews.ie) General Election 2024 slogan: " #AontúAccountability." General Election 2024 issues: Economic justice; Fix political culture; Unified economy; Right to Life; Brexit & Irish Unity; Jobs & employment; Environment; Farming & Rural Ireland; Health; Irish Language; Regional Development; Workers' Rights; Housing Crisis; Crime & Antisocial Behaviour; Safeguarding Values; Immigration. Party leader: TD Peadar Tóibín, since January 2019. Seats won in 2020: 1. Candidates running 2024: 28. 10 Peadar Tóibín. (RollingNews.ie) General Election 2024 slogan: " Common Sense Solutions for a Better Ireland." General Election 2024 issues: Affordable homes for “Generation rent, Declare a housing emergency; More healthcare staff, reduced waiting lists, easier access to care; Freeze “Green taxes” reward workers, support older people; 1 Billion Euros in additional supports for agriculture; Secure our borders, new courts to deal with illegal immigration; Tough on crime, safer cities and safer rural communities. Party leader: TD Michael Collins, since November 2023. Seats won in 2020: 0. (Party founded in 2023). Candidates running 2024: 28. Social Media: Website , Facebook , X . You can read Independent Ireland's General Election 2024 manifesto here . Michael Collins. (RollingNews.ie) Other parties also running candidates in the Irish General Election 2024 are the Irish People (21 candidates), Irish Freedom Party (16), National Party (9), Liberty Republic (6), Centre Party of Ireland (3), Independents 4 Change (3), Party for Animal Welfare (3), Rabharta (3), Ireland First (2), 100% Redress (1), and Right to Change (1).The expanded Big Ten is poised to be a major player in this season's College Football Playoff. The 18-team conference had three of the top-four teams in the AP poll this week — No. 1 Oregon, No. 2 Ohio State and No. 4 Penn State. A one-loss Indiana team is ranked 10th but is still very much a contender to make the playoff, given how many Southeastern Conference teams have three defeats or more. Indiana's rise has been perhaps the Big Ten's biggest story this season. Much of the spotlight was on newcomers Oregon, Southern California, UCLA and Washington, but aside from the top-ranked Ducks, that foursome has struggled to impress. Meanwhile, the Hoosiers won their first 10 games under new coach Curt Cignetti before losing at Ohio State last weekend. Oregon beat Ohio State 32-31 back in October, and if the Buckeyes beat rival Michigan this weekend, they'll earn a rematch with the Ducks for the Big Ten title. And it's entirely possible another matchup between those two teams awaits in the CFP. Dillon Gabriel has quarterbacked Oregon to an unbeaten record, throwing for 3,066 yards and 22 touchdowns in 11 games. But don't overlook Iowa's Kaleb Johnson and his 21 rushing TDs, and quarterback Kurtis Rourke has been a big part of Indiana's improvement. Penn State's Abdul Carter has eight sacks and two forced fumbles and could be one of the top edge rushers drafted this year. Oregon (11-0, 8-0), Ohio State (10-1, 7-1), Penn State (10-1, 7-1), Indiana (10-1, 7-1), Illinois (8-3, 5-3), Iowa (7-4, 5-3), Michigan (6-5, 4-4), Minnesota (6-5, 4-4), Washington (6-5, 4-4), Southern California (6-5, 4-5), Nebraska (6-5, 3-5) and Rutgers (6-5, 3-5) have already reached the six-win mark for bowl eligibility. Michigan State (5-6, 3-5) and Wisconsin (5-6, 3-5) can join them. There may not be many firings in general at the top level of college football. The prospect of sharing revenue with athletes in the future might lead schools to be more judicious about shedding one coach and hiring a new one. Who should be most worried in the Big Ten? Well, Lincoln Riley is struggling to stay above .500 in his third season at USC. Purdue is 1-10, but coach Ryan Walters is only in his second season. Maryland's Mike Locksley has been there six years and his Terrapins are 4-7, but this was his first real step backward after guiding the team to three straight bowl wins. Cignetti has shown it is possible for a coaching change to push a previously moribund program to some impressive heights in a short amount of time — but the improvement has been more incremental at Michigan State following Jonathan Smith's arrival. Sherrone Moore wasn't a completely unknown commodity at Michigan after he won some massive games in place of a suspended Jim Harbaugh last year. But in his first season completely at the helm, the Wolverines have declined significantly following their national title a season ago. The Big Ten is home to one of the most dynamic freshmen in the country in Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith. He has 52 catches for 899 yards and nine touchdowns. Highly touted quarterback Dylan Raiola has teamed up with fellow freshman Jacory Barney (49 catches) to lead Nebraska to bowl eligibility. Ohio State is on track to land the Big Ten's top class, according to 247 Sports, but the big news recently was quarterback Bryce Underwood flipping from LSU to Michigan. If the Wolverines do in fact keep Underwood in his home state, that would be a big development for Moore. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
In a world where celebrities are often scrutinized and criticized for their personal lives, Yang Shize's approach to addressing the rumors about his love life stands out as a refreshing and inspiring example of how to handle gossip with grace and humor. His hidden poem may have been short and simple, but its impact has been significant, reminding us all that a little wit and cleverness can go a long way in navigating the ups and downs of fame.President-elect Donald Trump has chosen health economist Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, a critic of pandemic lockdowns and vaccine mandates, to lead the National Institutes of Health, the nation’s leading medical research agency. Trump, in a statement Tuesday evening, said Bhattacharya, a 56-year-old physician and professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, will work in cooperation with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., his pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, “to direct the Nation’s Medical Research, and to make important discoveries that will improve Health, and save lives.” “Together, Jay and RFK Jr. will restore the NIH to a Gold Standard of Medical Research as they examine the underlying causes of, and solutions to, America’s biggest Health challenges, including our Crisis of Chronic Illness and Disease,” he wrote. The decision to choose Bhattacharya for the post is yet another reminder of the ongoing impact of the covid pandemic on the politics on public health. Bhattacharya was one of three authors of the Great Barrington Declaration, an October 2020 open letter maintaining that lockdowns were causing irreparable harm. The document — which came before the availability of covid-19 vaccines and during the first Trump administration — promoted “herd immunity,” the idea that people at low risk should live normally while building up immunity to covid-19 through infection. Protection should focus instead on people at higher risk, the document said. “I think the lockdowns were the single biggest public health mistake,” Bhattacharya said in March 2021 during a panel discussion convened by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. The Great Barrington Declaration was embraced by some in the first Trump administration, even as it was widely denounced by disease experts. Then- NIH director Dr. Francis Collins called it dangerous and “not mainstream science.” His nomination would need to be approved by the Senate. Trump on Tuesday also announced that Jim O’Neill, a former HHS official and Silicon Valley investor, will serve as deputy secretary of the sprawling agency. Trump said O’Neill “will oversee all operations and improve Management, Transparency, and Accountability to, Make America Healthy Again,” the president-elect announced. O’Neill is a longtime associate of billionaire entrepreneur Peter Thiel, one of Trump’s leading backers from the tech industry. Thiel and O’Neill co-founded Mithril Capital Management, a venture fund that invests in medical technology and other startup companies. O’Neill previously served in HHS under George W. Bush and was considered to head the Food and Drug Administration during Trump’s first term. He has expressed disdain for federal regulation, including FDA’s approach to regulating emerging drugs and other technologies. O’Neill also worked on some of Thiel’s signature projects, often reflecting his libertarian philosophy. He served on the board of a Thiel-funded nonprofit that aimed to develop man-made islands that would float outside U.S. territory, allowing them to experiment with new forms of government. He also helped form and run the Thiel Fellowship, which awards $100,000 to young entrepreneurs who want to leave school to pursue a business or scientific venture. O’Neill is the only one of Trump’s health picks so far who brings previous experience working inside the HHS bureaucracy. Trump’s previous choices to lead public health agencies — including Kennedy, Dr. Mehmet Oz for Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator and Dr. Marty Makary for FDA commissioner — have all been Washington outsiders who are vowing to shake up the agencies. Bhattacharya, who faced restrictions on social media platforms because of his views, was also a plaintiff in Murthy v. Missouri, a Supreme Court case contending that federal officials improperly suppressed conservative views on social media as part of their efforts to combat misinformation. The Supreme Court sided with the Biden administration in that case. After Elon Musk acquired Twitter in 2022, he invited Bhattacharya to the company’s headquarters to learn more about how his views had been restricted on the platform, which Musk renamed X. More recently, Bhattacharya has posted on X about scientists leaving the site and joining the alternative site Bluesky, mocking Bluesky as “their own little echo chamber.” Bhattacharya has argued that vaccine mandates that barred unvaccinated people from activities and workplaces undermined Americans’ trust in the public health system. He is a former research fellow at the Hoover Institution and an economist at the RAND Corporation. The National Institutes of Health falls under HHS, which Trump has nominated Kennedy to oversee. The NIH’s $48 billion budget funds medical research on vaccines, cancer and other diseases through competitive grants to researchers at institutions across the nation. The agency also conducts its own research with thousands of scientists working at NIH labs in Bethesda, Maryland. Among advances that were supported by NIH money are a medication for opioid addiction, a vaccine to prevent cervical cancer, many new cancer drugs and the speedy development of mRNA covid-19 vaccines.