Former President Donald Trump might make another bid to become the next POTUS in 2024

Donald Trump appears to be keen to make a bid for the next POTUS in 2024. He was back on the campaign trail in Pennsylvania. It was his first rally after the search by the FBI of his Mar-a-Lago estate. That happened last month. At the rally he expressed his views and kept repeating – “I may just have to do it again. You'll be... stay tuned. I have to do it again. …. May just have to do it again.” He went on to add - "But first, we have to win a historic victory for the Republican Party this November." The mid-term elections are looming on the horizon and President Joe Biden said the followers of the previous president believe in a distorted ideology. That is to look at America and see nothing but carnage, darkness and despair. Donald Trump hints he may run for2024 presidency, saying 'I may just have to do it again'. On the subject of the FBI search of his home in Florida, Trump described it as “shocking abuses of power by any administration in American history.” He went on to add that it was a witch-hunt against him.

Incidentally, the FBI did conduct a raid on the estate of former president Donald Trump. That was on 8 August and it was part of an investigation into whether he had taken classified records from the White House. The US Justice Department says the investigation revealed presence of more than 11,000 government documents marked as “classified.” Investigators conducting the criminal probe are focused on two aspects. First is why the records were stored at the estate. Second, whether the Trump team intentionally misled them about the unlawful presence of government secrets. Donald Trump insists - "The Biden administration invaded the home of their chief political opponent, who is absolutely destroying him and everyone else in the polls, I hate to say it."

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More embarrassment for Trinamool Congress as CBI arrests another of its leaders in a chit fund case

Durga Puja for Bengalis usually means a trip to the hill station of Darjeeling

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle arrive in Britain minus their children

Bristol Zoo, the fifth oldest zoo in the world, to close after 186 years

Tala Bridge, the lifeline of North Kolkata, to reopen before the Pujas

China and Russia launch war games to confront tensions with the United States

Taiwan shoots down civilian drone near China

Mamata Banerjee expresses gratitude to UNESCO for awarding Cultural Heritage tag to Kolkata’s Durga Puja

Jilebi and Vada-pau make it to a list of 50 of the best street foods in Asia

Theresa May to gift Donald Trump a quaich when she meets him in the Oval Office

British Prime Minister Theresa May is going to the White House with gifts for her hosts. The gifts include a hamper full of produce from Chequers, the PM's country retreat in Buckinghamshire for First Lady Melania Trump.
Theresa May will also carry an engraved 'quaich' which is a traditional two-handled Scottish drinking cup or bowl for Donald Trump, the President, when she meets him in the Oval Office as announced by 10 Downing Street.
This has been reported in news.sky.com dated 26 January 2017.

The 'quaich' should be a delight for the President, whose mother was from Scotland and who is proud of his tartan roots. But, the 45th President of the US doesn't drink alcohol. He never has. Of course, he is not the first teetotal US president. George W Bush gave up alcohol having been a heavy drinker in his youth.
The reason for Donald Trump to become a teetotaler is because his brother Fred had died at 42 from alcoholism. Brief information on the gifts have been furnished by Downing Street - the hamper for Melania would contain "a range of produce including Chequers apple juice, damson jam and marmalade, as well as Bakewell tarts and cranberry and white chocolate shorties".
Incidentally, the Quaich is described as an ancient Scottish artefact and its form has not changed for centuries. The term "Quaich" originated in the mid-16th century from the Scottish Gaelic word "cuach" which means cup.


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Tejas Light Combat Aircraft to debut at the 2017 Republic Day parade

Many of the Trump hats are not made in America but in China, Vietnam and Bangladesh

Chinese firm to invest over Rs 1300 crore in Toto rickshaw manufacture in Howrah


Didi visualizes industrial revival via nalen gur (satire)

Lord Shiva and the sight of potbellied policemen (satire)

In the wonderland of health drinks


Shah Rukh Khan's movie Raees to release in Dubai on January 25

James Cameron plans to resurrect his Terminator franchise in 2019

Bollywood actress Vidya Balan wants more power to women in 2017


ISIS destroys portions of Roman amphitheatre in the ancient city of Palmyra

Kim Jong-Un plans to send a message to Donald Trump by launching a missile

Bomb blast in a vegetable market in Parachinar kills at least 20

President-elect Donald Trump plans to do nothing in the first two days in office

President-elect Donald Trump is, undoubtedly, going to be a new type of President of the US - he will take over office on 20 January, Friday but would begin to work only from Monday. He wants enjoy his first weekend in office by taking off.
He plans to do absolutely nothing for his first two days in office and that his "day one is gonna be Monday". The reason as he has indicated is that he doesn't want his signing of orders to clash with the celebrations. This has been reported in nzherald.co.nz dated 17 January 2017.

President-elect Donald Trump has also clarified that one of the first orders he plans to sign would be strong borders. This has surprised many because he had earlier said that he would spend his very first day signing papers to begin the process of erasing President Barack Obama's legacy. He had mentioned that within one hour after assuming office he would begin swiftly to remove criminal illegal immigrants from the USA - he had said this in the course of a speech in Des Moines back in August.
He had also promised to begin plans to build a wall on the Mexican border, talk to manufacturers about keeping jobs in the US and remove gun-free zones within his first 24 hours.
Obviously, after winning the election, he has recast his priorities.


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CISF prevents students of Manipur from entering the Taj Mahal

Kolkata to soon get rice and fish curry for Rs 21 at selected outlets

Bhilai tries to set five world records in Yoga with one lakh people participating


In the wonderland of women centric products

In the wonderland of banyans and messages

In the wonderland of toothpastes


Avatar star Zoe Saldana in Ben Affleck's Live By Night

Vin Diesel and Deepika Padukone in Mumbai to promote XXX: Return of Xander Cage

Aamir Khan's Dangal expected to cross Rs 100 crore in first weekend


Migrant boat capsizes off Libya's coast - 100 feared dead

Defensive anti-aircraft missiles around Moscow in preparation for a war?

US army veteran shoots dead five persons in Fort Lauderdale airport, Florida

President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration has collected private donations of £74m

President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration has already collected private donations of £74m and donations are still coming in. In contrast, the collections for Barack Obama were £45m for the first inauguration and £35m for his second. The leftover funds and excess inaugural dollars were used to help pay for the annual White House Easter egg roll and other public events.
This has been reported in news.sky.com dated 14 January 2017.

Most of the donors remain anonymous and the committee has to declare their names within 90 days. Blue chip donors named so far include aircraft maker Boeing, which has donated £820,000 - they are the makers of Air Force One. Oil and gas giant Chevron has donated £410,000 while AT&T has supplied extra mobile capacity for the National Mall. It is understood that public funds will pay for the £4.1m cost of building a bunting-decorated 10,000 square-foot platform for the swearing-in.
Incidentally, the President-elect's inaugural team has not been able to win over and attract the kind of A-list performers who had turned out in force for Mr Obama. Artists like Elton John, Andrea Bocelli, Celine Dion and Charlotte Church have all publicly declined an invitation.


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30th International kite festival in Gujarat, Telangana, Delhi and Karnataka

McDonald's enters The Vatican with an outlet near St. Peter's Square

Steel mugs in lavatories of trains stolen in spite of being chained to the walls


Lord Shiva laments over full Moon and a burnt roti (satire)

Didi’s Rose garden withers in the valley (satire)

Moody in the world of pickpockets and beggars (satire)


Juhi Chawla creates awareness about ill effects of plastic pollution

Nawazuddin Siddiqui on his film 'Haraamkhor' that premiered in the 15th annual New York Indian Film Festival

9th edition of Jaipur International Film Festival will screen 134 films


Car bomb kills at least 43 in the town of Azaz in Syria - most of the dead are civilians

US army veteran shoots dead five persons in Fort Lauderdale airport, Florida

Prison riots in Brazil leave at least 60 dead - some were beheaded

'A-list celebrities' not attending Trump's inauguration - The Beach Boys could

'A-list celebrities' of Hollywood are not interested to attend inauguration ceremony of Donald Trump - he has apparently said that he does not need stars at his inauguration after his invitation to perform at the swearing in was turned down by another set of 'A-list celebrities'.
The president-elect would be happy to have 'the people' at his swearing in scheduled for January 20 in Washington D.C.
This has been reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 23 December 2016.

The Beach Boys had been approached about potentially performing at the inauguration and, it is believed that the Californian rock band was considering the offer - they have not turned it down outright.
However, iconic diva Celine Dion said she would not perform at the Trump celebration, in spite of an intense lobbying effort from Las Vegas casino magnate Steve Wynn. He had indicated that he would be able to convince Dion, but the 48-year-old singer was not willing.
Others to reject offers to take the stage at the internationally-broadcast event include Garth Brooks, famed opera singer Andrea Bocelli and rock legend Elton John.


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Squirrels of Seattle, Boston and Toronto are stealing Christmas light bulbs

Petrol tanker crashes into other vehicles in Kenya - leaves at least 30 dead

Qantas to fly non-stop from Perth to London in 17 and a half hours


Moody and the half pant brigade (satire)

Lord Shiva cracks jokes and Durga fries samosas (satire)

Didi sharpens her weapons to conquer the Hindi belt (satire)


AR Rahman contender for Oscar nomination for Pele: Birth of a Legend

Julia Roberts of 'Pretty Woman' fame to star in her first TV series

Meryl Streep creates history with her 30th Golden Globes nomination


Suicide bomber kills at least 49 people in a military camp in Aden

US estimates that active ISIS fighters in Iraq and Syria have dropped considerably

Syrian forces shoot dead 82 Aleppo civilians in their homes

Donald Trump is the Time 'Person of the Year.'

President-elect Donald Trump has been named Time 'Person of the Year.' He beat the finalists that included Hillary Clinton, Beyonce and Vladmir Putin. This was the second year in a row that Donald Trump had been a finalist of the accolade. Hillary Clinton came in second and Hackers came in third.
On the recognition, Trump commented that 'to be on the cover of Time as Person of the Year is a tremendous honor' while Time editor-in-chief Nancy Gibbs said it was the easiest decision the magazine has ever made for the honor.
This has been reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 7 December 2016.

Time had earlier revealed that Prime Minister Modi was the winner of the online reader's poll for the 'Person of the Year' honor by winning 18 percent of the vote. He, thus, finished well ahead of the other finalists. There was a three-way tie for second place, with Trump, President Barack Obama and Julian Assange all of whom finished with 7 percent of the vote.
Last year, Trump was beaten by German Chancellor Angela Merkel.


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Make in Odisha conclave attracts investment of more than Rs 22000 crore on first day

Guwahati airport could become a major airline hub and gateway to the Southeast Asia

Patna zoo adds Chyawanprash to its menu to protect chimpanzees from cold


Lord Shiva cracks jokes and Durga fries samosas (satire)

Moody hates black money and strikes at midnight (satire)

Didi sharpens her weapons to conquer the Hindi belt (satire)


Ohio student stabs people with a butcher knife before being shot dead

Ukraine plans missile tests, Russia responds by sending warships to the Black Sea

London Police deputes anti-terrorism patrol units under Operation Servator


Sir Roger Moore says he could play James Bond once again

President Putin grants Russian citizenship to Hollywood star Steven Seagal

US President Barack Obama presents Medal of Freedom to Tom Hanks, Bruce Springsteen, Robert De Niro, Diana Ross and Bill Gates

President-elect Donald Trump and Mitt Romney meet for dinner

President-elect Donald Trump met with Mitt Romney and Reince Priebus for dinner in New York City. Mitt Romney was a strong critic of Donald Trump during the 2016 Presidential campaign and is now set to become the next Secretary of State.
Reince Priebus is tipped to become the incoming commander-in-chief.
The three of them enjoyed a lavish meal at Jean-Georges, a French eatery near Central Park. It started with young garlic soup with thyme and sautéed frog legs.
This has been reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 30 November 2016.

This was the second meeting between Romney and Trump since the election. Even though the former Massachusetts governor was one of Trump’s biggest critics in the GOP, Trump had been considering Romney for the prominent spot in his cabinet.
After the meal, Romney indicated that he had an 'interesting and engaging' conversation with Trump and praised the president-elect for his transition into the White House. They had discussed 'affairs around the world' and that he was impressed with Trump's speech on the night he won the election.
Obviously, there is no friend or foe in politics.


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Some more interesting links -

President Pranab Mukherjee to be present for Vikramshila Mahotsav

Baliyatra fair on the banks of the Mahanadi sees over one lakh visitors on opening day

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin to bury the hatchet and work together to fight terrorism


Lord Shiva and long ATM queues - bullock carts and ATM don't gel (satire)

Moody fires cannons to eliminate mosquitoes (satire)

Fuchka Festival in Kolkata and selfies (satire)


Spanish police arrest two suspected ISIS terrorists in Barcelona and Madrid

At least 52 killed and more than 100 injured in a bomb blast at a remote Sufi shrine in Pakistan

Joint action by RFA, Royal Navy and US Coast Guard nets huge haul of cocaine from the sea


La La Land to have its Indian premiere at the Jio MAMI Film Club

Jackie Chan gets an Oscar after a 56-year career

Spider-Man: Homecoming will see Michael Keaton as Spider-Man's main adversary Vulture

President-elect Donald Trump wants to see Americans colonise the Moon

The election of Donald Trump as the next president of the United States has placed NASA at a crossroads because it could herald the return of American astronauts to the surface of the Moon. The former House speaker Newt Gingrich had suggested that the lunar colony would one day hold 13,000 settlers. It would probably qualify for statehood in the US.
This has been reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 20 November 2016.

Observers of NASA and the American space program are of the opinion that if Trump appoints key Republican ally Newt Gingrich to a top position, the US may find itself leading international efforts to build a permanent base on the lunar surface. That would be a major stepping stone toward the ultimate goal of one day sending a manned mission to Mars.
Incidentally, President Obama has gone on record as saying that he supports putting a man on Mars by the year 2030. It may be noted that between 1969 and 1972, a total of 12 American astronauts had set foot on the moon and, since then, no one has come close. However, given the present scenario, Americans might be forced to return to the Moon in view of the increasing interest in manned lunar missions from rival space programs in Europe, China, Japan, and Russia.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org


Some more interesting links -

President Pranab Mukherjee to be present for Vikramshila Mahotsav

Baliyatra fair on the banks of the Mahanadi sees over one lakh visitors on opening day

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin to bury the hatchet and work together to fight terrorism


Lord Shiva and long ATM queues - bullock carts and ATM don't gel (satire)

Moody fires cannons to eliminate mosquitoes (satire)

Fuchka Festival in Kolkata and selfies (satire)


Spanish police arrest two suspected ISIS terrorists in Barcelona and Madrid

At least 52 killed and more than 100 injured in a bomb blast at a remote Sufi shrine in Pakistan

Joint action by RFA, Royal Navy and US Coast Guard nets huge haul of cocaine from the sea


La La Land to have its Indian premiere at the Jio MAMI Film Club

Jackie Chan gets an Oscar after a 56-year career

Spider-Man: Homecoming will see Michael Keaton as Spider-Man's main adversary Vulture

Sign of things to come - Ivanka Trump sits in meeting with Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe

US President-elect Donald Trump's landmark first talks with a foreign leader show the presence of his daughter Ivanka - this is seen by some as a sign of things to come and the family's influence as he readies to take power.
The meeting between Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and US President-elect Donald Trump was held at the mogul's Trump Plaza residence and Ivanka, who is a model-turned-business executive, was in the group as it conversed in the opulent reception room.
This has been reported in nzherald.co.nz dated 19 November 2016.

While the media were shut-out of the gathering in Manhattan, images released by the Japanese government showed Ivanka and her husband, real estate developer and publisher Jared Kushner, in conversation with Abe. The pair of Ivanka and Kushner has emerged as key advisers to Trump who won the elections by beating Democrat Hillary Clinton in the November 8 election.
Also seen was former general Michael Flynn - he has reportedly been offered the post of national security adviser. However, the presence of Ivanka drew attention in protocol-conscious Japan because of rumors that Trump planned to appoint her as US ambassador to Tokyo. He apparently wanted to appoint her as ambassador, replacing current envoy Caroline Kennedy who is the daughter of assassinated US president John F. Kennedy.
Incidentally, Ivanka has already been involved in politics and is considered to be a key player in her father's business empire. She has her own fashion label and jewellery line.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org


Some more interesting links -

British Prime Minister Theresa May's visit to India - mango and visa on the agenda

Air India Express to provide improved air connectivity between Kolkata and Singapore

Mamata Banerjee to visit the United States in 2017 to woo industries


Lord Shiva’s views on Kalighat and marriages (satire)

Moody and the half pant brigade (satire)

Didi’s idea - deflate tyres to punish unruly drivers (satire)


Iraq special forces advanced into Mosul while ISIS militants killed 20

British police have foiled 12 terror plots against Britain in the last three years

No-fly zones to be imposed over jails to prevent drones from being used to smuggle drugs into prisons


Michael Fassbender says no to next James Bond - will a woman take over?

Second trailer of Wonder Woman released- will be in the cinemas in July 2017

Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) begins 11 November

President-elect Donald Trump's phone call to British Prime Minister Theresa May

President-elect Donald Trump's phone call to British Prime Minister Theresa May has revealed another side of the world leader. The casual approach has left all concerned confused. In that 10-minute conversation Donald Trump has managed to make a slip-up that has seen him labelled "un-Presidential".
In the course of the conversation, the President-elect had extended a bizarrely casual invitation to May. He had apparently said - 'if you travel to the US, you should let me know.'
This is based on a leaked transcript of his phone call with the British Prime Minister.
This has been reported in nzherald.co.nz dated 18 November 2016.

The comment of Donald Trump has raised eyebrows among officials and observers. They feel that Trump is probably not aware of the months of advance preparation that go into the overseas visit of a country's leader. AS is understood, such an overseas trip attended by May would cost tens of thousands of pounds and involve the use of the Royal Airforce luxury Voyager Jet that is reserved for such occasions.
Moreover, President-elect Donald Trump had asked Prime Minister Theresa May to convey his regards to the Queen during her next audience at Buckingham Palace. He mentioned in passing that his late mother, Mary, who was born in Scotland, was a big fan of the monarch.
The President-elect called the UK a "very special place for me and my country" and it is obvious that he has plenty of work to do when it comes to playing the part of a world leader.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org


Some more interesting links -

British Prime Minister Theresa May's visit to India - mango and visa on the agenda

Air India Express to provide improved air connectivity between Kolkata and Singapore

Mamata Banerjee to visit the United States in 2017 to woo industries


Lord Shiva’s views on Kalighat and marriages (satire)

Moody and the half pant brigade (satire)

Didi’s idea - deflate tyres to punish unruly drivers (satire)


Iraq special forces advanced into Mosul while ISIS militants killed 20

British police have foiled 12 terror plots against Britain in the last three years

No-fly zones to be imposed over jails to prevent drones from being used to smuggle drugs into prisons


Michael Fassbender says no to next James Bond - will a woman take over?

Second trailer of Wonder Woman released- will be in the cinemas in July 2017

Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) begins 11 November

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin to bury the hatchet and work together to fight terrorism

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, the two most powerful leaders in the world today, have agreed in principle to work together to tackle international terrorism and extremism. The two of them had spoken for the first time on the telephone since Donald Trump won the election.
He will be inaugurated as president on 20 January next year.
Kremlin has added that they will work towards "constructive co-operation" to improve "the extremely unsatisfactory state of Russian-US relations at present".
This has been reported in news.sky.com dated 15 November 2016.

Moscow has indicated that the pair will continue contact by phone and that they are working towards meeting in person. Relations between President Barack Obama and President Vladimir Putin had become strained over a number of issues including the Syrian war, where the countries back different sides.
In addition, there had also been tension over the Ukraine conflict, apart from allegations of Russian cyber-attacks in the just concluded election campaign.
It seems the two leaders had discussed a range of issues including the threats and challenges facing the United States and Russia, strategic economic issues and the historical US-Russia relationship. The basic intention is to bring back Russian and American relations to a stable path of development.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org


Some more interesting links -

British Prime Minister Theresa May's visit to India - mango and visa on the agenda

Air India Express to provide improved air connectivity between Kolkata and Singapore

Mamata Banerjee to visit the United States in 2017 to woo industries


Lord Shiva’s views on Kalighat and marriages (satire)

Moody and the half pant brigade (satire)

Didi’s idea - deflate tyres to punish unruly drivers (satire)


Iraq special forces advanced into Mosul while ISIS militants killed 20

British police have foiled 12 terror plots against Britain in the last three years

No-fly zones to be imposed over jails to prevent drones from being used to smuggle drugs into prisons


Michael Fassbender says no to next James Bond - will a woman take over?

Second trailer of Wonder Woman released- will be in the cinemas in July 2017

Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) begins 11 November

President-elect Donald Trump may not move into the White House

It is rumored that President-elect Donald Trump plans to spend as little time in the White House as possible. He prefers to commute from his $100 million New York penthouse by helicopter - the question is 'who will pay for the 90-minute commute to the capital.
This has been reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 14 November 2016.

It may be recalled that during the campaign trail, he would often fly back late at night to his gold-bedecked luxury home in Trump Tower so that he could wake up in his own bed. It seems he is already checking out with advisers about how many days of the week he is required to spend in the White House because he would like to spend time in New York whenever he can.
It is natural that the president-elect is reluctant to leave his 30,000 sq ft Manhattan apartment. It is spread over three floors and boasts of breathtaking views of Central Park. The luxurious penthouse has been inspired by the Palace of Versailles and has floor to ceiling marble and walls garnished in 24-carat gold.
In addition, the over-the-top decor begins with the gold and diamond front door that greets visitors and continues throughout, with ceilings painted with scenes from classical Greek myths. Moreover, golden cherubs, crown molding, lamps and ornate vases help to complete the posh modern-day palace.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org


Some more interesting links -

British Prime Minister Theresa May's visit to India - mango and visa on the agenda

Air India Express to provide improved air connectivity between Kolkata and Singapore

Mamata Banerjee to visit the United States in 2017 to woo industries


Lord Shiva’s views on Kalighat and marriages (satire)

Moody and the half pant brigade (satire)

Didi’s idea - deflate tyres to punish unruly drivers (satire)


Iraq special forces advanced into Mosul while ISIS militants killed 20

British police have foiled 12 terror plots against Britain in the last three years

No-fly zones to be imposed over jails to prevent drones from being used to smuggle drugs into prisons


Michael Fassbender says no to next James Bond - will a woman take over?

Second trailer of Wonder Woman released- will be in the cinemas in July 2017

Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) begins 11 November

Republican president-elect Donald Trump - will he accept a salary for being President?

During his campaign, Republican president-elect Donald Trump had indicated that if elected to become President of the US, he will not accept any salary. Now that he has won and will occupy the White House, questions are being raised in certain quarters on what will happen to his income.
This has been reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 12 November 2016.

It may be recalled that on September 17, 2015, Donald Trump had said in an event in Rochester, New Hampshire that the first thing he would do if he became President would be not to accept any salary. He had also said that he was 'totally self-funding' his campaign and that he 'won't take money other than the small stuff'. However, he later started fundraising for both himself and the Republican National Committee.
Right now his net worth is $3.7billion as per Forbes estimates.
Incidentally, Herbert Hoover, who made millions of dollars in mining before becoming president in 1929, and John F. Kennedy, who came from a wealthy family and became president in 1961, had both donated their presidential salaries to charity.
As per US Code - 'The President shall receive in full for his services during the term for which he shall have been elected compensation in the aggregate amount of $400,000 a year, to be paid monthly, and in addition an expense allowance of $50,000 to assist in defraying expenses relating to or resulting from the discharge of his official duties.'


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org


Some more interesting links -

British Prime Minister Theresa May's visit to India - mango and visa on the agenda

Air India Express to provide improved air connectivity between Kolkata and Singapore

Mamata Banerjee to visit the United States in 2017 to woo industries


Lord Shiva’s views on Kalighat and marriages (satire)

Moody and the half pant brigade (satire)

Didi’s idea - deflate tyres to punish unruly drivers (satire)


Iraq special forces advanced into Mosul while ISIS militants killed 20

British police have foiled 12 terror plots against Britain in the last three years

No-fly zones to be imposed over jails to prevent drones from being used to smuggle drugs into prisons


Michael Fassbender says no to next James Bond - will a woman take over?

Second trailer of Wonder Woman released- will be in the cinemas in July 2017

Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) begins 11 November

Donald Trump feels his rival Hillary Clinton cannot be trusted with America's security

As the US Presidential election enters its last phase, Republican nominee Donald Trump alleged that his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton cannot be trusted with America's security and has added that the country's generals do not want her as their boss.
This has been reported in thestatesman.com dated 4 November 2016.

Talking on the subject at a massive election rally in Salem, North Carolina, Donald Trump elaborated that Hillary Clinton cannot be trusted with America's security because she was under multiple criminal investigations for criminal conduct that put the safety of the entire nation at risk.
At the rally, Trump outlined his plan to rebuild military and support veterans. He began the rally by naming recipients of medals of honors who were present at the meeting.
He also drew attention to the fact that ISIS is on a campaign of genocide in the Middle East, torturing, drowning and burning people alive. They have slaughtered men, women and children in France, Germany, Belgium, and there are now 1,000 open ISIS investigations in the United States. There has been bloodshed in the attacks in Orlando, San Bernardino, and the recent bomb plot in New York and New Jersey.
Trump criticized Hillary saying that while we send brave men and women overseas to fight terrorists in the Middle East, she wants to open up the borders and allow those same terrorists to infiltrate the country. He indicated that a Trump Administration will suspend the Syrian Refugee program and keep radical Islamic terrorists out of the country.


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Some more interesting links -

Pine needles to produce electricity in Uttarakhand

Lost £250 wedding ring retrieved after the eight million gallon lake was drained

Jakarta to pay $1.5 for every rat caught to contain rat menace


Fuchka Festival in Kolkata and selfies (satire)

Moody fires cannons to eliminate mosquitoes (satire)

Lord Shiva’s Durga puja is about selfish people and selfies (satire)


Carey Mulligan leaves teddy bears outside gates of 10 Downing Street to protest attacks on Aleppo

Battle to liberate Mosul rages and ISIS fighters flee the city dressed as women

Group clashes in prisons in Brazil kill at least 18 inmates


The Guardians of the Galaxy 2 trailer released

Trailer of xXx: Return of Xander Cage starring Deepika Padukone launched in four Indian languages

Jackie Chan's Kung Fu Yoga to release on 28th January 2017

Hillary Clinton leads Donald Trump by 4 percent after first Presidential debate

Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton is leading Republican rival Donald Trump by 4 per cent after their first televised debate. This is as per a poll published by the Public Policy Polling (PPP) institute. It showed that Clinton received the support of 44 per cent of the 933 voters consulted in telephone or online interviews while Trump received the backing of 40 per cent of the voter sample.
This has been reported in thestatesman.com dated 30 September 2016.

According to the RealClearPolitics Web site, which prepares an average of all voter surveys conducted in the country, Hillary Clinton is leading Donald Trump by 3 per cent on the national level.
The two will face off in the second debate on October 9 at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri followed by the third and final one that debate will take place on October 19 in the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org


Some more interesting links -

For pandal hoppers during Durga Pujas in Jamshedpur - try the pool bus service

Rejuvenate the lakes of Bengaluru - bring back the birds

Bengal unable to hold on to homegrown start-ups - they end up flourishing in other states


Lord Shiva in the world of deodorants (satire)

Didi off to Rome in search of goodies (satire)

Moody learns about honey traps (satire)


Syrian ceasefire breaks down - airstrike in Aleppo claims at least 45 civilian casualties

Construction begins on the Great Wall Of Calais to keep out illegal migrants

MI6 to recruit 1000 extra people to assist in solving modern day crimes


Tamil film Visaranai is India's official entry for Academy Awards 2017

Tension on the Indo-Pak border has its effect on Bollywood movies

Shah Rukh Khan could make a movie on tennis star Sania Mirza

Viewership of first US presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump could cross 100 million

At long last the time has come when the two White House hopefuls Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump would come face to face for the first debate. The 90-minute event is expected to be one of the most watched events in television history. In the opinion of experts, the audience could exceed 100 million persons.
This has been reported in thestatesman.com dated 24 September 2016.

Analysts feel the viewership could beat the record set in 1980, when 80 million Americans watched Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan's only presidential debate. The audience for Clinton-Trump debate could even come close to the 115 million Americans who had watched the 2015 Super Bowl, the most-watched sporting event in US history.
A strong showing from Republican candidate Trump in Round 1 of the three-debate showdown with Clinton could give rise to a lot of uncertainty. In case, any post-debate analysis indicates that Trump could be the the winner, it could force a rethinking that Clinton was the odds-on favorite to win the November 8 election.
Incidentally, the Commission on Presidential Debates has said that moderator Lester Holt will follow a format that calls for six 15-minute time segments in which each topic will get two segments. Such lengthy 90-minute debates can be a physically exhausting exercise and, while Donald Trump has never participated in such a lengthy debate against just one other candidate, Hillary Clinton was recovering from a recent bout of pneumonia.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org


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Hillary Clinton has pneumonia - she fell ill at September 11 memorial

Hillary Clinton is the Democratic candidate for the race to the White House but she is suffering from pneumonia and had to cancel her proposed trip to California. Her personal doctor has clarified that she fell ill at a September 11 memorial and, this episode with renewed focus on her health comes less than two months before the election.
Hilary Clinton (68) canceled a trip she was scheduled to take to California for fundraising and other campaign events and further details of her itinerary have not been disclosed.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 12 September 2016.

It seems she suddenly fell ill during the memorial service on the occasion of 15 years of 9/11. She appeared to sway and her knees buckled before she was assisted into a motorcade and she left the memorial early. Once back home, she underwent a medical examination. Her doctor said in a statement that she has been experiencing a cough related to allergies and that an examination on Friday showed it was pneumonia.
She was, therefore, put on antibiotics and advised to rest and modify her schedule.
Incidentally, Clinton's pneumonia diagnosis is at a crucial time in the White House race against Republican rival Donald Trump because the first of three presidential debates is on September 26 and the election is on November 8.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org


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Donald Trump lashes out at Hillary Clinton - feels she is unfit to lead the country

The race to the White House is hotting up and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump came down heavily on Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton - he said that she is unfit to lead the country. He was reacting to Hillary Clinton's fiery speech at the Democratic Convention and said - “Our way of life is under threat by Radical Islam and Hillary Clinton cannot even bring herself to say the words.”
This has been reported in zeenews.india.com dated 29 July 2016.

Trump came down heavily on Clinton and tweeted: “Hillary's refusal to mention Radical Islam, as she pushes a 550% increase in refugees, is more proof that she is unfit to lead the country.” He went on to say that on the economic front, “She will never reform Wall Street. She is owned by Wall Street.”
Other strong words and statements used by Trump are - “Hillary's vision is a border less world where working people have no power, no jobs, no safety” ...... “Hillary's wars in the Middle East have unleashed destruction, terrorism and ISIS across the world.”
Continuing in the same vein, he lashed out at the Democratic presidential nominee saying - "wherever Hillary goes corruption and devastation follows her. ... “No one has worse judgement than Hillary Clinton.”
Both the contenders have bared their fangs and one will have to wait and watch developments.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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Donald Trump wins 1238 delegates to get the Republican nomination

Donald Trump has won 1238 delegates and the number to win the Republican nomination for US president is 1237 - hence, he is confident of becoming the official nominee of the Republicans. With another 303 delegates at stake in five state primaries on June 7, he will easily avoid a contested convention in Cleveland in July.
This has been reported in nzherald.co.nz dated 27 May 2016.

However, whether he finally enters the White House or not is a matter of debate because many foreign leaders are apparently worried about the future of the United States with the reins in his hands. President Barack Obama, while speaking on the sidelines of the Group of Seven advanced economies summit in Japan has commented that Donald Trump was ignorant of world affairs.
In the words of President Obama, many foreign leaders at the conference were "surprised by the Republican nominee" and were not too sure of how seriously to take his pronouncements. This is attributed to several of his proposals tend to display either ignorance of world affairs, or a cavalier attitude, or an interest in getting tweets and headlines. He has suggested that what is required is to keep the US safe and prosperous and, also, the world on an even keel.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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It will be a race between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton for the White House

It is now more or less certain that Donald Trump will be the Republican nominee for the race to the White House - he will be pitched against Hillary Clinton, the Democrat nominee. While Trump is a novice in politics, Clinton is a seasoned politician and it remains to be seen whether she can become the first woman President of the USA.
This has been reported in news18.com dated 5 May 2016.

Donald Trump, the 69-year-old New York billionaire became the automatic choice in the race for the Republican US presidential nomination when his sole remaining rival. He has plans to set up a vice presidential selection committee and work towards seeking unity among a wider group of Republicans ahead of the November 8 election.
Ever since he launched his White House bid last summer as a long shot in a crowded field of governors, former governors and US senators, Donald Trump repeatedly defied predictions that his campaign would implode. In fact, his party loyalists have been appalled by his bombastic, bullying style. He was a former reality-television star, and his denigrating comments about women and proposals to build a wall on the border with Mexico and also deport 11 million illegal immigrants have been widely criticized.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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