Agventure Commodities Limited has unveiled an organic and natural sesame hulling plant in Kano State as part of efforts to expand agro export in the country. The new sesame hulling plant is expected to generate employment opportunities for the local community, creating about 300 direct and indirect jobs. Sheeju Prabhakaran, general manager of the Indian plant, Adventure Commodities Limited, said the launch of the plant will help enhance the quality and quantity of the country’s sesame export. “The newly established sesame hulling plant represents a significant milestone as it is poised to increase sesame seed processing capacity by 7,000MT per year.” “Equipped with cutting-edge technology, the plant will enable efficient and high-quality sesame hulling, meeting the growing demand for premium hulled seeds in international markets such as the USA, Europe and Asia,” he stressed. Prabhakaran who noted that absence of such a facility in the community had reduced farmers’ export output in the state over the years. He expressed optimism that the inauguration of sesame hulling plant would galvanise sesame production capacity, export potential, sustainable growth in the state’s agricultural sector and also support local sesame farmers’ productivity. “The facility has been built to comply with international standards for food manufacturing and utilise state-of-the-art technologies, including dry hulling and colour sorting,” he said. “A full quality assurance programme has been implemented and extensive training and monitoring programmes are in place to ensure that products comply with stringent quality standards, providing full traceability from the farm through production and delivery.” “We are thrilled to launch this new facility, which aligns with our long-term mission to deliver the finest quality sesame seeds to our global clients.” According to him, the investment will not only enhance Nigeria’s export capabilities but also creates new opportunities for local farmers by providing a stable market. While highlighting the company’s past achievements, Derek Olokor, treasury director of the company, said: “We believe that innovation and sustainability go hand in hand. Our new plant is a testament to our efforts to adopt responsible production practices while supporting the livelihoods of farmers in the region.”
NEW DELHI (AP) — India’s former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, widely regarded as the architect of India’s economic reform program and a landmark nuclear deal with the United States, has died. He was 92. Singh was admitted to New Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences late Thursday after his health deteriorated due to a “sudden loss of consciousness at home,” the hospital said in a statement. “Resuscitative measures were started immediately at home. He was brought to the Medical Emergency” at 8:06 p.m., the hospital said, but “despite all efforts, he could not be revived and was declared dead at 9:51 p.m.” Singh was being treated for “age-related medical conditions,” the statement said. A mild-mannered technocrat, Singh became one of India’s longest-serving prime ministers for 10 years and leader of the Congress Party in the Parliament's Upper House, earning a reputation as a man of great personal integrity. He was chosen to fill the role in 2004 by Sonia Gandhi, the widow of assassinated Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi . But his sterling image was tainted by allegations of corruption against his ministers. Singh was reelected in 2009, but his second term as prime minister was clouded by financial scandals and corruption charges over the organization of the 2010 Commonwealth Games. This led to the Congress Party’s crushing defeat in the 2014 national election by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party under the leadership of Narendra Modi . Singh adopted a low profile after relinquishing the post of prime minister. Prime Minister Modi, who succeeded Singh in 2014, called him one of India’s “most distinguished leaders” who rose from humble origins and left “a strong imprint on our economic policy over the years.” “As our Prime Minister, he made extensive efforts to improve people’s lives,” Modi said in a post on the social platform X. He called Singh’s interventions in Parliament as a lawmaker “insightful” and said “his wisdom and humility were always visible.” Rahul Gandhi, from the same party as Singh and the opposition leader in the lower house of the Indian Parliament, said Singh’s “deep understanding of economics inspired the nation” and that he “led India with immense wisdom and integrity.” “I have lost a mentor and guide. Millions of us who admired him will remember him with the utmost pride,” Gandhi wrote on X. Born on Sept. 26, 1932, in a village in the Punjab province of undivided India, Singh’s brilliant academic career took him to Cambridge University in Britain, where he earned a degree in economics in 1957. He then got his doctorate in economics from Nuffield College at Oxford University in 1962. Singh taught at Panjab University and the prestigious Delhi School of Economics before joining the Indian government in 1971 as economic advisor in the Commerce Ministry. In 1982, he became chief economic adviser to the Finance Ministry. He also served as deputy chair of the Planning Commission and governor of the Reserve Bank of India. As finance minister, Singh in 1991 instituted reforms that opened up the economy and moved India away from a socialist-patterned economy and toward a capitalist model in the face of a huge balance of payments deficit, skirting a potential economic crisis. His accolades include the 1987 Padma Vibhushan Award, India’s second-highest civilian honor; the Jawaharlal Nehru Birth Centenary Award of the Indian Science Congress in 1995; and the Asia Money Award for Finance Minister of the Year in 1993 and 1994. Singh was a member of India’s Upper House of Parliament and was leader of the opposition from 1998 to 2004 before he was named prime minister. He was the first Sikh to hold the country’s top post and made a public apology in Parliament for the 1984 Sikh Massacre in which some 3,000 Sikhs were killed after then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by Sikh bodyguards. Under Singh, India adopted a Right to Information Act in 2005 to promote accountability and transparency from government officials and bureaucrats. He was also instrumental in implementing a welfare scheme that guaranteed at least 100 paid workdays for Indian rural citizens. The coalition government he headed for a decade brought together politicians and parties with differing ideologies that were rivals in the country’s various states. In a move hailed as one of his biggest achievements apart from economic reforms, Singh ended India’s nuclear isolation by signing a deal with the U.S. that gave India access to American nuclear technology. But the deal hit his government adversely, with Communist allies withdrawing support and criticism of the agreement growing within India in 2008 when it was finalized. Singh adopted a pragmatic foreign policy approach, pursuing a peace process with nuclear rival and neighbor Pakistan. But his efforts suffered a major setback after Pakistani militants carried out a massive gun and bomb attack in Mumbai in November 2008. He also tried to end the border dispute with China, brokering a deal to reopen the Nathu La pass into Tibet, which had been closed for more than 40 years. His 1965 book, “India’s Export Trends and Prospects for Self-Sustained Growth,” dealt with India’s inward-oriented trade policy. Singh is survived by his wife Gursharan Kaur and three daughters. Associated Press writer Sheikh Saaliq in New Delhi contributed to this report.JERUSALEM — A new round of Israeli airstrikes in Yemen on Thursday targeted the Houthi rebel-held capital and multiple ports, while the World Health Organization's director-general said the bombardment occurred nearby as he prepared to board a flight in Sanaa, with a crew member injured. "The air traffic control tower, the departure lounge — just a few meters from where we were — and the runway were damaged," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on social media. He added that he and U.N. colleagues were safe. "We will need to wait for the damage to the airport to be repaired before we can leave," he said, without mentioning the source of the bombardment. U.N. spokesperson Stephanie Tremblay later said the injured person was with the U.N. Humanitarian Air Service. Israel's army later told The Associated Press it wasn't aware that the WHO chief or delegation were at the location in Yemen. People are also reading... OU linebacker Kobie McKinzie on fiancée Kinzie Hansen: 'She's the Alpha of my family' Berry Tramel: John Mateer has the OU quarterback job, but Michael Hawkins has the opportunity The 12 best new restaurants of 2024 Berry Tramel: Barry Switzer's 1980s players salute their lion-in-winter coach. Read their letter Tulsa school board votes to proceed with Jennettie Marshall, E’Lena Ashley lawsuit How to care for your mental health Four northeastern Oklahoma educators' teaching certificates suspended Berry Tramel: Another OU-Navy game and another historically inept Sooner offense Judge denies Ryan Walters' motion to dismiss defamation suit Where to eat on Christmas Day in Tulsa area Loren Montgomery: An inside look at Bixby's record-setting football coach Bill Haisten: What would Mike Holder do? At OSU, it’s time to talk Tulsa's Country Bird Bakery named one of the best in the U.S. OU releases depth chart for Armed Forces Bowl vs. Navy; Here are notable changes The Christmas story behind the lights on 29th Street. Why is that one tree a different color? The Israeli strikes followed several days of Houthi launches setting off sirens in Israel. The Israeli military said in a statement it attacked infrastructure used by the Iran-backed Houthis at the international airport in Sanaa and ports in Hodeida, Al-Salif and Ras Qantib, along with power stations, claiming they were used to smuggle in Iranian weapons and for the entry of senior Iranian officials. Israel's military added it had "capabilities to strike very far from Israel's territory — precisely, powerfully, and repetitively." The strikes, carried out more than 1,000 miles from Jerusalem, came a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said "the Houthis, too, will learn what Hamas and Hezbollah and Assad's regime and others learned" as his military has battled those more powerful proxies of Iran. The Houthi-controlled satellite channel al-Masirah reported multiple deaths and showed broken windows, collapsed ceilings and a bloodstained floor and vehicle. Iran's foreign ministry condemned the strikes. The U.S. military also targeted the Houthis in recent days. The U.N. says the targeted ports are important entryways for humanitarian aid for Yemen, the poorest Arab nation that plunged into a civil war in 2014. Over the weekend, 16 people were wounded when a Houthi missile hit a playground in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv, while other missiles and drones were shot down. Last week, Israeli jets struck Sanaa and Hodeida, killing nine people, calling it a response to previous Houthi attacks. The Houthis also have been targeting shipping on the Red Sea corridor, calling it solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. The U.N. Security Council has an emergency meeting Monday in response to an Israeli request that it condemn the Houthi attacks and Iran for supplying them weapons. Journalists killed in Gaza Meanwhile, an Israeli strike killed five Palestinian journalists outside a hospital in Gaza overnight, the territory's Health Ministry said. The strike hit a car outside Al-Awda Hospital in the built-up Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. The journalists worked for local news outlet Al-Quds Today, a television channel affiliated with the Islamic Jihad militant group. Islamic Jihad is a smaller and more extreme ally of Hamas and took part in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack in southern Israel that ignited the war. Israel's military identified four of the men as combat propagandists and said that intelligence, including a list of Islamic Jihad operatives found by soldiers in Gaza, confirmed that all five were affiliated with the group. Associated Press footage showed the incinerated shell of a van, with press markings visible on the back doors. The Committee to Protect Journalists says more than 130 Palestinian reporters have been killed since the start of the war. Israel hasn't allowed foreign reporters to enter Gaza except on military embeds. Israel banned the pan-Arab Al Jazeera network and accuses six of its Gaza reporters of being militants. The Qatar-based broadcaster denies the allegations and accuses Israel of trying to silence its war coverage, which has focused heavily on civilian casualties from Israeli military operations. Israeli soldier killed Separately, Israel's military said a 35-year-old reserve soldier was killed during fighting in central Gaza. A total of 389 soldiers have been killed in Gaza since the start of the ground operation. The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed across the border, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting about 250. About 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead. Israel's air and ground offensive has killed more than 45,000 Palestinians, according to the Health Ministry. It says more than half the fatalities are women and children, but doesn't say how many of the dead were fighters. The offensive caused widespread destruction and hunger and drove around 90% of the population of 2.3 million from their homes. Hundreds of thousands are packed into squalid camps along the coast, with little protection from the cold, wet winter. Also Thursday, people mourned eight Palestinians killed by Israeli military operations in and around Tulkarem in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. The Israeli military said it opened fire after militants attacked soldiers, and it was aware of uninvolved civilians who were harmed in the raid.
PM Images Northeast Bank ( NASDAQ: NBN ) is a small bank headquartered in Portland, Maine with a network of seven branches. Whilst it has a community banking business and roots and still serves the local market, its main business model is premised on Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of NBN either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.How co-writing a book threatened the Carters' marriage
Top war-crimes court issues arrest warrants for Netanyahu and others in Israel-Hamas fighting
While the standings say the Jets are in last, they keep rolling up the firsts. In October, when the Patriots beat them 25-22 in New England, the Jets became the first team in NFL history to lose a game in which they scored 20-plus points, didn’t commit a turnover and gave up less than 250 total yards. Before that day, teams with that stat profile had gone 750-0. Now there’s new piece of ignominy: According to ESPN Stats & Info, they are the first team in the Super Bowl era to be favored in nine of their first 12 games and have a record of 3-9 or worse. To put it in perspective, the Jets are 3-6 (33.3 percent) straight up in games in which they’ve been favored. Per Covers.com, favorites have an outright record of 135-60 (69.2 percent). The main reason for this is the serious — probably unprecedented — overhype of this team. When Aaron Rodgers was deemed recovered from his Achilles tear, the bandwagon passed go and went directly to Super Bowl, skipping the necessary stops of respectability, a winning record and the first playoff berth in 14 years. The Jets were scheduled for six prime-time games (one was since flexed out) and could be found on the left side of the betting line for quite a few games in which there was no justification for them to be favored — such as on the road against the Steelers and Cardinals. It seems so insane now. Incredibly, they have been the favorite each of the past six games, going 1-5 SU and 1-5 ATS as the season went from bad to worse to over to embarrassing to all-time low. On Sunday, the Jets are — finally — underdogs of 6.5 points at Miami. I see a motivational mismatch. The Dolphins have won three of their last four games to get to 5-7 and will be playing for their postseason lives. The Jets have lost eight of their last nine and get a free weekend getaway to sun, 77 degrees and South Beach. The spread, while it looks large in the Post Line, is really just one scoring play. The pick: Dolphins -6.5. New Orleans Saints (-4.5) over NEW YORK GIANTS The Saints come in missing Chris Olave, Rasheed Shaheed and Swiss Army knife Taysom Hill, and list their three interior offensive linemen as questionable. They still have Derek Carr and Alvin Kamara to go against a Giants defense that will be without Dexter Lawrence. Not only that, the Giants are the last winless home team in the league and have set an NFL record by going 11 games without an interception. And the forecast of 47 and partly sunny is fair enough for a southern dome team coming north in December. Jacksonville Jaguars (+3.5) over TENNESSEE TITANS The Jaguars perked up after Azeez Al-Shaair’s hit on a sliding Trevor Lawrence last week. Mac Jones came in and threw for 235 yards, two touchdowns and led a backdoor cover. Question is: Can you put any stock in two late scores given up by a team that was way ahead? Another question: Do you want to lay more than a field goal with a Titans team that’s 3-9? MINNESOTA VIKINGS (-5.5) over Atlanta Falcons Yes, many Falcons games end up getting decided by less than this spread, but their last road game was a 38-6 loss in Denver, where the bottom fell out. The Dirty Birds have gone from 6-3 to 6-6 and scored an average of 12.0 ppg in the three losses with Kirk Cousins throwing six interceptions and zero touchdown passes in those games. He’d had designs on returning to Minnesota as a conquering hero but Brian Flores’ defense will have other ideas. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (-12.5) over Carolina Panthers Kudos to the Cats, who have salvaged Bryce Young’s career and covered four spreads in a row, including near-misses against the Chiefs and Bucs. Still, there’s two touchdowns worth of difference between these rosters. That’s if the Eagles are motivated to bring the hammer down — and they should be, with DeVonta Smith returning and the push to get Saquon Barkley to 2,000 rushing yards in high gear. PITTSBURGH STEELERS (-6.5) over Cleveland Browns We got the full Jameis Winston Experience on Monday night — four touchdown passes and 497 passing yards when five and 499 would have been enough to cover in Denver. Instead, Winston threw an interception, his third of the game after two pick-sixes. You have to wonder how much the Browns have left emotionally at 3-9 on a short week with travel after such a disappointment. And now they face the 9-3 Steelers, who have had to wait only 21/2 weeks to seek revenge for their 24-19 loss in Cleveland. Las Vegas Raiders (+6.5) over TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS The Bucs won by a big margin two weeks ago at the Giants but that’s been a rare occurrence since the beginning of October. While the Raiders are 2-10 and have become somewhat of an anonymous team, they have two recent covers against the Chiefs. ARIZONA CARDINALS (-2.5) over Seattle Seahawks The Cardinals had won and covered four in a row before disintegrating offensively in a 16-6 loss at Seattle two weeks ago. They then blew a 19-6 lead in Minnesota and lost, 23-22. So Kyler Murray’s at the controls of a healthy, angry team that also has a rapid revenge motive against a Seattle foe that had no business winning last week’s game at the Jets. Buffalo Bills (-4.5) over LOS ANGELES RAMS The Bills had to take the cross-country trip after their 35-10 snow globe rout of the 49ers that was punctuated by Josh Allen’s MVP moment on the touchdown he both threw and scored. Are they ripe for a bit of a lull against a dangerous Rams team? Normally I’d say yes, but at 10-2, the Bills sit just a game behind the Chiefs for top seed — with the tiebreaker — and the potential to get the AFC title game in Orchard Park will keep them very much interested. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (-4) over Chicago Bears The Bears are certainly a candidate for the new-coach bounce as Thomas Brown replaces Matt Eberflus after the disastrous ending in Detroit on Thanksgiving. Unlike Robert Saleh, who was more a scapegoat, a case can be made that Eberflus was the Bears’ biggest problem. However, there are injury concerns for their top weapons D’Andre Swift, DJ Moore and Keenan Allen, and the 49ers are far from out of it in the NFC West even at 5-7. Los Angeles Chargers (+4) over KANSAS CITY CHIEFS The Chiefs have the best record in the NFL at 11-1 and their record against the spread is lower-middle of the pack at 5-7. The real alarms sound when you look at the last six games, where they are 5-1 SU and 0-6 ATS. Yes, Kansas City has not covered a spread since Oct. 20 (Week 7) — so long ago, the Mets played that night. Jim Harbaugh will look to turn this into a slugfest, and Andy Reid won’t have Harrison Butker around at the end. Betting on the NFL? Monday DALLAS COWBOYS (+5.5) over Cincinnati Bengals Cowboys have some extra rest after Thanksgiving and will throw at Joe Burrow the healthiest version of their defense they’ve had all season. DeMarcus Lawrence and Trevon Diggs could return to join the likes of Micah Parsons, Daron Bland and DeMarvion Overshown. The Bengals have lost four games in which they’ve scored 33 points or more. Best bets: Cardinals, Chargers, Cowboys Lock of the week: Cardinals (Locks 7-6 in 2024) Last week: 8-8 overall, 2-1 Best Bets Thursday: Packers.10-man Barcelona concedes two late goals in draw at Celta Vigo
Top war-crimes court issues arrest warrants for Netanyahu and others in Israel-Hamas fighting
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The Centre for Ageing Better said data analysed on its behalf suggested more than a fifth of people in this age group are living in a poor-quality home that could be making their existing health condition worse. It said people from black and minority ethnic backgrounds, those living in London and those who have a serious health condition or disability are more likely to be affected. Data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing covering 2022/23 was analysed by the National Centre for Social Research on behalf of the charity. It found an estimated 4.5 million people aged 50 or older in England with a health condition aggravated by the cold are living in a home with one or more serious problems. Some 2.8 million were aged between 50 and 70, while 1.7 million were aged 70 and older. Health conditions included respiratory diseases, congestive heart failure, heart disease and lung conditions, including asthma. Housing problems identified in the research included damp, water leaks, bad condensation, electrical or plumbing problems, rot and decay. While some 2.2 million people over 50 with health and housing problems owned their home outright, the biggest proportion of people (51%) with such issues lived in rented accommodation. The charity said older renters with a health condition were up to three times more likely to have five or more issues with their home than someone in the same age group who owns their home. Those with a health condition that can be affected by poor housing who had a significant issue in their homes were most likely to live in London (52%) followed by the North East (35%) and the North West (35%), the West Midlands and the East of England (both on 28%), and the South West (27%). Almost half (46%) of people aged 50 and above from black and minority ethnic backgrounds with one of the health conditions had at least one problem with their home, which the charity said amounted to almost 500,000 people. Among white people in this age group it was just under one in three (32%). The research also suggested people from black and minority ethnic backgrounds living with a health condition were also more than twice as likely to have five or more issues with their housing compared with their white counterparts – 15% compared with 6%. Dr Carole Easton, the charity’s chief executive, said not only does the research show the difficulties faced by those living in poor housing, but it is also “very bad news” for both the economy and the NHS. She said: “Our latest research shows that our poor-quality housing crisis is putting people with health conditions in their 50s, 60s and beyond, in harm’s way. “This is obviously terrible for those individuals who live in homes that carry a very real risk of making them sick, particularly when winter comes around. “But it is also very bad news for the country. Older workers living in homes that are making their health conditions worse are going to be less likely to be able to work and help grow the economy. “Older people whose serious health conditions are made worse by their homes will require treatment, putting additional winter pressures on our health system. “All could be averted if we tackled poor-quality housing with the urgency and priority it demands.” Holly Holder, deputy director for homes at the charity, said the Government must “fix this hidden housing crisis by delivering a national strategy to tackle poor quality housing across all tenures and committing to halving the number of non-decent homes over the next decade”. She added: “No-one should have to live in a home that damages their health, yet it is the norm for far too many people in England today. “By failing to address poor-quality homes we are limiting the lives of some of the country’s poorest and most vulnerable people. “Our new analysis shows that the combination of health and house problems are most likely to impact groups of people who are already disadvantaged by multiple health and wealth inequalities.” A Government spokesperson said: “Despite the challenging inheritance faced by this Government, through our Plan for Change we’re taking action to improve housing conditions across all tenures and ensure homes are decent, safe and warm – especially for the most vulnerable. “We’re consulting on reforms to the Decent Homes Standard next year to improve the quality of social and privately rented housing, and introducing Awaab’s Law to both sectors to tackle damp, dangerous and cold conditions for all renters in England. “Our warm homes plan will also help people find ways to save money on energy bills and deliver cleaner heating, with up to 300,000 households to benefit from upgrades next year.”
NEW DELHI (AP) — India’s former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, widely regarded as the architect of India’s economic reform program and a landmark nuclear deal with the United States, has died. He was 92. Singh was admitted to New Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences late Thursday after his health deteriorated due to a “sudden loss of consciousness at home,” the hospital said in a statement. “Resuscitative measures were started immediately at home. He was brought to the Medical Emergency” at 8:06 p.m., the hospital said, but “despite all efforts, he could not be revived and was declared dead at 9:51 p.m.” Singh was being treated for “age-related medical conditions,” the statement said. A mild-mannered technocrat, Singh became one of India’s longest-serving prime ministers for 10 years and leader of the Congress Party in the Parliament's Upper House, earning a reputation as a man of great personal integrity. He was chosen to fill the role in 2004 by Sonia Gandhi, the widow of assassinated Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi . But his sterling image was tainted by allegations of corruption against his ministers. Singh was reelected in 2009, but his second term as prime minister was clouded by financial scandals and corruption charges over the organization of the 2010 Commonwealth Games. This led to the Congress Party’s crushing defeat in the 2014 national election by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party under the leadership of Narendra Modi . Singh adopted a low profile after relinquishing the post of prime minister. Prime Minister Modi, who succeeded Singh in 2014, called him one of India’s “most distinguished leaders” who rose from humble origins and left “a strong imprint on our economic policy over the years.” “As our Prime Minister, he made extensive efforts to improve people’s lives,” Modi said in a post on the social platform X. He called Singh’s interventions in Parliament as a lawmaker “insightful” and said “his wisdom and humility were always visible.” Rahul Gandhi, from the same party as Singh and the opposition leader in the lower house of the Indian Parliament, said Singh’s “deep understanding of economics inspired the nation” and that he “led India with immense wisdom and integrity.” “I have lost a mentor and guide. Millions of us who admired him will remember him with the utmost pride,” Gandhi wrote on X. The United States offered its condolences, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken saying that Singh was “one of the greatest champions of the U.S.-India strategic partnership.” “We mourn Dr. Singh’s passing and will always remember his dedication to bringing the United States and India closer together,” Blinken said. Born on Sept. 26, 1932, in a village in the Punjab province of undivided India, Singh’s brilliant academic career took him to Cambridge University in Britain, where he earned a degree in economics in 1957. He then got his doctorate in economics from Nuffield College at Oxford University in 1962. Singh taught at Panjab University and the prestigious Delhi School of Economics before joining the Indian government in 1971 as economic advisor in the Commerce Ministry. In 1982, he became chief economic adviser to the Finance Ministry. He also served as deputy chair of the Planning Commission and governor of the Reserve Bank of India. As finance minister, Singh in 1991 instituted reforms that opened up the economy and moved India away from a socialist-patterned economy and toward a capitalist model in the face of a huge balance of payments deficit, skirting a potential economic crisis. His accolades include the 1987 Padma Vibhushan Award, India’s second-highest civilian honor; the Jawaharlal Nehru Birth Centenary Award of the Indian Science Congress in 1995; and the Asia Money Award for Finance Minister of the Year in 1993 and 1994. Singh was a member of India’s Upper House of Parliament and was leader of the opposition from 1998 to 2004 before he was named prime minister. He was the first Sikh to hold the country’s top post and made a public apology in Parliament for the 1984 Sikh Massacre in which some 3,000 Sikhs were killed after then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by Sikh bodyguards. Under Singh, India adopted a Right to Information Act in 2005 to promote accountability and transparency from government officials and bureaucrats. He was also instrumental in implementing a welfare scheme that guaranteed at least 100 paid workdays for Indian rural citizens. The coalition government he headed for a decade brought together politicians and parties with differing ideologies that were rivals in the country’s various states. In a move hailed as one of his biggest achievements apart from economic reforms, Singh ended India’s nuclear isolation by signing a deal with the U.S. that gave India access to American nuclear technology. But the deal hit his government adversely, with Communist allies withdrawing support and criticism of the agreement growing within India in 2008 when it was finalized. Singh adopted a pragmatic foreign policy approach, pursuing a peace process with nuclear rival and neighbor Pakistan. But his efforts suffered a major setback after Pakistani militants carried out a massive gun and bomb attack in Mumbai in November 2008. He also tried to end the border dispute with China, brokering a deal to reopen the Nathu La pass into Tibet, which had been closed for more than 40 years. His 1965 book, “India’s Export Trends and Prospects for Self-Sustained Growth,” dealt with India’s inward-oriented trade policy. Singh is survived by his wife Gursharan Kaur and three daughters. Associated Press writer Sheikh Saaliq in New Delhi contributed to this report.
1 2 Ludhiana: The long-awaited Ludhiana Municipal Corporation (MC) elections have been scheduled for December 21, sparking political uproar over the compressed timeline for filing nominations. With only four days allotted for nominations, opposition parties are questioning the fairness of the process, while scrambling to finalize their candidates for the 95 wards. The announcement has prompted parties, including Congress, BJP, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), to expedite candidate selection. Congress began screening applicants on Sunday, while SAD and BJP are still in discussions. SAD leaders expressed dissatisfaction, alleging the schedule disregards the Sikh community’s religious observances in December, particularly the martyrdom days of Guru Gobind Singh’s sons. Opposition Cries Foul SAD’s former MLA Ranjit Singh Dhillon criticized the ruling party, accusing it of orchestrating hasty elections to suppress voter outreach. “They inaugurated multiple development projects just days before the announcement and gave no regard to constitutional propriety or religious sentiments,” Dhillon said. He urged voters to elect a party capable of driving genuine development. BJP district president Rajnish Dhiman echoed similar concerns, calling the four-day nomination window “unjust.” He highlighted logistical challenges for candidates, such as obtaining mandatory no-objection certificates (NOCs) from MC offices. “We will fight against this injustice and announce our candidates shortly,” Dhiman said. Congress, while preparing its candidate list, also criticized the schedule. Former MLA Sanjay Talwar said, “This is not the way to conduct elections. Candidates won’t have enough time to engage with voters in their wards.” He expressed confidence that voters would back Congress councillors and secure the mayoral position for the party. AAP defends timing Punjab AAP leaders dismissed opposition claims, arguing that the protests reflect political insecurity. MLA Gurpreet Gogi said, “Earlier, they accused the government of delaying elections. Now that the schedule is announced, they are finding excuses. They know AAP is poised to win and elect its own mayor.” We also published the following articles recently BJP leader Pravesh Ratan joins Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) In a political shake-up, BJP leader Pravesh Ratan, a former Patel Nagar constituency candidate, switched allegiances to AAP on Wednesday. He joined the party in the presence of senior AAP leaders at their headquarters. This move follows former AAP MLA Raaj Kumar Anand's recent defection to the BJP. Former AAP MLA and rights lawyer Phoolka set to join SAD Harvinder Singh Phoolka, a former AAP MLA and prominent rights lawyer, declared his intention to join the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Saturday. He aims to help the party rediscover its core values and encouraged others to participate in the Akal Takht-led membership drive. Phoolka will join as a volunteer without seeking any specific position. AAP considers BIP, Congress turncoats as winnable candidates Veteran Delhi politicians from Congress and BJP are likely to contest the upcoming elections as Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidates. Several former legislators have already joined AAP, hoping to bolster the party's position and provide experienced leadership. AAP is expected to change several sitting MLAs to combat anti-incumbency, potentially favoring these seasoned politicians. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .
