The Chhattisgarh

Tag: United States

  • New York Judge To Begin Donald Trump ‘Hush Money’ Case Trial From April 15 | world news

    New York: A New York judge has announced that the trial of former US President Donald Trump’s hush money case will commence on April 15, marking the initiation of his first criminal trial this spring. Despite Trump’s attempts to delay all four of his criminal cases beyond the election, Judge Juan Merchan rejected his requests during a recent hearing, ruling in favor of proceeding with the trial as planned.

    Trump sought to have his case dismissed or delayed further, citing newly turned-over documents and accusing Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg of misconduct. However, Merchan dismissed these requests, emphasizing the prosecution’s compliance with discovery obligations. The trial’s jury selection is set to begin on April 15, as per the judge’s ruling.

    The trial was originally slated to commence on Monday but faced a last-minute delay due to a disagreement over newly disclosed documents. The US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York provided over 100,000 pages of records in recent weeks, leading to disputes between the involved parties regarding the timing of their disclosure.

    During the hearing, Trump was accompanied by several lawyers, maintaining a composed demeanor while occasionally engaging in whispered discussions. Despite the delay, Trump reiterated his belief that the case was politically motivated, suggesting it was an attempt to hinder his involvement in the upcoming elections.

    Charges Against Trump

    Trump faces 34 counts of falsifying business records related to reimbursements to his former attorney, Michael Cohen, who paid adult film star Stormy Daniels $130,000 before the 2016 election to keep silent about an alleged affair with Trump. While Trump has admitted to the reimbursements, he denies the affair and has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    In court, Trump’s defense team and prosecutors clashed over the significance of the newly disclosed documents. Trump’s attorney claimed there were “thousands and thousands” of relevant records, while prosecutors estimated around 300. The defense argued that the prosecution should have provided these documents earlier to allow for adequate preparation, a point contested by the judge.

    Judge Merchan expressed frustration with the defense’s accusations of prosecutorial misconduct, demanding evidence to support their claims. He emphasized the seriousness of such allegations and criticized the defense for lacking precedent to substantiate their position, highlighting the gravity of the accusations against the Manhattan DA’s office.

  • United States: Joe Biden To Call In State Of Union For Business Tax Hikes, Middle Class Tax Cuts | world news

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  • US President Joe Biden Says Vladimir Putin Responsible For Navalny’s Death world news

    WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden said that he is “outraged” by the reported death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. He blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin for Navalny’s death. In his remarks on Navalny’s death, Biden said, “Reports of his death if they’re true and I have no reasons to believe that they’re not – Russian authorities are going to tell their own story but make no mistake Putin is responsible for Navalny’s death. Putin is responsible. What has happened to Navalny is yet more proof of Putin’s brutality no one should be fooled not in Russia not at home not anywhere in the world.

    Outspoken Kremlin critic Alexey Navalny, Putin’s most formidable domestic opponent, fell unconscious and died on Friday, according to state media reports. “Putin does not only target citizens of other countries as we’ve seen what’s going on Ukraine right now he also inflicts terrible crimes on his people and as people across Russia and around the world are mourning Navalny today because he was so many things that Putin Wasn’t,” he added. He said Navalny “bravely stood up to the corruption the violence and all the bad things that the Putin government was doing.”

    Biden stated that Navalny could have lived safely in exile. However, he returned to Russia knowing that he would likely be imprisoned or even killed if he continued to work. Putin praised Navalny for being the powerful voice for the truth even in prison. Biden said that like millions of people around the world, “I’m literally both not surprised and outraged by the reported death of Alexei Navalny. He bravely stood up to the corruption the violence and all the bad things that the Putin government was doing. In response, Putin had him poisoned, he had him arrested. He had him prosecuted for fabricated crimes. He sentenced him to prison he was held in isolation. Even all that didn’t stop him from calling out Putin’s lies.”

    The US President said that Navalny was a powerful voice for the truth even in prison and did not fear returning to Russia. “Even in prison, he was a powerful voice for the truth which is kind of amazing when you think about it and he could have lived safely in exile after the assassination attempt on him in 2020which nearly killed him I might add and but he was traveling outside the country at the time. Instead, he returned to Russia knowing he’d likely be imprisoned or even killed if he continued his work but he did it anyway because he believed so deeply in his country, in Russia,” he added.

    Calling him “brave, principled and dedicated to building a Russia where the rule of law existed and where it applied to everybody,” Biden said Navalny believed in Russia, a cause worth fighting for. In his remarks, he offered condolences to Navalny’s family. Biden called for providing funding for Ukraine so that it can defend itself “against Putin’s vicious onslaughts and war crimes.” He stressed the need to reject the statements made by former US President Donald Trump that he said invited Russia to invade NATO allies if they were not paying.

    He said, “Now as I’ve said before and I mean this in a literal sense history is watching the House of Representatives the failure to support Ukraine at this critical moment will never be forgotten it’s going to go down on the pages of history. ” “It is, it’s consequential and the clock is ticking and this has to happen. We have to help now you know we have to realize what we’re dealing with with Putin all of us should reject the dangerous statements made by the previous president that invited Russia to invade our NATO allies if they weren’t paying,” Biden added.

    Asked whether Navalny was assassinated, Biden said, “We don’t know exactly what happened, but there’s no doubt that the death of Navalny was the consequence of something that Putin and his thugs did.” Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has died in prison, Al Jazeera reported on Friday, citing state media. The death of the jailed Russian opposition leader, 47, has been reported by state media which further cited the prison service of the Yamalo-Nenets region where he had been serving his sentence.

    Al Jazeera cited a statement put out by state media quoting the prison service of the Yamalo-Nenets region which said that Navalny “felt bad” after a walk and lost consciousness “almost immediately.”

  • US Destroys Three Houthi Missiles In Red Sea; Biden dials Netanyahu world news

    As the Houthi militants continue to attack cargo ships in the Red Sea, the United States forces have also been carrying out retaliatory actions. In a fresh round of attack against the Houthis, the US destroyed three anti-ship missiles in the Red Sea. It was the fourth preemptive action taken by the US military. Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden also dialed Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu.

    US Destroys Houthi Missiles

    The US Central Command informed that the attack was carried out at around 6:45 pm (Sanaa time). “As part of ongoing efforts to protect freedom of navigation and prevent attacks on maritime vessels, US Navy ships are present in the Red Sea. On Jan. 19 at approximately 6:45 pm (Sanaa time), US Central Command forces conducted strikes against three Houthi anti-ship missiles that were aimed into the Southern Red Sea and were prepared to launch,” the US Central Command posted on X.

    It added that the US forces identified the missiles in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and determined that they presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and the US Navy ships in the region. “US forces subsequently struck and destroyed the missiles in self-defense. This action will make international waters safe and secure for US Navy vessels and merchant vessels,” it added.

    US CENTCOM Destroys Three Houthi Terrorists’ Anti-Ship Missiles

    As part of ongoing efforts to protect freedom of navigation and prevent attacks on maritime vessels, US Navy ships are present in the Red Sea. On Jan. 19 at approximately 6:45 pm (Sanaa time), US Central… pic.twitter.com/vPYUaIvvA5 — US Central Command (@CENTCOM) January 19, 2024

    Before this incident, US forces had conducted airstrikes targeting 14 Houthi missiles that were poised for launch in areas controlled by the Houthis in Yemen on Thursday. The Houthi group had previously been reclassified by the US as a “terrorist” organization. The Houthis, aligned with the Palestinian armed group Hamas, initiated their attacks in retaliation to Israel’s military actions in Gaza.

    Biden Calls Netanyahu

    Biden called Netanyahu after nearly a month and reiterated his vision of a ‘two-state solution’ while guaranteeing Israel’s security. The US President also addressed the current initiatives to secure the release of all remaining hostages held by Hamas and assessed the situation in Gaza.

    The White House also issued a statement in this regard saying, “The President and Prime Minister discussed ongoing efforts to secure the release of all remaining hostages held by Hamas. The President and the Prime Minister reviewed the situation in Gaza and the shift to targeted operations.” that will enable the flow of increasing amounts of humanitarian assistance while keeping the military pressure on Hamas and its leaders.”

    President Biden also emphasized Israel’s responsibility to reduce civilian harm and protect the innocent. “The President discussed Israel’s responsibility even as it maintains military pressure on Hamas and its leaders to reduce civilian harm and protect the innocent. The President also discussed his vision for a more durable peace and security for Israel fully integrated within the region and a two- state solution with Israel’s security guaranteed,” the statement added.

  • Middle East On Verge Of Full-Scale War? Israel-Hamas Conflict Exposes Erosion Of Self-Restraint In Region | world news

    The Middle East countries including some from Asia have now been exposed amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. After Israel’s counter-offensive in Gaza, Lebanon’s Hezbollah opened a front against Jerusalem as well. Now, countries like Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Yemen have become a direct or indirect party of the conflict. The Red Sea has also become a conflict zone with the Yemen-based Houthi rebels attacking cargo ships in solidarity with Palestine and the US forces hitting back at the Houthis in response to ensure free and safe trade movement. The US recently also attacked Houthis inside Yemen. The Houthis, who support the Palestinian armed group Hamas, launched their attacks in response to Israel’s war on Gaza.

    According to reports, commanders from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and Lebanon’s Hezbollah group are reportedly present in Yemen, actively involved in directing and overseeing Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea.

    Just yesterday, Iran-backed militants launched a strike on US bases in Iraq injuring several soldiers. The US Central Command said that several personnel are undergoing evaluation for “traumatic brain injuries” and at least one Iraqi service member was wounded in the attack. “At approximately 6:30 pm (Baghdad time) time Jan. 20, multiple ballistic missiles and rockets were launched by Iranian-backed militants in Western Iraq targeting al-Assad Airbase. Most of the missiles were intercepted by the base’s air defense systems while others impacted the base. Damage assessments are ongoing. A number of US personnel are undergoing evaluation for traumatic brain injuries. At least one Iraqi service member was wounded,” the US Central Command informed on social media platform X.

    In yet another turn of events, Israel attacked a building in the Syrian Capital Damascus on Saturday in which at least five military advisors of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) were killed. Another Israeli operation in southern Lebanon yesterday resulted in the death of two individuals, with at least one confirmed as a member of Hezbollah. Previous similar actions have targeted both Hezbollah members and members of the Palestinian group Hamas. Jordanian foreign minister Ayman Safadi has warned that Israel’s provoking confrontation of multiple fronts has created a risk that the war on Gaza may spill over to the rest of the region.

    On Monday, Iran launched 24 missiles at a purported Israeli intelligence center in Erbil, located in Kurdish northern Iraq. Simultaneously, they targeted Islamic State sites in Idlib, northern Syria. By Tuesday, Iran made a significant move by conducting strikes against Jaish al-Adl, a Sunni separatist group active in Pakistan near the Iranian border. Pakistan also retaliated by carrying out similar strike in Iran governed area.

    The situation in the Middle East is such that organizations like the Taliban are calling for restraints, defying irony. Not every aspect of the Middle East can be interconnected. The conflicts in the region don’t all have direct ties or originate exclusively from Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel, and some may eventually subside. However, they do exhibit a certain cohesion, partially reflecting a shared decline in self-restraint and adherence to the rule of law.

  • Instagram Faces Outage In United States; Social Media Flooded With Memes |

    New Delhi: Instagram users in the United States were hit by a service outage on Friday, causing inconvenience to many who reported issues with sending or receiving direct messages (DMs). Complaints flooded social media platforms, especially X (Twitter), with users expressing frustration over the disruption.

    Downdetector, an internet outage tracking portal, recorded a peak in reports around 6 PM EST, with more than 1500 users reporting problems. (Also Read: In Pics: From Aziz Premji To Sajjan Jindal, Where Are Next Gen Of These Biz Tycoons Are Studying, Or Have Studied From; Check Here)

    User Complaints On Social Media

    Social media users voiced their concerns about the Instagram outage on X, highlighting the inability to respond to DMs. (Also Read: HDFC And Axis Bank Closed On January 22 For Ayodhya Ram Temple Event)

    Some complained about the issue persisting for hours, seeking prompt resolution from Instagram. The majority of complaints, about 85 percent, were related to issues with the application, while 12 percent reported problems with the website, and 3 percent faced feed-related problems.

    No Response From Meta Yet

    As of now, Meta, the parent company of Instagram, has not issued a response or statement regarding the reported outage. Users are awaiting an official acknowledgment and solution from the platform.

    Previous Server Connection Issues

    This is not the first time Instagram has faced technical difficulties. In November last year, over 10,000 users globally, including around 1000 in India, reported server connection problems, impacting the user experience.

    New Feature For Teen Accounts

    In a separate development, Instagram is introducing a new feature called “nighttime nudges” for teen accounts. This feature aims to encourage responsible usage and limit screen time on the application for younger users.

  • ‘OrdinaryExtraordinary Success Story’: United States Lauds Policies Of Modi Government

    Addressing the World Economic Forum, Secretary Blinken highlighted that discussions between India and the United States consistently emphasize the importance of democracy and human rights.

  • Vivek Ramaswamy Quits US Presidential Race For ‘America-First Patriot’ Donald Trump | world news

    IOWA: Indian-American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy who dropped out of the 2024 Republican presidential race after finishing fourth in the Iowa caucuses, has endorsed former President Donald Trump and urged Republican voters to put an “America First patriot” in the White House. Taking to social media platform want. Tonight I am suspending my campaign and endorsing Donald J. Trump and will do everything I can to make sure he is the next US President.”

    The 38-year-old political novice said at a press conference at Des Moines, “There is no path for me to be the next president absent things that we don’t want to see happen in this country,” as reported by the Washington. Post. “We did not achieve the surprise we wanted to deliver tonight,” Ramaswamy said. Ramaswamy finished fourth in Iowa, according to CNN News projections, well behind Trump, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley.

    The biotech entrepreneur said he plans to appear with Trump in New Hampshire at a Tuesday evening rally. He further expressed his support for Trump, adding that he is extremely proud of the team, the movement, and the country. “Earlier tonight I called Donald Trump to tell him that I congratulate him on his victory. And now going forward, he will have my full endorsement for the presidency,” Ramaswamy said.

    Meanwhile, CNN reported that a spokesperson for Ramaswamy’s presidential campaign expressed dismay at the result and said the campaign is “digesting and determining” as it looks ahead to the next stage. The Iowa caucus victory is considered the first step in Donald Trump’s bid to claim the Republican nomination in a third consecutive election. Incidentally, Trump had lost in the state eight years ago.

    In a speech from his campaign headquarters in Des Moines in Iowa, Trump congratulated his opponents DeSantis and Haley both of whom he thought “did very well.” He also praised Vivek Ramaswamy for doing a “hell of a job,” CNN reported. “They are very smart, very smart people, very capable people,” Trump said of his opponents.

    According to the latest figures by CNN, after 96 percent of results were released, Ramaswamy is projected to win only three out of 40 delegates in Iowa. Ramaswamy had been one of Trump’s staunchest defenders against the four indictments leveled against him. He pledged to remove himself from the ballots in Colorado and Maine after the former president was disqualified from the two states. He even vowed to pardon Trump of all charges on his first day in office.

  • Mysterious Deaths Of Two Indian Students In US’ Connecticut Leaves Families In Shock | world news

    New Delhi: In a tragic incident, two students from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh were found dead in their accommodation in Connecticut, US, recently. The students were identified as G Dinesh (22) from Wanaparthy in Telangana and Nikesh (21) from Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh. The cause of their death is still unknown.

    Families In The Dark

    The families of the deceased students are in a state of shock and grief, as they have no clue about how their sons died. Dinesh’s family members said that they received a call from his friends who live in a nearby room on Saturday night, informing them about his death and his roommate’s. “We have no clue as to how he died,” they said.

    According to a family member, Dinesh and Nikesh had gone to Hartford, Connecticut, in the US for higher studies on December 28, 2023 and a few days later, respectively. They were mutual friends of some common friends and became roommates after going to the US.

    Families Seek Help To Bring Back Bodies

    A member of Dinesh’s family said that they have approached Union Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy and Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy to seek their help in bringing back Dinesh’s body. Wanaparthy MLA Megha Reddy has also extended his support to the family and visited them to offer his condolences.

    The family member also said that they had no contact with Nikesh’s family members as the two had gone to the US only recently.

    Similarly, the Srikakulam district administration has no information on Nikesh or his family members. Srikakulam Police Special Branch DSP K Balaraju said that even the district collectorate did not receive any information on Nikesh or his family members.

    CM assures help

    Wanaparthy MLA T Megha Reddy spoke to Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy regarding the matter and requested him to make arrangements to bring back the student’s body to India from the US. The Chief Minister responded positively and assured him that he would do his best to help the family.

    The MLA said that the student from Wanaparthy had gone to the US on December 28, 2023, for higher studies.

  • Hindu Temple In California’s Newark Vandalized With Anti-India, Pro-Khalistan Graffiti | world news

    In another case of anti-India acts, a Hindu temple in California’s Newark has been vandalised with pro-Khalistan graffiti on the exterior walls. The incident of vandalism occurred in Newark’s Swaminarayan Mandir and came to light on Friday. The Newark police are closely looking into the matter.

    “One of the devotees, who lives close to the shrine, discovered anti-Hindu and anti-India graffiti in black ink on an exterior wall of the building, and the local administration was immediately informed,” Bhargav Raval, the spokesperson of the temple. administration told ANI.

    Jonathan Arguello, a police captain in the Newark Police Department, said, “Based on the graffiti, we believe it was a targeted act, and it’s going to be investigated with full thoroughness. I can also tell you that as a member of the Newark Police Department and the Newark community, we’re deeply saddened when these types of acts occur, and we think they’re senseless and they have no room.”

    Arguello added that such cases would henceforth be taken seriously and acts of vandalism would not be tolerated in the city. Police officials are currently collecting evidence to investigate the matter.

    The Indian Consulate in San Francisco on Saturday strongly condemned the act of vandalism that has come to light in Newark. In a post on

    “This incident has hurt the sentiments of the Indian community. We have pressed for quick investigation and prompt action against the vandals by the US authorities in this matter,” it added.

    Notably, this is not the first case of vandalism of a Hindu temple abroad. In August, a similar incident was reported in Canada’s British Columbia where the front door of a Hindu temple was defaced with posters of the Khalistan referendum.