We’re all looking for the next big adventure for our next vacation — but where? Do we need to fly cross-country or internationally to get it? There’s actually an incredibly unique outdoor experience that’s easily accessible from Vancouver, right here in BC. Welcome to , an unparalleled remote escape for heli-skiers, anglers, and all kinds of adventurers. Nestled on the shores of Quesnel Lake — the deepest fjord lake in the world — this lodge provides an idyllic escape from modern life that feels worlds apart from just two hours away from Vancouver. No need to worry, though, it still has all the modern comforts (good internet!) you’d expect so you can stay connected out in the wilderness. The lodge sits on a 14-acre beachfront property located on the far east end of Quesnel Lake. The historic A-frame lodge was first built for avid fishermen and hunters, but has now been remodelled as a luxurious and renowned accommodation, perfect for the curious traveller. Don’t believe us? Here’s just four reasons to add this bespoke lodge experience to your travel bucket list this year. Known for its private-group (s , Silvertip Lodge is one of the most remote locations to experience this thrilling sport. Unlike traditional skiing which uses a lift, guests travel to the top of the mountain in style via helicopter and make their way down the glorious powder snow. With 118 total runs and nearly 1,440 square kilometres of ski tenure, guests will experience varied terrain amongst the famous Cariboo Mountains. It’s perfect for advanced s Included in the package, heli-skiing guests enjoy the perk of jumping on a private plane charter from the Air Elite Terminal Building next to the Vancouver South Terminal. Next, guests transfer directly to the helicopter in Williams Lake and arrive at Silvertip Lodge. From Vancouver, you and your ski buds can be in one of the most remote heli-skiing destinations in BC in just 2 hours! Enjoy all the nature surrounding Silvertip inside the unique, triple-storey A-frame lodge. Nestled on 14 acres of land and without road access (guests arrive via plane or boat!) this is truly as remote as you can get. and with nearly 7,500 square feet, the Silvertip Lodge offers high, vaulted ceilings, with eight quaint guest rooms with matching en-suites on the upper level. When you’re ready to wind down after an active day, you can do so at the Spa Chalet which overlooks the pristine Quesnel Lake and includes a large outdoor whirlpool, massage room, steam room, and sauna. Stepping outside, guests can enjoy the natural and remote Canadian wilderness. Think of the lodge as more like your home — comfortable, quaint, and well-stocked with everything you would need, including WiFi connection! It’s not just the activities and accommodations that make Silvertip Lodge a highly-renowned resort, it’s also the . Acclaimed chefs and bakers create culinary experiences with each dish, promising a first-class meal with a robust wine list. Meals are served in the casual dining room . Don’t forget to hit up the bar for bespoke beverages before or after the meal! Silvertip Lodge is excited to announce its brand-new wilderness retreat for the summer months! Because of the lodge’s remote location, there are so many outdoor activities to enjoy in the summer. Travel through the old-growth cedar forest or trek out to the backcountry with nearby trail Try your hand at fly-fishing on the east end of Quesnel Lake, one of Canada’s best freshwater fjord fishing areas with . Quesnel Lake’s rainbow trout are the top trophy fish here, famous for their large size, but you can also catch trout or char. Visit in the fall to catch the Quesnel Lake Watershed’s Sockeye salmon runs! Reconnect with nature, canoe, paddleboard, take a dip in the lake, breathe in the fresh mountain air, or spot some wildlife — there are so many opportunities to enjoy a one-of-a-kind summer with Silvertip Lodge as your home base. Whether you come to Silvertip Lodge in the winter or summer months, guests can expect luxurious and high-quality service coupled with amazing outdoor adventures. No matter if you’re an avid terrain ripper or fishing fanatic, Silvertip offers extraordinary experiences perfectly suited for each guest. Sound like fun? Now is the time to book your adventure at Silvertip! Summer 2025 experiences run from June to October. Check out the to learn more, and get ready for your next big adventure!
"House Democrats must stand in the breach to defend the principles and institutions of constitutional democracy," Raskin wrote in a letter to colleagues. “That is our historic assignment now. We dare not fail.” Raskin said in the letter — obtained by The Associated Press — that he decided to run for the post after spending the week consulting with House Democrats and “engaging in serious introspection” about where the party is following their stunning electoral defeat last month that handed Republicans control of Congress and the White House. While currently the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, Raskin said that come next year, the Judiciary Committee under his leadership would become "the headquarters of Congressional opposition to authoritarianism" as well as other efforts by President Donald Trump and his allies to thwart the Constitution. Being the face of the resistance against Trump is not new territory for Raskin who spent the last two years on Oversight as the most vocal defender of President Joe Biden and his family as they faced a sprawling Republican investigation — encouraged by Trump — into their various business affairs. Raskin, who is a former constitutional law professor, also helped draft articles of impeachment against the incoming president for his encouragement of the violent mob on Jan. 6, 2021, and led the impeachment prosecution in the Senate. But by throwing his hat in the ring, Raskin is inviting what a bitter intra-party fight with Nadler, who is currently serving his 17th term in Congress and who has held the top spot on Judiciary since 2019. Democrats have over the years rarely broken from the seniority system for committee assignments, no matter how long someone has held a position, making the outcome of the race uncertain. Both men did not respond to requests for comment but Raskin closed his letter by praising Nadler, saying that he made this decision “with respect and boundless admiration” for him. “If I’m lucky enough to be chosen for this responsibility in the 119th Congress, I will turn to Jerry first and throughout for his always wise counsel and political judgment,” Raskin added.
Tariffs imposed by the Trump administration will change economic conditions in Australia and around the world, writes Stephen Koukoulas . POLICYMAKERS IN AUSTRALIA are getting a clear picture of the economic policy changes that the new Trump administration will implement when Donald Trump takes power in January 2025. The early news is troubling. Trump has announced that he will follow through with his commitment to impose tariffs , initially against Canada, Mexico and China. Furthermore, Trump is threatening to impose a 100 per cent tariff on the BRICS countries if they go ahead with their proposal to create a new currency to compete with the U.S. dollar in global foreign exchange markets. The countries in the BRICS economic body are Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Argentina, Egypt and Ethiopia — which suggests the tariff impost would decimate global trade if implemented. There is even more to just the tariff issue alone. If Trump sticks with another of his pre-election plans, there will be further across-the-board tariffs imposed on exporters to the U.S. which will obviously severely undermine global trade and global economic growth. Prices on tariff-impacted goods will rise, but overall, the crunching of economic growth will be disinflationary. Trump’s return offers gains for Australia and other trade competitors If the second Trump Administration is as incompetent and corrupt as the first, Australia will win handsomely again. The Australian economy suffers in a tariff war There will be a direct and substantially negative impact on the Australian economy from the imposition of tariffs. When analysing the impact of US tariffs and the almost certain retaliatory action from its trading partners, the Reserve Bank of Australia ( RBA ) analysis found: 'However, weaker Chinese growth will have relatively strong negative implications for Australia given the strength of export trade links. In the extreme scenario, weaker export demand, and slower growth would be disinflationary, putting downward pressure on policy rate expectations, government bond yields and the Australian dollar.' And, it noted that: '...some modest downward pressure on policy rate expectations...' Similarly, when the first Trump administration sparked a tariff dispute between the U.S. and China, Treasury analysis found: 'An escalation in tariffs between the United States and China will negatively affect global growth. In the short run, tariffs are likely to disrupt global supply chains, and could reduce confidence, leading to a reduction in spending, particularly investment.' Treasury added: 'GDP growth in Australia will also be affected by lower global growth, particularly given the U.S. and China are two of our largest trading partners. A key mechanism through which lower global growth affects Australia is through lower commodity prices, which will reduce our national income.' There is no doubt that the RBA and Treasury would still hold these views and would be advising the government accordingly. Both economic agencies will be preparing strategies for the government to deal with the fallout from such a dislocation in global trade. And, the sooner the government and RBA act, the lesser the fallout for investment and unemployment. Altruism among voters fading as selfishness prevails A global trend shows altruism diminishing amongst voters, with many electing leaders based on what they can do for the individual. The RBA has an easy decision to make As noted, the Trump tariffs and likely tariff retaliation mean lower economic growth with lower inflation. At a time when GDP growth in Australia is already weak and inflation is comfortably in the target zone, an immediate interest rate cut from the RBA would be a simple and appropriate policy response to the shitstorm that is about to smash the global economy and Australia’s major export market, China. GDP growth is struggling around 1 to 1.5 per cent. Inflation is 2.1 per cent and has been in the RBA’s 2 to 3 per cent range for three straight months and the rest of the world is cutting interest rates aggressively. The rising spare capacity in the labour market has seen annual wage growth slow from 4.3 per cent to 3.5 per cent with more weakness likely if the economy remains in the doldrums. The RBA Board meets next on 10 December 2024 and there are many independently-minded economists thinking that lower interest rates are necessary — even before the latest headwinds from the U.S. hit our shores. An interest rate cut in December from the RBA – in part in response to what it knows now about U.S. trade policy – plus the updated run of domestic fundamentals, would be prudent and sensible. It would be an insurance move against the effects of higher tariffs, yet weaker global growth and elevated problems in the Australian economy. Waiting until the RBA meeting after that – in February 2025, or even the one after that, in April – will impose additional months of monetary policy austerity when there are so many concerns impacting the local economy. No coming back from Trump The next Trump Administration is going to be a period of chaos from which the United States may never recover socially or economically. What should the government do? The appropriate government response to the tariff imbroglio is less obvious, particularly in the near term. To assist local businesses, the government can try to carve out exemptions from the countries imposing tariffs but this is hit-and-miss and does not deal with the broader macroeconomic effect of weaker growth and lower inflation. It may want to consider its own retaliatory action, with a tariff impost on countries hurting Australian businesses with their tariffs. Again, this is messy and would make Australia an active participant in the global trade war which is something against the thinking of good economic managers. Another option is to relax budget settings further. This means allowing the automatic stabilisers in the budget to work through the economy – lower taxes and higher government spending – to support private sector activity. In more extreme negative economic circumstances, some additional discretionary fiscal measures could be implemented to maintain employment and to support economic activity. Much like the fiscal responses to the global financial crisis and the pandemic. Reserve Bank playing with fire — beware of the creeping recession The RBA is risking repeating the errors that led to the deep and dark recession of the early 1990s. Stephen Koukoulas reports. Difficult times ahead The problems generated by the Trump administration – even before he is sworn in – will change economic conditions in Australia. Most of the impacts will be negative. Policymakers will be watching and the sensible ones will be looking for policy agility to safeguard the Australian economy when the fallout hits. Policymakers must start to act to shore up the Australian economy against the backwash – which is potentially huge – from the Trump smashing on global trade. Stephen Koukoulas is an IA columnist and one of Australia’s leading economic visionaries, past Chief Economist of Citibank and Senior Economic Advisor to the Prime Minister. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Australia License Support independent journalism Subscribe to IA. Related Articles No coming back from Trump Trump's runaway trolley piling up with cuckoo captain's picks Trump's tariffs and their effect on the Australian economy U.S. Election not about economic anxiety, it’s about religious identity anxiety Trump taps into new media and rise in youth conservatism POLITICS AUSTRALIA CONSUMERS FINANCE ECONOMICS DONALD TRUMP US Election US Tariffs Australia trade war tariff war Stephen Koukoulas BRICS RBA Treasury Share Article
A range of independent TDs are contemplating the prospect of entering Ireland’s next coalition government as Fianna Fail and Fine Gael consider ways to secure a solid majority. Three long days of counting in the General Election finished late on Monday night when the final two seats were declared in the constituency of Cavan-Monaghan. Fianna Fail was the clear winner of the election, securing 48 of the Dail parliament’s 174 seats. Sinn Fein took 39 and Fine Gael 38. Labour and the Social Democrats both won 11 seats; People Before Profit-Solidarity took three; Aontu secured two; and the Green Party retained only one of its 12 seats. Independents and others accounted for 21 seats. The return of a Fianna Fail/Fine Gael-led coalition is now highly likely. However, their combined seat total of 86 leaves them just short of the 88 needed for a majority in the Dail. While the two centrist parties that have dominated Irish politics for a century could look to strike a deal with one of the Dail’s smaller centre-left parties, such as the Social Democrats or Labour, a more straightforward route to a majority could be achieved by securing the support of several independent TDs. For Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin and current taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris, wooing like-minded independents would be likely to involve fewer policy concessions, and financial commitments, than would be required to convince another party to join the government benches. Longford-Westmeath independent TD Kevin “Boxer” Moran, who served in a Fine Gael-led minority government between 2017 and 2020, expressed his willingness to listen to offers to join the new coalition in Dublin. “Look, my door’s open,” he told RTE. “Someone knocks, I’m always there to open it.” Marian Harkin, an independent TD for Sligo-Leitrim, expressed her desire to participate in government as she noted that Fianna Fail and Fine Gael were within “shouting distance” of an overall majority. “That means they will be looking for support, and I certainly will be one of those people who will be speaking to them and talking to them and negotiating with them, and I’m looking forward to doing that, because that was the reason that I ran in the first place,” she said. Meanwhile, the Social Democrats and Irish Labour Party both appear cautious about the prospect of an alliance with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael. They will no doubt be mindful of the experience of the Green Party, the junior partner in the last mandate. The Greens experienced near wipeout in the election, retaining only one of their 12 seats. Sinn Fein appears to currently have no realistic route to government, given Fianna Fail and Fine Gael’s ongoing refusal to share power with the party. Despite the odds being stacked against her party, Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald contacted the leaders of the Social Democrats and Labour on Monday to discuss options. Earlier, Fianna Fail deputy leader and outgoing Finance Minister Jack Chambers predicted that a new coalition government would not be in place before Christmas. Mr Chambers said planned talks about forming an administration required “time and space” to ensure that any new government will be “coherent and stable”. After an inconclusive outcome to the 2020 election, it took five months for Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Greens to strike the last coalition deal. Mr Chambers said he did not believe it would take that long this time, as he noted the Covid-19 pandemic was a factor in 2020, but he also made clear it would not be a swift process. He said he agreed with analysis that there was no prospect of a deal before Christmas. “I don’t expect a government to be formed in mid-December, when the Dail is due to meet on December 18, probably a Ceann Comhairle (speaker) can be elected, and there’ll have to be time and space taken to make sure we can form a coherent, stable government,” he told RTE. “I don’t think it should take five months like it did the last time – Covid obviously complicated that. But I think all political parties need to take the time to see what’s possible and try and form a stable government for the Irish people.” Fine Gael minister of state Peter Burke said members of his parliamentary party would have to meet to consider their options before giving Mr Harris a mandate to negotiate a new programme for government with Fianna Fail. “It’s important that we have a strong, stable, viable government, whatever form that may be, to ensure that we can meet the challenges of our society, meet the challenges in terms of the economic changes that are potentially going to happen,” he told RTE. Despite being set to emerge with the most seats, it has not been all good news for Fianna Fail. The party’s outgoing Health Minister Stephen Donnelly became one of the biggest casualties of the election when he lost his seat in Wicklow in the early hours of Monday morning. Mr Donnelly was always predicted to face a fight in the constituency after boundary changes saw it reduced from five to four seats. If it is to be a reprise of the Fianna Fail/Fine Gael governing partnership of the last mandate, one of the major questions is around the position of taoiseach and whether the parties will once again take turns to hold the Irish premiership during the lifetime of the new government. The outcome in 2020 saw the parties enter a coalition on the basis that the holder of the premier position would be exchanged midway through the term. Fianna Fail leader Mr Martin took the role for the first half of the mandate, with Leo Varadkar taking over in December 2022. Current Fine Gael leader Mr Harris succeeded Mr Varadkar as taoiseach when he resigned from the role earlier this year. However, this time Fianna Fail has significantly increased its seat lead over Fine Gael, compared with the last election when there were only three seats between the parties. The size of the disparity in party numbers is likely to draw focus on the rotating taoiseach arrangement, raising questions as to whether it will be re-run in the next coalition and, if it is, on what terms. On Sunday, Simon Coveney, a former deputy leader of Fine Gael, said a coalition that did not repeat the rotating taoiseach arrangement in some fashion would be a “difficult proposition” for his party. Meanwhile, Fine Gael minister Paschal Donohoe said he would be making the case for Mr Harris to have another opportunity to serve as taoiseach. On Monday, Mr Chambers said while his party would expect to lead the government it would approach the issue of rotating the taoiseach’s role on the basis of “mutual respect” with Fine Gael. “I think the context of discussions and negotiations will be driven by mutual respect, and that’s the glue that will drive a programme for government and that’s the context in which we’ll engage,” he said. On Monday, Labour leader Ivana Bacik reiterated her party’s determination to forge an alliance with fellow centre-left parties with the intention of having a unified approach to the prospect of entering government. Asked if Labour was prepared to go into government with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael on its own, she told RTE: “No, not at this stage. We are absolutely not willing to do that. “We want to ensure there’s the largest number of TDs who share our vision and our values who want to deliver change on the same basis that we do.” The Social Democrats have been non-committal about any potential arrangement with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, and have restated a series of red lines they would need to achieve before considering taking a place in government. Leader Holly Cairns, who gave birth to a daughter on polling day on Friday, said in a statement: “The party is in a very strong position to play an important role in the next Dail. In what position, government or opposition, remains to be seen.” Fianna Fail secured the most first preference votes in Friday’s proportional representation election, taking 21.9% to Fine Gael’s 20.8%. Sinn Fein came in third on 19%. While Sinn Fein’s vote share represented a marked improvement on its disappointing showing in June’s local elections in Ireland, it is still significantly down on the 24.5% poll-topping share it secured in the 2020 general election. The final breakdown of first preferences also flipped the result of Friday night’s exit poll, which suggested Sinn Fein was in front on 21.1%, with Fine Gael on 21% and Fianna Fail on 19.5%.Horoscope Today, December 30: Gemini to complete pending EMI's; know about other zodiac signs
The Latest: Former President Jimmy Carter is Dead at age 100Darnold gives Vikings another gem with career-high 377 yards in 27-25 win over Packers MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Sam Darnold added another exploit to his career-altering season, passing for a personal-best 377 yards and three touchdowns as the Minnesota Vikings hung on to beat the Green Bay Packers 27-25 for their ninth consecutive victory. The Vikings are 14-2. They set up a final-week showdown in Detroit for both the division title and the No. 1 seed for the playoffs in the NFC. Jordan Love’s only touchdown pass for the Packers came with 2:18 left to pull the Packers within two points. Darnold responded with two completions for first downs to seal the game. Saquon Barkley tops 2,000 yards rushing and moves within 100 of Dickerson's record PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Saquon Barkley became the ninth running back in NFL history to top 2,000 yards rushing in a season, reaching the milestone with a 23-yard run in the fourth quarter against the Dallas Cowboys. That rush gave Barkley 2,005 yards with one game left and left him exactly 100 yards from Eric Dickerson’s record of 2,105, set in 1984 for the Los Angeles Rams. Barkley could potentially top the record in next week’s finale against the New York Giants. However, that game will be mostly meaningless for the Eagles, who could opt to rest Barkley to protect him from injury ahead of the playoffs. Moment of silence for former President Jimmy Carter held before the Falcons-Commanders game LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — A moment of silence was held for former President Jimmy Carter before the Atlanta Falcons' game at the Washington Commanders. The Georgia native served as the 39th president of the United States at the White House less than 10 miles away from 1977-81. Falcons owner Arthur Blank in a statement called Carter an inspirational global humanitarian. Carter died earlier Sunday at the age of 100 in Plains, Georgia. He also has a connection to the NFL as the first president to host the Super Bowl champions at the White House when he welcomed the Pittsburgh Steelers there in 1980. NFC's No. 1 seed comes down to Vikings-Lions showdown at Detroit in Week 18 The NFC’s No. 1 seed will come down to the final week when the Detroit Lions host the Minnesota Vikings. The winner takes the NFC North and gets a first-round playoff bye and home-field advantage until the Super Bowl. The loser gets the No. 5 seed and must play on the road in the wild-card round. The Vikings held on for a 27-25 victory over the Green Bay Packers to set up the high-stakes showdown in Week 18. The Lions visit the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night. Win, lose or tie, they have to beat the Vikings for a second time this season. Bills clinch the AFC's No. 2 seed with a 40-14 rout of the undisciplined Jets ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Josh Allen threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score and the Buffalo Bills clinched the AFC’s No. 2 seed with a 40-14 rout of the New York Jets. The Bills put the game away by capitalizing on two Jets turnovers and scoring three touchdowns over a 5:01 span in the closing minutes of the third quarter. Buffalo’s defense forced three takeaways overall and sacked Aaron Rodgers four times, including a 2-yard loss for a safety in the second quarter. The five-time defending AFC East champion Bills improved to 13-3 to match a franchise single-season record. Saquon Barkley tops 2,000 yards rushing as Eagles beat Cowboys 41-7 to clinch NFC East PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Saquon Barkley rushed for 167 yards to top 2,000 on the season, backup quarterback Kenny Pickett ran and threw for scores before departing with injured ribs, and the Philadelphia Eagles clinched the NFC East title by routing the Dallas Cowboys 41-7. Barkley has 2,005 yards and needs 101 in next week’s mostly meaningless regular-season finale to top Eric Dickerson and his 2,105 yards for the Los Angeles Rams in 1984. The Eagles led 24-7 in the third quarter when Pickett was drilled by defensive end Micah Parsons, ending his first start in place of the concussed Jalen Hurts. Penn State coach James Franklin says Nick Saban should be college football's commissioner SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Penn State coach James Franklin believes college football needs a commissioner and he even has a candidate in mind: former Alabama coach Nick Saban. Franklin made the suggestion Sunday at Penn State’s College Football Playoff quarterfinals media day ahead of the Fiesta Bowl. The sixth-seeded Nittany Lions are preparing for their game against No. 3 seed Boise State on Tuesday. The veteran coach was responding to a question about Penn State’s backup quarterback situation after Beau Pribula transferred to Missouri before the playoff. Pribula’s decision highlighted some of the frustrating aspects of a new college football world in the Name, Image and Likeness era and the transfer portal, forcing players to make tough decisions at inopportune times. LeBron James at 40: A milestone birthday arrives Monday for the NBA's all-time scoring leader When LeBron James broke another NBA record earlier this month, the one for most regular-season minutes played in a career, his Los Angeles Lakers teammates handled the moment in typical locker room fashion. They made fun of him. Dubbed The Kid from Akron, with a limitless future, James is now the 40-year-old from Los Angeles with wisps of gray in his beard, his milestone birthday coming Monday, one that will make him the first player in NBA history to play in his teens, 20s, 30s and 40s. He has stood and excelled in the spotlight his entire career. Rising Sun Devils: Arizona State looks to pull off another big surprise at the Peach Bowl ATLANTA (AP) — As they prepare for Arizona State’s biggest game in nearly three decades, the guys who made it happen aren’t the least bit surprised to be rated a nearly two-touchdown underdog in the College Football Playoff. That’s a familiar position for the Sun Devils. They've been an underdog most of the season. Of the eight teams still vying for a national championship, there’s no bigger surprise than 11-2 Arizona State. The Sun Devils went 3-9 a year ago and were picked to finish dead last in their first season in the Big 12 Conference. Now, they're getting ready to face Texas in the Peach Bowl quarterfinal game on New Year’s Day. Lakers send D'Angelo Russell to Nets in trade for Dorian Finney-Smith, Shake Milton LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Lakers have traded guard D’Angelo Russell to the Brooklyn Nets for forward Dorian Finney-Smith and guard Shake Milton. The Lakers also sent forward Maxwell Lewis and three second-round draft picks to Brooklyn. Russell averaged a career-low 12.4 points per game for the Lakers this season in a diminished role under new coach JJ Redick. Finney-Smith is a steady 3-and-D wing who fills an obvious need for the Lakers. Russell is being traded by the Lakers to the Nets for the second time in his career. He also made the move in 2017.Game-changing holiday gifts for building fires, printing photos, watching birds and more
SEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle Seahawks were struggling a week ago, coming off their bye having lost five of their last six games. That included a gut-punch overtime defeat at home against the Los Angeles Rams on Nov. 3. The outlook for the last-place Seahawks (5-5) was beginning to look grim.
Notable quotes by Jimmy Carter
Nagpur: Moviegoers watching a late-night show of “Pushpa 2” at a multiplex in Maharashtra’s Nagpur witnessed a real-life action scene as police stormed the cinema hall and arrested a man wanted in murder and drug cases. The dramatic arrest of Vishal Meshram shortly after midnight on Thursday left the packed audience stunned, but police assured them that they could continue enjoying the movie as they nabbed the accused and took him away. Meshram was on the run for 10 months and was eventually tracked down after police learnt about his interest in the recently-released film, an official from Pachpaoli police station said on Sunday. The gangster had 27 cases against him, including two of murder and drug trafficking, and was known for his violent tendencies, even attacking police in the past, he said. Authorities had been pursuing him relentlessly, using cyber surveillance and tracking his movements in a new sports utility vehicle (SUV), the official said. After tracking him on Thursday, police deflated the vehicle’s tyres outside the cinema hall, located in central part of the city, to prevent his escape, he said. When police personnel entered the hall during the movie’s climax, Meshram was engrossed in the film. The police surrounded him and made the arrest swiftly, giving him no chance to resist, the official said. Meshram is currently lodged in the Nagpur Central Jail and will soon be transferred to a prison in Nashik, the police said. “Pushpa 2: The Rule”, the blockbuster movie starring Allu Arjun, is a sequel to 2021’s Telugu film “Pushpa: The Rise”. It was released on December 5 with dubbed versions in Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, Bengali and Malayalam.