1 2 3 Guwahati: Manipur, Assam, and Meghalaya are racing against time to complete the 100 per cent target in providing tap water connections to rural households, with close to 80 per cent coverage achieved. Meanwhile, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram have reached the 100 per cent target of providing tap water to households before the water crisis begins in the dry season. After achieving 81.31 per cent piped water supply coverage under JJM, no progress in JJM works has occurred since Oct amid quality assessment. Pointing out deficiencies in quality control and delays in project timelines, a temporary suspension was implemented on all projects under the JJM in Assam from Oct. An audit of the projects was commissioned. A govt release recently stated that Assam achieved a remarkable milestone, with tap water connections reaching over 82% of households, a substantial increase from just 1.67% in 2019. Public health engineering minister Jayanta Malla Baruah reaffirmed the govt's commitment to stringent monitoring of JJM projects and acknowledged the media's crucial role in identifying areas for enhancement. According to the JJM dashboard, as of Wednesday, among the northeastern states, Nagaland ranks third with 92.60 per cent coverage in household tap water connections. Tripura holds the fourth position with 84.62 per cent coverage, while Meghalaya (81.36) and Assam (81.31) occupy the fifth and sixth positions respectively. Violence-affected Manipur remains at the bottom among northeastern states with 79.58 per cent coverage. Before reaching a temporary halt, JJM Assam achieved 81% (i.e., 58.45 lakh) functional household tap connections alongside several other social initiatives. The endeavour has been to cover nearly 75 lakh rural households across 25,000 plus villages throughout the state, implementing via 8,000 plus contractors and utilising Rs. 19,550 crores thus far. Assam is implementing over 27,000 piped water supply schemes (PWSS) across the state, of which, a govt release said approximately 15,800 have been completed. However, it said challenges persist regarding project delays and suspected quality issues considering the scale of implementation and varied contractor capabilities in certain regions. The state govt maintains that the temporary standstill period was initiated to review the quality and timelines of ongoing projects. A team from the Centre for Urbanization, Buildings and Environment (CUBE), a joint initiative of IIT Madras and the Govt of Tamil Nadu, arrived in Assam in Nov to professionally evaluate the implemented works and submit a report with their observations and suggested improvements. These observations shall provide insights and data for enhanced decision-making by state authorities to ensure a sustainable drinking water supply to Assam's rural population. Ten inspection teams from CUBE, comprising 20 people, commenced evaluating work standards from Nov 2, 2024, across all districts. While sources indicate the assessment's completion, attention now focuses on future strategies to achieve complete coverage, particularly when 11 states and union territories have already attained 100 percent coverage nationwide. Current Status in Northeast India 1. 100% Coverage Achieved Arunachal Pradesh Mizoram 2. Progress in Other States Nagaland: 92.60% (3rd rank) Tripura: 84.62% (4th rank) Meghalaya: 81.36% (5th rank) Assam: 81.31% (6th rank) Manipur: 79.58% (lowest in NE) Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , Location Guesser and Mini Crossword .By Twink Jones Gadama, Political Journalist President Lazarus Chakwera on Wednesday, delivered his national address, outlining the government’s efforts to address the challenges facing our nation. As a political journalist, I was eager to scrutinize the President’s speech and provide a critical analysis. While the President’s speech was replete with promises and assurances, it lacked substance and concrete solutions to the problems plaguing our country. The President’s address was more of a public relations exercise than a genuine attempt to address the pressing issues facing Malawians. Let us start with the issue of hunger, which the President correctly identified as a major challenge facing our nation. However, his solution to this problem is woefully inadequate. The President boasted about the international support he has secured to address the hunger crisis, but he failed to provide a clear plan on how this support will be utilized to benefit the affected communities. Furthermore, the President’s admission that the government is still short of 89 billion Kwacha to secure enough food for the affected population is a clear indication of his administration’s failure to prioritize the needs of the most vulnerable Malawians. The President also spoke about the fuel shortage, which has caused untold suffering to many Malawians. However, his explanation for the shortage was unconvincing, and his solution to the problem is nothing more than a short-term fix. In addition to these issues, the President’s speech was also notable for its lack of clarity on the government’s plans to address the economic challenges facing our nation. As a journalist, I believe it is my duty to hold those in power accountable for their actions. The President’s national address was a missed opportunity to provide a clear and compelling vision for our nation’s future. Instead of offering concrete solutions to the challenges facing our country, the President’s speech was characterized by vague promises and unconvincing explanations. The President’s speech was also notable for its lack of accountability. At no point did the President take responsibility for his administration’s failure to address the challenges facing our nation. As a journalist, I have spoken to many Malawians who are frustrated with the President’s lack of action on the issues that matter most to them. The President’s speech was a clear indication that he is out of touch with the needs and concerns of ordinary Malawians. In conclusion, the President’s national address was a missed opportunity to provide a clear and compelling vision for our nation’s future. Instead of offering concrete solutions to the challenges facing our country, the President’s speech was characterized by vague promises and unconvincing explanations. As a journalist, I urge Malawians to demand more from their government. We deserve better than a government that is more concerned with public relations than with providing real solutions to our problems. We deserve a government that is transparent, accountable, and responsive to the needs of all Malawians. The President’s national address was a clear indication that his administration is not committed to these values. As a journalist, I will continue to hold those in power accountable for their actions. I will continue to push for transparency and accountability in government. And I will continue to advocate for policies that prioritize the needs of the most vulnerable Malawians. Together, we can build a brighter future for Malawi. Together, we can create a nation that is just, equitable, and prosperous for all. But we must demand more from our government. We must demand a government that is committed to transparency, accountability, and responsiveness. We must demand a government that prioritizes the needs of the most vulnerable Malawians. And we must demand a government that is willing to take responsibility for its actions. Anything less is unacceptable. As a journalist, I will continue to push for these values. I will continue to hold those in power accountable for their actions. And I will continue to advocate for policies that prioritize the needs of the most vulnerable Malawians. Together, we can build a brighter future for Malawi. Together, we can create a nation that is just, equitable, and prosperous for all. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .
There's increasing concern that American politicians are growing too old in office. One congresswoman, 68, says she's retiring in part to "set a better example." "I'm just not the best gladiator for it right now," said Rep. Annie Kuster of New Hampshire. As Americans grow increasingly concerned by the advanced age of top politicians, one retiring lawmaker is taking a different tack. Rep. Annie Kuster, a 68-year-old Democrat who's represented a New Hampshire district for 12 years, told the Boston Globe that she's trying to make room for younger people in Congress. "I'm trying to set a better example," Kuster said. "I think there are colleagues — and some of whom are still very successful and very productive — but others who just stay forever." Kuster added that she's "not the best gladiator" to serve as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to reassume office and Democrats gird for at least two years of full GOP control of Congress and the White House. She's set to be replaced by Maggie Goodlander, a 38-year-old Democrat who most recently worked in the Department of Justice under President Joe Biden. According to the 2024 MassMutual Retirement Happiness Study, the average American retires at age 62 , which is when early Social Security benefits become available. Many Americans work past that age, either due to financial pressures or a sense of fulfillment from work. It's different in Washington, where lawmakers tend to be personally wealthy and driven by a sense of mission. They also grow more powerful the longer they stick around, due to the seniority system . In 2022, Business Insider reported that roughly a quarter of lawmakers were over the age of 70 . But while age limits are popular with the general public, they're highly unlikely to happen, owing to the difficulty of enacting constitutional amendments. Democrats in particular have been reckoning with the perils of aging in the wake of their 2024 losses, which many attribute to the 82-year-old Biden's decision to continue running for reelection until a disastrous debate performance forced him out of the race in July. In recent weeks, the party has elevated younger leaders to assume top positions on a series of House committees, replacing older or ailing members in their mid- to late 70s. Still, the perils of gerontocracy continue to emerge. This month, retiring Republican Rep. Kay Granger, 81, was revealed to be living in a senior living facility in her home state of Texas. She had not cast any votes since July. Until she stepped down in March, she was the chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee, which oversees the entirety of the federal government's spending.
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By Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss NEW YORK (Reuters) -The euro rose modestly against the U.S. dollar on Tuesday, as political turmoil in France sent traders scrambling for hedging protection against further price swings, with some market participants noting that the crisis could be nearing the end. The South Korean won, meanwhile, was one of the biggest movers, plunging against the U.S. dollar to a more than two-year low after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law in an unannounced late-night address on television. But the won recouped some of its losses later on Tuesday after Yoon said he would move to lift martial law he had imposed just hours before. Yoon’s martial law declaration was unanimously voted down by 190 lawmakers in parliament, with his own party urging him to lift the decree. The dollar, on the other hand, briefly rose after data showed U.S. job openings increased moderately in October while layoffs declined, even as Federal Reserve officials on Tuesday did not provide definitive guidance on what they intend to do at their policy meeting later this month. With political tension in South Korea partly easing, investors focused on one of the major stories hobbling the euro zone: French politics. French Prime Minister Michel Barnier faces a vote of no confidence on Wednesday after fierce opposition from across the political spectrum to his budget, which contains painful tax rises and spending cuts aimed at repairing the country’s precarious finances. “We’re at the tail end of the crisis,” said Marc Chandler, chief market strategist at Bannockburn Forex in New York. “Tomorrow, there is a vote of no confidence. It passes, but they can’t have an election until next July. So what they’ll probably do is appoint a prime minister and try again, or let Barnier become the caretaker prime minister and pass some laws to keep the government going until July.” Demand for hedges, as reflected by euro options volatility, has hit its highest since March 2023 this week and, with the combination of a string of weak data, political uncertainty in major euro zone economies and the seemingly unstoppable dollar, the single European currency could struggle. The euro, which had been the weakest G10 currency through November, began this month with a 0.7% fall on Monday and was last up 0.1% at $1.0507, as France’s government headed for collapse over the budget impasse. [EUR/GVD] SOUTH KOREAN DRAMA The Korean currency fell to as low as 1,443.40 won per dollar, the lowest since October 2022, in the immediate aftermath of the martial law declaration. It was last down 1% at 1,418.35 after Yoon lifted martial law. Yoon earlier said he had no choice but to resort to martial law in order to protect the liberal democracy, saying opposition parties have taken hostage of the parliamentary process to throw the country into a crisis. The dollar slipped versus the yen to 149.55 yen, while the euro traded flat against the Japanese unit at 157.12 yen. Traders are growing increasingly confident that Japan may hike interest rates this month. The won sank to its lowest since May 2023 against the yen, and was last down 0.9% at 1,052. The Chinese yuan, another currency to watch with the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump in the United States, hit a 13-month low on tariff risks and weakness in China’s economy. The yuan had already sold off in anticipation of more tariffs from Trump and improving U.S. manufacturing data, and a dive in Chinese bond yields to record lows has pulled the currency toward 7.3 per dollar for the first time since last November. [CNY/] China fixed the yuan’s trading band at its weakest in more than a year and traders ran with it to sell the currency at 7.2996 per dollar. The Chinese unit last traded at 7.2850 per dollar, slightly down 0.2%. It traded at 7.24 on Friday. [CNY/] The U.S. dollar index was little changed to slightly down on the day at 106.33. It trimmed losses after data showed job openings, a measure of labor demand, had risen 372,000 to 7.744 million by the last day of October, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, or JOLTS report. U.S. fed funds futures priced in a 70% chance of a 25 basis-point cut this month, and 30% odds of a pause, according to LSEG calculations, little changed from late Monday. Three Fed officials spoke on Wednesday and said they all saw inflation progressing toward their 2% target but none pushed strongly for or against doing so when they next meet to set rates in two weeks. Currency bid prices at 3 December 09:19 p.m. GMT Descripti RIC Last U.S. Pct YTD Pct High Low on Close Change Bid Bid Previous Session Dollar 106.34 106.37 -0.03% 4.90% 106.6 106. index 08 Euro/Doll 1.0507 1.0498 0.09% -4.8% $1.0535 $1.0 ar 481 Dollar/Ye 149.55 149.57 -0.21% 5.82% 150.195 148. n 675 Euro/Yen 1.0507 157.02 0.08% 0.97% 157.98 156. 19 Dollar/Sw 0.8863 0.8864 0% 5.32% 0.8889 0.88 iss 3 Sterling/ 1.2669 1.2657 0.12% -0.42% $1.27 $1.2 Dollar 638 Dollar/Ca 1.4067 1.4046 0.17% 6.14% 1.4076 1.40 nadian 1 Aussie/Do 0.6481 0.6476 0.13% -4.9% $0.6505 $0.6 llar 456 Euro/Swis 0.931 0.9305 0.05% 0.26% 0.9324 0.92 s 92 Euro/Ster 0.8291 0.8294 -0.04% -4.35% 0.8312 0.82 ling 88 NZ 0.5877 0.5888 -0.18% -6.99% $0.5905 0.58 Dollar/Do 65 llar Dollar/No 11.0676 11.0891 -0.2% 9.2% 11.1303 11.0 rway 279 Euro/Norw 11.6296 11.652 -0.19% 3.61% 11.677 11.6 ay 175 Dollar/Sw 11.0102 10.9876 0.21% 9.37% 11.0273 10.9 eden 705 Euro/Swed 11.5702 11.538 0.28% 4% 11.5855 11.5 en 357 (Reporting by Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss; Additional reporting by Amanda Cooper in London and Tom Westbrook in Singapore; Editing by Nicholas Yong, Kirsten Donovan and Susan Fenton) Disclaimer: This report is auto generated from the Reuters news service. 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NoneCable networks like CNN were once the key assets in the entertainment world. Now they have become toxic, which is why Comcast unloaded them last month and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) is now looking to do the same. “Warners on Thursday said it was reorganizing its corporate structure into a global linear TV division, separate from from its streaming and studios division,” reports the far-left Hollywood Reporter. “The studio said it will begin the early steps towards the new corporate reorganization immediately and expects to complete the initiative by mid-2025.” “In a sign of just how embattled the pay-TV business is, the move by WBD follows rival Comcast unveiling a plan to spin off its less lucrative cable networks away from its film and TV studio entertainment and parks businesses.” Bog Iger, CEO of the Disney Grooming Syndicate , has already floated the idea of similar separation. The report adds that WBD’s plan “appears to be spinning off all its linear [TV] assets into a separate holding company so that the core of the company can return to growth [because] the cable business [has] become a drag on earnings[.]” The report points out that cable packages (or bundling) “have fast fallen out of favor with consumers who’ve spent instead on individual streaming services.” “Last year, major pay-TV companies collectively lost about 5 million subscribers combined and Comcast alone lost 2 million subs[.]” So what’s going on here? Well, the good news is that Hollywood will have no choice but to produce TV products people actually want to watch. If they don’t, we won’t subscribe to their streaming outlets, and streaming is the future. You see pay TV, or linear TV, or cable and satellite TV, were cash cows for decades. Why? Because the monopoly of cable forced us into bundles (or packages) that included dozens and dozens of networks we never watched. Nevertheless, because those networks were part of our cable package, we were still forced to pay for them. This is called a carriage fee, and these carriage fees have kept basement-rated networks like CNN, MSNBC, Comedy Central, and MTV artificially alive long past their fresh date. You see, those networks could never survive on merit (i.e., revenues based on advertising rates based on viewership size). But by rigging the cable game so that tens of millions of households subsidize these outlets, they have been kept alive. Streaming changed all of that. Merit has returned. Disney, Comcast, and WBD can’t do with their streaming services what they do with their shitty cable networks — force us to subsidize them. Streaming services must attract us with programming we actually want to watch. So, millions are canceling their bloated cable bills and moving to streaming. The loss of those carriage fees, and we’re talking billions a month, is devastating Hollywood’s bottom line. And so, all those cable networks are now a drag on the stock price, which is also known as a toxic asset. By splitting those networks away from the WBD Mothership, they won’t be a drag on the mothership’s stock price. Eventually, as the stock price on the spin-off company made up of dying cable networks diminishes, these assets will be bought and sold for parts and pieces until they are no more, or until CNNLOL becomes an add-on to a streaming service like Max — an add-on no one watches. For those of you still dumb enough to subscribe to cable, here’s the best news: streaming offers enough free programming to blow your mind. Moving to streaming does not mean lining the pockets of Disney and Netflix. If you already pay for high-speed internet, all you need do is buy a Roku player (about $60), and you will find more free TV than you could ever watch. Pluto, FreeVee, Tubi, and RokuTV, just for starters. Sure, it’s got ads, but so does the cable TV you are paying through the nose for. This is 100 percent free – movies, TV shows, sports, true crime, news... This move to streaming is a return to a business model where these left-wing entertainment companies must make content people actually want to watch. This is a cultural victory for Normal People. FREE-FREE-FREE for the holidays: an autographed bookplate if you purchase John Nolte’s first and last novel, BORROWED TIME, between now and December 20. After you’ve made the purchase, email your request to JJMNOLTE at HOTMAIL dot COM with an address and any personalization requests. For example, something like; “To Rachel Levine: The sexiest man alive.” Borrowed Time , is winning five-star raves from everyday readers. You can read an excerpt here and an in-depth review here . Also available in hardcover and on Kindle and Audiobook .