Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar on Monday expressed reservations on the recent report of the standing committee on agriculture, animal husbandry and food processing, recommending the implementation of a legally binding Minimum Support Price (MSP) in India. Addressing a press conference in his residence in Panchkula, Jakhar said he did not agree with the findings of this committee. “With all due respect to the wisdom of the parliamentarian of our country in this committee, this committee has given recommendations keeping in mind the national perspective.” “I couldn’t find any members from our region who understand our agricultural problems. I only want to say that I have reservations about the recommendations of this committee,” said Jakhar. The committee is headed by former Punjab chief minister and Congress MP from Jalandhar, Charanjit Singh Channi, an ardent political opponent of Jakhar. Notably, the committee recommended the implementation of MSP to farmers as a legal guarantee saying that it was essential not only for safeguarding farmers’ livelihoods but also for promoting rural economic growth and enhancing national food security. He also reiterated his opposition to MSP guarantees, arguing they would harm Punjab. “I have my reservations for the MSP on all crops in Punjab. Anybody can come to me a debate with me on the issue,” said Jakhar. Earlier, Jakhar exhorted farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal to end their prolonged fast citing serious health risks. “It’s been 27 days since Dallewal sat on fast-unto-death. Initially, no one inquired about them, but for the past 10 days, political leaders have started checking on their condition. Interestingly, none of them have urged him to end fast as these leaders are not worried about his health but are interested in getting the political mileage out of it by abusing BJP,” said Jakhar, adding that since the Supreme Court has taken cognisance of the issue the hunger strike should end. Highlighting the recent blasts on police establishments in the past few days, Jakhar said Pakistan is trying to destabilize Punjab, and the youth, due to unemployment and a desire to move abroad, are susceptible to indulging in wrong activities. He also urged Bhagwant Mann’s government to focus on law and order.
After his team's 102-89 home win on Wednesday night over Purdue Fort Wayne, Penn State coach Mike Rhoades challenged his team's fan base to show up and make more noise. "Sweat with us," he said at one point. At 5-0, the Nittany Lions haven't had to sweat much to get off to a fast start. They might not have to expend much perspiration to make it 6-0 on Monday when they meet Fordham in a semifinal matchup at the Sunshine Slam tournament in Daytona Beach, Fla. Penn State hasn't played a strong schedule so far, but the team has been impressive. It's averaging 98.2 points per game and 13.8 steals per game, both of which ranked second in Division I through Saturday's play. The Nittany Lions were seventh per kenpom.com in turnover rate, forcing 25.3 per 100 possessions. Point guard Ace Baldwin Jr. is leading the charge, scoring 16.4 points and dishing out 7.8 assists while chipping in 2.6 steals. Zach Hicks has nearly doubled his scoring average from 8.4 last season to 15.8 this season, while Northern Illinois transfer Yanic Konan Niederhauser has beefed up the interior, tallying 12.2 points and 7.2 rebounds. Meanwhile, Fordham (3-3) is coming off a 73-71 home loss Friday night against Drexel in New York. The Rams blew a seven-point lead early in the second half and missed a chance to force overtime when leading scorer Jackie Johnson III missed a layup as time expired. Johnson, a UNLV transfer, is averaging 19 points per game and is making nearly 48 percent of his shots as one of three Rams with double-figure scoring averages. Jahmere Tripp scores at an 11.0 clip while Japhet Medor is contributed 10.5, but Fordham is struggling to make shots, canning only 41.5 percent from the field. The Rams were picked for a 14th-place finish in the Atlantic 10 despite returning more scoring than any team in the league except for VCU. Third-year coach Keith Urgo thinks his team can defy low external expectations. "We're experienced and I think we're poised to have a tremendous year," he said. --Field Level MediaTrump calls meeting with Trudeau 'productive' after tariff threat
Trump threatens 100% tariff on the BRIC bloc of nations if they act to undermine US dollarPSG ease 3-0 past Toulouse
Spain’s new digital pass: A game changer for pensionersNissan to show all-electric R32 GT-R conversion in Tokyo‘It’s classless’: Michigan football star talks postgame scuffle in upset victory over Ohio StateCBC resurrects live New Year's Eve broadcast special with coast-to-coast show
Last year’s Chabad of the Berkshires' Hanukkah menorah lighting, attended by at least 100 people, included remarks by Berkshire District Attorney Timothy Shugrue and state Rep. William “Smitty” Pignatelli, D-Lenox, on Dec. 7, 2023. LENOX — The second annual menorah lighting celebration marking the beginning of the eight-day Hanukkah holiday is set for sundown Wednesday in Lilac Park off Main Street. The Chabad of the Berkshires ceremony, organized by Rabbi Levi Volovik, begins at 4:30 and includes a fire show, music, dancing, doughnuts and latkes (potato pancakes). Rabbi Levi Volovik speaks at Lilac Park on Dec. 7, 2023 during the first public Hanukkah menorah lighting at a town-owned park in Lenox. The second annual celebration will be this Wenesday at 4:30 p.m. The event includes music, dancing, donuts and latkes (potato pancakes). The start of the eight-day holiday rarely falls on the same day as Christmas. “Hanukkah is an eternal story that began in Israel, where the Jewish people were oppressed and not allowed to celebrate their Jewish life in public,” he pointed out. Hanukkah, also known as the Celebration of Lights, is an eight-day holiday that commemorates the rededication of the Jerusalem Temple in 165 BC by Jewish fighters, the Maccabees, after its desecration by the Syrians. It is marked by the night-by-night lighting of eight candles. This will be only the fifth time in 115 years that Christmas and Hanukkah fall on the same day — the previous instances were in 1910, 1921, 1959 and 2005. It’s a rare alignment because the Hebrew calendar is different from the Western world’s Gregorian calendar. The Hebrew calendar uses the moon’s phases to determine dates. A new moon marks the beginning of each month. Getting through all the moon’s phases takes just under 30 days, and 12 months are about 354 days long. Every few years, an extra month is added to keep seasonal celebrations roughly at the same time each year. The Gregorian calendar is based on the movement of the sun, and eight of the year’s 12 months have 31 days. The eight days and nights of Hanukkah are fixed, starting on the 25th day of Kislev, one of the months of the Hebrew calendar. However, because of the difference in year lengths, Hanukkah can occur any time from late November to late December on the Gregorian calendar. Source: The Jerusalem Post. Berkshires-based relatives of hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza will speak during the event, the rabbi said. The celebration is sponsored by the Haddad dealerships, the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires and the Harold Grinspoon Foundation. “Antisemitism has reared its ugly head since Oct. 7 [2023, Hamas' attack on Israel],” Volovik noted. “The universal message of Hanukkah is that everyone has challenges and darkness in life but it’s our mission to add light into the world by making a difference, by doing goodness and kindness, always to keep on going, doing as much as you can. If we all add goodness and kindness, this will be a better world.” In an interview, the rabbi announced that the Lenox Jewish Center of the Berkshires , under construction downtown at 17 West St. since September 2023, will have its grand opening for the community on July 6, 2025. “It’s for people of all backgrounds and affiliations, making a positive difference in people’s lives,” he said. The campus will include a social hall for lectures and concerts, cooking classes, a kosher cafe, music room, art room, a teenage lounge, fitness center, sanctuary, library, tennis and pickleball courts, meditation terrace, playground, and eventually a preschool/childcare center. Originally projected to cost $6.5 million , the current estimate for Chabad’s first phase is nearly $9 million, including acquisition of the property. The next phase will include the rabbi’s full-time residence on the second floor. Fundraising is continuing beyond nearly $5 million in pledges already received. For next week, the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires has announced a “Radiant Nights” special event. It's a Hanukkah celebration this Sunday from 5 to 8 p.m. at Hancock Shaker Village, 1843 Housatonic St. on the Pittsfield-Hancock border. The event features sparkling lights, music, farm animals and art video projections, with a 6 p.m. menorah lighting in the Round Stone Barn. It will be accompanied by Hanukkah songs performed by the Jewish Musicians Collective as well as tasty treats, warm drinks, giveaways and Hanukkah-themed light illuminations by local artist Joe Wheaton, the announcement stated. The event is mostly outdoors or inside unheated spaces. Extended security will be present, the Federation announcement stated. Advance purchase of tickets with a special coupon code is required for the Sunday event. Federation Group tickets are $15 for adults, with youth 12 and under free. Registration is on the Hancock Shaker Village site with the discount code JFB2024.