Category Archives: politics

Angelina Jolie: I do not, at this time, recognise my country

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Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie expressed deep concern about the current state of her country, stating that although she loves it, she does not recognize it during these challenging times.

Speaking at a press conference at the San Sebastian Film Festival on Sunday, the Los Angeles-born star, aged 50, addressed the issue of freedom of expression in the United States. Her comments come amid heightened tensions following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, as well as the controversy surrounding the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night talk show over his remarks about reactions to Kirk’s death.

“I love my country but I don’t, at this time, recognize my country,” Jolie said. “I’ve always lived internationally. My family’s international, my friends, my life, my worldview is equal, united, international. So anything anywhere that divides or, of course, limits personal expressions and freedoms, and from anyone, I think is very dangerous.”

She continued, “And I think these are such serious times that we have to be careful not to say things casually. So I’ll be careful during a press conference, but to say that, of course, like all of you and everyone watching, these are very, very heavy times. We’re all living it together.”

Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist and ally of former US President Donald Trump, was recently assassinated. Trump has blamed the radical left for the killing and has threatened to take action against liberal organizations, donors, and media outlets he perceives as maligning or celebrating the incident. In response, ABC made the decision to pull “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” from its schedule, sparking widespread criticism from several Hollywood stars, including Ben Stiller and Jamie Lee Curtis.

Angelina Jolie attended the festival’s press conference to discuss her new film, *Couture*. The movie centers on three women, including Jolie’s character Maxine, who travels to Paris to direct a video for a fashion event and receives a serious medical diagnosis.

As the nation grapples with political divisions and ongoing debates about free speech, Jolie’s remarks emphasize the importance of unity and protecting personal freedoms during these turbulent times.
https://www.breakingnews.ie/world/angelina-jolie-i-do-not-at-this-time-recognise-my-country-1809528.html

His birthday, your birthday

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The dread you have of being forgotten is of your own making. Your pride dissuaded you from stating the date of your birth on your social media accounts. That would have assured digital prompts to your followers to wish you. But you desire to be greeted without reminders, as a heartfelt expression of sentiments for you. This is why you don’t throw birthday parties—for the guests wouldn’t but remember greeting you.

You turn wistful on hearing that a prominent Delhi school has asked children to make e-cards and upload videos wishing the prime minister on his birthday. The school’s circular suggested they highlight, in their greetings, a reform introduced by Modi that has had a significant impact on the nation.

You are again reminded of your ordinariness, for you have never received a card appreciating the difference you made to a person’s life. You suddenly remember long queues outside banks in the aftermath of demonetisation and migrant labourers walking home during the COVID shutdown. Remembrance can, indeed, be manipulated. But you also know nothing can make you feel as lonely as your birthday being forgotten, for it establishes your sheer unimportance.

You belatedly remember you too have engaged in manipulation—promising your family a treat on your birthday. It’s a device for feeling special on a special day. This self-knowledge turns you forgiving as you leaf through newspapers dated September 17, 2025—pages after pages of advertisements wishing the prime minister on turning 75.

You note the names of those who issued them. You wonder: do they want to extract a benefit from Modi in return for remembering him? What makes them feel he’d be pleased? You think he’s perhaps no different from you, as much a child as you are in equating remembrance with worthiness and love.

Your expansive mood turns sullen as you check social media timelines. Dozens of celebrities remember the prime minister’s birthday! From film stars to cricketers to business tycoons to, obviously, politicians, they have sent messages to the prime minister. Some describe their fleeting moments with him or laud him for leading the nation to scale the peak of glory by 2047.

For sure, he can’t possibly share your fear of being forgotten.

But then you stumble upon chess grandmaster Viswanathan Anand’s message, wherein he ecstatically describes how he was once treated to a delicious Gujarati thali by Modi. On re-reading the message, you notice it is addressed to Viswanathan Anand ji, not to Modi ji. He obviously forgot to substitute his name with the prime minister’s.

In the bitterness oozing out of your ordinariness, you now know that Anand was commandeered to send his greeting to the prime minister, with even the text written out for him.

The discovery of Anand’s message is your eureka moment. It’s so silly of you not to have a birthday bash only because you want your friends to wish you without a prompt or pretext. You realise you shouldn’t be so insecure as to compulsively gauge your importance to them every year. You resolve you will, from now on, be as unabashed as Modi is about celebrating his birthday.

But you discern a problem, for the celebration of Modi’s birthday involves organising blood donations and cleanliness drives. Ordinary mortals cut cakes, but Modi, on September 17, launched an initiative that will have the government organise 10 lakh health camps for women between September 17 and October 2.

His gesture impresses you—even though you wonder why the camps weren’t held at another time in the year.

You then remember your grandfather, who’d give you money when you’d wish him on his birthday. Patriarchs have a keen sense of what makes love and loyalty work.

Your problem is your family and friends would baulk if you were to celebrate your birthday by inviting them to, say, donate blood.

Just as poet Sahir Ludhianvi thought that by building the Taj Mahal for his beloved, Mughal emperor Shah Jahan mocked the love of the poor, you too think ordinary birthday desires are caricatured every September 17.

Fear, like love, has many expressions.
https://www.mid-day.com/news/opinion/article/his-birthday-your-birthday-23595142

Madhya Pradesh Legal Team, OBC Mahasabha Gear Up For 27% Quota Fight

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**Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Preparations Intensify Ahead of Supreme Court Hearing on 27% OBC Reservation**

With the Supreme Court scheduled to resume hearings on the 27% Other Backward Classes (OBC) reservation case from September 24, the Madhya Pradesh government and the OBC Mahasabha have stepped up their legal preparations.

A strategic meeting was held in Delhi on Sunday, bringing together senior legal officers of the state and key representatives of the OBC Mahasabha to finalize arguments and action plans. The meeting lasted over two and a half hours and focused on how to remove the existing 13% cap on OBC-reserved posts and push for full implementation of the 27% reservation in the state.

The discussion was led by senior advocate and former Additional Solicitor General of India, P. Wilson, who worked closely with Madhya Pradesh’s legal team to align strategies for the upcoming hearings.

This high-level meeting was organized with the approval and involvement of the OBC Mahasabha and included in-depth deliberations on legal tactics and constitutional positioning. Participants comprised Additional Advocate Generals Nilesh Yadav and Dhirendra Parmar, Standing Counsel Mrinal Elkar, and Deputy Advocate General Harmeet Rooprah.

Lokendra Gurjar, national core committee member of the OBC Mahasabha, told Free Press that the meeting was crucial in shaping the legal approach ahead of the Supreme Court proceedings. He added that Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta will represent the Madhya Pradesh government in court, while former ASG P. Wilson will argue on behalf of the OBC Mahasabha.

Gurjar also reiterated the Mahasabha’s firm stance that full 27% reservation for OBCs is a constitutional right and must be enforced in both letter and spirit.
https://www.freepressjournal.in/bhopal/madhya-pradesh-legal-team-obc-mahasabha-gear-up-for-27-quota-fight

Quebec premier promises new legislation inspired by federal major projects law

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**Quebec Premier Legault to Introduce New Legislation to Speed Up Environmental Approvals**

*MONTREAL* — Quebec Premier François Legault announced plans to table new legislation aimed at expediting environmental approvals, modeled on the federal major projects law. Speaking on the popular Quebec talk show *Tout le monde en parle* on Sunday evening, Legault said the Quebec bill will be “equivalent” to Bill C-5, Prime Minister Mark Carney’s signature legislation designed to fast-track projects considered to be in the national interest.

“Currently, it takes years to get environmental permits,” Legault said. “We can’t afford that.”

The new Quebec legislation, informally known within the government as “Q-5,” references the federal law and aims to accelerate the development of large projects to create new jobs in the province. Despite the focus on speed, Legault insisted that environmental protections would not be compromised.

However, the premier has recently hinted at the possibility of “taking a pause” on some environmental policies. In an earlier interview with Radio-Canada this month, he expressed concerns that Quebec “cannot be the only state in North America making an effort” to combat climate change.

Legault’s governing party, the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ), has been struggling in the polls for several months and faces the risk of complete defeat in the next provincial election scheduled for October 2026. According to polling aggregator Qc125.com, the CAQ could lose all of its 83 seats if an election were held today.

Adding to the party’s challenges, one of Legault’s former ministers, Maïté Blanchette Vézina, resigned from the caucus last week after being removed from the cabinet earlier this month. She stated she had lost faith in Legault and suggested he should reconsider his future as party leader.

On Sunday, however, Legault maintained that he still enjoys the support of “the vast majority” of his caucus and implied that Blanchette Vézina’s resignation stemmed from personal disappointment over her cabinet ousting.

The premier also reaffirmed his government’s commitment to strengthening secularism rules in Quebec. Last month, Secularism Minister Jean-François Roberge announced plans to introduce a bill to ban prayer in public places.

“The majority of Quebecers do not like to see people on their knees in our streets,” Legault said during the interview, specifically referring to Muslim prayers held during pro-Palestinian demonstrations outside the Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal, which have stirred controversy across the province.

“What’s happening in Gaza is unacceptable,” he added. “But is this our fight?”

Originally, Quebec’s National Assembly was set to resume sitting on September 16, but Legault decided to prorogue the legislature until September 30 amid a cabinet shuffle.

—

*This report was first published on September 21, 2025, by The Canadian Press.*

*Maura Forrest, The Canadian Press*
https://www.sudbury.com/national/quebec-premier-promises-new-legislation-inspired-by-federal-major-projects-law-11243515

Taliban rejects Trump demand to return Bagram Air Base

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**Taliban Rejects Trump’s Demand to Return Bagram Air Base**

The Taliban has firmly rejected former President Donald Trump’s demand to return control of the Bagram Air Base, citing Afghanistan’s sovereignty as outlined in the Doha Agreement.

Trump warned that negative consequences could follow if the United States does not regain control of the strategically important military base.

A Taliban soldier was seen entering a helicopter at Bagram Air Base in Parwan, Afghanistan, on September 23, 2021. This image underscores the ongoing control of the base by Afghan forces under Taliban oversight.
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-868314

Trump Puts Venezuela on Notice… ‘OR THE PRICE YOU PAY WILL BE INCALCULABLE!’

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President Donald Trump demanded on Saturday that Venezuela immediately accept prisoners and individuals released from mental institutions who have been sent into the United States. This call is part of the administration’s broader effort to tighten enforcement on illegal immigration and combat international drug trafficking.

In a post on Truth, Trump stated, “We want Venezuela to immediately accept all of the prisoners, and people from mental institutions, which includes the Worst in the World Insane Asylums, that Venezuelan Leadership has forced into the United States of America. Thousands of people have been badly hurt, and even killed, by these Monsters. GET THEM THE HELL OUT OF OUR COUNTRY, RIGHT NOW, OR THE PRICE YOU PAY WILL BE INCALCULABLE!” The White House confirmed the authenticity of the president’s post.

The Department of Homeland Security also issued a statement online reading: “Americanism not globalism.”

This demand followed Trump’s order on Friday for Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to destroy a drug boat. The administration has made fentanyl a central focus in its anti-drug campaign, with Trump signing multiple executive orders aimed at curbing the flow of the substance across both the southern and northern borders.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 105,007 people died of drug overdoses in 2023, many linked to fentanyl-laced narcotics. Cartels often mix fentanyl into drugs to increase profits, despite its lethality in very small quantities.

The White House has stated it is working with both Canada and Mexico to disrupt trafficking routes and interdict supplies. In addition to international cooperation, Trump has authorized the deployment of U.S. troops to certain areas. Troops have already been sent to Washington, D.C., and officials have suggested further deployments to cities such as Detroit, Portland, and Baltimore to combat violent crime.

The administration has also restructured parts of the federal government. Notably, the Department of Defense has been renamed the Department of War, reflecting Trump’s stated goal of rebranding and refocusing federal agencies on national security priorities.

Domestically, the administration has linked its immigration and drug policies to broader enforcement efforts. Illegal aliens have been removed from taxpayer-funded programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides food assistance to approximately 42 million Americans. Other entitlement programs have also been restricted to citizens only.

Mexico’s cartels have been formally designated as foreign terrorist organizations. This move provides new authorities for U.S. agencies, including the power to impose sanctions, expand prosecution of cartel-linked activities, and limit financial networks associated with traffickers. The government has also imposed visa restrictions on family members and associates of cartel leaders.

These actions come alongside the annual release of the U.S. Department of State’s list of countries designated as major drug transit or producing nations. By linking international drug policy, immigration enforcement, and domestic security measures, the Trump administration has made clear that it views narcotics trafficking and illegal migration as interconnected challenges requiring aggressive action.

As of now, Venezuelan authorities have not publicly responded to the president’s demand.
https://www.lifezette.com/2025/09/trump-puts-venezuela-on-notice-or-the-price-you-pay-will-be-incalculable/

Starmer confirms UK recognition of a Palestinian state

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Keir Starmer has confirmed that the UK will recognise a Palestinian state in a historic, if largely symbolic, move. The British Prime Minister said the decision was intended to revive hope for peace between the Palestinians and Israelis.

The announcement comes ahead of the UN General Assembly this week, with other nations—including Australia and Canada—making similar recognitions shortly before Starmer’s statement.

The UK Government has acknowledged that recognising a Palestinian state will not ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza nor directly contribute to the freeing of hostages taken by Hamas. However, the UK believes the move is necessary to safeguard the prospect of a lasting two-state solution to the Middle East conflict, envisioning Israel existing alongside a Palestinian state.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu branded the decision “absurd” and described it as simply a reward for terrorism. In response, Starmer emphasised that Hamas is a brutal terrorist organisation and confirmed plans to increase sanctions on the group.

“Our call for a genuine two-state solution is the exact opposite of their hateful vision,” he said.

With the humanitarian crisis in Gaza escalating and Israel advancing settlements in the West Bank, Starmer acknowledged that the hope of a two-state solution is fading but stressed, “we cannot let that light go out.”

He added, “Today we join over 150 countries who recognise a Palestinian state also—a pledge to the Palestinian and Israeli people that there can be a better future.”

In a video message, Sir Keir Starmer said:
“Today, to revive the hope of peace and a two-state solution, I state clear as Prime Minister of this great country that the United Kingdom formally recognises the State of Palestine. We recognised the State of Israel more than 75 years ago as a homeland for the Jewish people. Today we join over 150 countries who recognise a Palestinian state also. A pledge to the Palestinian and Israeli people that there can be a better future.”
https://www.breakingnews.ie/world/starmer-confirms-uk-recognition-of-a-palestinian-state-1809431.html

JAYS Protest At Indore’s MY Hospital Over Infamous Rat-Bite Incident

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**Indore Hospital Rat Bite Incident Sparks Protests Demanding Accountability**

Indore (Madhya Pradesh): Anger over the infamous rat bite incident at MY Hospital refuses to die down. On Sunday, members of Jai Adivasi Yuva Shakti (JAYS) staged a protest at the hospital gates, demanding the suspension of the dean, superintendent, and other responsible officials, along with the registration of a culpable homicide case against them.

The protest began around noon when JAYS workers gathered outside the hospital, raising slogans against the administration. Holding placards, they alleged that negligence by the hospital management endangered the lives of newborn babies.

JAYS national president Lokesh Mujalda condemned the incident, stating, “The rat incident in Indore has shaken the entire state. Playing with the lives of innocent newborns due to administrative negligence is a shameful act against humanity. Our aim is to expose the corruption and disorder prevailing in the hospital and ensure justice for the victims.”

He further warned that if immediate action, including the suspension of the dean and superintendent, is not taken, the lives of infants will continue to remain at risk. “This movement is not just about seeking justice but also about fixing accountability in the healthcare system,” Mujalda added.

To address the protest, dean Dr. Arvind Ghanghoria and SDM Pradeep Soni arrived at the hospital to calm down the demonstrators. However, JAYS workers asserted that their phased agitation would continue until their demands are fulfilled.

The incident has raised serious concerns about hospital safety standards and administrative responsibility in safeguarding vulnerable patients, especially newborns. The community awaits swift action to prevent such incidents in the future.
https://www.freepressjournal.in/indore/jays-protest-at-indores-my-hospital-over-infamous-rat-bite-incident

Women practising garba abducted by armed group in MP`s Mandsaur; 7 held

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At around 9:30 pm on Saturday, unidentified men and women entered Bhavsar Dharamshala, located within Kotwali police station limits, brandishing illegal weapons. They forcibly dragged a woman into a four-wheeler and abducted her, according to an official statement.

Superintendent of Police Vinod Kumar Meena confirmed the details, stating that the abduction was carried out by the woman’s relatives, as reported by IANS. Kotwali station in-charge Pushpendra Singh Rathore identified the arrested individuals as Ramchandra, Manisha (also known as Bunty), Kamlesh (also known as Ghota), Fakirachand, Shambhulal, Shyamabai—all residents of Chachawada Sathiya under Garoth Police Station—and Dinesh from Bhunki Hatunia.

A case has been registered under sections related to kidnapping, the Arms Act, and other relevant laws. Officials confirmed that further investigation is ongoing.

The woman was participating in a Navratri celebration alongside other women and young girls when the group of four men and two women arrived at the venue. Without warning, they grabbed her and began dragging her away. A young woman present at the scene attempted to intervene but was pushed aside.

One of the accused brandished a pistol-like object, causing panic among attendees. Video footage captured people fleeing in fear as the woman was taken away, Kotwali police station in-charge Pushpendra Singh Rathore said, as per IANS.

Police were alerted immediately, and a district-wide blockade was imposed. Within two hours, Kotwali police successfully traced and apprehended all seven accused and safely recovered the woman. The vehicle used in the abduction, as well as the pistol—which was later confirmed to be a toy—were seized by the authorities.

According to the woman’s statement, she had previously been married but left her husband due to repeated physical abuse and filed for divorce. She had been living with a young man named Yash in Khanpura for the past four months. Her family and in-laws, reportedly angered by her relationship, orchestrated the abduction to bring her back home, the news agency reported.

Local residents expressed outrage over the incident, especially given its occurrence during a cultural celebration. The incident has reignited conversations around personal freedom, family pressure, and the urgent need for stronger protections for women in both private and public spaces.

(With PTI and IANS inputs)
https://www.mid-day.com/news/india-news/article/navratri-2025-women-practising-garba-abducted-by-armed-group-in-mps-mandsaur-7-held-23595111

Murdochs could take part in TikTok deal, Trump says

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US President Donald Trump has announced that media mogul Lachlan Murdoch and business leaders Larry Ellison and Michael Dell will be involved as US investors in a proposed deal to keep TikTok operating in the United States.

Trump stated that the US and China have made progress on an agreement requiring TikTok’s US assets to be transferred to local owners from China’s ByteDance. With 170 million users in the United States, TikTok plays a significant role in shaping public discourse on politics and culture.

In an interview with Fox News, Trump praised the group, calling them prominent figures and “American patriots.” He said, “I think they’re going to do a really good job,” crediting TikTok with helping build his support among young voters in the 2024 presidential election.

Lachlan Murdoch, CEO of Fox Corp, recently solidified long-term control of his family’s media empire—including Fox News and the Wall Street Journal—after settling a years-long legal battle with his siblings. Trump also suggested that the family patriarch, 94-year-old Rupert Murdoch, may be involved in the deal.

Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch’s news outlets generally attract conservative-leaning audiences but have occasionally drawn Trump’s ire. Trump has filed a defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal and Rupert Murdoch over a July report alleging Trump signed a 2003 birthday greeting for the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein that included a sexually suggestive drawing and a reference to shared secrets. The newspaper has defended its reporting and vowed to fight the lawsuit.

Larry Ellison, co-founder of Oracle and a major Republican donor, has long been linked to a potential TikTok deal. Michael Dell, CEO of Dell Technologies, is also expected to participate.

On Saturday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Oracle would be responsible for TikTok’s data and security. She added that US citizens will control six of the seven seats on a planned oversight board.

The Trump administration has declined to enforce a US law enacted during the previous administration that requires TikTok’s divestiture, citing concerns that US user data could be accessed by the Chinese government. Instead, negotiations over TikTok have been included as part of broader economic talks with China.

The Trump administration has also made several unusual interventions in US business, such as taking a 10 percent stake in Intel Corp and permitting AI chip giant Nvidia to sell its H20 chips to China in exchange for receiving 15 percent of those sales. Trump defended these moves as benefiting US interests.

However, critics—including some business leaders and Republican lawmakers—have called these interventions a stark departure from the norms of capitalism and warned that they risk undermining the competitiveness of the US economy.

(With reporting by AP)
https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/technology/murdochs-could-take-part-in-tiktok-deal-trump-says-c-20098852