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Forbes ranks Prime Minister Narendra Modi as 9th most powerful in world

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Forbes ranks Prime Minister Narendra Modi as 9th most powerful in world

The business magazine Forbes has ranked Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the ninth most powerful person in the world.

Topping the list is Chinese President Xi Jinping who displaced Russian Premier Vladimir Putin to the second spot after consolidating his power in China which removed term limits on presidentship, technically making it possible to head the country life-long.

Vladimir Putin was named the world’s most powerful person for four years in a row.

PM Modi has retained his position on the 9th place on the list. India’s ranking in other aspects by other organisations projected its economy as going to be fifth largest and its military as the fourth most powerful in the world.

US President Donald Trump, who was placed number two on last year’s list, dropped a spot to third. He is ahead of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Amazon boss Jeff Bezos and Pope Francis.

Bill Gates and Saudi Arabia’s crown prince Mohammad bin Salman, who has been in the spotlight for a series of so-called reforms effected in the kingdom, are the two other people ahead of PM Modi.

The tenth in the list is Larry Page, the co-founder of Google.

There are 17 new names on the list this year, including Mohammad bin Salman, who enters the ranking directly at number eight. “His father remains king, but “MBS” has consolidated power beyond any doubt and taken control of the country,” the magazine writes about the Saudi royal. Other new members include US Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell (11), Exxon Mobil CEO Darren Woods (34), President of South Korea Moon Jae-in (54) and Special Counsel for the U.S. Department of Justice Robert Mueller (72).

PM Modi is ahead of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who has been ranked 13, United Kingdom Prime Minister Theresa May at 14th rank, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang at 15, and Apple CEO Tim Cook, who is at 24.

Besides Modi, Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, who is ranked 32, is the only other Indian on the power list. Microsoft’s India-born CEO Satya Nadella is on the 40th position.

Forbes said, “Modi ‘remains hugely popular’ in the second most populous country on earth.”

It said, “Modi has raised his profile as a global leader in recent years during official visits with US President Donald Trump and Xi Jinping. He has also emerged as a key figure in the international effort to tackle climate change, as warming affects millions of his country’s rural citizens.”

About Ambani, Forbes said his Reliance sparked a price war in India’s telecom market with the launch of 4G phone service Jio in 2016, which has signed on 160 million customers by offering free domestic voice calls, dirt-cheap data services and virtually free smartphones.

On Microsoft’s CEO, Forbes said  Nadella has steered the company away from a failing mobile strategy and focused on other segments, including cloud computing and augmented reality. “Since taking over as a CEO, Microsoft’s stock has increased by more than 150 per cent,” it said.

About Xi Jinping, Forbes said the Chinese leader “enjoys a cult of personality” not seen since Chairman Mao Zedong, China’s founding father.

For Putin, who dropped to the second spot, Forbes noted that he was re-elected to a fourth term with nearly 77 percent of the vote this year. “That’s the largest margin of victory for any candidate for the office since the fall of the Soviet Union,” Forbes said.

As for Trump,  Forbes said he has seen limited success pushing his agenda through a Congress controlled by his own party, is under investigation by multiple law enforcement agencies, and can’t shake off scandals arising from his personal and business life. But he’s still Commander in Chief of the world’s greatest economic and military power.

Putting out the list of  75 of the World’s Most Powerful People, Forbes said, “There are nearly 7.5 billion humans on planet Earth, but these 75 men and women make the world turn. Forbes’ annual ranking of The World’s Most Powerful People identifies one person out of every 100 million whose actions mean the most.”

In compiling the list, Forbes said it considered hundreds of candidates from various walks of life all around the globe, and measured their power along four dimensions of whether the person has power over lots of people, financial resources controlled by each person, whether the candidate is powerful in multiple spheres and that the candidates actively used their power.

India News

PM Modi says need to equip youth with skills in emerging technologies like AI

He acknowledged the significant contribution of youth energy to India’s advancement and reaffirmed his government’s commitment to nurturing young talent and boosting their self-confidence.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday emphasised the importance of adapting to the rapidly evolving world, noting that emerging needs, expectations, and future directions underscore the necessity for a modern approach in equipping young people with skills in emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning.

He acknowledged the significant contribution of youth energy to India’s advancement and reaffirmed his government’s commitment to nurturing young talent and boosting their self-confidence.

In his remarks during the ‘Veer Baal Diwas’ celebrations, Modi stated, “This era has moved beyond machines to machine learning. AI is taking centre stage, and we can see its application replacing conventional software. It is essential to make our youth future ready to tackle these challenges.” The observance of ‘Veer Bal Diwas’ honors the courage and sacrifices of Guru Gobind Singh’s four sons, esteemed figures in Sikhism.

The Prime Minister outlined that the government’s policies are focused on youth, encompassing various sectors, including the startup ecosystem, space economy, sports and fitness, fintech, manufacturing, skill development, and internship programs.

He highlighted that the new National Education Policy is designed to modernize education, facilitating expansive learning opportunities.

Additionally, Modi announced the launch of the ‘Suposhit Gram Panchayat Abhiyan,’ aimed at fostering healthy competition among village panchayats to eliminate malnutrition, thus laying the groundwork for a developed India. He encouraged the youth to excel in their respective fields, whether in railways, semiconductors, travel, or astronomy.

The Prime Minister highlighted that youth power is at the forefront of driving revolutions across various fields, including startups, science, sports, and entrepreneurship. He emphasised that all government policies—whether related to the startup ecosystem, the future of the space economy, the sports and fitness sector, fintech and manufacturing industries, or skill development and internship programs—are designed with a youth-centric focus to benefit young people.

During the Veer Bal Diwas ceremony, Modi paid tribute to the “unparalleled” sacrifices of Guru Gobind Singh’s sons, the Sahibzadas, who chose “unwavering courage and faith over submission to the Mughal Empire’s oppression.” He remarked that the government established this day of remembrance to honor the bravery of the Sahibzadas, stating, “Their legacy continues to inspire.”

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India News

Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy under threat from Modi government: Sonia Gandhi

Approximately 200 leaders, including CWC members, special invitees, party officials, and former chief ministers, convened for the Congress meeting in Belagavi.

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Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) chief Sonia Gandhi on Thursday said Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy is under threat from those in power in New Delhi and the ideologies and institutions that have nurtured them. She urged the party workers to bolster their commitment to addressing these challenges with determination.

As the Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson, Gandhi slammed the Narendra Modi government and the RSS, urging action against the forces she accused of fostering the toxic environment that contributed to Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination.

“It was a transformative moment in our nation’s history. Today, we recommit to honoring, safeguarding, and advancing the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi, who has always been and will remain our fundamental source of inspiration,” she stated.

“His influence shaped and guided the remarkable leaders of his time. However, his legacy now faces threats from those in power in New Delhi, along with the ideologies and institutions that support them,” she continued in her message.

“These organisations never stood for our freedom; they vehemently opposed Mahatma Gandhi and are responsible for creating a toxic environment that led to his assassination. Furthermore, they celebrate his assassins,” Gandhi asserted.

She highlighted that “Gandhian institutions across the nation are under assault” and expressed that it is fitting for this meeting to be named Nava Satyagraha Baithak. She called for a renewed determination to confront these forces with all available strength.

Additionally, she encouraged party workers to unite and tackle the challenges ahead with urgency and renewed enthusiasm.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, also speaking at the meeting, accused the BJP of disrespecting freedom fighters, particularly B.R. Ambedkar. He alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his administration refuse to acknowledge the error made by Home Minister Amit Shah regarding his “extremely insulting” comments about Ambedkar.

In response, the BJP condemned the Congress’s gathering, labeling the Belagavi session as a “monumental mockery of the principles of Mahatma Gandhi.” Senior BJP leader C.R. Kesavan remarked that “Rahul Gandhi’s Congress stands in stark opposition to Mahatma Gandhi and his ideals.”

Approximately 200 leaders, including CWC members, special invitees, party officials, and former chief ministers, convened for the Congress meeting in Belagavi.

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India News

China gives nod to build world’s largest dam on Brahmaputra close to Indian border

The investment in this dam could surpass one trillion yuan (approximately $137 billion), significantly overshadowing all other single infrastructure projects, including China’s own Three Gorges Dam, which is currently recognized as the largest in the world.

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China has given its nod to construct the world’s largest dam, termed the most significant infrastructure project globally, with an estimated cost of $137 billion, located on the Brahmaputra River in Tibet near the Indian border, raising alarms for neighboring countries, particularly India and Bangladesh.

The Chinese government announced its decision to develop a hydropower project in the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River, which is the Tibetan nomenclature for the Brahmaputra.

The dam will be sited at a substantial gorge in the Himalayan region where the Brahmaputra river makes a notable U-turn, flowing into Arunachal Pradesh before reaching Bangladesh.

The investment in this dam could surpass one trillion yuan (approximately $137 billion), significantly overshadowing all other single infrastructure projects, including China’s own Three Gorges Dam, which is currently recognized as the largest in the world.

China had previously operationalised the $1.5 billion Zam Hydropower Station, the largest in Tibet, back in 2015. This Brahmaputra dam project forms part of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) and is aligned with broader National Economic and Social Development goals and Long-Range Objectives set out through 2035, as established by the Communist Party of China’s key policy-making body in 2020.

Concerns have been raised in India, as the dam would allow China not only to manage water flow but also potentially to release significant water volumes, which could inundate border areas during hostilities. In parallel, India is also pursuing the construction of a dam on the Brahmaputra in Arunachal Pradesh.

In 2006, India and China instituted the Expert Level Mechanism (ELM) to address various matters related to trans-border rivers, which involves China providing hydrological data regarding the Brahmaputra and the Sutlej rivers during the monsoon seasons.

Discussions on data sharing related to trans-border rivers were highlighted in recent talks between the Special Representatives for border issues in India and China, NSA Ajit Doval, and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, which took place on December 18.

The proposed Brahmaputra Dam presents substantial engineering hurdles, situated along a tectonic plate boundary known for seismic activity. The Tibetan Plateau, often referred to as the “roof of the world,” is susceptible to earthquakes because of its location over tectonic plates.

An official statement released on Wednesday attempted to alleviate fears concerning seismic risks, asserting that the hydropower project is designed to be safe and emphasizes ecological protection.

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