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Time of India
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
In 5 years, TCP dept spent Rs 8.7cr on legal battles
Porvorim : Goa's town and country planning department has spent Rs 8.7 crore of taxpayers' money on legal costs over the last five years. The money has been spent on lawyer's fees to defend the department's policies, which were challenged through PILs filed by NGOs and environmentalists. The TCP department's move to permit the change of zone through Section 16(b), 17(2) and now 39(A) of the Town and Country Planning Act has been challenged by various organisations before the high court of Bombay at Goa. The department has been defending its stance despite the courts frowning on the policies. The high court of Bombay at Goa has passed directions against Section 17(2) and the Outline Development Plans for the five villages of Calangute, Candolim, Parra, Arpora and Nagoa. 'Both the orders have been challenged by govt before the Supreme Court of India, vide Special Leave Petitions (Civil), which are under process,' said Rane in a written statement before the assembly on Thursday. Rane released the data in response to a question from RG MLA Viresh Borkar. Rane also informed the assembly that the department is involved as an interested party in several other civil cases where govt pays the fees of the legal counsel, consultants and govt advocates.
UPI
a day ago
- Politics
- UPI
The Jeffrey Epstein saga: a new national security threat?
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Geoffrey Berman speaks during a news conference about the arrest of American financier Jeffrey Epstein in New York on July 8, 2019, on sex trafficking charges, File photo by Jason Szenes July 30 (UPI) -- The sordid saga of the long dead and convicted predator Jeffrey Epstein not only poses a threat to Donald Trump's presidency, but it also conceivably threatens the credibility of the U.S. political system. Yet, an even more sinister and potentially dangerous threat lurks for the United States and its friends. The two threats are linked, ironically, by Epstein's ghost. Trump's MAGA base is furious that the promised Epstein files have not been released. What's worse is that that Attorney General Pam Bondi apparently informed Trump his name was in the file -- high-test fuel for that blaze. And, now, possibly to deflect attention, Trump and his director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, have accused former President Barack Obama of treason by interfering in the 2016 election with Russian help. In a nation as politically divided as America, any spark could ignite a political firestorm. Beijing, Moscow and others with malicious intent are intensely watching this saga. One conclusion must be that even greater opportunities exist today to interfere in United States and Western politics, not just exploiting this debacle. More importantly, creating new crises that manipulate and fracture political and social cohesion is a formidable danger. The U.K.'s Brexit is an example of manipulation. In the effort to withdraw from the European Union -- the Leave campaign -- former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his key adviser, Dominic Cummings determined that 1 million or so Britons lacked party affiliation. Then, using social media, this group was targeted with Leave propaganda generated by Cummings. That swung the vote to leave. Cummings was not alone. Substantial evidence exists that Moscow helped influence Brexit and the Leave campaign to weaken the Atlantic Alliance. And Moscow also interfered in the 2016 U.S. elections. Consider the infamous Steele Dossier. Among the allegations, the dossier accused Trump of lewd sexual behavior in Moscow. Suspend reality and imagine Vladimir Putin intervened to help elect Hillary Clinton as president in 2016. Following Cummings' lead, Russian trolls would have filled the Internet with deep-fake photos and invented stories exaggerating or inventing Trump's misconduct. One wonders who might have been elected 45th president. China and Moscow have significant interests in manipulating and fracturing American and Western cohesion. Putin is focused on winning in Ukraine, minimizing sanctions, and in the process, weakening Western solidarity. China is keen on reducing American economic and political influence, as well as annexing Taiwan. It would be negligent to not assume China and Russia are identifying critical weaknesses and potential future fracture points in the United States and elsewhere. In that event where might they focus? National political systems, given the Epstein debacle and national infrastructures, are the two most obvious candidates. Regarding the United States, the Constitution and its system of government based on checks and balances and a division of power among three co-equal branches are the best targets. A super-majority of Americans is highly distrustful and disdainful of government. Exploiting this distrust would not be difficult using the ubiquity of social media and the propensity of Americans to embrace conspiracy theories. Epstein and the Steele Dossier are two examples of how possible future fractures can be invented to sow political, social and economic disruption. The difference is that these effects could be even more destructive. Regarding infrastructure, Israeli and Ukrainian infiltration of two societies with seeming control of their borders and people to launch surprise attacks deep into Iran and Russia underscores how potentially vulnerable military bases and installations are to drones. And even more susceptible to drone attacks are electric generation and power grids, which could cause nationwide disruption. Kinetic attacks on military and civilian infrastructure are fraught with risk. But perceived threats are not. The strategy would be to use a variant of Orson Welles' provocation of massive public and psychological panic in his radio broadcast of War of the Worlds in 1938. Consider future Wellesian scenarios on steroids that threaten catastrophic events or apply fake news reports of spreading epidemics or environmental, financial and other disasters to induce fear and disruption. Concocting new and credible conspiracy theories would be part of this disruptive strategy. None of this is new. The USSR used the Comintern, Cominform and KGB to misinform, disinform, disrupt and provoke. The United States and the U.K. employed similar techniques principally against the Nazis in World War II. However, today is different because social and other media can turn these activities into political weapons of mass disruption. The United States will survive Epstein. Against determined adversaries who intend to create and exploit new political fractures, are the United States and the West ready? That answer is sadly no. Harlan Ullman is UPI's Arnaud de Borchgrave Distinguished Columnist, senior adviser at Washington's Atlantic Council, chairman of a private company and principal author of the doctrine of shock and awe. His next book, co-written with Field Marshal The Lord David Richards, former U.K. chief of defense and due out next year, is Who Thinks Best Wins: Preventing Strategic Catastrophe. The writer can be reached on X @harlankullman.
The Herald Scotland
24-07-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
What happened on President Trump's previous Scotland visits?
Trump's main purpose was to ribbon-cut a £200 million renovation of Trump Turnberry, his luxury golf course in South Ayrshire. He also visited Trump International in Aberdeenshire, a project long criticised for damaging sand dunes that lost protected status in 2020 due to construction and use from the course, and for the relentless [[pub]]licised campaign to remove residents from their homes. Read more: Why is Donald Trump visiting Scotland – and where is he going? Though framed as a business trip, the visit turned political as Trump waded into the Brexit debate fresh from Leave winning the EU referendum. The presidential hopeful said it was a "great thing" that the people of the UK have "taken back their country". The trip drew backlash with protesters gathered outside his properties (a common theme when the President visits Scotland), including comedian Janey Godley, who notably stood on his Turnberry course with a 'Trump is a c***' sign, a stunt she would repeat when the now-President would return in 2018. Donald Trump had often come to Scotland for business and pleasure, but the nature of his trips changed once the tycoon turned politician (Image: Getty) In July 2018, President Trump returned to Scotland, this time at 'Trump Turnberry for two days of meetings, calls and hopefully, some golf – my primary form of exercise!' he wrote on Twitter. The visit prompted large protests in Glasgow, Edinburgh, and [[Aberdeen]]. Close to 10,000 people marched through [[Edinburgh]] in solidarity against the President. A paraglider paid by Greenpeace broke through a no-fly zone surrounding Turnberry to fly past the President, with a trailing banner that read 'Trump: well below par #resist'. Police said the paraglider put themselves in 'grave danger' though no charges would be brought forth (Image: Greenpeace) Police Scotland spent more than £3m covering the costs of this visit, with more than 5500 officers deployed around the country. It was forecast that several million more would be spent on cancelling leave and rest days for many officers. UK-wide, the costs ballooned to £18m. After losing the presidency to Joe Biden in 2020, Trump would return to his Scottish golf courses in 2023 as a private individual. He arrived to cut the ribbon at the beginning of a second course at his Aberdeen resort. After leaving his private plane, he said to reporters: "It's great to be home, this was the home of my mother", referencing his mother Mary Anne MacLeod, who was born on the Isle of Lewis before emigrating to the US. It was understood that neither the Scottish nor UK governments would have to pay for the former president's security. Regardless, £60,000 was spent on police overtime to stand guard as Trump played golf. Read more: Cost of Trump visit won't be 'detrimental' to Police Scotland, says FM Being re-elected as US President last year, Trump arrives in Scotland for the weekend to yet again make visits to his golf courses, but to also meet Prime Minister Keir Starmer and likely meet First Minister John Swinney. Protests similar to previous visits are expected, and the debate around the cost to police and taxpayers remains a contentious issue.
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jessica Simpson's New Song ‘Fade' Sparks Speculation About Relationship Drama
Jessica Simpson's New Song 'Fade' Sparks Speculation About Relationship Drama originally appeared on Parade. By all appearances, Jessica Simpson is done holding back. The 45-year-old singer released her new single 'Fade' on Tuesday, and within hours, speculation exploded online. "Ok, Jessica Simpson. I see you," one fan wrote. "Thank you for sharing such a powerful message," another noted of the song. "It's incredibly inspiring to hear how you chose strength and healing in the face of a tough moment." With lyrics referencing 'empty promises,' a love gone cold, and a bed her ex is now sleeping in alone, listeners believe Simpson is putting her pain — and possibly her estranged husband Eric Johnson — directly into the spotlight. 'You can always say you love me / That doesn't mean that I feel loved,' she sings in the opening verse. 'There's a green light in the distance / And all your words become too much.' The chorus doesn't let up either: 'You can just wait on me / I won't be around / Watching you fade on me / Your words mean nothing now.' The song, co-written with Trent Dabbs and Teresa LaBarbera, comes just months after Simpson confirmed her separation from Johnson, her husband of 10 years and the father of her three children. The couple announced in January that they had been 'living separately navigating a painful situation' and were prioritizing their children. While Simpson has never publicly detailed the reasons behind the split, she has hinted at betrayal in her music — most notably with the fiery track 'Leave,' where she sang, 'Unholy matrimony / Did you do to her what you did to me?' Now with 'Fade,' fans are picking up where 'Leave' left off. As Cosmopolitan points out, many fans are '10/10 convinced it's about Eric Johnson,' pointing specifically to the line: 'Go sleep alone in the bed you made.' Another lyric — 'I have way too good a memory / I have no more heart to break' — is seen as a response to years of unspoken pain behind the couple's public image. In a press release accompanying the song, Simpson confirmed the track's emotional origin. 'This song came straight from my heart,' she said. 'I had just lived through this heavy, emotional moment, but there was no way I was gonna cancel my songwriting session. I walked into the studio with tears still on my cheeks, and what came out was a prayer.' She described 'Fade' as a song about 'watching someone you love slip away in real time, while trying to hold on to something that's already gone.' 'Fade' is the lead single from Simpson's upcoming EP Nashville Canyon, Pt. 2, which will drop on September 4. It follows Pt. 1, released in March, not long after the couple's separation became official. When asked in a video obtained by Daily Mail whether she's back in the dating world, Simpson replied simply, 'It's a rough road in the dating world,' adding, 'I'm not getting on the apps yet,' but said she'd 'love for a friend to set [her] up.' It's clear that with 'Fade,' Simpson is writing her next chapter on her own terms. Jessica Simpson's New Song 'Fade' Sparks Speculation About Relationship Drama first appeared on Parade on Jul 23, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 23, 2025, where it first appeared. Solve the daily Crossword
Time of India
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Jessica Simpson's new song Fade sparks speculation about Eric Johnson split: 'Watching someone slip away in real time'
The emotionally charged single 'Fade,' which was released on July 22, 2025, marks the singer and entrepreneur Jessica Simpson's triumphant musical comeback. The song, which she co-wrote with Trent Dabbs and Teresa LaBarbera, is generally interpreted as a critique of her recent divorce from husband Eric Johnson, with whom she has three children. Lyrics that hint at heartbreak and emotional detachment The song opens with lines that many fans interpret as a direct reference to Simpson's marital breakdown: 'You can always say you love me, That doesn't mean that I feel loved, There's a green light in the distance, And all your words become too much.' In the chorus, Simpson asserts her independence and emotional closure: 'You can just wait on me, I won't be around, Watching you fade on me, Your words mean nothing now.' Later verses intensify the emotional tone, with lyrics like: 'I have way too good a memory, I have no more heart to break, You're as empty as your promise, Go sleep alone in the bed you made.' Fans have taken to social media to praise the track's vulnerability, with many calling it a 'healing anthem' and a 'bold emotional release.' Simpson says the song came from a 'heavy, emotional moment' Simpson disclosed in a press release that 'Fade' was written during a very painful and intimate period of his life. She said she arrived at the studio with tears still on her cheeks and described the song as a 'prayer' born from heartbreak. A breakup months in the making Simpson and Johnson, a former NFL player, began dating in 2010 and married in 2014. They share three children: Maxwell, Ace, and Birdie. In January 2025, Simpson clarified their separation and stated, We have been living apart and navigating a painful situation. High on the list was keeping their children first, and she asked that privacy be granted to the family as transition into this change began. Sources close to the couple had hinted News 18 that there was already trouble as far back as the latter part of 2024 with one insider saying Simpson was 'heartbroken' and 'emotionally exhausted'. While neither has filed for divorce yet, reports suggest they are co-parenting amicably and remain in regular contact for the sake of their children. A musical comeback with personal stakes Fade is the lead single from Simpson's upcoming EP 'Nashville Canyon,' 'Pt. 2,' set to release on September 4, 2025. The first volume dropped in March, shortly after the separation announcement. Simpson has described her new music as 'personal,' and fans are anticipating more tracks that reflect her emotional journey. She previously hinted at betrayal in her fiery track Leave, released in April, which included lyrics like: 'Unholy matrimony, Did you do to her what you did to me?' Life after Eric: dating, healing, and moving forward Simpson has described herself as a 'very single lady' and admitted that dating again has been difficult. She said she's not ready for apps and would prefer to be set up by a friend. She told Daily Mail, adding that she's focused on healing and rediscovering herself. Despite the emotional upheaval, Simpson has been praised for her vulnerability and strength, with 'Fade' marking a new chapter in both her personal and artistic life.
