President-elect Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy travelled to and Qatar in a push to seal a ceasefire deal in before Trump’s inauguration in January. Incoming Middle East envoy Steven Witkoff met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani in November, Reuters reported on Wednesday, citing an unnamed source. The meetings underscore how diplomacy's centre of gravity has shifted from the Biden administration to the incoming Trump administration, with roughly one month to go before the inauguration. Trump made ending wars in the Middle East a key part of his presidential campaign. The Biden administration brokered a 60-day ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel in November. That agreement has been fragile, with Israel attacking Lebanon since the day after the agreement was made. A senior US official told reporters last month that the Trump transition team was briefed on the deal as it was negotiated. Trump on Monday waded into Israel's war on Gaza directly, warning on social media of massive repercussions if hostages there are not released by the time he takes office in January. Trump’s comment comes after Hamas on Saturday released a video of 20-year-old Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander, who was captured while serving in the Israeli military. Alexander pleaded tearfully to Netanyahu to cut a deal for the hostages' release. Qatar’s involvement in the talks is notable because the Gulf state said previously it was suspending its mediator role amid a lack of progress in the talks. The source told Reuters that Hamas negotiators could return to Doha "soon" for a fresh round of talks. "They are supportive of a Gaza ceasefire deal," the source told Reuters. The Biden administration has tried to broker a ceasefire that would start with the release of hostages held in Gaza. It regularly blamed Hamas for standing in the way of a deal, particularly saying that Hamas chief Yayha Sinwar was the “main obstacle” to a settlement. However, since his killing in October, there has been no progress towards a ceasefire. Analysts Israel has been the main roadblock to ending the war and that Netanyahu has an interest in dragging out the fighting, as he faces domestic political issues, including a corruption trial and a possible inquiry into the Hamas attack if the conflict ends. Witkoff, a Jewish-American real estate developer and Trump's golfing friend, has struck several business deals with Gulf states, including the $623m sale of New York’s Park Lane Hotel to Qatar’s investment fund. Trump has also named , father-in-law of Trump's daughter, as his senior advisor on the Middle East.The decision by special counsel Jack Smith, who had fiercely sought to hold Mr Trump criminally accountable for his efforts to subvert the 2020 election, represented the end of the federal effort against the former president following his election victory this month despite the election-related cases and multiple other unrelated criminal charges against him. The move, announced in court papers, marks the end of the Justice Department’s landmark effort to hold Mr Trump accountable for what prosecutors called a criminal conspiracy to cling to power in the run-up to his supporters’ attack on the US Capitol on January 6 2021. In court papers, prosecutors said the Justice Department’s position “is that the Constitution requires that this case be dismissed before the defendant is inaugurated”. Mr Smith’s team emphasised that the move to abandon the prosecutions, in federal courts in Washington and Florida, was not a reflection of their view on the merits of the cases but rather a reflection of their commitment to longstanding department policy. “That prohibition is categorical and does not turn on the gravity of the crimes charged, the strength of the Government’s proof, or the merits of the prosecution, which the Government stands fully behind,” the prosecutors wrote in Monday’s court filing in the election interference case. The decision was expected after Mr Smith’s team began assessing how to wind down both the 2020 election interference case and the separate classified documents case in the wake of Mr Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris. The Justice Department believes Trump can no longer be tried in accordance with longstanding policy that says sitting presidents cannot be prosecuted. Mr Trump has cast both cases as politically motivated and has vowed to fire Mr Smith as soon as he takes office in January. The 2020 election case brought last year was once seen as one of the most serious legal threats facing the Republican as he vied to reclaim the White House. However, it quickly stalled amid legal fighting over Mr Trump’s sweeping claims of immunity from prosecution for acts he took while in the White House. The US Supreme Court in July ruled for the first time that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution, and sent the case back to US District Judge Tanya Chutkan to determine which allegations in the indictment, if any, could proceed to trial. The case was just beginning to pick up steam again in the trial court in the weeks leading up to this year’s election. Mr Smith’s team filed a lengthy brief in October laying out new evidence they planned to use against him at trial, accusing him of “resorting to crimes” in an increasingly desperate effort to overturn the will over voters after he lost to President Joe Biden.i baybayin 。

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Guwahati: Infrastructure projects valued at approximately Rs 1 lakh crore are at various stages of development, said chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday, noting that the state govt has been endeavouring to secure approval for several projects by Feb 25. During a press briefing in New Delhi, Sarma revealed that discussions concerning numerous crucial infrastructure projects were deliberated in his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said, “The list of the projects is extensive. We have requested the PM to consider several key projects. The PM has assured us that the projects, albeit not all, would be undertaken.” Sarma disclosed that an express highway from Guwahati to Silchar in Barak Valley via Barapani in Meghalaya is being planned, with an estimated budget of Rs 25,000 crore. “Should this project receive central govt approval and implementation, the journey duration between Guwahati and Silchar will be substantially reduced. People will be able to travel to Silchar from Guwahati and return the same day. We have requested the PM’s consideration for this project,” he elaborated. He further mentioned that a new bridge spanning the Brahmaputra River, linking Morigaon district on the south bank and Darrang district on the north bank, is being envisioned. This was also discussed with the PM. Another significant project involves establishing direct train connectivity between Guwahati and Gelephu in Bhutan, which was also addressed during his meeting with the PM. Beyond these major initiatives, he said expanding the capacity of the Bongaigaon Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd to five million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) from the current 2.7 MMTPA is another vital project discussed with the PM. He specified that the budget would be approximately Rs 9,000 crore. Bongaigaon Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd, an Indian Oil subsidiary, is situated in Assam’s Chirang district. The CM said efforts are underway for PM Modi to lay the foundation stone for the Guwahati ring-road and the bridge over the Brahmaputra connecting Narengi on the south bank and Kuruwa on the north bank during his February visit to the state. He also anticipated positive developments regarding the Gohpur-Numaligarh underwater tunnel and Kaziranga elevated corridor by Feb. We also published the following articles recently Guwahati-North Guwahati flyover to be complete in 6 months: Sarma Guwahati's new six-lane Brahmaputra River bridge, linking Bharalumukh and Majgaon, is nearing completion, with a projected inauguration between September and October 2024. This bridge will drastically cut travel time, and tolls will apply only to lorries and night super buses to manage city traffic. Sarma, Conrad inaugurates IISF at IIT-Guwahati The 10th India International Science Festival (IISF) commenced on Saturday at IIT-Guwahati, celebrating scientific advancements and collaboration. Chief Ministers of Assam and Meghalaya, along with other dignitaries, inaugurated the event, which is supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology and Earth Sciences. Silchar 4-laning project nears completion Silchar's infrastructure receives a major boost with the ongoing conversion of a key two-lane road into a four-lane highway. Cachar DC Mridul Yadav recently inspected the Rangirkhari Point to Birbal Bazar stretch, assessing progress and preparations for the next phase. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .F&O Talk| Markets lack follow-through, cautious optimism amid uncertain momentum: Sahaj Agrawal of Kotak Securities

WASHINGTON — Jimmy Carter lived longer than any other U.S. president in history and was the first of any of them to turn 100 years old. Carter served as the 39th President of the United States from 1977 to 1981. With his passing , the person that's now the oldest living president — current or former — resides in the White House. Who are the oldest living presidents? President Joe Biden turned 82 last month, further cementing his status as the oldest serving U.S. president. But it's a record that Donald Trump could break in a few years. President-elect Trump will become the oldest person ever sworn into office on Jan. 20, 2025. That's a milestone previously held by Biden when he was sworn in at age 78 back in 2021. On Inauguration Day , Trump will be six months from his 79th birthday. When Biden's presidency ends on Jan. 20, 2025, he will be 82 years and 2 months (or 30,012 days) old. Trump would break that record of being the oldest U.S. president toward the end of his second term on Aug. 15, 2028. We're a ways away from any other living U.S. president even coming close to Carter's record. Biden wouldn't celebrate his 100th birthday until Nov. 20, 2042. How many former U.S. presidents are still alive? After Biden and Trump, the next oldest living presidents are George W. Bush (78), Bill Clinton (78) and Barack Obama (63). How old is Bill Clinton? Bill Clinton, the 42nd U.S. President, is 78 years old (Aug. 19, 1946) How old is George W. Bush? George W. Bush, the 43rd U.S. President, is 78 years old (July 6, 1946) How old is Barack Obama? Barack Obama, the 44th U.S. President, is 63 years old (Aug. 4, 1961) How old is Donald Trump? Donald Trump, the 45th and soon-to-be 47th U.S. President, is 78 years old (June 14, 1946)

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