Jeff Bezos often points out that long-term success comes from staying committed to an idea while remaining open to changing the approach.

It’s almost official that Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin have cut ties with California. The two Google Guys have reportedly said Bye to California; joining the billionaires who have left the state, shifting businesses and houses. Page is worth around $270 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. According to a report in Wall Street Journal, Larry Page has bought two massive Miami estates for a combined $173.4 million. The report quotes people familiar with the situation Google co-founder Sergey Brin is also said to be in discussions to purchase a Miami home, according to people familiar with the situation.Some analysts have termed Google founders’ move to leave California strikingly similar to Jeff Bezos’ relocation playbook. According to them, the timing, structure, and destination of Page’s escape from Silicon Valley make his Florida pivot look quite like Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. But the big difference here is that Jeff Bezos did not leave California. Amazon founder left Seattle, the city where he started the online bookseller that grew into the global tech giant, Amazon.

When Jeff Bezos left Seattle

In 2024, Bezos announced on Instagram that he was leaving Seattle after nearly 30 years to move to Miami. He said that the move was to be closer to his parents and his rocket launches at Blue Origin. In his Instagram post, Bezos called Seattle his home since 1994. However, the timing, as some analysts pointed out, also suggested another reason: Taxes. In 2022 Washington state imposed a new, 7% capital gains tax on sales of stocks or bonds of more than $250,000. As Washington state does not have a personal income tax, so the new levy marked the first time that Bezos would face state taxes on his stock sales. As reported by CNBC, in 2022, when the Washington state’s Capital gains tax took effect, Bezos stopped selling. He didn’t sell any Amazon stock in 2022 or 2023, gifting only $200 million of shares at the end of that year.After his move to Miami, Bezos reportedly made up for lost time. Quoting an SEC filing, the report says that Bezos launched a pre-scheduled stock-selling plan to unload 50 million shares before January 31, 2025. And since Florida has no state income tax or a tax on capital gains, so on the $2 billion sale that Bezos made, he saved $140 million that he would have paid to Washington state. On the entire sale of 50 million shares over the next year, he saved more than at least 600 million.

What is California’s Billionaire’s tax

California’s proposed ballot initiative has been proposed by the Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West to offset federal budget cuts that will affect California’s health care system. It would impose a one-time, 5% tax on the assets of billionaires. The tax would retroactively apply to those who were California residents as of January 1, 2026. In December 2025, venture capitalist Peter Thiel announced that he opened an office for his family investment company in Miami. Donald Trump’s AI czar David Sacks unveiled a new office for his venture capital firm, Craft Ventures, in Austin, Texas.

A Canadian influencer’s viral video highlights India’s unique identity, urging an end to comparing its places to foreign counterparts. He argues such labels diminish India’s originality, from Bengaluru’s ‘Silicon Valley’ tag to regional film industries. The sentiment resonates deeply, sparking conversations about self-pride and valuing India’s inherent brilliance.

India is one of those places on the Earth that is cherished for its unity in diversity, as a vibrant mosaic of cultures, places, and a relentless driving force towards development that goes even beyond comparing two regions. For too long, people have labeled its gems with foreign tags, like “Switzerland of India” or “Silicon Valley of India“, as if they need a global benchmark to shine.This habit often dims the spotlight on what makes India truly special as a one-of-a-kind, effortless combination of history, diversity, and dynamic growth.A Canadian who’s called India home for eight years recently talked about this unfair perspective towards standout Indian places. His words remind us that validation doesn’t come from copying something; instead, India’s real magic lies in embracing its own identity.

Canadian influencer living in India slams ‘videshi’ tags for Indian cities (Photo: (Instagram/@caleb_friesen)

Canadian criticises people comparing India with foreign places

Caleb Friesen, a Canadian influencer who’s lived in India since around 2017, took to X with a video calling out the “illogical” trend of comparing Indian spots to foreign ones. He criticised travel vloggers for calling and comparing places as “Switzerland of India,” the “Scotland of the East,” or “Mini Europe,” arguing these tags make India seem like copies rather than originals. Friesen went as far beyond nicknames like Bollywood and Tollywood, saying they chase Hollywood’s shadow unnecessarily. “Bro, you need to stop at the woods,” he remarked, pointing to South Korea’s independent naming as a better example.He based his post around Bengaluru’s “Silicon Valley of India” label, saying that the city sits on the Deccan Plateau, “the opposite of a valley.” Friesen contrasted this with China’s Shenzhen, which stands on its own name. “I just think more people need to have this mindset. India is not the X of Y. India just is,” he urged, adding, “This country is spectacular. It is one of a kind.”

Why this video went widely shared on social media

Friesen’s message hit home because it talks about the push for self-pride. He referenced Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal’s reply to a fan wanting a “Bryan Johnson replica in India,” where Goyal stressed upon originality. This isn’t just about tourism; it’s a call to value India’s tech boom, varied regions, and cultural depth without foreign crutches.

Social media gets emotional

Users flooded Friesen’s post with support. One wrote, “Good one, India shouldn’t benchmark everything against one. India is great on its own with a massive population”. Another said, “A pity that this has to come from a Canadian, but that isn’t bad, because sadly some Indians pick up an idea only when non-Indians approve it.”A third wrote, “Finally someone said it. We need to own our identities and not cling to western validation.” A fan added, “Well put @caleb_friesen. India needs to UP their PR game. India is so so much better than what the sentiment is like in the outside. So much potential and talent everywhere.”One user noted a flip side, “India have many beautiful places. But because of bad infrastructure and lack of promotion of these places, we never get to see about such places that exist in India.” Others blamed colonial mindsets, “Indian was first colonised for 200 years by Brits and then a 100 more colonised us mentally.”

NEW DELHI: Shreyas Iyer will walk out to bat in the second ODI against New Zealand on Wednesday with history firmly within touching distance, as the India vice-captain stands on the verge of a massive personal milestone that underlines his growing stature in the format.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Iyer needs just 34 runs to etch his name into the record books, a feat that would place him among the quickest Indians to reach 3000 runs in ODI cricket and further highlight his transformation into one of India’s most reliable middle-order batters. Presently, the record for the fastest Indian to the landmark is held by Shikhar Dhawan, who achieved it in 72 innings, followed by Virat Kohli, who took 75 innings. Iyer, who has 2966 runs to his name, will reach the milestone in just 69 innings if he scores the required runs on Wednesday.

The right-hander marked his return to international cricket in style in the series opener on Sunday, scoring a fluent 49 off 47 balls as India successfully chased down a target of 301. It was a reassuring comeback after a frustrating injury layoff that began during the third ODI against Australia on October 25, 2025, forcing him to miss the home series against South Africa.Iyer worked his way back through the BCCI Centre of Excellence and proved his readiness with strong performances for Mumbai in the Vijay Hazare Trophy before reclaiming his place in the national side. Since making his ODI debut in 2017, Iyer has steadily evolved from a promising talent into a mainstay of India’s XI and a key member of the leadership group. Should he achieve the milestone in the second ODI, Iyer will also join West Indies great Viv Richards as the joint-fourth fastest batter overall to the mark, with the all-time record belonging to South Africa’s Hashim Amla, who reached it in just 57 innings.

Representative image (AI-generated)

US President Donald Trump on Monday warned that Washington could face severe financial repercussions if the Supreme Court rules his sweeping global tariffs illegal. The warning comes as the country’s top court prepares to hear the high-stakes case this week.In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: “If the Supreme Court rules against the United States of America on this National Security bonanza, we’re scre***!”The nation’s apex body is expected to issue rulings as early as January 14, though it does not announce in advance which cases will be decided. The challenge to Trump’s tariffs has emerged as a major test of presidential authority and could have wide-ranging implications for the US and global economy.Trump’s warning comes amid legal scrutiny of tariffs imposed under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which he invoked by declaring a national emergency over the US trade deficit. During oral arguments in November, a majority of judges had expressed skepticism about whether the law allows a president to impose broad global tariffs without congressional approval.In his Truth Social post, Trump said the financial exposure would go far beyond tariff revenues already collected. He argued that if the court rules against the government, the US could be forced to repay “many Hundreds of Billions of Dollars” in tariff revenue, along with additional claims tied to private investments made to avoid the levies.“The actual numbers that we would have to pay back if, for any reason, the Supreme Court were to rule against the United States of America on Tariffs, would be many Hundreds of Billions of Dollars and that doesn’t include the amount of “payback” that Countries and Companies would require for the Investments they are making on building Plants, Factories, and Equipment, for the purpose of being able to avoid the payment of Tariffs. ” Trump wrote.“When these Investments are added, we are talking about Trillions of Dollars! It would be a complete mess, and almost impossible for our Country to pay,” Trump further wrote. He rejected suggestions that refunds could be handled quickly, saying the process would be complex and drawn out. “Anybody who says that it can be quickly and easily done would be making a false, inaccurate, or totally misunderstood answer to this very large and complex question. It may not be possible but, if it were, it would be Dollars that would be so large that it would take many years to figure out what number we are talking about and even, who, when, and where, to pay,” his post read. According to government data, the federal government collected roughly $200 billion more in tariff revenue in 2025 as a result of Trump’s import duties. Tariffs are paid by companies when they bring goods into the US. More than half of that revenue has come from tariffs imposed under IEEPA.Trump has repeatedly argued that the tariffs strengthened US manufacturing and boosted investment. Lower courts have already ruled against the administration. A federal appeals court in August upheld a finding that Trump exceeded his authority by imposing global tariffs under emergency powers. The case now before the Supreme Court was brought by a group of businesses and 12 US states, most of them governed by Democrats, who argue that only Congress has the constitutional power to impose taxes and that IEEPA does not mention tariffs.Opponents also dispute whether trade deficits qualify as a national emergency. At the November hearing, Justice Amy Coney Barrett observed that any refund process could become a “complete mess,” a phrase Trump later echoed.Trump has said he is preparing a “Game 2 plan” to pursue his tariff agenda if the court rules against him, though he has acknowledged that alternative legal routes would be slower, according to USA Today. A ruling against the tariffs would deal a major blow to one of the centrepieces of his domestic and trade policy and could reshape US relations with key trading partners, including the European Union, Japan, South Korea, the UK and India.

Lohri 2026 is approaching, marking a time of bonfires, shared warmth, and community connection. Rooted in harvest celebrations, the festival signifies gratitude for hard work and resilience, bringing people together for songs, stories, and comforting food. It’s a moment to pause, reflect, and embrace new beginnings with joy and togetherness.

Lohri 2026 is almost here, and you can already picture it, right? The bonfires popping, the smoky winter air, someone passing around peanuts in those crinkly paper cones, and the dhol going in the background like it has zero plans of calming down. You might dance, you might just watch everyone else – either way, you feel it. And sure, it’s a big deal in Punjab and North India, and yes, it means winter is easing up. But Lohri isn’t just a date circled on the calendar. It’s people showing up for each other. Family, friends, and that one neighbour who brings snacks for everyone and then complains about the smoke — all squeezed around one fire that somehow warms your chest as much as your hands.The festival is rooted in harvest – sugarcane, wheat, all that hard work finally paying off. Farmers say thank you in their own way. But you don’t need to be anywhere near a farm to get it. It’s that shared feeling of, “Okay, this year’s been rough in places, but we’re still here.” The bonfire becomes the centre of the night. Folks circle around it, toss rewri, popcorn, til, and gur, mumble a prayer, and then immediately drift into songs and silly chatter. Half the stories are exaggerated. Nobody minds.

And Lohri always carries its stories with it. Songs about Dulha Bhatti blast out, sometimes beautifully, sometimes completely off-key, and everyone still joins in. Kids go door to door and somehow manage to collect more sweets than they can carry. A new baby or a newly married couple in the house? The celebration just levels up on its own. New starts and Lohri get along really well.And honestly, the food has its own fan following. Sarson da saag, makki di roti, gajak, peanuts, gur, it’s the kind of comfort that makes winter feel friendly for a change. The rest of the year rushes past like a train, but Lohri slows everything down a little. You sit by the fire, say random things, laugh harder than you meant to, and forget to check your phone for a while.So Lohri 2026 isn’t just “arriving soon.” It’s that small pause in the middle of life where you shrug off some of the heaviness, warm up, and think – alright, we’ve got this.May your Lohri fire burn up the stress and leave you with nothing but warmth and loud laughter.Hope this Lohri is full of rewri-sweet moments and tiny surprises that pop up like popcorn.May the dhol beats sync with your heartbeat – loud, happy, a little wild.Here’s to bonfires, great food, and the kind of company you don’t want to leave.May your home glow tonight the way the Lohri flames do – bright and full of life.Sending you lots of warmth, lots of love, and yes, an extra fistful of peanuts for luck.May Lohri 2026 open up fresh beginnings that feel light and easy, not forced.Hope your worries melt by the fire the way jaggery softens in the heat.Wishing you a night full of songs, smiles, and absolutely zero tension.May your days feel as golden as fresh gajak on a winter evening.Lohri mood only: warmth, laughter, and people who feel like home when they walk in.May the bonfire show you the way to your next good chapter.Wishing you comfort, courage, and popcorn that’s perfectly crunchy.May this Lohri hug you with love the way a warm shawl does in January.Here’s to longer days, lighter hearts, and those bear-hug moments.May your dreams fly higher than the sparks that jump out of the fire.Hope this Lohri brings peace to your mind and sweetness to your days, both together.Wishing you tiny joys and those big “wow, life is good” moments too.May your home echo tonight with folk songs and loud laughter.Sending you warmth that doesn’t fade when the bonfire dies down.May your harvest – in work, love, life – feel rich and satisfying.Wishing you a Lohri that genuinely feels like pressing reset in the best way.May Dulha Bhatti stories bring grins, not just old memories.May every little flame tonight carry your prayers up and out.Wishing your family togetherness that feels easy, not forced.

May this Lohri sprinkle a little extra “good” into your good moments.Wishing you tiny miracles and celebrations that don’t need a reason.May the fire crackle as loudly as your happiness grows.May your heart stay warm, even if winter decides to hang around.Wishing your home light – the kind you can feel, not just see.May this Lohri remind you how far you’ve already made it.Wishing you sweet rewri and even sweeter memories.May every flying spark tonight turn into a quiet blessing for you.Sending you love wrapped in til and gur, sticky-sweet and real.May your celebrations be loud, loving, and totally unapologetic.Wishing you the strength to let go and the courage to start fresh.May this festival fill your life with songs you’ll hum months later.Here’s to new stories being born around old, familiar fires.May the warmth of Lohri stick with you long after winter leaves.Wishing you moments that feel like a warm hug from the inside.May this Lohri bring peace exactly where you’ve been needing it.Wishing you laughter so real it makes your eyes water.May this season bring more smiles than stress, simple as that.Wishing your family health, closeness, and those silly talks that go nowhere.May your life shine brighter than the flames jumping tonight.Sending love that crackles even louder than the bonfire.May your Lohri be full of food, joy, and zero guilt about either.Wishing you the courage to actually do what makes you happy.May this Lohri feel like coming back home to yourself.Wishing every small prayer you whisper by the fire finds its place.May the hard work you’ve been doing finally pay off in a way you can feel.Wishing you more music in your days and fewer reasons to worry.May your celebrations stay warm, even if the weather isn’t helping.Wishing you soft hearts, strong bonds, and music turned up a little too loud.May this Lohri sprinkle a little everyday magic into your routine.Wishing you memories tonight that make you smile weeks later.May your table be full, your fire bright, and your heart lighter.Wishing you happiness that feels calm instead of rushed.May Lohri bring answers to the wishes you haven’t even said out loud.Wishing your home blessings that multiply like popcorn popping.May you keep finding reasons to be grateful, again and again.Wishing you love that feels simple, honest, and easy to be in.May this festival bring sunshine into the corners of your life that feel heavy.Wishing your new beginnings show up right when you need them.May your year be as rich as til laddoos in peak winter.Wishing you the kind of joy you don’t have to explain to anyone.May old worries fall away like ash floating off the fire.Wishing your heart peace, your mind real rest, and your life more colour.May your relationships grow warmer, kinder, more real with time.Wishing you a Lohri full of singing, dancing, and absolutely no hesitation.May every flame tonight remind you how strong you already are.Wishing your dreams ripen like a good harvest – slow, steady, worth it.May your celebrations feel cosy, close, and completely you.Wishing this Lohri gives you what you truly need, not just what you ask for.May the Lohri bonfire light up new paths you’re no longer scared to walk.

NEW DELHI: While sympathising with a young man from UP who will lose his govt job because of its adverse order over his not declaring a pending criminal case against him at the time of recruitment, Supreme Court on Monday emphasised that sympathy cannot supplant the law as such disclosure is not a simple procedural formality but a basic requirement for public service. “There is a maxim in law to the effect that ‘ dura lex, sed lex’, which means the law may be harsh, but the law is law,” a bench of Justices Sanjay Karol and N K Singh said while quashing the order of Allahabad HC which had held that the non-disclosure was of “trivial nature” and his appointment could not be set aside on that ground. “It is also a settled position in law that sympathy cannot supplant law. As such, while we acknowledge that loss of a govt job is not an easy loss to come to terms with, at the same time awareness of consequences is a necessary component of actions,” the bench said. “Proper and complete disclosure in applications for govt employment is not a simple procedural formality, but a basic requirement rooted in fairness, integrity and public trust. Govt posts attract hundreds, and often thousands, of applicants for a single vacancy, each competing under the same stated conditions; scrupulous vetting of every candidate becomes imperative and essential to ensure a level playing field and to protect the credibility of the selection process. When an applicant withholds information about criminal antecedents, it undermines this process by depriving the appointing authority of the opportunity to make a fully informed assessment of suitability,” the bench said. While the law recognises that non-disclosure, depending on the nature of the offence and accompanying circumstances, may not invariably be fatal to a candidature, it nevertheless remains a serious lapse. “The gravity is significantly compounded when the non-disclosure is repeated, as it ceases to be accidental or inadvertent and instead reflects deliberate concealment. Such strikes at the core of trust reposed in candidates for public service, where honesty and transparency are indispensable attributes, and justify a far stricter view by the authorities,” it said. In the case before it, the person was appointed as Sahayak Samiksha Adhikari, but his services were terminated after it was found there were two pending criminal cases against him, which were not disclosed by him in the form. He approached Allahabad HC, whose single as well as division bench quashed his termination, following which state govt moved SC.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced a 25% tariff on countries doing business with Iran, stepping up pressure on Tehran over its violent crackdown on nationwide protests.Trump said the tariffs would take effect immediately. In a social media post, he wrote, “Effective immediately, any Country doing business with the Islamic Republic of Iran will pay a Tariff of 25% on any and all business being done with the United States of America.” “This Order is final and conclusive,” he added.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt had earlier said, “One thing President Trump is very good at is always keeping all of his options on the table,” adding, “airstrikes would be one of the many, many options that are on the table for the commander-in-chief. Diplomacy is always the first option for the president.”The US president has repeatedly warned Iran over its treatment of protesters and has threatened military action if the violence continues. On Monday, Trump said Washington was closely monitoring the situation and considering possible military retaliation. When asked how the United States would respond if Iran were to strike American military bases, he said, “we will hit them at levels that they’ve never been hit before.”Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said Iran appeared to be nearing a red line he had set, adding, “they’re starting to, it looks like.” Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian accused the United States and Israel of attempting to destabilise Iran by fomenting unrest. While pledging that the government would hear public grievances, he warned against violent protesters and urged Iranians to stay away from “rioters and terrorists.”The decision comes as unrest continues across Iran, where activists say security forces have used deadly force against antigovernment demonstrators. At least 648 people have been killed since the protests began, with the toll expected to rise. More than 10,600 people have been detained over the past two weeks, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency.

NEW DELHI: Supreme Court Monday asked Election Commission to respond within a week to TMC MP Dola Sen’s plea accusing the poll panel of arbitrarily deleting more than 58 lakh names from West Bengal’s draft voters’ list by refusing to accept valid and permissible documents from people during the SIR exercise. Appearing for Sen, senior advocate Kapil Sibal said, “What is this happening? EC is sending instructions to various election officers through WhatsApp messages or through video conferencing. This is impermissible as all such instructions must be in writing to ensure transparency in the process of preparation of voters’ list.” A bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi asked EC counsel Eklavya Dwivedi to respond to Sen’s petition by Saturday, and posted the matter for Jan 19. Sen has sought extension of Jan 15 deadline for submission of claims and objections to draft voters’ list. Calling EC ‘WhatsApp commission” for issuing instructions to election officers through the messaging platform and not through written orders, the MP said EC must be directed to accept permanent residence certificates, panchayat residence certificates and family registers as valid documents for inclusion in voters’ list. The draft electoral roll for Bengal was published on Dec 16, and 58,20,898 names were deleted, which the Rajya Sabha MP alleged was without any notice or personal hearing. She said there has been a precipitous decline from 7,66,37,529 voters after the Special Summary Revision of 2025 to 7,08,16,616 voters on the draft electoral roll. She said contrary to the SOP for SIR, in several assembly constituencies, deletion decisions with respect to voters categorised as absentee, shifted, dead and duplicate (ASDD) are being processed centrally and marked en masse as ‘Disposed – Form 7’ on the Electoral Registration Officer Net Portal. “Alarmingly, this appears to be occurring without physical verification, individual hearing or meaningful involvement of the EROs concerned,” she alleged. Sen said, “A majority of affected electors are women voters, whose surnames have changed post-marriage, leading to misclassification by algorithm used by EC; over 90% of the cases are mismatch in names attributable largely to failure of algorithm; minorities are largely affected by misclassification of algorithm.” As the final roll, scheduled to be published on Feb 14 (after closure of notice and hearing phase on Feb 7), Sen apprehended that the Bengal assembly elections will be immediately declared thereafter, and requested SC to direct EC to correct its voters’ list revision process and attempt to include all eligible voters.

DHAKA: Renowned Hindu musician and senior Awami League functionary Proloy Chaki has died in police custody in Bangladesh, with his family members accusing the prison administration of denying necessary medical care to the 60-year-old and rubbishing police’s claim that it was a “natural death”, reports Ahsan Tasnim.Proloy – held in a blast case linked to the 2024 anti-discrimination student movement that grew into the ‘July Uprising’ and led to Sheikh Hasina’s ouster as PM – died on Sunday night. The cultural affairs secretary of the party’s Pabna unit, Proloy was picked up by police from his house in Pabna’s Dilalpur on Dec 16 and later shown as arrested.Son: Proloy Chaki arrested in Bangladesh without any case Proloy Chaki’s death comes at a time when Bangladesh is in the grip of relentless violence against minorities, particularly Hindus, and groups, parties and institutions aligned with Awami League. Seven Hindus have died and properties of minorities targeted by arsonists since the lynching of Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh on Dec 18. Pabna jail superintendent Md Omar Faruk said Proloy had been suffering from multiple health complications, including diabetes and heart disease.

“He suffered a cardiac arrest and was first taken to Pabna General Hospital on Friday. Later, as his condition deteriorated, he was shifted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, where he died around 9 pm on Sunday,” Omar said, adding that “it is a natural death”. Proloy’s son Sony Chaki said, “My father was arrested despite not being named in any case at the time. He had been suffering from diabetes and heart disease for a long time. His condition worsened in jail, but authorities did not officially inform us.” “We rushed to the hospital after being informed by others, but he did not get proper treatment, which led to his death,” he said. Jail superintendent Omar has rejected the charges. Besides political identity, Pabna Sammilito Shangskritik Jote secretary Bhaskar Chowdhury said, “Proloy was a renowned singer and music director. He had also served as secretary of Shree Shree Ram Krishna Shebashrom.” Proloy was a prominent cultural activist of the 1990s, he said.