Kannada lessons to be taught in 2,000 madrasas across Karnataka
Bengaluru: The Kannada Development Authority (KDA) has launched a statewide initiative to introduce Kannada language education in around 2,000 madrasas.
At the launch of a Kannada language workshop for nearly 180 madrasa teachers, KDA Chairman Purushottam Bilimale underscored the importance of linguistic integration. “No community should be subject to humiliation through language. Any community that learns the state language gains the spirit to live harmoniously in the land they reside. Hence, it is vital for minorities to learn Kannada,” Deccan Herald quoted KDA Chairman Purushottam Bilimale as saying.
Bilimale said the initiative aims to foster better communication and mutual understanding among communities through the state language.
The KDA is working on publishing 100 books under the title, "Foundations of Kannada Linguistic Harmony" for student communities, which will be released soon.
Bilimale further proposed that the autonomous Urdu Academy be brought under the Department of Kannada and Culture to enable its more active involvement in such state-backed programmes.
U. Nisar Ahmed, Chairman of the Minorities Commission, announced that the KDA will soon implement Kannada learning across all 2,000 madrasas. He added that the authority would also be responsible for printing the syllabus for these institutions.
In response, Minority Welfare Minister Zameer Ahmed assured that the department would make the necessary arrangements to support the initiative.
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Top US counterterrorism official resigns over Iran war, says Iran posed no imminent threat
Washington (AP): Joe Kent, the director of the National Counterterrorism Centre, announced his resignation on Tuesday, saying he “cannot in good conscience” back the Trump administration's war in Iran.
Kent said on social media Iran “posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.”
There was no immediate comment from the White House.
Kent, a former political candidate with connections to right-wing extremists, was confirmed to his post last July on a 52-44 vote.
As head of the National Counterterrorism Centre, he was in charge of an agency tasked with analysing and detecting terrorist threats.
Before entering President Donald Trump's administration, Kent ran two unsuccessful campaigns for Congress in Washington state. He also served in the military, seeing 11 deployments as a Green Beret, followed by work at the CIA.
Democrats strongly opposed Kent's confirmation, pointing to his past ties to far-right figures and conspiracy theories. During his 2022 congressional campaign, Kent paid Graham Jorgensen, a member of the far-right military group the Proud Boys, for consulting work. He also worked closely with Joey Gibson, the founder of the Christian nationalist group Patriot Prayer, and attracted support from a variety of far-right figures.
During his Senate confirmation hearing, Kent also refused to distance himself from a conspiracy theory that federal agents instigated the January 6, 2021, attack at the Capitol, as well as false claims that Trump, a Republican, won the 2020 election over Democrat Joe Biden.
Democrats grilled Kent on his participation in a group chat on Signal that was used by Trump's national security team to discuss sensitive military plans.
Still, Republicans praised Kent's counterterrorism qualifications, pointing to his military and intelligence experience.
Sen. Tom Cotton, the GOP chair of the intelligence committee, said in a floor speech that Kent had "dedicated his career to fighting terrorism and keeping Americans safe.”
