Have Endorsed Permanent UN Security Council Seat For India: Antony Blinken

Affirming support for the reformation of the United Nations Security Council to better represent the developing world, US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken said that the United States has long endorsed permanent seats in the council for India, Japan and Germany.

Speaking at the 'Summit of the Future' at the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York on Monday (local time), Mr Blinken put forward the US' idea of two permanent seats for Africa, one rotating seat for Small Island Developing States, and permanent representation for Latin America and the Caribbean.

"Reforming the UN Security Council to better represent the developing world and, more broadly, the world as it is today. The United States believes that this should include two permanent seats for Africa, one rotating seat for Small Island Developing States, and permanent representation for Latin America and the Caribbean. In addition to the permanent seats for countries, we've long endorsed Germany, Japan, and India," he said.

"The United States supports starting negotiations on Council reforms immediately," he added.

Mr Blinken conveyed the US's commitment to adapting the UN system to reflect the current geopolitical situation driving the world, which didn't exist back in 1945. However, he resolutely opposed to any revision of any reformers, which could alter the core principle of the UN Charter.

"The United States is committed to adapting the UN system to reflect this world of today and tomorrow--not the one that existed in 1945 but we are and we will remain resolutely opposed to revisionism. We will not accept efforts to tear down, dilute, or fundamentally alter the core principle of the UN Charter," Mr Blinken further said.

Notably, India has long sought a permanent seat in the Security Council to better represent the interests of the developing world. The nation's quest has gained momentum with support from the international community.

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is composed of 15 member states, including five permanent members with veto power and ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms.

The five permanent members of the UNSC include China, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, and the United States. The non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council are elected for 2-year terms by the UNGA.

Earlier on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address at the 'Summit of the Future' at the UN General Assembly in New York, also called for reforms in the global institutions and termed reforms the "key to relevance."

He also called the African Union's inclusion as a permanent member in the G20 an "important step" in this direction.

PM Narendra Modi also expressed India's willingness to share its experiences of success with the Global South. He said that the success of humanity lies in "collective strength" and not the battlefield.

"When we discuss the global future, we must accord the highest priority to a human-centric approach. While prioritising sustainable development, we must also ensure human welfare, food, and health security. By lifting 250 million people out of poverty in India, we have demonstrated that sustainable development can be successful. We are ready to share our experiences of our success with the Global South. The success of humanity lies in our collective strength, not on the battlefield," PM Modi said.

Later during the special briefing on the Prime Minister's US visit, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri also appreciated that the UN Summit document has a detailed paragraph on UN Security Council reforms, which is a "very good beginning."

"I would only point you in the direction of the fact that for the first time, a UN Summit document has a detailed paragraph on UN Security Council reform, so it may not have every single detail in every area that we would imagine or we would like there to be but I think it's a good beginning and we look forward eventually to the beginning of text-based negotiations in a fixed time frame going forward. But this should be seen as the first step towards that objective and the fact that till now we haven't had discussions based on text but an agreement at this level in the pact that keeps open the possibilities of a reform of the UN system is a gain from any perspective," he stated.

from NDTV News Search Records Found 1000 https://ift.tt/hVENScq

Army, Forest Team Captures 2 Leopards After 3 Killed In Attacks In Udaipur

The forest department in Udaipur district, with the help of the Army, has captured two leopards, bringing a sigh of relief to residents of Gogunda town where three people were killed in attacks by the big cats last week, officials said on Tuesday.

The leopards were captured in separate cages on Monday night, they added.

The traps were set following a wave of panic in the community after the rise in deaths due to leopard attacks.

In response to the fatalities, which included a 16-year-old girl, a 50-year-old man, and a 40-year-old woman, the forest department launched a search operation with local police, according to officials.

A team from the Indian Army was also called in on Saturday to trace the animals. Cages were strategically placed at six locations in the area, they said.

Gogunda police station SHO Shaitan Singh Nathawat said the leopards were rescued and transported to Sajjangarh Biological Park in Udaipur city by the forest department team.

Nathawat said prima facie, one of the two big cats, the older one who is lacking teeth, might have been responsible for the recent fatal attacks on humans.

"The animal's inability to hunt its natural prey due to broken or lack of canines likely drove it to attack humans, making it easier for the leopard to seek alternative sources of food. However, the forest officials are examining the matter in detail," he said.

The search operation commenced on Wednesday, and the Army utilised drones for surveillance starting Saturday, the officials said.

Camera traps were also used to capture the leopards' movements, they added.

from NDTV News Search Records Found 1000 https://ift.tt/k140Ky6

UK University Invites Applications For MBA In Fashion Business And Entrepreneurship

Ravensbourne University, London is currently accepting applications for its one-year MBA in Fashion Business & Entrepreneurship. This programme, tailored for aspiring fashion professionals and entrepreneurs, provides students with advanced knowledge and practical skills needed to thrive in the rapidly changing fashion industry.

According to a press release, students will have the opportunity to work with industry experts, participate in live projects, and benefit from Ravensbourne's extensive network of fashion and business professionals.

In addition to the MBA, the university offers a variety of creative courses across design, media, and technology, including BA (Hons) in Interior Design Environment Architecture, BA (Hons) in Digital Photography, and BA (Hons) in Music & Sound Production.

Why Pursue MBA In Fashion Business And Entrepreneurship?

This programme equips students with sought-after skills in business and entrepreneurship, specifically within the fashion industry. It enables learners to develop expertise in leadership, business strategy, and innovation at the master's level, building the confidence to succeed in the highly competitive fashion market. The programme emphasises hands-on experience in fashion leadership through practical, real-world tasks, enhancing employment prospects. Students also have the opportunity to expand their professional network by collaborating with peers who bring diverse skill sets, all within a tech-savvy, creative community.

Module Completion And Assessment Criteria

Students must score at least 40% for undergraduate modules and 50% for postgraduate modules to pass. Certain modules, such as electives, are graded on a Pass/Fail basis, without numerical marks. Pass/Fail grades do not contribute to final award classifications.

A student who completes all required assessments but has not yet finished their current level may proceed to the next term, as approved by the Interim Assessment Board.

Reassessment Policy

If a student fails or does not submit an assessment, it will result in a failing grade for that component or module. Each student is allowed three attempts per assessment: one initial attempt and two resits. When a failed assessment is successfully retaken, the maximum grade is capped at 40% for undergraduates and 50% for postgraduates, unless extenuating circumstances are granted.

Award Criteria

Upon completing the approved course of study, students will receive their designated degree. Students who leave the program before completion may qualify for one of the following exit awards:

Postgraduate Certificate in Fashion Business and Entrepreneurship, awarded upon completing specified modules and meeting the learning outcomes for the certificate.

Postgraduate Diploma in Fashion Business and Entrepreneurship, awarded upon completing the necessary modules and achieving the learning outcomes for the diploma.

MBA in Fashion Business and Entrepreneurship (ordinary Master's degree), awarded upon successful completion of the full course and its specified learning outcomes.

Application Process

Eligible candidates who wish to apply can do so directly through the university's online application portal. Each course and mode of study has a specific link for applications.

To proceed, select your preferred start date and mode from the 'Apply now' dropdown at the top of this page, and you will be taken to the relevant section within the portal.

Course fee

The full-time course fees are 12,400 pounds for UK students and 19,500 pounds for international students, approximately Rs 12.5 lakh and Rs 19.7 lakh respectively, based on current exchange rates.

from NDTV News Search Records Found 1000 https://ift.tt/RgFtZLY

As Sri Lanka Votes, NDTV Asks Presidential Candidate 9 Key Questions

Sri Lanka, which is slowly recovering from its worst-ever economic crisis, will vote to elect the next President on Saturday. While current President Ranil Wickremesinghe is seeking another term in office, he is being challenged by the key Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa.

Mr Premadasa, 57, is the son of former President Ranasinghe Premadasa. He leads the Samagi Jana Balawegaya party or SJB, that separated from Ranil Wickremesinghe's party - United National Party or UNP in 2020.

Mr Premadasa's centrist, more left-leaning party has called for major changes to the $2.9 billion bailout programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and has outlined plans of his own to adjust some targets, such as changing taxes to reduce the cost of living. He plans a very different approach to that of Mr Wickremesinghe.

Mr Premadasa favours a mix of interventionist and free-market economic policies, and has promised subsidies and has been accused of promising freebies too at his election rallies. But he says he has a different vision for Sri Lanka and has a plan for how he will achieve them.

Speaking exclusively to NDTV, Mr Premadasa spoke about how his vision is different from the current regime, how he plans to revive the economy differently from how the current President is doing, how he views the India-Sri Lanka relationship and how he plans to tackle China.

Here are the key highlights of his interview to NDTV:

Q) What according to you makes these elections so significant and crucial?
A) Sri Lanka is facing multiple crises. In the economic sphere, the social sphere, the political sphere - and we don't have a legitimate government in the sense that the present administration is an extension of the administration that was primarily responsible for making Sri Lanka bankrupt. It is the very same parliamentary majority that led to the bankruptcy. So the Sri Lankan people are eagerly waiting to express their opinions and provide their mandate for change. Change that will make the country prosperous.

Q) It is acknowledged widely that the incumbent President, Ranil Wickremesinghe, is credited for bringing stability to the economy, but you are saying he is part of the problem and not the solution - that is a serious charge. Can you please elaborate?
A) If one takes out their laurels and gets on to the streets and talks to the poor, the downtrodden, the self-employed, the labour force, the entrepreneurs, the rural and urban estate sectors; if you look at the major sections of society, other than those who are super rich, people who have been impacted detrimentally, and if I may provide you with some statistics... stats which were ascertained by the government statistical department has Illustrated that more than 260,000 micro, small and medium sized enterprises have closed. Millions have become unemployed, millions more have become poor, and the government does not have a strategy to deal with it.

The micro, small, and medium sized enterprises contribute to 50% of GDP, employs over 4 million, so people are suffering from the policies of a government that has basically suffocated the people. So, if you achieving stability at great human cost... at a cost where people are suffering,  then I don't think that's the right way to do it.

Q) So, in comparison, what is your action plan?
A) Where we defer, is that we will grow ourselves out of the problem. We have to go on a massive economic growth trajectory. Huge amounts of FDI coming into Sri Lanka, restructuring of society to ensure that entrepreneurs thrive. That the hold of the bureaucracy, which has basically suffocated entrepreneurship, must be ended. Ensure that businesses flourish... ensure that the micro, small, and medium sized industry are given adequate support. What you have right now is not inclusivity, it's exclusive.

Q) So, how do you plan to ensure all this? How do you go about solving the funding problem? And furthermore, ensure that the economy grows and not shrinks because of the fund crunch?
A) You're quite correct in stating that the economy is fragile. That fragility does not give an excuse to be corrupt... to loot the public treasury. Shold we be elected, what we propose to do is to ensure that we follow good governance practices... ensure that the major indices that have a contributing factor with regard to foreign direct investment, good governance indices, ease of doing business... We should have a responsible government, a transparent government, and a  government that is accountable - All three are lacking at the moment.

Q) One of the criticisms your party has faced largely, is that you are promising large subsidies and freebies to people at a time when the economy is facing a fund crunch. Where will the funds come from? Would that not jeopardise the economy further?
A) We will eradicate the crony-capitalist structure that is existing at present. We will ensure that growth is the major phenomenon in our economic program. This government doesn't understand growth. They are contracting growth. To show everybody that the economy is stable, you're making everything smaller - That is not the way to go. We have to grow ourselves out of the problem. So, stability with malnutrition, stability with huge unemployment, stability with growth contraction, stability while losing livelihoods, stability while having lower standards of living... I'm sorry, I don't agree with that. The difference between the government and us is that we don't just focus on macroeconomics, we also look at the microeconomics. So, we are taking an overarching integrated approach, whereas this government is only keen on showing to the whole world and to a particular class in our country that everything is stable and fine.

Q) India has strategic interests in the region. India had and still has very close ties with Sri Lanka. How do you view the India-Sri Lanka relationship from here on?
A) When you talk of recovery, I must say in these very difficult and dire times, India has been one of the countries that has been very generous, and very supportive... and I would like to extend a very big thank you to the Indian government, PM Modi's government, and also to the people of India... and to the various states that have come forward to help our country. So, a big thank you. Having said that, I don't think Sri Lanka is on the correct path to recovery. So, we will ensure that we have a very balanced policy. Where India comes in, is that our External Affairs policy will be to promote our national interest. We will do what is right for our country, and it is in the interest of our country to have cordial relation with India and the rest of the powers in the world.

We do what recognise that we have a special relationship, a kinship, a camaraderie between our two countries and we have a history of positive progressive and good relationship. We have to build upon that and I think we will ensure that mutual interests that matter to both of us are accomplished.

Q) China is a significant player in the region and the last couple of years has seen a rise in Chinese Investments and  rise in Chinese naval presence in the region. How do you view the China equation for Sri Lanka?
A) As I mentioned to you, in our external relations, we have a special relationship with India. But we also have to work with all of the other nation states. I'm the only politician (from Sri Lanka) who has proposed that India must be included in the United Nations Security Council. Having said that, we as a country will work with all other countries, all other democracies, all other nation states to ensure that Sri Lanka's national interests are achieved. We will in no way work towards downgrading the security and geopolitical interests of others.

Q) What is your reasoning of wanting India as a veto power in the UN Security Council?
A) Well, that is a major reflection of global geopolitical reality and I must say it's not just China... all the five permanent members of the UN Security Council have veto power. Sri Lanka as a whole has been very balanced. We want to make sure that we protect our interests and also ensure that interests of other nation states are also not compromised and neutralised. So we are very sensitive to ensure that we don't interfere in the affairs of other nations.

Q) What would be your number one expectation or demand from India, keeping in mind your vision for Sri Lanka and the region?
A) First and foremost, I must say I don't demand. I always use uh the power to persuade. I will use all available skills at my disposal to persuade India to invest more in Sri Lanka, to support Sri Lanka to come out of this problem, to help the people of Sri Lanka... ensure that social and economic stability are protected. So, I would use my power to persuade your great country, India, to protect Sri Lankan people's human rights, not just political and civil rights, but their economic rights, their social rights, their right to life, right to alleviate poverty, right to alleviate unemployment... and that's the arena in which we hope to cooperate with India.
 

from NDTV News Search Records Found 1000 https://ift.tt/YrW8sxM

Man Working On Mumbai's Coastal Road Hit By Diamond Merchant's BMW, Dies

A worker was killed after he was hit by a BMW car being driven by a diamond merchant on the Coastal Road at Worli in central Mumbai, police said on Friday.

The incident occurred on Monday evening on the south-bound corridor of the Coastal Road, which was partially opened for use earlier this year, an official said.

This is the first fatal accident on the Coastal Road, according to the police.

Based on a complaint lodged by a colleague of the victim, Kashmir Misa Singh, who worked as a wireman at the site, police registered a case against the diamond merchant, Rahil Himanshu Mehta (45), a resident of Worli, he said.

In his complaint, Pintukumar Thakur said, "All workers, including Kashmir Singh, were completing their respective assigned tasks of the Coastal Road on Monday. Around 7 pm, Singh was standing on the northbound of the road and movement of traffic on both sides was on. Suddenly, a loud sound on the southbound corridor caught everyone's attention. All the workers rushed to the spot and saw a blue BMW car parked by the roadside, while Singh was lying in the middle of the road." He was rushed to Bhatia Hospital in an ambulance, but was declared dead on arrival, the police official said.

"After being informed, a police team reached the site and took the BMW car driver into custody," he said.

Thakur and Singh worked on the Coastal Road site and stayed together in the Jijamata Nagar area in the accommodation provided by the construction company, he said.

Based on a complaint, a case under section 106 (1) (causing death by negligence), 281 (rash driving or riding on a public way) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and relevant sections of Motor Vehicles Act was registered, he said, adding that further probe is underway.

from NDTV News Search Records Found 1000 https://ift.tt/eAXzS6g

Sitting Too Much? Here's How Much Exercise You Need To Counteract The Effects

A scientific study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine has determined just how many exercises a person needs to compensate for his increased risk of bad health due to prolonged sitting. The study combed through data from thousands of participants and found that 30-40 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise each day can do enough to negate the increased risk of death associated with prolonged sitting.

As per the research, up to 40 minutes of "moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity" every day is about the right amount to balance out 10 hours of sitting still. 

"In active individuals doing about 30-40 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity, the association between high sedentary time and risk of death is not significantly different from those with low amounts of sedentary time," the researchers explained in their paper.

These findings align with the World Health Organisation's 2020 Global Guidelines on Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour, which recommend 150-300 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75-150 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity per week. 

This study drives home the point that some exercise is good exercise, urging people to find ways of adding as much movement as possible into daily life, although it may only just consist of taking the stairs rather than the elevator or even running around with the children while performing household chores.

Although it seems to offer valuable insights, there is recognition that further research is needed in order to set the exact limit for "too much sitting." However, the study emphasises the balance of long periods of sitting with other exercises for healthy living.

from NDTV News Search Records Found 1000 https://ift.tt/TEfehIt

S Jaishankar Holds Phone Call With Newly Appointed Ukrainian Counterpart

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday held a phone conversation with newly-appointed Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha with a focus on boosting bilateral ties and finding a solution to the conflict in Ukraine.

The conversation came nearly a month after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's high-profile trip to Kyiv.

"I spoke with Subrahmanyam Jaishankar to build on Narendra Modi's historic visit to Kyiv and talks with Zelenskyy," Sybiha said.

"We agreed to take our bilateral relations forward in all promising areas of cooperation. We exchanged views ahead of UNGA and coordinated next steps in political dialogue," he said after the talks.

In a post on X, Mr Jaishankar said he was looking forward to working with the Ukrainian foreign minister.

"Spoke with the new Ukrainian FM @andrii_sybiha today. Congratulated him on his appointment. Look forward to working with him," he said.

Spoke with the new Ukrainian FM @andrii_sybiha today.

Congratulated him on his appointment. Look forward to working with him.

?? ??

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) September 19, 2024

It is learnt that the Russia-Ukraine conflict figured in the talks.

In his talks with Zelenskyy, Modi said both Ukraine and Russia should sit together without wasting time to end the ongoing war and that India was ready to play an "active role" to restore peace in the region.

The prime minister said India was on the side of peace since the beginning of the conflict and he would even like to contribute personally for a peaceful resolution of the crisis.

Modi's nearly nine-hour visit to Ukraine, the first by an Indian prime minister since its independence in 1991, came six weeks after he held summit talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.

India has been maintaining that the conflict in Ukraine must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy.

from NDTV News Search Records Found 1000 https://ift.tt/y0Dhw7g

25 Children Killed After Bus Carrying Religious Pilgrim Crashes In Nigeria

A bus carrying Muslim faithful celebrating the birth of Prophet Mohammed crashed in northern Nigeria's Kaduna state, killing at least 25 children, an official told AFP Tuesday.

Organisers of the religious pilgrimage gave a higher count of 40, with 31 injured.

The accident occurred on Sunday when the speeding bus overloaded with young adherents of the Tijjaniyya Sufi order lost control and crashed into a truck in Lere district, Kabiru Nadabo, head of the local office of Nigeria's road safety agency, FRSC, said.

"The bus was overloaded with 63 children and the driver was speeding recklessly when he lost control and rammed into an articulated truck," Nadabo said.

"Fifteen of them died on the spot while 48 injured were taken to various hospitals, among which 10 died the following day, raising the death toll to 25," he said.

The children were from Kwandare village and heading to the nearby town of Saminaka for the annual Maulud festivities marking the birth of the Prophet, said Nadabo.

He said the death count could have changed since the injured were taken to hospitals in various locations and he did not get further updates.

Dikko Dahiru, one of the organisers of the trip, said 40 children were killed in the accident, while 31 were injured.

"The bus was carrying 71 passengers and 36 died instantly while four more died in hospital the next day," said Dahiru, whose nephew was among the dead.

"Thirty-one were taken to hospitals with severe injuries, 11 of them in critical condition," he said.

Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu offered his condolences to the victims' families and those injured, adding that he had "prayed for the repose of the souls of the departed".

In a statement on Tuesday, the president also said he instructed the FRSC "to improve highway monitoring and reduce the number of road accidents nationwide".

Road accidents are common on Nigeria's poorly maintained roads due largely to speeding and disregard for traffic rules.
 

from NDTV News Search Records Found 1000 https://ift.tt/tvXSgI3

Arvind Kejriwal Resignation Updates: Arvind Kejriwal Resigns, Atishi To Be Delhi Chief Minister

Arvind Kejriwal Resignation LIVE Updates: Arvind Kejriwal resigned today as the Chief Minister of Delhi. Senior AAP leader Atishi, who is currently serving as the Delhi Education Minister, will take up the top post after Mr Kejriwal steps down. Mr Kejriwal, who was granted bail in the Delhi liquor police case on Friday, had announced he will not return to the top post until his party is re-elected in the upcoming state polls - which he said will be the "people's order".

At the meeting of AAP MLAs today, party leader Dilip Pandey proposed that Mr Kejriwal decide on the Chief Minister face. When the AAP national convener proposed Ms Atishi's name, all AAP MLAs stood up and accepted it and Ms Atishi was elected leader of the legislature party. 

Ms Atishi now holds key portfolios in the Delhi government such as Education and Public Works Department. An Oxford University alumnus and a Rhodes scholar, Ms Atishi has worked extensively in the AAP's flagship exercise to overhaul education in Delhi's schools.

Here are the Highlights on Arvind Kejriwal's resignation:

from NDTV News Search Records Found 1000 https://ift.tt/yQF1R2r

"Shame Must Change Sides": France's Mass Rape Survivor Becomes Feminist Icon

Walking into court each day with her head held high, the ex-wife of a Frenchman on trial for orchestrating her mass rape in her own bed for almost a decade has become a feminist icon.

With her now trademark auburn bob and dark glasses, 71-year-old Gisele Pelicot has become a figurehead in the battle against the use of drugs to commit sexual abuse.

Her life was shattered in 2020 when she discovered that her partner of five decades had for years been secretly administering her large doses of tranquilisers to rape her and invite dozens of strangers to join him.

But she has decided not to hide and demanded the trial of Dominique Pelicot, 71, and 50 co-defendants since September 2 be open to the public because, as she has said through one of her lawyers, it should be up to her alleged abusers - not her - to be ashamed.

"It's a way of saying... shame must change sides," her attorney Stephane Babonneau said as the trial opened.

Since then, feminist activists have used her stylised portrait by Belgian artist Aline Dessine, daubed with the words "Shame is changing sides", to show support and call for protests.

The artist with 2.5 million followers on TikTok has given up all rights to the image.

'VERY BRAVE'

Outside the courtroom in the southern town of Avignon on Friday, protester Nadege Peneau said she was full of admiration for the trial's main plaintiff.

"What she's doing is very brave," she said.

Gisele Pelicot, flanked by her lawyer Stephane Babonneau (R), arrives to attend court session.

"She's speaking up for so many children and women, and even men" who have been abused, she added.

Gisele Pelicot in August obtained a divorce from her husband, who has confessed to the abuse after meticulously documenting it with photos and videos.

She has moved away from the southern town of Mazan where, in her own words, for years he treated her like "a piece of meat" or a "rag doll".

She now uses her maiden name, but during the trial has asked the media to use her former name as a married woman.

Her lawyer Antoine Camus said she had transformed from a devoted wife and retiree, who loved walks and choir singing, into a woman in the seventies ready for a battle.

Gisele Pelicot leaves court after a session of the trial of Pelicot's former partner Dominique Pelicot..

"I will have to fight till the end," she told the press on September 5, in her only public statement outside court in the first days of the four-month trial.

"Obviously it's not an easy exercise and I can feel attempts to trap me with certain questions," she added calmly.

'NOT IN VAIN'

The daughter of a member of the military, Gisele Pelicot was born on December 7, 1952 in Germany, returning to France with her family when she was five.

When she was only nine, her mother, aged just 35, died of cancer.

"In my head, I was already 15, I was already a little woman," she said, describing growing up "without much love".

Her older brother Michel died of a heart attack aged 43, before her 20th birthday.

She has said she was never one to publicly show emotions.

"In the family, we hide tears and we share laughter," one of her lawyers had reported her as saying.

She met Dominique Pelicot, her future husband and rapist, in 1971.

She had dreamt of becoming a hairdresser but instead studied to be a typist. After a few years temping, she joined France's national electricity company EDF, ending her career in a logistics service for its nuclear power plants.

At home, she looked after her three children, then seven grandchildren, and did a little gymnastics.

Only when the police caught her husband filming up women's skirts in a supermarket in 2020 did she find out the true reason behind her troubling memory lapses.

Camus, her lawyer, said his client "never wanted to be a role model".

"She just wants all this not to be in vain," he said.
 

from NDTV News Search Records Found 1000 https://ift.tt/8UBhLYJ

Russia, Ukraine Swap 206 Prisoners Of War In UAE-Brokered Deal

Moscow and Kyiv swapped 103 prisoners of war each on Saturday in a deal brokered by the United Arab Emirates, a rare moment of coordination between the two warring sides as Russia pushes ahead in east Ukraine.

The Russians released in the swap were captured during Ukraine's incursion into the Kursk region, Moscow said, while some of the Ukrainians freed had been held prisoner since Moscow seized the Azovstal steel plant in May 2022.

"Another 103 soldiers were returned to Ukraine from Russian captivity," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Telegram.

Among the freed were 82 privates and sergeants as well as 21 officers, Zelensky said.

"The defenders of Kyiv, Donetsk, Mariupol and Azovstal, Lugansk, Zaporizhzhia and the Kharkiv regions," he added.

Russia confirmed it had "handed over" 103 Ukrainian army prisoners, and received 103 Russian servicemen captured by Kyiv in its Kursk offensive in return.

"At present, all Russian servicemen are on the territory of the Republic of Belarus, where they are being provided with the necessary psychological and medical assistance, as well as an opportunity to contact their relatives," the Russian defence ministry said.

Despite ongoing hostilities, Russia and Ukraine have managed to swap hundreds of prisoners throughout the two-and-half-year conflict -- often in deals brokered by the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia or Turkey.

The announcement comes a day after Zelensky said 49 Ukrainian POWs had been returned from Russia, and three weeks ago both sides swapped 115 prisoners each in a deal also mediated by the UAE.

The UAE's foreign ministry hailed the deal as a "success" and thanked both sides for their cooperation on Saturday.

Russian advances

The prisoner swap came as Russia pushed ahead in east Ukraine, where it claims to have captured a string of villages in recent weeks.

The Russian defence ministry said in a daily briefing it had "liberated" the village of Zhelanne Pershe, less than 30 kilometres (19 miles) from the key Ukrainian-held logistics hub of Pokrovsk.

Pokrovsk lies on the intersection of a key road that supplies Ukrainian troops and towns across the eastern front and has long been a target for Moscow's army.

More than half of the city's 60,000 residents have fled since the invasion began in February 2022, with evacuations ramping up in recent weeks as Moscow's army closes in.

Ukraine had hoped its major cross-border incursion into the Kursk region last month would slow down Russia's advances in the east.

On Friday, Zelensky said Moscow had been slowed down somewhat but conceded the situation on the eastern front was "very difficult".

Russia meanwhile claimed this week to have clawed back a swath of territory in the Kursk region, as it mounted what appeared to be a counter-offensive.

Missile spat

Tensions between Russia and the West over the conflict reached dire levels this week over UK and US discussions about letting Ukraine use longer-range weapons to strike targets inside Russia.

The discussions came after a visit to Kyiv by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and British counterpart David Lammy.

President Vladimir Putin warned the West on Thursday that green-lighting the use of the long-range weapons deep inside Russia would put the NATO military alliance "at war" with Moscow.

"This would in a significant way change the very nature of the conflict," Putin told a state television reporter.

"It would mean that NATO countries, the US, European countries, are at war with Russia," he added.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and US President Joe Biden on Friday delayed a decision on the move.

US officials believe the missiles would make a limited difference to Ukraine's campaign and also want to ensure that Washington's own stocks of the munitions are not depleted.

from NDTV News Search Records Found 1000 https://ift.tt/vej5REh

25 Punjab Travel Agencies Caught In Scam For Offering Fake Jobs Abroad

The Punjab Police have booked 25 travel agencies across various parts of the state for deceiving youngsters with fake job opportunities abroad.

The Punjab Police's NRI and Cyber Crime wings, in coordination with the Protectorate of Emigrants, Chandigarh, launched this crackdown on travel agencies for illegally advertising employment opportunities on social media platforms, primarily Instagram and Facebook. These agencies have been accused of luring young people with promises of “guaranteed” jobs in Western countries and Russia, often involving dubious or non-existent documentation processes.

A total of 20 FIRs have been lodged under Sections 24/25 of the Emigration Act at various NRI police stations, including those in Amritsar, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Ludhiana, Patiala, Sangrur and SAS Nagar. This operation specifically targeted those illegal agencies which had been actively advertising on social media, deceiving unsuspecting youths and defrauding them of their hard-earned money.

ADGP Praveen K Sinha revealed that these agencies were operating without the necessary licences and permissions required for such services. “Our investigation involved checking online platforms and verifying the credentials of these agencies. After confirmation of their illicit activities, FIRs were registered against them,” Mr Sinha stated, as per the Tribune.

This crackdown comes amid rising incidents of travel agencies sending youths to Western nations via illegal routes or to Russia to fight in the Ukraine war. ADGP Sinha urged citizens to be cautious and verify the credentials of travel agents before entrusting them with documents and money. 

from NDTV News Search Records Found 1000 https://ift.tt/q4mHoBw

Russia Says Repelled "Massive" Ukrainian Drone Attack On Energy, Fuel Plants

Russia said Sunday it had repelled a "massive" Ukrainian drone attack on energy and fuel plants in Moscow and 14 regions, one of the largest such strikes since the start of the two and half-year conflict.

Ukraine has repeatedly sent drones to strike Russia's energy infrastructure in recent months, in retaliation for Moscow's missile attacks that have hugely damaged its own energy network since the Kremlin first sent troops into the country in February 2022.

"It is entirely justified for Ukrainians to respond to Russian terror by any means necessary to stop it," President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on Facebook.

The latest barrage saw 158 drones fired, most of them downed over the regions of Kursk, Bryansk, Voronezh and Belgorod which border Ukraine, Russia's defence ministry said.

Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that 10 drones had targeted various areas in and around the capital.

One of them sparked a fire at an oil refinery within the city limits of the sprawling capital, he said, while a coal-fired power plant near the city was also reported to have been targeted.

The barrage came just days after Russia sent over 200 drones and missiles at Ukraine's energy infrastructure, in one of the largest such attacks.

It also comes nearly a month since Ukraine went on the offensive in Russia's Kursk region, crossing the border and capturing Russian territory as Russian troops continued their slow but steady advance in eastern Ukraine.

Sobyanin said Sunday morning that a downed drone had hit a "technical building" at the Moscow oil refinery, owned by the Gazprom energy giant, in the southeast Kapotnya area of the capital.

The mayor later said "the fire at the oil refinery has been localised and there is no threat to people or the plant's operation".

In the Tver region northwest of Moscow, five drones targeted the area of Konakovo power plant and caused a fire that was swiftly extinguished, according to governor Igor Rudenya.

'Most massive' attack

A local official in the Moscow region, Mikhail Shuvalov, said on Telegram that three drones had also tried to hit the Kashira coal-fired power station, but that "there were no victims nor damage and it did not catch fire".

Russian military blogger Rybar, who is followed by more than 1.3 million people, wrote, "the night attack by the Ukrainian armed forces was the most massive since the start of the special military operation" in 2022.

In the city of Belgorod and the surrounding area, governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said 11 were injured in a later Ukrainian attack on Sunday afternoon, among them two children and there was widescale damage to blocks of flats and houses.

In the Donetsk region, Russia is advancing towards the city of Pokrovsk and Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrsky wrote on Facebook that the "situation is difficult in the direction of the enemy's main offensive".

At least three people were killed and nine injured by shelling of the Donetsk region near the town of Kurakhove, the regional governor Vadym Filashkin said.

Russia on Sunday claimed control of two new villages in the region: Ptyche near Pokrovsk and Vyyimka further northeast.

'Terrorising Kharkiv'

On Sunday afternoon, Russia struck Ukraine's second largest city of Kharkiv with missiles, injuring 47 people including seven children, according to the emergency services.

National police said Russia injuring 21 at a shopping centre and 18 at a sports centre, of whom five were children.

The attack caused "large-scale destruction and fires," the emergency service said and "people could be under the rubble".

An AFP photographer saw rescuers working in the rubble of the destroyed Sports Palace centre with a dog, looking for survivors and bringing out one of those injured on a stretcher.

Outside the shopping centre, there were burnt-out cars and facades torn off buildings and flames from a damaged gas pipe.

Prosecutors said Russia fired two Iskander-M ballistic missiles at a shopping centre and three at the Sports Palace while three other missiles hit near the sports centre.

The energy ministry said that Russia had attacked an energy facility in the city, without giving details.

Kharkiv also came under attack Friday with an aerial strike killing seven including a teenage girl.

"Russia is once again terrorising Kharkiv, striking civilian infrastructure and the city itself," Zelensky wrote on Facebook, appealing for more weapons to fend off attacks.

He urged global leaders to show the "courage to give Ukraine everything it needs to defend itself".

from NDTV News Search Records Found 1000 https://ift.tt/0BpqvyJ

What Sudha Murthy Said On Writing A Story Set In Parliament

Parliamentarian and author-philanthropist Sudha Murthy on Sunday said although she has read a book set in Parliament way back in the 1980s, about Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, since so much has changed about India and the Parliament since then, that she would not mind writing about it.

"Although, I have to finish my term as a Rajya Sabha member first, before I could attempt to do that," said Murthy on Sunday.

Ms Murthy was in conversation with fellow author and actor Twinkle Khanna, at the celebration of the launch of her 300th book title - and 46th book - 'Grandpa's Bag of Stories' here. The event was organised by Bengaluru-based Lit Spirit Foundation.

But in her immediate list of wishes is a book on 'shlokas' that her grandfather used to recite, she said.

"Like the one my grandfather used to recite when someone went travelling or stepped out of the house," said Ms Murthy.

Ms Murthy also said it is not likely that she will not set her stories in the United Kingdom, even though it is the place of her grandchildren.

"There are characters in my book that are very much my grandchildren, but they are based in India...In the UK, I have been at any point of time just for 10 to 15 days. To set a story in some place, you need to know the place well, you need to interact with the people. Then only you will get a glimpse of the culture and can write comfortably about it," she said.

Ms Khanna and Ms Murthy also discussed their respective approaches to writing as well as what they do to stay relevant as well as the meticulous research that goes into writing a book.

Talking about her process, Ms Murthy said, she sits down to write only after she had framed the 'entire story' in her mind.

"I take only 10 to 15 days to write, not more than that. But I'll think about the story for more than a year even," said Ms Murthy.

Ms Khanna said she struggled a bit in the beginning to juggle being a mother and writing, but eventually found her pace and reserved her mornings for writing.

"Writing is about discipline, finding the time - whatever works for you - and being very selfish about that time," she added.

Both the authors agreed that understanding what readers want is the key to being a productive writer.

Ms Khanna said as a writer, she had discovered along the way that it was extremely important to form a connection with the readers.

Ms Murthy said she regularly interacted with children, as she writes a lot of children's books.

"I try to find out what problems they are facing. I may not be able to give them solutions, but I write in such a way that makes them happy," Ms Murthy said.

Earlier in the conversation, Murthy also talked about how difficult it is to write children's books.

"When I write for adults, I can write without any filter. But when writing for children, I want to leave a positive message. I have to be careful about what I write because I also do not want to preach to them as well. The best way to go about it is to become a child yourself. This is not easy," she said.

'Grandpa's Bag of Stories' is published by Puffin Books and is the second in her series of grandparents' stories. The first one was called 'Grandma's Bag of Stories'.

from NDTV News Search Records Found 1000 https://ift.tt/ZIolCrd

Congress Leader In Kerala Expelled Over "Casting Couch" Comment

Former Congress party and PSC member Simi Rose Bell John was expelled from the party on Sunday following her alleged derogatory remarks against women leaders of the Congress in an interview with a private TV channel.

The announcement was made in a statement by the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) General Secretary M Liju, which stated that the KPCC President K Sudhakaran had "expelled former AICC member and PSC member Simi Rose Bell John from the primary membership of the party."

According to the statement, Simi Rose Bell John's accusations were aimed at mentally harassing and defaming lakhs of women leaders and workers in the Congress movement, allegedly in collusion with political adversaries.

Simi Rose Bell John had alleged that only those close to the leadership get opportunities in the party. There is a situation similar to the "casting couch" happening within the Congress party, she alleged yesterday. 

"Women leaders from the KPCC Political Affairs Committee, KPCC office bearers, and Mahila Congress State President, among others, had jointly requested the KPCC leadership to take action against her," the release stated.

The release further stated that the party was convinced that Simi Rose Bell John's actions constituted a serious breach of discipline, which led to disciplinary action.

In her reply to the charges by the Congress, Simi Rose Bell John in a news conference in Kochi lashed out at Congress LoP VD Sathesan saying, "Satheesan said that women who have dignity, pride, and dignity can not work in this party. A person who struggled for the party for some time was expelled."

She also alleged that women of dignity could not work in the Congress party.

"If they have any evidence of what is being alleged it should be released. If there is a conspiracy with the CPIM party, the proof should be released. Women of dignity, pride, and nobility can not work in this party," she said.

Earlier, KPCC President and Member of Lok Sabha K Sudhakaran said that the allegations made by Simi Rose Bell John are baseless and KPCC will investigate the matter following a complaint filed by the Mahila Congress against Simi Rose.

Kerala Congress chief K Sudhakaran said, "Mahila Congress has filed a complaint against Simi Rose Bell John's allegations. Simi made bad remarks against the leaders. Her allegations are baseless. KPCC will investigate the complaint filed by Mahila Congress," he said.

from NDTV News Search Records Found 1000 https://ift.tt/E0wMPxm

Doctors Remove Cricket Ball-Sized Hairball From 8-Year-Old's Stomach In Bengaluru

In a rare case, doctors in Bengaluru removed a massive hairball -- as large as a cricket ball -- from the stomach of an 8-year-old girl, the hospital said on Wednesday.

The girl Aditi (name changed) had a rare case of trichophagia -- the compulsive habit of eating hair, also known as the Rapunzel syndrome.

Her parents were baffled by her repeated bouts of poor appetite and frequent vomiting over the last two years. They took her to many doctors including paediatricians, general physicians, and ENT specialists hoping to identify the problem and a cure for her condition.

They diagnosed Aditi's condition to be gastritis and prescribed pills accordingly.

However, doctors at Aster's Children and Women Hospital, Bengaluru, found that she had a trichobezoar -- a term that describes all the hair mass that had accumulated in her gastrointestinal tract.

"Trichobezoar is an extremely rare condition and especially very rare in a child as young as Aditi. It is often associated with trichophagia, a psychological disorder where individuals eat hair. While commonly seen in adolescent girls, finding this in a much younger child highlights the uniqueness of this case," Dr. Manjiri Somashekhar, Lead and Senior Consultant - Paediatric Surgery told IANS

An open stomach surgery, also known as laparotomy, had to be performed on Aditi because the hairball was very large and sticky and the situation was too complicated for an endoscopy to be performed.

This method, which was done in a total of two and a half hours, proved fruitful because it prevented any leakage into the peritoneal cavity, the doctor said.

If left undiagnosed, her condition could have led to severe malnutrition, anaemia, and significant bleeding from the stomach.

Following the surgery, she was placed on a special diet and continues to receive counselling and regular monitoring, the doctor said.

from NDTV News Search Records Found 1000 https://ift.tt/msh18M4

Top Employee Of This Bank Accused Of Sexual Harassment, Court Issues Notice

The Delhi High Court on Thursday issued a notice regarding a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the appointment of Pankaj Dwivedi as the Executive Director of Union Bank of India.

The PIL, filed by a woman who has accused Pankaj Dwivedi of sexual harassment, questions his appointment, which was made on March 27 for a three-year term.

The notice was issued by a division bench consisting of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela.

Advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing the woman, argued that Pankaj Dwivedi's appointment as Executive Director of Union Bank of India violated regulations due to the lack of vigilance clearance.

He emphasised that this contravenes the appointment norms for public sector undertakings like banks. Mr Bhushan also noted that a chargesheet had been filed against Pankaj Dwivedi in a sexual harassment case.

It was also argued by the petitioner that Pankaj Dwivedi was previously a General Manager at Punjab & Sind Bank before joining Union Bank of India. In 2020, the Supreme Court annulled the transfer of the woman who filed the plea against Pankaj Dwivedi. She had reported irregularities and corruption involving Pankaj Dwivedi at her branch and alleged that he sexually harassed her in 2018.

The woman had raised concerns about account maintenance for liquor contractors and corruption allegations against Pankaj Dwivedi.

from NDTV News Search Records Found 1000 https://ift.tt/V03kqC8

Widows Living In UP Shelter Homes Send Handmade Rakhis To PM Modi

Widows and destitute women living in shelter homes in Vrindavan have sent handmade rakhis to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Vineeta Verma, vice president of Sulabh International's Widow Help Programme, said this tradition was started by its founder Bindeshwari Pathak.

He believed widows are also entitled to celebrate all kinds of auspicious and cultural festivals, just like other women, she added.

She said this time 551 rakhis are being sent to the prime minister with pictures of Lord Ram and Thakur Bankebihari. 

from NDTV News Search Records Found 1000 https://ift.tt/593cyid

Germany To Cut Down Military Aid For Ukraine In 2025: Report

Germany, the second largest contributor of aid to Ukraine, plans to halve its military aid to Kyiv in 2025, a parliamentary source told AFP Saturday.

Instead, the government of Olaf Scholz will bank on money generated from frozen Russian assets to continue supporting Kyiv, and is not planning "additional aid" to the 4 billion euros ($4.4 billion) set aside in next year's budget.

This year, aid from Berlin amounted to 8 billion euros.

To compensate, Germany is counting on "the creation, within the framework of the G7 and the European Union, of a financial instrument using frozen Russian assets, said a separate source from inside the ministry of finance.

German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung said in its weekend edition that the move was part of an agreement between the chancellor, the Social Democratic party (SPD) and Finance Minister Christian Lindner.

Lindner is a member of junior coalition partner the Liberal party.

Ukraine's ambassador to Germany Oleksii Makeiev said in a posting on X, formerly Twitter, that "the security of Europe depends on Germany's political will to continue to play a frontline role in supporting Ukraine".

The 2025 budget has been the subject of fierce discussions between the government coalition of Liberals, the Greens and the Social Democrats.

Lindner has asked other ministries to make savings in order to respect a constitutional rule that aims to prevent the state from taking on too much debt.

However the budget is still subject to discussions before being adopted by the end of the year. The finance ministry said Saturday it was open to considering extra spending for Ukraine on a case-by-case basis.

Ukraine's allies have been working for several months on a mechanism to allow part of the $300 billion of Russian assets frozen worldwide to be used to support Kyiv in its war with Moscow.

from NDTV News Search Records Found 1000 https://ift.tt/vxA8WXq

"Too Many Dead": Gaza Undertakers Stacking "Graves On Top Of Graves"

Undertakers are working like bricklayers in a Gaza cemetery, piling cinder blocks into tight rectangles, side by side, for freshly dug graves.

More than 10 months into the Gaza war, so many bodies are arriving at the cemetery in Deir el-Balah that the men, working in the hot sun, hardly have space to bury them.

"The cemetery is so full that we now dig graves on top of other graves, we've piled the dead in levels," says Saadi Hassan Barakeh, leading his team of gravediggers.

Barakeh, 63, has been burying the dead for 28 years. In "all the wars in Gaza", he says he has "never seen this".

Previously, Barakeh also oversaw burials at the nearby Ansar cemetery, which covers 3.5 hectares (8.6 acres).

But now "the Ansar cemetery is completely full. There were too many dead", he says, his clothes smeared in dirt from digging graves.

He now handles just the Al-Soueid cemetery, with its 5.5 hectares of graves. Yet even with one cemetery instead of two, he works "every day, from six in the morning to six in the evening".

"Before the war, we had one or two funerals per week, maximum five," he says, wearing a white prayer cap that matches his long beard.

"Now, there are weeks when I bury 200 to 300 people. It's unbelievable."

'I can't sleep'

Gaza's death count of just over 40,000 in more than 10 months of war, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry, is straining its people as well as its cemeteries.

Barakeh bears daily witness to the tragedies. Hoe in hand, he gives encouragement to his 12 workers as they prepare and close dozens of graves every day.

At night, however, some images are hard to forget.

"I can't sleep after seeing so many mangled children's bodies and dead women," he said, adding: "I buried 47 women from one family."

The October 7 Hamas attack which triggered the war resulted in the deaths of 1,198 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.

Hamas operatives also seized 251 people, 111 of whom are still held in Gaza, including 39 the military says are dead.

Israel's retaliatory military offensive has killed at least 40,005 people in Gaza, according to the health ministry, which does not provide a breakdown of civilian and militant deaths.

"I buried a lot of women and children, and only two or three guys from Hamas," says Barakeh.

'Why the children?'

If Israelis "have a problem with (Yahya) Sinwar, why do they harm children?" he adds, referring to the alleged October 7 attacks mastermind who is now Hamas's overall leader.

"Let them kill Sinwar and all the others, but why the women and children?"

Mounds of freshly dug soil are reminders of recent burials. Graves with white headstones fill nearly all the available space, while men dig new holes in the few vacant areas.

The team forms a human chain to carry the cinder blocks, whose price has soared since Gaza's factories closed due to a lack of fuel and raw materials.

"One shekel ($0.27) before the war, 10 or 12 today," he lamented.

Besides gravediggers and the workers carrying cinder blocks, hardly anyone comes to funerals anymore, Barakeh says.

"Before the war, there were sometimes 1,000 people at one funeral; today there are days when we bury 100 people and there aren't even 20 to lay them to rest."

High above his head, the constant hum of an Israeli surveillance drone serves as a reminder of the aerial threat creating a steady stream of bodies.

from NDTV News Search Records Found 1000 https://ift.tt/vKCxB4A