Daily News Update

UN Panel To Question Russia On Fate Of Thousands Of Ukrainian Children

2024-01-23T00:57:00.001+05:30

Moscow will be asked to explain at the UN on Monday what has happened to thousands of Ukrainian children believed to have been forcibly sent to Russia since its 2022 invasion.

Kyiv estimates that 20,000 Ukrainian children have been forcibly deported to Russia.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin in March 2023 on the war crime accusation of unlawfully deporting Ukrainian children.

The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child -- a panel of 18 independent experts -- is set over two days to examine Russia's record, as part of a regular review.

They want to know how many children have been "evacuated" to Russia or within Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine.

They also want to know what Moscow has done to protect "the right of such children to preserve their identity, including nationality, name and family relations".

Their lengthy list of concerns was sent to Moscow in the first half of 2023.

Return mechanism idea

Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and says it wants to protect these children from the fighting.

Only around 400 children have so far been repatriated.

Such placements are arranged at the children's "request and with their consent," Russia said in a written response sent in October and shown to media by the UN on Friday.

It does not specify the total number of children affected, but said they "included children from national residential institutions for orphans and children without parental care (about 2,000 in total)" and children with Ukrainian citizenship.

It also said that in the second quarter of 2023, some 46,886 Ukrainian children acquired Russian citizenship.

Kateryna Rashevska, a legal expert with the Regional Center for Human Rights, a Ukrainian NGO, hopes the UN committee will call for an "international legal mechanism" to identify and return the children.

"The international community is ready to do something but there is a need to do it faster," she told AFP.

At the current rate, "we need another 90 years in order to repatriate only already-identified Ukrainian children".

The ICC has also levelled similar charges to Putin's against Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia's presidential commissioner for children's rights.

Russia, which is not a member of the ICC, insists the warrant against Putin is "void".

Broader crackdown context

The UN will also seek answers on what Moscow is doing to remove obstacles to children exercising their right to freedom of association and assembly, and to ensure that children are not punished for taking part in demonstrations, particularly against the war in Ukraine.

Russian lawyer Olga Sadovskaya, who heads the Crew Against Torture human rights organisation, said Russia had seen an increase in violence "in every part of life", which therefore affects children.

She noted a sharp increase in domestic violence and the severity of brutality when people are arrested.

In a report sent to the UN committee, the NGO Human Rights Watch said it was concerned about children's freedom of expression, their right to freedom of information, and discrimination linked to gender identity and sexual orientation.

Rachel Denber, deputy director of HRW's Europe and Central Asia division, told AFP this demonstrated how the "broader crackdown on rights in Russia has an impact on children's rights as well", noting how youngsters had faced "retaliation" for voicing critical opinions on Russia's war in Ukraine.

The UN committee also wants to discuss the illegal or arbitrary detention of children, corporal punishment, and measures taken to preserve the cultural and linguistic identity of indigenous children.

The experts want to know what Moscow is doing to combat certain "harmful practices" in the North Caucasus, such as child marriage, female genital mutilation, abductions for forced marriages and polygamy.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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कॉलेज में रैगिंग से थर्राता था बॉलीवुड का 'Badman', पहले दिन ही सूख गया था...

2024-01-23T00:07:00.001+05:30

मुंबई. शक्ति कपूर बॉलीवुड के सबसे चर्चित विलेन में से 1 माने जाते हैं. शक्ति कपूर ने 90 के दशक से लेकर अब तक कई नेगेटिव किरदारों से Badboy की इमेज बना ली है. दमदार एक्टिंग, भर्राटेदार आवाज और गहरा लुक उन्हें पर्दे पर विलेन के रूप में खूब निखारते हैं. लेकिन कॉलेज के दिनों में शक्ति कपूर भी रैगिंग से थर्राया करते थे. इतना ही नहीं पहले ही दिन रैगिंग के डर से शक्ति कपूर का कॉलेज में हलक सूख गया था. शक्ति कपूर ने खुद इस किस्से का खुलासा किया था. बॉलीवुड स्टार रहे मिथुन चक्रबर्ती भी इस किस्से के गवाह हैं.

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Car Rallies, Billboards, Live-Streaming: World Gears Up For Ayodhya Event

2024-01-22T01:57:00.001+05:30

As the much-anticipated 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya draws near, people of the Hindu community across the globe are gearing up for grand celebrations, showcasing their unbridled enthusiasm and reverence for this historic occasion.

The 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony is not merely an Indian event but a global celebration that resonates with the hearts of millions around the world.

From car rallies scheduled to billboards erected and cultural events on the cards, the diverse celebrations reflect the unity and reverence shared by Hindus worldwide.

Here's a look at the series of celebrations of people of the Hindu community across the world ahead of the Pran Pratishtha event on January 22.

United States

The excitement for the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Lalla at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22 has transcended borders, with almost a dozen events planned across the United States to celebrate the historic occasion.

Car ? ? ? rally for Sri Ram Chandra ??in Bay Area in California

?? #AyodhaRamMandir #PranPratishthaRamMandir #WorldInAyodhya

pic.twitter.com/oSrLwGqyMw
— Shantanu Gupta (@shantanug_) January 21, 2024

Almost a dozen events across the United States will be held, where they will be celebrating the Pran Pratishtha ceremony at Ram Temple all the way from New York Times Square to Boston. There are events lined up in Washington, DC, LA and San Francisco that will happen at the same time as the ceremony in India happens.

The billboards have gone up in Texas, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, and Georgia, among other states. Additionally, Arizona and the State of Missouri are set to join this visual celebration, which began on January 15, according to the VHP, American chapter.

Congratulations on the auspicious occasion of Shri Ram Mandir Pran Prathista on Jan 21st 2024. May this sacred event bring peace, prosperity, and harmony to all. Jai Shri Ram! Billboard @ Milpitas Bay Area. pic.twitter.com/sWsZy87Z8F
— Ritesh Tandon US Congressional Candidate, CA 17 (@tandon4congress) January 20, 2024

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), US chapter, in association with Hindus from across the US, has put up more than 40 billboards in 10 states and more, displaying the message around the grand 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony at the birthplace of Shri Ram Lalla in Ayodhya.
To commemorate the inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the Hindu American community across the US has organised several car rallies and has planned many more events in the run-up to the 'Pran Pratishtha' in Ayodhya.

Mauritius

In Mauritius, the Indian diaspora is uniting in celebration, lighting 'Diyas' in all temples and reciting 'Ramayan Path.'

The people of this island nation are standing united in celebration of the spiritual milestone unfolding in Ayodhya. They are preparing to light a 'Diya' each in all temples of Mauritius and the verses of the 'Ramayan Path' will echo through the corridors of these temples, creating an atmosphere of devotion and cultural celebration.

The symbolic gesture aims to create a luminous tapestry across the island nation, reflecting shared reverence for Lord Ram.

In a show of global significance, the Mauritian government announced a two-hour special break for Hindu public officers on January 22. This gesture aims to enable them to participate in local events marking the Pran Pratishtha of Shri Ram Lalla in Ayodhya.

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom is also witnessing vibrant celebrations as Hindu temples gear up for the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony.

Slough Hindu Temple, located thousands of miles away from Ayodhya in the heart of England, is brimming with enthusiasm as it is set to celebrate the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

#WATCH | UK: Slough Hindu Temple, England is all set to celebrate the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony. Laddoos are being prepared by the members of the Indian diaspora and brought to the temple to distribute amongst the devotees on the day of the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony.

The… pic.twitter.com/BqOqy4kLe9
— ANI (@ANI) January 20, 2024

The 'Mangal Kalash' from Ayodhya that is touring the UK will reach the Slough Hindu Temple on Sunday, January 21, a day before the big day and shall be placed in this temple on January 22.

The excitement around the ceremony is palpable in the UK. There are about 250 Hindu temples in the UK and all of them are gearing up for the celebration on January 22.

From community events to car rallies, and from special 'aarti' to 'Akhanda Ramayan' recitation, the Hindu communities and temples in the UK are celebrating the occasion as "2nd Diwali" to mark the 'return' of Lord Rama to his rightful abode.

The Indian community in the United Kingdom also organised a car rally in London. The rally was attended by the Hindu diaspora, who turned out in huge numbers and over 325 cars participated in the car rally.

During the rally, the participants chanted slogans of 'Jai Shree Ram' and played songs in praise of Lord Rama.

Later in the evening, the India-UK community also organised a Maha-Aarti to mark the occasion.

Scores of volunteers from the Indian Diaspora in the UK (IDUK) organisation are working day in and day out to decorate the temple for the big day when the temple is deemed to receive around 4000-4500 visitors to celebrate the day.

Meanwhile, a UK declaration, signed by over 200 temples, community organisations, and associations nationwide on Thursday, will be presented to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust in Ayodhya before the Pran Pratishtha ceremony.

The powerful statement from Dharmic communities in the UK highlights shared joy and solidarity with the 1.5 billion global celebrants, warmly embracing the inauguration ceremony of the Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir in Ayodhya.

A special 'puja' and bhajan will also be organised on January 22.

Australia

Amid the growing excitement and anticipation over the Ram Temple Pran Pratishtha in Ayodhya, a series of events have been planned across hundreds of temples in Australia in the next two days.

#WATCH | Indian diaspora in Sydney, Australia gather to celebrate the upcoming pranpratishtha of Ayodhya Ram Temple. More than 100 cars participated in the rally and 5000 people attended the celebrations. pic.twitter.com/mQtPMCgk7g
— ANI (@ANI) January 20, 2024

Just a day before the grand 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the Indian community in Sydney celebrated the occasion by organising a car rally on Saturday.

In the event, more than 100 cars participated, attracting hundreds of 'Ram Bhakts' and passersby in the neighbourhood.

In the visuals captured by ANI, cars were seen lined up on the roads and people were dancing and holding flags inscribed with images of Lord Ram.

People celebrated the occasion with fireworks and waving 'Shree Ram' flags.

Amid the growing excitement and anticipation over the Ram Temple Pran Pratishtha in Ayodhya, more celebrations have been planned across hundreds of temples in Australia in the next two days.

Nepal

As the countdown for the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Mandir has begun, along with Ayodhya, the Janakpurdham in Nepal, the maternal home of Goddess Sita is now brimming with happiness and enthusiasm, waiting for the occasion with high fanfare and gaiety, organising a slew of events.

Hymns of Lord Ram and Sita are echoing in the city around the clock. The Janaki Temple is decked up with lights, and enthusiasm can be seen on the faces of every Janakpurdham resident.

From Nepal's Janakpur, the Chief Mahanth and the Chotte Mahanth have been invited to the ceremony and have already set off for Ayodhya. Earlier, Janakpur sent offerings locally called "Bhaar" to Ayodhya as a part of the ritual, which included ornaments, cuisines, clothes and other daily essentials.

Scores of devotees have continued to take part and throng to various Astajaam's being held in Janakpur. Those taking part in these mass religious sermons and chanting ceremonies now wait for the railway link to be established between the two cities to facilitate their travel.

Taiwan

Adding to the spirit of unity, the Indian Association of Taiwan will organise a live stream of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony. This initiative will allow members of the community to participate remotely, ensuring a broader reach and involvement in the auspicious proceedings.

On the eve of the highly anticipated Pran Pratishtha ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the Indian community in Taiwan came together in a joyous celebration, embracing the significant occasion.
The festivities, held on January 21, witnessed two distinct events organised by the vibrant Indian community in Taiwan, as well as the dedicated efforts of ISKON Taiwan.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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"We Are Going To Respond": White House On US Military Base Attack In Iraq

2024-01-22T00:58:00.001+05:30

The United States is taking the attack by Iran-backed operatives on a base hosting US forces in Iraq over the weekend "extremely seriously," the White House said Sunday.

"Multiple ballistic missiles and rockets" were fired by Iranian-backed operatives at Al-Assad Airbase in western Iraq late Saturday, the US military said, leading to one Iraqi and possible American casualties.

"It was a very serious attack, using a capability of ballistic missiles that posed a genuine threat," White House Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer said Sunday.

"We are going to respond... to establish deterrence in these situations, and to hold these groups accountable that continue to attack us," Finer added during his appearance on ABC's This Week.

"You can be assured that we are taking this extremely seriously."

Most of the projectiles fired at the base were intercepted by air defense systems, Finer and the Pentagon said.

Since mid-October, there have been dozens of attacks on the approximately 2,500 US troops in Iraq and the around 900 in Syria, deployed there with other coalition forces to fight jihadists of the Islamic State group.

Most incidents, including Saturday's attack, have been claimed by "Islamic Resistance in Iraq," a loose alliance of Iran-linked armed groups that oppose US support for Israel in the Gaza conflict.

The use of ballistic missiles marks an escalation in the attacks, which had previously been carried out with lower-tech rockets and drones.

Saturday's air base attack comes amid soaring tensions in the Middle East following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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"15 Rockets" Target US-Led Coalition Base In Iraq: Report

2024-01-21T02:57:00.001+05:30

At least a dozen missiles were fired on Saturday at a military base used by US-led coalition forces in western Iraq, a US defence source and Iraqi police told AFP.

"Al-Asad airbase was targeted by 15 rockets" fired from Anbar province, which is home to the military base, an Iraqi police official from the region told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.

He said 13 of the projectiles were shot down by anti-air defences but that "two fell on the airbase".

A US defence official, who also requested anonymity, confirmed that "missiles impacted Al-Asad airbase", adding that a joint damage assessment was under way with coalition and Iraqi forces.

The American official said that initial reports indicated one member of the Iraqi security forces had been seriously injured.

The attack on the air base comes amid soaring tensions in the Middle East following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7.

On Saturday, five members of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were killed in a strike in Damascus that Tehran blamed on Israel, threatening reprisals.

On Monday evening, Iran itself launched a deadly strike in northern Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region, saying it had targeted a site used by "spies of the Zionist regime (Mossad)".

Since mid-October, there have been dozens of attacks on US and coalition forces in Iraq and Syria, deployed there to fight jihadists of the Islamic State group.

The majority of the attacks have been claimed by "Islamic Resistance in Iraq", a loose alliance of Iran-linked armed groups that oppose US support for Israel in the Gaza war.

Washington has on several occasions launched strikes of its own in retaliation.

There are roughly 2,500 American troops in Iraq and some 900 in Syria.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Watch: 100+ Teslas Put Up Light Show In Houston Ahead Of Ram Temple Event

2024-01-21T00:57:00.001+05:30

Barely hours away from the grand inauguration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, enthusiastic devotees in Houston arranged an awe-inspiring and innovative Tesla car light show dedicated to Lord Ram.

Over 100 Tesla car owners, calling themselves "Ramji ki Gilahariyan of Greater Houston", gathered at Shri Guruvayurappan Krishna Temple for the light show on Friday evening, attracting hundreds of Ram Bhakts and passersby in the neighbourhood.

The Tesla show at Houston, America#JaiShreeRam #AyodhaRamMandir pic.twitter.com/REPmQSBZ1q
— SINGH___Jee (@BADALSINGH20450) January 20, 2024

The cars had a giant-sized Ram Rath in the backdrop, with a life-size temple oil painting, and loud music of "Jai Sri Ram" giving the place a divine look and feel of being at the temple.

Tesla Car drivers use a key feature wherein the headlights can be programmed to off and on at the same time.

Soon after the beautiful light show, they assembled at the temple for aarti, joined by other bhakts who sang resounding bhajans dedicated to Lord Rama and Krishna and distributed Prasad amongst the devotees.

According to the organisers of the Tesla Light Show, participating car owners had to register for the event in advance.

"We requested all the Ram Bhakts to register for the show, acknowledge and sign the waiver form, to provide vehicle plate numbers for security reasons. Everybody who registered got a magnetic decal or sticker for their car along with a screen-printed T-shirt of Ayodhya temple." The cars were lined up in such a way that when drones took pictures, an unusual letter of "RAM" in red illuminated the surroundings.

"Despite chilly weather and long workday, it was heartwarming to see the enthusiasm amongst hundreds of participants as well as attendees at the temple for this show," said Achalesh Amar from Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), one of the organisers of the event.

"Throughout the USA, we noticed unprecedented enthusiasm for these events. Since mid-January we (VHP) organised 51 massive car rallies in 21 states and 41 cities around the US and participation has been at its peak," he said.

"The Tesla light shows in Houston, DC and San Francisco, or rallies and rath yatras are a small gesture of love for the beginning of the celebration of the Ram Temple inauguration in India as the Hindu community has waited for over 25 generations (495 years) for this moment," said Umang Mehta, one of the active volunteers.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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'सनडांस फिल्म फेस्टिवल' में शिरकत करेंगी ऋचा चड्ढा, बोलीं- खुशकिस्मती है कि...

2024-01-21T00:08:00.001+05:30

Richa Chadha News: 'सनडांस फिल्म फेस्टिवल' में एक्ट्रेस ऋचा चड्ढा शिरकत करेंगी, वे फिल्म फेस्टिवल में 'एंटरटेनर्स एज एक्टिविस्ट' विषय पर चर्चा करने वाले एक पैनल का हिस्सा हैं. वे अपने पहले प्रोडक्शन 'गर्ल्स विल बी गर्ल्स' के वर्ल्ड प्रीमियर के लिए साल्ट लेक सिटी के लिए रवाना हो गई हैं.

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Biden Announces $5 Billion Debt Cancellation For Over 74,000 Students

2024-01-20T00:58:00.001+05:30

US President Joe Biden on Friday announced cancellation of USD 5 billion in debt for more than 74,000 students, many of whom are Indian Americans.

Cancelling student debt was one of the key poll promises of Biden in the 2020 elections.

"Today, my administration approved debt cancellation for another 74,000 student loan borrowers across the country, bringing the total number of people who have gotten their debt cancelled under my administration to over 3.7 million Americans through various actions," Biden said.

Of the 74,000 borrowers approved for relief on Friday, nearly 44,000 of them are teachers, nurses, firefighters and other individuals who earned forgiveness after 10 years of public service, and close to 30,000 of them are people who have been in repayment for at least 20 years but never got the relief they earned through income-driven repayment plans, he said.

While the list is not maintained based on ethnicity, officials said a large number of them are Indian Americans.

"My administration is able to deliver relief to these borrowers - and millions more - because of fixes we made to broken student loan programmes that were preventing borrowers from getting relief they were entitled to under the law," Biden said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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'हनुमान' के बाद, '6 9 5' का उठा बवंडर, बाहुबली' को रेटिंग में छोड़ा पीछे

2024-01-20T00:07:00.001+05:30

Arun Govil Movie Six Nine Five: तेजा सज्जा की फिल्म 'हनुमान' ने बॉक्स ऑफिस पर 150 करोड़ रुपये कमा लिए हैं. इस बीच, अरुण गोविल की नई फिल्म '695' रिलीज हो गई है, जो राम जन्मभूमि और उसके लिए हिंदुओं के संघर्ष को दिखाती है. फिल्म ने अपनी रेटिंग से 'बाहुबली' और 'पुष्पा' जैसी शानदार फिल्मों को पीछे छोड़ दिया है. फिल्म में रामानंद सागर की 'रामायण' में भगवान राम का किरदार निभा चुके अरुण गोविल अहम रोल में हैं.

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"Historic Moment": Hindu Outfits In UK Welcome Ram Temple Consecration

2024-01-19T01:57:00.001+05:30

More than 200 Hindu outfits based in the United Kingdom on Thursday welcomed the January 22 consecration ceremony in Ayodhya, saying the "historic moment" would mark the culmination of nearly five centuries of "dedicated efforts by countless devotees".

In a joint statement, the outfits said they hoped households in the UK would celebrate the "homecoming" of Lord Ram to Ayodhya on January 22 like Diwali.

"We, the representatives of the Dharmic (religious) communities in the United Kingdom, are delighted to welcome the inauguration ceremony of the temple of Sri Ram (Ram Mandir) in Ayodhya, India, on 22nd January 2024," the statement read.

It said Lord Ram is revered as the "embodiment of Dharmic traditions across the globe" and is an enduring symbol of "Hindu/Indic civilisation".

"The consecration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, the sacred birthplace of Sri Ram, is a historic moment which marks the culmination of nearly five centuries of dedicated efforts by countless devotees," the organisations said.

"As we approach this auspicious occasion, we hope households in the United Kingdom will celebrate this home-coming of Sri Ram to Ayodhya as a festival of Diwali," they said, adding, "May this Mandir serve as a luminous beacon of hope, and peaceful co-existence to echo the ideals of 'Ram Rajya', amongst the communities across the wider world."

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Pak Using Non-Aligned Summit For False Propaganda Against India: Minister

2024-01-18T01:57:00.001+05:30

Pakistan is blatantly misusing the platform of Non-Aligned Movement for false and malicious propaganda against India, a senior Indian minister told NAM members here.

Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, the Minister of State (MoS) holding dual charges in the education and external affairs ministries, made the remark while addressing the 19th NAM Summit-Ministerial Meeting in the Ugandan capital.

Uganda has assumed the NAM presidency for the period of 2024-27.

"While our focus is on coming together to strengthen NAM collectively, we have been exposed to the unfortunate, misplaced, predictable and blatant misuse of this august platform by Pakistan, as it propagates false and malicious propaganda against my country," Mr Singh said.

"Any interference in India's internal affairs is totally unacceptable and we completely reject it," the minister said in a strongly-worded speech.

Close on the heels of the African Union's successful induction into the G20 during India's Presidency, an African country captaining two important international bodies is a clear reflection of the collective strength of the continent, he said, referring to Uganda now heading both G-77 and NAM.

"This is clearly Africa's moment," Mr Singh said.

As a founding member, India remains invested in NAM, and hopes that this Movement will voice the hopes and aspirations of the young people.

Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks that "the world is interconnected, as well as interdependent and we are living in the era of multilateralism," Singh said NAM is one of the world's largest multilateral fora mobilising support for the Global South.

"It is crucial that we defend and nurture NAM's tradition of independence, so that we set our own agenda. We are happy to see Uganda's focus on some of the key issues of importance to the Global South, especially those relating to our development agenda, human trafficking and drug smuggling and the larger issues of peace and security," he said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Antony Blinken Briefly Stranded In Davos After Plane Breaks Down

2024-01-18T00:57:00.001+05:30

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was briefly stranded in Davos on Wednesday after his plane experienced a "critical failure" related to an oxygen leak and another plane is being flown to Switzerland to pick him up, according to a member of his traveling press pool.

The top U.S. diplomat had traveled to Davos on Monday and was scheduled to fly back to Washington on Wednesday.

A Bloomberg report said the aircraft was a Boeing plane. Reuters could not immediately confirm what aircraft Blinken was using.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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केरल में शूट हुई 'किलर सूप', मनोज बाजपेयी ने शेयर किए अनुभव

2024-01-18T00:07:00.001+05:30

नेटफ्लिक्स पर मनोज बाजपेयी की सीरीज किलर सूप की लोगों ने खूब तारीफ की है. इस सीरीज की शूटिंग केरल में हुई है. इस सीरीज को लेकर मनोज बाजपेयी और कोंकणा सेन शर्मा ने अपना अनुभव शेयर किया है.

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हॉरर का किंग और किस्मत का मारा वो डायरेक्टर, जिसने बनाईं 33 फिल्में, लेकिन...

2024-01-17T01:07:00.001+05:30

साल 2002 में रिलीज हुई फिल्म 'राज' जैसी कई शानदार हॉरर फिल्में बनाने वाले डायरेक्टर विक्रम भट्ट को हॉरर फिल्मों का किंग कहा जाता है. विक्रम भट्ट ने अपने करियर में 33 से ज्यादा फिल्में बनाईं हैं. लेकिन 29 फिल्में फ्लॉप देने वाले विक्रम भट्ट की किस्मत उनका साथ नहीं देती रही है.

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This European Country Bans Sale Of Flavoured Heated Tobacco Products

2024-01-17T00:57:00.001+05:30

Spain's government on Tuesday approved a decree that bans the sale of flavoured heated tobacco products as part of efforts to discourage tobacco use, the health ministry said.

Heated tobacco products, or HTPs, use a high heat to release nicotine from tobacco leaves via a process called pyrolysis, which does not set it on fire or burn it, therefore avoiding creating smoke.

The increasingly popular alternative to conventional tobacco is often confused with e-cigarettes, which heat liquid that can contain nicotine but do not involve tobacco leaf.

The decree also requires the packaging of heated tobacco products to display the same health warnings as other tobacco products, the health ministry said in a statement.

The use of flavours in other tobacco products such as cigarette filters and rolling papers is also banned by the decree.

While smoking rates in Spain have declined significantly in recent decades, the number of regular smokers remains high.

Around one in four adults in Spain (26 percent) use tobacco daily, according to the World Health Organization's latest figures, compared to the global average of 22.3 percent.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Imran Khan's Party Says Will Contest Feb 8 Polls Despite Losing 'Bat' Symbol

2024-01-16T00:57:00.001+05:30

The embattled Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's top leader Barrister Gohar Khan on Monday said his party would not boycott the February 8 election despite being forced to contest without its cricket bat poll symbol.

Mr Gohar's statement came just days after the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party was deprived of its iconic electoral symbol cricket bat and left with no option but to field its candidates as independents for the polls.

"We won't boycott the elections and God willing fully participate in them," Mr Gohar said, adding that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party would issue a list of supported candidates with their respective electoral symbols within three days.

A three-member panel of the Supreme Court in its judgment on late Saturday upheld the decision of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) that in its ruling of December 22 had declared the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's intra-party polls as "unconstitutional" and revoked its poll symbol.

Speaking to the media outside the Adiala Jail said the top court's verdict had affected the fundamental rights of the people of Pakistan and it was a "conspiracy against democracy".

He also said the party would file a review petition against the judgment, noting that a five-member top court bench should have heard the matter as the case concerned Article 17 of the Constitution.

When asked about his interaction with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan, who has been confined in the Adiala Jail, Mr Gohar said Mr Khan's message for all party supporters is: "Ghabrana nahi hay [don't worry], remain steadfast and peaceful. Protect your vote and exercise your right on February 8." Separately, the PTI withdrew its plea seeking contempt proceedings against the Election Commission of Pakistan for allegedly not implementing the top court's orders of providing the party with a level playing field for the upcoming general elections.

The plea was filed on December 26 and the case was being heard by a three-member bench.

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अयोध्या राम मंदिर उद्घाटन से पहले इस सुपरस्टार हीरोइन को मिली खास जिम्मेदारी

2024-01-16T00:07:00.003+05:30

मुंबई. भगवान राम की जन्मभूमि अयोध्या में भव्य मंदिर के उद्घाटन की तैयारियां जोरों पर हैं. मंदिर को लेकर पूरे देश में बज बना हुआ है. नेताओं से लेकर अभिनेता और आम इंसान को भी 22 जनवरी का बेसब्री से इंतजार है. अब इसी क्रम में एक्ट्रेस हेमा मालिनी को भी खास जिम्मेदारी सौंपी गई है. उद्घाटन से पहले हेमा मालिनी अयोध्या में रामायण पर बेस्ड एक डांस ड्रामा पेश करने जा रही हैं. अब हेमा मालिनी के सुर ताल और थिरकन की अग्निपरीक्षा होने वाली है. हजारों लोगों की नजरें इस डांस ड्रामा पर लगी रहेंगी.

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न रणबीर कपूर, न ऋतिक रोशन, ये हैं इंडिया के सबसे सफल स्टारकिड

2024-01-16T00:07:00.001+05:30

India's Most Successful Star Kid: बॉलीवुड में कई स्टारकिड ने अपनी किस्मत आजमाई, लेकिन कुछ ही सुपरस्टार कहलाए. इस फेहरिस्त में आप सलमान खान, ऋतिक रोशन और रणबीर कपूर का नाम ले सकते हैं, लेकिन जब सबसे सफल स्टारकिड की बात आती है, तो उनसे आगे भी एक सुपरस्टार हैं, जिन्होंने अपने फिल्मी करियर में 5 ब्लॉकबस्टर दीं और कई सुपरहिट फिल्मों को प्रोड्यूस और डायरेक्ट किया.

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Volcano Lava Flows Into Iceland Village, Engulfs 3 Homes

2024-01-15T05:57:00.001+05:30

Lava flowing from a volcano that erupted on Sunday near the Icelandic fishing port of Grindavik has engulfed at least three homes just hours after villagers were evacuated to safety, authorities said.

It was the North Atlantic nation's fifth volcanic eruption in under three years.

The most recent occurred just weeks ago on December 18 in the same region, southwest of the capital Reykjavik.

At least three houses were engulfed in fire as glowing orange lava flowed into the edge of the town of Grindavik, live images broadcast by public television RUV showed.

"In a little village like this one, we're like a family, we all know each other as family -- it's tragic seeing this," local resident Sveinn Ari Gudjonsson told AFP.

"It's unreal, it's like watching a film," added the 55-year-old, who works in the fishing industry.

Most of the 4,000-strong population of Grindavik had been evacuated as a precaution on November 11 after scientists said a magma dyke was shifting beneath them.

At the time, a series of small earthquakes -- sometimes hundreds per day -- had created large cracks in roads, homes and buildings.

'Black day'

On Sunday, a first eruption began at 8:00 am (0800 GMT) when a crack opened in the ground around 450 meters (500 yards) from the town.

At 1845 GMT, the Icelandic Metereological Office (IMO) said that fissure measured around 900 meters long, and crossed over the main road to Grindavik.

A second fissure then opened around midday on the edge of town, with that lava engulfing the homes. It measured around 100 meters by evening, IMO said.

Jets of orange lava and plumes of smoke spewed into the sky from the two cracks throughout the day.

The eruption knocked out electricity and hot and cold water in Grindavik, authorities said, but airline flights were not affected.

At a press conference, Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir called Sunday a "black day today for Grindavik and ... for all of Iceland. But the sun will come up again."

The head of Iceland's Civil Protection and Emergency Management, Vidir Reynisson, said the eruption was "the most serious threat" posed by a volcanic eruption in Iceland since January 1973.

Back then, a fissure erupted just 150 metres from the town centre on Heimaey in the Vestmann Islands, surprising locals at dawn.

A third of homes were destroyed and the 5,300 residents were evacuated. One person died.

In a rare address to the nation, Iceland's President Gudni Johannesson said he "hoped the situation would calm down, but anything can happen".

Amid the uncertainty facing the town, he urged Icelanders to "stand together and have compassion for those who cannot be in their homes."

Shortly after the December 18 eruption, Grindavik residents were allowed to return for brief periods.

They were authorised to regain their homes permanently on December 23 but only a few dozen chose to do so.

Geothermal power plant

Late on Saturday, authorities had ordered an emergency evacuation to be completed by Monday due to growing seismic activity and its impact on the large cracks already present in the town.

On Wednesday, a 51-year-old Icelandic workman who was repairing a crack in a residential garden disappeared when the ground suddenly gave way beneath him.

He fell more than 30 metres. The intensive search to find him was called off on Friday because the area was too dangerous.

Authorities accelerated the evacuation order overnight when seismic activity intensified.

Officials are keeping a close eye on the nearby Svartsengi geothermal plant, which provides electricity and water to the 30,000 residents of the Reykjanes peninsula.

Workmen have been building a wall to protect the facility since November.

Until March 2021, the Reykjanes peninsula had not experienced an eruption for eight centuries.

Fresh eruptions occurred in August 2022, and July and December 2023, leading volcanologists to say it was probably the start of a new era of activity in the region.

Four days after the December 18 eruption, authorities said volcanic activity had stopped but they could not declare the eruption over because there was still a possibility of underground lava flow.

Iceland is home to 33 active volcano systems, the highest number in Europe.

It straddles the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a crack in the ocean floor separating the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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North Korea Confirms Test-Firing Of Solid-Fuel Mid-Range Ballistic Missile

2024-01-15T04:58:00.001+05:30

North Korea successfully test-fired an intermediate-range solid-fuel ballistic missile, state-run news agency KCNA said early Monday, confirming prior reports from South Korea.

The missile, which was fired Sunday afternoon, was loaded with a hypersonic maneuverable controlled warhead, according to the outlet.

The point of the launch, it added, was to verify "the gliding and maneuvering characteristics" of the warhead and "reliability of newly developed multi-stage high-thrust solid-fuel engines."

According to KCNA the test-fire "never affected the security of any neighboring country and had nothing to do with the regional situation."

However it came just days after Pyongyang staged live-fire exercises near the country's tense maritime border with South Korea.

The missile flew towards the East Sea travelling approximately 1,000 kilometres (621 miles), Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement Sunday, adding that authorities in Seoul, Washington and Tokyo were analysing the specifications.

North Korea's last missile test was of a Hwasong-18 solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which it fired into the East Sea on December 18.North Korea successfully test-fired an intermediate-range solid-fuel ballistic missile, state-run news agency KCNA said early Monday, confirming prior reports from South Korea.

The missile, which was fired Sunday afternoon, was loaded with a hypersonic maneuverable controlled warhead, according to the outlet.

The point of the launch, it added, was to verify "the gliding and maneuvering characteristics" of the warhead and "reliability of newly developed multi-stage high-thrust solid-fuel engines."

According to KCNA the test-fire "never affected the security of any neighboring country and had nothing to do with the regional situation."

However it came just days after Pyongyang staged live-fire exercises near the country's tense maritime border with South Korea.

North Korea's last missile test was of a Hwasong-18 solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which it fired into the East Sea on December 18.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Thousands Attend Pro-Palestinian March In London As War Enters 100th Day

2024-01-14T00:57:00.003+05:30

Thousands of pro-Palestine protesters marched in central London on Saturday as part of a "global day of action" to oppose Israel's bombing campaign in Gaza.

Around 1,700 police were on duty for the march, with major demonstrations taking place in London on most Saturdays since Israel began its war against Hamas following the October 7 attack.

"We want to show the people of Palestine we are with them and to speak up against our government as well," 27-year-old health service worker Maleeha Ahmed, who was at the march with her family, told AFP.

"They are playing a very, very big role in allowing Israel to continue what they are doing and it's just not acceptable," she said.

Another marcher, Dipesh Kothar, 37, said it was "very frustrating to sit and watch the world do nothing".

"That's why we come out to show support for the Palestinian people and show our unhappiness with the governments around the world," he said.

Saturday's march holds particular significance given the UK's air strikes in Yemen this week against Huthi bases, after attacks by the Iran-backed militants on ships in the Red Sea in solidarity with Gaza.

Police warned protesters that they face arrest if they "intentionally push the limit" with placards and chants.

They also said that protesters must stick to the route specified and that the event must finish by 5.00 pm (1700 GMT).

The day of action, involving 30 countries, was called by the UK organising coalition comprising the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, the Palestinian Forum in Britain, the Stop the War Coalition, the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, Friends of Al Aqsa and the Muslim Association of Britain.

"Millions of people will take to the streets across the world this Saturday, to demand a permanent ceasefire and a lasting political settlement for all Palestinians," said Kate Hudson, general secretary of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.

"The UK government must end its support for Israel's brutal war in Gaza, and join the wider international community in condemning its war crimes," she said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Ex-Pak PM Imran Khan All Cases Pending Against Him Will End If...

2024-01-14T00:57:00.001+05:30

Pakistan's jailed former prime minister Imran Khan has said that all cases pending against him will end if he obeys the powers that be, indicating that a message is being given to him.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder said he also conveyed the message of how he dared to expose the conspiracy and this is what the cipher case is, adding that the caretaker government was not neutral, while the Election Commission was practically ineffective.

Talking to journalists after the hearing of the case at the Adiala Jail on Friday, Mr Khan said the Toshakhana cases of Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari had been ended. At the same time, Maryam Nawaz had got a BMW from Toshakhana and had not declared it but her case had also been disposed of.

Mr Khan, 71, said Maryam also had four flats according to the Panama case, but the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had withdrawn from that case too, The News International newspaper reported on Saturday.

The PTI founder said he had been charged with over 200 criminal cases, and such a large number of cases had not been registered against any other person in the history of Pakistan. He said that when he gets bail in one case, he is booked in another one.

The former cricketer-turned-politician said there is no rule of law in the country and that is why Pakistan is not making progress.

The incarcerated PTI leader on Saturday said he was unaware of the distribution of the party tickets among the candidates.

Internal rifts emerged within the ranks of beleaguered PTI after the former ruling party reportedly set aside merit and awarded tickets to ex-lawmakers and influential personalities.

PTI workers had earlier on Saturday, inside the Adiala jail premises, registered their complaints with the party's founder against the "unfair" distribution of tickets.

Responding to a question about the "unfair" distribution of party tickets, Mr Khan told his supporters: "I don't know who got the ticket and didn't." "I was not allowed to consult about the distribution of party tickets." The PTI founder asked his supporters how he could verbally decide about 850 tickets.

Mr Khan, who has been in jail since August last year, was arrested on Tuesday by Rawalpindi police in at least a dozen cases on the May 9 violence, including the attack on the army headquarters.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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2 Pakistan Supreme Court Judges Resign Ahead Of National Elections

2024-01-13T01:57:00.003+05:30

A second judge's resignation from Pakistan's Supreme Court was accepted Friday, amid concerns of a growing rift in the judiciary ahead of general elections next month.

The country goes to the polls on February 8, but campaigning has barely started -- with parties and politicians mired in countless court cases challenging everything from their eligibility to run to the election symbols they can use.

Rights groups have warned that the elections lack credibility, with the powerful military accused of trying to influence the vote.

The two judges -- Ijaz Ul Ahsan and Muhammad Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi -- have repeatedly made rulings considered unfavourable to political heavyweight Nawaz Sharif, considered the election frontrunner because he is backed by the generals, analysts say.

Neither judge gave a reason for quitting the bench.

"It is a very bad omen for Pakistan's judiciary. They are very able judges, but they were compelled to bow out because of politics," said Anwar Mansoor Khan, a former attorney general and high court judge.

"A purge of judges is taking place at the Supreme Court," said lawyer Faisal Sidiqqi.

"The ultimate objective is to silence dissenting judicial voices. Have no doubt, no judge is safe now."

Ul Ahsan's resignation was accepted by the country's President Arif Alvi on Friday, a day after Naqvi's.

Naqvi was facing allegations of misconduct, and earlier this week the Supreme Judicial Council rejected his appeal for an investigation into his affairs to be dropped.

Ul Ahsan, who was next in line to be Chief Justice, has ruled on several decisions deemed unfavourable to three-time premier Nawaz Sharif over the years -- including a lifetime ban on politics that was overturned Monday.

Nawaz Sharif is considered the frontrunner in the election after getting the backing of the generals, who have fallen out with former leader Imran Khan.

Opposition leader Imran Khan -- polling as Pakistan's most popular politician -- is barred from contesting polls over a graft conviction and jailed over allegations of leaking state secrets.

Imran Khan says the cases, and dozens of others plaguing him, have been concocted by the powerful military establishment to prevent his return to power.

His party is locked in a back-and-forth court battle over whether they can continue to use the election symbol of a cricket bat -- considered crucial in a country where the adult literacy rate is just 58 per cent, according to World Bank data.

The election -- already delayed from November -- comes as the nuclear-armed nation of 240 million has been gripped by two years of overlapping political, economic and security crises.

Militancy is on the rise with the Taliban's return to power in neighbouring Afghanistan, the rupee has crashed in value and a cost-of-living crisis is punishing households.

Sharif -- head of one of the dynastic parties that have historically ruled Pakistan -- returned from self-imposed exile earlier this year and has seen his myriad convictions dissolve in the courts.

Analysts say it's a sign the three-time former prime minister is now the favoured candidate of the military brass.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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"Not Seeking To Destroy Palestinian People", Says Israel In Genocide Case

2024-01-13T01:57:00.001+05:30

Israel said Friday it was not seeking to destroy the Palestinian people, as it hit back at what it called a "profoundly distorted" and "malevolent" genocide case against it at the UN's top court.

South Africa has launched an emergency case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) arguing that Israel stands in breach of the UN Genocide Convention, signed in 1948 in the wake of the Holocaust.

Pretoria wants judges to force Israel to "immediately" stop the Gaza campaign launched after the October 7 Hamas attacks that killed 1,140 people, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures.

At least 23,469 people, mostly women and children, have been killed in Israel's offensive, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry.

Tal Becker, a top lawyer representing Israel, said South Africa had "regrettably put before the court a profoundly distorted factual and legal picture."

Using videos and pictures, Becker painted a graphic image of the horrors of the October 7 attacks for the robed judges in the Peace Palace in The Hague, where the ICJ sits.

Hamas "tortured children in front of parents, parents in front of children burned people... systematically raped and mutilated," he said.

He stressed that Israel's response was in self-defense and not aimed at the Palestinian residents of the Gaza Strip.

"Israel is in a war of defence against Hamas, not against the Palestinian people," said Becker.

"In these circumstances, there can hardly be a charge more false and more malevolent than the allegation against Israel of genocide."

Both Israel and its ally the United States have dismissed the case as groundless and vowed a robust defence.

"The State of Israel is accused of genocide at a time when it is fighting genocide," said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the run-up to the hearings.

"A terrorist organisation carried out the worst crime against the Jewish people since the Holocaust, and now someone comes to defend it in the name of the Holocaust? What brazen gall. The world is upside down," he added.

In Washington, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said the South African case was "unfounded".

The ICJ will likely rule within a matter of weeks on South Africa's request. Its rulings are final and legally binding but it has little power to enforce them.

A month after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the ICJ ordered a halt to the military operation -- to no avail.

'Crossed the line'

For this emergency proceeding, the court will not rule on the fundamentals of the case -- whether Israel is actually committing genocide -- but on whether the rights of Gazans to exist are at risk.

South Africa can bring an ICJ case against Israel as both countries have signed the Genocide Convention.

Pretoria's Justice Minister Ronald Lamola told the court on Thursday that Israel had "crossed the line" and was in breach of the convention.

He said that even the brutality of the Hamas attack could not justify this.

"Genocides are never declared in advance," said Adila Hassim, a top lawyer for South Africa.

"But this court has the benefit of the past 13 weeks of evidence that shows incontrovertibly a pattern of conduct and related intention that justifies a plausible claim of genocidal acts."

The ruling African National Congress (ANC) has long been a firm supporter of the Palestinian cause, often linking it to its own struggle against the white-minority apartheid government, which had cooperative relations with Israel.

Anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela famously said South Africa's freedom would be "incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians".

Addressing the ICJ on Thursday, the lawyer for South Africa Blinne Ni Ghralaigh said international justice itself was on the line.

"Some might say that the very reputation of international law, its ability and will to bind and protect all peoples equally, hangs in the balance," she told the court.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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सलमान खान ने बताया उनकी जिंदगी का मकसद, मरते दम तक करना चाहते हैं ये काम

2024-01-13T01:07:00.001+05:30

सलमान खान ने बताया कि वे अपनी जिंदगी भर लोगों का मनोरंजन करना चाहते हैं. सलमान की नवीनतम रिलीज 'टाइगर 3' अब डिजिटल प्लेटफॉर्म पर स्ट्रीम हो रही है. उसी के बारे में बात करते हुए उन्होंने कहा कि टाइगर फ्रेंचाइजी को पहली फिल्म से ही सभी प्लेटफार्मों चाहे वह थियेटर हो, या सैटेलाइट भरपूर प्‍यार मिल रहा है.

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