South Africa: At least 73 dead, over 50 injured in predawn fire in Johannesburg's building

At least 73  people died in a fire in a multi-story building in South Africa’s biggest city Johannesburg, emergency services said on Thursday (August 31). 

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G20: Taj Hotel Delhi Gears Up To Welcome World Leaders With Special Cuisine

As the national capital gears up to host world leaders at the G20 Summit under India's Presidency, many of the top hotels have been booked to welcome the delegates for the event.

One such is the Taj Hotel, where the preparations are in full swing. A special cuisine has been designed by the top hotel, which includes millet in various dishes.

"We are presenting both Indian and foreign components in food to the foreign delegation. As PM Modi told us to keep a focus on millets, we are including millets as an ingredient in many cuisines," says Chef Surendra Negi.

"We have kept both Indian as well as Western desserts as well," Negi added.

Meanwhile, another chef at the hotel told ANI, "An arrangement for 'Thaalis' has also been made for the guests who promote Indian cuisine and food..."

"Some items in the menu are also kept keeping in mind the international year of millets," he said, adding "We even have desserts made of millets like ragi laddoos and barley kheer."

With a plan to serve more than 500 dishes to the foreign delegates, which include Indian and other International dishes, there will also be the use of millet in many dishes. More than 120 chefs are working on the menu.

With high levels of minerals such as iron, calcium, zinc and other vital nutrients, Millets are a treasure trove of health benefits. Millet is a common term for categorizing small-seeded grasses that are often called Nutri-cereals.

India produces all the nine commonly known traditional millets viz. Sorghum, Pearl Millet, Finger Millet, Foxtail Millet, Proso Millet, Little Millet, Barnyard Millet, Browntop Millet and Kodo Millet.

The government of India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi spearheaded the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution for declaring the year 2023 as the International Year of Millets and the proposal of India was supported by 72 countries.

India is all set to host the G20 Summit scheduled to be held in New Delhi from September 9-10. World leaders will arrive in New Delhi to attend the G20 Summit. Notably, India assumed the G20 presidency on December 1 last year and about 200 meetings related to G20 were organized in 60 cities across the country.

The 18th G20 Heads of State and Government Summit in New Delhi will be a culmination of all the G20 processes and meetings held throughout the year among ministers, senior officials, and civil societies.

A G20 Leaders' Declaration will be adopted at the conclusion of the New Delhi Summit, stating Leaders' commitment towards the priorities discussed and agreed upon during the respective ministerial and working group meetings.

Muktesh Pardeshi, who is the Special Secretary and the head of operations and logistics of India's G20 secretariat, in an exclusive interview with ANI said that New Delhi is geared up with its preparations for the summit.

Speaking to ANI, Muktesh Pardeshi said, “We are days away from the event, an event we have been preparing from Day 1. We took over the presidency of G20 on December 1 last year, and since then we have been preparing for this mega event, the Leader's Summit…G20 comprises 19 countries and the European Union. Plus, we have given special invitations to nine more countries and some international organisations. There will be approximately 40 plus delegations that will arrive at the leader's level.”

“So, we will have Presidents, Prime Ministers, Foreign Ministers and top officials of different delegations, representing different countries. We are gearing up, we are giving final shape to the programme,” he added.

The Special Secretary said that New Delhi has a twin agenda to showcase Indian culture, crafts and cuisine. He added that an experience panel has been created for delegates to experience how UPI payments are made, how the CoWin app was developed and how 1 billion people were connected with Aadhar. 

He also informed that the catering at the Convention Centre is being done by the ITC and there is a lot of focus on cuisine, menu planning as well and service aspects.

“The catering at the Convention Centre is done by the ITC which is a leading hotel chain. They have created a large team comprising of shapes and other associates to not only have the menu ready but also the service experience impeccable. So there's a lot of focus on both the cuisine, the menu planning as well as the service aspect. And we have selected one of the best hotel chains for the purpose you want them to explore the street food of India,” he said.

Muktesh Pardeshi said that the G20 Summit will have three sessions and all these sessions will be held around the theme of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. He said that India will hand over the G20 Presidency to Brazil in the concluding session on December 10.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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US calls for 'timely, free and fair' elections in Pakistan amid expected delay in polls

The United States on Tuesday has urged Pakistan to hold 'timely, free and fair' elections that were earlier scheduled for later this year in the cash-strapped country but are likely to get postponed following the approval of a new census and drawing of new constituency boundaries.

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UK Criminals To Be Forced To Attend Sentencing After "Killer Nurse" Case

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Wednesday proposed new legislative plans to hand power to judges to order "horrendous criminals" to attend their sentencing hearings and face justice, by force if necessary.

During a so-called crime week for the government, Mr Sunak announced that the power of custody officers to use reasonable force to make criminals appear in the dock, or via video link, will be enshrined in law to help victims and their loved ones feel justice is fully delivered.

If a criminal continues to resist attending their sentencing despite a judge's order, they will face an extra two years behind bars.

"It is unacceptable that some of the country's most horrendous criminals have refused to face their victims in court. They cannot and should not be allowed to take the coward's way out," said Rishi Sunak.

"That's why we are giving judges the power to order vile offenders to attend their sentencing hearings, with those who refuse facing being forced into the dock or spending longer behind bars," he said.

The change will mean victims can look offenders in the eye and tell them of the devastating consequences of their crime as they read out their impact statement, rather than addressing an empty dock. Most recently, nurse Lucy Letby had to be sentenced in absentia after being convicted of killing seven babies under her care.

"Our reforms will give judges the power to order offenders to come to court to hear the impact of their crimes directly from victims, so that they begin their sentences with society's condemnation ringing in their ears," said UK Justice Secretary Alex Chalk.

The new penalty of an extended punishment will apply in cases where the maximum sentence is life imprisonment, including serious sexual or violent crimes like murder, rape, and grievous bodily harm with intent.

Judges will have the discretion to use these new powers as they see fit to ensure justice is done. This could include not ordering offenders to attend in cases where it is expected that they will cause significant disruption which would distress victims and their families.

Meanwhile, the government's crime week has also led to a new ban on "zombie-style knives and machetes" that have no practical use.

Under the measures, machetes and knives that are designed to look intimidating and threatening, known as zombie-style knives, will be made illegal.

The maximum penalty for the importation, manufacturing, possession and sale of these newly proscribed weapons will also be increased from six months to two years, as will the maximum penalty for sales to under-18s.

In addition, the UK Home Office will introduce a new offence for possession of bladed articles with the intention to endanger life or cause fear of violence.

"Zombie-style knives and machetes serve no other purpose but to inflate criminal egos and endanger lives. There is no reason to own these types of weapons," said UK Policing Minister Chris Philp.

"That is why we are banning these knives and making sentencing more severe, so our communities can be reassured that this violent criminality will face the punishments they deserve, and lives will be saved," he said.

A zombie-style knife is defined as any bladed weapon over eight inches in length with a plain cutting edge and sharp pointed end that also has either a serrated cutting edge, more than one hole in the blade, or multiple sharp points like spikes.

The latest set of measures are expected to be tabled in the UK Parliament in the coming session, which resumes after its summer recess next week.

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

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Russia accuses detained ex-employee of US consulate of collecting information for American diplomats

Russia's Federal Security Service, also called FSB, said on Monday that a former employee of the US consulate in Vladivostok, who has been detained since May, has been accused of collecting information about the ongoing war in Ukraine and related issues for American diplomats.

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US Woman, 33, Loses Leg After Getting Flesh-Eating Bacteria In Bahamas

An Atlanta woman named Jennifer Barlow spent the last five months in the hospital after she contracted a flesh-eating bacteria while in the Bahamas and now has had her leg amputated.

According to Ms Barlow's GoFundMe page, it is believed the bacteria started from a small cut on her leg exposed to ocean water while on a trip to the Bahamas.

In an interview with Today, the US Army veteran shared, "It was so swollen - it was at least three times the size of my left knee. It was really scary. She added, " I was in excruciating pain."

She shared that when she visited the emergency room, physicians said that it could be a simple strain. She was put on crutches and some medicine for pain.

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Describing her pain, she said the limb was like a giant's leg and so swollen and hot to touch.

After one day, she suddenly passed out on the floor. Her brother found her unconscious in her home requiring paramedics to rush her to the hospital where she would be immediately diagnosed with Septic Shock and spend 2 weeks in a coma because the bacteria entered her bloodstream.

She showed signs of kidney and liver failure. She needed a machine to help her breathe and medication to keep her stable.

"I was very concerned that she would not survive this," said her physician, Dr. Jonathan Pollock from the Joseph Maxwell Cleland Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center. "It is fair to say that her life was in grave danger."

According to the New York Post, Ms Barlow had contracted a rare, potentially lethal bacterial infection that results in necrotizing fasciitis, or a "flesh-eating disease," which is believed to be caused primarily by group-A strep.

A 1996 report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated there were 500 to 1,500 cases of necrotizing fasciitis annually in the United States, with about 20 per cent of them fatal. The National Necrotizing Fasciitis Foundation has said that the estimate is probably low.

According to a New York Post report, Ms Barlow was in a coma for 10 days, she underwent 12 surgeries during that time to remove dead tissue in her thigh.

Ms Barlow said, "I never in my life had heard of sepsis, and I had never heard of flesh-eating bacteria."

When Ms Barlow was stable enough to be transported, she went to Grady Memorial Hospital for expert wound care, but ultimately underwent amputation in March despite doctors' best attempts to save her leg.

"We were all the way down to muscle on the thigh on her leg," said surgeon Dr Tamra McKenzie-Johnson, who was also involved in her care. Barlow estimates that she underwent over 30 surgeries.

Ms Barlow is now relearning how to live her everyday life with the loss of her leg.

The Go Fund Me page says, "This will help her to get back on her feet.....(or foot ), both physically and emotionally, to rebuild her life after such a devastating loss."

Ms Barlow is hoping to get a prosthetic limb. "There are so many innovations and technology for prosthetics. I'm extremely open to linking up with somebody who could help me."

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Japan postpones launch of rocket carrying lunar lander for the third time due to bad weather

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), which was expecting to launch a revolutionary satellite and the "Moon Sniper" lunar lander on Monday, has postponed the mission for the third time, NHK reported. According to the space agency, the mission was postponed due to unfavourable weather conditions. 

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US: Pakistani doctor sentenced to 18 years imprisonment for supporting IS, conspired to attack America

A 31-year-old Pakistani doctor has been sentenced to 18 years of prison in the US State of Minnesota for providing support to the Islamic State terror group and conspiring to carry out 'lone wolf' attacks on American soil. He also reportedly tried to join the group to fight in Syria.

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Days After UK "Killer Nurse" Case, Rishi Sunak Pushes For Tough New Laws

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has unveiled plans for tough new laws which would mean those convicted of heinous murders will face life behind bars for the rest of their lives, with no chance of being considered for parole or early release.

The 43-year-old British Indian leader said in a statement on Saturday that “life means life” and judges will be required to hand down mandatory whole-life orders to criminals who commit the most horrific types of murder.

The new law will place a legal expectation on judges to hand down whole-life orders, except in extremely limited circumstances.

“I have shared the public's horror at the cruelty of crimes we have seen recently. People rightly expect that in the most serious cases, there should be a guarantee that life will mean life. They expect honesty in sentencing,” said Sunak.

“By bringing in mandatory whole life orders for the heinous criminals who commit the most horrific types of murder, we will make sure they never walk free,” he said.

It comes in the days after nurse Lucy Letby was handed a whole-life order after being found guilty of killing seven newborn babies under her care at a hospital in northern England.

The UK's statutory provisions do not allow capital punishment and therefore the toughest sentence to be handed down is a whole-life term. By putting things on a legal footing, Downing Street said judges will have greater confidence to hand out whole-life orders without risk of challenge in the Courts of Appeal. Under the legal shake-up, whole-life orders will also be the default sentence for any sexually motivated murders.

“A whole-life order will now be the expectation for murderers where the killing involves sexual or sadistic conduct. This important law change will ensure that the worst of the worst can now expect to spend the rest of their lives in prison,” said UK Justice Secretary Alex Chalk.

The UK government said it will legislate for the changes announced in due course, as Parliament returns from its summer recess next month.

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

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India, Greece to empower military relations and defence industry: PM Modi during joint statement in Athens

Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with his Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis issued a joint statement in Athens on Friday. Addressing the media along with his Greek counterpart, PM Modi said that Greece and India are a natural match between two ancient civilisations of the world, between two ancient democratic ideologies and between two ancient trade and cultural relations.

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Greece confers PM Modi with The Grand Cross of the Order of Honour

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred with The Grand Cross of the Order of Honour by Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou in Athens. PM Modi on Friday reached Greece after attending the 15th BRICS Summit and holding bilateral meetings with several world leaders to further cement India's relations with those countries.

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Hotel Owner Claims "Super Friendly" Guests Stole Everything In Room

A hotel owner in Wales was left stunned after a couple of her guests stole everything from their room, including electric appliances, before checking out. According to the BBC, the owner of the Dolphin Hotel in Pembroke Dock accused two of her guests of stealing 200 pounds of items after checking in their stay on Saturday. 

The 43-year-old landlady, Natalie Newton, said that the couple seemed "super friendly" while checking in, but she was still suspicious because they did not have any luggage with them. 

Ms Newton claimed that all in all, the guests made off the kettle, an electric fan, luxury towels, two lamps, the tea and coffee container, a charging tower and other stuff, the BBC reported. 

"This will cost at least 200 pounds to replace everything but it also meant I couldn't rent the room out again until it was all replenished," the 43-year-old said, as per Metro. 

She further stated that crime could not have come at a worse time for the business which has been in her family since 1999. "We're trying to run a boutique hotel and restaurant but first we had Covid and now we have the cost of living crisis - I don't know how much longer we can keep going," she said.

"I tried contacting the couple. I have phoned the number they left, I have messaged them but they haven't come back. I even tried charging their card but the payment was declined," Ms Newton claimed, as per the outlet. 

Also Read | "Call 911": How Note To Gas Station Customer Saved Kidnapped US Woman

According to the landlady, the only things the guests didn't take were the shampoo and soaps from the bathroom. She also said that the room was unusable for a number of days while everything was replaced. She said that the couple had south Wales accents and their card was declined. 

Ms Newton has now put out an appeal to identify the miscreants who used Booking.com to reserve the room. She is hoping the CCTV footage she provided to the cops will help identify the duo.

The Dyfed-Powys Police, on the other hand, said inquiries were ongoing into the incident.

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7 Injured In Mass Shooting At Caribbean Festival In Boston: Police

At least seven people were hospitalized after a mass shooting at a Caribbean festival in Boston early Saturday, the police said.

None of the seven had life-threatening injuries, they added.

"Firearms have been recovered and arrests made," the police from the northeastern city said in a brief statement.

An earlier advisory from Boston police warned that traffic would be impacted by a pair of parades Saturday linked to an annual Caribbean carnival, with one beginning at 6:30 am (1030 GMT) and a second hours later.

Police said they received a first call about shots being fired at 7:44 am.

Unverified social media posts appeared to show people running from a chaotic street scene, with some falling to the ground.

One person died during last year's Caribbean festival, local media reported.

Mass shootings have become disturbingly common across the United States, with easy access to firearms in most states.

On Friday night, two women were wounded by gunfire in Chicago while at a major league baseball game between the White Sox and the visiting Oakland Athletics.

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

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Donald Trump returns to X soon after surrendering in Georgia

Donald Trump: Former President Donald Trump has returned to X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter, firing off his first message in 2.5 years shortly after he surrendered at an Atlanta jail on charges he conspired to overturn his election loss.

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Drought-Hit Panama Canal To Restrict Access For A Year

The drought-hit Panama Canal will maintain restrictions on the passage of ships for one year, a measure that has already led to a marine traffic jam as boats line up to enter the waterway linking two oceans.

The canal is facing a shortage of rainwater needed to transfer ships through locks that function like water elevators, an engineering marvel that moves six percent of the world's maritime commerce up and over the continent between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

The canal's sub-administrator Ilya Espino, told AFP that unless heavy rains fall in the next three months, "we are looking at a period of one year" of restricted access.

That period will give clients "a year to plan" how to adapt, she said late Thursday.

Each ship moving through the canal requires 200 million liters of freshwater to move it through the locks, provided by two artificial lakes which also supply drinking water to half the country of about 4.2 million people.

However, Panama is facing a biting drought, made worse by the El Nino warming phenomenon, which has forced canal administrators to restrict the waterway to ships with a draft (water depth) of 13.11 meters (43 feet).

In 2022, an average of 40 ships crossed through the canal a day, a number which has now dropped to 32 to save water.

Traffic jam

The measures have caused a back-up of ships waiting to enter the 50-mile (80-kilometer) byway, which is mainly used by clients from the United States, China, and Japan.

On Thursday, some 130 boats were waiting, compared to around 90 usually in the queue.

Waiting times, usually between three and five days, have gone up to 19 days at times, although they currently stand at around 11 days.

Earlier this month canal operators said the restrictions were likely to result in a $200 million drop in earnings in 2024 compared to this year.

To pass through the canal, vessels can reserve a slot in advance, or try and buy one via an auction process. For those unable to secure a slot, there is a long wait.

"We easily handle a queue of 90 ships" waiting, but "130 or 140 ships cause us problems and delays," said Espino.

This week Panama President Laurentino Cortizo was forced to deny an assertion by his Colombian counterpart Gustavo Petro that the canal was closed.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, also referred this week to the "special" situation facing the waterway.

"We have a restriction in Panama as we have had on other occasions, but it is not true that the Panama Canal is closed," said Cortizo.

Adapt or die

The canal opened in 1914 after a monumental construction project through dense jungles and mountains, with workers suffering tropical diseases, intense heat and rain.

Since then, more than a million vessels have transited through the canal, saving them a lengthy journey around the tip of South America.

"The big disadvantage that the Panama Canal has as a maritime route is that we operate with freshwater, while others use seawater," canal administrator Ricaurte Vasquez told AFP earlier this month.

"We have to find other solutions to remain a relevant route for international trade. If we don't adapt, we are going to die."

Due to the draft restrictions, some merchant ships are forced to unload their containers and send the lighter vessel through the canal, while the goods traverse Panama by rail before being reloaded.

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

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'India has always accorded high priority to...' What PM Modi said in BRICS Africa Dialogue in Johannesburg

On the final day of his three-day visit to South Africa, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday addressed the BRICS Africa Outreach and BRICS Plus Dialogue, where he laid emphasis to the contributions of his country in trade relations and development of African countries.

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US Sanctions Russians Over Ukraine Children Deportations

The United States on Thursday imposed new sanctions on Russian officials and groups over what rights organizations call the forced transfer of thousands of Ukrainian children since Moscow's invasion.

The US ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, announced the measures as she chaired a Security Council session that coincided with Ukrainian Independence Day.

"Russia's campaign of cruelty continues to this day," she said.

"The United States will not stand by as Russia carries out these war crimes and crimes against humanity."

The United States said it was imposing sanctions on 11 Russian individuals, including a number of "children's rights" regional commissioners, blocking any US assets and making US transactions with them a crime.

The sanctions also targeted the Artek "summer camp" in Crimea, which Russia seized from Ukraine in 2014 and annexed in a move not recognized internationally, and an alleged re-education camp for children in Chechnya.

The State Department also said it would restrict visas to three Russians involved in the forcible transfer of children in Ukrainian territories under Moscow's control.

The International Criminal Court pointed to the transfer of children when it issued an arrest warrant in March for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Russia has denounced the allegations and imposed its own sanctions on the Hague-based court's prosecutor.

Russian authorities say they have been placing children from conflict-hit areas into foster care in safe areas.

But Ukrainian officials and rights groups say that Russia has deported thousands of children, including babies, against their families' will in a bid to brainwash them and, for older children, to enlist them in military training.

"You will hear Russian officials say that their transfers of children are part of 'humanitarian evacuations.' But this is a gross perversion of reality, and a futile attempt to justify the unjustifiable," Thomas-Greenfield said.

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North Korea faces massive floods amid severe food shortage, Kim rebukes premiere for 'irresponsible response'

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un severely rebuked his premier and other senior officials over what he called their irresponsible response to the recent flooding of farmlands along the country’s western coast, state media reported on Tuesday. Summer floods in North Korea often cause serious damage to farmlands due to poor drainage and deforestation. Observers say Kim’s lambasting of top officials likely aims to shift blame to them for the country’s economic hardships and food insecurity, or could set the stage for a reshuffling of senior leadership.

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Lufthansa Airlines CEO Turns Flight Attendant, Shares His Experience

Jens Ritter, CEO of Lufthansa Airlines, worked as an "additional crew member" to gain firsthand insight into the challenges flight attendants face during flight and to address passenger needs. Mr Ritter shared a LinkedIn post last week and said that he flew from Frankfurt, Germany, to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as a flight attendant.

The aviation boss in his post wrote, "Sometimes, you need to change perspectives in order to gain new insights. This week, I accompanied our Lufthansa Airlines flight crew heading to Riyadh and Bahrain as 'additional crew member'. What a ride!"

The 50-year-old pilot revealed that he never had the opportunity to work as part of the cabin crew. This was his first experience as a cabin crew.

"I have been working for the Lufthansa Group for many years. But I have never had the opportunity to work as part of the cabin crew. And honestly, that was so interesting and also challenging," he wrote in his post.

Mr Ritter said that it was a challenging experience and he was amazed at how much there is to organise before a flight. "I was amazed by how much there is to organize, especially, if something doesn't go as planned - for example, the meals offered on the menu cards were not exactly the meals loaded on board."

"We will have this fixed," he promised in the comments section.

In the pictures, shared by him, he can be seen serving passengers and posing with the flight crew.

He said that he never realised that flight attendants have to be present, attentive and charming, especially when the body tells them to sleep.

"The crew was terrific and welcomed me into their team right away. With their support, I was able to give a hand in business class on the way to Riyadh. Back to Frankfurt, during the night, I took care of our guests in economy class. And honestly: I enjoyed every moment! I was astonished how much I learned in these few hours. Deciding things in the office will be different after really feeling the decisions on board. Thank you to the amazing crew, the lovely guests and everyone involved for making this experience possible," he concluded.

 

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Explosion in coal mine in northern China leaves 11 dead, several injured

At least 11 people were killed when an explosion took place in a coal mine in northern China, authorities said. The blast occurred late Monday on the outskirts of the historic city of Yan'an in mountainous Shaanxi province, where mining has long been a key driver of the local economy.

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Join The Club: BRICS Faces Rift Over Push For New Members

BRICS leaders meeting in South Africa this week will consider expanding the five-nation bloc at a time of great interest in the group that accounts for a quarter of global wealth.

Opinions differ between Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa over accepting new members into the loosely-defined club of major emerging economies that is seeking an alternative to the Western-led international order.

Here are some key issues as the BRICS convene in Johannesburg:

Growing interest

South African officials say more than 40 countries have shown some level of interest in joining the BRICS from across the 'Global South', a broad term referring to nations outside the West.

Like the BRICS members themselves, these countries represent varying political systems, uneven economic strength, and contrary diplomatic positions, and are as diverse culturally and geographically as Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan and Vietnam, to name a few.

Many are traditionally non-aligned nations, such as Indonesia and Ethiopia, and some are openly hostile to the United States and its allies, such as Iran and Venezuela.

Some 50 heads of state and government will attend the summit, officials say.

Expand and strengthen

Analysts say China, the most powerful of the BRICS economically, is eager to rapidly grow the club into something of a counterpoint to the G7 group of wealthy democracies.

In July, China Foreign Minister Wang Yi described the BRICS as "the most important platform for cooperation among emerging markets and developing countries" and said China was ready to work with other members to "expand and strengthen" the bloc.

BRICS offers Beijing a forum where it can "cast itself as kind of the champion or the vanguard of the developing world and the global south," said Brian Hart from the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

"Beijing views BRICS as a very unique venue for expanding its influence globally," said Hart, a fellow at the Washington DC-based think tank.

Friends and foes

Russia and South Africa also support adding new members but this desire runs counter to India, the other major power in the BRICS, and an economic and geopolitical rival of China.

New Delhi is wary of the BRICS becoming an organ for Beijing to project its agenda and analysts say this conflicting interest could determine who might be admitted in years to come.

"China and India's disagreement regarding membership expansion will shape the prospects of aspiring BRICS countries and the organisation's future," wrote Hung Tran, a non-resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council this month.

Analysts say when considering new members, South Africa, India and Brazil must balance a desire for ties with China and Russia against the risk of estranging a major trading partner in the United States.

"Further expansion needs to be balanced in terms of not making it an anti-Western alliance that includes Venezuela and Iran," said Jakkie Cilliers, founder of the Pretoria-based Institute for Security Studies (ISS) think tank.

Character and clout

Cobus van Staden, a senior researcher at the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), said even admitting less controversial members could greatly impact the profile and clout of BRICS.

"For example if Saudi Arabia joins, that would also kind of bring some additional geopolitical weight to the bloc," he said.

Three aspiring members -- Bangladesh, United Arab Emirates and Egypt -- were admitted in recent years to the BRICS development bank that wants to offer an alternative to the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.

Uruguay's application to join the Shanghai-based New Development Bank is also being considered.

South Africa's Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor characterised this as an expansion of sorts and said BRICS members at the summit would be presented with a proposal regarding criteria for new members.

"It is hard to see what the criteria would be for expansion. The BRICS is a very diverse group and it's questionable whether China is powerful enough to exert its will," said John Stremlau from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg.

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

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'All knows what a successful Presidency I had', says Trump as he announces to skip GOP presidential debates

Former US President Donald Trump will again skip the first Republican presidential primary debate — and others as well. The first debate is scheduled for Wednesday. "The public knows who I am and what a successful Presidency I had," Trump wrote on his social media site. "I WILL THEREFORE NOT BE DOING THE DEBATES!" His spokesman did not immediately clarify whether he plans to boycott every primary debate or just those that have currently been scheduled.

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"Confident That Russia Will Lose This War": Zelensky

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday he was "confident" Russia would lose the war in Ukraine.

"Today we are confident that Russia will lose this war... I'm sure that we will win because the truth is on our side," Zelensky said in a speech outside the Danish parliament, as a large crowd cheered and waved Ukrainian flags.

Zelensky made his remarks a day after Denmark, along with the Netherlands, announced they would provide American F-16 jets to strengthen Kyiv's Soviet-era air force, as it pursues a grinding counteroffensive against Russian forces in the east.

"The main thing is what we prove with our victory, with our cooperation... Together we prove that life is a value, that people matter. Freedom matters, Europe matters," the Ukrainian leader said.

"It will be a common victory. Of truth, of democracy, of our people, of our nations."

On Sunday, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said her country would deliver 19 F-16s, six of them by the end of this year, eight next year and five in 2025.

Russia warned Monday that the delivery of the advanced jets represented an "escalation of the conflict".

"By hiding behind a premise that Ukraine itself must determine the conditions for peace, Denmark seeks with its deeds and words to leave Ukraine no choice but to continue the military confrontation with Russia," Russian ambassador to Denmark Vladimir Barbin said in a statement to AFP.

"Such a position pushes Ukraine into the abyss and condemns its people to new victims."

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in July that Moscow would consider the F-16s a "nuclear" threat because of their capacity to carry atomic weapons.

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

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Pakistan: Ex-Foreign Ministar and PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi arrested in cypher case

In yet another setback to Imran Khan, Pakistan's former Foreign Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi has been arrested from his residence in Islamabad. According to Geo News, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) detained Qureshi as part of the ongoing probe into cypher, which the PTI claims contained a threat from the United States to depose Imran Khan, Geo News reported, 

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US Schools Are Encouraging Students To Use ChatGPT. This Is Why

Until last year, universities and schools were not open to the idea of including AI in the syllabus, in fact, they were adopting policies about how to ban tools like ChatGPT. But now, educators at both small and large US and international universities are encouraging and teaching students how to best use these tools, according to a report by CNN.

"Earlier on, we saw a knee-jerk reaction to AI by banning it going into spring semester, but now the talk is about why it makes sense for students to use it," Lance Eaton, an administrator at Rhode Island-based College Unbound, told the media outlet.

They have made AI-focussed Facebook groups, such as Higher Ed Discussions of Writing and AI, and the Google group AI in Education.

"It's really helped educators see how others are adapting to and framing AI in the classroom," Mr Eaton said. "AI is still going to feel uncomfortable, but now they can now go in and see how a university or a range of different courses, from coding to sociology, are approaching it."

The report said that the professors now fear ignoring or discouraging the use of ChatGPT and say that it will be a disservice to students.

According to a study conducted by Intelligent.com, about 30 percent of college students used ChatGPT for schoolwork this past academic year and it was used most in English classes. The study said that 1 in 8 saw their GPA increase, the majority believe it's related to their use of ChatGPT.

The study further said that college ChatGPT users seem to have had a positive experience studying with the tool. More than 3 in 4 say they are 'somewhat' (46%) or 'highly likely' (32%) to recommend studying with ChatGPT to another student.

Jules White, an associate professor of computer science at Vanderbilt University told CNN, "It cannot be ignored," adding, "I think it's incredibly important for students, faculty and alumni to become experts in AI because it will be so transformative across every industry in demand so we provide the right training."

In fact, some schools are hiring outside experts to teach both faculty and students about how to use AI tools.

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Russia arrests leader of prominent independent election monitoring group

A leader of a prominent independent election monitoring group was formally arrested by a Moscow judge on suspicion of being involved with an “undesirable” organisation, his lawyer said on Friday (August 18).

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Tens Of Thousands Evacuated As Wildfire Rages On Spain's Tenerife Island

Thousands more people were evacuated from their homes on the Spanish island of Tenerife on Saturday as a wildfire raging in the north of the island remained out of control, but the flames have so far avoided major tourist areas.

The Canary Islands emergency services said more than 26,000 people had been evacuated by Saturday afternoon, according to provisional estimates, a sharp rise from 4,500 on Friday. Some 11 towns are now affected.

Fierce flames lit up the night sky overnight, and on Saturday helicopters were seen dropping water on areas close to homes where smoke was billowing into the air.

The blaze broke out on Wednesday in a mountainous national park around the Mount Teide volcano - Spain's highest peak - amid hot and dry weather.

More evacuations were ordered on Saturday morning due to worsening weather overnight, including a rise in temperatures and stronger winds, regional leader Fernando Clavijo told a press conference.

He said thick smoke was hampering efforts to extinguish the fire from the air.

Some 5,000 hectares (12,000 acres) have been burned so far with a perimeter of 50 km (30 miles).

The fire was at a scale that has never been seen before in the Canary Islands, Tenerife Council President Rosa Davila told reporters.

She said the priority was to "protect people's lives".

The blaze has not destroyed any homes so far, she added, citing the fire brigade.

In La Victoria, in the north-west of the island, some people who had been evacuated were receiving medical help.

"The night before we arrived, we had a pretty bad time. Everything was burning... the roofs were full (of ash)," Paulina Fernandez, 58, told Reuters.

A major concern for many evacuees was their animals. Some were forced to leave them at home, while Reuters footage showed others leading their horses to safety.

The island's popular tourist areas have so far been unaffected and its two airports have been operating normally.

Scorching heat and dry weather this summer have contributed to unusually severe wildfires in Europe, including in Spain's La Palma island in July, and Canada. Blazes on Hawaii's Maui island earlier this month killed more than 110 people and wrecked the historic resort city of Lahaina.

Scientists say climate change has led to more frequent and more powerful extreme weather events.

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

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Mumbai terror attacks accused Tahawwur Rana's writ petition denied by US court; extradition to India soon?

A United States court has denied Pakistani-origin Canadian businessman Tahawwur Rana’s writ of habeas corpus, thus opening up the path for Secretary of State Antony Blinken to issue a certification for him to be extradited to India where a trial is underway for his alleged involvement in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

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Lucy Letby: From Nurse To Child Murderer

The trial of nurse Lucy Letby, who was on Friday found guilty of murdering seven babies and attempting to kill another six, was one of the longest in British criminal history. 

Here are some of the key points.

Lucy Letby 

Originally from Hereford in western England, Letby studied nursing at the University of Chester.  "I have always wanted to work with children," she told Manchester Crown Court during her trial.

Letby graduated in 2011 and started full-time at the Countess of Chester Hospital the following year, joining the neo-natal unit.  In 2015, she qualified to work on intensive care babies, which would have allowed her to work with the sickest babies in the unit. 

She had an active social life, attended salsa classes, travelled and went to the gym, the court heard. 

Victims

Letby was accused of harming 17 babies, some of them just days old, between June 2015 and June 2016. In the majority of cases she is believed to have injected them with air but prosecutors also accused her of introducing insulin or too much milk.

The jury found her guilty of murdering seven babies and attempting to kill six others on the 22nd day of deliberations. She was found not guilty on two counts of attempted murder and the jury could not reach a verdict on six attempted murder charges.

Among her victims were a twin brother and sister and two triplet boys. The names of the babies were not allowed to be reported and are instead referred to as baby A through to Q.

Letby is said to have on several occasions carried out Facebook searches for the parents of babies that she allegedly attacked. She said she would look up to people when she was thinking about them. 

Suspicion  

The neo-natal unit saw a "significant" increase in the number of babies dying and suffering serious collapses during the period in question, prosecutor Nick Johnson said at the trial. 

A search for the cause revealed "one common denominator" and that was Letby, he added.  Following the deaths of two triplets in June 2016, Letby was removed from the neo-natal unit and placed on clerical duties.

"It was life-changing, in that moment I was taken away from the support system I had on the unit, I was put in a role I did not enjoy and I had to pretend it was voluntary," Letby told the court. 

Letby said it was "devastating" when she received a letter from the Royal College of Nursing that blamed her for the deaths of the babies. She told the court she was prescribed anti-depressants, which she is still taking, and admitted to having thoughts of harming herself.

Arrests And Search  

Letby was arrested and released twice, with her first arrest in July 2018. On her third arrest in 2020, she was formally charged and placed into custody. 

Among the items found during a search of Letby's home was a Post-it note on which she wrote: "I don't deserve to live. I killed them on purpose because I'm not good enough to care for them". "I am evil I did this," she wrote in capital letters.

Letby claimed the note was written around the time she was removed from the neo-natal unit, leaving her feeling like she "had done something wrong".

The prosecution said police also found a "large quantity" of hospital paperwork relating to several of the children that she is accused of harming.

Letby's Defence 

Representing Letby, lawyer Ben Myers said it's important that "blame is not heaped on that woman", while there may be others who made mistakes or systems that had failed. 

He described Letby as a "dedicated nurse", who "cared deeply" for the babies and their families. 

Mr Myers also said there was "no direct evidence" of Letby committing the crimes and pointed to the condition of the babies at birth, saying they were "clinically fragile". He also said the unit had staffing issues at the time.

Letby has repeatedly denied hurting or wanting to hurt the babies, saying "that's completely against what being a nurse is". She had suggested that a "gang" of four hospital consultants had conspired to pin the blame on her "to cover failings at the hospital".

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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Pakistan: Islamabad police forms 'Minority Protection Unit' after churches vandalised over blasphemy claims

Pakistan churches vandalised: In wake of several churches being vandalised in Pakistan's Punjab police over allegations of blasphemy, the Islamabad police has formed a 'Minority Protection Unit' comprising of 70 policemen to safeguard minority places of worship and communities.

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Libya: Clashes between rival militias in Tripoli kill 45, over 140 injured

Clashes between rival militias in Libya’s national capital killed at least 45 people and injured 146 as residents were trapped in their homes on Tuesday. According to medical authorities, those killed in the brutality were not able to escape the violence. The fighting appears to be the most intense to shake Tripoli this year. 

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What US Said On Churches Attack In Pakistan

The United States on Wednesday voiced alarm and urged Pakistan to investigate mob attacks against churches and Christian homes following rumors of blasphemy of Islam.

Hundreds of Muslim men attacked a predominantly Christian area on the outskirts of the eastern industrial city of Faisalabad on Wednesday, setting fire to churches.

"We are deeply concerned that churches and homes were targeted in response to reported Koran desecration in Pakistan," State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters.

He said that while the United States backed free expression, "violence or the threat of violence is never an acceptable form of expression."

"We urge Pakistani authorities to conduct a full investigation into these allegations and call for calm," he said.

Blasphemy is a sensitive issue in Muslim-majority Pakistan, where anyone deemed to have insulted Islam or Islamic figures can face the death penalty.

Critics say that rumors of insults to Islam are often fanned as a way to settle scores against non-Muslims.

The anti-Christian violence is the latest unrest in the world's fifth-most populous country, where on Monday a little-known senator, Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, was sworn in as caretaker prime minister to see through elections.

Secretary of State Antony Blinker offered congratulations to Kakar in a posting on Twitter, which has been rebranded as X.

"As Pakistan prepares for free and fair elections, in accordance with its constitution and the rights to freedom of speech and assembly, we will continue to advance our shared commitment to economic prosperity," Blinken said.

Pakistan has been wracked by instability after Imran Khan, the country's most popular politician, was removed as prime minister and more recently jailed on corruption charges that his supporters call an attempt to bar him from office.

Khan has accused the United States of working to oust him, claims strongly denied by Washington, which says that it had policy disagreements.

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

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Russia Says "Eliminated" Ukrainian "Saboteurs" At Border

Russia's FSB security service said Wednesday it had "eliminated" a group of four Ukrainian fighters who tried to cross into Russia's western Bryansk region from northern Ukraine, Russian news agencies reported.

The announcement came a day after Moscow said it had prevented Ukrainian militants from infiltrating the Bryansk region, which has regularly seen similar attacks.

"The FSB of the Russian Federation and forces of the defence ministry in the border Starodubsky district in the Bryansk region prevented an attempt to infiltrate the territory of the Russian Federation," Russian news agencies carried the FSB's statement as saying.

"Four saboteurs were eliminated."

The Starodubsky district lies in the western corner of the Bryansk region, not far from the border with Moscow-allied Belarus.

The FSB claimed the group had "foreign weapons and explosive devices" and said they were planning "provocations and sabotage actions on Russian territory."

In June, the Russian region of Belgorod saw the largest incursion since the beginning of the offensive in Ukraine.

Drones and shelling were used in the assault, raising questions about the strength of Russian border defences.

Ukraine has usually denied responsibility for the attacks, blaming instead Russian partisan groups opposed to President Vladimir Putin.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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'Sounds rigged to me...' Donald Trump's reaction on his 4th indictment ahead of 2024 US presidential election

Former US President Donald Trump denounced the latest indictment against him and several of his allies in Georgia on charges of attempting to subvert the 2020 election loss in the state, saying that the 'witch hunt' against him continues and it 'sounds rigged'.

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US Woman Pours Soda Over Herself To Erase DNA After Killing Roommate

A woman in the United States accused of killing her 79-year-old roommate doused herself in Mountain Dew to erase any forensic evidence from her body, New York Post reported. Nichole Maks, 35, allegedly killed her roommate, beating and stabbing him to death in the home they shared.

As per the investigators, she then set the house on fire trying to conceal evidence, and fled the scene. When firefighters arrived at the scene, they extinguished the fire and found a man lying on the floor dead. The victim had blunt force trauma to the back of his head, and multiple stab wounds in his torso, the affidavit said.

The dead man's landlord told police Maks was his other tenant, but she was nowhere to be found. Meanwhile, the police recovered a bloody knife near the victim's body and two cell phones, while blood spatter was also found on the walls, Fox News reported. 

Officials later located the woman barefoot, and disheveled outside a nearby restaurant and when they confronted her, she ''dropped a knife and a hammer'' at their feet.

She denied knowing the victim and said she was homeless. When she evaded other queries and gave contradictive statements, Daytona Beach police took her into custody for questioning.

The police then told Maks that they had a warrant and would take a sample of her DNA. She then requested a Diet Mountain Dew. Officers said she began to procrastinate while drinking the soda. When an officer tried to grab it from her, Maks doused herself with the soda, pouring it over her body and hair.

However, her DNA was later found on the handle of a knife found lying next to the victim's body. 

She is being held in Volusia County Jail without bond and is scheduled for a court appearance on September 5.

A recent study from North Carolina State University indicated that sucralose, a common artificial sweetener found in Diet Mountain Dew and other sodas can break down the genetic material that makes up DNA. 

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'Girls shouldn’t wear transparent or skimpy clothes, should avoid frivolous behaviour', opines Chinese schools

China, which has been hitting headlines for its anti-human stance and atrocities on minority communities, has again come to light after a contentious lesson on sexual harassment at a school has stirred online debate about victim-shaming.

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Pakistan's next general elections are running late, likely to hold polls THIS month

A day after Pakistan appointed its interim Prime Minister, former opposition leader in the National Assembly Raja Riaz enunciated that general elections would be held in February. Although it was expected that the elections would not be held within 90 days of the dissolution of the National Assembly, it was expected that the polls would be held in March. 

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Pak Man Kills American Wife, Buries Her Body In Graveyard: Report

A man was arrested for killing and burying his spouse, a US national, in a graveyard in Pakistan's Lahore, reported ARY News reported on Sunday.

According to the police, the man, identified as Kazim Khan, allegedly murdered his wife Diana Christo, the report stated.

Further, according to ARY News, the man was arrested while he was burying his wife's body in a local graveyard in the factory area.

The police said they learned that US national was subjected to brutal torture by Kazim Khan, eventually leading to her death.

The murder weapon was recovered from the accused's possession by the investigating team and the victim's body was shifted to a mortuary for post-mortem examination, ARY News reported.

An investigation was launched after the registration of a case in connection with the incident, ARY News reported. 

Further, according to the report, a Pakistan-origin US woman, Wajiha Swati, was killed by her husband, Rizwan Habib, in December 2021.

Details of Swati's murder were disclosed after the investigation. The whereabouts of the woman were unknown for more than two months after she reached Pakistan.

During interrogation, the husband confessed to killing her.

Swati had gone missing on October 16 and calls to her cell phone number went unanswered. Her family members claimed she had divorced Habib but the latter denied the claim, ARY News reported.

It later emerged that there was a property dispute between Habib and Swati.

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

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China arrests military group worker on suspicions of spying for CIA after recruitment in Italy

China has detained a military group worker suspected of spying for the Central Investigation Agency (CIA) of the United States, said national security authorities on Friday. The 52-year-old Zeng was working in a military industrial group and was accused of providing military secrets to the CIA in exchange for large sums of money.

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Jeff Bezos Buys $68 Million Mansion On Florida's Exclusive Island

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has purchased a new home in Florida's "Billionaire Bunker" for reportedly $68 million. According to Fox Business, the 59-year-old, who is the world's third richest man with a net worth of $163 billion, bought the three-bedroom, three-bathroom mansion in June - a month after he proposed to Lauren Sanchez with a massive diamond ring worth an estimated $2.5 million.

The mega-mansion, located on Indian Creek Island, was built in 1965 and expanded in 1985, the outlet reported. The 9,259-square-foot house is set on a 2.8-acre lot. The man-made barrier island has its own municipality, mayor, and police force. It is also home to celebrities such as Tom Brady, Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, Carl Icahn, and Julio Iglesias.

The former Amazon CEO is expected to bulldoze the site and build a new mega-mansion on the beautiful waterfront plot, as per Fox News. 

According to Bloomberg, the property was previously owned by Tulia Soucy de Gonzalez Gorrondona, a former hotelier and manager at MTM Star International Corp., a company with ties to Panama. Public records show that the last recorded sale before Mr Bezos was in 1982 for $1.4 million. 

Also Read | Indian-American Doctor Arrested In US For Masturbating Next To A Minor On Flight

Furthermore, Bloomberg reported that Mr Bezos is also looking at other purchases in the area. The said property is for sale for $85 million and it is reportedly even larger than the lot Mr Bezos just bought. The home boasts seven bedrooms and 14 bathrooms in 19,064 square feet of space. 

Notably, Mr Bezos' latest real estate venture adds to his portfolio worth upward of $500 million, as per Fox News. The Amazon founder has amassed multiple homes in recent years, including in Washington DC, Beverly Hills and Maui. He also owns properties in Manhattan and Seattle as well as a ranch in Texas.

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UK announces new funding to deal with 'pro-Khalistani extremism' amid India's rising concerns

UK's major announcement: The United Kingdom’s Security Minister Tom Tugendhat has announced a funding of 95,000 pound (around Rs 1 crore) to boost Britain’s capability to deal with ‘pro-Khalistan extremism’.

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"Nightmare": US Woman Returns From Vacation, Finds Snake In Her Toilet

Snakes are one of the scariest reptiles that exist on the planet. However, their unique and amazing abilities often make them fascinating creatures. They are also masters of disguise and possess a special ability to confuse predators with their tactics. Recently, a woman in Arizona, United States, who returned from a vacation found a snake in one of the most unexpected places of her home - toilet - as per a report in Newsweek.

When she discovered the snake hiding in the toilet bowl, Tucson resident Michelle Lespron hurriedly dialled the snake-catching company Rattlesnake Solutions. As per the snake catchers, the woman initially thought it was a rattlesnake, however, when the snake-catcher came to her residence, he understood that it was an "entirely different species - a beautiful black and pink Coachwhip."

The company said in its Facebook post, "A snake in a toilet! It happens - Nikolaus was called to a home to catch what was called in as a rattlesnake seen in the toilet. After 3 visits over 2 days, he was able to finally get hands on it - a beautiful black and pink Coachwhip!"

The company said that it is a rare occurrence and it is extremely difficult to remove them from that area. "This was in the Catalina Foothills near Tucson. We are called to catch one or two snakes in toilets each year, and it is very uncommon. These snakes may get into the plumbing through vaults in septic systems, flushed in from other homes, and a variety of other situations. If you're seeing this and thinking you need to put your home on the market, you should know this is among the rarest of situations we are called to handle," it concluded.

Ms Lespron told the outlet that "she slammed the lid back down right away" when she saw the reptile. Responding to the company's  Facebook post, the woman said, "Heyyyyy! That's my toilet! So many people think this is fake but I guarantee it's real. My nightmares of being bit on my butt prove it. Nick made it his MISSION to get this snake out of my toilet! He's awesome and is responsible for saving me from any more nightmares!!!"

As per Newsweek, coachwhip snakes, in contrast to rattlesnakes, are essentially non-venomous and therefore pose little threat to people. They are native to the United States and can grow to be over eight feet long.

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Pakistan National Assembly dissolved: What to expect, election procedure, parties contesting I ALL DETAILS

Pakistan's President dissolved the National Assembly-- a first step in the countdown to a general election by mid-November. Notably, the critical development from the cash-strapped nation came at a time when the main opposition leader Imran Khan was fighting to overturn a corruption conviction that landed him in a high-security prison over the weekend.

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"Encouraging": White House On Iran Moving US Prisoners To House Arrest

The White House said Thursday it was encouraged by Iran's shift of five Americans from prison to house arrest but repeated demands that they be freed completely.

"While this is an encouraging step, these US citizens... should have never been detained in the first place," said National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson.

"Of course, we will not rest until they are all back home in the United States," she added.

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

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'Rail staff knew engine's wheels were jammed, still they applied ‘quick fix’: Pakistan Railways Minister

Two days after a train mishap in Pakistan killed at least 34 people and injured over 100, Minister for Railways and Aviation Khawaja Saad Rafique on Tuesday acknowledged it was the blunder of rail officials who knew that two of the locomotive’s 12 wheels were jammed, but instead of replacing the engine, they chose to apply a 'quick fix'.

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"Here are lot of flies, insects. Take me out of here, I don't want to remain in jail': Imran's first reaction

Nearly three days after former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan shifted to Attock jail in the Toshakhana case, his lawyers said the 70-year-old leader living in "distress" and added he does not wish to remain in prison.

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Ex-BBC Sikh Presenter Arrested Over Sex Offence Charges In Scotland

A Scottish Sikh former BBC presenter, comedian and food writer who was under investigation over sexual harassment allegations was arrested and charged by the police in Scotland on Wednesday.

Hardeep Singh Kohli, 54, has been arrested over alleged offences that are "non-recent", Police Scotland said without giving any further details.

The force has submitted its report to the Procurator Fiscal, the independent public prosecution office of the devolved region.

"A 54-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with allegations of non-recent sexual offences," a Police Scotland spokesperson said.

"He has been released on an undertaking to appear in court at a later date. A report of the circumstances has been submitted to the Procurator Fiscal," the spokesperson said.

The development comes after the force confirmed last month it was investigating allegations published by 'The Times' newspaper.

Back in 2020, Kohli had apologised for making women feel "intimidated, undermined and undervalued" and the public broadcaster had cut ties with the food writer and reality show contestant at the time.

Previously in 2009, Kohli was suspended from working on the BBC magazine programme 'The One Show' after admitting "overstepping the mark" in his conduct towards a young female researcher.

He has not responded to the latest allegations and with charges being filed, reporting restrictions on details will now be in place.

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

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'Gross travesty of justice': Imprisoned Imran Khan appeals to IHC against his conviction in Toshakhana case

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, who was imprisoned in connection with the Toshakhana case recently, on Tuesday appealed his conviction and sentencing by a trial court, claiming that the verdict was passed by a 'biased' judge and it was "a gross travesty of justice".

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Philippines summons Chinese ambassador over water cannon incident in South China Sea

The Philippine government summoned the Chinese ambassador on Monday to convey a diplomatic protest over the Chinese coast guard's use of a water cannon against a Filipino supply boat in the disputed South China Sea, a Philippine official said.

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Indian-Origin Vaibhav Taneja Appointed Tesla's Chief Financial Officer

Indian-origin Vaibhan Taneja has been named Tesla's new Chief Financial Officer as the previous finance chief Zachary Kirkhorn announced his decision to step down, the automaker said in a company filing on Monday.

Mr Taneja, 45, was appointed Tesla CFO in addition to his current role as Chief Accounting Officer (CAO) of the US-based electric car major on Friday after Kirhorn, Tesla's Master of Coin and finance chief for the last four years, stepped down from the post.

Mr Kirkhorn's 13-year tenure with the Elon Musk-led American EV giant was described as one of "tremendous expansion and growth" in the company filing.

"Tesla thanks Mr Kirkhorn for his significant contributions. Mr Kirkhorn will continue to serve Tesla through the end of the year to support a seamless transition," it said.

"This morning Tesla announced that I've stepped down from my role as Chief Financial Officer, succeeded by our Chief Accounting Officer, Vaibhav Taneja,"Mr Kirkhorn said in a LinkedIn post.

"Being a part of this company is a special experience, and I'm extremely proud of the work we've done together since I joined over 13 years ago. As I shift my responsibilities to support this transition, I want to thank the talented, passionate, and hard-working employees at Tesla, who have accomplished things many thought (were) not possible. I also want to thank Elon for his leadership and optimism, which has inspired so many people," he said.

Mr Taneja has served as Tesla's CAO since March 2019 and as the Corporate Controller since May 2018. He served as the Assistant Corporate Controller between February 2017 and May 2018, and from March 2016, served in various finance and accounting roles at SolarCity Corporation, a US-based solar panel developer acquired by Tesla in 2016.

Before that, Mr Taneja was employed at PricewaterhouseCoopers in both India and the US between July 1999 and March 2016, the company filing 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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Despite India's rejection, Pakistan again urges New Delhi to resume bilateral talks on Jammu and Kashmir

Nearly four days after Pakistan Primer Minister Shehbaz Sharif urged India to resume dialogue on pressing issues, especially Jammu and Kashmir, it has again echoed the same where a top Pakistani official asserted "that refusing to talk would have dangerous consequences for all". "There should be some resonance of reciprocity from New Delhi as well," Dawn quoted Pakistan’s US ambassador, Masood Khan as saying while addressing a meeting in Washington. "It takes two to tango. It can’t be a monologue. It needs to be a dialogue."

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Asian Student Asks AI For A 'Professional' Pic, Gets Turned Into...

An Asian MIT graduate was left shocked after she asked Artificial Intelligence (AI) to create a professional portrait of herself for her LinkedIn profile. According to Boston Globe, 24-year-old Rona Wang prompted the Playground AI image editor to make her headshot seem more "professional". However, the result was not what she expected. 

Sharing the picture on X, she wrote, ''was trying to get a linkedin profile photo with AI editing & this is what it gave me.''

In the first pic, Ms. Wang is seen wearing a maroon MIT sweatshirt. She uploaded the image generator with the instruction, "Give the girl from the original photo a professional LinkedIn profile photo."

See the result here:

was trying to get a linkedin profile photo with AI editing & this is what it gave me ? pic.twitter.com/AZgWbhTs8Q

— Rona Wang (@ronawang) July 14, 2023

Much to her surprise, the AI tool gave her a fairer complexion, dark blonde hair, and blue eyes. Simply put, AI turned her into a white woman.

“My initial reaction upon seeing the result was amusement. However, I'm glad to see that this has catalyzed a larger conversation around AI bias and who is or isn't included in this new wave of technology,'' Ms Wang told Insider.

She added that "racial bias is a recurring issue in AI tools" and that the results had put her off them.

"I haven't gotten any usable results from AI photo generators or editors yet, so I'll have to go without a new LinkedIn profile photo for now,'' she added.

Her tweet also caught the attention of Suhail Doshi, the founder of Playground AI.

Fwiw, we're quite displeased with this and hope to solve it.

— Suhail (@Suhail) July 14, 2023

He responded saying, ''The models aren't instructable like that so it'll pick any generic thing based on the prompt. Unfortunately, they're not smart enough. Happy to help you get a result but it takes a bit more effort than something like ChatGPT.''

He further added ''we're quite displeased with this and hope to solve it."

Another user also expressed his displeasure and wrote, ''Rona Wang is an Asian-American who asked an AI software to make her look more professional. What she got back was a photo w/ lighter skin & blue eyes! We MUST make sure AI software isn't pushing racial bias! No race looks more professional than another!"

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Russia: Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny sentenced to 19 years more on extremism charges

Imprisoned opposition leader and long-time Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny was convicted and sentenced to 19 years by a Russian court on Friday. Prior to the conviction, Navalny said that he was already anticipating a lengthy sentence against him.

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"Abduction At Gunpoint": Imran Khan's Party Moves High Court Over Arrest

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has filed a petition in the Lahore High Court terming the arrest of its chief, Imran Khan, "abduction at gunpoint".

Petitioner Umair Niazi, the PTI's additional secretary general, requested the court to take up his petition without delay and direct the Punjab Police and the government to produce the former prime minister before it to ensure his safety.

"The government has kept Mr Khan in illegal custody. Imran Khan was attending a meeting at his Zaman Park residence at 12:45 pm today when some 200 policemen barged into the house and abducted him at gunpoint. They are keeping him in illegal custody," the petitioner said, requesting the court to take up the petition on Saturday itself and order authorities to produce him before the court.

Mr Niazi alleged the police "kidnapped" Imran Khan without showing him the court order of his conviction in the Toshakhana case. Mr Khan was taken to an undisclosed location, thereby, it is requested to produce him before the Lahore High Court, Mr Niazi pleaded.

Earlier in the day, 70-year-old Khan was arrested from his Lahore home after the Islamabad trial court convicted him in the Toshakhana case and sentenced him to three years in jail.

Meanwhile, the Lahore High Court Bar Association condemned the conviction of Imran Khan, saying, "It is a slaughter of justice and violation of law pertaining to a fair trial".

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Mexico bus accident: Death count rises to 18, 6 Indian nationals among dead

Bus accident: Six Indian nationals were among the 18 people who died in western Mexico when a bus tumbled down a highway into a ravine early on Thursday (August 3), officials said.

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Need Action, Not Promises From US, Russia On Black Sea Grain Deal

Russia said on Friday it needed actions, not promises, from the United States to meet the conditions it has set for a return to the Black Sea grain deal.

Russia last month declined to renew the deal that had allowed Ukraine to ship grain from its Black Sea ports despite the war, saying not enough had been done to remove obstacles to its own exports of food and fertiliser. It said it was ready to return to the agreement as soon as those issues were addressed.

"If they want to contribute to fulfilling the part of the grain deal that is due to Russia, the Americans must fulfil it, not promise that they will think about it," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

"As soon as this is done, this deal will immediately be renewed."

He was speaking after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters on Thursday: "In the event of return to the agreement, of course, we'll continue to do whatever is necessary to make sure that everyone can export their food and food products freely and safely to include Russia."

Western countries have accused Russia of using food as a weapon of war by quitting the Black Sea deal, which had helped to bring down global food prices, and carrying out repeated air strikes in recent weeks on Ukrainian ports and grain stores.

Russia says the deal was not working properly as not enough grain was getting to the poorest countries. It says its own food exports, while not targeted directly, are hampered by Western sanctions affecting port access, insurance and banking.

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

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Pakistan: No sign of relief for Imran Khan as SC again rejects his plea to stay proceedings in Toshakhana case

In yet another jolt to former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, the Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected yet another plea by the former PM seeking a stay in the trial court's criminal proceedings against him in the controversial Toshakhana case. 

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ISIS Confirms Leader Killed In Clashes In Syria, Announces Next-In-Line

The Islamic State group announced on Thursday the death of its leader Abu al-Hussein al-Husseini al-Qurashi, who it said was killed in clashes in northwestern Syria.

The leader "was killed after direct clashes" with jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in Idlib province, an IS spokesman said in a recorded message on its channels on the Telegram messaging app, without specifying when he was killed.

The spokesman announced the group's new leader -- its fifth -- as Abi Hafsan al-Hashimi al-Qurashi.

After a meteoric rise in Iraq and Syria in 2014 that saw it conquer vast swathes of territory, IS saw its self-proclaimed "caliphate" collapse under a wave of offensives.

The Sunni Muslim extremist group's austere and terror-ridden rule was marked by beheadings and mass shootings.

It was defeated in Iraq in 2017 and in Syria two years later, but sleeper cells still carry out attacks in both countries.

In November last year, IS said its previous leader, Abu Hasan al-Hashimi al-Qurashi, had been killed.

His predecessor, Abu Ibrahim al-Qurashi, was killed in February last year in a US raid in Idlib province.

The group's first "caliph", Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, was killed, also in Idlib, in October 2019.

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World has awoken to corruption, scandal, failure: Trump reacts to latest indictment over 2021 US Capitol riots

After Donald Trump was indicted by Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith for inciting the violent attacks on the US Capitol in January 6, 2021, the former US President reacted by saying that the world has awoken to the "corruption, scandal and failure" for the last three years.

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Ukraine war: Russian drone strikes on Odesa port to disrupt grain export

Ukraine-Russia war: According to the Ukrainian military, Russian troops targeted port infrastructure in Ukraine's Odesa region with Shahed drones overnight. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted Wednesday morning said on Telegram that Russian terrorists have once again targeted ports, grain facilities and global food security. 

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Indian Student Pilot, His Trainer Killed In Plane Crash In Philippines

An Indian student pilot and his Filipino trainer were killed when their small plane crashed in the Philippines, authorities said on Wednesday.

Two persons died when the two-seater Cessna plane crashed in Apayao province, the official Philippine News Agency reported.

However, rescuers could not retrieve the bodies of Capt. Edzel John Lumbao Tabuzo and student pilot Anshum Rajkumar Konde from the crash site, it said.

The Echo Air Cessna 152 aircraft was reported missing on Tuesday afternoon after departing from Laoag International Airport at 12:16 pm, local media reported.

It was to reach Tuguegarao Airport at 3:16 pm. However, it failed to land.

The wreckage of the plane was found in the province of Apayao on Wednesday afternoon.

Apayao Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) head Joeffrey Borromeo reported that the crash site is located at the border of Barangay Salvacion, Luna town and Barangay San Mariano in Pudtol town.

A medical and rescue team on board a Black Hawk helicopter of the Philippine Air Force spotted the plane's wreckage and the cadavers of Tabuzo and Konde.

Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines has suspended the operations of Echo Air International Aviation Academy, the operator of the aircraft, INQUIRER.net reported.

The operations of the flying school will remain suspended until a probe into the plane crash is completed, the news portal reported.

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