Young Thug pleads guilty to criminal gang activity

The 33-year-old rapper's trial on racketeering and gang charges is the longest ever held in Georgia.

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The Budget: NHS, Wages and Farms

How are these areas impacted by the Budget?

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Hollywood stars grow Wrexham empire with brewery

The football club's star co-owners grow their Wrexham by buying half of the Wrexham Lager brewery.

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Halloween clown in reported 'medical device' attack

The victim was in costume at an event dubbed online "north Wales ultimate scare fest".

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America and... the Middle East

How could Harris or Trump affect Israel, Gaza and the wider region?

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Ballon d'Or 2024 Live Streaming Award Ceremony: When And Where To Watch

Ballon d'Or 2024 Award Ceremony, Live Streaming: The highly anticipated Ballon d'or 2024 award ceremony will be taking on Tuesday (IST) in Paris. The men's shortlist for the 2023/24 edition of the prestigious individual award is the first since 2003 to feature neither Lionel Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo who hoovered up the prize 13 times between them. Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior is the leading candidate for the men's award and Barcelona's Aitana Bonmati is the hot favourite to win her second-successive crown.

Vinicius, the man who inherited Ronaldo's number seven shirt at Real Madrid, has been tipped by many pundits to succeed Messi as the Men's Ballon d'Or after a season in which he won the Spanish championship and Champions League.

When will the Ballon d'Or 2024 Award Ceremony be held?

The Ballon d'Or 2024 Award Ceremony will be held on Tuesday, October 29 (IST).

Where will the Ballon d'Or 2024 Award Ceremony be held?

The Ballon d'Or 2024 Award Ceremony will be held at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris.

What time will the Ballon d'Or 2024 Award Ceremony start?

The Ballon d'Or 2024 Award Ceremony will start at 1:15 AM IST.

Where to follow the live telecast of the Ballon d'Or 2024 Award Ceremony?

The Ballon d'Or 2024 Award Ceremony will be telecast on Sony Sports Network.

Where to follow the live streaming of the Ballon d'Or 2024 Award Ceremony?

The Ballon d'Or 2024 Award Ceremony will be streamed live on SonyLive app and website.

(All the details are as per the information provided by the broadcaster)

(With AFP Inputs)

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Man Utd in Amorim talks as Ten Hag successor sought

Manchester United are in talks about appointing Sporting coach Ruben Amorim as Erik ten Hag's replacement.

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Sussanne Parties On 49th Birthday With Arslan, Hrithik And His GF Saba

Sussanne Khan celebrated her birthday on October 26 with a star-studded party. Many prominent names from the industry attended the celebration, but it was the presence of her ex-husband, Hrithik Roshan and his girlfriend, Saba Azad, that captured the internet's attention. In a video, featuring the cake-cutting ceremony, Sussanne can be seen enjoying the moment while the guests cheer her on. She even shared a sweet kiss with her beau, Arslan Goni, before blowing out the candles and welcoming a new year in her life. Dressed in a chic little black dress, the birthday girl truly enjoyed her special day.

In a photo posted by Saba Azad on her Instagram stories, she is seen posing shoulder-to-shoulder with the birthday girl, Sussanne Khan, while their partners were also beside them. Hrithik Roshan and Arslan Goni pose with the gorgeous divas for the happy frame. 

Sussanne Khan got married to Hrithik Roshan in 2000. They got divorced in 2014. The duo continue to co-parent their sons — Hrehaan and Hridhaan. 

Despite parting ways, Sussanne Khan and Hrithik Roshan have been maintaining a cordial relationship with one another. They are even spotted together enjoying their sons' special days. For instance, the doting parents graced Hrehaan Roshan's graduation ceremony, and Sussanne even shared the proud moment on her Instagram handle. Hrehaan and his brother Hridhaan also shared a heartfelt moment in the video posted by their mommy. Later, the four of them were found posing for the lens. Read on to know more.

Sussanne Khan's brother, Zayed Khan, is also extremely close to Hrithik Roshan. In an interview, Zayen once shared how they live in a “modern family”, and his relationship with Hrithik is unaffected despite his sister's separation. "We are like the new modern family. It is crazy; there is extreme acceptance from everyone. It has taken a while to get there, but now that it is together, it is beautiful. We all party together, we get together under one roof, and have a ball," he said, in an interview with Zoom. 

On the work front, Hrithik Roshan was last seen in Fighter with Deepika Padukone.

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Watch: Match of the Day 2

Mark Chapman introduces highlights from a bumper day of Premier League football.

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Premier League: Salah Scores Late As Liverpool Rescue A Point vs Arsenal

Arsenal vs Liverpool Highlights, Premier League 2024-25:  Mohamed Salah struck nine minutes from time as Liverpool twice came from behind to draw 2-2 at Premier League title rivals Arsenal on Sunday. Bukayo Saka opened the scoring for Arsenal but Virgil Van Djik equalised to bring Liverpool back into the game. Mikel Merino handed Arsenal the lead once again as he played his first goal for the club but Salah's goal meant that the points were shared. A point leaves Arsenal five points adrift of leaders Manchester City and four behind second-placed Liverpool. (Match-Centre)

Here are the Highlights of Premier League match between Arsenal and Liverpool -

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Chaos and political drama rock Japan's snap election

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba made a political gamble, and it backfired, leaving a weakened ruling party.

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Robert Lewandowski Double As Barcelona Shred Real Madrid In La Liga Clasico

Robert Lewandowski struck twice in three minutes as Barcelona crushed rivals Real Madrid 4-0 on Saturday, inflicting the Spanish champions' first La Liga defeat in over a year. Teenage winger Lamine Yamal and Raphinha completed the rout, while Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe had two goals ruled out for offside on a frustrating first Clasico appearance for Los Blancos, who now trail league leaders Barcelona by six points. France captain Mbappe was consistently outwitted by the visitors' high defensive line to the chagrin of the exasperated Santiago Bernabeu crowd, whose mood darkened as Barcelona hit four second half goals.

Barcelona snapped Madrid's 42-match unbeaten streak in La Liga, one game short of the Catalan giants' all-time record, adding further shine to their triumph.

Hansi Flick has whipped Barcelona into shape in just a matter of months and in ending a run of four Clasico defeats, his young side made a statement victory to show how far they have come.

Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti opted for more muscle in midfield by selecting Eduardo Camavinga over Luka Modric, with his team's game-plan clear -- defend in numbers and try to spring Mbappe or Vinicius with a long ball into the space behind Barcelona's high defensive line.

It led to an intense but repetitive first half, with Barcelona's defence catching Madrid offside on eight occasions.

Mbappe hit the side-netting and lobbed over but was offside on both occasions, while Jude Bellingham forced a superb save from Barcelona goalkeeper Inaki Pena, but it would also have been disallowed for offside.

At the other end Barcelona's teenage star Yamal sent a soft effort at Andriy Lunin when put through on goal by a superb Lewandowski flick.

Raphinha fired over and Lunin also saved from the Brazilian winger, but Barcelona were not playing with the fluidity they have demonstrated in recent weeks, culminating in the impressive 4-1 Champions League win over Bayern Munich on Wednesday.

Mbappe thought he had broken the deadlock when he got in behind and produced a fine dinked finish over Pena, but yet again the forward was marginally offside and his celebration was cut short.

Despite the feeling they were constantly menacing Barcelona, Madrid only produced one legal shot in the first half, with Vinicius dragging into the side-netting when he tried to catch Pena out at the near post.

Eager for more control Flick replaced Fermin Lopez with Frenkie de Jong at half-time and Barcelona soon took the lead.

Casado slipped Lewandowski through and with Madrid defender Ferland Mendy a step behind his team-mates, the Pole was onside.

The 36-year-old slotted low past Lunin to silence the Bernabeu, and two minutes later he pounced again.

Lewandowski headed home Alejandro Balde's cross to double Barcelona's advantage and net his 14th league goal in 11 games, continuing his stunning revival under Flick afer struggling last season.

Mbappe had a second goal ruled out for offside as Madrid struggled to find a way back in and Pena kept out a low stinging effort from the former Paris Saint-Germain forward.

Lewandowski spurned two golden chances to complete his hat-trick, shooting against the post from Raphinha's lay-off and then blazing over after good work by Yamal.

Spain's Euro 2024 star Yamal plundered Barcelona's third by rifling home after the surging Raphinha teed him up, with Flick celebrating jubilantly in the dugout.

Raphinha completed the rout with a lob over Lunin to leave the Bernabeu reeling.

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

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Watch: Match of the Day

Gary Lineker introduces highlights of the day’s five Premier League games.

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Is Wolves' late fightback a turning point for O'Neil?

Wolves boss Gary O'Neil hopes his side can build on Saturday's battling late draw at Brighton and climb the table.

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Ravouvou double as Bristol beat Saints to go top

Bristol go top of the table as they claim their first Premiership home win of the season with a bonus-point victory against much-changed Northampton.

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Was Attacked By Khalistanis With Sharp Object: Recalled Envoy To Canada

Recalled Indian High Commissioner to Canada Sanjay Kumar Verma on Friday shared a terrifying moment when Khalistani 'goons' came very close to bodily harm him and attacked him with a 'sharp object' - most likely a 'kirpan' - in Alberta that could potentially harm him.

In a podcast with ANI, Sanjay Verma shared his experience of threats and intimidation from the Khalistanis.

Sanjay Verma said, "All these attempts to harm me bodily, that was in the presence of Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the local police and the local police on the ground took immediate action, pushed him away because there was a sharp weapon and the RCMP then whisked me from the side door to the venue."

"It was in Alberta. I am not an expert on Canadian law about open carrying so I will not be able to say that. But most likely they would have said that it was 'kirpan' which is a small blade whereas they had swords in their hand. They could come very, very close to me," said Mr Verma.

When asked if the incident was reported, Sanjay Verma said, "It was all reported and we were told that investigations are on."

Speaking of intimidation from the Khalistanis, Sanjay Verma said that the intimidation came through banned organisations associated with the Khalistani extremists.

"Some came through emails during the so-called protests, which I call hooliganism when they gathered in front of the two consulates or the High Commission. They would shout slogans to intimidate us. Whenever we were attending public events, again, they would shout slogans to intimidate us," he said.

Sharing an incident, Sanjay Verma said, "In one instance, close to Diwali, they created 10 heads for me, called me Ravan. And then my effigy was burnt as Ravan. Is that not hate speech? Then they created another poster of mine. And they riddled it with bullets. Is that not hate speech? Then what is it?"

"I reported this to the foreign ministry. The response was that we forwarded it to the relevant authorities, which is correct. We also do the same. But the report never came back. Okay. So we presume that nothing happened. So we presume that it went into a black box. Not to come out," he stated.

When asked if he, at any point, felt threatened physically, Sanjay Verma replied, "Threatened, yes. But did I become threatened? No. In most of my public events, there will be these hooligans outside shouting slogans against India, but also against me. Some of them are very burly-looking tall guys who would also gesture to physically harm me, but just the gestures, except for a few incidents. And so they tried."

"They came close to me. They tried to intimidate me through such, slogans shouting, and abusing me verbally. That was reported," he stated.

Speaking about his security, Sanjay Verma said, "I had Canadian security, both federal and local."

Asked about whether he, at any time, doubted their ability to protect him, he replied, "No, that I won't say. They were very professional, well-trained, and very respectful. So as far as the police officers who were protecting us and now protecting my colleagues there, very, very professional, never had an iota of doubt on their professionalism."

He added, "But unfortunately, the statement which we saw in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police press briefing, where even the investigation has not been concluded, that was a sad thing to see."

Mr Verma said that he was there to serve India's national interest and was committed to doing so.

"So diplomacy for most of us would be, you know, being nice, nice cities. But then the final objective of diplomacy happens to be to safeguard your national interest. National interest could be improving relationships. National interest could be raising awareness against these Khalistani goons. All these are national interests," he said.

"So we work for the national interests. It so happened that my national interest was a bit different than the national interest of most other ambassadors in other countries," said Sanjay Verma.

Mr Verma was recalled from Canada after the country said he was a person of interest in the case of the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. He denied all charges. 

The ties between India and Canada soured after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged in the Canadian Parliament last year that he had "credible allegations" of India's hand in the killing of Nijjar.
India has denied all the allegations, calling them "absurd" and "motivated" and has accused Canada of giving space to extremist and anti-India elements in their country.

Nijjar, who was designated a terrorist by India's National Investigation Agency in 2020, was shot and killed outside a Gurdwara in Surrey in June last year.

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

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Russell fastest as Bearman crashes with Albon in Mexico

Mercedes’ George Russell sets the pace in a first practice session at the Mexico City Grand Prix punctuated by a heavy crash for Williams’ Alex Albon.

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Norris says he's 'not quite at Verstappen's level'

Lando Norris says he is "not quite at the level" of title rival Max Verstappen when it comes to race-craft.

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'We can't change our history' on UK's role in slave trade, says Starmer

The prime minister says the practice was "abhorrent" but does not commit to making reparation payments.

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Chief Justice DY Chandrachud Says "Stopped Morning Walks" Due To Pollution

The seasonal pollution spike in Delhi is affecting the health regimen of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud. The Chief Justice, in an informal conversation with reporters at the Supreme Court on Thursday, said he has stopped going for morning walks due to rising levels of air pollution.

"I have stopped going for morning walks from today. I usually go for a walk around 4 am to 4.15 am," he said.

His doctor, the Chief Justice added, has advised him to avoid going out in the mornings, saying it is better for him to stay indoors and avoid respiratory diseases.

The air quality in Delhi has remained "very poor" for the better part of the week, prompting concern over the increased risk of respiratory diseases. On Wednesday, Delhi recorded the worst air quality in the country despite the Commission for Air Quality Management invoking stage two of the anti-pollution plan GRAP.

The top court had grilled the Centre and Punjab and Haryana governments over the states' non-compliance with the necessary anti-pollution measures.

A bench of Justice Abhay S Oka, Justice A Amanullah, and Justice AG Masih, dismissed Punjab and Haryana governments' efforts to stamp out stubble burning, calling it "an eyewash". 

The toxic fumes from over the two states, often visible in satellite images,  contribute to the suffocating blanket smothering the national capital every winter.

Last month, the top court took to task Delhi's air quality panel, saying the body set up to control pollution in the National Capital Region has failed to serve its purpose. 

The court's strictures came after the Delhi government issued its action plan to deal with the annual pollution. 

The 50th Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud, is retiring on November 10. He would be succeeded by Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who will take oath on November 11. 

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'We conceded really stupid goals' - Larne boss Lynch

Larne boss Tiernan Lynch says he is disappointed and frustrated after watching his team slip to a 4-1 defeat by Shamrock Rovers in the Uefa Conference League game at Windsor Park.

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Female Athletes Lost Nearly 900 Medals To Transgender Rivals: UN Report

The 2024 Paris Olympics' gender parity milestone was tainted by gender-related disputes, with a recent United Nations report voicing concerns about issues related to women's sports competition.

According to the report, "Violence Against Women and Girls in Sports," transgender athletes have won around 900 medals in different women's sports at several events, replacing female athletes. 

It also brought attention to the fact that more than 600 female athletes had lost against individuals born male in a variety of competitions, escalating the argument about competition fairness.

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These findings spotlight significant gaps in the IOC's policies, which continue to affect athletes globally, raising questions about the future of gender inclusivity in sports.

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"Policies implemented by International Federations, national governing bodies, along with national legislation of some countries, allow males who identify as women to compete in female sports categories," the report said.

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"In other cases, this practice is not explicitly prohibited and is thus tolerated in practice. The replacement of the female sports category with a mixed sex category has resulted in an increasing number of female athletes losing opportunities including medals when competing against males."

"According to information received, by 30 March 2024, over 600 female athletes in more than 400 competitions have lost more than 890 medals in 29 different sports," the report said.

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How Rodgers earned 'one of his best results' in Atalanta draw

Former Celtic manager Neil Lennon says the team's gutsy goalless Champions League draw at Atalanta delivered "one of the best results of Brendan Rodgers' career".

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Woman arrested following care home deaths

Police say potential carbon monoxide poisoning is their "primary line of inquiry".

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Russian Boxer Banned For Life After Knocking Out Opponent With Head Kick

Idris Abdurashidov, a Russian mixed martial arts boxer, was banned from fighting for life after knocking out his opponent with an illegal head kick on October 20 during his professional boxing debut in Phuket, Thailand. The 21-year-old, who has a 4-0 record and is unbeaten in mixed martial arts, is well-known for his ability to knock out opponents in MMA, but he made a risky switch to boxing rules.

By the fourth round of his bout with Iranian boxer Bagher Faraji, Abdurashidov seemed to be having trouble. In a startling turn of events, Faraji was immediately floored by the Russian fighter's MMA-style head kick. Both officials and onlookers were taken aback by this unlawful action.

Later, Abdurashidov boasted about his feat on social media while posting the knockout footage, which heightened the debate. 

Watch the video here: 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Idris Abdurashidov (@idris_abdurashidov)

He captioned the video in Russian, which, when translated into English, reads:""So he debuted in professional boxing," the caption said. "And disqualification for life, that leg kick I threw (was) a machine gun!"

In addition to receiving significant criticism, the incident resulted in a lifelong boxing ban, with additional sanctions being considered.

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Palestinians fleeing Jabalia say bodies are left lying on streets

Displaced residents give harrowing accounts of the situation as an Israeli offensive continues.

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Police officer cleared of murdering Chris Kaba

Plus, Michael Gove joins Adam in the Newscast studio.

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Watch: Match of the Day 2

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All You Need To Know About Seema Sajdeh's Boyfriend, Vikram Ahuja

Seema Sajdeh is basking in the success of Fabulous Lives Vs Bollywood Wives. The Netflix original also features Maheep Kapoor, Neelam Kothari and Bhavana Pandey. This season also introduces new cast members Riddhima Kapoor Sahni, Shalini Passi and Kalyani Saha Chawla. In one of the episodes, Seema introduced her new boyfriend, businessman Vikram Ahuja, to her friends. She was previously married to actor Sohail Khan. They got divorced in 2022. The duo share two sons, Nirvaan and Yohan. Just like many of us, we are sure that you must be curious to know the details of Seema Sajdeh's new beau, Vikram Ahuja. Here's what we know about him.

1. Vikram Ahuja is a businessman and the son of Devendra Ahuja, who was a multi-millionaire and served as the Managing Director of 20th Century Finance. Devendra Ahuja was also a promoter of Centurion Bank, according to Hindustan Times.

2. According to the same report, Vikram Ahuja and Seema Sajdeh were engaged in the 1990s.

3. Vikram Ahuja is the brother of Tanya Deol, a successful interior designer married to actor Bobby Deol.

4. According to a report from India Forums, Vikram Ahuja made headlines after his father, Devendra Ahuja, excluded his first wife, Marlene Ahuja and their two children, Vikram and Munisha, from his will.

5. The same report alleges that Vikram Ahuja was insulted by his father, Devendra Ahuja, who left everything to his sister, Tanya Deol. Devendra fell in love with an air hostess and married her.

Coming back to Fabulous Lives Vs Bollywood Wives, internet sensation Orry, also known as Orhan Awatramani, accused the show's creators of copying his content without giving him credit. A Reddit post shared a screenshot of Orry's Instagram Stories, where he expressed his concerns. He posted a video from the show, labelling it a "cheap copy" of his original reel. Orry expressed frustration about how much effort content creators put into developing their ideas over months. He described the situation as "shameful" and "unethical," emphasising the issue of plagiarism without recognizing the original creator. Click here to read the full copy.

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'Slot's more measured Liverpool pass biggest test yet'

Liverpool's "heavy metal" approach under Jurgen Klopp may be a thing of the past - but Arne Slot passed his first big test against Chelsea.

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Do Arsenal have a red card problem - and could it cost them the title?

Just eight games into the Premier League season and Arsenal have already had three players sent off - but just how costly could it be?

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Meta fires staff for buying toothpaste, not lunch

Meta workers reportedly used vouchers that should have been spent on meals to buy household goods.

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Biden says end to war in Gaza hard to achieve as Israel escalates attack on northern area

Hamas insists hostages will not be released until Israel leaves Gaza despite the death of its leader Yahya Sinwar.

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Cuba suffers nationwide blackout after main power plant fails

Prime minister Manuel Marrero declared an "energy emergency" on Thursday following months of lengthy blackouts.

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How Israel found and killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar

Israel had hunted the architect of the 7 October atrocities for more than a year. A chance encounter in Rafah got him.

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"It's Not Easy": Fardeen Khan On Not Living With His Children

Fardeen Khan, who made a comeback with Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Netfilx series Heeramandi after a 14-year hiatus, opened up about not living with his children and "missing" them terribly. The actor, who started afresh his career in Mumbai, shifted his base while his children are still in London. Following his shift from London, rumours of his separation from wife Natasha Madhvani have been doing the rounds on social media. Fardeen Khan didn't want to talk about the speculation in an interview with The Times Of India. However, he talked about his children and how he missed spending quality time with them."

Fardeen Khan told The Times Of India, "It's not easy. I don't want to get into why they're away, but yes, it's not easy. I miss them terribly." He added, "I see them every four to six weeks and we talk over video calls daily. But I definitely miss being a part of their daily life, watching them grow up, be a part of their decision-making process and help them find their own identity. My kids paint and I have put up their artwork on the walls of my house in Mumbai." Sharing the grief of a father, living in isolation, Fardeen said, "I miss their hugs, cuddles and kisses. I keep working to keep my mind distracted. And whenever they come down to Mumbai, I clear my entire schedule and be with them 24/7."

Fardeen Khan has been married to Natasha Madhvani, daughter of actress Mumtaz. They are parents  to a daughter daughter Diani and a son Azariu. Fardeen Khan was last seen in Khel Khel Mein alongside Akshay Kumar, Taapsee Pannu, Vaani Kapoor and others.

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Inheritance tax increases expected in Budget

It is not known how many people are likely to end up paying more under the government's plan.

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One Direction star Liam Payne dies after balcony fall, police say

The singer fell from the third floor of a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, local media are reporting.

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Italy bans couples from travelling abroad for surrogacy

The move is seen by critics to target LGBT couples, who are not allowed to adopt or use IVF in the country.

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Mayor and 15 others killed in Israeli strike on Lebanon council meeting

Sixteen people are dead following air strikes on municipal buildings in the city of Nabatieh.

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How Far Can Trudeau Go As Personal Electoral Gain Trumps Diplomatic Ties

It is not uncommon to see a country's election campaigns politicise various global issues, but what is rather unusual and perhaps unique in the case of Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau, is "how far he can go" for personal electoral gains. His attempts have reached a level where actual diplomatic relations are seeing a fallout over "the politics of vote-bank".

India and Canada are in the midst of the worst-ever diplomatic spat in the history of bilateral ties between the two nations. India has recalled its high commissioner to Canada and expelled six top diplomats from Canada yesterday. Canada mirrored India's move. The reason - Justin Trudeau's proximity to the Khalistan separatist movement and his sympathy towards declared terrorists and extremists who spread hate, violence, and extremism on Canadian soil - all to appeal to his vote bank.

Mr Trudeau, who is seeking another term as Canada's prime minister, but facing one setback after another politically in his country, has repeatedly supported the Khalistani separatist movement and allowed space for them to operate by calling it "freedom of speech" in his country.

The Prime Minister of Canada has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with terrorists, extremists and separatists by attending Khalistan rallies in Canada. By doing so, Canada's Prime Minister has directly violated India's national security concerns whilst also violating India's sovereignty and territorial integrity by supporting those who want another nation to be carved out of India - terming all this as "free speech in Canada."

"Celebration and glorification of violence should not be a part of any civilized society. Democratic countries which respect the rule of law should not allow intimidation by radical elements in the name of freedom of expression," India had said about Trudeau's attendance at the Khalistan rally.

Citing his concern over grave situation and rapidly deteriorating ties, while also seeing a rise in extremist elements in Canada, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had said earlier this year that "By allowing political space to Khalistani separatist elements, the Canadian government (led by Justin Trudeau) is repeatedly showing that its vote bank is more powerful than its rule of law."

Speaking to Press Trust of India, Mr Jaishankar had said, "India respects and practices freedom of speech, but that does not equate with freedom to threaten foreign diplomats, extend support to separatism or allow political space to elements advocating violence and terror."

Mr Jaishankar had also wondered how people with "dubious backgrounds are being allowed to enter and live in Canada", referring to select Khalistani separatists among the Sikh migrants from Punjab.

"In any rules-based society, you would imagine that you would check people's background, how they came, what passport they carried etc," he said, adding that "If you have people whose presence there is itself on very dubious documents, what does it say about you? It actually says that your vote bank is more powerful than your rule of law."

| Watch: NDTV World Summit on October 21-22. Get All The Details Here.

TRUDEAU'S LATEST ATTEMPT

India and Canada have been dealing with an unprecedented diplomatic crisis after Justin Trudeau alleged that Indian government agents were involved in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. India has rejected Canada's allegations, terming it "absurd" and "politically motivated."

Losing electoral ground fast in the last few months since key ally, Jagmeet Singh withdrew support to his party, Justin Trudeau has likely pacified his "vote bank" late on Monday as he doubled down on accusations of India "supporting criminal activity against Canadians" and "coercive behaviour targeting South Asian Canadians".

In his latest allegations, Mr Trudeau called the Indian High Commissioner a "person of interest" in the "murder" investigation of Khalistani terrorist Nijjar. India trashed Mr Trudeau's allegations, describing them as "preposterous imputations."

On its part, India - which has yet to respond to these latest comments - has set up a high-level committee to investigate the allegation.

However, calling out "the political agenda of Justin Trudeau's government" in a strongly worded rebuttal, India issued a statement saying, "The Government of India strongly rejects these preposterous imputations and ascribes them to the political agenda of the Trudeau Government that is centered around vote bank politics."

"Since Prime Minister Trudeau made certain allegations in September 2023, the Canadian government has not shared a shred of evidence with the Government of India, despite many requests from our side. This latest step follows interactions that have again witnessed assertions without any facts. This leaves little doubt that on the pretext of an investigation, there is a deliberate strategy of smearing India for political gains," India's statement read.

"Prime Minister Trudeau's hostility to India has long been in evidence. In 2018, his visit to India, which was aimed at currying favour with a vote bank, rebounded to his discomfort. His Cabinet has included individuals who have openly associated with an extremist and separatist agenda regarding India. His naked interference in Indian internal politics in December 2020 showed how far he was willing to go in this regard. That his government was dependent on a political party, whose leader openly espouses a separatist ideology vis-a-vis India, only aggravated matters," Centre's statement further read.

TRUDEAU'S POLITICAL SETBACKS AHEAD OF CANADA ELECTIONS

In the last few months, Justin Trudeau has faced a series of political setbacks. What has been alarming for him is that he has lost the support of his key ally, Jagmeet Singh's party. Singh openly professes for 'Khalistan'.

Doubts about the leadership of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau intensified after his ruling Liberal Party suffered two humiliating losses in a special election, but despite that, the unpopular leader is determined to cling to office ahead of a looming national vote.

The loss, following a defeat in Toronto in late June, reinforced the perception that Liberal prospects in the next national election are dim. The mandate for Trudeau's minority government expires at the end of October 2025, but an early election has become increasingly likely.

Although polls indicate the Liberals will lose badly to the official opposition right-of-center Conservatives in the next election amid unhappiness over inflation, healthcare and a housing crisis, Trudeau and his closest aides say he is going nowhere and has time to help the party recover.

According to a survey by global market research and public opinion firm IPSOS, only 26 per cent people see Justin Trudeau as a good PM - he found himself to be 19 per cent less than Pierre Poilievre, leader of the Conservative Party.

Facing being ousted from the post of Prime Minister, Mr Trudeau has made a series of allegations against India to polarise the electorate whilst catering to his vote bank in a desperate attempt to get all the support he can for him to remain prime minister.

THE INDIAN DIASPORA

The Indian diaspora in Canada is about 1.8 million strong and there are another one million Non Resident Indians residing in the country. The Indian diaspora, mostly of Sikh ethnicity, is considered an influential bloc in Canada's politics.

Ties between India and Canada came under severe strain following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations in September last year of the "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Nijjar.
 

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On Seat Sharing, Maharashtra's Ruling Alliance Nears Finishing Line: Sources

The ruling alliance in Maharashtra has almost completed the knotty exercise of seat sharing, various leaders indicated off the record today. Sources in the BJP said the party will contest on 158 of the state's 288 seats. It has offered 70 seats to Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena and 50 to Ajit Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party.

The alliance has also decided not to project a face for the Chief Minister post and Eknath Shinde is expected to remain its face in the run-up to the election, sources said after the Congress and the BJP held parallel strategy meets. 

The BJP's Maharashtra core group meet in Delhi was attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and party chief J P Nadda. 

Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the party's national general secretary Vinod Tawde were among those present. 

The blueprint settles the challenges the Mahayuti was facing - the high demands from alliance partners and the BJP's internal resistance to allotting seats to Ajit Pawar's faction of the NCP. The Shiv Sena was asking for 90 seats and the NCP 70. 

The Opposition alliance Maha Vikas Aghadi, meanwhile, is still at work trying to establish its broad roadmap. The parties are yet to sort out the tussle over some of the seats, including state capital Mumbai and Nagpur. 

The Congress, which also held a strategy meet earlier this evening, announced that the decision on the Chief Minister in Maharashtra will be taken after the elections - a situation that the Uddhav Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena is deeply uncomfortable with. 

Mr Thackeray has repeatedly said an announcement about the Chief Ministerial candidate, whoever it is, should be made as early as possible. He, however, has maintained that the Opposition will wait till the ruling alliance shows its cards. 

At the Congress meet, held in Delhi under the chairmanship of Mallikarjun Kharge, the leaders were advised to avoid overconfidence like in Haryana.

The state leaders, who included Maharashtra unit chief Nana Patole and Maharashtra in-charge Ramesh Chennithala, were advised to speak with caution on sensitive issues including Other Backward Classes and Maratha reservation. Over-dependence on Jats, and short shrift to the OBCs had cost the Congress heavily in Haryana. 

In Maharashtra too, the BJP strategy includes consolidation of the OBC votes with various other communities to take on the MVA alliance of Uddhav Thackeray, Sharad Pawar and the Congress. The ruling alliance is also hopeful of winning a chunk of the Maratha vote. 

The November-December election in Maharashtra is one from which the Opposition has high hopes, having bested the ruling alliance in the Lok Sabha election earlier this year. The results, they claimed, has decisively settled the question of which is the real Shiv Sena and the real NCP, even though the Election Commission had awarded the party names and election symbols to the rebel factions in both cases. 

The outcome was dismal for the ruling alliance, with the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi -the alliance of Congress, Uddhav Thackeray faction of Shiv Sena and the Sharad Pawar faction of the NCP - winning 30 of the state's 48 Lok Sabha seats. The ruling alliance won 17. One seat went to an Independent candidate.

Election dates for Jharkhand and Maharashtra are likely to be announced soon. 

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In Daring Assam Prisonbreak, 5 Men Scale 20-Foot Wall With Bedsheets, Lungis

Five undertrial prisoners, charged under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, escaped from a prison in Assam after breaking rods and scaling a 20-foot wall using bedsheets, blankets and 'lungis' (a piece of clothing worn around the waist). 

The prisoners escaped from the Morigaon District Jail between 1 and 2 am on Friday, prompting the district administration to order a magisterial probe. The jailer, Prashanta Saikia, has been suspended, and two assistant jailers from Guwahati have been temporarily assigned to manage the prison.

Inspector General (Prisons) Pubali Gohain will also conduct a separate departmental inquiry into the incident.

The escaped prisoners, identified as Saifuddin, Ziarul Islam, Nur Islam, Mafidul, and Abdul Rashid, managed to break the rods of their barracks and used blankets, lungis, and bedsheets to scale the 20-foot compound wall. 

Morigaon Superintendent of Police Hemanta Kumar Das confirmed that a manhunt has been launched to track down the five undertrials. "We will interrogate some of the jail inmates tomorrow. Everything will come out in the investigation," Mr Das said.

Morigaon District Commissioner Devashis Sarma said the prisoners are residents of Tezpur in Sonitpur district and Lahorighat and Moirabari in Morigaon district.

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Haryana, Jammu And Kashmir Votes To Be Counted Today

Political parties and leaders wait with bated breath for the Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir assembly poll results today. Officials said all preparations, including security arrangements, have been completed for the counting process which begins at 8 am.

While 93 counting centres have been set up across 90 assembly constituencies in 22 districts of Haryana, heavy security arrangements have been put in place at all 20 counting centres and district headquarters across Jammu and Kashmir for the vote count in Jammu and Kashmir. The election results in Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana will come days after the exit polls predicted a comeback for the Congress in the heartland state and a hung house in the union territory.

Haryana

The elections in Haryana are the first major direct contest between the BJP and the Congress following the Lok Sabha polls, and the result here would be used by the winner to build a narrative in their favour in other states where polls are due over the next few months.

The key parties in the fray are the BJP, the Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, INLD-BSP and the JJP-Azad Samaj Party. However, most seats are likely to see a direct fight between the BJP and the Congress.

A total of 1,031 candidates, including 464 Independents and 101 women, are in the fray on Haryana's 90 constituencies which voted in a single phase on October 5.

Prominent among those in the fray are Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini (Ladwa), Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda (Garhi Sampla-Kiloi), INLD's Abhay Chautala (Ellenabad), JJP's Dushyant Chautala (Uchana Kalan), BJP's Anil Vij (Ambala Cantt), Capt Abhimanyu (Narnaund), O P Dhankar (Badli), AAP's Anurag Dhanda (Kalayat) and Congress' Vinesh Phogat (Julana).

A few rebels from both Congress and BJP have also entered the contest.

In 2019, the BJP formed the government with the support of JJP while most Independents also extended support. However, JJP's post-poll tie-up with the BJP ended after the saffron party replaced Manohar Lal Khattar with Nayab Singh Saini as chief minister in March this year.

Jammu And Kashmir

The counting of votes in Jammu and Kashmir will be special as the union territory will get its first elected government since 2019 when Article 370 was abrogated.

However, on the eve of the results, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha's power to nominate five members to the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly was at the centre of a political and legal debate, with the Congress and regional parties National Conference and PDP on opposing any such move during government formation.

The Congress, its ally National Conference (NC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have also threatened to approach the Supreme Court.

In the mega battle of alliances, the addition of the five nominated members would take the House strength to 95, and the majority mark to 48. These members, who could be potentially advantageous to the BJP, will have the same powers and voting rights as other MLAs.

Meanwhile, top leaders of the Congress-NC alliance, the BJP and the PDP have expressed confidence in forming the next government in the union territory.

While the Congress and the National Conference, who formed a pre-poll alliance, claimed they would cross the magical figure of 46 in the 90-member House on their own, the BJP was relying on independent candidates and the PDP said no secular government was possible in Jammu and Kashmir without its support.

Meanwhile, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti has asserted that the next government in Jammu and Kashmir will be secular and not without her party's support.

The first assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir - to decide the fate of 873 candidates - since 2014 was held over three phases with 24 seats going to polls in the first phase on September 18. The second phase of polling was held on September 18 in which 26 seats went to polls while the polling for the remaining 40 seats was held on October 1.

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Tendulkar Snubbed By Ponting In 'Most Naturally Talented Batter' Pick

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting is widely respected for his cricket wisdom, and does not shy away from giving his opinions. But the newly-appointed Punjab Kings coach has now given another crispy take. Despite having played with and against India legend Sachin Tendulkar, Ponting did not name him as either the most naturally talented cricketer or even the most naturally talented batter that he has seen. Instead, Ponting went for two other greats of his generation for the two categories.

"I'll say Jacques Kallis is the most talented player that I've ever seen, because of his all-round game. I'm not just talking about a talented batsman; I'm talking about a talented cricketer," said Ponting, in a panel discussion with Sky Sports.

Former South African all-rounder Kallis is widely regarded as one of, if not, the greatest all-rounders in the history of cricket. Ponting listed Kallis' tremendous statistical dominance as a reason.

Ricky Ponting on Jacques Kallis - class recognises class pic.twitter.com/Pl05hllgGr

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) October 4, 2024

"Jacques Kallis made 44-45 Test hundreds, probably 300 wickets, maybe more than that, and he'd have an unbelievable catching record as well in Test cricket, so I think he's one of the most underrated players ever that's played the game," Ponting said.

"I mean, I know he's rated; obviously he should be, but not many people talk about him as being one of the all-time greats, and in my eyes, he certainly is," Ponting added.

Over the course of his career, Kallis piled up more than 25,000 international runs and 500 international wickets across all formats. Kallis retired as the third-highest Test run-scorer of all time, and eighth on the list of ODI run-scorers. Tendulkar tops both lists.

On the other hand, Ponting named West Indies great Brian Lara as the most naturally talented batter he has ever seen.

"The most naturally talented batsman, I'd say, would be Brian Lara," Ponting added.

Ponting and Tendulkar played alongside each other during the fag end of their careers, as both won the IPL title with Mumbai Indians in 2013.

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Diljit's London Show Was Joined By Badshah. Keeping Calm Is Not An Option

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View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Haroon Rashid (@iharoonrashid)

After wrapping up his international tour, Diljit Dosanjh will kick off the Indian leg of his tour this October, starting at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on October 26. Following Delhi, the tour will head to Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Pune, Kolkata, Bangalore, Indore, Chandigarh and Guwahati.

In a note shared by his team, Diljit expressed his excitement about bringing the tour to India and said, "Bringing the Dil-Luminati Tour to India is a dream come true. After an incredible journey abroad, performing in my homeland feels like coming full circle. The love and energy I've felt from fans worldwide have been extraordinary, but there's something uniquely special about performing here, where it all began. India, get ready, because Punjabi ghar aa gaye oye! We're going to make history together-I promise you a night you'll never forget!"

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Manvat Murders Review: Ashutosh Gowarikar's Occult Thriller Disappoints

Indian rural folklore is filled with bone-chilling stories of superstitions, witchcraft and occult practices. While the terminologies or details may vary with pin codes, what remains constant is the paralysing fear of the unknown, which often pushes one to humanity-defying extremes and unbelievable crimes.

SonyLiv's latest Web series Manvat Murders is about a similar story of occult killings, based on the horrifying murders that shook Maharashtra's Manvat village in the ‘70s. In a span of two years, brutally butchered bodies of 11 girls and women were found in the village, with blood drawn from their private parts, hinting at a ritualistic connection.

The eight-part Marathi-language thriller begins with the killing of a woman working in a field by two masked men, who take an axe to her head. She is just one among many victims. The entire region is gripped in terror and women are scared to step out of their houses alone.

We are then introduced to Ramakant Kulkarni (Ashutosh Gowariker), a decorated police officer with an impressive track record of solving all his cases. Once the bodies pile up, Kulkarni is sent off from Mumbai to Manvat to find the culprit behind the hideous killings.

Sonali Kulkarni has done a stellar performance in the series

Kulkarni is the polar opposite of his corrupt colleagues. He has a keen interest in criminal psychology, has his own tactics for extracting information from people, and picks up even on the smallest of details from the case. While the team around him is impatient, clueless, and rogue, the poised officer has all his moves calculated in advance.

As the investigation proceeds, one of the prime suspects turns out to be a local couple: Uttamrao Barahate (Makrand Anaspure) and his consort Rukmini (Sonali Kulkarni), who run a secret illegal hooch business and have the entire community riddled under their debt. Even when they are banished from the region by law, their business — now being handled by Rukmani's sister Samindri — goes on without a hitch. Meanwhile, the couple is working on a petition to reclaim their house.

Through the next seven episodes, as the investigation continues, we get served with frequent flashbacks of previous murders. And as more killings take place, the case grows into a tangle of old leads and new suspects. Themes of poverty, illiteracy, and addiction are also touched upon while keeping the prime focus on occultism.

The crime thriller portrays the topic with the care and sensitivity it deserves. Its unfiltered representation of the murders and paedophilia is hair-raising and disturbing, but rarely gratuitous. The show manages to explore the fragility and vulnerability of the human mind, easily manipulated and pushed to dark corners. It's frightening to see how trivial and indispensable human life might be for those blindly following the herd.

Ashutosh Gowariker plays police officer Ramakant Kulkarni who is inspecting the case of occult killings in Manvat

Sonali Kulkarni, in particular, has done an exceptional job of portraying this unabashed faith in an immoral cause. Here, she plays an infertile woman, ready to go to any extent to bear a child. Her persona is powerful and dark, and she'll make you uncomfortable every time she is on the screen. In a particularly harrowing scene in the third episode, she wails in front of a lamp under the sacred fig tree for being barren. Kulkarni has a respectable body of work behind her, and her portrayal of Rukmini sits among them as one of her finest so far.

Also excellent here is, Sai Tamhankar, who plays Rukmini's sister. She brings an intimidating aura to every scene she's in. This was the first time I got a chance to see her work, and I am now eagerly looking forward to seeing more of her in future.

Manvat Murders is also shot and edited in ways that compound the horror of the events unfolding before you. Scenes of every day life are portrayed impressively, as well, bringing a living rhythm to the village and its people. Visually, the show can often evoke a quiet serenity, despite the macabre events unfolding in the background. Some of the frames (Satyajeet Shobha Shriram handles the cinematography in the show), like the ones with Uttamrao's villa in the focus, are filmed so beautifully that they give the impression of a vibrant painting. Director Ashish Avinash Bende has wisely ditched the overexploited romanticization of the landscape in favour of a more authentic representation of rural Maharashtra, without compromising its cultural appeal.

The series is available to stream in Marathi, Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, and Bengali

In the investigation rooms, the colours of the character's ensembles are in perfect sync with the walls, and colour tones are in alignment with the mood of the scene. It's these small technical details that ironically add poetic value to the scenes.

But while it excels in recreating a setting, Manvat Murders' story suffers from an ebbing momentum, despite power-packed performances. I understand the series' intention of drawing a contrast between the intense occult and simple rationale, but the approach ends up becoming a hurdle for the narrative. The episodic mystery didn't really hook me, and I rarely found myself aching in anticipation of what's to come. Even though the show is based on a true incident and isn't exactly a groundbreaking concept (it comes weeks after Netflix film Sector 36, based on 2006 Noida serial murders), it could have avoided being predictable. You don't really need to look up the real-life case to gauge where the show is going. Given that the gruesome case isn't a part of national consciousness, not everyone might be aware of the events that transpired. But Manvat Murders misses the opportunity to retell the story definitively for those who might be new to the nightmare.

Despite its shortcomings, Manvat Murders remains a capable thriller and an ideal jumping-off point for true crime nuts to dig into the horrific events that took place decades ago. It is a fine adaptation that stays true to its source material and gives away the facts straight, without dramatising or pacifying them in the name of creative liberty.

While it won't exactly keep you on your toes in anticipation, it makes up for it with its chilling portrayal of sacrificial killings that shook the life and times of a tiny village in Maharashtra. And its outstanding performances are enough to carry you through to the end. Manvat Murders raises important questions about faith and the grave consequences of unchecked superstition. But those questions rarely lead to a deeper introspection.

Rating: 6.5/10

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"UN Security Council Not Fixable In Current Format": US Ex Envoy To NDTV

Former US ambassador to the UN John Bolton today told NDTV that the United Nations is a huge organisation and that many bodies of the global body are irrelevant. He said the UN's massive size is a part of its problems.

"Some of the specialised and technical agencies do good work when they stay out of politics. But the Security Council and the General Assembly, the Human Rights Council are paralysed and therefore largely irrelevant," Mr Bolton told NDTV.

"I am not sure if there is any way to bring meaningful reform. Many people have tried over the years, many suggestions have been given. It's very hard to see if any of them can be brought to bear," he added.

Mr Bolton's comments come at a time when the world is beset by wars, humanitarian crises and other problems, bringing the focus back to whether the UN is becoming incapable of ensuring multilateral responses to solve serious global problems.

On how the UN can address some of the problems - if it can - the former diplomat said it is important to look at some of the particular pieces of the UN because some pieces are clearly much much better than others when they do the work they are supposed to do.

"Some of them are obscure, such as the World Intellectual Property Organisation which deals with a hugely important subject matter and so far we should keep our fingers crossed it has done good work," Mr Bolton said.

On the other end of the spectrum, the Security Council, for example, is not fixable at its current state, he said.

"The Security Council I don't think is fixable in its current format where you have Russia and China in this increasingly close axis with China as the dominant partner determined to pursue their own interests. It is not the Cold War, but not also dissimilar to the gridlock that was the cold war," he said.

Mr Bolton shared some suggestions as to what kinds of reforms may work.

"The reforms that I have suggested are based on my very long experience in the UN system, and that is we need to change the funding system. I would eliminate the system of cess contribution where every nation pays a percentage of the budget of different UN bodies, and replace it with entirely voluntary contributions," Mr Bolton said.

"This is a radical theory that if something doesn't work, then you shouldn't have to pay for it. You should put your money in an institution that does work and I think that reform has very little chance of being adopted by the members," he said. "But that I think is something that might actually wake the UN up," he added.

India has also been aspiring to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council. It recently received a huge boost after UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer backed India's bid for the permanent membership, days after US President Joe Biden and France's Emmanuel Macron made a similar pitch.

At present, the UNSC comprises five permanent members and 10 non-permanent member countries which are elected for a two-year term by the General Assembly. The five permanent members are Russia, the UK, China, France, and the United States, which have the power to veto any substantive resolution.

"We want to see permanent African representation on the Council, Brazil, India, Japan, and Germany as permanent members, and more seats for elected members as well," Mr Starmer had said.

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Israel Planning "Significant Retaliation Within Days". What It Could Be

Israel will reportedly carry out a "very significant retaliation within days", officials privy of the developments in Tel Aviv said on Wednesday. This comes a day after Iran launched an onslaught of nearly 200 ballistic missiles targeting Israel on Tuesday night.

Israel will likely target Iran's major oil producing facilities and may even launch an attack on Iran's major power plants. If indeed this happens, it will deal a crippling blow to Iran's already-strained economy due to US sanctions while also dealing a blow to its infrastructure and energy security. Israel may further target other strategic locations across Iran.

After Iran's ballistic missile attack - the sharpest escalation since the start of the Israel-Hamas war a year ago - Israel and Iran are on the brink of opening a new and far more dangerous front to the West Asia crisis.

HOW ISRAEL MIGHT RESPOND TO IRAN'S MISSILE ATTACK

While Israel has vowed to retaliate strongly to the missile attack, Iran has also pledged to hit back again if Israel responds to Tehran's missile attack with force. To this, Tel Aviv has reportedly said that if Iran responds with a second attack, then Israel will explore all options available to it, including obliterating all of Iran's nuclear facilities.

According to a news report in Axios, Israel would then also consider the option of airstrikes across Iran's strategic facilities to decimate its infrastructure while also launching covert operations across Iran - like the one that killed Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.

In an exclusive interview to NDTV, Israeli Ambassador Reuven Azar said "I believe the response (to Iran's missile attack) will be very structured, strategic and pin-pointed or precision attacks."

Senior Israeli officials believe that the response could also be in the form of "targeted killings of extremists and radicals". Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's direct address to the people of Iran, saying "Israel stands with you. You will soon be free" is being seen by many as a veiled message indicating a regime change in Iran.

A DARE TO ISRAEL

Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has already been moved to a safe house at an undisclosed location. News reports claimed that the recent ballistic missile attack on Israel was a direct order from the Supreme Leader, which was then cleared by the top decision-making body in Tehran.

Iran's Supreme Leader however, has openly challenged Israel by reportedly saying that he will be leading thousands of Iranians for Friday's Islamic prayers in Tehran. This can be seen as a dare to Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has described Iran's missile attack as a "big mistake" and said Tehran would pay for it. "Iran made a big mistake and will pay for it. The Iranian regime does not understand our determination to defend ourselves and our determination to take revenge on our enemies," he had said.

Calling it a "severe and dangerous escalation," Israeli Defence Forces or IDF spokesperson, RAdm. Daniel Hagari had said, "There will be consequences. We will respond wherever, whenever and however we choose, in accordance with the directive of the government of Israel."
 

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Chagossians criticise lack of say in UK deal to hand over islands

Chagossians claim they were repeatedly refused the chance to take part in negotiations behind the historic deal.

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PM Modi Chairs Urgent Top-Level Security Meet On Widening West Asia Crisis

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called an urgent meeting of the government's topmost decision-making body - the Cabinet Committee on Security over the crisis in West Asia.

The committee comprising the Prime Minister, the Home Minister, the Defence Minister, the Foreign Minister, the Finance Minister and the National Security Adviser, discussed in detail the fresh hostilities in the Middle East and the sharp escalation after Iran's ballistic missile attack on Israel.

Describing the recent developments in West Asia as "deeply concerning", the highest committee in the country delved upon various issues arising from the ongoing and widening crisis.

Among several key issues, they discussed the impact on trade, navigation, and supply chains - especially the supply of oil, petroleum, and its products.

India has urged all parties involved in the conflict to address all issues urgently, and through diplomacy and dialogue. New Delhi has also said that the ongoing conflict "must not take a wider regional dimension."

IMPACT ON MARITIME TRADE AND SUPPLY CHAINS

A conflict doesn't just affect those who are party to it, but has a fallout that impacts the rest of the region and even the world. With the sharp escalation between Iran and Israel, India is bracing for wider trade disruptions across the key Red Sea and Gulf of Aden routes.

The conflict can lead to significantly higher cargo freight tariffs as Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah militants have close ties with the Houthi rebels in Yemen, who are responsible for most attacks on merchant ships and vessels carrying cargo via the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden routes.

The Red Sea crisis began in October last year, when Iran-backed Houthi militia disrupted global trade in the area. For India alone, it affected petroleum exports which dropped 37.56 per cent to $5.96 billion in August this year, down from $9.54 billion in the same month last year.

The Red Sea route followed by the Suez Canal accounts for 50 per cent of India's exports - worth Rs 18 lakh crore, and 30 per cent of imports, worth Rs 17 lakh crore, as per data from 2023.

India's overall merchandise trade (exports and imports combined) in FY23 was Rs 94 lakh crore, with 68 per cent (in value terms) and 95 per cent (in volume terms) shipped by sea.

India also trades heavily with the Gulf nations. As per the latest government data, the Gulf Cooperation Council or GCC now contributes 15 per cent of India's total trade, and sectors like energy, defence, security, and health are growing rapidly in the region. The bilateral trade between India and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries reached $162 billion last year.
 

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Helene is deadliest mainland US hurricane since Katrina

Hundreds of people are still missing and nearly a million homes are without power a week after the storm tore across the US south-east.

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"Caste System Basic Structure For Centuries, Can't Escape This": Jairam Ramesh

Amid the voices being raised in the favour of conducting a nationwide caste census from the Congress, party leader Jairam Ramesh on Wednesday said that the caste system has been in our basic structure for centuries and we cannot escape this, hence Congress is demanding the conduct of a caste-based census.

He further questioned whether demanding a caste census is casteism.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, "Is bringing a social empowerment a casteism? Is safeguarding the Constitution a casteism? Is demanding for caste census a casteism? Caste system has been in our basic structure for the centuries. We cannot escape this. Congress party is saying that conduct a caste census. The second thing that we are saying is to implement the provisions mentioned in the Constitution."

Mr Ramesh further demanded for an amendment in the Constitution to increase the reservation limit from 50 percent.

"The Supreme Court has mentioned that the limit for reservations will be 50 percent. But, we are saying that when the population of SC, ST, and OBCs is more than 50 percent then remove this limit and bring an amendment in the Constitution...We do not need any certification of nationalism from them (the PM and Union Home Minister)..." he said.

Earlier in the day, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said that the party is demanding a caste census to bring in welfare measures.

He said, "We are demanding a caste census to bring in welfare measures. This does not mean that we are not patriotic. They have always worked against the country and the constitution... Patriotic people are only there in Congress. These were the people who bowed down in front of the British for their lives."

Several opposition parties in India including Congress, RJD, NCP-SCP, etc. have a longstanding demand for conduction of a caste-based census in India, that revolves around the need for accurate data on the population of different caste groups.

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

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'He's got the moves' - King tries Samoan dance

The King and Queen met guests representing the Commonwealth at a St James's Palace reception.

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Painting Found In Cellar Turns Out To Be Original Picasso Worth Rs 50 Crore

A junk dealer's discovery in a Capri cellar has turned out to be an original Picasso portrait. According to a Guardian report, Luigi Lo Rosso found the painting in 1962, took it home to Pompeii, and hung it in his living room despite his wife's distaste for it. For decades, the painting remained a mystery, until Lo Rosso's son Andrea started researching art history and noticed the distinctive signature in the top left corner. The family then sought the advice of a team of experts, including a well-known art detective, Maurizio Seracini. Cinzia Altieri, a graphologist and member of the Arcadia Foundation's scientific committee, confirmed the painting's distorted style as classic Picasso. The art piece is now valued at 5 million pounds (Rs 55,71,18,527).

''After all the other examinations of the painting were done, I was given the job of studying the signature. I worked on it for months, comparing it with some of his original works. There is no doubt that the signature is his. There was no evidence suggesting that it was false,'' Mr Altieri told the Guardian. 

It's believed that the portrait is of Dora Maar, a French photographer and painter who was Picasso's mistress and muse. 

Lo Ross died, but his son Andrea, who is 60 now, pursued his quest to discover the artist behind the painting.

''My father was from Capri and would collect junk to sell for next to nothing. He found the painting before I was even born and didn't have a clue who Picasso was. He wasn't a very cultured person. I kept telling my father it was similar, but he didn't understand. But as I grew up, I kept wondering,'' Andrea Lo Rosso told The Guardian.

Mr Rosso also revealed that his family considered disposing of the painting due to his mother's strong dislike. "She found it repulsive and repeatedly urged us to get rid of it," he added. 

His quest to validate his father's discovery faced a significant hurdle when the Picasso Foundation in Málaga repeatedly dismissed his claims as false. Despite this setback, experts, including graphologist Cinzia Altieri, have now confirmed the painting's authenticity.

Notably, Picasso frequently visited Capri, where the painting was discovered, and the estimated creation period between 1930 and 1936 aligns with his stylistic evolution. Notably, Picasso created over 14,000 works during his lifetime, leaving room for unknown pieces to emerge.

The painting, now stored in a Milan vault, awaits official recognition from the Picasso Foundation.

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'Love in the air' - 100 weddings in a day at one venue

Couples paid £100 to tie the knot at Old Marylebone Town Hall, which celebrates its 100th birthday.

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