Russian Paediatrician Faces Decade In Jail For Criticizing Ukraine Offensive

Wearing a short-sleeved chequered shirt, 68-year-old Moscow paediatrician Nadezhda Buyanova faced court Thursday, like thousands before her, for having criticised the Kremlin's Ukraine offensive.

The doctor faces up to a decade in prison.

She is on trial accused of spreading "fake" information on the army after a complaint from the ex-wife of a soldier killed in Ukraine -- Anastasia Akinshina.

The trial has revealed the level of repression gripping Russia for more than two years, in which thousands of Russians have landed in court for criticising the military offensive orally or on social media.

Buyanova was born in Ukraine's western city of Lviv and has lived in Russia for almost 30 years.

Akinshina has accused the doctor of saying during an appointment that her ex-husband was a "lawful target for Ukraine."

The 34-year-old testified in court Thursday and accused the doctor of speaking in a "mocking tone".

"She told me that my (ex-) husband was a legitimate target for Ukraine, that Russia is an aggressor country that was attacking Ukrainian civilians," Akinshina said in court, crying.

"It all makes sense. This is why she hates Russia and Russian fighters. She is from Lviv!" she exclaimed.

Anything Ukrainian is considered suspicious in Russia and some Russians with Ukrainian backgrounds have reported pressure.

Denunciations -- a practice common in the Soviet era -- have grown in Russia since the military offensive, which ushered in an unprecedented crackdown on dissent.

'I am just a simple doctor'

Ahead of the court hearing, Buyanova told journalists that she was innocent.

"It's all a misunderstanding," she said.

"I am just a simple doctor, this is all very hard for me," she added.

Since being denounced in January, Buyanova was fired from the clinic where she worked, then arrested in February and accused of being motivated by "ethnic hatred".

Her lawyers have said that Akinshina's seven-year-old son was not present during the conversation, arguing that the accusation should therefore be lifted since Russian law only punishes spreading "fake information" on the army "in public."

Moscow has used the legislation, adopted in the wake of the offensive, to silence dissent.

Around 20 people came to support Buyanova in court.

They included the parents of jailed opposition politician Ilya Yashin, serving eight and a half years for denouncing the Ukraine offensive.

"There are more and more political prisoners every day," the politician's mother Tatiana Yashina told AFP. "I think it is important to support each other."

"I have the impression that her guilt lies in that she was born in Lviv," she added.

The west Ukrainian city is known for a specific strand of anti-Russian sentiment and has been portrayed in Russia as the birthplace of evil.

Some medics, many of whom have been shaken by the affair, also came to the court.

Over 6,000 doctors have signed a petition in Buyanova's defence.

Ambulance worker Vera Rebrova, 49, said she travelled from Saint Petersburg in order to support Buyanova in the capital.

"Her story has shocked me," she said.

Hygienist Olga Zaleskaya, 42, said she signed the open letter in support of Buyanova.

"It is our duty to support this person in a situation that is this difficult," she said.

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

from NDTV News-World-news https://ift.tt/PNrXhdv

"Emotionally Draining": Selena Gomez Unsure Of Going On Music Tour Again

American singer Selena Gomez has hinted that her music tour is not likely to happen in the near future. In an interview with Time Magazine, the Rare Beauty founder said the process is "emotionally draining" for her. "Nothing makes me happier than 90 minutes of being with my fans and just celebrating together," she said, about the prospect being "50-50".

The 31-year-old star continued, "It is very emotionally draining for me. And then you realize you're just surrounded by a bunch of people that you're paying." Notably, she last toured in 2016 for promotion of her album 'Revival', however, she withdrew due to lupus-related anxiety and depression.

The Emmy-nominated artist revealed in 2019 that she no longer used Instagram after taking multiple breaks from the platform over the years because comments on her photos had made her feel "depressed". Speaking about social media and its effect on mental health, she said, "It's a cliché, but girls are mean. It's a very weird competition, being in the cool girls area-and then I'm just kind of like, there. I don't know where I'm meant to belong. I love having levelheaded people around that couldn't give two fu*** about what I do."

Ms Gomez acknowledged that she experiences loneliness sometimes, but she strongly believes in expressing your emotions. "It's hard," she said. "You could be in a crowd of people and still feel alone. I still deal with that," she told Time Magazine.

In January, the singer hinted that she could retire from music and that her next album could be the last one. The 31-year-old stated that she wants to focus on her acting career instead, as per a report in the Independent. Before making her breakthrough as a pop singer and scoring several singles, such as "Hands to Myself," "Rare," and "Bad Liar," she first gained popularity as a Disney Channel star. In 2020, she debuted her culinary programme Selena + Chef. The following year, she garnered critical acclaim for her leading part in the comedy mystery Only Murders in the Building on Hulu, where she co-starred with Steve Martin and Martin Short.

The Rare Beauty founder revealed that she wishes to settle on a particular thing during an episode of the SmartLess podcast with Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes and Will Arnett. She said, "I started having a lot of fun with music and then touring was really fun. But I was doing my TV show (Wizards of Waverly Place) at the same time and I just found it really fun, so I just kept going."

Nevertheless, the singer said, as she grew older, she became more aware of her need to "find something to just settle on." "I do feel like I have one more album in me but I would probably choose acting," she said. As the podcast hosts lauded Ms Gomez's musical abilities and said she didn't have to pick, she answered, "You're right, but I'm going to want to chill because I'm tired."

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/G6qOJ9C

'All Eyes On Rafah' Pic Was Likely Generated By AI And 1st Shared By...

Nearly 45 million people, including top Bollywood and Hollywood celebrities, have shared on Twitter and Instagram an image that depicts tent camps for displaced Palestinians arranged to form the words "All Eyes On Rafah". 

Amid international condemnation over Israeli airstrikes that triggered a fire killing 45 people in a tent camp in Rafah late Sunday, the "All Eyes On Rafah" campaign gained momentum on social media with the world drawing attention to Israel's continuous bombing of the Gaza Strip.

The image shows the words "All Eyes On Rafah" spelt out in rows of white tents with a backdrop of mountains in the distance. A question that comes to mind is whether the image is real or artificial intelligence (AI)-generated.

Reality of viral image

Unlike other graphic images and videos emerging from Gaza, the latest image is likely to have been generated with the help of AI, according to experts.

On social media, the image has even been criticised by some for replacing the "fake" one with the distressing footage of what has been happening in Gaza.

Felix M Simon, a communication researcher at the Oxford Internet Institute, said he is “confident” that the said image “was generated with the help of AI,” The Washington Post reported.

Simon noted that it “bears various visual hallmarks that are typical for AI systems -- especially a certain blurriness.”

The report states that no cleanly cut rows of tents as well as a sloping snow-topped mountain can be seen near Rafah's encampments in reality.

These tents have been in fields and buildings, while this region in Gaza's southernmost city, where around 1.5 million people have sought shelter after fleeing Israeli bombings, is dotted with palm trees and the occasional sandy hill. 

The image could have been generated by AI to bypass Meta's content moderation policies and ensure that it doesn't get taken down for depiction of violence or destruction.

The footage from the deadly airstrike on Sunday depicts a completely different image of Rafah compared with the viral one -- charred bodies, a man carrying a headless child, flames tearing through fabric and so on.

The Meta-owned company has credited a user named 'shahv4012' as the first person to share the image in a Stories template. 

Matt Navarra, a social media expert, noted that the uncontroversial nature of the post might be the reason behind its massive reach. “It doesn't depict real-world violence. Although it feels sanitised, that is what has enabled it to have the level of viral reach that it has received so far,” Navarra said.

He further pointed out that the social media platform has not yet labelled the viral image to let users know it was produced with the help of AI.

The slogan mentioned in the image has reportedly originated from a statement by Rick Peeperkorn, director of the World Health Organization's Office of the Occupied Palestinian Territories. 

He made this comment in February earlier this year shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered an evacuation plan for Rafah ahead of attacks aimed at what he then claimed were the last remaining strongholds of Hamas.

So far, a total of 36,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's Gaza offensive, the region's health ministry has said.

Israel launched its onslaught after Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israeli communities on October 7 last year, killing around 1,200 people and seizing more than 250 hostages.

from NDTV News-World-news https://ift.tt/5cYb2MK

China Banker Gets Death Sentence For Taking Rs 1,264 Crore In Bribes

Bai Tianhai, former general manager of China Huarong International Holdings (CHIH), who accepted bribes worth more than 1.1 billion yuan (Rs 12,64,12,73,722) has been sentenced to death by a court in eastern China. The court found that the former senior banker took advantage of his position to aid others in the acquisitions and financing of projects in exchange for huge sums, South China Morning Post reported. 

Notably, CHIH, an offshore unit of China Huarong Asset Management (CHAM), was taken over by the Citic Group and renamed China Citic Financial Asset Management in January.

The court noted that the bribes the former banker had taken were ''particularly huge'' and the impacts of his crimes on society ''particularly pernicious, causing … serious losses to the interests of the state and the people''. 

''Taking all these [factors] into account, [the court] ruled that [Bai] does not deserve a lighter sentence. Hence the death penalty verdict,'' the ruling said.

During the ruling, the court ordered that all his personal property be confiscated. He was also permanently stripped of his political rights.

Before Tianhai, his ex-boss and former chairman of CHAM, also received a death sentence for corruption. In January 2021, the same court sentenced Lai Xiaomin after finding him guilty of taking 1.79 billion yuan (US$247 million) in bribes, embezzlement of public assets worth more than 25.13 million yuan (US$3.46 million), and bigamy.

Xu Maiyong and Jiang Renjie, former mayors of the eastern cities of Hangzhou, in Zhejiang province, and Suzhou in Jiangsu, also received similar sentences. 

It's not yet known if Tianhai would be appealing the sentence. A Beijing-based criminal lawyer said that he expects Bai to appeal on grounds of precedent, citing cases where defendants were given lesser sentences for similar offences.

The rare ruling comes after China's top corruption watchdog, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) launched a crackdown on the finance sector this year, in response to Xi Jinping's call to make China a "financial superpower" and contain risks.

There should be “absolutely no mercy” in rooting out the “severe and complex” problem of corruption and fraud, Xi said.

from NDTV News-World-news https://ift.tt/vbdAkWK

Titan Tragedy: Billionaire To Take Sub To Titanic Site To Prove Its Safety

Almost a year after the Titan sub implosion, an Ohio real estate investor intends to prove that the expedition can be completed safely by sending a two-person submersible down to Titanic-level depths. Billionaire Larry Connor said he and Triton Submarines co-founder Patrick Lahey will travel more than 12,400 feet to the Titanic shipwreck site in the submersible, as per a report in the New York Post.

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, the investor Larry Connor said, "I want to show people worldwide that while the ocean is extremely powerful, it can be wonderful and enjoyable and really kind of life-changing if you go about it the right way."

Mr Connor has designed a Triton 4000/2 Abyssal Explorer, a $20 million vessel, which will carry out the voyage. It has been named "4000" for the depth in meters it can reach. "Patrick has been thinking about and designing this for over a decade. But we didn't have the materials and technology. You couldn't have built this sub five years ago," he added.

Triton Submarines co-founder Patrick Lahey told WSJ that Mr Connor called him a few days after the Titan sub implosion and said that need to build a sub that could dive safely. "You know, what we need to do is build a sub that can dive to (Titanic-level depths) repeatedly and safely and demonstrate to the world that you guys can do that, and that Titan was a contraption," Mr Lahey told about the billionaire. However, the real estate investor has not mentioned any specific date or timeline.

Mr Lahey was among the numerous industry critics who attacked OceanGate before and following the catastrophe, accusing it of questionable safety standards. Following the implosion, he called OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush's strategy for getting people on board "quite predatory."

Notably, the passengers on Titan had to sign a waiver that classified the ship as "experimental" three times and listed numerous ways in which they could die, as per a report in Business Insider. Errors, unsuccessful travel, and a sense of insecurity were also mentioned by previous travellers.

British explorer Hamish Harding, French submarine expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet, Pakistani-British tycoon Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman and Stockton Rush, died in the tragic accident. OceanGate has since then stopped these expeditions.

Experts recovered presumed human remains from what was left of the Titan sub after almost five days. Mangled debris recovered from the small submersible was offloaded in eastern Canada, which brought to an end a difficult search-and-recovery operation. A debris field was also found on the seafloor, 1,600 feet from the bow of the Titanic, which sits more than two miles below the ocean's surface and 400 miles off the coast of Newfoundland.

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/kD2xLJs

Woman, Out On A Walk, Discovers Over 2,150 Silver Coins From Middle Ages

A woman, out for a walk, was in for a surprise when she stumbled upon a buried treasure from the Middle Ages -- more than 2,150 silver coins -- in the Kutna Hora town of the central Bohemian region in the Czech Republic. 

Described by experts as a "once-in-a-decade discovery", these silver coins were minted between 1085 and 1107, according to a press release translated into English by the Institute of Archaeology of the Czech Academy of Sciences (ARUP).

Experts believe these coins were manufactured in Prague and were imported to Bohemia.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Archeologický ústav AV ČR, Praha (@aru.avcr.praha)

ARUP explained that the coins were made of "coin alloy, which, in addition to silver, also contains an admixture of copper, lead and trace metals”.

Once the experts determine the composition used in making these coins, they will also be able to tell the origins of the silver used, it added.

Political instability

The treasure was hidden when the region witnessed political instability, archaeologist Filip Velimsky said.

These coins were stored in a ceramic container that was destroyed over time. However, the archaeologists did manage to discover the bottom of the container.

Recalling history, Velimsky asserted that back then there were disputes in the country "between the members of the Přemysl dynasty about the princely throne of Prague."

Noting that battles were common during the period, ARUP, in its release, claimed that the depot could have been cash “for paying wages or spoils of war.”

The value of these ancient coins was “unimaginable” during the time, the historian said.

“Unfortunately, for the turn of the 11th–12th century, we lack data on the purchasing power of contemporary coins... But it was a huge, unimaginable – and at the same time, unavailable – amount for an ordinary person. It can be compared to winning a million in the jackpot," Velimsky explained.

Officials in the country have called the discovery “one of the largest finds of the last decade.”

What next?

For now, historians have started to process the coins. This includes putting them through X-rays to determine what material these coins are made from.

There are plans to put these coins up for display during an exhibition next year.

from NDTV News-World-news https://ift.tt/uAe36Od

Crazy Viral: SRK And Gauri Khan Pose With IPL Trophy After KKR's Win

Shah Rukh Khan couldn't be happier as Kolkata Knight Riders lifted the champion's trophy in the IPL 2024 beating SunRisers Hyderabad by 8 wickets on Sunday. Gauri Khan, who was present at the stadium with sons Aryan and AbRam and daughter Suhana, shared an adorable image with Shah Rukh Khan on her Instagram feed. In the picture shared, the power couple can be seen holding the trophy and flashing their brightest smiles. Gauri Khan can be seen wearing a black blazer over her jersey. Shah Rukh Khan is dressed in a black t-shirt. He can be seen adding a dash of style with his shades and bandana. Sharing the picture, Gauri wrote, "Winners @kkriders." The comments section was flooded with congratulatory messages. Let's have a quick look at the section.

Shah Rukh Khan's Dil To Pagal Hai co-star Karisma Kapoor dropped a series of emojis. Sussanne Khan wrote, "Congratulations. That's awesome" and dropped a series of purple hearts. Zoya Akhtar dropped  a series of emojis.  Neelam Kothari wrote, "Congratulations." Designer Manish Malhotra dropped a series of heart emojis and a trophy emoji. Take a look:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Gauri Khan (@gaurikhan)

Meanwhile, Shah Rukh Khan's manager Pooja Dadlani shared some pictures from their celebrations. In the first picture shared, Shah Rukh Khan can be seen posing with Gauri, Suhana, AbRam, Aryan, Shanaya (Kapoor), Ananya (Panday), Pooja Dadlani and her daughter. In the second picture, Shah Rukh Khan and Pooja can be seen joined by KKR's co-owner Juhi Chawla and her husband Jay Mehta. In the third picture, Shah Rukh Khan, Pooja and KKR's mentor Gautam Gambhir can be seen posing with the trophy. Sharing the pictures, Pooja wrote, "And we won!!!!! love you @kkriders." Take a look:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Pooja Dadlani Gurnani (@poojadadlani02)

Shah Rukh Khan, who suffered a heat stroke after KKR's Qualifier 1 win over SRH in Ahmedabad last week, was pictured kissing his wife Gauri after KKR's massive win. Several pictures and videos from the venue went viral. In the picture, Shah Rukh Khan can be seen giving a tight hug to Gauri while he kisses on her forehead. The caption on the video read, "The winning hug by the King of Indian Cinema - Shah Rukh Khan."

The winning hug by the King of Indian Cinema - Shah Rukh Khan 💜 pic.twitter.com/Vc5V7Vni8F

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) May 26, 2024

Here's another viral-worthy picture of the moment. The caption accompanying the post read, "The moment has my whole heart, This actually stole the whole show King Khan hugged his Queen Gauri Khan after KKR won the IPL 2024." Take a look:

The moment has my whole heart, This actually stole the whole show. 💜💜🥹

King Khan hugged his Queen Gauri Khan after KKR won the IPL 2024. 💜👑#ShahRukhKhan #GauriKhan #KKRvSRH #KKRvsSRH #IPL2024 #TATAIPL2024 #IPLFinal #IPLFinale #TATAIPLFinal pic.twitter.com/wmZVF9gwJc

— Saabir Zafar (@Saabir_Saabu01) May 26, 2024

Talking about the match, KKR lifted the trophy after a decade-long wait. It was their third victory in the IPL. The KKR bowlers left the Sunrisers dumbstruck to restrict the free-scoring SRH batting line-up to 113. In reply, KKR chased down in only 10.3 overs with eight wickets in hand.

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/cqDHRA1

Over 2,000 People Buried Alive In Massive Landslide In Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea informed the UN on Monday that more than 2,000 people were buried in a massive landslide that swept over a remote village, according to a copy of the letter obtained by AFP.

"The landslide buried more than 2,000 people alive and caused major destruction," the country's national disaster centre told the UN office in the capital Port Moresby.

A once-bustling remote hillside village in Enga province was almost wiped out when a chunk of Mount Mungalo collapsed in the early hours of Friday morning, burying scores of homes and the people sleeping inside them.

The landslide caused "major destruction to buildings, food gardens and caused major impact on the economic lifeline of the country", the disaster office said.

The main highway to Porgera Mine was "completely blocked", it said in the letter, which was received by UN officials on Monday morning.

"The situation remains unstable as the landslip continue to shift slowly, posing ongoing danger to both the rescue teams and survivors alike."

The scale of the catastrophe required "immediate and collaborative actions from all players", it said, including the army, and national and regional responders.

It called on UN to inform Papua New Guinea's development partners "and other international friends" of the latest situation.

Assistance should be coordinated through the disaster centre, it said.

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

from NDTV News-World-news https://ift.tt/bHLOqGU

Anasuya Sengupta's Reaction After Winning Best Actress Award At Cannes

Anasuya Sengupta is on cloud nine, and she has every reason to be. The star has etched her name in history by becoming the first Indian actor to win the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival. Anasuya received the trophy in the Un Certain Regard segment for her portrayal of Renuka in the film The Shameless. The movie has been written and directed by Bulgarian filmmaker Constantin Bojanov. Talking about her winning moment, Anasuya told the Hindustan Times, “I couldn't believe it was happening! But as I shakily walked to the stage and stood with artists I have admired, my heroes, it felt oddly natural to be welcomed with so much authenticity and love by them. I am so grateful to the jury for seeing my hard work."

After her grand victory, Anasuya Sengupta received congratulatory messages from many industry colleagues, including Alia Bhatt, Ranveer Singh, and Arjun Kapoor. Commenting on this, the actress added, "I am amazed at the love pouring in from so many back home, it makes me proud to make everyone proud. I am literally taxi-ing in the plane now on my way home to my family, I just can't wait to be with them.”

During the same discussion Anasuya Sengupta also spoke about the hard work she put in for The Shameless. She mentioned, "I auditioned for it, my director Constantin had reached out. It was a lead role…I have worked so hard for so long, and I'm here to keep doing it more and more. It all feels worth it when I look back, and all the pieces are wonderfully coming together for me finally."

Anasuya Sengupta dedicated her award to the queer community. In her winning speech, the star said, “I dedicate this and so much more to the queer community, other marginalised communities all over the world for so bravely fighting a fight that they really should not have to fight. You don't have to be queer to fight for equality, you don't have to be colonised to know that colonising is pathetic — we just need to be very, very decent human beings.”

Check out a video of her speech shared by a user on X [formerly Twitter]:

Anasuya Sengupta won the best actress award at Cannes 2024. She is the first Indian to do it.
The media is only busy in covering celebrities and influencers who are just flaunting their stupid dresses and also not wanted at Cannes.
If it was somebody from Bollywood or an… pic.twitter.com/x2jqNWM5KO

— CA Anshul Garg (Modi ka Pariwar) (@AnshulGarg1986) May 25, 2024

The Shameless was screened at the 77th Cannes Film Festival on May 17. The film revolves around Renuka (played by Anasuya Sengupta), who manages to escape from a Delhi brothel after killing a police officer. In addition to Anasuya, the movie features Omara, Auroshikha Dey, and Rohit Kokate in pivotal roles.

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/YkKpx1E

Israeli Hostage's Family Tears Into Netanyahu For Rape Of Women By Hamas

An Israeli hostage's family has blamed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the "rape" of the women kidnapped and held by the Hamas group.

As per a report in The Jerusalem Post, Ifat Kalderon, the cousin of Ofer, who is still held captive in Gaza, slammed the Israeli Prime Minister for failing to secure the release of Israeli hostages.

During a press conference in Tel Aviv, she criticised Netanyahu, claiming that he has repeatedly nuked potential deals that would free their loved ones.

“Because of him (Benjamin Netanyahu), our sisters and daughters are now being raped in Gaza. Because of him, our parents, brothers, and sons are exposed to torture and death,” The Jerusalem Post quoted Ifat as saying.

ALSO READ | Hamas' Father-Son Duo Confess To Raping Israeli Woman, Killing Her

Addressing the members of the Israeli war cabinet, she urged them to block Netanyahu's efforts to undermine any hostage agreement with Hamas. 

“It is your duty to stop his attempts to thwart the deal. If you do not do this - you will become partners in the crime of abandonment. The blood of the abductees who will not return alive will also be on your hands," she added.

Her reaction comes just a few days after bodycam footage released by an Israeli television channel showed bloodied women handcuffed by Hamas and surrounded by corpses.

While the footage was aired on May 22, it was recorded during the October 7 raid that triggered the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

Families of the hostages hoped that the 3-minute-long footage would increase the pressure on Mr Netanyahu to negotiate a truce with Hamas and secure their release.

Israel claims about 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 abducted in the October 7 attack.

from NDTV News-World-news https://ift.tt/H6t8w3c

Training, Injuries - What Went Into The Making Of Janhvi's Mr & Mrs Mahi

Janhvi Kapoor is fully engrossed in the promotions of her upcoming film Mr & Mrs Mahi, travelling across the country. The actress has followed a rigorous training programme to play Mahima in the film, which also stars Rajkummar Rao. On Friday, Janhvi shared a sneak peek into her intense cricket training sessions for the role. The video features the text, “150+ days of training, 30+ days of shoot, 2 injuries, 1 film.” Throughout the clip, we see Janhvi dressed in cricket gear and practicing in the nets. From batting, running between the wickets and injuring her shoulder after being hit by a ball, the clip showcases Janhvi's hard work and dedication. In her caption, Janhvi Kapoor simply wrote, “#MrandMrsMahi in theatres 31st May.”

Reacting to the post, Janhvi Kapoor's rumoured boyfriend Shikhar Pahariya wrote, “The best of the best,” and dropped heart-eyes faces and red heart emojis. Janhvi's fitness coach Namrata Purohit said, “Cant wait to see this! I know how much you've put into this.”

Check out the video below:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Janhvi Kapoor (@janhvikapoor)

A few days ago, the makers of Mr & Mrs Mahi shared a BTS video on YouTube. The clip featured director Sharan Sharma talking about the physical challenges Janhvi Kapoor faced during her training session. The filmmaker said, “So, we discovered she had something called MDI, which is multidirectional instability, which is something apparently very good for dancers, but not too good for cricketers. So now, in a span of two months, she has kind of torn up her ligaments in left and right shoulder. And now, we land up in a spot, we are like, ‘Okay, how do we make this film?' But I think we took a very wise call of doing all the correct rehab and giving her all the time needed to kind of recover from the injury.”

In the same video, Janhvi Kapoor's cricket coach, Abhishek Nayar also shared how the actress went through rigorous training for the film. He said, “We went to Baroda for a camp. For a 6-day camp, we were there, when Dinesh was also with us. So, we got a lot of experience working with some of these international cricketers, understanding body language, and how they move. From small things of how they walk, how they tap, how they tackle their guard. In terms of training, I think it was as rigorous as anyone would have, when they were preparing for an IPL, if not more.”

Mr & Mrs Mahi will be hitting the big screens on May 31. The movie has been jointly backed by Zee Studios and Dharma Productions.

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/8qYjAvC

US Man Killed CEO To Hide $400k Theft And Prevent Breakup With Girlfriend

Tyrese Haspil, the personal assistant to a tech CEO, is on trial for the brutal murder of his boss, Fahim Saleh. Haspil's defence claims he acted in a "crime of passion" after embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from Saleh, according to The New York Post.

Saleh reportedly discovered the theft but opted not to press charges, allowing Haspil to repay the money. However, Haspil allegedly continued stealing and faced renewed threats of legal action.

According to The Post, prosecutors believe Haspil meticulously planned the murder, using a taser and then dismembering the body. Evidence presented includes a cleaning product tag linked to a taser purchased by Haspil and found at the crime scene.

Despite claiming emotional distress and a traumatic childhood as a defence, prosecutors argue Haspil used Saleh's stolen funds to shower a new girlfriend with gifts just days after the murder.

Haspil faces life in prison if convicted of first-degree murder. His defence hopes for a manslaughter conviction with a lighter sentence due to his alleged emotional state.

"Over this period of time, he was planning not only to commit the homicide but to get away with it... To cover it up and how to erase his debt and prevent Fahim Saleh from testifying in criminal proceedings," Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Linda Ford told the court.

According to sources cited by The Post, Haspil allegedly used Saleh's credit cards for transportation to and from a Home Depot store on West 23rd Street to purchase supplies for cleaning up the murder scene. Prosecutors provided the jury with a detailed account of Saleh's alleged killing. They stated that Haspil, wearing a mask, incapacitated Saleh with a Taser, then stabbed him before dismembering his body a day later, including decapitation.

Following the murder, Haspil attempted to clean the crime scene, but his efforts were insufficient. Notably, he failed to remove a single "anti-felon disc" identification tag, which was later discovered at the scene. This disc contained a unique number that matched the Taser Haspil had reportedly ordered to his Brooklyn address one month prior to the murder, according to prosecutors.

from NDTV News-World-news https://ift.tt/65EPCIS

Massive Landslide Hits Papua New Guinea, Many Feared Dead

A massive landslide struck Papua New Guinea's highlands Friday, local officials and aid groups said, with many feared dead.

The disaster hit in Kaokalam village, in Papua New Guinea's remote Enga province at around 3:00 am local time.

Provincial governor Peter Ipatas told AFP that a big landslide had caused "loss of life and property".

Images from the scene showed a vast bite of rock and soil cleaved off from a densely vegetated hill.

A long and wide scar of car-size boulders, felled trees and dirt stretched down toward the valley floor.

The remains of many corrugated tin shelters could be seen at the foot of a large landslide.

Dozens of local men and women scrambled over the piles of rock and soil, digging, crying out, listening for survivors or standing scanning the scene in disbelief.

Some became instant rescuers, donning wellington boots, strapping on head torches, picking up machetes and long-handled axes to help clear the rubble.

As they moved around, children carried on their mother's backs could be heard crying.

"The landslide hit around three last night and it looks like more than 100 houses got buried. It is not yet known how many people were in those houses," Vincent Pyati, president of the local Community Development Association, told AFP.

"The number of victims is unknown."

Aid agencies including the Papua New Guinea Red Cross and CARE said they had received confirmation of the landslide, but were working to find out more.

Sitting just south of the equator, the area gets frequent heavy rains.

This year has seen intense rainfall and flooding.

In March, at least 23 people were killed by a landslide in a nearby province.

The Australian government said it was "making enquiries with local authorities to determine whether any Australian have been affected."

"The Australian Government offers its sympathies to those affected by landslides in Papua New Guinea."

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

from NDTV News-World-news https://ift.tt/Y2T5A4k

Argentina President Turns 'Rock Star', Performs For 8,000 At Book Launch

Argentine President Javier Milei looked more like a rock star than an economist-turned-politician on stage Wednesday night.

Wild-haired, clad in a black leather coat and jumping around as audience members waved and shouted, Milei belted out his version of the song "Panic Show," by Argentine band La Renga, ahead of the launch of his latest book.

"I'm the king. I'm the lion!" Milei shouted.

Milei cantando Panic Show de La Renga en el Luna Park @JMilei pic.twitter.com/Rfrp9GOPO7

— Poirot (@Argenpoirot) May 23, 2024

The libertarian leader, who took office in December, often depicts himself as a lion, fierce in slashing the South American nation's budget and trampling political conventions.

"I eat the elite for breakfast!" Milei continued, playing on the song's lyrics.

Milei has often targeted the political elite, whom he refers to as the "caste" that caused Argentina's economy to slide and inflation to balloon into the triple digits. 

Critics of Milei, including opposition politicians, panned Wednesday's performance as cavalier at a time when Argentines are struggling to get by under his tight fiscal policy.

Poverty has crept up to nearly 60% under Milei's administration and layoffs are growing.

The president still has his fans, however. 

He is more than a traditional politician, 23-year-old student Leonel Grillo said ahead of the show. "That's why people love him - he's a great politician but also a great showman."

Milei performed in front of 8,000 people at Luna Park - a historic Buenos Aires venue - flanked by a party lawmaker on drums and his personal biographer on bass. 

The president often sang at campaign events, and once caused a national stir for dressing up as an "anarcho-capitalist superhero" at an anime convention.

After the number, the event turned into a more-traditional book launch for Milei's "Capitalism, Socialism and the Neoclassical Trap."

Journalists accused the far-right libertarian of committing plagiarism in parts of the text, though Milei spokesperson Manuel Adorni denied the reports on Tuesday. 

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

from NDTV News-World-news https://ift.tt/AseZ1u6

Shruti Haasan Shares Pics From Her "First Solo Home" In Chennai

Shruti Haasan shared a set of pictures of herself from the rooftop of her Chennai house. The actress mentioned in her Instagram story that this was her "first solo home." Posting a picture from the rooftop, Shruti Haasan wrote, "I used to chill on this roof as an eighteen-year-old. This was my first solo home and I learned a lot about life and myself here." Sharing another click, she wrote, "I started to dream for myself I began writing music and thinking of going to music school, and I fell in love with life and myself for the very first time."

See the photos shared by Shruti Haasan here:

"Many days spent wishing and dreaming for the future I enjoy as my present today I work hard never to forget that Chennai girl who never forgot to be a weirdo and dream on her own terms," read the caption on another Instagram story that Shruti Haasan shared.

In terms of work, Shruti Haasan was last seen in the hit Salaar: Part 1 - Ceasefire, starring Prabhas and Prithviraj Sukumaran. She will next be seen in Chennai Story and Dacoit: A Love Story. She also featured in the web-series Bestseller.

Shruti Haasan, daughter of veteran actors Kamal Haasan and Sarika, has starred in several Tamil as well as Bollywood films. She stepped into Bollywood with the 2009 film Luck, co-starring Imran Khan. The actress has also been a part of films such as Welcome Back, Ramaiya Vastavaiya, Dil Toh Bachcha Hai Ji and D-Day among others.

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/5EqMJj3

Tourists In Protest-Hit New Caledonia "Ecstatic" As Rescue Planes Arrive

Tourists trapped by rioting, looting and separatist roadblocks in crisis-wracked New Caledonia expressed joy that they may soon be rescued after the first military evacuation flights landed on Tuesday.

For the last week, Australian tourist Maxwell Winchester and his wife Tiffany have been barricaded into a normally idyllic hill resort outside the capital Noumea.

As gunfire rattled down the valley and smoke spewed from nearby towns, they faced a fearful wait for help as supplies of food slowly dwindled.

"Every night, we had to sleep with one eye open," Winchester told AFP. "Every noise, we were worried that they were coming in to loot us."

For days, they monitored the latest news -- which brought alarming reports of six dead and hundreds injured -- while struggling to get help from Australian consular staff.

Winchester received word around lunchtime Tuesday that Australia was finally sending two military evacuation planes.

"We are ecstatic," he said, even though the couple believe they may not be among the first evacuees.

More than 3,000 people are estimated to have been stranded by a week of unrest that has shuttered the Pacific archipelago's main international airport.

It is not known how many of those are tourists on holiday and how many are Caledonians stuck outside the islands.

But Australia has estimated at least 300 of its nationals have registered for rescue.

For those hundreds, the sight of a Royal Australian Air Force C130 Hercules landing at the city's Magenta airport on Tuesday will have brought overwhelming relief.

A New Zealand Defence Force plane is also in the air, dispatched to pick up about "50 passengers with the most pressing needs", according to Foreign Minister Winston Peters.

"In cooperation with France and Australia, we are working on subsequent flights in coming days," he said.

Winchester was sanguine about not being part of the first evacuees.

"We realise we probably won't get on these flights because those who have higher needs will get on them," he said.

"But we at least know we have a way out in the next few days."

Still, for some, there will be an uneasy wait.

Australian tourists Meg Soutar and Caroline Tully were on a girls' trip to the remote west coast of New Caledonia.

They were unable to get to the airport for the evacuation flights on Tuesday, as their route would pass through some of the areas worst affected by the unrest.

For now, the women are staying put and hope they can get home to Brisbane soon. They have had very limited information or assistance from officials.

"We literally stay by the phone and WIFI to see what is going on," Soutar told AFP. "We feel very isolated, we are not in a resort, it's just us."

"It's been nine days since the conflict started and we are no closer to getting home," she said.

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

from NDTV News-World-news https://ift.tt/uI3NTbz

AI-Led Tech Craze Leaves Mega Indian Software Stocks In The Dust

Shares of India's vaunted IT outsourcing firms are facing a reality check, as global investors' rush into the artificial intelligence theme starts to leave pricey old-economy tech stocks behind.

Unlike counterparts in the developed world and China, Indian software makers including leader Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. have yet to make significant advances in generative AI. That combined with a still cloudy outlook for client spending may soon leave them looking like the tech bets of yesterday.

"Traditional software companies' earnings and valuations are at risk because their business models are not evolving with the times," said Deven Choksey, managing director of DRChoksey FinServ Pvt.

A BSE Ltd. gauge of Indian software stocks has recently fallen through key support levels into a technical correction. Yet it's still trading well above its historical average earnings multiple after a yearslong rally in the nation's equity market.

India's IT firms enjoyed years of strong growth as the world's biggest corporations outsourced a vast amount of back-office work to save money, in a phenomenon known as getting "Bangalored". Those revenues have been slowing more recently as overseas customers cut spending to cope with challenging economies.

Meanwhile, software and internet majors such as Microsoft Corp. and Alphabet Inc. have been investing billions to develop their own cloud offerings and large language models.

"Coding is getting left behind by computing in the tech investing world," said Choksey. Indian firms need to reinvent their business models more quickly to embrace AI and deliver better software-as-a-service solutions and infrastructure like Amazon.com Inc.'s unit Amazon Web Services does, he added.

TCS last month reported its slowest annual sales growth in three years. Competitor Infosys Ltd. issued a tepid forecast for revenue growth of 1% to 3% in the year through March 2025 on a constant-currency basis, eliminating the impact of exchange-rate fluctuations.

While Indian companies and their peers around the world like Accenture Plc are making positive noises on AI, the sales contributions are still small. TCS said its AI pipeline doubled last quarter to $900 million - that compares with its total annual revenue of around $30 billion.

The volatile geopolitical environment and uncertain macro outlook continue to weigh on client spending priorities. The IT sector may see further downgrades after sales missed expectations last quarter, according to Jefferies Financial Group Inc.

"Results by IT firms disappointed on the top line, and management commentary points to a weaker-than-expected growth outlook," analysts Akshat Agarwal and Ankur Pant wrote in a note dated May 7. "Despite up to 7% cuts to consensus estimates last month, we see further risks to earnings, limiting upside" in share prices.

Lofty valuations also point to caution. The BSE tech gauge is trading at 25 times forward estimated earnings, compared with pre-pandemic levels of about 18 times. That comes as metrics of growth in sales and earnings have dropped below levels enjoyed by the sector in 2019.

India's software makers have been seen as laggards in artificial intelligence. In the absence of substantial advances in this area, they may lose investor interest as their business faces threats of cannibalization.

"The theme of corporations spending more on AI while cutting back on non-AI spending is global in nature," said Anurag Rana, an analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence. "We are seeing no signs of a rebound."

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

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/FwRlqau

Iran President's Death A Spark In Tinderbox. Geopolitical Impact Explained

As Iran mourns its President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and other officials killed in a helicopter crash, the world will be closely watching the aftermath and the implications on geopolitical equations.

The crash, which took place in northwest Iran, comes at a very critical time as far as the West Asia region is concerned. For the past seven months, Israel has waged a war in Gaza that was triggered by a Hamas attack on Israeli cities. Tehran has been repeatedly accused of backing Hezbollah in opening the Lebanon front against Tel Aviv.

But a major escalation of hostilities between Israel and Iran came last month when Iran launch a volley of missiles at Israel, most of which were intercepted by its Iron Dome aerial defence system. The attack, Iran said, was in retaliation to the bombing of its embassy building in Syria by suspected Israeli warplanes. Tel Aviv responded by a limited attack on a missile defence system in Iran's Isfahan province that also hosts a uranium enrichment plant.

Against this backdrop, the helicopter crash that killed the Iranian president is bound to spark a wave of speculation. So far, the reports in state media have referred to the crash as an accident, but an official word from the Iranian government is awaited. Anything that points to foul play may escalate tensions in the sensitive region.

Iran's equations with other countries are likely to remain the same, with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei calling the shots. The government has already said it will operate without disruption.

The US Question

The US, a strong ally of Israel, is yet to respond to the news of Raisi's death, but earlier reports had said President Joe Biden had been briefed about the situation.

The past few years have seen critical developments in US-Iran ties over Tehran's nuclear push. In 2018, then US President Donald Trump withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan Of Action -- an agreement on Iranian nuclear programme -- and restored harsh sanctions on Tehran. This prompted Iran to violate the agreement's nuclear limits.

After 63-year-old Raisi took over in 2021, he took a tough stance in negotiations, seeing a chance to win broad relief from US sanctions in return for modest curbs on its increasingly advanced technology, according to a Reuters report.

The West Asia conflict raised tensions. Despite its strong ties with Israel, the US has of late tried to de-escalate the situation, apparently over the rising human cost of the war in Gaza. Biden went as far as threatening to stop arms supplies to Israel if it invades the Gaza city of Rafah, prompting a sharp response in Israel.

Reports had also claimed that top Biden administration officials were in indirect talks with their Iranian counterparts to avoid escalating regional attacks. With Raisi's death threatening to further destablise the region, the US will look to ensure peace in the volatile region.

The India Position

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said he was "deeply saddened and shocked by the tragic demise of Dr. Seyed Ebrahim Raisi, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran". "His contribution to strengthening India-Iran bilateral relationship will always be remembered. My heartfelt condolences to his family and the people of Iran. India stands with Iran in this time of sorrow," he posted on X.

The crash that killed Raisi comes a week after New Delhi signed a contract with Iran to operate the Chabahar port, aimed at expanding trade with Central Asia. India had first proposed this plan back in 2003, but US sanctions on Iran over its suspected nuclear programme slowed down the port's development.

The pact drew a sharp response from the US, with Department of State spokesperson Vedant Patel saying that "anyone considering business deals with Iran" needs to be aware of "the potential risk of sanctions". External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar responded that the port would benefit the entire region and a narrow view should not be taken on it. "If you look at even the US's own attitude to Chabahar in the past, the US has been appreciative of the fact that Chabahar has a larger relevance. We will work at it," he said.

Significantly, India has strong relations with Israel too, and Tel Aviv had appreciated New Delhi's support after the Hamas attacks.

from NDTV News-World-news https://ift.tt/AIw6Dtd

Veteran CNN Political Commentator Alice Stewart Found Dead. She Was 58

Alice Stewart, popular CNN political commentator and veteran political adviser died at the age of 58, on Saturday. As per CNN, early on Saturday, Ms Stewart's body was found outdoors in the Belle View neighbourhood in northern Virginia.

Law enforcement informed the news network that no foul play was suspected. Officers believe that Ms Stewart, who worked on several GOP presidential campaigns, likely suffered a medical incident.

The chairman and CEO of CNN Worldwide, Mark Thompson, on Saturday, announced the sad news to the staff via email, referring to Ms Stewart as “a very dear friend”.

Mr Thompson wrote, “Alice was a very dear friend and colleague to all of us at CNN. A political veteran and an Emmy Award-winning journalist who brought an incomparable spark to CNN's coverage, known across our bureaus not only for her political savvy but for her unwavering kindness. Our hearts are heavy as we mourn such an extraordinary loss.”

Any illnesses Ms Stewart may have been dealing with remain unknown. Going by her last Instagram post, Ms Stewart had appeared on Blitzer's show just one day before she died.

Sharing a picture from the newsroom, she wrote, “It's always a sunny day when you can join the great @wolfblitzer on #CNN with @mariacardonadc!”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Alice Stewart (@alicestewartdc)

United States Senator Ted Cruz mourned Ms Stewart's sudden death. Mr Cruz shared Ms Stewart's picture on X (formerly Twitter) and wrote, “Heartbreaking. ⁦Alice was wonderful and talented and a dear friend. And she loved America fiercely. She lived every day to the fullest, and she will be deeply missed. May God's comfort and peace be upon her loved ones. RIP.”  Ms. Stewart was the communications director for Texas Senator Ted Cruz's 2016 GOP presidential campaign.

Heartbreaking. ⁦Alice was wonderful and talented and a dear friend. And she loved America fiercely.

She lived every day to the fullest, and she will be deeply missed. May God's comfort and peace be upon her loved ones. RIP. https://t.co/rXN6iugepM

— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) May 18, 2024

Born in Atlanta in 1966, Ms Stewart started her career as a local reporter. She joined CNN as a political commentator ahead of the 2016 election.

Ms. Stewart was a regular on-air contributor, offering her insights on the day's political news. She appeared as recently as Friday on "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer."

from NDTV News-World-news https://ift.tt/nlZFWE5

Blue Origin Resumes Space Tourism Flights Today With 90-Year-Old On Board

Blue Origin is set to fly adventurers to the final frontier on Sunday for the first time in nearly two years, reigniting competition in the space tourism market after a rocket mishap put its crewed operations on hold.

Six people including Black sculptor and former Air Force pilot Ed Dwight, who was controversially spurned by NASA's astronaut corps in the 1960s, will blast off at around 8:30 am local time (1330 GMT) from the company's Launch Site One base in west Texas.

Dwight -- at 90 years, 8 months, and 10 days -- is set to become the oldest person to go to space, narrowly pipping Star Trek actor William Shatner, who was almost two months younger when he launched with Blue Origin in 2021.

Mission NS-25 is the seventh human flight for the enterprise owned and founded by Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos, who sees short jaunts on the New Shepard suborbital vehicle as a stepping stone to greater ambitions, including the development of a full-fledged heavy rocket and lunar lander.

French entrepreneur Sylvain Chiron, one of the crew, told AFP he was most excited about "this sensation of leaving the world of men and seeing the Earth as a whole, from above, without borders, with all its fragility and beauty."

To date, Blue Origin has flown 31 people aboard New Shepard -- a small, fully reusable rocket system named after Alan Shepard, the first American in space.

Second nonagenarian

The program encountered a setback when a New Shepard rocket caught fire shortly after launch on September 12, 2022. The uncrewed capsule ejected in time, meaning astronauts would have been safe had they flown.

A federal investigation revealed an overheating engine nozzle was at fault. Blue Origin took corrective steps and carried out a successful uncrewed launch in December 2023, paving the way for Sunday's mission.

After lift-off, the sleek and roomy capsule separates from the booster, which produces zero carbon emissions as its fuel -- liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen -- combust to produce water vapor. The rocket performs a precision vertical landing.

As the spaceship soars beyond the Karman Line, the internationally recognized boundary of space 62 miles (100 kilometers) above sea level, passengers can marvel at the Earth's curvature and unbuckle their seats to float -- or even perform jumping jacks -- during a few minutes of weightlessness.

The capsule then reenters the atmosphere, deploying its parachutes for a gentle desert landing in a puff of sand.

Bezos himself was on the program's first-ever crewed flight in 2021. A few months later, Shatner blurred the lines between science fiction and reality when he became the world's oldest-ever astronaut, decades after he first played a space traveler.

Dwight will become only the second nonagenarian to venture beyond Earth.

Ticket prices are a well-guarded secret, but guests like Dwight -- whose seat was sponsored by the nonprofit Space for Humanity -- ride for free.

To space, finally

Blue Origin's competitor in suborbital space is Virgin Galactic, which deploys a supersonic spaceplane that is dropped from beneath the wings of a massive carrier plane at high altitude.

Virgin Galactic experienced its own two-year safety pause because of an anomaly linked with the 2021 flight that carried its founder British tycoon Richard Branson into space. But the company later hit its stride with half a dozen successful flights in quick succession.

Its next mission is set for June, after which it will head into another pause to build out a new class of advanced spaceplane.

Sunday's mission finally gives Dwight the chance he was denied decades ago.

He was an elite test pilot when he was appointed by president John F Kennedy to join a highly competitive Air Force program known as a pathway for the astronaut corps, but was ultimately not picked.

He left the military in 1966, citing the strain of racial politics, before dedicating his life to telling Black history through sculpture. His art, displayed around the country, includes iconic figures like Martin Luther King Jr, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, and more.

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

from NDTV News-World-news https://ift.tt/hSGvAu3