Friday, October 18, 2024

Hamas, but not the end of the war

 

Hamas, but not the end of the war



Killing Yahya Sinwar is Israel's biggest victory so far in the war against Hamas in Gaza.

His death is a serious blow for Hamas, the organisation he turned into a fighting force that inflicted the biggest defeat on the state of Israel in its history.

He was not killed in a planned special forces operation, but in a chance encounter with Israeli forces in Rafah in southern Gaza.

A photo taken at the scene shows Sinwar, dressed in combat gear, lying dead in the rubble of a building that was hit by a tank shell.

Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's prime minister, praised the soldiers and made clear that however big a victory, it was not the end of the war.

"Today we made clear once again what happens to those who harm us. Today we once again showed the world the victory of good over evil.

"But the war, my dear ones, is not over yet. It is difficult, and it is costing us dearly."

"Great challenges still lie ahead of us. We need endurance, unity, courage, and steadfastness. Together we will fight, and with God's help - together we will win."

Netanyahu and the overwhelming proportion of Israelis who support the war in Gaza needed a victory.

BTS star Suga fined $11,500 for drink-driving

 

Monday, October 14, 2024

Harris courts black and Latino votes as polls suggest Trump gains

 

Harris courts black and Latino votes as polls suggest Trump gains



With just weeks to go until the US presidential election, Kamala Harris is ramping up efforts to court black and Latino voters. Despite holding a clear lead among both groups, some Democrats have warned she needs to do more to energise these voters to turn out for her in November.

That's in part due to recent polling which suggests Harris’s Republican rival Donald Trump is having success in winning over black and Latino voters, a continuation of gains he made in 2016 and 2020.

One New York Times and Siena poll indicated Harris had 78% support among black voters, compared to around 90% support for Democrats in recent elections, with men accounting for most of this drop-off.

This could prove crucial in a race that looks set to be decided by razor-thin margins. And even if this polling is off, in key battleground states modest gains among black or Latino voters could ultimately sway result.

In Arizona, for example, nearly one in four voters on 5 November is expected to be Latino, along with almost 20% in nearby Nevada. In another key state, Georgia, black voters constitute about 30% of the total. These are a significant amount of votes in seriously important states.

UN says it will not withdraw peacekeepers from Lebanon

 UN says it will not withdraw peacekeepers from Lebanon



       The United Nations says its peacekeepers in southern Lebanon will stay in their positions, despite repeated demands by Israel that they should move out of the way of its forces there.

The head of UN peacekeeping operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix told journalists in New York that the decision to keep the Unifil force in place had the full backing of both the UN Security Council and the member states contributing troops to the force.

On Sunday Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu bluntly warned the UN to move from its bases in southern Lebanon, which he said were providing a human shield to Hezbollah fighters.

But the UN is standing firm.

Its head of peacekeeping said it was essential that the blue helmets stay in place, to carry out the mandate they were given by the UN Security Council and to assist the civilian population.

Israel argues that the UN has failed to stop Hezbollah from building tunnels and positioning weapons like rockets and missiles near the border, in violation of the agreement which ended the last war there 18 years ago.

The UN says its mission is to support the parties to the conflict, not to enforce the agreement.

It has accused Israel of deliberately targeting its bases, with five peacekeepers injured in the past week, an accusation rejected by Netanyahu.

In another statement last night he said Israel would do its utmost to prevent such incidents, but that UN peacekeepers needed to get out of harm’s way.


Can Virat Kohli find his mojo against New Zealand ?

He was at his imperious self at the nets on Monday.




 

Virat Kohli bristled towards the practice nets. He scanned the skies to feel the sun, ran his fingers through the trimmed grass, greeted the groundsmen, shook hands with the curator and eyed the net bowlers haggling to bowl first at him. The setting was familiar: Chinnaswamy Stadium is perhaps more home than a home away from home, his association with Royal Challengers Bangalore turning 18 next year.

The lack of hundreds would be tossing uneasily somewhere in the innards of his mind—the drought-ending hundred in Ahmedabad did not stir a hurricane but rather a breeze, a mean of 49 runs in 12 innings. He is riding a curious phase where he has not been as emphatic as he had been in his 2014-2019 pomp, a four-year span wherein he was the emperor of all he surveyed, but has not been as miserable as he had been from mid-2019 to early 2023 slump. He has been hitting the in-between frequency. Some of his contemporaries have been catching a second-wind in their careers, Joe Root for one. Australia have announced that Steve Smith experiment to open won’t be attempted against India, and he too would be inching to regain form.

After get-the-eye-in defensive blocks in the nets, he swapped his violin for a bass guitar. He drilled Akash Deep down the ground so powerful that it broke the flaky leg of a plastic chair. The remaining pack were hurriedly dragged away.Read More:

     

World’s top climate scientists expect global heating to blast past 1.5C target

 World’s top climate scientists expect global heating to blast past 1.5C target:


                


Report: Hundreds of the world’s leading climate scientists expect global temperatures to rise to at least 2.5C (4.5F) above preindustrial levels this century, blasting past internationally agreed targets and causing catastrophic consequences for humanity and the planet, an exclusive Guardian survey has revealed.

Almost 80% of the respondents, all from the authoritative Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), foresee at least 2.5C of global heating, while almost half anticipate at least 3C (5.4F). Only 6% thought the internationally agreed 1.5C (2.7F) limit would be met.

Many of the scientists envisage a “semi-dystopian” future, with famines, conflicts and mass migration, driven by heatwaves, wildfires, floods and storms of an intensity and frequency far beyond those that have already struck.

Numerous experts said they had been left feeling hopeless, infuriated and scared by the failure of governments to act despite the clear scientific evidence provided.

 More: 




Dad told police he killed Sara Sharif

 





Dad told police he killed Sara Sharif, court hears





Stuff Report:The father of 10-year-old Sara Sharif called police from Pakistan and admitted he killed her at their Surrey home, a court heard.

Urfan Sharif made the confession in an eight minute-call about an hour after his family’s flight had landed in Islamabad on 10 August last year, before Sara's body was found.

Mr Urfan, 42, Sara's stepmother Beinash Batool, 30, and her uncle Faisal Malik, 29, have denied murdering the girl.

On Monday at the Old Bailey, jurors were told Mr Sharif's case was that his wife, Ms Batool, was responsible for Sara's death and his confession on the phone call and also in a note was false to protect her. more:


























































































Friday, July 21, 2023

Kajol reviews Shah Rukh advising her to quiet down for saying she seemed to be horse



Kajol got serious about the shoot of the tune Jaati Hoon Fundamental from her film Karan Arjun. She shared that Shah Rukh assisted her with getting past the shoot.The onscreen sets of Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol is as yet viewed as one of the most important in Hindi Film even after such a long time. In another meeting, while at the same time advancing her forthcoming Disney+ Hotstar series The Preliminary, Kajol focused on working with Shah Rukh and shared an account from the creation of the tune Jaati Hoon Primary of Karan Arjun. (Likewise read: Kajol uncovers Nysa's startling reaction when she advised her that she desires to see her get a little girl such as herself)Kajol was matched inverse Shah Rukh Khan in the 1995 film Karan Arjun. The movie was coordinated and created by Rakesh Roshan, and furthermore featured Salman Khan, Raakhee Gulzar and Mamta Kulkarni in essential jobs. Kajol played the personality of Sonia Saxena in the film.
Jaati Hoon Primary tune shootIn another meeting with Mashable India, Kajol got serious about shooting for the Jaati Hoon Principal melody and how Shah Rukh helped her through the cycle. "We have snickered to such an extent. I think Shah Rukh and me have snickered to such an extent. I think he was giving me fortitude here to say, 'If it's not too much trouble, finish the tune.' The dance part was the simple aspect. The not laughing uncontrollably at it was its troublesome aspect however I was like there are places in this where I seem to be the ponies. (giggles) He was like, 'Just Shut up! Get it done, get it over. Finish it, please! He has forever been that way, better believe it!"
Kajol was matched converse Shah Rukh Khan in the 1995 film Karan Arjun. The film was composed and made by Rakesh Roshan, and moreover highlighted Salman Khan, Raakhee Gulzar and Mamta Kulkarni in fundamental positions. Kajol played the character of Sonia Saxena in the film.
Jaati Hoon Essential tune shootIn one more gathering with Mashable India, Kajol quit fooling around with going for the Jaati Hoon Head tune and how Shah Rukh helped her through the cycle. "We have laughed so much. I think Shah Rukh and me have laughed so much. I think he was giving me grit here to say, 'Assuming no one cares either way, finish the tune.' The dance part was the basic viewpoint. The not giggling wildly at it was its problematic perspective anyway I was like there are places in this where I am apparently the horses. (chuckles) He was like, 'Just Shut up! Make it happen, get it over. Finish it, please! He has always been like that, better trust it!"Shah Rukh was most recently seen in Siddharth Anand's Pathaan, additionally featuring Deepika Padukone and John Abraham. He will next be found in Jawan, the prevue of which was delivered a couple of days prior and got a huge reaction. He additionally has Rajkumar Hirani's Dunki ready to go.

Thursday, June 15, 2023

Japan redefines rape and raises age of consent in landmark move

 





      Japan has passed regulations that rethink assault and raise the time of assent in a milestone update of sex wrongdoing regulations.


The meaning of assault was widened to "non-consensual sex" from "effective sex", adjusting Japanese regulation's definition to different nations.


The lawful time of assent, already at just 13, has been raised to 16 years.


Past regulations didn't safeguard those forced into engaging in sexual relations and deflected detailing of such assaults, pundits say.


They have additionally prompted conflicting court choices, fuelling calls for change.


The new regulations were passed by the upper place of the Eating routine - Japan's parliament - on Friday. They unequivocally frame eight situations where it is hard for a casualty to "structure, express, or satisfy an aim not to assent" to sex.


These incorporate circumstances where the casualty is inebriated with liquor or medications; or dependent upon savagery or dangers; or is "terrified or dumbfounded". Another situation seems to depict a maltreatment of force, where the casualty is "concerned" of the results of refusal.


This is just whenever Japan first has changed its period of assent since its authorization in 1907


Beforehand, Japan had one of the most reduced period of assent among created countries. Nonetheless, an individual who has engaged in sexual relations with a minor matured 13 to 15 will be rebuffed provided that the individual is at least five years more seasoned than the minor.


In the interim, the legal time limit or legitimate window for revealing assault will be stretched out to a long time from 10 years, to give survivors additional opportunity to approach.


The progressions additionally boycott "photograph voyeurism" which incorporates upskirting and secret recording of sexual demonstrations, in addition to other things.


It follows different assault vindications in 2019 that caused public objection and assisted prod a cross country Bloom With demoing effort against sexual savagery. On the eleventh day of each and every month since April 2019, activists have accumulated all through Japan to request equity and show fortitude with rape survivors.


In any case, a few activists have let the BBC know that these legitimate changes address just a single contributor to the issue.


"Twisted thoughts" about sex and assent that have plagued for ages should be tended to, says Kazuko Ito, VP of the Tokyo-based Common freedoms Now.


Overcomers of rape who open up to the world likewise frequently get dangers and terrible remarks on the web.


Regardless of whether the changes are established, survivors should feel enabled to report their assaults, activists say.


In Japan, overcomers of sexual savagery are frequently hesitant to approach on account of disgrace and disgrace. A 2021 review by the public authority showed that something like 6% of ladies and men detailed an attack half of the ladies surveyed felt they couldn't do so in view of "humiliation".


"Cross country learning and instructive exertion is fundamental for this standard to be implanted in the general public. This is best way to forestall genuine sexual viciousness alongside finishing society of exemption," Ms Ito says.


Japan ought to likewise offer more monetary and mental assistance for rape survivors, attorney and freedoms advocate Sakura Kamitani told the BBC.


Assailants also ought to get backing to forestall recidivism, she added.


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Tuesday, June 13, 2023

Ukraine offensive: Dhakanext visits village liberated from Russian control

8 minutes prior Share Related Subjects Russia-Ukraine war An obliterated house in Neskuchne, eastern Ukraine. Photograph: 13 June 2023 Picture inscription, Neskuchne saw the absolute fiercest battling in the locale as of late By James Waterhouse in Neskuchne, eastern Ukraine BBC News The BBC is among the primary media associations to get close enough to a portion of the principal towns freed in Ukraine's counteroffensive. Out of this group of four settlements in the eastern Donetsk district, Neskuchne has seen the heaviest battling as per the legion which freed it. Its name signifies "not exhausting" in Russian. A conspicuous incongruity for a town which had been a laid out piece of a Russian cutting edge for quite a long time. As our military escort, Anatoliy, speeds along scarred streets in his disguised truck towards Neskuchne, it's reasonable this is an alternate sort of freedom to what we saw a year ago. There, first and foremost, are no regular people here. The main leftovers of civilisation come as an extinguished drug store and food store. There is definitely not an intricate organization of channels by the same token. An improvised wooden scaffold over a stream is everything necessary to bring us into domain Russia has held for such a long time. Structures are additionally filled with projectile openings from more modest type weapons. There's been a great deal of close quarter battling here. Anatoliy could do without to stay nearby for a really long time. Mortars are occasionally terminated from Ukrainian soldiers concealed in thick timberlines or deserted gardens. He makes sense of the Russians are simply on the forehead of slope in three bearings. The unexpected ascending of three tufts of smoke is a prompt to continue to move. The Russians are answering with Graduate rockets. The circumstance here is undeniably more liquid than the victorious cases of freedom which had come from Kyiv this week. Russian powers have been pushing back as of late as last evening, which Ukrainian authorities have now recognized. Ukraine's counteroffensive is in its beginning phases with humble additions. On the off chance that Neskuchne is anything to go by, any freedom will be not even close to quick, and will not be guaranteed to bring opportunity straight away. What will it take for Ukraine's hostile to succeed? Satellite pictures uncover Russian guards before significant attack map Recently, a video arose purportedly showing two Ukrainian warriors raising the nation's blue-and-yellow public banner on obliterated structures in Neskuchne. The uproarious flourishing sound of adjacent shelling can likewise be heard. Media inscription, Watch: A video via virtual entertainment implies to show a Ukrainian banner being brought up in Neskuchne, Donetsk Oblast

Saturday, June 10, 2023

What's in the Trump indictment: US nuclear secrets and files kept in shower

 Former President Donald Trump has been charged with mishandling hundreds of classified documents, including about US nuclear secrets and military plans.

The 37-count indictment accuses him of keeping the files at his Florida estate, including in a ballroom and a shower, and lying to investigators.

It alleges he then tried to obstruct the investigation into the handling of the documents.

Mr Trump, who is running for president again in 2024, denies any wrongdoing.

But legal experts say that the criminal charges against Mr Trump, who is running for president again in 2024, could lead to substantial prison time if he is convicted.

Charges have also been filed against Walt Nauta, a personal aide to Mr Trump. The former White House military valet is accused of moving files to hide them from the FBI.

The 49-page indictment contains the first-ever federal charges against a former US president. It says the classified documents Mr Trump stored in his boxes contained information about:

  • United States nuclear programmes
  • Defence and weapons capabilities of both the United States and foreign countries
  • Potential vulnerabilities of the United States and its allies to military attack
  • Plans for possible retaliation in response to a foreign attack

Prosecutors say that when Mr Trump left office, he took about 300 classified files to Mar-a-Lago - his oceanfront home in Palm Beach, which is also an expansive private members' club.

The charge sheet notes that Mar-a-Lago hosted events for tens of thousands of members and guests, including in a ballroom where documents were found.

Prosecutors say Mr Trump tried to obstruct the FBI inquiry into the missing documents by suggesting that his lawyer "hide or destroy" them, or tell investigators he did not have them.

"Wouldn't it be better if we just told them we don't have anything here?" Mr Trump said to one of his attorneys, according to the indictment.

Mr Trump's first court appearance in the case will be in Miami, Florida, on Tuesday - the eve of his 77th birthday.

Files shown stored in a ballroom at Mar-a-Lago in Donald Trump indictmentIMAGE SOURCE,DOJ
Image caption,
Files were stored in a ballroom at Donald Trump's Florida property, Mar-a-Lago

Mar-a-Lago "was not an authorised location" for classified documents to be kept or discussed, the indictment says.

Some files were allegedly stored on stage in the ballroom, where events and gatherings took place - and later in a bathroom and a shower, an office space, and Mr Trump's bedroom.

On two occasions in 2021, the former president showed classified documents to people without security clearance, including a writer and two members of staff.

At his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, which was also an "unauthorised location", he is said to have displayed and described a "plan of attack" that he told others had been prepared for him by the Department of Defense.

"As president I could have declassified it. Now I can't, you know, but this is still a secret," Mr Trump allegedly said, according to an audio recording.

Media caption,

Watch: 'I did nothing wrong. We'll fight this out.'

Prosecutors say Mr Trump then showed off classified documents again in August or September 2021 at the Bedminster club.

The former US president "showed a representative of his political action committee who did not possess a security clearance a classified map".

This map "related to a military operation" and Mr Trump told the person "he should not be showing it" to them and they "should not get too close".

Special Counsel Jack Smith, who is overseeing the investigation, said on Friday that laws protecting national defence information were critical and must be enforced.

"We have one set of laws in this country, and they apply to everyone," he said in a brief statement in Washington.

Boxes of papers are stacked in a bathroom with a chandelier and a toilet visible, at Mar-a-LagoIMAGE SOURCE,DOJ
Image caption,
The indictment included images of files stored in a shower

In a social media post, Mr Trump blasted Mr Smith as a "deranged lunatic".

"He is a Trump hater - a deranged 'psycho' that shouldn't be involved in any case having to do with 'Justice,'" he wrote on his Truth Social platform.

Mr Trump pointed out that classified files were also found in President Joe Biden's former office and Delaware home, including in his garage.

The White House has previously said it immediately co-operated with officials as soon as those files were discovered, contrasting with Mr Trump's alleged efforts to obstruct investigators.

A federal investigation into Mr Biden's handling of classified documents is being led by Special Counsel Robert Hur and is still under way.

Shortly before the Department of Justice made the criminal charges public, two of Mr Trump's lawyers suddenly quit the case without much explanation, saying this was a "logical moment" to resign.

This is the second criminal case for Mr Trump, who is due to go on trial in New York next year in a state case involving a hush-money payment to a porn star.