Star Wars actress Kelly Marie Tran has landed her next lead movie role, playing a real-life figure and one of her close friends. The actress will star and produce a new biopic based on the life of Amanda Nguyen, a prominent activist for survivors of sexual assault, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The movie also has Tang Yi (All the Crows in the World) attached to direct and write. It will follow Nguyen’s transformation from a survivor of sexual assault to activist. Notably, she wrote a Survivors’ Bill of Rights, which inspired a federal US law, and founded the civil rights organisation Rise. Speaking about the project, Tran – who played Rose Tico in the Star Wars sequel trilogy – said: “Over the years, Amanda’s activism has changed the lives of billions, as she continues to make our world safer for sexual assault survivors everywhere. Her courage inspires me every day, and I am honoured to help tell her story.”
Year: 2022
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Brahmastra: Box office collection sees a dip but still holds strong
Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt’s Brahmastra: Part 1 – Shiva is setting the cash registers ringing. The fantasy adventure drama, directed by Ayan Mukerji, has successfully ended the dry spell on Bollywood. The film is now inching towards Rs 400 crore at the box office worldwide. Though there was a slight drop in collections on Day 14, Brahmastra is expected to pick up momentum during the weekend again, especially with the National Cinema Day.
Director Ayan Mukerji’s ambitious flick, Brahmastra, hit the theatres on September 9 in multiple languages. The film has been performing above expectations since its release. The Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt-starrer is already a superhit among the audience. After collecting a whopping Rs 75 crore globally on its opening day, the film continues doing phenomenally well at the box office. However, it saw a slight dip in the collections on Day 14, September 22. But even then, it continues performing terrifically. According to early trade reports, Brahmastra earned Rs 3.10 crore on Day 14, hence taking the total box office collection to Rs 230.57 crore. That said, Brahmastra is likely to break more box office records in the coming days. Brahmastra is a superhero drama that revolves around a simpleton who shares a special bond with fire. It features Alia Bhatt as the leading lady and marks her first collaboration with Ranbir Kapoor. The cast includes Nagarjuna, Mouni Roy and Amitabh Bachchan. It is directed by Ayan Mukerji. Shah Rukh Khan has a cameo in the movie. Brahmastra opened in the theatres on September 9.
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Doctor G, Double XL and Code Name: Tiranga to clash in theatres on October 14
The release dates of multiple releases were affected due to the pandemic. From postponement of shooting schedule to the theatrical releases being put on hold, many Bollywood films have borne the brunt of the lockdown. Now, it seems that the month of October will yet again see a clash between not two but three films. Ayushmann Khurrana – Rakul Preet Singh, Sonakshi Sinha – Huma Qureshi, Parineeti Chopra – Harrdy Sandhu will be battling it out in theatres for their films Doctor G, Double XL, and Code Name: Tiranga respectively, on October 14.
The much-awaited clash that the theatres saw was during the occasion of Rakshabandhan in August when the Akshay Kumar starrer Raksha Bandhan clashed with the Aamir Khan starrer Laal Singh Chaddha. However, neither of the films could manage to act as crowd-pullers despite a long weekend. As for the much talked about clash on October 14, the said films also offer a wide variety of genres. Doctor G features Ayushmann Khurrana who gets into gynecology and struggles to become a doctor in a field that is highly female-centric. Double XL revolves around Sonakshi Sinha and Huma Qureshi’s attempt to make their mark in a society obsessed with slim and thin figures. On the other hand, Code Name: Tiranga is a patriotic film featuring Parineeti Chopra in a never seen before avatar of a fearless spy.
Interestingly, Code Name: Tiranga and Double XL are both produced by T-Series whereas Doctor G is produced by Junglee Pictures. While Doctor G will bring together the onscreen pairing of Ayushmann Khurrana and Rakul Preet Singh for the first time, Code Name: Tiranga will feature Harrdy Sandhu as the male lead in a Bollywood film for the first time. On the other hand, Double XL will bring together Sonakshi Sinha and Huma Qureshi for the first time on the big screen.
Source: Bollywood Hungama
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Aamir Khan’s daughter Ira Khan gets engaged to boyfriend Nupur Shikhare
Ira Khan, daughter of actor Aamir Khan, got engaged to her boyfriend Nupur Shikhare. Taking to Instagram, the duo shared a post announcing that they were engaged after over two years of dating. Ira Khan attended one of Nupur’s cycling events during which he proposed to her.
In the clip, Ira stood in the audience along with other people. Nupur walked towards her, kissed her and went down on his knees. He then asked her, “Will you marry me?” and Ira replied, “Yes.” The couple kissed again, amid cheers and claps from the people, after which Nupur walked away. Sharing the post, they wrote, “Popeye: She said yes (smiling face with hearts and red heart emojis). Ira: Hehe (smiling face, face with hand over mouth emojis) I said yes.” Reacting to the post, Rohman Shawl commented, “Congratulations you two @nupur_shikhare @khan.ira.” Fatima Sana Shaikh said, “This is the sweetest thing I have ever seen. Uff. @nupur_shikhare so filmy uff.” Rhea Chakraborty commented, “Congratulations you guys.”
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Kirti Kulhari Talks About Playing An Emotionless Character In ‘The List’
Bollywood actress Kirti Kulhari, who made her mark in the industry with ‘Khichdi: The Movie’ is all set for her short film ‘The List’ opposite Angad Bedi. She spoke about her role and how it is going to be different from her previous projects. She said: “It’s a story of a couple who live together and supposedly do everything together. It is an emotionless, expressionless, feelingless entity that we both are playing. That’s what the film is about. It’s not one which has character traits and all of that. It’s something that people will really understand once they see the film. I don’t know how to define my role and put it into characteristic traits.” The short film is all about urban couple and the complications in their relationship. The List brings out the issues related to modern relationships.
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King and queen of hearts : Federer, Serena leave behind lasting legacies, sport enters twilight of golden era
London (TIP)- As Roger Federer joined Serena Williams in bringing down the curtain on an illustrious career, tennis moved ever closer to the end of a golden era. Williams’ emotional goodbye at the US Open earlier this month was followed by Federer’s announcement on Thursday that next week’s Laver Cup in London would be his last professional outing. Both players had taken their sport to new levels and been proclaimed the best to ever wield a racquet, with 43 Grand Slam singles titles between them.
Their departures, along with the fact that Federer’s great rivals Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic aren’t getting any younger, have left fans looking back wistfully at a glorious period in the sport’s history.
The 41-year-old Federer’s decision was not unexpected given his recent struggles with injuries and form, but it was still met with an outpouring of sadness by tennis fans and former players.
“I wanted to find the perfect way to say this, as you so eloquently put this game to rest — perfectly done, just like your career,” Williams said in an Instagram post, reacting to Federer’s retirement. “I have always looked up to you and admired you. Our paths were always so similar, so much the same. You inspired countless millions and millions of people — including me — and we will never forget. Welcome to the retirement club.”
Like the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion Williams, who in 10 days will also turn 41, the triumvirate of Federer, Nadal and Djokovic have dominated their sport for the last two decades.
And despite spending so many years on the tour, they continue to lure fans to the stands and television screens while their commercial pull still mesmerises brands and advertisers. Williams’s place in the sport was underlined by the fact that her final match at Flushing Meadows was the most-watched tennis telecast in ESPN’s 43-year history, while the 2022 edition broke the tournament’s all-time attendance record.
Big three
The so-called men’s ‘Big Three’ revolutionized the sport with their own achievements and riveting rivalries. They won a combined 63 Grand Slam singles titles between them. Federer played Nadal 40 times while Djokovic faced the Swiss in 50 matches as the trio boosted each other and along with it the sport as a whole and brought in new and old fans. Yet in recent years injuries to Williams, Federer and Nadal have brought their retirement into sharper focus. Fans and pundits have wondered how the sport would cope with the prospect of losing their most marketable athletes. With the exit of Williams and Federer in the space of three weeks, the answers could be at hand.
Source: Reuters
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Teenager Pranav Anand is India’s 76th Grandmaster
Bengaluru teenager Pranav Anand became India’s 76th Grandmaster after he crossed the 2,500 Elo mark in the ongoing World Youth Chess Championship in Mamaia, Romania. The 15-year-old, having met the other requirements that are necessary for a GM title, achieved the honour late on Thursday, September 16. To become a GM, a player has to secure three GM norms and cross the live rating of 2,500 Elo points. Anand had scored the third and final GM norm at the 55th Biel Chess Festival in Switzerland in July.
“He is passionate towards chess. Extremely interested and passionate towards the game. He can work for any number of hours,” Anand’s coach V Saravanan said. “He is especially good in calculation and end games…they are his two biggest strengths right now,” Saravanan said, while referring to his ward’s ninth-round win in the Under-16 section of the World Youth Chess Championship 2022. Anand had secured his third and final GM norm by drawing his game against GM Eduardo Iturrizaga Bonelli (2619) in the penultimate round.
Source: PTI
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Global recession looms on broadest rate hikes in five decades: World Bank
The global economy may face a recession next year caused by an aggressive wave of policy tightening that could yet prove inadequate to temper inflation, the World Bank said in a new report. Policy makers around the world are rolling back monetary and fiscal support at a degree of synchronization not seen in half a century, according to the study released in Washington on Thursday. That sets off larger-than-envisioned impacts in sapping financial conditions and deepening the global growth slowdown, it said. Investors expect central banks to raise global monetary policy rates to almost 4 per cent next year, double the average in 2021, just to keep core inflation at the 5 per cent level. Rates could go as high as 6 per cent if central banks look to wrangle inflation within their target bands, according to the report’s model. The World Bank study estimates 2023 global gross domestic product growth to slow to 0.5 per cent, and contract 0.4 per cent in per capita terms that would meet the technical definition of a global recession. After record expansion in 2021, this would cut short recovery well before economic activity has returned to its pre-pandemic trend, it said.
“Policy makers could shift their focus from reducing consumption to boosting production,” said World Bank Group President David Malpass. “Policies should seek to generate additional investment and improve productivity and capital allocation, which are critical for growth and poverty reduction.” Source: Bloomberg
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Fitch lowers India’s FY 2023 GDP growth forecast to 7% from 7.8%: Report
Fitch Ratings on Thursday slashed India’s economic growth forecast for FY23 to 7% from 7.8% projected in June, and said it expects key policy rates of theReserve Bank of India (RBI) to peak in the near future and remain at 6% through next year. In August, the RBI had raised the repo rate by 50 basis points to 5.4%.
Fitch Rating also lowered India’s GDP growth rate for FY24 to 6.7% from 7.4% it forecast earlier. The changes are in line with a cut in global economic forecast for the current year by Fitch.
The rating agency cut its global economic growth forecast due to the European gas crisis, high inflation and a sharp acceleration in the pace of global monetary policy tightening which are taking a heavy toll on economic prospects. The agency now expects world GDP to grow 2.4% in 2022, revised down by 0.5 percentage point, and to expand just 1.7% in 2023, down by one percentage point. Fitch Ratings said that India’s central bank has already front-loaded its policy rate hikes, tightening by a total of 140 basis points since the start of 2022 to 5.4% in August. “We expect the RBI to continue raising, to 5.9% before year-end. The RBI remains focused on reducing inflation, but said that its decisions would continue to be “calibrated, measured and nimble” and dependent on the unfolding dynamics of inflation and economic activity. We therefore expect policy rates to peak the near future and to remain at 6% throughout next year,” said the agency’s latest global economic outlook.
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Easy to use, more effective and cheap, nasal Covid vaccines can be game-changer: Scientists
Holding out the promise of preventing even mild infections and blocking transmission, mucosal vaccines may well be a game changer for the Covid pandemic, say scientists as Indians gear up for the world’s first intranasal preventive.
A nasal, non-invasive and cheaper alternative to injectable vaccines could be just what is needed in a world battling a waning and waxing Covid wave with new variants throwing up challenges at every step, the experts said.
Earlier this month, Bharat Biotech announced that its iNCOVACC (BBV154), the world’s first intranasal COVID-19 vaccine, has received approval from the Drugs Controller General of India for restricted use in emergencies for those 18 and older. The vaccine is yet to be marketed. By prompting an immune response where the virus first enters the body, researchers believe mucosal vaccines may prevent even mild cases of illness and block transmission to other people, something current COVID-19 shots are unable to do. “This pandemic has been dragging on because new variants continue to emerge that are capable of causing a lot of infections and transmission among people who were already vaccinated,” said David T. Curiel, a professor at Washington University.
“A nasal vaccine may be what we need to finally break the cycle of transmission,” Curiel said in a statement.
Immunologist Vineeta Bal agreed, explaining that intranasal vaccines are supposed to produce antibodies locally, i.e. in the upper respiratory passage, the entry point for SARS-CoV2. Because of their presence, the virus is supposed to be ‘neutralised’ immediately after entry without letting it gain foothold by entry in the cells and reproducing.
“This means early clearance of the virus from the body before its spread to lungs and other organs is a distinct possibility and an advantage over other intramuscular injectable vaccines,” Bal, from Pune’s Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), said. Source: PTI
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Effective home remedies manage blood sugar levels
While diabetes can be controlled with medication or insulin, the role of lifestyle changes like eating the right foods (low GI foods) in reasonable portions and physical activity cannot be ignored. Let us have a look at a handful of such remedies to diabetes.
Cinnamon
This effective kitchen ingredient speeds up the insulin activity and comprises of a compound which is bioactive in nature. It helps to lower the sugar levels in the bloodstream. It is one of the best ingredients that can avoid diabetes.
A diabetic prone individual should consume one teaspoon of grounded cinnamon mixed with lukewarm water on a daily basis. Another method is to take two glasses of water and boiling it with raw cinnamon, then to consume it after cooling and having it on a daily basis.
Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera is one of the common plants available in every household and is really helpful in regulating blood sugar levels. Though the taste is bitter still its inflammatory properties have to lead to the control of diabetes. Consuming it with buttermilk can provide a much better taste than consuming it directly.
Indian Black Berry (Jambul)
Jambul quite familiar as Indian blackberry reduces the sugar levels in the bloodstream due to the presence of anthocyanins, ellagic acid; hydrolyzable tannins etc. and regulate blood sugar levels. Jambul comprises of hypoglycemic effects and jambosine. The leaves, seed and berries can be consumed to heal this disease.
Vitamin C
Consumption of eatables containing Vitamin C such as tomato, lemon, etc. constitutes citrus acid and helps in reduction of blood sugar levels. It is recommended especially for individuals suffering from chronic diabetes.
It is advisable to consume 600mg of Vitamin C on a regular basis.
Cabbage
Regular intake of cabbage juice or cabbage soup results in a healthy lifestyle and keeps away diabetes. It has the capacity to stimulate insulin and is advised by present-day doctors to fight against diabetes. It also helps in weight reduction and in turn helps to lower glucose levels in blood.
Bitter Gourd
Bitter Gourd is a must have in your diet if you are prone to diabetes. It should be consumed on a regular basis in empty stomach. The seeds should be extracted well and then prepared into a fine blend of juice. Consumption of bitter gourd juice helps in maintaining the metabolism of the body and lowers the sugar levels in the bloodstream.
Fenugreek
Consumption of fenugreek seeds stimulate the insulin levels in blood and improve glucose tolerance.
It is suggested to have fenugreek soaked water on an empty stomach every morning and it brings down your blood sugar levels.
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Things to avoid if you have thin hair
Some people use heat in their hair every day for styling. However, this also spoils the hair. If your hair is already very thin, stop using heat. Too much blow dry, quick straightening should also be avoided. This will make your hair look thinner. If your hair is thin, avoid using excessive gel-based sprays. The more you use oil or gel-based spray in your hair, the more your hair will stick to each other. This will not show volume in the hair, and it will look thin. You can use texturising sprays instead. If your hair is thin and you use too much oil, it will make the hair look even more sticky and thin. In order to make hair dense, some people apply oil quickly. Now, if the oil is not removed well, dandruff can occur on your scalp, which can also cause hair loss.
You can apply oil in small quantities. Apply oil only once a week, that too after applying, shampoo the hair well. Remove this from the mind applying more oil makes the hair dense.
Some people start consuming many types of pills to make hair dense or keep them strong from the roots, but it is not right to depend more on them to maintain hair health. Hair growth pills will not make your hair thick immediately, but they can also have many side effects. When the hair is constantly falling and thinning, consult an expert. Avoid using chemical hair care products. If you are using a chemical hair mask, serum, etc., it will never improve the condition of the hair. The more chemical-rich things you apply to the hair, the more damage it will have, so avoid using hair care products available on the market. Use chemical-free hair care products, shampoo, hair gel, hair masks, etc. If you want to protect your hair from damage, use mild shampoo and conditioner, which clean the scalp well. Also, do not use conditioners daily. Apply a hair mask prepared from natural things in the hair. Hair mask made of banana and curd conditions the hair in a natural way.
Source: News 18
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Add beauty to your home with Indian handicrafts
India is a land of different cultures and traditions. With rich cultural diversity and great artwork, India is world renowned for its beautiful sculptures and magnificent Indian handicrafts. These marvellous pieces of art can be crafted from any type of material available whether it is brass, wood, jute, stones or metal. The handicrafts are preferred worldwide for many purposes. Most of us, use it for decorating their houses as they add positivity, charm and elegance. The Indian handicrafts speak about its culture, diversity and brilliance of the nation. These handicrafts which are produced are a blend of creativity and imaginative skills of the workers.
Some of the famous handicrafts are made up of:
Brass Handicrafts:
Brass Handicrafts are durable and give a sturdy décor to home. You may find various options in brass handicrafts such as table tops, bowls, vases, wall art, lamps, ornament boxes and figurines. Make sure the brass handicrafts which you are purchasing has given the coat of lacquer because the authentic brass handicrafts tend to oxidise quickly when exposed to air. Also, all of the brass handicrafts require regular polishing to keep the shine intact.
Wood Handicrafts:
The wooden handicrafts enhance the elegance and give a luxurious look to the home. The wooden furniture, utensils, lamps, jewellery box, candle stands, bangle holders, decorative pieces, etc are crafted from wood. These wood are also of different types like Sandalwood, Teakwood, Bamboo and Shisham etc.
Jute Handicrafts:
The jute handicrafts give a fabulous look to the home. You may find a broad range of handicrafts in jute fabrics such as lamps, tables, bags, rugs, curtains and more. The best part of jute is that they are eco-friendly and gives a natural look to the home.
Clay Handicrafts:
Clay Pottery is one of the most famous and ancient forms of Indian handicrafts You may find the wide variety of beautiful terracotta planters, containers, tiles, jewellery and utensils to vases. The clay crafts enhance the beauty of the home. Also, the food cooked in baked earth is considered good for health. The multiple types of clay pottery are terracotta, red, black and grey pottery.
Marble Handicrafts:
Decorate your living room with coloured stones and marbles. This enhances the beauty of the house and makes home a spiritual place with impressive marble idols of gods and marble statues.
Art and Metal Handicrafts:
Choose any creative wall art and synced it to your living room to give a classy and funky look. Moreover, you can use precious metal handicrafts to give an extravagant look to living room.
Carpets:
Give your living room a luxurious look by using the brilliant colour combination and unbeatable quality. Source:Boontoon.com
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India’s trade deficit widened to $27.98 billion in August: Govt
India’s merchandise trade deficit in August widened to $27.98 billion from $11.71 billion a year earlier, revised data released by the government showed on September 14.
India’s merchandise exports rose to $33.92 billion from $33.38 billion in the same month last year, while imports rose to $61.90 billion in August from $45.09 billion last year. Rise in import values last month has been witnessed in major commodity groups like coal, coke and briquettes (133.64% to $4.5 billion), chemicals (43% to around $3 billion), and vegetable oil (41.55% to nearly $2 billion). Also, export products that witnessed positive growth last month included electronic goods, rice, oil meals, tea, coffee and chemicals.
Export of petroleum products jumped by 22.76% to $5.71 billion. Similarly, chemicals and pharma shipments rose by 13.47% and 6.76% to $2.53 billion and $2.14 billion, respectively. Sectors, which saw negative growth last month included engineering (14.19% to $8.3 billion), gems and jewellery (about 3% to $3.33 billion), ready-made garments of all textiles (0.34% to $1.23 billion), and plastic (1.10% to $747.21 million).
Meanwhile, India’s current account deficit (CAD) will widen to 5% of the GDP in the September quarter due to higher merchandise trade deficit, domestic ratings agency Icra said.
“The current account deficit (CAD) is projected to widen to an all-time high of USD 41-43 billion in Q2 FY23 from the USD 30 billion expected in Q1 FY23. It is expected to widen to 5 per cent of GDP in Q2 FY23, the second highest level since Q3FY12,” Icra said in a note. The agency said with the re-emergence of foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) equity inflows, it expects the rupee to trade between 78.5-81 against the US dollar in the rest of calendar year 2022 amid the global headwinds. “While forex reserves have seen a drawdown of USD 45.4 billion in FY23 so far (till Aug 26, 2022), they remain large, and are likely to prevent a disorderly depreciation of the Indian rupee,” it added.
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Dahi Lasooni Chicken
Dahi Lahsooni Chicken is an easy recipe that you can easily prepare at home. Marinated in lots of spices, garlic and curd, this chicken recipe is extremely juicy. You’ll love to prepare this non-vegetarian recipe for your family and friends, and they will cherish the exotic taste of this tandoori dish.
Ingredients:
Chicken boneless – 7 pcs, 170 gms
Cheese – 15 gms
Garlic chopped – 15 gms
Ginger paste – 5 gms
Coriander chopped – 2 gms
Green chilli paste – 7 gms
Fresh cream – 18 gms
Curd – 40 gms
Kaju paste – 10 gms
Salt – 2 gms
Black salt – 0.5 gms
Chicken masala – 1 gram
Chat masala – 0.5 gms
Elaichi – 0.5 gms
Jeera powder – 1 gram
White pepper powder – 1 gram
Salad oil – 5 gms
Daniya powder – 1 gram
Method:
– The first step is to marinate the chicken with all the ingredients.
– Marinate the chicken pieces with curd and then add chopped garlic, ginger paste, kaju paste, green chilli paste, chopped dhaniya, salt, kitchen king masala
– Add black salt, chat masala, elaichi, dhaniya, jeera powder, white pepper powder, salad oil, cream and cheese.
– Keep aside for 30 minutes to abstract flavour.
– Apply 5 ml of butter.
– Grill it in charcoal tandoor for 8 – 10 minutes.
– Serve in a platter.
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New blood test detects multiple cancers without symptoms
In what could be a game changer for medical science, a new blood test has successfully screened multiple cancers in patients who were yet to show any symptoms. The test was conducted among 6,662 individuals as part of a Pathfinder Study by GRAIL, a healthcare company working on improving cancer screening. The test was conducted among patients 50 years and above as they are at an elevated risk for cancer. The results of the tests were presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2022 in Paris. The study found cancer in about 1 per cent of participants, including types for which there is no established screening method. This is the first time that the results of the test have been published. The Multi-Cancer Early Detection (MCED) test was measured using both an earlier version of Galleri (MCED-E) and a refined version of Galleri (MCED-Scr).
Researchers said that the earlier version of the test was refined to reduce the detection of pre-malignant hematologic conditions, which are fairly common, and improve prediction of the cancer signal origin. “When added to standard of care screening, MCED testing more than doubled the number of cancers detected compared to standard screening alone. In fact, Galleri detected more cancers than all U.S. Preventive Services Task Force-recommended standard single cancer screenings combined. These included Stage I cancers of the liver, small intestine, and uterus, and Stage II pancreatic, bone, and oropharyngeal cancers,” Jeffrey Venstrom, MD, chief medical officer at GRAIL, said in a statement.
The cancer signal was detected in 92 patients and of these 35 participants was diagnosed with 36 cancers. The company revealed that among the confirmed cancers, 71 per cent of participants had cancer types that have no routine cancer screening available.
hey also established that the cancer signal origin prediction had 97% accuracy and after clinical treatment, there was a resolution of the cancer diagnosis in less than three months for most participants.
The new test is likely to enhance cancer screening and devise better treatment strategies earlier than expected. Source: India Today
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Ukraine pays tribute to Russian woman who fought on its side
Kyiv (TIP) : An honour guard fired a three-gun salute toward cloudy skies as friends and comrades-in-arms gathered in Kyiv to bid farewell to a Russian woman who was killed while fighting on Ukraine’s side in the war with her native country. Olga Simonova, 34, was remembered for her courage and kindness at a funeral in the Ukrainian capital on september 17. Simonova’s coffin was draped in the blue-and-yellow Ukrainian flag, with a cuddly toy lion on top. Her nom de guerre was “Simba,” like the main character in the Disney cartoon “The Lion King.” Just a few days before Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, Simonova spoke to The Associated Press in a trench in the Donbas region, where she had served for years alongside Ukrainian soldiers fighting against Russian-backed separatists. Born in the Russian city of Chelyabinsk, Simonova had a keen interest in sports and excelled in both mountain climbing and karate. She said she was always proud to compete for Russia.
But she started feeling uncomfortable about her native country after reading about Russia’s war in Chechnya and its actions in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region and Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014.
Filled with doubts that she “would ever be able to raise the flag of my country, my homeland” again, Simonova made a life-changing decision. She travelled to Ukraine to join the conflict in the Donbas on the Ukrainian side, first as a volunteer fighter, then a paramedic and ultimately as an enlisted member of the Armed Forces.
“I had this internal feeling that I could handle it and that what I was doing was right and necessary, because I can’t turn a blind eye to the situation,” she said. “I just had to buy a one-way ticket. I bought it and I left.” Simonova said she never hid her Russian origin from her colleagues and gained their trust by showing her commitment to Ukraine on the battlefield. In 2017 she received Ukrainian citizenship.
She became a sergeant and was given command of both infantry and artillery units.
Friends and colleagues said Simonova, who was unmarried and had no children, had recently redeployed from the east to the southern Kherson region, where Ukraine has launched a counteroffensive against Russian forces. They said she died on Sept. 13, after her vehicle hit a land mine.
“She was respected not only as a commander, but as a person,” said DmytroKarabinovskyi, her former commander and friend. (AP) -
Chinese factory churns out British flags after queen’s death
Shaoxing (China) (TIP): Ninety minutes after Queen Elizabeth II died, orders for thousands of British flags started to flood into a factory south of Shanghai. More than 100 employees at Shaoxing Chuangdong Tour Articles Co set aside other work and put in 14-hour days starting at 7:30 am making nothing but British-themed flags.
They turned out at least 500,000 the first week, according to general manager Fan Aiping.
Some are British flags to be carried by mourners or hung outside homes. Others show Elizabeth’s portrait and the years of her birth and death. They range in size from 21 to 150 cm (8 to 59 inches) wide and sell for 7 yuan ($1).
The first customer sent an order at 3 am Chinese time for tens of thousands, according to Fan. She said 20,000 the factory had in stock were sent out that morning. “The customer came to our factory directly to grab the products,” Fan said. “Many of the flags weren’t even packaged. They were put in a box and shipped away.”
The factory had been making flags for the football World Cup before Elizabeth’s death. Chuangdong has been in the industry since 2005 and produces flags for the World Cup and other sports events or national day celebrations. It also makes sports-themed scarves and banners. Employees pay attention to news for events that might bring in orders. “There is a business opportunity behind every news event,” Fan said.
Ni Guozhen, an employee since 2005, said she has learned about the world through her work. “I’ve learned a lot about current events,” said Ni, who was sewing flags with the queen’s portrait. “My knowledge has grown. Therefore I’m proud and happy that I’m making flags.” Ni remembers filling orders for British-themed flags for a royal wedding.
“There is a story behind each flag,” Fan said. “This time it’s about the queen in the United Kingdom. They are buying these flags to mourn the queen deeply.” AP
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Strong earthquake rocks southeast Taiwan, no reports of damage
Taipei (TIP): A strong earthquake of magnitude 6.4 shook southeastern Taiwan on September 18 but there were no immediate reports of damage and no power outages. The quake had a depth of 7.3 km with its epicentre in Taitung county, a sparsely populated part of the island, the Taiwan weather bureau said.
Taitung county commissioner April Yao wrote on her Facebook page the quake was “extremely strong”, while the official Central News Agency showed a picture of bottles that had been shaken off their shelves in a Taitung shop.
Taiwan’s fire department said it had yet to receive any reports of damage. State-run utility Taipower said there was no interruption to electricity supply on Taiwan’s east coast. The quake could be felt across Taiwan, the weather bureau said. Buildings shook briefly in the capital Taipei. The science parks in the southern cities of Tainan and Kaohsiung, home to major semiconductor factories, said there was also no impact on operations.
Taiwan lies near the junction of two tectonic plates and is prone to earthquakes. More than 100 people were killed in a quake in southern Taiwan in 2016, while a 7.3 magnitude quake killed more than 2,000 people in 1999. Reuters
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9 killed in stampede at concert in Guatemala
Guatemala City (TIP): At least nine people were killed and nearly 20 were injured after a stampede at the end of a concert celebrating Guatemalan Independence Day in the western city of Quetzaltenango, the local Red Cross confirmed. The incident took place on early sept 17 morning, Xinhua news agency reported. According to its reports on social media, the Guatemalan Red Cross and volunteer firefighters “stabilised more than 20 injured people and nine died at the scene.” The stampede occurred at one of the exits of the fairgrounds at the end of the outdoor concert, and Guatemalan authorities are investigating the causes. September 15 marks the 201st anniversary of the independence from Spain of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. (Agency)
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22-year-old Iranian woman dies after being detained by morality police over her dress code
Tehran (TIP): Controversy sparked on social media after a 22-year-old woman, MahsaAmini, died after falling into a coma following her detention by Iran’s morality police, a dedicated unit that enforces strict dress codes for women, such as wearing the compulsory headscarf, media reports said.
As per Al Jazeera, MahsaAmini, 22, was on a visit to Tehran with her family when she was detained by the specialist police unit. After a while, she suffered a heart attack and was immediately taken to hospital with the cooperation of the emergency services. “Unfortunately, she died and her body was transferred to the medical examiner’s office,” state television said on September 17, reported Al Jazeera. The announcement came a day after Tehran police confirmed Amini had been detained with other women for “instruction” about the rules.
Human rights activists who have spoken to the family said the police grabbed Amini and forced her inside a police vehicle, CNN reported quoting IranWire. Her brother, Kiarash, intervened however the police told him that they are taking his sister to the police station for one hour of “re-education.” Her brother waited outside the police station for her to be released however an ambulance pulled up and took his sister to the hospital. “The woman was sent to a Greater Tehran police precinct for guidance and education when suddenly, in the presence of other people, she had a heart attack,” the police said, reported CNN quoting state media.
Questioning the version of events given by police, the Mahsa’s family said that she was normal with no pre-existing heart conditions.
Human rights organisation Amnesty International said, “The circumstances leading to the suspicious death in custody of 22-year-old young woman MahsaAmini, which include allegations of torture and other ill-treatment in custody, must be criminally investigated.” “The so-called ‘morality police’ in Tehran arbitrarily arrested her three days before her death while enforcing the country’s abusive, degrading and discriminatory forced veiling laws. All agents and officials responsible must face justice,” it added.
Following the incident that sparked a fury on social media, Iranian President EbrahimRaisi ordered the interior minister to open an inquiry into the case. Several lawmakers said they would raise the case in parliament, while the judiciary said it would form a special task force to investigate, reported Al Jazeera.
Amini’s death comes amid growing controversy both inside and outside Iran over the conduct of the morality police, known formally as the Gasht-e Ershad (Guidance Patrol). The mandatory dress code, which applies to all nationalities and religions, not just Iranian Muslims, requires women to conceal their hair and neck with a headscarf, reported Al Jazeera. Over the decades, women have increasingly pushed back, particularly in the big cities, wearing their headscarves far back on their heads to reveal their hair. (ANI)
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Pressure on Russian forces mounts after Ukraine’s advances
Kyiv (TIP): Western defence officials and analysts on September 18 said they believed the Russian forces were setting up a new defensive line in Ukraine’s northeast after Kyiv’s troops broke through the previous one and tried to press their advances further into the east.
The British Defence Ministry said in a daily intelligence briefing that the line likely is between the Oskil River and Svatove, some 150 kilometres southeast of Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city.
The new line comes after a Ukrainian counteroffensive punched a hole through the previous front line in the war and recaptured large swaths of land in the northeastern Kharkiv region that borders Russia.
Moscow “likely sees maintaining control of this zone as important because it is transited by one of the few main resupply routes Russia still controls from the Belgorod region of Russia”, the British military said, adding that ”a stubborn defence of this area” was likely, but that it remained unclear whether the Russians would be able to withstand another concerted Ukrainian assault. Ukrainian forces, in the meantime, continue to cross the key Oskil River in the Kharkiv region as they try to press on in a counteroffensive targeting Russian-occupied territory, according to the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War.
The Institute said in its Saturday report that satellite imagery it examined suggest that Ukrainian forces have crossed over to the east bank of the Oskil in Kupiansk, placing artillery there.
The river, which flows south from Russia into Ukraine, had been a natural break in the newly emerged front lines since Ukraine launched its push about a week ago. “Russian forces are likely too weak to prevent further Ukrainian advances along the entire Oskil River if Ukrainian forces choose to resume offensive operations,” the institute said. After the Russian troops retreated from the city of Izium, Ukrainian authorities discovered a mass grave site, one of the largest so far discovered.
President VolodymyrZelenskyy said on Friday that more than 440 graves have been found at the site but that the number of victims is not yet known.
Zelenskyy said the graves contained the bodies of hundreds of civilian adults and children, as well as soldiers, and some had been tortured, shot or killed by artillery shelling.
He cited evidence of atrocities, such as a body with a rope around its neck and broken arms. Videos circulating online on Saturday indicated that Ukrainian forces are also continuing to take land in the country’s embattled east.
One video showed a Ukrainian soldier walking past a building, its roof destroyed, then pointing up over his shoulder at a colleague hanging the blue-and-yellow Ukrainian flag over a mobile phone tower.
The soldier in the video identified the seized village as Dibrova, just northeast of the city of Sloviansk and southeast of the embattled city of Lyman in Ukraine’s Donetsk region.
Another online video showed two Ukrainian soldiers in what appeared to be a bell tower. A Ukrainian flag hung as a soldier said they had taken the village of Shchurove, just northeast of Sloviansk.
The Ukrainian military and the Russians did not immediately acknowledge the change of hands of the two villages.
Elsewhere in Ukraine, Russian forces continued to pound cities and villages with missile strikes and shelling.
A Russian missile attack early Saturday started a fire in Kharkiv’s industrial area, said OlehSyniehubov, the regional governor. Firefighters extinguished the blaze.
Syniehubov said remnants of the missiles suggest the Russians fired S-300 surface-to-air missiles at the city. The S-300 is designed for striking missiles or aircraft in the sky, not targets on the ground. (AP)
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PM Shehbaz Sharif will appoint new Pakistan Army chief in November: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif
Islamabad (TIP): Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will appoint a new Army chief on time in November, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on September 18 and accused former premier Imran Khan of raking up a controversy for his personal benefit. Asif’s remarks came days after Khan demanded that the next Chief of Army Staff should be appointed by the new government after fresh elections.
Army chief General JavedBajwa, 61, would retire on November 29 and his successor is expected to be announced by the prime minister who is legally authorised to appoint the army chief.
“Former premier Nawaz Sharif has fulfilled this political responsibility four times and Shehbaz will do the same in November,” Asif said in response to a question while addressing a press conference.
He said that the policy over the Army chief’s appointment was clear in the Constitution but Khan was trying to make it controversial. “He just wants to make the Army chief’s appointment controversial,” he said, adding that no one had any doubt about the loyalty of the head of the Army to the Constitution and the institutions.
He also alleged that Khan, chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, would not hesitate in sabotaging Pakistan for his personal benefit.
“Politics is separate but institutions should not be made controversial,” the defence minister said.
Asif also warned Khan to stop the pursuit of making the appointment of the new army chief controversial as it emboldens India, Samaa TV reported. Khan said in an interview that the incumbent was not competent enough to appoint the new Army chief and that the issue should be left for the next government. He also demanded fresh elections. The appointment of the Army chief creates a lot of interest and heat due to the power enjoyed by the head of the Army in Pakistan. Speaking about the recent statements by different people against the country’s national security, Asif warned that action would be taken against them.
Bajwa has held the top post of the Pakistan Army for six years. He was initially appointed in 2016, but after three years of tenure, the then government of Khan in 2019 extended his service for another three years.
The appointment of the Army chief is the sole prerogative of the prime minister.
When Khan was in power, the opposition accused him of trying to bring an army chief of his choice, who could support his alleged agenda of victimising opposition leaders.
Since he lost power, the equation has changed and now Khan is saying that the coalition government wants to install an army head of its choice to protect looted wealth and steal general elections. The powerful Army, which has ruled the coup-prone country for more than half of its 75-plus years of existence, has hitherto wielded considerable power in the matters of security and foreign policy. Addressing a public rally in Faisalabad earlier this month, Khan had alleged that the government was afraid of fair elections and delaying the polls until the appointment of the new Army chief by the end of November when the incumbent Gen Bajwa would retire.
“(Asif Ali) Zardari and Nawaz (Sharif) want to bring their favourite as the next army chief because they have stolen public money,” Khan alleged. “They are afraid that when the patriotic army chief comes, he will ask them about their loot.” Strongly objecting to Khan’s remarks, the Army issued a statement in which it accused him of making an attempt to discredit and undermine senior leadership of the Pakistan Army at a time when the institution is laying lives for the security and safety of the people. (PTI)
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September 16 New York & Dallas E – Edition
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Death toll from Pakistan floods nears 1,500
Islamabad (TIP): Pakistan’s unprecedented floods, which have submerged huge swathes of the South Asian nation, have killed nearly 1,500 people, data showed on September 16, as authorities looked to step up relief efforts for millions affected by the disaster. The floods brought by record monsoon rain and glacial melt in northern mountains have hit 33 million of a population of 220 million, sweeping away homes, transport, crops and livestock in damage estimated at $30 billion.
The tally of dead stands at 1,486, about 530 children among them, the National Disaster Management Authority said, as it released its first country-wide total since Sept 9, a period that saw 90 more people die.
Over the last few weeks, authorities have thrown up barriers to keep the flood waters out of key structures such as power stations as well as homes, while farmers who stayed to try and save their cattle faced a new threat as fodder began to run out. The government and the United Nations have blamed climate change for the surging waters, in the wake of record-breaking summer temperatures, that have driven thousands from their homes to live in tents or along highways in the open. Pakistan received 391 mm (15.4 inches) of rain, or nearly 190% more than the 30-year average, in July and August. That figure climbed to 466% for one of the worst-affected areas, the southern province of Sindh. Aid flights from the United Arab Emirates and the United States arrived in the country on Thursday, the foreign ministry said. The United Nations is assessing reconstruction needs. (PTI)