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Iconic Statue Of Pakistan Army 1971 Surrender Vandalised In Bangladesh

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Iconic Statue Of Pakistan Army's 1971 Surrender Vandalised In Bangladesh

The 1971 war not only liberated Bangladesh but also dealt Pakistan a crushing blow.

New Delhi:

A statue meant to commemorate the liberation of Bangladesh has been destroyed by “anti-India vandals”, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said today. Mr Tharoor shared an image of the broken statue which depicted the moment Pakistan surrendered after the 1971 war.

“Sad to see images like this of statues at the 1971 Shaheed Memorial Complex, Mujibnagar, destroyed by anti-India vandals,” the Thiruvananthapuram MP said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).  

“This follows disgraceful attacks on the Indian cultural centre, temples, and Hindu homes in several places, even as reports came in of Muslim civilians protecting other minority homes and places of worship,” he added.

The 1971 war not only liberated Bangladesh but also dealt Pakistan a crushing blow. The statue depicted the signing of the ‘Instrument Of Surrender’ by Pakistan Army Major-General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi to the Indian Army and Bangladesh’s Mukti Bahini. Major-General Niazi surrendered with his 93,000 troops before Lt General Jagjit Singh Aurora, then General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of India’s Eastern Command. This was the largest military surrender since World War II.

A student-led uprising in Bangladesh has led to the resignation of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and several other top officials. At least 450 people were killed in more than a month of deadly protests that led to Hasina’s exit on August 5.

Hasina faces allegations of murder, forced disappearance, money laundering, and corruption, and must face the law, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, a senior member of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party said.

The protests have also been severely harsh on Hindus residing in the country who have been subjected to several attacks against Hindu households, temples, and businesses. Hindus are the largest minority faith in mostly Muslim Bangladesh and are considered a steadfast support base for Hasina’s party, the Awami League.

Members of minority communities in the violence-hit nation have faced more than 205 incidents of attacks across 52 districts since the fall of the government.

Shashi Tharoor urged the new caretaker government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammed Yunus, to take urgent steps to restore law and order.

“The agenda of some of the agitators is quite clear. It is essential that Muhammed Yunus and his interim government take urgent steps to restore law & order in the interests of all Bangladeshis, of every faith. India stands with the people of Bangladesh at this turbulent time, but such anarchic excess can never be condoned,” he said.



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BLACKPINK’s Lisa teams up with Rosalía for new single ‘New Woman’

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BLACKPINK’s Lisa is gearing up for her next solo venture with the upcoming release of “New Woman,” featuring a collaboration with Spanish singer Rosalía. The track is scheduled to drop on August 15th, promising a fusion of Lisa’s signature fierce energy and Rosalía’s unique musical style.

Anticipation for the single has been building since Lisa teased the collaboration on August 6th with a cryptic poster titled “Brand New Día.” The poster hinted at the song’s lyrics and Rosalía’s involvement, sparking excitement among fans. Rosalía further fueled the buzz during a recent Instagram live session by previewing a snippet of what seemed to be Lisa’s verse.
 

This exciting release comes on the heels of Lisa’s successful solo comeback with the hip-hop track “ROCKSTAR,” which has already surpassed 100 million views on its music video and achieved the fastest 100 million streams on Spotify for a K-pop female soloist.

With the first concept photo for “New Woman” now unveiled, fans are eagerly counting down the days until they can experience this highly anticipated musical collaboration.

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Shashi Tharoor On Sheikh Hasina In India

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Shashi Tharoor spoke to NDTV on implications of Bangladesh developments leading to Sheikh Hasina’s ouster

New Delhi:

Praising the Centre for giving refuge to Sheikh Hasina after she was forced to resign as Bangladesh Prime Minister amid violent protests, Congress leader and MP Shashi Tharoor told NDTV that the power shift in the neighbouring country is not a cause for worry for India.

Asked about his views on how the developments in Bangladesh would impact its ties with India, Mr Tharoor said, “Our fundamental interest lies in close and friendly relations with Bangladesh, our basic commitment is to the well-being of Bangladesh people, the State comes second and any individual leader comes third.”

“We are with the people of Bangladesh, we were with them in 1971, we have been with them through thick and thin, even when they had governments who were less than friendly to us, we have managed to keep our relationship on an even keel and certainly there should be no deterioration in that relationship in time to come,” he added.

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On the interim government headed by Nobel peace prize winner and Grameen Bank founder Muhammad Yunus, he said it’s no cause for anxiety for New Delhi. “I know Muhammad Yunus personally, he is a highly respected figure. I suppose he is somewhat close to Washington rather than being seen as close to Jamaat e Islami or Pakistani ISI. If you look at the overall composition of the interim government, there doesn’t seem to be any particular reason for India to feel any anxiety about countries hostile to us having put their stamp on this interim government,” he said.

The big concern for India, he said, has always been whether Pakistan and China will fish in troubled waters. “In this kind of context, there is always a possibility that the Pakistani ISI could have had a hand in some outrageous incidents of violence during the agitation, that the Chinese who have a strong presence in Bangladesh might have seen this as an opportunity to expand their influence, those are things people watching relations in the subcontinent are most concerned about. But certainly there is no implication of anything in the composition of the interim government or the initial statements of Mr Yunus that would give us any cause for worry,” he said, underlining the interim leader’s call for peace and protection of minorities.

On India giving refuge to Sheikh Hasina following her ouster, Mr Tharoor had words of praise for the Narendra Modi government. “If we had not helped her, it would have been a disgrace for India. Nobody would have wanted to be our friend if we had treated our friend badly. Sheikh Hasina is a friend of India and India is a friend of her. And when a friend is in trouble, you don’t look twice before you help them, keep them safe. That’s exactly what India has done. I applaud the government for doing it. I would have wanted nothing less. As an Indian, we have certain standards we stand for in the world. The government has done right thing to bring her here and ensure her safety,” he said.

“How long she wishes to remain is not for us. You don’t call someone to your house and ask them when are you leaving. My view is we wait and see, how long she feels she can stay before she moves on. There are practical considerations before moving to any other country, there ae visa considerations, other issues. For now, She is with us and we should be proud of the fact that we have stood by a friend when her personal safety was in danger,” Mr Tharoor said.

In his response to a question on whether the Indian government should raise concerns regarding attacks on minorities more forcefully, he conflicting reports are coming out of Bangladesh. “There certainly have been some attacks, no one can deny it, no one should deny it. It’s a fact. At the same time, there is no doubt that there are also stories coming out that Bangladeshi Muslims are guarding Hindu homes and temples, So there is a bit of good news also during all the bad news,” he said.

The Congress leader saw hope in Muhammad Yunus’s address after taking charge of the interim government. “Prof Yunus’s statement that the government stands by the minorities and urges people to be calm and stop acts of violence, that’s a very good sign. Any continuing violence will be definitely instigated by those elements in Bangladesh’s society who have traditionally been anti-Indian, anti-Hindu and will do whatever it takes to create the conditions of disorder that may give them the opportunity to fish in troubled waters. But for now, I don’t believe there is any one authority who wants to see that situation continue,” he said.

Sheikh Hasina, who had to step down after protests against reservation in Bangladesh snowballed into a movement demanding her ouster, has been in India for nearly a week now. Following her arrival, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar chaired an all-party meeting and briefed leaders from Opposition parties on the situation and the government’s plan. The Opposition has assured full support to the Centre on tackling this crisis.

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Manny Jacinto to star as Lindsay Lohan’s husband in ‘Freakier Friday’ sequel

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Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis are giving fans a taste of what’s to come in the highly-awaited sequel to “Freaky Friday.”

The film, now titled “Freakier Friday,” will see the return of the iconic mother-daughter duo, with Manny Jacinto joining the cast as Lohan’s husband. Chad Michael Murray will also reprise his role from the original movie.   

Lohan and Curtis shared these exciting updates at the D23 Expo, promising a sequel that’s even “more fun” and “more emotional” than the original. The film, currently in production, will follow an adult Anna (Lohan), navigating the complexities of motherhood and a new marriage, leading to another hilarious body-swap experience.   

The sequel boasts a talented cast, including new additions Julia Butters, Sophia Hammons, and Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, alongside familiar faces like Mark Harmon and Christina Vidal Mitchell. With filming already underway, fans are eagerly awaiting the 2025 release of “Freakier Friday,” ready to embrace the laughter, heartwarming moments, and body-swapping chaos that made the original a classic.   
 

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Hundreds Gather In US To Protest Violence Against Hindus In Bangladesh

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Hundreds Gather In US To Protest Violence Against Hindus In Bangladesh

File photo

Houston:

In a powerful yet peaceful display of solidarity, over 300 Indian Americans and Bangladeshi-origin Hindus gathered at Sugar Land City Hall in Houston on Sunday morning to protest the horrific acts committed by Islamist extremists targeting Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh. The air was thick with emotion as attendees united for a cause that resonated deeply with their identities and beliefs.

Organizers passionately called on the Biden Administration to take immediate and decisive action to prevent further atrocities and to protect vulnerable minority communities in Bangladesh. The recent surge in violence against Hindu communities poses an urgent and alarming threat to peace and stability in the region, and the time to act is now.

The organizers passionately called for immediate protection and safety for all religious minorities in Bangladesh, urging the US government to refuse to remain a silent bystander as these heinous crimes against humanity unfold.

They encouraged Bangladeshi Hindus to stay vigilant and unite in monitoring the ongoing situation, taking necessary initiatives collectively in any emergency.

The vigil, aptly titled “Save Hindus in Bangladesh,” was organized by the Global Voice for Bangladesh Minorities, an umbrella organization representing major Houston Hindu groups, including Maitri, Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America, HinduAction, HinduPact, Houston Durgabari Society, ISKCON, Global Kashmiri Pandit Diaspora, and many more.

Participants raised their placards high, bearing passionate messages demanding an end to the violence and atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh.

The crowd erupted with fervour as slogans like “Stop Hindu Genocide,” “Stand Up and Speak Out Now,” “Hindu Lives Matter,” and “We0 Won’t Run, We Won’t Hide, Stop Hindu Genocide” rang out, echoing their urgent plea for justice.

Quoting the timeless words of Mahatma Gandhi, “To forgive and accept injustice is cowardice,” along with the poignant words of Martin Luther King Jr., the organizers passionately declared, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

Achlesh Amar, one of the speakers representing VHP and HinduAction, addressed the packed crowd with unwavering conviction, proclaiming, “We strongly condemn the assault on the Hindu community for their pluralistic beliefs. We stand united in unwavering solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Bangladesh. We demand immediate action from the Bangladeshi government to bring the perpetrators to justice and ensure the safety and security of all its citizens, regardless of their religious beliefs!”

Amar also shared a heartfelt statement from Deepti Mahajan, co-convener of HinduPACT.

“With the coup in Bangladesh, the 10 million Hindus are sitting on a ticking bomb of genocide,” she warned, her voice trembling with urgency. “Reports from within Bangladesh reveal unimaginable torture, killings, and the burning of Hindu temples, alongside harrowing stories of women subjected to unspeakable abuse. This instability poses a grave danger not only to Hindus but also to the very foundations of democracy in countries like India and the US. It is an inevitable threat to Hindus in Pakistan as well. We need the eyes and ears of all Western nations focused on this crisis in Asia, and we demand safety for all minorities in Bangladesh!”

A Bangladeshi-origin American woman present at the vigil spoke with palpable emotion, her voice breaking as she shared, “The horrific acts of violence back home are devastating. When we call home and hear about these brutal acts every single day, it tears us apart. So many innocent lives have been lost! Places of worship have been burned or vandalized, and women have been horrifically abused. This must stop now! We cannot stand idly by while our people suffer!”

The gathering was a powerful reminder that the struggle for justice knows no borders. United by love and compassion, they stood together to demand action, to raise their voices against oppression, and to ensure that the plight of Hindus in Bangladesh does not go unheard. 

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

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RHONJ Star Rachel Fuda expecting baby with husband John

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Rachel Fuda, a star of Bravo’s The Real Housewives of New Jersey, is expecting a new baby with her husband John. The couple, who already have three children, shared the happy news with PEOPLE in an exclusive interview.

The Fuda family is expanding! Rachel, 33, and John are expecting a new addition to their family, which already includes daughters Gianella Jolie, 4, and Giuliana Rose, 2, as well as Jaiden, John’s 17-year-old son from a previous relationship whom Rachel adopted.

To celebrate their happy news, the Fuda family posed for a family photo shoot on the beach, which they’re sharing with PEOPLE first.

“We’re so excited,” Rachel says. “We’re ready to be a party of six!” The couple, who have been open about their desire to have another child, started the IVF process again after cameras stopped rolling on season 14 of RHONJ.

Rachel, who has been open about her struggles with arthritis, says it wasn’t easy. She had to come off her medication and make sure her body was ready for the transfer, which proved challenging. But it was worth it – she got the go-ahead and is now expecting a new baby.

The Fuda family is over the moon about the news. Gianella and Giuliana, Rachel’s daughters, have been asking “nonstop” for a sibling. Jaiden, John’s son, is also looking forward to having another sibling.

As for Rachel, she’s feeling all the usual pregnancy pains, but is pushing through by embracing the happiness motherhood has brought to her life. “There’s truly no better feeling in the world than having kids,” she says. “It’s almost a type of love that you just can’t explain.”

The Real Housewives of New Jersey is now streaming on Peacock.

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“Nothing More Unfair”: R Ashwin’s Critical Take On Return Of IPL Auction Rule

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Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin criticised the Right to Match (RTM) rule, which could make its return during the auctions this year for the next year’s Indian Premier League (IPL). The auction for the IPL 2025 will be taking place at the end of this year. Earlier in August, The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) organised a “constructive dialogue” with the owners of the ten league franchises on various subjects before formulating the IPL player regulations.

Before the meeting, ESPNcricinfo reported that the significant points of discussion: Having mega auction every five years instead of three, the way it is right now, reinstating the right-to-match (RTM) card option at auctions, availability/shortage of overseas players and a limit on total number of retentions.

RTM is a rule through which teams can automatically get the player which represented them in the previous season if they match the highest bid placed by a franchise. Teams used this rule in the past to get some valuable players, but in the 2021 mega auction, it was removed in order to give the then-new franchises, Gujarat Titans (GT) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) a wider pool of players to choose from.

Speaking about this rule on his YouTube channel, Ashwin said that the rule is unfair to a player and does not give him a fair value.

“There is no rule more unfair for a player than RTM. Because how has the RTM rule been so far? For example, there is a player called X. He is on a team called, let us say, Sunrisers. His current value is around Rs five-six crores. He has gone into the auction. Now say Sunrisers want to buy the player back. So, the Sunrisers will bid for the player at a base price of 2 crore,” he said.

“Then, let us say, KKR and the Mumbai Indians are bidding for the player. The bid goes up to 6 crores and finally, they say, ‘The player is sold to the Mumbai Indians for 6 crores.’ So, with RTM, the Sunrisers will then bid for and take the player at 6 crores. The problem here is that Sunrisers are happy. But KKR and MI are unhappy. The only person (party) happy is Sunrisers. Because, in the beginning, they gave attendance bid at base price,” he added.

The ace-spinner said that RTM is unfair because it doesn’t give fair value for the player.

“After that, there is no fair value at all. There is a bidder. The KKR and Mumbai Indians are fighting. For one of those teams, it has gone up to six crores. What does SRH say? ‘You bought the player, right? Return the player back.”

“Very unfair. Because, at this time, SRH has to bid Rs 6.20 crores, the other team Rs 6.40 crores and they should reach the fair value of the player. The problem with RTM is that it is not fair value for the player. So, if you give three RTMs [to each team], the players will only go virtually empty-handed. Already, they do not get fair value in the auction,” he concluded.

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Cabinet panel proposes abolition of Ministry of Health

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This representational image shows a view of the PIMS hospital emergency. — APP/File
This representational image shows a view of the PIMS hospital emergency. — APP/File

ISLAMABAD: The Cabinet Committee on Rightsizing has recommended abolition of Ministry of National Health.

The Cabinet Committee, headed by finance minister, in its report has proposed that a new division—Social Sector Affairs—should be created. This division should run the affairs of departmental coordination and population welfare.

The administrative structure of the Ministry should be reduced to a single wing headed by an officer of Grade-20. This will affect a large number of ex-cadre and support staff. They will be sent to the surplus pool under the Civil Servants Act.

Some 692 civil servants will be affected by the merger of institutions. They will either be sent to the surplus pool of the Establishment Division or transferred to autonomous and semi-autonomous institutions through legislation. Sixty civil servants will be affected by merging NEHS with RTI. 106 employees will be affected by the merger of National Trust for Population (NATPOW).

It has been recommended that Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore, National Institute of Fertility Control Karachi and FGTB Center Rawalpindi be transferred to the provinces.

Apart from Pims Hospital and Polyclinic Hospital Islamabad, other hospitals of the Ministry and primary health centres and dispensaries managed by the District Health Officer should be run under public-private partnership.

Among these centres of health service delivery are Federal Government Hospital (FGH) and National Institute for Rehabilitation Medicine (NIRM). Cleaning, security and other general facilities of Polyclinic Hospital and Pims Hospital will be outsourced. A single common Directorate of AIDS, TB and Malaria will be established by abolishing or transferring the Directorate of Malaria. The report states as there is duplication in the duties of NEHS, NIH and NDM, the National Emergency Health Services (NEH) will be abolished. Computer programmer, computer officer and computer operator will be given a single designation. Employees like store supervisor and storekeeper or accounts assistant are working in different grades. Now, there will be only one post.

The need to rationalise the ratio of officers and subordinate staff in the Ministry of Health has also been emphasized. The affected officers and employees will be sent to the surplus pool. The report states implementation of these recommendations will improve the quality of public health services and will reduce financial burden on the government. Public-Private Partnerships will improve the quality and efficiency of services.

According to sources, these recommendations will be submitted to the prime minister for final approval.

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After Punjab Couple Elope, Woman’s Father, Relatives Gang-Rape Man’s Sister

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After Punjab Couple Elope, Woman's Father, Relatives Gang-Rape Man's Sister

The victim is the mother of two children, the police said.

Ludhiana:

A man along with three family members allegedly gang-raped a married woman here to avenge the perceived humiliation after his daughter eloped with the victim’s brother, police said on Sunday.

The accused, who are from Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh, also allegedly recorded the act on their mobile phones, they added.

Although the incident took place on May 1, the victim was too traumatised to report the matter for a long time, the police said.

It was only after she recovered and stabilised from the trauma of the alleged gangrape that she approached the police to file the complaint, they said.

A case has been registered at Tibba Road Police Station against the four accused — Ravinder Singh, his brother Varinder Singh, son Aman Singh and another associate Santosh Singh, they added.

According to police, the victim in her complaint said her brother and the daughter of the main accused Ravinder had eloped in April this year.

The four men reached her house on May 1 in search of the couple. After not finding them there, the accused allegedly intimidated the victim and gang-raped her to seek vengeance.

They also threatened her that if she lodged a complaint, they would upload the video on social media and make it viral, the complainant said.

The victim is the mother of two children, the police said. 

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

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Paris 2024 Olympics concludes with a spectacular Closing Ceremony, passing the torch to Los Angeles

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The Paris 2024 Olympics concluded in grand fashion on Sunday with a mesmerizing closing ceremony at the Stade de France. A celebration of sportsmanship and global unity, the event featured a dazzling array of performances by athletes, musicians, and artists.
 

The ceremony kicked off with French swimmer Leon Marchand carrying the Olympic flame into the stadium, followed by the Parade of Nations led by the IOC Refugee and Olympic Team and France. India’s flag bearers, Manu Bhaker and PR Sreejesh, received a warm welcome as they entered the stadium.

The closing ceremony also included the final medal ceremony of the Games for the women’s marathon, symbolizing the first-ever Olympics with full gender parity. The event continued with an enchanting light show and a performance by The Golden Voyager, a character drawing inspiration from French history.

 

The Olympic rings were dramatically unveiled, accompanied by a rendition of the ‘Hymn to Apollo’. The atmosphere then shifted to high-energy with electrifying performances by French indie-rock band Phoenix and electronic artist Kavinsky.

Paris 2024 Organising Committee president Tony Estanguet and IOC president Thomas Bach delivered inspiring speeches, celebrating the athletes and the spirit of the Games. The Olympic flag was then handed over to Los Angeles, marking the transition to the 2028 Olympics.

The transition to LA2028 was marked by a series of captivating performances and appearances. Singer H.E.R. performed the American national anthem, actor Tom Cruise made a dramatic entrance, and the Olympic flag was symbolically transported from Paris to Los Angeles, with cameos from Olympians along the way.
 

Musical performances by Billie Eilish, Snoop Dogg, and Dr. Dre further amplified the celebratory atmosphere. The ceremony culminated with Leon Marchand extinguishing the Olympic flame and President Bach declaring the Games officially closed.
 

The Paris 2024 Olympics left a lasting legacy, with the USA topping the medal tally with 126 medals, followed by China and Japan. India finished at a respectable 71st position with six medals. The Games marked a new era for the Olympics, characterized by inclusivity, sustainability, and gender parity. The world now eagerly awaits the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where the Olympic spirit will continue to shine.



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