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Following Russia’s warning, UK says has no plans to send troops to Ukraine

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Britain says it has no “immediate” plans to deploy military instructors to Ukraine following a stern warning from Russia that any British military personnel would be considered legitimate targets for its forces.

“There are no British soldiers that will be sent to fight in the current conflict,” British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Sunday, rowing back from earlier comments by his Defense Secretary Grant Shapps.

In an interview with the Sunday Telegraph, Shapps said he wanted to deploy military instructors to Ukraine, in order to eventually get “the training brought closer and actually into Ukraine as well.”

“Particularly in the west of the country, I think the opportunity now is to bring more things ‘in country’,” he added.

In his Sunday remarks, Sunak said, “What the defense secretary was saying was that it might well be possible one day in the future for us to do some of that training in Ukraine,” adding, “But that’s something for the long term, not the here and now.”

Around 20,000 Ukrainians have already received training in the UK since the beginning of 2022 under the British-led Operation Interflex.

The British premier’s remarks came shortly after former Russian president, Dmitry Medvedev, warned that Britain’s deployment of military trainers to Ukraine would “turn their instructors into a legal target for our armed forces.”

“Understanding perfectly well that they will be ruthlessly destroyed and not as mercenaries, but namely as British NATO specialists,” Medvedev, who is currently the deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, added.

Ukraine’s Western allies have supplied Kiev with billions of dollars in military aid since last February, when its war with Russia began.

However, they have so far avoided a formal military presence in Ukraine to reduce the risk of a direct conflict with Russia.

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"Best Spinner In This World Cup": Ex-Pak Skipper's Huge Praise For Kuldeep

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File image of Kuldeep Yadav© AFP

Former Pakistan skipper Intikhab Alam lavished praise on India’s wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav and stated that he will give the hosts a distinct advantage in the middle overs during the ODI World Cup 2023. Kuldeep played a crucial role in Team India’s victory in the recently concluded Asia Cup. The 28-year-old spinner scalped a total of nine wickets and bagged the Player of the Series award. His scalps included a five-wicket haul and a four-wicket haul. As the teams are now preparing for the ODI World Cup 2023, which will kick-start from October 5, Kuldeep will look to repeat his heroics in the marquee event.

Since coming back from a knee injury, Kuldeep has worked on his arm speed and angles, helping him get a bagful of wickets in the middle overs.

Alam, who has been to India multiple times as a player and having also served as a manager of the Pakistan team in the past, feels the hosts will be at advantage during the match between India and Pakistan in Ahmedabad.

“The way India played in Asia Cup and played the final (decimating Sri Lanka). They look like the team to beat. Their spin attack stands out. Kuldeep is going to play a major role in the tournament. He will test the batters of all teams,” Alam told PTI on Saturday.

“Jadeja and Kuldeep make a lethal combination. Kuldeep is a match winner. He is the best spinner in this World Cup in my opinion. Now you also have (Ravichandran) Ashwin back,” said the 81-year-old, who was born in Hoshiarpur in the pre-Independence India.

Alam added that India’s batting, including greats like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, as well as the in-form Shubman Gill makes the hosts a strong contender to win the trophy.

(With PTI Inputs)

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Staff Selection Commission aims to conduct competitive exams in 22 Indian languages: Jitendra Singh

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Singh said the prime minister has taken a historic decision in the new National Education Policy (NEP) by giving importance to the mother tongue of students in primary, technical and medical education.

Updated On – 09:37 PM, Sun – 1 October 23


Staff Selection Commission aims to conduct competitive exams in 22 Indian languages: Jitendra Singh



New Delhi: Union minister Jitendra Singh on Sunday said the Staff Selection Commission aims to conduct competitive examinations in 22 Indian languages in the future.

The intention is to provide a language-neutral level-playing field to all aspiring candidates, he said, addressing the valedictory session of the ‘Bharatiya Bhasha Utsav: Technology & Bharatiya Bhasha Summit’ here.

Singh said it was at the behest of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that from this year onward, SSC examinations are being conducted in 13 languages — 11 regional languages and Hindi and English.

Before 2014, he said, candidates had no option but to choose either Hindi or English as the medium of examination.

Singh, the Minister of State for Personnel, said that before 2014, the translation of English to Hindi was also done very poorly, putting many students in a disadvantageous position.

He said that in the times to come, the SSC aims to conduct competitive examinations in all the 22 Indian languages mentioned in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, according to a Personnel Ministry statement.

Singh said JEE, NEET and UGC exams are also being conducted in 12 Indian languages and “this historic decision will give impetus to the participation of local youth, improve their selection prospects and encourage regional languages”.

He said notable progress has been made in the last more than nine years under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi to promote Indian regional languages.
The minister that PM Modi has given a call to provide medical and engineering education in regional languages such as Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Gujarati and Bengali.

Singh said the prime minister has taken a historic decision in the new National Education Policy (NEP) by giving importance to the mother tongue of students in primary, technical and medical education.

Terming NEP as the biggest path-breaking reform in India since Independence, he said it will transform the country’s education system to match global benchmarks.

“Twenty-nine institutes across 10 states in seven regional languages namely Bengali, Hindi, Gujarati, Kannada, Marathi, Tamil and Telugu have been identified for imparting engineering education in one or more disciplines,” Singh said.

He said today, around 40 million Indians are in higher education, which is more than that in the US and EU combined, and the ambitious NEP seeks to double that number.

“NEP-2020 supplements the start-up ecosystem with the promise to open new career and entrepreneurship opportunities for students and youth in India,” the minister said.

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N Korea Slams UN Nuclear Agency As US Mouthpiece Over Nuclear Programmes

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North Korea Slams UN Nuclear Agency As US Mouthpiece Over Nuclear Programmes

North Korea criticised resolution adopted at the International Atomic Energy Agency (Representational)

Seoul:

North Korea on Monday denounced the UN atomic watchdog for joining a US-led pressure campaign and “cooking up” a resolution over its nuclear programmes, calling the agency a “paid trumpeter” for Washington.

An unnamed spokesman of Pyongyang’s Ministry of Nuclear Power Industry released a statement criticising a resolution adopted on Friday at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) general conference that calls for the North to curb its nuclear programmes.

The spokesman described the resolution as a “result of conspiracy” by the United States and its allies, saying North Korea’s status as a nuclear weapons state has already become “irreversible.”

“Such farce of the hostile forces is a revelation of their sinister intention to cover up their criminal acts of seriously threatening the international nuclear non-proliferation system and justify their hostile policy toward the DPRK,” he said, according to state media KCNA.

DPRK refers to the North’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

The spokesman also accused IAEA chief Rafael Grossi of “taking the lead in creating the atmosphere of pressurising the DPRK” by “spreading a false story” about an imminent nuclear test.

Grossi warned last year that the reclusive country could resume nuclear testing for the first time since 2017.

“If the IAEA wants to avoid international criticism as a paid trumpeter of the U.S., it would be well advised to devote itself to tackling the difficulties facing the international community,” the spokesman said, referring to what it calls U.S. nuclear proliferation and Japan’s discharge of wastewater from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant.

The IAEA has had no access to North Korea since Pyongyang expelled its inspectors in 2009 and then restarted nuclear testing.

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

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"Will Raise Old Pension Scheme In Parliament…": AAP's Sanjay Singh

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'Will Raise Old Pension Scheme In Parliament...': AAP's Sanjay Singh

Sanjay Singh questioned system where MLAs and MPs receive pensions for their entire lives

New Delhi:

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjay Singh announced his intention to raise the issue of the Old Pension Scheme in Parliament when his membership in the Rajya Sabha is revoked.

He expressed his concern for the employees of the country who have been advocating for the restoration of the old pension scheme and questioned the system where MLAs and MPs receive pensions for their entire lives while employees who have worked for 40 years are denied such benefits.

Addressing a rally in Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan, Sanjay Singh said, “The employees of the country opened a front against the Modi government regarding the restoration of old pension. MLAs and MPs get pensions for their whole life even if they work for 40 days. Why no pension for an employee who has worked for 40 years? I will raise this issue before Parliament after my membership gets revoked. Arvind Kejriwal’s slogan is where AAP rules there is an old pension.”

Earlier employees of central and state government and public sector undertakings (PSUs) held a protest at Ramlila Maidan here on Sunday, demanding the reinstatement of the old pension scheme (OPS) by the central government and expressed their dissatisfaction with the current National Pension Scheme (NPS).

The protest named ‘Pension Shankhnaad Maharally‘ was organised under the aegis of the National Movement for Old Pension Scheme (NMOPS) to put pressure on the Union government to nix the existing National Pension Scheme (NPS) and bring back the OPS.

Meanwhile, Opposition parties have supported the demands of the protesters and asked the BJP government at the Centre to bring back the OPS.

“Old pension is the right of the employees. State governments led by Congress have restored the old pension scheme. Our policy regarding this is clear – employees must get their rights. Modi government should restore the old pension, and honour the workers who serve the country,” Congress said earlier.

States like Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh have announced the bringing back of OPS. Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal said on Sunday that his party strongly supports bringing back OPS, adding that NPS (New Pension Scheme) is an “injustice against employees”.

Under the old pension scheme, a government employee is entitled to a monthly pension after retirement. The monthly pension is typically half of the last drawn salary of the person.

Under the new pension scheme, employees contribute a portion of their salaries to the pension fund. Based on that, they are entitled to a one-time lump sum amount on superannuation.

The old pension scheme was discontinued in December 2003, and the new pension scheme came into effect on April 1, 2004.

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

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Bullet Riddled Body Of Punjab Man Found In Haryana's Sonipat: Cops

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Bullet Riddled Body Of Punjab Man Found In Haryana's Sonipat: Cops

Police said a case has been registered against unidentified people (Representational)

Chandigarh:

The bullet riddled body of a man wanted in a criminal case was found on a field in a village in Haryana’s Sonipat district on Sunday evening, the police said.

The body of the man, who hailed from Faridkot district in Punjab, was found lying in a field in Harsana Kalan village, they added.

“The bullet riddled body of a criminal identified as Deepak Maan was found in the fields of Harsana Kalan,” Station House Officer of Sadar police station Karamjeet said.

The SHO said a case has been registered against unidentified people in connection with the incident and efforts are on to arrest the accused.

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

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Iconic House From Netflix Show 'Sex Education' Up For Sale

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Iconic House From Netflix Show 'Sex Education' Up For Sale

The luxurious home has also been featured as the location for other TV projects.

The iconic chalet-style riverside home that featured in the hit Netflix series ‘Sex Education’ is up for sale for 1.5 million pounds, BBC reported. The home has been a central location in the storyline, serving as the home of lead characters Otis Milburn, portrayed by Asa Butterfield, and his sex therapist mother Jean, played by Gillian Anderson.

The property, located in Symonds Yat near Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, was listed online on Thursday. The beautiful home, being sold by Knight Frank, sits on the banks of the river Wye and boasts five bedrooms and three bathrooms over three floors. It also has a custom-painted wood kitchen, a conservatory, a stone pizza oven, a lawn, a summer house, an orchard, and a Swedish hot bath.

”After 21 years of ownership, we’ve decided to put our beautiful chalet up for sale. Such a privilege to have been the custodian of this wonderful property,” a post on the Chalet’s Instagram said.

See the post here:

The description for the property reads: “Under the current ownership, the property has featured in many location shoots including the Channel 4 series, Extraordinary Escapes and globally acclaimed Netflix series, Sex Education. The setting of The Chalet is quite exceptional with stunning views of the Wye Gorge from its completely hidden and wooded position.”

”There is also pedestrian access from its grounds down to the River Wye. The property is approached over a very long in-and-out drive, through woodland. There are breathtaking views over the Wye River to the south and north from the interior, and from the strategically built decked external balcony terraces,” it further read. 

The Norwegian design chalet was built in 1912 for use as a salmon fishing lodge. The then-owner saw and purchased it when it was first exhibited in London at the Ideal Homes exhibition that same year. It was then completely renovated when bought by the current owner in 2002.

Here are some pictures of the house:

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Real estate agent James Toogood of Knight Frank Bristol, told the BBC: ”The fact that this property is so well known only adds to the appeal of what is an incredibly rare opportunity to own a spectacular home.”

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Obese women experience severe menopausal symptoms, benefit less from HT: Study

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A new five-year study involving 119 patients sought to fill some of that information void by investigating the association between obesity and self-reported efficacy of HT in peri- and postmenopausal women.

Published Date – 11:21 PM, Sun – 1 October 23


Obese women experience severe menopausal symptoms, benefit less from HT: Study



Washington: Obesity has already been linked to a number of health conditions, as well as a reduction in a person’s quality of life. A new study suggests that, in addition to these other difficulties, it may worsen a woman’s menopause symptoms and reduce the amount of relief she receives from hormone therapy (HT).

The findings of the study will be revealed during The Menopause Society’s 2023 Annual Meeting in Philadelphia.

HT remains the most effective treatment to manage a wide array of menopause symptoms. Little research has been done, however, on the impact of comorbidities on the efficacy of HT during menopause. More specifically, no research is known to exist relative to the effect of obesity on the effectiveness of HT.

A new five-year study involving 119 patients sought to fill some of that information void by investigating the association between obesity and self-reported efficacy of HT in peri- and postmenopausal women. In this study, obesity was defined as a body mass index of greater than or equal to 30.

There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups of patients (obese vs. non-obese) relative to age, duration of menopause, or use/acceptance of HT. Women with obesity, however, were more likely to self-identify as Black, and report the presence of hot flashes, genitourinary/vulvovaginal symptoms, mood disturbances, and decreased libido.

Based on the results, the researchers concluded that menopausal women with obesity experienced an increase in menopause symptom prevalence and lower efficacy of HT. Dr. Anita Pershad from Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk led the study which will be presented at the 2023 Annual Meeting of The Menopause Society.

“We studied menopausal symptoms in an underrepresented patient population that;s not often included in women’s health studies. This research can help clinicians serving a more diverse racial and socioeconomic patient population that’s severely affected by the social determinants of health to provide better-tailored care and counselling to patients seeking treatment for their menopausal symptoms,” says Dr Pershad.

“This is important for healthcare professionals to consider when counselling their patients on the various options for managing their menopause symptoms,” adds Dr Stephanie Faubion, medical director for The Menopause Society. “Considering that more than 40 per cent of women over the age of 40 are classified as obese according to the CDC, these results could be meaningful to a large percentage of patients transitioning through menopause.”

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One year after attack on education center in Kabul

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Rahmatullah Baghban

Press TV, Kabul

A year ago, a horrific attack hit the Kaj Education Center in the west of Kabul, killing dozens of people and wounding more than a hundred. Most of the victims were students from the Shia Hazara community, who have been repeatedly targeted by the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group.

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Odisha: 65-year-old man killed by nephew over black magic suspicion 

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The incident happened in Sikerguda village in Bhawanipatna Sadar police station area of Odisha’s Kalahandi district, they said.

Published Date – 09:19 PM, Sun – 1 October 23


Odisha: 65-year-old man killed by nephew over black magic suspicion 



Bhawanipatna: A 65-year-old man was allegedly murdered by his nephew who suspected that he was doing black magic, targetting him and his family, police said.

The incident happened in Sikerguda village in Bhawanipatna Sadar police station area of Odisha’s Kalahandi district, they said.

The nephew, 35, was suspecting the man of doing black magic to harm his family. When the man was working in the field, the accused allegedly attacked him with an axe and he died on the spot.

Police said they have detained the accused, his brother and his father for questioning.

An investigation is underway, they said.