Streets in La Roche-Posay, western France, are flooded following heavy rain and the overflowing of the local river Creuse.
The river reached 6m78 in the city, exceeding the historic flood of 1982, and is expected to rise to 7m2, close to the record of 1896 (7m3).
(Source: AFP)
The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas says the US administration, especially President Joe Biden, is responsible for the crimes, massacres, and systematic destruction of civilian life in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas issued a statement on Monday after the “terrorist” Israeli occupation army retreated from Gaza’s Al-Shifa Medical Complex and its surroundings after a two-week siege.
It said Israel’s savage acts against the health sector and hospitals are carried out with American weapons and all forms of military and political support.
In a statement on Monday, the Gaza Health Ministry said Israeli forces have withdrawn tanks and vehicles from Al-Shifa Hospital after a two-week siege of the medical complex.
It emphasized that Israel retreated from the hospital “after burning down the complex buildings and putting it completely out of service.”
It added that Israel’s horrific crime in the Shifa hospital revealed the nature of this rogue fascist entity, which is deviant from the values of civilization and humanity.
Continued Israeli crimes exceed all bounds and aim to execute the most heinous genocidal wars against civilians and civil infrastructure in the Gaza Strip, Hamas said.
It criticized the world bodies and states for remaining silent in the face of Israel’s crimes, which are fully and unlimitedly supported by the Biden administration.
Hamas called on the international community and the United Nations to condemn Israel’s atrocious crime against the Al-Shifa hospital, its surroundings and the citizens therein. It also asked them to immediately enter the Gaza City and witness the scale of the crime it has been subjected to.
The resistance group called on international judicial bodies, particularly the International Criminal Court, to start actual procedures to investigate Israel’s atrocities in the Al-Shifa hospital and its surroundings and in all the regime’s crimes over the last six months.
It said international judicial bodies are required to carry out their mandated mission to hold the Israeli leaders accountable and bring them to justice.
Hamas once again reiterated that Israeli crimes “will not weaken the resolve of our steadfast people and our valiant resistance, which confronts the barbaric aggression with all heroism and sacrifice.”
“We call on the free people of the world and the masses of our Arab and Muslim nation to rise up, intensify their pressing movement against this savage enemy and its supporters, and provide all forms of support and backing to our Palestinian people and their resistance,” the statement said.
On March 18, heavily armed Israeli forces stormed the hospital, using tanks and drones, and fired at people inside the complex.
The Israeli military claimed that the Palestinian Hamas resistance movement is using the facility to “conduct and promote terrorist activity.”
Gaza’s media office announced in a statement that more than 400 Palestinians have lost their lives during the Israeli military’s raid on Al-Shifa hospital during a two-week deadly raid.
Popular Resistance Committees call for international probe into Israeli crimes
The media office of the Resistance Committees in Palestine said on Monday that the United Nations, the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court should begin an immediate and urgent investigation into Israel’s heinous crimes and punish and boycott the regime and its criminal leaders.
In a statement on Monday, it added that the horrific massacres in the Al-Shifa hospital requires the free nations across the world “to go out to the streets of their capitals and besiege the embassies of the Zionist entity and the United States until this holocaust on our people in Gaza stops.”
Israel’s heinous slaughter, the horrific crimes, and the genocide in the hospital and its surroundings reaffirmed the true face of the “Nazi Zionist enemy”, its supporters in the criminal US administration, and their endeavor, the statement emphasized.
Addressing the party cadre during a meeting in Kondapur on Monday, Prabhakar called upon the party cadre to take the failures of the Congress government to the public.
Published Date – 1 April 2024, 09:06 PM
Sangareddy: Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Sangareddy MLA Chintha Prabhakar has urged voters to elect P Venkatrami Reddy as Medak MP so that they would collectively fight against the Congress Party besides forcing the State government to implement all the promises made during the election campaign.
Addressing the party cadre during a meeting in Kondapur on Monday, Prabhakar called upon the party cadre to take the failures of the Congress government to the public. The Revanth Reddy government had failed to implement the loan waiver, Rs 500 bonus per quintal of paddy, Rs 2,500 for all women and many other schemes though the government had completed 100 days. He called upon the voters to teach a lesson to Congress in the elections so that they will amend their mistakes.
BRS candidate Venkatrami Reddy has said that he had a long association with Sangareddy because he had worked a major part of his career in the erstwhile Medak district.
Tokyo Olympics silver-medallist Mirabai Chanu all but qualified for the 2024 Paris Games after she finished third in the women’s 49kg Group B event of the IWF World Cup on Monday. Returning from a six-month injury lay off, Chanu lifted a total of 184kg (81kg+103kg) at the tournament, which is the final and a mandatory qualifier for the Paris Olympics. “It feels incredible to come back after an injury. Almost every lift I made today felt clean, clear, and powerful, and I’m leaving this competition feeling strong and confident,” Chanu said.
“The rehabilitation was tough and demanding, but with the support of everyone involved in my rehab and recovery, I pushed through all the complications.” With the completion of her event, Chanu has fulfilled the criteria for the Paris Olympics, which is participating in two compulsory events and three other qualifiers.
The 2017 world champion is currently ranked second in the women’s 49kg Olympic Qualification Ranking (OQR) behind China’s Jian HuiHua.
The qualification period for weightlifting will end on April 28, following which the IWF will notify the NOCs which have athlete(s) ranked in the top 10.
The top 10 lifters from each weight class will qualify for the Paris Olympics.
“The goal was to secure my spot for the Paris Olympics, and now that I am almost through for the Paris Olympics, all my attention is on making a mark at the Paris Olympics,” she added.
Chanu, who last competed at the Asian Games in September where she suffered a hip tendonitis injury, was not at her best, but was able to make five clean lifts.
Her final clean and jerk attempt of 106kg was deemed a no lift on technicality.
“Today’s event was to assess how Mira’s body is progressing given she is returning after six months of injury and rehabilitation. And more importantly to get her confidence back,” chief coach Vijay Sharma told PTI.
“We were not bothered about the qualification, she has already qualified. Now we will focus on peaking at the right time in Paris,” he added.
Chanu’s lifts in the snatch and clean and jerk sections were nowhere close to her personal best efforts.
The 29-year-old has a personal best of 88kg in snatch while she had lifted the then world record of 119kg in clean and jerk at the Asian Championships in 2021.
But given that she is coming off an injury and rehab, Chanu still has time to peak in July and her progress looks good.
She will have a lot of ground to cover up as her opponents had total efforts of up to 221kg in the A category on Monday.
Chanu will be the lone Indian weightlifter at the Paris Games, which will be her third appearance at the Olympics.
Topics mentioned in this article
The arrested persons Mohd Arbaz, Syed Imran and Mohd Haseemuddin, had allegedly stopped a man B Sunil of KPHB while he was going along with his relative Vara Lakshmi and another girl Fatima.
Updated On – 1 April 2024, 08:51 PM
Hyderabad: The Abid Road police on Monday arrested three persons who allegedly harassed a girl and her friend over their religious identity.
The arrested persons Mohd Arbaz, Syed Imran and Mohd Haseemuddin, had allegedly stopped a man B Sunil of KPHB while he was going along with his relative Vara Lakshmi and another girl Fatima.
“The trio waylaid them and attacked Sunil after threatening him for moving along with a Muslim girl. Following the attack, the girls ran away from the spot while Sunil escaped on his motorcycle,” said Abids Inspector, G Raja Gopal.
The police had invoked Sections 295 (A), 298, 341, 506, 509, 323 r/w 34 of IPC against them and arrested the trio. Two more persons who are involved in the case are absconding.
The Tamil National Alliance has proposed to field a Tamil candidate, R Sampanthan said (File)
Colombo:
Sri Lanka’s Tamil political parties are planning to field a candidate from the minority community in the presidential election to present a credible and acceptable political solution for them, a senior community leader said.
Sri Lanka is scheduled to hold the next presidential election in the last quarter of 2024 to elect a new President by mid-November.
Addressing reporters at his residence in the eastern port district of Trincomalee, senior Tamil leader R Sampanthan said that Tamils will be well served in the forthcoming presidential election by supporting a candidate who would pledge to resolve all issues concerning the minority through an acceptable political solution.
The political parties that form the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) have proposed to field a Tamil candidate, he said. But the Tamils must understand that such a candidate would not be able to pull much support and as such the parties must decide on the best course of action, he added.
Mr Sampanthan stressed that the candidate who would present a credible and acceptable political solution for the Tamils by merging the north and east provinces should be an important political factor for the Tamils.
Asked if the Tamils are likely to support incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe if he comes forward to be a candidate, R Sampanthan said it would depend on talks with him following his handing over of the nominations to contest the election.
In Sri Lanka’s presidential election since 1982, Tamil candidates have contested the election but in most of them, they have by and large supported the Opposition front-runner against the incumbent.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Addressing a Lok Sabha election preparatory meeting at the BRS party district office in Gadwal, Praveen Kumar lamented the deteriorating conditions faced by farmers and citizens, citing issues such as inadequate electricity and water supply.
Published Date – 1 April 2024, 08:44 PM
Mahabubnagar: BRS Nagarkurnool MP candidate RS Praveen Kumar lashed out at the Congress governance for its failure to deliver of the six guarantees assured during the Assembly elections with the promised 100 days. He said the warranty on the six guarantees has expired, pointing out the stark contrast between the development initiatives undertaken during the tenure of BRS chief K Chandrashekhar Rao and the lackluster performance of the current Congress regime.
Addressing a Lok Sabha election preparatory meeting at the BRS party district office in Gadwal, Praveen Kumar lamented the deteriorating conditions faced by farmers and citizens, citing issues such as inadequate electricity and water supply. He criticized the Congress leadership for misleading the public with unfulfilled promises, urging voters to compare it with the progress achieved under Chandrashekhar Rao’s leadership.
“If elected to the parliament, I will be the voice of the marginalised sections to question the government over its failure to address people’s issues,” he vowed. Reiterating his commitment to BRS principles, the former civil servant recounted his decision to join the BRS in allegiance to K Chandrashekhar Rao’s vision, despite facing challenges and receiving offers from rival political parties.
He called for a unified effort to hold the current leadership accountable and ensure a better future for Telangana. BRS State executive committee member Abhilash Rao and other leaders also participated in the meeting.
Hyderabad:
The snooping case that has erupted in Telangana – which could become a big issue in next month’s Lok Sabha election – witnessed further revelations after one of the arrested police officers – Radhakrishna Rao – claimed cash was moved in official vehicles in the 2018 and 2023 Assembly polls.
According to the remand report filed by the police, the arrested police officer said Praneeth Rao, Bhujanga Rao, Tirupatanna, and Venugopal Rao conspired under the leadership of then State Intelligence Bureau chief T Prabhakar Rao, to ensure the BRS remains in power in Telangana.
Radhakrisha Rao reportedly gave the Dubbak and Munugode by-polls as examples.
He said Rs 3.5 crore had been confiscated from people linked to Komatireddy Raj Gopal Reddy ahead of the latter election. Mr Reddy contested the 2022 by-poll on a BJP ticket. He lost to the BRS’ Kusukuntla Prabhakar Reddy, but jumped to the Congress for the 2023 election and won the seat.
The Dubbak by-poll in 2020 saw the BJP’s Raghunandan Rao beat the BRS’ Solipeta Reddy. According to Radhakrishna Rao, Rs 1 crore was seized from a person running a chit fund company linked to the BJP leader based on intercepted calls. In 2023 he lost the seat to the BRS’ Kotha Prabhakar Reddy.
The arrested police officer, Radhakrishna Rao, said “officials involved spoke about ensuring BRS (earlier called Telangana Rashtra Samithi) continued in power”.
Mr Rao was Deputy Commissioner of Police in the city task force. He had managed to get two extensions for three years each from August 2020 when he retired.
He was, however, moved prior to elections on the complaint and recommendation of Sandeep Shandilya, who was appointed as Hyderabad Police Commissioner when the Model Code of Conduct was in operation prior to the Assembly election.
T Prabhakar Rao has been named as the primary accused and faces a look-out notice. He is presently in the United States, but sources told NDTV he is expected to join the investigation soon.
Mr Rao, who was also earlier Chief Security Officer to the former Chief Minister – K Chandrashekar Rao, or KCR, reportedly told investigating authorities he acted on Prabhakar Rao’s instructions.
Radhakrishna Rao was arrested – he too had faced a look-out notice – after being questioned at a police station in Hyderabad’s Banjara Hills.
In the remand report presented by the authorities, Mr Rao provided examples of specific seizures and, significantly, claimed he had spied on opposition leaders on the orders of a member of KCR’s Bharat Rashtra Samithi, which has dominated Telangana politics since the state was formed in 2014.
The BRS, however, was beaten by the Congress in last year’s Assembly election.
The Telangana phone-tapping case involves gathering electronic data not just for political intelligence, but to blackmail leaders, and even private companies and Tollywood celebrities.
Congress leader N Uttam Kumar Reddy told NDTV all this happened with the knowledge of the leadership of the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government. “It is only a matter of time before they (BRS) leaders come under the ambit of the investigation,” Mr Reddy said.
Several other Telangana police officers are being investigated in connection with this case.
The list of individuals whose devices were reportedly monitored include Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, and members of the BJP and Congress, as well as those from KCR’s party.
Sources have said over one lakh phone calls were tapped.
Meanwhile, earlier today a Congress leader from Telangana’s Sircilla, KK Mahender Reddy, complained to Hyderabad top cop. He said he suspected his phone, and that of family members and associates, had been tapped. He asked the cops to issue a notice and question former minister and top BRS leader KT Rama Rao, who won the Assembly election from the region.
The suspect Suresh had poured a bucket of water on a girl who went to a shop in the colony on Sunday afternoon.
Published Date – 1 April 2024, 08:34 PM
Hyderabad: The Narsingi police arrested two persons for allegedly brutally attacking four members of a family when they questioned them for misbehaving with a girl.
According to the police, the suspect Suresh and Venkatesh had attacked the victims brutally and attempted to kill one of them by slitting the throat.
The suspect Suresh had poured a bucket of water on a girl who went to a shop in the colony on Sunday afternoon. The victim returned to her house and complained to her family members about it.
On coming to know, the parents of the girl informed the colony president about it and later in the evening they went out to resolve the issue. “During the meeting, Suresh and Venkatesh along with others attacked the girl, her father, mother and brother badly. Venkatesh took out a big knife and attempted to kill the father of the girl by slitting the throat,” said Narsingi sub inspector, Sukhwinder Singh.
On a complaint, the police registered a case under various Sections of IPC and arrested Venkatesh and Suresh.
New Delhi:
The premier investigative agencies of the country have been spread too thin and they must only focus on cases that involve national security and crimes against the nation, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said today. Delivering the 20th DP Kohli Memorial Lecture on CBI Raising Day, Chief Justice Chandrachud also flagged how technology has changed the crime terrain and the agency is now facing a complex challenge.
“The CBI is being increasingly asked to delve into diverse array of criminal cases beyond its role as anti-corruption investigative agency. This places a huge responsibility on CBI to live upto its motto,” Chief Justice Chandrachud said.
“I think we have spread out the premier investigative agencies too thin. They must only focus on those that concern national security and crimes of economic offences against the nation,” the Chief Justice added, pointing out that the force consists largely of officers on deputation.
The solution, he suggested, was digitising the investigation process that can begin from the filing of a First Information Report. Given the huge number of cases, technology needs to be leveraged to reduce delays.
“All arms of the criminal justice administration and all stakeholders including the FSLs must collaborate by holding workshops to help confront challenged we face,” he said.
The other changes should include upgrading the probe agency by making structural reforms.
Also, artificial Intelligence must be harnessed fir the best outcome. Calling it a “game changer” that can revolutionise criminal justice, he said it can be used to mine potential leads and data “with unprecedented accuracy”.
