A 72-year-old Frenchman, Dominique Pelicot, pleaded for forgiveness in a French court for drugging his wife and facilitating her rape by dozens of men over a decade. The trial, involving 50 defendants, highlighted issues of gender-based violence and consent. Pelicot faces a 20-year sentence, while his ex-wife, Gisele, has become a symbol of courage for confronting her attackers publicly.
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Shashi Tharoor's recent actions and statements, including praising the government and posting a selfie with BJP minister Piyush Goyal, indicate he is asserting his stance within the Congress. With Kerala assembly elections approaching, the Congress faces a challenge in navigating Tharoor's position while maintaining party unity.
India's vice-captain Shubman Gill acknowledges the pressure of the ICC Champions Trophy final against New Zealand but stresses India's capability to manage it and succeed. Gill emphasises the importance of handling pressure in knockout games and believes that India's recent ICC title win provides momentum and clarity for this match.
In Delhi's Dwarka, a property dealer and his security guard have been arrested for allegedly murdering the dealer's 47-year-old wife, Seema Singh. She was reported missing, and her body was found in a drain on March 15. Identification was made possible through a nose pin, leading police to the husband.
Videos of models walking the runway in Gulmarg during Ramadan sparked outrage, led by J&K chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who deemed it 'obscene.' Designer duo Shivan & Narresh apologized, citing a desire to respect local traditions. The J&K assembly and political figures condemned the show, while Panun Kashmir opposed the backlash as religious supremacy.
The Indian Air Force is conducting Exercise Aakraman, a large-scale operational drill in the central sector, featuring Rafale jets and other frontline aircraft. The exercise focuses on advanced mission profiles, including ground attack and electronic warfare, with assets deployed from multiple airbases. This drill comes amid heightened tensions with Pakistan and showcases the IAF's enhanced strategic capabilities with modern weaponry.
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar raised concerns over the misuse of judicial access, calling it a threat to India's governance and democracy. He criticized institutions for overstepping their jurisdiction and questioned the parliamentary provision of party discipline, citing it as a restriction on representatives' freedom of expression. Dhankhar also lamented the declining standards of parliamentary decorum.
Stock market today: Indian equity benchmark indices, BSE Sensex and Nifty50, opened flat in trade on Friday. While BSE Sensex was near 77,550, Nifty50 was around 23,580 levels.
The Supreme Court declined urgent mention of a plea seeking an FIR against Delhi high court judge Yaswat Varma after burnt cash was found at his residence. The court assured the plea would be listed. Justice Varma is transferred to Allahabad HC, with calls for further investigation by the judiciary to maintain trust.
A 2,000-year-old ossuary, possibly belonging to James, brother of Jesus, is on display in Atlanta. Inscribed "James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus," its authenticity has been debated for years, though a judge deemed the inscription genuine. While acquitted of forgery charges, the ossuary's link to Jesus remains contested.
India and the US are coordinating a potential visit by PM Modi to the US, though the timing remains uncertain. This visit could depend on India hosting President Trump for the Quad summit. Discussions have occurred between foreign minister Jaishankar and US secretary of state Marco Rubio, with additional possibilities of meetings between the leaders in France.