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Modi-led govt under fire after women journalists barred from Afghan FM’s presser
Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Indian government faced intense backlash after women journalists were barred from attending Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s press conference in New Delhi, Indian media reported.
Muttaqi is on a six-day visit after getting a temporary exemption on his travel ban by UN Security Council (UNSC) Committee. It was the first such trip to India by a Afghan Taliban leader since 2021.
India, a day earlier, upgraded ties with Afghanistan’s Taliban administration, giving a boost to the diplomatically isolated group, by announcing it would reopen its embassy in Kabul that was shut after the Taliban seized power in 2021.
During the visit, the visiting foreign minister held a press conference at the Afghanistan embassy in Delhi, wherein the women journalists were stopped by the security staff and Delhi Police officials from attending the event despite multiple requests.
Opposition parties condemned the Modi administration for its silence over the exclusion of women reporters from the high-profile event, calling it an “insult to every Indian woman”.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said women have the right to equal participation in every field, adding that the incident sends a message that Modi is “too weak to stand up for their rights.”
“Mr Modi, when you allow the exclusion of women journalists from a public forum, you are telling every woman in India that you are too weak to stand up for them,” he wrote on X.
“In our country, women have the right to equal participation in every space. Your silence in the face of such discrimination exposes the emptiness of your slogans on Nari Shakti [woman power],” he added.
Senior Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi demanded that the Modi government clarify its position on the issue.
“If your recognition of women’s rights isn’t just convenient posturing from one election to the other, then how has this insult to some of India’s most competent women been allowed in our country, a country whose women are its backbone and its pride,” she asked.
Former finance minister P Chidambaram also criticised the media’s handling of the event, saying male journalists present at the briefing “should have walked out in protest.”
Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra went further, slamming the government for “disgracing every Indian woman” through its complicity. “By allowing such discrimination on Indian soil, the Modi regime has surrendered the country’s dignity,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs distanced itself from the controversy, claiming it had “no role” in the arrangements for the event.
According to the ministry, the invites for the press meet went to select journalists from Afghanistan’s Consul General in Mumbai who were stationed in Delhi for the Afghan minister’s visit. The Afghan Embassy territory does not come under the jurisdiction of the Indian government, it pointed out.
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UAE president says country is well and ‘no easy prey’ in first public comments since Iran strikes
- UAE president vows to carry out duty towards country.
- Sheikh Mohammed says UAE “was no easy prey”.
- Will emerge stronger from war: Sheikh Mohammed.
The president of the United Arab Emirates has said his nation was in a time of war but was well and told his enemies it was no easy prey, in his first public comments since Iran launched missiles at its Gulf neighbour amid US-Israeli strikes.
“The UAE has thick skin and bitter flesh — we are no easy prey,” Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who is also ruler of Abu Dhabi, said in comments, made on Friday when visiting those injured in strikes, aired on Abu Dhabi TV on Saturday.
“We will carry out our duty towards our country, our people, and our residents who are also part of our family,” he said.
The UAE “is in a period of war”, Sheikh Mohammed said, emphasising that “we will emerge stronger”.
The UAE, which consists of seven emirates including Dubai, would protect everyone in the country, he said.
Separately, an Emirati official said that the UAE wanted the Iranian aggression against non-combatant states, the Gulf states, to end immediately.
“Any sort of escalation is worrying. We want to contain the war. We don’t want the war to expand. We want to start with the Iranians realising that they are not helping themselves by attacking their whole neighbourhood and to stop there and realise that,” the official said.
Earlier today, the country’s defence ministry said that it intercepted 15 ballistic missiles and 119 drones as Iran kept up its attacks on its Gulf neighbour.
“Today UAE air defence systems detected 16 ballistic missiles, of which, 15 were intercepted and destroyed, while one ballistic missile fell into the sea,” the defence ministry said in a post on X.
“Air defence systems also detected 121 UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), of which 119 were intercepted, while two fell within the territory of the UAE.”
The ministry stated that a total of 1,305 Iranian UAVs have been detected so far, of which 1,229 were intercepted, while 76 UAVs fell within the territory of the UAE. Eight cruise missiles were also detected and destroyed.
These attacks, it added, resulted in the death of three, including a Pakistani, Nepali and Bangladeshi national, while injuring 112 people of various nationalities.
Grammy-nominated artist Cory Wong is known for his funky sounds and genre-defying collaborations. His latest album, “Lost in the Wonder,” featuring star-studded performances, is out now. Here’s Cory Wong performing “Roses Fade.”
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Jacob Tierney has excited fans by confirming that Heated Rivalry Season 2 is on track to start filming this summer.
The director is currently deep into writing scripts, spending long hours shaping the next chapter of the popular series.
Based on Rachel Reid’s Game Changers novels, Heated Rivalry’s story is about hockey players Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, who fall in love during their competition.
The first season quickly became a fan favourite because of its mix of sports drama, tension and LGBTQ+ love story.
Tierney promises that the new season will continue the emotional intensity and chemistry that fans loved in Season 1.
While specific plot details is still under wraps, the writing process is progressing well and filming can start later this year if everything goes according to plan.
Heated Rivalry got loyal audience who can’t wait to see what happens next with Shane and Ilya.
The show has been praised for blending romance, tension and hockey action in a way that keeps people hooked.
With Tierney’s update, fans can finally feel the excitement growing as the story heads into its next chapter.
Season 2 promises more drama, more romance and more moments that will make viewers cheer.
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