Latest news with #Latika
Arab News
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Syria welcomes EU sanctions against former Assad security officials
LONDON: The Syrian Arab Republic has welcomed an EU decision to impose sanctions on former security figures in former dictator Bashar Assad's regime, which collapsed in December 2024. Syria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the decision reflected a growing acknowledgment of the extent of the violations committed by former figures in the Assad regime against Syrians and their role in fueling violent sectarian events. The EU has imposed sanctions on Suhail al-Hassan, Ghiyath Dallah, Miqdad Fathiyeh, Mudallal Khoury and Imad Khoury. The ministry said the five were involved in committing serious crimes against Syrians and, in March, played a direct role in fueling sectarian strife in the coastal towns of Banias, Latika and Jableh. It added they had repeatedly assaulted Syrian security personnel and civilians and attempted to destabilize the coastal areas. The ministry said a report investigating the coastal events would be submitted to the presidency and those responsible would be held accountable. 'The Syrian government reiterates its commitment to prosecute all those involved in these crimes, wherever they may be, inside or outside the country, to ensure that they are brought to justice and that the victims receive justice,' it said in a statement.
Hindustan Times
17-06-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
PCOS made me gain postpartum weight and lose my mental peace: Working mom shares her weight loss story
Pregnancy brings about a host of changes in a woman's body. Latika Bhargava, a mother of a 3-year-old, experienced it all during her postpartum phase. For someone who always weighed less than 55 kgs, seeing the weighing scale touch 68 kgs was mentally disturbing. She was diagnosed with hormonal disorder PCOS, which became her trigger to make drastic dietary and fitness changes in her lifestyle. A 30-year-old public relations professional, Latika tells HT Health Shots that her transformation journey began in a doctor's clinic during a routine postpartum checkup. "What was supposed to be a simple medical consultation turned out to be a reality check moment. After giving birth, my gynecologist informed me that I had gained an alarming amount of weight during and after my pregnancy. At my peak, I weighed 68 kgs, which was an unusual and uncomfortable number for someone who had always kept her weight under 55 kilograms. For the first time in my life, I was confronted with serious physical and emotional challenges associated with weight gain." Her mental peace was shaken. "I suffered from anxiety and depression. The realization that my body had changed so dramatically was not only obvious to me, but also to my friends and acquaintances, making me feel even more vulnerable," she recounts. Beyond the visible changes in her body, she realized she was dealing with a more serious health issue: PCOS. "This diagnosis added another layer of distress, especially since I was already dealing with the new responsibilities of motherhood. However, rather than allowing the situation to take control of me, I decided to take charge. That decision was the start of my inspirational weight loss journey," says Latika. That's when she committed to a strict and consistent routine, with support from her mother Sunita Bhargava. What was the weight loss diet you followed? "The diet emphasized high-protein foods and healthy fats, as well as a variety of nuts and nutrient-dense meals which included Panjiri, a Punjabi dish rich in nuts and nutrition. I avoided crash diets in favour of long-term nutrition that would help with both my recovery as a new mother and my health goals," shares Latika. Did you take professional help for your weight loss transformation? "No, I didn't really take professional help... I took blood test reports, showed it to my family physician and he guided me to include few food items that were necessary to improve my health. During this process, I was also confronted with a gut health issue, which was caused by low water level in my body. Due to this, I suffered itching and rashes all over my body for almost a week," she says. Often women find it hard to balance motherhood and self-care. So how did you strike the balance? "It was not an easy task. As a new mother, my time was extremely limited. Nonetheless, I set aside 30 minutes each day just for exercise. While it may not seem like much, that was all I could manage and I made the most of every minute. Whether it was a brisk walk, strength training, or plank, I remained consistent. This daily discipline, combined with my dietary changes, gradually began to show results not only physically, but also mentally," says Latika. "Over time, I noticed my weight dropping and my confidence increasing. My PCOS symptoms improved, and most importantly, I felt like myself again. I not just the lost weight, but gained strength," she reflects. The deeper realization for Latika Bhargava was that true change comes from within. "It is not about fitting into a specific size or matching a number on a scale, but about regaining one's sense of self, particularly after major life changes such as pregnancy." Determination and resilience became her superpowers in working towards her weight loss goals, says Latika, who believes her story could be inspiring for many other women who are dealing with postpartum changes.
NDTV
15-06-2025
- NDTV
"Structure Shook For 5 Minutes": Witnesses Recount Pune Bridge Collapse
Pune: An iron bridge near Pune shook for around five minutes before it gave in to the weight of scores of tourists and several two wheelers, witnesses said after the incident left two people dead and over 30 injured. Amol, who was on the bridge at the time, said screams rang through the air as the rusted structure collapsed, with locals rushing rushing to the spot to initiate rescue operations. "I struggled for 15 minutes in the water and finally held a pipe and came out," he told NDTV. Latika, who was at the spot frequented by tourists during monsoon season, said at last 50 people were present on the bridge at the time it collapsed. "People had their scooters and motorcycles parked on the bridge. Nobody paid heed to danger signs," she said. The bridge in Kundmala collapsed over the Indrayani river, which is in spate after the area received heavy rains over the last two days. Police and disaster relief workers, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), reached the spot and rescue work is ongoing. Efforts are also on to locate those who are missing after being swept away by the river. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Pune's Guardian Minister Ajit Pawar said the iron bridge was rusted and old, adding that a Rs 8 crore plan for constructing a new bridge over the river was sanctioned. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that Rs 5 lakh compensation for the families of those who lost their lives, adding that the government will bear the expenditure of treatment of the injured. His colleague and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said instructions have been issued to conduct structural audits on all bridges over the river in the state. "This accident will be thoroughly investigated, and action will be taken against those responsible. No one will be spared," he said. The bridge collapse in Pune rural's Maval area comes even as an orange alert remains in place for Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad, with heavy to very heavy rains expected in the ghat regions. The area had received heavy rains in the last two days.
