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The Hindu
24 minutes ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Benjamin Netanyahu rejects report that Israeli soldiers have orders to shoot at Palestinians seeking aid
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz emphatically rejected a report in the left-leaning Israeli daily Haaretz on Friday (June 27, 2025), which claimed Israeli soldiers were ordered to shoot at Palestinians approaching aid sites inside Gaza. They called the report's findings 'malicious falsehoods designed to defame' the military. 'More than 500 Palestinians have been killed and hundreds more wounded while seeking food since the newly formed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) began distributing aid in the territory about a month ago,' according to Gaza's Health Ministry. Court rejects Netanyahu's call to postpone graft trial hearings Palestinian witnesses say Israeli troops have opened fire at crowds on the roads heading toward the sites. Reacting to the Haaretz piece, Israel's military confirmed that it was investigating incidents in which civilians had been harmed while approaching the sites. It rejected the article's allegations 'of deliberate fire toward civilians.' The foundation, which is backed by an American private contractor, has been distributing food boxes at four locations, mainly in the far south of Gaza, for the past month. 'GHF is not aware of any of these incidents but these allegations are too grave to ignore and we therefore call on Israel to investigate them and transparently publish the results in a timely manner,' the group said in a social media post. Netanyahu says victory over Iran opens windows to peace Palestinians trying to find food have frequently encountered chaos and violence on their way to and on arrival at the aid sites. Tens of thousands are desperate for food after Israel imposed a 2 1/2 month siege on Gaza, blocking all food, water and medicine from entering the territory pending the setup of the GHF sites. 'The bodies of eight people who died on Friday had come to Shifa Hospital from a GHF site in Netzarim, although it was not immediately clear how they died,' Dr. Mohamed Abu Selmyiha, the hospital's director, told The Associated Press. A GHF spokesperson challenged the report, saying they did not know of any incidents at or near their sites on Friday. 'Twenty other bodies his hospital received Friday came from airstrikes across north Gaza,' he said. Thousands of Palestinians walk for hours to reach the hubs, moving through Israeli military zones where witnesses say Israeli troops regularly open fire with heavy barrages to control the crowds. The Israeli military says it has only fired warning shots. Trump says Israeli PM Netanyahu's trial should be cancelled Mohammad Fawzi, a displaced man from Rafah, told the AP that he was only able to get empty boxes, not food, from the aid site in the Shakoush area in Rafah when he trekked there early Thursday morning (June 24, 2025.) 'We've been shot at since 6 a.m. up until 10 a.m. just to get aid and only some people were able to receive it. There are martyrs and injured people. The situation is difficult,' he said. The group 'Doctors Without Borders' on Friday (June 27, 2025) condemned the distribution system as 'a slaughter masquerading as humanitarian aid' and called for it to be immediately shut down. More than 6,000 people have been killed and more than 20,000 injured in Gaza since the ceasefire collapsed on March 18. Since the war began, more than 56,000 people have been killed and 1,32,000 injured, according to the Health Ministry. Netanyahu's government faces possible collapse as the opposition seeks to dissolve it The Gaza Health Ministry doesn't distinguish between civilians and combatants, but has said that women and children make up more than half the 56,000 dead. Israel says it only targets militants and blames civilian deaths on Hamas, accusing the militants of hiding among civilians, because they operate in populated areas. The Israel-Hamas war started following the Hamas-led attack in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, when some 1,200 people were killed and around 250 taken hostage. About 50 of them still remain in captivity in Gaza. The latest deaths include six people killed and 10 wounded in Israeli strikes on a group of citizens near the Martyrs Roundabout in the Bureij Camp in central Gaza Strip, officials at Awda Hospital in Nuseirat said on Friday (June 27, 2025). The United Nations chief meanwhile urged leaders to show 'political courage' and agree to a ceasefire like the one forged between Israel and Iran. Secretary-General António Guterres also urged a return to the UN's long-tested distribution system for aid in Gaza, where he said Israeli military operations have created 'a humanitarian crisis of horrific proportions..' 'The search for food must never be a death sentence,' Mr. Guterres stressed to UN reporters on Friday.
The Hindu
24 minutes ago
- General
- The Hindu
Indians spend 35 minutes each day wet cleaning their floors, says Dyson's study
Indians are much more passionate and proactive about cleaning. On average, people in India spend about 35 minutes each day wet cleaning their hard floors, noted Dyson's Global Wet Cleaning Study. On contrary, it revealed that the cleaning habits in South Korea and Australia is quite reactive. They would only clean after making a mess, like spilling something on the floor, rather than making it a regular routine. Globally, Dyson found that most people still have hard floors, but over half are still using traditional methods like a mop or cloth. Many are dissatisfied with the results these methods provide. 'We found that traditional methods like using a mop and cloth have a major drawback: you're often cleaning with dirty water. You have a bucket of water, you keep dunking the mop in it, and instead of actually removing dust and grime, you're often just spreading it from room to room,' it said. (For top technology news of the day, subscribe to our tech newsletter Today's Cache) Dyson discovered that only 49% of people in India changed their dirty water when moving between rooms. This means that, even if dirt or grime isn't visibly present, our research showed that a fine layer was still being spread across the entire home, which is not a very hygienic method. In the survey, Dyson said that 62% of Indian respondents thought a vacuum cleaner with wet functionality would be the most effective method, yet they see that adoption remains quite low. Tim Hare, Dyson engineer, said, their technology is optimised for greater efficacy. 'Our machine pumps clean water from a separate clean water tank and delivers it precisely to the floor through our hydration points. The second step is the absorption and extraction of dirt and debris. We have a dedicated dirty water tank that remains completely separate from the clean water tank. By doing this, you're isolating and removing contaminants, which results in higher performance than traditional cleaning methods.' On adoption of automated wet cleaners by Indians, Tim said that culturally, it still seems ingrained for people to use traditional methods, but we would like to see a shift toward automated wet cleaners that offer better hygiene, easier maintenance, and importantly, save time as well. The study was conducted over 20,000 participants across 28 countries, including India, to understand people's cleaning habits, the types of floors they have, their pain points, and what they look for in a wet floor cleaner.
The Hindu
34 minutes ago
- General
- The Hindu
Railway Ministry regularises services of Vijayapura-Mangaluru Central-Vijayapura Express Special
The Railway Ministry on Friday, June 27, approved South Western Railway's proposal to regularise the services of Train No. 07377/ 378 Vijayapura-Mangaluru Central-Vijayapura Express Special thereby bringing much relief to patrons who had been demanding regularisation of the services. Dakshina Kannada Member of Parliament Captain Brijesh Chowta on Saturday (June 28, 2025) said, 'Pleased to share that the long-pending demand to regularise the Vijayapura-Manglauru train has been fulfilled, much to the relief of passengers between the two cities. This move will benefit patients from North Karnataka seeking medical care in Mangaluru, students pursuing education in coastal districts and regular passengers.' He further said, 'Much gratitude to our Minister of Railways Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw and Minister of State Shri V Somanna for enabling this.' Consequently, the services would run with regular numbers, Train Nos. 17377 and 17378, from an early convenient date. Passengers had to pay enhanced fares on the Special (train on demand) services compared to the regular services. Change in departure timing The Ministry had in June first week approved SWR's proposal to revise departure timing of Train No. 17378 from 2.35 pm to 4.45 pm from Mangaluru Central with effect from July 1. The June 27 notification regularising the services mentions departure timing as 4.45 pm from Mangaluru thereby indicating the regular services too would commence from July 1. The departure timing of Mangaluru Central-Vijayapura Express at important en-route stations from July 1 would be as under; Subrahmanya Road 7 pm; Hassan, 10.30 pm; Davanagere, 1.50 am; Haveri, 3.02 am; Hubballi, 4.50 am; Gadag, 6.20 am and Bagalakote, 7.58 am. The train reaches Vijayapura at 11.15 am instead of 9.35 am. There is no change in the timing of Train No. 17377, Vijayapura-Mangaluru Central Express that leaves Vijayapura at 3 pm to reach Mangaluru Central at 9.50 am. Introduced in 2019 Introduced in November 2019 between Vijayapura and Mangaluru Junction, the special trains were cancelled during COVID-19 outbreak and were restored from December 1, 2021. They were extended to Mangaluru Central from April 20, 2024. Passenger associations in Mangaluru, Davanagere, Hubballi and Vijayapura, the then Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, incumbent Capt. Chowta and Vijayapura MP Ramesh C. Jigajinagi had urged the Ministry to regularise the services. The Indian Railway Timetable Committee (IRTTC) too had recommended the regularisation in 2022. The Ministry had been extending the special services every six months.
The Hindu
35 minutes ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
What the Club World Cup tells us about revival of Brazilian League football
The ongoing Club World Cup feels like FIFA's boldest attempt yet to entrench association football in the American sporting imagination — at a moment when the country is gearing up to co-host the men's World Cup next year. From NBA-style player introductions to referee earpiece cameras to teams visiting the White House, the Club World Cup has leaned heavily into American broadcast spectacle. Once an afterthought in the football calendar, the tournament is now a global shop window — designed, in part, to capitalise on the U.S.'s growing appetite for elite European clubs. But by the end of the group stage, it's not the usual European powerhouses turning heads. Instead, clubs from another footballing superpower have stolen the spotlight. Fluminense, Botafogo, Palmeiras, and Flamengo — all from Brazil's Serie A — have qualified for the knockout rounds with unblemished records. And they haven't coasted through on the back of easy fixtures. Flamengo overturned a one-goal deficit to beat Chelsea 3-1. Botafogo stunned UEFA Champions League (UCL) winner PSG with a clinical 1-0 win. Fluminense and Palmeiras earned valuable draws against Borussia Dortmund and FC Porto, respectively — teams seasoned in UCL battles. The road ahead is steep. Flamengo faces Bayern Munich, while Fluminense takes on Inter Milan in the round of 16. But the Brazilian league will have at least one representative in the quarterfinal after Palmeiras was pitted against Botafogo. Have Brazilian clubs always been this strong? Has the football world, focused on European teams, overlooked South America? Brazilian participation in a global club tournament goes back a long way. Vasco da Gama was the first winner of the Tournoi de Paris — the inaugural event that brought together European and South American clubs — in 1957. Santos, home to Brazilian icons like Pele, Zito and Gilmar, won the third and fourth editions of the Intercontinental Cup in 1962 and 1963. The FIFA Club World Cup – comprising eight teams – began in 2000, with Corinthians, Sao Paulo and Internacional winning the first three titles. But since Corinthians' famous victory over Chelsea in the 2012 edition in Japan, no club from the country has tasted success. Corinthians captain and defender Alessandro (front C) raises the winning trophy with his teammates during the awarding ceremony of the 2012 Club World Cup football in Yokohama on December 16, 2012. Copa Libertadores Champion Corinthians beat English premier league team Chelsea FC 1-0 to get the title. AFP PHOTO / TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA | Photo Credit: TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA This lull coincided with a period of stagnation for the Campeonato Brasileiro. The league became a factory line, churning out young Brazilians for Europe while relying on ageing stars returning from their stints abroad. However, over the past six years, increased investment in the domestic league has allowed clubs to attract talent from across South America. It is no surprise, then, that each of the last six Copa Libertadores titles has been won by a Brazilian club. According to Opta's 2024 Power Rankings for global football leagues, the Brazilian Serie A is ranked sixth — the highest for any league outside Europe. Even the four Brazilian teams that have qualified for the knockout stage of the Club World Cup are packed with international players from neighbouring countries. The Uruguayan trio of Matias Vina, Guillermo Varela and Giorgian De Arrascaeta are key components in Flamengo's setup, with the club currently occupying top spot in the Brazilian league. Colombia's Jhon Arias has lit up the right flank for Fluminense, while his compatriot Richard Rios has been a lynchpin in midfield for Palmeiras. Added to this is the brilliance of local talent making full use of the platform the Club World Cup provides — a chance to catch the eye of scouts and take the next step towards a European move. Palmeiras' Estevao Willian, already bound for Premier League giant Chelsea, has impressed with performances that have made the football world sit up and take notice. Botafogo striker Igor Jesus, who scored twice in the group stage, is now reportedly close to a transfer to Nottingham Forest. Estevao of Palmeiras makes run along the flanks in a FIFA Club World Cup group stage match in the United States. | Photo Credit: Getty Images via AFP Another factor in the resurgence of Brazilian clubs has been the influx of fresh coaching ideas from Europe. Portuguese managers Abel Ferreira and Renato Paiva are now in charge at Palmeiras and Botafogo, respectively. Ferreira brought experience from stints in Portugal and Greece, while Paiva had managerial roles in Argentina and Mexico after overseeing Benfica's youth teams. At Flamengo, former Brazil international Filipe Luis — who spent the bulk of his playing career in Europe under top-level coaches like Diego Simeone and Jose Mourinho — has brought in Spaniard Ivan Palanco to his backroom staff. Palanco previously served as an assistant to Miguel Angel Lotina, who coached Luis at Deportivo La Coruna. The strong showings by Brazilian clubs at this edition of the Club World Cup do, however, come with caveats. European sides are participating after a gruelling 2024–25 season, whereas Brazilian teams are arguably at peak fitness, with their domestic campaign having kicked off in March. Another critical factor is climate. Brazilian clubs are far more acclimatised to the heat and humidity of the North American summer. Borussia Dortmund, for example, faced Ulsan in Cincinnati amid temperatures exceeding 90°F (32.2°C) during an afternoon kick-off — conditions unfamiliar to most European teams. RELATED: Scorching heat sparks revised schedule appeals at FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca noted that the weather in Philadelphia was not conducive to holding regular training sessions. Manchester City fielded two different starting XIs in its first two matches. 'We will play new players in the next game too, and in the second half. The selection has that in mind. 'In these conditions, we are not ready to play 90 minutes, and at half-time we will make substitutions,' manager Pep Guardiola told reporters ahead of the match against Juventus. Despite the rise of Brazilian clubs, that domestic strength has not translated into recent success for the Selecao. Brazil struggled through the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, drawing four and losing five matches. Now under the guidance of legendary manager Carlo Ancelotti, the five-time world champion will hope the Italian — with his unparalleled Champions League pedigree — can unlock the full potential of Brazil's young, talented crop and end its 24-year wait for another global title. List of results of Brazilian teams in group stage: Palmeiras 0 - 0 Porto Botafogo 2 - 1 Seattle Sounders Flamengo 2 - 0 Esperance Fluminense 0 - 0 Borussia Dortmund Palmeiras 2 - 0 Al Ahly SC PSG 0 - 1 Botafogo Flamengo 3 - 1 Chelsea Fluminense 4 - 2 Ulsan HD Atletico Madrid 1 - 0 Botafogo Inter Miami 2 - 2 Palmeiras LAFC 1 - 1 Flamengo Mamelodi Sundowns 0 - 0 Fluminense
The Hindu
39 minutes ago
- General
- The Hindu
Quick action of railway official averts collision of two trains near Kovilpatti
A timely action in split seconds by an alert railway official by shutting down power of overhead equipment prevented a speeding express train from ramming from behind another train moving slowly ahead between Kovilpatti and Kadambur railway stations on Tuesday night. The second train that was cleared for running at 110 kmph stopped just 5 km ahead of the other train on the same track and within same signal block section, railway officials said. Initial reports suggested that bungling in following standard safety procedure in issuing of line clear ticket - mandatory for allowing train to proceed further in the event of signal failure - by Kovilpatti Station Master, had led to the incident. An enquiry by railway officials of various departments is underway into the safety breach. According to railway sources, the loco pilot of Train No 06322 Dindigul-Nagercoil special train had noticed at 6.42 p.m. on Tuesday (July 24, 2025) that the intermediate block signal at Kumarapuram between Kovilpatti and Kadambur railway stations had failed. He had tried to reach the station master of Kovilpatti through the signal post (railway) telephone. However, he could not communicate with him. Loco pilot followed safety protocol Hence, following the safety protocol during signal failures in mid-section, the loco pilot waited for more than the mandatory five minutes and then set out the train at 7.02 p.m. 'He operated the train at 8 kmph speed, which is stipulated speed at nights on a track with failed signal. At this speed, he would be able to stop the train immediately in the event of the train facing any unforeseen obstruction on the track,' a railway source said. Meanwhile, Train No. 16368 Varanasi to Kanniyakumari Express had arrived Kovilpatti at 7.06 p.m. Railway sources said that consequent to the IBS failure, the Varanasi express train was allowed to move out of Kovilpatti railway station with a line clear ticket and to proceed towards Kadambur railway station at the usual speed of 110 kmph. The manual go-ahead was given much before the other train could reach Kadambur. 'Station Masters worked on assumption' It seems the Station Masters on both ends were under the assumption that the Nagercoil-bound train was running at the normal sectional speed of 110 kmph and hence they anticipated it to reach Kadambur railway station at any moment, the source said. They had failed to assess the risk factor due to Nagercoil-bound train running at 8 kmph. It would take at least 90 minutes for the train for crossing 12 km from the IBS to reach Kadambur railway station. The line clear ticket is an authority issued by the Station Master, in consultation with the other Station Master of the section, to allow the train to proceed on track during signal failures. 'It also assures the loco pilot that the section ahead is free of any vehicle (train),' the source explained. However, in this case, despite the block section of Kovilpatti-Kadambur was not free of train movement, the second train was allowed to pass through it. Timely intervention Even as the train was fast approaching Kadambur railway station, the section controller at Madurai Divisional Office noticed two trains proceeding in close proximity on the same block section. He immediately alerted the officials in Traction Distribution and asked them to shut down power in the OHE to stop the Varanasi train and thus averted the possible collision of two express trains. The trains were separated by a distance of only five km, an official said. Another official said that the SM, Kovilpatti had asked the loco pilot to watch out whether a level crossing gate near the IBS was in closed position before proceeding further. Even as the loco pilot was about to slow down the train to stop it at the IBS, the power was shut down curtailing its movement. Meanwhile, the signal was set right around 9.20 p.m. Four express trains suffered detention in the range of over one hour to over three hours. Investigation revealed that burning of signal cables had led to the IBS failure.
