The US Democratic National Committee (DNC) is set to host its convention in Chicago from August 19 to August 22, 2024, to celebrate Kamala Harris's nomination as the party's presidential candidate. This four-day event will attract thousands to the city, marking Harris’s unexpected rise to the nomination following President Joe Biden's withdrawal from the race. Here's everything you need to know:

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<h2>When is the convention?</h2>

The convention will run from August 19 to August 22, 2024.

<h2>Where is the convention?</h2>

The convention will be held at the United Centre&nbsp;in Chicago.&nbsp;

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<h2>Broadcast Information</h2>

Major networks and streaming platforms, such as Hulu, Paramount Plus, Peacock and Max, will broadcast the prime-time events. Additionally, the DNC’s YouTube and X channels will offer coverage of the convention.

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I grew up in a middle-class household. For most of my childhood, we were renters. 
 
My mother saved for well over a decade to buy a home. I was a teenager when the day finally came—and I can still remember how excited she was. 
 
In college, I worked at McDonald’s to earn spending… <a href="https://t.co/rQu2uVTkVQ">pic.twitter.com/rQu2uVTkVQ</a>
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) <a href="https://twitter.com/KamalaHarris/status/1824831207839818148?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 17, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<h2>What else to expect</h2>

Inside the United Centre, the convention will be a vibrant celebration, while outside, Chicago is expected to see significant protests. Demonstrators are anticipated to voice their discontent with the Democratic administration’s policies on the Gaza conflict.

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<h2>Key Speakers</h2>

Joe Biden: Former President Biden will deliver a poignant keynote address on the opening night, marking a farewell to a presidency he was until recently expected to continue. 
Hillary Clinton: The former presidential candidate will take a prominent speaking slot. 
Barack Obama and Bill Clinton: The former presidents will also address the convention. 
Tim Walz: The Minnesota Governor and Harris’s running mate, will introduce himself to the nation on Wednesday night. 
Kamala Harris: The convention will culminate with Harris’s major address on Thursday, highlighting a pivotal moment in her political career.

(With inputs from agencies)

The US Democratic National Committee (DNC) is set to host its convention in Chicago from August 19 to August 22, 2024, to celebrate Kamala Harris's nomination as the party's presidential candidate.

The US Democratic National Committee (DNC) is set to host its convention in Chicago from August 19 to August 22, 2024, to celebrate Kamala Harris's nomination as the party's presidential candidate. This four-day event will attract thousands to the city, marking Harris’s unexpected rise to the nomination following President Joe Biden's withdrawal from the race. Here's everything you need to know: Also read | Indian-origin family killed in US car crash, 14-year-old son lone survivor When is the convention? The convention will run from August 19 to August 22, 2024. Where is the convention? The convention will be held at the United Centre in Chicago. Also read | Ukraine war: Safety at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant is deteriorating, UN agency warns Broadcast Information Major networks and streaming platforms, such as Hulu, Paramount Plus, Peacock and Max, will broadcast the prime-time events. Additionally, the DNC’s YouTube and X channels will offer coverage of the convention. I grew up in a middle-class household. For most of my childhood, we were renters. My mother saved for well over a decade to buy a home. I was a teenager when the day finally came—and I can still remember how excited she was. In college, I worked at McDonald’s to earn spending… pic.twitter.com/rQu2uVTkVQ — Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) August 17, 2024 × What else to expect Inside the United Centre, the convention will be a vibrant celebration, while outside, Chicago is expected to see significant protests. Demonstrators are anticipated to voice their discontent with the Democratic administration’s policies on the Gaza conflict. Also read | Russia and Ukraine were close to ceasefire talks until this happened... Key Speakers Joe Biden: Former President Biden will deliver a poignant keynote address on the opening night, marking a farewell to a presidency he was until recently expected to continue. Hillary Clinton: The former presidential candidate will take a prominent speaking slot. Barack Obama and Bill Clinton: The former presidents will also address the convention. Tim Walz: The Minnesota Governor and Harris’s running mate, will introduce himself to the nation on Wednesday night. Kamala Harris: The convention will culminate with Harris’s major address on Thursday, highlighting a pivotal moment in her political career. (With inputs from agencies)

Kamala Harris’ pivotal moment in US politics: What you need to know about the 2024 Democratic Convention

Neeraj Chopra Javelin Event Live Streaming:&nbsp;India’s Neeraj Chopra will have a shot at the gold medal on Thursday (August 8) at the Paris Olympics after he qualified for the final event on Tuesday. The defending champion who clinched gold for India at the Tokyo Games threw 89.34 metres, which is his Olympic best to enter the final round.

Chopra's main rivals include Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Jakub Vadlejch from the Czech Republic, Germany’s Julian Weber, and former world champion Anderson Peters.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/olympics/news-indian-boxer-lovlina-borgohain-says-sorry-to-nation-vows-for-strong-comeback-post-paris-olympics-heartbreak-747653">Indian boxer Lovlina Borgohain says SORRY to nation, vows strong comeback post Paris Olympics heartbreak</a>

Hailing from a small village in Haryana, Chopra discovered his passion for javelin at a young age.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/olympics/news-paris-olympics-novak-djokovics-former-coach-backs-him-to-go-for-gold-at-la-2028-747612">Paris Olympics: Novak Djokovic's former coach backs him to go for gold at LA 2028</a>

Here are the details of the live-streaming event of the Paris Olympics 2024:

<h2>Where will the Paris Olympics 2024 men’s javelin throw final take place?</h2>

The men’s javelin throw final will be held at the Stade de France.

<h2>When will Neeraj Chopra's javelin throw final&nbsp;take place in the Paris Olympics?</h2>

Neeraj Chopra will compete in the javelin throw final event on August 8 with the final round taking place at 11:55 pm&nbsp;IST. The defending champion who clinched gold for India at the Tokyo Games threw 89.34 metres, which is his Olympic best to enter the final round.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/olympics/news-paris-olympics-2024-frances-kauli-vaast-usas-caroline-marks-win-surfing-golds-747542">Paris Olympics 2024: France's Kauli Vaast, USA's Caroline Marks win surfing golds</a>

<h2>Where to watch Neeraj Chopra's javelin throw final&nbsp;live telecast in India?</h2>

The Neeraj Chopra's javelin throw final at the&nbsp;Paris Olympics 2024 will be broadcast live on the Sports18 Network in India.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/bangladesh-unrest-shocking-former-captain-mashrafe-mortazas-house-set-on-fire-as-country-in-chaos-747607">Bangladesh unrest: SHOCKING! Former captain Mashrafe Mortaza's house set on fire as country in chaos</a>

<h2>Where to watch Neeraj Chopra's javelin throw final live streaming in India?</h2>

Live streaming of&nbsp;Neeraj Chopra's javelin throw final at the&nbsp;Paris Olympics 2024&nbsp;will be available on the JioCinema app and website.

(With inputs from agencies)

Neeraj Chopra Javelin Event Live Streaming: India’s Neeraj Chopra will have a shot at the gold medal on Thursday (August 8) at the Paris Olympics after he qualified for the final event on Tuesday.

Neeraj Chopra Javelin Event Live Streaming: India’s Neeraj Chopra will have a shot at the gold medal on Thursday (August 8) at the Paris Olympics after he qualified for the final event on Tuesday. The defending champion who clinched gold for India at the Tokyo Games threw 89.34 metres, which is his Olympic best to enter the final round. Chopra's main rivals include Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Jakub Vadlejch from the Czech Republic, Germany’s Julian Weber, and former world champion Anderson Peters. ALSO READ | Indian boxer Lovlina Borgohain says SORRY to nation, vows strong comeback post Paris Olympics heartbreak Hailing from a small village in Haryana, Chopra discovered his passion for javelin at a young age. ALSO READ | Paris Olympics: Novak Djokovic's former coach backs him to go for gold at LA 2028 Here are the details of the live-streaming event of the Paris Olympics 2024: Where will the Paris Olympics 2024 men’s javelin throw final take place? The men’s javelin throw final will be held at the Stade de France. When will Neeraj Chopra's javelin throw final take place in the Paris Olympics? Neeraj Chopra will compete in the javelin throw final event on August 8 with the final round taking place at 11:55 pm IST. The defending champion who clinched gold for India at the Tokyo Games threw 89.34 metres, which is his Olympic best to enter the final round. ALSO READ | Paris Olympics 2024: France's Kauli Vaast, USA's Caroline Marks win surfing golds Where to watch Neeraj Chopra's javelin throw final live telecast in India? The Neeraj Chopra's javelin throw final at the Paris Olympics 2024 will be broadcast live on the Sports18 Network in India. ALSO READ | Bangladesh unrest: SHOCKING! Former captain Mashrafe Mortaza's house set on fire as country in chaos Where to watch Neeraj Chopra's javelin throw final live streaming in India? Live streaming of Neeraj Chopra's javelin throw final at the Paris Olympics 2024 will be available on the JioCinema app and website. (With inputs from agencies)

Neeraj Chopra javelin throw final event live streaming: When and where to watch Paris Olympics 2024?

Neeraj Chopra Javelin Event Live Streaming:&nbsp;Neeraj Chopra kicks off his 2024 Paris Olympics journey in the men’s javelin throw event at the Stade de France on Tuesday.

India's golden boy and the first Indian to win an Olympic gold in javelin throw, Chopra drew global attention with his historic victory at the Tokyo Olympics. Today, all eyes are on him as he competes.

Chopra's main rivals include Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Jakub Vadlejch from the Czech Republic, Germany’s Julian Weber, and former world champion Anderson Peters.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/olympics/news-paris-olympics-novak-djokovics-former-coach-backs-him-to-go-for-gold-at-la-2028-747612">Paris Olympics: Novak Djokovic's former coach backs him to go for gold at LA 2028</a>

Hailing from a small village in Haryana, Chopra discovered his passion for javelin at a young age.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/bangladesh-unrest-shocking-former-captain-mashrafe-mortazas-house-set-on-fire-as-country-in-chaos-747607">Bangladesh unrest: SHOCKING! Former captain Mashrafe Mortaza's house set on fire as country in chaos</a>

Here are the details of the live-streaming event of the Paris Olympics 2024:

<h2>Where will the Paris Olympics 2024 men’s javelin throw qualifiers take place?</h2>

The men’s javelin throw qualifiers will be held at the Stade de France.

<h2>When will Neeraj Chopra participate in the Paris Olympics?</h2>

Neeraj Chopra will compete in the javelin throw event on August 6. The qualification rounds start with Group A at 1:50 PM IST, followed by Group B at 3:20 PM IST. The final will be on August 8 at 11:55 PM IST.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/shocking-video-of-vinod-kambli-limping-emerges-netizens-call-out-sachin-tendulkar-for-help-watch-747580">Shocking video of Vinod Kambli limping emerges, netizens call out Sachin Tendulkar for help: WATCH</a>

<h2>Where to watch Neeraj Chopra's event live telecast in India?</h2>

The Paris Olympics 2024 will be broadcast live on the Sports18 Network in India.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/olympics/news-paris-olympics-2024-frances-kauli-vaast-usas-caroline-marks-win-surfing-golds-747542">Paris Olympics 2024: France's Kauli Vaast, USA's Caroline Marks win surfing golds</a>

<h2>Where to watch Neeraj Chopra's qualification round live streaming in India?</h2>

Live streaming of the javelin throw event will be available on the JioCinema app and website.

&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Neeraj Chopra Javelin Event Live Streaming: Neeraj Chopra kicks off his 2024 Paris Olympics journey in the men’s javelin throw event at the Stade de France on Tuesday.

Neeraj Chopra Javelin Event Live Streaming: Neeraj Chopra kicks off his 2024 Paris Olympics journey in the men’s javelin throw event at the Stade de France on Tuesday. India's golden boy and the first Indian to win an Olympic gold in javelin throw, Chopra drew global attention with his historic victory at the Tokyo Olympics. Today, all eyes are on him as he competes. Chopra's main rivals include Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Jakub Vadlejch from the Czech Republic, Germany’s Julian Weber, and former world champion Anderson Peters. Also read| Paris Olympics: Novak Djokovic's former coach backs him to go for gold at LA 2028 Hailing from a small village in Haryana, Chopra discovered his passion for javelin at a young age. Also read| Bangladesh unrest: SHOCKING! Former captain Mashrafe Mortaza's house set on fire as country in chaos Here are the details of the live-streaming event of the Paris Olympics 2024: Where will the Paris Olympics 2024 men’s javelin throw qualifiers take place? The men’s javelin throw qualifiers will be held at the Stade de France. When will Neeraj Chopra participate in the Paris Olympics? Neeraj Chopra will compete in the javelin throw event on August 6. The qualification rounds start with Group A at 1:50 PM IST, followed by Group B at 3:20 PM IST. The final will be on August 8 at 11:55 PM IST. Also read| Shocking video of Vinod Kambli limping emerges, netizens call out Sachin Tendulkar for help: WATCH Where to watch Neeraj Chopra's event live telecast in India? The Paris Olympics 2024 will be broadcast live on the Sports18 Network in India. Also read| Paris Olympics 2024: France's Kauli Vaast, USA's Caroline Marks win surfing golds Where to watch Neeraj Chopra's qualification round live streaming in India? Live streaming of the javelin throw event will be available on the JioCinema app and website. (With inputs from agencies)

Neeraj Chopra Javelin event live streaming: When and where to watch Paris Olympics 2024

China’s secret space plane emits a strong signal to the ground when passing North America: satellite tracker. Amateur astronomer speculates the aircraft could be signalling ‘a clandestine ground station on the west coast of North America or on a ship off the coast.

China's secret space plane emits strong signals: Report

The map dots, resembling a scattergram of America, point to snow-covered pinnacles, remote islands and places in between.

Each of the 660 points, shown on maps of federal lands and waterways, includes the word “squaw” in its name, a term Native Americans regard as a racist and misogynistic slur.

Now the Interior Department, led by Deb Haaland, the first Native American Cabinet secretary, is taking steps to strip the word from mountains, rivers, lakes and other geographic sites and has solicited input from tribes on new names for the landmarks.

A task force created by the department will submit the new names for final approval from the Board on Geographic Names, the federal body that standardizes U.S. place names. The National Park Service was ordered to take similar steps.

“Words matter, particularly in our work to make our nation’s public lands and waters accessible and welcoming to people of all backgrounds,” Haaland said in a statement. “Consideration of these replacements is a big step forward in our efforts to remove derogatory terms whose expiration dates are long overdue.”

The move comes as private companies and professional sports teams are shedding names and imagery that many Native Americans find offensive amid a broader national reckoning over systemic racism.

Several states have passed laws mandating the erasure of the slur from nonfederal sites. They include Oregon, Maine, Montana and Minnesota, where at least one community, the city of Squaw Lake, has clung to its name. A bill has been introduced in the state Assembly in California to rename more than 100 places in that state.

Few places are more closely associated with the reckoning than Squaw Valley, the ski area in Lake Tahoe, in Northern California, that hosted the 1960 Winter Olympics. The private resort, which is not part of the federal renaming effort, rebranded itself Palisades Tahoe last September after years of debate over its identity.

All but 10 states appear to have at least one geographic feature on federal land or waterways that contains the slur, according to an interactive map maintained by the federal government. The names of civil features, including counties and incorporated places like Squaw Lake, Minnesota, are not part of the federal effort because they are outside the government’s authority.

Vanessa Esquivido, 36, a member of the Nor Rel Muk Wintu Nation in Northern California, said the slur’s continued use perpetuated demeaning stereotypes of Native American women.

Esquivido, a former professor of American Indian studies at California State University, Chico said that the reckoning over the word was long overdue but that Indigenous people still encountered a lack of awareness over its meaning.

“Native women and Native land are synonymous,” she said. “By calling them the S-word, it takes away their humanity. They’re nameless. They’re tribeless.”

Some places on the federal government’s list are better known than others. Among the more familiar is Squaw Mountain, an 8,000-foot peak near Provo, Utah, that is popular with hikers, in part for its panoramic views. It is featured on the website of Explore Utah Valley, a tourism organization, which did not respond to a request for comment.

Other locales that bear the slur are far more obscure, relegated to nautical charts, such as Squaw Rocks, an outcropping in Long Island Sound off the coast of Branford, Connecticut.

Jane Bouley, a former town historian in Branford, said that the name most likely referred to a member of the Totoket tribe, a branch of the Quinnipiac Indians, who is identified in deeds from the 1730s and 1740s as Hannah Squaw.

“They eventually sold out to the colonists, whether under duress or of their own accord,” Bouley said, referring to the Totoket tribe, explaining that the nautical feature is not really a landmark. “It’s not even something you can hardly put your shoe on, especially with the tides rising,” she said.

Type the word “squaw” into Google Maps or Apple Maps, and a number of hits come up. Google, which relies on third-party data, information from local authorities and other sources, said the federal name changes would be reflected on its maps once they are finalised. Apple did not respond to requests for comment.

On Facebook and Instagram, visitors can still check in at Squaw Valley and tag their photos with the retired name more than five months after the resort became Palisades Tahoe. Meta, which owns both platforms, did not respond to a request for comment last week.

State governments have for decades been slowly chipping away at the pejorative names.

In 2003, a state panel in Arizona voted to rename a mountain in Phoenix called Squaw Peak for Lori Piestewa, an Army specialist who was killed in Iraq that year and was the first Native American woman to die in combat while serving in the U.S. military. Many Native Americans had been pressing for the change, which the Board on Geographic Names affirmed in 2008, but some critics said at the time that it was a heavy-handed, political move.

In 2000, mountains, waterways and other features in Maine were renamed under a state law targeting the slur, which a tribal representative said at the time had been used to slander women with offensive sexual connotations.

Name changes made at the state level are approved by the Board on Geographic Names, which has previously done away with pejorative terms for African Americans and Japanese people, to ensure they are used uniformly throughout the government.

The National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers published a report this year that said national efforts to rename geographic locations in the United States that still bear racist or sexual slurs against Native Americans and African Americans were not “canceling history.”

“Rather,” it said, “it is an opportunity to provide a more honest accounting of America’s past and a gesture toward healing historic wounds.”

The map dots, resembling a scattergram of America, point to snow-covered pinnacles, remote islands and places in between. Each of the 660 points, shown on maps of federal lands and waterways, includes the word “squaw” in its name, a term Native Americans regard as a racist and misogynistic slur.

The map dots, resembling a scattergram of America, point to snow-covered pinnacles, remote islands and places in between. Each of the 660 points, shown on maps of federal lands and waterways, includes the word “squaw” in its name, a term Native Americans regard as a racist and misogynistic slur. Now the Interior Department, led by Deb Haaland, the first Native American Cabinet secretary, is taking steps to strip the word from mountains, rivers, lakes and other geographic sites and has solicited input from tribes on new names for the landmarks. A task force created by the department will submit the new names for final approval from the Board on Geographic Names, the federal body that standardizes U.S. place names. The National Park Service was ordered to take similar steps. “Words matter, particularly in our work to make our nation’s public lands and waters accessible and welcoming to people of all backgrounds,” Haaland said in a statement. “Consideration of these replacements is a big step forward in our efforts to remove derogatory terms whose expiration dates are long overdue.” The move comes as private companies and professional sports teams are shedding names and imagery that many Native Americans find offensive amid a broader national reckoning over systemic racism. Several states have passed laws mandating the erasure of the slur from nonfederal sites. They include Oregon, Maine, Montana and Minnesota, where at least one community, the city of Squaw Lake, has clung to its name. A bill has been introduced in the state Assembly in California to rename more than 100 places in that state. Few places are more closely associated with the reckoning than Squaw Valley, the ski area in Lake Tahoe, in Northern California, that hosted the 1960 Winter Olympics. The private resort, which is not part of the federal renaming effort, rebranded itself Palisades Tahoe last September after years of debate over its identity. All but 10 states appear to have at least one geographic feature on federal land or waterways that contains the slur, according to an interactive map maintained by the federal government. The names of civil features, including counties and incorporated places like Squaw Lake, Minnesota, are not part of the federal effort because they are outside the government’s authority. Vanessa Esquivido, 36, a member of the Nor Rel Muk Wintu Nation in Northern California, said the slur’s continued use perpetuated demeaning stereotypes of Native American women. Esquivido, a former professor of American Indian studies at California State University, Chico said that the reckoning over the word was long overdue but that Indigenous people still encountered a lack of awareness over its meaning. “Native women and Native land are synonymous,” she said. “By calling them the S-word, it takes away their humanity. They’re nameless. They’re tribeless.” Some places on the federal government’s list are better known than others. Among the more familiar is Squaw Mountain, an 8,000-foot peak near Provo, Utah, that is popular with hikers, in part for its panoramic views. It is featured on the website of Explore Utah Valley, a tourism organization, which did not respond to a request for comment. Other locales that bear the slur are far more obscure, relegated to nautical charts, such as Squaw Rocks, an outcropping in Long Island Sound off the coast of Branford, Connecticut. Jane Bouley, a former town historian in Branford, said that the name most likely referred to a member of the Totoket tribe, a branch of the Quinnipiac Indians, who is identified in deeds from the 1730s and 1740s as Hannah Squaw. “They eventually sold out to the colonists, whether under duress or of their own accord,” Bouley said, referring to the Totoket tribe, explaining that the nautical feature is not really a landmark. “It’s not even something you can hardly put your shoe on, especially with the tides rising,” she said. Type the word “squaw” into Google Maps or Apple Maps, and a number of hits come up. Google, which relies on third-party data, information from local authorities and other sources, said the federal name changes would be reflected on its maps once they are finalised. Apple did not respond to requests for comment. On Facebook and Instagram, visitors can still check in at Squaw Valley and tag their photos with the retired name more than five months after the resort became Palisades Tahoe. Meta, which owns both platforms, did not respond to a request for comment last week. State governments have for decades been slowly chipping away at the pejorative names. In 2003, a state panel in Arizona voted to rename a mountain in Phoenix called Squaw Peak for Lori Piestewa, an Army specialist who was killed in Iraq that year and was the first Native American woman to die in combat while serving in the U.S. military. Many Native Americans had been pressing for the change, which the Board on Geographic Names affirmed in 2008, but some critics said at the time that it was a heavy-handed, political move. In 2000, mountains, waterways and other features in Maine were renamed under a state law targeting the slur, which a tribal representative said at the time had been used to slander women with offensive sexual connotations. Name changes made at the state level are approved by the Board on Geographic Names, which has previously done away with pejorative terms for African Americans and Japanese people, to ensure they are used uniformly throughout the government. The National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers published a report this year that said national efforts to rename geographic locations in the United States that still bear racist or sexual slurs against Native Americans and African Americans were not “canceling history.” “Rather,” it said, “it is an opportunity to provide a more honest accounting of America’s past and a gesture toward healing historic wounds.”

660 US place names include a slur for native women. Change is coming

An Indian court today sentenced a Bollywood director to seven years in jail for raping an American research scholar last year, the victim&#39;s lawyer said. 
 
Mahmood Farooqui, best known for co-directing the popular 2010 satire Peepli Live on farmer suicides, was convicted on Saturday after a fast-track court in New Delhi found him guilty of the March 2015 attack. 
 
The victim, then aged 35, had travelled to India to seek Farooqui&#39;s assistance with her research when the assault took place at his home in an upscale area of the capital.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;The court sentenced him to seven years (of imprisonment), which is the minimum jail term for this offence,&quot; the victim&#39;s lawyer, Vrinda Grover, told AFP. 
 
Grover, who had argued for the maximum term of life imprisonment, said the court had also imposed a 50,000 Rupee ($747) fine. 
 
Farooqui, who pleaded not guilty, was taken into custody at the weekend. 
 
The woman returned to the US shortly after the incident but came back to report the matter to police. 
 
&quot;Peepli Live&quot;, which explores the divide between urban and rural India, was produced by Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan. 
 
Farooqui co-directed it with his wife, Anusha Rizwi. 
 
India introduced tough laws against sex offenders in the wake of the fatal gang-rape of a Delhi student in the capital in December 2012 that sparked mass street protests. 
 
But high levels of sexual violence against women continue. 
 
(AFP)

The victim had travelled to India to seek Mahmood Farooqui's assistance with her research when he assaulted her at his home

An Indian court today sentenced a Bollywood director to seven years in jail for raping an American research scholar last year, the victim's lawyer said. Mahmood Farooqui, best known for co-directing the popular 2010 satire Peepli Live on farmer suicides, was convicted on Saturday after a fast-track court in New Delhi found him guilty of the March 2015 attack. The victim, then aged 35, had travelled to India to seek Farooqui's assistance with her research when the assault took place at his home in an upscale area of the capital. "The court sentenced him to seven years (of imprisonment), which is the minimum jail term for this offence," the victim's lawyer, Vrinda Grover, told AFP. Grover, who had argued for the maximum term of life imprisonment, said the court had also imposed a 50,000 Rupee ($747) fine. Farooqui, who pleaded not guilty, was taken into custody at the weekend. The woman returned to the US shortly after the incident but came back to report the matter to police. "Peepli Live", which explores the divide between urban and rural India, was produced by Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan. Farooqui co-directed it with his wife, Anusha Rizwi. India introduced tough laws against sex offenders in the wake of the fatal gang-rape of a Delhi student in the capital in December 2012 that sparked mass street protests. But high levels of sexual violence against women continue. (AFP)

India court jails 'Peepli Live' director for 7 years over rape

The yellow M-shaped logo, long noisy queues, children with balloons in their hands: at first glance it seems McDonald&#39;s has reopened its doors in separatist hub Lugansk in Eastern Ukraine. 
 
But in fact this is only a replica after the building where the US fast food chain once had its restaurant was taken over by rebels and now local entrepreneurs have opened their own cafe, with just a few tweaks. 
 
Its facade has been modified and now reads &quot;Burger&quot;, the name of the new restaurant, and it is decked out with a flag of the self-proclaimed Lugansk People&#39;s Republic. 
 
Inside hungry diners cannot tuck into the world-famous &quot;Big Mac&quot;, but they can enjoy a very similar &quot;Big Mag&quot; burger. 
 
&quot;That&#39;s how it goes here: department stores and cafes are taken over by the authorities, they only change the name slightly,&quot; said 18-year-old student Nikita, who refused to give his surname due to security fears, enjoying a meal with four friends. 
 
&quot;They can&#39;t invent anything new.&quot; 
 
Nikita and his classmates have been visiting the &quot;Burger&quot; restaurant regularly since it was reopened two months ago. 
 
The students say they used to come to the McDonald&#39;s before the conflict between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists tore through this industrial region, claiming some 9,500 live since April 2014. 
 
But they complain about the significantly increased prices in the place since it reopened under the new management. 
 
&quot;Now we can afford only two portions of French fries. It has become too expensive here, although initially this place was designed for students,&quot; Nikita laments adding that a serving of fries costs some 90 rubles (about one euro). 
 
The US firm, which in 2014 closed all its restaurants in the rebel-controlled areas, said in a statement that they &quot;have nothing to do with business activities in the premises of McDonald&#39;s&quot; in the rebel strongholds of Lugansk and Donetsk. 
 
The company has complained to the Ukrainian government about the &quot;illegal seizure of the premises&quot; in the conflict zone. 
 
But local customers say they find the food being served now similar enough to original. 
 
Dan Bertsch, an American from Virginia in his fifties who arrived in Lugansk three years before the start of the conflict to marry a local woman, is among them. 
 
&quot;In America I do not eat a lot in McDonald&#39;s but in Lugansk I think it is nourishing to have a hamburger,&quot; said Bertsch, who wore a t-shirt with the image of Russian President Vladimir Putin. 
 
&quot;We don&#39;t have a lot of food choices in Lugansk because of war.&quot; 
 
Anti-US rhetoric 
 
The manager of &quot;Burger&quot;, 25-year-old Sergei, who gave only his first name, said the higher prices are down to difficulties in getting food delivered to the conflict-wracked region, but he insisted quality has gone up. 
 
&quot;Although there are similarities in our ingredients, we are not McDonald&#39;s,&quot; he said. 
 
&quot;There is a difference in the quality of ingredients, ours are better. We bring them frozen from Finland via Russia.&quot; 
 
In Donetsk, another rebel stronghold in eastern Ukraine, two other former McDonald&#39;s opened their doors under the named &quot;DonMak&quot; in early July. 
 
Similar to the one in Lugansk, they are located in the former premises of the US chain and offer the same kind of products. 
 
Their opening was a sensation in the de facto capital of the pro-Russian separatists, despite the rebel leadership frequently slamming the United States as an enemy as it emphasises cultural ties with Russia. 
 
Within a few days people were already lining up in queues for over an hour outside the fast-food restaurant in anticipation of their Coke, burger or fries. 
 
Housewife Elena waited 40 minutes in the crowded establishment to place an order for her son. 
 
&quot;Before they opened this place, I always wondered where to go with my child. Now we can celebrate his birthday here,&quot; the 24-year-old said. 
 
The fact the restaurant had opened even though rebels denounce any presence of Western influence in the area under their control does not seem to bother the young woman. 
 
&quot;It might be worth opening something Russian-style,&quot; she laughed, as she waited for her burger. 
 
(AFP)

The new restaurant called 'Burger' has come in place of the original McDonald's after it was taken over by rebels

The yellow M-shaped logo, long noisy queues, children with balloons in their hands: at first glance it seems McDonald's has reopened its doors in separatist hub Lugansk in Eastern Ukraine. But in fact this is only a replica after the building where the US fast food chain once had its restaurant was taken over by rebels and now local entrepreneurs have opened their own cafe, with just a few tweaks. Its facade has been modified and now reads "Burger", the name of the new restaurant, and it is decked out with a flag of the self-proclaimed Lugansk People's Republic. Inside hungry diners cannot tuck into the world-famous "Big Mac", but they can enjoy a very similar "Big Mag" burger. "That's how it goes here: department stores and cafes are taken over by the authorities, they only change the name slightly," said 18-year-old student Nikita, who refused to give his surname due to security fears, enjoying a meal with four friends. "They can't invent anything new." Nikita and his classmates have been visiting the "Burger" restaurant regularly since it was reopened two months ago. The students say they used to come to the McDonald's before the conflict between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists tore through this industrial region, claiming some 9,500 live since April 2014. But they complain about the significantly increased prices in the place since it reopened under the new management. "Now we can afford only two portions of French fries. It has become too expensive here, although initially this place was designed for students," Nikita laments adding that a serving of fries costs some 90 rubles (about one euro). The US firm, which in 2014 closed all its restaurants in the rebel-controlled areas, said in a statement that they "have nothing to do with business activities in the premises of McDonald's" in the rebel strongholds of Lugansk and Donetsk. The company has complained to the Ukrainian government about the "illegal seizure of the premises" in the conflict zone. But local customers say they find the food being served now similar enough to original. Dan Bertsch, an American from Virginia in his fifties who arrived in Lugansk three years before the start of the conflict to marry a local woman, is among them. "In America I do not eat a lot in McDonald's but in Lugansk I think it is nourishing to have a hamburger," said Bertsch, who wore a t-shirt with the image of Russian President Vladimir Putin. "We don't have a lot of food choices in Lugansk because of war." Anti-US rhetoric The manager of "Burger", 25-year-old Sergei, who gave only his first name, said the higher prices are down to difficulties in getting food delivered to the conflict-wracked region, but he insisted quality has gone up. "Although there are similarities in our ingredients, we are not McDonald's," he said. "There is a difference in the quality of ingredients, ours are better. We bring them frozen from Finland via Russia." In Donetsk, another rebel stronghold in eastern Ukraine, two other former McDonald's opened their doors under the named "DonMak" in early July. Similar to the one in Lugansk, they are located in the former premises of the US chain and offer the same kind of products. Their opening was a sensation in the de facto capital of the pro-Russian separatists, despite the rebel leadership frequently slamming the United States as an enemy as it emphasises cultural ties with Russia. Within a few days people were already lining up in queues for over an hour outside the fast-food restaurant in anticipation of their Coke, burger or fries. Housewife Elena waited 40 minutes in the crowded establishment to place an order for her son. "Before they opened this place, I always wondered where to go with my child. Now we can celebrate his birthday here," the 24-year-old said. The fact the restaurant had opened even though rebels denounce any presence of Western influence in the area under their control does not seem to bother the young woman. "It might be worth opening something Russian-style," she laughed, as she waited for her burger. (AFP)

Ersatz McDonald's becomes hit in rebel East Ukraine

Mexican soldiers killed five suspected criminals in a gunfight in a northern state where 14 other people were murdered over the weekend, authorities said.&nbsp;The shootout took place on Sunday on a road in the town of Valle Hermoso, some 40 kilometres (25 miles) from the US border, in the state of Tamaulipas. 
 
The soldiers were on the road when they saw armed civilians and ordered them to stop, according to the Tamaulipas Coordination Group of federal and state security forces.&nbsp;The civilians &quot;ignored them and began to shoot at the soldiers, who repelled the attack in self-defense&quot;, the group said in a statement. 
 
The dead suspects are part of a criminal group that operates in the region, the statement said yesterday, without identifying the gang. 
The Gulf cartel and their rivals, Los Zetas, have fought brutal turf wars in Tamaulipas for years.&nbsp;On Saturday, 11 members of the same family were killed by gunmen in their home in Ciudad Victoria, the state capital. 
 
Three people from another family were murdered less than an hour later in another home.&nbsp;The government said the killings in Ciudad Victoria appeared to be related to a dispute between rival gangs. 
 
(AFP)

The shootout took place 40 miles south of the US border in Valle Hermoso, where 14 other people were murdered over the weekend

Mexican soldiers killed five suspected criminals in a gunfight in a northern state where 14 other people were murdered over the weekend, authorities said. The shootout took place on Sunday on a road in the town of Valle Hermoso, some 40 kilometres (25 miles) from the US border, in the state of Tamaulipas. The soldiers were on the road when they saw armed civilians and ordered them to stop, according to the Tamaulipas Coordination Group of federal and state security forces. The civilians "ignored them and began to shoot at the soldiers, who repelled the attack in self-defense", the group said in a statement. The dead suspects are part of a criminal group that operates in the region, the statement said yesterday, without identifying the gang. The Gulf cartel and their rivals, Los Zetas, have fought brutal turf wars in Tamaulipas for years. On Saturday, 11 members of the same family were killed by gunmen in their home in Ciudad Victoria, the state capital. Three people from another family were murdered less than an hour later in another home. The government said the killings in Ciudad Victoria appeared to be related to a dispute between rival gangs. (AFP)

Mexican soldiers kill 5 suspected criminals in gunfight

Aliens may take another 1,500 years to contact us as Earth&#39;s physical attributes are not unique, making it difficult for the extraterrestrials to locate us, a new study has found. 
 
&quot;We haven&#39;t heard from aliens yet, as space is a big place, but that doesn&#39;t mean no one is out there,&quot; said Evan Solomonides, from the Cornell University in the US. 
 
&quot;It&#39;s possible to hear any time at all, but it becomes likely we will have heard around 1,500 years from now,&quot; said Solomonides.&nbsp;&quot;Until then, it is possible that we appear to be alone - even if we are not. But if we stop listening or looking, we may miss the signals. So we should keep looking,&quot; he said. 
 
Astronomers from Cornell University deconstructed the Fermi Paradox and paired it with the Mediocrity Principle into a fresh equation.&nbsp;According to the Fermi Paradox, billions of Earth-like planets exist in our galaxy, yet no aliens have contacted or visited us. Thus the paradox: the cosmos teems with possibility. 
 
The mediocrity principle - proposed by 16th-century mathematician Copernicus - states that the Earth&#39;s physical attributes are not unique, as natural processes are likely common throughout the cosmos, and therefore aliens would not discover us for a while. 
 
Hunting for extraterrestrials means sending out signals like television broadcasts, for example. As Earth&#39;s electronic ambassador, TV and radio signals are sent into space as a byproduct of broadcasting. 
 
These signals have been travelling from Earth for 80 years at the speed of light. 
 
For aliens receiving these transmissions, they would likely be indecipherable, said Solomonides, as the extraterrestrials would need to decode light waves into sounds, then parse 3,000 human languages to grasp the message. 
 
Earth&#39;s broadcast signals have reached every star within about 80 light years from the Sun - about 8,531 stars and 3,555 Earth-like planets, as our Milky Way galaxy alone contains 200 billion stars, researchers said. 
 
Combining the equations for the Fermi Paradox and the mediocrity principle, the researchers suggest that the Earth might hear from an alien civilisation when about half of the Milky Way Galaxy has been signalled in about 1,500 years. 
(PTI)

'We haven't heard from aliens yet, as space is a big place, but that doesn't mean no one is out there'

Aliens may take another 1,500 years to contact us as Earth's physical attributes are not unique, making it difficult for the extraterrestrials to locate us, a new study has found. "We haven't heard from aliens yet, as space is a big place, but that doesn't mean no one is out there," said Evan Solomonides, from the Cornell University in the US. "It's possible to hear any time at all, but it becomes likely we will have heard around 1,500 years from now," said Solomonides. "Until then, it is possible that we appear to be alone - even if we are not. But if we stop listening or looking, we may miss the signals. So we should keep looking," he said. Astronomers from Cornell University deconstructed the Fermi Paradox and paired it with the Mediocrity Principle into a fresh equation. According to the Fermi Paradox, billions of Earth-like planets exist in our galaxy, yet no aliens have contacted or visited us. Thus the paradox: the cosmos teems with possibility. The mediocrity principle - proposed by 16th-century mathematician Copernicus - states that the Earth's physical attributes are not unique, as natural processes are likely common throughout the cosmos, and therefore aliens would not discover us for a while. Hunting for extraterrestrials means sending out signals like television broadcasts, for example. As Earth's electronic ambassador, TV and radio signals are sent into space as a byproduct of broadcasting. These signals have been travelling from Earth for 80 years at the speed of light. For aliens receiving these transmissions, they would likely be indecipherable, said Solomonides, as the extraterrestrials would need to decode light waves into sounds, then parse 3,000 human languages to grasp the message. Earth's broadcast signals have reached every star within about 80 light years from the Sun - about 8,531 stars and 3,555 Earth-like planets, as our Milky Way galaxy alone contains 200 billion stars, researchers said. Combining the equations for the Fermi Paradox and the mediocrity principle, the researchers suggest that the Earth might hear from an alien civilisation when about half of the Milky Way Galaxy has been signalled in about 1,500 years. (PTI)

Aliens may take 1,500 more years to contact Earth: Study

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