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United Nations, June 16 (IANS) With staggering levels of violence in Haiti exacerbating hunger and malnutrition, the Unicef said that nearly 3 million children, the highest on record, need humanitarian support.

In its latest update, the Unicef said children face staggering levels of violence that have exacerbated hunger and malnutrition in a country already mired in poverty and a resurgence of cholera.

Children find themselves in the crossfire, or directly targeted, as armed groups terrorise the population in their fight for territory and control, mainly in the capital, Port-au-Prince, and increasingly in the neighbouring Artibonite region.

Children are being killed or injured on their way to school. Women and girls face extreme sexual violence. Kidnappings for ransom -- including of students, teachers, and health workers -- have skyrocketed, as have attacks on schools, the statement said.

Tens of thousands have been displaced by the violence.

At the same time, hunger and life-threatening malnutrition are at record levels across the country, concentrated in the capital's poorest, most insecure and congested neighbourhoods, where some families are virtually entrapped and cut off from essential services, according to the Unicef.

The number of children suffering from life-threatening malnutrition shot up by 30 percent since last year, and nearly one in four children across the country suffers from chronic malnutrition.

"Being a child in Haiti today is harsher and more dangerous than it ever has been in living memory," said Unicef Haiti representative Bruno Maes.

"The threats and hardships children face are simply unimaginable. They desperately need protection and support."

The statement further said that in addition to the violence, hunger and disease such as cholera, Haiti faces the constant threat of violent storms and earthquakes.

Earlier this month, heavy rains caused destructive and deadly flooding. Days later the deluge was followed by an earthquake centered in Grand Anse, a region still scarred by a 2021 earthquake.

Despite limited funding, the agency said it is scaling up its operations and expanding its presence in the field.

However, Haiti's $246 million unding requirement is less than 15 per cent funded this year.

--IANS
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New Delhi, June 4 (IANS) The autopsy report of the 16-year-old Sakshi, who was stabbed 34 times, kicked multiple times, and struck with a cemented stone six times by Mohammad Sahil Khan here in the Shahbad Dairy area on May 28, revealed that her skull was broken into pieces and due to multiple stabbing by knife, her intestines also came out of the body, a source said on Sunday.

According to sources, there were 16 deep wounds in Sakshi's body, with excessive bleeding leading to her death.

"A total of 11 wounds were detected on her vital organs and that caused her death. Her left lung was punctured due to stabbing and her intestines were protruding from the body. There was a deep wound below the abdomen," claimed sources.

In the bone-chilling CCTV footage which captured the crime, Sahil, who is wearing a blue t-shirt, can be seen stabbing the girl. Around seven to eight bystanders were also present when he stabbed her.

A man wearing a dark red-coloured shirt attempts to intervene, but Sahil pushes him away.

In the video, Sahil continues to stab the girl while also issuing threats to the bystanders, causing them to disperse.

After stabbing her, Sahil proceeds to kick the girl multiple times and then strikes her with a boulder five times.

He then briefly leaves the scene but returns shortly. He strikes the girl with the boulder once again, kicks her multiple times, and then finally departs.

--IANS
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New Delhi, June 4 (IANS) Indian Railways on Sunday said that indigenously-developed automatic train protection system "Kavach," which was not installed on the route where the accident in Odisha's Balasore occurred on Friday evening, could not have prevented it.

In the tragic train accident, two passenger trains and a goods train collided, resulting in loss of at least 275 lives and leaving approximately 1,000 injured.

In response to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's query about the absence of Kavach, Railway Board's Member, Operations and Business Development Jaya Varma Sinha, reiterated Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw's statement that the crash was unrelated to Kavach.

According to her, Kavach would not have prevented such an accident as there are certain incidents that no technology in the world can avert, citing the example of boulders suddenly falling in front of vehicles to illustrate her point.

Sinha said that the system is designed to detect instances where a locomotive pilot jumps a signal, known as Signal Passed at Danger (SPAD), which is one of the primary causes of train collisions. When the system identifies another train on the same track within a predetermined distance, it promptly alerts the locomotive pilot, takes control of the brakes, and automatically brings the train to a halt.

"Currently, restoration work is in progress at the incident site, and it is anticipated that two railway lines will be operational by 8 p.m. today. However, trains are expected to operate at reduced speeds initially. An inquiry is underway, with investigations being conducted from various perspectives. While the initial assessment suggests that the issue could be related to signalling, no conclusive authentication can be provided at this time," Sinha added.

--IANS
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Thiruvananthapuram, June 4 (IANS) The Artificial Intelligence (AI) cameras installed by the Kerala government in association with KELTRON will commence functioning from Monday onwards.

The traffic violators will be fined heavily from June 5 onwards.

While the state Motor Vehicle Department has installed the cameras in association with KELTRON sometime ago, it will start full-fledged functioning from Monday.

The fine will be collected using the Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS) of the Central Road Transport Ministry.

Meanwhile, the Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari said that there would not be any exception to two-wheeler drivers with children. It may be recalled that the Kerala government has announced that two-wheeler riders with children below 12 years will not be fined.

--IANS
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By Ganesh Bhatt
New Delhi, June 4 (IANS) Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi are developing thermoelectric materials that can efficiently convert heat into electricity.


In recent times, solar power has received a lot of attention, but other alternative sources are equally promising, even if less known.

Ajay Soni, Associate Professor, IIT Mandi, is studying materials that can convert heat into electricity. This is completely different from solar energy.

The process does not require very large equipment or huge and extremely hot objects like the Sun.

Soni said that many electronic gadgets can be charged only by human body heat.

The IIT said that industrial and energy generation processes often produce a huge amount of waste heat that gets absorbed in the atmosphere. A group of scientists in India are working on new materials that can utilise the waste heat generated from these processes and facilitate its usage.

A team of researchers have found several new smart materials which can efficiently convert waste heat to electricity and power small home appliances and automobiles.

Materials that can convert waste heat to electrical energy are called thermoelectric materials. Electrical voltage is generated by keeping one end of the material heated and the other end cold, which creates a temperature gradient.

According to Soni, he has developed a prototype module which can absorb heat from the human body and convert it into electricity. Through this technology, mobile phones can be charged simply by holding them in the palm or keeping them in the pocket.

Similarly, a laptop can be charged by simply placing it on the lap, without any charger, socket or switch.

Soni said that the heat emitted out of the human body is sufficient to charge these devices. All these devices will have a small module set. The module fitted inside the device will charge the device by converting body heat into energy.

According to the research, not only mobiles and laptops but many other devices like wristwatches, and earphones can be charged with human heat.

Soni also said that during his research, he found that the module developed by his team can efficiently convert the heat emanating from various devices other than the human body into electricity.

When the bonnet of a car heats up, energy can be created from it.

Soni said that there are many such big equipment that radiate heat and this heat can be converted into electricity. Till now, it is wasted as heat, becoming a major cause of global warming.

--IANS
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Lucknow, June 4 (IANS) The Lucknow Police have launched a scheme called 'Har Ghar Camera' (CCTV in every home) to bolster security in the state capital.

Under it, police officials will visit every area and appeal to the people to install at least one CCTV camera outside every home so that the entire area gets covered.

Cops will also engage corporators and prominent citizens from every ward.

The idea is that CCTV cameras should be installed in all the small passages, alleys, and roads. Prominent business persons, traders, and shopkeepers have also been asked to install CCTV cameras outside their establishments.

Senior police officials said officers of the rank of assistant commissioner of police have been directed to ensure that the maximum area of their jurisdiction gets covered by CCTV cameras.

ACP, Gomti Nagar, Swati Chaudhary said that CCTVs must be installed by all as they not only serve as a deterrent but help in tracing criminals, along with preparing a database of patterns of crime taking place.

"Cops can be deployed based on the crime taking place at a particular place. Those who install cameras will be rewarded by the senior police officer," said Chaudhary.

She added that the feed from CCTVs, which will be installed at prominent crossings, places of public gathering and important routes, will be linked with the police stations of the area concerned.

A restaurant in Mahanagar recently installed four CCTV cameras and received a letter of appreciation by the joint commissioner of police, law and order.

--IANS
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Thiruvananthapuram, June 4 (IANS) A Keralite nurse working in Abu Dhabi has won the Big Ticket draw of Abu Dhabi of 20 million UAE dirhams (around Rs 45 crore).

Lovelmol Achama won the Big Ticket draw on Saturday. She has been working in Abu Dhabi for the past 21 years with her family.

She said that her husband used to take Big Tickets from Abu Dhabi International Airport every month.

The Malayali nurse said that she would share a portion of the prize money with her family and the balance will be divided between charity and education of her children.

Four other Keralites have also won other draws held on Saturday. Abu Dhabi, the capital of UAE, is home to a huge expat Keralite population for the past five decades.

—IANS
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New Delhi, June 4 (IANS) The Congress on Sunday launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led Centre over the triple train accident in Odisha's Balasore, accusing it of only flagging off newly whitewashed trains instead of focusing on the rail safety, and also sought "accountability from top to bottom".

The Congress also highlighted several reports of lapses on the part of railways including the failure to fill some crucial posts.

In a series of tweets, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge led the attack on the government and said, "Questions to the Modi government on perhaps the most painful train accident of Independent India -- Advertising PR gimmicks have made the working system of the Modi government hollow."

Firing salvos at the government, Kharge cited several reports that said, "Three lakh posts are vacant in Railways, the posts of big officers are also vacant which the PMO fills, why were they not filled in nine years?

"The Railway Board itself has recently admitted that long working hours of loco pilots due to acute shortage of manpower is the main reason for the increasing number of accidents. Then why were the posts not filled? The Principal Chief Operating Manager of South Western Railway Zone urged and warned to repair the signalling system on February 8, 2023, citing a tragedy in Mysore in which two trains were saved from collision. Why didn't the Ministry of Railways implement it?"

The Congress president also said that the Parliamentary Standing Committee in its 323rd report criticized the Railways for the "disregard" shown by the Railway Board towards the recommendations of the Commission of Railway Safety (CRS).

"It was said that CRS investigates only 8-10 per cent of accidents, why was it not strengthened?" he asked.

Citing the Comptroller Auditor General (CAG) report, Kharge said that in the latest CAG audit report, between 2017-18 and 2020-21, almost seven out of 10 train accidents happened due to train derailment.

"In 2017-21, there was zero testing of rails and welds (Track Maintenance) for safety in East Coast Railway. Why was it sidelined?" Kharge asked.

He also said that as per CAG why 79 per cent funding work was done in Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh (RRSK), while Rs 20,000 crore was to be made available every year.

"Why has there been a huge decline in the amount of track renewal works?" the Congress leader said, adding that the train collision avoidance system developed by India's Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) in 2011 was renamed by the Modi government as "Kavach" and was demonstrated by the Railway Minister himself in March 2022.

"Still why kavach on only 4 per cent routes till now? You are busy flagging off the whitewashed trains every day but do not pay any attention to rail safety.

"Accountability of the posts from top to bottom has to be fixed so that such accidents can be prevented from happening in future. Only then the victims of this accident will get justice," Kharge said.

His remarks came two days after a massive train accident involving two express -- Coromandel Express and SMVP-Howrah Superfast Express -- and a stationary goods train in Odisha's Bahanaga railway station on Friday evening. At least 21 coaches of the two trains derailed that led to death of 288 people and leaving 1,000 injured.

--IANS
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Kolkata, June 2 (IANS) The All India Forward Bloc (AIFB) on Friday termed the teaser of the bio-picture on V.D. Savarkar released by actor Randeep Hooda an attempt to distort history and to satiate the interests of the Sangh Parivar.

According to AIFB General Secretary, G. Devarajan, in the teaser, Hooda claimed that Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Bhagat Singh, and Khudiram Bose were "inspired" by Savarkar.

"There is absolutely no similarity between Netaji and Savarkar in terms of ideology, outlook and methods of action. Netaji was first and last a true Indian. He was secular, democrat, and socialist. Savarkar's ideology was diametrically opposite to that of Netaji. Netaji never compromised with the British. But Savarkar wrote several mercy petitions and was ready to serve for the British," Devarajan contended.

"If anyone says that Savarkar inspired Netaji, it is untrue and contrary to historical facts. Bhagat Singh was a revolutionary, leftist, and secular young leader. He was a young man with an insatiable hatred towards the British. He never compromised his principles. He never felt guilty about his actions against the British. Therefore, without begging for mercy, he walked to the gallows smiling and shouting slogans. So, to say that Bhagat Singh was inspired by Savarkar who reconciled and apologised to the British is tantamount to negating the history and dishonoring Bhagat Singh's great martyrdom," Devarajan has claimed.

Claiming that a section of film makers are facilitating the cunning efforts of the Sangh Parivar by making propaganda films, Devarajan claimed that the teaser of Hooda's film on Savarkar indicates that the said bio picture belongs to such a category.

"The All India Forward Bloc, the party founded by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose urges the makers of the film on Savarkar to withdraw all comments and narrations about the comparison between revolutionary heroes and V.D. Savarkar. The party earnestly appeals to the people to reject such films which distort history and dishonour the revolutionary national heroes who sacrificed everything for the emancipation of our motherland," he added.

--IANS
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New Delhi, June 2 (IANS) Questions are being raised as to why Delhi Police have not yet arrested BJP MP and Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh after two FIRs were registered against him on April 21, levelling serious allegations, including violations under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

According to the police, one of the two FIRs lodged against Singh on April 21 on the basis of the statements of seven grapplers has been registered under IPC Sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (sexual harassment), and 354D (stalking), while the other has been registered under Section 10 of the POCSO Act.

For charges under Section 354A of the IPC, the punishment is up to one year or fine, while under Section 354D, the punishment is up to five years and fine. In case of Section 10 of the POCSO Act, the punishment is maximum seven years.

As per experts, if an accused has joined the investigation, arrest is not mandatory and the decision to arrest lies with the police.

While the demand for Singh's arrest persists due to three non-bailable and "serious" offences, legal provisions and Supreme Court rulings provide more clarity on the matter.

As per Section 41A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and various judgments by the apex court, the arrest of an accused is not obligatory if the maximum punishment prescribed for the offence is less than seven years.

Supreme Court lawyer Vineet Jindal said that the decision to make an arrest lies solely with the police authorities. However, in cases involving serious offences, it is generally considered the norm to make an arrest.

"Notably, offences under the POCSO Act are classified as non-bailable. Therefore, if there is a legitimate investigative requirement, the likelihood of an arrest occurring as a consequential action is high," said Jindal.

Another Supreme Court lawyer, Rudra Vikram Singh, said that the delay in arresting Singh might be due to the primary investigation in the matter.

"Also, since the offences under POCSO Act and other acts allegedly committed entail a sentence of up to seven years, in these circumstances, the investigating officer might follow the compliance of provisions of Section 41 and Section 41-A of the CrPC as provided by the Supreme Court in the Amresh Kumar vs State of Bihar case. If Singh does not cooperate with the Investigating Officer (IO), the police can arrest him," Singh said.

Last month, Singh's statement was recorded and a Special Investigation Tema (SIT) was also formed.

"On the complaint of the wrestlers, the statement of WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh was recorded and some documents were demanded. Brij Bhushan denied the allegations levelled against him. An SIT was formed with 10 police personnel, including four women officers. A 10-member team was also formed under the supervision of a woman DCP," the Delhi Police had said.

--IANS
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