Latest news with #Rubi
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Time of India
Deposition of 12-year-old eyewitness key as court gives Noida man life term for wife's murder
Noida: A man facing trial for killing his wife in 2018 was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by an additional district and sessions judge, the clinching deposition coming from the victim's nephew, who was 12 years when the crime was committed. The court, however, did not find this to be a case that could be considered 'rarest of rare', the judicial yardstick to decide whether a deaths sentence can be given, and awarded the life term under Section 302 of IPC, besides slapping a fine of Rs 10,000 on the convict. Raju alias Abbas aka Aslam, a resident of Sector 5, was accused of stabbing his wife Rubi with a knife while she was accompanying other family members to her sister's tea stall near Noida Authority's office on Aug 4, 2018. The FIR was based on a complaint filed by Rubi's brother Shahrukh Khan. Shahrukh wasn't an eyewitness. He was told about the incident by his mother Jamila Khatun and nephew Rajan. Rajan (12) was with Rubi. You Can Also Check: Noida AQI | Weather in Noida | Bank Holidays in Noida | Public Holidays in Noida Raju, who was arrested on Aug 9, denied the charges and said Rubi was killed by her previous husband, Rafiq. He also argued he was in Bandra (Mumbai) at the time of the killing. "On hearing about the murder, I returned to Noida on Aug 6 to lodge an FIR against Rafiq, but police arrested me instead," he told the court. The prosecution presented the murder weapon, a kitchen knife, and the shirt worn by the assailant during the incident, which had blood spots, as evidence. Shahrukh informed the court his sister was indeed married to Rafiq in 2011 but had left him and married Raju in 2014. Raju and Rubi, he said, had a three-year-old son. "Raju would often quarrel with my sister, accusing her of continuing her relationship with her previous husband. It was on this issue that he attacked her," he told the court. Rajan's testimony became crucial because only he and Jamila were eyewitnesses in the case and Jamila died before she could testify. That made Rajan the star witness. He told the court he saw Raju attack his 'mausi (aunt)' with a knife, stabbing her in the chest and stomach. He said he tried to catch Rajan but was pushed back by him. "My grandmother (Jamila) fainted. With the help of people on the street, my mausi was taken to hospital," he said. The defence argued that police did not conduct a fingerprint examination on the knife and there were discrepancies in the timekeeping of the murder. "While the complainant has mentioned 2pm as the time of the incident, hospital records show that the body was brought for postmortem at 1.35pm," the defence counsel pointed out. This was, however, rejected by the court on the ground that the complainant was not present on the spot. Citing rulings of various high courts, additional district and sessions judge Sanjay Kumar Singh Pratham said it was not mandatory on the part of the prosecution to conduct a fingerprint examination when the murder weapon was recovered from the accused and an eyewitness was available to testify. The judge ruled that culpable homicide was proved beyond doubt by the prosecution, but the circumstances and the weapon used do not fall in the 'rarest of rare' category, warranting a life term, not capital punishment.
Euronews
13-06-2025
- Business
- Euronews
How the Mashouf sisters are turning CO₂ into textiles
Every year, the global textile industry contributes billions of tonnes of CO₂ to the atmosphere. In response, twin sisters Neeka and Leila Mashouf, 28, have developed an innovative process that transforms carbon emissions into biodegradable fibres, creating a sustainable alternative to traditional manufacturing. Their startup, Rubi, is built around a proprietary enzymatic system that mimics how trees absorb CO₂ and turn it into cellulose – only here, the process happens in a chemical reactor. Their breakthrough has won them a place among the Tomorrow Shapers of the Young Inventors Prize 2025, awarded by the European Patent Office. 'Our invention uses a special sequence of enzymes, which are like nature's chemical engineers, to transform CO₂ into stringy polymers like cellulose, which we use to make fibres, yarns and fabrics,' says Neeka. 'We developed this technology to solve what we saw as the most important global problem.' Unlike conventional carbon conversion technologies that rely on fermentation or thermochemical systems – both of which are energy intensive and costly – Rubi's method is scalable and low-impact. The enzymes operate under ambient conditions and require ten times less energy, enabling CO₂ to be converted into material inputs with minimal environmental strain. These inputs can then be integrated into existing textile supply chains, helping brands lower their carbon footprints without overhauling their infrastructure. The company is already piloting its materials with Walmart, Patagonia, and H&M, demonstrating a market-ready application that could transform not just fashion, but multiple industries reliant on cellulose-derived products. Raised in California's San Francisco Bay Area, the sisters grew up surrounded by nature – and entrepreneurship. Their early exposure to the fashion industry, combined with a deep passion for science, laid the foundation for Rubi. By the age of 15, they were already publishing scientific research and working in university labs. Neeka pursued materials science and business, while Leila earned a medical degree from Harvard, focusing on bioengineering and enzymatic systems. In 2021, they brought their disciplines together to found Rubi, with the mission of making manufacturing compatible with the planet. 'Rubi is creating a new paradigm where manufacturing can thrive while preserving natural resources and advancing climate goals,' Leila explains, adding that, at a basic level the enzymes are 'like a little Pacman'. 'They eat molecules and spit them out into something a little bit different,' she describes. The impact of Rubi doesn't stop with the fashion industry. The potential for CO₂-derived cellulose reaches across sectors – packaging, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food applications, and even building materials – where carbon-intensive methods dominate. By licensing their technology, the Mashouf sisters aim to scale rapidly and empower other manufacturers to shift toward sustainable production. 'We've proven that CO₂ can be a valuable resource rather than a harmful waste product,' says Neeka. 'I'm honoured to work together with my sister as we pioneer the next era of abundance with reinvented manufacturing systems.' In the hands of the Mashouf sisters, carbon is no longer just a challenge, but a raw material for change. In 2022, the world made the groundbreaking commitment to protect at least 30 per cent of all land and sea by 2030. But, as the vital role of oceans in fighting climate change becomes clearer, a pressing question remains - how much of our marine environment still needs safeguarding to reach that goal? According to new research from Dynamic Planet and National Geographic Pristine Seas, far more than governments are currently prepared to commit. For the first time, experts have quantified the vast gap between the roughly 8 per cent of global oceans currently under some kind of protection and the 30 per cent target. To close this gap, they say 85 new coastal marine protected areas (MPAs) would need to be established every day until 2030. The study estimates the world needs around 190,000 small MPAs in coastal areas, plus 300 large MPAs in remote offshore waters to meet the 30x30 target. 'Our analysis, which covers over 13,000 MPAs worldwide, quickly revealed how far behind the world really is,' says Juan Mayorga, a co-author of the study and marine data scientist at National Geographic Pristine Seas. 'The exact number of additional MPAs needed depends on their size and the standards for what counts as truly protected, but the scale of the challenge is undeniable.' Marine Protected Areas, or MPAs, are sections of the ocean where human activity is more strictly managed to protect natural or cultural resources. Similar to national parks on land, they aim to conserve marine ecosystems, biodiversity, and cultural heritage, while sometimes also supporting the sustainable use of marine resources within their bounds. MPAs vary in purpose and level of protection. Some are fully protected, prohibiting fishing, drilling, or other extractive activities, allowing marine life to thrive without human interference. Others may allow limited, sustainable use of resources such as small-scale fishing or tourism under regulation. But the primary goal is to preserve important habitats and fragile ecosystems like coral reefs, seagrass beds, and breeding grounds for fish, turtles, and other species. According to the study's authors, coastal MPAs are especially crucial, as most biodiversity and human activity concentrate near the shore. Reaching the target, they say, will require massive commitments from countries with extensive coastlines and marine territories such as Indonesia, Canada, Russia and the United States. The highest need is in East Asia and the Pacific, where 102 large and 75,000 small MPAs are required. A total of 65 large and 33,000 small MPAs are needed across Europe, South Asia, and the Coral Triangle - a biodiverse region encompassing Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, and others. On paper, it appears that some countries have already met the target, but far more action is needed to ensure these areas are truly protected. Nations like Australia, Chile, France and the UK have already surpassed the 30 per cent protection threshold for their waters. But France and the UK accomplished this with a heavy reliance on creating MPAs in their overseas territories. This raises concerns over effective enforcement and impacts on local communities. Many existing protected areas aren't effective either. In the EU, 80 per cent of MPAs lack proper management and offer minimal protection from damaging human activities. So widespread is the problem that many individual country governments and even the EU itself are facing legal action for allowing damaging fishing practices like bottom trawling in these areas. The creation of protected areas has accelerated as concern over ocean health grows. A slew of commitments have been made at the UN Ocean Conference this week, with many governments using the opportunity to unveil new MPAs on the international stage. Colombia, another country that has already surpassed the 30 per cent target, announced the protection of two of the most remote coral reefs in the Caribbean Sea. Together, the new Serranilla and Bajo Nuevo MPAs encompass 3,800 square kilometres, home to a dazzling array of sealife. The Government of Tanzania announced the designation of two new MPAs in highly biodiverse waters off Pemba Island. The North-East Pemba Conservation Area and the South-East Pemba Conservation Area together span over 1,300 square kilometres and protect vital coral reefs, seagrasses, mangroves, and the habitat of threatened sharks and rays. And President Moetai Brotherson of French Polynesia announced the creation of the world's largest MPA, covering almost 5 million square kilometres. Once implemented, the designation will safeguard 220,000 square kilometres near the Society Islands and 680,000 square kilometres near the Gambier Islands. In addition to these fully protected areas where all activity is prohibited, additional artisanal fishing zones will expand the overall protection to 1,086,000 square kilometres, an area around twice the size of continental France. While these are landmark commitments, experts warn that progress remains far too slow. Most countries have not even outlined how they plan to meet the 30x30 target. 'The pace of implementation of marine protected areas is totally inadequate for what the world needs,' says Enric Sala, co-author of the study and founder of National Geographic Pristine Seas. 'We've had too many conferences full of speeches and good intentions; now we need leadership and real action. Without more effective protection now, the ocean won't be able to continue providing for us, especially for coastal communities in the Global South who are already suffering from overfishing and global warming.'
India Today
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Himachal woman shares how to extract mehndi from stone. Video makes Internet nostalgic
A woman from Himachal Pradesh walked viewers through a traditional way of making mehndi from stone, which brought back memories for several social media users and introduced a lesser-known custom to others.A video, shared by Rubi Thakur on Instagram, has gone viral for its slice-of-life look at a pahadi clip, which has garnered over 7 million views, begins with Rubi asking viewers if they had ever applied mehndi made from She then recalls her childhood days when she and her sisters would prepare the mehndi together. 'Do you know what is there on this stone? It is actually pahadi mehndi,' she says, holding up a stone used for the explains that this kind of mehndi grows on stones in certain areas and was often used during their younger the video, she demonstrates how to extract the mehndi, scraping it from the stone surface, grinding it into a paste, and applying it to her hand with a small the viral video here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rubi Thakur (@thakurraveena982)The video resonated with several users who recognised the tradition. 'We used to use this a lot in our childhood days,' a user said, another user added, 'Yes, we have also applied this.'advertisementOthers came across the practice for the first time. 'Never heard of this,' one of the users said. Another user added, 'I have seen such a thing for the first time.'See the comments here:The video showcases how regional traditions stay alive through personal stories, and how they can feel both familiar and entirely new, depending on who is Reel
Newsweek
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Family Films Surprise for Teen Daughter's Birthday—Goes Horribly Wrong
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A mom who wanted to share the funny reality of parenting a new teenager ended up going viral for her family's unique rendition of the Happy Birthday song. Jodi lives in the United Kingdom with her husband Ben and their children, including daughter Rubi who recently celebrated her 13th birthday. On April 10, Jodi shared a video of Rubi walking into the sitting room on the morning of her birthday, where balloons and a pile of presents were waiting for her, and her family began gently singing "happy birthday to you." But rather than run to her gifts, Rubi instead went to the dresser by the mirror and began doing her hair, with her mom jokingly writing in the caption: "Having a teenager be cares more about their hair than their presents?" The video, posted to Jodi's account @joditurner1706, proved massively popular, racking up more than 3.3 million views—but not for the reason Jodi had expected. As she told Newsweek: "I expected a few people to say something along the lines of 'That's teenagers for ya' or something along those lines. "It wasn't until a good few people started slating our singing that I realized how bad it actually sounded!" Jodi's 13-year-old daughter's birthday morning went viral, but not for the reason the family might have expected. Jodi's 13-year-old daughter's birthday morning went viral, but not for the reason the family might have expected. TikTok @joditurner1706 Because, the family's rendition of a quiet, gentle version of what appears to be the Stevie Wonder version of "Happy Birthday" had commenters in stitches, with thousands commenting on the video. "What's with the haunting, eerie rendition of happy birthday?" one asked, as another joked it "sounds like the batteries are running out on the happy birthday." "Is it her last birthday?" another asked, while one declared it had the "atmosphere of a funeral." One admitted they had "never heard happy birthday sang in minor key before," while yet another put it: "Why are you haunting her?" And as one summed it up: "Is everyone scared of her or what?" Mom Jodi took it all in her stride, admitting "most of the comments made me laugh," and confirmed her now-teenage daughter ended up having a great birthday. Read more Excited golden retriever joins in with happy birthday song at his own pawty Excited golden retriever joins in with happy birthday song at his own pawty "She went shopping and had a [chain restaurant] Nando's with her mates, then came home and had her friends over for a bit," she said. She added: "We sang happy birthday to her—with lots of enthusiasm!—with her cake." The history of the famous Happy Birthday song is an interesting one: according to the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the melody was written by sisters Mildred Hill and Patty Smith Hill, but the lyrics were "good morning to all" which they would sing to their students, first published in 1903 in a song book titled Song Stories of the Kindergarten. In 1924, a modified version appeared in a songbook edited by Robert H Coleman, who changed the lyrics to "happy birthday to you," and it went on to become a worldwide birthday tradition. Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures you want to share? Send them to life@ with some extra details, and they could appear on our website.
