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Indian Express
an hour ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Former diplomat Navtej Sarna is guest at Explained.Live today
Israel's military offensive on the Gaza Strip has killed at least 60,000 Palestinians since October 7, 2023, when 1200 Israelis were killed and 250 were taken hostage by Hamas militants. The conflict expanded between Israel and Iran, as Israel and the US struck Iranian cities that housed nuclear facilities and military bases. Iran too struck back on Israel's oil refineries, military bases and cities. This has triggered unprecedented turmoil and crisis in the region. As the situation is complex, there are many questions: Has Israel established dominance over Iran? Is there a possibility of a regime change in Iran? Has Israeli PM Netanyahu over-reached? Will President Trump bring peace to the Middle East? What does the Israel-Iran conflict mean for India? What happens to the humanitarian situation in Gaza? To answer these questions and more, join with former Indian Ambassador to Israel, the US and the UK, Navtej Sarna, who has also served in Tehran, at 6 pm on July 30. He will be in conversation with Shubhajit Roy, Diplomatic Editor at The Indian Express. Sarna joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1980 and served as an Indian diplomat for the next 38 years. His diplomatic journey included assignments in places as diverse as Moscow and Warsaw, Thimphu and Tehran. He held several critical appointments — Foreign Office spokesman, India's Ambassador to Israel, High Commissioner to the UK, Secretary to the Government of India and India's Ambassador to the United States — till his retirement from diplomatic service in 2018. Pursuing a parallel passion as a writer, Navtej Sarna has written 10 books that explore different genres — novels, short stories, travel, literary essays and translations. is a unique series of explanatory conversations that The Indian Express hosts from time to time. Sarna has been a speaker at the session in May, 2024.
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Travelling for work today? Avoid these routes in Noida and Greater Noida
The Traffic Police of Gautam Buddha Nagar has issued an advisory ahead of a major farmers' protest scheduled for Wednesday in parts of Noida and Greater Noida, said officials on Tuesday. According to the police, the protest will be organised by the United Farmers' Front. It will include plans for a dharna, demonstration, and a mahapanchayat across multiple high-traffic locations in the district, disrupting the traffic. In anticipation of the large gathering for the protest, traffic movement is expected to be diverted or regulated temporarily in several key areas. These include: 'The traffic police have assured that emergency vehicles will be given safe passage and will not be affected by the diversions. 'Commuters are advised to avoid these areas and make use of alternate routes to minimize inconvenience. For any traffic-related queries or assistance, the public can reach out to the Traffic Helpline at 9971009001,' said officials issuing a helpline number. Talking to The Indian Express, the Youth President of Bharatiya Kisan Parishad, Atul Yadav alleged that the government, despite making several promises to the farmers during the process of land acquisition, has not fulfilled any of them. 'Our demands are still the same,' he said. The farmers are protesting to demand that 10 per cent of the developed land be allocated back to them. In case of residential and commercial land, they are seeking a 64.7 per cent rise in compensation rates to match inflation rates. Noida witnessed a similar protest in December last year, which resulted in 150 farmers being detained after they had blocked the Noida Expressway near Dalit Prerna Sthal. 'The authorities had formed a committee to look into the demands, but nothing had moved from there,' alleged Yadav. The Uttar Pradesh government on December 5 had formed a committee, headed by principal secretary (industries and infrastructure department) Anil Sagar, to look into the protesters' demands related to land compensation and rehabilitation facilities. Neetika Jha is a Correspondent with The Indian Express. She covers crime, health, environment as well as stories of human interest, in Noida, Ghaziabad and western UP. When not on the field she is probably working on another story idea. On weekends, she loves to read fiction over a cup of coffee. The Thursday Murder club, Yellow Face and Before the Coffee Gets Cold were her recent favourites. She loves her garden as much as she loves her job. She is an alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. ... Read More
Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Kharge asks Shah to quit: Clear that intel failure led to terror attack in Pahalgam
Targeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday demanded accountability be fixed for the 'intelligence failure' and 'security lapses' that led to the Pahalgam terror attack. He also questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'silence' on US President Donald Trump's repeated claims that he mediated a ceasefire between India and Pakistan during the military conflict following the Pahalgam attack. Speaking immediately after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh opened the House discussion on Operation Sindoor, Kharge raised questions over the Home Minister's statement in April about the terror infrastructure being crippled in J&K. Kharge asked why did the PM cancel his scheduled trip to J&K three days before the April 22 Pahalgam attack and if the government had intelligence inputs about a terror strike. Pointing to past terror attacks such as Uri (2016), Pathankot (2016) and Pulawama (2019), Kharge said: 'In all these attacks, one thing is clear, there is failure in intelligence and you will have to accept this. I want to ask the Home Minister, who is responsible for this… if you are then you should vacate your seat. If not, then what action is the Prime Minister taking?' he said. Quoting J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha's comments during an interview that the Pahalgam attack was undoubtedly due to a security failure, Kharge said, 'If the LG has accepted this as a security failure, when will accountability get fixed, did he say this to save the Home Minister? Only you can tell us.' He also asked the Government if there was third-party mediation involved in the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, and whether trade was a factor. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed he used trade as leverage to end the military conflict. 'I am seeking answers from the PM. Why has he not condemned it (Trump's claims)? Did the US interfere in this, and on whose bidding? What were the conditions? Did the US President mediate the ceasefire, and were there threats on trade to announce the ceasefire? We never entertain third party mediation, this is our policy,' Kharge said. An award-winning journalist with 14 years of experience, Nikhil Ghanekar is an Assistant Editor with the National Bureau [Government] of The Indian Express in New Delhi. He primarily covers environmental policy matters which involve tracking key decisions and inner workings of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. He also covers the functioning of the National Green Tribunal and writes on the impact of environmental policies on wildlife conservation, forestry issues and climate change. Nikhil joined The Indian Express in 2024. Originally from Mumbai, he has worked in publications such as Tehelka, Hindustan Times, DNA Newspaper, News18 and Indiaspend. In the past 14 years, he has written on a range of subjects such as sports, current affairs, civic issues, city centric environment news, central government policies and politics. ... Read More
Indian Express
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
Vaishnavi Adkar from Pune wins bronze in tennis at World University Games
In a historic breakthrough for Indian tennis, 20-year-old Vaishnavi Nihar Adkar from Pune clinched a bronze medal at the World University Games in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany, becoming the first Indian woman ever to achieve the feat and ending India's 46-year-long medal drought in the sport at the Games. The last medal was won by Nandan Bal in Mexico in 1979. Speaking at a media interaction, Adkar recalled the intensity of the competition, 'I was not expecting it to be that tough, most of them were from US colleges, and even though their rankings weren't very high, the level of play was extremely high.' Adkar, who lost in the semi-final to Eszter Meri of Slovakia, noted that her bronze medal match was her last shot, 'Even though it was a bronze medal match, I didn't feel very anxious or anything. I just went into the match thinking about giving my best and making the most out of the opportunity I had', she told The Indian Express. Despite missing out on a higher finish, Adkar remains grounded and grateful. 'The goal was definitely to win gold, but I'm glad that I could at least win a medal. I'm just trying to process it all,' said an elated Vaishnavi, making her family and coaches proud. Her father Nihar Adkar, who was present at the conference, grew emotional while recounting the medal moment. 'When the live telecast was going on, I couldn't get up from my chair,' he said. 'It was such a proud moment for me that my daughter could achieve something like this. I couldn't believe when one of the commentators said during the broadcast she is the first Indian woman to win the World University Championship in tennis.' Reflecting on her semi-final loss, Adkar explained, 'I started really well in the first set. I was playing very aggressively and got a lot of points. But in the second set, the conditions became slower, the balls had become heavy. The rallies got longer, and it came down to just a couple of points which I couldn't convert.' Veteran tennis player and former medalist Nandan Bal, also present at the press meet, praised Adkar's feat and the significance of her win. 'This is an event that comes with extreme competitiveness. I would name such a tournament as the mini Olympics,' said Bal, who added that Adkar's win is finally giving the tournament the attention it deserves. 'Her historic achievement is not just a personal milestone, but a moment of pride for Indian tennis, especially for a young women athlete who believes in giving her best, regardless of the odds, and all I see is a good future ahead', the veteran noted. Vaishnavi has already set her sights on bigger goals. 'My goal is to come into the top 300 in the next four to five months. And I'm aiming for the Indian team at the Billie Jean King Cup in November,' she told The Indian Express. She also added that she is next headed to Serbia to play a series of ITF (international tennis federation) tournaments in Europe.
Indian Express
6 hours ago
- Health
- Indian Express
Delhi hospitals see spike in dog bite cases. Here's what you show know about rabies
A spike in dog bite cases across Delhi, with children and elderly largely at the receiving end, has sparked massive concern. With three big hospitals in the Capital — Safdarjung Hospital, Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital and Hindu Rao Hospital — witnessing a surge in the cases of dog bites over the last few years, experts have cautioned that medical attention is necessary within 24 hours of the bite. On Monday, the Supreme Court took suo motu cognizance of a news report about infants in Delhi falling prey to the menace. Hundreds of dog bites in the Capital and nearby areas are leading to rabies, and ultimately, children and the elderly are falling prey to the dreadful disease, the apex court noted. The bench directed that the matter, along with the news report, be placed before Chief Justice of India B R Gavai for appropriate orders. Children — especially those under 10 years of age — are at a higher risk for severe or fatal outcomes following a dog bite, experts opine. The seriousness of a dog bite depends on factors such as wound depth, extent of damage to tissues, the location, and the dog's vaccination status. Even minor-looking bites should be carefully monitored, as per the experts. Immediate washing, cleaning, and medical treatment of the wound are crucial to prevent infection. Data accessed by The Indian Express shows that Centre-run Safdarjung Hospital has seen a massive surge in dog bite cases this year when compared to the figures in 2021. While 63,361 cases were reported in the entire year in 2021, the hospital has already registered 91,009 cases till July this year. At RML hospital, while 39,216 cases were registered between Apri 2022 and March 2023, the number increased to 45,432 between April 2022 and March 2025 — a 13% increase. At MCD-run Bara Hindu Rao Hospital, 4,861 dog bite cases have been reported till July 28 this year, 40% higher than 3,468 cases reported between January and July last year. 'For treatment we provide Anti-Rabies serum, which provides passive immunity against rabies in post-exposure prophylaxis of individuals exposed to the disease or virus which we have in stock in adequate numbers,' a senior official at the hospital says. Dog bites are dangerous due to the bacteria harboured in the animal's mouth, which can cause serious infection, including staphylococcus, pasteurella, and capnocytophaga, once the skin is broken, according to Dr Suranjit Chaterjee, Senior Consultant, Internal Medicine, at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital. The bite itself may damage the skin, muscles, tendons, nerves, or even bones, especially in severe cases, which can result in scarring, disability, or even death, he underlines. 'Complications from infection, such as sepsis, can be life-threatening if left untreated. Another critical risk is rabies, a fatal viral disease that can be transmitted through dog saliva,' he adds. This is a frequently asked question when it comes to dog bites. Survival from a rabies infection is extremely rare, according to doctors. Once symptoms appear, rabies is considered one of the deadliest infections known, with a nearly 100% fatality rate. 'The standard clinical teaching in medicine has long been that symptomatic rabies leads to an inevitable death, even as there have been a few exceptional cases where intensive support resulted in survival, sometimes with lasting neurological damage. Prompt preventive measures after exposure are therefore critical,' says Dr Chaterjee. Only a handful of human survivors have ever been documented worldwide, often due to either extremely aggressive critical care or infection by a weakened strain of the virus. Generally, if post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) — a series of rabies vaccines begun before the onset of symptoms — is not received, the outcome is fatal. Seeking medical care within 24 hours for any animal bite that breaks the skin is vital to reduce the risk of bacterial infection, tetanus, or contracting fatal diseases like rabies, according to experts. Even apparently minor bites can drive bacteria deep into tissue, leading to infection that may develop rapidly, with symptoms such as redness, swelling, discharge, or fever, caution experts. 'Timely assessment allows healthcare providers to clean the wound thoroughly, evaluate the need for antibiotics, update tetanus vaccination, and, if the animal's rabies status is uncertain, start post-exposure prophylaxis,' Dr Chatterjee explains, adding 'Delay increases the risk of complications and makes effective treatment more difficult. Deep or contaminated wounds, bites near joints or vital structures, and bites by unknown or wild animals require even more urgent attention due to their high risk for serious infection or permanent tissue damage.' Rabies is a viral disease that can infect any mammal, not just dogs. While dogs account for the majority of human rabies cases — especially in developing countries — many other animals are possible carriers. These include cats, cattle, horses, goats, ferrets, bats, raccoons, skunks, foxes, coyotes, and monkeys. Wild mammals are significant transmission sources, especially bats and certain wild carnivores like raccoons and foxes. Domestic pets can contract rabies from wild animals and transmit it to humans. Birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish cannot contract or spread rabies. Due to the risk, all animal bites from mammals should be taken seriously, and the animal's vaccination and health status should be verified.
