UNGA President Honours India's Hansa Mehta on International Day for Women in Diplomacy
On the occasion of the International Day for Women in Diplomacy, United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) President Dennis Francis paid tribute to Hansa Mehta, a feminist leader, activist and diplomat from India, highlighting her pivotal role in shaping the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) to be more inclusive.
Mehta is widely credited for successfully arguing against references to "men" as a synonym for humanity, and succeeded in changing the phrase, "All men are born free and equal" to "All human beings are born free and equal" in Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Hansa Mehta, a prominent Indian scholar, educator, social reformer and writer born on July 3, 1897, was a champion of women's rights.
Jun 22, 2024
Seasoned Diplomat and India's Envoy to Turkey Virander Paul Dies
India's ambassador to Turkey Virander Paul, known for his impactful professional contribution, died in Delhi.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar described Paul's demise as a "great loss" to the Indian Foreign Service (IFS).
Paul was a 1991-batch IFS officer.
Before arriving in Ankara as ambassador of India to Turkey in the second half of 2022, he was India's High Commissioner to Kenya and Ambassador to Somalia.
Prior to that, he served as additional secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, dealing with multilateral engagement in India's neighbourhood.
In his illustrious career, Paul also served as deputy high commissioner of India in London (2013-2016), Minister (Press) at the Indian Embassy in Washington (2010-2013), Director in the Prime Minister's Office during 2007-2010, and Counsellor (Political) at the Indian Embassy in Moscow from 2003-2007.
'Hunger Games' Actor Donald Sutherland Dies
Donald Sutherland, one of Canada's most versatile and gifted actors, who charmed and enthralled audiences in films such as "M*A*S*H," "Klute," "Ordinary People" and the "Hunger Games" died at the age of 88.
His career spanned from the 1960s into the 2020s.
One of the biggest stars in Hollywood in the 1970s, he remained in demand for film and TV projects into his 80s. Known for his unconventional looks and his versatility as an actor, Sutherland played a wide range of memorable characters.
Jun 21, 2024
Ayushmann Khurrana Returns as Brand Ambassador of Nexus Select Malls
Nexus Select Trust, India's first listed Retail REIT, operating 17 malls across the country, announced the return of Bollywood star Ayushmann Khurrana as its brand ambassador. This collaboration marks a new chapter in the journey of Nexus Select Malls, aiming to redefine shopping and lifestyle experiences for millions across the country.
Jun 19, 2024
Virat Kohli Reclaims India's most Valued Celebrity Title
Cricketer Virat Kohli reclaimed his position as India's most valued celebrity, boasting a brand value of USD 227.9 million. This marks a significant increase of nearly 29% from USD 176.9 million in 2022, although it still falls short of his peak value of USD 237.7 million in 2020. Kohli's resurgence surpassed actor Ranveer Singh, who slipped to the second spot with a brand value of USD 203.1 million, according to a report titled Kroll's Celebrity Brand Valuation Report 2023.
Jun 17, 2024
Former Odisha Governor Murlidhar Chandrakant Bhandare Passes Away
Former Odisha Governor Murlidhar Chandrakant Bhandare passed away at the age of 95. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and former CM Naveen Patnaik expressed their deep sorrow over the demise of the veteran politician.
Bhandare was a senior Congress leader from Maharashtra and a former Rajya Sabha member for three terms. He also practised as a Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court and served as Governor of Odisha from August 2007 to March 2013.