Oleksiy Arestovych, a presidential adviser for Ukraine, has submitted his resignation after alleging that Kiev shot down a Russian missile that struck a building in Dnipro and killed 44 people.
Mr. Arestovych expressed regret and admitted to having made a “basic error.” The original comment incited intense resentment throughout the nation, and Russian officials used it as an excuse to accuse Ukraine.
The adviser is well-known due to his regular YouTube updates, which are viewed by millions of people. Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, has yet to respond to Mr. Arestovych’s resignation.
Mr. Arestovych initially stated that it looked that the Russian missile had fallen on the structure after being shot down by Ukrainian air defences hours after Saturday’s missile strike on an apartment building in Dnipro. The structure was allegedly struck by a Russian Kh-22 missile, which Ukraine claimed was exceedingly inaccurate and beyond its ability to shoot down.
When Mr. Arestovych made his original remarks, the Ukrainian public responded strongly, with some claiming he had strengthened the position of Russian propagandists. A petition advocating for Mr. Arestovych’s dismissal as a government official was signed by certain Ukrainian lawmakers. Later, he published a statement announcing his retirement and admitting that he had committed a “fundamental error.”
“I offer my sincere apologies to the victims and their relatives, the residents of Dnipro and everyone who was deeply hurt by my prematurely erroneous version of the reason for the Russian missile striking a residential building,” he wrote in a longer post on Telegram.
One of the war’s most well-known Ukrainian faces is Mr. Arestovych, who regularly holds debates on the conflict on his YouTube channel. His videos frequently receive more than 200,000 views, and the channel has more than 1.6 million subscribers. He speaks in Russian instead of Ukrainian, which is unusual for Ukrainian officials.
Before he offered to leave, Russian authorities had used his words to attribute the strike to Kiev.
Russian attacks “do not damage residential buildings,” according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who also claimed that “certain officials of the Ukrainian side” had come to the same conclusion.
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Every success story is a tale of constant adaption, revision and change – Richard Branson
Success is much more than wealth, influence, or notoriety. Success is just the satisfaction and happiness one feels after adopting a certain lifestyle or engaging in a certain activity. Only with intense effort and a tiny bit of luck can success in any endeavour or area of life be attained. Determination is one of the most essential success ingredients and may even be the most essential success secret. Never giving up until the goal of happiness and contentment in life is fully attained is vital for success. Diverse people find enjoyment and contentment in quite different things.
Dr. Varghese Kurian
Dr. Varghese Kurian the chairman of the VKL Holdings and Al Namal Group of Companies, which employs more than 7000 people. The group’s businesses include real estate, property development and management, construction, health, and hospitality. Since 1990, Dr. Varghese Kurian has been actively involved in real estate development. He has successfully created, managed, marketed, and sold more than 200 commercial and residential structures worth more than BHD 500 million throughout the Kingdom of Bahrain.
The classic Benjamin Franklin quote, “Energy and tenacity conquer all things,” is often used. Dr. Varghese Kurian performed just this when he 2011 saw the expansion of his empire even as Bahrain was in danger of disintegrating.
The Group finished the Best Western Olive, Al Murooj, Lulu Hypermarket in Hidd, and Middle East Hospital projects despite the upheaval brought on by the heightened civil unrest.
The Group was able to complete projects for a significant discount thanks to decreased costs for raw materials, lower subcontractor rates, and a drop in the demand for building supplies. They had more confidence in Bahrain, which allowed them to extend their holdings.
The real estate, property development and management, construction, health, and hospitality sectors of VKL Holdings and the Al Namal Group of Companies are quite well known. VKL Holdings has carved itself a distinct niche in and around the Kingdom of Bahrain by utilising the most cutting-edge methods across all of its multiple divisions.
His journey to greatness began in Bahrain in the 1980s when he arrived as a civil engineer. He worked for a construction firm up until 1992 when he founded the VKL Al-Namal Group, a construction and real estate business. The company initially started out as just another construction firm, but it gradually grew into one of the largest firms, with facilities on-site for electromechanical, HVAC, interiors, aluminium, and wrought iron work, which helped to complete some of the significant projects that proved to be turning points for the business. In Bahrain today, this group has proven to be the greatest in its industry. More than 7000 people are employed by VKL Al-Namal Group, which has expanded beyond just real estate and construction. These activities include trading, oil and gas, trading, marine dredging, and education.
Dr. Varghese Kurian
Dr. Varghese Kurian credits it to a top-notch group of trustworthy, detail-oriented experts who share the organization’s commitment to sustainable growth and who persevere with the highest humility. Dr. Varghese is still amused and appreciative when he considers how he came to diversify his business portfolio.
In addition to being a prosperous businessman, Dr. Varghese Kurian embodies humanity by staying true to his roots even when things are difficult. He is a man of humility who, although having amassed a sizable empire, makes sure to constantly uphold his obligation in striving to benefit society in addition to his economic objectives. As part of the business’s CSR drive, he gave Rs. 8 crores to flood relief programmes in Kerala, of which Rs. 2 crore went to the Chief Ministers’ Relief Fund. In addition, VKL Group did not hesitate to offer assistance to flood victims in Kuttanadu by supplying necessities like food and clothing. In his hometown of Seethathodu, which is close to Pathanamthitta, he rebuilt more than 500 destroyed homes and provided home appliances to more than 6000 homes. His social contribution goes beyond CSR initiatives; it also includes providing medical and financial aid to those in need, funding impoverished people’s weddings, and other charitable tasks that he completes all year long. Additionally, he has donated money to cover Indian expat children’s wedding costs. He also started a philanthropic organisation in his parents’ names to support poor people’s welfare initiatives.
Dr. Varghese Kurian Juffair Rise
Dr. Varghese Kurian is passionate about testing out cutting-edge concepts in the tourism sector. He makes excellent investments without hesitation, and industrialists like him are uncommon. VKL had already invested in the ambitious seaplane project, which unhappily ran into administrative roadblocks and dashed Kurian’s hopes. But still he remains optimistic, nevertheless, about the vast potential that seaplanes can have for the travel and tourism sector. He thinks Kerala’s varied landscape has the opportunity for such a project.
Through his involvement with numerous notable organisations, Kurian has gained recognition throughout the world. He was honoured by the Indian government by receiving the highly coveted Pravasi Bharatiya Samman for 2014. In addition, he has received numerous awards, including the Global Visionary Award. Without a doubt, one might conclude that this individual leaves his trail open for others to follow. On January 16, 2023, he received the coveted MBA Award in recognition of both his contributions to the business world and his CSR activities.
Dr. Varghese Kurian and his wife, Lizhy Varghese, a multifaceted homemaker and the backbone of the family, ensure that their three children – Sija, Jeeban and Vishakh have a knowledge of humanity and its truths.
Dr. Varghese Kurian & Family
Dr. Varghese Kurian states, “From a small beginning as a single construction company, we have achieved our current strong position in the market by travelling a road less taken, providing to you the best the industry has to offer without compromising on quality.”
13th Multibillionaire Business Achiever (MBA) Award was presented to Dr Varghese Kurian, Chairman of VKL Holdings and Al Namal Group.
In a grand ceremony held at the Le Meridian Hotel in Kochi on January 16th the award was presented by Industries Minister Shri P Rajeev. Mr V P Nandakumar, Managing Director and CEO of Manappuram Finance Limited and Dr Ajit Ravi, graced the occasion. The event was attended by past award winners and industry leaders. The winner will have the opportunity to enter the world’s richest club, the Federal International Chamber Forum (FICF). On the occasion, Minister P Rajeev also launched the logo of the Federal International Chamber Forum. The FICF club will be comprised of Malayali businessmen with assets over 1000 crore and a commitment to social responsibility.
Dr Varghese Kurian is the group chairman and managing director of VKL Holdings and Al Namal Group of companies. The group’s businesses include real estate, property development and management, construction, health, and hospitality. Since 1990, he has been actively involved in real estate development. Being a prosperous businessman, he embodies humanity who, although having amassed a sizable empire, he makes sure to constantly uphold his obligation in striving to benefit society in addition to his economic objectives. He has received Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award 2014 by the Government of India.
Shri V P Nandakumar, Shri Joy Alukas, M A Yusuf Ali, Shri T S Kalyanaraman, Shri P. N. C. Menon, Mr Gokulam Gopalan, Dr Ravi Pillai, Mr M P Ramachandran, Kochouseph Chittilappilly, Sabu M Jacob, Dr Viju Jacob and Dr A V Anoop are previous award winners.
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Samruddi V Shetty from Karnataka crowned as Manappuram DQUE Miss Queen of India 2023 along with Debasmita from Rajasthan as first runner-up and Meurel Viegas from Goa as second runner-up. The pageant was conducted on 16th January at Le Meridien, Kochi.
The winner was crowned by former Miss Queen of India Ankita Kharat. Pegasus Chairman, Dr Ajit Ravi and Principal Commissioner Ministry of Finance New Delhi, Sriram Bharat crowned the first and second runner up winners. 15 contestants were selected from around the nation for the Miss Queen of India competition. The contestants also had 1 week of grooming classes led by experts.
Regional Title Winners
Miss Queen North – Shrikirthi Kailash Miss Queen West – Neusy Jain Miss Queen East – Sudakshina Rakshit Miss Queen South – Kiran Gulzar
Subtitle Winners
Miss Congeniality – Sruthi Kandaswamy Miss Ramp Walk – Samruddi V Shetty Miss Fashionista – Mansi Tiwari Miss Talent – Sruthi Kandaswamy Miss Shining Star – Dhanasree C S Miss Promising Model – Kiran Gulzar Miss Tenacious – Sudakshina Rakshit Miss Vivacious – Neusy Jain Miss Solidarity – Shrikirthi Kailash Miss Diligent – Neusy Jain Miss Sensational – Meurel Viegas Miss Inspiring – Debasmita
The competition progressed in three rounds, Royal Blue Indian Ethnic wear, white cocktail and golden gown. The Miss Queen of India 2023 title winner earned a DQUE gift award of Rs. 1,00,000, and the first and second runners-up each received gift prizes of Rs. 60,000 and Rs. 40,000. The pageant organisers, Pegasus event Production Company is the only company in the nation which exempted the bikini round for the competition. The company has made a unique position for itself in the fashion industry. Miss Queen of India is a pathway to countable international pageants including Miss Asia, Miss Asia Global and Miss Glam World.
Shiju A R(Actor and Model), Archana Ravi (Model and Actress), Ankita Kharat (Model) and Dr Asha Biju (Cosmetologist) were on the judging panel. The winners of the subtitles were selected by a panel of eminent persons. The winners of Miss Queen of India were presented with a gold crown designed by Parakkat Jewelers.
Manappuram and DQUE are the main partners of Miss Queen of India 2023 organized by Pegasus. Amrut Veni, Wow Factor, SAJ Earth Resorts and Convention Center, Alcazar, and Hecate Group of Companies are the powered by Partners.
Co-partners are Kalpana International, Aiswaria Advertisements, Vee Kay Vees Caterers, Photogenic Fashion and Weddings, Unique Times, Europe Times, UT TV, UT World, FICF, Green Media, Neenu Pro, Juzt Shine Family Fitness, Parakkat Resorts, Akshay Inco, Good Day Hotels and Resorts, and JD Institute of Fashion Technology.
Akshitha Sathyanarayana from Karnataka, Debasmita from Rajasthan, Debnita Kar from Tamil Nadu, Dhanasree C S from Kerala, Kiran Gulzar from Tamil Nadu, Mansi Tiwari from Madhya Pradesh, Meenakshi Unnikrishnan from Kerala, Meurel Viegas from Goa, Neusy Jain from Maharashtra, Rosika from Tamil Nadu, Samruddi V Shetty from Karnataka, Shatakshi Kiran from Maharashtra, Shrikirthi Kailash from New Delhi, Sruthi Kandaswamy from Tamil Nadu and Sudakshina Rakshit from West Bengal were the contestants.
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Matteo Messina Denaro, the most sought Mafia boss in Italy, was apprehended in Sicily after 30 years on the lam. According to reports, Messina Denaro was detained while undergoing cancer treatment in Palermo, the capital of Sicily.
He was prosecuted and given a life sentence in prison in absentia in 2002 for a number of killings; he is suspected of being a boss of the infamous Cosa Nostra Mafia. His arrest was carried out with the assistance of more than 100 military personnel.
According to Italian media, the Carabinieri apprehended Messina Denaro soon before 10:00 (09:00 GMT) and took him to a hidden location. According to reports, he went to the clinic under a false identity to receive chemotherapy.
A video circulated by Italian media appears to show people standing in the street and applauding the Italian police as Messina Denaro is led away.
Messina Denaro allegedly bragged that his victims could “fill a cemetery.” The formidable Cosa Nostra organised crime syndicate’s mafia boss also handled racketeering, illicit garbage disposal, money-laundering, and drug trafficking.
According to rumours, he was Tot Riina’s protege. Tot Riina was the boss of the Corleone family and was apprehended in 1993 after 23 years on the lam. Clans dubbed Messina Denaro “U Siccu” and “Diabolik,” both of which refer to elusive thieves in comic books (Skinny).
He is regarded as the final “secret-keeper” of the Cosa Nostra. He is thought to be the source of all information and the identities of people connected to numerous of the Mafia’s most notorious crimes, including the bombings that killed magistrates Falcone and Borsellino.
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After a Russian missile struck an apartment building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Saturday, the mayor of that city issued a dire warning that there might be no more survivors.
25 people died in the attack, while another 43 are still missing, according to local officials. Borys Filatov, the mayor of Dnipro, said there was a “limited” prospect of discovering any survivors.
Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasised that military operations were going according to schedule while speaking to state television in Moscow. On Saturday, assaults that Moscow said were directed at Ukraine’s military and energy infrastructure also affected Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Odesa.
The nine-story building’s entryway was struck by the devastating attack in Dnipro, which reduced many levels to smouldering ruins.
The number of casualties, according to Mr. Filatov, is anticipated to be in the dozens. Ten of the about 70 people who needed medical attention were, according to him, “in a bad state.”
Mateusz Morawiecki, the prime minister of Poland, referred to the missile strikes as “inhuman” and said that “Russia deliberately keeps on committing war crimes against civilians.”
In an effort to “push Russian troops back,” UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said that his country will provide Challenger 2 tanks to Kyiv’s military forces on the same day that Russia launched its missile attack.
Moscow’s argument was that giving Ukraine more weaponry will result in increased Russian military activity and civilian losses.
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Influencer Andrew Tate, had many high-end vehicles taken from his Bucharest home.
Last month, Mr. Tate and his brother Tristan were taken into custody as part of a probe into charges of rape and human trafficking, both of which they deny.
According to Reuters, vehicles including a Rolls-Royce, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz were taken from the home on Saturday.
The attorney for Mr. Tate was unavailable to speak right away.
Tuesday saw Mr. Tate’s attempt to have his imprisonment in Romania ended rejected by a court, who ruled that he should remain in custody.
As he entered Bucharest Appeal Court while being restrained by his brother, Mr. Tate was seen clutching what seemed to be a copy of the Quran.
Police reported that six people had been “sexually exploited” by what they called a “organised criminal group” after the arrests on December 29.
The British citizens, who the police claimed misrepresented their desire to date the victims in what they called “the loverboy method,” allegedly “recruited” the victims.
A statement claimed that they were afterwards coerced into performing in pornographic material under the threat of assault.
Eugen Vidineac, the attorney for the Tates, stated that his clients denied all of the charges. Mr. Tate, who was born in the US before relocating to the UK, went on to enjoy a prosperous career as a kickboxer.
He was fired from the British television programme Big Brother in 2016 when a video surfaced that claimed to show him assaulting a woman. After that, he established a “webcam business,” which he characterised as “adult entertainment.”
After being banned from Twitter for claiming that women should “carry responsibility” for being sexually attacked, he went on to become well-known throughout the world. He was later given a second chance.
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After a protracted fight, the Russian military claims to have taken control of the Ukrainian salt-mine town of Soledar, describing it as a “significant” milestone in its offensive. According to an spokeswoman, the win would enable Russian troops to advance to the adjacent city of Bakhmut and cut off the Ukrainian forces there.
Moscow made a statement that was both incredibly confident and ambitious. Officials from Ukraine, however, claimed that the battle for Soledar was still ongoing and blamed Russia for “information noise.”
The battle for Soledar has been one of the bloodiest of the war. The town is relatively small, with a pre-war population of just 10,000, and its strategic significance is debatable. But if it is confirmed that Russian forces have seized control of it, then there will likely be a big sigh of relief in the Kremlin.
Throughout the conflict, differences between the infamous Russian Wagner paramilitary group and the regular Russian forces have appeared, and a bitter turf war has developed about who should claim credit for the advance.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky stated this week that hardly any walls in Soledar are still standing. He spoke of the neighbouring countryside as being scarred by missile attacks and covered in Russian bodies, painting pictures that were nearly post-apocalyptic.
Andriy Yermak, his chief of staff, compared the conflict between Soledar and Bakhmut to one of the bloodiest battles of World War One, at Verdun. As of Thursday, 559 residents, including 15 children, were still residing in Soledar and could not be relocated, according to regional governor Pavlo Kyrylenko.
In his nighttime address late on Thursday, President Volodymyr Zelensky cited Soledar, Bakhmut, and the broader defence of the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine as the most important issues.
According to Western and Ukrainian officials, the notoriously violent Wagner mercenary squad is responsible for a large portion of the combat near Soledar and Bakhmut.
Yevgeny Prigozhin, its 61-year-old leader, has asserted numerous times over the last few days that his soldiers are the only ones present in Soledar. He claimed on Tuesday night that his mercenaries had taken the town, but the next morning, the Russian defence ministry refuted him.
Daily updates from the Russian defence ministry have made no mention whatsoever of Wagner, and Friday’s briefing was no exception. The military said that paratroopers had played a key part in the capture of the town.
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France’s first lady, Brigitte Macron, has stated that she thinks requiring kids to wear uniforms could help address social inequalities among French students. She claimed that by not purchasing branded clothing, students would also save time getting dressed and money.
She made these remarks as the National Assembly of France was debating a law that, if it were to succeed, would require uniforms in public schools. Pap Ndiaye, the minister of education, declared he would oppose the proposal.
Previously, Ms. Macron worked as a teacher in a school in northern France. The bill’s sponsor, French far-right National Rally member Roger Chudeau, wants all public schools to have branded uniforms.
His suggestion is that a uniform may eliminate the social divides between pupils that can be exacerbated by apparel. However, it also asserts that a mandatory uniform might stop the introduction of religious or ethnic dress in classrooms.
In a tweet, Mr. Chudeau thanked Ms. Macron for supporting his school uniforms bill and asserted that France’s secular education system was coming under increasing attack. He added: “Let’s hope MPs will vote in favour of this legislation approved by two-thirds of French people.”
The first lady was criticised by left-leaning MPs for endorsing the “backward-looking proposal” of the extreme right.
The education minister, however, asserted that he disagreed with the idea of legal uniform requirements. Instead, he asserted that individual institutions could decide to impose uniform requirements.
In France, public schools are free and open to all students, whereas private schools charge tuition, are frequently selective, and may impose uniform requirements on their students.
Smocks were typically worn at school until the 1960s in order to protect children’s clothing from ink stains. When ballpoint pens were introduced, they were gradually phased out.
However, schools in the French Caribbean regions of Martinique, Guadeloupe, and French Guiana, as well as a few military high schools, continue to require uniforms.
Ms. Macron has been outspoken about the need to end cyberbullying and online bullying, and one of her videos urging immediate action on the issue will start a meeting of the Unesco in 2021.
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Climate activists who have been occupying an abandoned village in western Germany for months are being dragged away by police in riot gear. To stop the adjoining Garzweiler open coal mine from engulfing Lützerath, protesters shut themselves inside.
As the police started to evacuate the camp, several protesters hurled rocks and fireworks at them. In an effort to make the eviction more challenging, protesters climbed into treehouses.
The final resident of the village, which is owned by the energy company RWE, left over a year ago. As police in riot gear invaded the village early on Wednesday to remove the demonstrators, there were bloody altercations.
They pulled a few protesters through the muddy ground, several of whom had scarves covering their faces. The atmosphere was afterwards characterised as being calmer, but numerous demonstrators persisted.
Others have retreated to treehouses or the village rooftops, while others have created human chains. Lützerath is practically about to be engulfed by the enormous open coal mine that is right outside its door. The mine is run by RWE, who also has expansion ambitions. At the edge of the settlement, a massive mechanical digger stands a few metres from the treeline.
The state of North Rhine-Westphalia, where the mine is located, has promised to advance the phase-out of coal to 2030. The country’s goal is 2038.
Police are currently surrounding Lützerath, and one of them told the media this morning that the area would be cleansed.
However, the demonstrators are still adamant about delaying the eviction and the village’s apparent doom for as long as they can.
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