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Andrew Mountbatten Windsor fails to respond to US lawmakers summons on Epstein inquiry: 'Speaks volumes'

Britain's disgraced former prince Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, the brother of King Charles III, has failed to respond to a request from US lawmakers for an interview about his friendship with late disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.Andrew was stripped of his titles and evicted from his royal residence by the king over his relationship with Epstein, on October 30.A letter signed by sixteen Democratic Party members of Congress said, “Well-documented allegations against you, along with your long-standing friendship with Epstein, indicate that you may possess knowledge of his activities relevant to our investigation.”The lawmakers had asked Andrew to participate in a ‘transcribed interview’ with the House of Representatives oversight committee investigating Epstein and respond by November 20.However, Andrew has not yet responded."Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's silence in the face of the Oversight Democrats' demand for testimony speaks volumes," reported AFP, quoting a statement from Robert Garcia and Suhas Subramanyan — the two members of that committee.Garcia and Subramanyan said the committee's work to understand the extent of Epstein's network would "move forward with or without" testimony from the 65-year-old Andrew."We will hold anyone who was involved in these crimes accountable, no matter their wealth, status, or political party. We will get justice for the survivors," they said.In 2019, Andrew famously resigned from royal duties after his interview to BBC Newsnight, in which he denied meeting Virginia Giuffre, US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's main accuser.In 2022, Andrew was sued by Virginia Giuffre, a US and Australian citizen,The tragic April suicide of Giuffre at her home in Australia and the explosive revelations in the posthumous memoir ‘Nobody’s Girl’, opened the floodgates to outrage and finally forced the palace to take significant action.Andrew has always denied the allegations.Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump signed legislation to compel the Department of Justice to release files on the Epstein.In a post on X, Trump said that the measure would help expose the truth about certain Democrats and their associations with Jeffrey Epstein.

Health

Shocking Revelations in Red Fort Blast Case: Search for suicide bomber, Babri Masjid demolition anniversary & more…

The highly sophisticated 'white-collar' terror cell, spearheaded by a group of medical practitioners and recently dismantled by the Jammu and Kashmir Police, had been actively seeking a suicide bomber since last year. The key architect, Dr Umar Nabi, was relentlessly pushing this agenda, according to officials cited by news agency PTI.Interrogation of a co-accused who was subsequently detained indicated that Umar — who is believed to have been killed while driving the explosives-laden car that blew up near the Red Fort on 10 November — was a "hardcore radical" and insisted that a suicide bomber was essential for their operations.Subsequently, the Srinagar Police swiftly dispatched a team to Qazigund in south Kashmir and detained Jasir, alias 'Danish', a graduate with a bachelor's degree in Political Science. The arrest was made based on the questioning of co-accused individuals, including Dr Adeel Rather and Dr Muzammil Ahmad Ganaie.Plan FailedThe entire 'white-collar' terror cell was successfully cracked by the Srinagar Police, led by its SSP, Dr GV Sundeep Chakravarthy.The detained man admitted to having met the 'Doctor cell' in October last year at a mosque in Kulgam. From there, he was taken to a rented accommodation at the Al Falah University in Faridabad, Haryana.The individual further stated that while others in the cell wanted him to act as an over-ground worker for the proscribed Jaish-e-Mohammed, he was intensely radicalised by Umar over several months with the aim of becoming a suicide bomber.The plan, however, failed in April this year after the man withdrew, citing his poor economic circumstances and the religious belief that suicide is forbidden in Islam.This revelation about the suicide bomber plot adds a dangerous new dimension to the investigation into the inter-state terror network linked to the JeM. Powerful Explosion Planning & Babri Masjid DemolitionAs previously reported by PTI, Umar, a 28-year-old doctor from Pulwama, had emerged as the most radicalised and pivotal operative in the network spanning Kashmir, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. Officials believe he was planning a powerful vehicle-borne improvised explosive device explosion timed to coincide with the Babri Masjid demolition anniversary on 6 December.However, officials said, having pieced together the evidence, that Umar’s plans involved placing an IED in a crowded area, either in the National Capital Territory or at some place of religious significance, and then disappearing.Umar's transformation began after a trip to Turkiye in 2021 with co-accused Dr Muzammil Ahmad Ganaie, where they allegedly met JeM over-ground workers, said the PTI report.Following the trip, Umar and Ganaie, who taught at the Al Falah University, began accumulating vast quantities of chemicals from the open market, including 360 kg of ammonium nitrate, potassium nitrate, and sulphur.

Health

Maharashtra shocker! Class 6 girl dies after teacher forces her to do 100 sit-ups for coming late to school

In a shocking incident in Maharashtra's Palghar, a class 6 student of a private school died nearly a week after she was forced to do a 100 sit-ups, authorities said.The girl, identified as Anshika Gaud, was made to do the sit-ups as a punishment for coming late to school. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident following her death.The 13-year-old girl, a student of the school located at Sativali in the Vasai area, died in a Mumbai hospital on Friday night.Members of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) alleged that Anshika and four other girls reached their school, Shree Hanumant Vidya Mandir High School, late on November 18 following which they were made to do 100 sit-ups as punishment.MNS leader from Vasai, Sachin More, claimed that the school punished her despite knowing that she had pre-existing health issues.Minor suffered severe back pain, mother alleges inhuman punishmentThe girl's mother alleged that her daughter died as a result of an "inhuman punishment" given by her teacher. She claimed that her daughter had to perform the sit-ups while having her school bag on her back.Reports further suggest that soon after the punishment, she began experiencing severe back pain in her lower back.Talking to media persons, the deceased girl's mother said her child's health condition deteriorated rapidly after she was subjected to corporal punishment."After the punishment, she experienced severe pain in her neck and back, and could not get up," she said.When she went to the school immediately after receiving the news, she confronted the teacher."I was told that the students were punished for coming late to school. The teacher justified the punishment, saying the parents otherwise accuse them of not teaching the students despite paying fees," she said."I told the teacher that punishing the students does not mean forcing them to perform sit-ups with bags on their back. The teacher gave my daughter inhuman punishment, which led to her death," the mother added.Block Education Officer Pandurang Galange said an inquiry is being conducted into Anshika's death."It is not known how many sit-ups this child had done. One really does not know if she died due to it or otherwise," a teacher from the school said."The probe will reveal the exact cause of her death,” he added.No police complaint has been filed as yet, said officials. MNS and NCP (SP) workers of the area protested against the incident and demanded action against the school.