Avdiivka - Symbol Of Ukrainian Resistance Now In Control Of Russian Troops

Ukraine's withdrawal from the city of Avdiivka hands Vladimir Putin a major symbolic victory before Russia's presidential election in March and exposes Kyiv's critical shortages of weapons and soldiers.

- Symbol of Ukrainian resistance -

Avdiivka, a small industrial city in the eastern Donbas region, has been a symbol of Ukrainian resistance to Russian aggression since 2014.

It is close to the city of Donetsk, which pro-Russian separatists control as their capital and whose Moscow-backed fighters briefly took power in July 2014 before Ukrainian forces regained control.

The city is now mostly destroyed and abandoned, with the vast majority of its pre-war population of around 34,000 having fled.

Avdiivka "has been a symbol of Ukraine's battlefield resolve and Russia's military failures", said analyst Ivan Klyszcz of the Estonia-based International Centre for Defence and Security.

But it is "strategically insignificant", added Gustav Gressel, a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations.

"It would have been a good foot in the door for a Ukrainian offensive" on Donetsk city, but Ukraine cannot conduct such an offensive for at least two years and it made "no sense to sacrifice soldiers now", he said.

For Vladimir Putin, whose re-election as Russian president in March is all but assured with the opposition muzzled or exiled, Avdiivka is a "significant victory", according to the US-based Institute for the Study of War.

- Unfavourable odds for Ukraine -

A spokesman for one of Ukraine's top military units said the months-long battle for Avdiivka was even tougher than the bloody fighting in Bakhmut, another industrial eastern city which Russian paramilitary group Wagner claimed to have captured in May 2023.

Oleksandr Borodin of Ukraine's third assault brigade pointed to Russia's massive deployment of heavy equipment and air power, with intense bombardment raining down on Ukrainian positions in recent days.

Russia carried out tank attacks with infantry using "a large number" of armoured personnel carriers, Soviet-era combat vehicles, planes and drones, whereas Wagner mostly sent men into the Bakhmut front line, he said before Ukraine's withdrawal.

Although Avdiivka's defences had been strengthened since 2014 and inflicted heavy losses since October, Russian forces managed to "infiltrate into the city itself" in mid-January, said Gressel.

In the past two weeks, Ukrainian communication lines were cut or endangered, while some areas faced attacks from all sides, he added.

The delivery of Western F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine "take much too long" and Kyiv's forces were running short of air-to-air missiles and artillery ammunition, undermining the defence of Avdiivka, Gressel said.

- Retreat to hold out -

Pulling out of Avdiivka was the right decision to avoid being surrounded and save as many lives as possible, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told the Munich Security Conference on Saturday.

"This does not mean that people retreated some kilometres and Russia captured something, it did not capture anything," he added.

The retreat is unsurprising because Russia had nearly surrounded Avdiivka and the destruction of units would have been "catastrophic" for Ukraine, said Mark Cancian, a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

"The corridor leading out of the city is narrow and under fire. The retreat will not be easy," he warned.

Ukrainian forces have been ordered to set up new defensive lines to the west and southwest of Avdiivka and the battle is far from over.

It remains to be seen whether Ukraine can defend the new line and if Russia has enough reserves to continue the offensive and make another breakthrough, said Philippe Gros of the Foundation for Strategic Research in Paris.

According to a European military source, Ukraine is going on the defensive to hold out in the long term, fend off local Russian attacks and avoid squandering its capacities while waiting for fresh Western aid, especially from the United States.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Switzerland Is Best Country To Build Multi-Generational Wealth

Switzerland is the world's best nation to build multi-generational wealth. As per a new index by citizenship advisory firm Henley & Partners, Switzerland has 85 per cent of the total opportunity score.

The index evaluated the nations on six different parameters including earning potential, career advancement, employment opportunities, premium education, economic mobility, and livability.

With 100 points of earning potential, 95 points of career advancement, and 94 points of employment prospects, Switzerland has occupied the top spot on the index.

On high livability and economic mobility, Switzerland scored 75 points, while it scored 72 on premium education.

Switzerland is followed by the United States of America which scored 82 per cent on the total opportunity score. The US stands equivalent to Switzerland on employment prospects—94 points.

However, it dwindled to 93 points on earning potential, 86 points on career advancement, and 68 points on high livability.

The employment prospects and premium education in the USA stand at 74 points.

India, meanwhile, scored 32 per cent on the opportunity score, which is even lower than Greece and occupies the last spot among the top 15 nations on the list.

India has one of the lowest scores on economic mobility, which is just 8 points. Among its other parameters, India has the highest career advancement with 43 points.

Despite scoring a similar earning potential that of Switzerland (100 points), Singapore occupied third place on the Index as it got a 79 per cent total opportunity score.

After scoring 97 points, Singapore has garnered the highest employment prospect score on the list, which includes 15 nations.

Singapore has the least career advancement among the top 5 nations on the index. Apart from 66 points in career advancement, the nation has scored 55 points in premium education, 65 points in high livability and 92 in economic mobility.

Australia was at the fourth place with a 75 per cent total opportunity score.

The island nation has amassed 66 points on earning potential, 79 on career advancement, 84 on employment prospects, 73 on premium education and 74 both on economic mobility and high livability.

The top 5 places ended with Canada standing in fifth position after it received a 74 per cent total opportunity score. Canada's employment prospects stood similar to that of Australia's

The North American nation amassed 67 points on earning potential, 79 on career advancement, 71 on premium education, 73 on economic mobility and 72 on high livability.

With 49 per cent on the total opportunity score, Greece stands last in the index of 15 nations.

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NDTV Sports-Cricket

Ahead of the monumental second season of the WPL, which tees off in Bengaluru, the Adani Sportsline owned Gujarat Giants began their preparations, by unveiling their jersey for the tournament. The Gujarat Giants' Head Coach Michael Klinger and Mentor Mithali Raj were present at the ceremony as they presented the new jersey to the squad ahead of their training in the evening. The Giants, will be captained by Australian run-machine Beth Mooney, with Indian all-rounder Sneh Rana as the vice-captain. In preparation for this season's WPL, the team in orange kick started their training with great gusto in the Garden City of Bengaluru, and are putting in the hard yards as they approach their first game. The Gujarat Giants will open its campaign at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru against Mumbai Indians on 25 February. 

While Michael Klinger is the Head Coach and Mithali Raj is the Mentor and Advisor, one of India's most renowned spinners Nooshin Al Khadeer is the Bowling Coach for the team this season. 

Speaking on the sidelines of the ceremony, Head Coach Michael Klinger said, “This is a new season in the WPL and we are really excited about it. But we must work very hard to be able to put in a good show for our fans. We have a few plans for our players, and the roles for everyone are also well defined, and we hope the players are the best version of themselves every day. There is a lot to look forward to here, and the team is gung-ho about the upcoming season, and we are quietly confident about doing well once things kick off.” 

“The WPL is a great platform for women's cricket, and the Adani Sportsline team have been tremendous in terms of supporting the team with whatever is needed as we build up to our opening game. We have a well-balanced squad with a lot of youth and plenty of experience in the senior players, and together, we are always looking to put our best foot forward. This is an important season for the Gujarat Giants, and I want all our players to give it their very best, in every training session and in every game of course, and ask all the questions they need to, because that's the best way to make sure the preparation is on-point,” said Mithali Raj, Mentor and Advisor, Gujarat Giants.

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Boss Of Indian-Origin Staffer Behind Child Abuse Site Jailed In UK

A British mechanic who created and moderated sites dedicated to child sexual abuse on the dark web with the help of an Indian-origin staffer has been jailed for 16 years by Chester Crown Court in north-west England.

Nathan Bake, 28, sentenced on Wednesday, is one of three UK-based moderators of a site called ‘The Annex' who were identified by the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) as part of an investigation targeting those behind the site.

His staffer, 33-year-old London-based psychiatrist Kabir Garg, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment by a UK court last year. He was also a moderator of the site and sat just below Bake in its hierarchy.

“Bake was one of a select number of individuals that played a vital role in ensuring The Annex continued to run and was able to facilitate child sexual abuse on a global scale,” said Daniel Waywell, NCA's Senior Investigating Officer.

“He started as a user himself, but worked his way up the rankings by actively sharing a substantial amount of material and encouraging the discussion of horrific abuse, thus gaining the trust of other moderators. Such was his dedication to this global community of paedophiles that he also committed his time, on top of his day job as a mechanic, to running and setting up other dark web sites that assisted their offending,” he said.

The Annex, which is no longer active, had around 90,000 global members who used it to share and discuss some of the most extreme kinds of abuse material, involving "hurtcore" and the sexual abuse of babies and toddlers.

As the head moderator, Bake was second in command of the entire site, which was run by an American man, who was sentenced to life in prison in the US in January.

Besides Garg, Bake was responsible for managing around 29 staff members and worked with them to enforce the site's rules and ensure it continued to run smoothly.

“Garg was involved in facilitating child sexual abuse on a significant scale. He used the dark web to access a global community of paedophiles sharing and discussing horrific crimes against children," NCA's Adam Priestley said at the time of Garg's sentencing in June 2023.

"He then ensured he was such a trusted and respected member that he was invited to become a member of staff, involved in its daily management. This organisation and willingness to enable other offenders raise his criminality to a higher, more appalling level,” he added.

Like Bake, Garg is also subject to a Serious Harm Prevention Order and is on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

The NCA said it worked with a number of international partners to target this group of moderators. A further 14 men have been charged in the US for their roles in helping to run The Annex, with eight receiving sentences of between six and 28 years.

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"UAE President Has Won The Hearts Of 140 Crore Indians": PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday inaugurated Abu Dhabi's first Hindu stone temple, describing it as a symbol of the shared heritage of humanity and thanking the UAE for scripting a new golden chapter of human history.

Speaking at the inauguration of the temple built by the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), the Prime Minister profusely thanked the President of UAE Sheikh Mohammad Zayed Al Nahyan for making the grand temple in Abu Dhabi a reality and said he has not only won the hearts of Indians living in the Gulf nation but also of 140 crore Indians.

"I hope that the BAPS Mandir will become a symbol of communal harmony and global unity for the whole world," PM Modi said, addressing a gathering that included UAE Tolerance Minister Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan and spiritual leaders from all faiths.

"We do not see hatred in diversity, we consider diversity as our specialty! In this temple, we will see a glimpse of diverse faiths at each and every step," PM Modi said.

He said the UAE, which till now was known for Burj Khalifa, Future Museum, Sheikh Zayed Mosque and other hi-tech buildings, has now added another cultural chapter to its identity.

"I am confident that a large number of devotees will come here in the times to come. This will also increase the number of people coming to the UAE and increase the people-to-people connect between the two countries," PM Modi said.

Lauding the contribution of the UAE president in making the grand temple a reality, he said, "If there is anyone who has the biggest and the most significant role in making this grand temple a reality, then it is none other than my brother His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed." "The Government of UAE has wholeheartedly worked to fulfill the aspirations of crores of Indians. The Government of UAE has not only won the hearts of Indians living in the UAE but also of all 140 crore Indians," he said.

The prime minister also recalled the consecration ceremony of the newly constructed Ram temple in Ayodhya last month.

"Our immense pleasure in Ayodhya has been further enhanced by the wave of happiness received in Abu Dhabi today. It is my good fortune that I have been a witness to the grand Shri Ram temple first in Ayodhya, and then to this temple in Abu Dhabi," he said.

"Just last month, the age-old dream of a grand Ram temple in Ayodhya was fulfilled. Ram Lalla is seated in his Bhavan! The whole of India and every Indian is still immersed in that feeling of love," PM Modi said.

The prime minister noted that this is not only the time of India's 'Amrit Kaal', this is also the time of 'Amrit Kaal' of our faith and culture.

Earlier, Prime Minister Modi, dressed in a light pink silk dhoti and kurta paired with a sleeveless jacket and stole, participated in rituals of a ceremony to dedicate the temple to the people.

PM Modi met people from different faiths who contributed to the construction of the first Hindu stone temple here.

The prime minister also offered water in the virtual Ganga and Yamuna rivers at the temple before proceeding to inaugurate the temple built on a 27-acre site in Abu Mreikhah, near Al Rahba off the Dubai-Abu Dhabi Sheikh Zayed Highway, at a cost of around Rs 700 crore.

He also inscribed "Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam" on stone using hammer and chisel at the temple.

According to the temple authorities, the grand temple has been built as per an ancient style of construction and creation mentioned in the Shilpa and Sthapathya Shastras, Hindu scriptures which describe the art for mandir design and construction.

"The architectural methods have been clubbed with scientific techniques here. Over 300 high-tech sensors have been installed at every level of the temple to measure temperature, pressure and movement (seismic activity). The sensors will provide live data for research. If there is any earthquake in the region, the temple will detect it, and we will be able to study," Swami Brahmaviharidas, head of international relations for BAPS, told PTI.

No metal has been used in the construction of the temple and fly ash has been used to fill up the foundation, replacing 55 per cent of cement in the concrete mix, reducing the carbon footprint of the temple.

Madhusudan Patel, the temple's construction manager, told PTI, "We have used heat-resistant nano tiles and heavy glass panels, merging both traditional aesthetic stone structures with modern-day functionality.

Considering the extreme temperatures in the UAE, the tiles will be comfortable for visitors to walk even in hot weather. Non-ferrous material has also been used in the temple." Constructed with 18 lakh bricks, seven lakh man hours and 1.8 lakh cubic metres of sandstone sourced directly from Rajasthan - Abu Dhabi's first Hindu temple has been made in the Nagara style of architecture, just like the recently inaugurated Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

According to Umesh Raja, a volunteer at the temple, 20,000 tonnes of sandstone pieces were carved in Rajasthan and then shipped to Abu Dhabi in 700 containers.

"Not just the stone, many labourers who helped construct the temple over five years belong to Gujarat and Rajasthan. Even the marble mined from Italy was first shipped to India for carving and then back to the UAE to be used in the interiors," he said.

The work for the structure has been going on since 2019. The land for the temple was donated by the UAE government. The UAE has three other Hindu temples that are located in Dubai. The BAPS temple, spread over a large area with stone architecture, will be the largest of all in the Gulf region.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Indian Man Arrested In Nepal For Possession Of Undocumented Gold And Silver

An Indian national was arrested on Tuesday on charges of possessing undocumented gold and silver in Nepal, police said.

Acting on a tip-off, police raided a jewellery shop in Pokhara city and arrested its owner Surjit Singh, 40, for smuggling gold and silver.

Police recovered unaccounted 7.782 kg gold, 6 kg silver ornament and Rs 68 lakh cash from his possession.

According to police, Singh is a resident of Medinipur in West Bengal and was running the jewellery shop. During a preliminary investigation, it was found that there was no supporting document against the recovered gold and silver. 

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Kamala Harris Says She Is "Ready To Serve" Amid Joe Biden Age Concerns

US Vice President Kamala Harris said she was ready to serve as leader, in a Wall Street Journal interview published Monday, as voter concerns mount about President Joe Biden's age in an election year.

The 59-year-old Harris has faced growing scrutiny about her own abilities as the first in line to the presidency should Democrat Biden, 81, be incapacitated or stand down.

"I am ready to serve. There's no question about that," Harris told the newspaper when asked whether voters' concerns about Biden's age meant she must convince them of her credentials.

Everyone who sees her on the job "walks away fully aware of my capacity to lead," said Harris, the first Black, South Asian and female vice president in US history.

The interview was carried out two days before a stinging special counsel report portrayed Biden as elderly and forgetful.

Special counsel Robert Hur's probe into Biden's handling of classified documents said the president should not face charges but damningly said he would come across to a jury as a "well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory."

The White House has hit back hard at the report, noting that Hur interviewed Biden when he was under intense pressure the day after the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.

Harris also sprang to Biden's defense, branding the special counsel's report as "politically motivated."

Harris has taken on a growing role in Biden's reelection campaign, focusing on subjects including abortion, ahead of November's vote in which he is expected to face a rematch with former president Donald Trump.

Republicans have frequently targeted Harris and polls show the former California senator suffers from low approval ratings, like Biden himself.

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