A WOMAN who died after a fall in Dorset has been described as a “beautiful soul” and a “brilliant and loved person”.
Tahira Jabeen, who was in her 40s, is believed to have died while coming down the cliff near Durdle Door in Dorset on Monday (14).
The Dudley resident had climbed about halfway down the cliff before she reportedly lost her footing, fell and landed at the bottom of the cliff at Man O’War beach.
Witnesses said she was trying to take a shortcut down a seaside cliff while her daughter took the longer route from the coastal path to the beach via steps.
Coastguards and police officers kept members of the public back while paramedics tried to save the woman, but she was pronounced dead at the scene at about 3.30 pm.
Tributes have been pouring in on social media for the mother-of-five, who was a “loved person” and “a very dear friend and colleague”.
One friend said, “Absolutely heartbroken you really were one in a million and will be missed by so many” while another wrote, “such a kind, fun, loving person that will truly be missed forever”.
A spokesperson for Dorset police said they were carrying out investigations on behalf of the coroner. They confirmed the death was not being treated as suspicious.
A Just Giving page set up to raise money for her has so far raised £1,950.
The Durdle Door landmark on the Jurassic Coast has become popular among thrill-seekers as well as beachgoers in recent years. Last summer two young men were reported to be seriously injured while leaping from the cliff into the sea.
Car parks and routes to the coast on the estate have warning signs to stay away from the cliffs and to avoid sitting directly beneath them.
HOME OFFICE minister Seema Malhotra has ordered the removal of UK government job advertisements for roles such as a balloon craft tutor, which were being offered to migrants held at a detention centre in London.
The intervention followed a report in The Sun newspaper highlighting job listings worth over £30,000 a year at the Heathrow Immigration Removal Centre (HIRC).
The roles appeared on the official “Find a Job” government website. Malhotra said the outsourcing company responsible had been told to withdraw “unnecessary” positions.
“We don’t believe all these roles are necessary and have told the Home Office to speak to Mitie to remove them,” Malhotra said.
One listing still online, with applications closing on September 21, is for a Hospitality and Floristry Tutor. The role involves promoting and delivering creative workshops in floristry, cake decorating, balloon craft, and other activities. Another advert seeks a Hairdressing Tutor to provide cutting, dyeing, and braiding services in line with industry standards.
The Sun report drew criticism from the opposition Conservative party, which accused the Labour government of mishandling illegal migration.
“The government has lost the plot. They’re so addicted to providing freebies that they’re even handing them out to foreign criminals when they’re about to be removed from the country. It’s insane,” shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick told the paper.
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp added: “Labour are pouring taxpayers’ money into perks when every effort should be on deportations. Hiring gym managers and balloon craft tutors for people due to be deported is indefensible and must be stopped immediately.”
Migrants who enter the UK illegally, along with some asylum seekers, can be held at removal centres while awaiting deportation or a decision on their immigration claims. According to Home Office figures, around 1,808 people are currently detained across the UK.
Mitie defended the roles, pointing to a recent report by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP). “The impact of these activities was highlighted in the HMIP report, which said they contributed to helping individuals manage the stresses of detention,” the company said in a statement.
Other vacancies at HIRC include a part-time Hindu Chaplain, responsible for providing worship and study opportunities, and maintaining a stock of religious artefacts to support detainees’ faith practices.
Detention Action, a charity advocating for asylum seekers’ rights, said the government had a duty to support detainees’ wellbeing.
“The government should only use immigration detention as a last resort, and for the shortest time necessary. They are failing spectacularly on both counts,” said James Wilson, the charity’s director.
“In the last year, the Home Office detained thousands of people for months or even years, and more than 60 per cent were later released. Until a time limit on detention is introduced, the government has a duty to support the mental health and wellbeing of the people it detains."
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A drone view of the construction work of the upcoming coastal road in Mumbai, India. (Photo credit: Reuters)
India’s GDP grew 7.8 per cent in April-June, beating forecasts of 6.7 per cent.
US has double tariffs on Indian imports to 50 per cent, raising export concerns.
Consumer spending rose 7.0 per cent year-on-year, driven by rural demand..
INDIA’s economy expanded faster than expected in the April-June quarter, even as higher US tariffs on Indian imports are set to weigh on activity in the coming months.
The United States has doubled tariffs on Indian goods to as high as 50 per cent over New Delhi’s continued purchases of Russian oil. The move puts India among the hardest-hit US trading partners alongside Brazil, with economists warning that exports such as textiles, leather goods and chemicals could be affected.
Government data released on Friday showed gross domestic product (GDP) grew 7.8 per cent in Asia’s third-largest economy in the April-June period, compared to 7.4 per cent in the previous quarter. Growth was stronger than the 6.7 per cent expansion economists had forecast in a Reuters poll.
Gross value added (GVA), considered a clearer measure of underlying economic activity, rose 7.6 per cent in April-June, up from 6.8 per cent in the previous three months. GVA excludes indirect taxes and government subsidies.
At this pace, India remains one of the fastest-growing major economies, though the outlook for exports has weakened after US President Donald Trump’s tariff hike.
“The surprise acceleration in GDP growth in the April-June quarter means that the economy is still on course to expand by a world-beating 7 per cent this year, despite the upcoming hit from punitive US tariffs,” Capital Economics said in a note.
The Reserve Bank of India expects the economy to grow 6.5 per cent in the fiscal year ending March 2026. Earlier this month, it kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 5.50 per cent.
Consumer spending rises
Private consumer spending, which accounts for around 57 per cent of GDP, rose 7.0 per cent year-on-year in April-June, up from 6 per cent in the previous quarter. Growth was supported by higher rural spending and demand for durables and farm equipment such as tractors.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has pledged support for sectors affected by US tariffs and said it would propose tax cuts to boost domestic demand. Income taxes were reduced starting April.
“Private consumption is supported by tax relief, rate cuts, crops sowing, though households may defer discretionary purchases until proposed consumption tax cuts take effect in the festive season,” said Aditi Nayar, chief economist at ICRA ratings agency.
Government spending increased 7.4 per cent in April-June, compared to a 1.8 per cent decline in the previous quarter. Capital expenditure grew 7.8 per cent, though some private firms held back investments amid global uncertainty following Washington’s tariff hikes.
Manufacturing output rose 7.7 per cent year-on-year in the first fiscal quarter, up from 4.8 per cent in the previous quarter. Construction expanded 7.6 per cent, down from 10.8 per cent. The agriculture sector grew 3.7 per cent, compared to 5.4 per cent in the previous three quarters.
US tariffs weigh on outlook
Economists warned that growth could slow once the impact of higher US duties is felt.
Indian government sources said New Delhi hoped Washington would reconsider the extra 25 per cent tariff imposed this week, which raised the duty on a range of imports to 50 per cent. However, there have been no signs of new talks.
The 50 per cent tariff could hurt exports and have a “domino effect on employment, wages and private consumption,” further affecting private investment and growth, said Madhavi Arora, chief economist at Emkay Financial Services.
Exporter groups estimate the tariffs could hit nearly 55 per cent of India’s $87 billion in merchandise exports to the US, while benefiting competitors such as Vietnam, Bangladesh and China.
Some economists warn prolonged tariffs could reduce India’s growth by 0.6 to 0.8 percentage point over a year, as weaker exports limit its role as an alternative manufacturing hub to China.
While real GDP growth remains firm, nominal GDP growth—which includes inflation—slowed to 8.8 per cent in April-June after averaging almost 11 per cent in the previous eight quarters. Analysts say this may weigh on corporate profits and stock indexes.
India’s rupee fell to a record low of 88.30 to the dollar on Friday as US tariffs took effect, while benchmark equity indices were set for a second straight monthly decline.
(With inputs from agencies)
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India's RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat speaks during a question-and-answer session as part of the RSS' three-day lecture series on '100 years of Sangh journey', in New Delhi. (ANI Photo/Ishant Chauhan)
THE head of India's powerful Hindu group, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), said that Indian families must have three children each, warning about the long-term risks from the current trend of declining birth rates.
At 1.46 billion, India is the world's most populous nation but the total fertility rate has dropped to less than two children per woman, according to the UN Population Fund's 2025 report, as economic growth gathers momentum.
Mohan Bhagwat, chief of the RSS that is the ideological parent of prime minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party, said the population must remain "controlled, yet sufficient".
Speaking at a lecture to mark the 100 years of the founding of the RSS on Thursday (29), Bhagwat suggested that “in the national interest, every family should have three children and limit themselves to that".
His call for larger families reflects anxiety among nationalist leaders and some regional politicians about long-term demographic stability, national capacity, and cultural identity.
For years hardline Hindu groups have pointed to higher birth rates among minority groups such as Muslims as a cause of concern although data shows Indian Muslims are also having fewer children than in the past.
Bhagwat too said birth rates were declining across religious groups.
While the RSS officially describes itself as a cultural organisation promoting Hindu values, it wields enormous influence through its vast network of affiliates and millions of grassroots volunteers.
Many of Modi’s senior ministers, including the prime minister himself, are long-time members of the RSS.
Analysts say BJP’s policy priorities — from cultural and education reform to citizenship laws — frequently echo positions championed by the RSS, making the organisation one of the most powerful civil society groups in the world.
Bhagwat rejected criticism that the RSS was opposed to Muslims - who make up about 14 per cent of India's population - and other minorities saying the organisation viewed all of them as Indians.
"Our ancestors and culture are the same. Worship practices may differ, but our identity is one. Changing religion does not change one’s community," he said.
"Mutual trust must be built on all sides. Muslims must overcome the fear that joining hands with others will erase their Islam."
(Reuters)
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Anti-government protesters display Bangladesh’s national flag at Sheikh Hasina’s palace in Dhaka last year. (Photo: Getty Images)
BANGLADESH’s Election Commission (EC) on Thursday released a roadmap for the general election, expected to be held in February next year.
The poll schedule will be announced at least 60 days before the voting date, officials said.
“The Chief Adviser’s Office has asked us to hold the election before Ramadan. If I am not mistaken, Ramadan will begin on February 17 or 18. From this, you can calculate the probable election date,” EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed told reporters at a press briefing.
He said the commission was targeting the first half of February for the election. The roadmap, prepared in line with the directives of interim government chief adviser Muhammad Yunus, received EC approval on Wednesday.
According to Ahmed, discussions with political parties and other stakeholders will be held by the end of September and could take “one to one and a half months” to complete.
The EC identified 24 key tasks in the roadmap, including amendments to laws such as the Representation of the People Order (RPO), the Delimitation of Constituencies Act, the Voter List Act, the Election Officers (Special Provisions) Act 1991, and the Election Commission Secretariat Act 2009. Other tasks include finalising the voter list in phases, setting policies for domestic and foreign observers and journalists, and registering new political parties.
The commission expects to announce the election schedule in the second or third week of December.
In a televised address on August 5, Yunus had said the 13th parliamentary election would be held in February before Ramadan.
The roadmap announcement came as the National Citizen Party (NCP), formed this year with apparent support from Yunus, raised objections to the planned polls.
Shortly after the EC’s briefing, the NCP said the roadmap reflected a “breach of promise” by the interim government.
“Announcing the roadmap before declaring the implementation of the ‘July Charter’ is tantamount to breaking promises,” former Students against Discrimination (SAD) leader and NCP Joint Convener Ariful Islam Adeeb told a press conference. Flanked by other leaders, Adeeb warned that this could create “future crises for which the government must bear responsibility.”
The NCP, which emerged in February as an offshoot of SAD after leading the movement that forced Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League out of power on August 5 last year, has been demanding a new constitution through a Constituent Assembly, replacing the 1972 Constitution.
Jamaat-e-Islami has separately demanded that the polls be held under a proportional representation system to secure a larger stake in parliament. Both Jamaat and NCP have also called for the trial of Hasina and leaders of her regime for their alleged role in last year’s crackdown on the uprising.
Hasina is being tried in absentia at the International Crimes Tribunal on several charges.
Former prime minister Khaleda Zia’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has emerged as the largest party in the absence of Awami League, whose activities were disbanded by Yunus’s interim government.
Despite assurances by Yunus and his advisers of free and fair polls within the announced deadline, uncertainty has grown among political parties due to the stance of the NCP.
(With inputs from agencies)
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International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Karim Khan, attends a United Nations Security Council meeting on Sudan and South Sudan at the United Nations headquarters on January 27, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
A SECOND woman has accused Karim Khan, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), of sexual misconduct, reported the Guardian.
The woman alleged that while working as an intern for Khan more than a decade ago, he repeatedly subjected her to unwanted sexual advances, abused his senior position, and pressured her into situations where she felt unsafe.
The latest allegations were passed to investigators from a UN watchdog earlier this summer. The body had already been examining an earlier complaint lodged by a member of Khan’s staff at the ICC.
According to the report, the second woman’s claims date back to 2009, when she was in her 20s and working unpaid for Khan in The Hague. At that time, Khan was a prominent defence lawyer, representing clients at the ICC and other international tribunals, including former Liberian president Charles Taylor.
Speaking anonymously for fear of retaliation, the woman said she endured a “constant onslaught” of advances from Khan. “He shouldn’t have been doing it,” she told the newspaper. “He was my employer.”
She said she had not spoken publicly before because she was afraid of damaging her career, but came forward after hearing of similar allegations from the ICC staffer.
The woman, referred to as Patricia (not her real name), described one incident in which Khan allegedly groped her at the ICC offices. She also claimed that on several occasions Khan invited her to his home, where she says he touched and kissed her without consent and urged her to have sex.
Patricia told the Guardian she felt trapped, as she was paying her own costs during the internship and relied on Khan’s recommendation for her future career. She said she endured the situation because she believed quitting would harm her prospects. Eventually, she did receive a positive letter of recommendation, but described it as feeling like “a deal with the devil”.
She added that Khan later sent her messages, including one in 2019 thanking her for being “good company” and a “very good friend”. Patricia said she eventually asked him not to contact her again.
Lawyers for Khan, now 55, said he “categorically denies” ever engaging in sexual misconduct. In a statement, they said: “It is wholly untrue that he has harassed or mistreated any individual, or misused his position or authority. Mr Khan has provided evidence that clearly contradicts the allegations.”
They further claimed Khan had been the target of an organised campaign to undermine him following his decision to issue arrest warrants against high-profile political leaders, including Russian president Vladimir Putin and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Khan has stepped aside from his role at the ICC while the UN inquiry continues. His legal team have also voiced concerns about whether the process can guarantee “due process”.
Khan was elected in 2021 as the ICC’s chief prosecutor for a nine-year term. Since then, he has played a central role in raising the court’s global profile. But his leadership has been overshadowed by accusations of sexual misconduct.
The first complaint came from an ICC staff member, a lawyer in her 30s, who alleged that Khan engaged in coercive sexual behaviour between 2023 and 2024. She said the abuse occurred at the ICC offices, in hotel rooms during work trips, and at his home. She has described his behaviour as “ceaseless”.
Both the staffer and Patricia claim Khan often insisted they work at his private residence, where, they allege, he tried to touch or kiss them and urged them to lie down with him.
The UN’s Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) is investigating both sets of allegations. Once the inquiry is complete, a panel of judicial experts will examine the findings and advise the ICC’s member states.
If Khan is found guilty of serious misconduct, ICC members could hold a secret ballot to decide whether to remove him from office – an unprecedented step in the court’s history.
Patricia said she decided to speak out after seeing Khan’s previous statement in which he insisted that in three decades of professional work “there had never been any such complaint”. She said that was when “her heart sank”.
“I felt I had to tell the truth,” she was quoted as saying.