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In a major move to enhance the <keyword id="23342045" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tourism-experience" source="keywords">tourism experience</keyword> across India, the <keyword id="20246604" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ministry-of-Tourism" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Ministry of Tourism" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Ministry of Tourism">Ministry of Tourism</keyword> has launched an ambitious initiative titled '<keyword id="23342044" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Paryatan-Mitra" source="keywords">Paryatan Mitra</keyword>' and 'Paryatan Didi' on the occasion of World Tourism Day. The initiative is designed to foster responsible tourism and create local ambassadors who will serve as guides and hosts, enriching the travel experience for visitors while promoting <keyword id="20467200" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sustainable-tourism" source="keywords">sustainable tourism</keyword> practices. The program, which was launched as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s broader vision of using tourism for social inclusion, employment generation, and economic progress, is aimed at empowering locals in some of India’s most visited destinations. The Ministry of Tourism is seeking to build a network of <keyword id="22391259" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tourism-ambassadors" source="keywords">tourism ambassadors</keyword>, rooted within <keyword id="21350228" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="local-communities" source="keywords">local communities</keyword>, to act as proud custodians of their regions. Initially piloted in six diverse tourist hotspots — Orchha (Madhya Pradesh), Gandikota (Andhra Pradesh), Bodh Gaya (Bihar), Aizawl (Mizoram), Jodhpur (Rajasthan), and Sri Vijaya Puram (Andaman &amp; Nicobar Islands) — the program has already begun training locals in these areas. By August 15, over 3,000 individuals had undergone training, becoming official Paryatan Mitras, dedicated to offering tourists a more informed, friendly, and memorable experience. <h2>Enhancing hospitality and local storytelling</h2>The key objective of this initiative is to make tourism a vehicle for local pride and storytelling. By offering specialised training to those who frequently interact with tourists — such as cab drivers, hotel staff, restaurant workers, tour guides, street vendors, and even police personnel — the Ministry hopes to elevate the tourist experience to new heights. The training program emphasises the importance of cleanliness, safety, sustainability, and top-quality hospitality, all aligned with India’s age-old philosophy of 'Athithi Devo Bhava', meaning “The guest is equivalent to God.” This initiative goes beyond mere hospitality training. Each participant is also educated about their destination's hidden gems, historical significance, and <keyword id="19911712" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cultural-heritage" source="keywords">cultural heritage</keyword>, turning every local into a knowledgeable storyteller. This not only improves the quality of the tourist experience but also helps locals take pride in their heritage and contribute meaningfully to the country’s tourism ecosystem. <h2><keyword id="20646064" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="empowering-women" source="keywords">Empowering women</keyword> and youth</h2>One of the most remarkable aspects of the Paryatan Mitra and Paryatan Didi programs is their focus on empowering women and young people. By training them to offer new tourism experiences such as heritage walks, food tours, craft experiences, and nature treks, the initiative opens up exciting employment opportunities. Many of these individuals are also trained to become homestay operators, tour guides, and food and culture experience providers, allowing them to monetize their skills and knowledge in tourism-driven local economies. In a nod to modern technology, the initiative also incorporates <keyword id="20055241" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="digital-literacy" source="keywords">digital literacy</keyword> training, equipping locals with the tools to make their tourism offerings more discoverable to both national and international visitors. By leveraging digital platforms, trained individuals can now market their homestays, tours, and cultural experiences online, allowing for a broader reach and better economic opportunities. At its core, this program reflects the Ministry of Tourism’s commitment to creating a collaborative tourism experience that benefits both visitors and locals. The initiative is not just about training individuals to work in tourism but is also about fostering a sense of community and ownership over the tourism experience, which in turn helps preserve cultural and natural heritage. As more individuals join the program, tourism in India could see a shift toward more sustainable practices, with local communities playing a crucial role in shaping how tourists experience their destinations. By connecting visitors to trained locals with a passion for their culture and environment, the Ministry of Tourism is taking a major step toward creating memorable, responsible, and sustainable tourism across the country. (With inputs from ANI)

To promote healthy tourism, new govt initiative will connect tourists to trained locals to improve their travel experience in India

In a startling development, officials within the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) have voiced deep concerns over a “toxic” work culture under the leadership of Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch. These allegations, formally communicated to the finance ministry, depict a troubling work environment plagued by unattainable demands, unprofessional conduct and mental health crises, according to a report by the Economic Times. In essence, a <keyword id="21410642" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="toxic-work-culture" source="keywords">toxic work culture</keyword> is an environment that fosters negativity, dysfunction and a lack of trust among employees and management. This type of culture can manifest in various ways that are often harmful to both employees and organisations, severely impairing organisational growth and employee well-being. Identifying a toxic work culture is crucial for both employees and organisations. Recognising signs and symptoms of toxic work culture can often be the first step toward addressing and improving <keyword id="20346862" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="workplace-culture" source="keywords">workplace culture</keyword>. Below are 10 indicators that may indicate a toxic environment. High <keyword id="21462876" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="employee-turnover" source="keywords">employee turnover</keyword>: A persistent pattern of employees leaving the organisation often signals dissatisfaction with the work culture. When turnover rates are high, it reflects a breakdown in the employer-employee relationship, typically due to a lack of respect or support from management. <keyword id="14609778" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Quiet-quitting" source="Orion">Quiet quitting</keyword>: This phenomenon occurs when employees disengage from their roles, doing only the minimum required. It highlights a lack of motivation and connection to the organisation's goals, often stemming from a toxic atmosphere. Bullying and harassment: Any form of bullying or harassment, whether verbal or psychological, creates a hostile work environment. Such behaviours not only undermine morale, but also instil fear among employees, leading to increased stress and anxiety. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111982335" title="Employees lack trust in HR’s ability to address workplace bullying effectively—and for good reason, says study" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>Constantly changing goals: Frequent shifts in priorities without adequate communication can leave employees feeling disoriented and frustrated. This lack of clear direction can hinder productivity and contribute to a sense of futility in their efforts. <keyword id="23035059" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="poor-leadership" source="keywords">Poor leadership</keyword>: Ineffective or toxic leadership can significantly impact workplace culture. Leaders who exhibit favouritism, lack consistency or disregard employee welfare contribute to a negative environment that can drive talent away. Lack of transparency: When communication is poor and information is not shared openly, it breeds distrust and uncertainty. Employees may feel left in the dark about important decisions, which can exacerbate feelings of insecurity and disengagement. <keyword id="19954076" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="micromanagement" source="keywords">Micromanagement</keyword>: Excessive oversight from management can create an environment of fear and anxiety. Employees who feel constantly monitored may struggle to perform at their best, leading to decreased morale and productivity. Inadequate support systems: Employees who lack sufficient resources or support may feel overwhelmed and undervalued. A toxic environment often sets unrealistic expectations without providing the necessary tools for success. Toxic gossip: While some office chatter is normal, pervasive negative gossip can create a divisive atmosphere. This behaviour undermines teamwork and can lead to a culture of distrust and hostility among colleagues. Poor <keyword id="19901232" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="work-life-balance" source="keywords">work-life balance</keyword>: A culture that prioritises work over personal well-being can lead to burnout. When employees are expected to sacrifice their personal lives for work, it can result in high stress levels and diminished job satisfaction.

Is your work culture toxic? Look out for these 10 signs

There are nearly 60 properties in <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="India" source="keywords">India</keyword> that find a place in the Tentative List for further inclusion in the <keyword id="20413005" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="UNESCO-World-Heritage-List" source="keywords">UNESCO World Heritage List</keyword>, according to information shared by the government in Parliament on Monday. A Tentative List is an inventory of those properties that each State Party intends to consider for nomination as a <keyword id="19908797" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="UNESCO" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="UNESCO" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="UNESCO">UNESCO</keyword> <keyword id="20989756" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="world-heritage" source="keywords">World Heritage</keyword> Site. The 46th session of the World <keyword id="19960510" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="heritage" source="keywords">Heritage</keyword> Committee (WHC) is being held in New Delhi from July 21 to July 31. India is hosting the key event of UNESCO for the first time. The mound-burial system of the Ahom dynasty in Assam -- '<keyword id="22553829" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Moidams" source="keywords">Moidams</keyword>' -- was, on July 26, inscribed on the UNESCO <keyword id="22552065" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="world-heritage-list" source="keywords">World Heritage List</keyword>, making it the first <keyword id="22477662" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cultural-property" source="keywords">cultural property</keyword> from the Northeast to get the coveted tag. 'Moidams' was submitted as India's nomination for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List for the year 2023-24. The site was put in the Tentative List of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2014. In a written response to a query in Lok Sabha, Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said, "There are 57 properties in the Tentative List for further inclusion in the World Heritage List. However, as per the Operational Guidelines 2023, only one property can be submitted for the World Heritage inscription process each year. As of now, 42 properties have been inscribed on the World Heritage List." The updated list for India, after the inclusion of centuries-old 'Moidams', is now 43 sites on the World Heritage List and 56 properties on the Tentative List, according to the website of UNESCO, which adds that out of the 195 States Parties to the <keyword id="22589969" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="World-Heritage-Convention" source="keywords">World Heritage Convention</keyword>, 189 have submitted a Tentative List. Shekhawat was also asked whether the government has formulated any scheme for the protection of cultural heritage in compliance with the guidelines of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). "No, sir, there is no such scheme formulated for the protection of cultural heritage in compliance with the guidelines of UNESCO. However, India has ratified the 1972 UNESCO World Heritage Convention. All the World Heritage properties, along with other sites and monuments under the jurisdiction of the <keyword id="19946002" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Archaeological-Survey-of-India" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Archaeological Survey of India" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Archaeological Survey of India">Archaeological Survey of India</keyword>, Ministry of Culture, are protected and conserved by funds provided by the Government of India based on their requirements and Annual Conservation Plan (ACP)," the Union minister replied. In response to another query, he said the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) takes up conservation and maintenance work of protected monuments and sites throughout the country, including 286 in the state of Maharashtra. "Conservation and maintenance of monuments and archaeological sites is a continuous process and is taken up as per the need of monuments and availability of resources," the minister said. Shekhawat, in his response, also shared details of expenditure incurred on conservation, preservation and environmental development of protected monuments during the last three years and till July 15 of the current financial year. The figures stand as follows -- Rs 269.57 crore (2021-22), Rs 391.93 crore (2022-23), and Rs 443.53 crore (2023-24), while it was Rs 73.36 crore (2024-25) till July 15 of the current financial year.

Nearly 60 properties from India on Tentative List for inclusion on World Heritage List, says govt

The <keyword id="19905108" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ministry-of-defence" source="keywords">Ministry of Defence</keyword> has sanctioned over Rs 300 crore through its <keyword id="20416767" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="technology-development-fund" source="keywords">Technology Development Fund</keyword> (TDF) to create an ecosystem aimed at enhancing capabilities in cutting-edge technology and promoting '<keyword id="20460685" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="aatmanirbharta" source="keywords">Aatmanirbharta</keyword>' in defence, an official statement said on Thursday. The Technology Development Fund (TDF) scheme is a flagship programme of the Ministry of Defence, executed by <keyword id="19948662" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="drdo" source="keywords">DRDO</keyword> under the '<keyword id="20018809" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="make-in-india" source="keywords">Make in India</keyword>' initiative. Under this initiative, the government provides grants-in-aid to Indian industries, including <keyword id="19910977" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="msmes" source="keywords">MSMEs</keyword> and <keyword id="19945815" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="startups" source="keywords">startups</keyword>, as well as academic and scientific institutions, for the development of defence and dual-use technologies that are currently not available in the Indian defence industry. With these initiatives, the Ministry aims to engage private industries, especially MSMEs and startups, to foster a culture of design and development in military technology and support them with grants-in-aid. The TDF seeks to enhance the capacity and capability of Indian industries for the design and development of defence technologies in the country. It aims to create an R&amp;D ecosystem where industry and academia work together to meet the current and future requirements of the Armed Forces and the defence sector. The government aims to achieve 'Aatmanirbharta' in defence technology by building a robust defence manufacturing ecosystem in the country. The <keyword id="19910956" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="defence-ministry" source="keywords">Defence Ministry</keyword> on Wednesday highlighted several successful startups benefiting from the scheme. Pune-based startup <keyword id="22281521" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Combat-Robotics" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Combat Robotics" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="Combat Robotics">Combat Robotics</keyword>, with the help of the scheme, has successfully developed an innovative simulator for <keyword id="20146841" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="unmanned-vehicles" source="keywords">unmanned vehicles</keyword>. This multi-domain simulator supports unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), unmanned surface vehicles (USVs), and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), serving as an excellent development tool for agencies working on autonomous systems. Another Pune-based defence equipment startup, ChiStats Labs Private Limited, is developing virtual sensors for aero gas turbine engine health monitoring, which helps to increase the operational reliability and longevity of the engines. The system is built on modern artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) technologies. Bengaluru-based NewSpace Research and Technologies Pvt. Ltd., under the project titled 'Autonomous Drone as First Responder for Search and Report Operations in Enclosed/Indoor Environments', has created a cutting-edge UAV capable of exploring indoor environments under various conditions, including zero light. The success of this project will open up various applications, including search and rescue operations, surveillance, industrial inspections, environmental monitoring, and hazardous environment exploration, contributing significantly to technological advancements in unmanned aerial systems, the Ministry added. The technology has been developed under the technical guidance and mentorship of CAIR, Bengaluru.

Defence ministry allocates Rs 300 cr for technology development fund to promote Make in India products

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A pirated version of the "Barbie" movie made its way to Russia, and officials there aren't happy.</li><li>The Russian Culture Ministry wants to shift from Western values towards "traditional" Russian ones.</li></ul>As Russian citizens struggle to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/captured-russian-solder-commanders-high-on-painkillers-gave-nonsensical-orders-2023-7">maintain morale</a> during the ongoing <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/video-russia-soldier-rants-tank-shells-with-no-explosives-ukraine-2023-9">invasion of Ukraine,</a> the Russian Culture Ministry is taking a shot at the "Barbie" movie as a representation of hated Western ideologies.Multiple offices and politicians are criticizing the "Barbie" movie for not promoting "traditional Russian values" — a vague phrase that seems to refer to patriotism and general conservatism — <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-66934838">per the BBC</a>.Although "Barbie" was not released in Russia due to wartime sanctions against it, the movie is being screened as one of many in a thriving illegal film market, per <a target="_blank" href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/sep/27/they-see-hollywood-movies-as-a-right-the-russians-breaking-the-law-to-watch-barbie#:~:text=Hollywood%20studios%20pulled%20its%20films,Moscow%2C%20St%20Petersburg%20and%20Kazan.">the Guardian</a>.In <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/BBCSteveR/status/1707402370714591253?s=20">an interview between BBC reporter Steve Rosenberg </a>and Russian Parliament member and convicted spy <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/convicted-russian-spy-maria-butina-us-sanctions-ukraine-2022-3">Maria Butina</a>, Butina said she wanted Barbie dolls banned from Russian schools, and again emphasized the importance of the unclear <a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/russias-putin-says-liberal-values-are-obsolete-2019-6?_gl=1*1116tvh*_ga*MzIwMjM2OTE4LjE2ODY1OTY2MTY.*_ga_E21CV80ZCZ*MTY5NTkzMjM5Mi4yNTIuMS4xNjk1OTMzNDQ3LjQuMC4w">"traditional" values</a>."How can you talk about values as a representative of a country that has invaded its neighbor?" Rosenberg asked."Well, you know we have a different position on that," Butina replied.But what comprises appropriate, patriotic entertainment, then, free of Western values?The BBC report highlighted one concert in Russia where "paratrooper pop stars" wore military uniforms and sang about the country's strength with lyrics such as, "We will serve the Motherland and crush the enemy."Despite Russian government claims, though, Western entertainment is certainly not the largest problem the country is facing right now.This month, in addition to the war, the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-economy-inflation-putin-ukraine-war-stagnation-interest-rates-hike-2023-9">Russian economy</a> is facing a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-wants-420k-soldiers-end-2023-worsening-labor-shortages-mobilization-2023-9">severe labor shortage</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-economy-inflation-forecast-vladimir-putin-ukraine-war-ruble-interest-2023-9">significant inflation hikes</a>, which President Vladimir Putin said <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/putin-russia-economy-inflation-business-ukraine-war-ruble-interest-rates-2023-9">makes planning "impossible"</a> for Russian businesses.

The Russian culture ministry is blaming a pirated version of the Barbie movie for weakening nationwide values

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The DHS' newly announced <keyword id="11948912" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="disinformation" source="Orion">Disinformation</keyword> Governance Board has sparked backlash from the right.</li><li>Right-wing politicians and pundits have misleadingly framed the group as a propaganda arm.</li></ul>The Department of Homeland Security's recently announced "Disinformation Governance Board" has faced intense backlash from right-wing politicians and pundits, who have misleadingly claimed that the <keyword id="60973" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="biden" source="Orion">Biden</keyword> administration is attempting to form an Orwellian "Ministry of Truth." Although the initiative's <a href="https://www.dhs.gov/news/2022/05/02/fact-sheet-dhs-internal-working-group-protects-free-speech-other-fundamental-rights">stated missio</a>n is to combat malicious information from abroad, including misinformation targeting migrants and Russian disinformation, conservative influencers and politicians like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy have framed the board as a dystopian attack on free speech. Other Republican representatives such as Lauren Boebert, Andrew Clyde, and Ben Cline have similarly piled on. Numerous other conservative influencers—from Fox <keyword id="11893589" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="news" source="Orion">News</keyword> host Tucker Carlson to far-right conspiracists like Jordan Sather and Jim Watkins—have also attacked the board using similar rhetoric.Sara Aniano, a disinformation and extremism researcher, told Insider that right wing politicians and pundits have previously called a variety of anti-misinformation initiatives "Orwellian," including against "arguments for content moderation on the platform level." The scrutiny and criticism that the initiative already faces is likely to put additional pressure on its operations.If the board doesn't "do a stellar job," Aniano said, "then the initiative will fail, because people are already very wary on the right of government oversight and overreach" related to free-speech.In <a href="https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2022/05/01/disinformation-governance-board-alejandro-mayorkas-bash-sotu-vpx.cnn/video/playlists/this-week-in-politics/">a CNN interview</a> on Sunday, DHS secretary Alejandro Mayorkas attempted to refute the criticism and said the board is a "small working group" with no "operational authority or capability." He acknowledged that the rollout was contentious and said "we probably could have done a better job of communicating" the board's purpose. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki also <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/02/technology/partisan-dhs-disinformation-board.html">defended the initiative</a> on Monday and said it was an extension of work previously done by the DHS' Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. The DHS <a href="https://www.dhs.gov/news/2022/05/02/fact-sheet-dhs-internal-working-group-protects-free-speech-other-fundamental-rights">released a statement</a> on Monday clarifying the group's role, and said the "DHS is exploring additional ways to enhance the public's trust in this important work."But that hasn't quelled the attacks. Boebert, who has expressed support for conspiracies including QAnon, led 61 other House representatives in <a href="https://boebert.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-boebert-introduces-bill-terminate-department-homeland-securitys-0">introducing a bill</a> to terminate the working group and block federal funds from being used to establish any similar kind of operation on Tuesday. Boebert alluded to Orwell's book in a statement about the bill and called the initiative a "Department of Propaganda."Kayla Gogarty, an Associate Researcher Director at Media Matters, told Insider that it's "no surprise that right-wing media and personalities responded to news of the board" with baseless criticism."Conservatives push bad-faith attacks under the guise of 'free speech' in response to anything that they perceive will stymie their ability to push falsehoods and conspiracy theories," Gogarty said. "Fearmongering about the board is just a page out of conservatives' playbook."The right-wing critics have especially honed in on Nina Jankowicz, the researcher and author appointed by President Joe Biden to lead the working group. Many conservative influencers and politicians are claiming without evidence that Jankowicz would act with bias or censor right-wing speech. Some have spread <a href="https://twitter.com/wiczipedia/status/1362153807879303171?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1362153807879303171%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.foxnews.com%2Fpolitics%2Fwhite-house-disinformation-nina-jankowicz-tiktok">a clip of Jankowicz singing</a> an edited version of a "Mary Poppins" song she posted on TikTok in early 2021."They are just pulling out everything and anything they can," Aniano said of the attack on Jankowicz.Aniano said the initiative could be valuable if it can get off the ground and make a positive impact, but that it's unclear as of now how the working group will take shape. Aniano is also curious to see if the working group will deal with average American citizens who are spreading dis- and misinformation, because "the focus is almost always on foreign interference, but we do have to look at how it's manifested at a local and nationwide level.""I'll believe it when I see it," Aniano said of the board. "Once meaningful change happens, then maybe we'll say that it was a successful endeavor."

Biden's Disinformation Governance Board faces conservative attacks after messy rollout, but experts say it's no 'Ministry of Truth'

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Russia has likely seen up to 350,000 casualties since its invasion of Ukraine, the UK MOD said.</li><li>But that figure is an estimate, and Russia probably doesn't even know the real figure, it said.</li></ul>Russian officials likely don't know how many of their own soldiers have been killed or injured since the invasion of Ukraine because Russia's military has a history of dishonesty in reporting those figures, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.The UK MOD <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/DefenceHQ/status/1731611263799537767?s=20">said in an intelligence update on Monday</a> that Russia has likely seen up to 350,000 casualties since it launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.But it gave the number as an estimate, as there is no confirmed accurate measure for Russian losses.Russia likely doesn't have an accurate count itself, the MOD said."Even amongst Russian officials there is likely a low level of understanding about total casualty figures because of a long-established culture of dishonest reporting within the military," it said.The UK ministry broke down Russian casualties into likely numbers of injured and killed between the traditional military and soldiers with the Wagner Group, a mercenary force that played a key role earlier in the war and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wagner-losses-in-ukraine-are-huge-28-percent-dead-official-2023-7">experienced huge losses</a>.Russia's traditional military has likely experienced between 180,000 and 240,000 personnel wounded and about 50,000 killed, the UK MOD said, while the Wagner Group has seen about 40,000 wounded and 20,000 killed, it added.This would mean about 290,000 to 350,000 total casualties.That is in line with other estimates: The head of NATO said last week that <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nato-huge-russia-losses-300k-men-but-cant-underestimate-putin-2023-11?r=US&amp;IR=T">Russia has had more than 300,000 casualties</a>, but warned that those losses don't mean it will stop its war efforts.Ukraine said that, as of Monday, Russia has had more than 332,000 casualties in its invasion.Ukraine also doesn't share figures for its losses.US officials said in August <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-russia-war-almost-500000-killed-or-wounded-us-officials-2023-8?r=US&amp;IR=T">that Ukraine's casualties are likely notably smaller than Russia's</a>, with almost 70,000 Ukrainians killed and between 100,000 and 120,000 wounded at that time.Ukraine has also suffered civilian casualties. <a target="_blank" href="https://ukraine.un.org/en/253322-civilian-deaths-ukraine-war-top-10000-un-says#:~:text=At%20least%2010%2C000%20civilians%2C%20including,Ukraine%20(HRMMU)%20said%20today.">The UN said</a> at least 10,000 Ukrainian civilians, including more than 560 children, have been killed.Russia has a much larger population than Ukraine, making it easier to replenish its troops after its losses.

Russia likely doesn't know how many troops it's lost because its military has a 'culture of dishonest reporting': UK intel

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Harvard University has become a flashpoint in the intergenerational divide on the Israel-Hamas war.</li><li>That's after student groups signed a statement that Israel was "entirely responsible" for attacks.</li></ul>In the 11 days since Palestinian militant group Hamas <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/israel-formally-declares-war-on-hamas-seeks-full-control-gaza-2023-10?r=US&amp;IR=T">launched its terrorist attack on Israel</a>, Harvard University has become a flashpoint for intergenerational tensions about the war — and the broader culture war around campus free speech.It began when student groups at Harvard University signed a statement that opened with the following: "We, the undersigned student organizations, hold the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence." The statement did not condemn Hamas.Backlash from wealthy Harvard alumni and donors has been swift. Some firms rescinded employment offers to students identified as being associated with the statement. Similar incidents are taking place at other colleges.The flare-up reflects the tension for elite colleges as a bastion for radical campus politics, and their reliance on wealthy, powerful alumni who might hold different views. As Insider has previously reported, the views of younger Democrats and Republicans have begun to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/gen-zers-criticizing-celebrities-for-supporting-israel-2023-10">skew less sympathetic</a> to Israel. Here's what's happened so far. <h2>Hamas launches terrorist attacks on Israel</h2>Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a series of terrorist attacks on Israel on October 7, with Israel retaliating. As of Tuesday, about 1,300 people have been killed and more than 4,200 injured in Israel, the <a target="_blank" href="https://ochaopt.org/content/hostilities-gaza-strip-and-israel-flash-update-11">UN</a> says, citing Israeli officials. About 3,000 Palestinians have been killed and 12,500 injured in Gaza, according to the UN, citing Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry.<h2>Harvard students blame Israel in a statement</h2>A collection of student groups that referred to themselves as "Harvard Palestine Solidarity Groups" released <a target="_blank" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CyIBFcnMUNy/">a joint statement</a> on October 8 blaming Israel for the attacks by Hamas.The statement said the students "hold the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence" and added "the apartheid regime is the only one to blame" for the attacks. "We call on the Harvard community to take action to stop the ongoing annihilation of Palestinians," the statement said.<div type="image" title="A building on Harvard University's campus" height="1407" width="2131" msid="104534793" hostid="261" sizebytes="456400"></div>The statement was written by the Harvard Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee and originally signed by more than 30 other student groups. No individual student was named as a signatory.<h2>The statement rapidly spreads </h2>The statement was shared on social media and quickly spread beyond campus, provoking angry responses from university alumni, politicians, and business leaders.US political scientist and author Ian Bremmer posted a copy of the statement and its signatories <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/ianbremmer/status/1711153384953348169">on X</a> on October 8 to his more than 700,000 followers. "Can't imagine who would want to identify with such a group," Bremmer wrote. "Harvard parents—talk to your educated kids about this."<h2>Political alumni criticize the statement </h2>Broader backlash to the statement began.On October 9, former Harvard President and ex-Treasury Secretary Larry Summers <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/LHSummers/status/1711421307227607255">posted</a> on X that in his nearly 50 years of being affiliated with Harvard, "I have never been as disillusioned and alienated as I am today."<div type="image" title="A photo of Larry Summers" height="2700" width="4050" msid="104534794" hostid="261" sizebytes="1575946"></div>"The silence from Harvard's leadership, so far, coupled with a vocal and widely reported student groups' statement blaming Israel solely, has allowed Harvard to appear at best neutral towards acts of terror against the Jewish state of Israel," Summers wrote.Rep. Seth Moulton of Massachusetts, a Harvard alum, <a target="_blank" href="https://moulton.house.gov/news/press-releases/moulton-statement-harvard-student-group-letter-blaming-israel-hamas-terror">said</a> that he was "embarrassed" by the university and that the leadership's silence counted as "complicity.""What's happening at Harvard right now is intellectually weak and morally repugnant," Moulton wrote.Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, also a Harvard alum, <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/tedcruz/status/1711404354945569061?s=20">accused</a> the student groups who signed the statement of "blazing hatred &amp; antisemitism" that was "utterly blinding.""These hateful Harvard students are the future leaders of our society," Rep. Ritchie Torres of New York <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/RitchieTorres/status/1711369110339141674">wrote on X</a>. "May God Help Us."Groups affiliated with the university also condemned the statement. Harvard Hillel, a center for Jewish students, <a target="_blank" href="https://hillel.harvard.edu/israel-attacks">said</a> Jewish people had experienced "hatred and anti-Semitism" on campus since the attacks started and demanded "accountability" for the groups that had signed the statement. The center also criticized attempts to identify individual members of the co-signing groups.The original group that authored the statement, the Harvard Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee and Graduate Students for Palestine <a target="_blank" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CyRMyl6JTjq/">said</a> it had been "flooded with racist hate speech and death threats," and that it was forced to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CyO4NuXJyGO/">postpone</a> a vigil.<h2>Bill Ackman says Harvard should release students' names</h2>On October 10, billionaire hedge-fund manager <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bill-ackman-harvard-release-names-students-blaming-israel-violence-hamas-2023-10">Bill Ackman</a> escalated the backlash by calling on Harvard to identify student members of the co-signing student groups so companies don't "inadvertently" hire them. "I have been asked by a number of CEOs if <a target="_blank" class="css-4rbku5 css-18t94o4 css-901oao css-16my406 r-1cvl2hr r-1loqt21 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" href="https://twitter.com/harvard">@harvard</a> would release a list of the members of each of the Harvard organizations that have issued the letter assigning sole responsibility for Hamas' heinous acts to Israel, so as to insure that none of us inadvertently hire any of their members," he wrote.Ackman's <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/BillAckman/status/1711788747086233661">post on X</a>, which has more than 70,000 likes, triggered a broader debate as to whether the identities of the students should be revealed.<div type="image" title="Bill Ackman speaks at CNBC's Delivering Alpha conference on September 28, 2023." height="1330" width="1995" msid="104534796" hostid="261" sizebytes="144992"></div><a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ceo-investors-harvard-student-names-israel-hamas-violence-ackman-2023-10">Other CEOs and investors</a> have also said they want a list of the students' names so they can blacklist them.<h2>A truck doxxing students drives around campus</h2>A <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/harvard-student-letter-truck-on-campus-pictures-names-hamas-2023-10">truck drove through Harvard's campus</a> on October 11 featuring a digital billboard claiming to show faces and names of students associated with the letter, labeling them as "Harvard's leading antisemites," according to The <a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2023/10/12/doxxing-truck-students-israel-statement/">Harvard Crimson</a> and pictures posted on social media. Conservative group Accuracy in Media told The Harvard Crimson that it was behind the stunt.According to the Crimson, some websites released <a target="_blank" href="https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2023/10/11/student-groups-withdraw-israel-statement/">lists of students</a>, claiming they were members of the groups that signed the letter.Without explicitly mentioning the truck, Meredith Weenick, Harvard's executive vice president, released a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.harvard.edu/president/news/2023/safety-and-wellbeing-of-the-harvard-community/">statement</a> later that day saying that the Harvard University Police Department had stepped up its security presence on campus and was monitoring online activity. Weenick also shared details about resources available to students concerned about their safety and said that the university didn't "condone or ignore" intimidation, threats, and harassment.<h2>Business leaders cut ties with Harvard</h2>Israeli billionaire Idan Ofer, who owns Quantum Pacific Group, and his wife Batia stepped down from their positions on the executive board of Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. They also withdrew a multimillion-dollar donation that they planned to make, <a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" href="https://www.themarker.com/news/2023-10-12/ty-article/.premium/0000018b-24dd-d010-a59f-bdfd59cf0000">The Marker</a> reported on October 12."Unfortunately, our faith in the University's leadership has been broken," the Ofers said in a statement sent to multiple publications including <a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/13/business/harvard-idan-ofer-board/index.html">CNN</a> on October 13.Billionaire retailer <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wexner-foundation-pulls-funding-from-harvard-over-stance-israel-hamas-attacks-2023-10">Les Wexner</a> announced on October 16 that his Jewish leadership philanthropy, the Wexner Foundation, had cut funding from the school."Our core values and those of Harvard no longer align," the Foundation said.<h2>Summers thinks the backlash has gone too far</h2><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/harvard-larry-summers-bill-ackman-israel-hamas-student-names-list-2023-10">Summers</a>, the former Harvard president, told Bloomberg on October 11 that he thought Ackman was "getting a bit carried away" when demanding the university release students' names. He said it was "the stuff of Joe McCarthy, not the stuff of strong business organizations or universities like Harvard," referring to the former US senator."I don't think this is a time for individual vilification," Summers added.<h2>Harvard's president condemns the attacks, defends free speech</h2>Harvard's leadership team issued its first <a target="_blank" href="https://www.harvard.edu/president/news/2023/war-in-the-middle-east/?utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_campaign=hu-twitter-general&amp;utm_medium=social">statement</a> about the conflict on October 9, saying that it was "heartbroken" and would offer resources to support students and staff.The next day, after the student groups' letter grew traction, Harvard president Claudine Gay issued an individual <a target="_blank" href="https://www.harvard.edu/president/news/2023/war-in-the-middle-east/?utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_campaign=hu-twitter-general&amp;utm_medium=social">statement</a> in which she called the attacks on Israel "abhorrent."<div type="image" title="Harvard University President-elect Claudine Gay is seated during the 372nd Commencement at Harvard University in May 2023" height="2905" width="4357" msid="104534797" hostid="261" sizebytes="250772"></div>"While our students have the right to speak for themselves, no student group — not even 30 student groups — speaks for Harvard University or its leadership," she said.But controversy continued to mount, culminating in Gay releasing a video on October 12 titled "Our choices," in which she <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.harvard.edu/president/news/2023/our-choices/">said</a> that the university rejects terrorism. But she said that Harvard also rejects harassment and intimidation based on people's beliefs and "embraces" a commitment to free expression, including "views that many of us find objectionable, even outrageous.""We do not punish or sanction people for expressing such views," Gay said. "But that is a far cry from endorsing them."<h2>Some student groups backtrack</h2>Some student groups that co-signed the original statement have since withdrawn their signatures. The Harvard Undergraduate Nepali Student Association <a target="_blank" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CyOyCuBOCn5/?hl=en">said</a> on October 11 it regretted that its signing of the statement "has been interpreted as a tacit support for the recent violent attacks in Israel."Harvard Act on a Dream, an immigrant-rights advocacy group, told <a target="_blank" href="https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2023/10/11/student-groups-withdraw-israel-statement/?ref=upstract.com">The Harvard Crimson</a> its signing was "a result of miscommunication and a lack of due diligence in sharing the statement with the entirety of the board."The statement was amended to remove the names of its signatories, and has since been deleted, though it's still visible on the Harvard Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CyIBFcnMUNy/">Instagram account</a>.<h2>Students hold vigils and rallies on campus</h2><a target="_blank" href="https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2023/10/16/palestine-rally-photo-essay/">The Harvard Crimson</a> reported that more than 1,000 people gathered in the historic Harvard Yard on October 14 for a rally in which they demonstrated against Israel's counter-attacks and accused the university of not doing enough to support Palestinian students.<div type="image" title="Supporters of Palestine gather at Harvard University to show their support for Palestinians in Gaza at a rally in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on October 14, 2023. " height="3585" width="5378" msid="104534798" hostid="261" sizebytes="1593306"></div>The following day, another group gathered for a campus vigil in solidarity with Israel with speeches, songs, and chants, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2023/10/16/hillel-israel-vigil/">The Harvard Crimson reported</a>.<h2>Campus feels tense, students say</h2><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/israel-hamas-war-harvard-letter-students-feeling-strain-difficult-week-2023-10">Harvard students</a> told Insider that the conflict in the Middle East and the outrage over the student groups' statement were playing out on campus. One graduate student said that he hadn't expected to see so much backlash from business leaders.Some students said that this could ultimately have an impact on student speech, with concerns that voicing their opinions could <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/harvard-bill-ackman-wall-street-law-firms-growing-rift-2023-10">impact their job prospects</a>.<h2>Rep. Elise Stefanik calls for Harvard's president to resign</h2>A Harvard alum and New York Republican is now calling for Gay to step down as the university's president.<div type="image" title="U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) delivers remarks to nominate Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) for Speaker of the House as the House of Representatives prepares to vote on a new Speaker at the U.S. Capitol Building on October 17, 2023 in Washington, DC." height="1256" width="1790" msid="104534800" hostid="261" sizebytes="72354"></div>New York Rep. Elise Stefanik <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/EliseStefanik/status/1713982639705866453">posted on X</a> that Gay "should immediately resign for refusing to condemn antisemitism." The university was continuing to "disgrace itself on the global stage," she <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/EliseStefanik/status/1712835517853614165">said</a>.<h2>Other colleges see similar flare-ups</h2>The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wealthy-college-donors-pull-funding-over-israel-palestine-war-response-2023-10">heated debate over how people should respond to the violence</a> spread to other colleges.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/apollo-ceo-marc-rowan-university-pennsylvania-penn-leaders-quit-antisemitism-2023-10">Marc Rowan</a>, the CEO of Apollo Global Management, called for the president and board chair at the University of Pennsylvania, his alma mater, to step down and urged other alumni to cut their donations after the university, he claimed, didn't take a strong enough stance against antisemitism. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jon-huntsman-family-stops-donations-penn-university-antisemitism-israel-response-2023-10">Jon Huntsman Jr.</a>, the former governor of Utah, halted the Huntsman Foundation's donations to the university over its response to Hamas' attacks."I want to leave no doubt about where I stand," Elizabeth Magill, the university's president, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wealthy-college-donors-pull-funding-over-israel-palestine-war-response-2023-10">said</a> in an email to the university community. "I, and this University, are horrified by and condemn Hamas's terrorist assault on Israel and their violent atrocities against civilians."Thousands of people have signed a petition demanding a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/columbia-professor-faces-removal-petition-after-pro-hamas-attack-article-2023-10">Columbia professor</a> be removed from his post after he referred to Hamas' attacks as "awesome" in an article.<h2>Companies have pulled job offers</h2>The law firm <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/3-harvard-columbia-law-students-lost-job-offers-israel-statements-2023-10">Davis Polk &amp; Wardwell</a> confirmed to Insider on October 17 that it had rescinded job offers to three students from Columbia University and Harvard University due to their alleged involvement in student organizations which issued <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/harvard-students-groups-signed-anti-israel-letter-without-them-knowing-2023-10">statements on the Israel-Hamas war</a>.And law firm <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nyu-law-student-bar-association-president-blame-israel-hamas-2023-10">Winston &amp; Strawn</a> withdrew its job offer to a New York University law student for publishing comments "profoundly in conflict" with the firm's values. The student appeared to be the president of the NYU Student Bar Association, who had published a statement in the Association's newsletter saying that "Israel bears full responsibility for this tremendous loss of life."

Harvard has become the poster child for American culture wars in the 11 days since Hamas' terrorist attack on Israel. Here's what's happened.

Australian High Commissioner <keyword id="837736" type="General" weightage="70" keywordseo="Barry-OFarrell" source="Orion">Barry O'Farrell</keyword> on Monday said that Adgroup is still a significant investor in Australia. "Adani's investment is fully functioning in Australia. No reports I see from Australia of any effect on business, he is still a significant investor," O'Farrell said on Monday. <keyword id="6367820" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="adani-group" source="Orion">Adani Group</keyword> is an Indian multinational conglomerate founded by Gautam Adani. It is headquartered in Ahmedabad. The Australian High Commissioner on Monday also said that the Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will arrive in Ahmedabad on the evening of Holi. "I expect him to take part in those celebrations," O'Farrell said. Asserting that India and Australia are deepening ties through two-way mobility to fulfil 21st-century aspirations, O'Farrell also said " Very soon, India will have Australian campuses". <keyword id="5783061" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="union-education" source="Orion">Union Education</keyword> Minister Dharmendra Pradhan recently said that two Australian universities- Wollongong and Deakin will soon establish campuses in Gujarat. "<keyword id="6355445" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="education" source="Orion">Education</keyword> is the key to all transformation. Therefore, education is the natural 'mother' for all transformation and partnerships. India and Australia are deepening ties through two-way mobility to fulfil 21st-century aspirations," Dharmendra Pradhan said. The visiting Australian delegation led by Education Minister Jason Clare held a high-level meeting with the Indian delegation led by Pradhan and participated in student engagement programmes in New Delhi on Wednesday. Pradhan further said that strengthening educational linkages will provide opportunities for students from both countries to learn and gain new experiences in diverse cultural settings, thereby truly upholding the values of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" or "One Earth, One Family and One Future", which is also the theme of India's G20 Presidency. As per the <keyword id="263716" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="ministry-of-education" source="Orion">Ministry of Education</keyword>, both sides held discussions to take their partnership in the education sector forward in areas of school, higher and vocational education. "They discussed ways to deepen engagements to <keyword id="13880162" type="DOMAIN" weightage="20" keywordseo="empower" botkeyword="" source="ET" sourcekeytype="COMPANY" meta.keywordsubtype="EQ" meta.aliasname="empower" meta.entityname="Empower India Ltd." meta.entityid="3850" meta.seoname="empower-india-ltd">empower</keyword> youth in both countries and make the education and skills sector more vibrant. Both ministers reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing institutional collaboration and two-way mobility by exploring the delivery of transnational education in the higher education, skills and research sectors," the ministry added. Australian High Commissioner also emphasized that "Quad is not turning into Indo-Pacific NATO". The Quad Foreign Ministers recently carried out a comprehensive review of various issues, ranging from Indo-Pacific to ASEAN. The meeting was presided by <keyword id="43920" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="external-affairs" source="Orion">External Affairs</keyword> Minister <keyword id="491850" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="s-jaishankar" source="Orion">S Jaishankar</keyword>, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Japanese counterpart Yoshimasa Hayashi and <keyword id="100742" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="us-state-department" source="Orion">US State Department</keyword> Secretary Antony Blinken. The <keyword id="3268350" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="quadrilateral-security-dialogue" source="Orion">Quadrilateral Security Dialogue</keyword> (Quad) reaffirmed its steadfast commitment to supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific and strongly supported the peaceful settlement of disputes without resorting to threats or use of force and freedom of navigation and overflight. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/philips-7000-series-hair-straightener-review-modern-easy-to-use-and-affordable/articleshow/98452665.cms">Philips 7000-series hair straightener review: Modern, easy to use, and affordable</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/sensex-nifty-close-higher-for-2nd-day-on-gains-in-global-equities-it-financials-shares-advance/articleshow/98453920.cms">Sensex, Nifty close higher for 2nd day on gains in global equities; IT, financials shares advance</a>

Adani is still significant investor in Australia, investment fully functional: High Commissioner Barry O'Farrell

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="11893532" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="meghan-markle" source="Orion">Meghan Markle</keyword> appeared in a 2013 film called "Random Encounters," produced by Robert Shinn.</li><li>Shinn is also the CEO of 7M, a <keyword id="11894125" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="tiktok" source="Orion">TikTok</keyword> management company recently accused of being a "cult," which he denies.</li></ul>Meghan Markle once acted in a movie produced by a man who <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/7m-films-tiktok-shekinah-church-robert-shinn-dance-cult-miranda-derrick?utmSource=twitter&amp;utmContent=referral&amp;utmTerm=topbar&amp;referrer=twitter&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=topbar&amp;r=US&amp;IR=T">has since been accused</a> of leading a "cult-like" organization involving TikTok dancers. <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1586525/">According to IMDb</a>, the 2013 movie, called "Random Encounters," is a romantic <keyword id="11940446" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="comedy" source="Orion">comedy</keyword> about a couple played by actors Abby Wathen and Michael Rady who meet through a seemingly "chance encounter" at a coffee shop that turns into a relationship. Markle plays the character of Mindy, Wathen's roommate, who unsuccessfully tries to offer her advice about dating and love. Representatives for Megan Markle did not respond to Insider's request for comment regarding her involvement in the movie.The film, which was shot in Los Angeles, California, has an IMDb rating of 4.3 out of 10 stars and was released on December 1, 2013. "Random Encounters" was executive-produced by Robert Shinn, the CEO of a talent management company formed in 2021 called <a href="https://7mfilms.com/">7M Films,</a> which represents several well-known TikTok dance creators in LA.On February 28, 2022, the family of Miranda Derrick, who is one of the dancers represented by 7M, posted an <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CagFHNZJKoC/">Instagram video</a> saying Derrick was "brainwashed" by the management company and transformed into a "totally different" person after becoming involved with the group. In a <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cav2rh0rdoi/">subsequent Instagram statement</a> she denied being involved in a religious cult.In a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/7m-films-tiktok-shekinah-church-robert-shinn-dance-cult-miranda-derrick?utmSource=twitter&amp;utmContent=referral&amp;utmTerm=topbar&amp;referrer=twitter&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=topbar&amp;r=US&amp;IR=T">statement to Insider</a>, a representative for Derrick said, "My family reacted to my independence and my personal and professional choices by publicly attacking me, my husband, my faith and my management. 7M represents me as their client and treats me as any other talent manager treats their clients. I am an adult and pay my own bills and taxes and I control my own finances."A representative for 7M and Shinn told Insider the allegations were "false and defamatory."The allegation led to various <a href="https://www.instagram.com/withoutacrystalball/?hl=en">drama</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_hVJ1n0oto">accounts</a> on YouTube and Instagram, <a href="https://www.insider.com/youtube-drama-commentary-tea-channels-dramageddon-2021-8">which typically post about social media controversies</a>, to begin a process of online sleuthing into the company. Discussions about 7M Films and the various dancers associated with it soon went viral on <a href="https://twitter.com/msbigmilk/status/1500699491346747392">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/7mfilms">TikTok</a>. Shinn is also the founder of a nondenominational Christian ministry called Shekinah Church, which in 2009 was sued by a former member who alleged that they "exerted undue influence, mind control, coercive persuasion, oppression and other intimidating tactics." The suit was dismissed in 2011.A woman who left the church in 2008 <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/7m-films-tiktok-shekinah-church-robert-shinn-dance-cult-miranda-derrick?utmSource=twitter&amp;utmContent=referral&amp;utmTerm=topbar&amp;referrer=twitter&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=topbar&amp;r=US&amp;IR=T">told Insider's Julia Black</a> that what's happening to 7M dancers may be "history repeating itself." Other former members of the church said Shinn had taken control of their bank accounts and restricted their diets. A representative for Shinn and 7M denied these allegations in a statement to Insider.In a March <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10632181/Family-claimed-TikTok-star-daughter-abducted-cult-slammed-PATHETIC.html">statement given to the Daily Mail</a>, a spokesperson for 7M denied accusations that the group was a cult, calling them "false and sensational." Several of Shinn's relatives were also involved in the 2013 movie, according to its IMDb page. Shinn's son Isaiah Shinn is listed as a "production assistant," his wife Shirley Kim is listed as handling "business affairs/legal," and his daughter Chloe Shinn, who performs under the name Kloë Julynn, is listed in charge of "extras casting."Daniel Joseph, an associate pastor of Shinn's church who became 7M Films' main producer, was also part of the film's crew according to IMDb. <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3058575/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cr3">He is also credited</a> as an actor in <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3580692/?ref_=nm_knf_i1">"Abducted,"</a> and <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1570983/?ref_=nm_knf_i3">"Closure,"</a> two other films that Shinn was involved in producing.Before <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/prince-harry-wedding-speech-what-he-said-about-meghan-markle-2018-5?r=US&amp;IR=T">Markle married Prince Harry</a> and announced her retirement from acting in May 2018, the actor was <a href="https://www.insider.com/meghan-markle-career-timeline-2021-8#1993-an-11-year-old-meghan-markle-made-her-first-tv-appearance-speaking-out-against-a-sexist-procter-and-gamble-commercial-for-ivory-dishwasher-soap-1">best-known for playing Rachel Zane in the television show "Suits"</a> from 2011 to 2018. She made her first on-screen appearance when she was just 11 years old, <a href="https://www.insider.com/meghan-markle-career-timeline-2021-8#1993-an-11-year-old-meghan-markle-made-her-first-tv-appearance-speaking-out-against-a-sexist-procter-and-gamble-commercial-for-ivory-dishwasher-soap-1">speaking out against a "sexist" commercial</a> that suggested women were responsible for doing the dishes on a segment of family television show "Nick News" in 1993. Markle and Prince Harry now live in Montecito, California with their two children, and in October 2020, they <a href="https://www.insider.com/meghan-markle-career-timeline-2021-8#june-8-2021-meghan-markle-published-her-first-childrens-book-the-bench-22">co-founded a media production company</a>, called Archewelle Productions, after signing a partnership deal with <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-use-netflix-tips-and-tricks">Netflix</a>. Markle has no affiliation with 7M or Shekinah Church, or with Shinn, apart from her appearance in "Random Encounters."Julia Black contributed to this reporting.<a href="https://www.insider.com/culture">For more stories like this, check out coverage from Insider's Digital Culture team here.</a>

Meghan Markle once acted in a movie produced by the man now accused of starting a TikTok 'dance cult'

As Indian startups face turbulence in the global funding winter, experts on Monday said they need to reserve cash, create a long-term goal and adopt a culture of customer feedback to survive in 2023. On the occasion of the 'National Startup Day', envisioned by Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="narendra-modi" source="Orion">Narendra Modi</keyword> last year, industry experts said that the founders must continuously monitor the trends which are happening in the world. Indian startups fired more than 18,000 employees in 2022 amid a funding winter and macroeconomic uncertainty. "Investing in R&amp;D can be one of the finest ways to actually tackle disruption. Make sure that as a business, you keep some of your profits or your balance sheet reserves for investing into R&amp;D to actually learn more," Dr Ritesh Malik, Director, <keyword id="6365866" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="alliance" source="Orion">Alliance</keyword> for <keyword id="2947744" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="digital-india-foundation" source="Orion">Digital India Foundation</keyword>, or <keyword id="1429787" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="adif" source="Orion">ADIF</keyword>, told IANS. "If you feel that there is a platform like Instagram where the go-to-market strategy is more efficient, start learning Instagram and start promoting your products there," he added. According to <keyword id="6061635" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="tejas-khoday" source="Orion">Tejas Khoday</keyword>, Co-Founder and CEO of trading platform FYERS, this year is special as India has emerged to be the third largest startup ecosystem in the world. "While the past year was turbulent with IPOs of several well-known startups not doing too well, the ongoing funding winter and related layoffs, in the long run, all this will be a blip on the radar," he said. That said, this will help the ecosystem to mature and hopefully and we will see startups achieve a better balance between scale and profitability in 2023, Khoday noted. While interacting with over 150 startups, <keyword id="2238662" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="pm-modi" source="Orion">PM Modi</keyword> last year announced the commemoration of National Startup Day on January 16 every year. The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade and the <keyword id="6416832" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="ministry-of-commerce-and-industry" source="Orion">Ministry of Commerce and Industry</keyword> marked an entire week as <keyword id="16072714" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="national-startup-week" source="Orion">National Startup Week</keyword>, from January 10 to 16. According to Malik, startups must hear back from their customers. "The more you hear from your customers, the more you will be able to understand their changing needs. And the more your product becomes dynamic and you constantly change that product to the whims and fantasies of the customer," he noted. <keyword id="3337958" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="ravish-naresh" source="Orion">Ravish Naresh</keyword>, CEO and Co-founder of Khatabook, said that there is a stronger acknowledgment of Indian startups' role in solving core problems of emerging economies to bridge the socio-economic gaps. "This year, our primary aim is to turn profitable and scale up the digital lending offerings to meet the unmet credit demand of Indian MSME businesses. We are optimistic about the Indian economy and its opportunities for the startup ecosystem," he said. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/logistics-startup-locad-raises-11-million-in-series-a-funding-led-by-reefknot-investments/articleshow/97020396.cms">Logistics startup Locad raises $11 million in Series A funding led by Reefknot Investments</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/foreign-investors-pull-out-15000-crore-from-stocks-in-the-first-two-weeks-of-2023/articleshow/97019987.cms">Foreign investors pull out ₹15,000 crore from stocks in the first two weeks of 2023</a>

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