Body of missing boy, 14, found in River Tyne
Another boy, 13, was rescued from the water and is in a critical condition in hospital, police say.
What happened in the UKs infected blood scandal? Inquiry report will be revealed on Monday
LONDON: The final report of the UK's infected blood inquiry will be published Monday, nearly six years after it began looking into how tens of thousands of people contracted HIV or hepatitis from transfusions of tainted blood and blood products in the 1970s and 1980s. The scandal is widely seen as the deadliest to afflict Britains state-run National Health Service since its inception in 1948, with around 3,000 people believed to have died as a result of being infected with the HIV virus and hepatitis, an inflammation of the liver. The report is expected to criticize pharmaceutical firms and medical practitioners, civil servants and politicians, though many have already died given the passage of time. Its also set to pave the way to a huge compensation bill that the British government will be under pressure to rapidly pay out. Had it not been for the tireless campaigners, many of whom saw loved ones die decades too soon, the scale of the scandal may have remained hidden forever. This whole scandal has blanketed my entire life, said Jason Evans, who was four when his father died at the age of 31 in 1993 after contracting HIV and hepatitis from an infected blood plasma product. My dad knew he was dying and he took many home videos, which Ive got and replayed over and over again growing up because thats really all I had, he added. Evans was instrumental in the decision by then Prime Minister Theresa May to establish the inquiry in 2017. He said he just couldnt let it go. His hope is that on Monday, he and countless others, can. Here is a look at what the scandal was about and what the reports impact may be. WHAT IS THE INFECTED BLOOD SCANDAL? In the 1970s and 1980s, thousands of people who needed blood transfusions, for example after childbirth or surgery, became exposed to blood tainted with hepatitis, including an as yet unknown kind that was later termed Hepatitis C, and the HIV virus. Those with haemophilia, a condition affecting the bloods ability to clot, became exposed to what was sold as a revolutionary new treatment derived from blood plasma. In the UK, the NHS, which treats the vast majority of people, started using the new treatment in the early 1970s. It was called Factor VIII. It was more convenient when compared with an alternative treatment and was dubbed a wonder drug. Demand soon outstripped domestic sources of supply, so health officials began importing Factor VIII from the US, where a high proportion of plasma donations came from prisoners and drug users who were paid to donate blood. That dramatically raised the risk of the plasma being contaminated. Factor VIII was made by mixing plasma from thousands of donations. In this pooling, one infected donor would compromise the whole batch. The inquiry heard estimates that more than 30,000 people were infected from compromised blood or blood products via transfusions or Factor VIII. MISSED CHANCES By the mid 1970s, there was evidence haemophiliacs being treated with Factor VIII were more prone to hepatitis. The World Health Organization, which had warned in 1953 of the hepatitis risks associated with the mass pooling of plasma products, urged countries not to import plasma. AIDS, the biggest public health crisis since World War II, turned up in the early 1980s. Originally thought to be isolated to the gay community, it soon started appearing among haemophiliacs and those who had received blood transfusions. Though the cause of AIDS HIV was not identified until 1983, warnings had been relayed to the UK government the year before that the causative agent could be transmitted by blood products. The government argued there was no conclusive proof. Patients were not informed of the risk, and persisted with a treatment that put them in mortal danger. MISTAKES The inquiry is expected to conclude that lessons from as early as the 1940s had been ignored. Campaigners argue that since the 1940s it had been clear that heat killed hepatitis in another plasma product, Albumin. They say authorities could have made Factor VIII safe before it was sold. Evidence given to the inquiry suggested that authorities main objection was financial. Non-heated Factor VIII was prescribed by the NHS until late 1985. Campaigners hope the inquirys core finding is that Factor VIII concentrates should never have been licensed for use unless heated. WHY NOW? In the late 1980s, victims and their families called for compensation on the grounds of medical negligence. Though the government set up a charity to make one-off support payments to those infected with HIV in the early 1990s, it did not admit liability or responsibility and victims were pressured to sign a waiver undertaking not to sue the Department of Health to get the money. Crucially, the waiver also prevented victims from suing for hepatitis, even though at that stage they only knew about their HIV infection. Years after signing, victims were told they had also been infected with hepatitis, mainly Hepatitis C. There was no further group litigation until Evans, whose mother crumbled after his fathers death and who was called AIDS boy at school, brought a case claiming misfeasance in public office against the Department of Health. Combined with political and media pressure, May announced the independent inquiry. It was, she said, an appalling tragedy which should simply never have happened. COMPENSATION The government has accepted the case for compensation, with most estimates putting the final bill in the region of 10 billion pounds ($12.7 billion). In October 2022, authorities made interim payments of 100,000 pounds to each survivor and bereaved partners. The government is expected to announce different payments for different infections and also address how and when bereaved families can apply for interim payments on behalf of the estates of people who have died.
Taiwan's Lai Ching-te goes shrimp fishing day before taking oath as president
Taiwan's Lai Ching-te goes shrimp fishing day before taking oath as president
Battery-run rickshaw drivers dispersed after clash with cops
Several people injured, a number of vehicles vandalised
Paolo Montero to manage Juventus until the end of the season
Paolo Montero will take charge of Serie A side Juventus for the remainder of the season, the club said on Sunday following the dismissal of Massimiliano Allegri.
Bangladeshs envoy from Uzbekistan to visit Kyrgyzstan to address students ordeals
Bangladesh expressed deep concerns over the mob attacks on South Asian students, including Bangladeshis, in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
10 Ukrainian drones suppressed in Russias Krasnodar
Moscow: At least ten Ukrainian drones were suppressed overnight as they attempted to attack civilian targets in Russias Krasnodar region, the regional operational centre said on Sunday. The centre said on its Telegram channel that the incidents occurred in Slavyansky and Kushchevsky districts in the southern Russian region of Krasnodar, causing no casualties or structural Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Its the season of salads, so a good dressing is a must The dressing I make most often is a simple vinaigrette with vinegar, olive oil, a dash of smooth mustard and salt and pepper. I give it only the faintest breath of garlic, the clove left to steep in the vinegar for 10 minutes to take out its sting. I use a workaday olive oil rather than something more peppery or fruity, shaking everything up in a tightly sealed jar. I could make it in my sleep. Sometimes, a slightly more aromatic dressing is called for: one with shredded basil and sherry vinegar for tomatoes; or with the merest hint of honey for bitter leaves, such as watercress or chicory or with mint and tarragon to marry with roasted aubergines or courgettes. A dressing to flatter the fresh ingredients, not mask them. A light, uplifting lotion to tease out the flavours of the ingredients rather than one that smothers. A dressing to bring harmony and balance. It is what makes a few, well-chosen leaves special enough to eat as a single course. Continue reading...
Saudi King Salman Suffering From High Temperature, To Undergo Tests
This is the second time in the last couple of weeks that Saudi Arabias King Salman will undergo medical tests.
HC issues status quo on cutting trees along Jashore-Narail highway
The High Court today issued a status quo on the cutting of trees on the roadsides in the proposed six-lane Jashore-Narail highway
Football celebration damage 'unacceptable' - council
Council street cleaning teams worked thought the night after fans congregated in Glasgow city centre.
Gazans Flee Jabaliya as Israels Military Launches New Offensive
At least 64,000 people were displaced from Jabaliya and a neighboring town in the past week, according to the main U.N. agency aiding Palestinians.
Russia says Ukraine makes 60-drone attack on Russia, oil refinery halted
Ukraine launched nine US ATACMS missiles towards Crimea and conducted an assault on Russian territories using a minimum of 60 drones in a significant offensive, leading to the shutdown of an oil refinery in southern Russia, as reported by Russian officials on Sunday. The Russian air defences intercepted and destroyed nine ATACMS missiles over Crimea.
Saudi King Suffering From High Fever, To Undergo Medical Tests: Report
Saudi Arabia's King Salman is suffering from high temperature and joint pain and will undergo his second round of medical tests in less than a month, state media reported Sunday.
Dominican Republic Election: How Crackdown on Haitians Lifted Abinader
President Luis Abinader goes into Sundays race as the clear front-runner, bolstered by nativist migration policies, a strong economy and an anticorruption drive.
The Technocrat Whos Taking Control of Putins War Effort
Andrei R. Belousov, an intellectual with no military experience, is known for backing a state-dominated economy.
My time has come!: feminist artist Judy Chicago on a tidal wave of recognition at 84
On the eve of her UK retrospective Revelations, the veteran US feminist artist known for her large collaborative art installation pieces such as The Dinner Party and for dividing the critics is in celebratory mood On-screen interviews can be a bit low-key, the victim of time lags and muffled human connections. But not the one on which Ive just embarked, an experience I can only describe as psychedelic from the off. First to appear on my laptop is Donald Woodman, who sits and chats to me while we wait for Judy Chicago, the celebrated artist and his wife of 38 years, to arrive (a position in which I suspect he quite often finds himself). Woodman, who is a photographer, has bleached blond hair, bright blue glasses, and gold polish on his nails, which he now waves at me. Apparently, he and Chicago have been going to the same manicurist for years, a routine so entrenched, its virtually part of their artistic practice. Its fun, he says. When I got married to her, I was wearing nail polish. You cant let only the women adorn themselves. But its also a break from work, because it means I have to sit down for two hours. The couple are famous workaholics, and their days they live and work in an old railroad house in Belen, a small town in New Mexico begin early and end late. Last night, Judy came in and went straight to bed without any dinner, he tells me, and I cant quite tell from his tone whether he is proud or completely exhausted. (Maybe both: he is, after all, 78, and Chicago is 84.) Continue reading...
I havent tried Ozempic but I know how it feels | Megan Nolan
Our desires are an essential part of who we are as I discovered when I lost my appetite for six months Mostly, walking down New York streets in spring sunshine is the cinematic, euphoric ideal of what it is to be alive. Its the thing I looked forward to for decades. It meant to me, back then as a kid in Ireland, listening to songs about Lexington and 14th Street, freedom: an almost deranged amount of freedom. Sometimes, though, walking down New York streets in spring sunshine is agonising in both a physical and spiritual sense. This may be so, for instance, if you have no health insurance and are very stupid. Like me. That was in February 2023. I had been in increasingly acute pain for days, but because of a stubborn ability to ignore bodily breakdown and also a reluctance to spend money on healthcare in the US when I was only visiting, I kept going until I collapsed into an urgent care centre that I luckily passed one evening as I was dragging myself with manic good cheer to another dinner, despite being barely able to walk. Continue reading...
Vampire finches and deadly tree snakes: how birds went worldwide and their battles for survival
A new exhibition at the Natural History Museum in London includes tragic tales of species wiped out from their natural habitats Douglas Russell, a senior curator at Londons Natural History Museum , was examining a collection of nests gathered on the island of Guam when he made an unsettling discovery. The nests had been picked up more than 100 years ago, and I was curating them with the aim of adding them to the museums main collection. They turned out to be one of the most tragic, saddest accumulations of objects Ive ever had to deal with, Russell told the Observer last week. Continue reading...
Loud-mouthed bully: CS Lewis satirised Oxford peer in secret poems
Exclusive: Chronicles of Narnia author detested HC Wyld so intensely he wrote mocking verse in a copy of his own book CS Lewis loathed one of his fellow Oxford academics so much that he satirised him in a series of seven previously unpublished poems that have been discovered. The Chronicles of Narnia author simply could not stand HC Wyld, deriding his lectures as elementary and dismissing his snobbery and his bullying of students, referring to him in his diary as the cad. Continue reading...
Rambert: Analogue review close encounters on the dancefloor
Stone Nest, London Jill Johnsons intricate new piece puts the audience in the midst of an exploration of interaction and connection Theres something magical about watching dance at a distance when everything seems effortless. But arguably its more interesting to experience dance up close, to see the beads of sweat, feel the endurance and the heat radiating from the dancers bodies as they push themselves on. Jill Johnsons new creation for Rambert, Analogue , presented in association with the Southbank Centre at Stone Nest , makes the most of that proximity. For those who remember the West End venue as the nightclub Limelight, theres something of the same sense of movement stripping human motivation to its core, revealing intention in the lines of an encounter. Continue reading...
The Year of Living Constitutionally: a man, a political plan and a musket
For AJ Jacobs, living according to the founders rules cast a spotlight on the power and absurdity of originalist thought Would you fly the Jolly Roger for Uncle Sam? AJ Jacobs tried to. For 12 months, the author and journalist became what he calls the original originalist, seeking to live the way the founders envisioned life under the US constitution. That life included the right to piracy on behalf of the US government. It sprang from a tradition predating the constitution, when the Continental Congress granted letters of marque and reprisal, allowing seamen to capture British ships. Noting this precedent, Jacobs brought an unconventional offer to Ro Khanna, a Democratic congressman from California, when the two met in a hotel lobby. Continue reading...
Ukraine and Russia exchange drone attacks while Russia continues its push in the east
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday during a visit to China that Moscows offensive in the Kharkiv region aims to create a buffer zone but that there are no plans to capture the city
I Got Lucky: US Man Catches 12-Foot Long Shark, Releases It Back To The Sea
Owen Prior said that he earlier caught 14-foot hammerhead sharks but the 12-foot tiger shark was one of his best catches.
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange faces US extradition judgment day
The British court will decide on Julian Assange's US extradition for WikiLeaks' document leak, considering no death penalty and First Amendment rights. The case involves a US helicopter attack video, Espionage Act charges, compromising national security, risk to agents, and Assange's detention in Belmarsh top security jail.
Report: UK PM Rishi Sunak, Wife Akshata Murty Richer Than King Charles
A report by Sunday Times Rich List shows UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murtys personal wealth overtook that of King Charles. Reportedly, the couples wealth jumped from 529 million in 2023 to 651 million in 2024. Their fortune is driven largely by Akshata Murtys stake in... The post Report: UK PM Rishi Sunak, Wife Akshata Murty Richer Than King Charles appeared first on HW News English .
Over $239 mn raised by 26 Indian startups in funding last week
New Delhi, May 19 (IANS) More than $239 million was raised by 26 Indian startups in funding last week, which includes nine growth-stage deals and 15 [] The post Over $239 mn raised by 26 Indian startups in funding last week appeared first on Sarkaritel.com .
A toy globe bursting with information is a great tool
Even if were not sure what to do with it just yet Gloob! says my daughter. This is what she calls the globe that sits on a shelf in our sitting room. Its one of my favourite among her neologisms, and one were unlikely to grow sick of hearing. This is primarily because gloob is one of the best syllables to hear pronounced by a ginger two-year-old, but also because time spent with her gloob means many precious minutes of self-directed play, allowing us a break from the more full-on supervision she so typically prefers. Nana and Grandad bought the gloob for our sons fifth birthday. Its around 60cm in diameter, battery operated and comes with a stylus attached. Its mounted on a base with a small LCD screen, which displays facts and figures about anything you point the stylus toward. It offers wildly detailed information on population, demography and national customs. Each creature mentioned is delineated by class and notes are given on its diet and herding patterns. Continue reading...
US voters are increasingly polarised over politics, but Brits are far less stubborn | Torsten Bell
Pundits say rising negative feelings to other parties threatens democracy. Apart from in America, new research tells a different story The frontrunner to be the next US president is spending his weeks in court, charged with a criminal offence related to an alleged sexual encounter with a porn star. This would normally be suboptimal from a campaign perspective, but to date is having no effect on support for Donald Trump. Moreover, whether you think the US economy is going gangbusters or collapsing depends not on whether wages and employment are rising but on whether you side with Democrats or Republicans, with the latter currently reporting that economic conditions are worse than in the depths of Covid . Continue reading...
The week in TV: Better Off Dead?; Bridgerton; The Gathering; The Big Cigar review
Assisted dying is shockingly unpacked by Liz Carr; Nicola Coughlan moves centre stage in Netflixs Regency romp; Skins meets Euphoria in a Liverpool psychodrama. Plus, the trouble with a mostly true Black Panthers drama Better Off Dead? (BBC One) | iPlayer Bridgerton ( Netflix ) The Gathering (Channel 4) | channel4.com The Big Cigar ( Apple TV+ ) Every so often, a documentary comes along that unnerves you so much you half-wish you hadnt seen it. Better Off Dead? (BBC One) is one such programme. Presented by Silent Witness actor and disability activist Liz Carr, whos had arthrogryposis congenital joint contracture since childhood, it delivers a passionate and coherent argument against assisted dying. An emotionally bruising slab of television, its about life and death itself. Continue reading...
I am absolutely leaving at the right time - Hayes
Emma Hayes said she is absolutely leaving at the right time as her 12-year tenure in charge of Chelsea comes to an end.
Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman recalled the time when he did not realise who Fizz was during the initial stage of his international career.
800,000 'forced to flee' Rafah since start of Israeli operation: UNRWA
The head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) said 800,000 people had been forced to flee Gaza's southern city of Rafah since Israel began military operations there this month.
What happened in the UK's infected blood scandal? Inquiry report will be revealed on Monday
The final report of the U.K.s infected blood inquiry will be published Monday, six years after it started its work
Myanmar Rebels Claim Control Of Town, Deny Targeting Rohingya
A powerful armed ethnic group in Myanmar said on Sunday it had won control over a town in the western state of Rakhine after weeks of fighting, denying accusations it had targeted members of the Muslim-minority Rohingya during the offensive.
Prediction: This Will Be the Next Artificial Intelligence (AI) Company to Split Its Stock
Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury, a legacy beyond words
Chowdhurys contributions go beyond this iconic song and journalism. He was a distinguished storyteller with notable works, including the acclaimed short story collection Samrat-er Chhobi (The Emperors Picture). He also authored significant novels and plays, consistently emerging as an active progressive writer and political commentator through the twists and turns of history. He was not just an observer of history but an active participant.
His timeless works: A mirror to our frailties
On Manik Bandopadhyays 116th birth anniversary, his unsparing literary vision jolt us out of complacency with today's injustices.
Trend is being linked to Kremlin-inspired foreign influence bill that has led to huge street protests Vasil Berdzenishvili, 47, was happy to take a moment out from washing his car to talk about Joseph Stalin. He looked across at the bronze bust of the Soviet leader next to the slide in the childrens park and nodded. Yes, he was pleased that his village of Mukhrani, 30 miles north of the Georgian capital Tbilisi, had honoured this man. There were plus and minuses but he was very powerful, the most powerful, he won a war, a generalissimo and he was Georgian, he beamed. Continue reading...
The Bullet by Tom Lee review a complicated inheritance
This insightful memoir addresses the author and his parents struggles with mental illness, and offers a historical account of treatments The year 2008 should have been a good time in my life, the novelist Tom Lee reveals in this memoir. He was a new father, homeowner, and his first book was imminent. Instead, he was in emotional freefall because of acute anxiety. I had forgotten how to be, he writes. The bullet of the title is mental illness, one he felt was heading his way, because of its impact on his family. Both of Lees parents were institutionalised at the now defunct Severalls hospital in Colchester. Here, he shows how, having dodged their fate into adulthood, his collapse into bedridden stasis made him panic about whether he would ever recover. Hes subtle in detailing his cautious self-medicating with Ativan (more suburban than subversive) and dawning realisation that ill-health tracked him long before he was aware. Later, he suffered another illness, acute respiratory distress syndrome (Ards), which proved nearly fatal. He was placed in an induced coma and labelled by a consultant as the sickest man in London. He refers to Ards as an invader, unlike anxiety, the enemy within. Continue reading...
Verjus, top pesto, umeboshi: are restaurant menus becoming more baffling?
Whether the descriptions are long and verbose, or short and opaque, theres a fair chance youve suffered from menu overwhelm. What lies behind the changing language? You will have seen the advert on TV . The scene: a fancy restaurant dining room where a panicked young man scans a menu full of baffling words melange, deconstructed, micro agretti while all the time being scrutinised by his girlfriends hard-to-impress parents and a comically imperious waiter. Rescued by a surreptitious web search on his phone, he now knows what gravlax is and can order with confidence. Embarrassment is swerved, lunch is saved. Weve all been there. Hands up, who knew what agretti is? No? Had the samphire-like marsh grass appeared as monks beard, the name chefs prefer, would that have helped? Thought not. Continue reading...
It was smart to marry the competition: meet the power couples who work together
Meet four couples who are married to each other and the job. Yes, it can get shouty, but knowing your partner so well brings unexpected benefits, both to the working relationship and to time at home Chris Cartlidge and Lucy Khan Continue reading...
WSL 2023-24 season review: our writers best and worst
The best players, most thrilling games and finest signings plus the biggest flops and greatest gripes of the eventful season It has to be Khadija Shaw . Bunnys output speaks for itself with 21 goals in 18 games, including a run of three hat-tricks in four games at the turn of the year. For a moment it seemed as though Lauren James would match Shaws goal tally but the Manchester City strikers commanding presence has set her apart from anyone else in the WSL this season. Xaymaca Awoyungbo Continue reading...
Now You See Us: Women Artists in Britain 1520-1920 review revelations and mystifying omissions
Tate Britain, London A Flemish paintrix at the court of Elizabeth I, a magnificent mouth artist and a glamorous suffragette are finally given their due in a show tracing female artists rocky road to recognition. But the story too often takes precedence over the art Mary Delany (1700-88) was a witty memoirist of 72 when she in effect invented the paper collage in Britain. Noticing the affinity between a geranium and a scrap of red paper, she took her scissors and cut a petal from it freehand. The exquisite plant that grew from Delanys work looked so exactly like a watercolour people mistook it for a painting. She had discovered a new way, she wrote to her niece, of imitating flowers . Delanys collages are startlingly beautiful nearly transparent apparitions materialising on inky black paper. They have the translucence of both watercolour and actual pressed flowers. Two appear in this exhibition: a flowering raspberry glowing crimson against the blackness and a fragile white lily unfurling its petals, as it seems, by night. They might be emblems for the show itself: discoveries, and rediscoveries, brought out of darkness into light. Continue reading...
What's at stake for whom on Premier League's final match day?
Pep Guardiola urged history-chasing Manchester City to seize their title destiny as the battle for Premier League supremacy reaches a thrilling climax on Sunday.
Aishwarya talked about her day one look: The look last evening on the red carpet was designed by my dearest friends Shane and Falguni Peacock. They call it gilded glow but to me it was just magical. Aishwarya also talked about her makeup look for the evening and how all women are iconic in the interview
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange facing pivotal moment in long fight to stay out of US court
LONDON: The host of a news conference about WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's extradition fight wryly welcomed journalists last week to the millionth press briefing on his court case. Deborah Bonetti, director of the Foreign Press Association, was only half joking. Assanges legal saga has dragged on for well over a decade but it could come to an end in the U.K. as soon as Monday. Assange faces a hearing in London's High Court that could end with him being sent to the U.S. to face espionage charges, or provide him another chance to appeal his extradition. The outcome will depend on how much weight judges give to reassurances U.S. officials have provided that Assange's rights won't be trampled if he goes on trial. Here's a look at the case: WHAT ASSANGE IS CHARGED WITH Assange, 52, an Australian computer expert, has been indicted in the U.S. on 18 charges over Wikileaks publication of hundreds of thousands of classified documents in 2010. Prosecutors say he conspired with U.S. army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to hack into a Pentagon computer and release secret diplomatic cables and military files on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He faces 17 counts of espionage and one charge of computer misuse. If convicted, his lawyers say he could receive a prison term of up to 175 years, though American authorities have said any sentence is likely to be much lower. Assange and his supporters argue he acted as a journalist to expose U.S. military wrongdoing and is protected under press freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Among the files published by WikiLeaks was video of a 2007 Apache helicopter attack by American forces in Baghdad that killed 11 people, including two Reuters journalists. Julian has been indicted for receiving, possessing and communicating information to the public of evidence of war crimes committed by the U.S. government, his wife, Stella Assange, said. Reporting a crime is never a crime. U.S. lawyers say Assange is guilty of trying to hack the Pentagon computer and that WikiLeaks publications created a grave and imminent risk to U.S. intelligence sources in Afghanistan and Iraq. WHY THE CASE HAS DRAGGED ON SO LONG While the U.S. criminal case against Assange was only unsealed in 2019, his freedom has been restricted for a dozen years. Assange took refuge in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London in 2012 and was granted political asylum after courts in England ruled he should be extradited to Sweden as part of a rape investigation in the Scandinavian country. He was arrested by British police after Ecuadors government withdrew his asylum status in 2019 and then jailed for skipping bail when he first took shelter inside the embassy. Although Sweden eventually dropped its sex crimes investigation because so much time had elapsed, Assange has remained in Londons high-security Belmarsh Prison while the extradition battle with the U.S. continues. Biden says hes considering Australias request to drop prosecution of Wikileaks founder Assange His wife said his mental and physical health have deteriorated behind bars. Hes fighting to survive and thats a daily battle, she said. A judge in London initially blocked Assanges transfer to the U.S. in 2021 on the grounds he was likely to kill himself if held in harsh American prison conditions. But subsequent courts cleared the way for the move after U.S. authorities provided assurances he wouldnt experience the severe treatment that his lawyers said would put his physical and mental health at risk. The British government authorized Assange's extradition in 2022. WHAT THE LATEST HEARING IS ABOUT Assange's lawyers raised nine grounds for appeal at a hearing in February, including the allegation that his prosecution is political. The court accepted three of his arguments, issuing a provisional ruling in March that said Assange could take his case to the Court of Appeal unless the U.S. guaranteed he would not face the death penalty if extradited and would have the same free speech protections as a U.S. citizen. The U.S. provided those reassurances three weeks later, though his supporters are skeptical. Stella Assange said the so-called assurances were made up of weasel words. WikiLeaks Editor-in-Chief Kristinn Hrafnsson said the judges had asked if Assange could rely on First Amendment protections. It should be an easy yes or no question, Hrafnsson said. The answer was, He can seek to rely on First Amendment protections. That is a no. So the only rational decision on Monday is for the judges to come out and say, This is not good enough. Anything else is a judicial scandal. THE POSSIBLE OUTCOMES If Assange prevails, it would set the stage for an appeal process likely to further drag out the case. If an appeal is rejected, his legal team plans to ask the European Court of Human Rights to intervene. But his supporters fear Assange could possibly be transferred before the court in Strasbourg, France, could halt his removal. Julian is just one decision away from being extradited, his wife said. Assange, who hopes to be in court Monday, has been encouraged by the work others have done in the political fight to free him, his wife said. If he loses in court, he still may have another shot at freedom. President Joe Biden said last month that he was considering a request from Australia to drop the case and let Assange return to his home country. Officials have no other details but Stella Assange said it was a good sign and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the comment was encouraging. WikiLeaks founder Assange starts final UK legal battle to avoid extradition to US on spy charges
Over 17 lakh voters to decide fate of 22 candidates on Baramulla Lok Sabha seats of J&K
Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is fighting on this Lok Sabha seat against Peoples' Conference chief Sajad Gani Lone and Engineer Rashid of Awami Itihad Party.
Indian-Origin Businessman Gopichand Hinduja Tops UK's New Rich List
Chairperson of the Hinduja Group, Gopichand Hinduja has topped the UK's Sunday Times Rich List, which ranks the 1,000 richest individuals or families living in the United Kingdom based on their total wealth.
I Blew Up Mountbatten: Man Boasts Of Killing Indias Last Viceroy 44 Yrs After Assassination
Michael Hayes, a commander of the Irish Republican Army (IRA), confessed to killing King Charles's beloved great-uncle Louis Mountbatten.
Businessman and Lions rugby player Tony O'Reilly dies after short illness
He built an international media business which at one stage owned more than 100 newspapers.
HORRIFYING! Woman chops boyfriends penis off after getting her pregnant again
In a horrifying incident, a US woman allegedly chopped her boyfriends penis off during an argument and killed him, say police.
Mizoram board to declare HSSLC Result 2024 on May 21
Guwahati: The Mizoram Board of School Education (MBSE) will announce the Class 12th Higher Secondary School Leaving Certificate (HSSLC) Result 2024 on May 21, 2024, at noon. Students who appeared for the exams can check their scores on the MBSE official website mbse.edu.in. The results will also be available on mbseonline.com. Checking Online Results: The [] The post Mizoram board to declare HSSLC Result 2024 on May 21 appeared first on NORTHEAST NOW .
15pc VAT on Metro Rail: Quader requests PM to reconsider NBRs decision
Dhaka is one of the most unliveable cities in the world, which does not go hand-in-hand with the progress made by the country, says the road transport and bridges minister
Make investments in country's economic zones, PM asks businesses
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today urged local businesses to invest in the country's 100 economic zones in addition to foreign investment
Can we rid artificial intelligence of bias?
SAN FRANCISCO: Artificial intelligence built on mountains of potentially biased information has created a real risk of automating discrimination, but is there any way to re-educate the machines? The question for some is extremely urgent. In this ChatGPT era, AI will generate more and more decisions for health care providers, bank lenders or lawyers, using whatever was scoured from the internet as source material. AI's underlying intelligence, therefore, is only as good as the world it came from, as likely to be filled with wit, wisdom, and usefulness, as well as hatred, prejudice and rants. It's dangerous because people are embracing and adopting AI software and really depending on it, said Joshua Weaver, Director of Texas Opportunity & Justice Incubator, a legal consultancy. We can get into this feedback loop where the bias in our own selves and culture informs bias in the AI and becomes a sort of reinforcing loop, he said. Making sure technology more accurately reflects human diversity is not just a political choice. Other uses of AI, like facial recognition, have seen companies thrown into hot water with authorities for discrimination. This was the case against Rite-Aid, a US pharmacy chain, where in-store cameras falsely tagged consumers, particularly women and people of color, as shoplifters, according to the Federal Trade Commission. 'Got it wrong' ChatGPT-style generative AI, which can create a semblance of human-level reasoning in just seconds, opens up new opportunities to get things wrong, experts worry. The AI giants are well aware of the problem, afraid that their models can descend into bad behavior, or overly reflect a western society when their user base is global. We have people asking queries from Indonesia or the US, said Google CEO Sundar Pichai, explaining why requests for images of doctors or lawyers will strive to reflect racial diversity. But these considerations can reach absurd levels and lead to angry accusations of excessive political correctness. This is what happened when Google's Gemini image generator spat out an image of German soldiers from World War Two that absurdly included a black man and Asian woman. Obviously, the mistake was that we over-applied... where it should have never applied. That was a bug and we got it wrong, Pichai said. But Sasha Luccioni, a research scientist at Hugging Face, a leading platform for AI models cautioned that hinking that there's a technological solution to bias is kind of already going down the wrong path. Generative AI is essentially about whether the output corresponds to what the user expects it to and that is largely subjective, she said. The huge models on which ChatGPT is built can't reason about what is biased or what isn't so they can't do anything about it, cautioned Jayden Ziegler, head of product at Alembic Technologies. For now at least, it is up to humans to ensure that the AI generates whatever is appropriate or meets their expectations. 'Baked in' bias But given the frenzy around AI, that is no easy task. Hugging Face has about 600,000 AI or machine learning models available on its platform. Every couple of weeks a new model comes out and we're kind of scrambling in order to try to just evaluate and document biases or undesirable behaviors, said Luccioni. One method under development is something called algorithmic disgorgement that would allow engineers to excise content, without ruining the whole model. But there are serious doubts this can actually work. Another method would encourage a model to go in the right direction, fine tune it, ewarding for right and wrong, said Ram Sriharsha, chief technology officer at Pinecone. Pinecone is a specialist of retrieval augmented generation (or RAG), a technique where the model fetches information from a fixed trusted source. For Weaver of the Texas Opportunity & Justice Incubator, these oble attempts to fix bias are projections of our hopes and dreams for what a better version of the future can look like. But bias is also inherent into what it means to be human and because of that, it's also baked into the AI as well, he said.
Gaza hospital says 20 killed in Israeli strike on Nuseirat
A Gaza hospital said Sunday that an Israeli air strike targeting a house at a refugee camp in the centre of the Palestinian territory killed at least 20 people
SA rest key players for Windies T20I series
Cricket South Africa (CSA) has unveiled the 15-member squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against the West Indies. Middle-order batter Rassie van der Dussen will lead the national team despite not being part of the Proteas squad for the T20 World Cup.
Russia's glide bombs devastating Ukraine's cities on the cheap
20 Killed In Israeli Bombing On Refugee Camp, Says Gaza Hospital
A Gaza hospital said Sunday that an Israeli air strike targeting a house at a refugee camp in the centre of the Palestinian territory killed at least 20 people.
Grant Shapps and Wes Streeting to face Laura Kuenssberg
The MPs could be asked about a variety of issues after Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer each made pre-election speeches this week.
Gal Monfils: Im getting a little bit old. People forget that I still have it
The Frenchman has battled with injuries and perceptions to remain one of tenniss great entertainers at the age of 37 At any tournament in almost any part of the world, one of the certainties over the past 20 years is that whenever Gal Monfils plays, fans are present. Tennis, after all, is entertainment, and there have been few greater entertainers than the 37-year-old. He is one of the purest athletes the sport has seen and displays immense skill, feel and showmanship. At his best, Monfils makes tennis look so easy . But the Frenchman is adamant that it is not. Especially not in the final years of his career: [People say] Ah, Monfils is not disciplined, he says smiling, from the grounds of the Italian Open on the eve of the tournament. Guys, dont think this because Im enjoying myself on the court. The work I do outside is big. Continue reading...
German star at Cannes condemns madness of protective culture for UK child actors
Cast member of Palme dOr contender shot in Kent says the high number of chaperones and intimacy coordinators on set was over the top Is Britain leading the way in protecting young people and children from the potential traumas of working on a film set, or has it all gone far too far? Two of the most prominent European stars attending the Cannes film festival, both with high-profile premieres, have very different views. Franz Rogowski, the acclaimed German actor who plays a key role in Bird , British director Andrea Arnolds contender for the top Palme dOr prize, said this weekend that the proliferation of chaperones and intimacy coordinators that had been required on the shoot on location in Kent qualified as well-intended madness. Continue reading...
A kick in the teeth: Leeds artists fear loss of spaces is killing cultural scene
Council spending cuts are forcing studios and venues to close, driving out the citys creative businesses Last year, the city of Leeds held a year-long celebration of culture , complete with festivals, newly commissioned works of art and community projects. More than 1,000 events took place, with hundreds of volunteers and local schools taking part. This year, however, artists and creatives in the West Yorkshire city are being forced out of their workshops and galleries, and say the dwindling number of spaces is crushing Leedss creative scene. Continue reading...
Premier League 2023-24 fans verdicts, part one: Arsenal to Fulham
Fans review the season with one game to play: the stars, the flops and the moments that made them smile Part two: Liverpool to Wolves Its been a privilege. Yes, it looks destined to end in glorious failure, but well keep faith until the fat lady sings. No matter the outcome, theres so much pride in the unity of spirit that has sustained our campaign to the final day and given us the sort of exhilarating entertainment we last witnessed a couple of decades back. Some might not agree with all of Mikels decisions along the way, but theres certainly no disputing his achievements. 9.5/10 . Continue reading...
The making of Jimmy Anderson: Like a golden nugget falling into your lap
A phone call from an impressed parent helped ignite the storied career of Englands greatest ever fast bowler It all started with a phone call. It was highly unusual for Val to ring me. In fact I dont think she ever did before or since, that wasnt her style at all, says John Stanworth, recalling how Valerie Brown, the wife of the then captain of Burnley CC, Peter Brown, telephoned one Sunday evening in the late-90s. It would be a tipoff worth interrupting Antiques Roadshow . A different kind of rare and inestimable commodity was about to be unearthed. Val just said: The lads and Peter keep talking about this lad, hes a bowler. Have you heard of James Anderson? Continue reading...
Richard Hawley: If I stopped what Im doing the songs would still come
On a beer-fuelled tour of Sheffield that begins at the crack of midday, the musician discusses the strange magic of his home city, how his musical, Standing at the Skys Edge, hit a nerve in austerity-ravaged Britain, and his main hope for Keir Starmer On 8 November 2007, the great Pel visited Sheffield. The occasion was the 150th anniversary of the worlds oldest football club, Sheffield FC, which was celebrated with a match between the hometown team and Inter Milan at Sheffield Uniteds Bramall Lane. Pel, by then in his late 60s, walked on to the pitch to a rapturous ovation, but then he did something unexpected: he knelt on the turf, took out a tiny pair of scissors, carefully snipped a few blades of grass and popped them in a bag in his pocket. Without Sheffield FC, there wouldnt be me, he declared. Richard Hawley, the 57-year-old singer, songwriter and longsuffering Sheffield Wednesday season-ticket holder, relates this story with the care and wonder of someone charged with protecting a sacred memory. But his point is a bigger one: Sheffield and football should be synonymous. As, arguably, the birthplace of the worlds most popular sport, the city should be home to museums, statues and tourist walking tours. If Pel wanted to make a pilgrimage to South Yorkshire, how many others who love the game would follow him? Continue reading...
Are you a LAT couple enjoying living apart together?
One couple, two home addresses its certainly tempting A growing number of couples, a new report says, are Living Apart Together LAT. So: this is when you maintain both a romantic relationship and your own private home, and its led by older women who (according to Brides magazine) are prioritising a newfound freedom. After years of taking care of their husbands and children, these women seek a new chapter where their individual needs are at the forefront. I mean, I love it, obviously. I love that this is the new When Im an old woman I shall wear purple, when Im an old woman I shall get my own bedroom, these women finding their voices, their sexuality, their freedom in their 50s, but it also highlights how, the world being the way it is, these versions of utopia are only available to the wealthy. Who wouldnt want their own house just so, their bathroom untouched by other feet, unlittered with half-empty bottles of Head & Shoulders shampoo? Who would honestly say no, if money were no object, to a room of their own and all the nudity, slobbiness, collecting of curios and war rugs that implies? Its like when parents break up and the modern advice is for their children to remain in the family house while the parents move into separate flats. Three homes! If they had the luxury of those kinds of choices, I counter, perhaps the parents wouldnt have broken up in the first place. It reminds me of the best divorce Ive ever heard about, where the parents simply moved into different wings of their manor house and the children didnt really notice anything had changed at all. Continue reading...
Why it can pay to delay when you start drawing your UK state pension
For every nine weeks you delay your pension goes up by about 1%, but for some it could end up costing them more UK state pensions: are older retirees getting a bad deal? You can boost your weekly state pension by delaying when you start to draw it. For some people this will represent a very good deal but it all depends on how long you live for once you start receiving it. We each have a date from which we can claim our state pension. Once we do, we can receive a weekly sum based on our national insurance contributions and the level of the state pension at the time. Continue reading...
Israels top-funded tech companies in the last decade
Which companies will emerge as the country's next tech bigwigs? A look at the players bringing in the most funds may help you figure it out.
Elon Musk arrives in Indonesia, to launch satellite internet service Starlink
New Delhi: Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk on Sunday arrived in Indonesia where he aims to launch his satellite-based internet service Starlink. Musk, who is visiting Indonesia for the first time, is scheduled to launch Starlink alongside the countrys President Joko Widodo. I had the opportunity to pick up Elon at the Airport this Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Mizoram court convicts 23 in land scam
Aizawl: A special court in Aizawl, Mizoram, convicted 23 people on Friday for their involvement in a land scam. The individuals, hailing from Lawngtlai district, were found guilty of creating 35 fake land settlement certificates (LSCs) to receive compensation from the government. This scheme involved cheating authorities and exploiting their official positions. The court presided [] The post Mizoram court convicts 23 in land scam appeared first on NORTHEAST NOW .
Gazans Scramble To Get Food From Insufficient Aid Trucks
Not enough aid is flowing into the Gaza Strip, forcing the Palestinians to struggle for food amid continuous Israeli attacks.
Kyrgyzstan Crisis: What Indian and Pakistani Students Need to Know
Kyrgyzstan Violence: Key Information on the Situation and Responses Overview of the Violence In Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, foreign students, including those from India and Pakistan, are facing threats from locals amid ongoing mob violence. This unrest primarily targets international students and has raised significant concerns. India's Advisory to Students On May 18, India advised its students in Bishkek to remain indoors following reports of mob violence aimed at South Asian students. The Indian embassy in Kyrgyzstan has described the current situation as calm. The embassy is in contact with Indian students, advising them to stay safe and keep in touch. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also urged students to maintain regular communication with the embassy. Causes of the Violence The violence erupted after a viral video on social media showed a fight on May 13 between Kyrgyz students and foreign students, mainly from Pakistan and Egypt. Locals viewed this incident as a violation of their hospitality. As a result, on May 17, Kyrgyz locals protested, accusing officials of being too lenient towards the foreign students involved. Police had detained three students related to the incident. The violence quickly escalated, with mobs targeting hostels housing international students from India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. India's Response External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar posted on social media, monitoring the situation and advising students to stay in touch with the embassy. The Indian Embassy reassured that it is monitoring the situation, advising students to stay indoors and providing a 24/7 contact number (0555710041) for any issues. Statements from Kyrgyz Authorities On May 18, the Kyrgyz foreign ministry stated that law enforcement had acted quickly to detain those involved in the incident, and the situation is now under control. The ministry reported no serious injuries among the participants and urged media and diplomatic missions to avoid spreading unverified information. Health and Safety Updates The Kyrgyz health ministry reported that four Pakistani students received first aid and were discharged, while one remains under treatment for injuries. Police in riot gear were deployed in parts of Bishkek due to large crowds gathering after the fight on May 13. Indian Student Population in Kyrgyzstan Approximately 15,000 Indian students are studying in Kyrgyzstan, many pursuing MBBS degrees due to the affordability and quality of medical education. Degrees from Kyrgyzstan universities are internationally recognized, including by the World Health Organization (WHO). A recent advisory from India described Kyrgyzstan as safe and friendly towards Indian nationals. Pakistan's Response Pakistan's Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan, Hasan Zaigham, advised Pakistani students in Bishkek to stay indoors until the situation normalizes. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Federal Minister Amir Muqam to visit Bishkek to assist Pakistani students. They are traveling on a special plane to provide support. Pakistan's Foreign Affairs Ministry also issued a demarche to Kyrgyzstan regarding the situation. Update on Pakistani Students Ambassador Zaigham confirmed no deaths among Pakistani students. A special flight carrying 180 Pakistani students landed at Lahore's Allama Iqbal International Airport on May 18. The situation in Bishkek remains tense but reportedly calm. Both India and Pakistan are closely monitoring the situation and taking measures to ensure the safety of their students. The Kyrgyz authorities are working to control the violence and maintain public order. Pakistan Mulls Extension of USD15.5 Billion Chinese Energy Debt Amid IMF Talks NIA Files Chargesheet Against Amaan Salim Shaikh: Key Figure in Visakhapatnam Espionage Case 3 Killed in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir as Security Forces Respond with Firing and Teargas
Israeli Forces Say It Recovered Another Slain Hostage From Gaza
The Israeli military said that its forces have recovered the body of Ron Binyamin, who was among 252 people seized by Hamas-led Palestinian gunmen in a cross-border October 7 rampage
20 killed in Israeli strike on Nuseirat, says Gaza hospital
Du Plessis hails middle order as Bengaluru complete IPL playoff lineup
Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain Faf du Plessis showered praise on the team's middle order after they grabbed the final playoff spot in the Indian Premier League (IPL) following a stunning turnaround in the tournament.
Woman left homeless after canal boat stolen
Jolita Velickiene, who was forced to live in her car, wants those responsible to be arrested.
Thousands Clash With Israeli Police Demanding Release of Hostages
Thousands of protesters clash with Israeli Police in Tel Aviv demanding the release of hostages
SSC-Dakhil results:12 institutions show-caused in Sirajganjs Ullapara
A total of 12 educational institutes in Sirajganj's Ullapara upazila have been show-caused by the upazila's education office for their poor performance in this year's Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and Dakhil examinations
'All-round mastermind Usyk reaches boxing's summit'
Oleksandr Usyk was already a boxing superstar, but he transcended the sport with his historic heavyweight title win over Tyson Fury, writes Kal Sajad.
Extremist Violence In West Bank Rises, Canada Joins EU, US To Sanction Israeli Settlers
Canada sanctioned a few Israeli settlers accusing them of stoking violence against Palestinians living in the West Bank.
Bombay HC issues 2nd favorable order for Prernaa Arora
The famous film producer Prernaa Arora secured second favourable order from the Bombay High Court for release of Rs. 50 lakhs deposited by her father in the year 2019.
Mass Wedding Plan For Nigerian Orphans Sparks Uproar, Some Girls Feared To Be Underage
Several Nigerian Human rights groups have also launched a petition to stop the mass wedding plan.
Cracks in Israeli War Cabinet: Key member threatens to resign
Benny Gantz, a crucial member of Israel's three-man war cabinet, has issued an ultimatum to the Benjamin Netanyahu government over its current strategy in the ongoing war with Hamas.
Hunt continues for missing Viking hoard artefacts
Police have recovered some items but the whereabouts of most still remain unknown.
Caught On Cam: Sky Lights Up As Meteor Shower In Spain And Portugal Dazzles Social Media
A blue meteor dazzles spectators as it streaks across the sky over Spain and Portugal, captivating social media
Man charged with murder of woman in east Belfast
A 43-year-old woman and a 22-year-old man also face charges related to Kathryn Parton's death.
PM opens SME fair in Dhaka to showcase local products
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday inaugurated the weeklong 11th National SME Product Fair to showcase products made by local small and medium enterprises.
