6.9-magnitude earthquake rocks Japan
Tokyo: An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.9 on Saturday jolted off Japans Bonin Islands or Ogasawara Islands, the countrys weather agency said. The temblor occurred at 5.36 p.m. local time (0836 GMT) at a depth of 540 km, measuring 3 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of 7 in parts of the prefecture, 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 .
The ancient relics were smuggled into the US by Indian-American art dealer Subhash Kapoor.
Bus catches fire in Dhaka's Banani
On information, two fire engines rushed to the spot and brought the fire under control around 4:15pm
Understanding US Campus turmoil amid Israel-Hamas conflict
Explore the tumultuous climate on US campuses amidst the Israel-Hamas conflict, reflecting debates, protests, and heightened tensions.
Who's a good pundit? Pablo the dog joins MLB commentary booth
Watch as commentators at the Washinton Nationals v Los Angeles Dodgers game are joined in the commentary box by a furry friend, Pablo the dog.
West Ham United v Liverpool: Premier League live
Premier League updates from the 12.30pm BST kick-off Live scoreboard | Reds agree terms for Slot | And mail Barry West Ham: Areola, Coufal, Zouma, Ogbonna, Emerson Palmieri, Soucek, Alvarez, Bowen, Lucas Paqueta, Kudus, Antonio. Subs: Fabianski, Johnson, Cresswell, Ward-Prowse, Phillips, Cornet, Ings, Casey, Mubama. Continue reading...
Jamnagar Lok Sabha constituency: Check polling date, candidates list, past election results
The parliamentary polls in Gujarat's 26 Lok Sabha constituencies are scheduled to be contested in a single phase on May 7 (third phase).
Health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza says war death toll at 34,388
The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said Saturday that at least 34,388 people have been killed in the Palestinian territory during more than six months of war between Israel and Hamas militants
BJP's Ambala candidate faces farmers' protest
Farmers protest in Naggal village against Banto Kataria, questioning barricades at Shambhu border. Gurmeet Singh Majri leads protesters demanding legal guarantee on minimum support price. Aseem Goyal, Ambala City MLA, tries to pacify them.
Let Rishi Sunak get on with the job, says Grant Shapps
Defence secretary says MPs must give the PM space as Tory figures appear to be vying for leadership Conservative MPs looking for a new party leader need to allow Rishi Sunak to get on with the job, Grant Shapps has said. Amid speculation that Sunak could announce an election next week in order to stave off potential challengers for the top job, the defence secretary said now was not the time or place to try to put another Conservative leader in place. The party is on its fifth leader since 2015. Continue reading...
Pro-Palestinian students have peacefully evacuated prestigious Paris university campus building
Paris students peacefully evacuate Sciences Po building after tensions. Alumni include Emmanuel Macron. Tensions between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli groups led to riot police intervention. France faces antisemitism surge amid Gaza war divisiveness.
Three Indian women from Gujarat die in US as speeding car runs off highway, crashes into...
The SUV was travelling northbound when it crashed, jumping across all lanes of traffic before colliding with trees
Four arrests after death and 'bad heroin' alert
Police confirm the death of a man and eight people needing hospital treatment in north Devon.
Canada's British Columbia makes U-turn over hard drugs
British Columbia ends pilot program allowing public use of hard drugs. Premier David Eby reinstates police enforcement of drug laws in all public places to address concerns over safety and drug-related public disorder.
The overturning of Harvey Weinsteins rape conviction is an affront to women | Moira Donegan
#MeToos real legacy may not be ending predators impunity so much as highlighting the tenacity of that impunity Usually, rape isnt reported. When it is reported, it is often not charged. And when it is charged, it rarely leads to a conviction. These facts shape both our cultural understanding of sexual violence and womens sense of their own embodied lives, clarifying something many of us already know that while sexual violence is technically illegal and officially abhorred, it is also tolerated in practice, with actual arrests and convictions being so rare that most sexual violence is de facto decriminalized. Only occasionally does a notable rape conviction come to pass; when it does, its very rarity highlights this dissonance, making plain the gulf between how rape is officially talked about and how it is usually treated. Now, that gulf has come to the fore again, because on Thursday one of the most high-profile rape convictions in American history was overturned. Moira Donegan is a Guardian US columnist Continue reading...
The broadcaster knew she had a link to the central Asian country she first visited on her gap year 30 years ago. But retracing her steps, this time with her mother in tow, she made a big discovery about their family Can you read what it says? It was 1992 and I was standing in Samarkands impressive Registan Square, looking up at Arabic inscriptions on 15th- and 17th-century buildings, when an Uzbek man approached me, speaking in Russian. The Soviet Union had just collapsed, but he had lived his life in a period when Cyrillic script had been dominant and Islamic learning discouraged. Now, seeing a stranger trying to decipher the words on the buildings of his city, he wanted to know if I could explain them to him. Back then, I was on my gap year and living in Moscow teaching English at a specialist language school, where many of my pupils were the children of officials, diplomats and almost certainly KGB agents. It was a time of political transition and widespread hardship, including rising prices and struggles to access food, even through the black market. The six of us who had come from the UK were largely protected from that, as whatever we had from home was in sterling, precious hard currency, rather than roubles. When the school had a spring holiday that March, we decided to fly nearly 2,000 miles south-east and see something of Uzbekistan, then emerging from decades as one of the Soviet socialist republics. Continue reading...
St Vincent: All Born Screaming review magnificently dark, heavy and loud
(Total Pleasure/Virgin) Recreating the noises in her head, Annie Clarks first fully self-produced album ranges across styles and emotions, and is her most direct yet Worth remembering: Annie St Vincent Clarks college band was called the Skull Fuckers . The guitarist is no stranger to coaxing hairy sounds out of her instrument, nor to drilling down to uncouth feelings within. After a series of albums with slicker sound palettes, she has gone dark and heavy for her seventh studio , All Born Screaming ; heavy-hitter Dave Grohl plays apocalyptic drums on a pair of tracks. Clarks first entirely self-produced work, it aims to recreate the noises in her head without a filter. Gloriously unstable modular synths often figure. Apparently it took dozens of vocal takes to strike the right timbre of desolation on Hell Is Near, the bleak first cut. At the other end of the record, the title track highlights the suffering in the human condition and simultaneously, the fact that the pain means were alive. In between, Clark touches on lust, loss and death in a more direct manner than her highly stylised personae often allow for. From the noisy low end of lead track Broken Man, through Flea s prowling industrial pop and the superlative goth jazz, Bond-like theme of Violent Times , its a loud and unapologetically varied work. Continue reading...
Sadiq Khan: leaseholders in England should have the right to withhold service charges
London mayor says residents need a law protecting them from unfair and unexplained increases in levies by landlords Leaseholders hit with large and unjust service charges should have the right to refuse to pay up, Sadiq Khan has said, amid concerns that the government has backed away from its promises to boost the rights of tenants . There are 1.4m leasehold properties in London, a quarter of all such properties in the country. The London mayor said that many of the residents affected were suffering from a shameful abuse of power by their landlords. Continue reading...
From a mural in Birmingham commemorating poet Benjamin Zephaniah to the Observers favourite food shops: the best original photographs from the Observer commissioned in April 2024 Continue reading...
With four million copies sold and three books in adaptation, the Beach Read author is riding high. She talks about hope, TikTok tropes and escapism A few weeks after EmilyHenrys second romance novel, You and Me on Vacation, was published in May 2021, she noticed a giant spike in sales. Her editor and agent had noticed it too. They were all emailing and texting, trying to figure out what was happening, when someone finally cracked it: Its BookTok. Henry had already made it on to theNew York Times bestseller list twice, first with her romance debut, Beach Read, then with You and Me on Vacation. But TikTok videos made by impassioned fans vaulted the American author to a new level of fame. Since then, videos tagged #EmilyHenry have been viewed more than 300m times, and her books have sold more than 4m copies. Three of her five romances are being adapted for film. Continue reading...
Alberta Draws Academia Into Its Fight With Justin Trudeau
Alberta is seeking powers to veto funding agreements between the federal government and provincial entities, including postsecondary institutions.
U.S. intelligence believes Putin probably didn't order Navalny to be killed: Report
The U.S. assessment was based on a range of information, including some classified intelligence, and an analysis of public facts
30 years on, South Africa's dream of unity lies shattered
South Africa's ANC faces trust issues due to corruption and economic struggles. Zuma's leadership marked by plundering state funds. Country aims for global advocacy against oppression despite internal challenges.
Tiger Shroff replaces Akshay Kumar for a Vimal ad for which the actor had backed out after he faced immense backlash from fans. Shah Rukh Khan and Ajay Devgn reunite again for the same while Amyra Dastur joins them!
7 injured in clash at Jashore Central Jail
Seven people, including two jail guards, were injured in a clash between two rival groups of inmates at Jashore Central Jail this morning
Case filed against Tejasvi Surya for 'seeking votes on religious grounds'
A case has been filed against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Bengaluru South Lok Sabha constituency Tejasvi Surya for apparently seeking votes on religious grounds, an official said on Friday.
Four Vietnamese nationals arrested in London over people smuggling
Joint UK-French investigation alleges group advertised small-boat crossings of Channel on social media Four Vietnamese nationals have been arrested in London after an investigation into alleged people smugglers advertising small-boat crossings of the Channel on Facebook. The joint UK-French investigation alleges the group shared posts aimed at the Vietnamese community and charged migrants thousands of pounds to make the crossing. Continue reading...
Three Indian Women Killed In Horrific Accident In US, Speeding SUV Goes Airborne
The SUV was heading north on I-85 when it veered across both lanes, climbed an embankment, and shot upwards of at least 20 feet before slamming into trees on the other side of the bridge
'Divest from Israel': Columbia, Harvard say no to student demands
Despite the pressure from protest students and activists, universities across the US remain steadfast in their opposition to divestment. Harvard University, boasting the country's largest endowment at nearly $51 billion, recently said that it opposes calls for a policy of boycotting Israel and its academic institutions. At Yale, administrators refused to entertain a proposal to divest from weapons manufacturers, and instead, police apprehended more than 40 students who were protesting outside the Schwarzman Center.
Beneath London, Tunnels and Bomb Shelters to Become Tourist Attractions
Used for spying, a phone exchange and more over the years, a semi-secret web of tunnels in central London could open to the public in 2027.
Student Anti-Israel Protests Refuse To Die Down, Over 550 Arrests So Far
A cause celebre is ringing out across top US universities with students demanding that the institutes stop investing in Israel and weapons that fuel Gaza war. Protestors say they are willing to risk arrest, but won't stop until their demand is met.
Netizens had mixed reactions to Ranbir and Sai's look in Ramayana, a section of fans weren't impressed with the look, while some said Sai was a misfit for the role. And Ranbir is looking more like Sanjay Dutt than Lord Ram.
Former President Hamid Karzai says education of girls vital issue for Afghanistan
Chief heat officer doesnt get salary from DNCC: mayor
Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mayor Atiqul Islam today said Chief Heat Officer Bushra Afreen does not get salary from the DNCC
Hamas says studying new Israeli truce proposal
Hamas stated that they were examining the most recent Israeli counterproposal for a possible ceasefire in Gaza. This came after reports in the media mentioned that a delegation from mediator Egypt had arrived in Israel to try and restart the stalled negotiations. The signs of new ceasefire discussions appeared together with at least three Israeli airstrikes that occurred overnight in Rafah, the southernmost part of Gaza.
WhatsApp Is Green Now: What Is The Reason Behind The Change?
WhatsApp's updates, no matter how minor, often attract significant attention due to its widespread usage.
Iraq's Kurdish authorities working to resume Khor Mor gas supply after deadly attack
The Iraqi Kurdish ministries of electricity and natural resources mentioned on Saturday that they are collaborating with their partners to resume operations at the Khor Mor gas field in the Kurdistan region of Iraq following the suspension of output due to a fatal drone attack. At least four workers from Yemen lost their lives and two other workers were injured in the attack.
Ukraine drones target two refineries, airfield in Russia's Krasnodar region, Kyiv source says
Water cannon spray in DNCC area on chief heat officers advice
Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) started using water cannons to spray water in its areas to prevent air pollution and keep the city cool during the ongoing intense heatwave
US to 'move immediately' Patriot missiles to Ukraine in USD 6 billion aid package
Pakistans Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz lands in trouble for donning police uniform
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz faces legal trouble for wearing police uniform at passing-out parade
Paris, Despite Terrorism Scars, Prepares an Olympic Opening Without Walls
The opening ceremony for this summers Paris Games will be held outside a stadium an Olympics first. Making it safe is complicated.
After Israel Aid Vote, Pocan Seeks to Show Biden Liberal Dismay on Gaza
The progressive Democrat from a rural, mostly white Wisconsin district is highlighting that it is not just young people of color who are concerned about the war.
Four power plants hit in massive Russian overnight attacks on Ukraine
Kyiv: At least four thermal power plants were damaged as Russia again targeted Ukraine with a round of massive airstrikes overnight, the operator said on Saturday. Of the 32 missiles and cruise missiles launched from the air, the Black Sea and the ground, 21 were intercepted, the Ukrainian Air Force said. Several people were injured 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 .
The Interview Podcast: Yair Lapid
Frustrated at the growing protest movement, the opposition leader defends his countrys existential war.
Last month, Putin called Navalny's demise sad and said he had been ready to hand the jailed politician over to the West in a prisoner exchange provided Navalny never returned to Russia.
The law is badly lagging behind when it comes to rights for LGBTQ+ families. We need urgent root-and-branch reform The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act is 10 years old . In the UK, any couple can marry . Likewise, thanks to this courageous pair , any couple can now get a civil partnership. On marriage, the law has kept pace with the diversifying society it exists to regulate and protect. If you reflect on what was updated the religious institution of marriage and how long it had been the way it was, it hits you afresh how monumental this step forward was. Yet here we are. The equality of love has become a cliche. Young children have only known a world where every auntie and uncle theyll ever have could get married. It is meticulous and slow but ultimately, whether through parliament or the courts, the law moves forward. Freddy McConnell is a freelance journalist Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here . Continue reading...
There arent many fields, so the children play around the pier: Jelly Febrians best phone picture
The photographer documents daily life at Sunda Kelapa harbour in North Jakarta, Indonesia, including the schoolchildren who turn it into their playground After school, many of the children local to theSunda Kelapa harbour, in North Jakarta, Indonesia, go down to the water to swim and play. Jelly Febrian enjoys shootingthe daily activities there whenever the weather isgood. Always preparedfor the right moment, he carries his phone with him tocapture crews loadingtheir boats, people fishing, and boysand girls jumping from the boats,aspictured. In the maritime villages near here there arent many fields, so the children mostly play around the pier. Every boat that docks here has a different owner and purpose, they load and unload basic necessities, and every week they sail to other Indonesian islands, such as Papua, Sumatra and Sulawesi. Continue reading...
They had only been married for 11 months when the world-famous novelist was attacked by a frenzied knifeman. His wife remembers the intense drama of hearing the news, and the traumatic aftermath I woke early and alone on the sunny morning of Friday 12 August 2022. Iwas having coffee at the moment my husband, the Indian novelist Salman Rushdie, was nearly killed in a stabbing on stage in Chautauqua, New York. This was the last morning, innocent and ordinary, before my life was shattered by the 27 seconds Salmans attacker took to stab him more than a dozen times, driving a knife into his right eye until it nearly touched his optic nerve. Continue reading...
'Last chance' for hostage deal before launch of Rafah offensive: Israel tells Egyptian delegation
Amid rising tensions in West Asia and fears of the ongoing conflict between the Israeli forces and Hamas spreading to Rafah, which is home to several refugee camps; Israel issued a stern warning, saying that it was giving the ongoing negotiations to secure a hostage deal a 'last chance' before launching a ground offensive in the 'land port' between Gaza and Egypt, the Times of Israel reported.
Earthquake jolts Japan's Bonin Islands, USGS says
Two CRPF personnel killed in Kuki military attack in Manipur
Two CRPF personnel killed in Kuki military attack in Manipur. militants fired indiscriminately from hilltops targeting the camp.
China Offering Rs 1.15 Lakh To Drivers Who Trade Old Car For New Model
Drivers in China who trade in an old car for a newer model are eligible for a subsidy of up to 10,000 yuan ($1,380 or Rs 1,15,096), the commerce ministry has announced.
Nainital forest fire: IAF deploys MI-17 choppers in ongoing dousing operation
The IAF choppers conducted aerial surveys over Nainital, Bhimtal, and Sattal lakes, identifying suitable locations from where it could lift water for the dousing operation.
'I thought just kill me quickly': Gaza hostage's 54 days in captivity
Moran Yanai was threatened with death and moved from place to place during her ordeal.
Briton in critical care after unusual shark attack on Tobago
Man, 64, being treated for injuries to arm, leg and stomach after attack in shallow waters A British man is in intensive care after an unusual shark attack on the Caribbean island of Tobago. The 64-year-old man was receiving critical care after the bull shark attack left him with injuries to his left arm, left leg and stomach, Tobagos Division of Tourism, Culture, Antiquities and Transportation said. Continue reading...
China launches first of the eight Hangor-class submarines built for Pakistan
The development comes as part of the agreement between Islamabad and Beijing under which the latter had agreed to provide the former with eight state-of-the-art advanced submarines
Nagaland Jobs: Army Public School Rangapahar Recruitment 2024
Applications are invited for recruitment of various teaching positions or jobs in Army Public School Rangapahar Nagaland. Army Public School Rangapahar Nagaland is inviting applications from eligible candidates for recruitment to the post or jobs of Trained Graduate Teachers (TGT), IT Supervisor and Head Clerk on adhoc basis. Name of posts : Also Read : [] The post Nagaland Jobs: Army Public School Rangapahar Recruitment 2024 appeared first on NORTHEAST NOW .
Three Indians killed in US as car crashes after flying 20 feet over bridge
Three Indians killed in US as car crashes after flying 20 feet over bridge
Two people die after glider crashes near Mount Beauty airport
Paramedics treated the pair but both died at the scene of the crash, which occurred about 1.45pm north of Falls Creek in Victoria Get our morning and afternoon news emails , free app or daily news podcast Two people are dead after their powered glider crashed near an airport in Victorias alpine region. Emergency services were called to the incident at Mount Beauty, north of Falls Creek, after 1.40pm on Saturday. Continue reading...
Sir Fazle Hasan Abed's 88th birth anniversary today
Today is the 88th birth anniversary of Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, the founder of BRAC
Passenger of Jamuna Express injured by stone thrown at moving train
A passenger of Jamuna Express train was injured after being hit by a stone thrown by unidentified miscreants at the moving train near Jamalpur Railway Station last night
Michelle Collins: When I was 45, I was told I was too old to work in Hollywood
The actor on doing the trash walk at McDonalds, wishing she was better with money, and being too tired for sex Born in London, Michelle Collins, 61, was abacking singer for Mari Wilson in the early 80s. From 1988-98, she played Cindy in EastEnders, and last year she returned to the soap. She also had arole in Coronation Street from 2011 to 2014. Her latest project, Stephen, which is about addiction, is in cinemas now and is also a touring installation, launching at the Exchange in Penzance on 4 May . She is married, hasa daughter, and lives in London. What is your greatest fear? Being murdered I listen to too many true-crime podcasts. Continue reading...
Three Indian Women Die In US As Speeding Car Runs Off Highway, Goes Airborne, Crashes Into Trees
The incident happened in South Carolina on Saturday. The three women hailed from Gujarats Anand district.
Russia renews attacks on the Ukrainian energy sector as Kyiv launches drones at southern Russia
Ukraine's air force said Saturday that Russia had launched 34 missiles against Ukraine overnight, of which 21 had been shot down by Ukrainian air defenses. In a post on Telegram, minister of energy Herman Halushchenko said energy facilities in Dnipropetrovsk in the south of the country and Ivano-Frankivsk and Lviv in the west had been attacked and that an engineer was injured.
U.S. intelligence believes Putin probably didn't order Navalny to be killed - WSJ
U.S. intelligence believes Putin probably didn't order Navalny to be killed - WSJ U.S. intelligence agencies have determined that Russian President Vladimir Putin probably didn't order opposition politician Alexei Navalny killed at an Arctic prison camp in February, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday. Navalny, 47 when he died, was Putin's fiercest domestic critic. His allies, branded extremists by the authorities, accused Putin of having him murdered and have said they will provide proof to back their allegation. The Kremlin has denied any state involvement. Last month, Putin called Navalny's demise sad and said he had been ready to hand the jailed politician over to the West in a prisoner exchange provided Navalny never return to Russia. Navalny's allies said such talks had been under way. The Journal, citing unnamed people familiar with the matter, said on Saturday that U.S. intelligence agencies had concluded that Putin probably didn't order Navalny to be killed in February. It said Washington had not absolved the Russian leader of overall responsibility for Navalny's death however, given the opposition politician had been targeted by Russian authorities for years, jailed on charges the West said were politically motivated, and had been poisoned in 2020 with a nerve agent. The Kremlin denies state involvement in the 2020 poisoning. Reuters could not independently verify the Journal report, which cited sources as saying the finding had been roadly accepted within the intelligence community and shared by several agencies, including the Central Intelligence Agency, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the State Department's intelligence unit. The U.S. assessment was based on a range of information, including some classified intelligence, and an analysis of public facts, including the timing of Navalny's death and how it overshadowed Putin's re-election in March, the paper cited some of its sources as saying. It cited Leonid Volkov, a senior Navalny aide, as calling the U.S. findings naive and ridiculous.
Fardeen Khan has revealed that he was 'brutally' rejected by Sanjay Leela Bhansali back in 2000. And, this is how he came onboard Heeramandi to play the role of Wali Mohammed.
Shehnaaz Gill video calling Arti Singh on her wedding to congratulate her has made netizens and fans of Sidharth Shukla emotional.
Shruti Haasan - Santanu Hazarika break up months after Orry claimed the couple are married [details]
Shruti Haasan and boyfriend Santanu Hazarika seem to have broken up. The two have been dating for a few years now. Over the past few weeks, Shruti Haasan hasn't been sharing any photos with Santanu.
Long lines form and frustration grows as Cuba runs short of cash
HAVANA: Alejandro Fonseca stood in line for several hours outside a bank in Havana hoping to withdraw Cuban pesos from an ATM, but when it was almost his turn, the cash ran out. He angrily hopped on his electric tricycle and traveled several kilometers to another branch where he finally managed to withdraw some money after wasting the entire morning. It shouldnt be so difficult to get the money you earn by working, the 23-year-old told The Associated Press in a recent interview. Fonseca is one of an increasing number of frustrated Cubans who have to grapple with yet another hurdle while navigating the island'salready complicated monetary system a shortage of cash. Long queues outside banks and ATMs in the capital, Havana, and beyond start forming early in the day as people seek cash for routine transactions like buying food and other essentials. Experts say there are several reasons behind the shortage, all somehow related to Cuba's deep economic crisis,one of the worst in decades. Omar Everleny Prez, a Cuban economist and university professor, says the main culprits are the government's growing fiscal deficit, the nonexistence of banknotes with a denomination greater than 1,000 Cuban pesos (about $3 in the parallel market), stubbornly high inflation and the non-return of cash to banks. There is money, yes, but not in the banks, said Prez, adding that most of the cash is being held not by salaried workers, but by entrepreneurs and owners of small- and medium-size business who are more likely to collect cash from commercial transactions but are reluctant to return the money to the banks. This, Prez says, is either because they dont trust the local banks or simply because they need the Cuban pesos to convert into foreign currency. Mostentrepreneurs and small business ownersin Cuba have to import almost everything they sell or pay in foreign currency for the supplies needed to run their businesses. As a consequence, many end up hoarding Cuban pesos to later change into foreign currency on the informal market. Converting those Cuban pesos to other currencies poses yet another challenge, as there are several, highly fluctuating exchange rates in the island. For example, the official rate used by government industries and agencies is 24 pesos to the U.S. dollar, while for individuals, the rate is 120 pesos to the dollar. However, the dollar can fetch up to 350 Cuban pesos on the informal market. Prez notes that in 2018, 50% of the cash in circulation was in the hands of the Cuban population and the other half in Cuban banks. But in 2022, the latest year for which information is available, 70% of cash was in the wallets of individuals. Cuban monetary authorities did not immediately respond to AP's emailed request for comment. The shortage of cash comes as Cubans grapple with a complex monetary system in which several currencies circulate, including a virtual currency, MLC, created in 2019. Then, in 2023 the government announced several measures aimed at promoting a cashless society, making the use of credit cards mandatory to pay for some transactions including purchases of food, fuel and other basic goods but many businesses simply refuse to accept them. Making things worse is stubbornly high inflation, meaning more and more physical bills are needed to buy products. According to official figures, inflation stood at 77% in 2021, then dropped to 31% in 2023. But for the average Cuban, the official figures barely reflect the reality of their lives, since market inflation can reach up to three digits on the informal market. For example, a carton of eggs, which sold for 300 Cuban pesos in 2019, these days sells for about 3,100 pesos. All while the monthly salary for Cuban state workers ranges between 5,000 and 7,000 Cuban pesos (between $14 and $20 in the parallel market). To live in an economy that, in addition to having several currencies, has several exchange rates and a three-digit inflation is quite complicated, said Pavel Vidal, a Cuba expert and professor at Colombia's Javeriana University of Cali.
Overspeeding SUV goes airborne: Three Indian women killed in fatal road accident in US
Three Indian women from Anand district died in a US car crash. A speeding SUV swerved on I-85 in Greenville County, hitting trees. Coroner Mike Ellis confirmed the victims were from Georgia.
Even grandees are bracing for the very worst. But remember, such apocalyptic language around the party is nothing new There is a morose mood in the Conservative party. It isnt just that the Tories expect to lose the next election they fear that the coming defeat might be definitive, a result from which they never recover. One recent multilevel regression and poststratification (MRP) poll forecasts that the Tories could be reduced to fewer than 100 seats their lowest ever haul with Labour predicted to secure an unprecedented 250-plus seat majority. Tory grandees are consequently gloomy. The former Brexit negotiator David Frost has called it a desperate situation. Charles Moore, the former Telegraph editor and Thatcher biographer, tells me the partys condition is probably worse than Ive ever seen it. Some are billing the next election as an extinction-level event . Rishi Sunaks single-minded obsession on forcing through the Rwanda scheme appears, in this light, like a desperate attempt to distract himself and his party from the approaching abyss. Some Tories may feel the party has reached its nadir as an electoral force, but such apocalyptic language is nothing new. In fact, fear of extinction is part of a long Conservative tradition. It will be interesting to be the last of the Conservatives, Lord Salisbury, one of the partys longest-serving leaders, wrote glumly in 1882, as the age of mass suffrage loomed. I foresee that will be our fate. (Almost a century and a half later, hed be relieved to learn that his great-great-grandson is leader of the House of Lords.) In 1945, on the brink of an unprecedented landslide victory, Labour candidates spoke openly about wanting the complete extinction of the Tory party. Then, six years later, the Tories returned to power and stayed there for the next 13. In 1974, amid the broadly progressive contours of the postwar consensus, the political scientist Andrew Gamble foresaw a future in which the Conservatives could be condemned to the museum of Fantastic Zoology. And here we are. People often talk about the death of the Tory party, and it doesnt happen, Lord Moore told me. Samuel Earle is a writer based in London and the author of Tory Nation: How One Party Took Over Continue reading...
Safe haven or symbol of injustice? What our gardens tell us about the world we live in
From manicured, exclusive retreats built on slave money to common ground in which to seed utopian dreams, gardens occupy a fertile space in our lives and imaginations I have a dream sometimes. I dream Im in a house, and discover a door I didnt know was there. It opens into an unexpected garden, and for a weightless moment I find myself inhabiting new territory, flush with potential. Maybe there are steps down to a pond, or a statue surrounded by fallen leaves. It is never tidy, always beguilingly overgrown. What might grow here, what rare peonies, irises, roses will I find? I wake with the sense that a too-tight joint has loosened, and that everything runs fluent with new life. For most of the years that I have had this dream, I didnt have a garden of my own. I rented until I was 40, and only rarely in flats with outdoor space. The first of these temporary gardens was in Brighton. I planted calendula there, which according to the 16th-century herbalist Gerard would strengthen and comfort the heart very much. I was training to be a herbalist and my head was full of plants, an entanglement of natural forms. Continue reading...
I dont smoke on the uphills: Lazarus Lake walks across America (again)
Gary Cantrell, aka Lazarus Lake or Laz, completed his first trans-continental trek in 2018. Hes now attempting his third, but this time against medical advice Lazarus Lake is shifting in a straight-back chair, searching for the right spot to ease his pinched nerve. After days of steep climbs and steeper descents, the Capon Valley of West Virginia is a welcome oasis. The world is again mercifully flat, if only for a moment. Somewhere out there, the Alleghany mountains lie in wait. But Laz, the mastermind of such grueling endurance tests as the Barkley Marathons and Backyard Ultras, doesnt want to think about that now; the pizzeria is filling up with smoke. A 20-year-old scurries from the back to apologize while the man sitting next to us is still staring. Hes been speechless since Laz told him hed just walked 17 miles over Timber Ridge to get here. Under a farmers cap pulled down to his squinty eyes, the man grins, rubs his jaw, and finally says: Come again? Continue reading...
The explosions of colour that painted a Glasgow estate
Sonys 2006 Paint advert is widely considered one of the most ambitious in history - but how was it made?
Hamas reviewing Israel's latest truce proposal
Hamas reviews Israel's Gaza cease-fire proposal. Khalil Al-Hayya to respond. US, EU, Israel label Hamas terrorist. Israel's War Cabinet discusses truce, hostage release. White House, Germany urge hostages release.
3 Indian women killed in car crash in South Carolina
Three women from Gujarat were killed after their SUV veered off the road and catapulted over a bridge before crashing into trees on the other side of the bridge in Greenville County, South Carolina.
India To Expand Middle East Ties With Oman Trade Deal: Report
India and Oman will sign a trade deal in the coming months, two Indian government officials said, as New Delhi seeks to expand its ties in the Middle East, where rising tensions are putting major shipping routes at risk.
Heat wave turns very severe in Rajshahi, Chuadanga, Pabna
Respite from the prevailing heatwave condition across the country is unlikely and it has turned very severe in three districts
Herds of endangered hippos trapped in mud in drought-hit Botswana
Herds of endangered hippos trapped in the mud of dry ponds in drought-stricken Botswana are at risk of dying, conservation officials told AFP on Friday.
Hyderabad man gets 16-year jail term in London for stabbing ex-girlfriend
Hyderabad man gets 16-year jail term in London for stabbing ex-girlfriend
Blinken alleges China attempts to influence US elections
Anthony Blinken makes big claim about China, alleges China attempts to influence US elections. Watch
Rageh Omaar receiving care after becoming unwell on air, ITV says
International affairs editor became unwell while presenting News at Ten on Friday The ITV News presenter Rageh Omaar is receiving medical care after he became unwell live on air, ITV has said. Omaar was presenting the News at Ten programme on Friday night when he appeared to struggle to read the news bulletins, sparking concern online. Continue reading...
Sundar Pichai completes 20 years at Google: 'A lot has changed...'
Sundar Pichai completes 20 years at Google: 'A lot has changed...'
Ask Ottolenghi: whats the best way to get a garlicky flavour into tomato pasta sauce?
The answer, surprisingly, is not just to use more garlic (but you can go to town with the basil) Ask Ottolenghi: send in your kitchen questions How can we get a pleasingly strong garlic taste in our tomato sauce for pasta? Is the secret the amount of garlic , or how you cut it , or the length of cooking? Our sauces tend to be bland rather than zingy . The same goes for basil, in the same simple sauce how to highlight its flavour? Nancy, New York I trust thats pleasingly strong as opposed to harshly strong? If so, slow-roasting would be my initial go-to. Dont turn on the oven just for this, though, but next time you have it on, cut the very top off a head of garlic, just to expose the cloves, drizzle over a little olive oil, then wrap in tin foil and pop it in the bottom of the oven for about 45 minutes. Remove and, once cool enough to handle, squeeze out the now amazingly soft and sweet garlic flesh, and stir it into your tomato sauce. The chains of fructose in the garlic will have broken down during roasting and given rise to something called glutamic acid, which brings with it that bold umami taste and depth we all look for in a sauce. In short, youll have created the most mellow but bold, sweet and pleasingly strong burst of garlicky flavour. If youve not had time to roast it, its also fine to start with raw garlic. The more you mince it, the more the flavour compounds are released and the stronger the flavour will be, so crush or finely mince it, rather than slice it, if you want that garlic flavour really to penetrate the sauce. Continue reading...
Middle East crisis live: Houthis hit ship in latest Red Sea attack
Andromeda Star targeted with three missiles, UK Maritime Trade Operations security agency said See all our coverage of the Middle East crisis Ballistic missiles fired by Yemens Houthi rebels caused minor damage to a Panama-flagged oil tanker travelling through the Red Sea on Friday, authorities said. The attack follows an uptick in assaults launched by the Houthis in recent days after a relative lull in their campaign over Israels war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip, AP reported. Hamas said it was studying the latest Israeli counterproposal regarding a potential ceasefire in Gaza, a day after a delegation from mediator Egypt reportedly arrived in Israel in a bid to jump-start stalled negotiations. Egypt, Qatar and the United States have been unsuccessfully trying to seal a new truce deal in Gaza ever since a one-week halt to the fighting in November saw 80 Israeli hostages exchanged for 240 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons. An official briefed on the Egyptian delegations meeting with Israeli counterparts on Friday said Israel had no new proposals to make. However, the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Israel was willing to consider a limited truce in which 33 hostages would be released by the Islamist movement Hamas, instead of the 40 previously under discussion. Aid shipments to Gaza from Cyprus resumed late on Friday, a Cypriot source said, with a ship carrying food to the besieged Palestinian enclave after a pause following Israels killing of seven aid workers . The World Central Kitchen NGO paused aid to review its activity in the territory after the early April attack, halting the direct shipments into Gaza from Cyprus. A small cargo vessel left the port of Larnaca on Friday night with aid donated by the United Arab Emirates, a Cypriot source said. China will host Palestinian unity talks between Islamist militant group Hamas and its rivals Fatah, the two groups and a Beijing-based diplomat said on Friday . Hamas controls Gaza while Fatah is the movement of Mahmoud Abbas, president of the western-backed Palestinian Authority, which exercises limited self-rule in the Israeli occupied West Bank. The two rival Palestinian factions have failed to heal their political disputes since Hamas fighters expelled Fatah from Gaza in a short war in 2007. Irans foreign minister said the crew of a seized Portuguese-flagged ship linked to Israel have been granted consular access and are expected to be freed, Iranian media reported on Saturday. Irans Revolutionary Guards seized the container vessel MSC Aries with a crew of 25 in the Strait of Hormuz on 13 April, days after Tehran vowed to retaliate for a suspected Israeli strike on its consulate in Damascus. A pro-Hamas Lebanese militant group said on Friday that two of its senior commanders were killed in an Israeli strike in eastern Lebanon . Jamaa Islamiya said in a statement that Mosab Saeed Khalaf and Bilal Mohammed Khalaf died while carrying out their jihadist tasks... in a Zionist strike in the Bekaa valley. A UN probe into Israeli allegations that 19 members of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (Unrwa) participated in the October 7 Hamas attacks has closed one case due to the absence of any evidence from Israel and suspended four others, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Friday. An independent review led by a former French foreign minister earlier this week said that Israel had yet to provide supporting evidence of its claims which led major donors including the US to suspend funding to the agency. Israels prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday that any rulings issued by the International Criminal Court would not affect Israels actions but would set a dangerous precedent. Under my leadership, Israel will never accept any attempt by the International Criminal Court in the Hague to undermine its basic right to defend itself, Netanyahu said in a statement shared on Telegram. While decisions made by the court in the Hague will not affect Israels actions, they will set a dangerous precedent that threatens soldiers and public figures. Four workers from Yemen were killed in a drone attack on an Emirati-owned gas complex in Iraqs northern autonomous region of Kurdistan on Friday, Reuters reported citing local officials . A security source confirmed the attack against the site which is owned by the United Arab Emirates firm Dana Gas. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. Continue reading...
Haliburton leads Pacers to win over Bucks
Tyrese Haliburton converts a three-point play with 1.6 seconds left in overtime to give the Indiana Pacers a 2-1 lead over the Milwaukee Bucks in their Eastern Conference first-round play-off series.
Heatwave: primary schools to reopen tomorrow, pre-primary classes to remain shut
No assembly until heatwave reaches a tolerable level
Palestinian athletes to be invited to Paris Olympics: Bach to AFP
LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND: Between six and eight Palestinian athletes are expected to compete at the Paris Olympics, with some set to be invited by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) even if they fail to qualify, its head Thomas Bach said. Bach told AFP on Friday that qualification events for the Paris Games, which start on July 26, were ongoing for a number of sports. But we have made the clear commitment that even if no (Palestinian) athlete would qualify on the field of play ... then the NOC (National Olympic Committee) of Palestine would benefit from invitations, like other national Olympic Committees who do not have a qualified athlete, he said in an interview at IOC headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland. He said he expected the Palestinian delegation to number six to eight. Bach said that the International Olympic Committee from day one of the conflict in Gaza had supported in many different ways the athletes to allow them to take part in qualifications and to continue their training. Palestinian militants from Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, resulting in the deaths of about 1,170 people, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures. Israel's retaliatory military campaign to destroy Hamas has killed 34,356 people, mostly women and children, according to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza. Health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza says war death toll at 32,845 These Palestinian mothers in Gaza gave birth October 7; their babies have known only war Bach dismissed suggestions the IOC has treated Russia differently over its invasion of Ukraine compared with Israel and its war in Gaza. Russia was suspended from many international sports after its invasion and its athletes have been banned from competing under the national flag at Paris 2024. In order to take part in the Paris Games, they are also required to have never publicly supported the war against Ukraine and not be employed by the military or security services. The sanctions against Russia were a result of Moscow violating the Olympic truce in its invasion of Ukraine soon after the Winter Olympics in Beijing in 2022 and for annexing Ukrainian sports organisations. The situation between Israel and Palestine is completely different, Bach said. He said he had been even-handed in his public statements on Ukraine, the Hamas attack on Israel and the horrifying consequences of the war in Gaza. From day one, we expressed how horrified we were, first on the seventh of October and then about the war and its horrifying consequences, Bach said. We have always been very clear as we have been with the Russian invasion in Ukraine. Palestinians return to Khan Younis after Israeli withdrawal; find an unrecognizable city
ULB elections, with 33% women reservation, in Nagaland on June 26
KOHIMA: The Nagaland government has approved to hold urban local bodies (ULB) elections in the state on June 26. Notably, ULB elections will be held in Nagaland after a gap of 20 years. Municipal elections in Nagaland were last held in 2004. The administrative approval for holding ULB elections was given by Nagaland Cabinet during [] The post ULB elections, with 33% women reservation, in Nagaland on June 26 appeared first on NORTHEAST NOW .
