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69599380 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob%20N%20Roll | Rob N Roll | Rob N Roll is an upcoming Hong Kong action comedy film produced by Derek Yee directed by Albert Mak. The film stars Aaron Kwok as a robber who plans a heist only to be foiled by two dispirited, middle-aged men played by Gordon Lam and Richie Jen.
Production for Rob N Roll officially began in November 2021.
Plot
A fierce robber has plotted a major heist. But unfortunately, his plan was unintentionally foiled by two dispirited middle-aged best friends, and the stolen cash disappears. As a result, the trio has to run from the pursue of a policewoman, as well as engaging in a firearm in order to reclaim the stolen cash, putting their life on the line.
Cast
Aaron Kwok as a bucktoothed, professional wrestler and robber who plans a major heist.
Gordon Lam as taxi driver who unintentionally foils the heist of Kwok's character.
Richie Jen as the best friend of Lam's character, who also takes part in foiling the heist of Kwok's character.
Maggie Cheung Ho-yee as a policewoman on the trail of Kwok, Lam and Jen's characters.
Nancy Wu as the pregnant wife of Lam's character.
Lam Suet
Leung Chung-hang
Calvert Fu
Ansonbean
Mike Tsang
Kathy Wong
John Chiang, Jr
David Chiang
Deno Cheung
Paulyn Sun
Michael Wong
Paw Hee-ching as the mother of Lam's character who often quarrels with his daughter-in-law played by Wu
Lo Hoi-pang
Ting Yue
Production
News of the project first appeared in April 2021 when the Film Production Financing Scheme of the Hong Kong Film Development Fund approved HK$8.4 million for the film, with Albert Mak attached as director and Gordon Lam and Stephy Tang set to star. On 27 October 2021, Aaron Kwok revealed to the press that he will starring in the film as a robber and will be co-starring with Lam and Richie Jen.
Principal photography for Rob N Roll began in November 2021. On 12 November, filming of a robbery and vehicular crash scene took place in Temple Street, Hong Kong with actors Kwok, Maggie Cheung Ho-yee and Calvert Fu. There, Kwok revealed a bucktoothed look for his character in the film.
On 20 December 2021, filming a firearm shootout scene took place at the Kwai Tsing Container Terminals. That day, Kwok revealed to the media that his bucktooth look was his own idea he suggested after reading the film's script and noticing black comedy elements being present, while he will be also an ear made from special effects as his character is also a professional wrestler. Lam also unveiled his long-haired look as a taxi driver while Jen unveiled his grizzled look wearing a gray wig. Cheung reveals that she will be firing a gun on screen for the first time in this film while Nancy Wu also give details about his role as Lam's wife who will be quarreling with her mother-in-law played by Paw Hee-ching. David Chiang, who appears in the film alongside his real-life son, John Chiang, Jr stated he had no clue his half-brother Derek Yee was serving as the film's producer before his son was cast.
See also
Aaron Kwok filmography
References
External links
Official Facebook page
Official Instagram page
Hong Kong films
Upcoming films
2020s action comedy films
2020s black comedy films
2020s heist films
Hong Kong action comedy films
Hong Kong black comedy films
Hong Kong heist films
Police detective films
Cantonese-language films
Films set in Hong Kong
Films shot in Hong Kong |
69599417 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Daniela%20Figueredo | Killing of Daniela Figueredo | Daniela Geraldine Figueredo Salazar ( 2001-13 March 2021) was a Venezuelan young woman detained in a police cell in the Zamora municipality, Miranda state. Figueredo was killed while in state custody, shot by a police officer in the prison cell. The officer, Daniel Galarraga, has maintained that the death was accidental, but testimony from other inmates indicates that it occurred after Galarraga drew his service weapon to force her to have sexual relations with him. Galarraga was subsequently arrested and charged; the charges filed by the prosecution ruled out that it was an accidental shooting. National Assembly deputies, activists and human rights defenders denounced her killing.
Killing
Figueredo had been arrested in October 2020, accused of possession of strategic material, and detained in El Helicoide.
She was killed on 13 March 2021, at the age of nineteen, by police officer Daniel Galarraga when he was handling her regulation weapon inside the cell, a Pietro Beretta pistol model 92FS, and shot her in the face. She was taken to the Eugenio Bellard General Hospital in Guatire, where she arrived without vital signs.
The NGO Una Ventana a la Libertad (A Window to Freedom), which defends the rights of detainees, stated that the incident occurred when the officer tried to sexually abuse her. The organization collected testimonies of six female inmates who were in the cell, who denounced that they are "harassed and forced to have sexual relations" with police officers in exchange for benefits. They also provided the information to the forensic police officers of the Scientific, Criminal and Criminalistic Investigations Corps (CICPC).
National Assembly deputies, activists and human rights defenders began to prepare a report on the killing to be sent to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, to the Office of the Rapporteur for Detained Persons of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, a body that Venezuela left in 2013. Deputy Marianela Fernández described the fact as "abominable", asserting that the rape of female inmates in Venezuelan prisons "has become the practice of many police officers". The deputies issued the statements during a session of the Delegated Commission, a body that is activated when the parliament goes into recess, but which Juan Guaidó put in place to remain at the head of the legislature after the 2020 parliamentary elections.
Officer Daniel Alexander Galarraga Ortega, 24 years old and having graduated three months before, was arrested subsequently and charged with intentional homicide for futile and ignoble motives, improper use of an organic weapon, sexual violence and treason. Galarraga alleged that the death was accidental when the pistol was unintentionally discharged. The prosecution ruled out that it was an accidental shooting with the filed charges. Una Ventana a la Libertad reported that the hearing for the presentation of the officer was held on the night of 17 March, after being deferred due to delays in the ballistic tests that were to be annexed to the file. Figueredo was shot in the nasal region and exited through the right occipital region, which calls into question the police officer's version. During the investigation, CICPC officers have looked after elements that link Galarraga and other officers with sexual abuse of female detainees in exchange for granting them certain benefits. According to statements made by several of those questioned, there were agreements between police officers and female detainees where they were taken out of their cells at night to have sexual relations with police officers, including some detainees at the police headquarters.
See also
María Lourdes Afiuni
References
2000s births
2021 deaths
Venezuelan women
Prisoners who died in Venezuelan detention
People shot dead by law enforcement officers
Venezuelan prisoners and detainees
Deaths by firearm in Venezuela |
69600566 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piotr%20Ogrodzi%C5%84ski | Piotr Ogrodziński | Piotr Andrzej Ogrodziński (born 7 September 1951) is a Polish diplomat, activist and philosopher.
Activist
Ogrodziński was born in Paris where his father, Przemysław Ogrodziński, was serving as the Polish charge d'affairs at the Polish embassy. Ogrodziński's father was a senior diplomat under the Communist regime. Ogrodziński's mother, Halina Jacuńska-Ogrodzińska, was recognized by the Yad Vashem Institute in Jerusalem as one of Righteous Among the Nations on 28 June 1979 for hiding two Jewish women, Maria Glass and Olga Lilien during the Holocaust.
In a 2008 essay, he recalled about his generation: "My generation, born into the Polish People’s Republic, took the meagerness of life under socialism as a given, but, step by step, discovered that it didn’t work because of its economic inefficiency and its false ethics. Initially, we lived practicing opportunism by pretending to believe in the ruling ideology and being preoccupied by small things. It was the grayness of “a little stability” or – as the Czech writer Milan Kundera called it – the unbearable lightness of being. Our experience and sense of history were based on a chain of strikes and political upheavals of 1956, 1968, 1970, 1976 and 1980–81."
As a five-year old in Warsaw, Ogrodziński witnessed the Polish October revolution of 1956 where a nationalist faction of the Communist Party under Władysław Gomułka overthrew the Stalinist leadership as he remembered seeing huge crowds of workers march down the streets of Warsaw demanding a new government. Gomułka had spoken of a "Polish Road To Socialism", promising greater independence from the Soviet Union and a de-Stalinizing "thaw" similar to the one in the Soviet Union. Initially popular, Gomułka's authoritarian style of leadership had made him unpopular by the late 1960s. As a high school student in January 1968, Ogrodziński attended the celebrated theater production of the play Dziady (Forefathers) by Adam Mickiewicz. Forefathers was set in the 19th century Congress Poland and featured Russian villains, leading to Varsovian audiences of 1968 to see the play as a metaphor for Soviet domination of Poland. The banning of Dziady on 30 January 1968 after playing for only 14 times set off the "March events" in Poland that severally threatened Gomułka's hold on power. Ogrodziński recalled that the principle problem with opposition to the Communist dictatorship was the divide between the working class and the intelligentsia. During the March events of 1968, it was university students and intellectuals who protested while the working class assisted the police. In December 1970 a workers revolt broke out in Gdańsk, leading to the Polish Army being deployed against the working class of Gdańsk with at least 44 workers shot down while the intellectuals and students stayed passive.
From 1971 to 1975, he attended the University of Warsaw, where he graduated from the Institute of Economic Sciences. As a student, he become involved in opposition to the Communist dictatorship, working for a transition to a democracy. As an young anti-Communist activist, Ogrodziński worked to bridge the gap between the working class and the intelligentsia, believing that an alliance of the workers and intellectuals was the best way of bringing down the Communist regime. Ogrodziński felt that the protests and strikes of June 1976 were the turning point in the struggle against the regime as for the first time the workers and intellectuals worked together. From 1977 onward, he worked to provide logistical support for the underground newspaper of Robotnik. In a 2013 interview, Ogrodziński stated: "For me, I was Left-oriented, but quite critical of the Polish People’s Republic. Already in the 1970s, I was in the gray zone of KOR [Komitet Obrony Robotników-Workers Defense Committee]. They had a bulletin called Robotnik (Worker). Their archives were at my flat. The editorial board met at my flat. So, I knew them...I was not part of KOR, but they were my friends. They were not happy with my leftish orientation, but they turned out to a large extent to be leftists too." Keenly interested in the philosophy of politics, Ogrodziński worked at the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology of the Polish Academy of Sciences from 1978 to 1990.
In September 1980, he joined the newly founded Solidarność union, which had just staged a successful strike at the Lenin shipyard in Gdańsk in August 1980. In October 1980, Ogrodziński founded the journal NTO (Nauka-Technika-Oświata), representing the members of the science, technology and education workers section of Solidarność. Ogrodziński recalled about his activities in 1980-81: "As a journalist working for NTO, a regional Solidarity bulletin, I would travel through Poland and was welcomed by complete strangers as if I was a good, old friend. There was little suspicion – and a lot of enthusiasm and good faith".
Following the declaration of martial law on 13 December 1981 that saw Solidarność banned, he worked with the underground CDN publishing house from February 1982 onward. Ogrodziński joined the illegal MRKS (Inter-Factory Workers Committee of Solidarnosc). About the underground struggle in the 1980s, he remembered: "When I think of those days, I am moved by the bravery of people who let us use their homes for meetings of our underground organization. We could not meet in public places since the police constantly watched them. Every few months we had to change apartments and find new people who were afraid but felt obliged to help us." On 1 May 1982, for the May Day celebrations, Ogrodziński helped to organise Solidarność demonstrations in Warsaw against the regime.
In 1986, he was awarded a PhD in philosophy at the University of Warsaw. In the 1989 elections for the Sejm, he was involved in the campaign of the Solidarity Citizens' Committee. Ogrodziński helped to design the famous "High Noon" poster featuring Gary Cooper as the sheriff from the 1952 film High Noon, but wearing a Solidarność badge in place of the sheriff's badge and carrying a ballot instead of a gun.
As someone who had grown up under the Communist dictatorship, Ogrodziński is keenly interested in creating a philosophy that will uphold a civil society. The Polish philosopher Piotr Gliński summarized Ogrodziński's work in philosophy as: "Moral social order stands guard over civic relations . The development of civil society would be jeopardised whenever there exists a significant gap between the state and society". In 1991, Ogrodziński published a book Pięć tekstów o społeczeństwie obywatelskim (Five Essays on Civil Society), which argued that Poland's principle problem was a "crippled civil society" after decades of foreign rule starting in 1939.
In August 2013, Ogrodziński stated in an interview: "I published a small book called Five Essays on Civil Society. At the beginning of the 1990s I was involved in the topic of civil society, which was an East-Central Europe sort of topic. The main thrust of my argument was that there is a strong logical relationship between market economy and democracy. I never interpreted civil society simply as a set of NGOs. I saw it as a certain structure of society in which the state is externalized - this is the Hegelian sense of civil society -- so that there is a space for freedom of action. The market is logically a type of such activity. There are certain rules but within the rules there is room for initiative. But that was probably the mainstream thinking of quite a few people at that time, that if you want to have democracy you need to have a market economy. It had a catastrophic result for those who were largely the real authors of the transition, since the power of Solidarnosc was connected to the great industrial plants, which very often proved to be economically inefficient. The current market reality of the Gdańsk shipyard is a symbol of such a process."
At an academic conference in London in 1993, Ogrodziński noted in Hungary, the Czech republic and Slovakia, the concept of Mitteleuropa (German for "middle Europe) had much appeal, but in Poland the concept of Mitteleuropa was seen as a threat, which he attributed to Poland's experiences of being partitioned four times, which led the Poles to see Prussia/Germany as a threat from the west in a way that the Hungarians, Czechs and Slovaks did not. Ogrodziński also noted the fluidity of Poland's eastern frontiers, which frequently changed over the centuries, further limited the appeal of the Mitteleuropa concept as for the Poles the precise eastern ends of Poland were often the subject of debate. Ogrodziński gave as an example that the city his parents were from, Lwów, a place that the Poles regarded at the time as an integral part of Poland, was now the Ukrainian city of Lviv. Ogrodziński noted there was some uncertainly about Poland's precise identity within Europe, citing the well known remark by the playwright Sławomir Mrożek that Poland was east of the West and west of the East. The Australian philosopher Kenneth Minogue noted that the question "Should Poland become more like the West?" was a difficult one, arguing that the economic advantages of such a change would have to be balanced against the threats to Poland's cultural identity and values. In response, Ogrodziński argued that before 1989, it was possible to ask straight "yes/no" questions on this issue, but that was now longer the case as Polish opinion on this issue was very complicated and nuanced. Ogrodziński noted his own surprise to discover that as a citizen he now had the right to demand a say in how the Polish state spent its money. Ogrodziński argued that the changing meanings of what it now meant to be a Polish citizen ensured there was no unanimity on this issue at all in modern Poland as there was much debate about the precise meaning of Polish citizenship in a philosophical sense.
Diplomat
From 1991 to 1997 Ogrodziński was an assistant professor at the Institute of Political Studies of the Polish Academy of Sciences. Following his father's footsteps, in 1993 he started working at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Ogrodziński served as the deputy director of the Department of Studies and Planning from 1993 to 1997, as a counselor minister from 1997 to 1998 and as deputy ambassador of the Polish embassy in Washington from 1998 to 2001. In Washington, his principle duty was negotiating Poland's accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, which had one of the principle goals of Polish foreign policy since 1989.
In 2001, he was promoted as the director of the American department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Ogrodziński took an Atlanticist line, saying in 2004: "This is a country that thinks seriously about its security. There's no doubt that for such a country, it's good to be a close ally of the United States". In 2004, he told the American media his concerns over what he felt was a lack of American gratitude for Poland's contribution to the Iraq war while denying Poles visa free travel to the United States, saying: "It's very hard to explain why one Polish kid is risking his life in Iraq and another kid is being stopped at the U.S. border because he happened to land in the wrong city".
From 2004 to 2009, he served as the Polish ambassador to Canada. As the Polish ambassador in Ottawa, Ogrodziński's principle concern was the war in Afghanistan, where both Polish and Canadian soldiers fought together against the Taliban and al-Qaeda. Ogrodziński stated in 2006 about the war in Afghanistan: "We want to see the ISAF operations be successful. The more flexibility in the possible use of troops, the better". As both Poland and Canada were one of the relatively NATO members that allowed their soldiers to fight in the dangerous Kandahar province of Afghanistan, which was a hotbed of Taiban activity as it bordered Pakistan, the Polish stance won Poland many admirers in Ottawa.
On 14 October 2007, a Polish man, Robert Dziekanski, was killed in Vancouver by four constables of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police who zapped him several times with Tasers, causing him to suffer a fatal heart attack. The killing of Dziekanski, which was recorded live by a man named Paul Pritchard at Vancouver International Airport caused much controversy in Poland where it was widely felt to be a case of excessive force. Ogrodziński asked for Canadian officials to discuss the Dziekanski case. At the time, Ogrodziński told the Canadian media: "The video does not give us a clear recording of what he was shouting but what I have heard in Polish is the beginning...Pol, which could be either policja — in other words calling for police — or pomocy, which in Polish means help". Ogrodziński stated he felt great sadness about Dziekanski's killing and that: "I believe Canadians are extremely compassionate and they have this feeling of sympathy...to help someone who seems to be helpless and disoriented". In an interview with The Irish Times, Ogrodziński stated: "The reaction of the RCMP officers was unsuitable to the situation. What I've seen was that Mr Dziekanski was a person who was agitated, frustrated, I think terrified, but not aggressive. He was not making a gesture that he intended to fight anybody".
In December 2008, when Tomasz Lis, the Polish consul in Vancouver, was alleged to have crashed his automobile while driving drunk, Ogrodziński told the Canadian media that Lis had been suspended as a consul while his diplomatic immunity had been waived, meaning that Lis would face prosecution for the incident. Ogrodziński stated: "Whatever the legal procedures and requirements of the Canadian legal system, he will be facing them. He'll be available...Suspension is because the benefit of the doubt is there. You don't make final decisions before you are in possession of all possible information about what has happened. We are now in the process of clarification where we need to be very open for the benefit of the doubt in the sense to evaluate Mr. Lis's story, but I think the replacement of Mr. Lis is very likely. I couldn't imagine a situation where he would continue his function...At the same time, I know him personally. I believe he is a very nice person. I am really in great distress that things went so bad."
In a co-op in The Globe & Mail newspaper published on 6 March 2009, Ogrodziński together with Karel Zebrakovsky, the ambassador of the Czech republic, and Pal Vastagh, the ambassador of Hungary, wrote of their collective thanks that their respective nations felt for "Canada for its invaluable contribution to the well-being of Europe." The three ambassadors expressed their appreciation for Lester Pearson, who as the Canadian minister of external affairs, insisted on including as part of the North Atlantic Treaty article 2 which stated that its members "should be bound together not merely by their common opposition to totalitarian communist aggression, but by a common belief in the values and virtues of...democracy and a positive love of it and their fellow men.", leading to Article 2 being known as the "Canada clause". The three ambassadors concluded: "While a defence alliance at its core, NATO has always been more than that. It has served to give the West - only physically separated by the Atlantic Ocean - secure foundations to foster democracy worldwide. Because of our experience, the Poles, Czechs and Hungarians do not take this model for granted. We are confident that Canada will likewise never tire of nourishing transatlantic solidarity living by the values our dear friends put to good use 60 years ago and have abided by ever since".
In October 2009, a dispute arose over a proposed monument in Ottawa to the "victims of totalitarian Communism", leading to objections from the Communist Party of Canada led by Miguel Figueroa over the name. In an email he sent about the dispute, Ogrodziński wrote: "With all due respect to Canadian sensitivities we cannot change history. Many millions lost their lives because of the policies of communist regimes and we have to be also sensitive and remember the victims of these crimes...Many innocent Polish people perished because of Stalin during the communist rule in Poland. These are historical facts that will never be forgotten by Polish Canadians". Ogrodziński gave the Katyn Forest massacre of 3 April 1940 where some 20, 000 Polish POWs were shot by the Soviet NKVD secret police as an example of Communist crimes that he wanted to see remembered.
In October 2009, when the RCMP decided not to prosecute the four constables of the RCMP who killed Dziekanski, Ogrodziński read out a letter at the public inquiry in Vancouver asking for the four constables to be prosecuted as he stated: "Justice must be achieved, responsibility determined, and wrongdoers be made accountable through criminal prosecution". Ogrodziński felt there was a conflict of interest with the RCMP investigating the constables responsible for Dziekanski's death.
During his five years in Ottawa, Ogrodziński successfully negotiated an agreement to allow visa free travel between Canada and Poland. One of Ogrodziński's principle duties in Ottawa was protesting against the term 'Polish camps' to describe the Nazi death camps in Poland, leading him to write 30 letters of protest to various Canadian media outlets during his five years in Canada. In 2009, Ogrodziński told the Canadian columnist Paul Wells: "It’s absolutely false that Poles had anything to do with concentration camps, with the exception that they were the first prisoners". Ogrodziński complained to Wells about an article by the journalist Katie Engelhart in the 16 November 2009 edition of Maclean's where she wrote about the Ukrainian-American John Demjanjuk, calling him a man who had been mistaken for "a notorious sadist at Poland’s Treblinka death camp", spoke about " “Poland’s Treblinka death camp", and stated that Demjanjuk had "served at three Polish camps" as a guard. Ogrodziński felt that Engelhart's article had given the erroneous impression that it was the Polish government that operated the Treblinka death camp, and asked for Maclean's to apologize, a request that was granted. Upon his return to Warsaw, he again served as the director of the America Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Public intellectual
In 2010, Ogrodziński was one of the founders of the Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw. At the time, Ogrodziński told the Canadian publisher Anna Porter: "It's a long history, rich in detail and adventure. It is time to give our past its due. Our history was stolen from us-we want it back. All of it, not only the wretched bits". The subject was especially important to him as both his parents were members of Żegota and his mother was honored as one of the Righteous Among the Nations for her work in saving Jews in wartime Lwów (modern Lviv, Ukraine). Ogrodziński stated it was time to give attention to the fact that the largest number of trees planted on the Avenue of the Righteous in Jerusalem are in honor of Polish Righteous Among the Nations.
In 2011, he was awarded by President Bronisław Komorowski with the Officer's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta. He also awarded the badge of Distinguished Cultural Activist. Ogrodziński is married to Joanna Kawalerowicz-Ogrodzińska and has three sons. In an interview on 12 August 2013, Ogrodziński stated that he had changed his views about civil society, saying: "If I have time to write a book properly, I would start by criticizing the concept of civil society and try to find another way of expressing certain issues other than the purely economic one...In a sense I'm proud that Poland, which did quite poorly at the Olympic games in London, did very well as far as handicapped people are concerned. The Polish people were interested in the Paralympics. People with handicaps have rights and are using their rights. So, the space for freedom has increased. The same thing is happening in this society's attitude toward women's rights and toward animal rights. A lot still must be done. But in comparison to 23 years ago, there is a much stronger understanding of the need for tolerance. That doesn't mean that everyone is tolerant, but it is a step forward"."
In the same interview, Ogrodziński stated: "Generally speaking, we have a deep crisis of political elites at this point, which is incapable of producing a new concept for changing reality and to organize the political scene. This is something I’m very worried about. Reading Manuel Castells this morning, I was a little surprised that this crisis of the political elite is not just happening in Poland. It is happening in many other places. It is a sign of the present dynamic that the changes are so dramatic that it’s difficult to create a synthetic direction of where you want to go. There are too many options going in different directions". About the younger generation in Poland, Ogrodziński stated: "I’m not a teacher. It would be imprudent to make some generalizations. My impression is that young people now in Poland are in a very demanding situation that requires them to manage things that have nothing to do with what happened in the Polish People’s Republic. The main issue is to find a job. My son is now trying to find a job. He is producing CVs, resumes, letters in unbelievable numbers – several hundred. He’s using Facebook, LinkedIn. These are skills that are foreign to me, but for him it’s an issue of life and death. Perhaps that’s too strong a word. But he wants to find a job that is more or less consistent with what he learned during his studies, which is difficult."
On 6 May 2018, Ogrodziński was a founding member of the Conference of Ambassadors of the Republic of Poland, a group of 29 former Polish ambassadors of an Altanticist bent who supported Poland's membership in NATO and the EU and who feel that the current PiS government has been damaging Poland's relations with both NATO and the EU. In its founding statement, the Conference of Ambassadors declared: "Our geopolitical position forces us to choose: integration with the West or submission to the revisionist empire from the East. History has shown that daydreams about a third way in the middle of Europe lead to dire consequences. Let us not get pushed out of the European Union, let us not allow our ties with NATO to be weakened." The same letter accused Russia of sponsoring populist movements of both left and right in Europe and North America as part of a gambit to break up both the European Union and NATO.
In October 2018, Ogrodziński as part of the Conference of Ambassadors signed a public letter criticizing Jarosław Kaczyński, the leader of the conservative PiS party and Poland's de facto leader for his remarks he made in a speech about the judiciary, suggesting that Polish judges had a duty to rule in favor of Poles in cases contested with foreigners. The letter accused Kaczyński of having suggested "a new model of the administration of justice, unknown in democratic countries: Polish judges, regardless of the applicable law, should always adjudicate in favor of Poles." The letter accused Kaczyński of isolating Poland and threatening judicial independence.
In 2019, he was one of the former Polish diplomats in the Conference of Ambassadors of the Republic of Poland, who issued a public letter critical of the current Polish government that stated: "The separation of powers is being abolished, an independent judiciary is being destroyed. Human rights are being limited, and the increasing repression of political opponents and various minorities, both ethnic, religious and sexual, are tolerated not only by the government, but even inspired by it". On 22 June 2020, Ogrodziński signed a public letter on behalf of the Conference of Ambassadors criticizing the visit of President Andrzej Duda of Poland during the middle of his re-election campaign to meet President Donald Trump in Washington as violating the unwritten rule that American presidents do not meet with Polish presidents during the course of an election campaign, arguing that the visit was being portrayed as an endorsement of Duda by Trump, and thus was a sort of American interference in Polish domestic affairs.
On 9 September 2020, Ogrodziński together with Ryszard Schnepf, the former Polish ambassador to the United States and Jan Truszczyński, the former Polish ambassador to the European Union published a public letter expressing the hope that Joe Biden would win the United States presidential election, writing: "It is with great warmth and hope that we welcome your candidacy for president of the United States, a country that has played a unique role in our history. From the moment of its birth, the United States of America wanted to be a "city upon the hill" – a beacon of hope for those who desired freedom and democracy, justice and equality. This is how, as a role model, the United States was perceived by five and a half million Poles who signed a letter of thanks to the American people in 1926. For it was the United States which, after World War I, successfully raised the issue of Polish independence, and at the end of the 20th century played a vital role for us by supporting the wave of democracy in Central and Eastern Europe, shedding the yoke of communism." The letter criticized "a wave of populism" as threatening "pluralistic democracies, creating the illusion in societies that an authoritarian system can deal more effectively with current problems".
The letter denounced populist leaders, whom it criticized: "Populist leaders, cynical and irresponsible, take power by proposing an identity built on hatred of the Other: immigrant, homosexual, Jew or Muslim. They create an appearance of justice with calculated hand-outs, while at the same time allowing corruption to flourish, if it serves to strengthen their power. They awaken national egoisms, and treat international institutions and alliances with contempt, simply as a business forum where zero-sum play takes place. They destroy the international order without proposing anything other than rivalry for power in return". The letter expressed support for pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, Venezuela, and especially Belarus, stating: "The explosion of opposition to injustices in Belarus proves that history continues and in it lives the yearning for freedom. That opposition to enslavement is an act of identity of free people. Whether it appears in Minsk, Caracas, or Hong Kong, it is worthy of our admiration, respect, and support."
On 29 September 2020, Ogrodziński signed a public letter by the Conference of Ambassadors accusing the PiS government of homophobia, which it warned was alienating public opinion around the world. The letter stated that more 50 ambassadors in Warsaw had criticized the government's statements about gay Polish people and went on to state: "President Andrzej Duda cynically used homophobia in his election campaign. From public finances, the minister of justice supports local governments which declare themselves a "LGBT-free zone" with the approval of other PiS officials. These are shameful and blameworthy actions. The current 'anti-LGBT' campaign is beginning to recall the terrifying beginnings of discrimination leading to crimes in 20th century history." About the PiS government's anti-abortion policies, Ogrodziński signed a public letter stating that "the prohibition of abortion in such a situation is classified as cruel, inhuman, degrading and discriminatory treatment, prohibited under international law".
On 18 December 2020, Ogrodziński as a member of the Conference of Ambassadors signed a public letter criticizing President Andrzej Duda as being of the world leaders together with President Vladimir Putin of Russia who took their time to congratulate Biden for winning the 2020 election, apparently out of the hope that Trump might remain in office. The letter expressed the fear that Duda might had damaged Poland's reputation in the United States, and denounced what it called Duda's "infantile friendship with Donald Trump".
In 2021, he again signed a public letter as part of the Conference of Ambassadors of the Republic of Poland stating about the 2021 Belarus–European Union border crisis: "For several weeks now, the hideous practice sponsored and organized by the Belarusian regime has been going on: living people, refugees and migrants have become, in the hands of the authorities in Minsk, a tool of migratory pressure on the European Union, including our country. For weeks our authorities have not found an appropriate and democratic response to this pressure, resorting mainly to actions closer to Belarusian "standards", while at the same time violating human rights as well as Polish and international law...The current activities de facto implement the scenario written in Minsk, which is intended to give our allies the impression that Poland is moving away from Europe and its standards. Let us not allow this idea to come true".
Books and articles
References
Living people
1951 births
20th-century Polish philosophers
University of Warsaw alumni
Officers of the Order of Polonia Restituta
Polish diplomats
Ambassadors of Poland to Canada |
69601180 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talti%2C%20Sindh | Talti, Sindh | Talti is a town and union council in Sehwan taluka of Jamshoro District, Sindh. It is located in the historical pargana of Baghban, 8 miles north of Sehwan and 2 miles off the main road from Sehwan to Larkano. It also has road connections with nearby Bhan and Bubak. There is a dhandh near Talti that is used as a source of fishery.
As of 2017, Talti has a population of 6,716, in 1,387 households, while the total population of the Talti union council is 37,694. It is the seat of a tappedar circle, which also includes the villages of Bilawalpur, Duridero Jatoi, and Jatoi.
The Sufi saint Makhdoom Bilawal was born here in 1451. Later, around 1520, Talti was the site of the battle where the Samma dynasty was decisively defeated by Shah Beg Arghun, who as a result of the battle became the uncontested ruler of Sindh. In this battle, the Sammas were joined by Sehta and Sodha tribesmen in an alliance facilitated by Makhdoom Bilawal and other local religious leaders. After the battle, Shah Beg encamped at Talti for three days. He had Talti and its small fort razed, its crops destroyed, and its inhabitants massacred.
Around 1874, Talti was described as a small town with an estimated population of about 900: about 250 were Muslims, mostly Khaskelis, and about 650 were Hindus, mostly Lohanos. It had a small police station, a government vernacular school, and a dharamsala. There was no significant industry in the town at the time apart from small-scale production of cloth and rugs. Local trade consisted of ghee, grain, and oil, but there was no major long-distance trade.
Less than 1 km east of Talti, by the road to Bubak, is the 18th-century dargah of the Muslim holy man Shahab Uddin Shah Bukhari. The tomb is well-maintained by the locals and was significantly renovated in the 2000s or 10s, and new āina-kāri decoration was also added at the same time.
The 1951 census recorded the village of Talti as having an estimated population of about 690, in about 350 houses. It had a Sanitary Committee at that point.
References
Populated places in Jamshoro District |
69602586 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017%20Severodvinsk%20Council%20of%20Deputies%20election | 2017 Severodvinsk Council of Deputies election | Elections to the Council of Deputies of the city of Severodvinsk of the VI convocation were held on September 10, 2017, in Severodvinsk, Arkhangelskaya oblast.
Unlike the previous elections, when half (13 deputies of the Council) of the Council had been elected by the plurality voting, and the other half (also 13 deputies) were elected by party-list voting, in the 2017 elections all the 25 deputies were elected by the plurality voting, one from each of the 25 city electoral districts. The total number of deputies in the Council of Deputies also has changed and decreased by 1.
Pre-election period and elections
On May 23, 2017, the United Russia primaries took place at the Drama Theater, and on August 12, the campaign period began throughout the Arkhangelsk oblast.
Candidates from United Russia party were nominated in each electoral district, and in three districts they were the only candidates to vote for (the alternative voting option was only the line "Against"). Candidates from the Liberal Democratic Party were nominated in 20 districts, in 12 districts candidates from the Communist Party of the Russian Federation were nominated, in 9 districts candidates from A Just Russia party were nominated. In the 5th district the only candidate from Rodina party was nominated, and in the 19th - from Yabloko democratic party.During the elections, according to the news agency "Belomorkanal", one candidate brought people to the polling station at school №9. The head of the city, Igor Skubenko, who had been elected three days earlier, voted at school №13, in which the leaking roof was disguised under a flower bed.
The elections were guarded by the police, which presence at polling stations was estimated at up to 1.5 thousand throughout the region. By 2 pm there were several arrests in Severodvinsk because of the campaign (the campaign period had ended up on September 8).
Results
The turnout was only 11.53 %. From 15 to 17 million rubles were spent on organizing the electoral process.
As a result of the elections, having received 20 out of 25 seats, United Russia party has increased its presence in the city parliament by 2 seats. The Liberal Democratic Party of Russia and A Just Russia each got 2 seats, and the Communist Party of the Russian Federation got only one seat. Unlike the previous elections, the Rodina party haven’t received any seat.
In 2019, due to the resignation by the deputy Vladimir Sukharev, who had won in the 1st district (on the island of Yagry), by-elections were held. In them the Shies activist and a member of the unregistered party "Other Russia" Valery Sheptukhin took part, and the candidate from the Liberal Democratic party Sergey Popov won.
References
Local elections in Russia
Arkhangelsk Oblast
2017 elections in Russia |
69602673 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021%20Beechina%20bushfire | 2021 Beechina bushfire | The 2021 Beechina bushfire was a bushfire that began on 26 December 2021 in Beechina, 46 kilometres (28.5 mi) east-north-east of the Perth central business district, in the Shire of Mundaring, Western Australia. The bushfire began less than five kilometres from the 2021 Wooroloo bushfire, and coincided with a COVID-19 outbreak and associated public health measures in the Perth metropolitan region. One house was destroyed as a result of the fire, along with six outbuildings and a number of vehicles.
Background
In the preceding months, Perth and environs had recorded high levels of rainfall, leading to increased amounts of vegetation growth. In December 2021, especially towards the latter part of the month, high temperatures (in excess of 40 °C at certain points) and low rainfall led to dangerous conditions, conducive to large bushfires. Low dew points, low humidity and low soil moisture levels have recently made firefighting more difficult overnight – ordinarily, fires would reduce in size and ferocity overnight, however recently, this has not been the case due to the aforementioned factors.
Total fire bans were declared for a wide-ranging area on 26 December and the days before, including the area where the fire began.
Timeline
26 December
The fire began near the intersection of Old Northam Road and Government Road in Beechina, and as first reported at 3.41pm. Weather conditions were harsh, with temperatures peaking at 43.5 °C during the day and wind gusts of up to 37 km/h recorded. By 6.07pm, the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) had issued an emergency warning to those in Wooroloo, Chidlow and Gidgegannup. Those in the emergency warning and watch and act zones were urged to evacuate – an area of approximately 2479 ha (6123 acres). An evacuation centre was set up at the Mundaring Arena in Mundaring. By 7.17pm, in excess of 155 ha (383 acres) had been burned, stretching in a westerly direction from the starting point of the fire. The fire was moving fast in that direction. 150 firefighters and aerial support were sent to the fire. The Shire of Mundaring Animal Pound was open and available to take domestic animals for residents who were evacuating the area, whilst the State Equestrian Centre was opened to accommodate animals from fire-affected areas.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) forecast strong wind gusts of up to 60 kilometres per hour overnight, as well as temperatures of more than 28 °C. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported that several structures had been burned.
By 9.06pm, DFES reported that more than 250 firefighters were attending the fire, as well as State Emergency Service (SES) and local government personnel. At this point, the bushfire was still moving fast in a westerly direction. DFES advised that residents of Warrigal Estate in Chidlow whom had not already evacuated that it was now too late to leave. The emergency warning zone encompassed the area bounded by Government Road, Old Northam Road, Lilydale Road and Needham Road, including Warrigal Estate in Wooroloo, Chidow and Gidgegannup. The watch and act zone encompassed the area bounded by Lilydale Road, Thomas Street, Elliott Road, Rosedale Road and Brompton Heights in Chidlow. The advice zone encompassed the area between Rosedale Road and Stoneville Road in Mount Helena, Stoneville, Gidgegannup and Chidlow. Aircraft in attendance included one heavy waterbomber and two medium waterbombers, which were dumping water and fire retardant in fire-affected areas. Two new DFES airtankers had also been deployed to the site.
By 11.20pm, DFES advised that 164.5 ha (406 acres) had been burned.
27 December
Overnight, the bushfire had been contained. The emergency warning update at 7.07am from DFES noted that the bushfire was stationary, and 100 firefighters were attending. The emergency warning zone had been decreased in size to 760 ha (1878 acres), at this point encompassing the area bounded by Government Road, Old Northam Road, Forge Farm Riding School, Liberton Road and Jason Street, including Warrigal Estate. The Warrigal Estate was reportedly under threat by fire at the present moment, as noted in the 7.07am emergency warning update. The watch and act zone encompassed the area aforementioned, as well as the balance of the former emergency warning zone. The advice zone remained mostly unchanged. In addition to the 100 firefighters reported by DFES to be attending, SES, WA Police, St John Ambulance, the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions and the Shire of Mundaring were in attendance.
Wind gusts of up to 50 km/h were forecast for the morning by BOM, with high temperatures of 40 °C continuing.
By 8.02am, the emergency warning update from DFES advised that the bushfire was now contained and controlled, whilst the Warrigal Estate was still under threat by embers. Firefighters were reportedly patrolling the area and mopping up. Road closures at this point included Liberton Road between Stone Street and Needham Road, Needham Road between Liberton Road and Government Road, Lilydale Road between Breeze Road and Stone Street. Government Road between Needham Road and Old Northam Road had re-opened with significant amounts of water on the road.
DFES Incident Controller Adrian Hamill spoke to ABC Radio Perth, informing listeners that 167 ha (413 acres) had now been burned, as well as one house, near to where the fire started, and several sheds. The Warrigal Estate was still under threat, however all houses in the estate appeared to have been saved.
By 11.12am, DFES issues an update to the emergency warning, which read that residences in Warrigal Estate, Forge Drive and Anvil Way may be under threat by embers. 120 firefighters were reported to be in attendance at this point. The watch and act zone and advice zones remained mostly unchanged.
By 11.45am, DFES issued another update to the emergency warning. A community meeting at the Wooroloo Hall was scheduled for 1.00pm, and a number of roads were re-opened, including Needham Road and Lilydale Road, in addition to Government Road, which was re-opened by 8.02am. Liberton Road remained closed.
There were few changes with regards to the bushfire after 11.45am and before 2.00pm. At 2.00pm, DFES downgraded the alert level from emergency to watch and act as the bushfire was contained and controlled. The Mundaring Arena evaucation centre had been closed. Firefighters were reported to be on the scene and monitoring the situation. Embers were still threatening homes, so residents were asked to remain vigilant.
News outlets reported that one house and six outbuildings (such as sheds) and a number of vehicles, including cars and trucks, had been burned. The destroyed house was owned by Monique Leahy, and has been owned by the same family for almost 40 years.
By 7.12pm, DFES had again downgraded the alert level for the former watch and act area from watch and act to advice, whilst the balance of the former warning area was downgraded to all clear. All roads had been re-opened at this point. The Water Corporation advised that some properties in Wooroloo, Gidgegannup and Chidlow were without water. Power had been restored to approximately 120 homes in the area earlier in the day by Western Power.
Cause of the fire
The WA Police arson squad was reported to have visited the area on the night of 26 December and "determined an area of origin of about 100m area," DFES incident controller Adrian Hamil said, "but they do think it was suspicious." A police spokesperson also said that the arson squad was investigation, but that it was normal procedure and too early to confirm the cause of the fire.
WA Police Commissioner Chris Dawson said that the bushfire appeared to have three separate ignition points, and the cause was being treated as suspicious.
A man was arrested on 15 January 2022, and appeared in Perth Magistrate's Court on 16 January 2022, charged with various arson offences. Police alleged that he lit up to a further eight fires in the surrounding area.
References
Bushfires in Western Australia
2021 wildfires |
69602720 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banaj%20Kumar%20Majumder | Banaj Kumar Majumder | Banaj Kumar Majumder (, born 1 January 1967) is a Bangladeshi police officer. He is currently Additional IG of Bangladesh Police and chief of the Police Bureau of Investigation. Prior to join PBI, he was Additional Commissioner of Chattogram Metropolitan Police in the rank of Additional DIG. He came into limelight when he was SP of Cox's Bazar District.
Early life
Majumder completed his graduation from Rajshahi Science & Technology University (RSTU) in electrical & electronics engineering with distinctive result. He joined at Bangladesh Police through 12th BCS (Police) Batch in 1991.
Career
In 2009 and 2010, Majumder was the Deputy Commissioner of northern section of Chittagong Metropolitan Police.
Majumder, then Additional Commissioner of Chattogram Metropolitan Police, provided financial assistance to the family of a constable killed in the line of duty in 2013.
In March 2016, Majumder was promoted to the rank of Deputy Inspector General of Police while serving as the Additional Commissioner of Chattogram Metropolitan Police.
On 22 January 2022, Majumder was promoted to the rank of additional inspector general of police.
References
Bangladeshi police officers
Bangladesh Police
People from Pirojpur District
1967 births
Living people |
69603623 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charsadda%20arson%20attack | Charsadda arson attack | On 28 November 2021, religiously motivated arsonists destroyed a police station in Charsadda District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
Background
In Pakistan, blasphemy is a very serious crime which carries the death penalty. The Pakistani government have sentenced some prisoners convicted of blasphemy to death, but have not executed anyone. Some blasphemy suspects have been lynched. Domestic and international human rights groups have said that accusations of blasphemy are used to persecute religious minorities and to take revenge for personal reasons.
Arrest of blasphemy suspect
On 28 November 2021, police arrested an apparently seriously mentally-ill man for allegedly desecrating a Quran by tearing out some its pages. He was taken to Mandani police station in Tangi Tehsil, Charsadda District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, northwest Pakistan.
Attack
Later on the day of the arrest, a group of protesters, whom the police described as a mob of four to five thousand people, gathered outside the police station. They demanded the police hand the suspect to them. The police refused to do so, and during the night the protesters attacked the station, stealing weapons and burning the building down. They also set fire to the vehicles in its car park. The police fled, taking the suspect to an undisclosed location. Following the attack, the mob set fire to a police check post on Harichand Road. They blocked the road and staged a sit-in there. The police dispersed them; eyewitnesses said the police used tear gas and aerial firing to do so.
Reaction
Later, local leaders of Deobandi Sunni political party Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) demonstrated in Mandani bazaar, demanding the suspect be punished.
References
2021 crimes in Pakistan
2021 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
2020s crimes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Arson in Pakistan
Arson in the 2020s
Attacks on buildings and structures in 2021
Attacks on buildings and structures in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Attacks on police stations in Asia
Attacks on police stations in the 2020s
Arson attack
November 2021 crimes in Asia |
69603956 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Showtime%20Begins%21 | Showtime Begins! | Showtime Begins! () is an upcoming South Korean television series starring Park Hae-jin, Jin Ki-joo, and Jung Joon-ho. The series, directed by Lee Hyeong-min and Jeong Sang-hee for Samhwa Networks, is about a mysterious magician Cha Cha-woong and a hot-blooded policeman working with ghosts to solve cases based on hidden clues. It will premiere on MBC in April 2022. It was also pre-sold to OTT media services in over 190 countries.
Synopsis
The series is a romantic comedy between Cha Cha-woong (Park Hae-jin), a magician and employer of ghosts, and a passionate but hot blooded female police officer Go Seul-hae (Jin Ki-joo) with supernatural powers.
Cast
Main
Park Hae-jin as Cha Cha-woong, a ghost employer and famous magician.
Jin Ki-joo as Go Seul-hae, a hot blooded cop with supernatural powers.
Jung Joon-ho as General Choi Gum
Jung Suk-yong as Deputy Nam Sang-geon
Supporting
Ko Kyu-pil as Ma Dong-cheol
Kim Hee-jae as Lee Yong-ryeol, a junior of Go Seul-hae.
Park Seo-yeon as Kang Ah-reum
Jang Ha-eun as Cheon Ye-ji, granddaughter of Na Geum-ok.
Kim Jong-hoon as Seo Hee-soo, Go Seul-hae's longtime unrequited love and the police detective team leader.
Cha Mi-kyung as Na Geum-ok
Choi Moo-in as
Seo Dong-hyun
Ha Sung-kwang
Special appearance
Shin Hyun-joon
Park Seul-gi as MC entertainment information program
Choi Sung-won
Production
Park Hae-jin confirmed main lead in the series in May 2021. Jin Ki-joo was offered main lead opposite Park Hae-jin in July 2021. Jung Joon-ho received offer to appear in the series in August 2021.
Samhwa Networks has signed a supply contract with PCCW, Vuclip in Singapore to sell worldwide broadcasting rights licenses on September 27, 2021, for ten years.
Script reading for the series was held on October 6, 2021, at MBC in Sangam, Mapo-gu, Seoul, and filming began on October 14.
There will also be works of art by actor Park Ki-woong that have not yet aired in the drama.
On February 18, 2022, the script reading was released.
References
External links
Showtime Begins! at Daum
MBC TV television dramas
Korean-language television shows
2022 South Korean television series debuts
South Korean comedy television series
South Korean comedy-drama television series
South Korean fantasy television series
Television series by Samhwa Networks
Upcoming television series |
69604198 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation%20Vula | Operation Vula | Operation Vula (also known as Operation Vulindlela, Zulu for Open the Road) was a secret domestic programme of the African National Congress (ANC) during the final years of apartheid in South Africa. Initiated in 1986 at the ANC headquarters in Lusaka and launched in South Africa in 1988, its operatives infiltrated weapons and banned ANC leaders into the country, in order to establish an underground network linking domestic activist structures with the ANC in exile. It was responsible for facilitating the only direct line of communication between ANC headquarters and Nelson Mandela, who at the time was imprisoned and was discussing a negotiated settlement with the government on the ANC's behalf. The operation was disbanded in 1990, after its existence had been publicly revealed and eight of its leaders charged under the Internal Security Act with terrorism and plotting an armed insurrection.
Operation Vula was approved by the ANC National Executive Committee but thereafter proceeded on a strictly need-to-know basis, with many ANC members unaware of its existence and many ANC leaders unaware of the details of its activities. It was led by Mac Maharaj and Siphiwe Nyanda, whom ANC President Oliver Tambo congratulated in 1988 on not only "the immense potential of the Vula concept but also its tremendous yield in terms of what has been achieved within a short period of time." Commentators have admired the sophistication of the operation, and historian Stephen Ellis calls it "the most effective and impressive project ever mounted by the ANC." However, Ellis also notes that Vula arrived "too late to have a major effect on the strategic balance" in the negotiations to end apartheid.
Establishment
In 1986, the ANC National Executive Committee (NEC), based in Lusaka, Zambia, approved the initiation of Operation Vula, apparently having been lobbied to do so by Mac Maharaj. Maharaj was to be Vula's commander inside South Africa, with Siphiwe Nyanda as his deputy. In Lusaka, the operation was overseen by ANC President Oliver Tambo and by Joe Slovo, the general secretary of the South African Communist Party (SACP). Ellis has suggested that the SACP's influence over the operation was such that Vula might properly be considered an SACP operation, although the extent of the SACP's formal ownership of the operation is unclear.
The NEC agreed from the outset that Vula was to proceed on a "strictly need-to-know basis," administered through Tambo's office as the "President's Project," meaning that even the NEC would not receive reports on its activities. Particularly due to concerns about high-level informants or infiltrators within the ANC, the operation was highly secret until it was uncovered in 1990 – for example, when Maharaj left Lusaka to establish Vula in South Africa, members of the ANC in exile were told that he was going to Europe for medical treatment. The operation was also financed secretly, through front companies and dummy bank accounts. Some logistical aspects of the operation were handled by allies from European anti-apartheid groups, especially in the Netherlands.
Rationale
From the mid-1980s, amid escalating "ungovernability" within South Africa, there was disagreement within the ANC as to how the end of apartheid should and would be secured. Though still banned in South Africa, the ANC in exile, through efforts spearheaded by Thabo Mbeki, had been meeting with prominent businessmen and government officials since at least 1987 to discuss a possible negotiated settlement; by then, Nelson Mandela, though still imprisoned, was also in contact with the government. Others, however, believed that negotiations would not necessarily preclude the need for an armed struggle and even the seizure of power by force. Maharaj was one adherent of this view. In the past, Operation Vula has been perceived – and was portrayed by the apartheid government – as straightforwardly seeking to establish internal networks for a violent insurrection, in line with this latter view. However, subsequent historical research has suggested that Vula, and the maintenance of an armed underground, was intended as a useful corollary to the process of negotiations. Among the potential benefits of maintaining an armed underground were that it could improve the balance of power in the ANC's favour during the negotiations; that it could help protect ANC supporters during local conflicts with Inkatha and others; and that it could provide the ANC with an "insurance policy" in the event that the apartheid government was indeed negotiating in bad faith.
Thus one of Vula's main objectives was to establish internal underground structures which could be mobilised in armed struggle if necessary – in one phrase, "potentially armed" structures. In December 1988, Tambo wrote to Maharaj:We need a sustained, ever growing and expanding military offensive. But we are unable to take off in any significant manner. We hit one disaster after another, continuously, year in and year out, precisely because we sought to run before we could walk, and kept on walking. Vula must not follow the beaten path – it's a minefield. Vula must strike out on a new road – to lay the indispensable foundations for a viable armed struggle by first creating, building and consolidating a strong, resilient, extensive political network that is self-protective, absorb shocks. This is precisely the task Vula has started tackling with startling vigour and effectiveness.
However, such structures also had more immediate political uses. Over the preceding decade, the United Democratic Front (UDF), the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), and other anti-apartheid trade unions and community organisations had emerged as politically influential at the grassroots level, in the absence of an effective ANC leadership inside South Africa. By infiltrating senior leaders into the country and establishing effective intelligence networks, the ANC could assert strategic control over the internal anti-apartheid struggle, arguably for the first time since its banning in 1960. Academic Kenneth Good has gone so far as to argue that "through Operation Vula, the ANC intended to terminate the UDF and the broad and deep democratisation it encouraged," commandeering control of the internal struggle.
Activities
Operation Vula was primarily based in Natal and the Witswatersrand. The first Vula operatives, including Maharaj and Nyanda, entered South Africa secretly in 1987. Various other exiled mid- and top-level ANC personnel were also infiltrated into the country, whereupon they set about establishing military capacity and establishing links with underground ANC members – including ANC leaders recently released from prison, such as Govan Mbeki – as well as with members of other anti-apartheid groupings, especially the influential UDF and COSATU. Notably, Vula operatives coordinated the ANC response to, and containment of, the scandal that arose around Winnie Madikizela-Mandela's involvement in the 1989 death of teenaged activist Stompie Seipei. The military capacity of Operation Vula was never tested, but it did reportedly manage to smuggle into the country large amounts of weapons, which the ANC underground stored in various safe houses. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission later found that many of the weapons were used in local conflicts involving ANC members during the early 1990s.
Communications
A central objective of Vula was the establishment of a single, reliable channel of communication between internal activists and the ANC headquarters in Lusaka. This was achieved through a purpose-built encrypted communication system, which was developed by Tim Jenkin in London and ran off personal computers. The system was used for such purposes as reporting intelligence, reporting operational instructions and outcomes, debating strategies, and coordinating meetings. In mid-1989, Maharaj obtained Tambo's approval to set up secretly a direct line of communication between Tambo and Mandela, who was then in Victor Verster prison and engaging in preliminary negotiations with the apartheid government. Their messages to each other were smuggled in and out of the prison by Mandela's lawyer, Ismail Ayob, and were transmitted to Tambo through Vula's communication system.
Operation Bible
Operation Bible was an ANC intelligence project involving the running of an Afrikaner agent, nicknamed the "Nightingale," recruited in 1986 from within the Security Branch of the South African Police. It was led by Moe Shaik and in 1987 was endorsed by the leadership of the ANC in exile, including Tambo and Jacob Zuma, who oversaw the project as head of ANC intelligence. By 1989, the project had effectively been merged into Operation Vula, and Shaik had been appointed Vula's head of intelligence. According to Shaik, the project got its name from Tambo, who had said of certain reports from the Nightingale that "I believe they are as true as the Bible."
Exposure
Operation Vula continued to operate secretly, with Mandela's blessing, even once the ANC had been unbanned and Mandela, recently released, had taken over the ANC leadership following Tambo's stroke. However, in July 1990, during a raid in Durban, the Security Branch uncovered evidence of Operation Vula, including communications between Vula operatives and the ANC headquarters in Lusaka. Although a police officer claimed that an ANC member had passed the police information about Vula, the ANC maintained that the police had stumbled upon it by chance. A series of arrests followed, and nine operatives were charged with terrorism under the Internal Security Act of 1982. Those were Maharaj, Nyanda, Pravin Gordhan, Billy Nair, Raymond Lala, Dipuo Catherine Mvelase, Susanna Tshabalala, Dipak Patel, and Amnesh Sankar. Eight were brought on trial in October, accused of plotting "to seize power from the government by means of an armed insurrection" and "to recruit, train, lead, and arm a revolutionary army," while other operatives, including Ronnie Kasrils, went back into exile or further underground. The police also claimed to have seized twenty arms caches, one of which it claimed had contained a ground-to-air missile.
Especially given that the ANC had recently signed the Groote Schuur Minute, the discovery of Vula – and the arrest of high-profile ANC leaders – destabilised the ongoing process of negotiations. The media referred to the operation as "the Red Plot," and the ANC reportedly spent some time distancing itself from it, before ultimately admitting that it had been sanctioned at the highest levels. In August 1990, the ANC formally ended its armed struggle upon signature of the Pretoria Minute, according to Ellis motivated by "the embarrassment resulting from Vula's exposure." All Vula operatives were indemnified by mid-1991.
Two ANC operatives detained in July 1990, Charles Ndaba and Mbuso Shabalala, were missing until 1998, when the Truth and Reconciliation Commission found that they had been arrested and killed by the Security Branch and their bodies thrown in the Tugela River. According to the testimony of a policeman, Ndaba and Shabalala were killed after refusing to turn on the ANC.
Legacy
Journalist Sam Sole of amaBhungane later suggested that relationships forged through Vula influenced the factional composition of the ANC of the early 2000s, with one internal group coalescing around former Vula operatives (mostly from Natal, mostly with strong links to the SACP, and aligned to Deputy President Zuma) and another around President Mbeki, who had not been involved in Vula.
In September 2003, Maharaj and Moe Shaik (by then the former transport minister and a foreign ministry adviser respectively) leaked to City Press that Bulelani Ngcuka, then the National Director of Public Prosecutions and an apparent Mbeki ally, had probably been an apartheid spy, nicknamed "Agent RS452." They were ultimately unable to substantiate the allegation, which they said was based on the tentative conclusion of an investigation into Ngcuka by ANC intelligence, which Operation Vula had relied on. The specially appointed Hefer Commission, chaired by former judge Joos Hefer, investigated. The commission's report, released in January 2004, dismissed the allegation and called a further allegation by Shaik – that Ngcuka had used the National Prosecuting Authority to investigate the former ANC intelligence operatives who had uncovered his alleged duplicity (including Maharaj, Zuma, and Shaik's brother) – "so implausible that it deserves no serious consideration." By then, human rights lawyer Vanessa Brereton had announced that she had been Agent RS452.
Former operatives
Former Vula operatives include:
Mac Maharaj
Siphiwe Nyanda
Pravin Gordhan
Tim Jenkin
Ronnie Kasrils
Nathi Mthethwa
Billy Nair
Charles Nqakula
Ivan Pillay
Schabir Shaik
Solly Shoke
Jacob Zuma
See also
Umkhonto we Sizwe
Third force
History of the African National Congress
References
Further reading
Braam, Conny (2004). Operation Vula. Jacana Media. ISBN 978-1-919931-70-8.
Henderson, Robert D. (1997-12-01). "Operation Vula against apartheid". International Journal of Intelligence and CounterIntelligence. 10 (4): 418–455. ISSN 0885-0607.
O'Malley, Padraig (2008). Shades of Difference: Mac Maharaj and the Struggle for South Africa, pp. 239–389. Penguin. ISBN 978-0-14-023224-0.
Shaik, Moe (2020). The ANC Spy Bible: Surviving Across Enemy Lines. Kwela Books. ISBN 978-0-624-08896-7.
Simpson, Thula (2009). "Toyi-Toyi-ing to Freedom: The Endgame in the ANCs Armed Struggle, 1989-1990". Journal of Southern African Studies. 35 (2): 507–521. ISSN 0305-7070.
External links
Collected Vula communications
"Talking with Vula" (1995), by Tim Jenkin
The Vula Connection (2014), eNCA documentary
Kasrils on the armed struggle (2016)
Extract from The ANC Spy Bible (2020), Shaik's memoir
History of the African National Congress |
69604383 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramon%20Torres%20Hernandez | Ramon Torres Hernandez | Ramon Torres Hernandez (November 8, 1971 – November 14, 2012) was an American serial killer, kidnapper and rapist responsible for at least three murders in Bexar County, Texas from 1994 to 2001, and is a prime suspect in two others. Following his arrest, he admitted to the killings, was sentenced to death and ultimately executed in 2012.
Murders
Before the murders, Hernandez was in prison for burglary and a sex offense, and he was paroled on June 11, 1993.
December 16, 1994; 13-year-old Sarah Beth Gonzales and her cousin 12-year-old Priscilla Almares were reported missing by their families after they left a friend's house to not be seen again. The next day, their bodies were found at Rodriguez Park. An autopsy confirmed both had been sexually assaulted before being killed. In the following investigation, police struggled to locate a suspect.
March 31, 2001; Hernandez, his girlfriend Asel Abdygapparova, and his friend Santos Minjares, were prowling through San Antonio's westside looking for a victim to rob. They spotted 37-year-old Rosa Maria Rosado sitting alone at a bus stop, whom they forced into their car, and forced duct tape onto her mouth. Both Hernandez and Santos raped and eventually killed her, later making a shallow grave where they disposed of the body.
Apprehension
In the following days after the murder, Asel contacted the police and wanted to give them the location of Rosado's body. In the investigation, police tied Hernandez to the crime, based on part of a shovel that he sent Abdygapparova to buy. He was arrested on April 4, for the murder, and Santos was arrested the following day. While he awaited his trial, a sample of Hernandez's DNA was seized by detectives, who matched it to the biological evidence collected at the Gonzales and Almares homicide scene. In addition, they linked Hernandez to an earlier double murder of two teens that occurred a month before Gonzales and Almares' killings, but not enough evidence could be located.
While Hernandez was initially never charged with killing Gonzales and Almares, investigators announced that the case was nevertheless solved. On October 21, 2002, Hernandez, who had made a full confession to the murders, was sentenced to death, and in a separate trial, Santos was also found guilty and sentenced to death. Asel was sentenced to life imprisonment for her role in Rosado's murder. Before his execution date could be set, Santos died on death row in January 2012, from natural causes.
Execution
On November 14, 2012, Hernandez was executed at the Huntsville Unit by lethal injection. His last words were addressed to his brother. He was the 14th inmate executed in Texas that year.
See also
List of serial killers in the United States
Capital punishment in Texas
Capital punishment in the United States
List of people executed in the United States in 2012
List of people executed in Texas, 2010–2019
List of people executed by lethal injection
References
External links
Death Row Information
1971 births
2012 deaths
1994 murders in the United States
2001 murders in the United States
20th-century American criminals
21st-century American criminals
21st-century executions of American people
21st-century executions by Texas
American male criminals
Male serial killers
People executed by Texas by lethal injection
Executed American serial killers
People executed for murder |
69605218 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George%20Whitmore%20Jr. | George Whitmore Jr. | George Whitmore Jr., (-1968) was an man who was charged but later cleared of the infamous Career Girls Murders. "The Supreme Court cited Mr. Whitmore’s case as “the most conspicuous example” of police coercion when it issued its 1966 ruling in Miranda v. Arizona, establishing a set of protections for suspects, like the right to remain silent."
In April the following year, Elba Borrero identified Whitmore as the man who attacked her. Upon his arrest, photos of a white blonde woman were found in his possession and were believed to be that of Janice Wylie. Brooklyn police announced that Whitmore had confessed to the Wylie-Hoffert and Edmonds murders and the attempted assault of Elba Borrero, who had identified him as her attacker. At a news conference it was announced that Whitmore had given details of the Wylie-Hoffert murders that only the killer could have known. It was stated he had drawn a detailed diagram of the apartment and had in his wallet a photo of Janice Wylie that had been stolen from the flat.
The actions of the police department led Whitmore to be improperly accused of this and other crimes, including the murder of Minnie Edmonds and the attempted rape and assault of Elba Borrero. Whitmore was wrongfully incarcerated for 1,216 days — from his arrest on April 24, 1964, until his release on bond on July 13, 1966, and from the revocation of his bond on February 28, 1972 until his exoneration on April 10, 1973. This was after what author T.J. English called, in his book The Savage City, "a numbing cycle of trials, convictions, convictions overturned, retrials, and appeals", Whitmore was cleared of all charges and released. Whitmore's treatment by the authorities was cited as an example that led the U.S. Supreme Court to issue the guidelines known as the Miranda rights, with the Supreme Court calling Mr. Whitmore's case "the most conspicuous example" of police coercion in the country when it issued its 1966 ruling establishing a set of protections for suspects, including the right to remain silent, in Miranda v. Arizona.
Investigation and Wrong Suspect
In April the following year, Elba Borrero identified George Whitmore Jr., a nineteen-year-old day laborer, as the man who had attempted to rape her a few days prior. Borrero would later acknowledge that Whitmore was the only suspect police had shown her.
When Whitmore was arrested, it was found that he was in possession of a photo of a white blonde woman. Brooklyn detectives Joe DiPrima and Edward Bulger jumped to the conclusion that the blonde in the photo was Janice Wylie, although her family denied it. The photo was that of Arlene Franco, a high school classmate of Whitmore, living in New Jersey, who had lost or discarded it in a park, where Whitmore found it and for some reason decided to keep it in his wallet. Whitmore immediately became a suspect in the Wylie and Hoffert double murder. Detectives DiPrima and Bulger proceeded to question Whitmore about the Wylie-Hoffert murders and after hours of leading questions Whitmore finally confessed.
New York City police announced that Whitmore had confessed to the murders of Wylie and Hoffert, as well as the murder of Minnie Edmonds (an unrelated murder) and the attempted rape of Borrero. The NYPD announced Whitmore had given details of the Wylie-Hoffert killings which only the murderer could have known, but Manhattan prosecutors noticed that every detail in the Whitmore confession was known to the police beforehand. Police stated he had drawn a detailed diagram of the apartment and had in his wallet a photo of Janice Wylie that had been stolen from the flat.
Whitmore repudiated his confessions, claiming he had been beaten during the interrogations; that counsel had not been present; and that his request for a lie detector test had been denied. Witnesses were located claiming Whitmore had been in Wildwood, New Jersey at the time of the Manhattan murders, watching a live TV broadcast speech of Martin Luther King Jr. at the March on Washington, 159 miles away from the crime scene. Despite Whitmore's discredited confession, New York County District Attorney Frank Hogan did not dismiss the indictment against him.
Whitmore had claimed to have found the photo of a young blonde, which the arresting officers claimed was of Janice Wylie, in a junkyard in Wildwood, New Jersey, where his father worked. Inquiries led investigators to identify the girl in the photo as Arlene Franco, who was very much alive and living in southern New Jersey. They also found witnesses who claimed that Whitmore was in Wildwood at the time of the murders: he had been watching a TV broadcast of Martin Luther King's speech during the March on Washington and was thus miles away from the crime scene.
It has since become known, however, that the prosecutor's office had in its possession, and deliberately withheld, an FBI report that found that the button was not a match for Whitmore's coat. Meanwhile, Whitmore maintained his claims that he had been beaten by the police and had only confessed when the pressure became too great. "I was in the precinct — the only Negro in that precinct house. Everytime I denied I'd done any of those things, they'd punch me in the back or chest. They beat on me whenever I said no."
First Trial
Whitmore was originally represented by Jerome Leftow, a court-appointed attorney from Kings County, who was discharged following Whitmore's first conviction in the Borrero trials. He was replaced by Arthur H. Miller and Edwin Kaplan, both of Brooklyn, and Stanley Reiben of Manhattan, who became Whitmore's primary defense team for the remainder of the Whitmore criminal matters. The defense lawyers worked for Whitmore largely on a pro bono basis. "Miller did most of the investigation work-digging up evidence — and Reiben blueprinted the courtroom strategy. With help from newspaper reporters, the lawyers soon had enough evidence to convince them that the Wylie-Hoffert case against Whitmore was worthless." Of the various attorneys who represented Whitmore, Miller remained with Whitmore the longest, through his ultimate release and later during his fruitless attempts at obtaining compensation for his wrongful incarceration.
Aside from Whitmore's coerced confession, no other evidence could be found linking him to the Manhattan murders, and Hogan delayed the prosecution of Whitmore for those offences. "Presumably a murder rap would have been given precedence; but since the Wylie-Hoffert 'confession' had collapsed and the [Borrero-]Edmonds prosecution hinged on the same document, [the District Attorney's Office] had chosen to play it safe."
Further trials
In March 1965, New York Supreme Court Judge David Malbin quashed Whitmore's conviction for the attack on Borrero on the grounds that members of the jury were racially biased and had discussed the Wylie-Hoffert murders, which they were instructed not to.
Prosecutors insisted Whitmore should face retrial for the Borrero mugging and still be tried for the murder of Minnie Edmonds. The trial for the Edmonds murder began in April 1965. There was no physical evidence linking Whitmore to the crime and the prosecution had to rely mainly on his confession — now much-maligned given the fact that someone else now stood accused of the double murders to which Whitmore had also originally confessed. On the stand, Whitmore stood by his story that the confessions were obtained as a result of beatings and claimed that he did not even realize that he was being charged with murder until the indictments. Police detectives denied the allegations. When the jury was unable to reach a verdict, a mistrial was declared. Four days later, Hogan formally dismissed the Wylie-Hoffert indictment pending against Whitmore.
On December 1, 1965, Richard Robles was found guilty of the murders of Emily Hoffert and Janice Wylie and sentenced to life in prison, the New York Legislature having, just months before, abolished the death penalty, except in the cases of the killing of police officers, prison guards, and murders committed while escaping jail.
Despite the conviction of Robles, numerous questions regarding the police conduct in this case were left unanswered. "Police detectives, who may have been motivated by their sense of justice, resorted to highly questionable means to extract a confession from a suspect who was too weak to resist. Their colossal blunders in the career girls murder case almost put George Whitmore Jr. on death row for a crime he certainly did not commit. No formal charges were ever brought against Detectives Bulger and DiPrima who consistently denied any wrongdoing in the case. But exactly how Whitmore was able to supply a 61-page confession to a double murder he never committed was never explained."
In March 1966, Whitmore was tried for the second time for the attack on Elba Borrero, who maintained he was her aggressor. Defense counsel Stanley J. Reiben tried to cast doubt on his client's confession to the assault on the grounds it was obtained in the same manner as the repudiated Wylie-Hoffert confession. The presiding judge, New York Supreme Court Justice Aaron F. Goldstein, ruled the Wylie-Hoffert confession inadmissible and Whitmore was found guilty and sentenced to between five and ten years in prison.
Kings County Supreme Court Justice Hyman Barshay later dismissed the indictment against Whitmore in the Edmonds case. The Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court also ruled the failure to admit the Wylie-Hoffert confession in the Borrero trial was a "prejudicial error" and Whitmore faced his third trial on the case. In June 1967 he was found guilty and again sentenced from five to ten years.
Whitmore's lawyers proceeded to appeal all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, but each court of appeal upheld the guilty verdict. In December 1972, after Whitmore had exhausted his appeals, journalist Selwyn Rabb, who had covered Whitmore's travails for the New York World Telegram and Sun, obtained dramatic new evidence — an affidavit from Borrero's sister-in-law, Celeste Viruet. The affidavit said, before Borrero identified Whitmore, police had shown Celeste an array of photos of other possible suspects — and she had identified positively another man as her assailant. By this time, Brooklyn had a new district attorney, Eugene Gold, who confirmed the accuracy of the affidavit. On April 10, 1973, a Supreme Court judge vacated Whitmore's conviction, officially exonerating him. Whitmore received no compensation for his wrongful imprisonment.
The third conviction was obtained in part as a result of police and district attorney's office's suppression of the existence of an eyewitness to the assault on Borrero. As noted by Circuit Judge Mulligan, in dissent, "Appellant urges here, as he did in the district court, that it was not until the Spring (March–May) 1969 post-trial evidentiary hearing that counsel for Whitmore ever learned that there was an eyewitness to the assault on Mrs. Borrero. It was then ascertained that Detective Aidala who was in charge of the Minnie Edmonds' murder investigation and took over the Borrero case because of a possible similarity of modus operandi, kept a notebook which indicated that Celeste Viruet, the sister-in-law of the victim, had seen her being grabbed in the early morning of April 23, 1964 while looking out of her apartment window. Counsel for Whitmore in all three Borrero trials have submitted affidavits denying that they ever knew of or were advised of the existence of Celeste Viruet, the silent witness in the window. Celeste Viruet was never called by the State in any of the trials nor has she ever appeared in any evidentiary or other proceeding relating to Whitmore. The State makes no contention that defense counsel was ever specifically advised of the existence of this witness." The description provided by the "hidden" witness of the alleged attacker materially differed from Whitmore's actual physical appearance. No punishment attached to the District Attorney's office for this suppression of evidence.
Significance
The Whitmore case was also significant in the restriction and eventual elimination of the death penalty in New York State. Although the death penalty ultimately returned to New York State, no inmate was put to death under the restored law, and the law has since been overturned and rendered non-functional by the New York State Court of Appeals.
The Whitmore case was also significant in the restriction and eventual elimination of the death penalty in New York State. Although the death penalty ultimately returned to New York State, no inmate was put to death under the restored law, and the law has since been overturned and rendered non-functional by the New York State Court of Appeals.
Death
Whitmore died on October 8, 2012 in Wildwood, New Jersey at the age of 68.
References
1960s crimes in New York City
1965 crimes in the United States
1965 in New York City
1960s controversies in the United States
1960s trials
African-American history of New York (state)
African-American-related controversies
April 1965 events in the United States
Crimes in Manhattan
False confessions
Incidents of violence against women
Overturned convictions in the United States
People wrongfully convicted of rape
Race and crime in the United States
Race-related controversies in the United States
Rape in the 1960s
Rape trials in the United States
Rapes in the United States
Robberies in the United States
Trials in the United States |
69605664 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sierra%20Leonean%20nationality%20law | Sierra Leonean nationality law | Sierra Leonean nationality law is regulated by the Constitution of Sierra Leone, as amended; the Citizenship Act, and its revisions; and various international agreements to which the country is a signatory. These laws determine who is, or is eligible to be, a national of Seychelles. The legal means to acquire nationality, formal legal membership in a nation, differ from the domestic relationship of rights and obligations between a national and the nation, known as citizenship. Nationality describes the relationship of an individual to the state under international law, whereas citizenship is the domestic relationship of an individual within the nation. In Britain and thus the Commonwealth of Nations, though the terms are often used synonymously outside of law, they are governed by different statutes and regulated by different authorities. Sierra Leonean nationality is based on descent from a person who is Negro-African, regardless of whether they were born in Sierra Leone, jus soli, or abroad to a Sierra Leonean, jus sanguinis. The Negro clause was inserted based upon the founding of the colony as a refuge for former slaves to prevent economically powerful communities from obtaining political power. It can be granted to persons with an affiliation to the country, or to a permanent resident who has lived in the country for a given period of time through naturalisation.
Acquisition of nationality
Nationality can be acquired in Sierra Leone at birth or later in life through naturalisation.
By birth
Prior to 2006, persons born in Sierra Leone could only acquire nationality at birth from their Negro-African father or a paternal grandparent. The only way they could acquire nationality through a mother was in the event that they would otherwise be stateless. In 2006, children born in Sierra Leone, but not children born abroad, could acquire nationality from their mothers if both the child and the mother or maternal grandparent were Black-African and had been born in Sierra Leone. Since 2017, children born abroad are also allowed to derive nationality from their Sierra Leonean mothers. Current Sierra Leonean legislation makes no provision for foundlings or orphans discovered in the territory, or those who would otherwise be stateless to acquire nationality. Those who acquire nationality at birth are children born anywhere to at least one parent or grandparent who was of Negro-African descent and was born in Sierra Leone.
By naturalisation
Naturalisation can be granted to persons who have resided in the territory for a sufficient period of time to confirm they understand the customs and traditions of Sierra Leone and are integrated into the society. General provisions are that applicants must have sufficient knowledge of a language indigenous to the country, be of good character, and capable of making contributions to the growth of Sierra Leone. Persons who are not Negro-African applicants must typically have resided in the country for fifteen years; whereas Black-Africans are required to have a continuous residency of eight years. Applicants must be interviewed by administrators from the Criminal Investigation Department, Immigration Headquarters, National Revenue Authority, and a panel composed of the attorney general, head of immigration and ministers of foreign affairs, justice, and trade. Recommendations from these interviews are forwarded to the cabinet and then final approval is made by the President of Sierra Leone. There is no appeal process if an application is refused. Besides foreigners meeting the criteria, other persons who may be naturalised include:
Juveniles legally adopted by a Sierra Leonean male, at the time of completion of a legal adoption may apply to naturalise as Sierra Leonean;
Minor children (under age twenty-one) can be included in their parent's naturalisation petition;
Children born abroad to Sierra Leonean mothers who were Negro-Africans, but whose fathers were not Negro-African, as long as their mother continuously maintained Sierra Leonean nationality;
Persons of Negro-African descent who were born in Sierra Leone, to a parent who did not possess diplomatic immunity or was classed as an enemy alien, by virtue of continuously residing in the country for at least eight years; or
The wife of a Sierra Leonean upon marriage to a Sierra Leonean national or a person of Black-African descent who was born in Sierra Leone after 18 April 1971.
Loss of nationality
Sierra Leonean nationals can renounce their nationality pending approval by the state. Sierra Leoneans of origin may not lose their nationality. Naturalised persons may be denaturalised in Sierra Leone for disloyalty to the state; for committing crimes against the state or state security; for ordinary serious crimes, especially involving fraud or dishonesty; or for residing outside the country for an extended period of time, typically more than seven years. Persons who previously had nationality and lost it because of past prohibitions for dual nationality may repatriate.
Dual nationality
Since 2006, Sierra Leone has allowed nationals to hold dual nationality.
History
Though no large states developed in the area, chieftainships formed the basis of society and neighbors networked with and interacted for trade, protection and religious rites. Among the peoples whose ancestry were indigenous to present-day Sierra Leone are the Bullom, Kissi, and Krim peoples. In 1364, Jehan li Roanois (alternately called Jean de Rouen), a French merchant and explorer from Normandy, visited Sierra Leone and traveled down to the Gold Coast. The following year, French explorers returned and established a chain of trading stations as far south as the Senegal River. These were abandoned between 1410 and 1413 because of situations in France, including the 14th century plague and Hundred Years' War. From the fifteenth century, Mande-speaking peoples invaded the region, intermarrying with the original inhabitants creating the ethnic groups of the Loko,Mende, and Vai peoples. In 1461, Portuguese explorer Pedro de Sintra sailed to the West African coast, stopping to get water at a place he named Sierra Leone, meaning lion mountain for its rugged appearance. The Portuguese had established a trading fort along the coast by 1495.
In 1505, the Temne people came south from French Guinea into the northern part of Sierra Leone, attacking the Çapez (also known as Sapis), Limba, and Loko people residing there. The Temne conquered and subjugated settlements to the south until they encountered an impenetrable resistance from the Susu people in the northwest and the Mende to the southeast. By the sixteenth century, chieftainships in the region were engaged in the slave trade and had begun to lease land to European slave traders. British trading activities were irregular in the area until 1638, when the charter was renewed for the African Company and a factory site was granted them by the Temne chief Borea. They first settled on Tasso Island, in the Sierra Leone River and then established a headquarters on Bunce Island about eighteen miles from what is now Freetown. From there, by 1651, they began to branch out opening facilities along the Sherbro River and founded Jamaica Town near present-day Bonthe, on Sherbro Island. By the 1650s, Sierra Leone was a regular port of call for British ships to access fresh water and they began negotiating agreements with local chiefs to establish trade.
In 1662, the Company of Royal Adventurers Trading into Africa took over the operations of the financially failing Africa Company. An attack by the Dutch during the Second Anglo-Dutch War in 1664, destroyed all of the British trading forts. When they were returned to Britain, at the end of hostilities by the 1667 Treaty of Breda, but the company was unable to rebuild. It sold the rights to the Royal African Company in 1672. The new company immediately rebuilt the facilities on Bunce Island and at Jamaica Town, but converted the trading post on Tasso to a plantation and sanatorium for the soldiers who operated in Bunce. The abolition of the Royal African Company's monopoly in 1697, left the trading stations susceptible to attacks by the French in 1704, 1719, and 1720. The posts were severely damaged and abandoned by the Company in 1728. During the time that the Royal African Company was operating, the firm of Grant, and Oswald provisioned the trading stations. When the company abandoned Bunce Island, Sargent and his partners purchased the factory there in 1748, repaired it, and continued to use it to trade in timber. They expanded their operations to Batts, Bobs, Tasso, and Tumbu Islands and along the banks of the river, eventually becoming involved in the slave trade. The firm operated through the end of the eighteenth century.
African resettlement schemes (1787–1808)
At the end of the American Revolutionary War in 1783, Black soldiers who had fought on the side of the British were sent to the Bahamas, England, and Nova Scotia to be freed. Many of these freedmen ended up poor and destitute. In 1786 Granville Sharp published a plan to resettle these former soldiers in Sierra Leone. He proposed that the Committee for the Relief of the Black Poor, a humanitarian aid society, sponsor a colony. After purchasing a plot of land on the Peninsula of Sierra Leone from the local chiefs, 364 one-acre lots were laid out on the southern side of the river and distributed to colonists in 1787. Illness, deaths of their leaders, a lack of supplies, and threats from native inhabitants caused the colonists to desert the site in 1789. The St. George's Bay Company organised with plans to rescue the settlers and establish a commercial trading venture with the colony. Alexander Falconbridge, the agent for the company set out in 1790 and collected the colonists he could find on Bobs and Bunce Islands. He resettled the sixty-four colonists at Granville Town, after purchasing the land from the local chiefs.
Incorporated in 1791, the St. Georges Bay Company became the Sierra Leone Company and was approached by Thomas Peters, a British loyalist and Black soldier who had been resettled in Nova Scotia. Unhappy with the climate there, he asked if he and fellow persons who had been sent to Nova Scotia could be resettled in Sierra Leone. As a result, 1,196 people left from Nova Scotia and arrived in Sierra Leone in 1792. Sixty-five of the passengers died en route, but arrived to found Freetown (initially Free Town) on 16 March 1792. By 1799, the settlers were discontented with the rule of the Sierra Leone Company and broke into open rebellion, appointing their own judges and refusing to pay rent to the company. That year the Sierra Leone Company drafted a charter, to reduce the authority of the police, known as Hundredors and Tythingmen, limiting them to the role of constables. While the police were to be elected by the colonists, the Company retained the right to veto candidates. The charter also established a court system, governor and council, and a local militia.
At the end of the Second Maroon War (1795–1796) in Jamaica, Britain deported many of those who had participated in the revolt to Nova Scotia. By 1799, a decision was made to transport the Maroons from Halifax to Sierra Leone. They arrived the following year and were settled in Granville Town. The Maroons immediately joined the British militia in suppressing the rebelling colonists, crushing the unrest in 1800. Failing to generate enough income from trade to expand and support the colony, or protect it from raids of the native tribes, and the looming British law abolishing the slave trade, in 1807, the Sierra Leone Company asked to be released from its charter and for the government to take over the administration of the colony.
British colony and protectorate (1808–1961)
The Sierra Leon Colony was established as a crown colony in 1808 from the Settlement of Freetown. Britain continued to transport freedmen to Sierra Leone until 1824, specifically settling all Recaptives, slaves who had been liberated from slave ships, in Freetown. In 1815, a group of thirty-eight settlers came with Paul Cuffe, an African-American businessman and sea captain. Britain also relocated two disbanded West Indian regiments and transported slaves from Barbados who had rebelled in 1819. The disparate backgrounds of the settlers in the colony, soon forged into a community with its own culture and identity, merging European, African, West Indian and Muslim cultural norms to form their own distinctive Krio ethnicity and language. The colony was expanded along the coast until 1886 to include Sherbro Island and the southern Freetown Peninsula. In 1885 Britain concluded a treaty with Liberia to establish the southern border and in 1895 it signed an agreement with France to establish the northern boundary of Sierra Leone and French Guinea. In 1896, the interior lands were proclaimed the Sierra Leone Protectorate.
In Britain, allegiance, in which subjects pledged to support a monarch, was the precursor to the modern concept of nationality. The crown recognised from 1350 that all persons born within the territories of the British Empire were subjects. Those born outside the realm — except children of those serving in an official post abroad, children of the monarch, and children born on a British ship — were considered by common law to be foreigners. Marriage did not affect the status of a subject of the realm, but under common law, single women, including divorcées, were not allowed to be parents thus their children could not derive nationality maternally and were stateless unless legitimated by their father. British Nationality Acts did not extend beyond the bounds of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, meaning that under Britain's rules of conquest, laws in place at the time of acquisition remained in place until changed. Other than common law, there was no standard statutory law which applied for subjects throughout the realm, meaning different jurisdictions created their own legislation for local conditions, which often conflicted with the laws in other jurisdictions in the empire. Thus, a person who was naturalised in Canada, for example, would be considered a foreigner, rather than a British national, in Australia or South Africa. When British protectorates were established in 1815, there was little difference between the rights of British subjects and protected persons.
In 1844, a Naturalisation Act was passed creating an administrative process, whereby the Secretary of State could naturalise applicants by collecting a fee and administering an Oath of Allegiance. The 1844 Act made no provisions for minor children, but it required a married woman to derive her status from her British husband. Thus, if a foreign woman's husband was native-born or naturalised, she automatically was British. British-born women maintained their status as British subjects, even if married to foreign men, under the 1844 statute. Because of confusion, an amendment was passed in 1847, confirming that the 1844 Act did not extend to British colonies. In 1853, under the terms of the Liberated Africans Act, clarification was made that all persons who had been former slaves and were liberated settlers in the Colony were British subjects and the all other inhabitants of British Sierra Leone were British Protected Persons.
In 1870 a revision to the Naturalisation Act required the automatic loss of nationality for British women upon marriage with a foreigner, regardless of whether she became stateless from the denaturalisation. She could re-acquire British nationality only by application for naturalisation, after the death of her spouse. The 1870 Act stipulated that minor children be automatically denaturalised if their father, or a widowed mother, lost their British nationality or naturalised in another country. As single women, including divorcées, under common law were not allowed to be parents, under the Act, their children could not derive nationality maternally. Naturalised British fathers, or widows, could not pass on their nationality to children born abroad, even if the parent was in service abroad to the crown. As with previous nationality acts, the legislation did not extend beyond the bounds of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. An amendment was made in the Naturalisation Act of 1895 to revise the section dealing with these children's automatic derivative naturalisation.
British-born and Krio persons in the Sierra Leone Colony and Protectorate (1914–1960)
In 1911, at the Imperial Conference a decision was made to draft a common nationality code for use across the empire. The British Nationality and Status of Aliens Act 1914 allowed local jurisdictions in the British self-governing territories to continue regulating nationality in their jurisdictions, but also established an imperial nationality scheme for use throughout the realm. Under its terms, common law provisions were reiterated for natural-born persons born within the realm on or after the effective date. By using the word person, the statute nullified legitimacy requirements for jus soli nationals, meaning an illegitimate child could derive nationality from its mother. For those born abroad on or after the effective date, legitimacy was still required, and nationality could only be derived by a child from a British father (one generation), who was natural-born or naturalised. It also provided that a married woman derived her nationality from her spouse, meaning if he was British, she was also, and if he was foreign, so was she. It stipulated that upon loss of nationality of a husband, a wife could declare that she wished to remain British. It allowed that if a marriage had terminated, through death or divorce, a British-born national who had lost her status through marriage could reacquire British nationality through naturalisation without meeting a residency requirement. The statute specified that a five-year residency or service to the crown was required for naturalisation.
Amendments to the British Nationality Act were enacted in 1918, 1922, 1933 and 1943 changing derivative nationality by descent and modifying slightly provisions for women to lose their nationality upon marriage. Because of a rise in statelessness, a woman who did not automatically acquire her husband's nationality upon marriage or upon his naturalisation in another country, did not lose her British status after 1933. The 1943 revision allowed a child born abroad at any time to be a British national by descent if the Secretary of State agreed to register the birth. Under the terms of the British Nationality Act 1948 British nationals in the Sierra Leone Colony were reclassified at that time as "Citizens of the UK and Colonies" (CUKC). The basic British nationality scheme did not change overmuch, and typically those who were previously defined as British subjects remained the same. Changes included that wives and children no longer automatically acquired the status of the husband or father, children who acquired nationality by descent no longer were required to make a retention declaration, and registrations for children born abroad were extended.
Indigenous persons (British Protected Persons) in the Sierra Leone Colony and Protectorate (1914–1960)
British protectorates, in 1914, were considered to be foreign territories lacking an internal government. When Britain extended this status over a territory, it took responsibility for both internal and external administration, including defense and foreign relations. Indigenous persons who were born in a protectorate were known as British Protected Persons and were not entitled to be British nationals. BPPs had no right of return to the United Kingdom and were unable to exercise rights of citizenship; however, they could be issued a passport and could access diplomatic services when traveling abroad. In 1914, the Alien Restriction Act clarified that while BPPs were not nationals, neither were they aliens. When the law was amended in 1919, that provision remained the same, meaning that BPPs could not naturalise. Until 1934, when the British Protected Persons Order was drafted, the status of BPP was not statutory, but rather granted at the prerogative of the monarch. Under the 1934 Order, Belonger status with regard to protected territories was defined to mean persons born before or after the Order in a protectorate who possessed no nationality and were not a British subject, or persons born abroad to a native of a protectorate who were stateless and not British subjects. The statute extended BPP status to children and wives of BPPs, if they were stateless, and specifically provided that if a woman married someone who was a national of another nation, she lost her BPP status.
In 1943, the British Nationality Act clarified that BPPs born abroad in territories that were within the Crown's dominions were British subjects by virtue of jus soli, but those born within a protectorate were not subjects. Under the terms of the British Nationality Act 1948, the nationality status of BPPs of the Sierra Leone Colony and Protectorate did not change. However, the Act, while retaining the provisions that BPPs were not aliens and could not naturalise, allowed BPPs to register as a BPP of a protected place or as a British subject under certain conditions. In 1949, the British Protectorates, Protected States and Protected Persons Order in Council repealed former orders about BPPs and detailed provisions for conferring protected status. It provided that protected persons were BPPs of a protectorate if they were born there; if they were born abroad to a father who was a native of a protectorate; or if at the time of their birth their father was a BPP. It also allowed women married to BPPs to register as a BPP and allowed certain nationals of foreign countries to register as BPPs. Minor changes to protected persons' status were made by Orders of Council in 1952, 1953, 1958, 1960, 1961, and 1962, but major changes did not occur until 1965.
Transistion to independence (1946–1960)
In 1946 and Assembly for the Protectorate was inaugurated with the purpose of preparing the Protectorate for integration with the Colony through governing under the Westminster Parliamentary model. Those who served in the Protectorate Assembly were paramount chiefs, native authorities, and educated elites and its role was to be an advisory body to the Legislative Assembly of the colony. Initially the creation of the Protectorate Assembly was looked upon with enthusiasm by the Krio population of the colony, but within a year, a constitution was drafted which gave the Protectorate thirteen seats and the Colony seven seats on the Legislative Council, giving the majority to the Protectorate. Because of the illiteracy of the chiefs, a furor erupted among the Krio population. The Krios had been instrumental in pressing for a constitution to strip the colonial administration of its power and felt betrayed that they were to remain without power and that BPPs would wield more power over them, as they were British subjects.
As a result, in 1952, the Krios formed the Settlers' Descendants' Union. The aim of the organisation, led by elites, but made up of predominantly lower-, middle-, and working-class people, was to gain independence for the Colony, separately from the Sierra Leone Protectorate. Rapid modernisation, coupled with bureaucratic incompetence, led to a General Strike in 1955 in the Protectorate and a tax revolt in 1956. In 1957, a new constitution was drafted providing for the legislature to be expanded to fifty-seven seats. These included two nominated members, four ex-officio members, twelve elected paramount chiefs, fourteen elected colonial members, and twenty-five members elected from the Protectorate, leaving the majority again to the Protectorate. In 1959, the Settlers' Union proposed that the Colony adopt a constitution for self-governance, reorganise a new Assembly and establish an executive council headed by the Governor. The Colonial Office rejected the plan for separate independence of the Colony and forged ahead with a Constitutional Conference in 1960.
That year the Settlers' Descendants' Union filed suit in the British courts to have the constitutional draft of independence declared in breach of the legal authority and the trust created in 1788 between the Crown and the settlers. Under the Treaty of 1788 between Temne king Naimbana and the Crown's representative, Captain John Taylor, the land purchased for the freedman was to be theirs forever with Britain serving as their trustee. They also argued that they had already gained independence from the rest of British Sierra Leone on the basis of the 1791 Charter. In 1963, the British Court argued that the Settlers' Union represented only their membership, approximately one per cent of the Krios population and the entire Krio population was a minority of only about a quarter of the total inhabitants of Sierra Leone. While very aware of the British attachment of the Krios and their acceptance of British institutions and traditions, in 1964, Justice Richard Wilberforce of the High Court of Justice ruled against the Settlers' Union.
Post-independence (1961–present)
On 27 April 1961, Sierra Leone became independent. The 1961 Constitution merged the Colony and Protectorate's administrative units and established that former BPPs were no longer considered as aliens in the former Colony. Under its terms, on independence day, those who had formerly been CUKCs or BPPs in the Sierra Leone Colony and Protectorate and had been born in the territory to parents or grandparents also born in the territory were conferred the nationality of Sierra Leone. It also conferred nationality upon persons born abroad, if upon independence their father became, or would have become except that he died, a national of Sierra Leone. Upon becoming Sierra Leonean nationals, persons immediately lost their status as British. Dual nationality was prohibited but provisions were made for those such as the large Lebanese population to retain their British nationality. Wives and persons who had formerly been registered or naturalised in the colony did not acquire nationality but could apply to be registered as Sierra Leonean until 27 April 1963.
Persons born after independence, acquired nationality by being born in the country, regardless of their ethnic or racial identity as long as their father was not an enemy alien or had diplomatic immunity. Children born abroad to a father who was Sierra Leonean at the time of the child's birth also automatically obtained nationality. Under the Sierra Leone Constitution Amendment Act (No.2) 1962, the rights of non-Negro Sierra Leoneans were restricted. Changes included that the transitional period for registration was limited to those who had a father or grandfather who had been born in Sierra Leone, introduction of a retroactive clause that only persons of Negro-African descent could acquire nationality either before or after independence, and removal of the requirement that a father not have diplomatic immunity or be an enemy alien. It removed the nationality of anyone who was not Negro-African and who had acquired nationality under the 1961 Constitution. It also specified that children could not automatically acquire nationality from their mother, even if she was a Negro-African, unless the child's father or grandfather was Negro-African. If the Sierra Leonean mother was Negro-African, a child born in the country could apply for registration, but authorities had the choice of deciding whether nationality would be granted. Multiracial people were only given the option to naturalise.
In 1971, a new constitution was drafted changing Sierra Leone to a republic, but it did not contain provisions to gain nationality. The Sierra Leone Citizenship Act, (No. 4) drafted in 1973, persons born to a Negro-African father or grandfather, who was a resident and not a national of any other state at independence was a Sierra Leonean of origin, as were those born in the territory after independence to a Negro-African father or grandfather. Persons born abroad before or after independence to a Negro-African father or grandfather who was or would have been a national at independence except for death were also considered nationals from birth. Children born to a Sierra Leonean mother, who had not acquired other nationality and was herself a child of a Negro-African father or grandfather, could only acquire nationality at birth from their mother if they would be stateless. Persons who could be naturalised included wives of Sierra Leoneans, persons who were Negro-African and born in the territory to a father who did not have diplomatic immunity and was not an enemy alien, and foreign persons who were of Negro-African descent who had resided in the country for eight years. There was also a provision for minor children of naturalised parents to acquire nationality through naturalisation. Dual nationality was forbidden, except for children who had been born with multiple nationalities, but they were required to renounce foreign nationality by age twenty-two or they would be denaturalised. The 1973 Act introduced renunciation of nationality and denaturalisation processes.
The Sierra Leone Citizenship Act Amendment (No. 13) of 1976 allowed foreign persons who did not have Negro-African ancestors to naturalise after a residency period of at least fifteen years. In 1978, Sierra Leone adopted a new constitution which established a one-party state, and endorsed the existing nationality scheme. A return to a multi-party state was adopted under the 1991 Constitution, but there were no provisions in it regarding nationality or the existing Citizenship Acts. That year a Civil War ensued and in 1992 a coup d'état dissolved the government, replacing it with the National Provisional Ruling Council. The Council proposed amending the constitution and began work on a draft which was published in 1994. The draft would have allowed eliminating ethnicity and race from the qualifications for nationality, allowing any person born to ordinary fifteen-year or more residents of Sierra Leone to acquire nationality at birth, and providing equal access to naturalization. But because of continued civil war, the reforms were never implemented.
A peace agreement was finally signed in 1999 and in 2002 the conflict ended after a United Nations Peacekeeping Force arrived. In 2006, the Sierra Leone Citizenship Amendment Act (No. 11) was passed. It eliminated gender bias for derivative nationality except for children born abroad, replacing the words father and grandfather with father or mother and grandparents. Under its terms, adoptees could acquire nationality from a male adopter, but only from their natural mother. In addition, the amendment allowed dual nationality and repatriation for the first time and added a clause for denaturalisation on the basis of someone who might pose a threat to the nation or common good. However, it also introduced a method of challenging denaturlisation proceedings. In 2007, the government passed the Child's Rights Act
(No. 7), which protected all children's right to obtain nationality and the right to know their natural parents. Though the Act does not provide an automatic path to nationality for orphans or foundlings, a foundling who speaks a local language and is of Negro-African descent might be able to use it to acquire nationality. In 2017, the Citizenship Act was amended to allow women to transmit their nationality to their children born abroad.
Notes
References
Citations
Bibliography
Nationality law
Sierra Leonean law |
69605700 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%20Forest%20of%20Eyes | A Forest of Eyes | A Forest of Eyes is a 1950 spy thriller novel by the British writer Victor Canning. Stylistically it owed a debt to Canning's friend, the writer Eric Ambler.
The novel is set in Yugoslavia then located behind the Iron Curtain before the Tito–Stalin split. Robert Hudson, an engineer in Dubrovnik falls foul of the local police chief Zarko who believes is responsible for the death of a fellow Englishman, likely involved in espionage. Rather reluctantly Hudson finds himself taking over the dead man's mission.
References
Bibliography
Burton, Alan. Historical Dictionary of British Spy Fiction. Rowman & Littlefield, 2016.
Murphy, Bruce F. The Encyclopedia of Murder and Mystery. Springer, 1999.
Reilly, John M. Twentieth Century Crime & Mystery Writers. Springer, 2015.
1950 British novels
British spy novels
British thriller novels
Novels set in Yugoslavia
Novels by Victor Canning
Hodder & Stoughton books |
69606063 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marshall%20Lee%20Gore | Marshall Lee Gore | Marshall Lee Gore (August 17, 1963 – October 1, 2013) was an American convicted murderer and rapist who was executed by the state of Florida for the 1988 murders of two women. He also raped and attempted to murder a third woman before kidnapping her 2-year-old son. Gore was convicted and sentenced to death and was subsequently executed in 2013 at Florida State Prison by lethal injection.
Early life
Gore was born on August 17, 1963, in Chicago, Illinois, and grew up in a troubled family. He was the second of five children born to Jimmy Joe Gore and Brenda McCurry Gore. His parents married in Chicago in 1961, where Gore grew up. They later moved to the Miami area. The Gore family frequently got into trouble with the law. Jimmy Joe Gore was arrested on felony charges in three states. Some of Gore's siblings were also arrested for various offenses. Gore was arrested at least eight times for multiple offenses throughout the 1980s in Miami-Dade County, Florida. His parents' marriage fell apart in 1985 due to abuse and violence, with the couple officially getting a divorce in 1987. Gore stayed with his father in Florida and worked as a bouncer at a bar his father owned.
Murders
On January 30, 1988, 19-year-old Susan Marie Roark, a Tennessee college student, disappeared. She was last seen alive with Gore leaving a trailer park in Bradley County, Tennessee. Roark phoned her grandmother and told her she was spending the night with a girlfriend in Cleveland. She said she would be home the following morning in time for church. The following day, Gore murdered her, inflicting trauma to her neck and chest. He then stole her car, a 1986 black Ford Mustang, and dumped her body off a forest road in Columbia County, Florida. On February 14, he attacked a Miami waitress, raping and stabbing her. The waitress survived the attack, and Gore abandoned the stolen Mustang in Miami, where it was found the same day.
On March 11, 1988, 30-year-old Robyn Gayle Novick, a General Motors credit services representative from Lauderhill, who was working a brief stint moonlighting as a dancer, was seen leaving the parking lot of a tavern in her yellow Corvette. She was spotted leaving with a man, who was later identified as Gore. Gore murdered Novick by stabbing her in the chest and tying a belt around her neck. He stole her car and dumped her body in a trash heap near Homestead. According to a medical examiner, the cause of death was mechanical asphyxia and stab wounds. The time of death was estimated between 9 p.m. and 1 a.m. from the late hours of March 11 to the early hours of March 12. In the early hours of March 12, Gore was spotted driving Novick's car. He abandoned the car hours later in Coral Gables, where police found it.
Two days later on March 14, Gore attacked a third woman. He abducted 32-year-old Tina Coralis, a nude dancer from Broward. He beat Coralis with a rock, raped her, choked her, stabbed her, then slit her throat with a knife. He left her for dead by the side of a road near to where he had dumped Novick's body. Gore then stole her car and drove off, abducting her 2-year-old son Jimmy, who was still sitting in the back of the vehicle.
Capture
Coralis survived the attack and alerted the police. After attacking Coralis, Gore fled the state and headed to Georgia, where he left Jimmy, locking him in the pantry of an abandoned barn before heading north towards Kentucky. On March 16, while police were searching for Jimmy, they came across the body of Novick, who was found near to where Gore had left Coralis. On March 16, Jimmy was found unharmed.
Gore was tracked to a trailer in Paducah, Kentucky. He was captured on March 17, unarmed and without incident. Near to the trailer, police found the stolen car that belonged to Coralis. After he was arrested, Gore was questioned about all three crimes. He initially denied knowing any of the women and tried claiming that he was the biological father of Jimmy. Police showed him photos of Novick's body, which caused his eyes to fill with tears. He then reportedly said, "If I did this, I deserve the death penalty."
In April 1988, Columbia County deputies found Roark's body.
Trial
At Gore's trial, he chose to represent himself. He was convicted of first-degree murder and armed robbery with a deadly weapon. The jury recommended that Gore be sentenced to death by a unanimous vote. Gore made frequent verbal outbursts during his trial and laughed out loud and howled.
In 1998, Gore won a new trial when the Supreme Court of Florida found that the prosecutor had asked him inappropriate questions during his initial trial. In 1999, following a second trial, the jury found him guilty, and he was sentenced to death again. In total, he received two death sentences, seven life sentences, and a further 110 years for his other crimes.
Execution
Gore's execution was rescheduled a total of four times in 2013 alone. He was first scheduled to be executed on June 24, but it was halted because of questions about his sanity. It was rescheduled for July, but halted again due to sanity concerns. Governor Rick Scott then rescheduled the execution for September 10, however, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi rescheduled the execution date so she could attend a political fundraiser. She later apologized for doing so. Scott then rescheduled the execution for October 1.
On October 1, 2013, Gore was executed via lethal injection at Florida State Prison. His last meal was just a can of Coca-Cola, as he rejected his original requested last meal of sausage and pepperoni pizza. He had no final words.
See also
Capital punishment in Florida
Capital punishment in the United States
List of people executed in the United States in 2013
List of people executed in Florida
List of serial killers in the United States
References
1963 births
2013 deaths
20th-century American criminals
21st-century executions by Florida
21st-century executions of American people
American male criminals
American people convicted of murder
Criminals from Chicago
Executed people from Illinois
People convicted of murder by Florida
People executed by Florida by lethal injection
People executed for murder
People from Chicago |
69606247 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White%20slave%20trade%20affair | White slave trade affair | The White slave trade affair, also known as L’affaire de la traite des blanches and De handel in blanke slavinnen was a famous international scandal in Brussels in Belgium in 1880–1881. It attracted international attention to the issue of sex trafficking and became the starting point of the international campaign against sex trafficking.
The case
In 1880, it was revealed that about fifty foreign girls had been sex trafficked illegally to work in brothels in Brussels. The case became a major scandal which attracted international infamy, especially since it became known that some people within the authorities had been involved in the trade. The scandal ended in both the mayor of Brussels as well as the head of the city's police force were forced to resign from their posts.
Aftermath
The White slave trade affair attracted international attention to the ongoing issue of sex trafficking. The intense press coverage resulted in public interest in the issue. It resulted in an international campaign against sex trafficking, which became labelled as white slave trade. Campaigns against sex trafficking first started in Belgium after the scandal of 1880, and spread from there to Great Britain in 1885, to France in 1902 and to the United States in 1907.
References
1880 in Belgium
1881 in Belgium
19th century in Brussels
Sex trafficking
Prostitution in Belgium
Scandals in Belgium
19th-century scandals |
69606592 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry%20Hankins | Terry Hankins | Terry Lee Hankins (October 10, 1974 – June 2, 2009) was an American serial killer who killed five family members in Mansfield, Texas between October 2000 and August 2001. After fully admitting responsibility, he stood trial for two of the murders and was sentenced to death. Hankins was executed by lethal injection on June 2, 2009, becoming the 200th inmate executed in Texas under the governorship of Rick Perry.
Early life
Terry Lee Hankins was born on October 10, 1974. When he was young, his parents divorced, and he was sent to live with his father Ernie. Hankins was introduced to two stepmothers, both of whom he later claimed sexually abused him. At age 18, he married Tammy Bryce, and he moved in with her three children.
Murders
In September 2000, Hankins' half-sister 20-year-old Pearl Sevenstar began to show signs of pregnancy, and eventually tested positive. Afterwards, she and Hankins began to frequently argue. During one such argument, on October 1, Hankins struck Sevenstar over the head multiple times with a car jack, ultimately killing her. Afterwards he wrapped her body in a plastic sheet, and stuffed it into the front seat of a car at his father's automotive shop. A week later, on October 8, Hankins got into an argument with his father Ernie, during which Ernie brandished a .45-caliber pistol in frustration. Terry confronted his father and grabbed hold of the gun and shot his father in the head. He later hid the body in an Arlington mobile home, and subsequently took over his father's company and changed its name; he was able to convince neighbors and workers that his father was caring for sick relatives.
To cover up his father's disappearance, he began to regularly pay his father's house bills, and would regularly check in and out of his property. In July 2001, Terry was arrested and charged with aggravated assault for beating his roommate Ruthie Bradley. After a short time in jail, he was released the following month. On August 26, Hankins entered his wife's trailer with a gun. Upon locating his sleeping wife, he shot her once in the head. The next day, in the same manner, he fatally shot his sleeping step children Devin Galley, 12; and Ashley Mason, 11.
Arrest and trial
Hankins was considered the prime suspect in the murders of Tammy and her children, and a warrant was put out for his arrest. Now wanted, Hankins fled to his girlfriend's apartment in Arlington. However, police eventually tracked him down, and after a five-hour standoff he surrendered without incident. Soon after his arrest, he confessed to the murders as well to killing his father and stepsister. He told investigators where to look and their bodies were soon recovered. The confession came off as a surprise to detectives since neither were reported missing. Initially, he was charged with killing his step children, but not the other three. Despite his confession, he pleaded not guilty, claiming the warrant that lead to his arrest was obtained through illegal means since the evidence that was presented was largely just speculation. Hankins was found guilty of two counts of capital murder, and in May 2002 he was sentenced to death.
Execution
In January 2009, with his execution date fast approaching, his lawyers attempted to get the Supreme Court to review the case, but the request was shot down. On June 2, 2009, Hankins was executed via lethal injection at the Huntsville Unit. His last words were “I am sorry for what I’ve done and for all the pain and suffering my actions have caused. Jesus is Lord. All Glory to God.” He was the 200th executed inmate in Texas under Texas governor Rick Perry, and the 439th execution since capital punishment in the United States resumed in 1977.
See also
List of serial killers in the United States
Capital punishment in Texas
Capital punishment in the United States
List of people executed in Texas, 2000–2009
List of people executed in the United States in 2009
References
External links
Death Row Information
1974 births
2009 deaths
2000 murders in the United States
2001 murders in the United States
21st-century American criminals
21st-century executions of American people
21st-century executions by Texas
American male criminals
Male serial killers
People executed by Texas by lethal injection
Executed American serial killers
People executed for murder |
69607728 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon%20Eivind%20Gullord | Jon Eivind Gullord | Jon Eivind Gullord (born January 12, 1958) is a Norwegian actor. He has been engaged at the Norwegian Theater since 1985, when he debuted there in Romeo and Juliet.
Among his performances, Gullord has played the lead roles in August Strindberg's The Ghost Sonata and Anton Chekhov's The Seagull and Three Sisters. He distinguished himself as an original character actor in the role of Cherubin in Pierre Beaumarchais's The Marriage of Figaro, the policeman Klank in Pippi Longstocking, Mordred in Tankred Dorst's Merlin oder das wüste Land, Brendan in Conor McPherson's The Weir, and the title character in Michel de Ghelderode's Pantagleize. Gullord played Volodya in Dear Yelena Sergeyevna by Lyudmila Razumovskaya. He has also had leading roles in the musicals Blood Brothers and Charley's Aunt, and he has had a guest performance at the National Traveling Theater as Lyngstrand in Henrik Ibsen's The Lady from the Sea.
Filmography
1982: Krypskyttere as Martin Buer, a soldier
1987: Over grensen as a Nasjonal Samling member
1993: The Telegraphist as the new telegraph operator
1995: Hører du ikke hva jeg sier! as the receptionist
1999: Sophie's World as the guide in Greece
2004: Min misunnelige frisør as porter no. 2
References
External links
Jon Eivind Gullord at the Swedish Film Database
Jon Eivind Gullord at Filmfront
1958 births
20th-century Norwegian male actors
21st-century Norwegian male actors
Male actors from Oslo
Living people |
69607984 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bubak%2C%20Sindh | Bubak, Sindh | Bubak is a town and union council in Sehwan taluka of Jamshoro District, Sindh. It is located on the northeastern shore of Lake Manchar, 9 miles west of Sehwan. Besides Sehwan, it is connected by road with Bhan and Talti.
As of 2017, Bubak has a population of 5,563, in 1,152 households, while the total population of the Bubak union council is 28,776. It is the seat of a tappedar circle, which also includes the villages of Jaffarabad and Jaheja.
Name
The name "Bubak" is alternately derived from its supposed Jamot founder or from a plant that grows near the town. Historically, Bubak was also known as Bubakan.
The trematode Paramonostomum bubaki is named after Bubak, as it was originally discovered in the waters of nearby Lake Manchar in 2006.
History
During the reign of the Samma dynasty ruler Jam Nizamuddin II, aka Jam Nindo, the peasants of Bubak constructed a massive dam south of Lake Machar under the supervision of Darya Khan, the Jam's commander-in-chief.
Under the Mughal Empire, Bubak (or Bubakan) was the seat of a pargana; its inhabitants were considered relatively recent converts to Islam. Later, during the era of the Talpur dynasty, the madrasa at Bubak was one of the most prominent in Sindh.
Bubak was made a municipality in July 1854. It was hit hard by an outbreak of cholera in 1869.
Around 1874, Bubak's population was estimated at 4,234 people, including 4,120 Hindus and 114 Muslims. The Muslims mainly belonged to the Kori, Chaki, Jamot, and Machhi tribes, while the Hindus were mainly Brahmins and Lohanos. The population was mainly employed in agriculture and trade. At the time, Bubak was surrounded by a large moat which was intended to protect against inundation from the waters of Lake Manchar; such inundation had already claimed some of the best farmland outside the town, leading to the financial decline of the zamindars. Bubak was then well known for its carpets and bhang, although it was not a significant commercial centre in its own right. It had a government vernacular school, a police outpost with three officers, and a cattle pound at the time.
References
Populated places in Jamshoro District
Union councils of Sindh |
69609153 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalit%20Bandhu%20N.%20K.%20Jose | Dalit Bandhu N. K. Jose | N. K. Jose (born 2 February 1929) from Kerala, India is a Historian and President of the Kerala History Congress known for his studies in Dalit and Christian history. Author of over 140 history and social history books, he was given the title Dalit Bandhu by Dalit organizations in 1990 in recognition of his contributions to Dalit studies and Dalit history.
In 2019, for outstanding contributions in the field of Malayalam literature, he has been awarded Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Overall contribution. Presenting the award, the then Chairman of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi, Vaisakhan, said that the contribution of N. K. Jose, a historian who has shed light on the unknown history of Kerala, was unparallel.
Biography
N. K Jose was born on 2 February 1929 in Vechoor, Vaikom, Kottayam district to Kurien and Mariamma. His Schooling was in Cherthala and Changanassery. In his memoirs, Jose writes about the Punnapra-Vayalar uprising that took place when he was a child. He was educated at Thevara Sacred Hearts college and St. Albert's college Ernakulam. He passed his BA degree from Madras University.
During his studies, Jose became interested in communist socialist ideas. His contact with Vaikom Muhammad Basheer had a significant impact on his life. His first short story "Ente Premam" was written while studying in the fourth forum (now ninth class) at the Cherthala Government English School. At the age of 23, he wrote his first book, Muthalalitham Bharathathil (Literally meaning Capitalism in India). After completing his college education, he studied Gandhian thoughts and socialist studies at the Gandhi Ashram in Wardha. Later in his life, Jose strongly criticized Gandhi. Jose's political gurus were socialist leaders like Ram Manohar Lohia, Vinoba Bhave and Jayaprakash Narayan. He switched from the Socialist wing in the Congress party to the Socialist Party of India and later to the Praja Socialist Party (PSP). When he was the state office bearer of the PSP, the party was in the ruling front in Travancore. The police firing in Marthandam led to an all-India split in the PSP and because of this Jose quit active politics.
He held several state level positions in the Kerala Catholic Congress during the 1960s. Then he read Ambedkar's biography, and realized that what he was looking for was Ambedkarism. He left Catholicism in 1983 and became a full-time Dalit history researcher. Jose's works were a breakdown of traditional history and perceptions that have been held for generations. His main books are classifeied into two series - Nasrani Series (books in Christian history) and Dalit Series (books in Dalit history).
On September 24, 1990, at a conference of dalit organizations in Kottayam, Jose was honored with the title of 'Dalit Bandhu' in honor of his dalit studies. Since then he has adopted it as his pen name.
Jose resides at his house Namasivayam in Ambika market, Vaikom.
Contributions
Jose has made many discoveries in the history of Kerala that refute the misconceptions that existed till then. He published books on facts about the Buddhist history of Kerala which was covered by the dominant Hindu consensus in Kerala. In the Padmanabhaswami temple property controversy, arguments on the Buddhist history of Kerala were put forward in a book written by him. He done the first major comprehensive study of the life history of Arattupuzha Velayudha Panicker.
Jose had openly said that the belief that Kerala Christians were converts from Brahmins was a figment of the imagination of church leaders. It was found that Brahmanism has only half the age of Christianity in Kerala. He also refuted the new idea, that the origin of Christians was not from the Bahamins but from the Jews of ancient Kerala. Jose argues that the early Christians in Kerala were the adivasis of the country and that the transformation took place at a time when the caste system did not exist. Jose says that in recent times, dalits and other vulnerable groups have converted to Christianity to get rid of the caste system. Jose repeatedly points out that the Buddhist / Jain / Dalit traditions, culture and history of the area were systematically ignored.
Works
Some books in the dalit series
Channar lahala (book on Channar revolt)
Pulaya lahala (book on Pulaya revolt)
Kshetrapraveshana vilambaram (book on Temple Entry Proclamation)
Vaikom Satyagraha oru prahelika (literally meaning Vaikom Satyagraha is an enigma)
Shipayi lahala oru dalit munnettam (literally meaning sipoy revolts are a dalit movement)
Veluthampi Dalava (book on life of Velu Thampi Dalawa)
Diwan Monroe (book on life of Diwan Monroe)
Ambedkar (book on life of B. R. Ambedkar)
Mahanaya Ayyankali (book on life of Ayyankali)
Vaikuntha Swamikal (book on life of Ayya Vaikundar)
Jyotirao Phule (book on life of Jyotirao Phule)
Kerala Parashurama Pulaya shathru (literally meaning Kerala Parashurama is the enemy of Pulaya)
Kraisthava dalithar (book on Christian dalits)
Ambedkarum Manusmritiyum (literally meaning Ambedkar and Manusmriti)
Gandhi Gandhism Dalitar (book on Gandhi Gandhism and Dalits)
Gandhi vadham oru punarvayana (A re-reading of the Assassination of Mahatma Gandhi)
Valmiki oru baudhano (literally meaning Is Valmiki a Buddhist?)
Karutha America (literally meaning Black America)
Karutha Keralam (literally meaning Black Kerala)
Some books in Nasrani Series
Adima Kerala kraisthavarute aradhana bhasha (book on Worship language of early Kerala Christians)
Arnos pathiri (bookon life of Priest Arnos)
Knayithomman oru sathyamo?
Keralathile katholica armayar (book on Catholic laity in Kerala)
Bharathathile kristhumatham (book on Christianity in India)
Keralathile suriyani sabhayute uthbhavam (book on origin of the Syrian Church in Kerala)
Mar Thoma Roccas (book on life of Mar Thoma Roccas)
Jathikku karthavyan Geevarghese
History of Syro Malabar Qurbana
Siro malabar kurbanayute charithram (book on origin of the Syrian Church in Kerala)
Kaldaya paithrukam (book on East Syriac Rite)
Kudavachoor palli (book on history of Kudavachoor Church)
Knanaya (book on history of Knanaya)
Nasrani (literalally meaning Christian)
Adima kerala sabha (literally meaning Primitive Kerala Church)
Nilaykkal
Others
Sree Padmanabhaswami Kshetranidhi Arudeth? (Meaning: Whose is the treasure of Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple?)
Awards and honours
Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Overall Contributions 2019
Family
In 1955 he married Thankamma. The couple has no children.
References
Historians of India
Recipients of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award
People from Vaikom |
69610731 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saurav%20Vishnu | Saurav Vishnu | Saurav Vishnu is an Indian director and producer, known for his works on films like Tailing Pond and Guilty Not Guilty. Tailing pond qualified for consideration for the 93rd Academy Awards in the Documentary – Short category.
Early life
Saurav Vishnu was born in Jharkhand, India, and moved from Jamshedpur, India to New York City in 2003. A graduate of engineering, Saurav Vishnu pursued an MBA in finance and risk management at St. John's University.
Career
Jadugora was Saurav's first filmmaking project, as his father, Ashok Kumar Tiwary, was posted as the officer-in-charge of Jadugora police station twice. The film took 5 years to complete. A non for profit (501(c)(3) organization was formed in 2017 to raise funds for the Jadugora communities.
Saurav's upcoming projects includes a crime drama titled One (writer, producer and director). The New Me, a horror film, is in its production stage.
Filmography
Tailing Pond (2021) (Producer & Director)
Guilty Not Guilty (2018) (Producer)
The New Me (Post Production)
References
External links
Living people
21st-century Indian film directors
Indian documentary filmmakers |
69610825 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unfair%20Game | Unfair Game | "Unfair Game" is the eighth episode of the American television miniseries Dexter: New Blood, a continuation of the series Dexter. The episode was written by supervising producer Tony Saltzman and co-producer David McMillan and directed by Sanford Bookstaver. It originally aired on Showtime on December 26, 2021, being also available on its streaming service at midnight on the same day.
The series follows Dexter Morgan after having faking his death on the original series finale. Dexter now lives in the fictional small town of Iron Lake, New York, hiding his identity under the name of Jim Lindsay, a local shopkeeper and having suppressed his killing urges. He is now in a relationship with Angela Bishop, the town's chief of police, and is beloved and respected in the town. A local troublemaker and the arrival of a mysterious person cause friction in his new life, as the past comes back to haunt him. In the episode, Dexter hides in the woods as he is being hunted by one of Kurt's hitmen. Kurt, meanwhile, spends time with Harrison as he puts his plan in motion. Meanwhile, Angela starts investigating recent events and starts suspecting Dexter may have been involved.
According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 0.566 million household viewers and gained a 0.11 ratings share among adults aged 18–49. The episode received very positive reviews from critics. Critics praised the tension, performances and finally addressing the inevitable conversation between Dexter and Harrison although others still expressed frustration at the pace and short runtime.
Plot
Dexter (Michael C. Hall) has been kidnapped by Elric Kane (Shuler Hensley) and is being driven to meet with Kurt (Clancy Brown). Dexter uses his cuffs to attack Kane and cause the car to crash, causing Dexter to be ejected through the windshield. Kane then starts shooting at Dexter with a rifle, hitting him in the leg and prompting him to flee into the woods.
While talking with Angela (Julia Jones), Logan (Alano Miller) accidentally mentions that Dexter attacked a dealer outside a bar for supplying drugs to his son. She questions the dealer, Miles, who states that Dexter asked him for drugs, injected him with a needle and then punched him when the police arrived. She also learns from Logan that Miles' supplier, Jasper Hodge, was found dead in his apartment and due to the time coincidences, she starts suspecting Dexter. Meanwhile, Harrison (Jack Alcott) is picked up by Kurt and they visit the high school, where Kurt shows him Matt's trophies in multiple sports. He then teaches Harrison to hit a baseball, although he uses a machine to also hit him, causing Harrison to angrily remember all of his confrontations with his father.
Back in the woods, Dexter lays a false trail to mislead Kane while he escapes via a different route, leaving a confused Kane to look for him through the forest. Dexter finally makes his way to a closed summer camp, where he finds many instruments in the kitchen. As night falls, Kane finds the camp and is attacked by Dexter with a kitchen knife. Kane claims that he planned on taking him to Kurt's cabin and that it wasn't anything personal, but Dexter still kills him with a knife before leaving the scene in Kane's truck. Meanwhile, Angela investigates Jasper's death and finds another sign of a needle being injected in his neck, making her realize that Dexter was also involved there.
At the cabin, Harrison starts receiving text messages from Dexter to get out but decides to ignore it. He then dines with Kurt, with both bonding over their respective personalities. Harrison also reveals that he went looking for his father for a "connection" and expresses frustration about his father hiding secrets from him. Kurt leaves for a moment and returns with his rifle and ski mask, stating that it is time to pay for the "sins of the father". He instructs him to run as he targets him, just as Dexter arrives in the truck. Dexter fails to run Kurt over, but his appearance prompts him to flee. Dexter reunites with Harrison, and both leave the cabin.
At her house, Angela continues investigating Miles and Jasper, as both were injected with ketamine. She decides to search homicides in Miami related to ketamine, eventually finding more about the Bay Harbor Butcher. Back in the truck, Harrison asks about what happened, and Dexter decides that it is time to tell everything. He explains that Harrison is not alone in his dark thoughts and that he will teach him a "Code" to help him. Harrison then embraces Dexter, making Dexter think that this was not only what Harrison needed, but what he himself needed.
Production
Development
In December 2021, it was announced that the eighth episode of the revived series would be titled "Unfair Game", and was directed by Sanford Bookstaver and written by supervising producer Tony Saltzman and co-producer David McMillan.
Reception
Viewers
In its original American broadcast, "Unfair Game" was seen by an estimated 0.566 million household viewers and gained a 0.11 ratings share among adults aged 18–49, according to Nielsen Media Research. This means that 0.11 percent of all households with televisions watched the episode. This was a 21% decrease in viewership from the previous episode, which was watched by 0.713 million viewers with a 0.15 in the 18-49 demographics.
Critical reviews
"Unfair Game" received very positive reviews from critics. Matt Fowler of IGN gave the episode a "great" 8 out of 10 and wrote in his verdict, "'Unfair Game' was an exciting chapter that gave us Dexter on the defensive, physically, which is something we don't often get to see. Usually, it's a mental chess game full of hurried errands involving the hiding of evidence, but here it was full-on wilderness survival mode. It would have been better, perhaps, as a sniper rifle showdown with Kurt, but Kurt was busy unspooling his own devilish plot, which itself lent a great deal to the season overall, raising his villain profile (and multiple remote cabin owner profile) considerably."
Joshua Alston of The A.V. Club gave the episode a "B-" grade and wrote, "While not a complete disappointment, 'Unfair Game' is oddly paced and edited throughout, even as it finally brings the season's long-simmering plotlines to a head."
Kelly McClure of Vulture gave the episode a 4 star out of 5 rating and wrote, "If my theory about Dexter/Jim dying at the end of this is correct, will it be him, Angela, or Harrison who does it? Harrison would be the most dynamic option out of the three, but my money's on Batista. This is New Blood, though, and I'm bracing for the disappointment of none of this happening and for the last scene of the series being Dexter driving into the sunset, giving the camera a little wink. Barf at the thought of it." Nick Harley of Den of Geek gave the episode a 3 star out of 5 rating and wrote, "Anyway, 'Unfair Game' inches things forward, but only slightly. The main takeaway is that Harrison and Dexter have seemed to have mended their broken relationship, and if the war between Dexter and Kurt wasn't officially on, it certainly is now. With two episodes left, hopefully Dexter: New Blood quits stalling and really starts showing its endgame." Mary Littlejohn of TV Fanatic gave the episode a 4.5 star out of 5 rating and wrote, "In an already superb season, 'Unfair Game' has got to be one of the most streamlined episodes thus far. It was focused, well-paced, and unrelentingly suspenseful. There's no time to waste now. Secrets are out. Everything is coming to a head."
References
External links
"Unfair Game" at Showtime
2021 American television episodes
Dexter: New Blood episodes |
69610955 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%20Clarion%20%28Canadian%20newspaper%29 | The Clarion (Canadian newspaper) | The Clarion was a newspaper established in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia by Carrie Best in 1946. It was the third publication in the province owned and published by a Black Canadian, after The Atlantic Advocate established in 1915 and The Nova Scotia Gleaner established in 1929. On the masthead below the newspaper's name was the text "Published in the Interest of Colored Nova Scotians".
Background
In late 1941, two black girls attended the Roseland Theatre to watch a film. They were told to leave, and recounted this story to Best, who wrote to the owner to protest the action. Unable to resolve the issue, she and her 15-year-old son Calbert went to the theatre in December 1941, refusing to leave their seats in the whites only section of the theatre. They were later ejected and charged with disturbing the peace, for which they were convicted and fined. Best filed a lawsuit (Best v. Mason and Roseland Theatre) on the basis of racial discrimination against the theatre. She lost the lawsuit, with the judge stating that racial discrimination was superseded by an owner's right to exclude anyone from their property.
In November 1946, Viola Desmond was travelling to Sydney on a business trip to sell beauty products. Her car broke down in New Glasgow, and she had to wait a day for a part to be delivered. That night, she attended a screening of The Dark Mirror at the Roseland Theatre. The myopic Desmond tried to purchase a ticket for a floor seat, the whites only section of the theatre, instead of the further balcony seats, but the theatre sold her a ticket for the balcony seat. She nonetheless sat in a floor seat, and after refusing to leave, was eventually removed by police. She was later charged for a minor offence of tax evasion, because the ticket she was sold was 1 cent cheaper than the ticket for the seat she occupied.
Founding
The Clarion was established as an single-sheet church bulletin focussed on the Second Baptist Church in New Glasgow. It was relaunched in tabloid format in December 1946, with the first issue devoted to Desmond's protest at the Roseland Theatre. The issue marked a shift for the newspaper from covering local issues to covering issues that advocated for racial equality throughout the province.
Best travelled to Halifax to seek advertisers. There, she met a Jewish merchant named Manuel Zive, to whom she said she "wanted to have something to say about racial understanding, because things were not good", and he replied that "You are just a small voice crying in the wilderness — but keep on crying", then gave her a cheque. The Clarion was incorporated in 1947 from donations she received, with Best becoming editor with assistance from her son Calbert.
In August 1949, by which time the newspaper was published in broadsheet format, it was renamed The Negro Citizen and distributed throughout Canada. The name was reverted to The Clarion in 1950. It ceased publication in 1956, at which time she began writing as a human rights columnist for the Pictou Advocate.
References
Black Canadian organizations
Defunct newspapers published in Nova Scotia
Multicultural and ethnic newspapers published in Canada
Publications established in 1946
1946 establishments in Nova Scotia
Publications disestablished in 1956
1956 disestablishments in Nova Scotia |
69611099 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%20Family%20Business%20%28Dexter%3A%20New%20Blood%29 | The Family Business (Dexter: New Blood) | "The Family Business" is the ninth episode of the American television miniseries Dexter: New Blood, a continuation of the series Dexter. The episode was written by executive producer Scott Reynolds and directed by Sanford Bookstaver. It originally aired on Showtime on January 2, 2022, being also available on its streaming service at midnight on the same day.
The series follows Dexter Morgan after having faking his death on the original series finale. Dexter now lives in the fictional small town of Iron Lake, New York, hiding his identity under the name of Jim Lindsay, a local shopkeeper and having suppressed his killing urges. He is now in a relationship with Angela Bishop, the town's chief of police, and is beloved and respected in the town. A local troublemaker and the arrival of a mysterious person cause friction in his new life, as the past comes back to haunt him. In the episode, Dexter introduces Harrison to "The Dark Passenger" and the Code of Harry, hoping this will help him. Both then decide to go after Kurt, who is tying loose ends before one final stand against them.
According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 0.576 million household viewers and gained a 0.11 ratings share among adults aged 18–49. The episode received very positive reviews from critics. Critics praised the scenes between Dexter and Harrison, performances, character development and build-up to the finale.
Plot
Dexter (Michael C. Hall) explains the meaning of "The Dark Passenger" to Harrison (Jack Alcott), explaining the purpose of the Code of Harry and how it helped him channel the Passenger. He then tells the story about a time in Miami where he followed Wiggles (Michael Laurence), a party clown who killed many children. However, at Debra's (Jennifer Carpenter) insistence, he hides the fact that he kills his victims, claiming he only confronts them and scares them to stop hurting people. This relieves Harrison, who connects more with his father. Shortly thereafter, Dexter chops up Elric's body into pieces.
On Christmas Day, Dexter gifts Harrison some clothing as well as a rifle. Harrison tests the rifle on bottles, managing to hit them. Dexter reveals that Kurt (Clancy Brown) was after Harrison because he confronted him, revealing Kurt's real persona as a serial killer. Harrison can't testify against Kurt because it would implicate Dexter at the scene. They then leave to meet with Angela (Julia Jones) and Audrey (Johnny Sequoyah). Unaware to Dexter, Angela has been investigating the Bay Harbor Butcher, finding a pattern between his victims and the drug dealer's death. Their reunion is interrupted when Kurt shows up with a gift for Angela and has a conversation with both Dexter and Harrison, who hide their encounter with him from Angela and Audrey. After he leaves, they decide to investigate his cabin to find any crucial evidence.
While investigating, Harrison confesses that he indeed injured Ethan at school and apologizes for his behavior. He also questions again about Wiggles' fate, deeming that just scaring him wouldn't be "justice". He also states that he has dreamed about hunting Trinity Killer and killing him with his own razor. Although tempted to reveal his true nature, Dexter is persuaded by Debra not to say anything. Having found the place where Kurt may hide his victims' remains, they decide to investigate later that night to avoid suspicion. While they are gone, Kurt sets fire to their cabin, intending to shoot them when they leave, but is shocked to see they are not in the cabin.
At Kurt's cabin, they find a bunker outside and they descend to access it. The security system alerts Kurt of their presence, panicking him. Dexter and Harrison find to their horror a hallway where Kurt keeps his dead victims embalmed and displayed in crates, including Lily and Molly (Jamie Chung). Harrison once again questions Dexter if he killed Wiggles and despite Deb imploring him not to do it, Dexter confirms it as well as admitting to killing Trinity and many other killers. Meanwhile, Angela investigates Molly's vacated hotel room and finds her recorder in the safe, deducing she would never leave it behind.
Knowing he will soon be caught, Kurt starts packing his belongings at his house, preparing to flee. He is then confronted by Harrison, distracting him so that Dexter can sedate him. They take him to his bunker, wrapping him in plastic on his embalming table. Kurt excuses his actions, explaining that he gave these women a salvation from his father although he was angry that they always wanted to leave. He also mentions that he tried to kill Harrison because Dexter killed Matt, although Dexter states that Matt fit the code for the boat accident. With Harrison as witness, Dexter kills Kurt and starts chopping up his body. As the blood reminds him of his mother's death, Harrison steps outside while Dexter finishes chopping up the body.
Dexter and Harrison discard the body bags at the foundry, noting that Kurt's behavior and trying to flee will serve as a good cover for them. They return to their cabin the next morning and are shocked to find it burned to the ground. Angela questions Dexter about his whereabouts, but Audrey allows them to stay with them for a time. At her house, Angela receives a note in an envelope, which states "Jim Lindsay killed Matt Caldwell" as well as leaving titanium screws. She then stares at Dexter, in suspicion.
Production
Development
In December 2021, it was announced that the ninth episode of the revived series would be titled "The Family Business", and was directed by Sanford Bookstaver and written by executive producer Scott Reynolds.
Reception
Viewers
In its original American broadcast, "The Family Business" was seen by an estimated 0.576 million household viewers and gained a 0.11 ratings share among adults aged 18–49, according to Nielsen Media Research. This means that 0.11 percent of all households with televisions watched the episode. This was a 2% increase in viewership from the previous episode, which was watched by 0.566 million viewers with a 0.11 in the 18-49 demographics.
Critical reviews
"The Family Business" received very positive reviews from critics. Matt Fowler of IGN gave the episode an "amazing" 9 out of 10 and wrote in his verdict, "'The Family Business' was tense, macabre, and wonderfully gratifying. The show once again cast a spell over us by having us root for Dexter, as a father, to successfully impart his serial killer code to his son when everything, even Dexter's inner Deb, indicates it's a doomed decision, just as it was when Harry made grievous mistakes with Dexter. This feels right by feeling so very wrong and totally nails a crucial culmination element for the entire saga."
Joshua Alston of The A.V. Club gave the episode a "B" grade and wrote, "As is often the case with Dexter, the episode gets most interesting when it's time for Dexter to put his prey on the table and give the last rites. These scenes are usually a duet between Dexter and the Big Bad, but Harrison's presence is a game-changer."
Kelly McClure of Vulture gave the episode a 3 star out of 5 rating and wrote, "The timing of New Blood has felt off in many ways, and that fact is wrapped up with a nice little bow on top with its second to last episode taking place on Christmas Day but airing on January 2. It's depressing to get a Christmas gift after the holiday itself has come and gone, and it feels sloppy for a show that's been doing this long enough to know better not to have the presence of mind or desire to tighten up the storyline so that the episodes fall on, or at least closer to, the real-time holiday they're playing out. Just one more in a series of missed opportunities in New Blood that we won't have to pretend not to notice for much longer." Nick Harley of Den of Geek gave the episode a 4.5 star out of 5 rating and wrote, "By focusing on Dexter trying to slowly reveal his true self to his son, New Blood tapped into some of Dexters best qualities. The show also tries to juxtapose a juvenile reading of Dexter's actions — he's a badass vigilante! — with the reality of what he's doing, which is finding a way to justify his monstrous behavior. It's a fantastic penultimate installment and one of the series' very best episodes. The only misstep is having Molly Park's death take place off-screen. If New Blood manages to fumble on its finale, we'll at least have 'The Family Business' to remind us why we fell in love with Dexter in the first place." Mary Littlejohn of TV Fanatic gave the episode a 4 star out of 5 rating and wrote, "It's all feeling pretty grim right now, but I'm honestly ready for Dexter to get his comeuppance. Hell, an entire season of Dexter on trial for the Bay Harbor Butcher murders would have been riveting. Hall's Dexter is a gold mine of a character. He has an enduring fandom (of which I am obviously a part) that would love nothing more than to see him continue his adventures. But there is a point where we need a payoff."
References
External links
"The Family Business" at Showtime
2022 American television episodes
Dexter: New Blood episodes |
69611541 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First%20homosexual%20movement | First homosexual movement | The first homosexual movement thrived in Germany from the late nineteenth century until 1933. The homosexual movement began in Germany because of a confluence of factors, including the criminalization of sex between men (Paragraph 175) and the country's relatively lax censorship. German writers in the mid-nineteenth century coined the word homosexual and criticized its criminalization. In 1897, Magnus Hirschfeld founded the world's first homosexual organization, the Scientific-Humanitarian Committee, whose aim was to use science to improve public tolerance of homosexuality and repeal Paragraph 175. During the German Empire, the movement was restricted to an educated elite, but it greatly expanded in the aftermath of World War I and the German revolution.
Reduced censorship and the growth of homosexual subcultures in German cities helped the movement to flourish during the Weimar Republic. Between 1919 and 1933, the first publicly sold, mass-market periodicals intended for a gay, lesbian, or transvestite readership were published, although they faced censorship lawsuits and bans on public sale after the 1926 . The first mass organizations for homosexuals, the German Friendship Society and the League for Human Rights, were founded in the aftermath of the war. These organizations emphasized human rights and respectability politics, and they excluded prostitutes and effeminate homosexual men, who were considered harmful to the movement's public image. The homosexual movement had limited success with the general public, because many Germans believed that homosexuality could be spread as a communicable disease.
The movement began to wane in 1929 faced with the Great Depression, an increasingly hostile political climate, and the failure of the movement's main goal, the repeal of Paragraph 175. It effectively ended within a few months of the Nazi takeover in early 1933, and the relative tolerance of the Weimar era was followed by the most severe persecution of homosexual men in history. The Weimar Republic has held enduring interest for many LGBT people as a brief interlude in which gay men, lesbians, and transvestites took advantage of unprecedented freedoms. The movement had a strong influence on later LGBT movements.
Background
Homosexuals have faced persecution throughout German history. The Christian church denounced homosexuality, and after the Christianization of the Roman Empire it was subject to harsh punishment in the portion of Germany under Roman rule. The 1532 Constitutio Criminalis Carolina, the first penal code of the Holy Roman Empire, called for the execution of homosexuals by burning at the stake. It is unclear how much medieval laws against homosexuality were enforced. In some parts of Germany, homosexuality was decriminalized or punishment lessened from death to imprisonment as a result of the Napoleonic wars, against popular opposition. After the unification of Germany in 1871, Prussian law was adopted by the German Empire, including Paragraph 175 that criminalized sex between men. The law was difficult to enforce because it required proof that the accused had participated in penetrative sex with another man, although case law was inconsistent about exactly which acts were illegal.
Some authors influenced by Enlightenment ideas began to criticize the criminalization of consensual sexual conduct. In the 1830s, Swiss-German Heinrich Hössli was one of the first to voice this sentiment. The German-language writer Karl Maria Kertbeny coined the word homosexual in 1869 and anonymously published pamphlets advocating against the criminalization of homosexuality. By the 1880s, homosexual was in broad circulation. Karl Heinrich Ulrichs, a lawyer, began to publicly defend homosexuals ("Urnings" in the terminology he invented) under his own name in the 1860s and 1870s. In 1867, he attempted to argue for the decriminalization of homosexuality at a conference of the in Munich, but was shouted down. Ulrichs argued that homosexuality is inborn and Urnings were a kind of hermaphrodite, who developed from a rare variation in sexual development leaving them with the body of one sex but the soul of the other. Both Ulrichs and Hössli argued that homosexuals were a fixed minority comparable to an ethnic group—especially the Jews—and consequently deserving of legal protection. In contrast, Kertbeny was skeptical that homosexuality was innate, and instead argued for decriminalization based on liberal principles.
Greater scientific research into homosexuality also occurred during the second half of the nineteenth century. The growing prestige of medicine meant that Germans began to consult doctors on matters of sexuality instead of clerics. Around 1850, French psychiatrist Claude-François Michéa and German physician Johann Ludwig Casper independently suggested that homosexuality was caused by a physical difference from heterosexuals; the exact nature of this purported physical difference became a sought-after target of medical research. At the same time, many psychiatrists believed that homosexuality was a product of environmental factors such as bad habits or seduction. Austrian psychiatrist Richard von Krafft-Ebing was one of the most influential advocates of the theory that various maladies, including homosexuality, could be blamed on the degeneracy of modern life. Although Krafft-Ebing has often been regarded as "the chief contributor to the scientific pathologization of homosexuality in the nineteenth century", he was also a friend of Ulrichs and by the end of his life, came to the conclusion that homosexuality should not be criminalized and that it was not a disease or degeneration. By the late nineteenth century, the most influential works in psychiatry considered homosexual orientation an innate disease and disagreed with its criminalization. Nevertheless, there was a widespread belief among Germans that homosexuality could be spread as a communicable disease. This belief, the main argument of opponents of homosexual emancipation in interwar Germany, limited the potential of the first homosexual movement.
Organized activism in the German Empire
The homosexual movement in Imperial Germany was numerically tiny; however, it had a high profile and powerful allies. Homosexuality among men was the subject of especially wide-ranging debate involving not just parliamentary and political discussions but also medical and sexological research. According to historian Edward Ross Dickinson, the homosexual movement was extremely radical because of the deep-seated prejudice against homosexuality among educated Germans, such that challenging Paragraph 175 "potentially called every other sexual taboo into question". By 1900 the homosexual scene in Berlin was increasing in size and visibility, which may have played a role in softening public attitudes towards homosexuality. The homosexual movement was one of many social and political movements that emerged around 1900 in Germany because of the expansion of the right to vote, urbanization, the rise of mass media, and other social changes. In his book Gay Berlin, historian Robert Beachy argues that a confluence of factors, including the criminalization of homosexuality, relatively loose censorship compared to other European countries, and the influence of psychiatry meant that Germany was the place where a sense of homosexual identity was developed in the decades around 1900, and ultimately catalyzed the first homosexual movement.
Magnus Hirschfeld and the Scientific-Humanitarian Committee
The German-Jewish sexologist Magnus Hirschfeld was the most important spokesperson for homosexual rights in the early twentieth century, although he never publicly acknowledged his homosexuality. A trained physician, he became involved in activism after the death of one of his homosexual patients by suicide. Hirschfeld hoped that science could improve public tolerance for homosexuality and lead to legal reform. In a 1893 pamphlet, he argued that sexuality could "neither be acquired through environmental factors or suggestions, nor extinguished through medical treatment or psychological conditioning", which in his view made criminalizing it legally and morally untenable. Hirschfeld initially borrowed heavily from Ulrichs's arguments. Later, he developed the theory of sexual intermediaries, positing that there are no true men or women but rather every person has a combination of masculine and feminine characteristics.
In 1897, Hirschfeld founded the world's first homosexual organization, the Scientific-Humanitarian Committee (WhK), with Max Spohr, , and Franz Joseph von Bülow. Initially the founders contributed their own money; later, they were supported by a few wealthy donors. The committee wanted to present a petition against Paragraph 175 to the Reichstag in 1898 with as many signatures as possible and in the longer term to use research in sexology to advocate for the repeal of Paragraph 175 and increase societal tolerance for homosexuals. The WhK's petition had more than 900 signatures by 1898, but found little support in parliament. By 1914, the petition had accumulated the signatures of more than 3,000 doctors, 750 university professors, and thousands of other Germans, including Krafft-Ebing, poet Rainer Maria Rilke, and prominent Social Democratic (SPD) politicians. None of the WhK's petitions were successful. The WhK argued that homosexuality was natural and found in all human cultures. Its arguments were supported by comparison with countries (such as France) where homosexuality was not illegal, scholarly works on homosexuality in ancient Greece, and ethnographies of non-Western cultures.
In 1899, the WhK began to publish the journal Jahrbuch für sexuelle Zwischenstufen ("The Yearbook for Sexual Intermediaries"). It also published booklets intended for a popular audience, such as Was soll das Volk vom dritten Geschlecht wissen? ("What should the [German] people know about the third sex?"), which had at least 50,000 copies printed by 1911. Many of these booklets were distributed free of change; Hirschfeld claimed to have distributed 100,000 booklets by 1914. In 1911, amateur ethnographer Ferdinand Karsch-Haack published Das gleichgeschlechtliche Leben der Naturvölker ("The same-sex life of natural peoples") in which he collected all known examples of same-sex desire and gender nonconformity in Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas to prove that homosexuality was innate and natural.
Hirschfeld was able to persuade some psychiatrists (including Paul Näcke and Iwan Bloch) to soften their opinion on homosexuality by introducing them to the homosexual scene in Berlin. He was also able to secure the acquittal or mitigation of the sentence of prosecuted homosexuals with his expert witness testimony. In 1909, he persuaded the Berlin authorities to accept transvestite passes allowing people to cross-dress without fear of police harassment or arrest. Hirschfeld also spent much time fundraising for the WhK and setting up its organizational structure, including branches in other German cities. The WhK included women, some of whom identified as homosexual, and sponsored research into female homosexuality, although its main focus continued to be abolishing Paragraph 175.
Masculinists
From the beginning of the movement, the majority of activists both inside and outside the WhK endorsed the idea that homosexual men belonged to a kind of third sex with male bodies and female souls. Dissent came from an opposing faction that took inspiration from pederasty in ancient Greece in combination with modern ideas of Nietzscheanism, antimodernism, misogyny, illiberalism, and in many cases antisemitism. They believed that the roots of male same-sex desire were cultural rather than biological, that any man was potentially homosexual, and that it was equally or more masculine than heterosexuality. None of these arguments was remotely acceptable to contemporary bourgeois opinion, leading the masculinists to be marginalized. Despite the antagonism between the masculinists and the WhK, both groups published in each other's newspapers and cited the same classical figures for inspiration. Many homosexual men saw value in both visions of homosexuality or hybridized their ideas.
In 1896, 21-year-old Adolf Brand launched Der Eigene ("The Special One"), initially an anarchist-leaning literary journal that was refounded two years later as the first periodical in the world oriented to a homosexual readership. It published irregularly due to financial and legal obstacles. In 1903, he founded the literary organization Gemeinschaft der Eigenen (GdE), not intended as a competitor to the WhK. Brand's publications, which were not influential and never had a circulation above 150, often featured naked teenage boys and made allegations about high-profile figures. Brand joined the WhK because he shared its goal of decriminalizing homosexuality, but he increasingly criticized Hirschfeld's views on the third sex. He supported the Wandervogel youth groups and völkisch nudist associations. Another masculinist was Hans Blüher, known for his controversial theories relating all male relationships to homoeroticism and his promotion of all-male associations ().
In 1906, Benedict Friedlander led a split from the WhK, arguing that sexuality was not a medical or psychological issue. Instead, Friedlander believed that homosexual emancipation should be achieved by a mass coming out of homosexual and bisexual men who rejected conventional morality, which he saw as imposed by Christianity and women. Brand had unsuccessfully proposed mass self-outings in the WhK. Friedlander attracted many WhK donors at a time that the homosexual activists were struggling with the fallout of the Eulenberg affair, but his initiative collapsed after his death in 1908.
Political debate
At the end of the nineteenth century there was debate over the Lex Heinze, a law that increased penalties for various sexual misdemeanors. August Bebel, the leader of the SPD and one of the first supporters of the WhK's petition, brought up Paragraph 175 in parliament, possibly in order to show the hypocrisy of the proposed law. Bebel argued that homosexuality was so prevalent that if everyone breaking the law was arrested, Germany's prisons would overflow. The law could only function if applied arbitrarily, leading poorer men to be jailed for the same actions for which wealthier men went unpunished. Bebel and other social democrats were persuaded by the writings of Marxist journalist Eduard Bernstein, who condemned the prosecution of Oscar Wilde. Although homophobia was also prevalent among working-class Germans and some SPD politicians continued to support criminalization, the SPD was the most consistent ally of the anti-175 movement. Hirschfeld considered it a victory that the Reichstag discussed Paragraph 175 in 1898 and again in 1905, by which point the SPD had adopted many of his own talking points.
In late 1906, Maximilian Harden published several articles in Die Zukunft in which he accused Philipp, Prince of Eulenburg and his associates of homosexual relationships and connected this to Eulenburg's advocacy of less antagonistic foreign relations. Kuno von Moltke subsequently sued Harden for libel, and court cases continued for more than two years. Hirschfeld testified as an expert witness in Moltke's trial, initially claiming that he was likely homosexual, although he changed his statement at the retrial. Hirschfeld hoped that exposing the fact that some prominent Germans were homosexual would show that Paragraph 175 was hypocritical. In a separate case, Brand was jailed for libel after claiming that Chancellor Bernhard von Bülow was homosexual. The affair was a disaster for the homosexual movement. Many German opinion makers began to believe that the affair harmed Germany's international image and blamed homosexuals for it. In the wake of the affair, the WhK's income dropped by two-thirds and its membership by half.
Following the affair, Germany was debating a new penal code. Instead of abolishing Paragraph 175, the parliamentary committee proposed to increase penalties for male prostitution and abuse of authority. A 1909 draft version of the penal code argued that homosexuality was a "danger to the state, since it is suited to damage men most severely in their character and in their civil existence, to wreck family life, and to corrupt male youth". This draft proposed criminalizing homosexuality also for women, which was ridiculed even by conservatives and drew the opposition of the women's movement. Although a few women's activists supported the proposal as it would have equalized the legal situation of male and female homosexuality, most rejected it as the proposed law would have exposed many women who lived together for economic reasons to false accusations and blackmail. The Bund Deutscher Frauenvereine passed a resolution calling for the decriminalization of sexual acts that did not harm non-consenting parties. In 1911, the WhK and the campaigned against the reform; their partnership lasted until 1933. Although the SPD voted down the proposal after its election victory in 1912, more repressive versions of Paragraph 175 continued to be debated until World War I, which ended the plan to reform the penal code.
World War I
Many homosexuals, like other Germans, volunteered to join the army after the outbreak of World War I. In April 1915, the WhK reported that more than half its membership was serving in the military. There was little organizing during the war. Although some German soldiers were charged with violating Paragraph 175, the military did not aggressively investigate homosexual incidents. In 1918, Germany lost the war and signed an armistice, sparking the German revolution. After the war, it was a widespread belief that homosexuals, along with socialists, Jews, women, and others, had stabbed Germany in the back and caused its defeat. Homosexual activists cited their participation in the war as evidence of their patriotism and right to exist as free and equal citizens.
Weimar Republic
After the revolution, the Weimar Republic was founded with one of the most modern and progressive constitutions in the world. Traditional values seemed to have lost their hold on society during the era of revolutionary change. Many homosexuals believed that they too would be able to enjoy greater freedom as a result of the war and the revolution, made bolder claims to public space. There was a shift from science to human rights and citizenship in the discourse of the homosexual movement. The magazine Die Freundschaft was launched a year after the revolution and was the first homosexual publication to sell in kiosks to a mass audience. Its editor proclaimed, "The hour of liberation is now or never, for us… We, the ostracized, persecuted, and misjudged, are set aglow by a new age of equal respect and equality."
Homosexual scenes
The homosexual scenes in different German cities, although already in development during the nineteenth century, increased in visibility during the Weimar era. Berlin in particular became known among homosexual writers for its opportunities, while in conservative circles it was decried as a modern-day Sodom and Gomorrah. By the mid 19th century, homosexuals were gathering in specific bars, and in 1880 the first specifically gay-oriented establishment was opened. Male prostitution was particularly noticeable in Berlin, with the police estimating in 1914 that 2,000 men were regularly working as prostitutes. Most male prostitutes were under the age of 25 but above the age of consent, and many had migrated to cities looking for a job but lacked other economic opportunities. The beginning of the Great Depression in 1929 further worsened the prospects of working-class men and led to an increase in homosexual prostitution. Hiring a prostitute put older homosexuals at risk of theft and blackmail. Conversely, homosexual men were seen by the opponents of the homosexual movement as preying on vulnerable youths and seducing them into becoming homosexual with monetary payments—a theory often cited by proponents of keeping Paragraph 175.
By 1923 there were nearly a hundred gay and lesbian establishments in Berlin, segregated by class and other factors. Although most establishments were rather sedate, Berlin drew in internal migration of gay, lesbian, and gender divergent Germans as well as international sex tourists such as Christopher Isherwood. The bars were known for throwing elaborate balls. Other German cities, including Hamburg, Hannover, Düsseldorf, and Cologne also enjoyed thriving gay scenes during the Weimar era, although Catholic Southern Germany was much less hospitable. In Munich the police shut down any homosexual establishment that became known to the authorities, seized homosexual publications, and surveilled known homosexual meeting places. , a prominent homosexual activist in the Weimar era, got his start in activism after a café frequented by homosexuals in Munich was shut down and the authorities refused his request to register a local friendship association in 1921. The hard-won visibility of the homosexual movement was a double-edged sword as it made it easier for the police to target homosexuals, especially in Catholic parts of Germany. However, Paragraph 175 was not consistently enforced. Lesbian subcultures became much more visible and larger in the Weimar Republic than they had been previously.
Associations
Groups of friends who shared homosexual feelings were organizing in German cities into more formal associations. In the nineteenth century, such associations were rare, but their popularity increased exponentially in the Weimar years. Unlike the WhK, their primary purpose was not educational or political but providing social interaction and sense of community for their members. The societies organized meetups, dinners, and parties, soon drawing thousands of Germans; by the mid-1920s there was at least one society in every German city. On 20 August 1920, several of these societies united under the Deutsche Freundschafts-Verband (German Friendship Society, DFV). At this time, the word friend was a common euphemism for homosexual. In 1923, Berlin-based businessman Friedrich Radszuweit persuaded the organization to rename itself the Bund für Menschenrecht (League for Human Rights, BfM), and took control of it, establishing a centralized organization. By the end of the decade, membership had increased from 2,000 in 1922 to an estimated 48,000. The BfM's membership was mainly middle-class young men in their twenties and thirties, although it also appealed to some working-class men. Radszuweit also attempted to rescue the Theater des Eros, a homosexual theater group, by folding it into the BfM, but this was unsuccessful.
These friendship associations and eventually the BfM were the first mass organizations for homosexuals. Their operation was very similar to the "Urning Union" that Ulrichs had proposed decades earlier, combining politics, entertainment, and practical support. The organization offered legal services to members facing employment disputes, blackmail, or criminal charges as part of its membership fee. However, Radszuweit's leadership, perceived as domineering by some, led to conflicts. In 1925 some members seceded and reestablished the DFV, which, although it was smaller than the BfM, helped increase the diversity of Weimar's homosexual publications. Despite its grassroots origins, the BfM relied on Radszuweit's media empire for growth. However, unity was difficult to achieve because regional groups wanted to run their own affairs according to local conditions. To keep better-educated homosexuals who might have been turned off by his more lowbrow publications, in 1925 Radszuweit purged Blätter für Menschenrecht of advertisements and sent it without an additional cost to all members of the BfM. In order to recruit the reluctant, Radszuweit collected names to send them promotional material and encouraged people to leave the Blätter für Menschenrecht in streetcars or other public places.
Lesbian and transvestite organizations
By the second half of the 1920s, there were women's friendship associations (associated both with the BfM and DFV) in various cities throughout Germany and in Vienna in Austria. Although women were in the minority in the friendship associations, Radszuweit encouraged their participation. He set up a separate lesbian organization in the mid-1920s, and when this venture failed, put Lotte Hahm in charge of a separate women's division within the BfM in 1927. Hahm's Damenklub Violetta in Berlin offered theater performances, dances, auto tours, fashion shows, and a moonlight cruise for its members; it also had a reading room and discussion groups. Other lesbians organized independently of both the DFV and BfM, for example the magazine Die BIF and its associated organization. While political organizations for lesbian women were not successful, social clubs enjoyed greater success. Literature scholar Janin Afken argues that "lesbian clubs and their membership systems can be considered a first step toward an organized lesbian movement" but apart from the clubs and lesbian-oriented publications, there was no collective political mobilization among lesbians in the Weimar Republic.
The Weimar Republic saw some of the first transvestite organizations and publications in the world. The term "transvestite" encompassed both those who liked to dress in the clothing of the opposite sex and those who wanted to live as the opposite sex, who would later be called transsexual or transgender. Transvestites of both birth sexes frequently joined lesbian social groups, but this caused friction especially in the case of male-to-female transvestites. Radzuweit encouraged this grouping as he wanted to keep feminine men out of homosexual male groupings. Both the DVF and BfM set up dedicated groups for transvestites in 1927 and 1930; these groups struggled to attract and retain members. As it was considered "gross public indecency", transvestism was illegal and could lead to arrest.
Print media
Mass media aimed at a homosexual audience was impossible in Imperial Germany because of censorship, although scientific publications were generally allowed. The German revolution abolished censorship. Publishers took advantage of the opportunity to sell a plethora of new media dealing with different aspects of sexuality. The first mass publication for a homosexual audience was Die Freundschaft, appearing weekly with an initial print run of 20,000 copies. It aspired to be a "world parliament" for homosexual men and women, but its editors lacked the business acumen to make this possible and its personal ads led to a ban in 1923 and 1924. By the end of the 1920s, more than 20 publications for gay, lesbian, and gender divergent audiences were published in Germany.
Among those taking advantage of business opportunities in the new republic was Radszuweit, who soon built a publishing house that catered to gay and lesbian readers. Unlike the nonprofit organizations that preceded him, Radszuweit ran his publishing house like a business, seeing the pursuit of profit and the pursuit of homosexual rights to be compatible. By selling to as many readers as possible, Radszuweit wanted to both make money and promote the cause of homosexual equality. His publications used plain language and salacious images of naked young men in order to attract readers. Radszuweit combined entertainment and politics in his magazines. He used his magazines to promote the BfM and advertise its events as well as encourage pink capitalism by advising his readers to patronize businesses owned by homosexuals. Although critics decried the lowbrow nature of his publications, Radszuweit maintained that only by reaching a large audience could the cause of decriminalization be achieved. His awareness of different content preferences among German homosexuals and exploitation of market segmentation with multiple publications enabled Radszuweit to increase circulation. In 1926 he claimed a total circulation of 5,140,000 copies for all his titles. Radszuweit's magazines had subscribers outside Germany, some as far away as Brazil.
In the Weimar years, there was the first attempt to compile a canon of homosexual literature and find historical figures who were claimed to be gay. Relaxation of censorship led to an explosion of lesbian pulp fiction, with 30 novels available to German-speaking readers as well as the first lesbian guidebook. The most famous work of lesbian literature was the play Gestern und heute, later made into the 1931 film Mädchen in Uniform.
Censorship
Censorship advocates, who ranged from pro-democracy moderates to the far right, believed that exposure to the wrong media would turn young people to promiscuity or homosexuality instead of heterosexual family relationships. In the aftermath of a devastating war, there was a moral panic about sexualized media, which they perceived to be a threat to the German nation. Censorship advocates prioritized homosexual publications because they believed that the publications could turn male adolescents into homosexuals. Censorship was a major threat to the homosexual movement, which depended on these publications to exist and grow. While conservatives feared that a book or magazine would suddenly transform a person's sexuality, lesbians described reading as part of a process in which they discovered their sexuality. For homosexuals who were afraid to come out, lived in less tolerant parts of Germany, or could not afford to participate in other aspects of the subculture, the magazines provided their only connection to like-minded people and fostered a sense of community and identity.
There was a trial of Die Freundschaft for violating the anti-obscenity statue, Paragraph 184, in 1921. The court convicted the defendants and the conviction was upheld on appeal to the supreme court. The ruling nevertheless was considered a victory for homosexual publications as the court set limits on what content could be considered obscene that expanded free expression compared to the prewar period. The court decision banned erotic material defined broadly (one passage deemed obscene discussed two men kissing). Adapting to this decision, homosexual publications tried to avoid any sexual content, including in their personal ads. Hirschfeld, one of the only sexologists in Germany who argued that homosexuality was exclusively innate, testified for the defense at many censorship trials. In the early 1920s, Brand also faced lawsuits over his publications, especially their personal ads.
In 1926, the Reichstag passed the , which targeted publications considered immoral and aesthetically worthless; affected publications could not be publicly displayed or sold to minors. Almost all homosexual publications publicly sold between 1927 and 1933 ended up on the lists of restricted publications at one point. Faced with a listing, editors of homosexual publications had a difficult decision to make. They could keep selling to subscribers, but ad revenue would dry up; start publishing under a different name; or wait out the ban. Radszuweit implemented self-censorship in order to get his publications off of the restricted list. In contrast, Die Freundschaft sold only by subscription after 1927 to avoid censorship. Radszuweit's attempt to promote his publications as respectable backfired, as he was unable to persuade those charged with enforcing the censorship law. Part of the motivation of targeting homosexual publications with the law was to smother the homosexual movement, which could not exist without them. The regulators recognized that the periodicals were not commercially viable without the content objected to by morals campaigners.
Respectability
Both the DFV and BfM "were oriented toward integration rather than sexual liberation for its own sake", according to historian Marti Lybeck, and defined themselves in opposition to the libertine nightclub culture. Their publications, in both political and literary writings, promoted monogamous relationships in conformity with bourgeois norms and a form of masculinity outwardly indistinguishable from broader society's. Effeminate men were unwelcome in the associations as they were seen as detrimental to the political goals of the movement, and male prostitutes were excluded entirely. Both effeminacy and prostitution were decried in homosexual publications. In the context of political organizing, neither Hirschfeld's model of homosexuality nor that of the masculinists were satisfactory, because both effeminacy and pederasty were socially reviled. By the 1920s, many homosexual magazines had adopted the belief that homosexuality is innate, and that homosexual men are not effeminate.
The military service of many homosexual and transvestite men during World War I was often cited in Weimar-era publications, and Radszuweit criticized the Reichswehr for dismissing any soldier found to be homosexual. In editorials, Radszuweit promoted respectability politics, but his respectable image was undercut by eroticized images of youths that he printed in order to increase sales. These images allowed his audience to fantasize about their own lives. Historian Javier Samper Vendrell states of Radszuweit's embrace of respectability politics, "This position may have been pragmatic, but it was nonetheless a flawed, conformist, and repressive demand for rights."
The most-represented group in transvestite organizations were those who considered themselves cross-dressing heterosexual men, while homosexual cross-dressers were marginalized both in transvestite and homosexual associations. Cross-dressing male prostitutes and criminals were seen as a threat to transvestite respectability; accordingly, they were banned and described in the transvestite media as "scum of humanity". Lesbian and transvestite associations encouraged respectability in their publications, urged others to keep a low profile in public, and excluded prostitutes from their associations. Working-class lesbians, who often gathered in separate spaces, tended to have less interest in respectability and were more likely to support the Communist Party of Germany (KPD). Cross-dressing male prostitutes and other excluded groups may not have embraced respectability politics, but they have left little trace in the historical record.
Film
In 1919, Hirschfeld collaborated with Richard Oswald on the film Different from the Others, the first German feature film to cover homosexuality. Featuring actors Conrad Veidt, Reinhold Schünzel, and Anita Berber, it portrayed a successful violinist who committed suicide after being blackmailed. The film was widely viewed and positively evaluated by critics, generating immense discussion. Some viewers perceived the violinist as embodying negative stereotypes of effeminate and limp-wristed homosexuals. His ambiguous relationship with his younger student fanned fears of homosexual seduction. Screenings of the film were disrupted by morality campaigners, nationalists, and Freikorps. Partly in response to Different from the Others, film censorship was reinstated in 1920 and the film was banned.
Political activism
The homosexual movement was part of a broad coalition of sexual reformers along with feminists, and was generally backed by the SPD and the KPD, who supported an approach to sexuality that was based on rationality rather than religion. This coalition was opposed by the Center Party, the conservative women's movement, Protestant morality campaigners, and right-wing conservatives from the German National People's Party (DVNP)—backing the exclusive role of heterosexual marriage against "immorality", which included not just homosexual emancipation but also gender equality, female prostitution, extramarital sex, sexualized media, birth control, and abortion.
Different strategies
On 1 July 1919, Hirschfeld opened the Institute for Sexual Science (), the first institution dedicated to the study of sexuality, to an audience of prominent Germans including politicians, medical professionals, and intellectuals. Conservatives condemned the institute as a symbol of everything they disliked about the Weimar Republic. The institute carried out some of the first sex reassignment surgeries. Hirschfeld called the institute "a child of the revolution", hoping that through scientific research and public education, he would be able to persuade Weimar politicians to change their stance on homosexuality. Hirschfeld was increasingly sidelined by the end of the 1920s because of antisemitism and the competing theory that homosexuality was communicable.
Hirschfeld's collaborator, Kurt Hiller, was skeptical of the strategy focusing on research and education. Hiller advocated for the creation of a homosexual political party modeled on ethnic minority parties, calculating that if homosexuals were one percent of Germany's population and voted together, they could elect several Reichstag deputies according to the new system of proportional representation. Radszuweit also considered establishing a homosexual party, but eventually decided against the idea. Hiller also supported a mass self-denunciation of homosexuals, which Hirschfeld dismissed as impossible. Hiller, who gained increasing influence within the WhK and took over the leadership in 1929, emphasized human rights over science. From a neo-Kantian perspective, he argued that the state had no justification for banning self-expression "unless the activity of the individual collides with the interests of another individual, or perhaps of the whole, the society". Unlike Hirschfeld, Hiller directly compared homosexuals and Jews, arguing that the former had it worse.
After 1923, the BfM increasingly distanced itself from the WhK; Radszuweit was a critic of Hirschfeld's theory of intersexuality. The BfM encouraged its members to come out to friends, family, or coworkers in order to increase public acceptance of homosexuality. The BfM officially backed the SPD but welcomed homosexuals of any political affiliation. Although the majority of its members supported either the SPD or KPD—which shared the SPD's commitment to repealing Paragraph 175—others, especially from the middle and upper classes, backed right-wing parties. The BfM also lobbied on behalf of its members, sending brochures to parliamentarians, ministers, judges, and even President Paul von Hindenburg; in 1924 it sent more than 200,000 pamphlets. Brand and his GdE continued to exist after World War I, but the masculinists were increasingly sidelined. They rejected the values of the German revolution, and their anti-feminist attitudes and refusal to make alliances with other groups calling for sex reform alienated others. Hirschfeld, Radszuweit, and others considered them a liability because of their conflation of homosexuality and pederasty.
Paragraph 175 reform
In the aftermath of the German revolution, many homosexual activists expected that Paragraph 175 would soon be repealed. Initially, the WhK sought unity within the movement and in 1920 was cooperating with both the DFV and the GdE under the name "Action Committee for the Elimination of Paragraph 175". These efforts fell through. Both Hirschfeld and Hiller later blamed the movement's failures partly on the lack of solidarity and other qualities necessary for successful political organizing among homosexuals. The WhK continued to solicit the signatures of prominent Germans for its petition to abolish Paragraph 175, adding 6,000 in 1921 alone. President Friedrich Ebert pledged his support for the repeal effort. Gustav Radbruch, who served as justice minister for the SPD from 1921 to 1922 and again in 1923, wanted to rewrite the criminal code in "the spirit of modern criminological thinking" and proposed a new criminal code without Paragraph 175. Economic problems and the issue of World War I reparations prevented reforms.
The repeal effort was also hampered by divisions within the movement: the WhK and the BfM did not agree on the issues of age of consent and male prostitution. The WhK held that the age of consent should be sixteen, the same as heterosexual relationships. Hirschfeld also opposed the criminalization of male prostitution, instead advocating that its economic causes be addressed. Female prostitution was legalized in 1927, and it was feared that cracking down on male prostitution would lead to police raids on gay bars and meeting places. The WhK worked with other sex reformers to produce a new draft of the penal code, largely written by Hiller and published in 1927, that eliminated Paragraph 175 and also reformed provisions dealing with abortion, rape, seduction, incest, and child molestation. Only the KPD supported this proposal in its entirety. While Brand and the GdE disagreed with Hiller's proposal and instead preferred to abolish the age of consent, the BfM held the opposite position, opposing male prostitution and supporting a higher age of consent of eighteen years. Radszuweit endorsed homophobic ideas (namely that male adolescents could be seduced into homosexuality) in the hopes of placating conservatives.
The left-wing victory in the 1928 German federal election opened another opportunity to repeal Paragraph 175, but within this coalition there was ambivalence on the issue. (DVP) promoted a compromise position wherein consensual homosexual sex would be decriminalized, but the age of consent would be set higher and penalties for having sex with a younger man or prostitution would increase. The law's language would be changed to remove the restrictive standard of proof for Paragraph 175. Under the proposed law, men could be jailed for mutual masturbation or even kissing if their partner was younger than twenty-one. The repeal of Paragraph 175 passed the Reichstag's Criminal Law Committee by 15 to 13 votes, and the increased criminal measures, Paragraph 297, passed the next day only opposed by the KPD. The supporters of Kahl's compromise hoped that it would put an end to the public visibility of homosexuals (as Radszuweit explicitly promised). Radszuweit's magazines celebrated the outcome, even though it would have worsened the situation of many BfM members. Historian Laurie Marhoefer argues that the reform was "intended foremost as a crackdown on seduction and selling sex". Some in the WhK, including Hiller and Linsert, opposed the compromise. In the end, the proposed law reform was abandoned and Paragraph 175 was not changed before the Nazi takeover in 1933.
Decline and aftermath
The homosexual movement waned after 1929. Despite its initial optimism in the aftermath of the German revolution, the main goal of the movement—decriminalization—was not achieved, and the failure fueled infighting in the homosexual movement. The BfM's membership, hard-hit by the Great Depression, lost enthusiasm; funding for reform efforts also dried up due to economic deprivation. By the end of the year, Hirschfeld resigned from the WhK leadership after more than thirty years after losing the support of Linsert and Hiller, who argued that Hirschfeld's strategy of using science for reform was a dead end. Hirschfeld received the most criticism because his approach had not proven successful, but Radszuweit was equally ineffective at persuading stakeholders or German society at large that homosexuals were not a threat to youth.
The resurgence of conservative and far-right forces and the waning of Weimar's democracy closed the opportunity for legal and social change. By 1930, both Hirschfeld and Radszuweit believed that repealing Paragraph 175 was no longer possible. Hirschfeld focused his efforts on lecture tours abroad. In 1932, Chancellor Franz von Papen deposed the Prussian government and started a crackdown on homosexual nightlife in Berlin, involving police raids and refusal to issue permits to homosexual events. Some but not all of the homosexual activists in the early 1930s understood that Nazism was an existential threat. Although he criticized the Nazis' anti-homosexual stance, Radszuweit wrote that the Nazis' primary dispute was with the Jews.
The first homosexual movement's infrastructure of bars, clubs, associations, and publications was shut down in March 1933, shortly after the Nazi seizure of power. The previous month, a Reich decree had ordered the closing of all homosexual establishments and seizure of all publications. Brand initially celebrated the destruction of Radszuweit's and Hirschfeld's organizations. To his chagrin, the police raided his house five times and stole all his photographs, six thousand magazine issues, and many books. Radszuweit's company was subjected to similar raids. Hirschfeld was abroad during the Nazi takeover on a lecture tour for the World League for Sexual Reform. The Institute for Sex Research was raided on 6 May by the SA in coordination with German students. The institute's library of more than 12,000 books was publicly burned on 10 May in Opernplatz. The WLSR and the Institute for Sex Research's offices were both destroyed.
The WhK voted to dissolve itself on 8 June. Many homosexual organizations attempted to destroy membership lists and other information that the Nazis could use to target dissidents, and activists made agreements to keep quiet about their activities to protect their former members. Catholic and Protestant churches praised the Nazis' anti-gay crackdown. In twelve years, 50,000 men were convicted under Paragraph 175 and thousands were imprisoned in Nazi concentration camps. The persecution of homosexuals in Nazi Germany is considered the most severe persecution of homosexual men in history.
Legacy
Attempts to revive the pre-Nazi homosexual rights movements after World War II were unsuccessful. Many of the Weimar-era activists were no longer alive, and the task of advancing LGBT rights in Germany was taken up by younger men and women. However, the first homosexual movement, in particular Hirschfeld, influenced later movements for LGBT rights. For example, in a reaction to the introduction of an anti-homosexual law in 1911, the was founded on the model of the German WhK. The first homosexual movement invented the concept of biologically-based homosexuality and developed tactics deployed by later activists, such as the assertion of respectable citizenship. Later activists had to deal with similar dilemmas such as compromising over claims to public space. The human rights discourse, the idea of homosexuals as a minority group, and analogy of homophobic discrimination to racism have all been adopted by LGBT rights movements after 1945 and remain in use to this day. This model has proven effective in obtaining recognition of LGBT rights.
The Weimar Republic has held enduring interest for many LGBT people as a brief interlude in which gay men, lesbians, and transvestites took advantage of unprecedented freedoms. Nevertheless, popular views of the Weimar era as one of sexual licentiousness are not entirely accurate. Although one theory holds that Nazism rose to power as a backlash against the relative sexual freedoms of Weimar-era Germany, Marhoefer argues that the rise of Nazism had little to do with sexual politics. Although the first histories of the German homosexual movement focused on valorizing pioneering activists, later scholarship has complicated this image. Many of the early homosexual activists supported moderate eugenics. Others held antisemitic, sexist, classist, or anti-democratic views. The movement included radical Völkisch nationalists and even some Nazis. Marhoefer argues that the achievements of the first homosexual movement "were more in keeping with a relatively narrow tradition of activism that shied away from radical claims to public space and, in addition, rejected a broader form of sexual freedom that would have included more people". Historian George Mosse writes that gay men, lesbians, and transvestites were "wanting only to bend the bars of their cage".
As Germany became more accepting of LGBT people in the twenty-first century, the number of Germans taking pride in their country's role in the first homosexual movement increased. The Memorial to the First Homosexual Emancipation Movement, which had been proposed by LGBT groups since 2013, was inaugurated on the Magnus-Hirschfeld-Ufer next to the Spree in Berlin-Moabit in September 2017.
References
Sources
19th-century establishments in Germany
1933 disestablishments in Germany
LGBT history in Germany
Social movements in Germany |
69611945 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France%E2%80%93Suriname%20relations | France–Suriname relations | Diplomatic relations between France and Suriname were established on 25 August 1976. Suriname and the French overseas department of French Guiana share a common border of . Suriname operates an embassy in Paris, a consulate in Cayenne, and an honorary consulate in Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni. France operates an embassy in Paramaribo, a consulate in Georgetown, Guyana, and an honorary consulate in Albina.
History
Suriname became an independent country on 25 November 1975. The initial relationship between Suriname and France was cautious. An embassy in Paramaribo was opened in 1976, however France wanted to negotiate the border dispute. In June 1979, Suriname was offered US$100 million in aid, if a quick resolution to the dispute was reached. In October 1979, the Arron government announced its willingness to relinquish the claim, however the deal was strongly opposed and not ratified.
On 25 February 1980, Desi Bouterse committed a coup d'état. This resulted in the Surinamese Interior War which started in 1986 in Marowijne District near the border with French Guiana. About 10,000 refugees settled in French Guiana, and were housed in Acarouany, Charvein and other camps. France remained neutral during the conflict, and started negotiations with the Suriname National Army and the Jungle Commando which cumulated in the signing of the Kourou Accords on 21 July 1989. The accords, however, were sabotaged by the army, and the final peace accords were ratified in August 1992.
In December 1991, the borders between the countries officially reopened. In 1975, Suriname and French Guiana were economically comparable, however by 2000, there was a large difference in economic power, which resulted in a continuing migration into French Guiana. In 2009, immigrants from Suriname constituted 9.6% of the population of French Guiana. The border town of Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni has grown from 5,055 in 1974 to 45,576 in 2018, and the main language spoken in Saint-Laurent is Sranan Tongo. In 2011, Suriname opened a large embassy in Paris to signify France's importance to Suriname, however in 2017, the building was put up for sale.
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in close cooperation between Suriname and France. The border is now jointly patrolled by both governments, a joint police post has been established, and there is extensive cooperation.
As of 2021, the territorial dispute remains unsolved.
Aluku
The Aluku people are maroons who escaped from Dutch plantations in Suriname. In the late 18th century, the Dutch colonists in alliance with the Ndyuka people declared war on the tribe, and chased them into French Guiana. On 25 May 1891, the Aluku choose French citizenship. In 2018, the population was estimated at 9,800 people in French Guiana.
Saramaka
The Saramaka maroons were originally from Suriname. They first came to French Guiana in the 19th century as freighters to the interior. During the gold rush, their services became important for the economy. In 1883, the Governor of French Guiana and the Granman (paramount chief) of the Saramaka, signed an official accord that Samarakas could stay in French Guiana under the legal authority of the Granman. The accords have never been rescinded and allow the tribe entry to French Guiana without the risk of deportation. In 2013, there were an estimated 25,000 Saramakas living in French Guiana.
Transportation
There is ferry service between Albina and Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni. The ferry provides a direct connection with the East-West Link in Suriname and RN1 in French Guiana. Plans have been developed to build a bridge between Albina and Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, however as of 2021, no action has been taken.
Trade
France and Suriname have a small presence in each other's economies. In 2019, Suriname exported US$34.5 million worth of goods to France with the main export product being refined petroleum, and bananas. In 2019, France exported US$14.5 million to Suriname with the main export being liquor.
Ambassadors of France to Suriname
Until 1991, only chargé d'affaires were appointed.
Pierre Boillot (1991–1994)
Jacques Nizart (1994–1998)
Olivier Pelen (1998–2004)
Jean-Marie Bruno (2004–2007)
Richard Barbeyron (2007–2010)
Joël Godeau (2010–2013)
Michel Prom (2013–2017)
Antoine Joly (2017–2021)
Pierre Lanapats (2021–)
Ambassadors of Suriname to France
Until 2011, only consuls were appointed.
(2011–2015)
(2015–)
References
Bilateral relations of Suriname
Bilateral relations of France |
69613021 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas%20Whisenhant | Thomas Whisenhant | Thomas Warren Whisenhant (January 29, 1947 – May 27, 2010) was an American serial killer who murdered at least four women between 1963 and 1976 in Mobile County, Alabama. After being arrested for the October 1976 murder of Cheryl Payton, Whisenhant confessed to killing three other women. He was sentenced to death in Alabama in September 1977 and was executed in May 2010 at Holman Correctional Facility via lethal injection. At the time of his execution, he was Alabama's longest serving death row inmate, spending thirty-two years, eight months, and twenty days on death row.
Early life
Thomas Warren Whisenhant was born on January 29, 1947, in Prichard, Alabama, the fourth of four children born to Willie and Emma Whisenhant. He was born into a low-income family, which was ruled by his mother, who was described as domineering. She would frequently attack her husband, who was physically weak and an alcoholic. She also encouraged her children to attack him. Whisenhant shared a bed with his mother until the age of seven. He continued to share the same bedroom with her until the age of sixteen. According to a psychologist, Whisenhant resented her.
Whisenhant's father would regularly get drunk on moonshine and often tried to seduce his wife, who would always reject him. The couple constantly argued, with Whisenhant's mother frequently attacking his father. She reserved her anger and abuse only for her husband and instead spoiled Whisenhant, whom she was overprotective of. By his teenage years, Whisenhant was accompanied by his mother constantly, who never let him out of her sight. Whisenhant became moody in his early teens and turned violent, according to his sister.
Murders
On May 6, 1963, 72-year-old Lexie Haynes, a widow, was shot and killed in Prichard. Police arrived at the murder scene and found the murder weapon in an empty lot next to Whisenhant's family home. Whisenhant, who was sixteen at the time, was an instant suspect, as he had recently been charged with robbing a blind woman. According to a retired Prichard police captain, the robbery charge for Whisenhant was later thrown out of court due to a technicality. Police questioned Whisenhant about the murder; however, his family provided him with an alibi and claimed he had been at home when the shooting occurred. Before the shooting occurred, Whisenhant and his friends had been playing with a stolen pistol. A witness later said Whisenhant had taken a bullet from the revolver and stated it would kill somebody. Police later revealed Haynes had spoken with Whisenhant about his behavior, which was the reason they suspected he killed her. However, for unknown reasons, Whisenhant was never brought to trial for the murder of Haynes.
Following the shooting, Whisenhant joined the United States Air Force as an airman. He was stationed at Ent Air Force Base near Colorado Springs, Colorado. On October 25, 1965, Whisenhant attacked 22-year-old Rose Covington, a United States Air Force WAF. He beat her unconscious with a metal ashtray in the finance office of Ent Air Force Base. Covington suffered severe head and facial injuries and was hospitalized for two months. At Whisenhant's trial, she testified she had never met him and did not even know what he looked like. An FBI laboratory expert testified that shoe prints left at the crime scene matched Whisenhant's. Whisenhant continued to deny the attack but was ultimately convicted of attempted murder. On March 14, 1966, Whisenhant was convicted of attempted murder and was sentenced to twenty years in federal prison. He was also dishonorably discharged from the air force. Whisenhant initially served his sentence at Fort Carson before being transferred to an undisclosed federal prison to serve the remainder of his sentence. In 1970, Whisenant's sentence was reduced to ten years, and on November 28, 1973, he was granted parole.
On November 21, 1975, nearly two years after being granted parole, Whisenhant attacked 28-year-old Patricia Hitt, a mother of two. Hitt worked in a convenience store in Mobile County, Alabama. Whisenhant approached her, then beat and murdered her. He killed her with a fatal gunshot wound to the head. Police later found her body in the same store she worked in. Initially, two other men were arrested for the crime. On April 16, 1976, Whisenhant kidnapped and murdered another female convenience store clerk in Mobile, 44-year-old Venora Hyatt. Whisenhant kidnapped Hyatt from the convenience store and took her to an old house that was covered with kudzu vines. Whisenhant murdered Hyatt and dumped her body near an abandoned shack in Mobile. The following day, he returned to the crime scene and mutilated Hyatt's body. He then took Hyatt's wristwatch, which he later gave to his wife as a present. On October 16, 1976, Whisenhant abducted 23-year-old Cheryl Lynn Payton, a convenience store clerk who worked at a Compact Store in Mobile County. Whisenhant kidnapped her at gunpoint and drove her to a remote wooded area, where he raped her in the front seat of his pickup truck. He then killed her by fatally shooting her in the head with a .32 caliber pistol. He dragged her body into the nearby woods, where he left it to rot before fleeing the scene.
Capture and trials
On October 17, Whisenhant returned to the crime scene and mutilated Payton's body. He cut off a large part of her breast and slashed her abdomen. However, he was spotted near the crime scene, and after a chase, was captured by police. During his interrogation, he gave a detailed confession to all of his crimes. Not only did he confess to murdering Payton and mutilating her body, but he also admitted to murdering both Hitt and Hyatt in the months prior. He later admitted to murdering Haynes during his teenage years. Whisenhant also confessed to the assault on Covington and attacking two other women, including his wife. He did claim, however, that the only victim he raped was Payton.
Whisenhant's killings generated attention and publicity in the Mobile area. As such, his trial was moved to Birmingham. On August 1, 1977, his trial for the murder of Payton began. Whisenhant pleaded that he was innocent by reason of insanity. On August 9, the jury found Whisenhant guilty of capital murder. On September 7, he was sentenced to death.
In September 1977, the son of Hyatt, 26-year-old Kenneth Lynn Curry, kidnapped and robbed a taxi driver. He later claimed he committed the crime so he could go to prison and avenge his mother's death by killing Whisenhant.
Whisenhant's original conviction was later reversed by the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals, resulting in him being retried. In 1981, he was retried and convicted once again. The conviction was upheld; however, his death sentence was overturned due to a remark made by the prosecutor during the sentencing phase of his trial. A new hearing was held, and in 1987, Whisenhant was sentenced to death again.
Execution
Whisenhant avoided execution for more than three decades due to successful appeals and prosecutorial error. In November 2009, Assistant Attorney General Clay Crenshaw filed a motion asking the Supreme Court of Alabama to set an execution date for Whisenhant. He was scheduled for execution on May 27, 2010.
On May 27, 2010, Whisenhant was executed via lethal injection at Holman Correctional Facility in Escambia County, Alabama. His last meal consisted of chicken leg quarters, french fries, American cheese, orange drink, coffee and chocolate pudding. He declined to make a final statement. Whisenhant spent thirty-two years, eight months, and twenty days on death row, which at the time, was longer than any other prisoner had ever spent on death row in Alabama.
See also
Capital punishment in Alabama
Capital punishment in the United States
List of longest prison sentences served
List of people executed in Alabama
List of people executed in the United States in 2010
List of serial killers in the United States
References
1947 births
2010 deaths
21st-century executions by Alabama
21st-century executions of American people
American people convicted of murder
Executed American serial killers
Executed people from Alabama
Male serial killers
People convicted of murder by Alabama
People executed by Alabama by lethal injection
People executed for murder
People from Prichard, Alabama
Violence against women in the United States
Criminals from Alabama |
69613283 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabriel%20Guay | Gabriel Guay | Gabriel Guay (October 14, 1848 – September 15, 1923), whose full name was Julien Gabriel Guay, was a French painter and teacher. From 1873 he exhibited works at the annual Paris Salon. He painted portraits, and also scenes inspired by literature, mythology, the Bible, and Christian martyrdom. His reverence for nature and especially for trees, combined with his affinity for the female nude, resulted in his most distinctive and widely exhibited paintings, depicting dryads in the woods.
Personal life
Guay was born in 1848 in a northern Parisian suburb, the village of La Chapelle; in 1859 it was incorporated into the 18th arrondissement of Paris. His parents were Jules Antoine Guay and Louise Joséphine Cottin. After his death in 1923 he was survived by his widow, Virginie Alexandrine Lequin.
His circle of friends included the artists Édouard Debat-Ponsan, , Adrien Demont, Virginie Demont-Breton, , Henri Pille, Tony Robert-Fleury, and François Thévenot; the painter , in whose garden at Rue Lepic, n° 59, Guay painted nature studies; and the author Léon Roger-Milès, who dedicated to Guay his story "Une Vision d'Allori", which imagines a dream of the Florentine painter Cristofano Allori as a starting point for a rapturous meditation on the transcendent beauty of the female nude.
The popular singer-comedian Ernest Gibert (who was to die in a spectacular accident a few weeks later) entertained at a 1892 New Year's Eve party chez Guay. One of Guay's paintings of a rustic farm house, in Vosges, is inscribed, "à Gibert, souvenir amical."
Career
Guay was a student of Justin Lequien and of Jean-Léon Gerôme, from whom he learned the exacting skills of French Academic painting. In 1873, at the age of 24, he had a painting accepted for exhibition at the annual Paris Salon, the traditional starting point for the career of a French artist of the 19th century; the work was Ulysse suspendu sur le gouffre de Charybde, inspired by a passage in Homer's Odyssey.
His Academic training is evident in his meticulously detailed and scrupulously finished early works which treat mythologial and religious subjects, including Laton et le paysans (1877), Le Lévite d'Ephraim (1878), and Le Tullianum pendant la persécution; martyre de Sainte Pauline (1880).
By 1877 some of his paintings had made their way to San Francisco, where the art dealers Snow and May sold two of his works at auction, The Anglers and A Fishing Party. Another work by Guay created a sensation in San Francisco at the 15th Mechanics' Fair of 1880.The Awakening showed a nude woman, life-size, lying on her side and just waking up. The figure was gracefully posed, the drawing faultless, the flesh tones soft and lucid. In short, wrote the Californian, it was "a splendid study of the female form." Even so, the moralists had reservations.…The nude in The Awakening was too realistic, "the work of a Zola." She was too contemporary, a modern-day woman, "the very embodiment of flesh, blood, and passion," portrayed after what some said was surely a night of debauchery.…Alarmed, the fair managers hung an unsightly red drapery over the offending nude as they tried to decide what to do next.…Gallery visitors, young and old, took to peeping behind the drapery [which] kept falling down, so a policeman was posted next to the painting to ensure public safety until…a vote would be taken among gallery visitors to determine whether The Awakening should stay or go. On the day of the vote…it soon became obvious that The Awakening had more admirers than adversaries. "Speaking in a general way," wrote the Chronicle the next day, "all the good-natured, sleek and healthy people appeared to be in favor of allowing the picture to remain and all the dyspeptic and melancholy ones determined to have it removed."
On the day of the vote, 12,808 people bought tickets to the fair. The vote to unveil The Awakening prevailed in a landslide.
Guay's interest in the female nude, often seen from the back, continued throughout his career. Farniente (Lazing), from 1911, shows a sleeping nude, and in 1912, his submission to the Salon was simply titled Nu (Nude); both images were issued as souvenir postcards, presumably acceptable for delivery in the French post.
The whereabouts of a number of his paintings are unknown. His Cosette of 1882, depicting the character from Les Misérables, is known today only from reproductions, one of which, an albumen print now at the Maison de Victor Hugo, he inscribed to the author: "A Victor Hugo, notre illustre poète national, Hommage de son grand admirateur, Gabriel Guay." His genre painting En l'absence du maître (While the Master's Away) of 1877 is also known only from reproductions, including a full-page engraving published in L'illustration: journal universel.
At least one of his paintings is known to have been destroyed in the carnage of World War II: La mort de Jézabel, exhibited at the Salon of 1888, where it inspired the critic Henry Houssaye to write a vivid description:On the hard slabs, at the foot of a massive square tower covered at its base with blue tiles, lies with its head in front and arms outstretched the corpse of the Queen of Israel. In Jezebel's supreme struggle with her murderers, her dark green dress of shimmering velvet was torn and half-destroyed. Her beautiful white body is naked above the belt, and her red hair spreads over the granite like a flood of molten copper. On the left, in the crepuscular twilight, a street recedes in perspective, creating a singular optical illusion. Packs of carnivorous dogs approach, mouths gaping and eyes ablaze. Despite the murder that has just been committed and despite the carnage about to occur, we are less moved by the drama than we are struck by the power of the execution and seduced by the charm of the coloring. This supple white body, with golden halftones and gray-blue shadows, still throbs with life. It stands out with surprising relief and incomparable brilliance.
The painting also caught the eye of Thomas Hardy, who wrote: "At the Salon. Was arrested by the sensational picture called The Death of Jezabel...a horrible tragedy, and justly so, telling its story in a flash." Hardy scholar Dennis Taylor, trying to track down the painting almost a century later, was informed by René Le Bihan, curator of the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Brest, "Alas, this painting disappeared amid the annihilation of our museum in 1941, and we have no trace of it, not a photograph or engraving or drawing." An image has since been located, in the an issue of Firmin Javel's L'Art français from 1888.
Guay painted portraits from the beginning of his career, and after the turn of the century the majority of paintings he exhibited at the Paris Salon were portraits. Of his portraits the only example we have is his painting of an old man in a garden (perhaps Guay's grandfather), at the Musée des beaux-arts de Morlaix.
Villages and farm houses
While Guay's submissions to the Salon followed the rigorous standards of Academic art, and were sometimes quite large, he also painted a series of smaller works depicting rustic villages and farm houses in locations including Brittany and the Vosges region of France. Often executed in oil on panel, presumably painted en plein air, these display a looser, almost impressionistic brushwork, and may have been made as studies, souvenirs, and gifts. They are signed but not dated, making them difficult to place in the chronology of Guay's career. However, one of the paintings is inscribed, "Vosges, village de [uncertain], à Gibert, souvenir amical." If the recipient was the singer-comedian Ernest Gibert (who was a friend of Guay), a terminus ante quem of 1893 for the painting can be established by the death of Gibert in March of that year.
Dryads
It was in his paintings of forests and dryads that Guay most distinctly expressed his artistic vision and most successfully struck a chord with popular taste and critical reception; "his talent was transformed in the attentive study of nature." Guay was inspired by the female tree spirits of Greek mythology, and also by a centuries-old current in French literature that perceived a mystical or spiritual power in trees and lamented the felling of a tree as a kind of murder.
Guay's dryad series began with Poème des bois, which became his most widely exhibited picture. It was shown at the Paris Salon of 1889, where it received a silver medal; at the Exposition Universelle of 1900 in Paris, where it received another silver medal; and at the Franco-British Exhibition of 1908 in London. The conception was simple: a number of nude women lie amid fallen leaves in an autumnal forest. An ethereal light introduces a note of the uncanny. The painting was purchased by the French State and deposited at the Musée de Draguinan. Its present location is unknown and the image is known only from reproductions.
La mort du chêne (The Death of the Oak) followed in 1891, inspired by a poem by Victor de Laprade: "When the man struck you with his cowardly ax,/O king whom the mountain yesterday carried with pride,/My soul, at the first blow, resounded with indignation,/And in the holy forest there was great mourning…" The location of the painting is unknown.
La dernière dryade appeared in 1898. It is the best-known of Guay's works, having survived intact in the collection of the Musée des Augustins de Toulouse. The painting was inspired by a poem by : "A mournful silence filled the great woods,/Once peopled with such sweet visions./Pan had just expired. 'Fall, O red leaves!/Fall!' cried the weeping Dryad in a dying voice." The faded Greek letters on the pedestal translate: "Pan, beloved of the amorous Dryads." The critic Antonin Proust wrote, "The impression is so truthful, the autumn feeling is so tangible, that we can but feel grateful to M. Guay for so successfully bringing before us a thing we have so often seen."
Les grives (The Thrushes) was exhibited at the Paris Salon of 1899. It was shown again at the Exposition Universelle of 1900, along with Poème des bois. Here the dryads, like hungry thrushes, are entwined amid grape vines, shimmering with dew and the blood-red juice of crushed grapes ("du sang des grappes écrasées" according to the uncredited verses in the Salon program). The critic praised its "rare luminous qualities" and "undeniable poetic charm." The painting is now known only from poor reproductions.
Guay's dryad series culminated with Les bourreaux des bois (Executioners of the Woods), again inspired by a poem, this one very old: "Contre les bûcherons de la forêt de Gastine" (Against the Lumberjacks of the Forest of Gastine) by Pierre de Ronsard (1524-1585). (Another inspiration may have been the poem "Pour les Arbres" by , published in 1906, which cites Ronsard and uses the phrase "les bourreaux des bois".) The painting was exhibited twice at the Paris Salon, in 1909 and again in 1914, on the eve of World War I. One reviewer called itA truly beautiful work…in which realism and poetry are intelligently combined. Loggers have cut down large trees and made a clearing in the dense forest. The victims of the ax lie on the ground. Their executioners rest seated on the tree trunks and warm themselves over a large fire. One still holds his ax between his legs…his rough face seems uneasy about the act accomplished; the others, with indifferent faces, warm themselves while smoking their pipes. On the left arrives a lumberjack bringing a bundle to stoke the fire. The flame sparkles, a bluish smoke spreads in the clearing and rises towards the sky. Look closely, and you will discover silhouettes of nymphs and fauns; they are the forest divinities for whom the poet Ronsard wept, being carried away in this cloud of smoke. Henceforth the forest will have lost its magic and mystery…M. Gabriel Guay's painting is one of the most impressive at the Salon: it commands the attention of the indifferent.
The English critic Henry Heathcote Statham, perhaps noting the demonic appearance of one figure in the smoke, perceived a note of menace, saying "the woodcutters felling trees are threatened with vengeance by an apparition of nymphs." The poem by Ronsard is a lament, but also calls for harsh justice: "Murderous sacrilege! If we hang a thief/For plundering booty of very little value,/How many fires, irons, deaths and distress/Do you deserve, villain, for killing our goddesses?"
Depicting women and trees, Guay could also display a sense of humor. The undated work La Couture presents a domesticated dryad; a very real woman, not naked but entirely clothed, is perched on the stump of a tree not unlike a pedestal, content to sew. The undated study Amour! depicts a nude Aphrodite in the forest, seated on a felled tree. Bald acolytes tend a wood-burning fire at her feet.
Legacy
The year after his death, the Paris Salon of 1924 acknowledged Guay's passing with a retrospective of his work at the Grand Palais.
Along with painting, Guay was also a teacher, serving as a professor of drawing at the Ecole Municipale Supérieure Turgot from at least 1898 to 1912. Some of his students also became students of Jean-Léon Gerôme, Guay's own mentor. After Gerôme's death in 1904, Guay carried forward the principles of Academic art into the 20th century, even as it faded from fashion, a once mighty forest felled by Impressionism.
In museums and other buildings
Guay's works in museums, listed in chronological order, include:
Château du Roi René, Peyrolles-en-Provence, France: Latone et les paysans, 1877.
Musée de Grenoble, France: Le Lévite d'Ephraïm, 1878.
Museo del Palacio Vergara, Viña del Mar, Chile: Le Tullianum pendant la persécution; martyre de Sainte Pauline, 1880.
Maison de Victor Hugo, Paris: Cosette, 1882; albumen print inscribed to Victor Hugo and signed by Guay.
Musée des Augustins de Toulouse, France: La dernière dryade, 1898.
Musée des beaux-arts de Morlaix, France: Un viellard assis dans un jardin (perhaps Guay's grandfather), by 1899.
, Paris: Christ donnant les clefs à Saint Pierre, by 1904.
Mairie (town hall), Bourges, France: Les bourreaux des bois, 1909.
Mairie (town hall), Le Faouët, Morbihan, France: Paysage poitevin, undated.
References
Sources
Bruand, L. "Tournée Forestière aux Salons de Peinture de 1914", Revue des Eaux et Forêts, vol. 53, 1914–1915, pp. 409–415.
Escholier, Raymond. "Le Salon", Le Correspondant, July 10, 1924, pp. 103–118.
Explication des ouvrages de peinture…des artistes vivants exposé a la Galerie des Machines le 1er Mai 1889 (catalogue of the Paris Salon), Paris: Paul Dupont,1889.
Explication des ouvrages de peinture…des artistes vivants exposé au palais des Champs-Élysée le 1er Mai 1891 (catalogue of the Paris Salon), Paris: Paul Dupont,1891.
Fabié, François. "Pour les Arbres", Le Correspondant, November 25, 1906, pp. 801–804.
"GUAY Gabriel" in Le Livre d'or des peintres exposants vivants au janvier 1903, Second Edition, Paris, 1905, pp. 243–244.
Hjalmarson, Birgitta. Artful Players: Artistic Life in Early San Francisco, Los Angeles: Balcony Press, 1999.
Houssaye, Henry. Le Salon de 1888, Paris: Boussod, Valadon & Cie., 1888.
Hustin A. Salon de 1891, Paris: Ludovic Baschet, 1891.
Keller, Alfred, editor-in-chief. Le Moniteur du dessin, de l'architecture & des beaux-arts, April, 1898, p. 4 and April, 1912, p. 38.
Le Senne, Camille. "À l'Exposition des Beaux-Arts" in Le Ménestrel: journal de musique, July 5, 1899, pp. 147–149.
"Nécrologie", Le Ménestrel, vol. 59, no. 11, March 12, 1893, p. 88.
Noël, Benoît and Hournon, Jean. Parisiana: la capitale des peintres au XIXème siècle, Paris : Presses Franciliennes, 2006.
"Nouvelles & Echos", Gil Blas, January 2, 1893, p. 1.
Proust, Antonin. Le Salon de 1898, Paris: Goupil & Cie, 1898; English translation by Henry Bacon, Goupil's Paris Salon of 1898, New York: Jean Boussod, Mansi, Jouant & Co., 1898.
Roger-Milès, Léon. Les Heures d'une Parisienne (includes the story "Une Vision d'Allori", dedicated to Gabriel Guay, who provided the book's cover art), Paris: Flammarion, 1890.
Roschach, Ernest. "113—La Deniére Dryade" in Catalogue des collections de peinture du Musée de Toulouse, 1922, p. 76.
Statham, H. Heathcote. "The Salon and the Royal Academy" in The Ninetheenth Century and After, London and New York, vol 75, no. 448, June 1914, pp. 1358–1370.
Taylor, Dennis. Hardy's Poetry: 1860-1928, New York: Columbia University Press, 1981.
External links
Elégies, XXIV, Contre les bûcherons de la forêt de Gastine by Pierre de Ronsard (1524-1585), complete text of the poem that inspired Guay's painting Les bourreaux des bois (in French).
La mort d'un chêne by Victor de Laprade (1812-1883), complete text of the poem that inspired Guay's painting La mort du chêne (in French).
Dryads
1848 births
1923 deaths
Nude art
20th-century French painters
19th-century French painters |
69613797 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022%20Barbadian%20general%20election | 2022 Barbadian general election | General elections were held in Barbados on 19 January 2022 to elect the 30 members of the House of Assembly. The ruling Barbados Labour Party won all 30 seats for the second election in a row.
This was the 12th national election held since independence from the United Kingdom in 1966, the 16th since the institution of universal suffrage in 1950, and the first since Barbados became a republic in 2021. For the first time, both the ruling Barbados Labour Party and its historical rival the Democratic Labour Party were led by women.
Background
According to the Constitution of Barbados, the Parliament shall stand dissolved no later than every five years from the first sitting of Parliament. The previous general elections were held on 24 May 2018, and the first sitting of the new session of Parliament was held on 5 June 2018. After the dissolution of Parliament, the President of Barbados must issue a writ for a general election of members to the House of Assembly and for appointment of Senators to the Senate within 90 days.
Despite a commanding 29–1 BLP majority in the House of Assembly and elections not being required until 2023, on 27 December 2021 Prime Minister Mia Mottley announced that an early election would be held on 19 January the following year. Mottley's announcement came within a month of the country becoming a republic. She described the election as a "refuelling stop" for the nation, while opposition leaders criticised the early elections as an attempt by her to consolidate power.
On 30 December 2021 Joseph Atherley, who served as the official Leader of the Opposition of the House of Assembly and leader of the People's Party for Democracy and Development, announced an alliance with the United Progressive Party for the election under the name Alliance Party for Progress (APP).
Early voting was held for police officers and election day workers on 12 January.
On 18 January, Philip Catlyn, a member of the Barbados Sovereignty Party (BSP), filed for an injunction against the President and the Attorney General to stop the election. He argued that the home isolation requirements for those testing positive for COVID-19 would prevent close to 5,000 people from voting. Barbados does not allow absentee voting. After hearing the legal arguments. High Court justice Cicely Chase dismissed the case as being out of her jurisdiction. She said that the case should have been filed in an election court.
Electoral system
The 30 members of the House of Assembly are elected by first-past-the-post voting in single-member constituencies.
Candidates
Seven political parties nominated candidates for this election. Including 10 independents, there were a total of 109 candidates.
Parties
Independents
Results
Results by constituency
Source for votes:
Christ Church East
Christ Church East Central
Christ Church South
Christ Church West
Christ Church West Central
City of Bridgetown
St. Peter
St. Joseph
St. Lucy
St. Philip North
St. Philip South
St. Philip West
St. Andrew
St. George North
St. George South
St. James Central
St. James North
St. James South
St. John
St. Michael Central
St. Michael East
St. Michael North
St. Michael North East
St. Michael North West
St. Michael South
St. Michael South Central
St. Michael South East
St. Michael West
St. Michael West Central
St. Thomas
Aftermath
Prime Minister Mottley and attorney-general Dale Marshall were both sworn in for a second term by president Sandra Mason on 20 January 2022.
On 21 January, as the DLP had not regained any seats in the House of Assembly, DLP president Verla De Peiza resigned. APP leader Joseph Atherley announced that the alliance would begin preparing for the next election. Both APP and DLP drew attention to the low voter turnout rate.
The Solutions Barbados party congratulated the BLP and announced its willingness to work with the government. Prime Minister Mottley received congratulations from foreign countries and organisations such as Caricom and the OECS.
The newly re-elected Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, announced the following Cabinet of Ministers on 24 January 2022, and subsequently added William Duguid the next day:
Source: St.Lucia Times
Source: St.Lucia Times
See also
List of parliamentary constituencies of Barbados
References
Barbados
General election
Election and referendum articles with incomplete results
Elections in Barbados
Barbados |
69615094 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan%20Monaghan | Jordan Monaghan | Jordan Monaghan is a British serial killer who murdered his girlfriend, his 24-day-old daughter, his 21-month-old son and attempted to murder another child.
Crimes and Court Proceedings
On January 1, 2013, Monaghan smothered his 24-day-old daughter Ruby at their Blackburn home.
On August 17, 2013, Monaghan smothered his 21-month old son Logan while they were alone in a changing room cubicle at Waves Water Fun Centre in Blackburn.
On October 24, 2019, Monaghan poisoned his 23-year old girlfriend Evie Adams at Blackburn.
A post-mortem examination concluded Ruby died from acute bronchopneumonia and Logan's cause of death remained "unascertained" as neither child's death could be explained by illness, genetic defect or natural causes, and Monaghan was arrested for the murders in January 2018 after police reviewed their deaths when further information came to light.
While on Bail for the children's murders, Monaghan poisoned Evie Adams with a deadly cocktail of prescription drugs, including tramadol and diazepam, which he had purchased unlawfully on the black market after she threatened to end their relationship.
On December 17, 2021, Monaghan was found guilty of all three murders as well as two counts of attempted murder to a third child who was not identified for legal reasons and he was sentenced to life imprisonment with 40 years before he can apply for parole.
References
21st-century English criminals
English people convicted of murder
English prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment
Male serial killers
English male criminals
British serial killers
British murderers
British murderers of children
British criminals
1991 births
Living people |
69615220 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock%20Machine%E2%80%93Rebels%20conflict | Rock Machine–Rebels conflict | The Rock Machine-Rebels Conflict is an ongoing conflict between International Motorcycle Clubs, the Rebels Motorcycle Club based in Australia and the Rock Machine from Canada. This conflict began in 2009 and continued sporadically until the present day, with both clubs competing for territory in Australia.
Beginning of conflict
The Rebels Motorcycle Club at its peak in the 2000s, was the largest club in Australia with over 70 chapters in country. They saw Australia as their territory and had several ongoing conflicts with other motorcycle clubs for dominance of the country. The first Rock Machine chapter in Australia was established in the Perth suburb of Myaree in 2009 by then Rock Machine MC Canada President, Critical J. The defection of Rebels MC members to the Rock Machine MC sparked an ongoing violent feud between the groups.
Conflict
In December 2009, Australian authorities announced that notorious Canadian Motorcycle Club the Rock Machine Motorcycle Club had opened a chapter in Perth, initially using a Kardinya gym as their clubhouse. This was seen as an act of aggression by the Australian-based Rebels Motorcycle Club, threats and verbal exchanges online between the two clubs soon occurred.
Things would heat up, when on July 10, 2010. A brawl broke out at a Metropolitan nightclub between members of both groups, several people were injured. The situation truly escalate with the fire bombing of a vehicle belonging to a Full-Patch member of the Rebels Motorcycle Club in October 2010. On November 5, 2010, a brawl occurred between 20 members of the two groups at a Mixed Martial Arts event hosted at the Joondalup Arena, several members of the Rebels are injured. On November 12, 2010. 15 Full-Patch members of the Rebels Motorcycle Club rode through the Fremantle's entertainment district, looking to provoke an incident with the Rock Machine.
On November 16, 2010. The Ink Assault, a tattoo parlor owned by the Rebels. Was set ablaze by Molotov cocktails around 3:00 in the morning. A member of the Rock Machine was arrested in connection with the arson. On November 19th of the same year, another vehicle belonging to a member of the Rebels Motorcycle Club is fire bombed and destroyed. On November 21, 2010. Members of the Rock Machine MC ransack and vandalize a house in Southern Perth belonging to a member of the Rebels MC causing "extensive damage" and make off with several items. On November 26, 2010. A member of the Rebels and two members of the rival Rock Machine are charged over a fight that occurred near the Royal Fremantle Golf Club in East Fremantle. A senior member of Rebels, who was allegedly attacked with a big torch and pepper spray by the Rock Machine, was later acquitted after his actions were proven to be in self defense.
On November 29, 2010. A member of the Rock Machine, was charged when police uncover a large cache of high-power firearms in his trunk during a traffic stop on Mounts Bay Road in Crawley. The weapons seized include, a automatic 7.62x39mm rifle of unknown make, while two other firearms a 12 gauge sawed off shotgun under the passenger seat and a stolen .44 magnum lever-action rifle was also found, along with ammunition. On January 22, 2011. Members of the Rock Machine ran into members of the Rebels at the Clink nightclub in Fremantle. This resulted in a brawl between the two groups that saw several again injured. The next day, a Spearwood tattoo parlour, the Lost Tattoo, which was owned by a member of the Rock Machine is ransacked by a group of Rebels, the manager is assaulted and the office trashed. On January, 24. The Perth Police drive an armoured vehicle through the front gate of the Rebels Osborne Park chapter clubhouse, causing significant damage to the clubhouse's mezzanine level of the industrial unit, as part of their investigation into the recent exchanges between the two clubs. Tactical Response Group officers use an angle grinder to cut through a security gate and threw stun grenades into the building to gain access. Police stated they were unable to find anything in the raid, but then Rebels president Nick Martin demanded authorities pay for the damage to the clubhouse.
On February 3, 2011. Authorities ordered an increased Police presence around the Perth Courthouse as members of the Rebels and Rock Machine gathering during a court appearance by a Rock Machine member. A Rebels member was arrested for "disorderly conduct" outside the court. On February 12th of the same year, members of the Rock Machine visited a Rebels owned establishment looking to members of the Rebels MC, the Pink Duck Bar in Rockingham. No Rebels were present however a manager had to lock himself in an office to escape them. On February 25, 2011. Police raid the Rock Machine MC, large amounts of powerful high-grade explosives are seized from the Rock Machine's Myaree chapter clubhouse. Police say they confiscated enough explosive detonators and industrial-strength powergel to demolish a large building, including some placed in a hidden roof cavity. Authorities claim the quantity of high explosives had the potential to cause "extreme loss of life". The Rock Machine Canada, which is notorious for is use of high explosives was accused by Australian authorities of being involved with providing the explosive.
On March 18, 2011. Rebels WA President Nick Martin is the victim of an assassination attempt by the Rock Machine, when he was shot through the elbow out front of his Perth home. He survived the attempt with only minor surgeries. On March 24, 2011. The Australian Police launch raids against both the Rebels and the Rock Machine, on nine separate properties in Australia, the raids resulted in the confiscation of over a dozen illegal rifles, a military practice mortar, 101 rounds of 30-30 ammunition and 136 rounds of 0.38 calibre ammunition, a 0.45, a semi-automatic pistol, 114 rounds of ammunition. Only two members of the groups were charged in these raids however the police announced that they had charged a member of the Rock Machine with the shooting of the Rebels President earlier in the year.
In 2012, The Rock Machine opened their second chapter in Perth, City Crew Perth or South Perth chapter after several members of the Finks Motorcycle Club defected to the Rock Machine MC. The Finks also had an ongoing rivalry with the Rebels Motorcycle Club. In 2013, one of the Rock Machine Perth chapters Patched-over to the Bandidos Australia. The conflict would see a significant decrease in hostilities as both groups had suffered setbacks due to police raids.
In January 2018. It was announced by authorities that the Rock Machine had reopened its main Perth clubhouse and that tensions had resumed between the two groups with several incidents. In the same month a member of the Rock Machine was arrested for a domestic incident. On December 12, 2020. Former President of the Rebels Motorcycle Club(was still an active member at the time of his death) Nick Martin was shot and killed by a sniper during a drag racing show at the Perth Motorplex, several others were injured in the attack. "It (the bullet) zoomed across the bitumen tracks, grazing the body a five-year-old boy and hitting former Rebels bikie boss Nick Martin in the chest, before striking the arm of former Bandidos member Ricky Chapman, who was sitting behind him." During the funeral of Martin, his house was robbed and the intruders stole over $20,000 from his widow. Nothing was confirmed at the time but authorities listed the Rock Machine among the list of possible suspects in both the assassination and robbery. These events resulted in a massive Police crackdown in 2021, with authorities charging 102 people with 267 offences and seizing more than 50 firearms, members of both the Rock Machine and Rebels were involved.
See also
List of outlaw motorcycle club conflicts
outlaw motorcycle club
Rebels Motorcycle Club
Rock Machine
References
Crime in Australia
Crime in Canada
Outlaw motorcycle club conflicts |
69615476 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slobodan%20Mitri%C4%87 | Slobodan Mitrić | Slobodan Radojev Mitrić () (Bačko Dobro Polje, 1 March 1948 – Amsterdam, 25 November 2016) was a Serbian secret agent from Yugoslavia, who resided in Netherlands from 1973. He was known by his nickname Karate Bob.
Life
Career
Mitrić specialized in karate and worked for the secret service of Yugoslavia. In 1973 he was ordered to be liquidated in Brussels. He refused to carry it out and fled to Netherlands.
On December 25, 1973, he shot three members of the secret service of the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia on the Weteringcircuit in Amsterdam. He then shot a woman in the head in De Pijp who survived. The three had shot Mitri with a pistol-machine gun the night before. According to Mitrić, they had been ordered from Belgrade to liquidate him. He was sentenced to 13 years in prison for triple manslaughter, which he served in Scheveningen. Through the Serbian opposition leader Dusan Sedlar, he applied to the Central Intelligence Agency.
Mitrić was released in 1986. Because it was considered plausible that he would be sentenced to death in his country of origin, the judge prohibited his deportation. Since then, Mitrić has lived as an unwanted alien in the Netherlands, and has written plays, including Boj na Kosovu (The Battle of Kosovo). He later claimed that he had been used in a heroin case by a group around Hans Teengs Gerritsen while in detention. In 1992 he is also said to have become chief commander of the 'Serbian Army' and a staff member of the 'Headquarters of War of the Free State of Serbia'. At the beginning of September 1992, pamphlets appeared in the Netherlands in which the liberation army called for revenge on the enemies of Serbia. The People's Party for Freedom and Democracy-Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal Jan-Kees Wiebenga and Hans Dijkstal asked questions about this to Minister Ien Dales from Internal Affairs.
Personal
Mitrić married artist Iris de Vries (1942) in Amsterdam in March 1992. The ceremony took place on a Monday morning, because then no costs were charged by the municipality of Amsterdam. The couple lived in an attic room. As of 1 August 1992, Mitrić's social assistance benefit was discontinued by the Municipality of Amsterdam, since he "resides in the Netherlands without the consent of the competent authority and can therefore be deported under the Vreemdelingenwet". From then on, the couple had to live on the single social assistance benefit from De Vries. As an unwanted alien, Mitrić was also unable to insure himself against medical expenses and had to rely on free medical help. His wife wrote numerous letters about their appalling circumstances to ministers, MPs, lawyers, professors and to the editors of the daily newspaper Trouw, but help was not forthcoming.
De Vries died on January 10, 2006 at the age of 64 and was cremated on January 17. Her social assistance benefit was terminated. Because Mitrić was not allowed to work as an unwanted alien, nor was he entitled to social assistance benefits, he started a procedure to have his status as an unwanted alien lifted. In mid-April 2006 it was announced that Mitrić had been notified to leave the Netherlands before April 26. His lawyer Mr. H. Sarolea was not here agreed, and believed that the 1986 verdict was still valid and that Mitrić was still in danger. He also thought that the minister had forfeited the right to deportation because Mitrić had been tolerated in the Netherlands for 33 years.
In 2010, Mitrić stated: "It is not true that I was once a liquidator, but that I have worked as a patriot to fight terrorists and criminals without borders...". By presenting himself as a murderer, he claims to have managed to expose virtually all crimes committed against political emigrants from Yugoslavia.
In January 2012, Minister Gerd Leers decided by means of an official message that Mitrić could return to Serbia. In the meantime he was ill and had no right to health insurance and shelter. In 2014 he was allowed to stay because he was too ill. In November 2016, a report was received by the police that Karate Bob was lying in the porch of the building where he lived with serious breathing problems. Shortly after arriving at the Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis he died at the age of 68.
Books
Mitrić published several books in Dutch; some were reprinted several times. In Tito's killing machine he looks back on his life until he left the Yugoslav secret service in 1973. His book on karate is mainly a description of concentration exercises and meditation techniques, aimed at achieving inner strength. In The Netherlands' Mafia, Mitrić tried to expose scandals of the Dutch mafia.
Bibliography
Podzemlje Grada Beograda (1972; De onderwereld van de stad Belgrado, niet vertaald; (https://acrobat.com/#d=ypftXSjcfIuF4rGLNs2OkA)
Het grote karateboek van Karate Bob (1981; onder de naam 'Bob Mitrić'; vertaling van het manuscript Velika karate krjiga od Karate Bob) ISBN 9063160615
Geheim-agent van Tito (1982; vertaald uit het Servo-Kroatisch: Titov obavestajac; https://acrobat.com/#d=f*N1TuagRpym7pUSWmJcCw) ISBN 9063160917
Tito's moordmachine (1982; vertaald uit het Servo-Kroatisch manuscript Titova masina za ubijanje; https://acrobat.com/#d=XhZp*dIVQ1O0NTVpiX14aQ ) ISBN 9070587203
Bijbel van de man zonder geloof (1984; toneelstuk in vier delen; vertaling van Biblia coveka bez vere; https://acrobat.com/#d=D4o7I8*fQzirWs0XuwhH2A) ISBN 9070587025
Nederland's maffia (1985; https://acrobat.com/#d=97rn1HbmSRqjMEoN36btnA) ISBN 9070587017
De Slag bij Kosovo (1999; toneelstukken; vertaling van Boj na Kosovu; http://slomibo.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!6CEA2A0D596836B2!747.entry) ISBN 9080381128
Operacija blizanci (1999; roman in het Servo-Kroatisch) ISBN 9080381136
Operation twins (2005; vertaling van Operacija blizanci uit 1999) ISBN 907393205X
Operation twins Pre-publication, Part 2 (2006; http://www.willehalm.nl/ot2.html)
De Gouden Tip – De verstrengeling van onder- en bovenwereld en de moord op G. J. Heijn (2008) ISBN 9789073932111
The Golden Tip – The Entanglement of the Upper and Underworld and the Murder of Gerrit Jan Heijn (2009) ISBN 9789073932159
Confessions of a Disgruntled Spy (2009; http://www.willehalm.nl/confessions.htm)
Help! Ze hebben me gekidnapt! Lady Di (2010; vertaling uit het Servische manuscript "Upomoć! Kidnapovali su me! Ledi dajana") ISBN 9789073932197
Help! They've Kidnapped Me! Lady Di (2010) ISBN 9789073932180
9/11 – The Accusation – Bringing the Guilty to Justice (2011), Uitgeverij Willehalm Instituut – Amsterdam, ISBN 978-90-73932-00-5 / 978-90-73932-34-0 (e-boek)
Doodlopende weg - Waarom de Nederlandse geheime dienst hun top geheimagent Theo van Gogh heeft vermoord (2011), Uitgeverij Willehalm Instituut – Amsterdam, ISBN 978-90-73932-23-4
References
External links
CV Mitrić
inventaris archiefstukken over Slobodan Mitrić, Nationaal Archief
1948 births
2016 deaths
Serbian spies |
69615563 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT%20rights%20in%20Aceh | LGBT rights in Aceh | Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Aceh, face legal challenges and prejudices not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Since 2014, at least six men have been publicly caned for having sex, including two men who received 77 lashes in 2021.
Gender identity and expression
The Qanun Law No.6 in 2014 does not explicitly prohibits crossdressing, even though Transgender women had been targeted by the police several times. One of the cases was an arrest of 12 transgender individuals in the North Aceh regency in 2018 under the command of Untung Sangaji.The transgenders were denuded and forced to be "dress into men", while the salon where they worked were also closed. This action drew criticism from the National Human Rights Commission because it was considered degrading their human dignity and contrary to existing regulations.
References
See also
LGBT rights in Indonesia
LGBT rights in Malaysia
LGBT rights in Asia
LGBT rights by country or territory
LGBT rights in Indonesia
Aceh |
69616239 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020%20Eastern%20Freeway%20truck%20crash | 2020 Eastern Freeway truck crash | On 23 April 2020, a drugged truck driver, Mohinder Singh, crashed his truck into a Porsche 911 and two police cars on the Eastern Freeway, in the city of Melbourne, killing four police officers who were on routine highway patrol. Prior to the incident, the officers had pulled over the Porsche driver, Richard Pusey, for speeding. After the truck ploughed into the officers, Pusey filmed them for several minutes with vulgar commentary as they lay dying, before fleeing.
The crash was the biggest loss of police lives in a single incident in Victoria police’s history. Justice Paul Coghlan stated that the crash had "shocked the public conscience".
Incident
Victoria police commissioner Graham Ashton Ashton stated that two officers stopped a Porsche 911 that had been travelling at 140km/h around 5pm on 23 April, on a Wednesday afternoon. The two police officers drug tested the 41-year-old male (now non-binary) driver, Richard Pusey. When they tested positive for drugs the officers decided to impound his vehicle and called two further officers to the scene. Just after they arrived a refrigerated truck ploughed into the four officers. Pusey was not hit as they were urinating at the side of the road. He filmed the dying officers whilst giving an expletive-laden commentary.
CCTV footage showed the truck straddling and drifting across lanes on the freeway 10 minutes before the incident. Ashton said, "The truck itself appears to have moved from one of the traffic lanes in the freeway into the emergency lane and has travelled a short distance in the emergency lane at around about 100km/h and slammed into the rear of the highway patrol vehicle." Constable Lynette Taylor (60), senior constable Kevin King (50) and constables Glen Humphris (32) and Josh Prestney (28) perished at the scene.
Overview
Mohinder Singh
Singh, 48, was sleep deprived and high on drugs when he crashed his 19-tonne semi-trailer into the officers who had pulled over Porsche driver Richard Pusey. Data showed that Singh did not try to brake until it was too late. Singh was using and trafficking drugs before the crash occurred. He had been "speaking nonsense" about being chased by witches on the day of the crash and was seeing "stick figures" and suffering from delusions. He was seen wailing at the crash scene and had a medical episode, and was taken to hospital under police guard. The court was told that Singh had slept for only five hours in the 72 hours before the incident, but felt obliged to continue his work. Older court hearings heard that Singh suffers from anxiety and depression. Lawyer Steven Pica said Singh was "distressed and saddened" at his actions. Singh pleaded guilty in Victoria's supreme court to four counts of culpable driving causing death, and six other charges including trafficking drugs including methamphetamine and cannabis, possessing drugs, and dealing with proceeds of crime. He was sentenced on 14 April 2021 to at least 22 years in prison with a non-parole period of 18 years and six months.
Richard Pusey
Richard Pusey, 42, a former mortgage broker, was pulled over by Senior Constable Lynette Taylor and First Constable Glen Humphris for speeding at 149km/h. An oral drug test on Pusey confirmed MDMA and cannabis in their system and the officers called for backup to impound his car. Senior Constable Kevin King and Constable Joshua Prestney arrived half an hour later. About a minute after their arrival the four were standing in the emergency lane while Pusey urinated off the side of the road when Singh's truck struck them. Pusey was not hit and used their mobile phone to film the scene, zooming in on the injured officers, saying "That is fucking justice, that is fucking amazing" as they lay dying on the ground. They said, "all I wanted was to go home and have my sushi and now you’ve fucked my fucking car". They continued vulgar commentary while filming for more than three minutes before fleeing on foot and sharing the video on Facebook. They were charged with two counts of perverting the course of justice, driving at a dangerous speed, reckless conduct endangering life, destruction of evidence, and not providing assistance after an incident. They were jailed for 10 months.
Truck company
After an 18-month investigation, the truck company Connect Logistics were charged with category one and two offences under Heavy Vehicle National Law. The two owners of the company appeared in Parramatta Court on September 28 2021. Category one offences have a maximum penalty of $300,000 and five years jail for an individual and $3m for a corporation. Category two offences carry a maximum penalty of $150,000 for an individual and $1.5m for a corporation. Singh's boss, Simiona Tuteru, was charged with more than 70 offences in relation to the fatal incident. The police allege that Tuteru should have not allowed Singh to drive on the day of the accident due to his fatigue.
Tributes
On the day after the crash, Victoria police, including the staff department, gathered at the Victoria Police Academy on the site's parade ground to pay tribute to the deceased officers, with a minute’s silence. Flowers were also placed at the Boroondara police station, which is proximate to the crash site. In a news conferences, Australian prime minister Scott Morrison thanked Victoria police, whilst uttering his condolences. Melbourne's mayor, Sally Capp, organised for the flags to be raised at half-mast, and as well as the Melbourne Town Hall to display in blue as a gesture of respect. Police forces from the country and as well as those overseas paid tribute to the victims.
See also
Cardross road crash
List of disasters in Australia by death toll
References
2020 in Australia
2020s crimes in Australia
2020 road incidents
Filmed accidental deaths
Road incident deaths in Victoria (Australia)
Driving under the influence
Accidental deaths in Victoria (Australia)
Police officers killed in the line of duty
Crimes committed against law enforcement |
69616275 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Havana-Babylon.%20Prostitution%20in%20Cuba | Havana-Babylon. Prostitution in Cuba | Havana-Babylon. Prostitution in Cuba is an essay by Cuban journalist Amir Valle. The work was published for the first time in 2006 in Spain, under the title Jineteras. Although the Cuban authorities question the development of prostitution on the island, this essay presents its development, particularly since the 1990s. The book is banned in Cuba, but circulates clandestinely.
After the publication of the book, Amir Valle was denied entry to Cuba and had to remain living in exile in Berlin, Germany.
Plot summary
Journalist Amir Valle conducted a ten-year investigation to write this essay on prostitution in Cuba. He collected testimonies from hundreds of Cubans: "prostitutes, pimps, dishonest policemen, hoteliers, taxi drivers, brothels, drug traffickers...".
In the chapter entitled The Island of Delights, the author reviews the history of prostitution in Cuba. There he cites his sources such as the work of the Cuban historian Fernando Ortiz Fernández, ecclesiastical documents, studies by Roland H. Wright. He also evokes the deportation of black slaves to the "brothel of America" when Cuba becomes the playground of its neighbor the United States.
After the Cuban Revolution of 1959, the communist regime of Fidel Castro prohibited prostitution, this practice was officially eradicated with the commitment of the president of the Federation of Cuban Women, Vilma Espín, Raúl Castro's wife. But prostitution continues and the authorities tolerate it. It unfolds without control in "a world at night, dark, sinister, sordid, which only obeys its own laws and seems to celebrate a cult of the Marquis de Sade." Amir Valle describes the hidden face of Cuban prostitution: obscene practices requested by many clients, horror by some, pornographic and even eschatological acts.
The practice of prostitution has become common in Cuba. Necessity is law, all strata of the population are affected by this scourge: "workers, peasants, students, housewives." Women are forced to enjoy it, to meet the needs of their families, they live in difficult conditions, often victims of AIDS or rivalry between pimps. However, prostitutes can acquire an envied status in Cuba, earn money and allow those around them to live better. This standard of living, higher than that of university graduates, also allows access to medicines, construction materials that are not found in the usual stores, computer equipment and other vital products inaccessible to the average Cuban. Some even manage to leave Cuba with foreign clients.
After the publication of the book, Amir Valle, while traveling in Spain, was unable to return to Cuba. He settled in Germany in Berlin.
Critical reception
The writer Manuel Vázquez Montalbán recalled a talented writer: "I have read few studies on a social plague written with such literary mastery". For Morgane Bréard of the Mouvement du Nid, Amir Valle "looked at this phenomenon with rigor and humanity". Jennifer Richaud of BibliObs indicates that the author "used his research skills and created a report in the form of a quality book, both in its story and in the unique and frank character of its characters". The journalist Luc Rosenzweig defined it as a "modern and tropical version" of the work The Lower Depths by Maxim Gorki.
Awards
The work received the 2007 Rodolfo Walsh Prize for the best non-fiction work in the Spanish language with the name of Jineteras (Spain, 2006), reissued in 2008 with the title Habana Babilonia. The hidden face of the jineteras.
See also
Prostitution in Cuba
References
Prostitution in Cuba
2006 essays
Prostitution in literature |
69616467 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unarpur | Unarpur | Unarpur is a village and deh in Manjhand taluka of Jamshoro District, Sindh. It is located close to the west bank of the Indus river, across from Matiari, on the main road from Kotri to Sehwan. As of 2017, Unarpur has a population of 4,092, in 891 households. It is the seat of a tappedar circle, which also includes the villages of Belo Unerpur, Budhapur, Nai Jetharo, and Wachero.
Unarpur has a significant forested area, which was planted by the Talpur Mirs during the 1780s for the purpose of hunting. Once one of the largest forests in Sindh, it has since been severely deforested as the trees standing on some 10,000 acres of land were cut down to clear kachha land for cultivation.
History
During the Mughal era, Unarpur was the seat of a pargana in the sarkar of Chakar Hala. Its dependencies included the villages of Khasa'i Shura and Budhapur.
In April-June 1592, Unarpur was the site of a siege between Mirza Jani Beg, the rebellious governor of Thatta, and Abdul Rahim Khan-i-Khanan, representing the Mughal forces loyal to Akbar. After being defeated in battle near the Lakki pass on 11 April, Mirza Jani Beg sailed downstream to Unarpur, where he set up a makeshift fort: the sails of the boats he had sailed here on were converted into sacks and filled with sand, which were then stacked on top of each other to form battlements. A large moat, both deep and wide, was dug around the whole thing. The Khan-i-Khanan arrived on 15 April and laid siege to the Mirza's makeshift fort.
Although the Mirza's forces were numerically stronger, their morale was soon sapped by news of imperial victories elsewhere in the region. Later they ran out of supplies and were forced to eat their own animals to avoid starvation. The Mirza's son and father also both died during the siege, causing him personal disstress. Meanwhile, disease broke out in the Khan-i-Khanan's camp. In an attempt to bring the siege to an end, the besieging army prepared to storm the fort from all sides: they dug tunnels, filled the moat, and put up mounds of sand; but the Mirza's troops undid all these attempts and made the whole effort useless.
At last, with the rainy season fast approaching and both sides' troops suffering, the Mirza and Khan-i-Khanan exchanged emissaries to discuss a peaceful agreement to end the siege. After some negotiations, Mirza Jani Beg formally surrendered on 16 June and the Unarpur "fort" was dismantled.
Around 1874, Unarpur's population was estimated at 1,633 people, including 1,281 Muslims (mostly Shoras) and 352 Hindus (mostly Lohanos). Most residents worked in agriculture. Although not a significant industrial centre, Unarpur did have "a small local trade in grain, ghi and oil." It was the seat of a tappedar and had a school, dharamshala, and small police thana. Part of the road between Unarpur and Petaro was washed away by the Indus in 1869.
Notes
References
Populated places in Jamshoro District |
69616973 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georg%20Fischer%20%28politician%29 | Georg Fischer (politician) | Georg Fischer was a German politician. As unionist and member of the Social Democratic Party he was oppressed by Nazi regime. He survived KZ Dachau and became member of the first Landtag of Baden-Württemberg.
Biography
Georg Fischer was born 1888 as son of a maidservant in Eisenberg (Pfalz). He did an apprenticeship as Locksmithing at casting-company Gienanth in Eisenberg in 1901. 1904 he started his journeyman years. In 1906 he Fischer became member of a union and in 1908 of SPD. Up from 1909 he worked for Daimler AG in Mannheim. He became member of the board of the steelwoorker association (Deutschen Metallarbeiter-Verbands (DMV)). In 1928 he got elected to the city council of Mannheim. In 1933 he became president of the workers of Daimler-Benz AG in Mannheim.
On March 13, 1933, Fischer was taken into "protective custody" (Schutzhaft) by six SA men. They first take him to the NSDAP headquarters in Mannheim, then to the Mannheim police headquarters. On the morning of March 14, 1933, Fischer was transferred to the Mannheim prison. There he was released from prison on May 3, While he was imprisoned, he was fired on political grounds. Fischer remained unemployed until July 1935.
Up from 1935 he worked for th steel manufacturing Brown, Boveri & Cie. in Mannheim.
Fischer was arrested again on August 23, 1944, as part of the "Gewitter" campaign and imprisoned in the Mannheim court prison. On August 26, 1944, he was transferred to the Dachau concentration camp. There he was released from custody on September 11, 1944.
Fischer married Mina Dreyfuß in 1913. The couple had 2 children. Fischer was atheistic religious (Freireligiös).
Politics in FRG
After World War II Georg Fischer was member of constituent assembly of the State of Württemberg-Baden. From 1946 to 1950 he was member of Landtag Württemberg-Baden for SPD.
Georg Fischer and other oppressed and resistance politicians sat in the first state parliament together with former politicians of Nazi-Party like parliament president Carl Neinhaus (NSDAP, CDU).
Literature
Fritz Salm (1973): Im Schatten des Henkers. Vom Arbeiterwiderstand in Mannheim gegen faschistische Diktatur und Krieg, Frankfurt am Main 1973, S. 114.
Wolfgang Brach (1984): Der Mannheimer Gemeinderat 1945–1984. Mannheim 1984, ISBN 3-87804-162-4
References
German anti-fascists
Politicians from Mannheim
Social Democratic Party of Germany politicians
1888 births
1963 deaths |
69617041 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward%20Harold%20Bell | Edward Harold Bell | Edward Harold Bell (1937 – April 20, 2019) was an American sex offender, murderer and the first fugitive to be featured in the Texan rendition of America's Most Wanted. Following his capture in Panama City, Panama in 1993, he was extradited, convicted and sentenced to a 70-year term for the murder of a Marine in 1978, and later confessed to killing eleven girls during the 1970s. His claims were never conclusively verified, and he died behind bars in 2019, having recanted his previous claims.
Early life and crimes
Edward Harold Bell was born in 1940 in southern Texas. According to his claims, his father, an oil field worker, frequently moved the family to various towns surrounding the Houston area, and allegedly suffered physical abuse both from him, his scoutmasters at the Boy Scouts and one of his cousins. Bell would also claim in later interviews that his father encouraged him to do violent crime, ranging from robbing banks and raping girls, in addition to encouraging him to kill himself.
In spite of these claims, Bell's life was considered enviable by family and friends alike, as he graduated from the Columbus High School in Columbus and later earned a P.E. degree at the Texas A&M University in College Station, where he also played in the university's Aggie Band. After graduation, he found work as a licensed diver and married his first wife in San Marcos, with the newlyweds then moving to western Texas, where they had three children. After living on a ranch in Terlingua for some time, Bell, who worked as an itinerant pharmaceutical salesman, sold the ranch for an office in downtown Houston.
In 1966, Bell was arrested for exposing himself to a pair of little girls in Sudan, for which he was interned at the Big Spring State Psychiatric Hospital. After spending some time in treatment, he was released, only be rearrested for a similar charge in 1969 after he exposed himself to the 13-year-old daughter of a Lubbock policeman. In order to avoid prosecution, he was interned at the University of Texas Medical Branch for further treatment, where he continued to romance underage patients. By the time of his release, now divorced and forbidden contact with his children, Bell married a 17-year-old female patient and the pair moved a beach house in Galveston. There, he became acquainted with Doug Pruns, a surfer who made custom boards out of his shop based in the area, who allowed him to become a silent partner in the business, despite his reservations about his friend's behavior. Through the mid-to-late 1970s, Bell was repeatedly arrested for flashing and masturbating in front of young girls in Lubbock, Pasadena, Plainview, Bacliff, Houston and Gretna, Louisiana, but was either never charged or the cases were dropped altogether.
Murder of Larry Dickens and escape
On August 24, 1978, while driving around his red and white GMC truck around Pasadena, Bell stopped in front of a group of young girls, pulled down his pants and began masturbating in front of them. His actions caught the attention of 26-year-old Larry Dean Dickens, a Marine with a young daughter, who rushed in and got hold of the man's keys in an attempt to prevent him from fleeing. Suddenly, Bell pulled out a pistol and shot Dickens, who staggered into his mother's garage and collapsed onto the floor in front of his horrified mother, who had watched the whole ordeal go by from inside the house. While she was trying to calm Dickens down, Bell grabbed a rifle from his truck, went up to the wounded man and shot him in the forehead before fleeing. He was caught by police shortly afterwards and interned to await trial on a $125,000 bail bond; however, when the trial date came about, Bell did not appear and was thereafter designated as a wanted fugitive.
For the next 14 years, Bell travelled around various locations in Mexico and Central America using a sailboat, posing as a dead cousin named Cecil Boyd. Throughout this time, he made a living through giving dive trips to American tourists and gold panning. In a 1985 episode of America's Most Wanted, he was named as Texas' most wanted fugitive, bringing further attention to his case and reinvigorating the search for him. After spending time in Costa Rica in 1988 and 1989, Bell moved for a few months in Boquete, Panama, before finally settling in Panama City, where he married for the third time to a young girl from Chepo. At this time, it was reported that he worked at a dock in the port town of Cristóbal.
Arrest, trial and imprisonment
On February 14, 1993, a joint operation conducted by the FBI and the Panamanian National Police led to Bell's arrest at a yacht club in Panama City. At his June trial, Bell's attorneys attempted to argue that the killing was done in self-defense, claiming that Dickens was an "unstable" who had threatened to kill him in the name of Jesus. This argument was disproven, and Bell was subsequently convicted and sentenced to 70 years imprisonment. After his sentencing, Bell claimed he had quit being a "flasher" while in Panama, but expressed regret that he had not done earlier so Dickens' life could be spared.
Confessions and suspicions
In 1998, Bell wrote several letters to prosecutors in both Galveston and Harris counties, claiming that he had killed eleven teenage girls in their jurisdictions between 1971 and 1977. Referring to them as the "eleven that went to Heaven", Bell claimed direct responsibility for the murder of four victims (Colette Wilson, Debbie Ackerman, Maria Johnson and Kimberly Pitchford), but also said that he did not the names of the remaining seven. Despite these gruesome claims, the letters were kept secret until 2011, when they were finally revealed to the public in an attempt to uncover any potential leads that could verify Bell's accounts.
This revelation was met with mixed feelings by some of the victims' family members, who were left unsure whether the killer was being genuine or was just a ploy, due to his requirement that he be given legal immunity in exchange for a full confession. On the other hand, other family members and some investigators considered the claims to be credible, as Bell's criminal past, proximity to the crime scenes at the right dates and mentioning details not known to the public made him a viable suspect in their eyes. In addition to this, Panamanian authorities announced that they considered him a suspect in four rape-murders committed in their country: two while he was residing in Boquete, and another two in Panama City.
Death
Despite several investigations into his claims, Bell was never charged with any other murder besides Dickens'. On April 20, 2019, he died from undisclosed causes at the Wallace Pack Unit, aged 82. His death was met with relief from both Dickens' and the other victims' family members, who said that their loved ones could now rest in peace.
See also
Texas Killing Fields
External links
Bell v. State (1994)
The Eleven on IMDB
In the media
Bell's feature in a 1992 episode of Unsolved Mysteries led to his eventual arrest a year later. In 2017, a TV documentary titled The Eleven was produced to examine his alleged confession to the murders of the eleven girls found in the Killing Fields.
References
1937 births
2019 deaths
20th-century American criminals
American male criminals
Suspected serial killers
American sex offenders
American people convicted of murder
People convicted of murder by Texas
Prisoners who died in Texas detention
Fugitives wanted by the United States
Fugitives wanted on murder charges
Criminals from Texas |
69617154 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandirigma | Mandirigma | Mandirigma is a 2015 Philippine military drama film directed by Arlyn de la Cruz co-produced under Blank Pages Productions and Starquest Alliance.
Plot
Arlan Salcedo (Luis Alandy), a lieutenant in the Philippine Marine Corps gets promoted to captain after an operations in 2006. In 2014, he encounters the same group of enemies now armed with better equipment and training.
Cast
Luis Alandy as Capt. Arlan Salcedo
Mon Confiado as Hamda Marawan
Ping Medina
Alwin Uytingco
Victor Basa
Marc Solis
Carlo Cruz
Jericho Ejercito
Ken Anderson
Alvin Fortuna
Roland Inocencio
Dennis Coronel
Production
Mandirigma is a co-production of Blank Pages Productions and Starquest Alliance with Arlyn de la Cruz as its director. Work for the script for the film began in October 2014 and was finished by December of the same year. Filming took place at Camp Gregorio Lim in Cavite.
The film is centered around the Philippine Marine Corps. De la Cruz, a journalist himself, has covered the operations of the marines since the early 1990s and promised that the fighting depicted in the film will be "as close as possible to an actual battle". She is aided by a group of marines, most who are members of the Reconnaissance Force, as technical advisors.
The film is said to be inspired from the Mamasapano clash which involved the police's Special Action Force. This claim was denied by de la Cruz who pointed out that the script was finished prior to the incident. She added that the main antagonist of the film was Malaysian militant Zulkifli Abdhir, who is known for his alias Marwan and was involved in the certain operation.
Release
Mandirigma was premiered on December 17, 2015, as one of the New Wave entries of the 2015 Metro Manila Film Festival.
References
Films about marines
Films shot in Cavite
Philippine drama films
2015 drama films |
69618039 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedestrian%20crossings%20in%20the%20United%20Kingdom | Pedestrian crossings in the United Kingdom | The United Kingdom has specific types of pedestrian crossing.
History
The first pedestrian crossing signal was erected in Bridge Street, Westminster, London, in December 1868. It was the idea of John Peake Knight, a railway engineer, who thought that it would provide a means to safely allow pedestrians to cross this busy thoroughfare. The signal consisted of a semaphore arm (manufactured by Saxby and Farmer, who were railway signaling makers), which was raised and lowered manually by a police constable who would rotate a handle on the side of the pole. The semaphore arms were augmented by gas illuminated lights at the top (green and red) to increase visibility of the signal at night. However, in January 1869, the gas used to illuminate the lights at the top leaked and caused an explosion, injuring the police operator. No further work was done on signalled pedestrian crossings until fifty years later.
In the early 20th century, car traffic increased dramatically. A reader of The Times wrote to the editor in 1911:"Could you do something to help the pedestrian to recover the old margin of safety on our common streets and roads? It is heartrending to read of the fearful deaths taking place. If a pedestrian now has even one hesitation or failure the chance of escape from a dreadful death is now much less than when all vehicles were much slower. There is, too, in the motor traffic an evident desire not to slow down before the last moment. It is surely a scandal that on the common ways there should be undue apprehension in the minds of the weakest users of them. While the streets and roads are for all, of necessity the pedestrians, and the feeblest of these, should receive the supreme consideration."
Types
Informal crossings
Pedestrian refuges are uncontrolled crossings with two dropped kerbs and a central traffic island, protected by kerbs. The island allows pedestrians to cross the road one direction of traffic at a time, which can be quicker and safer (they decrease pedestrian accidents by around 40%) than a lack of crossing. Additionally, they can narrow the road (refuges slow vehicle speeds by 6%) and prevent vehicles overtaking (as vehicles must normally pass the island on the left on a two-way road). However, they do not afford pedestrians priority, meaning pedestrians may have a longer wait than a controlled crossing. They can also create pinch points, which can be dangerous for cyclists.
Courtesy crossings are uncontrolled crossings with coloured surfacing or some other non-formal suggestion that pedestrians may cross. They aim to encourage concentrated pedestrian crossings and to encourage drivers to let pedestrians cross the roads out of courtesy, rather than obligation. The inclusion of stripes (e.g. in paving), the presence of narrowing and visual narrowings of the road positively affect courtesy.
Zebra crossings
Zebra crossings are a type of controlled crossing indicated by white longitudinal bars across the carriageway and upright flashing globes, known as 'belisha' beacons. Zebra crossings can be used on roads where the 85th percentile speed is not above 35mph. The minimum width for a crossing is 2.4 m.
At a zebra crossing, pedestrians should wait for traffic from both directions to stop before moving onto the crossing. Drivers are legally required give way when someone is crossing the road at a zebra crossing.
Signal-controlled crossings
Pelican crossings, puffin crossings and pedex crossings are all types of controlled crossing controlled by traffic signals for pedestrians and drivers. These types of crossings can be used where vehicle speeds are high, where there are a lot of vulnerable pedestrians, where vehicle flows or pedestrian flows are high or where the road layout could cause uncertainty.
At these crossings, there will be at least two signal heads facing each direction of vehicular traffic, as well as signal heads and call buttons for pedestrians. The crossings can be staggered to shorten crossing times, mainly for the benefit of vehicular traffic flow.
While pelican crossings are no longer permitted to be installed in Great Britain (they are in Northern Ireland), pedex crossings allow the continued use of farside pedestrian signals.
Defunct crossing types
Defunct crossings include:
panda crossings
Pedestrian signals
There are two common types of pedestrian signal in the UK: nearside and farside. Nearside signals are incorporated into the push button, while farside signals are located at the other end of the crossing, facing the pedestrian across the road. Both types are permitted, and highway authorities can install either as they wish, though not both at the same installation.
Nearside signal units will normally be one unit, however a repeater unit may be provided higher up where there are lots of pedestrians, as nearside signals can be more easily blocked.
Farside signal heads will normally contain two signals: a red man and a green man signal. Furthermore, on the nearside there will be a push button unit, which normally contains the text "PEDESTRIANS push button and wait for signal opposite" as well as a pictoral guide to the crossing symbols.
Markings
Look right, look left
Road markings with the text "Look right" and "Look left" are sometimes used at pedestrian crossings to indicate to pedestrians the direction from which traffic will approach. Common uses may be a pedestrian island on a one way street or where a contraflow bus lane is in use. At times these markings have been painted incorrectly, which can create confusing situations for pedestrians. For example, on a street in Islington, the words "look right" were painted, although the accompanying arrow pointed left and traffic approached from the left.
Installation cost
Average installation costs are as follows. Note that the costs are based on no existing crossing, it will cost less in other cases (e.g. upgrading a puffin to a toucan).
The use of crossings by non-pedestrians
There are situations where other users may need to cross the road alongside pedestrians, in which case it may be practicable to use a multi-user crossing.
Parallel crossings are formed by placing a cycle track next to the bars in the zebra crossing, and allow cyclists to ride across the crossing, which they are not normally permitted to do. Toucan crossings are a type of controlled, signalised crossing which can be used simultaneously by pedestrians and cyclists, as cyclists cannot use the signal-controlled pedestrian crossings. Toucan crossings generally should not be staggered. Finally, a parallel crossing can be signalised by placing cycle track(s) in parallel to a puffin or pedex crossing. This is known as a sparrow crossing.
Equestrian crossings can be used by horse riders. They can be sited in parallel to toucan and pedestrian facilities.
For those pedestrians with disabilities
All new and updated crossings in the UK, including informal crossings must cater for those with disabilities. They do this is a number of different ways.
Dropped kerb: A ramp should be provided to assist pedestrians to cross the road, as people with disabilities, especially wheelchair users, find it difficult to negotiate kerbs. Therefore, a 'dropped kerb', where the kerb is flush with the carriageway, or a raised crossing is normally provided.
Tactile blister paving: Blister paving is always used at controlled and uncontrolled crossings. This is coloured red at controlled crossings (zebras, puffins, signalised junctions) and any other colour which contrasts from the footway surface at uncontrolled crossings.
The guidance recommends that pedestrian push buttons be located on the right side of the crossing waiting area. This is because visually impaired people are taught to look for a push button to their right.
References
Transport in the United Kingdom
Transport in Scotland
Transport in Wales
Transport in Northern Ireland
Transport in England
Pedestrian crossings |
69619009 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stella%20Wolfe%20Murray | Stella Wolfe Murray | Stella Wolfe Murray (7 October 1886 – August 1935) was a journalist and writer. In 1924 she became the first woman Lobby correspondent.
Biography
Stella Wolfe Murray reported for the Daily Sketch, ran her own women’s 'News and Views' column that featured in the Leeds Mercury and also wrote 'Women’s Topics' for the Sheffield Independent. Murray became Lobby correspondent for the Leeds Mercury in 1924. They announced her employment on Tuesday 2 December 1924, stating that “The Leeds Mercury has always taken a pride in stating fairly all points of view in public life”.
Murray was an enthusiastic air passenger who conceived of, cowrote and coedited Woman and Flying. Woman and Flying was written with aviator Lady Mary Heath who was the first person to fly from Cape Town to London. In April 1924 the International Commission for Air Navigation passed a regulation banning women from operating commercial aircraft. Lady Heath worked with Stella Wolfe Murray to challenge the resolution, which was detailed in their book. In the summer of 1926 the regulation was rescinded. Murray also wrote The Poetry of Flight: An Anthology as well as other articles relating to flying. She was the only Press Correspondent on the first Imperial Airways flight to Egypt.
In her newspaper columns Murray covered topics from stove-top cooking, to the new Factories Act and equal pay. She specialised in serious news of women's professional and industrial activities, including articles on 'Sheffield’s one policewoman' to 'Yorkshire’s women engineers'. Murray reported on the reaction to MP Ellen Wilkinson's choice of a bright green dress for an early parliamentary appearance and reminded her readers that ‘it is the woman herself that matters rather than her covering’.
Stella Wolfe Murray was a member of the Women's Freedom League.
Family
Stella Wolfe Murray was born on 7 October 1886 at Madras (now Chennai), India. She was the daughter of Francis D'Arcy Osborne Wolfe Murray and Frances Henrietta Morgan. She married Philip Francis Sulley on 3 January 1929 in London.
Selected works
Emily Forster, Stella Wolfe Murray, A.C. Marshall, N.W. Fraser, Lloyd's ABC of Careers for Girls (London: 1922)
Stella Wolfe Murray, The Poetry of Flight: An Anthology (London: Heath Cranton Limited, 1925)
Stella Wolfe Murray, 'London to Cairo by Air' in Airways "The Only Air Travel Magazine" (Harrison and Sons, September 1926 to August 1927)
Lady Mary Heath and Stella Wolfe Murray, Woman and Flying (London: John Long 1929)
References
1886 births
1935 deaths
British women journalists |
69619235 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easy%20Prey | Easy Prey | Easy Prey is a 1986 Canadian-American historical drama made-for-television film, reenacting the true story of Australian serial killer Christopher Wilder, also known as "the Beauty Queen Killer", and his kidnapping of victim Tina Marie Risico, a sixteen-year-old girl.
Plot
Tina Marie Risico, a pretty teenage girl with low self-esteem, is spending time at the shopping mall when she is approached by a man claiming to be a photographer looking for new models. Tina follows the man to his van in the parking lot, where she is abducted, raped and taken away. The man, Christopher Wilder, keeps Tina for a cross-country road trip, with the constant threat that he plans to kill her when he gets bored of her. After a long time staying in motels and driving, Christopher and Tina form an awkward bond. At one point, Christopher has a moment of empathy for the girl when she breaks down crying, and he allows her to eat at a dine-in restaurant with him rather than waiting in the van.
Tina develops Stockholm syndrome and proceeds to stay at Christopher's side despite his acts of abuse towards her. She discovers that Christopher is killing other women and girls, and she reluctantly aids the man in luring another underage girl from a shopping mall, the same way Tina herself was abducted. Eventually, Christopher decides to let Tina go, buying her an airplane ticket home and kissing her. Tina has conflicting feelings about Christopher, traumatized by the abuse and the kidnapping, while also missing him deeply, which confuses her family when she's finally able to return to them. Meanwhile, after a violent altercation with the police, Christopher is shot and killed in a gas station parking lot.
Cast
Gerald McRaney as Christopher Wilder
Shawnee Smith as Tina Marie Risico
Susan Hogan as Carol Risico
Kate Lynch as Fran Altman
Barry Flatman as Wells
Jessica Steen as Wendy Robinson
Laurie Paton as Angela
Jeremy Ratchford as Billy
Lisa Howard as Oklahoma Girl #1
Wendy Lyon as Oklahoma Girl #2
Production
Easy Prey was made mostly in central Canada, although the story itself is set in the United States.
The new wave band The Brigade had a song featured in the film during a prominent scene, "It's A Wonderful Life" from The Brigade's album The Dividing Line. This song was long considered to be lost media by viewers, as it was uncredited in the film. Larry Mortiff and Alan Bodoh, two independent producers, made a deal with survivor Tina Marie Risico to create a dramatized film of her experiences with Wilder. The two producers shot Easy Prey on a $2.5 million budget in the Canadian city of Toronto, hoping to save money by not filming directly in the United States. The film was eventually picked up by ABC for release.
Reception
Easy Prey was aired sporadically as an ABC Movie of the Week and a film on the Lifetime Movie Network, while bootleg copies appear on YouTube. The film was praised largely for its cast's acting; John Ferguson of Radio Times said of main actor Gerald McRaney, "Gerald McRaney is usually associated with likeable Texans, but here he is surprisingly effective as a serial killer preying on young innocents." Bill Kelley of Florida's Sun Sentenial pointed out the cautionary tale value of the film, noting that Easy Prey is a "social commentary and a warning to young women not to go off with strangers. (Most of Wilder's victims, including Risico, allegedly were lured into his car with promises of a photo session. When they arrived at an isolated site, police say Wilder raped and murdered them.)"
References
External links
ABC Movie of the Week
Lifetime (TV network) films
1986 television films
Crime films based on actual events
Films about sexual abuse
Films set in the 1980s |
69619237 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List%20of%20Bigg%20Boss%20%28Tamil%20TV%20series%29%20controversies | List of Bigg Boss (Tamil TV series) controversies | Bigg Boss is a television reality show broadcast on Star Vijay and Disney+ Hotstar in India. It follows the Big Brother format, which was first developed by Endemol in the Netherlands. Within a span of 5 years of telecast, Bigg Boss has rolled out 5 seasons (latest being season 5, airing on Star Vijay). And one Ultimate version.
Season 1
Oviya and Arav liplock kiss made headlines with national television.
Bharani climbed over the fence of the Bigg Boss house and tried to escape due to suffering to mental health issues in the house.
Oviya told the host of the season Kamal Haasan that she was getting bullied and verbally and mentally abused by Gayathri Raguram during their stay in the house.
During a task Juliana was pulled by Oviya while Juliana was on a red carpet and the fight later turned ugly.
Oviya attempted suicide by drowning in the pool, which was located in the garden of the house after a massive verbal argument she had with Arav, and, on mental health grounds, she walked out of the show.
During a luxury budget task, Suja Varunee ripped Snehan's T-shirt and punched him on his back and later calling him "Nai" (dog).
Season 2
Contestant Aishwarya Dutta had caused ruckus inside the house during Hitler roleplay in the house. She also chucked rubbish on her co contestant Thaadi Balaji during a heated argument.
Aishwarya Dutta passed a racist remark about her co contestant Riythvika calling her "Chennai dog". Her remark burst in Twitter and people wanted Aishwarya to be sent out for foul behavior.
Thadi Bhalagie joined Bigg Boss 2 without knowing his ex spouse Nithya will be featured as a contestant in the same season too, During their stay in the house, Nithya and Thaadi Balaji got into dirty arguments and accusing each other of death threats.
Aishwarya Dutta claimed to Bigg Boss that during the "Hitler task" Ponnambalam strangled Aishwarya and pushed her into the pool.
Ponnambalam also apologized to Aishwarya Dutta about the foul language he used against her which was referring to down grading women.
Mahat Raghavendra insulted Thaadi Balaji's occupation in the house calling him a "Comedian in cinema and a comedian in real life" this speech triggered a major fight in the house.
Mahat Raghavendra also verbally abused and tried to infuriate the fellow contestant, Mumtaj. This has led into so much criticism that the host of the show, Kamal Hassan had to evict Mahat with the red card.
Season 3
Actor Saravanan revealed that he touched and talked to women inappropriately on a bus before entering the show, due that issue Saravanan was ejected from the show immediately without any second chances.
Jangiri Madhumitha cut her wrist on August 16 of 2019 as a result of provocation. It is reported that she already had problems with the contestants of the house except Cheran and Kasthuri as she stated that the male contestants of the house, especially Kavin, Mugen and Tharshan use the female contestants of the house like Abhirami, Losliya, Sherin and Sakshi to retain themselves at the house. During a discussion about the Tamilnadu-Karnataka Kaveri issue, Madhumitha's words were critisized by the housemates and later, this provoked her by her identity as a Tamil woman. Out of erupting anger, Madhumitha cut her wrist and thus, ejected by the Bigg Boss for her safety.
Contestant Sakshi Agarwal made a controversial speech during a conversation with co contestant Sherin Shringar saying that "Public people are non stop barking dogs who bark for no reason" her speech made viewers think negative of her and she was later evicted. After her eviction she made a public apology for her words of what she said in the house.
During a heated argument between Jangiri Madhumitha and Vanitha Vijayakumar, Madhumitha told Vanitha to "Shut Up" and said her to keep her voice down and quiet.
Vanitha Vijayakumar told her co contestant Abhirami Venkatachalam during a unhealthy argument saying that "This is not a fish market to yell in!".
During a weekend episode, Jangiri Madhumitha told host Kamal Haasan that Abhirami Venkatachalam wore an inappropriate dress and acts inappropriate which is not right for Tamil culture. Her co housemates Vanitha Vijayakumar, Sakshi Agarwal and Sherin Shringar told off Madhumitha for her "pathetic speech".
During a conversation which later turned into a ugly fight, Abhirami Venkatachalam told Mugen Rao that he is not a "Hero" but rather he is a "Zero", while the argument was getting worse Mugen Rao took a chair and almost hit Abhirami with it.
During a reunion episode, Vanitha Vijayakumar accuses Sherin Shringar of being the blame of their fellow contestant Tharshan Thiyagarajan eviction, later the argument turns into a cat fight.
During one of the episodes, Tamil Nadu police department entered the Bigg Boss house to investigate Vanitha Vijayakumar regarding a legal issue that she left hanging from outside.
Contestant Meera Mitun was also involved a money robbery case before her appearance on Bigg Boss and the police department yet again returned to the house to charge her for her crime while she was still on the show.
During a luxury budget task Cheran accidentally pushed Meera Mitun, However Meera took the act of Cheran seriously and stated saying that Cheran "Manhandled" her and "touched her inappropriately".
After the eviction of Meera Mitun, she attended an interview and told the interviewer that Cheran "Was racist and violent towards me in the Bigg Boss house" and she also said that she felt "violated" by Cheran.
After Jangiri Madhumitha walked out of the house, she told the press saying that she got "gang-ragged by everyone except Kasthuri and Cheran".
During a school luxury budget task, Kasthuri passed on a fat shaming remake to Vanitha Vijayakumar, and Vanitha later caused havoc in the house and wanted Kasthuri evicted on spot after her negative remake towards her.
Vanitha Vijayakumar accused her fellow housemate Sherin Shringar of having a affair with another housemate Tharshan Thiyagarajah. Sherin totally denied Vanitha's statement and told Vanitha "How dare you bloody call my relationship with him an affair".
On day 98th, Tharshan Thiyagarajah was evicted from the house and fans of the season and Tharshan's fans were not happy by the evicition commenting "Tharshan was one of the contestants that had the highest amount of votes in the unofficial voting, its totally unfair to be evicting him he deserved to be a finalist".
Season 4
During a discussion between Sanam Shetty and Balaji Murugadoss. Balaji described Sanam's modeling title as a 'Dubakur' (fake one) and are acquired through her, involving in casting couch. This was clearly shown in one of the Promos. Followed by controversies, the promo was deleted from Vijay TV social media handles. Sanam was not happy about the remark Balaji gave her and they both got iin a nasty fight. However, during her re-entry, Sanam forgave Balaji for his abusive words.
During another argument between Sanam Shetty and Balaji Murugadoss, during a ranking task, Sanam said she deserves to be in the 2nd position but Balaji did not agree to her opinion and started to argue with her. At last, he started self abusing himself by hitting himself with his own slipper.
Suresh Chakravarthy assaulted co-contestant Anitha Samapth's profession in a discussion, Suresh saying that "Newsreaders spit every time they read the news". This later, broke into a nasty fight between Anitha and Suresh.
During a task Suresh Chakravarthy hits Sanam Shetty with a sceptar later admitting to it as an "Accident". However, housemates disagree with Suresh and tell him to apologize to Sanam. Suresh later burst into tears in the confession room after knowing his mistake. Meanwhile, Sanam was raged and requested Bigg Boss to eject Suresh for his behavior.
Eliminations of Suresh Chakravarthy on Day 35 and Sanam Shetty on Day 63 led to a wide oppose by audience questioning the genuineness of people's vote.
Contestants Archana Chandhoke, Rio Raj, Somashekar, Gabriella Charlton, Jithan Ramesh and Aranthangi Nisha formed an alliance called the "Love Bed", where they agreed not to nominate the members of the alliance and target particular contestants like Aari, Anitha, Sanam and Balaji. As this was highly critisized by the audience and even questioned by the host, Archana said that it was just a group of friends who had nothing to favour between themselves during tasks. She also stated that "Love is her Strategy".
While Aari Arujunan and Balaji Murugadoss were sent to the Bigg Boss jail as a punishment, Aari started accusing of the things Balaji's hasn't done in the house. Aari also called Balaji "Lazy" and "Useless". Balaji burst into anger and later said that he has done his share of job and need not sweep the place that is clean. He also stated that, "Aari isn't capable of living in this house". Later, Aari apologizes to Balaji.
Contestant Samyuktha Shanmuganathan, accused co-contestant Aari Arujunan that he made an inappropriate talk on her motherhood. She also mocked at Aari's "Valarpu" (upbringing) and commented it to be wrong. Later Samyuktha's accusation was proved to be false and she was evicted that week after going through a "kurumpadam".
Season 5
The controversial relationship with Abhinay Vaddi and Pavni Reddy was questioned by many viewers since Abhinay was already married but still being very intimate with Pavni on the show. Pavni clarified about this with Abhinay earlier, but still there was no response about this from Abhinay.
Namitha Marimuthu walked out of the show on the 4th day after urgently rushed to the hospital due to some personal issues.
During a task, Suruthi Periyasamy and Pavni Reddy steal a medal from Thamarai Selvi. After stealing her medal Thamarai bursts into tears and accuses Suruthi and Pavni of "betraying her trust".
In a school task,Ciby Bhuvana Chandran had started ill treating Akshara Reddy out of spite.This had caused Akshara to lash out at Ciby.
During the ticket to finale task, Thamarai Selvi and Priyanka Deshpande pushes each other.
During a heated argument between Niroop Nandhakumar and Priyanka Deshpande, Niroop started calling Priyanka as "Evil, Selfish and Heartless and the worst person in the house".
During a heated argument Raju Jeyamohan and Ciby Bhuvana Chandran accused Pavani Reddy of forming a "Love Track" with Abhinay Vaddi and trying to use him for the Game Show. However Pavani yelled at Ciby and Raju saying "Stop invading my privacy!".
Malaysian viewers started calling out Nadia Chang after hearing her story in the Oru Kathai Sollatuma Luxury budget task,as they were claiming that she was lying about her story.
Viewers started questioning the fairness of the show and their votes when Abishek Raja joined back the show as a wildcard,after being the second contestant eliminated.
During the ticket to finale task, Niroop was discriminated by his co housemates and was the first contestant removed from the task race. He later complained to the host of show Kamal Haasan Saying quote "Here, the housemates are discriminated based on diplomacy".
After the eviction of Abhinay Vaddi, his wife Aparna filed a divorce case against him saying "Abhinay seemed to have an affair with his co-contestant Pavani Reddy while inside the Bigg Boss house".
After Pavani Reddy exited the season as the 2nd runner up, she made a statement in the media stating Star Vijay and the Bigg Boss creators were trying to "Defame" and "Tarnish" her public image while she was in the house, trying to ruin her image in the acting field.
Ultimate
Before the launch of the Ultimate series version of Bigg Boss, the audience stated that the creators are allowing the most controversial set of contestants participate in this version to create more and more controversy and conflicts in the show to so call "Entertain" the viewers. However this sentence became a controversial statement even before the show launched.
Vanitha Vijayakumar argued with all the co housemates and Bigg Boss demanding that she won't participate in the luxury budget task until she receives coffee. She later went on to hide every housemates tea and milk since she isn't given her coffee.
During the press meet luxury budget task, Niroop Nandhakumar confessed to every housemate saying that he was in a relationship with his co housemate Abhirami Venkatachalam before joining the game.
During the live streaming, the camera focused on Abhirami Venkatachalam who was caught smoking in the smoking room. However the video wasn't censored and was telecasted and the audience were shocked by the act and accusing the company of promoting smoking and the ultimate version of the show was later rated as R18+ for viewers.
Thaadi Balaji who was one of the contestants in Bigg Boss ultimate season 1 and Bigg Boss season 2 was accused by his ex wife Nithya for defaming her when she participated as a contestant in the second season and later abusing her daughter on phone calls.
During a nasty argument between Vanitha Vijayakumar and Abhirami Venkatachalam regarding a coffee problem. Abhirami smashed her coffee mug on the floor after Vanitha denied giving the remaining housemates a share of the coffee, in return Vanitha cussed the housemates.
Vanitha Vijayakumar badly spoke about Juliana calling her a "Drama Institute" and a "Fraud women", things turned nasty between them after Vanitha made those accusations against her.
Anitha Sampath accused co housemate Snehan of manhandling her during the police vs thief luxury budget task accusing Snehan of gripping her arm tightly and pushed her against a brick wall and inappropriately touching her.
Just before Suja Varunee got evicted, Suja accused Vanitha Vijayakumar of treating every housemate in the house as a servent and acts very bossy towards everyone having no "mercy at all". However Vanitha later accused Suja of faking everything she said just for the public audience's attention and votes.
Balaji Murugadoss pranked all a housemates saying that Bigg Boss asked him to inform all the housemates to evict one member among themselves, however he late admitted to the prank saying its all "fake". Vanitha Vijayakumar insulted Balaj saying "Balaji is trying to make all of us a fool so he can win the show" and the both of them got into a disgusting verbal argument.
References
21st-century controversies
Mass media-related controversies in India
Television controversies |
69620166 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunny%20Murray%20%28album%29 | Sunny Murray (album) | Sunny Murray, also known as Sunny Murray Quintet, is an album by American free jazz drummer Sunny Murray, his second as a leader. It was recorded in New York City in January, 1966, and released on the ESP-Disk label. The album features Murray on drums along with alto saxophonists Byard Lancaster and Jack Graham, trumpeter Jacques Coursil, and bassist Alan Silva. A remastered version, which includes an interview between Murray and ESP founder Bernard Stollman, was issued by ESP-Disk in 2007.
According to Murray, he used a thirty-six-inch bass drum on the album "because there's something about that instrument that homogenizes the group." Murray recalled that he met Coursil at a restaurant after saxophonist Clarence Sharpe recommended that he speak with the dishwasher: "There's a cat works in the kitchen. He's pretty good, Murray. You ought to check him out."
Following the release of the album, Murray was awarded DownBeat magazine's "New Star" award in the drum category. When he learned that the award did not involve a cash component, Murray went to DownBeat offices and "revolted": "I took some paper from the secretary's trash can, and I made a bonfire on the floor and I started to burn my Downbeat award. The secretary called the police. There was smoke everywhere, and Don [DeMichael, Editor] came out of the office throwing water on the fire..."
Reception
In a review for AllMusic, Scott Yanow awarded Sunny Murray 4.5 stars, and wrote: "the band is fairly coherent but also full of fire and chance-taking solos. In ways, this is a typical ESP free-form blowing session, and certainly will be most enjoyed by open-eared listeners." The authors of The Penguin Guide to Jazz awarded the album 3 stars, calling it Murray's "real coming-out as a leader" and "pretty uncompromising fare." Writing for All About Jazz, Jerry D'Souza commented: "The music is intense, but it is also passionate... [it] ferments, roils, and fascinates."
Track listing
Tracks 1, 2, and 4 by Sunny Murray. Track 3 by Jacques Coursil.
"Phase 1,2,3,4" – 9:45
"Hilariously" – 11:12
"Angels And Devils" – 11:09
"Giblet" – 8:55
Personnel
Byard Lancaster – alto saxophone
Jack Graham – alto saxophone
Jacques Coursil – trumpet
Alan Silva – bass
Sunny Murray – drums
Production
David Hancock – engineer
Ray Gibson – cover photo
J. Dillon – art director
References
1966 albums
Sunny Murray albums
ESP-Disk albums |
69620464 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crackhead%20Barney | Crackhead Barney | Crackhead Barney is an American performance artist and ambush interviewer. She shares video of satirical interviews on social media as a viral interview show titled Crackhead Barney and Friends.
Early activity
According to Crackhead Barney in January 2021, the Crackhead Barney persona originated "a few years ago" when she began dressing up in a Barney costume and harassing random people in New York. The costume was missing an eye, leading people to refer to her as "Crackhead Barney".
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City, Crackhead Barney often performed in the subway. The pandemic reduced subway traffic, and she later began attending the George Floyd protests in New York City. At one demonstration, Drew Rosenthal saw her, and eventually convinced her to collaborate on a show called Crackhead Barney and Friends. The name parodies the name of the Barney television show.
Crackhead Barney and Friends
The Crackhead Barney and Friends series is inspired by Eric André and All Gas No Brakes.
Content
Before the 2020 United States presidential election, Crackhead Barney attended a campaign rally by Donald Trump in Staten Island. She later described it as the most dangerous video she ever filmed, stating that she was apprehended by the police and brought to a psychiatric hospital, where the police stated that she was having a mental breakdown and attempting to expose her naked body to children.
Crackhead Barney was present at the 2021 United States Capitol attack, where she interviewed rioters. She additionally attended the inauguration of Joe Biden to interview "some more Patriots and QAnon-ers". At the latter event, she was photographed by Barry Goldstein of New England Public Media, who later discussed her and the photos on Connecting Point. One photograph showed the performance artist holding "a dead rat that she picked up on the street" while the next depicted her confronting a group of National Guardspeople just outside a high-security area.
In June 2021, Crackhead Barney interviewed Andrew Giuliani, and the two ended up shouting at each other. After she asked him why he was campaigning to be Mayor of New York City, he clarified that he was running for the position of Governor of New York and stated that he was "standing for Israel" and wanted to "see a New York where you have an Israel that is respected." Crackhead Barney subsequently insulted Giuliani's father; Giuliani attempted to remain diplomatic and stated that he believed someone who made an insult like that in Palestine would be beheaded. Members of Giuliani's entourage began shouting at Crackhead Barney, at which point both she and Giuliani began arguing about whether the other had ever visited Palestine.
Crackhead Barney has additionally interviewed Jake Angeli, asked Eric Adams “how much Black pussy” he gets, and encouraged children at a New York City Police Department gathering to chant “abolish the police”.
Platform
Crackhead Barney and Friends is periodically suspended on the social media platforms where it is shared, which include TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. In December 2021, the show was added to Means TV.
Style
Crackhead Barney has stated that her videos are unscripted. She has cited Dada as an inspiration, stating that it "offers an element of terrible randomness in this terribly random state our country is in." She has also described her work as slapstick.
Views
In January 2021, Crackhead Barney described the attackers of the United States Capitol as "violent MAGA idiots." She referred to "Patriots and QAnon-ers, whatever you want to call the nazis who wear the red hats and fuck their American flags or their machine guns." She additionally stated that "Biden is trash, Kamala is trash, and Trump is definitely trash" because "Biden and fucking Kamala [...] have jailed and incriminated more Black people than Trump and Pence put together."
Personal life
Asked by METAL about her identity, Crackhead Barney stated that she was born and grew up in the Jamaica neighborhood of Queens in New York City. She refused to provide more details about her background, saying that she generally avoids interviews to keep her identity hidden and that "I’m upset right now, I’m an alien from Mars, and I feel like I give you all you need to know about me from my performance art. That’s it, next question." Later in the interview, she described herself as a "Black queer woman artist". She told Ben Weiss of Input that her parents immigrated to the United States from Nigeria. She attended Hunter College, where she studied painting and sculpture.
Barry Goldstein, who photographed Crackhead Barney at the inauguration of Joe Biden, described her as a "young woman".
References
External links
Crackhead Barney and Friends on Means TV
People from Jamaica, Queens
Hunter College alumni
American performance artists
Performance art in New York City
American satirical television shows
American satirists
Year of birth missing (living people)
Living people
American people of Nigerian descent
LGBT African Americans |
69620951 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HBM-SSC | HBM-SSC | HBM-SSC was the name of the self-proclaimed autonomous government of the Dhulbahante clan living between Somaliland and Puntland, which was active from 2010 to around 2012. It claimed possession of the so-called SSC regions of Sool(S), Sanaag(S), and Cayn(C).
It is an abbreviation of "SSC regional relief and unification agency" (Haggaanka Badbaadinta iyo Mideynta SSC). The movement to gain autonomy is sometimes referred to as the SSC movement. Initially, the HBM-SSC's goal was to become a constituent state of the Federal Republic of Somalia with the support of the foreign diaspora. Still, it was not recognized by both neighboring Somaliland and Puntland, and through fighting with Somaliland, it became a mere militia organization. It also lost support from the Dhulbahante clan. And ended its activities when the president of the HBM-SSC joined the Somaliland government. It is sometimes referred to as the SSC militia because it was a de facto militia organization except in the early stages of its activities. The subsequent campaign to gain autonomy for the Dhulbahante clan was conducted by a newly created organization, the Khatumo State.
History
Background
The Dhulbahante clan is distributed in the so-called SSC regions. (However, SSC regions, especially Sanaag, are also inhabited by non-Dhulbahante clans.) These areas belonged to British Somaliland until Somalia's independence and were positioned as a British protectorate. British Somaliland was based on an agreement between Britain and several clan chiefs in northwestern Somalia. However, the Dhulbahante clan was not a signatory to this agreement with the British and had its autonomous system.
British Somaliland became independent as the State of Somaliland on June 26, 1960, and merged with Italian Trust Territory of Somaliland on July 1 to become the Republic of Somalia. Somalia became a dictatorship in a coup d'état in 1969 and became a state of civil war around 1988.
In 1991, Somaliland declared independence and claimed the entire former British Somaliland as its territory; in 1998, Puntland declared its formation and claimed the whole Darood clan-inhabited area in northeastern Somalia, including the Dhulbahante clan, as its territory. As a result, the SSC region was claimed as territory by Somaliland and Puntland. In addition, the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia was established in 2004 to reunify Somalia, but the Somaliland government did not participate in the process.
On the other hand, until the first half of 2009, there was no clear move for independence for the Dhulbahante clan. Rather, there was more Dhulbahante who do not support either Somaliland or Puntland.
Establishment
In the first half of 2009, a meeting was held by the Dhulbahante clan to establish a regional government directly under the Federal Republic of Somalia, including residents of Sool regions such as Buuhoodle, Las Anod, and Taleh, as well as the diaspora in Nairobi, Kenya. Proposals for the name of the regional government included Dervishland.
In October 2009, in Nairobi, Kenya, the Dhulbahante clans of northern Somalia and the diaspora outside Somalia came together to form the "Unity and Relief Agency for the SSC Regions of Somalia" (Haggaanka Mideynta iyo Badbaadinta Gobolada SSC ee Soomalia or Haggaanka Badbaadinta iyo Mideynta SSC) was established. The SSC is a combination of Sool, Sanaag, and Cayn, the settlements of the Dhulbahante clan.
The President of the HBM-SSC is the entrepreneur Suleiman Haglotosiye, and the vice president is Cali Xasan 'Saberi,' The goals of the HBM-SSC were to end the occupation of the SSC region by the Somaliland army, to gain international recognition for its activities, and to promote the interests of the local population. The President's term of office was set at two and a half years until mid-April 2012. And the HBM-SSC also had a parliament, whose role was to approve the budget and review government activities, and which was empowered to dismiss the President. Apart from the parliament, the traditional authorities were given the role of conflict mediation. And the members of the parliament were to be selected by the traditional leaders and must include a woman.
The government organization members were to be equally allocated to the leading clans of Dhulbahante, namely Farah Garad, Mohamoud Garad, and Baho Nugaaled.
The official capital was designated as Las Anod, but due to the effective control of Somaliland, Dharkayn Geenyo, near the Ethiopian border, became the provisional capital. Dharkayn Geenyo was home to many of the Baharsame clan (Farah Garad) and the Qayaad clan (independent). Buuhoodle was made the second capital. Many Farah Garad clans were living in Buuhoodle. In other words, the area of activity was centered on the Farah Garad clan residential area.
Initial configuration
Government
President - Suleiman Haglotosiye (Farah Garad) U.S. citizen. A medical professional from Columbus, Ohio,
Vice President - Cali Xasan 'Saberi' (Ali Hassan Ahmed "Sabarey") (Mohamud Garad) Canadian citizen
Minister of Foreign Affairs - Maxamuud Cali Jaamac (Mohamed Garad)
Minister of Defense - Yasin 'Tamaat' (Mohammed Garad)
Minister of Interior
Minister of Information
Minister of Social Affairs
Minister of Finance
Parliament Capacity of 21 membersSome live outside Somalia
Farah Garad 7 people.
Mohamud Garad 7 people
Baho Nugaaled 7 people.
Traditional leaders
Garad Jama Garad Ali (Farah Garad)
Garaad Jaamac Garaad Ismaacii (Mohammed Garad)
Garaad Cali Buraale (Qayaad)
Note that some traditional leaders of the Dhulbahante who did not participate in the HBM-SSC.
Garad Saleban Garad Mohamed (representative of Mohammed Garad)
Garaad Abdulahi Garaad Soofe (Farah Garad)
The initial effective territory was between Las Anod and Buuhoodle, excluding Las Anod. However, the nominal territory was extended west to eastern Burao and north to northern Erigavo.
Surrounding Reactions
Both Somaliland and Puntland, the "neighboring countries" of the HMB-SSC, strongly opposed the independence of the SSC.
The relationship between the SSC and Ethiopia is unclear. Senior SSC officials and Ethiopian government officials and military officers met frequently in Buuhoodle, and it is assumed that the Ethiopian government tolerated the SSC.
Although the HBM-SSC claimed to be supported by the entire Dhulbahante, it was predominantly a Farah Garad branch and regionally predominantly in the southwestern part of the SSC area. Also, the SSC initially had no source of income. This made it difficult to provide administrative services to the locals and strengthen the military.
Battle with Somaliland
In January 2010, the Somaliland military arrested and placed under house arrest 12 Dhulbahante elders who were holding a meeting in Holhol, north of Las Anod. The conference was organized by Dhulbahante chief Garad Jama Garad Ali, who fled in a car. The charge was that Garad Jama Garad Ali was the mastermind of the attack on the Somaliland army.
In March 2010, a meeting between Dhulbahante elders and the President of Puntland and others was held in Garowe, the capital of Puntland, and it was reported that nine elders signed a document confirming that the territory of the SSC is Puntland territory. The report stated that the meeting was with "elders of the SSC," but it did not include the principal members of the SSC.
Garad Suleiman Mohamed
Garad Abdulahi Sofe
Garad Abshir Salah
Garad Mohamud Osman Mashqare
Garad Suleiman Burale Au-Adan
Ugas Farah Mohamud Ali
King Abdulahi Ahmed Ali
Garaad Ali Burale Hasan
Sultan Sayid Osman Ali
Garad, Ugas, King, Garaad, and Sultan all mean the chief of a clan.
In May 2010, the first fighting between SSC militias and the Somaliland army broke out in southern Widhwidh. Fighting continued intermittently until July, spilling over into the Kalabaydh.
In June 2010, Somaliland's Minister of Foreign Affairs described HBM-SSC leader Suleiman Haglotosiye as a "terrorist" in an interview with the BBC, explaining that he was responsible for the violent actions of Buuhoodle and Widhwidh.
By September 2010, the situation had calmed down, and more than 90% of the hundreds of families who had been evacuated from Widhwidh were back in town.
In November 2010, a delegation including the President of the HBM-SSC and the Minister of Defense visited the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia (TFG) in the Somalia capital Mogadishu and met with President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Prime Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, among others. Puntland condemned the TFG for this move.
In November 2010, Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud Silanyo, who became the President of Somaliland, sent a 10-member delegation to Widhwidh, one of the strongholds of the HBM-SSC. The board met with local elder Garaad Abshir Saalax, and Somaliland promised to release prisoners of war and compensate civilian deaths, while Garaad Abshir Saalax promised to set up a Somaliland regional government, prevent militia activities, and establish a Somaliland police and army by the Dhulbahante clan. However, Garaad Abshir Saalax later emigrated to Sweden and effectively reneged on the agreement with Somaliland because of his own people's support for Puntland.
In November 2010, shortly after the meeting between the Somaliland delegation and Garaad Abshir Saalax, a conflict broke out in Kalshale between the Habr Je'lo, a branch of the Isaaq clan, and the Dhulbahante clan. The main reason for the conflict was that the Dhulbahante considered the construction of a permanent water storage facility by the Habr Je'lo to expansiond their territory on Kalshale, and that had been used jointly by the Habr Je'lo and the Dhulbahante. The Kalshale dispute was initially resolved through discussions among the elders, but there happened to be an incident where a man from the Habr Je'lo clan shot and killed a man from the Dhulbahante. Later, a group of Dhulbahante attacked Habr Je'lo, killing seven members of the Habr Je'lo clan and three members of the Dhulbahante clan. The Somaliland government sent troops and religious leaders between the two clans to settle the dispute and proposed arbitration based on Islamic law. However, the Dhulbahante clan rejected the arbitration proposal.
In January 2011, President Silanyo of Somaliland declared that the Somaliland army would take control of Kalshale. Still, the local Dhulbahante clan joined forces with the SSC militia to oppose them and clashed in Hagoogane on January 31. The fighting displaced more than 3,000 residents of Hagoogane, and on February 7, clashes in Kalshale killed dozens of people. The fighting continued until mid-February. When the Somaliland government ordered Habr Je'lo to destroy the water storage facilities that had been the source of the conflict and offered a new arbitration plan, but the local Dhulbahante clan rejected it as well, leading to continued conflict between Somaliland and the local Dhulbahante.
In April 2011, a 15-year-old girl from the Las Anod neighborhood complained that she was questioned, shot (but not hit), and beaten by the Somaliland army.
Collapse of SSC and establishment of Khatumo State
In early June 2011, Somaliland Press reported that "in the last several months the TFG has been arming SSC militias in an attempt to create a conflict between Somaliland and Puntland in a mini-proxy war of its own."
On June 20, 2011, the Somaliland police arrested ten people for the attack on the Las Anod police station. The arrested individuals are allegedly linked to the SSC militia.
On June 26, 2011, Abdirisak Hassan Ismail signed a ceasefire agreement regarding the HBM-SSC representative in Widhwidh. However, on the following day, 27th, the Somaliland army base was attacked by a local militia, and the leader of HBM-SSC announced that they would continue fighting until Somaliland army withdrew from SSC area. This is seen as a division of the HBM-SSC.
A July 2011 United Nations Security Council report described the SSC militia as "can be characterized as an opportunistic and arguably mercenary militia force that has successfully appropriated legitimate local grievances and exploited radical diaspora sentiment for its own political and financial gain. "
In September 2011, as the HBM-SSC had become a Farah Garad-dominated organization and was considered unable to achieve its original objectives, a delegation of Dhulbahante intellectuals toured the Dhulbahante-inhabited areas of Sool, Sanaag, and Cayn. In January 2012, a resolution was passed in Talah to create a separate organization called the Khatumo State. Which effectively shut down the HBM-SSC. The date of the cessation of activities is not clear, but some documents put it in 2011.
A January 2012 UNPO report described the SSC militia as "militant accused of having ties with Al-Shabaab."
On February 7, 2012, Somaliland troops launched an offensive against Buuhoodle, killing at least three people in this February attack after more than 80 people had been killed in fighting through January.
In June 2012, HBM-SSC President Saleban Hagglothsier met with Somaliland President Silanyo in Dubai and agreed to disarm the militias and hand over weapons to the Somaliland government, with Somaliland providing public services.
References
Politics of Somalia
Sool, Somaliland |
69621464 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022%20Alabama%20Attorney%20General%20election | 2022 Alabama Attorney General election | The 2022 Alabama Attorney General election will take place on November 8, 2022, to elect the Attorney General of Alabama. Incumbent Republican Attorney General Steve Marshall is running for re-election.
Republican primary
Candidates
Declared
Steve Marshall, incumbent attorney general (2017–present)
Harry Bartlett Still III, attorney and former county manager
Primary results
Endorsements
Democratic primary
Candidates
Declared
Wendell Major, police chief of Tarrant, Alabama (2021–present)
General election
Predictions
Results
See also
Attorney General of Alabama
References
Attorney General
Alabama
Alabama Attorney General elections |
69622017 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Over%20grensen | Over grensen | Over grensen (Over the Border) or Feldmann-saken (The Feldman Case) is a Norwegian drama film that premiered on February 19, 1987. Bjørn Sundquist won the Amanda Award for the best male lead for his performance in the film.
Plot
The film deals with the Feldmann case from 1942. The couple Jacob and Rakel Feldmann try to flee to Sweden with the help of two Norwegian Milorg border guides.
Cast
Bjørn Sundquist as Arnfinn Madsen, a journalist
Sverre Anker Ousdal as Mikkel Årnes, a police investigator
Ingerid Vardund as Rakel Feldmann
Finn Kvalem as Jacob Feldmann
Inger Lise Rypdal as Molly
Øyvin Berven as Harald Sagstuen
Hans Ola Sørlie as a resistance member and witness
Trond Brænne as Paul Plassen
Sigve Bøe as Larsen
Per Christensen as the defense attorney
Jack Fjeldstad as the sheriff
Odd Furøy as a police superintendent
Jon Eivind Gullord as a Nasjonal Samling member
Ella Hval as Mrs. Hansen
Bjørn Jenseg as a shop manager
Ola B. Johannessen as the prosecuting attorney
Andreas Kolstad as Moll, a witness
Arild Kristo as a security head
Heikki Kulblik as a deputy
Aril Martinsen as Swan, a journalist
Ragnhild Michelsen as a boarding house operator
Sven Nordin as Jensen, a witness
Alf Nordvang as the public prosecutor
John Nyutstumo as Bø, a witness
Hans Jacob Sand as a border guard
Vidar Sandem as Kåre Sagstuen
Henrik Scheele as Theo Jerilowitz
Nøste Schwab as the sheriff's wife
Kjell Stormoen as the judge
Terje Strømdahl as Ole Sagstuen
Karl Sundby as Aron Jerilowitz
Erik Øksnes as a farmer
References
External links
Over grensen at the National Library of Norway
Over grensen at the Swedish Film Database
1987 films
Norwegian drama films
Norwegian historical drama films
Films about World War II crimes
Norwegian-language films
Films set in Norway |
69622032 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kourtney%20Penner | Kourtney Penner | Kourtney Penner (formerly "Branagan") is a Canadian politician who serves as the city councillor for Ward 11 in Calgary. Before being elected in Calgary's 2021 municipal election, Penner worked in the technology sector and was involved with the Haysboro Community Association. Penner lives in the community of Garrison Green with her partner and her three children.
Penner chairs the Standing Policy Committee on Community Development and the Emergency Management Committee. In her capacities as councillor, she is also a member of the Arts Commons Advisory Committee, the Beltline Community Investment Fund, the Calgary Public Library Board, the Calgary Stampede Board, the Family and Community Support Services Association of Alberta, the Inter-City Forum on Social Policy, the Nominations Committee, and the Calgary Housing Company.
Before politics
According to Penner's LinkedIn profile, she graduated from Athabasca University, where she studied English Language and Literature, in 2006, and from Mount Royal University in 2012.
Penner worked as a freelance artist for several years and was a Fellow at the Calgary Innovation Coalition. She was also involved with several City of Calgary working groups, including one centred around the Guidebook for Great Communities. She was the lead facilitator for the Calgary Women's Centre in 2020. Penner served as the president of the Haysboro Community Association. She later worked for Rainforest Alberta, an organization seeking to bolster the technology industry in Alberta.
Political career
2021 municipal election
Penner launched her campaign for council the week after the incumbent Ward 11 councillor, Jeromy Farkas, announced that he would not seek re-election for that role and would instead run for mayor. Her desire to run was "solidified" by her involvement in Ask Her YYC, an initiative that sought to encourage more women to run for council.
During the campaign, Penner declared the "need for investment into older infrastructure," "petty crime," and "growth and planning management around land-use changes in established neighbourhoods" to be the three greatest issues facing her electors. As a candidate, Penner established an initiative called "Conversations Among Candidates," that sought to develop relationships between candidates during the election. Penner disclosed her donors during the campaign.
Penner's campaign was supported by Calgarians for a Progressive Future ("Calgary's Future"), a progressive third-party advertiser with a CA$1.7 million budget that was funded predominantly by contributions from the Canadian Union of Public Employees. She was also endorsed by the Look Forward Society for Political Action of Alberta, operating as "Look Forward Calgary."
One of eight candidates, Penner won the election with 28% of the vote after a thirteen-month campaign, 892 votes ahead of the runner-up, Rob Ward.
Ward 11 councillor
After the election but before her swearing-in, Kourtney changed her surname from Branagan to her maiden name, Penner, following a divorce.
Penner, herself a sexual assault survivor, has vocally called for the resignation of her Ward 4 counterpart, Sean Chu, who was disciplined for inappropriate conduct involving a minor while serving as a police officer. She later participated in an unrelated walk-out protest at Western Canada High School amid allegations of sexual assault at the school and inaction by its administration.
As a councillor, Penner has supported water fluoridation and prudence in creating and maintaining COVID-19 public health restrictions. She sponsored a successful Notice of Motion that "declare[d] a climate emergency." Penner opposed a CA$6 million increase of the Calgary Police Service's budget.
On November 1, 2021, Penner was elected by acclamation to serve as the Chair of the Standing Policy Committee on Community Development, a role in which she has advocated for emergency funds to combat homelessness during winter and the expansion of a pilot program allowing the consumption of alcohol in city parks. Through this role, she is also a member of the Executive Committee.
Penner is also a member of the Emergency Management Committee, which she chairs, the Arts Commons Advisory Committee, the Beltline Community Investment Fund, the Calgary Public Library Board, the Calgary Stampede Board, the Family and Community Support Services Association of Alberta, the Inter-City Forum on Social Policy, the Nominations Committee, and the Calgary Housing Company. She is rostered to serve as deputy mayor for the month of October 2022.
Electoral record
References
Living people
Athabasca University alumni
Mount Royal University alumni
Calgary city councillors
Women municipal councillors in Canada
21st-century Canadian politicians
21st-century Canadian women politicians
Women in Alberta politics
Year of birth missing (living people) |
69623091 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kipps%20Lane%20Crew | Kipps Lane Crew | The Kipps Lane Crew (KLC) is a street gang founded in London, Ontario, Canada, in 2000. The gang's name originates from the area in which the group operates, Kipps Lane and the surrounding area in Northeast London. The colors of the Kipps Lane Crew are red, although the gang is not associated with the Bloods.
History
The Kipps Lane Crew was founded in the 2000s in London, Ontario's Northeast end and was able to keep a low profile during the early years of its existence, although the group began to gain notoriety in the late 2000s. Known by the graffiti tag KLC, the gang grew into one of London's largest and most reckless street gangs during the 2010s. The KLC is one of the eleven street gangs currently being monitored by the London Police Service. The actions of the KLC, and other organized crime groups in the city, led to the creation of the London Gang Unit in 2012. Up until this point, the closest thing to a SGU had been the police force's youth and hate crime unit. Due to its size, activities and notoriety, the gang is among what London authorities call the "Big Seven" referring to the seven largest street gangs in the city. The group is mostly involved in the trade and trafficking of narcotics, but its crimes range from burglary, robbery to assault and murder.
Notable crimes
On February 14, 2009, the alleged leader of the KLC, Matthew Owen was stabbed and killed during altercation at an East London residence, another member and two others were injured. It is not known what started the incident, but a fight erupted and spread into the backyard of the residence, as someone smashed through the patio door. Authorities say several people were involved in the brawl.
In 2011 a member of the Kipps Lane Crew was sentenced to five years in prison for "possession of a loaded and prohibited firearm, and for the killing of Thi Tran". Also in 2011, a member of the Kipps Lane Crew saw members of an opposing group in Jack's Bar on Richmond St. He fired multiple shots from a handgun into the business, no one was killed but an innocent bystander was shot and injured. The KLC member was sentenced to 12 years in prison for the incident.
In August 2012, a member of the Kipps Lane Crew, shot a man near Queens and Adelaide Street. The man survived the attack but these events led to a 5-hour standoff on a Kipps Lane property, London Police brought in their tactical response unit(SWAT equivalent), a Police modified APC(armoured personal carrier) and created a perimeter around the residence. The result was the arrest of four members or affiliates and the confiscation of a "shotgun and almost 1,900 rounds of various types of ammunition, a taser, pepper spray, stolen IDs and a small amount of methamphetamine". Over 16 charges were handed out to the four individuals.
In May 2014, a man walking on Kipps Lane is stabbed and robbed, he is sent to hospital with non-lethal injuries, suspects were ever confirmed. In October 2014, London Police raided home on Kipps Lane. They are arrested two members and seized almost $50,000 in narcotics including, 409.9 grams of cocaine, 488 grams of psilocybin, 26 grams of marijuana, 3 grams of crystal meth, 3 15 milligrams of Adderall pills, 2 grams of hash and 1 gram of hash oil. They also found close to $7,000 in cash
London police conducted a raid on a member of the Kipps Lane Crew in February 2015. The raid uncovered an illegal firearm(9mm pistol), a bag of marijuana, over $2,000 cash, and some KLC swag. "A t-shirt with a picture of a stick figure pointing a gun at another stick figure bleeding from the head", and a sweatshirt that protests for the release of members who were jailed recently.
In June 2016, a stabbing occurred at an apartment complex on Kipps Lane, one man was sent to the hospital with serious injuries. The KLC was initially believed to be involved by authorities until the actual suspect, a 61-year-old man was detained and charged.
On April 7, 2019, London Police heard reports of shots being fired in the Kipps Lane area at 2:55 am. Authorities found no evidence of a shooting at the time, hours later there was reports of a second series of shots just north of Kipps Lane. Police that arrived on scene noted that they did find evidence of a firearm being discharged as well as evidence of someone being injured. No suspects or weapons were found in connection with the shootings.
In April 2020, London Police conducted raids on multiple properties in the city, including Kipps Lane. Four People were arrested and charged, 634 grams of cocaine valued at $63,000 was seized, along with one firearm and close to $12,000. Around $500 in other narcotics was found along with a cocaine press and three burner phones, two individuals faced a combined 13 drug and weapons-related charges, one received 5 weapons charges and the remaining one was charged with "possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking." On May 2, 2020. A London residence on a Talbot street was a target of a drive by shooting, no one was injured. On May 4, 2020. An Alleged leader of the Kipps Lane Crew and two other members were arrested in connection with the shooting two days prior, the 3 members faced 14 charges including "discharging a firearm in a reckless manner, occupying a vehicle with a firearm, failing to stop for police and possession of a restricted or prohibited firearm without a licence", along with 5 other firearms related charges.
In November 2020, a member of the Kipps Lane Crew was arrested. Police seized a Pistol, flip knife and more than $50,000 in bills, the member faced 10 counts, including "carrying a concealed weapon, unauthorized possession of a restricted firearm, possessing a firearm knowing the serial number has been tampered with, resisting a police officer, mischief and possessing cocaine".
Organized crime in London, Ontario
See also
Gangs in Canada
List of gangs in Canada
Organized crime in London, Ontario
References
Organizations established in 2000
2000 establishments in Ontario
Organizations based in London, Ontario
Street gangs
Gangs in Canada |
69623184 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yasuo%20Higa | Yasuo Higa | was an Okinawan photographer, ethnologist and anthropologist. He served ten years as a police officer near a US military base before becoming a photographer, with much of his early work centered on life in postwar Okinawa. Higa is most known for his research on ancient rituals and shamanesses from the Ryukyu Islands, mainland Japan, and Asia, conducted over the span of nearly 40 years. Through his photographs and extensive notes, Higa has preserved critical documentation on maternal rituals that have been effectively rendered extinct in areas such as Kudaka and Miyakojima.
From the 1990s onwards, Higa was also active as an educator of folklore studies, having served as an affiliate lecturer at Meiji Gakuin University and the Research Institute of Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts, and as a panelist at numerous symposiums.
Early life
Higa was born to Okinawan parents on Mindanao, Philippines in 1938. After his father, who was drafted into the Japanese army, died during WWII in 1945, Higa's family returned to Okinawa the following year. When his mother passed away in 1949, Higa went to live with his grandmother in Koza City (current day Okinawa City). There he graduated from high school in 1958 and joined the police force which assigned him to the crime scene investigation unit at the police station next to Kadena Air Base. Higa remained there for ten years working as a forensic and documentary photographer for cases typically involving American soldiers.
Personal life
Higa was married to Nobuko Shimada (島田信子), an elementary school teacher and had three children, one son and two daughters. With his brother, Higa opened a coffee shop and an Okinawan soba restaurant that supported his family and financed his photography career.
Photography career
In 1968, Higa decided to leave the police force following the crash of a B-52 bomber. At the time of the crash, Higa thought that he might be killed by accidental nuclear explosions (which ultimately did not occur) and the sensation of a near-death experience led to Higa's realization that that he didn't want to die having worked solely as a policeman. He instead chose to pursue a career as a professional photographer because he wanted to show the somber conditions of Okinawa. Higa thus moved to Tokyo to attend the Tokyo School of Photography (present day Tokyo Visual Arts), where he graduated from in 1971. As a student, he travelled five times between Okinawa and Tokyo, during the height of tensions surrounding the 1971 Okinawa Reversion Agreement. Although he photographed the demonstrations and anti reversion movements, Higa was also interested in the subject of older women in his hometown and was particularly moved by their vitality, strength, and positivity in spite of the hardships they experienced during the war and the US occupation. In 1972, Higa's university, the Tokyo School of Photography, later published a textbook from the photographs Higa took in Okinawa. Higa returned to his family in Okinawa after graduation and took photos in his hometown for about a year.
Between September to December 1972, Higa travelled from Hokkaido to Kagoshima, photographing various towns in mainland Japan with US bases. The images were first published in Camera Mainichi and across ten issues of the Okinawa Times. Higa compiled the photographs twenty years later in his book 生まれ島・沖縄 ― アメリカ世から日本世へ (≈ My Native Okinawa: From American Rule to Japanese Rule) (1992). In the book, Higa quotes Shōmei Tōmatsu's 1969 book titled 沖縄に基地があるのではなく基地の中に沖縄がある, roughly translating to "there are no bases in Okinawa, but rather Okinawa is in a base" to suggest the overwhelming US influence in Okinawa. Higa also saw connections between Okinawa and larger postwar Japan through the ubiquitous presence of military bases and consequent pollution, though simultaneously remarked how the return of Okinawa to Japanese territory was generally not considered a return for Okinawan people whom felt separate from the mainland.
In the winter of 1974, Higa accompanied folklorist Kenichi Tanigawa to Karimata, Miyakojima in order to document the local festival, Uyagan Matsuri, which involved elderly shamanesses. In his memory of the event, Higa wrote that his body trembled in hearing the women sing and came to see the women as gods themselves, amazed at how energetic the women were even after fasting for four days and singing throughout the nights. The experience was so monumental to Higa that he dedicated the rest of his career to photograph sacred ancient rituals and shamanesses of the Ryukyu Islands.
Higa's devotion to the subject was furthered by his 1975 trip to the sacred Kudaka Island where he met the shamaness Shizu Nishime. In the following months, Higa visited Kudaka over a hundred times to photograph the ancient ritual Izaihō. Due to his unprecedented access to the ritual through his relationship with Shizu Nishime, Higa was able to thoroughly to document and record the ritual before its dissolution in 1978 when there were not enough new shamanesses to continue the ritual. The photographs were shown as the series おんな・神・祭り(≈ Women, Deities, and Rites) and received the 13th Taiyō Award in 1976. In 1981, Higa was also given the Okinawa Times Encouragement Award for the exhibition 神々の島 久高 (≈ The Island of Gods, Kudaka) which used the same series of photos.
During the 1980s, Higa went on to photograph shaman rituals and shamanesses of minorities outside of the Ryukyus, such as the itako and gomiso of Aomori. Between 1983 and 1986, Higa also travelled to other Asian countries, including Korea, Indonesia, and China, to photograph their rituals. From 1989 to 1993, he published his research on shamanesses across Asia in the 12 volume series 神々の古層 (≈ The Ancient Origins of the Gods) which was granted numerous honors, including the Japan Place Name Research Institute's Regional Culture and Landscape Research Award, the Photographic Society of Japan Award, the Koizumi Yagumo (Lafcadio Hearn) Award, and the Okinawa Times Publication Culture Award.
In 1994, Higa moved, by himself, to Miyakojima where he continued to photograph and research the ancient rituals of the island. Some of these photographs were used in his final solo exhibition 母たちの神－琉球弧の祭祀世界95年・宮古島 (≈ Maternal Deities: The World of Rituals in the Ryukyu Arc 1995, Miyakojima).
TV appearances
1981: NHK 女性手帳 (NHK Jyosei Techō) "琉球狐の女たちよ" (≈ "Women of the Ryukyu Arc")
1991: NHK 現代ジャーナル (NHK Gendai Jyānaru) "母が神になる" (≈ "Mother Becomes a God")
Selected exhibitions
Selected solo exhibitions
1971: 生まれ島沖縄. Ginza Nikon Salon, Tokyo; Osaka; Naha, Koza City
1980: 神々の島 久高 (≈ The Island of Gods, Kudaka)
1993: 情民 (≈ Jomin). Salon de Mitsu, Naha
1998: 母たちの神－琉球弧の祭祀世界95年・宮古島 (≈ Maternal Deities: The World of Rituals in the Ryukyu Arc 1995, Miyakojima). Salon de Mitsu, Naha
Posthumous solo and group exhibitions
2001: Higa Yasuo Retrospective: The World of Light, the Wind and the Guardian Deities. Naha Civic Gallery, Naha
2008: 琉球・沖縄2人展: 比嘉康雄「琉球の祭祀」／東松照明「チューインガムとチョコレート in 沖縄」 (≈ Ryukyu Okinawa 2 Person Exhibiton: Yasuo Higa "Ryukyu Rituals" / Shōmei Tōmatsu "Chewing Gum and Chocolate in Okinawa"). Canon Gallery, Shinagawa
2008: Okinawa Prismed 1872–2008. National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
2010: Maternal Deities: Yasuo Higa Exhibition. Okinawa Prefectural Museum and Art Museum, Naha; Izu Photo Museum, Shizuoka (2011)
2020: TOP Collection: Photography in the Ryukyu Islands. Tokyo Photographic Art Museum, Tokyo
2021: ときがみつめる八重山の祭祀写真・比嘉康雄・上井幸子写真展 (≈ Tokigamitsumeru Yaeyama Rituals・Yasuo Higa・Yōko Morosawa). Yonaguni Kouryukan, Yonaguni
Selected publications
生まれ島沖縄 (≈ My Native Island: Okinawa). Tokyo: Tokyo Photography College Publishing, 1971.
神々の島 沖縄久高島のまつり(≈ Islands of the Gods: Festivals of Kudaka Island, Okinawa). Tokyo: Heibonsha, 1979.
琉球狐 女たちの祭 (≈ Ryukyu Arc: Women’s Festivals). Tokyo: Asahi Shimbun Company, 1980.
Higa Yaso, Wakugami Motō. 日本の聖域 沖縄の聖なる島々. Tokyo: Kosei Publishing, 1982.
神々の古層 (≈ Ancient Strata of the Gods). Okinawa: Nirai-sha 1989–93. 12 Volumes.
生まれ島・沖縄 ― アメリカ世から日本世へ (≈ My Native Okinawa: From American Rule to Japanese Rule). Okinawa: Nirai-sha, 1992.
日本人の魂の原郷 沖縄久高島 (≈ Ancestral Homeland of the Japanese People: Kudakajima Island, Okinawa). Shueisha Shinsho, 2001.
光と風と神々の世界 (≈ The World of Light, the Wind and the Guardian Deities). Okinawa: Higa Yasuo Retrospective Committee, 2001.
情民 (沖縄写真家シリーズ琉球烈像 第2巻) (≈ Jomin (Okinawan Photographer Series Ryukyu Retsuzō Volume 2)). Tokyo: Miraisha, 2010
母たちの神─比嘉康雄写真集 (≈ Maternal Deities: Yasuo Higa). Shuppansha Mugen, 2010.
References
Japanese photographers
20th-century photographers |
69624162 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nils%20Spjeldn%C3%A6s | Nils Spjeldnæs | Nils Spjeldnæs (3 January 1926 – 28 March 2006) was a Norwegian paleontologist.
During the German occupation of Norway he fled to Sweden where he enrolled in the Norwegian police troops. He briefly stayed at Uppsala University, and took his cand.real. degree in 1949. He then took his dr.philos. degree in 1958. After a stint at the Museum of Paleontology he became associate professor at the University of Oslo in 1961, professor at Aarhus University in 1965, and professor at the University of Oslo from 1984 to his retirement in 1995.
He was a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters from 1975, received an honorary degree from the University of Athens, and was decorated as a Knight of the Order of Dannebrog. He chaired the International Bryozoology Association from 1968 to 1971.
He resided in Oslo and died in March 2006.
References
1926 births
2006 deaths
Norwegian paleontologists
Norwegian expatriates in Sweden
Norwegian expatriates in Denmark
University of Oslo faculty
Aarhus University faculty
Members of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters |
69624452 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayoralty%20of%20Thomas%20Menino | Mayoralty of Thomas Menino | Thomas Menino served as mayor of Boston, Massachusetts from 1993 through 2013. He is the longest serving mayor in the city's history. Menino first became acting mayor in July 1993, after Raymond Flynn resigned as mayor to assume the post of United States ambassador to the Holy See (Menino's then-position as Boston City Council president meant that he automatically assumed the post of "acting mayor" upon the vacancy created by Flynn's resignation). Menino was successfully elected mayor in the subsequent 1993 Boston mayoral election, and was reelected to additional terms in the four subsequent elections, making for an unprecedented five term tenure. On March 28, 2013, Menino announced that he would not seek a sixth term.
After Menino's October 2014 death, Katherine Q. Seelye of The New York Times wrote that Menino "presided over one of the most successful urban renaissances in modern American history" as mayor. Dubbed an "urban mechanic", Menino had a reputation for focusing on "nuts and bolts" issues and enjoyed very high public approval ratings as mayor. During his tenure, Boston saw a significant amount of new development, including the Seaport District, the redevelopment of Dudley Square (today known as "Nubian Square"), and the redevelopment of the area surrounding Fenway Park. Alongside this development, gentrification priced some longtime residents out of neighborhoods, as well as allegations of favoritism by Menino towards certain developers. During his tenure as mayor, crime in Boston fell to unprecedented lows, and the city came to rank among the safest large cities in the United States. Menino also undertook a number of environmentally-focused actions. In the last year of Menino's tenure, the city faced the Boston Marathon bombing, an incident of domestic terrorism.
Menino was a liberal member of the Democratic Party. Menino led a powerful political machine in Boston and also played roles in national politics, such as serving as president of the United States Conference of Mayors from 2002 to 2003, bringing the 2004 Democratic National Convention to Boston, and co-founding the group Mayors Against Illegal Guns with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
Politics
Menino was a liberal and a Democrat.
Menino was the first Italian American to lead the city of Boston. Menino was the city's first non-Irish American mayor since the Great Depression.
Menino led a powerful political machine in Boston. In 2009, the Boston Globe wrote that "Menino has assembled the most extensive political operation in modern Boston history over his 16 years in office, rivaling that of legendary mayor James Michael Curley. He's done it the old-fashioned way, by blurring the lines between politics and policy, between city work and campaign work, delivering services to everyday residents and warnings to his rare foes—many of them intended to strengthen his electoral standing."
Acting mayoralty (July–November 1993)
In March 1993, President Clinton nominated Boston Mayor Raymond Flynn to be the United States Ambassador to the Holy See. Mayor Flynn accepted the nomination, effectively making Menino, who was President of the Boston City Council at the time, the presumptive future acting mayor.
Menino had had a longtime friendship with outgoing mayor Flynn. However, their relationship was noted to have become somewhat terser during the period in which Flynn was preparing to hand over the office to Menino. One cause for their rift was that, after Menino had promised he would appoint 100 new police officers when he took office, Flynn beat him to the chase and did so himself, which angered Menino.
Upon Flynn's resignation on July 12, 1993, Menino became acting Mayor of Boston until the upcoming November 1993 election.
Some initially saw Menino as likely to be a sort of "caretaker" of the office, with Brian McGrory of The Boston Globe writing at the start of Menino's acting mayoralty, that to some, "Menino is believed to be a caretaker, a known quantity, a moderate compromise builder who is unlikely to bring great change or wreak serious harm on the city." McGregory also reported that some of Menino's City Council colleagues believed that Menino had an undistinguished legislative record as a city councilor.
A number of actions that he took immediately after taking office were characterized by analysts as shoring up his image for a mayoral run. In early August 1993, Menino signed a grant agreement with the state which advanced $3.7 million in state funds to be allotted for the construction of a materials recycling facility in the city. Menino put a freeze on water utility rates in place in the city, which were at rising due to the need to pay off the expenses of a court-ordered cleanup of Boston Harbor. Menino's freeze was popular with the city's residents, though there were questions as to whether an acting mayor actually held the authority to take such action.
During his acting mayoralty, Menino temporarily appointed Alfreda Harristo to fill a vacancy on the Boston School Committee. After Harristo cast the decisive vote in the Boston School Committee's rejecting of a teacher contract proposal, the Boston Teachers Union sued, questioning Menino's powers as acting mayor to make such an appointment. A judge dismissed the lawsuit for lack of standing.
1993 mayoral campaign
Menino went from "acting mayor" to "mayor" after winning the 1993 Boston mayoral election.
Menino initially ran a low-profile campaign, having informally indicated his intentions ahead of taking office as acting mayor for months. After taking office as acting mayor, Menino ran a sort of "Rose Garden campaign" that played up his acting incumbency and used the perks of the office. He formally declared himself as a candidate for mayor on August 16, 1993, after many other candidates had already formally entered the race.
When running for mayor, Menino pledged to serve "only two terms, and that's it for me." However, his tenure ultimately exceeded this in length. Menino ran for a third term in 2001 and clarified that "I promised I'd serve two terms–in every century."
Reelection campaigns
In 1997, Menino was re-elected, running formally unopposed after no challenger managed to collect enough valid signatures to qualify for the ballot.
In the 2001 mayoral general election, Menino faced Peggy Davis-Mullen, with a third opponent Althea Garrison having been eliminated in the nonpartisan primary. Menino was heavily favored to win, with an approval rating near 85%. Davis-Mullen lacked in name recognition and additionally faced a slew of stories in The Boston Globe and The Boston Herald during her campaign with negative allegations that hurt her public image. Menino won 73.37% of the vote in the primary election and 76.06% of the vote in the general election.
In 2005, Menino won 67.52% of the vote against Maura Hennigan. Menino faced a negative campaign from Henigan, who blamed Menino for the city's high cost of living and a recent rise in its crime rate. However, Menino had stayed above the fray, largely not responding to her attacks.
In the 2009 general election, Menino faced Michael F. Flaherty after Sam Yoon and Kevin McCrea were eliminated in the nonpartisan primary. Menino won 50.52% of the vote in the primary and 57.27% of the vote in the general election. In the general election, Flaherty teamed up with eliminated candidate Sam Yoon, making Yoon his unofficial running mate by promising to appoint Yoon to a recreated "deputy mayor" position if elected. During the 2009 campaign, The Boston Globe printed an article alleging dirty tricks against political opponents and their supporters in Menino's mayoral campaign that year. The article reported several instances of questionable behavior, including cases of Menino's associates monitoring mayoral opponent Michael F. Flaherty's Facebook affiliations. According to the article, the Menino campaign sent out a campaign memo containing the name of at least one small-business owner who supported Flaherty. In 2011, Flaherty alleged that his former running mate Sam Yoon had to leave Boston after running against Menino because the mayor's allies made it difficult for Yoon to find a job locally.
National politics
In May 2002, Menino was elected president of the United States Conference of Mayors. He held this role for thirteen months.
In 2003, Menino served on the selection committee for the Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence.
Menino brought the Democratic National Convention to Boston in 2004. The convention was controversial due to fundraising difficulties, security concerns, protests by unions, and inconvenience to residents. But Menino estimated that the convention generated $150 million in business for the city; meanwhile, other estimates suggest that the convention generated $14.8 million for the city.
On April 25, 2006, Menino and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg hosted a summit at Gracie Mansion in New York City, during which the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition was formed. The coalition stated its goal of "making the public safer by getting illegal guns off the streets"—Menino remained co-chair there until he left the office. The initial group consisted of 15 mayors; the 15 drafted and signed a statement of principles and set a goal to expand their membership to 50 mayors by the end of 2006. That goal was met six months ahead of schedule and led to its current membership of more than 900 mayors, with members from both major political parties and 40 states.
Menino supported the 2008 presidential campaign of Hillary Clinton, sending his own campaign workers to New Hampshire to work for her candidacy ahead of the 2008 New Hampshire Democratic presidential primary.
Menino spoke at the 2012 Democratic National Convention. In September 2012, he endorsed Democratic nominee Elizabeth Warren in the 2012 United States Senate election in Massachusetts.
Fiscal matters
Throughout Menino's tenure, the city of Boston had an operating surplus. This led Moody's Investors Service and Standard & Poor's to boost the city's bond rating a combined nine times over the course of Menino's mayoralty.
Social issues
Menino was a cofounder of Mayors Against Illegal Guns.
Menino supported abortion rights. He also supported public funding of abortions.
Gay rights
By the time he was elected mayor in 1993, Menino had already taken the public position of supporting that gay and lesbian couples be allowed to act as foster parents.
At the time of his 1993 mayoral campaign, Menino took a position supporting an existing municipal executive order which allowed city employees sick leave or bereavement time in instances in which a domestic partner or other household member has taken ill or died.
In 1998, Menino signed an executive order allowing domestic partners and dependents of gay, lesbian, and unmarried municipal employees to receive health benefits from the city. He was among the first mayors in the United States to extend such benefits to same-sex partners of municipal employees.
Menino came out in support of same-sex marriage in 2003.
At one point, Menino refused to partake in the South Boston St. Patrick's Day parade due to their exclusion of gays.
In 2012, Menino headed the Mayors for Freedom to Marry effort.
On July 19, 2012, Mayor Menino stated that he would work to prevent Chick-fil-A from opening restaurants within Boston, especially near the Freedom Trail, citing their opposition to same-sex marriage and what he called Boston's status as "a leader when it comes to social justice and opportunities for all." The next day, Menino sent a letter to Chick-fil-A president Dan Cathy. Menino urged the company to "back out of your plans to locate in Boston" because of his stance on gay marriage. Gay rights supporters applauded the mayor's support of gay marriage rights, while First Amendment advocates decried the potential for abuse of office to infringe on free speech rights. Menino later stated that he knew there was little he could do as mayor to prevent them from opening restaurants and that he was stating his personal opinion. He maintained that they were not welcome in the city, however. Boston Herald columnist Michael Graham called Menino's stance nonsensical, in light of Menino's previous friendly relations with the Islamic Society of Boston, which at one point listed among its "spiritual guides" Yusuf al-Qaradawi, who has called for homosexuals to be put to death.
Urban development
During Menino's tenure, the city's total square footage of office and residential space increased by 11%, and 80 million square feet of development was constructed.
In the 1990s, Menino made an effort to redevelop Boston City Hall Plaza which was shelved after it failed to receive federal support.
Menino was highly supportive of a project by the Islamic Society of Boston to build a mosque in Roxbury, including selling city land to the mosque at a significantly below-market rate and participating in a groundbreaking ceremony for the mosque in 2002. The project became increasingly controversial due to the ISB's alleged ties to various individual terrorists and terrorist organizations, and, by 2008, when the initial building was completed, the Boston Phoenix reported that "Menino and other city representatives have vanished from public association with the project."
In 2006, Menino proposed two major construction projects that would have significantly impact the city, but ultimately failed to materialize. Trans National Place is a proposed tower to be built on the site of a city-owned parking garage in Boston's Financial District. The second proposal calls for the city to sell Boston City Hall, a 1960s example of Brutalist architecture. Menino would then have the city use the proceeds from the sale to fund construction of a new seat of government on the South Boston waterfront, on the site of the current Bank of America Pavilion (Drydock 4). Menino abandoned the idea of moving the city's city hall in January 2009.
Menino supported the proposed redevelopment of Filene's site in Downtown Crossing into a 39-floor tower. This was fast-tracked by the Boston Redevelopment Authority in 2007 but halted during the Great Recession. This site still sat vacant, as a result of the failure of this faltered project. It later became home to the Millennium Tower.
In 2008, the Friends of Mary Cummings Park delivered a complaint to the Massachusetts Attorney General alleging breach of charitable trust by the Menino administration which had sought to sell more than of public parkland for development. The Menino administration had used hundreds of thousands of dollars from the Mary P.C. Cummings care and maintenance trust fund to pay for legal services working toward breaking the trust and to hire a real estate agent to prepare an extensive plan on how to develop the public parkland as either commercial or residential real estate, substantially depleting the fund.
In 2012, Menino made an effort to get a casino developed at Suffolk Downs in East Boston and opposed a proposed casino development in Everett, Massachusetts (which would have used a small portion of land located in Boston's city limits).
At the end of Menino's tenure, the city was undergoing a construction boom, with Moody's Investor Service having credited the city in 2012, having "the strongest commercial real estate market in the country since the 2008 recession".
Accusations of favoritism towards developers
Menino often faced criticism accusing him of playing "favorites" with developers.
In 2001, Menino intervened to help stop a chain drugstore from opening a few blocks from a pharmacy owned by a close friend and political supporter. The case raised the question of favoritism and cronyism in the city's zoning and licensing practices.
Downtown Boston Business Improvement District
Since the mid-1990s, Menino had pushed for the idea of the downtown business improvement district. However, legislation for such a plan repeatedly was defeated in the state legislature, before legislation giving state approval finally succeeded in 2010.
Dudley Square (Nubian Square)
Menino gave priority to the redevelopment of Dudley Square (today known as "Nubian Square"). Over his tenure, there was roughly $330 million of private development there. In March 2011, Menino proposed renovating the abandoned Ferdinand's Furniture building in the area and relocating 400 Boston Public School employees from the School Department's headquarters at 26 Court Street, a block from Boston's City Hall. The "Ferdinand" building is a circa-1895, Baroque Revival structure located in the Dudley Square area of Roxbury. The renovation was estimated to cost $100–115 million, an amount raised by issuing municipal bonds that would be paid back by selling or leasing five of the city's municipal buildings.
Housing
Between 2000 and 2010, Boston saw 20,500 new units of housing constructed, including 5,500 units of affordable housing. The influx of millions of dollars of new high-priced housing during Menino's tenure contributed to gentrification, which had the negative impact of pricing longtime residents out of neighborhoods.
More than 12,000 new college dormitory rooms were constructed in Boston during Menino's tenure.
Neighborhood development
Menino was also known for focusing on neighborhood development in Boston, organizing services by neighborhood, and appointing neighborhood coordinators who serve as ambassadors from the city in their areas, believing that development should happen in every neighborhood. In 2001, Governing magazine named Mayor Menino Public "Official of the Year" for effective neighborhood development in Boston. This model has spread to other cities as a result of its effectiveness.
Seaport District
Menino oversaw the development of the Seaport District, also known as the "Innovation District".
In June 2004, the city completed construction on the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, a project which Menino had strongly supported for years. When Menino had taken office, the city had only 293,000 square feet of convention space. By the time he left office, it had 1,3099,000 square feet of convention space. The construction of the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center marked the start of the Seaport District of the city.
In January 2010, Mayor Menino launched an initiative to create an urban environment fostering innovation, collaboration, and entrepreneurship on of the South Boston waterfront. The so-called Innovation District includes the Fort Point neighborhood, Seaport Square, Fan Pier, and Marine Industrial Park. Of the initiative, Mayor Menino said: "A new approach is called for on the waterfront—one that is both more deliberate and more experimental. The massive expanse of the South Boston waterfront—with its existing knowledge base, opportunity for growth, and world-class infrastructure—is ripe to produce world-class products and services."
Sports venues
In the mid 1990s, Menino opposed two plans proposed by Robert Kraft for new venues that would have housed the New England Patriots in the city. One of these plans was the proposed Boston Sports Megaplex in Roxbury. The other of these plans was for a stand-alone waterfront football stadium in South Boston (where the Seaport District is today). Menino instead favored constructing a stand-alone convention center in South Boston, and urged instead for a location in the South Bay to be considered for the stadium for the New England Patriots.
Menino was involved with negotiating with Boston Red Sox ownership and the state of Massachusetts a deal to provide public funds to build a new baseball stadium near the existing Fenway Park. However, the Boston City Council rejected the deal, and the existing Fenway Park was instead renovated. After new ownership abandoned the idea of replacing Fenway Park, Menino supported their efforts to renovate the stadium, and also launched a review of the potential new development in the surrounding neighborhood. Following a 2004 rezoning effort of the neighborhood surrounding Fenway Park, the area began to see major new developments.
Menino was involved in providing millions of dollars in tax breaks for the development of a complex of high-rise towers surrounding the TD Garden arena.
Education
Student performance in Boston Public Schools made improvements during Menino's tenure in regards to test scores. However, Menino was resistant to many school reforms, despite having promised to overhaul the schools.
Menino long opposed publicly funded tuition vouchers. In June 2009, Menino voiced support for performance pay in Boston public schools.
Menino failed in his effort to lengthen school days, meeting resistance from the Boston Teachers Union.
Charter schools
Shortly after taking office, Menino collaborated with leadership of the Boston Teachers' Union to establish pilot schools, which they had hoped would compete against charter schools.
For years, Menino's position on charter schools was one of opposition. In 2005, Menino levied a threat to abandon his opposition to charter schools amid a dispute between the Boston Teachers Union and the Menino-appointed Boston School Committee.
In 2009, Menino came out in support of charter schools. In June, he came out in support of in-district charter schools. Legislation permitting these would be passed in Massachusetts in 2010. In July, he submitted state legislation which would have converted Boston's lowest-performing public schools into charter schools. At the time, he stated that he planned, if the legislation failed, to lobby for the state to raise its cap on charter schools, something which Governor Deval Patrick was pursuing at the time. At this time, he praised what he proclaimed to be charter schools' ability to attract guality teachers, arrange lessons to fit students' needs, and esablish flexibile workplace rules. However, even then, Menino's support for charter schools was described by The Boston Globe'''s James Vaznis as, "tepid". In January 2013, Meino urged the state to remove limits on charter schools in underperforming school districts, and to also enhance the authority of school administrators to inteverne in troubled schools.
Public safety and law enforcement
During Menino's tenure, crime in Boston fell to record lows, and the city came to rank among the United States' safest large cities. Boston's violent crime rate fell from 1,957.7 in 1993, to 845.2 in 2011.
Menino took office amid the "Boston Miracle", a successful joint effort by police, churches, and neighborhood groups which worked to decrease youth-on-youth violence. At the start of his tenure, Boston was experiencing a 29-month long period in which no teenagers were murdered in the city. This ended on December 11, 1997, when a sixteen year old was murdered in Dorcester. Menino supported Operation Ceasefire, which is credited with decreasing homicide rate in the city. In 2003, the Operation Ceasefire program received the United States Department of Justice's "Outstanding Comprehensive Strategic Plan Award".
In November 2003, Menino appointed James M. Hussey as acting police commissioner, following the departure of Commissioner Paul F. Evans. In 2004, Menino appointed Kathleen O'Toole as the first-ever woman to serve as commissioner of the Boston Police Department. In May 2006, Menino appointed Albert Goslin to serve as interim police commissioenr following O'Toole's departure. In December 2006, Menino appointed Ed Davis to serve as police commissioner. In November 2013, Menino appointed William B. Evans to serve as interim police commissioner following Davis' departure.
In October 2011, controversy arose surrounding Menino's decision to evict members of the Occupy Boston protest on the Rose Kennedy Greenway. Menino later commented that "I sympathize with their issues, some of those issues we really have to look at in America, but when it comes to civil disobedience I will not tolerate civil disobedience in the city of Boston." On December 10, 2011, Menino oversaw a peaceful removal of Occupy Boston's tent city from Dewey Square. The encampment had been running for seventy days before this. The removal of it occurred peacefully.
In his last year in office, the Boston Marathon bombing took place. Menino, who had been recovering in the hospital from a leg fracture at the time of the attacks (confining him to a wheelchair), checked out of the hospital in order to be present in the aftermath of the attacks.
Public health
Menino oversaw negotiations that led to the January 1996 merger of the Boston City Hospital (which had been declining, and was in financial trouble) with the BU Medical Center. This merger had been arranged with the aim of improving healthcare for the city's more impoverished residents. This merger resulted in the establishment of the privatized Boston Medical Center. Menino had, as a city councilor, previously given support to the idea of reorganizing the Boston City Hospital. The Menino Pavilion at the Boston Medical Center would later be named for him, crediting his efforts on public health.
In the early 2000s, Menino was an early supporter of efforts to pass a statewide ban in Massachusetts on smoking in indoor workplaces. In 2012, Boston became Massachusetts' first large city, as well as the largest city in the United States, to ban smoking in public housing.
As he had during his tenure on the Boston City Council, Menino supported needle exchange programs as mayor.
In 2005, Menino created an $1 million effort to track ethnic and racial disparities in healthcare, and to collaborate with hospitals and other health providers to address these.
In 2008 Menino publicly criticized drugstore chains for failing to open clinics in the city of Boston. The state of Massachusetts had moved to permit drugstores to open clinics, and while many had opened in the suburbs, none had opened in the city of Boston.
In 2004, in an effort to fight childhood obesity, Menino banned sodas from Boston Public Schools. In April 2011, in a similar effort to fight obesity, Menino banned advertisements and sales of sugar-heavy drinks in municipal buildings and at city-sponsored events.
Environmental issues
In 2008, Boston was ranked as the third-greenest city in the United States by Popular Science. In the previous decade, there had been new initiatives around planting more trees in the city, single-stream recycling, increasing the solar power capacity of the city, investing in alternative energy, and biking. One of the most innovative ideas has been green building zoning, which requires large-scale private construction to be "green" by LEED standards. Boston is the first city to revise its building code to ensure green construction.
Menino was a founding members of the US Mayors' Alliance for Green Schools.
Under Menino, Boston became the first major city in the United States to incorporate green building standards in its zoning codes. Boston changed its zoning codes to require private construction larger than 50,000 square feet to adhere to the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED standards.
Under Menino, Boston partnered with other government agencies and local businesses to accomplish its goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 7% below 1990 levels by 2012, and to 80% below 1990 levels by 2050.
Menino released an updated Climate Action Plan for the City of Boston on Earth Day 2011. The major goals of the climate plan included reducing community greenhouse emissions 25% by 2020 and 80% by 2050, including projected climate change into all formal planning and project review processes, encouraging community climate action and leadership, and creating green jobs.
In May 2013, Menino launched Greenovate Boston, a community-driven movement aiming to achieve Menino's goal of an 80% reduction in greenhouse-gas emissions by 2050, as outlined in his 2011 climate action plan.
Transportation
In July 2009, Menino gave his support to the proposed Route 28X MBTA bus which state transit officials had proposed to enhance the heavily used Route 28 bus. This plan would have seen dedicated busways created in the median of Blue Hill Avenue and bus lanes on Warren Street, establishing a bus rapid transit line for Route 28. The plan was ultimately shelved.
In 2011, Menino proposed MBTA boat ferry boat service between East Boston and Fan Pier on the South Boston Waterfront. In August 2012, the Federal Highway Administration awarded $1.28 million to the city for the purchase of two boats. In September 2012, the Boston Redevelopment Authority accepted the grant and agreed to rehabilitate the East Boston Marine Terminal for the ferries, which were then expected to begin operation in 2013. Service was later moved to an expected 2014 launch. However, the plans for ferry service would stall during the mayoralty of Menino's successor Marty Walsh, due to the grant for such service not being enough to cover what proved to be the actual costs of acquiring two new boats. Ultimately, such a service would not be launched until September 2021.
In October 2013, with traffic becoming a problem in the city's Innovation District, Menino and Massachusetts Department of Transportation Secretary Richard A. Davey jointly announced a number of planned changes aimed at quelling this. This included the installation "time to desination" message signs intended at informing drivers of when to avoid taking routes through the district, pedestrian enhancements, re-striping the Evelyn Moakley Bridge's surface to direct motorists towards Interstate 93, "smart parking" sendsors to allow mobile applications to help drivers find vacant parking spaces, and the previously discussed creation of ferry boat service between South Boston and East Boston (with plans for such service to be launched the following year).
Menino was mayor for most of the years of the Big Dig, a state-run megaproject overseen by the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority. In March 2005, with the Big Dig faces significant cost overruns and other troubles, Menino wrote to Harvard University President Lawrence Summers to request that he and Massachusetts Institute of Technology President Susan Hockfield assist in evaluating the project's management and finances.
In 2012, Menino commented against the state's plans to replace the Monsignor William J. Casey Overpass in Jamaica Plain, saying that he would preferred them to instead reconstruct the overpass with a park below it. He negatively referred to the planned demolition as a "second Big Dig" (in reference to the Big Dig's difficulties).
Bicycling
Three times between the years 1999 and 2006, Boston was ranked by Bicycling magazine as one of the worst cities in the United States for bicycling. In, September 2007, Menino started a bicycle program called Boston Bikes with a goal of improving bicycling conditions by adding bike lanes and racks and offering bikeshare programs. By hosting events and creating a bike-friendly landscape throughout the city, the initiative encourages residents and tourists to explore the city by bicycle. Olympic cyclist Nicole Freedman headed the program for several years. By the end of Menino's tenure, the city had 120 miles of bicycling paths, and had roughly 1,000 Hubway bike sharing cycles.
Arts and culture
In the late 1990s, after the operator of the Harborlights Pavilion was evicted from the venue's original location at Fan Pier, Menino and Boston Redevelopment Authority head Thomas N. O'Brien worked to find a new location on the city's waterfront for the venue.
Menino was an important supporter of the revitalization of Dorcester's Strand Theatre. Menino's administration began working to revitalize the venue in 2005, in hopes of making it a local cultural attraction to draw crowds to the area. The city failed to find development partners, and instead spent $6.2 million of its own money on capital improvements to the venue, transforming it into a youth arts and performance center managed by Boston's cultural affairs office.
Menino was an important supporter of the construction of the Calderwood Pavilion. Menino negotiated the deal between the Boston Center for the Arts and the Druker Company in which the Druker Company agreed to build the "shell and core" of a performing arts venue as part of its Atelier/505 luxury mixed-use condo development. Support from the city and its Boston Redevelopment Authority were critical to the construction of the venue.
Menino gave some financial assistance and in kind services to support the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company's free performances of the works of William Shakespeare on the Boston Common.
In 2003, Menino relaunched the Boston Arts Festival.
Menino supported the construction of a new home for the Institute of Contemporary Art at Fan Pier.
Menino created a position of city poet laureate, installing Samuel James Cornish as the first holder of this position in 2008.
In 2010, Menino's administration launched the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) program, which asked the city's largest nonprofits to make voluntary payments equal to roughly 25% of what they had to pay if they lacked non-profit status in taxable property on properties worth $15 million or more. The program aimed to assist the city in offsetting the rising cost of municipal services and the loss of state financial aid due to cuts. Among the nonprofits that were asked to participate were ten cultural groups. The Boston Symphony Orchestra and the public radio station WGBH agreed to participate in the program. The Boston Museum of Fine Arts complained about the program, and instead contributed only one-fifth the amount that the city had asked it to contribute. The remaining seven cultural groups disregarded the city's request. This program was ultimately seen as straining Menino's relations with many of the city's major cultural relationships.
At the end of his tenure, Menino supported the creation of the Boston Calling Music Festival.
During Menino's tenure, the city had regularly ranked towards the bottom five among the United States' 30 largest cities in regards to the total amount of funds that it spent annually on arts, per data collected by Americans for the Arts. The budget of the Mayor's Office of Arts, Tourism, and Special Events was roughly $1.1 million in 2013. Maureen Dezell of WBUR attributed the city's relatively low art budget to Massachusetts state laws restricting the revenue sources of the state's cities and towns, leaving the city with fewer sources of revenue than other United States cities.
Revitalization of Washington Street theaters
Menino was an important supporter of efforts to renovate the Boston Opera House, Modern Theatre, and Paramount Theatre. In 1995, Menino started a challenging effort to save the three physically deteriorating venues, all located in what was regarded to be a disreputable area at the time. Menino championed the renovation of these theatres as a means to revitalize Washington Street. Menino successfully lobbied the National Trust for Historic Preservation to list the three venues among the nation's eleven most endangered landmarks in 1995.
In 1996, David Anderson, the head of Pace Theatrical, expressed his interest in renovating the Boston Opera House. Clear Channel Entertainment Theatrical, which Anderson had become head of, ultimately acquired the Boston Opera House. Their renovation effort was complicated by opposition from some neighbors, who sued the city in 2000 to block the revitalization of the venue. This litigation lasted two years. Menino worked to keep the developers from backing out of the project while litigation ensued. The city fast tracked zoning, permitting, and other approval. In November 2002, Clear Channel received a building permit to begin restoration on the Boston Opera House. Clear Channel undertook a $54 million renovation of the historic venue which reopened in July 2004.
In 2002, the city successfully convinced the developers of the Ritz Carlton being constructed a block away from the Paramount Center to pay for restoration to the venue's façade and marquee. The city later signed an agreement with Emerson College to redevelop it into the Paramount Center, which opened in 2010. In 2011, the Modern Theatre was reopened by Suffolk University.
Food policy
Early into his tenure, Menino promised to help open more grocery stores in low-income neighborhoods, in order to combat food deserts. Among other actions, Menino would, during his tenure, use city funding and American Reinvestment and Recovery Act funding to catalyze the establishment of grocery stores. In 2012, Menino's administration claimed that he had been responsible for the addition of over 26 supermarkets since taking office.
In 2004, in an effort to fight childhood obesity, Menino banned sodas from Boston Public Schools. In April 2011, in an similar effort to fight obesity, Menino banned advertisements and sales of sugar-heavy drinks in municipal buildings and at city-sponsored events. At the time, Menino expressed his desire, "to create a civic environment that makes the healthier choice the easier choice in people’s lives, whether it’s schools, worksites, or other places in the community."
In 2008, Meino co-founded, with the Food Project, the Boston Bounty Bucks porogram, which offers a dollar-for-dollar match of up to $10 for individuals utilizing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP/"food stamp") benefits at farmers markets, per each visit to participating famers markets.
In November 2010, Menino launched the Urban Agriculture Initiative, which piloted urban agriculture at two city-owned pieces of land in Dorchester. Also in 2010, Menino appointed the Mayor's Urban Agriculture Working Group to work with the Boston Office of Food Initiatives (which had also been established that year) and the Department of Neighborhood Development to assist the Boston Redevelopment Authority in establishing new zoning laws to allow for urban agriculture. Not many types of agricultural activities were addressed by the existing zoning code, and activities not identified by the zoning code are considered forbidden uses in Boston, therefore requiring an appeal through the Inspectional Service Department's Zoning Board of Appeals. Article 89 was ultimately developed to address urban agriculture zoning matters, and city passed Article 89 into law in December 2013.
Menino collaborated with the Boston City Council to pass the Mobile Food Truck Ordinance in April 2011. This ordinance allowed food trucks to operate on the streets of Boston.
In 2012, recognizing Menino's success with food and nutrition initiatives in Boston, the United States Conference of Mayors made him chair of their Food Policy Task Force.
Other
Started in 1994, the Mayor's Youth Council, which consisted of high school students representing each of the city's fifteen neighborhoods, met with Menino twice a month to discuss youth issues in the city of Boston.
In 2002, the FBI opened a corruption probe into Menino, which it ultimately closed without any charges. The probe was in response to a Boston Herald article which questioned the appropriateness of comments Menino was shown making during a segment on the television series Boston 24/7. The comments showed Menino appearing to threaten a Sprint Corporation attorney that he would award a Boston Housing Authority contract to their competitor AT&T because AT&T had sponsored a summer youth program for the city, while Sprint had failed to take similar initiative. Menino defended these comments as a "joke". The Boston Globe found there was no actual telecommunications contracts that were up for bid when Menino made these comments.
Public image
Menino enjoyed strong popularity. Menino's perennial popularity garnered him the tongue-in-cheek epithet "Mayor for Life." In July 2012, it was reported that Menino had an 82% approval rating.
Menino made appearances at community events, such as parades and community meetings. Surveys, such ones conducted in April 2008, in May 2009, and March 2013 for The Boston Globe by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center, showed that, at one point, more than half of the city's residents had reported having at one point personally met Menino, an immense share of residents for a big city mayor.
Menino, who famously was dubbed, and even styled himself, as an "urban mechanic", had a reputation for focusing strongly on "nuts and bolts" issues. The "urban mechanic" nickname had both positive and negative connotations to it. He had been given this nickname in late 1994.
Approval polling
Menino enjoyed high approval ratings among Boston residents.
In March 2013, a Boston Globe'' poll not only showed Menino with a strong approval rating, but also found that nearly three-fourths of respondents believed that the city was heading in the "right direction".
Notes on polls
52% strongly approve, 30% somewhat approve, 5% somewhat disapprove, 3% strongly disapprove
39.8% strongly approve, 31.3% somewhat approve, 3.0% lean towards approval, 2.1% lean toward disapproval, 8.0% somewhat disapprove, 5.8% strongly disapprove
See also
Timeline of Boston, 1990s–2010s
References
1990s in Boston
2000s in Boston
2010s in Boston
1993 establishments in Massachusetts
2013 disestablishments in Massachusetts
Government of Boston
Menino, Thomas |
69625375 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stand%20News%20raids%20and%20arrests | Stand News raids and arrests | On 29 December 2021, Stand News, one of the few remaining pro-democracy media outlets in Hong Kong following the passage of the Hong Kong national security law in 2020, was raided by the National Security Department of the Hong Kong Police Force. Media executives and journalists were arrested on the charge of "conspiring to publish seditious publications" on a large scale. As a result of the raid, Stand News ceased operations, the organisation's website and social media became inactive, and all its employees were dismissed. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, along with leaders in Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom and United States, condemned the raid.
Background
Imposed by China in June 2020, the Hong Kong national security law grants widespread powers against media organisations who publish content deemed to encourage secession of Hong Kong from China, collusion with foreign powers, or subversion of the central government. Under the law, police can require publishers to remove any content that the police think is likely to constitute an offence; if the publisher does not co-operate immediately, the police can seize equipment and remove the content themselves.
On 17 June 2021, the National Security Department of the Hong Kong police arrested five senior executives of the tabloid newspaper Apple Daily, on suspicion of "conspiracy to colluding with foreign forces" in violation of the national security law. After Apple Daily was closed on 24 June, the online news provider Stand News announced on 27 June that it would be removing from its website some articles that had been published before May, and that it would stop accepting donations (to avoid loss in case its financial accounts were frozen). At the same time, six people including former legislator Margaret Ng and singer Denise Ho resigned as board members, and news editing continued to operate.
Prior to that, the government had initiated a review of operations at RTHK, Hong Kong's public broadcaster, that led in February 2021 to a report on RTHK's governance and management, criticising it of having "weak editorial accountability" Director of Broadcasting Leung Ka-wing was removed from his post six months prior to the expiry of his contract, and replaced by a career civil servant with no experience in broadcasting.
On 3 December, Secretary for Security Chris Tang criticised Stand News at the press conference of the Fight Crime Committee meeting, stating the organisation published its report on the smart prison of the Tai Tam Gap Correctional Institution to "demonise" the prison. He said that any person or organisation with "intent and an action to commit an offence" would be subject to investigation, and be charged and arrested if evidence were available. In response to Tang's remarks, the editorial department of Stand News stated that it would insist on reporting the truth, believing that "only sufficient freedom of speech and press freedom and exchanges of diverse views could help society progress and maintain long-term stability."
Raids
Raids and arrests
At 6 a.m., on 29 December 2021, the National Security Department of the Hong Kong Police Force arrested six senior staff members of Stand News, including the former editor-in-chief Chung Pui-kuen, former legislator Margaret Ng, singer and activist Denise Ho, Chow Tat-chi and Christine Fang, accusing them of "conspiracy to publish seditious publications". Editor-in-chief Patrick Lam was also arrested at his home, and his computer, tablet computer, phone, press book and travel documents were seized. Editor and Hong Kong Journalists Association chairman Ronson Chan was also taken by police for questioning, but released hours later. Officers from the national security unit searched the premises of the arrested persons. At 7 a.m., the police alleged that they were suspected of violating Sections 9 and 10 of the Crimes Ordinance, "the crime of conspiracy to publish seditious publications", but did not explain when or which report was involved. Lam later resigned as editor-in-chief.
Chan live-streamed the police raid on his home on the Stand News Facebook page. He recorded a police officer holding a court warrant issued by acting magistrate Peter Law and asking to enter his residence for a search. The police ordered Chan to stop recording, or be charged with obstructing a police officer. At the same time, from 8 a.m., nearly 200 police cordoned, raided, and searched the headquarters of Stand News in Kwun Tong. Reporters were not allowed to enter or remain in the building.
In addition, Chan Pui-man, the former deputy director of Apple Daily, who was charged for violating the national security law and is currently remanded at Tai Lam Centre for Women, was also arrested for publishing seditious publications for Stand News. Chan is the wife of Chung Pui-kuen, who had previously been arrested by the National Security Department of the police unit in June 2021 for conspiracy to collude with foreign forces; her case was postponed until 24 February 2022.
After the raid finishes, Lam once looked at the reporter and wanted to speak, but the police officer pressed his head and brought a police car. By 12 p.m., Hong Kong police seized a number of computers, electronic equipment, some documents, telephones, HK$500,000 in cash, and about 33 boxes of evidence from the office, and loaded them into a truck and took them away. The police also asked Stand News to delete 5 articles in a short period of time, including the report on the second anniversary of the siege of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, an exclusive interview with former Stand News reporter Gwyneth Ho, who participated in the pro-democracy primary election, and Hong Kong citizens supporting the patriotism. It also includes about Chow Hang-tung, vice chairman of the Hong Kong Alliance, was awarded the China Outstanding Democracy Award and other reports. On the other hand, Denise Ho's Facebook page posted a message on her special page to report safety, expressing that she was fine and asks the followers not to worry. Hong Kong police also froze HK$61 million in assets related to Stand News, the largest amount frozen since the national security law was implemented.
After the raid and arrests
At 4 p.m., Senior Hong Kong Superintendent of the national security unit, Steve Li Kwai-wah, said in a press briefing after the arrests, accusing Stand News of conspiring to publish a number of “seditious articles” and news reports that inciting hatred against Hong Kong government and the Hong Kong legal system. He cited a number of examples of "seditious articles", including describing protesters who opposed the extradition bill amendment campaign as "disappeared" and "violated", riot police "shooting" in siege at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, unintended interrogation was "a blatant abuse of power by the CCP" and called it an "example" of incitement and fake news. Some of the articles are blogs or exclusive interviews of arrested persons or fugitives, and are used for inciting secession or subversion of state power, calling for sanctions on the Hong Kong and Chinese government.
During this raid, Stand News was accused of at least 20 inflammatory reports and blog articles for violating national security law, including the second anniversary of the siege at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, interviews with Gwyneth Ho in prison, Chow Hang-tung won the "China Outstanding Democracy Award", smart prisons and other reports. Li also stated that there are blog articles that he will hold several rallies, set up delegations to lobby in different countries, and write several sanctions lists, etc. In addition, he said during the briefing that the police were investigating whether the purpose of the funds was to establish a branch of Stand News in the United Kingdom, and whether the organization had colluded with foreign forces and violated the national security law.
At 11 p.m., Stand News removed all content on various websites and social media. Its website posted a closure announcement, stating that Stand News reiterated its independence and adherence to the core values of Hong Kong's editorial policy, and thanked readers for their support.
Also on the same day, a source told The Standard that additional persons were on the police wanted list, including director Tony Tsoi and former director Joseph Lian.
On 30 December, one day after the initial raid in Hong Kong, the Stand News office branch at the United Kingdom also ceased its operations.
Legal
Magistrate Peter Law of the West Kowloon Magistrates Court denied bail for Chung Pui-keun and Patrick Lam. Four others—Margaret Ng, Denise Ho, Chow Tat-chi, and Christine Fang—were not charged but released on bail pending further investigation.
Reactions
Hong Kong
Hong Kong government
The Hong Kong government issued a press release stating that the police's enforcement actions against Stand News were taken strictly in accordance with the law and evidence-based. The statement emphasized that freedom of speech and press is protected by the Basic Law and the Hong Kong Bill of Rights, but freedom of speech and press is not absolute. According to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, these freedoms can be restricted for reasons such as national security.
Chief Executive Carrie Lam said the action was not aimed at media with certain positions and opposition media, but at law-based enforcement efforts.
Chief Secretary for Administration John Lee stated that he supported the police operations, adding that anyone who made use of media work for their own political purposes are "bad apples" and "evil elements" who "pollute" "press freedom".
Lawmakers
Election Committee member-designate, Maggie Chan supported the police's strict law enforcement, saying that any freedom is not without restrictions, emphasizing that it must be subject to national security and public order. She also believes that the national security law is not only a national law, but also activates the original laws of Hong Kong to safeguard national security.
Kenneth Fok, a member-designate of the Sports, Performing Arts, Culture and Publication functional constituency, which is also representing the press, responded that he believes that the Basic Law guarantees the freedom of the press and freedom of speech for all Hong Kong people and media organizations, and believes that all actions are carried out in accordance with the law.
Ambrose Lam, a member-designate of the Legal functional constituency, expressed his belief that the law guarantees freedom of the press, and hoped that the public would have confidence in the laws of Hong Kong.
Member-designate Dominic Lee expressed his confidence in the Hong Kong police and the courts.
Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions and other pro-Beijing political groups, jointly supported the police's operation. The latter even named a part of the Stand News report that incited hatred against the police.
Tam Yiu-chung, a sole Hong Kong delegate of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, said that he did not believe that the police's raid of Stand News would have a chilling effect or a blow to press freedom.
Horace Cheung, a member of the Executive Council, questioned the reason for the cessation of Stand News.
The chairman of the Democratic Party, Lo Kin-hei, said that the police's arrest of the media management for conspiracy to publish seditious publications is a serious matter, which is very detrimental to social reconciliation, and urged the police to explain the specific reasons to the public.
Organisations
The Hong Kong Journalists Association expressed deep concern that the police have "repeatedly arrested senior members of the media and searched the offices of news organisations containing large quantities of journalistic materials within a year", and urged the "government to protect press freedom in accordance with the Basic Law".
The Hong Kong Foreign Correspondents' Club said in a statement that they are "deeply concerned" about the raids, stating that the actions are "a further blow to press freedom in Hong Kong and will continue to chill the media environment in the city following a difficult year for the city’s news outlets." They urged the authorities to "respect press freedom, protected under the Basic Law and vital to the maintenance of Hong Kong’s status as an international financial centre."
Taiwan
President Tsai Ing-wen said in a Facebook post that she regrets seeing the Chinese communist authorities tear up the one country, two systems commitment and suppress Hong Kong's freedom of speech" and "Taiwan will continue to firmly embrace Hong Kong and Hong Kong people, and hopes that those arrested today will be released safely as soon as possible."
Premier Su Tseng-chang condemns the Chinese government for failing to abide by its promises of one country, two systems.
The Democratic Progressive Party issued a statement condemning the actions, saying that the raid by "200 officers in plainclothes and military uniform" was "outrageous and dissatisfactory". It said that the raid is another example of authorities working to "stifle democracy and freedoms in Hong Kong" and tear up one country, two systems to the point of becoming a "political joke".
In a statement issued through Facebook, the opposition Kuomintang urged mainland Chinese authorities to "respect the younger generation's view on democratic values and freedom of expression in Hong Kong". It also stated that Hong Kong was the democratic base where the founder of the Republic of China, Sun Yat-sen, and the "sages and martyrs who pursued the democratic revolution discussed the country and prepared for the revolution". The statement mentioned that the Kuomintang has always supported Hong Kong's democratic rule of law, freedom of speech, and freedom of the press, stressing that "freedom of speech is the basis for the people's diverse expression."
The New Power Party issued a statement condemning police actions, claiming that the Hong Kong National Security Department adopted non-proportionate measures, which "seriously violates" the freedom of the press, and infringes on Article 27 of the Basic Law, which stipulates that "Hong Kong residents shall have freedom of speech, of the press and of publication; freedom of association, of assembly, of procession and of demonstration; and the right and freedom to form and join trade unions; and to strike." The party also urged the Hong Kong government not to resort to intimidation, as it "cannot alleviate the distrust of the government by Hong Kong people, and will only further distance the government and the people".
Taiwan Statebuilding Party issued a statement stating that after the Hong Kong government used the national security law forcibly colonized by the Chinese government to eliminate the Apple Daily as a listed company and democratic media, the Hong Kong government once again dispatched a large number of Hong Kong police to search for another in the early morning to raid the office of pro-democracy media Stand News and the residence of its former executives were arrested, including Denise Ho who has always cared about social issues and defies power.
International politicians
Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, issued a statement calling on Chinese and Hong Kong authorities to "cease targeting Hong Kong's free and independent media" and release those arrested on sedition charges. He said that the journalists and media executives associated with Stand News have been "unjustly detained".
Amanda Milling, the UK's Minister of State for Asia, said on Twitter that the actions "further erode freedom of speech in Hong Kong" and that the UK would continue to work with international partners to push back.
Mélanie Joly, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, expressed concern for those arrested, "including Canadian citizen and activist Denise Ho."
The spokesman from the German Federal Foreign Office stated that the arrests "illustrate anew that there is a steady erosion of pluralism, freedom of speech and freedom of press in Hong Kong, especially after the national security law came into force."
South Korean foreign ministry spokesperson said that South Korean government hopes that Hong Kong will enjoy a high degree of autonomy under the principle of one country, two systems, and continue to maintain stability and development while the basic rights and freedoms of residents are guaranteed.
International organisations
The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the actions and considered the arrests an attack on press freedom.
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said it was alarmed at the "extremely rapid closing of the civic space and outlets for Hong Kong's civil society to speak and express themselves freely".
Cédric Alviani of the Reporters Without Borders East Asia Bureau called for the release of all arrested journalists, and urged other countries to act and "defend what's left of the free press in Hong Kong before China's model of information control claims another victim".
Aftermath
Days after Stand News was forced to close, Citizen News – another independent, crowdfunded, Chinese-language news outlet – announced that it would cease publication in order to protect the safety of its staff. Citizen News had also been a recent target of government criticism.
A third news outlet, Mad Dog Daily, announced its closure for the same reason shortly thereafter. The publisher of Mad Dog Daily, which originated as a newspaper founded in 1996, stated that if Stand News pieces were considered "seditious" by the authorities, then Mad Dog Daily's content would "definitely" be as well.
See also
2019–2020 Hong Kong protests
Apple Daily raids and arrests
Hong Kong national security law
2021 Hong Kong legislative election, held some days before
References
2021 in Hong Kong
2021 controversies
December 2021 events in Asia
Hong Kong national security law
Political repression in Hong Kong |
69626159 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George%20Fitzsimmons%20%28serial%20killer%29 | George Fitzsimmons (serial killer) | George Kearon Joseph Fitzsimmons (1937 – 1999), known as The Karate Chop Killer, was an American serial killer was convicted of killing his uncle and aunt in Roulette, Pennsylvania in 1973, after being previously deemed insane for the 1969 murders of his parents in Eggertsville, New York. At Fitzsimmons' subsequent trial, in which he was represented by famous attorney F. Lee Bailey, he was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment, which he served until his death in 1999.
Early life
George Kearon Joseph Fitzsimmons was born in 1937 in Buffalo, New York, the only child of William and Pearl Fitzsimmons (née Tate). Little is known about his childhood and upbringing, aside from dropping out of college during his teens. Shortly thereafter, Fitzsimmons joined the Army and was stationed in Korea, where he took a keen interest in learning and practicing karate. However, at the same time, he developed an addiction to amphetamines, which led him to occasionally become violent, have mental breakdowns or suffer auditory hallucinations.
In an attempt to improve his condition, Fitzsimmons' parents sent him to the Buffalo State Hospital, where he remained for an undetermined amount of time before being released. After his release, he worked for some time as a lifeguard at a local YMCA, but eventually quit and moved back in at his parents' apartment in Eggertsville, New York, where he became known by locals for his expertise in karate and his love for weightlifting.
Parricide
On January 12, 1969, Fitzsimmons got into an argument with his parents over attending church, causing him to fly into a rage and bludgeon both of them using a souvenir tomahawk and karate chops. He then stole one of his father's cars and fled to Attleboro, Massachusetts, where he stayed at a motel until his parents' bodies were discovered by concerned neighbors on January 21. He then left the state, intending to travel either towards Chicago or Arizona, but first stopped in Altamont, Illinois, where he wrote a telegram to a bank in Buffalo, asking that money be transferred into his bank account. As the employees had already been notified that a warrant was issued for his arrest, they notified the police, who subsequently apprehended Fitzsimmons.
After he was extradited back to New York, he was charged with two counts of murder, after presiding Justice Edward Robinson denied his attorneys' requests that the charges be reduced to manslaughter. At his subsequent trial, however, he was ruled a paranoid schizophrenic by the judge and ordered to be interned at the Buffalo State Hospital, thus acquitting him of murder charges. This decision caused further controversy when it was announced that he could be legally eligible to inherit his parents' $123,000 estate, as he technically considered innocent under the law.
Release, move to Pennsylvania and new murders
After spending less than three years in psychiatric care, a panel of doctors declared that Fitzsimmons "no longer posed a danger to society" due to his exemplary behavior, and released him. Shortly afterwards, he and his wife Beverly, whom he had met in the mental hospital, moved to a house in Coudersport, Pennsylvania. Mere weeks later, Fitzsimmons beat up his wife so severely that she had to be hospitalized, but was only convicted of aggravated assault and battery since she did not want to press charges against him.
After a failed attempt by his lawyer to persuade him to go back to the mental hospital, Fitzsimmons moved in with his aunt and uncle, Euphresia and DeAlton Nichols, both 80, in Roulette, Pennsylvania. With each passing day, his paranoid delusions grew worse and worse, with him eventually coming to the conclusion that his aunt and uncle were trying to poison him by lacing his food with arsenic. Angered, he confronted them both and an argument ensued, causing Fitzsimmons to grab a hunting knife and stab DeAlton twice in the heart. He then turned towards Euphresia, whom he cornered in the kitchen and stabbed to death. He then got into their car and drove to a sandwich shop in Buffalo, where he called his lawyer and told him what had happened, saying that he wanted to back to the Buffalo State Hospital. He then sat on the curb and waited for police to take him in.
Trial, imprisonment and death
Two days after his arrest, Fitzsimmons, who was held without bail, was officially charged with the Nicholses' murders by a grand jury. Shortly after his arrest, his wife officially filed for divorce, in addition to a lawsuit for battery. Using his inheritance money, Fitzsimmons hired famed lawyer F. Lee Bailey as his attorney, with one of his first actions being a request for a change of venue to a larger metropolitan area such as Erie or Pittsburgh. This request was granted, and the trial location was moved to Greensburg.
At the trial itself, psychiatrists were called on both the defense and prosecution's side to testify their findings. While it was supposed that Bailey's defense team would proceed with an insanity defense, this was temporarily hampered by Fitzsimmons himself, who claimed that he was not mentally ill and that at the time of the murders, he was supposedly out on a walk. The latter claim was disputed by a tape-recorded interview with Buffalo police officers on the day of his arrest, in which he explicitly said that he had just killed his aunt and uncle. The case also drew attention due to the actions of his attorney, who left mixed impressions on the jurors for a variety of reasons.
Despite Bailey's efforts to convince the jurors that his client was insane, Fitzsimmons was found guilty, convicted and subsequently sentenced to two life terms. He was interned at the medium-security State Correctional Institution – Dallas in Jackson Township, where he initially proved to be a problematic inmate, but over the years, he became a recluse who often muttered to himself. Fitzsimmons spent the remainder of his life at the institution, succumbing to cancer in 1999. Decades after his death, Bailey, who by then worked as a law consultant in Maine, discussed the case with EndeavorNews, revealing that he had feared for his life when he interacted with his client.
See also
List of serial killers in the United States
External links
Matter of Fitzsimmons (1970)
Bibliography
References
1937 births
1999 deaths
20th-century American criminals
American male criminals
Male serial killers
American serial killers
American people convicted of murder
People convicted of murder by Pennsylvania
People acquitted of murder
People acquitted by reason of insanity
Parricides
Familicides
Serial killers who died in prison custody
American prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment
Prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment by Pennsylvania
Prisoners who died in Pennsylvania detention
Deaths from cancer in Pennsylvania
American karateka
People with schizophrenia
Criminals from New York (state)
People from Buffalo, New York |
69626465 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosemary%20Ndlovu | Rosemary Ndlovu | Nomia Rosemary Ndlovu (born 1978) is a South African convicted murderer and former policewoman who was convicted in the deaths of six people her live-in partner and five of her relatives between 2012 and 2018. Her motive was to live off of their life and funeral insurance policies, having collected as much as R1.4 million (US$93,000) at the time of her arrest. In 2021 Ndlovu was sentenced to six concurrent life terms for the murders and a total of thirty years; 10 years for four fraud counts, 10 years for each of the seven incitement to commit murder charges and 10 years for the attempted murder of her mother, Maria Mushawana.
Early life
Nomia Rosemary Ndlovu was born in the township of Tembisa in the Transvaal province (now Thembisa, located in the Gauteng province) in or around 1978.
Police career
Ndlovu entered the South African Police Service (SAPS) and was posted at Tembisa police station, eventually being promoted to the rank of sergeant. While Ndlovu was regarded as a respected member of the police force, colleagues also recalled her as a gambling addict who sometimes bunked out of work to avoid loan sharks.
Murders
Ndlovu's first victim was Madala Witness Homu, Ndlovu's cousin, who in March 2012 was found beaten to death in Olifantsfontein. For her death, Ndlovu would receive over R131 000 in insurance.
In June 2013, Audrey Ndlovu, Ndlovu's sister, while staying at Ndlovu's, is found murdered by a combination of poisoning and strangulation. Ndlovu received R717 421.17 in insurance from her death.
June 2013, Zanele Motha, Ndlovu's niece is found murdered by beating; a death which Ndlovu would receive around R119 840 for.
October 2015, Maurice Mabasa, Ndlovu's boyfriend and father of her child, is found murdered and dumped in Olifantsfontein with over 80 stab wounds. From Mabasa's death, Ndlovu would receive more than R131 000 in death policies which she had made in his name.
Mayeni Mashaba, Nldovu's nephew, found murdered in Olifantsfontein in April 2017, after having met up with Ndlovu the day before his murder.
Ndlovu's final victim was Brilliant Mashego, Ndlovu's nephew and Audrey's son, who was last seen alive in Ndlovu's company on 22 January 2018 in Bushbuckridge and found 2 days later on January 24 in Bushbuckridge. In court, Ndlovu admitted to having taken out funeral policies for Mashego.
Arrest
Ndlovu's murder spree ended when she was arrested after being recorded while trying to enlist an undercover police officer and another man, both posing as hitmen, to burn her sister Joyce and her five children to death inside her house.
References
1978 births
Female serial killers
Living people
People convicted of murder by South Africa
People from Gauteng
South African fraudsters
South African people convicted of murder
South African serial killers |
69626681 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homelessness%20in%20Hungary | Homelessness in Hungary | There are estimated to be 30,000 homeless people in Hungary. 131 homeless people died of cold exposure in Budapest between 2006 and 2010.
After repeated attempts at criminalizing homelessness in Hungary by the Fidesz government, with homeless people facing severe restrictions in many cities, a new law banning homelessness took effect in Hungary at June 2018. Since the law took effect, about 200 homeless people have received police warnings and at least four have been arrested; in the cases completed so far, the courts have handed down formal cautions.
Various Hungarian nongovernmental organizations, including a group named "The city belongs to all," have protested against the new law, calling it "inhumane".
References
Hungarian society
Homelessness by country |
69627180 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yes%20Madam%2C%20Sir | Yes Madam, Sir | Yes Madam, Sir is a 2008 documentary film written, directed by Megan Doneman. It stars Kiran Bedi. The film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on 5 September 2008.
Cast
Kiran Bedi
Prakash Peshawaria
Saina Bedi
Gautam Kaul
Suresh Ayyar
Yvonne Baginsky
Jack Boram
Kirsty Bruce
Suzie Bruce
Peter Demas
Andrew Doneman
Paula Doneman
Michael Doneman
Anne Doneman
Kristin Feeley
Leo Sande Gasnier
Patrick Given-Wilson
Kate Gues
Rachel Higgins
Cynthia Kane
Laurie Kirby
Kevin Macdonald
Gordon MacPhail
Lara Measelle
Robert Messinger
Avnish Puri
Urvashi Puri
Simon Rosenthal
Accolades
Reception
Yes Madam, Sir received critical acclaim. Richard Kuipers from Variety saying that “YES MADAM, SIR is an enthralling chronicle of Kiran Bedi's brilliant, tempestuous career as India's first elite policewoman. Granted unrestricted access to Bedi for six years, Aussie doc maker Megan Doneman has created a dynamic and editorially rigorous profile of this adored public figure, whose radical methods and running battle with bureaucracy made headlines from 1972 until her retirement in 2007.debutante Doneman multitasks with distinction”Kirk Honeycutt of The Hollywood Reporter wrote that This is a complex life and these are complex issues especially to foreign eyes. Yet Doneman does a terrific job of making all things clear and even making a seeming supercop all too human. Under the circumstances of guerilla filmmaking, the film is surprisingly well produced with Helen Mirren supplying a thoughtful narration and Nathan Larson an unobtrusive score.Ernest Hardy of The Village Voice wrote that “In chronicling the life and groundbreaking achievements of Kiran Bedi, the first female police officer in India, Doneman thankfully pushes beyond the hagiography in which too many filmmakers engage when they want to illustrate a subject's heroism. Her lumps-and-all portrait includes Bedi's father breaking with tradition to educate his four daughters; Bedi joining the police force in 1972, setting the stage for her controversial, career-long battles with police and government bureaucrats; and the globally influential prison reforms that Bedi formulated. But Sir isn't pure celebration; the egoism beneath Bedi's altruism, and the self-absorption that costs Bedi's daughter and husband dearly, are also shown. The result dazzles: a depiction of enviable heroism within a flawed and recognizably human persona.”
References
External links
2008 documentary films
2008 films |
69628508 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ihnat%20Bujnicki | Ihnat Bujnicki | Ihnat Bujnicki (also known as Ignat Buynitsky, ; 22 August 1861 – 22 September 1917) was an actor and theatre director, described as “the father of the Belarusian theatre”. He was also actively involved in various charitable and microfinance initiatives.
Early years
Bujnicki was born into the family of minor nobility on the estate of Palivačy (today in Hlybokaje district of Viciebsk region in Belarus). Upon graduation from the Riga Polytechnic School, he became a land surveyor.
While working as a surveyor in Viciebsk, Minsk and Mahilioŭ provinces of the Russian empire he acquired interest in and started recording Belarusian songs, folk legends and stories. But of particular interest for Bujnicki were Belarusian folk dances. To develop his interest further, he enrolled in a drama school in Vilna.
First Belarusian theatre troupe
In 1907, Bujnicki founded a theatre troupe, which held performances in various Belarusian cities as well as Warsaw and St. Petersburg. Performances for wealthier spectators were set at a high price of two rubles, while those for farmers were free.
The troupe's performances rode the wave of the Belarusian national revival of the early 20s century. As the newspaper Naša Niva wrote in the summer of 1910:
“Dzisna does not remember such a gathering of people. Local intelligentsia and common people alike sincerely greeted the [troupe], the mighty idea of national revival warmed everyone with its hot rays, united everyone, stirred their frozen hearts, sparkled their eyes dulled from heat, and the first native word from the stage was welcomed by more than one tear."
“There was no end to the cheers [during the performance in Polacak]: the whole hall was buzzing like a beehive with swarming bees… The Belarusian theatre is becoming grounded on solid foundations, thanks to the actions and zeal of Uncle Ihnat Bujnicki and new and new forces are emerging. I sincerely thank him for these efforts and diligence, and one day, when the national consciousness of all the Belarusian people awakens, the memory of Ihnat Bujnicki will be sacred to all."
In Minsk the artists were covered with roses and after Bujnicki's performances in St. Petersburg and Warsaw, newspapers wrote about the "colossal success" of the troupe, which "awakens in Belarusians a sense of national dignity."
Bujnicki was a versatile actor himself - he appeared on stage in plays, recited poems, danced, sang solo and in the choir (as a light bass baritone).
Final years
The Russian imperial authorities became concerned about the troupe's impact - Bujnicki and his associates were taken under police surveillance and some performances were banned. Pressure from the authorities and financial problems forced Bujnicki to close the theatre in 1913. Plans to create a new one were thwarted by the outbreak of World War I.
In 1913 he organised a credit society where Belarusian farmers could get a loan at a small interest rate.
During the war, Bujnicki was involved in charitable activities in support of soldiers as well as Belarusian refugees fleeing the military conflict on the Belarusian lands which had become a frontline. After the February Revolution of 1917 he was one of the initiators of the First Society of Belarusian Drama and Comedy, on the basis of which the Belarusian State Theatre would be formed in 1920.
Death and memory
In 1917 Bujnicki went to the front near Maladziečna, where he became ill while preparing an amateur performance for soldiers and on 22 September he died of typhus in a hospital near the town of Haradok. His wish was to be buried in his native estate but when his daughters brought his body to Palivačy, there was no one to meet them in the war-ravaged region.
In the early 1970s, Bujnicki's neglected grave was found by Belarusian writer Uladzimir Karatkievič and Professor Uladzimir Niafeda. His remains were reburied in the nearby village of Prazaroki and a monument erected. A museum dedicated to Bujnicki has been operating at a local school since 1982.
References
1861 births
1917 deaths
Belarusian theatre people
Deaths from typhus |
69628631 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragoljub%20Stamenkovi%C4%87 | Dragoljub Stamenković | Dragoljub Stamenković (; born 18 September 1954) is a politician in Serbia. He served in the National Assembly of Serbia from 1994 to 2007 as a member of the far-right Serbian Radical Party (Srpska radikalna stranka, SRS).
Private career
Stamenković is a traffic technician based in Niš.
Politician
During the Milošević years (1993–2000)
Stamenković received the lead position on the Radical Party's electoral list for the Niš division in the 1993 Serbian parliamentary election and was elected when the list won four mandates. (From 1992 to 2000, Serbia's electoral law stipulated that one-third of parliamentary mandates would be assigned to candidates from successful lists in numerical order, while the remaining two-thirds would be distributed amongst other candidates at the discretion of the sponsoring parties. Stamenković received an automatic mandate by virtue of his position.) He took his seat when the assembly convened in January 1994. Serbian president Slobodan Milošević's Socialist Party of Serbia (Socijalistička partija Srbije, SPS) won the election, and the Radicals served in opposition for the term that followed.
Stamenković was again given the lead position on the SRS's list for Niš in the 1997 parliamentary election and was re-elected when the list again won four mandates. The Socialists again won the election, and the Radicals initially continued to serve in opposition. On 24 March 1998, the SPS organized a new coalition government that included the Radicals and the Yugoslav Left (Jugoslovenska Levica, JUL). On 26 May 1998, Stamenković was appointed as a deputy speaker of the national assembly.
Amid growing tensions between Serbia and the United States of America in 1998, Stamenković remarked that if the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was bombed without a United Nations Security Council decision, it would "mark the end of the United Nations and the existing balance of power on the international scene." He added that Russia "had realized" the breakup of Yugoslavia would be a prelude to the breakup of Russia and warned that "despite Russia's economic weakness, it still has huge military and nuclear potential." In early March 1999, shortly before the start of the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia, he said that "everything should be done to make the lives of those have their military troops deployed in the Republika Srpska and who are behaving as occupiers unbearable." He specifically called for civil resistance and non-cooperation. He also called on the Serbian government to "wipe out" those whom he described as separatists, bandits, and terrorists in Kosovo, for the purpose of "protecting all citizens."
In October 1999, after the conclusion of NATO's bombing campaign, Stamenković met with a delegation from Iraq led by Harith Al-Khashali, the Ba'ath Party's committee chair for international relations. Stamenković said that Serbia was "bitter" over recent American bombings of civilians in Iraq and said, "We know that the Iraqi people can handle this and that the evil called the US and the new world order will disappear one day." He also described Serbia under Milošević as "the only free state in Europe, like Iraq [in the Middle East]."
In April 2000, he accused the Democratic Party (Demokratska stranka, DS) and Serbian Renewal Movement (Srpski pokret obnove, SPO) of "carrying out synchronized attacks against the Yugoslav Army and police" and of compiling lists of indictees for the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). The following month, he condemned Niš mayor Zoran Živković of the Democratic Party for chairing a city hall meeting wearing an Otpor! t-shirt; Stamenković claimed this was proof of the DS seeking to provoke unrest and come to power by force. He supported the Serbian government's decision to take over RTV Studio B during the same time period, accusing the station of having made frequent calls for violence.
After the fall of Milošević (2000–present)
Slobodan Milošević was defeated by Vojislav Koštunica of the Democratic Opposition of Serbia (Demokratska opozicija Srbije, DOS) in the 2000 Yugoslavian presidential election, a watershed event in Serbian and Yugoslavian politics. The Radicals left the Serbian government on 24 October 2000 and returned to opposition, and a new Serbian parliamentary election was called for December.
For the 2000 parliamentary election, the entire country was counted as a single electoral division and all mandates were awarded to candidates on successful lists at the discretion of the sponsoring parties or coalitions, irrespective of numerical order. Stamenković was given the ninth position on the SRS's list and was awarded a mandate for a third term after the party won twenty-three seats. The DOS won a landslide majority in the election and the Radicals again served in opposition. Stamenković's term as deputy speaker ended when the new assembly convened in January 2001.
He was again given the ninth position on the SRS's list in the 2003 Serbian parliamentary election and was selected for another mandate when the list won eighty-two seats. Although the Radicals emerged as the largest party in the assembly after the election, they fell well short of a majority and ultimately continued to serve in opposition. During his last term in parliament, Stamenković was the chair of the transport and communications community and a member of the administrative board and the foreign affairs committee.
Serbia introduced the direct election of mayors in the 2004 Serbian elections. Stamenković ran as the SRS's candidate in Niš and finished third. He also received the tenth position on the party's list for the City Assembly of Niš and was given a local mandate when the party won twelve out of sixty-one seats. As at the republic level, the Radicals served in opposition in the city.
Stamenković was not a candidate in the 2007 Serbian parliamentary election and his term in the national assembly came to an end that year. Serbia ended the direct election of mayors in the 2008 local elections; Stamenković appeared on the SRS's list and was given another mandate when it won eighteen seats. Although the Radicals technically won a plurality victory in the assembly vote, the DS and SPS formed a coalition government in the city and the SRS was yet again in opposition.
The Radicals experienced a serious split later in 2008, with several members joining the more moderate Serbian Progressive Party (Srpska napredna stranka, SNS) under the leadership of Tomislav Nikolić and Aleksandar Vučić. Stamenković remained with the Radicals.
He chaired a city committee responsible for naming streets and squares in the 2008–12 term. In 2009, he led a successful effort to have a boulevard named after the legendary Serbian Roma singer Šaban Bajramović.
Serbia's electoral laws were again changed in 2011, such that all mandates were awarded in numerical order to candidates on successful lists. Stamenković appeared in the nineteenth position on the Radical Party's list for Niš in the 2012 local elections. The party, weakened by the split four years earlier, failed to cross the electoral threshold to win representation in the assembly. He has not returned to political life since this time.
Electoral record
Local (City of Niš)
References
1954 births
Living people
Politicians from Niš
Members of the National Assembly of Serbia
Serbian Radical Party politicians |
69630885 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mildred%20Moore | Mildred Moore | Mildred Moore (also known as Mildred Lee) was a silent film actress who appeared in a string of Hollywood westerns and serials in 1919 and 1920, often starring alongside Hoot Gibson. Her career came to an abrupt end in 1920 with a drug scandal.
Biography
Born in New Albany, Indiana, and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, Mildred won a beauty contest in St. Louis as a teenager, and she eventually made her way to New York City to pursue a career after winning a screen test via a Photoplay beauty contest. She first found work as a dancer at the Roof Garden Review and later as a Ziegfeld girl at Cocoanut Grove. A skilled musician who played the piano, harp, accordion, banjo, and oboe, she was eventually spotted by a director from Los Angeles and recruited to appear in silent comedies.
Starting with the 1917 short Roaring Lions and Wedding Bells — in which she appeared alongside a trio of real lions — she appeared in a string of Fox Sunshine silent comedies using the name Mildred Lee (which may or may not be her birth name). She also appeared in shorts by Eddie Lyons and Lee Moran.
Mildred was eventually poached by Universal to become a Western star, reinventing herself as Mildred Moore. In 1919 and 1920, she starred alongside big names like Hoot Gibson and Art Acord.
Her career was cut short in 1920, when she and actor Jay Belasco — her rumored boyfriend — were arrested in an apartment in Los Angeles for possession of cocaine and heroin. Cornered in Belasco's apartment at Wilcox and Hollywood Boulevard by the police, she reportedly tried to commit suicide by swallowing a large quantity of morphine. She later pled guilty to the charges and was sent to a sanitorium to dry out.
In subsequent interviews with reporters, Moore explained that she had been an addict for many years, having been introduced to the drug in New York City when she first began acting. Despite her professed intent to return to filmmaking after she was released from jail, she does not appear to have notched any credits after she was let out on probation in October 1920. Belasco, on the other hand, continued to accrue roles through the mid-1930s.
She reportedly died of a heart attack in New York City in August 1941.
Select filmography
The Moon Riders (1920)
The Texas Kid (1920)
The Rattler's Hiss (1920)
Held Up for the Makin's (1920)
Hair Trigger Stuff (1920)
Old Clothes for New (1920)
Non Skid Love (1920)
The Prospector's Vengeance (1920)
The Sweet Dry and Dry (1920)
Some Shimmiers (1920)
Sweet Patootie (1920)
Good Night, Ladies (1919)
The Game's Up (1919)
How's Your Husband? (1919)
Does Your Sweetheart Flirt? (1918)
Hungry Lions in a Hospital (1918)
Damaged, No Goods (1917)
Roaring Lions and Wedding Bells (1917)
References
American film actresses
Actresses from Indiana
People from New Albany, Indiana
1895 births
1941 deaths |
69631013 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Next%20Myanmar%20general%20election | Next Myanmar general election | General elections are expected to be held in Myanmar, possibly sometime in 2023. Voters will elect representatives to both the Amyotha Hluttaw and the Pyithu Hluttaw of the Assembly of the Union. The elections will be the first after the 2021 coup d'état.
Background
Myanmar, previously known as Burma, has been under a dictatorship for the majority of its independent history. First, under Ne Win and his Burma Socialist Programme Party, and then under a military junta. In the yearly 2010s, Myanmar transitioned into a state of semi-democracy, finally culminating in the 2015 elections, where democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi became State Counsellor, and her party the National League for Democracy won a landslide victory.
Coup
In the 2020 general elections the NLD won another landslide over the Tatmadaw (military) backed Union Solidarity and Development Party. The military claimed the vote was fraudulent, and on 1 February 2021, launched a coup. Suu Kyi was detained, along with President Win Myint. Senior General Min Aung Hlaing took power, organizing a junta called the State Administration Council. Myint Swe was declared interim President, and a state of emergency was declared for one year. Aung San Suu Kyi received a number of frivolous charges, including breaching emergency COVID-19 laws and for illegally importing and using radio and communication devices, specifically six ICOM devices from her security team and a walkie-talkie, which are restricted in Myanmar and need clearance from military-related agencies before acquisition. She and Myint were both remanded in custody for two weeks. Aung San Suu Kyi received an additional criminal charge for violating the National Disaster Act on 16 February, two additional charges for violating communications laws and an intent to incite public unrest on 1 March and another for violating the official secrets act on 1 April. On 6 December 2021, she was sentenced to four years in prison, but Hlaing commuted her sentence to two years. Her conviction complicates her ability to hold public office.
On 1 August 2021, Hlaing formed a caretaker government, and declared himself Prime Minister. He still holds the office of Chairman of the SAC.
The Tatmadaw originally promised to hold the elections when the state of emergency expires on 1 February 2022, but they were later pushed back to 2023.
The junta has never released evidence to back up their claims of voter fraud.
Attempted dissolution of the NLD
On 21 May 2021, the junta's Union Election Committee announced plans to permanently dissolve the National League for Democracy. NLD offices were occupied and raided by police authorities, starting on 2 February. Documents, computers and laptops were forcibly seized, and the NLD called these raids unlawful. On 9 February, police raided the NLD headquarters in Yangon. Aung San Suu Kyi has commented on the possibility of her party's forced dissolution saying, "Our party grew out of the people so it will exist as long as people support it."
Electoral system
Previously, Myanmar has exclusively used the first-past-the-post system, in which a candidate needs only a plurality of votes in a constituency to be elected.
The Pyithu Hluttaw, or House of Representatives, is elected every five years. It is the lower house. It has 440 MPs, 330 of which are elected in single-member constituencies, one for each township. A further 110 members (one quarter) are appointed by the Tatmadaw.
The Amyotha Hluttaw, or House of Nationalities, is elected every five years. It is the upper house. It has 224 MPs, 168 of which are elected in single-member constituencies, 12 in each state or region. A further 56 members (one quarter) are appointed by the Tatmadaw.
In Myanmar, it is not uncommon for elections to be cancelled partially or completely in some constituencies due to insurrection.
After the new legislators take office, the President and the two Vice Presidents of Myanmar are elected by the Presidential Electoral College, made up of MPs from three committees: one of elected members from each house of the Assembly of the Union, and one from the military-appointed members. Each committee recommends one candidate, and the Assembly then holds a vote. The position the candidates are elected to depends on their overall vote total (the highest vote-getter becomes President, while the second-highest becomes First Vice President, and the remaining candidate becomes Second Vice President).
People married to a non-Burmese citizen and/or who have children without Burmese citizenship are barred from being elected to any presidential position. This requirement has been criticized by some as being an attempt to disqualify Suu Kyi. Her late husband was a British citizen, so she was ineligible to be President. Instead, she became State Counsellor, and President Win Myint was seen as her puppet.
In December 2021, the Union Electoral Commission held a series of talks with over 60 political parties on the electoral system. They determined that it would be advisable to switch to a system of Party-list proportional representation. The Largest remainder method will be used, and the lists will be closed, although there may be a switch to open lists "when the level of education of the electorate and the political tide rises". The townships will be merged into districts for constituencies.
The change in electoral system was criticized by many anti-junta factions being politically motivated. The argument is that the NLD received an over-representative share of the seats in the 2015 election, and therefore they could receive less seats under proportional representation. Statistics for the popular vote do not appear to be available for the 2020 elections.
Conduct
Although the past three elections in Myanmar have been semi-free, there have been concerns over such things as irregularities in voter lists, misinformation, fake news, and the vilification of Burmese Muslims. In addition, the military is effectively guaranteed one vice presidency, and a quarter of the seats in both chambers of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, as well as a third of the seats in all state and regional Hluttaws, and some ministries.
Some members of the NLD dominated Pyidaungsu Hluttaw elected in 2020 have formed an anti-cabinet known as the National Unity Government of Myanmar. The NUG claims to be the legitimate government of Myanmar, and the junta and the NUG consider each other terrorist groups. The NUG is backed by the People's Defence Force, a paramilitary group that has engaged in an internal conflict with the Tatmadaw since the coup, that has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Tatmadaw soldiers in what effectively amounts to a civil war. This, along with ongoing ethnic conflicts, means the vote will likely be cancelled in some constituencies, and may not be secure in others.
In addition, some have expressed concerns about the Tatmadaw's willingness to hold free and fair elections.
Political parties
The table below lists the parties that managed to elect representatives to the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw in 2020. Most parties in Myanmar represent one of the country's many ethnic minorities.
References
Elections in Myanmar
Myanmar |
69632958 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanislav%20Huml | Stanislav Huml | Stanislav Huml (30 July 1955 – 28 December 2021) was a Czech police officer and politician who served as a Deputy. He supported a number of conspiracy theories. He died on 28 December 2021, at the age of 66.
References
1955 births
2021 deaths
Czech politicians
Czech jurists
Czech police officers
Czech conspiracy theorists
9/11 conspiracy theorists
Deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in the Czech Republic
People from Odolena Voda
Communist Party of Czechoslovakia politicians
SNK European Democrats politicians
Czech Social Democratic Party MPs
Members of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic (2010–2013)
Members of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic (2013–2017) |
69633551 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022%20in%20Romania | 2022 in Romania | Events from the year 2022 in Romania.
Incumbents
President: Klaus Iohannis
Prime Minister: Nicolae Ciucă
Deputy Prime Ministers: Hunor Kelemen and Sorin Grindeanu
President of the Chamber of Deputies: Marcel Ciolacu
President of the Senate: Florin Cîțu
President of the High Court of Cassation and Justice: Corina Corbu
President of the Constitutional Court: Valer Dorneanu
Ciucă Cabinet
Ongoing events
COVID-19 pandemic in Romania
Moldovan–Romanian collaboration during the COVID-19 pandemic
Events
January
3 January – After the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) criticized government plans for introduction of sex education and the history of the Holocaust in the school curriculum, PNL deputy Alexandru Muraru demanded for the outlawing of the party, submitting penal complaints on the party's co-presidents, George Simion and Claudiu Târziu.
11 January – COVID-19 pandemic: The National Institute of Public Health (INSP) announces that all criteria for nationwide community transmission of the Omicron variant were met.
12 January – The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (ALDE) begins negotiations with the PNL, the party from which it split in 2014, for a potential merge between the two parties.
13 January:
A police car, going fast inside locality, hits two girls aged 11 and 13, respectively, who were crossing a street in Sector 1 of Bucharest. The latter subsequently died.
COVID-19 pandemic: The National Committee for Emergency Situations (CNSU) adopts Decision no. 3/2022, which lets schools operate normally (i.e. with physical presence of students) regardless of their vaccination rate and the locality's incidence rate, as long as the grade of occupation of hospital beds reserved for COVID-19 patients (in the county in which the school is located) stays below 75%.
20 January – General strike at Societatea de Transport București (STB) leads to metro crowding and traffic jam in Bucharest, while the STB fleet of buses, trolleybuses and trams remains unused. The strike continued despite being suspended by the Bucharest Court.
22 January – COVID-19 pandemic: The total number of cases nationwide exceeds 2 million.
26 January:
COVID-19 pandemic: The vaccination campaign begins for the population aged 5-11.
The Romanian Supreme Council of National Defence (CSAT) met to discuss the security situation in the eastern flank of NATO, amid the 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis.
28 January – Marcel Boloș was sworn in as Minister of Digitalisation for the Ciucă Cabinet. He succeeded Florin Roman, who resigned over a month prior.
February
1 February – The 2022 Romanian census begins, after being initially postponed from 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Predicted and scheduled events
Date unknown
It is expected that the first road classified as an expressway in Romania will open in 2022, particularly a 40 km section on the Pitești–Craiova Expressway (DX12).
Deaths
3 January – George Bălan, Romanian musicologist, philosopher and aphorist (b. 1929)
8 January – Attila Kelemen, Romanian politician (b. 1948)
See also
Romania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022
Romania at the 2022 Winter Olympics
References |
69634720 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arjuna%20Phalguna | Arjuna Phalguna | Arjuna Phalguna is a 2021 Indian Telugu-language crime comedy film written and directed by Teja Marni. It stars Sree Vishnu and Amritha Aiyer. The film released theatrically on 31 December 2021.
Plot
In a small village in East Godavari, a pose of five friends, Arjun, Ram Babu, Thadodu, Oscar and Shravani are very close knit and shares everything.
The main lead Arjun (Sree Vishnu) is a Jr NTR fan. He prefers to stay in his home village and work for less money than going to big cities and earning. He stays with his parents and helps his father run his Dairy business.
One day bank tries to seize Thadodu's house and on request of elder in the village (Naresh) bank gives some more time. However Arjun was forced to give away his favourite cow as the guarantee to Naresh.
Arjun later decides to start his own business with his friends and applies for the loan but the bank manager asks for Bribe of fifty thousand.
Arjun and his friends get the offer to earn the required money to free the house as well as the money required for the bribe by transferring Marijuana. Though reluctant at first they agree to the terms because of their dire needs.
The transfer does not go well and a strict police officer Subba Raju "Subbu" (Subbaraju) chases them.
How they escape Subbu's clutches and how the gang manages to save Thadodu's house forms the rest of the story.
The film ends on an happy note with friends discussing about upcoming film RRR (movie).
Cast
Sree Vishnu as Arjuna
Amritha Aiyer as Shravani
Naresh as Village Sarpanch
Sivaji Raja as Arjuna's Father
Subbaraju as Police Officer
Devi Prasad
Rangasthalam Mahesh as Thadodu
Dayanand Reddy
Gaurav Pareek
Chaitanya Garikipati
Rajkumar Kasireddy
Soundtrack
The soundtrack album features eight songs.
Release
Theatrical
The film was released on 31 December 2021 coinciding with the New Year's Eve.
Home media
The film began streaming on Aha from 26 January 2021.
Reception
Y. Sunitha Chowdhary of The Hindu appreciated Vishnu's performance but opined the film was let down by a weak story. "With no chemistry between the lead pair, hardly any emotional heft, a comedy that falls flat and cinematography that doesn’t impress, the film is not engaging," Chowdhary added. Sakshi critic Anji Shetty who rated the film 2/5 stars also felt the same. Shetty criticized the film's poor direction and routine storyline.Siddartha Toleti of Mirchi9 rated the film 1.75 stars of 5 and criticised the Direction, Screenplay, Weak Story, Overdramatic and Logic less scenes Sequences but praised Some Emotional Moments. "Clueless Direction" Toleti added.
A reviewer from Eenadu compared the film with warrior Arjuna who was trapped in Padmavyuha owing to its weak screenplay and lackluster climax. 123telugu.com concluded its review by stating "On the whole, Arjuna Phalguna is a silly and over-the-top crime drama that fails to entertain. The slow pace and logic less narration make this film a boring watch. Except for Sree Vishnu’s sincere performance, this film has nothing much to offer."
References
External links
2021 films
2020s Telugu-language films
Films set in Konaseema
Films shot in Andhra Pradesh
Films set in Andhra Pradesh
Films set in Visakhapatnam
Films shot in Visakhapatnam
Indian crime comedy films
2020s crime comedy films |
69634812 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene%20Barrett | Eugene Barrett | Eugene Walter Barrett (June 30, 1931 – November 8, 2003) was an American serial killer who murdered three women he was romantically involved with in Honolulu, Hawaii from 1959 to 1995. He was sentenced to life imprisonment for the final murder, and died behind bars in 2003. He was the first confirmed and one of only two known serial killers active in the state, the other being the yet-unapprehended Honolulu Strangler.
Early life
Eugene Walter Barrett was born on June 30, 1931, in Oakland, California, the older of two sons born to Howard and Emily Barrett (née Amorin). Little is known about his childhood, other than the fact that he studied at the Washington Intermediate School in Honolulu, HI until he dropped out in the ninth grade. He later joined the Army and fought in the Korean War, but was dishonorably discharged in 1955 due to his excessive drinking.
Murders
At some point after his discharge, he permanently moved to Honolulu, Hawaii, where he began a romantic relationship with a woman named Annie E. Phillips, a divorced mother of five children. Barrett, a house painter by profession, was unemployed and drank excessively, eventually leading to Phillips severing ties with him in 1959. Unable to handle her rejection, the enraged Barrett decided that he would kill his ex-girlfriend. He armed himself with a gun, got on a bus to her apartment complex in Mayor Wright Homes and forced his way inside. Barrett then walked across the living room, where two of Phillips' children were watching TV, and went into the bedroom, where he found her tending to her youngest child. Before she had time to react, he pulled out his gun and shot her multiple times, killing her on the spot. The ensuing racket alerted the neighbors, who managed to hold down and beat him until police forces could arrive.
At his subsequent trial, Barrett claimed that he could not recall the shooting, as he was drunk at the time. This was contradicted by witnesses, who claimed that he said that she "deserved it". Due to the overwhelming evidence against him, Barrett was found guilty, convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment. This was later reduced to a 15-to-50 years imprisonment, and in 1967, he was paroled after then-Governor John A. Burns commuted his minimum imprisonment term to 8 years for unknown reasons. Barrett then returned to Honolulu, where he married Roberta Ululani Aveiro in February 1971. Their marriage was short-lived, as she filed for divorce in November 1972, citing her husband's excessive drinking as the primary factor for this action. A month later, on December 27, he went to the Hawaii Hotel, where his ex-wife was staying at the time, and stabbed her multiple times with a kitchen knife. After his arrest, he waived his right to trial and pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of manslaughter. He was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment, was paroled in 1976 and his parole requirements were dismissed in 1982.
For the remainder of the 1980s, Barrett resided in an apartment complex on Kinau Street in relative peace, but continued to drink and exhibit unstable emotional behavior. Across from his apartment lived his neighbor, 41-year-old Doneshia "RoxAnne" Kastner, who had a checkered history of both substance and sexual abuse. Despite this, she was allowed to look after her 7-year-old son Ethan, whom she often took kayaking. While there was no confirmed intimate relationship between the pair, Barrett privately accused Kastner of mocking him by dating other men and supposedly indecently exposing herself in front of him. Friends and acquaintances even claimed that he would sometimes call them on the phone, hysterically claiming that he was afraid he was going to "harm" her. After one such bout, he voluntarily asked to be admitted for psychiatric treatment at The Queen's Medical Center, where he remained until early August 1995. By the time of his release, Kastner had moved to a neighboring apartment across the street, which had angered Barrett, who believed that she would move away from the neighborhood altogether.
On August 11, 1995, just a few days after his release, Barrett spent most of the day drinking beer with his brother and a friend. After he went to get more at the local store, he saw Kastner entering her apartment. On a whim, he went back to his apartment, got a .25 semiautomatic pistol and went across the street, going right by her son, who was playing in front of the building. Barrett then went inside Kastner's room, and when she turned to face him, he shot her twice in the head and then left the room. He was seen leaving by Kastner's son, who immediately called his father, whom in turn called the authorities. Kastner was driven to the Queen's Medical Center, but succumbed to her injuries later that same day.
Arrest, trial and imprisonment
Police examining the crime scene located the supposed murder weapon, which was reported as stolen back in 1989, dumped near the apartment complex. However, there was no sign of Barrett, for whom an arrest warrant was issued. The following day, Barrett entered the Columbia Inn and pleaded with the manager to call the police so he could surrender peacefully. The man complied with his request, and shortly afterwards, Barrett was arrested and lodged in a detention facility without incident. He was held on $120,000 bail and charged with murder, theft and unlawful possession of a firearm, to which he pleaded not guilty. Barrett's third murder charge sparked controversy, leading the chief of the Hawaii Paroling Authority, Claudio Suyat, to release a statement claiming a repeat offender with the accused man's record would never be paroled with contemporary laws.
At the preliminary hearings, Kastner's son, Ethan, was called in to testify against Barrett, making him one of the youngest witnesses to take the stand in the state's history. The boy claimed that he had seen "Gene", as he called him, leave the room mere minutes after he found his mother's body, which was backed up one of the Kastner's neighbors, Enrique Crisostomo, who claimed that he had heard the boy crying after two or three gunshots had been fired into the neighboring apartment. In the meantime, Barrett announced through his attorney that he wished to remain incarcerated until he could deal with his "problem". This claim was partially granted when the judge revoked his bail, leading to him being imprisoned until his trial would take place.
At the trial itself, Barrett's attorney reiterated that his client's actions were the result of Kastner's perceived mistreatment of him, which eventually led to him snapping and killing her in a fit of rage. Barrett himself claimed that this was the cause, as he said that he "wanted to kill the bitch" for constantly for "choosing all [the] other guys over [him]." This did not succeed in swaying the jury, who found him guilty on all counts, resulting in an automatic life sentence. The presiding Justice, Wendell K. Hubby, also imposed a requirement to serve at least 40 years before he could be eligible for parole, making it a de facto life term without parole. The sentence was commended by prosecutor Fred Titcomb, who also stated that his original life sentence should have never been commuted, and that if his daughter had been killed, he would have sued the state for damages.
Death
After his sentencing, Barrett was transferred to an out-of-state facility in Oklahoma, where he spent the majority of his prison sentence. He was occasionally contacted by his son's wife, who sent him photos of his grandsons, as his son resented him too much to do it himself. In 2003, Barrett was returned to Hawaii and lodged in the Halawa Correctional Facility, but fell ill and was transferred to the Pali Momi Medical Center in Waimalu, where he died from an undisclosed illness on November 8.
See also
Honolulu Strangler
List of serial killers in the United States
External links
FamilySearch
References
1931 births
2003 deaths
20th-century American criminals
American male criminals
Male serial killers
American serial killers
American people convicted of murder
People convicted of murder by Hawaii
American people convicted of manslaughter
Uxoricides
American prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment
Prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment by Hawaii
Serial killers who died in prison custody
Prisoners who died in Hawaii detention
Violence against women in the United States
Criminals from California
People from Oakland, California |
69635317 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/When%20No%20One%20Would%20Listen | When No One Would Listen | When No One Would Listen is a 1992 American historical drama made-for-television film, telling the story of housewife Jessica Cochran (Michele Lee), and the domestic violence she faces from her controlling, mentally unstable husband Gary Cochran (James Farentino). The film featured main actress Michele Lee as the executive producer. When No One Would Listen is set in Glen Oaks, Queens, although the case it is based upon occurred elsewhere.
Background
When No One Would Listen is loosely based on David Guenther, also known as the "Make My Day Killer" due to the shooting of his neighbours in what he claimed was self-defence against their trespassing. Guenther had been the first person to invoke the State of Colorado's "Make My Day" law, which allows residents to use deadly force in their homes against intruders. Guenther later shot and murdered his estranged wife Pamela (age 30), and severely injured her boyfriend, Stanley Stinson, who survived. The Guenthers’ two children, Christopher (age 13), and Jennifer (age 11), saw the shootings and were key prosecution witnesses along with Stinson. Names and places in When No One Would Listen were changed to protect remaining witnesses and the Guenther children.
Plot
Timid housewife Jessica Cochran (Michele Lee) has been married to her controlling husband Gary (James Farentino) for years. She began dating him at the age of fifteen and has two children, daughter Maggie (Anndi McAfee) and son Pete (Damion Stevens). Gary had hit Jessica and threatened to kill her early-on in their relationship, although he has never hit the children. Both children are aware that Gary beats their mother, but they feel powerless to stop the abuse.
After some career trouble, Gary moves the family out to the New York suburb of Glen Oaks. At first, Gary seems like a sweet and loving husband, but after getting mad at some hippie neighbours who enjoy smoking marijuana, drinking alcohol and partying, he becomes obsessed with these neighbours, constantly reporting them to the police for petty reasons. Unemployed, Gary takes out his anger on Jessica. He attempts to cover up his inability to secure a new job by buying Maggie and Pete a VCR and a VHS tape of Disney's The Little Mermaid, but then begins verbally attacking Jessica and his neighbours when Jessica asks him if he got a new job. Jessica takes up a part-time job at a bakery to help make ends meet; there she meets a new friend named Lee (Lee Garlington), who makes pottery as a hobby and shares some cigarettes with Jessica while they laugh at risque sex jokes. Lee declares that she "likes [Jessica's] buns!" (referring to Jessica's sourdough buns from the bakery), after which Jessica quips back, "well, I like your jugs!" (referring to Lee's pottery). Jessica also befriends her new boss, Walter, and becomes close with him. Meanwhile, Gary criticizes Jessica for wearing a knee-length skirt to work, telling her that she has fat legs.
Lee and Walter begin to notice bruises on Jessica's body, and urge her to divorce Gary and flee with the children. One night, during a particularly loud house party, a hippie stumbles drunk up to the Cochran home and repeatedly knocks on the door, making annoying noises. Gary responds by shooting and killing the hippie's pregnant wife, which horrifies Jessica. Gary is released from jail after claiming that the neighbours were trespassing on his private property, and arguing that the shooting was in self-defence. Meanwhile, while trying to teach Pete how to fight back against some local school bullies, he violently punches Pete in the stomach, causing the boy to collapse on the floor. Jessica catches Pete that night applying ice cubes from the kitchen freezer onto a large bruise up one side of his body. Realizing that Gary is beginning to beat the children, she sneaks out of the home and spends the night with Walter. She begins dating Walter, although Lee advises Jessica to go underground to a women's shelter because of Gary's murderous history.
Gary becomes more and more unhinged, attempting at one point to force Maggie and Pete into his car so he can abduct them. Walter and Jessica are able to pull the children away from him and rescue them. Lee takes Jessica to the police for a restraining order, but the issuing judge (Ellen Crawford) warns Jessica that a restraining order is merely a piece of paper, with no power to physically stop Gary from coming back. Gary lures Jessica back into the Cochran home and holds her hostage, forcing her to put on skimpy black lingerie while he proceeds to rape her. The next morning, a SWAT team arrives and a hostage negotiator is able to convince Gary to let Jessica free. Despite Gary's actions, he is once again kept out of jail.
Jessica moves into a women's shelter for the sake of Maggie and Pete, both of whom make friends at the shelter and begin resuming normal childhood activities, like drawing pictures. Jessica continues dating Walter, and they decide one evening to take the children to a diner for supper, in the hopes that it will be a fun activity to distract themselves from Gary. Unbeknownst to them, Gary has found the women's shelter and is following Jessica in his car. Jessica, Walter and the children eat a meal together while Gary watches from outside. Upon exiting the diner, Jessica and Walter share a kiss, infuriating Gary, who steps out of his hiding place and shoots Jessica and Walter with a revolver. An ending scene reveals that the real "Jessica Cochran" (Pamela Guenther) was mortally wounded by the gunshots and died, while the real "Walter Wheeler" (Stanley Stinson) recovered from his injuries and testified against Gary in court. It is revealed that the real "Maggie" and "Pete" Cochran (Christopher and Jennifer Guenther) were taken in by their grandparents after the killing of their mother.
Cast
Michele Lee as Jessica Cochran
James Farentino as Gary Cochran
John Spencer as Walter Wheeler
Lee Garlington as Lee
Anndi McAfee as Maggie Cochran
Damion Stevens as Pete Cochran
Ellen Crawford as Judge Beckerman
Cicely Tyson as Sarah
Vincent Dale as Young officer
Reception
When No One Would Listen received mixed reviews from critics, with Richard Huff of Variety praising the acting of John Spencer as Walter, and saying of the film itself, "Cindy Myer’s writing is at times moving and other times predictable and sappy. Yet using both Jessica and Gary to narrate during the picture adds another aspect to the project that helps to snare and build tension for the viewers." Mental health information directory Therapy Route praised the film for its accurate portrayal of domestic abuse, adding When No One Would Listen to its "Movies about domestic violence and abuse - Mental Health Related Films" list.
When No One Would Listen continues to air sporadically on the Lifetime Movie Network, and has been uploaded as a bootleg copy to YouTube by various users. The film was nominated for three different awards, including a Young Artist Award for Best Actress in a Television Movie (for Anndi McAfee in the role of Maggie Cochran).
References
External links
Lifetime (TV network) films
1992 television films
Films set in the 1980s
Crime films based on actual events
Films about domestic violence
Films set in New York City |
69635423 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19%20lockdowns%20by%20country | COVID-19 lockdowns by country | Countries and territories around the world have enforced lockdowns of varying stringency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Some include total movement control while others have enforced restrictions based on time. In many cases, only essential businesses are allowed to remain open. Schools, universities and colleges have closed either on a nationwide or local basis in countries, affecting approximately percent of the world's student population.
Beginning with the first lockdown in China's Hubei province and nationwide in Italy in March, lockdowns continued to be implemented in many countries throughout 2020 and 2021. On 24 March 2020, the entire 1.3 billion population of India was ordered to stay at home during its lockdown, making it the largest of the pandemic. The world's longest continuous lockdown lasting 234 days took place in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2020, although as of October 2021, the city of Melbourne, Australia has spent the most cumulative days in lockdown at 267 days over separate periods.
A few countries and territories did not use the strategy, including Japan, Belarus, Sweden, South Korea, Tanzania, two states in Brazil and certain United States states.
Countries and territories with lockdowns
Argentina
Australia
A number of Australian states, territories, and cities have implemented lockdowns in response to the pandemic. The country entered a general nationwide lockdown on 23 March 2020 during the first wave of the pandemic, which was lifted on 15 May.
The state of Victoria, particularly its capital city of Melbourne, the country's second most populous city with five million residents, entered an extended lockdown on 7 July 2020 in response to a rapidly growing community outbreak. Initial measures included the closure of all non-essential services, including retail entertainment venues and gyms. Restaurant and bar establishments were permitted to open in take-away and delivery capacities only. Schools and childcare facilities were also ordered to close. Face coverings were made mandatory as of 23 July 2020, with a fine of $200 AUD for non-compliance to those above 12 years of age, although formal exemptions could be acquired. Initially scheduled to last six weeks, restrictions were tightened further on 2 August after cases continued to grow, including a ban on travel further than a five kilometre radius from place of residence, a nighttime curfew of 8pm to 5am, a one-hour limit on outdoor exercise, a one-person per day limit on shopping for essentials, and public gatherings limited to a maximum of two people. Restrictions were progressively eased as the case rate declined, and were completely lifted on 28 October. With a total duration of 112 days, the Victorian lockdown was at the time the longest continuous period of COVID-19 lockdown globally as of October 2020. The lockdown resulted in the state recording zero active cases of COVID-19 in November 2020.
Victoria entered its fourth lockdown on 28 May 2021 in response to an outbreak of the Delta variant. Originally scheduled for seven days, the lockdown was extended to two weeks and lifted on 10 June. Another outbreak of the Delta variant saw Greater Sydney enter lockdown on 26 June 2021, scheduled to last until 16 July, but extended by two weeks on 14 July then until 28 August and the end of September 2021. Combined with snap lockdowns declared in Brisbane, Perth, and Darwin, more than 12 million people were in lockdown across Australia on 29 June 2021.
Brief "snap lockdowns" in response to new clusters, particularly of the Alpha, Beta, and Delta variants, have been implemented at various times across the country.
Metropolitan Melbourne's 6th lockdown is over, but it is the city with the longest amount of time spent in lockdown in the world.
Austria
In November 2021, Austria introduced lockdown measures, but only for unvaccinated people, in response to an increase in cases and low vaccination rate. The country introduced a lockdown for all citizens a few days later, making it the first European country to reintroduce such measures in the winter of 2021.
Bangladesh
On 22 March 2020, Bangladesh announced a ten-day lockdown, starting from 26 March. The lockdown in the country was extended several times to 30 May.
Cambodia
On 15 April 2021, Cambodia's government enacted a strict stay-at-home order across the entirety of Phnom Penh and Ta Khmau in response to the country's largest COVID-19 outbreak of the pandemic. Certain districts were declared as "red zones", banning people from leaving their homes except for medical emergencies. Sihanoukville also entered a lockdown on 24 April.
Canada
On 25 January 2020, the first identified presumptive case in Canada was a 56-year-old male who had travelled to Wuhan, China, before returning to Toronto on 22 January. Canada issued a travel advisory against non-essential travel to China due to the outbreak, including a regional travel advisory to avoid all travel to the province of Hubei.
Federal health officials stated that the risk in Canada was low.
On 26 January 2020, Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam tweeted, "There is no clear evidence that this virus is spread easily from person to person. The risk to Canadians remains low."
Three days later, on 29 January, Dr. Tam told Canadians that "It's going to be rare, but we are expecting cases."
On 1 February, the position of the prime minister and the administration remained that it would be discriminatory to exclude travellers from China, the source (and, at the time, still the epicentre) of the disease.
During March, Canadian provinces implemented lockdowns in response to COVID-19.
Ontario, the country's most populous province, had its first provincewide lockdown starting on 26 December 2020. The lockdown was strengthened with a stay-at-home order effective 14 January 2021, and reopened on a regional basis starting 10 February. As a result of the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the province caused by SARS-CoV-2 variants, the government of Ontario once again announced a four-week provincewide shutdown effective 3 April. This shutdown was once again strengthened with another 28-day stay-at-home order starting 8 April, in order to quickly combat the urgent crisis in the province's hospital capacity being caused by the variants.
The city of Toronto, Ontario is considered to have the longest continuous COVID-19 lockdown of any major city in the world.
China
China was the first country to enforce the quarantine and lockdown of cities and later whole provinces in late January 2020. Chinese Communist Party general secretary Xi Jinping said he personally authorized the unprecedented lockdown of Wuhan and other cities beginning on 23 January. Although such measures are a very old tool of epidemic control, their use at the scale of a large city such as Wuhan or the even larger scale of provinces was controversial among experts at the time, with questions about their effectiveness and their ethics. Some public health experts, while not always condemning the measure, raised the issue of the inevitable psychological toll such measures would have. An ex-World Health Organization (WHO) official who headed the organization's Western Pacific Region during the SARS outbreak said that "the containment of a city [hadn't] been done in the history of international public health policy". The WHO called the decision to quarantine Wuhan "new to science". By early April, all lockdowns had ended or relaxed to a certain degree as the cases started to dwindle and the outbreak had come under control.
Denmark
Fiji
On 19 March 2020, Fiji confirmed its first case in Lautoka. In response, the Government of Fiji ordered the lockdown of the city on 20 March with closures of all schools and non-essential services all over the country. On 3 April 2020, Fiji's capital, Suva, went into lockdown after confirming two new cases. More than 300,000 residents were confined to their homes and all non-essential services in the city was closed for two weeks.
On 19 April 2021, Nadi and Lautoka went into lockdown after recording its first community transmission in one year. As cases continues to escalate in its second wave, the government has ruled out any possibility of a nationwide lockdown but would focus on targeted lockdowns of communities instead.
France
From 17 March 2020, all people in France were required to complete and carry an exemption form to leave their homes and can be fined for non-essential journeys. Essential journeys include shopping for food, travelling to and from work, accessing healthcare, and exercising within 1 km of the home for up to 1 hour. Police around the country had set up road blocks to check people who were out and about had good reason and that their exemption declarations were in order. These measures were lifted on 11 May 2020, with remaining restrictions on travel further than 100 km away from one's residence. The latter restrictions were lifted on 2 June 2020.
On 28 October, president Emmanuel Macron announced a second lockdown until at least 1 December 2020. During this second lockdown, schools remain open and more industries can keep operating (construction, public services...). Like the first lockdown, citizens need to sign their certificates to can go around within 1 km up to hour per day. Fines are 135 euros the 1st time, 200 euros for 2 times within 15 days and 3750 euros and 6 months jail sentence for 3 times within 30 days.
Ghana
India
Indonesia
Large-scale social restrictions
Community Activities Restrictions Enforcement
Iran
There were night/day curfews put periodically in place in yellow and orange coded regions.
Ireland
On 12 March, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced the closure of all schools, colleges and childcare facilities in Ireland until the end of August. On 27 March, Varadkar announced a national stay-at-home order for at least two weeks; the public were ordered to stay at home in all circumstances. All non-essential shops and services, including all pubs, bars, hotels and nightclubs closed and all public and private gatherings of any number of people was banned. The Garda Síochána (Irish police) were given power to enforce the measures, which were repeatedly extended until 18 May.
A roadmap to easing restrictions in Ireland that included five stages was adopted by the government on 1 May 2020 and subsequently published online. The fourth and final phase of easing COVID-19 restrictions in Ireland was initially scheduled to take place on 20 July, but was repeatedly postponed until 31 August at the earliest.
On 7 August, Taoiseach Micheál Martin announced a regional lockdown and a series of measures for counties Kildare, Laois and Offaly following significant increases of COVID-19 cases in the three counties, which came into effect from midnight and will remain in place for two weeks.
On 15 September, the Government announced a medium-term plan for living with COVID-19 that included five levels of restrictions.
All non-essential businesses and services closed and all public and private gatherings of any number of people was banned again on 21 October following the Government's announcement to move the entire country to Level 5 lockdown restrictions for six weeks until 1 December. On 27 November, the Government agreed to ease restrictions from 1 December.
A third wave of COVID-19 arrived in Ireland on 21 December. The Government acted swiftly and on 22 December, Level 5 lockdown restrictions with a number of adjustments were announced, which came into effect from Christmas Eve until 12 January 2021 at the earliest.
All non-essential businesses and services closed and all public and private gatherings of any number of people was banned again on 31 December (New Year's Eve) following the Government's announcement to move the entire country to full Level 5 lockdown restrictions from 30 December until 31 January 2021 at the earliest, in an attempt to get a third surge in cases of COVID-19 under control. On 26 January, the Government extended the Level 5 lockdown restrictions until 5 March. On 23 February, the Government extended the Level 5 lockdown restrictions for another six weeks until 5 April (Easter Monday) at the earliest, while its new revised Living with COVID-19 plan was published.
On 30 March, the Government announced a phased easing of restrictions from Monday 12 April. On 29 April, the Government announced a reopening plan for the country throughout May and June from 10 May, with a further reopening planned announced on 31 August that would see all remaining COVID-19 restrictions in Ireland eased by 22 October.
After a fourth wave of COVID-19 arrived in Ireland in October, the Government published on 19 October a revised plan for the easing of restrictions, with nightclubs allowed to reopen, however the continued use of masks, vaccine certificates and social distancing measures would remain in place until at least February 2022. On 3 December, the Government reintroduced a series of measures that would commence from 7 December amid concerns of the Omicron variant, with nightclubs to close, indoor cultural and sporting events to operate at 50% capacity and a maximum of four households allowed to meet indoors.
The Omicron variant caused a fifth wave of COVID-19 to arrive in late December and early January 2022, with record levels of cases reported over the Christmas and New Year period. As cases began to fall sharply, Taoiseach Micheál Martin announced on 21 January the easing of almost all COVID-19 restrictions, with the requirements of vaccine certificates and social distancing to end, restrictions on household visits and capacity limits for indoor and outdoor events to end, nightclubs to reopen and pubs and restaurants to resume normal trading times, while rules on isolation and the wearing of masks would remain. Remaining restrictions were agreed to be removed from 28 February, with mask wearing in schools, indoor retail settings and on public transport to be voluntary, restrictions in schools to end and testing to be scaled back.
Italy
On 9 March 2020, the government of Italy under Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte imposed a national quarantine, restricting the movement of the population except for necessity, work, and health circumstances, in response to the growing pandemic of COVID-19 in the country. Additional lockdown restrictions mandated the temporary closure of non-essential shops and businesses. This followed a restriction announced on the previous day which affected sixteen million people in the whole region of Lombardy and in fourteen largely-neighbouring provinces in Emilia-Romagna, Veneto, Piedmont and Marche, and prior to that a smaller-scale lockdown of ten municipalities in the province of Lodi and one in the province of Padua that had begun in late February. The restrictions were loosened in May 2020.
The lockdown measures, despite being widely approved by the public opinion, were also described as the largest suppression of constitutional rights in the history of the republic. Nevertheless, Article 16 of the Constitution states that travel restrictions may be established for reasons of health or security.
Malaysia
Malaysia introduced the nationwide Movement Control Order (MCO) on 18 March 2020, which was initially announced to last to 14 April but was extended several times. The MCO prohibited mass gatherings, movement within the country, and most industries and all education institutions were ordered to close. Extended Movement Control Orders (EMCO) were implemented in areas where suspected superspreading events or widespread transmission had occurred. Royal Malaysian Police were mobilized to enforce restrictions. These restrictions were later eased under the "Conditional MCO" (CMCO), which maintained some restrictions on assembly and movement but allowed some sectors to reopen which was later further relaxed to the "Recovery MCO" (RMCO) nationwide. Localized CMCOs restrictions were introduced in the states of Sabah and Selangor were later introduced in response to outbreaks in those states. The MCO was reinstated nationwide in January 2021.
Myanmar
In September 2020, Myanmar introduced a strict stay-at-home order and cordon sanitaire for the entirety of the country's largest city Yangon amid a major local outbreak. All non-essential businesses were ordered to close. The city's 4 million residents were given less than 24 hours notice before the lockdown came into effect.
Myanmar's State Administration Council announced a nationwide lockdown in July 2021 in response to an increase in cases and deaths.
Namibia
Beginning 27 March, a 21-day lockdown of the regions of Erongo and Khomas was announced. On 14 April the lockdown was extended to 4 May. It now officially applied to all regions, although the stay-at-home order was already enforced countrywide. Only essential businesses remained open. Schools were closed, parliamentary sessions suspended, and generally all gatherings of more than 10 people were prohibited. Formal and informal bars were closed and the sale of alcohol prohibited. This "stage 1" of the lockdown was in force until 4 May 2020. From then on, regulations are to be gradually eased.
Nepal
Netherlands
A lockdown in the Netherlands began on 19 December 2021 which is expected to last (at least) until 14 January 2022.
New Zealand
On 23 March 2020, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern raised New Zealand's COVID-19 alert level to three and announced the closure of all schools beginning on that day, and two days later moved to four at 11:59 p.m. on 25 March 2020 – a nationwide lockdown. While all sporting matches and events as well as non-essential services such as pools, bars, cafes, restaurants, playgrounds closed, essential services such as supermarkets, petrol stations, and health services remained open.
The alert level was moved back down to Level 3 at 11:59 pm on 27 April, and moved to Level 2 at 11:59 pm on 13 May, lifting the rest of the lockdown restrictions while maintaining physical distancing. On 8 June, Prime Minister Ardern announced that New Zealand would be entering into Alert Level 1 at midnight on 9 June, lifting restrictions on daily life, business activities, mass gatherings and public transportation. However, the country's borders would remain closed to most international travel.
Following a new outbreak consisting of four cases of community transmission in Auckland on 11 August, the Government placed the Auckland Region on a Level 3 lockdown from 12:00 am on 12 August while the rest of the country move to Level 2 at the same time. On 30 August, Prime Minister Ardern announced that Auckland would enter into "Alert Level 2.5" from 11:59pm on that night while the rest of the country would remain on Level 2. Under Level 2.5, all social gatherings including birthday parties will be limited to ten people; masks will be mandatory for all Aucklanders using public transportation; and aged care facilities will be operating under strict conditions. The only public gatherings allowed in Auckland are funerals and tangihanga, which will be limited to 50 people.
A new community case of COVID-19 in New Zealand was reported on 17 August 2021, after many months without one. In response, the Government took the country to a full nationwide Alert Level 4 lockdown beginning the following day. One week later, that lockdown remained in place as community case numbers for this community outbreak of the Delta variant reached 148.
Nigeria
Nigeria announced a lockdown in early 2020 that lasted for two weeks, beginning on 30 March and ending on 12 April. The lockdown in Nigeria was a very short one.
Pakistan
In March 2020, Pakistan announced a lockdown that lasted until May. The lockdown in the country was also one of the shortest.
Philippines
Russia
Singapore
South Africa
Thailand
United Kingdom
United States
Stay-at-home orders in the United States have come from several states and a large number of local jurisdictions, sometimes leading to conflicts between different levels of government and a patchwork of inconsistent dates and rules.
On 15 March 2020, Puerto Rico governor Wanda Vázquez Garced signed an executive order to order all citizens to stay home starting at 9 p.m. with exceptions in limited circumstances between 5 a.m. and 9 pm. Governmental operations and non-essential businesses were to be closed until 30 March.
The first order within the states was simultaneously imposed by health authorities in heart of the San Francisco Bay Area (Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties and the cities of San Francisco and Berkeley) effective 17 March 2020, affecting nearly 6.7 million people. Other cities and counties across the state followed suit over the next two days, until Gavin Newsom, the governor of California, issued a state-wide order effective 19 March 2020.
On 20 March 2020, New York governor Andrew Cuomo announced the state-wide stay-at-home order with a mandate that 100% of non-essential workforce to be conducted as working from home effective 22 March. Illinois governor J. B. Pritzker followed that lead on the same day with a state-wide order which would go into effect on 21 March at 5 pm. Ned Lamont, the governor of Connecticut, signed an executive order called "Stay Safe, Stay At Home" to take effect state-wide on 23 March at 8 p.m.
On 20 March 2020, Navajo Nation announced that it had broadened the stay-at-home order to cover the entire reservation, the largest in the country.
On 21 March 2020, New Jersey governor Phil Murphy announced a state-wide stay-at-home order effective at 9 p.m. on the same day.
On 22 March 2020, Ohio governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Health director Amy Acton issued a state-wide stay-at-home order effective 23 March. In the afternoon, the Louisiana governor John Bel Edwards announced a state-wide stay-at-home order in a press conference. Delaware governor John Carney followed suit with a stay-at-home order for his state.
On 23 March 2020, several state governors announced their state-wide stay-at-home order:
Massachusetts governor Charlie Baker ordered non-essential businesses to close in-person operations effective 24 March until 7 April and directed the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to issue a stay-at-home advisory.
Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer announced her state-wide executive order to stay-at-home at 11:00 am for all non-essential businesses effective 24 March until 28 May.
Indiana governor Eric Holcomb announced state-wide stay-at-home order effective 25 March until 7 April.
West Virginia governor Jim Justice ordered non-essential businesses to be closed immediately, and stay-at-home order effective at 8 pm.
After growing calls from local officials on Sunday, Oregon governor Kate Brown issued a stay-at-home order on Monday effective immediately with class C misdemeanor charges for violators.
New Mexico governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced a state-wide stay-at-home order that requires 100% of non-essential business workforce to work from home effective 24 March until 10 April.
Washington governor Jay Inslee signed a state-wide stay-at-home proclamation and ordered to close non-essential businesses effective 25 March for two weeks.
Hawaii governor David Ige issued a state-wide stay-at-home order effective 25 March which was similar to the orders that were previously issued for Maui and Honolulu counties.
On 23 March 2020, Yakama Nation announced its "Stay Home, Stay Healthy" order.
On 24 March 2020, Wisconsin governor Tony Evers issued a state-wide stay-at-home order to close all non-essential businesses and ordered no gatherings of any size effective 25 March until 24 April. Vermont governor Phil Scott signed a stay-at-home order and directed closure of in-person operations of non-essential businesses effective 25 March until 15 April.
On 25 March, Idaho governor Brad Little and Minnesota governor Tim Walz issued stay-at-home orders for their respective states. Colorado Governor Jared Polis issued a stay at home order effective on Thursday the 26th at 6 a.m. through 11 April 2020.
On 1 April, Florida governor Ron DeSantis issued a stay-at-home order effective Friday, 3 April 2020 until the end of the month. On 2 April, Georgia governor Brian Kemp issued a stay-at-home order effective Friday, 3 April 2020, until Monday, 13 April 2020. It overrules any local stay-at-home restrictions previously in place, and instructs residents to stay at home unless they're conducting "essential services," meaning either traveling to and from jobs or other exceptions, including buying groceries; purchasing medical equipment; going out to exercise; and visiting medical facilities. The same day, Dr. Anthony Fauci publicly questioned why all states were not under stay-at-home orders.
In late May 2020, citywide curfews were enacted in San Francisco and several surrounding cities; San Jose; Minneapolis; Atlanta; Chicago; Cleveland; Columbus; Denver; Jacksonville, FL; Los Angeles; Memphis, TN; Omaha, Nebraska; Lincoln, Nebraska; Pittsburgh, Philadelphia; Portland; Salt Lake City; San Antonio; Buffalo, New York; Rochester, NY; Syracuse; New York City; Milwaukee; Seattle; Cincinnati; Indianapolis, Indiana; Fayetteville; Raleigh, North Carolina; Charleston, SC; Sacramento, CA; Columbia, SC; and Asheville, NC due to protests regarding the murder of George Floyd. Countywide curfews were enacted for Los Angeles County, California and Alameda County, California as well. Arizona enacted a state-wide curfew. These curfews are imposed as complemented to stay-at-home order that imposed by state or local authorities.
On 2 November 2020, Massachusetts governor Charlie Baker issued a night-time stay-at-home advisory and business curfew effective 6 November 2020.
Vietnam
Nationwide isolation
Da Nang
Ho Chi Minh city and southern provinces
Countries and territories without lockdowns
Most countries and territories affected with COVID-19 introduced and enforced some form of lockdown. However, only a few exceptions included Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, which rapidly and consistently implemented highly organized mass testing, contact tracing, public messaging and selective quarantining to identify and isolate outbreaks. South Korea's K-Quarantine system was praised in international media for its effectiveness. Authorities in Tokyo, the capital of Japan, advised businesses to close and the population to stay at home, but did not have legal authority to enforce a lockdown or penalise non-compliance. Compliance with advice was nevertheless high.
In the European Union, the only nation not following this strategy is Sweden. Led by its state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell measures in Sweden included the closing of universities and high schools and asking older and at-risk residents to avoid social contact, while keeping restaurants, primary schools and kindergartens open and not mandating face masks. However, in early 2021, new laws permitting lockdown were enacted and Prime Minister Stefan Löfven warned that a lockdown was being considered. As of November 2021, a national lockdown has not been announced. However certain regions of Sweden have declared their own lockdowns to help slow the rate of infection. The region of Uppsala reported 908 cases per 100,000 people over a two-week period compared to a national average of 772 in early April 2021. This caused the Health Chief of the region, Mikael Köhler, to ask individuals within the region to "act as if they were in a personal lockdown."
Some of the countries that did not enact lockdowns during 2020, did so later in the pandemic. In Malawi, a proposed lockdown by the government was delayed by the High Court throughout 2020, until a state of emergency was declared and the country entered a lockdown in January 2021 in response to a worsening outbreak. Although Cambodia restricted movement within the country during a period in 2020, it introduced its first major restrictions, including a curfew and later a stay-at-home order in the capital Phnom Penh, during its largest outbreak to date in early 2021. East Timor also enacted its first lockdown of its capital Dili in March 2021 and Turkey entered its first nationwide lockdown in April 2021.
Two states in Brazil and several others in the United States did not introduce any lockdown-type measures (commonly known as "stay-at-home orders").
Notes
References
Articles containing video clips
lockdowns
Curfews
Emergency management
Country lockdowns
Public health
Quarantine |
69635631 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%20Noise%20of%20Engines | The Noise of Engines | The Noise of Engines () is a Canadian drama film, directed by Philippe Grégoire and released in 2021. The film stars Robert Naylor as Alexandre, a Canada Border Services Agency instructor who returns to his hometown after being suspended from work following an unverified sexual assault allegation, who befriends Icelandic drag racer Aðalbjörg (Tanja Björk) while under surveillance by the police because of a spate of pornographic graffiti in the town.
The cast also includes Alexandrine Agostini, Marc Beaupré, Arnmundur Ernst Björnsson, Huguette Chevalier, Patrice Dussault, Marie-Thérèse Fortin, Maxime Genois, Vial Grégoire, Ingi Hrafn Hilmarsson, Nadia Kessiby, Marc Larrivée, Gabrielle Lessard, Virginie Ouellet, Naïla Rabel and Charles Voyer.
The film was inspired in part by Grégoire's own background as a Canada Border Services Agency employee, and was shot primarily in Grégoire's hometown of Napierville, Quebec but also partly in Iceland.
The film premiered at the San Sebastián International Film Festival on September 19, 2021. It had its Canadian premiere at the Festival du nouveau cinéma.
Awards
References
External links
2021 films
2021 drama films
Canadian films
Canadian drama films
Films shot in Quebec
Films set in Quebec
Quebec films |
69635699 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago%20Appleseed%20Center%20for%20Fair%20Courts | Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts | Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that uses mixed-methods research and strategic advocacy to promote fair and antiracist court policies and legal system practices. Chicago Appleseed is one of several national Appleseed Foundation centers across the country.
Chicago Appleseed's work focuses on the criminal legal system, domestic violence, family law and child support, immigration court reform, police accountability, and court accessibility and transparency.
The organization's mission is to "advocate for a legal system that is equitable, accessible, and fair to all people; efficient so justice is not delayed; and effective in seeking solutions to social injustices." The organization is a founding member of the Coalition to End Money Bond and works with a variety of community organizations and coalitions to enact positive policy change in Illinois.
References
501(c)(3) organizations
Organizations with year of establishment missing
Non-profit organizations based in Chicago
Legal advocacy organizations in the United States |
69636068 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CGM%20%28rap%20group%29 | CGM (rap group) | CGM (an acronym for Cherish God More; formerly 1011), is a British hip hop collective based in Ladbroke Grove, London. They were formerly known as 1011, named after W10 and W11 postal codes. They are considered to be one of the pioneers of the UK drill scene.
History
In 2015, Digga D formed the UK drill group 1011 along with his friends in a local youth club in Ladbroke Grove. They released several singles from 2016-17 including: "Kill Confirmed", "Play for the Pagans", and "No Hook". The group has since been banned from making music together and later rebranded as CGM, an acronym for Cherish God More.
Members
The list below includes confirmed members of CGM
Digga D
Dodgy (also known as AP)
Horrid1 (also known as Huncho)
M'Skum
Rack5
Sav'O (also known as JSav)
Splasha
Striker
T.Y
ZK (formerly Eleven)
Legal issues
On 9 November 2017, Digga D and members of 1011 were arrested in a stop and search in which they were carrying machetes and baseball bats. 1011 claimed they were making a drill music video, but police stated they were planning to attack a rival gang 12 World. Digga and 1011 were convicted of conspiracy to commit violent disorder, sentenced to a year in jail, and was given a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) in 2018 that required the group to have the Metropolitan Police's permission before releasing any new music, forbade them from using London postcodes, and banning references in lyrics to real-life incidents and people. Four of the group's music videos prior to the CBO were taken down, however, they were noted to have amassed over ten million combined views before removal.
The CBO ban issued to 1011 was condemned by the campaign group Index on Censorship and widely described as entirely unprecedented. Digga's lawyer noted that the CBO "gives the police and probation the ability to control and censor his art." The Metropolitan Police has since denied it was censorship. Det Ch Supt Kevin Southworth said at the time: "When in this instance you see a particular genre of music being used specifically to goad, to incite, to provoke, to inflame, that can only lead to acts of very serious violence being committed, that’s when it becomes a matter for the police. We're not in the business of killing anyone's fun, we're not in the business of killing anyone's artistic expression - we are in the business of stopping people being killed."
Discography
Mixtapes
Horrid1 and Sav'O - Violent Siblings (2022)
Singles
References
Hip hop collectives
English hip hop groups
UK drill musicians
Rappers from London |
69638205 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glorious%20Oxenham | Glorious Oxenham | Glorious Marie Oxenham , nicknamed Glo Oxenham and Aunty Glo, is a Solomon Islands-born New Zealand teacher and cultural advocate. She has promoted Melanesian and Solomon Islands culture and languages in New Zealand for more than 25 years. In addition to her community activism, Oxenham has consulted with New Zealand's diplomatic staff, defence personnel, and police on cultural and political affairs prior to their deployment to the Solomon Islands for peacekeeping missions. For her work, Oxenham was awarded the Queen's Service Medal in December 2021.
Biography
Oxenham was born and raised in the Solomon Islands. She married her husband, a New Zealander working with Volunteer Service Abroad in the Solomons, and moved to New Zealand with him around 1980. Oxenham, who resides in Lower Hutt, has two children. She is a pre-school teacher by profession and teaches at a school in Taitā.
Oxenham, who speaks fluent Solomons Pidgin, has spent more than 25 years promoting the Melanesian and Solomon Islander communities and culture in New Zealand. Much of her work has focused on the Melanesian community around the capital, Wellington. She has said:
Here in Wellington we work really well with the three Melanesian countries, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu...These three communities work really well together as soulfully as well as helping each other out in the community things that we do.
Oxenham has headed the Wellington Solomon Islands Community Group for three tenures. Since 2011, she has served as the president of the Lower North Island Wantok Association, where she has spearheaded fundraising and community events. Oxenham also works with Solomon Islander and other Melanesian students studying in Wellington.
Oxenham has also helped to establish the Wellington Melanesia Women and Friends Group, which works with Melanesian women in the region. She explained to Stuff.co.nz that "a lot of the women tend to be shy and not put themselves forward and we encourage them to speak up".
Her other projects include "Woven Bags of Melanesia", a project with the Pataka Art + Museum, in which flax from New Zealand was woven into bags and other cultural objects for an exhibition.
In the 2022 New Year Honours, Oxenham was awarded the Queen's Service Medal, for services to the Melanesian community in New Zealand.
References
Living people
Year of birth unknown
Date of birth unknown
Place of birth unknown
Recipients of the Queen's Service Medal
New Zealand activists
Solomon Islands activists
Solomon Islands emigrants to New Zealand
New Zealand schoolteachers
Oceanian-New Zealand culture
People from Lower Hutt |
69638289 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adhif%20Syan%20Abdullah | Adhif Syan Abdullah | Adhif Syan bin Abdullah is a Malaysian politician from the Malaysian United Indigenous Party (BERSATU), a component party of the ruling Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition at the federal level and opposition at the state level. He currently serving as the Member of the Selangor State Legislative Assembly for Dengkil since 2018.
Controversies
Adhif Syan was arrested by the police along with several officials from the federal ministry in a raid on a condominium hosting a fun party on 12 January 2020 at around 1.30am. He was found drug negative when a pathology test was performed.
Election results
References
External links
Living people
1981 births
People from Selangor
Malaysian people of Malay descent
Malaysian Muslims
Malaysian United Indigenous Party politicians
Members of the Selangor State Legislative Assembly
21st-century Malaysian politicians |
69638882 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Her%20Majesty%27s%20Penitentiary | Her Majesty's Penitentiary | Her Majesty's Penitentiary (HMP) refers to Newfoundland and Labrador's (NL) prison system in Canada. Its name is derived from the English prison system known as Her Majesty's Prison Service (HMPS). The Newfoundland and Labrador prison system consists of five provincial prison's and two short-term holding facilities which include:
Her Majesty's Penitentiary, (St. John's, NL)
The Clarenville Correctional Centre for women, (Clarenville, NL)
The Bishop's Falls Correctional Centre, (Bishop's Falls, NL)
The West Coast Correctional Centre, (Stephenville, NL)
The Labrador Correctional Centre, (Goose Bay, NL)
The St. John's City Lock-up, (St. John's, NL)
The Corner Brook Detention Centre, (Corner Brook, NL)
Rank and structure
NL's prison service is overseen by the superintendent of prison's, who is responsible for the management of all provincial prisons and short-term holding facilities. Each institution operates under a uniformed rank structure.
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}HMP St. John's, is the largest prison in the province of NL, by size and inmate population. Originally constructed in 1859, it houses primarily male offenders and has a capacity of 175 inmates. It is believed to be the oldest prison currently operating in Canada since the closure of Ontario's Kingston Penitentiary, in September of 2013. Located in the Eastern district of St. John's, it is commonly referred to by locals as, Her Majesty's Hotel, or The Inn by the Lake, due to its proximity to Quidi Vidi Lake, which hosts North America's oldest annual sporting event, the Royal St. John's Regatta.
Despite its age, HMP St. John's, has undergone extensive renovations and additions, that provide inmates with modern cells, common areas and amenities. The province of NL, is responsible for the operation and administration of NL's correctional service under the Department of Justice and Public Safety.
Notable escapes
On December 12, 1964, four inmates escaped from HMP St. John's, by scaling a wall. The four prisoners stole a car and made their way to Whitbourne, NL, were they encountered RCMP Constable Robert Westen Amey. The 24 year-old mountie, attempted to arrest one of the four escapees, Melvin Young, who shot and killed Amey. Cst. Amey, was the second RCMP officer to be killed in the line of duty in the province of NL.
On August, 3, 2000, Richard Ryan became the subject of Canada wide man-hunt after escaping from a NL correctional officer, who was escorting Ryan to visit his sick mother. Described by police as a sexual sadist, Ryan eluded capture for 25 days, before being located in a makeshift camp in a wooded area near Long Harbour, NL.
Notable inmates
Father James Hickey, a former Roman Catholic priest, who was convicted of multiple sex crimes against children in NL. Hickey was the first of numerous Roman Catholic priests and brothers, who were convicted of sex crimes in relation to a sex abuse scandal that rocked NL, and gained international infamy. While briefly held in HMP custody, Hickey would go on to serve the remainder of his sentence in Dorchester Penitentiary, New Brunswick, were he died in 1992. Michael Harris, a well-known journalist and former editor of NL's now defunct Sunday Express, which was largely credited for breaking the scandal, would go on the publish a best selling book regarding the Mount Cashel sex abuse scandal.
Paul Watson is an internationally known conservationist and founder of the Sea Shephard Conservation Society. In 1980, Watson was sentenced to ten days in prison for assaulting a fisheries officer, while attempting to disrupt the NL seal hunt. Watson served his sentence at HMP St. John's.
Vito Rizzuto, also known as Teflon Don, was a Mafia boss, and head of the notorious Rizzuto crime family, based in Montreal, Quebec. in UB1987, Rizzuto was arrested following a drug bust in Trinity Bay, NL, in an abandoned community called Ireland's Eye, where 225 million dollars of hashish was seized by RCMP. Rizzuto was remanded into HMP St. John's, before being released after a supreme court judge ruled that the RCMP had overstepped its surveillance efforts by wiretapping a meeting between Rizzuto and his attorney.
Brian O'Dea is a former international drug smuggler who gained notoriety when he placed an advertisement in Canada's National Post seeking a job. The advertisement was titled "Former Marijuana Smuggler" and read: "Having successfully completed a 10-year sentence, incident free, for importing seventy-five tons of marijuana into the United States, I am now seeking a legal and legitimate means to support myself and my family. Business experience: Owned and operated a successful fishing business -- multi-vessel, one airplane, one island and processing facility. Simultaneously owned and operated a fleet of tractor-trailer trucks conducting business in the western United States. ... I also participated in the executive level management of 120 people worldwide in a successful pot-smuggling venture with revenues in excess of $100-million US annually." O'Dea, served prison time in California, Springhill Institution, NS, and HMP St. John's.
Leo Puddester, was a former HMP correctional officer and union leader when he was sentenced to four months in prison for defying a court order in relation to a HMP wildcat strike he led in 1999. Puddister served his sentence at HMP St. John's, under the guard of the correctional officers he represented in labor relations with the NL government. Puddester would go on to lead the province's largest public sector union, the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees (NAPE). In 2004, Puddester led the province's then twenty-thousand public sector workers on strike, leading to several public feuds with NL's then premier, Danny Williams, whose son was assaulted in a downtown St. John's night club, just after the provincial strike got underway. In response to the assault on his son, William's warned the province's public sector workers that they would be on the picket lines "until the cows came home", prompting some workers to wear cow costumes on picket lines across the province.
Shirley Turner, a former medical doctor who was accused of killing her former boyfriend Andrew Bagby, in Keystone State Park, Pennsylvania, US. After Bagby's body was discovered, Turner fled to her home province of NL, initiating a prolonged extradition process by US authorities. Turner, who was pregnant with Bagby's child, later gave birth to Zachary Bagby, which initiated a child custody battle between Turner and Andrew Bagby's parents, David and Kathleen Bagby. Released from HMP's prison system on appeal of her extradition hearing, Turner murdered Zachery and then took her own life. David and Kathleen Bagby, along with their supporters were highly critical of the NL court process that lead to Turner being released from prison, and her ability to maintain custody of Zachary. Their activism and fight for justice led to the passage of Bill C-464, also known as Zachary's Bill, strengthening the conditions for bail in Canadian courts in cases involving the well-being of children. In 2008, Kurt Kuenne, a documentary filmmaker, and childhood friend of the Bagby family produced an award winning film based on the murders of Andrew and Zachary, called Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father. David Bagby would go on to author a book detailing the events, and his family's struggles with the NL justice system.
Leo Crockwell, was a 55 year-old NL man when charged with five counts of attempted murder by NL mounties, after holding RCMP at bay for more than a week in a well-publicized police stand-off at a Bay Bulls home in 2010. Crockwell was able to escape the home, undetected, despite heavily armed mounties covering the perimeter of the house. Crockwell was arrested by the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary after hitching a ride to St. John's, where he told the driver of the vehicle he was travelling in, who he was. The incident was highly publicized and was a major embarrassment for the national police force. The Crockwell stand-off cost the RCMP just under half a million dollars, and its failure was the subject of an internal RCMP investigation, a book that outlined the events and the event itself remains public fodder in local lore. Crockwell was ultimately sentenced to four years in prison, which was served at HMP, St. John's.
Nelson Hart, was charged with two counts of first degree murder in June 2005, for the drowning deaths of his twin daughters in 2004, and was convicted in March 2007. In September of 2014, an appeal court granted Hart a new trial. In July of that same year, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that evidence obtained against Hart in a RCMP led "Mr. Big", operation was inadmissible. After the ruling, NL prosecutors declined to seek a retrial, and Hart was released from prison after serving nine years. The Supreme Court ruling led to stricter and more defined rules in the use of Mr. Big sting operations. Hart served his sentence partly in HMP's prison system. In 2015, NL journalist Colleen Lewis published a book in relation to the ordeal.
Sean Buckingham, was a medical doctor with a well-established practice in downtown St. John's, NL. In May 2005, Buckingham was arrested for a variety of criminal offences, in relation to providing prescription drugs, primarily Oxycontin, to drug addicted patients in exchange for services such as sex. In 2008, Buckingham was sentenced to seven years in prison, serving his sentence at HMP.
Ed Byrne is a former politician and member of the House of Assembly for NL. Byrne, who once led the provincial Progressive Conservative Party of NL, was sentenced to a two-year prison sentence for fraud related crimes in connection with a constituency spending scandal. Byrne served his prison sentence in HMP's prison system.
Wally Andersen is a former politician and member of the House of Assembly for NL. A member of the NL Liberal Party, Anderson was sentenced to 15 months in prison for forgery and breach of trust, in relation to the constituency spending scandal. Anderson served his sentence in HMP's prison system, and later returned to politics, winning the mayor's seat of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, NL, in 2018.
Randy Collins is a former politician and member of the House of Assembly for NL. Collins, who was a member of the NDP party of NL, was sentenced to 21 months in prison for fraud related charges in relation to the constituency spending scandal. Collins served his prison sentence in HMP's prison system.
Jim Walsh is a former politician and member of the House of Assembly for NL. Walsh, who was a member of the NL Liberal Party was sentenced to 22 months in prison for fraud and breach of trust, in relation to the constituency spending scandal. Walsh served his sentence in HMP's prison system.
Brandon Phillips was a 27 year-old NL man in October of 2015, when he entered a St. John's hotel, and shot and killed Larry Wellman, a former firefighter in a botched robbery, which set the NL capital city on edge as police hunted for a killer. Phillips was arrested eight days after the shooting following the release of a photograph of Phillips taken from the hotel's security camera, which showed him entering the hotel with his face covered and a shotgun in hand. The arrest of Phillips would become a political hot potato for NL's Liberal party leader Dwight Ball, who was, at the time of the Wellman murder, poised to become NL's next premier. As the Wellman murder made its way through the court system, details of the case emerged, which included Phillips wearing Ball's coat when he committed the murder. Phillips had been in a romantic relationship with Ball's daughter, and was identified in the widely circulated suspect photograph, in part, due to Ball informing the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary that the murder suspect had been wearing a coat that was similar to one that had gone missing from his home. Court documents would later reveal that Phillips owed a large drug debt, and a St. John's drug dealer had been harassing the politician for payment. It was revealed that Ball had paid thousands of dollars to appease debts incurred by Phillips in an effort to keep his daughter safe. An emotional NL Premier detailed the ordeal to the CBC in December of 2017. Brandon Phillips was sentenced to life in prison for the second-degree murder of Mr. Wellman, and served a portion of his sentence at HMP St. John's, before being transferred to a federal prison.
Constable Douglas Snelgrove is a police officer and current member of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, who was convicted of sexual assault in 2021. In 2015, Snelgrove was arrested after driving a female home while on duty, using a marked police vehicle. Snelgrove sexually assaulted the female in her residence, and after a prolonged court process that involved three trials; he was sentenced to four years in prison, serving a small portion of that sentence in HMP's prison system, before being released pending an appeal.
Gregory Parsons (wrongfully convicted) is a NL born firefighter, currently serving as a lieutenant in the St. John's Regional Fire Department. At just 19 years of age, Parsons' mother Catherine Carroll was murdered in St. John's, by his long-time friend Brian Doyle. Days after the murder, Parsons was arrested and charged with second-degree murder by the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary. In 1994, Parsons was wrongfully convicted in relation to his mother's murder and sentenced to 15 years in prison. He served a portion of that sentence at HMP St. John's, before being released on appeal, and a new trial was ordered, however, Parsons was exonerated based on DNA evidence, before a new trial could commence; and his mother's real killer, Brian Doyle was arrested and charged with her murder. Doyle plead guilty to the Murder of Catherine Carroll, and was sentenced to 18 years in prison. The wrongful conviction of Parsons led to the Lamer inquiry, and the RNC police officer, who led the original investigation into Carroll's murder, and the subsequent prosecution of Parsons was later promoted to the deputy chief of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, leading to harsh criticism from Parsons and his supporters. Parsons continues to advocate for the wrongfully convicted, and other justice reforms. Parsons received the St. John's firefighter of the year award in 2021, and is a well-known figure in the province of NL for his ordeal. In 2021, Parsons hinted at a possible future run in provincial politics.
Executions: Her Majesty's Penitentiary, NL
July 1, 1892, Patrick Geehan
July 8, 1889, William Parnell
July 29, 1899, Francis Canning
December 16, 1922, Wo Fen Gen
May 22, 1942, Herbert Augustus Spratt
Notable events and controversies: circa 2000-present
In August 2000, the NL Justice Department announced disciplinary measures on both managers and correctional officers at HMP, after the fallout from the Richard Ryan escape. The department initiated an internal investigation of the high-profile escape, and determined that complacency and a repeated failure to follow well-established policy and procedures contributed significantly in Ryan's ability to escape lawful custody. Fourteen correctional staff received varying degrees of discipline, and the escape led to the resignation of the Assistant Superintendent of HMP St. John's. Newfoundland Labrador's Justice Minister would go on to appoint John Scoville, the province's chief probation officer to helm HMP's prison system.
On June 13, 2003, August Zarpa, an Inuk inmate at HMP's Labrador Correctional Centre, committed suicide leading to a judicial inquiry. Zarpa was confined to his cell for four days following a disciplinary matter, and died of asphyxia from hanging. His death led to policy changes in the institution where an inmate could not be confined to their cell for anymore than 24 hours pending a disciplinary hearing, and the addition of having a psychiatrist visit the prison on a monthly basis.
In 2006, Carol Ikkusek, a 26 year old Inuk woman was brought into police custody in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. Ikkusek, who was originally being brought to hospital, was placed in RCMP cells, due to the hospital not having a secure room to treat her. Before being placed in a holding cell, Ikkusek was stripped naked, and left for two days. The incident Sparked public outcry, and an apology from police in Labrador. Although, not in HMP custody, the incident was cited by NL's Justice Minister, Jerome Kennedy as one of the reasons for prompting a review of the province's prison system in 2008.
In February 2008, hours before his trial was set to begin, Brian Fagan died in HMP custody, and his death was ruled a suicide. NL's Justice Minister, Jerome Kennedy told reporters in the days following the death, that there was no indication that Fagan was in a worried state of mind or agitated state of mind. St. John's Lawyer, Peter Ralph, said HMP is no place for anyone who is mentally ill, at the time of Fagan's death.
In March 2008, Austin Alyward died at HMP, St. John's. Foul play was ruled out, however a cause of death could not be immediately determined. Alyward's family said he suffered from Bi-Polar disorder and depression and should not have been housed at HMP, but rather a hospital. In 2009, a retired NL justice was called upon to probe Alyward's death. The subsequent report was never made public, however, Austin Alyward Sr., the father of the deceased called the report into his son's death a "sham",
On March 25, 2008, Christopher Mahon, who was in HMP custody at the St. John's City Lock-up appeared in court visibly bruised and beaten. "The police and the correctional officers did this to me", Mahon told news reporters outside the courtroom. Following his court appearance, two HMP correctional officers were suspended and later charged with assault. HMP officer Mike Hanlon was acquitted of the charge(s), while HMP officer Wayne Carrigan was convicted and sentenced to 14 days in jail.
On April 18, 2008, NL's Justice Minister, Jerome Kennedy, ordered an independent review of NL's Prison system after touring HMP St. John's and describing the living conditions in the prison as "appalling". Kennedy tasked two out of province prison officials with extensive expertise in prison management to conduct the review, and promised sweeping changes to the NL prison system.
On October 1, 2008, the NL Justice Department removed John Scoville from his position as Superintendent of Prisons, following the release of the Decades of Darkness: Moving Towards the Light, prison report commissioned by Jerome Kennedy, earlier in the year,and promised more changes were coming.
On October 2, 2008, the NL Justice Department removed Mary Alyward, as the Assistant Superintendent of HMP St. John's, following the release of the Decades of Darkness: Moving Towards the Light prison report, the day following the termination of Superintendent Scoville.
On December 8, 2008, a heavily redacted version of the Decades of Darkness: Moving Towards the Light, prison report was publicly released.
On December 9, 2008, CBC News reported directly on several of the redacted segments of the report, noting that when the government posted the report online, "the redacted sections could be read by users with basic computer tools."The report was highly critical of HMP's prison system, noting deplorable, unsanitary and unsafe working conditions, security issues, poor management, poor staff morale, and a lack of basic services for inmates Including: little to no programming, and a virtually non-existent approach to overall inmate well-being. The report presented 77 recommendations to the NL government, all of which, the government and new Minister of Justice and Attorney General for NL, Tom Marshall said government were committed to implementing.
In April 2009, Dane Spurrell, an 18-year-old man with Autism was walking down a street in Mount Pearl, NL, when confronted by police. Mistaking Spurrell's autism for public intoxication, police handcuffed Spurrell, and brought him to the St. John's Lock-up placing him in HMP custody. Still under the guardianship of his mother; Diane Spurrell became frantic when her son did not return home from his walk. Ms. Spurrell called 911 to report her son missing only to learn that he had been detained at HMP's St. John's City Lock-up. The Spurrell's filed a complaint with the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary's Public Complaints Commission, and both the RNC and HMP were highly criticized regarding the incident, which led to an apology from both the Superintendent of Prison's, and the Chief of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary.
In 2009, The Office of the Citizen's Representative (NL's ombudsmen) began an investigation into the prescribing methods of HMP prison psychiatrist David Craig, after receiving numerous complaints from inmates regarding Craig suspending their medications once incarcerated.
In February of 2010, a HMP correctional officer was charged with drug trafficking and breach of trust, after he was caught attempting to smuggle drugs and various contraband into HMP St. John's, in a police sting, dubbed Operation Safeguard.
In September of 2010, two violent inmates escaped from HMP's West Coast Correctional Centre, securing their way to freedom by kicking out a window secured with plywood. An embarrassed Justice Minister admitted to reporters that the Justice Department thought all windows in the prison were secured and reinforced, when they in fact had not been.
In December of 2010, NL's Justice Minister stated he is not giving up on a campaign to persuade Ottawa to help replace HMP, St. John's.
In 2011, The Office of the Citizen's Representative concluded his review of Psychiatric services at HMP, the Citizen's Representative recommended the termination of Craig's contract with the Department of Justice. The Department refused to alter the contract it had in place with Craig, and instead opted for a peer review of Craig's prescribing practices.
In November of 2011, an inmate at HMP's West Coast Correctional Centre, escaped by scaling a fence during routine recreation. It was the third prison escape from the Stephenville prison, since the NL government had spent over $400,000 in security upgrades stemming from the Decades of Darkness prison report.
In 2012, the Citizen's Representative for NL, renewed his call for the removal of Craig, citing repeated complaints from the inmate population, including a St. John's woman who asked the court for a stiffer prison sentence, (federal prison sentence) so that she could avoid being a patient of Craig.
In November of 2012, A peer review found that psychiatrist David Craig was meeting the standard of care in the psychiatric services he provides to inmates in N.L.
On February 20, 2013, a unidentified person targeted HMP St. John's, by throwing a Molotov cocktail towards the prison, sparking a brief fire and damaging several staff vehicles.
In August of 2013, police were called to HMP, St. John's to help control what authorities described as a "small riot", at the prison. In March of 2014, details of the riot began to emerge through court proceedings, and it was revealed that, during the riot inmates took control of a cell block and threatened to kill hostages and prison guards, threatening to cut their throat(s) or decapitate hostages should police intervene. After a tense stand-off, the inmates traded a fellow inmate that was being held hostage in exchange for two cigarettes, before police brought the matter under control. Six inmates were charged in relation to the riot, which caused more than one hundred thousand dollars in damages to the prison.CBC News posted a video of the damages to their website on April 1, 2014.
On October 7, 2013, NL's Justice Minister, Darrin King announced that the government of NL was replacing HMP St. John's with a new prison, and that the NL government was prepared to build a new facility without help from Ottawa.
On February 9, 2014, police were called to HMP St. John's after a HMP inmate was attacked by several rival inmates in the prison's chapel, in what became known as the HMP Chapel Riot. Nine inmates faced criminal charges in relation to the riot, and in court proceedings attorney's representing two of the accused, claimed that three senior HMP managers and a HMP Sargent were criminally negligent in not attempting to prevent the riot, when they had previous knowledge that a planned attack on the inmate was imminent. The NL government retained, former Justice Minister Jerome Kennedy to represent the prison officials, however, a NL judge shot down the attorney's claim stating that prison managers did not act in bad faith. A group of correctional officers, made similar allegations against prison management turning to NL's Citizen's Representative to investigate their claim that prison management intentionally allowed the riot happen in order to relieve pressure that was mounting inside the prison. The Citizen's Representative investigated the claim and determined that the riot itself was preventable, but was unable to determine if the riot was an intentional act by prison management. The victim of the attack inside the prison's chapel would go on to receive a forty-five thousand dollar settlement from government of NL for failing to protect him.
On February 17, 2014, correctional officers at HMP St. John's, protested on the prison's parking lot in relation to safety concerns following the Chapel Riot incident. On that same day, NL's Justice MInister, Darren King, held a press conference with the Superintendent of Prisons, and announced that a contract for the design and location of a new prison would be awarded that week.
On July 14, 2014, NL's latest Justice Minister, Terry French, said he's worried about escalating violence within HMP St. John's, and stated that building a new provincial prison was a "top priority" for government, adding that a new prison in NL is "long overdue".
In June of 2014, inmates at HMP St. John's, rioted causing an additional hundred thousand dollars in damages, while destroying a prison living unit. It was the third riot in the span of a year at the St. John's prison. Twelve inmates faced criminal charges in relation to the incident.
On August 26, 2014, a correctional officer working at HMP's St. John's Lock-up reportedly struck a restrained man in custody, and was charged with assault. HMP officer Anthony Crocker was convicted of the assault and sentenced to community service. As a result of the guilty verdict, Crocker was fired from his job, but after appealing the verdict, an appeals court judge overturned his conviction and ordered a new trial, stating that the judge in his original trial "did not apply the correct law respecting the availability of the defence of self-defence." The crown would later withdraw the charge against Crocker, opting not to prosecute, citing a low degree of probability for a conviction.
On October 21, 2015, a HMP correctional officer went public in a CBC investigative report, warning of intense violence within the prison, coupled with aging infrastructure and poor prison management.
On November 13, 2015, correctional officers across NL, held protests at various HMP facilities demanding the resignation of the Superintendent of Prisons. Citing dangerous working conditions, three prison riots in a year long span, claims of harassment and bullying; and the implication by officers and lawyers that he was criminally negligent in relation to the Chapel Riot incident.
On November 16, 2015, NL's Justice Department publicly backed the Superintendent of Prison's, following province-wide prison protests, citing his extensive experience and commitment to ensuring the prison was as safe as possible.
On December 16, 2015, a HMP correctional officer publicly revealed that he had resigned from his position as a correctional officer due to suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, after six years of working in NL's prison system. The officer cited several reasons for his decision including a firebombing, in which his vehicle was damaged, multiple serious assaults, and poor prison management.
On March 1, 2016, NL's Justice Minister, Andrew Parsons, announced that a unit at HMP St. John's had undergone renovations to house female prisoners in response to overcrowding at HMP's Correctional Centre for Women in Clarenville, NL, sparking criticism from women's groups and justice advocates.
On January 17, 2017, NL's Justice Minister, Andrew Parsons, Jerry Earle the president of (NAPE), the union that represents NL correctional officers, and Bob Buckingham, a high profile St. John's attorney, all expressed concerns regarding mounting violence at HMP, St. John's. Assaults at HMP had more than doubled in 2016, according to Justice Department statistics.
In June of 2017, Beatrice Hunter, a Inuk grandmother, who was protesting in Labrador against the controversial Muskrat Falls project, was transferred from Labrador to HMP St. John's, after telling a Labrador judge she could not promise to stay away from the Muskrat Falls project site. Her arrest and transfer to HMP St. John's, brought harsh criticism, and sparked a rally outside the Colonial Building in St. John's and protests outside HMP, which described Hunter as a "political prisoner".
On August 31, 2017, Douglas Neary, a 37 year-old father of two, and first time HMP inmate died by suicide at HMP St. John's. The lawyer representing Neary's estate filed a wrongful death suit against the NL government, vowing to expose the 'antiquated, inhumane and neo-medieval' management practices at HMP.
On October 3, 2017, police responded to HMP St. John's for a report of a bomb located somewhere on the penitentiary grounds.
On April 21, 2018, correctional officers at HMP's Clarenville Correctional Centre for women discovered a 27 year-old unresponsive woman in her cell, and began to administer first-aid. The woman was transferred to hospital where she later died. The family of the woman would go on to file a wrongful death suit against the NL government claiming that correctional officers failed in their duties to promptly administer life saving efforts. The lawsuit further named HMP psychiatrist David Craig, indicating that Craig's decision to take the woman off her medication, which was prescribed by another psychiatrist, was a contributing factor in her death.
On May 17, 2018, an inmate at HMP St. John's had his prison sentence reduced due to what a NL provincial court judge called "disturbing", evidence presented by HMP officials. The court heard that, Justin Jennings, a 34 year-old inmate was punished by HMP officials to the point that it severely affected his mental health. Jennings was segregated for an excessive amount of time, and denied basic rights. The court heard that Jennings' medication was cut off by prison psychiatrist David Craig, and that Craig had ignored a letter written to prison official's by a prison psychologist that Jennings was on the verge of a complete mental breakdown, recommending he be removed from segregation immediately. Craig reportedly disagreed with the psychologist, writing a letter to HMP's Assistant Superintendent, claiming that Jenning's was the author of his own misfortune writing, "HMP is, by its very nature, a punitive institution, not a therapeutic one."
In September of 2017, the NL Human Rights Commission wrote to NL's Justice Minister calling for a review of the province's prison system in relation to the treatment of persons with mental health and intellectual disabilities. The commission asked that the province do an updated review of correctional facilities, with a focus on segregation and the treatment of inmates with mental health conditions or intellectual disabilities.The letter also noted a need for an increase in transparency and accountability surrounding the province's correctional facilities.
On September 21, 2017, HMP inmate Calvin Kenny went public, speaking with CBC news regarding mistreatment at HMP. Kenny, an inmate who served prison sentences in other federal correctional facilities in Canada, noted that the treatment inmates receive in NL facilities is harsher and inhumane compared to Canada's federal prison system.
On May 26, 2018, Samantha Piercey, a 28 year-old mother of two, was found deceased in her prison cell, following a reported suicide. Piercey's family would go on to file a wrongful death suit against the NL government, claiming that prison authorities, and HMP psychiatrist David Craig were negligent in their duties, causing Piercey to suffer physical, emotional and psychological damages.
On May 28, 2018, NL's Justice Minister, Andrew Parsons announced that the province had tasked Marlene Jesso, a retired Royal Newfoundland Constabulary officer to conduct a review of three recent deaths in HMP facilities.
On June 11, 2018, Geoff Peddle, the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Newfoundland and Labrador, wrote an open letter to justice officials expressing deep concern in relation to deaths at HMP facilities.
On June 15, 2018, Ches Crosbie, the Progressive Conservative leader of the opposition for NL, publicly called for in inquiry into the deaths at HMP.
On June 27, 2018, LIsa Piercey, the mother of Samantha Piercey, who died while in HMP custody, publicly called for an inquiry into the deaths at HMP.
On June 30, 2018, police were called to HMP St. John's, after a male inmate was found dead in his cell. Several days following the death, the parents of the deceased inmate, Christopher Sutton, spoke to CBC News regarding the shock and disbelief over the death of their son. CBC News asked the Justice Minister if there was a crisis at HMP, to which the minister responded, "No, I can't go that far yet." The minister went on to reject calls from Mr. Crosbie and Ms. Piercey for a public inquiry, stating that an internal review was underway, while passing on condolences to the family of Christopher Sutton.
On July 4, 2018, a letter surfaced from deceased inmate Chris Sutton, who wrote to the NL Human Rights Commission five days before taking his own life. In the letter, Sutton pleads for help, and likens the conditions he is experiencing at HMP to torture.
On July 6, 2018, Barry Fleming, the Citizen's Representative for NL, spoke publicly regarding the deaths in HMP custody, stating that a one person review of four inmate deaths does not go far enough. "This is not hysteria, this is a remarkable occurrence that needs a remarkable response", Fleming said. NL's Justice Minister, Andrew Parsons reiterated that government had no plans to commit to a public inquiry, stating: "we need to see what that change needs to be, and that comes out of doing a thorough investigation instead of making a knee-jerk reaction to a tragedy."
On July 11, 2018, HMP St. John's, inmates Chad Ralph and Justin Wiseman, who shared a cell block with Christopher Sutton went public with CBC News, stating that Sutton was ignored by correctional officers before his death, and claimed that guards laughed at Sutton when he spoke about taking his own life.
On July 11, 2018, Nape President Jerry Earle, of the union which represents NL's correctional staff said, the province's corrections staff are stressed by the recent suicides and challenging work environment.
On July 14, 2018, NL's daily newspaper, The Telegram, kicked off a two week series of special report investigative stories in relation to HMP, beginning with an article and accompanying photograph of HMP that described the prison as Hellish, Primitive and Midievil, in a play on words referring to the commonly used acronym HMP. The special report series included an editorial entitled: "Another Decade of Darkness", referring to the Decade of Darkness prison report commission by the NL government in 2008.
On July 19, 2018, Canadian Senator Kim Pate, a vocal advocate for inmate rights visited NL in relation to deaths at HMP facilities.Pate stated, that mental health resources should be prioritized over building a new prison. Pate, who visited both HMP St. John's and HMP Clarenville, noted that an emphasis needed to be placed on rehabilitation. During her visit to HMP St. John's, the Canadian Senator witnessed first hand the nonchalant approach to prisoner needs. When Senator Pate arrived at the prison she noticed an inmate who had been released at 9:30am, sitting on a bench outside the prison. Five hours later, when the Senator was leaving, the inmate was still waiting on the bench. She approached the released inmate and learned that he was told that officers were supposed to call him a taxi to get home. Pate complained to the nearest guard that the man had been waiting for five hours for a ride home, prompting a correctional officer to call a taxi for the released inmate. "Building a new prison will not solve Newfoundland and Labrador's justice system problems", the Senator was quoted as saying.
On September 4, 2018, Austin Alyward, the father of Austin Alyward Jr, who died of a medical seizure while in HMP custody in 2008, warned the parents and family members of those whose deaths were being reviewed by Marlene Jesso, to not expect much from the new review, stating the review into his son's death a decade earlier produced nothing, but brownie points for the then governing tories.
On February 6, 2019, a heavily redacted copy of Marlene Jesso's Deaths in Custody report was made public. The report contained 17 recommendations to government, and advocates and media quickly noted that the recommendations contained in the report had been previously highlighted in other NL commissioned reports and reviews in relation to HMP. Some of the recommendations included replacing HMP St. John's with a new prison, and adapting a dynamic security prison model. Critics of NL's prison system were quick to point out the straight forward rational contained in the report, and questioned HMP's leadership. Mark Gruchy, a St. John's based lawyer and vocal critic of HMP said, some of the recommendations are "profoundly basic", such as developing a strategy to deal with drug trafficking inside the jail walls or having a policy on saving video surveillance of critical incidents. "These things to me should not be recommendations - they're common sense. It's mind-blowing to me that we have a corrections system and a justice system interconnected with it that requires an external report to once again recommend very, very basic issues."
On March 7, 2019, a NL man living in Toronto, ON, flew to NL, to begin a prison protest outside HMP St. John's. A self-described former inmate, who served time in several prisons across Canada, claimed he received help in federal institutions, but was tortured when doing time at HMP ten years previous. His protest gained local support as he live-streamed videos and made numerous uploads to Youtube. As his protest gained steam, he was joined by former correctional officers, former inmates, and community supporters. The former inmate's protest lasted a week, before he was arrested by the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary on a charge(s) of uttering threats to prison staff.
On November 6, 2019, police responded to HMP St. John's, after the death of 33 year-old Inuk inmate Jonathan Henoche. Henoche was killed after a reported confrontation with correctional officers, and justice officials originally attributed his death to a medical emergency. His death was later ruled a homicide by NL's Chief Medical Examiner. News of Henoche's death prompted renewed calls for a public inquiry, however, NL's Justice Minister shot down any notion of holding an inquiry into the death. The homicide, which was captured on HMP's CCTV camera system, was investigated by the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, and on December 22, 2020, the RNC's major crimes unit announced it had charged ten of the province's correctional officers with varying criminal offences including manslaughter, criminal negligence causing death, and failing to provide the necessities of life. The announcement of the charges itself brought swift criticism from the legal community advocates, and an elected member of the House of Assemblydue to the departments decision to not publicly name the ten accused. After mounting public pressure, NL's Justice Department named the correctional officers accused in connection with the Henoche homicide. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) noted that the circumstances surrounding the death had been noticeably vague, writing, "The Indigenous man was in protective custody when he was killed in November 2019. The status did not protect him from harm — which came not from inmates, but allegedly from correctional officers who now stand accused of ending 33-year-old Henoche's life. From the start, the circumstances of exactly how he died have been veiled, if not kept outright from the public eye." After a brief battle between the NL government and the union that represents NL correctional officers, an arbitrator ordered the government of NL to pay the legal fees of the ten accused. A preliminary hearing began in August of 2021, which included a publication ban, that prevented media from reporting on the facts of the case. In December of 2021, a NL judge dismissed all homicide related charges against the accused officers stating that throughout the video of the Henoche homicide correctional officers were "professional and dutiful" in their actions, calling the case against them, "most unfortunate", and stating that Henoche was far from a model inmate, committing numerous infractions while housed at HMP. Despite the judges decision, Henoche's lawyer filed a wrongful death suit against the province stating that he plans on interrogating the officers under oath.
On December 4, 2020, St. John's lawyer Bob Buckingham made national headlines when he filed a lawsuit against the provincial government on behalf of his client, Blair Harris, a former inmate at HMP's Bishop's Falls Correctional Centre. The lawsuit claimed that Harris had been escorted to a dentist's office in Gander, NL by two correctional officers, and while sedated, one of the correctional officers preformed dental surgery on him, while the other recorded it on his cellphone. Harris learned that a correctional officer had performed a dental procedure on him from the Superintendent of Prison's after video of the incident had circulated throughout the prison. The two correctional officers were fired, and the RCMP charged former HMP officer's Ronald McDonald and Roy Goodyear with aggravated assault and assault with a weapon. Louis Bourget, a dentist who practices in both NL and NS, was also charged in the incident.
On February 26, 2021, police responded to HMP's St. John's City Lock-up for a report of a sudden death, which was later ruled a suicide.
On September 16, 2021, a HMP St. John's, inmate was found unresponsive in his cell and transported to hospital were he later died. Gregory Pike, a 30 year-old HMP inmate, and father of one died by suicide. Pike's sister, Courtney Pike, said she could barely contain her emotions when she read the Justice Department's statement in relation to her brother's death, "It was like they were sweeping it under the rug, because they know this is an ongoing issue in the system", she said. Pike's death prompted a prison protest outside HMP St. John's, were his family and supporters gathered to bring attention to the ongoing problems in NL's prison system.
On October 21, 2021, a NL Supreme Court judge, certified a class-action lawsuit involving 70 inmates from HMP's prison system, who claim that the province of NL, has been aware of the significant mental health impact on inmates, due to prolonged periods or excessive use of solitary confinement, claiming that despite the province's awareness of the significant harm it creates, HMP's prison system continues to adopt punitive measures that lead to prolonged periods of solitary confinement for NL inmates.
On November 24, 2021, the government of NL, issued a request for proposals for a new prison to replace HMP St. John's. The announcement set off another wave on controversy as a NL member of the House of Assembly, said other bidders pulled out of the tendering process because government was favoring a single bidder, over two other companies that had submitted proposals.
On January 27, 2022, St. John's based attorney Rosellen Sullivan, who represented Jordan Constantine, one of three correctional officer's charged with manslaughter in relation to the Henoche homicide, called for a public inquiry into the Henoche death to clear her clients name, and bring a sense of closure to Henoche's family. Sullivan stated that there is a public perception that Henoche was beaten to death and it's unfair to the officers that such a perception persists. Bob Buckingham, a vocal critic of HMP, and the attorney representing the Henoche family in a wrongful death suit against the province, also reiterated his call for a public inquiry into the death, asking if Johnathan Henoche would be alive - if not for the treatment he received at the hands of correctional officers on November 6, 2019.
On February 2, 2022, the Assistant Superintendent of HMP St. John's, was removed from her position by the Department of Justice and Public Safety. Media outlets reported that correctional staff at the prison received an email informing them of her termination, and that she was forbidden from entering the prison. The NL Justice Department did not state a particular reason for the sudden termination, citing privacy concerns.
References
Prisons in Canada
1854 establishments in Newfoundland |
69638909 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmed%20Aw%20Dahir | Ahmed Aw Dahir | Ahmed Aw Dahir (Axmed Daahir Xaaji Xasan) was the mayor of Las Anod, the capital city in the Sool region of Somaliland, from 2007 to July 17, 2011.
Mayor of Las Anod
In October 2007, Las Anod, which had been effectively controlled by Puntland, was taken over by Somaliland forces.
In December 2007, Mayor Ahmed Dahir announced that the Las Anod city executive has begun collecting city taxes. He also denied the elders' claim that Somaliland's control of Las Anod was done without the consent of Ras Lnod elders. He also stated that the security situation in Las Anod is generally calm, but there are occasional shootings, which are being investigated.
In October 2008, Mayor Ahmed Dahir attends the 5th anniversary celebration of Nugaal University in Las Anod.
In June 2011, Ahmed Dahir was arrested by Somaliland police. The arrest was ordered by the Sool Regional Commission, which includes the Director of Intelligence, Ahmed Abdi Habsade, who changed his affiliation from Puntland to Somaliland in 2007. However, Secretary Habsade did not disclose the reason for the arrest. According to other sources, Mayor Ahmed Dahir is also suspected of involvement in the shootings in Las Anod city and of meeting with leaders of the anti-Somaliland group HBM-SSC. Ahmed Dahir was the first person arrested in a series of shootings in Las Anod city. Ahmed Dahir was later released, but his mayoralty was dismissed.
References
People from Las Anod
Mayors of places in Somaliland
Somaliland politicians
Year of birth missing (living people) |
69639451 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General%20Martinez | General Martinez | General Martinez may refer to:
Jerry P. Martinez (born 1964), U.S. Air Force lieutenant general
Fernando Alejandre Martínez (born 1956), Spanish Army general
Hugo Martínez (police officer), (1941–2020), Colombian police general
Roberto Badillo Martínez (born 1938), Mexican Army general |
69639663 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey%20King%20%28politician%29 | Jeffrey King (politician) | Jeffrey Lyman deWitt King (September 18, 1940 – May 20, 2020) was a Canadian politician, lawyer and priest. He was an alderman on Ottawa City Council from 1970 to 1972, and was President of the Ontario Liberal Party from 1973 to 1976.
Early life
King was born September 18, 1940, at the Ottawa General Hospital, the son of Mary Irma Crawford and Victor Thomas King.
King graduated from St. Patrick's College in 1961 with a Bachelor of Science degree, then from the University of Ottawa where he received a law degree in 1964, and from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1966.
Early career
King was active within the Liberal Party of Canada and the Ontario Liberal Party. He was the assistant manager for the party's campaign in Ottawa South in the 1967 Ontario general election, and was president of the riding association. He worked for the John Turner campaign in the 1968 Canadian federal election. He was one of the delegates for the riding of Ottawa—Carleton at the 1968 Liberal Party of Canada leadership election. Following the passage of the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1968–69 in early 1969 which legalized abortion in Canada, King became acting president of the Ottawa—Carleton Liberal Association, as its previous president, Dalton McGuinty Sr. resigned in opposition. King was a lawyer and the vice-president of the Ottawa Junior Board of Trade (Ottawa Jaycees).
Alderman
King announced he was running for election to Ottawa City Council in late October 1969 for the 1969 Ottawa municipal election in his home Alta Vista Ward. He pledged to "work for better planning, taxing and administering, better communication with ratepayers and better welfare programs." King ran on a platform of better recreation facilities and protection against disruptive, short-sighted construction. When elected, he said he would "encourage citizen participation in municipal government, ... seek better playgrounds (such as for the families in the rent-to-income homes on Russell Road), more provincial money for education, and more federal money in lieu of taxes. He also believed senior government "must be persuaded to help finance rapid transit and bus service", and opposed "centralization of police, fire-fighting and transportation systems. King won election to city council, finishing second with 6,476 votes in the two-seat contest. He attributed his win to "a hard-slugging door-to-door canvass of 10,000 to 12,000 homes in the ward".
After swearing in, King was appointed to the tourist and convention committee on council. A month later, he was appointed to the city's new committee on air and water pollution, which included four aldermen and five members of the public. The committee appointed King as its vice chairman, and was tasked with studying provisions of the Canada Water Act and the Ontario Air Pollution Control Act.
While in office as alderman, King was re-elected as president of the Ottawa—Carleton Liberals in 1970.
In his first year of office, King supported providing means for property owners to seek compensation if it was determined the city was at fault for flood damage, opposed spending $1,400,00 on a second industrial park site, when a surplus of industrial land already existed, and opposed the city's decision to spend $353,000 servicing an industrial site on Hawthorne Road. He supported a community information centre in southeast Ottawa, and opposed a plan to build a development for senior citizens on Walkley Road. He did support the construction of 420 public housing units in an area which would eventually become the Foster Farm social housing project, but opposed the construction of 2,200 apartment and housing units, including a 1,630-unit development proposed to be built at the northeast corner of Russell and Walkley Roads (now the Sheffield Glen area), stating that it was "cheap land not fit for residential purposes".
To begin the 1971 council year, following a tie-beak vote by mayor Kenneth Fogarty, King was elected to the new Canada's Capital Visitors and Convention Bureau board of directors, after council dissolved the Tourist and Convention Committee.
Rumours swirled about King possibly running for the Ontario Liberal Party in Ottawa South in the 1971 Ontario general election, but he did not end up running for the nomination.
King, by now the chair of the city's air and water pollution committee supported a plan to allow experts to question the merits and the extent of pollution in the construction of a proposed artificial lake in Britannia Park. On city council, King vote in favour parking restrictions in the city, including increasing parking meter rates from 10 to 20 cents per hour. He also voted to create a special board of inquiry to delve into the cause of major flooding in the city in June. He opposed a plan to spend $140,000 to upgrade the Coliseum at Lansdowne Park.
King was again rumoured to be interested in higher office, this time to seek the Liberal Party of Canada nomination in Ottawa Centre for the 1972 Canadian federal election. King was president of the Eastern Ontario Liberal Association from 1969 until the Ontario Liberals abolished the party's regional structure in 1972.
For the 1972 year on council, King was re-appointed to the Canada's Capital Vistors' Convention Bureau, and was appointed to the Air and water pollution committee and as a Riverside Hospital trustee. On council, King proposed the city make a recoverable loan to provide extra money needed for artificial turf at Lansdowne Park which the Canadian Football League deemed mandatory to for the city to host the 1973 Grey Cup, but ended up voting against the city spending any money on the project. King was one of four councillors to oppose a proposed bylaw that would abolish provincial residency requirements for city employees. King voted against a proposed rent-to-income development in his ward at Virgina and Featherston Drives. Residents of the ward were very vocal in their opposition to the project, with King stating that "residents were not opposed to public housing but rather feared 'cheap, unco-ordinated development in the area'" and that the development would "overload schools and parks". Later in the summer, King supported rehiring the city's lifeguards that had been dismissed due to all the city's beaches being closed for the rest of the summer due to pollution, as they had been promised full summer employment. A week later, King voted against a proposal to for the city to consolidate the city's 14 departments into six, cautioning that council should not "move too quickly", and presented a motion "recommending the re-organization proposals be tabled until precise means of implementation are known". Following a vacancy on Ottawa's Board of Control in September 1972, King voted for fellow alderman and Liberal Tom McDougall to fill the spot over Des Bender. He also voted for controller Lorry Greenberg over Ernie Jones to become deputy mayor when that position became vacant at the same time. King opposed a proposal to lower the speed limits on city streets from 30 to 25 miles per hour, stating that "[i]t's unenforceable. And it's a vote-getting, foolish proposal... (and it) doesn't have much support from Ottawa drivers". Toward the end of the term, King voted against a temporary development control in Sandy Hill and the Pinecrest-Queensway areas, and opposed a bid to have taxpayers produce $143,830 to buy paid-up pensions for councillors. With the size of city council being divided in half, King opted not to run for re-election in the 1972 Ottawa municipal election, leaving his seat mate Don Kay to be re-elected without opposition.
Liberal Party politics
King was elected as Treasurer of the Ontario Liberal Party in 1973. The following year, King was elected president of the Party, defeating David Weatherhead. He wanted to seek the presidency because "he wanted to see changes made within the party to make people more conscious of the riding associations with assistance flowing between... the federal and provincial wings." He was re-elected at the 1975 party convention. In his re-election, King called the governing Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario "corrupt" in their attitude toward party fundraising, to which Premier Bill Davis replied "What sewer did (King) emerge from with his observations?". Later that year when the party set the date of the 1976 Ontario Liberal Party leadership election, King was named as chairman of the convention. One issue King had to contend with as President was a handful of riding associations made public rejections of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau's comments that "permanent controls on big business and labor (sic) may replace the traditional free enterprise system". At the time, both provincial party and the federal party in Ontario were organizationally the same party. King supported splitting the provincial and federal wings of the party at the 1976 party convention, which party members ended up supporting.
In 1976, King was elected president of the St. Patrick's Home board of directors.
King was rumoured to be a Liberal candidate in the 1979 Canadian federal election in the riding of Ottawa—Carleton, but did not run. King was the official agent of the Bryce Mackasey campaign in the 1978 federal by-election in Ottawa Centre. King became president of the Ottawa Centre federal Liberal association in 1979. King endorsed John Turner in the 1984 Liberal Party of Canada leadership election.
Later career
In 1986, King was appointed as "Gentiluomo" (Papal gentleman) to Pope John Paul II, the highest papal honour that can be granted to a layman. The appointment meant that he could be called to Rome whenever an English speaking dignitary visits the Pope. At the time of the appointment, King was working as a lawyer at Macdonald Affleck and Cooligan, and was a member of two parishes; Immaculate Heart of Mary and Resurrection of Our Lord. He was the chairman of the board at St. Patrick's Home and vice-president of the Seminary Students Aid Society, and was the chairman at the Rideauwood Institute.
King did not run in another election until the 1991 Ottawa municipal election, when he ran for a spot as a trustee on the Ottawa Separate School Board. He ran on a platform to "critically review and rationalize school budgets", restraining education taxes, and for "[a]ll school boards in the region (to) develop and maintain dialogue and co-operation". On election day, he won 2,419 votes, finishing 10th in Zone 1, where the top 7 candidates were elected.
King tried again for a spot on the Ottawa Separate Board in the 1994 Ottawa municipal election, wanting to "save money on administration costs", and to have the board "accept a new provincial plan of introducing common curriculum and common standards", and for the board to "participate in cost-saving ventures with other boards". On election day, he won 1,302 votes, finishing 7th in Zone 2, where the top 4 candidates were elected.
Following a career in politics and law, King graduated from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas with a degree in Theology, and then as a Canon Law lawyer from the Catholic University of America. He was ordained as a priest in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Ottawa in 1999. He would later become the pastor at St. Elizabeth's Parish and Our Lady of Fatima Parish. King was the chairman of the committee promoting former Governor General Georges Vanier and Pauline Vanier into possible sainthood.
He died on May 20, 2020.
References
1940 births
2020 deaths
Ottawa city councillors
Lawyers in Ontario
Carleton University alumni
University of Ottawa Faculty of Law alumni
Osgoode Hall Law School alumni
Ontario provincial political party presidents
Papal gentlemen
Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas alumni
Catholic University of America alumni
Clergy from Ottawa
20th-century Canadian Roman Catholic priests
21st-century Canadian Roman Catholic priests |
69640574 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022%20in%20the%20Philippines | 2022 in the Philippines | 2022 in the Philippines details events of note that have occurred, or are scheduled to take place, in the Philippines in 2022. The COVID-19 pandemic, which largely defined 2020, continued into 2022.
Incumbents
President:
Rodrigo R. Duterte (PDP–Laban) (until June 30)
TBD – (from June 30)
Vice President:
Leni G. Robredo (Liberal) (until June 30)
TBD – (from June 30)
Congress:
Senate President:
18th Congress: Vicente Sotto III (NPC) (until June 30)
19th Congress: TBD – (from July 25)
House Speaker:
18th Congress: Lord Allan Velasco (PDP–Laban) (until June 30)
19th Congress: TBD – (from July 25)
Chief Justice: Alexander Gesmundo
Ongoing events
COVID-19 pandemic
Events
January
January 1 – Republic Act No. 11467, which increases the excise tax on alcohol products, electronic cigarettes, and heated tobacco products, takes effect.
January 6 – President Rodrigo Duterte signs Republic Act No. 11642, that seeks to simplify the process of adoption, as thousands of children remained under government care while awaiting permanent homes.
January 7:
Monsignors Lope Robredillo, Eutiquio "Euly" Belizar Jr., and Romeo Solidon, three priests of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Borongan in Eastern Samar, are appointed by Pope Francis as the "Chaplains to His Holiness".
Juanito Itaas, the country's longest held political prisoner, is released from a 32-year prison for his involvement in the 1989 killing of United States Army Col. James Rowe.
January 11 – President Rodrigo Duterte signs Republic Act No. 11643, which grants survivorship benefits to the legitimate spouse and dependent children of deceased retired members of the National Prosecution Service.
January 14:
The National Bureau of Investigation files murder complaints against 17 cops over the killing of two of nine activists killed during the "Bloody Sunday" operations in March 7, 2021.
India–Philippines relations: Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana announces that the Philippines has bought a $370-million shore-based anti-ship missile project from India. On January 28, the two countries signs the contract for the acquisition of the BrahMos missile system.
President Rodrigo Duterte signs Republic Act Nos. 11644 and 11645, declaring the city of Carcar in Cebu and the town of San Vicente in Ilocos Sur as heritage zones.
January 18 – Five persons who were involved in the reported fraudulent schemes targeting BDO Unibank Inc., in December 2021, were arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation in an entrapment operation in Mabalacat, Pampanga. On January 26, DOJ indicts four individuals following its investigation of the fraud that hit the said bank.
January 20 – The Department of Justice indicts nine police officers over the killings of former Calbayog City Mayor Ronaldo Aquino, and his companions in March 8, 2021.
January 31 – Pope Francis nominates Rev. Msgr. Arnaldo Catalan as the new apostolic nuncio to Rwanda.
February
February 4 – The International Astronomical Union names "7431 Jettaguilar", in honor of Dr. Jose Francisco "Jett" Aguilar, a Filipino medical doctor and amateur astronomer.
February 5 – The US Federal Bureau of Investigation published religious leader Apollo Quiboloy as one of the most wanted list for sex trafficking.
February 7 – The Philippines begins the vaccination of children ages 5 to 11 against COVID-19 in Metro Manila after a few days of delay due to logistical challenges.
February 12 – At least 9 people were killed after they were ambushed at Kalumamis Village in Guindulungan, Maguindanao.
Scheduled
May 9 – National and local elections will take place, as mandated by Republic Act No. 7166.
Unscheduled
The province of Maguindanao will be split into two provinces: Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur, pending plebiscite on a later date by COMELEC after the national elections, in accordance with Republic Act No. 11550.
The municipality of Calaca, Batangas will gain cityhood, pending a plebiscite to be held four months after the national elections, in accordance with Republic Act No. 11554.
The city of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan will gain status as a highly urbanized city, pending a plebiscite to be held four months after the national elections, in accordance with Proclamation No. 1057.
Holidays
On October 29, 2021, Proclamation No. 1236, declares holidays and special (working/non-working) days to be observed in the country. Note that in the list, holidays in bold are "regular holidays," those in italics are "special (non-working) holidays," and those in non-italics and non-bold are "special (working) days".
January 1 – New Year's Day
February 1 – Chinese New Year
February 25 – EDSA People Power Revolution Anniversary
April 9 – Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor)
April 14 – Maundy Thursday
April 15 – Good Friday
April 16 – Black Saturday
May 1 – Labor Day
May 2 – Eid'l Fitr (Feast of Ramadan)
June 12 – Independence Day
July 9 – Eid'l Adha (Feast of Sacrifice)
August 21 – Ninoy Aquino Day
August 29 – National Heroes Day
November 1 – All Saints Day
November 2 – All Souls' Day
November 30 – Bonifacio Day
December 8 – Feast of the Immaculate Conception
December 24 – Christmas Eve
December 25 – Christmas Day
December 30 – Rizal Day
December 31 – Last Day of the Year
In addition, several other places observe local holidays, such as the foundation of their town. These are also "special days."
Business and economy
January 4 – Japan–Philippines relations: The Philippines and Japan renews the Bilateral Swap Arrangement, granting currency exchange between the Philippine peso and the Japanese yen.
January 5 – Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno is named the Global Central Banker of the Year 2022, by the international banking magazine The Banker.
January 18 – The Department of Transportation signs a contract worth ₱142 billion with a joint venture involving China Railway Group Limited for the first phase of the extension of the Philippine National Railways system to the Bicol Region.
January 25 – The National Telecommunications Commission gives both the analog and digital broadcast frequencies which was previously held by ABS-CBN Corporation to Advanced Media Broadcasting System, Sonshine Media Network International and Aliw Broadcasting Corporation.
January 31 – The Philippine Stock Exchange halts the trading shares of Dito CME Holdings Corporation after the company announces that it was canceling its stock rights offer.
Entertainment and culture
January 21 – Miss World names its Top 40 semifinalists, including Tracy Maureen Perez of the Philippines, ahead of the pageant’s rescheduled coronation night in March.
January 26 – Miss Philippines Nica Zosa was crowned Miss Summit International 2022, which was held in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
January 28 – The Filipino traditional dish sinigang names as the Best Soup in the world, according to the TasteAtlas.
January 29 – Two Filipino films, Don Josephus Eblahan’s The Headhunter’s Daughter and Martika Ramirez Escobar’s Leonor Will Never Die, wins prestigious prizes at the Sundance Film Festival 2022 awards ceremony.
Scheduled events
April 30 – The coronation event of the Miss Universe Philippines 2022 pageant will be held.
May 29 – The coronation event of the Miss World Philippines 2022 pageant will be held.
June 18 – The coronation event of the Man of the World 2022 pageant will be held in Baguio. It will be the first time that the Philippines will host the event.
Sports
Deaths
January
January 1 – Merlin Magallona (b. 1935), former law dean of the University of the Philippines
January 2 – Rudy Fernandez (b. 1949), triathlete
January 3 – Sigfreid Barros-Sanchez (b. 1976), scriptwriter and filmmaker
January 6:
F. Sionil José (b. 1924), writer and National Artist for Literature
Samuel K. Tan (b. 1933), former chairperson and executive director of the National Historical Institute
Maria Victoria Carpio-Bernido (b. 1961), 2010 Ramon Magsaysay Award recipient
January 10 – Lisandro Abadia (b. 1938), former Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
January 12 – Jaynard Angeles, radio commentator
January 14:
Augusto "Gus" Villanueva (b. 1939), People's Journal co-founder and editor-in-chief
Maoi Roca (b. 1975), basketball player and actor
January 18 – Ernesto "Don Pepot" Fajardo (b. 1933), comedian
January 21 – Salvador "Mr. Romantiko" Royales (b. 1947), head of the DZRH Drama Division
January 23:
Roberto Romulo (b. 1938), former Secretary of Foreign Affairs (1992–1995)
Romano Vasquez (b. 1971), former actor and singer
January 29 – Gabino Ganggangan (b. 1962), mayor of Sadanga, Mountain Province
January 30 – Valerio Lopez (b. 1926), former basketball player and coach
February
February 2 – Rustica Carpio (b. 1930), actress and playwright
February 9 – Johanna Uy (b. 1980), underwater hockey player
February 15 – Dong Puno (b. 1946), broadcaster
February 17 – Florencio Flores, Jr. (b. 1949), mayor of Malaybalay, Bukidnon
February 18 – Ambalang Ausalin (b. 1943), master weaver in Lamitan, Basilan
February 20 – Jose Fabian Cadiz (b. 1961), former vice mayor of Marikina
February 21:
Jomer "OG Kaybee" Galicia (b. 1988), rapper
Eduardo Roy, Jr. (b. 1980), film director
February 22 – Charlie Conjuangco (b. 1963), representative of Tarlac's 1st congressional district
March
See also
Country overviews
Philippines
History of Philippines
History of modern Philippines
Outline of Philippines
Government of Philippines
Politics of Philippines
Years in the Philippines
Timeline of Philippine history
Related timelines for current period
2022
2022 in politics and government
2020s
References
2022 in Southeast Asia
Philippines
2020s in the Philippines
Years of the 21st century in the Philippines |
69640848 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019%20Orchard%20Towers%20murder | 2019 Orchard Towers murder | The 2019 Orchard Towers murder was a murder case where a group of men killed 31-year-old Satheesh Noel Gobidass, who sustained several knife wounds and died at Orchard Towers on 2 July 2019. The murder was not the first case that involved the Orchard Towers. In 2002, the case of British expatriate Michael McCrea killing his friend and another person before disposing of the bodies at Orchard Towers was another that associated the Orchard Towers with murder. In the end, McCrea was sentenced by the courts to serve 24 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
Initially, all seven of the offenders, consisting of one female and six males, were charged with murder, but eventually, six of the accused faced various lesser charges of assault, consorting an armed person in public, unruly behaviour in public and obstruction of justice. These lower charges were finalized after the six's respective sentencing phases, which resulted in one of them receiving a conditional warning while the remaining five serving jail terms between one month and four years and nine months, in addition to caning for two of the male members. The seventh and final suspect, Tan Sen Yang, whose case has been transferred to the High Court, is currently pending trial for murder.
Background
Satheesh Noel Gobidass
Born on 13 February 1988, Satheesh Noel Gobidass was a Singaporean chemist of ethnic Indian descent who was married with two children: a ten-year-old son and four-year-old daughter at the time he died.
According to his friends, neighbours and family, Satheesh was known to be a kind and helpful person to people around him, and was close to his family. A 33-year-old childcare teacher and some of Satheesh's friends remembered Satheesh as a loving, caring father who loved his children dearly and he often found time to fetch his daughter from school. Neighbours who lived in Satheesh's neighbourhood also stated that he would help them take heavy bags.
An online personality, who was a former classmate of Satheesh from secondary school, described Satheesh as an energetic individual who was a bit “naughty” but often a thoughtful person with a good heart. She remembered an incident where she was heavily pregnant at one point, Satheesh helped her open the door to a GrabCar and took care of her then toddler-aged son. Other than that, they often shared friendly verbal exchanges whenever they met each other in the neighbourhood where they resided.
Another friend fondly remembered Satheesh in a Facebook post as a good drinking buddy and friend with whom he often enjoyed drinking and eating nasi padang together, and smoking. He stated Satheesh was forgetful at times and before his death, he even left his favourite hat at the bar he frequented at Orchard Towers. the hat was later retrieved and returned to his wife shortly after Satheesh died.
Death at Orchard Towers
On the early morning of 2 July 2019, at Orchard Towers, a fight broke out between Satheesh and a group of seven people, with four of these members - 27-year-old Tan Sen Yang (陈森阳 Chén Sēnyáng), 26-year-old Joel Tan Yun Sheng (陈云胜 Chén Yúnshèng), 26-year-old Ang Da Yuan (洪达远 Hóng Dáyuǎn) and 22-year-old Natalie Siow Yu Zhen (萧玉珍 Xiāo Yùzhēn) - participating in the fight with Satheesh (who earlier came with his friends for drinks at a pub at the Orchard Towers). The other three members - 25-year-old Loo Boon Chong (刘文崇 Liú Wénchóng), 26-year-old Chan Jia Xing (陈家兴 Chén Jiāxīng) and 22-year-old Tan Hong Sheng (陈洪胜 Chén Hóngshèng) - tried to stop their first four friends from attacking Satheesh but to no avail.
According to court documents, the group of seven, led by Tan Sen Yang, had a fight with another group earlier on, and Tan Sen Yang actually used a foldable karambit knife to slash a security officer who attempted to intervene. Being one of the bystanders who witnessed the fight, Satheesh went to the entrance of the Orchard Towers to confront the group of seven after he followed them down a lift, thus sparking a physical conflict between the group and Satheesh. At the end of the fight, Satheesh suffered several knife wounds on the neck and jaw as a result of Tan Sen Yang, who was the only one armed of all the seven, using the karambit knife to slash and stab Satheesh while punching him. One of these neck wounds was fatal and it caused Satheesh to eventually bleed to death despite the intervention of members of the public. Around an hour after he was stabbed, 31-year-old Satheesh Noel Gobidass was pronounced dead at around 7.30 am in Tan Tock Seng Hospital. His funeral was held at Teban Gardens Road.
After the attack, the seven members went their separate ways. Among them, Tan Sen Yang and Loo Boon Chong went to Loo's flat, where Tan changed his clothes and took his shower, and Loo also disposed of Tan's bloodstained shirt down the rubbish chute. All seven of them would later be arrested for the alleged murder of Satheesh Noel Gobidass, with some have voluntarily surrendered to the police at one of the members Joel Tan's coordination.
Pre-trial investigations
Arrests and indictments
After the crime was reported, the police were called in and within 12 hours, the seven suspects were arrested in varied locations all over Singapore; a female friend who accompanied the group of seven at the time of the murder was also caught but subsequently released. The seven arrested members - Tan Sen Yang, Joel Tan, Tan Hong Sheng, Ang Da Yuan, Natalie Seow, Chan Jia Xing, and Loo Boon Chong - were all charged with murder. As the offence of murder warrants the punishment of either life imprisonment or the death penalty in Singapore, the seven suspects will potentially be sentenced to death if found guilty.
Court proceedings also revealed that one of the members, Ang Da Yuan, was previously jailed for three weeks each in 2017 and 2018 for voluntarily causing hurt. He was also put on probation in 2010 for behaving in a disorderly manner in public. Another member, Tan Hong Sheng, was also revealed to have two previous convictions for violent offences and possession of weapons and had undergone both a jail term at a juvenile home and reformative training in 2011 and 2016 respectively. First-hand investigations also revealed that Tan Sen Yang was also suspected to be involved in several past violent offences.
After they were charged with murder, the male members were remanded at Changi Medical Complex for psychiatric assessment, while Natalie Siow, the sole female suspect, was remanded at Changi Women's Prison for three weeks for psychiatric assessment. No bail was offered for all seven of them.
Reduction of murder charges
A week after their arrests, three of the seven members - Loo Boon Chong, Chan Jia Xing and Tan Hong Sheng - had their murder charges reduced. As they, together with the other members, were aware of Tan being armed with the murder weapon during their meeting before the incident at Orchard Towers, the three men faced fresh charges of consorting with a person carrying an offensive weapon in a public place. They were all released on bail which cost between S$15,000 and S$20,000.
Later, in October 2019, the murder charge against Natalie Siow was reduced to voluntarily causing hurt, and she also faced new charges of consorting an armed person and unruly behaviour in public. After the reduction of her original murder charge, Siow was offered bail of S$15,000 and hence she was released after spending three and a half months in remand for murder. Eventually, in February 2020, both Joel Tan and Ang Da Yuan had their murder charges lowered to assault, and they were each offered bail of S$15,000.
The reduction of the murder charges against the first six suspects left the seventh and final suspect Tan Sen Yang as the only person left facing a murder charge.
Tan Hong Sheng’s escape and recapture
A date was scheduled for three of the members - Loo Boon Chong, Chan Jia Xing and Tan Hong Sheng - to return to court. However, on 29 August 2019, only Loo and Chan turned up in court, while Tan was discovered to be missing. Tan's mother thus called the police, and a warrant of arrest was issued for Tan's whereabouts. Tan remained on the run for a month before he was re-arrested on 27 September 2019. Not only that, Tan was also charged with committing another crime of rioting while out on bail in August 2019; he had teamed up with three other men at Central Mall to attack the 30-year-old victim Desmond Neo Zhao Fu, who was also charged with rioting like his attackers.
Sentences of the first six accused
Joel Tan and Ang Da Yuan
In their trial, the first two members - 26-year-old Joel Tan Yun Sheng and 26-year-old Ang Da Yuan - pleaded guilty to lower charges of voluntarily causing hurt to the victim. Additionally, Ang also pleaded guilty to consorting with a person possessing an offensive weapon. As a result, on 4 March 2020, Joel Tan was sentenced to four weeks' imprisonment, while Ang was sentenced to eight months' imprisonment and six strokes of the cane.
The district court also took into consideration the decision by Joel Tan to convince the other members to surrender to the police, which was argued by Tan's lawyer Josephus Tan. Ang's lawyers - Anil Sandhu and Mohamed Arshad - also submitted that their client was remorseful of causing the death of Satheesh on that fateful day, and Ang stated he want to repent for what he did and take good care of his family after his release.
Natalie Siow
On 9 October 2020, for assault and consorting an armed individual, 24-year-old Natalie Siow Yu Zhen was sentenced to five months' imprisonment with no caning on 9 October 2020 (as females are not allowed to be caned under Singapore law). Siow's lawyer Amarick Gill reportedly stated that Siow, who felt sorry for the death of Satheesh (which she did not expect to happen), had learnt her lesson after her "harrowing" experience of facing the gallows and a capital charge.
Siow was granted parole and released on 18 January 2021 after serving over 200 days out of her five-month jail term due to good behaviour, for which her sentence did not include the three and a half months (specifically 107 days) she spent in remand.
Chan Jia Xing
The fourth member Chan Jia Xing, who originally faced a reduced charge of consorting an armed person, was issued a conditional warning and the prosecution decided to withdraw the criminal charges against Chan, after they took into consideration that he tried to stop the fight and he also did not participate in the fatal assault of Satheesh either, as well as his full cooperation with the police during the investigations.
However, the prosecution warned Chan that if he re-offend within the next 12 months, Chan will be taken back to court to face charges for both the new offence and his role in the 2019 Orchard Towers murder. 27-year-old Chan Jia Xing was thus set free on 17 October 2020. According to Josephus Tan, who was Chan's lawyer, Chan was grateful for the decision and anticipated the birth of his first child (later revealed to be a son) in the following month. Chan also expressed he would never be involved in another crime again for life after the case of Satheesh's death.
Loo Boon Chong
The bespectacled fifth member Loo Boon Chong pleaded guilty to the charges of obstructing justice and consorting an armed person on 14 December 2020. The prosecution sought a sentence of at least six months' jail and a fine of S$1,000 for Loo, while Loo's three lawyers - Sunil Sudheesan, Diana Ngiam and Sujesh Anandan - argued for two months in jail on account of his remorse over the incident and with Lawyer Ngiam having highlighted that Loo could not afford to pay the fine, he should be given an additional five days in jail instead.
On 15 January 2021, 27-year-old Loo was sentenced to five months in jail, as well as a S$1,000 fine for an unrelated gambling offence. While sentencing Loo, District judge Ng Cheng Thiam also took note that Loo had been in remand for a short period before being released on bail and that he had surrendered himself to the police hours after Tan Sen Yang murdered Satheesh Noel Gobidass.
Tan Hong Sheng
On 5 February 2021, the sixth man Tan Hong Sheng, who was remanded without bail since his recapture in September 2019, pleaded guilty to a single charge of consorting an armed person and two unrelated charges of rioting, which he committed on 18 November 2018 and 25 February 2019 respectively. It was further revealed that Tan was out on bail for the second rioting offence when he became involved in the 2019 Orchard Towers murder case. Tan also faced five other similar charges, but these will be taken into consideration during sentencing.
The prosecution sought a sentence of at least five years in prison with 12 strokes of the cane after emphasising that Tan had committed two earlier rioting offences and the viciousness of the attack, as well as his criminal record. On the other hand, the defence counsel, led by Josephus Tan, argued for a lighter sentence of between 45 and 50 months' jail and between nine and 12 strokes of the cane on account that their client was merely trying to stop the fight and not taking part in it.
On 5 March 2021, Tan, then 24 years old, was sentenced to a total of four years and nine months' jail (or 57 months' jail) and 12 strokes of the cane.
Controversy
On 2 November 2020, it was reported that the police had arrested two women, both aged 28 and 36 respectively, for contempt of court over the women's social media posts, which contained allegations of preferential treatment in sentencing on account of race of alleged criminals, saying that minority people are given harsher sentences; and these allegations were linked to the Orchard Towers murder after the news reported the release of Chan Jia Xing. In response to such allegations, the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) said such media posts have the "potential to disrupt racial harmony in Singapore, and cause irreversible divisions in our communities" and amount to contempt of court, in addition to refuting these allegatory claims.
Three days after the arrest of the two women for the preferential treatment allegations, it was reported that the day before, in Parliament, Minister of State for Home Affairs Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim called these claims baseless and irresponsible. He said everyone is entitled to fair and equal treatment under the law.
Citing several precedent cases like the 2010 gang-related killing of Darren Ng Wei Jie at Downtown East as examples, Faishal told the House that in whichever cases where there are several suspects allegedly involved in the same capital case (like murder or kidnapping), all of them will face the same charge together initially, and these people will be detained in remand pending further investigations and after looking through the facts of the case, it will be decided whether to proceed with the capital charge or reduce it or withdraw it. Faishal said that the positions made against the people involved in the case would differ based on the evidence available and his/her role in the matter.
The AGC, as well as some lawyers, also provided an explanation behind the sentences meted out to some of the convicted minor offenders Natalie Siow, Ang Da Yuan and Joel Tan (Loo Boon Chong and Tan Hong Sheng were not yet sentenced at that time). They laid out that while the trio knew that Tan Sen Yang was armed with the knife and had participated in the fight against Satheesh, they did not have a plan to use the knife during the fight or a plan to fight Satheesh, hence their murder charges were reduced to those of voluntary causing hurt with common intention. They also laid out that Loo, Chan and Tan Hong Sheng never take part in the fight and only tried to stop the fight, which explained the withdrawal of their respective murder charges in favour of lesser ones. They also stated that the prosecution, in pursuing a more severe sentence for Ang in both his and Joel Tan's trial in March 2020, have cited Ang's criminal record to ask for a higher sentence for Ang compared to Joel Tan's. Some lawyers also explained that the reduction of the charges were likely due to investigations determining that all seven offenders in this case did not share the common intention with each other to cause the fatal injury on the victim, and this would also happen if they were found to play differing roles in the turn of events that ended in Satheesh's death.
Trial of Tan Sen Yang
Pre-trial developments
In October 2020, it was reported that Tan Sen Yang's case has been moved to the High Court of Singapore, and it was then confirmed that Tan will be tried for murder in the High Court, where it allow judges to hear capital cases in Singapore. Singapore's leading criminal lawyer Eugene Thuraisingam and his assistant counsel Suang Wijaya are hired to represent Tan Sen Yang in his upcoming murder trial, for which the exact date is not scheduled or confirmed.
On 1 October 2021, whilst his remand, Tan was hauled back to court to face ten fresh charges of causing hurt in unrelated incidents. It was revealed that Tan was involved in several violent incidents, and two of them, including the amputation of a woman's finger and permanent disfigurement of a man, occurred merely minutes prior to him fighting and killing Satheesh Noel Gobidass. His case was adjourned to 22 October 2021.
As of January 2022, Tan is still awaiting trial for murder.
See also
Caning in Singapore
Capital punishment in Singapore
List of major crimes in Singapore (before 2000)
List of major crimes in Singapore (2000–present)
Orchard Towers double murders
Orchard Towers murders (disambiguation)
References
Murder in Singapore
People murdered in Singapore
2019 in Singapore
2019 crimes in Singapore
2019 murders in Asia
2010s murders in Singapore
Caning in Singapore |
69640946 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alibi%20perfetto | Alibi perfetto | Alibi perfetto (English: The perfect alibi) is a 1992 Italian thriller film directed by Aldo Lado.
Plot
Tony and Lisa, two policemen of the special team, have long been on the trail of Mancini and his men, involved in drug trafficking. Finally, they defeat a large part of the gang by seizing the heroin during a shooting in a Chinese restaurant, but Mancini manages to escape. Elvi, Tony's wife from whom she is separated, asks to settle in his apartment (promising to find him a new accommodation) and in the meantime takes some photos of an abandoned villa for her real estate agency. When Elvi and Tony meet over the divorce lawsuit, the woman is shot and killed.
Cast
Michael Woods: Tony Giordani
Kay Sandvik: Lisa Bonetti
Annie Girardot: Beaumont
Carla Cassola: Yarno
Gianna Paola Scaffidi: Elvi Giordani
Philippe Leroy: police chief
Burt Young: Mancini
Production
The film was one of the last productions of the film company P.A.C. before its bankruptcy.
Reception
The film was a commercial failure, grossing less than 25 millions lire at the Italian box office.
The film was generally badly received by critics. In a contemporary review film critic Stefano Martina described the film structure as "elementary and sketchy". Morando Morandini referred to the film as an "insipid thriller with psychological pretensions and poorly used actors" In his analysis of the film the critic Fabrizio Fogliato was more benevolent, calling it "a decent product (but nothing more)".
References
External links
1992 films
1992 thriller films
Italian thriller films
Italian films
Italian-language films
Films directed by Aldo Lado |
69642421 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coldbath%20Fields%20riot | Coldbath Fields riot | The Coldbath Fields riot took place in Clerkenwell, London, on 13 May 1833. It began as a meeting organised by the National Union of the Working Classes (NUWC), a political organisation associated with the Southwark-based Rotunda radicals. The NUWC called for the extension of the electoral franchise beyond that granted in the Reform Act of 1832 and opposed the Metropolitan Police, which had been established in 1829, as an infringement of civil liberties. The Whig government of Lord Grey opposed the meeting and Home Secretary Lord Melbourne declared it illegal. The police infiltrated the NUWC in the run-up to the meeting and planned to disperse it.
There are varying figures for the number present at the meeting of between 70 and 600 police officers and 300 to 6,000 members of the public. Both Commissioners of Police of the Metropolis, Sir Charles Rowan and Sir Richard Mayne, were present and two British Army officers stood by to summon military reinforcements if needed. It is disputed which side started the violence but Rowan led a number of baton charges that dispersed the crowd and arrested the NUWC leaders. The crowd were pursued into side streets and a portion were trapped in Calthorpe Street. Three police officers were stabbed and one, Constable Robert Culley, was killed. There were few serious injuries inflicted on members of the public.
A coroner's jury ruled Culley's death was justifiable homicide as the police had failed to read the Riot Act and been heavy handed in their dispersal of the crowd. This verdict was overturned by a government appeal to the High Court of Justice, but no man was brought to trial for Culley's murder. George Fursey was charged with the wounding of the other two officers but was acquitted by a jury at the Old Bailey. The coroner's jury, who had been feted by the Radicals, complained to the House of Commons. A select committee investigated the riot and largely exonerated the police, noting that Melbourne's declaration of the meeting as illegal was invalid as it had not been signed.
Background
The Metropolitan Police had been founded in 1829, replacing a patchwork system of local night watchmen and parish constables which had struggled to maintain order in a rapidly growing London. The public were highly suspicious of the police, viewing them as an extension of the arm of the state. The reputation of the Metropolitan Police was affected by discipline issues and a high turnover of constables; of 2,800 officers in place in May 1830, only 562 remained in post four years later. The public derided the police as "raw lobsters" and "blue devils". There was little respect and much resentment; two officers had been killed while on duty in 1830 alone.
The English Radicals regarded the police as an infringement of civil liberties, akin to the militarised gendarmerie that existed in Napoleonic France. The British military had previously been used to break up public demonstrations. The Peterloo Massacre of 1819, in which 18 civilians were killed by the British military intervening in a political demonstration, was in recent memory.
The National Union of the Working Classes (NUWC), a political organisation associated with the Southwark-based Rotunda radicals, called a meeting on open ground behind Coldbath Fields Prison on 13 May 1833. The meeting was to oppose the new police force and to call for the extension of the electoral franchise to a wider section of the male public. The NUWC had been disappointed by the Reform Act 1832 which had led to a small increase in the franchise, beyond the relatively wealthy.
The NUWC's secretary, John Russell, promoted the meeting in The Poor Man's Guardian and The Working Man's Friend, as well as with numerous handbills and posters in the weeks preceding it. Some of the handbills requested that attendees arm themselves. The Home Secretary Lord Melbourne declared the meeting illegal and Prime Minister Lord Grey ordered the Metropolitan Police to arrest the ring leaders should the meeting take place. Melbourne ordered the joint Commissioners of Police of the Metropolis, Sir Charles Rowan and Sir Richard Mayne, to break up the meeting. The commissioners queried the legal basis for Melbourne's order and met with him to discuss it. The police posted notices warning that the meeting was illegal and would be dispersed if it went ahead.
Riot
In the lead-up to the riot the police had infiltrated meetings of the NUWC and used the information gained to develop their tactics, but the police in general had a low level of knowledge of how best to deal with public demonstrations. The occasion was the first major confrontation between the Metropolitan Police and a crowd.
By mid-day some 300 members of the public had assembled for the meeting. The police did not act until the organisers addressed the crowd from the backs of open-topped wagons as the officers had orders to wait until the event could be confirmed positively as a NUWC meeting. Estimates of the number of members of the public and police vary widely. Sarah Wise (2012) gives only 300 members of the crowd while David Goodway (2002) gives 3-4,000. Francis Dodsworth (2019) states that there were 70 police officers in attendance while Roy Ingleton (2020) gives 600, who he states were outnumbered 10-1. Both police commissioners were present at the scene as well as two officers from the British Army's 1st Regiment of Life Guards, dressed in civilian clothing but ready to summon a detachment of their unit if needed to assist the police.
It is disputed if the police drew their batons before or after being attacked by the crowd. It is known that Rowan led several baton charges against the crowd who threw stones at the police. Within five minutes of taking action the police had dispersed the crowd and arrested the leaders of the meeting. In one contemporary report The Times stated that "the police furiously attacked the multitude with their staves, felling every person indiscriminately before them; even the females did not escape the blows from their batons – men and boys were lying in every direction weltering in their blood and calling for mercy" and another reported that the police were drunk. However the police reported that the event was attended by "the lowest classes" who had armed themselves with knives, improvised lances, brickbats and cudgels.
The crowd dispersed into nearby streets where the police's actions left some trapped. A portion of the crowd on Calthorpe Street attempted to fight their way clear. Around this time three of the police officers were stabbed. Sergeant John Brooks and Constable Henry Redwood were wounded while trying to take a flag from a demonstrator. In unknown circumstances Constable Robert Culley was stabbed in the chest. He staggered into the yard of the Calthorpe Arms where he collapsed and died. Culley had been one of the first men to join the Metropolitan Police, carrying out his first patrol on 21 September 1829, at the age of 23. His wife was carrying their first child when he was killed.
Aftermath
Culley's death was subject to a coroner's inquest with a 15-man jury. This met, under Coronor for West Middlesex Thomas Stirling, in the upstairs room of the Calthorpe Arms, in the yard of which Culley had died. The jury were local shopkeepers and household heads, not considered to be Radicals.
At the time magistrates, judges and juries were often anti-police and the Culley inquest jury is considered to be one example of this. The jury did not accept the evidence presented by the police and ruled that the "conduct of the police was ferocious, brutal, and unprovoked by the people". The jury returned a verdict of justifiable homicide on 21 May on the basis that the Riot Act had not been read or the crowd asked to disperse.
This verdict was challenged by the Solicitor General for England and Wales Sir John Campbell and overturned by the King's Bench Division of the High Court of Justice on 30 May, being replaced by a verdict of "wilful murder by a person or persons unknown". Despite the new verdict there was no police investigation into Culley's death beyond a police surgeon determining that the knife used to stab Brooks and Redwood had not been used in the killing of Culley. George Fursey was charged with stabbing the other two officers but was acquitted by a jury in a criminal trial at the Old Bailey on 8 July 1833.
The original jury wrote to parliament to protest the overturning of their verdict, alleging that the King's Bench judgment had cast a slur on their characters. They were supported by William Cobbett, a Radical member of parliament (MP), who was a notable critic of the police and alleged that they had used swords and guns, though there was no evidence of this in any injuries suffered by the crowd. In response a House of Commons select committee was established to examine the conduct of the police during the riot. It largely exonerated the police, noting that no "dangerous wound or permanent injury" had been suffered by members of the crowd. It heard from a Hackney magistrate that the police were "the most efficient and least offensive system for the protection of person and property that was ever devised". During the committee's sessions it was found that Melbourne had not signed the public notice outlawing the Coldbath Fields meeting, rendering it legally unenforceable. Melbourne also told the committee that he had only wanted the ringleaders arrested and not for the crowd to be dispersed. Mayne disproved this as he had kept notes from the commissioners' meeting with Melbourne.
The coroner's jury were feted by the public for their original verdict. Within days of their discharge their foreman, Samuel Stockton, was presented with a set of pewter medallions for all the jury members. These were engraved with the message "In honour of the men who nobly withstood the dictation of the coroner; independent, and conscientious, discharge of their duty; promoted a continued reliance upon the laws under the protection of a British jury". They were cheered in the streets and rewarded, in June, by the Milton Street Committee, a group of wealthy Radicals, with a boat trip along the Thames to Twickenham on the steamer Endeavour. Upon arrival they were greeted with a cannon salute and a cheering crowd who had turned out despite the rain. A year after the riot the Milton Street Committee held a banquet at the Highbury Barn Tavern in honour of the jury. It was hosted by Radical MP Sir Samuel Whalley and attended by 150 people, including at least one other MP. The jurors were presented with a silver cup, after a toast to "The people, the only source of legitimate power". Stockton continued to be feted into the 1860s, with a dinner being held at the Benevolent Institution in St Pancras and a 20-guinea clock presented to him.
Police Superintendent Joseph Sadler Thomas came in for criticism for "high-handedness" during the riot. He was suspended shortly afterwards in a dispute with a pub landlord over a licence application. Thomas left the Metropolitan Police later in 1833 to become deputy constable (what would now be deputy chief constable) of Manchester City Police. Grey's Whig government came in for criticism in the Radical press for their actions in the lead-up to the riot. The Radicals accused the Whigs, who positioned themselves as a liberal party, of committing excesses of power comparable to those committed by the Tories at Peterloo.
Legacy
According to policing historian R. I. Mawby the killing of Culley may have caused an increase in public sympathy for the police, which led to their general acceptance of the institution. The riot was the only legal precedent for the police in dealing with public meetings for decades. The police response to riots generally improved and there were few occasions when the military had to be called in. The Metropolitan Police Act 1839 reformed and increased the size of the police in London.
Culley is one of only three Metropolitan Police officers whose deaths have been caused by rioting, the others being Station Sergeant Thomas Green in the 1919 Epsom riot and Police Constable Keith Blakelock in 1985. Green died of injuries sustained during a riot so only Culley and Blakelock died during a riot. Similar to Culley no-one was convicted of the killings of Green or Blakelock.
References
1833 riots
1833 in England
History of the Metropolitan Police
May 1833 events
Riots and civil disorder in England |
69642757 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hold%20Your%20Fire%20%28film%29 | Hold Your Fire (film) | Hold Your Fire is a 2021 documentary film directed by American writer and filmmaker Stefan Forbes about the 1973 New York City hostage incident in Brooklyn, New York, which helped birth modern hostage negotiation. It will be released theatrically by IFC Films on May 20, 2022.
Premise
The film centres on the actions of police psychologist Harvey Schlossberg during hostage incident which occurred on January 19, 1973, when four young African-American men stealing guns for self-defense were cornered by the NYPD, and took a dozen hostages.
Screenings and awards
Hold Your Fire premiered at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival.
It won the Metropolis Grand Jury Prize at the 2021 Doc NYC Film Festival.
It won the 2020 Library Of Congress Better Angels Grand Prize for historical film.
It was NPR's Documentary of the Week in November 2021.
Critical Response
Manohla Dargis, writing for the The New York Times, called the film "Formally audacious."
“Hold Your Fire has all the ingredients of a Sidney Lumet film…as tense as any thriller from that period, the involving human stories and lasting impact of the events makes for an absorbing, gripping film with theatrical potential. -Allan Hunter, ScreenDaily.com
“Fast-paced, suspenseful real-life thriller featuring an array of fascinating characters…compelling” -Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter
“Gripping…showcases the director’s skill with locating sympathy in a morally dubious or compromised character.” -Brent Simon, GoldenGlobes.com
“A searing look into a little-known moment in history with profound repercussions for how we understand policing today." Grade: A -Tambay Obenson, Indiewire
Media appearances
Director Stefan Forbes intervilewed in Variety
IndieWire: ‘Hold Your Fire’ Review: The True Story Behind the Heist That Taught Cops How to Save Hostages Without Bullets
External links
InterPositive Media
Hold Your Fire
2021 documentary films
Documentaries about crime in the United States |
69642765 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022%20in%20Ireland | 2022 in Ireland | Events during the year 2022 in Ireland.
Incumbents
President: Michael D. Higgins
Taoiseach: Micheál Martin (FF)
Tánaiste: Leo Varadkar (FG)
Minister for Finance: Paschal Donohoe (FG)
Chief Justice: Donal O'Donnell
Dáil: 33rd
Seanad: 26th
Events
January
1 January
23,281 cases of COVID-19 were recorded, as health officials warned that the true number of cases was likely to be higher, due to increased pressure on the PCR testing system.
Three people died and a 12-year-old boy was seriously injured following a two-car collision in County Meath.
2 January – Seven people were injured in a two-car collision in County Meath.
3 January – An 18-year-old man drowned off Inishmore island in County Donegal.
4 January – Minister for Education Norma Foley confirmed that schools would reopen as planned on 6 January, despite rising COVID-19 cases.
6 January
The culture minister, Catherine Martin, began a consultation programme inviting opinions concerning the creation of a basic income plan for artists.
23,817 cases of COVID-19 were recorded, as people who received a third or booster vaccine dose began receiving an updated Digital COVID Certificate.
7 January – The body of Shane O'Connor, 17, son of singer Sinéad O'Connor and musician Donal Lunny, was found near Bray after being reported missing by the Garda Síochána (police) the previous day. His mother announced he had taken his own life, following two suicide attempts a week before.
8 January – A record 26,122 cases of COVID-19 were reported.
9 January – Gardaí (police) began an investigation after a 49-year-old father-of-two was shot dead in Ballyfermot, Dublin.
10 January – The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Ireland reached 1,000,000.
12 January – Gardaí began a murder investigation after a 23-year-old teacher named locally as primary school teacher Ashling Murphy was attacked and killed along the canal bank in Tullamore, County Offaly. A man in his 40s was arrested.
14 January – Gardaí released the man arrested for the murder of Ashling Murphy, announcing he was no longer a suspect. His age and nationality had been leaked to the media. Another man was identified as a "person of interest" in the case, and gardaí renewed an appeal for information. Vigils are held nationwide.
15 January – A National Lottery jackpot that had been rolling over since June 2021 and worth a record was €19 million was won, with the winning ticket being sold in Castlebar.
18 January
Ashling Murphy's funeral took place and a man in his 30s was arrested on suspicion of her murder.
A 40-year-old man was charged with the fatal shooting of Michael Tormey in Ballyfermot on 9 January.
19 January
31-year-old Jozef Puska, a Slovakian national, was charged with the murder of Ashling Murphy.
The Government agreed a plan to give frontline healthcare workers a once-off €1,000 tax free payment for their work during the COVID-19 pandemic and also agreed on an extra public holiday on 18 March in remembrance of people who died due to COVID-19.
20 January – A man in his 80s died, a woman in her 20s and a man in his 70s were injured following a three-car collision on the M6 motorway, outside Galway.
21 January – Taoiseach Micheál Martin announced the easing of almost all COVID-19 restrictions from 6am on 22 January, with the requirements of vaccine certificates and social distancing to end, restrictions on household visits and capacity limits for indoor and outdoor events to end, nightclubs to reopen and pubs and restaurants to resume normal trading times, while rules on isolation and the wearing of masks would remain.
23 January – A male pedestrian in his 40s was struck by a car on Drimnagh road at around 1:30am, while a 31-year-old pedestrian was struck by another car after 11pm in Tallaght.
25 January
The Taoiseach said Ireland was advising against non-essential travel to Ukraine, describing a planned Russian military exercise off the Irish coast in February as unwelcome.
Fishermen in the south and west of Ireland announced that they would hold peaceful protests to disrupt Russian naval exercises in February, set to take place within traditional Irish fishing areas.
A 17-month-old baby boy died after he was struck by a car in the driveway of his home in Skibbereen in west Cork.
28 January – Four adults and a baby were injured after a car struck a number of pedestrians in Malahide in Dublin.
29 January
Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney confirmed that controversial military exercises by the Russian Navy that were due to take place off the Irish coast had been relocated outside of Ireland's Exclusive Economic Zone.
A Garda investigation began after the discovery of human remains on Lambay Island, County Dublin.
A 50-year-old businessman who attempted to stop a thief stealing his car and was carried on the bonnet before being thrown onto the road in Clondalkin, Dublin died from his injuries.
The Novavax vaccine was approved for use as Ireland's fifth COVID-19 vaccine.
31 January
Chapters Bookstore in Parnell Street, Dublin, Ireland's largest independent bookshop, closed after trading for 40 years following the announcement of its plan to do so the previous October.
Gardaí began an investigation after a 17-year-old girl was assaulted by man while out running in Kilkenny.
February
1 February
Minister for Education Norma Foley confirmed that the 2022 Leaving Certificate would be held with no accredited grades, while the Junior Cycle exam would be held for the first time since 2019.
Gardaí in Cork began an investigation after a woman in her 20s sustained serious facial injuries, including a broken jaw, following a random attack as she walked in the city centre. Separately, a woman in her 50s was attacked in St Stephen's Green in Dublin, in broad daylight.
4 February
RTÉ selected Brooke Scullion to represent Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest in Turin, Italy in May with the song "That's Rich".
A man in his 20s died and three more were injured in a road crash on the N4 at Ballinafid, County Westmeath.
6 February
Gardaí issued an urgent appeal for information, after a 73-year-old pensioner was placed on life support for serious head and upper body injuries following an attack by three burglars in his home in Skreen, County Sligo, on 18 January.
A man in his 60s died and another man was injured following a two-van crash in County Kildare, while a motorcyclist in his 50s died after colliding with a car in County Cork.
7 February – The FAI confirmed that it would be part of a joint bid with the football associations of Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales to host UEFA Euro 2028.
8 February
The Government announced an €8 billion retrofit scheme, which aimed to bring half a million homes up to a B2 energy rating by 2030.
The Government approved a list of 33 visits abroad by senior and junior ministers during St Patrick's Day.
Two teenage boys were hailed as heroes for going to the aid of a 16-year-old girl who was the target of an assault in Fermoy, Cork. A man in his 30s was arrested.
9 February – Peadar Tóibín named "Soldier F", a soldier accused of murdering two people on Bloody Sunday, in the Dáil.
10 February – The Government agreed a €505 million package of measures to combat the rise in the cost of living, with an increase in the energy rebate to €200 including VAT, a 20% cut to public transport fares and recipients of the fuel allowance to receive an extra €125.
11 February
A 12-year-old boy died after the car he was driving was involved in a crash with a lorry in County Limerick.
Two people were arrested after a 36-year-old man was stabbed to death in Ballyconnell, County Wicklow.
12 February – The Department of Foreign Affairs urged Irish citizens to leave Ukraine "immediately by commercial means".
14 February – Gardaí began an investigation after an 84-year-old woman and her 79-year-old brother was robbed at knifepoint during a burglary in which a thief threatened to stab them if they did not give him money.
16 February – Met Éireann issued a Status Orange wind warning for seven counties, ahead of the arrival of Storm Eunice.
17 February
The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) recommended that the requirement to wear masks in most areas, where currently regulated, should end, while Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan proposed that the NPHET be disbanded and replaced with a smaller monitoring group.
Met Éireann issued a number of rain, wind and snow warnings, with a Status Red wind warning for Cork, Kerry, Clare and Waterford, as the country braced for Storm Eunice to batter Ireland with gusts expected to reach 130km/h, while the Department of Education advised schools in counties with Status Red wind and Orange snow warnings to close.
18 February – Up to 80,000 homes and businesses were without power nationally, as Storm Eunice battered Ireland, with the most extensive damage in west Cork and Kerry. A 59-year-old council worker was killed in County Wexford by a falling tree while out clearing debris.
20 February
Met Éireann issued several Status Orange wind warnings for western and northern counties, with strong winds, rain, sleet and localised flooding expected, as Storm Franklin was set to batter Ireland.
A woman in her 30s and a 19-year-old man died in two separate road crashes in County Clare and Cork, respectively.
21 February
A 22-year-old man died following an accident that occurred during a car rally in County Kerry.
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly accepted recommendations from NIAC that booster vaccines be offered to children aged 12 to 15 years.
Over 29,000 homes and businesses were without power, as Storm Franklin battered the country overnight.
22 February
The Government agreed to end almost all remaining COVID-19 restrictions from 28 February, with mask wearing in schools, indoor retail settings and on public transport to be voluntary, restrictions in schools to end and testing to be scaled back.
Gardaí began an investigation after a man in his 30s suffered serious head injuries in a shooting incident on farmland outside Tallaght. A man in his early 50s was arrested.
24 February
Taoiseach Micheál Martin condemned Russia's attack on Ukraine as "an outrageous and moral breach of the most fundamental principles of international law."
36-year-old Keith Conlon who was shot in the head on farmland in Tallaght on 22 February died in hospital.
28 February
The majority of COVID-19 restrictions were removed, including the mandatory wearing of masks in retail settings and on public transport and social distancing in schools.
A Garda in his early 30s was being treated in hospital after a serious assault in County Cavan, during which a gun was pointed at him and was badly beaten and doused in petrol.
Two firefighters were injured following a serious road traffic incident in Ashbourne, County Meath, while responding to an incident.
Deaths
January
3 January – Richard Sinnott, 74, academic and political commentator, long illness.
5 January – Jack Kissane, 92, Gaelic footballer (Galway senior team).
9 January – Michael Joe Cosgrave, 83, politician, TD (1977-1992 and 1997-2002).
10 January – Brian Hannon, 85, Church of Ireland prelate.
15 January – Jim Fahy, 75, journalist and broadcaster, short illness.
16 January – Kevin Flynn, 82, rugby union player (Wanderers, Leinster, national team).
20 January – Bobs Worth, 17, racehorse.
22 January
Colm Keane, 70, author, broadcaster and journalist.
Jimmy Campbell, 84, fiddle player.
February
2 February – Noel Treacy, 70, politician, TD (1982–2011) and Minister of State (1987–1991, 1992–1994 and 1997–1994).
3 February – Tom Kiernan, 83, rugby union player (Cork Constitution, Munster, national team) and coach (national team).
4 February – Colin Quinn, 40, Gaelic footballer (Stabannon Parnells, Louth senior team), heart attack.
7 February – Séamus Barron, 75, hurler (Rathnure, Wexford senior team) and selector (Rathnure, Wexford senior team).
10 February – Brian Dunning, 70, flautist and composer.
18 February – Hugh Niblock, 72, Gaelic footballer (Magherafelt, St. Gall's, Derry senior team).
19 February – Patrick Hughes, 78, cricketer (national team).
24 February
Paddy Murray, 68, journalist and writer, cancer.
Johnny McGovern, 89, hurler (Bennettsbridge, Kilkenny senior team, Leinster).
See also
Politics of the Republic of Ireland
References |
69643418 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horror%20in%20the%20High%20Desert | Horror in the High Desert | Horror in the High Desert is a 2021 American film written, produced, and directed by Dutch Marich, in the pseudo-documentary format, and featuring found footage elements about the mysterious disappearance of a hiker in the High Desert region of Nevada.
Synopsis
In the summer of 2017, a seasoned outdoor enthusiast went missing in northern Nevada while hiking in the region known as the "High Desert" within the Mojave Desert. After an extensive search, he was never located. On the third anniversary of the event, friends and loved ones recall the events leading up to his disappearance and, for the first time, talk about his tragic destiny.
Plot
The first part of the documentary focuses on the police "missing person" report of amateur hiker Gary Hinge: Toward the end of July 2017, Gary hiked to an unspecified area in the Mojave Desert (Nevada). His starting point was the town of Ruth and his target was presumably a cabin he had approached on a previous expedition. When he was two days past his estimated return date and did not return home, his housemate Simon Rodgers alerted Gary's sister, Beverly Hinge, who in turn notified the police. More than a week had passed since Gary had last been seen.
Initially, the police conducted a search based on the last GPS location of Gary's cell phone. Local and state police were involved, as well as park rangers and even volunteer groups. A few days later, it was reported that Gary's van had been found, 55 miles from his departure in Ruth, Nevada, at the end of a dirt road at the bottom of a small hill. This finding prompted search parties, who covered large areas on foot, by helicopter and with the use of drones. None of the groups were able to find any trace or indication of Gary's location. When several more days passed without any news, the police terminated the search, as they considered that the chances of finding Gary alive were already practically nil, due to the fact that he used to travel with minimal supplies, water and equipment, which left him at the mercy of the weather (the hottest time of the year) and other dangers, such as the local fauna or the fact that there are multiple abandoned mining pits in the area. As time went by, the media stopped reporting on it. Subsequently, Beverly hired a private investigator, William 'Bill' Salerno, so that the case would not be abandoned. A reporter from a local media outlet, Gal Roberts, decided to convince her editor to keep on top of the story, lest it be forgotten as a "cold case".
Thus, the investigation then focused on the clues that could be obtained from the van, now considered a crime scene. Two aspects stood out; first, numerous fingerprints that did not match Gary Hinge's were found all over the van, especially on the steering wheel. In addition, a trail of barefoot footprints, also not matching Gary's, was found. Since the John Doe's fingerprints did not match any database, the police found themselves at a dead end. In parallel, Bill Salerno started digging into Gary's social networks and Gal Roberts finds a promising clue in the video blog where Gary used to post his hiking and survival adventures, under the alias "Scorpion Sam". The hiker had some 50,000 followers, a fact unknown to his family and people close to him. Several of his readers believe they have some idea about Gary's final whereabouts, and that the question about his final destination could be related to some of his publications.
In the next to last of the published videos, Gary appears in frame from his home, narrating a very unusual experience, which had left him very disturbed: In his last excursion, he had been walking for three days in an unknown area, when he noticed the smell of smoke. Following that trail, he found a dilapidated-looking cabin, as if abandoned, but with smoke coming out of an old chimney. However, a sense of "imminent danger" caused him to move away from the site and make camp away from the area. The next morning, Gary reported that he found a trail of barefoot footprints, and on the way back to his truck, he felt he was being watched, and even felt he was being followed. This publication had a lot of comments, most of them negative, where followers expressed serious doubts about Gary's account, questioning why he had not recorded anything and did not present any evidence; another large number of comments were from users demanding him to give the coordinates of the place and another part of the visitors of his blog challenged him to come back. Feeling the victim of cyber-bullying and visibly affected, Gary recorded and uploaded one last video, explaining that he would not give the exact location of the mystery cabin, since he did not want to encourage inexperienced people to venture into those desert regions, and informed that he would return to the site, accompanied by his video camera and a gun for protection.
Several weeks after the van was found and search and rescue efforts were completed, a group of hikers in White Pine County reported that a backpack, which turned out to be the property of Gary Hinge, had been left at their campsite. Upon checking the contents of the backpack, aside from Gary's belongings and identification, his severed hand was found, still holding his video camera. Forensic analysis revealed that the hand had been severed from the victim while he was still alive, within a period of no more than five weeks. When authorities examined the memory card inserted into the camera, they discovered what happened to Gary on one fateful night.
The footage found reveals that Gary was indeed able to find his way back to the mystery cabin; his first video entry was recorded at dusk, mentioning that he had been on the road for a day and a half and was sure of the route. Subsequently, he finds various markers he had left from his previous visit. Next, the following recordings consist of video fragments all recorded under infrared light, starting with Gary talking very frightened; he comments that he is already very close to the cabin and that he can smell smoke, as in the previous time. Suddenly, he hears chanting that seems to be a human voice, although it seems distorted. Once he finds the cabin, Gary confirms that it is the same one he saw earlier. While filming the outside of the cabin, Gary detects a human silhouette moving towards him. Being very careful not to make noise on the rocky ground, Gary tries to move away from the site, but is eventually spotted by a human-like being, but with severe physical deformities, who attacks him and the camera stops recording.
Both the reporter and the private investigator speculate what or who might have attacked and killed Gary; it is mentioned that the police have made this footage public in the hope that someone in the audience might offer some additional clue, which has sparked a series of conspiracy theories linking Gary's disappearance to real or supernatural issues as diverse as Area 51, atomic testing, local Indigenous rituals, satanic groups or extraterrestrials. However, Gal Roberts expresses serious concerns about the fact that at least 17 social media accounts have taken it upon themselves to make expeditions to the area. Additionally, one of these groups is said to have posted that they have managed to find the trail of the cabin and its mysterious occupant, and that they will reveal the results of their expedition in 2022.
Cast
Eric Mencis as Gary Hinge, extreme hiker.
Tonya Williams-Ogden as Beverly Hinge, Gary's sister.
Errol Porter as Simon Rodgers, Gary's housemate.
David Morales as William 'Bill' Salerno, private investigator.
Suziey Block as Gal Roberts, reporter.
Production
Because it was shot safely and socially distant at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, no two characters appear on screen at the same time and all interviews in the documentary were conducted via Zoom sessions.
Reception
As an independent production, the film has had limited distribution, primarily through video-on-demand platforms.
The film had a special mention, within the found footage category, in The Last Journo portal's list of "The Best Horror Films of 2021".
Lexi Heinitz of the Looper website commented that "the final stretch nails the tension associated with found footage. When the film moves from typical crime documentary interviews to finally showing the recovered footage from Hinge's latest excursion, the true-crime tone quickly dissolves into true terror." Jamie Lawler reported for the Horror Buzz site that "in a genre that has seen a huge influx of found footage style films in recent years, it's easy for most to blend into the background. The unique mockumentary style coupled with the found footage in Horror In the High Desert makes for a memorable film that stands out among its peers." And awarded a 7/10 rating. Waylon Jordan of the iHorror portal noted that "there is a moment in every found footage film where reality takes a turn for the terrifying. That moment exists in Horror in the High Desert, but it doesn't come with a big bang as it often does in similar films. Instead, Marich carefully crafts a story that becomes more unsettling at times. He chooses a sense of dread over jump scares and character development over a bloated plot."
On the other hand, Steve Hutchison of the Tales of Terror site criticized the slow development of the entire film, given that the documentary portion absorbs too much of the film's time without providing definitive answers, "supporting almost nothing to the central narrative" and only the found footage portion generates the horror factor. He rated the film a 1.5/4.
Relationship to the Kenny Veach case
The subject of the film is inspired by the real-life case of the disappearance of hiker Kenny Veach, who on November 10, 2014, went on an expedition in search of a mysterious cave he had found on a previous hike in the Nevada desert, never to be seen again. Veach reportedly made this trek after being questioned by multiple visitors to his YouTube channel asking him to document the discovery of a mysterious cave with a shape of the capital letter "M" at the entrance where he reportedly had a strange experience:
The entrance of the cave was shaped like an "M." Whenever I find a cave, I like to go inside... but when I went in there my whole body started to vibrate. The closer I got to the mouth of that cave, the more severe the vibration became in my whole body. I finally got scared and got out of there. It was one of the weirdest things that ever happened to me.
An extensive search was initiated in various parts of the desert, but without success. A few days later, on November 22, a search party found Kenny's cell phone in the vicinity of an old abandoned mine entrance, but no other evidence or clues of the hiker.
References
External links
2021 films
American films
Found footage films
Films set in Utah |
69643532 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosoian%20v%20Soci%C3%A9t%C3%A9%20de%20transport%20de%20Montr%C3%A9al | Kosoian v Société de transport de Montréal | Kosoian v Société de transport de Montréal, 2019 SCC 59 (colloquially referred to as The Escalator Handrail Case) is a decision of the Supreme Court of Canada on the public law immunity of police officers and public bodies. The Court unanimously held that police officers who enforced non-existent laws did not enjoy civil immunity over their actions.
The case arose when a woman refused to comply with a pictogram directing her to hold the handrail of an escalator. She was ordered to comply by an officer who believed, and had been taught, (wrongly) that the pictogram represented a by-law. After she refused multiple demands, the officer arrested her.
Background
On May 13, 2009, Bela Kosoian, a 38-year-old student of the Université du Québec à Montréal entered the Montmorency station in Laval, hoping to take the Montréal Metro to attend class. As she began descending the escalator, she began rummaging through her bag for money to the buy a ticket, ignoring a pictogram in plain view directing her to hold the escalator handrail.
An officer who was assigned to monitor subway stations in Laval saw her, and asked her to hold the handrail over concern for her safety. Kosoian refused the demand, and a heated argument ensued, eventually Constable Fabio Camacho told her that she would be ticketed if she did not hold the handrail. Kosoian protested and continued to refuse the demand. Camacho confronted her when she reached the bottom of the escalator, and asked her to accompany him to a holding room so a statement of offence could be drawn up, but Kosoian refused the request and began to walk towards the subway turnstiles.
The Camacho and his partner used physical force in response, the Constable held her forearm to restrain her, and he and his partner then proceeded to move her to the holding room, dragging her elbows. Once at the holding room, Camacho asked her to identify herself, but she refused and asked to contact a lawyer. The Constable then warned her that should she continue, she would be arrested for hindering the duties of a police officer, but Kosoian persisted. She was subsequently placed under arrest and informed of her Charter rights.
Camacho then began searching her bag for a piece of identification, she objected, and he placed his foot on hers in an attempt in seize the backpack. After she continued resisting, she was pinned against the wall and handcuffed. She was then seated a chair as the officers searched her bag and promptly found her wallet and identification cards. She was then fined $100 dollars for disobeying the pictogram and $320 dollars for hindering an inspector in the performance of his duties.
According to Kosoian, she suffered serious psychological harm from the incident. The following day she met with a physician, who told her she was suffering from post-arrest anxiety and abrasions on her wrists and foot. A couple of days later, another physician diagnosed her with post-traumatic stress disorder and a strained ankle.
In lower courts
The Société de transport de Montréal initiated a prosecution in municipal court to collect the tickets. On March 14, 2012, Judge Florent Bisson acquitted her of both offences, stating he was not satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that there was an obligation to obey the pictogram. In his ruling, he also described Kosoian's testimony as credible, and rejected the prosecution's description of key events.
Kosoian subsequently commenced civil proceedings against the officer, the city, and the Société, claiming they breached their duties under Quebec's civil code. She said that Camacho committed a fault by using physical restraint unreasonable in the circumstances, she claimed that the city was vicariously liable for the actions of Camacho, and that the Société was liable for misapplying the law. In her lawsuit, she claimed that the incident had caused her psychological suffering, minor injuries, and violated her dignity. She sought $69,000 in compensation and punitive damages.
At the provincial Court of Quebec, the trial judge Denis Reste dismissed the action. According to him, Constable Camacho had not committed any fault. He claimed that the directives were clear, and the police officers' actions against her were entirely justified. He said it was Ms. Kosoian who had behaved in an inconceivable and stubborn manner by refusing to follow the officers' simple directions. On appeal, the Quebec Court of Appeal upheld the trial judge's finding. According to Justice Julie Dutil, Camacho did not commit a civil fault because he behaved like how any reasonable police officer would given his training, so even though he may have enforced a non-existent law, he was still protected from liability. She also exonerated the Société, saying it was protected by public law immunity, which shielded it from any civil liability resulting from the exercise of its regulatory powers unless bad faith could be proven. Finally, the Court also castigated Kosoian over the situation, claiming she was "the author of her own misfortune", saying that she should've simply complied, and then challenged the tickets in Court later.
Judgement
Justice Suzanne Côté, writing for a unanimous court, overturned the Court of Appeal's ruling, and held the city, the officer, and the Société liable for civil fault against Ms. Kosoian. She wrote that because of their duty of maintaining peace, order, and public safety, police officers are empowered to use coercive powers of the state, but with that power comes the responsibility of fully understanding what statues they're responsible for enforcing. Because the importance of preventing abuses of power militates that there always be a legal basis for an officers' actions, any conduct in absence of such a basis is illegal and cannot be tolerated in a society founded on the rule of law. As such, she reasoned, officers who act without legal basis enjoy no public law immunity.
The Court emphazied, that though the officers erroneous training may reduce his fault when assessing damages, it could not absolve him of his responsibility to have an adequate knowledge of the law. And that even an officer who was just following orders can be held to be engaging in unreasonable conduct if they depart from what a normally prudent, diligent and competent police officer in the same circumstances would do.
Turning to the liability of the Société, Côté J held that they could not rely on public law immunity. She wrote that such immunity must be restricted to actually making and passing regulations, and could not shield an error in law in enforcement. Absent this immunity, Côté J said, the Société is liable for breach of extracontractual duties under the Civil Code of Quebec, just as any other legal person would be.
Finally, Justice Côté strongly pushed back against the lower courts' assertions that Kosoian was "the master of her own misfortune" because of her stubborn behaviour. She emphazied that Ms. Kosoian could not be held responsible, either wholly or in part, over her decision to resist an unlawful order. Because No one in a free and democratic society has a duty to accept unjustified state intrusions, and it was not open to the courts to judge her for her resistance. Ultimately the Court awarded Kosoian $20,000 in compensation.
Commentary
The decision was hailed by civil liberties advocates and legal experts. Fo Niemi of the Centre for Research Action on Race Relations called the decision, "a great victory for the constitutional rights of citizens". Journalist Rob Breakenridge, wrote an op-ed for Global News praising the decision as "an important victory for the rights of all Canadians". Cara Zwibel, on behalf of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA), also praised the decision. The CCLA said it was particularly pleased by the court's explicit statement no one has the duty to identify themselves to an officer acting unlawfully.
See also
Fleming v Ontario, another unanimous Supreme Court judgement written by Justice Côté in 2019, restricting police powers
References
External links
Supreme Court of Canada cases
2019 in Canadian case law |
69643947 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zainul%20Abideen/Moradabad%20Express | Zainul Abideen/Moradabad Express | Zainul Abideen (born 31 October 1993) is an ultramarathon runner from Moradabad district Uttar Pradesh, India. He is popularly known as Moradabad Express.
He is 1st Indian 12 Hour Ultra Marathon Runner On Manual Treadmill For Guinness Book Of World Records in Moradabad.
This run held in mid city of Moradabad in general public this run is dedicated to police & charity run for Philip memorial Methodist church, pili kothi. The record for completing the Golden Triangle (India) (Delhi-Agra-Jaipur-Delhi) on foot was also set by Zainul Abideen. He started his journey on July 24, 2018, from New Delhi and finished on July 31, 2018, at India Gate, New Delhi, covering 720km in 7 days, 22 hours and 50 minutes spreading awareness for ‘Run for Women Safety Against Acid/Rape Attack’ .In September 2018, he ran 120 kilometres (75 miles) in 23hours 16 minutes in Kargil, India and finish with podium Tiger Hill challenge.In Ultramarathon overall 643 km covered so far in Official Ultramarathon events across nation as per DUV Ultramarathon stats & 310 km as per ITRA stats in Trail running.
Social Cause Ultramarathon Runs
• Run For Police (12 Hour Manual Treadmill Run) It is 1st Indian attempt of 12 hour ultra marathon on manual treadmill for official Guinness Book of World Records.
• 100 km lockdown ultra run (Run For Police & corona warriors) for Parivartan NGO recorded by UP Book Of Records.
• Run For Make love Not Scars ( Against acid /rape attack ) Delhi to Agra to Jaipur to Delhi ( Golden Triangle of India ) in 7 days 22 hours recorded by India Book Of Records.
• Run Bhopal Run ( For Organ donation )
• Run For Ganga Water ( 12 hour stadium run ) Bengaluru N.E.B stadium run.
• Run For Jesus Mission 100 km "The Border run Hell Race"
( Laungewala to Jaisalmer )
• Run For Army 120 km "Kargil International Marathon" (Tiger Hill Challenge)
• Run For Astittva Foundation ( NGO for Children Education ) 12 hour Tuffman National Stadium Run Chandigarh.
• Relay Run For Women Empowerment
Gwalior to New Delhi 375 km in association with BJP awarded by ( Mrs Smriti Irani, Dinesh Sharma (politician), Rajasthan Cm Mrs Vasundra Raje,& Mrs.Reeta Bahugune )
References
Living people
1993 births
Indian ultramarathon runners
Indian male long-distance runners
Male ultramarathon runners
A
A
People from Moradabad
Moradabad
Moradabad district
Moradabad district
Sunni
Muslims
Indian |
69644028 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William%20South | William South | William South may refer to:
William South (photographer), American photographer and inventor
William South (jockey), British jockey
William Garnet South, police officer in Alice Springs , Australia
William Howard South, political figure in Nova Scotia
Will South, member of the British band Thirteen Senses |
69644036 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%20Black%20String | The Black String | The Black String is a 2018 American psychological horror-thriller film created by Brian Hanson (co-writer, director) and Richard Handley (co-writer, producer, actor), starring Frankie Muniz, Blake Webb, Chelsea Edmundson, Richard Handley, Cullen Douglas, Colby French, Laura Richardson, and Mary K. DeVault.
The film was announced in 2016 and debuted opening night of the 2018 Austin Film Festival and was later purchased by Lionsgate Home Entertainment, for North American distribution in 2019. From 2019 to 2021, the film was also released for Video on Demand (VOD), DVD, and Blu-ray worldwide.
Plot
Jonathan Marsh is a lonely twenty-something, working night shifts at a local liquor store with his friend and shift manager, Eric, “The ERC.” One night at his apartment Jonathan is summoned through his TV by a seductive woman, beckoning him to come “meet sexy singles in his neighborhood” and call the 1-900 number on his screen. Soon, Jonathan finds himself on a blind date at Jenny's Diner with Dena. She coerces him to take her to his apartment, where they engage in a one-night stand. The next morning, Jonathan awakens alone in his apartment, no sign of Dena, but he does discover an uncomfortable and unsightly rash on his abdomen.
Looking for answers, he returns to Dena's but is greeted by a suspicious man who denies she lives there. Jonathan's paranoia increases when he is stricken with nightmarish visions. His physical symptoms worsen as well, eventually spreading to his arm. Unable to sleep, Jonathan returns to Jenny's Diner, where he receives a phone call from his friend, Eric, who tells him he's in trouble and to come over to his place immediately.
Jonathan arrives at Eric's to find his front door ajar and Eric not home. Jonathan goes inside to search for him. In Eric's room he's attacked by an unknown assailant. The police arrive and arrest Jonathan. Jonathan finds himself in the care of psychiatrist, Dr. Jason Ronaldi, who provides family counseling and commits him to a 3-day hospital stay. Ultimately, Jonathan is released into the care of his parents. His first night at home, while sleeping, he awakens to find a mysterious black, bubbling ooze on his bedroom wall. His paranoia escalates and he absconds from his parent's house. The next morning he awakens in an abandoned field.
He makes his way to an occult book store where he receives instructions to meet with Miss Melinda at Blue High Shack. That night at Blue High Shack, Miss Melinda tells him he's been the victim of a witch cult and coaches him through a ritual, involving a ceremonial dagger, meant to rid his body of the “evil” (black string) that has been implanted in him by Dena and the cult. It's a painful ordeal and Jonathan is unsuccessful in his attempt to remove the string. He returns to Miss Melinda at the occult book store demanding an explanation. She tells him to return to Dena and the witch cult for answers.
Jonathan returns to Dena's house. Ensuring no one is home, he sneaks into the house and finds Dena captive upstairs, agonizing and mangled. While Jonathan is upstairs with Dena, the witch cult occupants return home. Jonathan confronts them on his way out. Still, the suspicious man from earlier continues to deny any knowledge of “Dena," but Jonathan is convinced that what he saw upstairs was real and leaves to seek help. Jonathan returns to the liquor store to seek the help of his friend, Eric, who calls the police. The police quickly arrive and arrest Jonathan.
Once again, Jonathan finds himself in the care of psychiatrist, Dr. Ronaldi, but this time at the County Psychiatric Hospital lock down unit. Dr. Ronaldi encourages him to "confront his demons" and to commit to the therapy. That night, Jonathan is attacked by the demon of his nightmares. The next morning, Dr. Ronaldi and staff find him eviscerated and dead in his bed, the ceremonial dagger in his right hand, begging the question—did he do it to himself or was he sacrificed by the witch cult who cursed him? Dr. Ronaldi phones Jonathan's parents.
The denouement finds a young woman waiting at a bus stop when the witch cult pull up to offer her a ride. She gets in and they drive off toward an uncertain fate.
Cast
Frankie Muniz as Jonathan Marsh
Blake Webb as Eric “The ERC”
Chelsea Edmundson as Dena
Richard Handley as Dr. Jason Ronaldi
Cullen Douglas as Man in Black
Colby French as Mr. Marsh
Ravi Patel as Dr. May
Laura Richardson as Mrs Marsh
Mary K. DeVault as Melinda
Sharif Ibrahim as Orderly Wally
Alexander Ward as The Entity
Casting
Handley and Hanson hired casting director, Jeremy Gordon, who circulated the script to talent agents in Los Angeles, California.
Late in the casting process, Gordon sent the script to Frankie Muniz and his agency, APA. Hanson and Handley later offered him the central role.
Handley also played the role of psychiatrist, “Dr. Jason Ronaldi”, while serving as lead-producer of the film.
Production
Development and pre-production
The Black String movie began as a team thesis project for Handley and Hanson during their Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Film and TV training at Mount Saint Mary's University, Los Angeles, California. Prior to this, a partial script was shelved for nearly a decade. The story was originally conceived by Brian Hanson and Andy Warrener. Hanson wrote a condensed rough draft of the script in 2007, but it wasn't until 2015 that Hanson and Handley went about a complete rewrite of the screenplay from beginning to end as part of their Master thesis requirement. This rewrite process took the two of them a year to complete a final draft ready for production.
About the time Hanson and Handley were finishing up their MFA degrees, they took in fellow MFA classmates, Charles Bunce and Kayli Fortun as producers to work on the project. Mount Saint Mary's University film program continually provided aid to the production, allowing the team access to campus buildings and post-production facilities until completion of the film. Richard and Brian then brought in, co-producer/actor, Sharif Ibrahim, who made introduction to the film's primary equity investor. Associate producers Marisela Handley and Yani Hanson would support the film through their location scouting/management and production accounting skillsets, respectively.
Handley and Hanson brought in Sheldon Brigman as producer, whose guidance and support during the project would prove invaluable, particularly later on during their search for distribution companies. Ultimately, Brigman would assist with global distribution and placement of the film through his company, Launch Releasing.
Handley, Hanson, and Brigman had worked together as producers on director Adam Ripp's psychological horror film, Devil's Whisper. As such, they were able to assess and hire many of the same production professionals from that film to come work on The Black String, including First-Assistant Director, Liam Finn. Over 120 film professionals would be hired over a 4-year period to see the film through from pre-production to production to distribution.
Filming
The first 23 days of principal photography took place in late 2016, followed by several pick up shot days scheduled throughout 2017 and 2018. Santa Clarita, California, served as the primary filming location, but the production also used various practical locations and film studio spaces throughout the Los Angeles thirty-mile studio zone, including Pölsa Rosa Ranch Studios, Middleton Ranch Studios, and Silver Dream Factory Studios. Given the campus architecture served as the perfect backdrop for Mel Brooks’ 1977 satirical comedy, High Anxiety, most of the psychiatric hospital sequences where filmed primarily on the Chalon campus at Mount Saint Mary’s University, Los Angeles, California. Access to this location was made available through its relationship to filmmakers Handley, Hanson, Bunce, and Fortun, as they are alumni and have served as faculty of the university. Handley also had connections to alternative medical clinics in the Los Angeles area that would serve as locations for other medical and psychiatric treatment facilities in the film.
Practical and prosthetic makeup effects where brought to bear through the efforts of Erik Porn’s prosthetic makeup company, Bitemares. Erik was hired to work on The Black String because of his prosthetic makeup prowess shown on a number of other notable films and TV productions, including Devil’s Whisper, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, American Horror Story, Teen Wolf, Fear of the Walking Dead, Paranormal Activity, and for his help in crafting the prosthetic metamorphosis of actor, Christian Bale, into U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney in director Adam McKay’s biographical film, Vice. These skills, in particular, would serve the production well in physically transforming Frankie Muniz's character "Jonathan" across the continuum of The Black String. Practical and prosthetic makeup artist, Dan Gilbert, created the prosthetic arm piece for Muniz that was used during the "dig it all out" sequence of the film.
Post-production
Primary film editorial was completed by William Drucker in 2016, with Hanson coming in to complete the film edit over the following year. Film editorial was done in an iterative improvement process, wherein the editorial would necessitate conducting further reshoots of scenes and practical effects elements. Multiple audience test screenings would also further inform the editorial process.
Visual effects were completed by a number of freelance artists and visual effects companies, including Foxtrot X-ray.
Sound design was completed by Studio Unknown. Bunce, Hanson, and Kelby Thwaits would also complete much of the post-production sound design on the sound stages and within the post-production studios at Mount Saint Mary's University film program, working in conjunction with Studio Unknown.
Reception and interpretations
The Black String prompted multiple interpretations from film critics and audience members alike as to the particular sort of Jonathan's (Muniz) extrication.
Hanson and Handley present a two-sided coin with The Black String, allowing viewers to decide for themselves, “Is Jonathan suffering from mental illness or is he truly cursed?” The film has been compared to David Robert Mitchell's, It Follows, Adrian Lyne's, Jacob's Ladder, Eric England's, Contracted, David Cronenberg's, Shivers, and Roman Polanski's, Rosemary's Baby, among many others.
Film critic, Phil Wheat states, “In terms of the genre, however, what strikes you the most about The Black String is the film’s body-horror elements, which are a mix of the work of David Cronenberg and the mythos of H.P. Lovecraft.”
The Black String received mostly positive reviews and garnered many film festival awards.
On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 86% critic approval rating.
Richard Whittaker of The Austin Chronicle states, “much of the unnerving energy depends on Muniz, who deploys his trademark brand of wired and wiry energy to keep the reality of the insanity ambiguous until the closing moments.”
Brittany Witherspoon of Film Threat mentions, “Elevating this script from a derivative and simple one is no easy task, but Muniz does it effortlessly.”
Soundtrack
The film's soundtrack was composed by Ed Lima and added upon by the band, Devilish Trio.
Awards and accolades
Notable film festival selections
GI Film Festival (2019) (San Diego, Premiere)
Shriekfest (2019) (Los Angeles, California)
Dances With Films (2019) (TLC Chinese Theaters, Hollywood, CA)
Sitges Film Festival (2019) (Catalonia, Spain, specializing in fantasy and horror films)
London Frightfest Film Festival (2019)(London premiere on the Cineworld IMAX auditorium screen at the Empire, Leicester Square)
Austin Film Festival (2018) (U.S. Premiere, the historic State Theater, Austin, Texas)
References
American films
2018 films
American psychological horror films |
69644907 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chapter%20Seventy-Nine%3A%20Graduation | Chapter Seventy-Nine: Graduation | "Chapter Seventy-Nine: Graduation" is the third episode of the fifth season of the American television series Riverdale. The episode was written by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and directed by Gabriel Correa. It originally aired on The CW in the United States on February 3, 2021.
The plot revolves around the main high school student characters of the show graduating from high school and moving on with their lives outside of the titular town of Riverdale. The episode received overwhelmingly positive reviews, with several reviewers noting the emotional impact of the graduation and the grounded nature of the episode compared to other episodes of the series. In its initial broadcast, it was watched by 0.557 million viewers.
Plot
Following the revelation in the previous episode that Jellybean Jones was the person creating the mysterious videotapes that had been showing up around Riverdale, her father FP decides to take her back to live with her mom in Toledo, Ohio. He also resigns as sheriff of Riverdale and says he will be staying with her in Toledo. While Jellybean's brother Jughead says he wants to come with them, FP rebuffs him and tells him to focus on college, as he had recently been accepted to the University of Iowa.
On their last day at Riverdale High School, the seniors reminisce over their yearbooks and reflect on the time they've spent at the school. A time capsule buried in 1945 is opened and one of the items is a photograph of four seniors taken right before the four were deployed to war. Meanwhile, Mr. Weatherbee, the principal, tells Archie Andrews that he will be unable to graduate and will have to retake his senior year of high school. However, he still allows Archie to participate in the graduation ceremony and asks him to record a song for the event. Later that night, Veronica Lodge visits Archie and, although the two of them had broken up several weeks earlier, they spend the night together. At the graduation ceremony, Betty Cooper gives a valedictorian speech talking about the events that the seniors have gone through and how she has hope for a better future in Riverdale and for the graduating seniors. The ceremony occurs with Archie's recording of "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)". Meanwhile, Cheryl Blossom's mother Penelope, who clandestinely attended the ceremony, tells her daughter that she is turning herself over to the police for some of the crimes she had earlier committed.
After graduation, Archie, Betty, Cheryl, Jughead, Veronica, Kevin Keller, Reggie Mantle, and Toni Topaz bury a time capsule with some of their own personal items. Archie, inspired by the photograph, talks to some Army recruiters and enlists, and when he reveals this to Betty, Jughead, and Veronica, Veronica leaves, saying she cannot support his decision. Later, Jughead reveals how he has noticed how odd their friends have been since prom. Realizing that Archie must've confessed to Veronica, Betty finally tells Jughead that she and Archie had kissed, which led to their breakup. The next morning, Jughead drives Archie to the bus stop for him to go to basic training. At the same time, Betty and Veronica talk about what happened and, deciding to talk to Archie before he leaves, go to the bus stop, but Jughead tells them the bus had just left. The three of them catch up to the bus and say their goodbyes to Archie, with he and Veronica saying they love each other, before he boards the bus again.
Over the summer, Veronica leaves Riverdale to live with her mother in the Hamptons, while Betty leaves to go to Yale University and Jughead departs to Iowa. One year later, honoring a vow the four had made, Jughead returns to Riverdale to meet with his friends at Pop's Chock'lit Shoppe, though they do not come. In a voiceover just before the end credits, Jughead reveals that it would be six years before the four of them would see each other again.
Cast and characters
Starring
KJ Apa as Archie Andrews
Lili Reinhart as Betty Cooper
Camila Mendes as Veronica Lodge
Cole Sprouse as Jughead Jones
Marisol Nichols as Hermione Lodge
Madelaine Petsch as Cheryl Blossom
Mark Consuelos as Hiram Lodge
Casey Cott as Kevin Keller
Skeet Ulrich as F.P. Jones
Charles Melton as Reggie Mantle
Vanessa Morgan as Toni Topaz
Drew Ray Tanner as Fangs Fogarty
Mädchen Amick as Alice Cooper
Guest starring
Nathalie Boltt as Penelope Blossom
Doreen Calderon as Nana Topaz
Jordan Connor as Sweet Pea
Martin Cummins as Tom Keller
Molly Ringwald as Mary Andrews
Peter James Bryant as Waldo Weatherbee
Trinity Likins as Jellybean Jones
Jordan Robinson as Toby
Alvin Sanders as Pop Tate
Barbara Wallace as Rose Blossom
Co-starring
Chris Cannon as Dr. Beaker
Marion Eisman as Doris Bell
Marlon Kazadi as Malcolm Moore
Gaston Norrison as Bus Driver
Klarc Wilson as Officer Bradshaw
Production
The episode was originally intended to serve as the season finale for season 4. However, production on the final three scheduled episodes for season 4 was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, "Chapter Seventy-Nine: Graduation" aired as the third episode of the fifth season.
Reception
Critical reception
The episode received overwhelmingly positive reviews. Film website CinemaBlend ranked it number 10 on their list of the best episodes of Riverdale (as of December 5, 2021). In their review of the episode, they highlighted the emotional impact of the characters' graduations and cited the episode as the best of an otherwise bad season of the show. However, they stated that the characters returning to Riverdale shortly afterwards deflates some of the emotional intensity of the episode. The A.V. Club gave the episode an A- rating, praising KJ Apa's performance. Den of Geek gave the episode 5 out of 5 stars, calling the episode "arguably the most grounded episode the show has ever done…and maybe the best". In further discussing this, the reviewer states, "But what feels revolutionary here is that this episode is excellent while still being rooted firmly in reality. Riverdale can still be compelling by just focusing on the friendships that bind these characters without relying on narrative gimmicks."
Ratings
The episode was watched by 0.557 million viewers and received a television rating of 0.1 in the key demographic of 18- to 49-year-olds.
References
External links
2021 American television episodes
Riverdale (2017 TV series) episodes
Fiction set in 2020
Fiction set in 2021
Fiction set in 2027
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on television |
69644958 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline%20of%20the%20COVID-19%20pandemic%20in%20the%20United%20Kingdom%20%28January%E2%80%93June%202022%29 | Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom (January–June 2022) | The following is a timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom from January 2022 to present.
There are significant differences in the legislation and the reporting between the countries of the UK: England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales. The numbers of cases and deaths are reported on a government Web site updated daily during the pandemic. The UK-wide COVID Symptom Study based on surveys of four million participants, endorsed by authorities in Scotland and Wales, run by health science company ZOE, and analysed by King's College London researchers, publishes daily estimates of the number of new and total current COVID-19 infections (excluding care homes) in UK regions, without restriction to only laboratory-confirmed cases.
Events
January 2022
1 January
A further 162,572 COVID cases are reported for England, the highest daily figure so far.
Although official events to celebrate New Year were cancelled in London and Edinburgh, crowds gather at both locations to welcome in 2022. London's fireworks display goes ahead as planned, but people are asked to stay away because of the risk of COVID.
Professors Chris Whitty and Jonathan Van-Tam, the respective Chief Medical Officer and Deputy Chief Medical officer for England, are both knighted in the 2022 New Year Honours. Also to be recognised with Honours are Dr Jenny Harries, chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency, and Dr June Raine, chief executive of the vaccines regulator, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, who are both made dames. Scotland's Chief Medical Officer, Dr Gregor Smith and Wales's Chief Medical Officer, Dr Frank Atherton are also knighted.
Writing in the Daily Mail, Health Secretary Sajid Javid says further COVID restrictions must be that "absolute last resort" and that the UK must learn to "live alongside" the virus in 2022.
Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, says the next few days will be vital to understanding the effect of the Omicron variant on the NHS.
With the continued spread of Omicron variant cases, the UK government warns of a worse case scenario that could see as many as 25% of the country's workforce absent. Ministers are tasked with developing “robust contingency plans” for the public sector in such a situation.
A COVID-19 testing centre is deliberately set on fire in Dumbarton.
2 January
A further 137,583 COVID cases are reported for England and Wales, down on the previous day's figure.
Ministers have said there is nothing in the data to suggest new COVID rules are needed for England. Health Minister Edward Argar urges "cool, calm heads", while Steve Barclay says there have been "significant behaviour change" as a result of Plan B measures.
The UK government announces that face masks are to be worn in schools in England when classes resume following the Christmas holiday.
3 January
During a visit to a vaccination centre in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, Prime Minister Boris Johnson says that England must stick with Plan B measures as the NHS comes under increasing pressure, but adds the UK is in a "much better position" than the previous winter.
The Royal College of Nursing urges the UK government to take a more cautious approach as the Omicron variant continues to spread.
Scotland reports 20,217 cases, its highest daily figures so far, and the first time cases have gone above 20,000.
Staff shortages continue to affect the hospitality and retail sectors, with warnings of closures if they worsen.
A letter signed by Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi advises schools in England to prepare for staff absences by merging classes into larger groups, and to consider what it describes as "flexible" teaching options.
Figures produced by NHS Digital and obtained by the Press Association show that thousands of people in England required hospital treatment during the lockdowns of 2020 and 2021 after undertaking activities such as DIY, working from home, cookery and dog walking.
Staff shortages at local authorities have led to the cancellation of refuse collections across the UK, it is reported.
4 January
Sir Andrew Pollard, chair of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, warns that giving booster vaccines every six months is "not sustainable", and there needs to be more evidence before a fourth vaccine is implemented.
A record 218,724 daily COVID cases are recorded for England and Scotland; it is the first time the daily figure has been over 200,000, but delays in reporting some cases over Christmas likely to be responsible for the high number.
At a Downing Street press conference, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announces that around 100,000 critical workers will be offered daily COVID tests from 10 January in order to help to keep the Omicron variant at bay, but is confident further restrictions may not be needed, telling reporters "we have a chance to ride out this Omicron wave without shutting down our country once again".
A number of hospital trusts have now declared critical incidents, although it is not unusual for that to happen in January.
An article by BBC News Health Correspondent Nick Triggle points to a difficult month ahead due to the rise in Omicron variant infections, but says early evidence is suggesting the current wave will be different to previous waves, with Omicron causing less severe illness, and hospitalisations five times lower than at the same point in 2021.
ScotRail puts in place a temporary revised timetable until 28 January amid a high number of absences among its staff due to COVID.
The Rail Delivery Group estimates as many as one in ten rail workers is absent from work due to COVID-related issues, with services subject to cancellation and amended timetables. As well as ScotRail, LNER and CrossCountry services are also badly affected.
Hong Kong announces the suspension of all flights from eight countries, including the UK and US, for two weeks from 8 January.
5 January
A further 194,747 COVID cases are recorded for the UK.
As figures suggest one in fifteen people in the UK had COVID on New Year's Eve, Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirms that Plan B measures in England will stay in place for a further three weeks.
In the House of Commons Johnson is urged by Conservative MPs to outline an exit strategy from COVID restrictions, and to explain how the UK can "live with this virus".
Rules regarding PCR tests in England are to change from the following week, meaning anyone testing positive for COVID with a lateral flow test but who have no symptoms will no longer need to follow the test with a PCR test; they will still be required to self-isolate for seven days though. Wales also announces the same changes, but plans to bring them in from the following day.
At least ten hospital trusts in England have declared critical incidents due to COVID, with Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust being the latest to do so.
The Welsh Rugby Union is considering playing some of its 2022 Six Nations Championship matches in England due to crowd restrictions imposed by the Welsh Government.
The family of Captain Sir Tom Moore thank Milton Keynes radio station MKFM for being the first media organisation to get behind his 2020 fundraising campaign for the NHS.
6 January
Data from the UK Health Security Agency shows London is no longer the epicentre of COVID infections and that areas of the north west, such as Liverpool, Manchester and the Lake District, are recording higher cases. The data also shows the uptake of booster vaccines has also slowed.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson says that anti-vaccination campaigners who are spreading misinformation about COVID through social media are "totally wrong" and that it is time "to call them out".
An Office for National Statistics survey suggests as many as 1.3 million people in the UK have Long COVID symptoms that persist four weeks after an initial infection.
On the eve of changes to the rules regarding PCR tests for travellers to and from England, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps describes them as having "outlived [their] usefulness" because Omicron is now "widespread and worldwide".
Details of a review used by the UK government to reintroduce face masks in schools for England comes to light in which the evidence of their effectiveness is described as "not conclusive".
Professor John Watkins, an epidemiologist for Public Health Wales and an honorary research fellow at the University of Cardiff says it is time to return COVID restrictions to pre-Omicron levels because the booster programme has made the risk from it no worse than the Delta variant.
Scotland reduces the period of self-isolation following a positive COVID test from ten to seven days, bringing it in line with England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The number of confirmed COVID cases in Scotland since the start of the pandemic has passed one million.
7 January
From 4am people in England who are fully vaccinated are no longer required to take a pre-departure COVID test before travelling abroad, while anyone arriving in England who has had both vaccines is not required to self-isolate while waiting for the results of a PCR test. Similar changes are also made in Scotland.
The change in travel rules leads to a surge in holiday bookings; travel company Jet2 reports bookings have returned to "around pre-Covid levels".
Confirming there is to be no relaxation of COVID rules in Wales, First Minister Mark Drakeford accuses Prime Minister Boris Johnson of failing to take the necessary precautions to protect people in England.
COVID-related staff absences in the NHS in England increased threefold during December 2021 according to BBC News, while other reports suggest the number of staff absences increased by a third from 60,316 at the beginning of December to 82,384 on 2 January. The nursing trade union, the Royal College of Nursing, describes the situation as "simply not safe".
A further 178,250 COVID cases are recorded in the UK.
Figures produced by the Office for National Statistics estimate that one in fifteen people tested positive for COVID in the final week of December 2021, which equates to around 3.7 million people having the virus.
Around 200 military personnel have been deployed to help short-staffed hospitals and ambulance services in England.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid says he is concerned about a rise in hospital admissions among older people.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) says a fourth vaccine dose is not yet needed since the booster dose continues to provide good protection against the Omicron variant in older adults.
Drinks arranged by a "senior No. 10 official" in May 2020 around five days after Boris Johnson and other staff were pictured at another gathering may have broken COVID rules according to former Downing Street special adviser Dominic Cummings.
8 January
The number of UK recorded COVID deaths passes 150,000, as a further 313 deaths take the total to 150,057. A further 146,390 new cases are recorded. Prime Minister Boris Johnson says that COVID has taken a "terrible toll on our country".
Business owners in Wales have expressed their concern for the economy if Wales plays its Six Nations matches in England as a way of getting around prohibitions on large crowds, with estimates each game could cost Cardiff alone £20million.
9 January
Clive Kay, chief executive of King's College Hospital, expresses his concern that the mandatory requirement for NHS staff to be vaccinated, which begins in April 2022, will lead to an exodus of staff, as the latest figures show one in ten NHS workers have not had the vaccine.
Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi tells the BBC the UK is on the road "from pandemic to endemic" and that cutting the COVID isolation period from seven to five days would "certainly help" current staff shortages in healthcare. He also rejects reports that charges could be introduced for lateral flow tests except for those in high risk situations and/or with symptoms.
Dr Clive Dix, former chair of the Vaccine Taskforce, calls for an overhaul of government strategy on vaccines and testing, suggesting mass vaccination should end following the booster campaign, and says it is "pointless trying to stop Covid infection".
Mark Harper, chair of the Parliamentary COVID Recovery Group, warns Prime Minister Boris Johnson he faces a backbench rebellion if he attempts to extend COVID restrictions beyond 26 January.
BBC News reports on the plight of Chester F.C., whose ground straddles the England–Wales border and which has been issued warnings by North Wales Police and Flintshire Council for playing two games over Christmas at which 2,000 spectators were in attendance. Such gatherings are prohibited in Wales, but allowed in England. The club says that it will face financial hardship if spectators are not allowed to attend games.
10 January
Witnesses tell BBC News that as many as 100 people were invited to a "bring-your-own-booze" drinks event in the Downing Street garden while the UK was still in the first COVID lockdown and social gatherings were prohibited. The allegations have emerged following the publication of an email by ITV News and dated 20 May 2020, which invited people to "socially distanced drinks in the No 10 garden this evening". ITV News alleged around 40 people attended, and ate picnic food and were drinking, including Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie. Johnson declines to confirm whether or not he was present, while the Metropolitan Police says it is in contact with the UK government over "widespread reporting relating to alleged breaches" of COVID rules.
A UK government campaign is launched to encourage pregnant women to have the vaccine after data from the UK Obstetric Surveillance System indicated that 95% of pregnant women admitted to hospital with COVID are unvaccinated.
Furniture retailer Ikea cuts sick pay for unvaccinated employees required to self-isolate because of COVID, but says it will consider individual cases on a case-by-case basis. Wessex Water has also similarly cut sick pay.
The findings of new research published in Nature Communications suggests natural defences against a common cold could also offer some protection against COVID.
The media regulator Ofcom says it will not launch an inquiry into the ITV series Lorraine following an incorrect statement regarding COVID made on the 6 December 2021 edition of the programme by Dr Hilary Jones, who had said 90% of COVID hospital patients were unvaccinated. The figure equates to intensive care patients rather than general hospital patients, and a statement correcting this error was made two days later.
11 January
People in England without COVID symptoms no longer need a PCR test to confirm a positive lateral flow test following a change in the rules.
Figures published by Heathrow Airport show that around 600,000 travellers cancelled flight plans in December 2021 because of uncertainty over the Omicron variant.
BBC News reports that sources have claimed senior political staff had to intervene to prevent a number of leaving dos from going ahead at 10 Downing Street in the first half of 2021, while restrictions on social gatherings remained in place.
Labour and Conservative MPs have demanded Johnson confirm whether or not he attended a Downing Street gathering on 20 May 2020.
Two snap polls from Savanta ComRes and YouGov/Sky indicate a majority of those questioned believe Johnson should resign as Prime Minister over the Partygate scandal. In response Paymaster General Michael Ellis says the Prime Minister "is going nowhere".
Data shows that in the same week as the 20 May gathering, more than 800 fines were issued for breach of COVID regulations that limited people to meeting up with one other person outdoors.
Data shows that 6.6% of teachers in England, roughly one in 12, were absent from schools in England during the first week of the winter term.
First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon confirms some COVID rules will be relaxed in Scotland from Monday 17 January, with the limit of 500 spectators at outdoor events such as rugby and football matches removed. But restrictions on indoor venues will remain until at least 24 January.
Former Health Secretary Matt Hancock has tested positive for COVID for a second time.
English football club Chester F.C. postpones a forthcoming match scheduled for Saturday 15 January following accusations it broke Welsh Government COVID rules which restrict the number of spectators.
12 January
Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions, Prime Minister Boris Johnson admits that he attended a party in the garden of 10 Downing Street held on 20 May 2020. He apologises for doing so, but says he "believed implicitly" the event was a works gathering, and that on reflection he "should have sent everyone back inside". Senior political figures, including Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross and prominent Conservative backbencher William Wragg, call for Johnson to resign.
The High Court of England and Wales rules that the UK government's use of a "VIP lane" to award contracts for personal protection equipment (PPE) was unlawful.
Office for National Statistics data estimates around 4.3 million people had a COVID infection in the week up to 7 January, up from 3.7 million the previous week.
BBC News reports that around 3,000 people testing positive for COVID have received antiviral tablets in a trial being run by Public Health Wales, Health and Care Research Wales and Cardiff University, and which began on 8 December 2021.
13 January
The Daily Telegraph reports on a further two alleged parties, said to have been held at 10 Downing Street in April 2021 on the eve of the funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, when the UK was observing a period of national mourning following the Duke's death the previous week, and as England remained in Step Two lockdown restrictions where people were only permitted to meet up outdoors. The parties are believed to have been leaving dos for Downing Street officials, while Prime Minister Boris Johnson is thought to have departed for the weekend to Chequers.
Tortoise Media reports Boris Johnson commuted between Downing Street and his second home, Chequers, between 16 March and 27 March 2020, when non-essential travel was banned. This is confirmed by Downing Street.
The Metropolitan Police confirms it will wait for the outcome of the inquiry into the May 2020 party attended by Boris Johnson before deciding whether to launch an investigation.
The Information Commissioner’s Office warns those caught up in the investigation not to delete messages relating to the Downing Street gatherings, warning that to do so constitutes a criminal offence.
Professor Sir Jonathan Van-Tam announces he will step down as England's deputy chief medical officer.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid confirms the period of self-isolation in England following a positive COVID test is to be cut to five full days from Monday 17 January.
The number of people on hospital waiting lists in England reaches six million, with roughly one in 20 waiting for routine operations such as knee surgery for over a year.
France announces it will relax its restrictions for travellers from the following day, allowing those who are fully vaccinated to travel without a compelling reason and to skip the requirement to self-isolate on arrival.
BBC News reports that retailers Ocado and Next have cut sick pay for unvaccinated employees required to self-isolate because of COVID.
Almost one in three local authorities in England report they are having to ration care for elderly and disabled people because of Omicron variant-related absences.
The Daily Telegraph reports that the leader of the opposition, Keir Starmer, had been pictured drinking beer with party staff in a constituency office, in May 2021, when the country was still under Covid restrictions. The Labour Party said "no rules had been broken".
14 January
The Omicron variant is relatively mild for most adults and this can be stated with good confidence, according to the UK Health Security Agency assessment. This is mainly because vaccines give good protection against serious illness from the Omicron variant.
Data shows that more babies are being admitted to hospital as a precautionary measure during the Omicron phase of the pandemic, but they are not very ill. Around 50 babies have been treated in hospital during the latest wave.
A further 99,652 COVID cases are recorded in the UK, the first time for 23 days that the daily figure has been below 100,000.
Downing Street apologises to Buckingham Palace for two parties held on the eve of the funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
It emerges that Kate Josephs, a former Director-General of the COVID Taskforce, hosted leaving drinks in the Cabinet Office in December 2020, while London was under Tier 3 regulations. She apologises and says she is co-operating fully with the inquiry into gatherings at Westminster.
Fresh allegations are made of regular weekly parties being held at Downing Street throughout COVID lockdowns in England, and that staff held "wine-time Fridays" between 4pm and 7pm on Fridays.
First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford confirms that most COVID restrictions in Wales will be lifted over the next two weeks if cases continue to fall and as Wales moves to Alert Level Zero.
15 January
The UK records a further 81,713 COVID cases, the lowest daily number since 15 December.
No deaths are recorded for Northern Ireland on this date.
Downing Street has urged the public to reserve judgement on the Partygate controversy until an inquiry into it has concluded, but six Conservative MPs have so far publicly declared they have written to Boris Johnson urging him to resign as Prime Minister in the wake of revelations about parties during lockdown. Tobias Ellwood, chair of the Defence Select Committee, tells the BBC he believes Johnson should "lead or step aside".
There are calls for former COVID Taskforce chief executive Kate Josephs to resign from her current post of chief executive of Sheffield City Council following revelations she held farewell drinks at the Cabinet Office.
The Daily Telegraph reports that Prime Minister's wife Carrie Johnson was pictured hugging a friend in September 2020 at a time when people were urged to maintain a social distance of two metres from anyone not in their household.
Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting sets out the Labour Party's ten point plan for living with COVID. It includes COVID tests manufactured in the UK, the prevention of any future sale of the UK's vaccine manufacturing centre and better ventilation for schools.
16 January
Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer says a photograph of him drinking with a number of colleagues in a constituency office while England was still under COVID regulations that limited social gatherings is "no breach of the rules" and that there was "no comparison" with the Prime Minister.
17 January
The booster programme is opened to teenagers aged 16 and 17.
Avanti West Coast, c2c, East Midlands Railway and South Western Railway all introduce emergency timetables in order to cope with staff shortages.
Train operator Avanti West Coast reduces its services between London Euston and Manchester Piccadilly from three trains per hour to one train per hour in a bid to make the service more reliable while its staff experience a high number of absences due to COVID. The revised timetable is scheduled to be in place until 25 February with a weekly review.
Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi says that Prime Minister Boris Johnson is not in danger of losing his job following revelations about parties at Downing Street, and that "he's human and we make mistakes". But Conservative MP Steve Baker says his constituents are "about 60 to one against the PM".
Fresh allegations are made by former Downing Street advisor Dominic Cummings that Prime Minister Johnson was warned about a lockdown party held on 20 May 2020, but "waved away" concerns. Downing Street says it is "untrue" that Johnson was "warned about the event" in advance.
The Big Issue carries a story about an alleged party at the Home Office on 24 March 2021 where staff "mingled" and had drinks to celebrate a Home Office policy making the headlines on the BBC Six O'Clock News.
Royal Mail publishes a list of 56 postcode areas affected by COVID staff absences that have led to slower than usual mail deliveries, and says it plans to "rotate deliveries" to minimise the delays. Areas affected include London, Glasgow, Manchester and Yorkshire.
COVID regulations in Scotland are relaxed to allow large outdoor events such as football matches with spectators, to resume, but they require at least 50% of the crowd to be checked for vaccine certificates.
18 January
Prime Minister Boris Johnson "categorically" rejects claims he was told a drinks party in the garden of 10 Downing Street broke COVID regulations, saying "Nobody warned me that it was against the rules".
Following Johnson's comments, Conservative MPs begin to openly speculate about a possible challenge to his leadership of the party.
The Guardian reports that Johnson plans to scrap all COVID rules in England by March in a bid to regain the support of his MPs. This includes the requirement for anyone testing positive for COVID to self-isolate or face a £10,000 fine.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid says he is "cautiously optimistic" that the final Plan B restrictions can be "substantially reduced" when they are reviewed the following week.
A £550,000 COVID contract awarded to PR firm Public First, whose founders were friends of Dominic Cummings, is ruled lawful by the Court of Appeal.
A cross-party committee is to decide the future of Sheffield City Council chief executive Kate Josephs after she held a leaving party at the Cabinet Office when leaving her job as the chief executive of the COVID Taskforce. The council says it will decide "what steps, if any, should be taken".
First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon confirms COVID regulations will be further relaxed from Monday 24 January, with nightclubs reopening, large indoor events resuming and social distancing rules dropped.
Birmingham's 112-year-old Electric Cinema, and the UK's oldest cinema, is reported to be reopening once again after being closed in March 2020 due to COVID.
19 January
Figures from the Office for National Statistics show a significant fall in the number of COVID cases, with data for the week ending 15 January showing 3.5 million infections, a fall from 4.3 million the previous week.
At Prime Minister's Questions, the former cabinet minister David Davis joins calls for Boris Johnson to resign as Prime Minister, while shortly before PMQs, MP Christian Wakeford crosses the floor of the House of Commons from the Conservatives to the Labour Party, citing what he describes as Johnson's "disgraceful" conduct for doing so.
Prime Minister Johnson confirms that England's Plan B COVID measures will not be renewed when they expire on 26 January. This will mean the requirement for COVID passports in venues such as nightclubs and at events such as football matches will end from 27 January, while working from home advice is also set to end with immediate effect. The compulsory wearing of facemasks on public transport and in enclosed spaces will end when the Plan B measures expire, but the government will continue to advise people to wear them in enclosed spaces, particularly if in the company of strangers, and facemasks in schools will be scrapped from 20 January.
The children's commissioner for England, Dame Rachel de Souza, says she intends to literally "go out and find" as many as 100,000 children who are not attending school as expected following the pandemic.
20 January
Several large employers, including banks, insurers and advertising companies, say they have made plans for their staff to return to the office following the UK government's decision to end work from home advice in England with immediate effect.
Conservative MP William Wragg has claimed opponents of Prime Minister Boris Johnson within the party have been blackmailed and threatened by Downing Street with bad publicity and cuts to services in their constituencies. Responding to the claims, Johnson says he has "seen no evidence" of such behaviour. Downing Street subsequently declines to investigate the claims.
ITV News reports that Sue Gray, the civil servant investigating the Partygate scandal has uncovered an email warning the Prime Minister's private secretary, Martin Reynolds against holding a party at 10 Downing Street, which Political Editor Robert Peston describes as saying the party "should be cancelled because it broke the rules".
Ministers in Northern Ireland agree to scrap the use of COVID passports in pubs and restaurants from Midday on 26 January.
21 January
The Daily Telegraph reports the Downing Street party held on the eve of the funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh went on until 1am.
UK health officials are reported to be monitoring an offshoot of the Omicron variant which first appeared in December.
Police have warned that anti-vax campaigners are attempting to use a crime number issued to them by the Metropolitan Police to clam vaccination centres are operating illegally. The crime number was issued following a complaint to the Met, but is merely an acknowledgement of the complaint.
The NHS launches a publicity drive aimed at the four million people who remain unvaccinated and the 16 million who have not yet received a booster.
The major incident declared in London in December by Mayor Sadiq Khan as Omicron cases spread in the city has been stood down.
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is reported to the UK Statistics Authority for "seriously" twisting Office for National Statistics figures relating to COVID during the previous day's First Minister's Questions.
The period of self-isolation in Northern Ireland following a positive COVID test is cut from seven to five days. The rules requiring table service at pubs and restaurants are also relaxed.
Wales scraps limits on the number of people who can attend sporting events, and lifts the rule of six requirements for pubs and restaurants operating outdoors. But while confirming the changes, First Minister Mark Drakeford accuses the UK government of caring more about distracting people from its troubles than it does about COVID.
22 January
The Royal College of GPs urges the UK government to extend the deadline for NHS staff in England to be vaccinated beyond 9 February in order to prevent a shortage of staff.
Conservative MP William Wragg is to meet police about allegations of MPs being bullied by Downing Street officials.
Ruth Davidson, the former leader of the Scottish Conservatives, describes Prime Minister Boris Johnson as being "unfit for office" following revelations about parties at Downing Street.
Data shows that a growing number of learner-drivers are waiting up to ten months for a test, while some face an eight-hour round trip to a test centre because of staff shortages resulting from COVID.
23 January
Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab plays down suggestions the deadline for compulsory vaccination for NHS workers could be extended.
After Ocado, Next and Ikea reveal that they are only paying the minimum sick pay for unvaccinated employees who are absent due to COVID-related reasons, John Lewis says that it is paying its staff the same rate, regardless of vaccination status, and that it would not be "right" to differentiate.
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tells the BBC's Sunday Morning programme that although she understands the "very adverse" effect Scotland's COVID measures have had on businesses and hospitality, she believes they have been "worth it".
Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford says he would "not rule out" recruiting NHS staff from England who lose their jobs because they have not received the vaccine.
24 January
ITV News alleges that up to 30 people, including Prime Minister Boris Johnson's then-fiancée Carrie Symonds, gathered in the Cabinet Room for a surprise get-together for Johnson's birthday on 19 June 2020, while England was still subject to lockdown rules. Downing Street says Johnson attended for less than 10 minutes. In the evening, Johnson celebrated outside with family, as allowed under the then rules. However, ITV News further alleges family friends then went up to Johnson's flat, something 10 Downing Street has denied.
The UK and Scottish Governments announce that double vaccinated people arriving in England and Scotland will no longer be required to take COVID tests from 11 February.
Lord Agnew resigns as a Treasury minister over the UK government's handling of fraudulent COVID business loans.
25 January
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick confirms officers have launched an investigation into "potential breaches of Covid-19 regulations" at Downing Street and Westminster since 2020.
Although it is initially thought any investigation would delay publication of the Gray Report, Sky News reports that the Metropolitan Police do not object to details of the inquiry being released before its investigation, and that Gray is in communication with the police.
The International Monetary Fund predicts that the UK economy will grow much slower than forecast during 2022.
Holiday bookings for the forthcoming half-term have risen sharply since it was announced COVID tests for fully vaccinated people arriving back into the UK are to be scrapped, with Jet2 reporting a 30% increase in bookings.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid says that 77,000 NHS staff remain unvaccinated, and that plans to introduce compulsory vaccination for NHS staff are being "kept under review".
Scotland confirms its work from home advice will be scrapped in favour of a "hybrid" system involving office and remote work from Monday 31 January.
Figures show that around one million children were absent from school in England on Thursday 20 January for COVID-related reasons.
Northern Ireland follows England and Scotland by announcing that fully vaccinated travellers from abroad will no longer need COVID tests when arriving back in Northern Ireland after 11 February.
26 January
At Prime Minister's Questions, Boris Johnson faces renewed calls for him to resign, but says he intends to continue in office. He is also urged to publish in full the Gray Report into the Partygate scandal.
Northern Ireland scraps COVID passports for pubs, bars and restaurants from 12pm, but they continue to be required for nightclubs and large events. Nightclubs can also reopen while indoor standing events can resume.
The growth in pet ownership during the pandemic has continued, with retailer Pets at Home forecasting record sales and profits.
One million face masks, described by a confidential government report as counterfeit, were sent out for use in NHS hospitals despite warnings about their authenticity, it has been reported.
27 January
Plan B measures are lifted in England bringing an end to the mask mandate, but a number of retailers, including Sainsbury's, Tesco, John Lewis, Waitrose and Morrisons will continue to encourage people to wear them, along with several rail operators.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirms that the Gray Report will be published in full, but says he does not know when it will be published.
The Scottish Government has officially rejected suggestion that any social gatherings were held by ministers or civil servants during December 2020. The statement comes in response to a Freedom of Information request from The Scotsman.
A man is sentenced to eight months in prison after accosting England's chief medical officer, Sir Chris Whitty in London's St James's Park in June 2021.
28 January
There is confusion about when the Gray Report will be published after the Metropolitan Police issues a statement saying it has asked for civil servant Sue Gray to make "minimal reference" in her report to certain events that are under police investigation. But the Met says it has not asked for a delay to the report's publication. BBC News reports that Gray will not wait for the police investigation to conclude before handing her report to Downing Street.
The UK government announces that the antiviral drug Ritonavir will be made available for the most vulnerable patients who test positive for COVID from Thursday 10 February.
Amanda Blanc, the chief executive of Aviva, urges companies to ensure the return to working in offices does not "jeopardise" career opportunities for women.
Rules on physical distancing and the wearing of face masks in certain circumstances are relaxed in Scotland. The changes apply to indoor settings such as religious services where the two metre rule is changed to become a one-metre rule, while adults are no longer required to wear face coverings if taking part in organised activities with children under the age of five.
Wales cuts the period of self-isolation following a positive COVID test to five full days, bringing it into line with rules in England and Northern Ireland. Other changes include the reopening of nightclubs, an end to the rule of six requirement in pubs and restaurants and the scrapping of social distancing requirements.
29 January
A small study using a xenon gas scanning method has indicate people with Long COVID may have lung damage.
Senior Conservatives have joined opposition politicians in calling for the Gray Report to be published in full after doubt emerged about how complete the report would be.
30 January
An article in The Sunday Times reports on a freedom of information request that identifies the number of UK COVID deaths where there was no other underlying health condition as 17,000.
The Mail on Sunday claims that Prime Minister Boris Johnson planned to introduce restrictions preventing people from mixing over Christmas 2021, but was forced to abandon them following objection from three senior cabinet colleagues – Brexit Minister David Frost, Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg.
31 January
The initial findings of a report by Sue Gray into Downing Street parties are published. She notes that, "At least some of the gatherings in question represent a serious failure to observe not just the high standards expected of those working at the heart of Government but also of the standards expected of the entire British population at the time," and concludes that "a number of these gatherings should not have been allowed to take place or to develop in the way that they did. There is significant learning to be drawn from these events which must be addressed immediately across Government."
Following the report's publication, Prime Minister Boris Johnson tells the House of Commons he accepts the findings and will make changes to how 10 Downing Street and the Cabinet Office are run.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid announces the legal requirement for frontline NHS staff in England to be vaccinated by 1 April will be scrapped, saying the measure is "no longer proportionate".
Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss both test positive for COVID.
Restrictions for care homes in England are relaxed. From this date there is no limit on the number of visitors residents can receive, while the period of self-isolation following a positive COVID test is cut from fourteen to ten days, and the protocol following an outbreak is now required for fourteen rather than twenty-eight days.
Children in England aged 5–11 and considered to be most at risk from being seriously ill with COVID become eligible for their first vaccine.
February 2022
1 February
Following confusion over whether details of any possible fine Prime Minister Boris Johnson may receive because of lockdown breaches would be published, he says that Downing Street will "publish everything that we can".
The Telegraph alleges Johnson attended a further three parties at 10 Downing Street, including one to celebrate the departure of Dominic Cummings on 13 November 2020 at which a number of ABBA hits were played.
Accounts show the UK government has written off £8.7bn it spent on protective equipment bought during the pandemic.
2 February
534 coronavirus-related deaths are reported, the highest daily figure since February 2021.
Tobias Ellwood, Anthony Mangnall and Sir Gary Streeter become the latest Conservative MPs to publicly state their intention to submit a letter to Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the party's 1922 Committee calling for a vote of no confidence in Prime Minister Boris Johnson following the Partygate scandal. This brings to nine the number of MPs who have publicly declared their intentions to do so.
BBC News reports on the world's first COVID "challenge trial", a London-based study which saw 36 young, healthy and unvaccinated people deliberately infected with COVID in order to help develop the next generation of vaccines and drugs to treat the virus.
New data shows shoppers have been hit by the highest price rises in nearly 10 years after shop inflation almost doubled over the past month.
3 February
The Novavax COVID vaccine, which offers up to 89% protection against the virus, is approved for use in the UK, becoming the fifth vaccine to do so.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak says the Partygate scandal has damaged the public's trust in government, but plays down speculation that he could become prime minister.
Munira Mirza resigns as Director of the Number 10 Policy Unit, and is then followed by three other senior aides later the same day – Director of Communications Jack Doyle, Chief of Staff Dan Rosenfield, and Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister Martin Reynolds..
4 February
Policy adviser Elena Narozanski becomes the fifth of Johnson's aides to resign within 24 hours.
Aaron Bell becomes the latest Conservative MP to submit a letter to Sir Graham Brady, chair of the 1922 Committee, calling for a vote of no confidence in Johnson.
Media reports allege that the Metropolitan Police have a photograph of Boris Johnson with a can of beer at a lockdown party in June 2020.
Unions express their anger after Andrew Bailey, Governor of the Bank of England, receives a substantial pay rise, then warns people not to ask for big pay rises, describing it as "outrageous".
5 February
Nick Gibb becomes the latest Conservative MP to submit a letter of no confidence in Boris Johnson's leadership.
Cabinet Office minister Steve Barclay is appointed as the prime minister's new chief of staff, while former BBC journalist Guto Harri becomes Downing Street's director of communications.
Speaking about the Partygate scandal, Caroline Slocock, who became the first female private secretary at 10 Downing Street and served under Margaret Thatcher and John Major, says such events would have been "unthinkable" under both former prime ministers.
6 February
The Sunday Times reports that Boris Johnson's team believe 35 letters calling for a no confidence vote have been submitted by Conservative MPs to Sir Graham Brady.
The news comes as Sir Charles Walker says it is now "inevitable" that Johnson will be forced from office.
7 February
Prime Minister Boris Johnson announces what he describes as "tough targets" to reduce the record NHS waiting lists in England.
Two people are arrested after Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was surrounded by a mob of protesters near Parliament, who criticised his record on COVID, called him a traitor and repeated comments made by Johnson at the previous week's Prime Minister's Questions that Starmer had failed to prosecute Jimmy Savile during his time as Director of Public Prosecutions.
GCSE and A Level grades in 2022 are to be more generously than in pre-pandemic years.
NHS Grampian confirms that 42 people were mistakenly given out-of-date doses of a vaccine at a vaccination centre, but say the vaccine is safe and should still offer some protection.
Northern Ireland's Health Minister, Robin Swann, has said he is taking legal advice on how he can "replace the bulk of remaining Covid-19 restrictions", with a view to doing so "this week".
8 February
Health Secretary Sajid Javid announces plans to help reduce NHS waiting lists in England, but warns numbers will not begin to fall until 2024, and are likely to increase in the short term.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson carries out a minor cabinet reshuffle in order to "rejuvenate" his government.
ScotRail announces that 150 daily services will be re-added to the timetable from the end of May, but that peak-time services will not return to pre-pandemic levels.
9 February
Prime Minister Boris Johnson tells MPs he hopes to bring all of England's domestic COVID rules to an end, including the requirement for those testing positive to self-isolate, later in the month providing the positive trend in the data continues. The measures are currently due to expire on 24 March.
In contrast, the Scottish Government announces plans to extend its COVID powers by another six months, with legislation covering mask mandates and COVID passports to be extended from 28 February to 24 September.
Another new photo of Johnson is leaked, this time appearing to show him next to a bottle of champagne, with a tinsel-wearing official and other staff members, apparently taken on 15 December 2020.
Following reports of the latest picture the Metropolitan Police announces a review of its decision not to investigate the 15 December gathering.
Officers working on Operation Hillman, the investigation into 12 gatherings at Downing Street, announce that 50 members of Downing Street staff will be sent a questionnaire in which they will asked to provide an account of the events.
10 February
COVID restrictions, notably the requirement to self isolate after testing positive for COVID, are set to end in England on 24 February 2022. Evidence is not clear whether scientific advice was given for this. It is recommended that people with COVID should not go to work. It is unclear if vulnerable groups with compromised immune systems can resume normal lives. It is further uncleaar if vulnerable groups will be able to access fourth vaccines or anti-viral drugs.
Prince Charles has tested positive for COVID, the second time he has done so. It is further reported that he met with the Queen at Windsor Castle two days earlier, but that she is not showing any symptoms.
Former Prime Minister Sir John Major says that Boris Johnson and Downing Street officials "broke lockdown laws" over parties held in the property and accuses the government of feeling it "need not obey the rules".
Data from NHS England shows that of the 122,000 A&E patients seen in January, a third of those ill enough to require treatment on a ward waited over four hours.
11 February
Official figures show the UK economy experienced 7.5% recovery during 2021, but fell back in December because of concern about the Omicron variant.
Spanish tourism minister Fernando Valdés confirms that unvaccinated British teenagers will be allowed to enter Spain provided they give a negative PCR test from Monday 14 February.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is sent a questionnaire as part of the Metropolitan Police's Operation Hillman investigation into parties at Downing Street. The investigation is unaffected by the previous day's resignation of Cressida Dick as the Met's Commissioner.
12 February
France announces that fully vaccinated travellers from the United Kingdom are no longer required to take a pre-departure COVID test.
13 February
Scotland's Health Secretary, Humza Yousaf, warns that plans to lift COVID rules in England should not "force the hand" of the Scottish Government in doing the same.
Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, describes UK government plans to reach 130% of pre-COVID elective activity levels in England by 2024–25 as “very stretching”, and warns they may not be enough to prevent the number of people on waiting lists from growing.
14 February
An investigation by The Times reveals that YouTube is making money from conspiracy videos, including those providing COVID-19 misinformation, by using an algorithm that shows commercials whenever they are viewed.
The Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice group (representing over 6,000 families) want Boris Johnson to give up control over issues the pandemic public inquiry will investigate. They maintain Johnson is not impartial because police are investigating what Johnson did at 10 Downing Street. The present arrangement gives Johnson the last say on inquiry topics, which could enable him to prevent full investigation of what Johnson and serior officials did.
The Duchess of Cornwall tests positive for COVID and begins self-isolating.
The UK government suggests medical face masks could be turned into curtains or bedsheets as a way of tackling pandemic-related PPE plastic waste.
Northern Ireland's Health Minister, Robin Swann, announces that all remaining COVID regulations in Northern Ireland will be lifted from the following day and replaced with guidelines.
15 February
The latest death figures from the Office for National Statistics show a fall in the number of COVID-related deaths in the week ending 4 February; of the 13,472 deaths registered in that week, 1,390 involved COVID, a fall of 155 on the previous week.
Wales becomes the first of the UK's constituent countries to announce plans to offer COVID vaccinations to children aged between five and eleven.
The High Court of England and Wales rules that former Health Secretary Matt Hancock failed to comply with equality legislation when hiring then-chair of NHS Improvement Dido Harding and former Sainsbury's CEO Mike Coupe as part of the UK government's response to COVID-19.
All COVID regulations are lifted in Northern Ireland.
16 February
Scotland becomes the UK's second constituent country to announce plans to offer COVID vaccines to children aged five to eleven following advice to the Scottish Government from scientists. But the announcement comes before the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation has made a decision on its recommendations for that age group. England and Northern Ireland subsequently announce children from that age group will be offered vaccines.
The number of patients in hospital with COVID-19 in England falls below 10,000 for the first time since December, with figures showing 9,804 on 16 February, the lowest number since 28 December 2021.
17 February
Health data from Wales shows there were 683,331 people waiting for non-urgent surgery in December 2021, a record number and the 20th consecutive month where records have been broken.
After a UK minister says the "direction of travel" is to end free lateral flow tests, Wales's Health Minister Eluned Morgan says that "England alone" cannot make such a decision.
The Welsh Government announces the scrapping of COVID passes for large events in Wales, and venues such as nightclubs and cinemas, from the following day.
18 February
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is reported to have returned the questionnaire about allegations of parties during lockdown to police officers investigating the matter.
The High Court of England and Wales rejects a claim of discrimination against the UK government by four claimants of "legacy benefits" who were not eligible for the £20 increase in Universal Credit during the pandemic.
19 February
Downing Street confirms that all remaining COVID regulations for England are set to end in the coming days, including the legal requirement to self-isolate if symptomatic following a positive test.
Data produced by accountancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers indicates more than 17,000 chain store outlets closed during 2021 due to an increase in online retail spurred on by the pandemic, but closures are beginning to slow as independent retailers take on space vacated by the major outlets.
20 February
As England prepares to lift all COVID measures, Prime Minister Johnson says people should not throw caution to the wind.
During an appearance on BBC One's Sunday Morning, Johnson refuses to say whether he would resign if found by police to have broken COVID laws.
Buckingham Palace confirms that the Queen has tested positive for COVID and is experiencing mild symptoms, but that she expects to continue with "light duties" at Windsor Castle.
21 February
Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirms that all COVID measures in England will be lifted from Thursday 24 February. This includes the legal requirement to self-isolate and the £500 isolation payment for people on low incomes who are required to self-isolate, but COVID provisions for statutory sick pay will continue for a further month. Johnson also confirms that mass free lateral flow testing will stop on 1 April, after which it will be targeted at certain sections of society.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation recommends adults over the age of 75, residents in a care home with older people, and those aged over 12 who are immunosuppressant should receive a second booster vaccine in the spring, with either the Moderna vaccine or Pfizer vaccine offered to adults and those aged 12–18 offered the Pfizer vaccine.
22 February
Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, announces that all COVID legal measures in Scotland, including the wearing of face coverings, will be lifted on 21 March.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid defends plans to lift COVID measures in England, saying the time is right to do so.
The Queen cancels her virtual engagements for the day as Royal officials confirm she is still suffering mild, cold-like COVID symptoms.
23 February
Boots begins selling single lateral flow tests for £5.99 through its online store, while a pack of four tests can be purchased for £17. Superdrug has them on sale for £1.99.
While free mass testing for COVID is to end on 1 April in England, Scotland's deputy first minister John Swinney says it will continue in some form in Scotland beyond then.
Passenger numbers at Heathrow Airport during 2021 fell to 19.4 million, down from 22 million in 2020 and the lowest since 1972, with the numbers not expected to return to pre-pandemic levels until at least 2025.
Cristina Nestares, CEO of Admiral Insurance, has spoken of the need to attract workers back to the office in the post-COVID world.
24 February
All legal COVID restrictions are officially lifted in England.
The Queen suspends her virtual engagements for the second time in a week following a positive COVID test.
25 February
The UK government agrees to extend the financial bailout for Transport for London implemented during the pandemic until the end of June while they work out a deal to secure long-term funding.
26 February
A Telegraph article reports that COVID modelling published in March 2020 that prompted the first lockdown in the UK was based on inaccurate data.
A BBC News article reports on the five things that need to be monitored now that COVID rules have ended in England, listing them as new variants, waning immunity, Antiviral drug resistance, how close to normality the country can return, and Long COVID.
Following advice from the Foreign Office, the Queen cancels a diplomatic reception at Buckingham Palace scheduled for 2 March, which would have been her first public engagement since testing positive for COVID.
27 February
Data shows that COVID deaths in England have been at least 30% higher in deprived areas since the start of 2022.
28 February
Some rail services cut by Avanti West Coast, East Midlands Railway and Southeastern during December and January because of staff shortages caused by Omicron are restored. For example, the volume of services between London Euston and Manchester and Birmingham is doubled by Avanti.
Changes to COVID regulations in Wales mean that facemasks are no longer required in classrooms and venues such as museums and cinemas, but they continue to be a legal requirement in shops, salons, hairdressers, health and social care settings, as well as on public transport.
Changes also take effect in Scotland, where schoolchildren are no longer required to wear facemasks in class, but must continue to do so in corridors, and the requirement for large venues to implement COVID passports also ends.
March 2022
1 March –
The UK government confirms the lifting of compulsory vaccines for care home workers in England from 15 March.
Buckingham Palace confirms the Queen has returned to work and carried out two virtual engagements.
See also
Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom (January–June 2020)
Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom (July–December 2020)
Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom (January–June 2021)
Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom (July–December 2021)
Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in England (2022)
Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland (2022)
Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Wales (2022)
Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Northern Ireland (2022)
History of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
COVID-19 vaccination programme in the United Kingdom
References
External links
– analysis of advice given to government, and their response, up to early May
Coronavirus
2022 in the United Kingdom |
69645121 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert%20Grierson%20%28missionary%29 | Robert Grierson (missionary) | Robert G. Grierson (February 15, 1868 – May 8, 1965) was a Canadian medical doctor, Presbyterian missionary, and educator who worked in Korea for thirty-six years. He is also known by his Korean name, 구례선 (Korean pronunciation: [kuɽje̞sʰʌ̹n]). Grierson performed his missionary works in the Sung-jin and Ham-heung area. He established the Sung-jin clinic which later expanded to Jedong hospital and found the Bosin Boy's School and Eunjin Middle School. Grierson was known for his active participation in the Korean Independence Movement, posthumously receiving the Order of Merit for National Foundation Independence Medal in 1968 from the Korean government.
Early life and education
Grierson was born on February 15, 1868 at Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada to John Grierson and Mary Parrett. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the Dalhousie University in 1890, his theology degree from Pine Hill Divinity Hall in 1893, and his medical degree from Dalhousie Medical College in 1897. In 1898, he was ordained in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.
Missionary Work
Being a reverend and a physician, Grierson carried out both evangelical and medical missionary works during his time in Korea. Grierson carried out multiple responsibilities as a reverend, school teacher, doctor, and missionary, and he was dissatisfied by the fact that he couldn't fully devote himself in spreading the Christian belief as a member of the Presbyterian Church in Canada. However, in 1912, Grierson changed his view on evangelism and fully devoted his time and effort on providing medical service to the people. He viewed medical practices as another form of the gospel message of love and compassion.
Call to Service
Grierson's decision to come to Korea was influenced by William McKenzie (missionary). Grierson aspired to go and work in Korea when Mckenzie asked Grierson to help with his missionary work at Sorrai village during the early 1890s. McKenzie's death in 1895 prompted the Presbyterian Church in Canada to officially fund and send missionaries to Korea, and Grierson departed for Korea with Duncan MacRae and William Foote in July, 1898 and arrived in September, 1898.
Early years
During the Council of Missions Holding the Presbyterian Form of Government of 1898, the American Presbyterian Mission Board yielded the Wonsan territory to the Canadian missionaries. Grierson joined Footes and MacRae at Wonsan in 1900, and the three decided to expand their mission to Ham-Heung and Sung-jin area.
In the early years, Grierson strived to finish the language instruction before any official medical and mission work by not taking in any patients. However, due to the great number of patients who needed medical attention, he began to care for patients: "We had scarcely time to get into the house we had rented when we were besieged by sick people ... so piteous and persistent were the calls for help that it did not seem humane to refuse; and very reluctantly study was almost entirely laid aside and medical and surgical work undertaken." Grierson also went on mission trips lasting for two weeks to a month to rural communities and provided basic medical assistance.
In 1900, Grierson and MacRae headed north to explore newly designated territory. Upon receiving a telegram that stated that the Korean Court has ordered all governors and mayors to execute Christians and missionaries, the two cycled 240 miles in two days back to Wonsan to learn that the telegram had been forged.
Sung-Jin
In 1899, Sung-jin became a treaty port, and foreigners could buy and own land in the Sung-jin area. Grierson assumed responsibility of carrying out missionary work at Sung-jin while MacRae and Dr. Kate McMillan (Missionary), who joined in early 1901 through the Foreign Mission Committee, took on Ham-heung territory. Grierson set the cornerstone for the missionary work by building a house and the Yongjung church. John Grierson, the father of Robert Grierson and a carpenter, traveled to Korea and helped his son with the construction of the buildings. Grierson build his house with sufficient space. He sold the Bible and Christian booklets in the library and had rooms where he could treat the patients. During the Russo-Japanese war, Grierson took refuge at Wonsan, and Grierson's house was used as a barrack for the Russian officers, and the church as a stable. After the war, Grierson bought land next to the churchyard from a Korean landowner and built Sung-jun Church, Bosin Boy's School, and Sung-jin clinic.
Grierson's missionary work was continuously impeded by the financial crisis of the Foreign Mission Committee. In 1912, Grierson expressed his frustration to the board when he wrote the annual report for Sung-jin: "This work [the medical work] can never be conducted satisfactorily while the doctor in charge is so immersed in church, school, administrative, class, theological, and other work; ... until we have a doctor with no other duties, we shall have a medical work only in name; and the medical work unsatisfactory as it is, will but limit the activities of the senior missionary in his other important spheres." In 1914, Grierson received $7,000 from the Board to build a modern hospital at Sung-jin.
In 1917, he renovated the Sung-jin clinic to Jedong Hospital, the most bona fide medical facility of the mission. Eight Korean doctors assisted Grierson at the Jedong Hospital, and among them, four were students of the Bosin Boy's School and executives of Sung-jin Area YMCA. Jedong Hospital had over one hundred inpatients and 1,743 outpatients.
Vladivostok and Longjing
In 1903, Grierson headed to Vladivostok with John Grierson and Alexander F. Robb on a mission trip in response to the request of the National Bible Society of Scotland to spread the Bible. In 1906, Grierson established a chapel at Longjing with Sun-guk Hong (홍순국) who was both a translator and a Korean teacher for Grierson. In 1909, as more Koreans have moved to Primorsky, Krai Grierson revisited Vladivostok and served as a teacher for the bible study class. Grierson believed that more mission branches were needed in the northern region; motivating the Presbyterian Church in Canada to established additional branches at Hoeryong in 1912 and Longjing in 1913. They sent Archibald H. Barker and Donald A. McDonald (Missionary) as missionaries in response to Grierson's request.
Involvement with the March 1st movement
During mid-February of 1919, Hamhung centered student organizations began to plan for the Mansei demonstration. Grierson allowed the local independence leaders to use his house for the secret meetings since it was less likely for the Japanese police to unexpectedly search a foreigner's house. On March 9th, Grierson climbed the bell tower of the Yongjung church and tolled the bell to encourage the Korean demonstrators who had been imprisoned by the Japanese police. On March 10th, the Sung-jin Mansei demonstration was carried out in front of the Jedong hospital with one thousand demonstrators. The independence leaders read the Korean Declaration of Independence and began the march. The Japanese army reacted by dispatching the cavalry and fire brigade to Sung-jin and began to suppress the demonstration on March 11th.
Grierson wrote, "quite early, a squad of Japanese firemen, armed with fire axes, and police armed with rifles, paraded up from their settlement to the quietly resting Korean villages ... beating, hacking, shooting. Soon casualties began to come into the hospital, adding to our usually heavy Monday clinic." Grierson treated the injured Korean demonstrators at the Jedong Hospital. Since the Jedong Hospital was owned by Grierson, extraterritoriality was imposed, and therefore, the Japanese police could not interfere with the treatment.
Grierson was later interrogated by the Japanese police for actively helping and participating in the Sung-jin Mansei demonstration such as printing out thirty thousand copies of the Korean Declaration of Independence.
Legacy
Yongjung church and Bosin Boy's School played a crucial role in educating the Koreans at Sung-jin. The Yongjung church members and teacher and student of the Bosin Boy's School actively participated in the Sung-jin Mansei demonstration. The "Triangle of the Church, School, and Hospital" was established in the Sung-jin area with students who received modern education becoming a local society leader as well as a missionary.
In 1968, Grierson received the Order of Merit for National Foundation Independence Medal for his contribution in the Korean Independence Movement.
References
1868 births
1965 deaths
Canadian Presbyterian missionaries
Presbyterian missionaries in Korea
Canadian expatriates in Korea
Dalhousie University alumni
Canadian Presbyterian ministers
Korean independence activists
People from Halifax, Nova Scotia
Recipients of the Order of Merit for National Foundation
Medical missionaries |
69646596 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shah%20Hasan%2C%20Sindh | Shah Hasan, Sindh | Shah Hasan, also spelled Shah Hassan, is a village and deh in Johi taluka of Dadu District, Sindh. It is located at the western end of Lake Manchar, about 24 miles west of Sehwan. As of 2017, Shah Hasan has a population of 2,597, in 481 households. It is the seat of a tappedar circle, which also includes the villages of Berah, Dhabhari, Dhori Kunri, Khanwah, Lohri, and Makhan Belo.
Shah Hasan hosts a fair on the 9th of Zilhuz in honour of Pir Gaji, a famous Sufi pir whose tomb is located on a hilly spur six miles west of the village.
Around 1874, Shah Hasan had an estimated population of about 1,200, including about 880 Muslims (mostly Mohanas and Bughios) and about 320 Hindus (mostly Lohanos). Its main manufactured products were ropes and mats made from the pfis, a type of dwarf palm. There was a local trade in grain, fish, and mats, but no significant long-distance commerce. Shah Hasan was then the seat of a tappedar and had a small police post, a dharamsala, and a cattle pound. The Pir Gaji festival had an average attendance of about 600 people at this time.
The 1951 census recorded the village of Shah Hasan as having an estimated population of about 740, in about 140 houses. It had a school and police station at that point.
References
Populated places in Dadu District |
69646868 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank%20McCrehan | Frank McCrehan | Francis J. McCrehan was an American baseball player and coach at Boston College.
Early life
McCrehan was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. His father, Jack McCrehan, was a Cambridge police officer. One of his brothers, Jeremiah “Jud” McCrehan was a minor league baseball player.
Playing career
Cambridge High and Latin School
McCrehan, nicknamed Cheese, played high school baseball at Cambridge High and Latin School. He was the starting pitcher for the 1921 CHLS team that won 27 straight games and won the Suburban League championship. His teammates included Doc Gautreau and Sonny Foley.
Boston College
McCrehan pitched for the Boston College Eagles baseball team from 1922 to 1925. On June 18, 1923, McCrehan led BC to a 4–1 victory over Ownie Carroll and the Holy Cross Crusaders in front of 30,000 fans at Braves Field. It was one of only two games Carroll lost in his collegiate career (the other was to Charlie Caldwell and Princeton the same year).
Minor league and semi-pro baseball
In 1925, McCrehan signed with the Jersey City Skeeters of the International League. In 1926 he pitched for the Haverhill Hillies of the New England League. In 23 games he had a 7–4 record and an ERA of 4.25. He had a tryout with the Cincinnati Reds but was not offered a contract.
McCrehan was also the player-coach of the North Cambridge Knights of Columbus baseball team and spent five seasons as a member of North Cambridge's team in the Twilight League, where he played with former high school teammates Gautreau and Foley as well as Bill Cleary. The Twilight League club was considered to be one of the best in the state and drew over 30,000 to Russell Field on multiple occasions.
Coaching
In 1926, McCrehan joined Jack Slattery's coaching staff at Boston College as pitching coach. In 1928 he was made the freshman coach. In 1931 he was promoted to head coach of the varsity team. He resigned before the 1939 season due to pressures from his work for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Government service
In 1937, McCrehan was appointed by Governor Charles F. Hurley to manage the Boston central office of the State Unemployment Commission. He later worked as a supervisor for the State Department of Education and with Massachusetts' Civil Defense agency. During World War II he was a physical education instructor in the United States Navy. In 1949 he was elected to the Cambridge school committee. He remained on the board until his defeat in 1955.
Personal life and death
McCrehan resided at 146 Rindge Avenue before moving in with his cousin, Mary Louise Riley. He died on March 10, 1960, at the age of 57.
References
Date of birth missing
1960 deaths
Boston College alumni
Boston College Eagles baseball coaches
Boston College Eagles baseball players
Haverhill Hillies players
Jersey City Skeeters players
Sportspeople from Cambridge, Massachusetts
United States Navy personnel of World War II |
69646891 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022%20in%20Indonesia | 2022 in Indonesia | This list includes overviews of notable events that took place in Indonesia in the year 2022.
Incumbents
President and Vice President
Ministers and Coordinating Ministers
Coordinating Ministers
Ministers
Events
January
4 January - More than 24,000 people are evacuated following massive floods on the island of Sumatra.
7 January - At least 8 people are killed after floods and landslides sweep Jayapura, Papua.
8 January - Designer and sculptor I Nyoman Nuarta unveils the final masterplan for the new Indonesian presidential palace.
10 January - At least two people are wounded and more than 50 houses are damaged by a doublet earthquake in Halmahera, North Maluku.
11 January
Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Erick Thohir reports an alleged corruption from the purchase of several ATR 72-600 by Garuda Indonesia Airlines.
Gibran Rakabuming Raka and Kaesang Pangarep, sons of the incumbent President Joko Widodo, are reported to the police due to alleged corruption and money laundering.
13 January - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) detains Abdul Gafur Mas'ud, Regent of Penajam North Paser Regency, which is one of the planned-site of the new Indonesian capital.
14 January - A magnitude 6.6 earthquake strikes Banten, Java, inflicting damages to more than 3,000 homes. At least 10 people are wounded by the quake.
17 January - Head of Ministry of National Development Planning of Indonesia Suharso Monoarfa announces the name for the new capital of Indonesia as "Nusantara".
19 January - Arteria Dahlan, a member of parliament from PDIP, is under fire after suggesting that people whouse Sundanese during court matters should be fired. Ridwan Kamil, Governor of West Java Province, where Sundanese people are the majority, demands Arteria Dahlan to apologize to the Sundanese people following his remarks.
20 January
Government lifts coal export ban on 139 firms.
Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) detains Terbit Rencana Perangin-angin, Regent of Langkat Regency, North Sumatra.
MP Arteria Dahlan issues a formal apology to the Sundanese people following his controversial remarks.
21 January - Out of control trailer strikes 14 bikes and 6 cars at an intersection in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, killing 5 people and injuring 15.
24 January
Dayak figures in East Kalimantan report journalist Edy Mulyadi for hate speech.
Indonesian National Commission of Human Rights sends an investigation team to North Sumatra following the discovery of human cages inside the home of Terbit Rencana Perangin-angin.
25 January - At least 19 people are killed during clashes between two groups at a nightclub in Sorong, West Papua.
26 January - A riot in Central Maluku kills three people in Haruku Island, Central Maluku.
31 January - Indonesian police arrests journalist Edy Mulyadi for alleged hate speech incident against Dayak figures.
February
2 February - Officials impose temporary lockdown for the People's Representative Council following reports of COVID-19 infections.
4 February - Indonesian Medical Association (IDI) announces that Indonesia has entered the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
5 February - Bali reopens for direct international flights for the first time in two years.
6 February - A tourist bus crash in Bantul kills 13 people.
8 February - Incumbent Governor of Central Java, Ganjar Pranowo, is criticized by the public and human rights organizations following police deployment in the village of Wadas.
11 February - Minister of Manpower Ida Fauziah decides to limit JHT.
14 February - At least 11 people are drowned during a ritual procession on the coast of Jember, East Java.
16 February - Labor strikes occur in multiple cities following Ministry of Manpower's decision to limit JHT.
18 February - Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte issues an apology to Indonesians after a major historical review on war crimes during the Indonesian National Revolution emerges.
25 February - At least 11 people are killed and dozens injured after a strong 6.2 magnitude earthquake strikes West Sumatra.
27 February - Tourist bus and passenger train collision in East Java's Tulungagung Regency kills 6 people.
March
1 March - Massive flood sweep Serang, affecting 3,500 people and killing 5.
Deaths
January
2 January - Nindy Ellese Laoh, singer (b.1967)
10 January - Johan Anuar, Deputy Regent of Ogan Komering Ulu Regency (b.1965)
13 January - Abdul Sajid Tamrin, mayor of Baubau (b.1952)
References
External links
Indonesia
Indonesia
2020s in Indonesia
Years of the 21st century in Indonesia |
69647421 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karampur | Karampur | Karampur is a village and deh in Sehwan taluka of Jamshoro District, Sindh. Said to have been founded by the Talpur dynasty ruler Mir Karam Ali Talpur, it is located just north of Sehwan on the road to Larkano. The village contains the shrine of Hussain Shah, a Muslim saint who was buried here in the early 20th century.
As of 2017, Karampur has a population of 7,303, in 1,436 households. It belongs to the tappedar circle of Channa.
Around 1874, Karampur was described as a predominantly agricultural village with a small police thana. Its population was estimated to be about 1,000 people, including about 850 Muslims (mostly Utas) and 150 Hindus (mostly Lohanos). Local trade included various types of grain, ghee, milk, and butter, while the goods manufactured in Karampur mainly consisted of coarse cloth and shoes.
The 1951 census recorded the village of Karampur as having an estimated population of about 1,990, in about 350 houses. It had a school at that point.
In the 1990s, in order to combat waterlogging and increasing soil salinity on the right (west) bank of the Indus, a major drainage channel called the Right Bank Outfall Drain was planned to discharge into the Indus at Karampur. After a major backlash from local residents, however, the plan was changed to discharge the channel directly into the Arabian Sea.
References
Populated places in Jamshoro District |
69647500 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desbordes | Desbordes | Desbordes is a surname, and may refer to:
Gustave Borgnis-Desbordes (1839–1900), French general
Henri Desbordes (died c.1722), French printer in Amsterdam
Marceline Desbordes-Valmore (1786–1859), French poet and novelist
Mario Desbordes (born 1968), Chilean politician and police officer
Michèle Desbordes (1940–2006), French writer |
69647933 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022%20in%20Nigeria | 2022 in Nigeria | The following is a list of events in 2022 in Nigeria.
Incumbents
Federal government
President: Muhammadu Buhari (APC)
Vice President: Yemi Osinbajo APC
Chief Justice: Mahmud Mohammed
Governors
Abia State: Okezie Ikpeazu (PDP)
Adamawa State: Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri PDP
Akwa Ibom State: Udom Gabriel Emmanuel PDP
Anambra State: Willie Obiano (APGA)
Bauchi State: Bala Muhammed PDP
Bayelsa State: Duoye Diri PDP
Benue State: Samuel Ortom PDP
Borno State: BabaGana Umara APC
Cross River State: Benedict Ayade PDP
Delta State: Ifeanyi Okowa PDP
Ebonyi State: Dave Umahi PDP
Edo State: Godwin Obaseki APC
Ekiti State: Kayode Fayemi APC
Enugu State: Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi PDP
Gombe State: Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya APC
Imo State: Hope Uzodinma APC
Jigawa State: Badaru Abubakar APC
Kaduna State: Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai APC
Kano State: Abdullahi Umar Ganduje APC
Katsina State: Aminu Bello Masari APC
Kebbi State: Abubakar Atiku Bagudu APC
Kogi State: Yahaya Bello APC
Kwara State: AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq APC
Lagos State: Babajide Sanwo-Olu APC
Nasarawa State: Abdullahi Sule APC
Niger State: Abubakar Sani Bello APC
Ogun State: Dapo Abiodun APC
Ondo State: Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu APC
Osun State: Adegboyega Oyetola APC
Oyo State: Oluwaseyi Makinde PDP
Plateau State: Simon Lalong APC
Rivers State: Ezenwo Nyesom Wike PDP (since 29 May 2015)
Sokoto State: Aminu Waziri Tambuwal PDP
Taraba State: Arch. Darius Ishaku PDP
Yobe State: Mai Mala Buni APC
Zamfara State: Bello Matawalle PDP
Events
Ongoing – Boko Haram insurgency, COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria, Herder-farmer conflicts in Nigeria, Insurgency in Southeastern Nigeria, Nigerian bandit conflict
January
4-6 January - 2022 Zamfara massacres
14-15 January - Dankade massacre
February
10 February -
Bandits raid the village of Rogoji, Bakura, killing five people and causing a mass exodus from the town. The bandits were requested to do so by a woman whose son was executed by vigilantes.
Armed Robbers raid a bullion van in Ibadan, killing six people, including two policemen.
Culture
1 January – Chief Daddy 2: Going for Broke released on Netflix
Deaths
February 7-8 - Abdulkadir Abubakar Rano, a major figure of the Nigeria Police Force.
See also
COVID-19 pandemic in Africa
Boko Haram
Economic Community of West African States
Community of Sahel–Saharan States
African Continental Free Trade Area
List of Nigerian films of 2022
References
Nigeria
Nigeria
2020s in Nigeria
Years of the 21st century in Nigeria |
69648016 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kakwenza%20Rukirabashaija | Kakwenza Rukirabashaija | Kakwenza Rukirabashaija (born 1 November 1988) is a Ugandan novelist and lawyer. He is the author of The Greedy Barbarian and Banana Republic: Where Writing is Treasonous. He was named the PEN 2021 Pinter International Writer of Courage Award .
Early life and education
Kakwenza was born on 1 November 1988 in Rukungiri District, South Western Uganda. He studied at several primary schools in the same district. He attended Kyamakanda SS, Makobore Highschool and Kigezi College Butobere for O'level. He later joined Munyenga Highschool in Kampala for A'level. He graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Development Studies from Kyambogo University a Master's degree in Journalism from the University of Cape Town and a Law degree from Cavendish University Uganda.
Life
On 13 April 2020, Kakwenza was arrested by security operatives from his home in Iganga and detained for publishing his first book The Greedy Barbarian which they believed was about the person of President Yoweri Museveni.
He was arrested again on 18 September 2020 after writing another novel, narrating his ordeal in the hands of his captors. The book is titled Banana Republic: Where Writing is Treasonous.
In February 2021, Kakwenza sued the Government of Uganda for the torture he suffered at the hands of the CMI security operatives.
On 28 December 2021 Ugandan security forces arrested Kakwenza after he had insulted Muhoozi on Twitter calling him obese and ridiculed his military training. The arrest was condemned by opposition leader Bobi Wine and PEN International. On 4 January 2022, a Ugandan court called for his release. He was released for a brief home visit under armed guard that day. He showed visible signs of torture from the Ugandan police, including bloodstains on his clothing, which was removed by Kakwenza and kept by his wife. Pictures of his blood-stained clothing were uploaded to Twitter by Kiiza Eron, a Ugandan human rights lawyer.Although the Judicial courts had retained his passport asserting that the premises for his request to vacate the country were weak, Kakwenza fled Uganda to neighbouring Rwanda in February 2022 fearing for his life. He arrived in Germany on 24 February 2022.
Awards
2021 PEN Pinter Prize International Writer of Courage
Publications
The Greedy Barbarian
Banana Republic: Where Writing is Treasonous
References
Ugandan novelists
1988 births
Living people |
69648439 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linn%20Nhyo%20Taryar | Linn Nhyo Taryar | Linn Nhyo Taryar (; born 1996), also known as Hein Min Aung (), is a Burmese astrologer and fortune-teller, known for his yadaya rituals and fortune predictions. He was arrested for a high treason after posting a video in which he prayed for the downfall of the Burmese army general Min Aung Hlaing, who took power during the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état.
Career
An orphan from Pathein, in the Ayeyarwady delta region, he came to Yangon as a teenager and studied engineering before dropping out of school to become an astrologist. He started studying magic when he was five, beginning by reading tarot cards and gradually building up an online following on Facebook. He made yearly predictions and advised people on how to avoid trouble. In 2017, he founded the Wizardry School of Myanmar, a lesson of which was attended by an interviewer from Agence France-Presse (AFP).
A week after AFP attended the lesson, Linn Nhyo Taryar was arrested after scared social media users told police he was teaching people how to use black magic. He told to The Voice Daily interview that there were some politicians believed in voodoo. He also revealed there were some notable politicians and businessmen had asked him for astrological advice before the 2015 general election. He was sentenced to 6 months in prison.
On 14 January 2021, he was arrested again for open a magic training school without permission in Yangon. The police seized his school and released him after investigation.
Following the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état, he was arrested under the penal code's section 505 (b) on 11 February due to a viral video showing him lighting candles and praying for the military government to fall. Thousand of people have been rallying and protesting for four consecutive days in front of the police station for his release. He has become a focal point for demonstrators, with his image often displayed by people resisting the coup. He has heart disease and can only breathe when given oxygen. His family attempted to supply him with medication, but they were unsuccessful. He was arbitrarily sentenced to 2 years in prison by junta's court on 27 December 2021.
References
1996 births
Living people
People from Ayeyarwady Region
Fortune tellers
Prisoners and detainees of Myanmar
Burmese prisoners and detainees |
69649170 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre%20de%20Massot | Pierre de Massot | Pierre de Massot (April 10 1900, Lyon – 3 January 1969, Paris) was a French writer associated with the Dada and surrealist movements.
Biography
He was born as the sixth child of the Count and Countess of Massot de Lafond.
Massot attended the Lycée Saint-Marc of the Jesuit Order in his hometown. He then went to Paris to study there. There he made the acquaintance of Francis Picabia, through whose support he soon met the publisher Pierre Seghers. He later had a close relationship with André Gide whom he considered to be a father figure. He was also friends with many other representatives of the French avant-garde such as Jean Cocteau, Marcel Duchamp, René Crevel, Max Jacob, Tristan Tzara and many others.
On July 6, 1923, Tzara had invited a group of Dadaists to the soirée “Cœur à Barbe” in the Théâtre Michel. A group around André Breton violently disrupted this event, in which Massot's arm was broken by a blow from Breton's cane and the police had to intervene. This marked the break between Dadaists and Surrealists. Nevertheless, two years later, Massot was one of the signatories of Breton's La révolution d'abord manifesto and became close to the Surrealists.
Massot joined the French Communist Party and was a supporter of Léon Blum's Popular Front. During the German occupation and Vichy France, he played a key role in the protecting of the French-Jewish writer André Suarès by telling the authorities he was his father.
After the liberation of France he wrote for the Nouvelle Revue Française. Massot left the Communist Party after the events of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. He was an opponent of the French doctrine towards Algeria and was a signatory of the Manifesto of the 121.
The last years of his life were in obscurity and poverty. Massot fell in to depression after the death of his longtime friend Breton. He died on 3 January, 1969.
Notable works
De Mallarmé à 391, 1922
Essai de critique théâtrale, with a portrait of the author by Pablo Picasso, 1922
The Wonderful Book. Reflections on Rrose Selavy, with jokes from Marcel Duchamp, Paris-Passy, imprimerie Ravilly, 1924.
Saint-Just ou le divin bourreau, 1925
Portrait d'un bull-dog, with photographs by Berenice Abbott, 1926
Soliloque de Nausicaa, with paintings by Jean Cocteau, 1928
Prolégomènes à une éthique sans métaphysique, with a drawing by Kristians Tonny, 1930
Mon corps, ce doux-démon, (with a portrait of the author by Jacques Villon and a preface letter by André Gide), 1959
Oui, notules sur Erik Satie et lettres du compositeur à l'auteur, with a drawing by Georges Braque, 1960
Le Mystère des maux, 1961
Marcel Duchamp, 1965
Francis Picabia, 1966
D-S, 1967
André Breton ou le Septembriseur, 1967
Le Déserteur. Œuvre poétique 1923-1969, texts collected and presented by Gérard Pfister, with portraits of the author by Pablo Picasso, Francis Picabia, Max Ernst, Georges Malkine, Éditions Arfuyen, 1992
References
1900 births
1969 deaths
French male poets
20th-century French writers
20th-century French poets
French surrealist writers
French dadaist
French Communist Party members
French art critics
French Trotskyists
Surrealist poets |
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