Activism civil rights movement

Former President Donald Trump must answer questions under oath in New York State’s civil investigation into his business practices, a State appeals court ruled Thursday. A four-judge panel in the appellate division of the state’s trial court upheld Manhattan Judge Arthur Engoron’s February 17 ruling enforcing subpoenas for Mr. Trump and his two eldest children to give deposition testimony in Attorney General Letitia James' probe. Mr. Trump had appealed, seeking to overturn the ruling. His lawyers argued that ordering the Trumps to testify violated their constitutional rights because their answers could be used in a parallel criminal investigation. “The existence of a criminal investigation does not preclude civil discovery of related facts, at which a party may exercise the privilege against self-incrimination,” the four-judge panel wrote, citing the Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. Message seeking comment were left with lawyers for the Trumps and with Ms. … [Read more...] about Donald Trump loses appeal, must testify in New York civil probe into his business practices

The octopus is an extraordinary creature – and not only because of its eight limbs, three hearts, blue blood, ink squirting, camouflage capacity and the tragic fact that it dies after mating. A study by researchers in Brazil published on Thursday shows that this animal, already considered perhaps the smartest invertebrate, experiences two major alternating sleep states eerily similar to those in humans – and it even might dream. The findings, the researchers said, provide fresh evidence that the octopus possesses a complex and sophisticated neurobiology that underlies an equally sophisticated behavioral repertoire, while also offering broader insight into the evolution of sleep, a crucial biological function. Octopuses previously were known to experience sleep and change colors while slumbering. In the new study, the researchers observed a species called Octopus insularis in a laboratory setting. They found that these color changes are associated with two distinct sleep states: … [Read more...] about Octopuses Change Colours While Slumbering, Have 2 Sleep Cycles Eerily Similar to Humans, Finds Study

Alison Parker had a close relationship with her mom. On Mother's Day in 2015, she took both of her parents wine-tasting and hiking around the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia. And every Monday, she met her mom after her morning shift ended at the local news station to share lunch and do some shopping. "Those are the things I miss," Barbara Parker tells Newsweek . The world watched in horror when Alison, a 24-year-old reporter, was fatally shot on live TV on August 26, 2015, along with her colleague Adam Ward, a 27-year-old photojournalist, both with WDBJ7. The two were conducting a live interview at Bridgewater Plaza in Moneta, Virginia, when a gunman approached and killed them. The suspect, later identified as a former employee at their Roanoke news station, fatally shot himself before police could apprehend him. Much of the aftermath of the shooting played out on social media, as the suspect posted video footage and updates to Twitter as he fled. "For lack of better words, … [Read more...] about Her daughter was shot on live TV. Now she’s marching to demand gun control

Since the last annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, the course of history has changed dramatically. Russia invaded Ukraine, shaking the European Union, which was established to prevent war from returning to the continent, to its very core. Even when the fighting stops, as it eventually must, the situation will never revert to the status quo ante . Indeed, the Russian invasion may turn out to be the beginning of World War III, and our civilisation may not survive it. The invasion of Ukraine did not come out of the blue. The world has been increasingly engaged over the past half-decade, or longer, in a struggle between two diametrically opposed systems of governance: open society and closed society. Let me define the differences as simply as I can. In an open society, the role of the state is to protect the freedom of the individual; in a closed society, the role of the individual is to serve the rulers of the state. Other issues that concern all humanity – … [Read more...] about We must defeat Putin – the fate of civilisation depends on it

New Delhi: Mahatma Gandhi was one of the proponents of the idea of giving shelter to non-Muslims facing persecution in Pakistan. The thought was strongly advocated by other leaders like Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Dr Rajendra Prasad and Maulana Azad. Speaking on the issue of granting citizenship to persecuted minorities, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan said, “Today, it is being seen as communal, but there has always been a national consensus on the issue with (senior Congress leaders) Manmohan Singh, Ashok Gehlot and Pranab Mukherjee voicing their commitment to the cause.” As far as the National Register of Citizens (NRC) is concerned, he said it was the Congress’ brainchild and there is no country without a register of its citizens. Khan was speaking at the Nehru Museum Memorial and Library on the topic of “Citizenship institutional and civilizational.” Partition Khan started his speech with the baggage of Partition and said the circumstances of minorities in neighbouring … [Read more...] about Gandhi, Nehru Had Committed to Give Citizenship to Persecuted Minorities of Pak: Arif Mohammad Khan

Bollywood actress and member of Cannes Film Festival jury Deepika Padukone served us another ravishing red carpet look recently. The actress was spotted in an all-black sultry gown recently evening as she made her way to the screening of South Korean film Decision To Leave directed by Park Chan Wook. The 36-year-old actress opted to wear a custom-made Louis Vuitton black gown for the occasion. Deepika Padukone strikes a pose at the red carpet premiere of #DecisionToLeave at #CannesFilmFestival . https://t.co/40I7DIFQfr pic.twitter.com/QmxJA8okY9 — Variety (@Variety) May 23, 2022 The sexy black dress featured all-over feather-like detail, a plunging neckline and thin straps. The gown’s unique feature goes a long way towards imbuing it with the kind of texture that helps it achieve depth. Designed by the French fashion house’ Creative Director Nicolas Ghesquiere, Deepika’s dress offered a flapper-like energy to the movement. The Chappak actress kept the accessories to a … [Read more...] about Deepika Padukone Stuns in Sultry Black Custom Louis Vuitton Gown at Cannes Red Carpet

The Chinese propaganda website ECNS.CN is reporting the chief of the World Economic Forum praised the Chinese Communist Party charged with genocide against minorities for its commitment to plant trees to fight climate change. “We appreciate China’s effort in supporting the 1t.org initiative of the World Economic Forum and relevant UN initiatives,” WEF Chairman Klaus Schwab was reported to have said in the article. “We highly appreciate China’s practices upholding relative international commitment such as the Paris Agreement and Biodiversity target through Nature-Based Solutions.” The website reported: The World Economic Forum (WEF) said it appreciates China’s commitment to plant 70 billion trees in the next 10 years, according to its official website on Wednesday. The WEF and China Green Foundation will undertake concrete measures together to support the fulfillment of the contribution in China, it added. “China responds actively to contribute to the 1t.org initiative … [Read more...] about WEF Praises China for Planting Trees to Fight Climate Change

"You crouch down, mummy, and balance on the toilet seat, then be as quiet as a mouse. "That way the shooter might not find you." So many things floored me about that conversation, not least that my wee boy used the word "shooter". My son - we call him the middle one - was nine at the time, when he came home from his third week at a US elementary school and burst through the door. He'd made new friends, they'd asked him if he knew David Beckham and why he pronounced "water" weird. A British Army family, we'd been posted at short notice to Kansas in mid-west USA, from a small Wiltshire village. There, the primary school had around 100 children, was opposite the church, and doubled as the village hall for fetes, yoga and book club. More on Texas School Shooting Texas school shooting: State hosts weapons convention promising '14 acres of guns' just days after massacre Texas school shooting: Girl survived by 'smearing blood on herself and playing dead' … [Read more...] about Lone shooter drill lessons from my nine-year-old – and why handguns became humdrum

I find myself more shaken and stricken after this week's latest mass shooting, the elementary school massacre in Uvalde, Texas, that saw 19 children and two teachers slain in cold blood, than I did after other mass shootings in recent years. Part of that is biographical: As an ex-Texan, the son of an elementary school teacher and the owner of a rifle made by the same manufacturer as was the apparent murder weapon, this just hit home a little closer. And part of that, of course, is the sheer nature of the evil incarnate the likes of which decides to go shoot up a schoolhouse. The palpable nature of that profound evil in our midst is yet the latest reminder of the truism, contrary to modern convention though that truism may be, that man is by his nature inclined toward iniquity. As God Himself says in Genesis 8:21 , "The imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth." Naturally inclined toward tradition, conservatives—if perhaps no one else—intuit this. As the great conservative … [Read more...] about The difficult search for answers after Uvalde | Opinion

Shortly after protesters clashed with Donald Trump supporters Thursday night in San Jose, California, conservatives began blaming liberals for rioting against a presidential candidate. Liberals pointed a finger at the Republican presumptive nominee for his incendiary rhetoric and the violence of his own supporters. It's a cycle that seems likely to continue until November's election. Jim Geraghty, conservative blogger and National Review contributor, recently compared the demonstrators' rhetoric and signs at Trump rallies to those seen at Occupy Wall Street, with the Black Lives Matter movement and at the World Trade Organization protests that rocked Seattle in 1999. "There seems to be this sense in some newsrooms that left-wing protests are somehow inherently less violent, and if there is violence, it's somehow justified or understandable as a reaction to provocation from the right," he said in May. The post-rioting blame game extended to the East Coast Friday afternoon when … [Read more...] about Who’s to blame for the rioting at Donald Trump rallies?