Johnny Depp's high-profile court battle with ex-wife Amber Heard is set to come to an end on Friday, after several weeks of testimonies placed an often uncomfortable spotlight on their tumultuous relationship. Depp, 58, has filed a $50 million lawsuit against Heard, 36, over an op-ed published by The Washington Post in 2018, in which she stated that she was a domestic abuse survivor. Heard did not name Depp in the article, but his lawyers have argued that it was obvious she was referring to the actor. Heard is countersuing for $100 million. As each star took the stand at Virginia's Fairfax County Circuit Court, they made a host of allegations against one another, including drug and alcohol use , explosive confrontations, and even a claim that Heard defecated on the couple's bed. Depp and Heard, whose divorce was finalized in 2017, have also accused one another of domestic abuse . Both have denied the allegations made against them. Since the trial began last month, a … [Read more...] about Johnny Depp vs. Amber Heard: What to expect during closing statements
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What Donald Trump has said about gun control as he heads to NRA convention
Former President Donald Trump is scheduled to speak at the National Rifle Association ( NRA ) annual meeting in Houston, which is taking place just days after a mass shooting at a school in Uvalde, Texas. Trump confirmed he would be appearing at the NRA Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) Leadership Forum despite the fact that the event was occurring just days after 19 children and two teachers were shot dead at Uvalde's Robb Elementary School. Trump, who got an early endorsement from the NRA before he was nominated as the Republican presidential candidate in 2016, gave mixed signals over his views on gun reform in the U.S. while in the White House During Trump's time as president, the U.S. saw a number of high-profile mass shootings, including a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida , attacks in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, and in Las Vegas, where a gunman killed 60 people after opening fire at a country music festival, … [Read more...] about What Donald Trump has said about gun control as he heads to NRA convention
Sighting the finishing line in measles-rubella elimination
Many would remember the school-based campaigns of measles-rubella (MR) vaccination of children from 5 to 15 years, conducted in all States, in 2017. Success was good in a few States, but not in others. School managements, teachers, children themselves and parents were not informed of the basis of this new programme, which was a deviation from the past. There were some unanswered questions: why was it up to 15 years while the Universal (childhood) Immunisation Programme (UIP) covers only those up to five years? Why administer the rubella vaccine that was not in the UIP list in 2017? Why should children who have had one dose of the measles vaccine get another dose? Why are schools instead of health-care centres used for vaccination? Hurdle of poor information The Government decided to eliminate measles and rubella from India by the year 2020 — having missed the earlier set target of 2015. So, in 2017 there was an urgency to accelerate efforts. The basic plan was to create a very high … [Read more...] about Sighting the finishing line in measles-rubella elimination
Reimagining Australia: On Anthony Albanese’s Labor government
After nine years in the opposition, the Australian Labor Party , under the leadership of Anthony Albanese , is back in power. When 74.6% votes were counted, it won 75 seats in the 151-member House of Representatives; the conservative Liberal National Coalition secured 57 seats. More than a victory for Labor, which is still one seat short of absolute majority, this election will be remembered for the rout of the conservatives, who had 77 seats in the outgoing Assembly. The polls also saw a sizeable section of the Australian electorate voting for the Greens and independents, who campaigned on the planks of better environmental standards and anti-corruption policies. In an election where inflation and climate policy dominated the agenda, Scott Morrison, the conservative leader, failed to understand the public pulse. Even when the annual inflation number hit 5.1%, a 20-year high, the Morrison government took comfort in the argument that the unemployment rate was low. Mr. Morrison was … [Read more...] about Reimagining Australia: On Anthony Albanese’s Labor government
International Organisation for Migration says up to 600 missing at sea in three months in Central Mediterranean
The International Organisation for Migration says up to 600 people attempting to reach Europe by sea from Tunisia and Libya have gone missing during the first three months of 2022, the highest figure since 2014. In the latest tragedy, according to Tunisian authorities, a wooden boat carrying over 100 people capsized early on Tuesday near the island of Kerkennah in southeastern Tunisia due to bad weather. The IOM said on Wednesday that 30 people from that boat were rescued but 75 are still missing. Tunisian Navy and coast guard units continued to comb the area on Thursday where the tragedy occurred. On Wednesday, dozens of migrants fell into the water as they struggled to cling to an upturned boat off the coast of Tunisia. Some 110 people were rescued by the non-governmental organisation Open Arms. Alice Sironi, head of migrant protection at the IOM, told The Associated Press that the Central Mediterranean migration route, which runs between Libya and Tunisia across the sea, … [Read more...] about International Organisation for Migration says up to 600 missing at sea in three months in Central Mediterranean
Knotty supply chains deepen global chip shortage
If the pandemic had a partner in crime, it must be the global chip shortage. The duo has hit established economic systems world-wide, and made several organisations scale back production and rework their manufacturing and supply chain processes. Toyota Corporation on Tuesday apologised to its suppliers and customers a third time in less than two months for delaying making new vehicles and changing production plans for the June ending quarter. On March 17, the Japanese automaker said it is pressing the brakes on production targets to rework a plan that will not max out factory capacity, push employees to their limits, and make do through overtime work. A month later, the Japanese automaker cut its global production target for the period between April and June by 1,00,000 to 7,50,000 vehicles in May. And then again, on May 24, it said ,“Due to the impact of semiconductor shortages, we have adjusted our production plan by tens of thousands of units globally from the number provided to … [Read more...] about Knotty supply chains deepen global chip shortage
A model plan to fix a heart
At birth, the doctors found Balan (name changed) to be an anatomical puzzle. All his organs, the heart, the liver, the spleen and the stomach were ‘reversed’ or seemed to be mirror images of what was normal. By itself, situs inversus, as this congenital condition is called, isn’t a problem, but in Balan’s case his displaced heart was severely compromised. Both his major arteries, for instance, arose from the right ventricle due to which his blood was impure and didn’t carry enough oxygen to the other organs. Moreover, the links that connected to the lungs were severely obstructed and there was a hole in the heart’s lower chambers. Though Balan’s growth wasn’t affected, the condition limited his physical activities and left him fatigued at the slightest exertion. Changing treatment Cardiologists in Kerala found it hard to visualise the architecture of his circulatory system to begin plugging his heart’s defects. But there was a way out; 3-D printing came to their rescue. Using … [Read more...] about A model plan to fix a heart
India Cements forges strategic alliance with Tvasta Manufacturing
The India Cements Ltd. has forged a strategic collaboration with city-based deep tech start-up Tvasta Manufacturing Solutions, which specialises in construction 3D printing, marking the beginning of an ‘age of sustainability’ in the Indian construction industry. The pact between the two firms is a first-of-its-kind for the construction industry in India. It is also well-aligned with the ‘Nation Building Initiative’ for India advocated by ICL Managing Director N. Srinivasan, the company said in a statement. The MoU was signed on Wednesday by ICL whole-time director Rupa Gurunath and Tvasta co-founder and COO Vidyashankar C. The collaboration will see India Cements and Tvasta engaging in dedicated R&D and synergetic exchange of technology-centric efforts to develop new raw material formulations used in 3D printing applications and offering mutual strategic support for key projects that offer cost and time-effective, dwelling solutions to the diverse strata of society, it said … [Read more...] about India Cements forges strategic alliance with Tvasta Manufacturing
11 babies killed in fire at Senegalese hospital
Police were on guard and nearby residents and parents stood mourning outside a hospital in Senegal where a fire in the neonatal unit killed 11 newborns. Only three infants could be saved, President Macky Sall said before calling on Thursday for three days of mourning for the young lives lost. Mamadou Mbaye, who witnessed the fire Wednesday at the Abdoul Aziz Sy Dabakh Hospital in Tivaouane, a town 120 kilometers (75 miles) northeast of the capital, Dakar, told The Associated Press that conditions inside the hospital were “atrocious.” “It was hot and smoky inside with a suffocating heat, and there was a power outage,” Mr. Mbaye said. Grieving parents were still in shock. “I baptized my child on Wednesday, and he was baptized here in the hospital. To my great shock, I got a call to tell me that the neonatal section had been destroyed by a fire,” said Badara Faye, who lost his son. Moustapha Cisse, who also lost a newborn, said they are still awaiting answers on how such a … [Read more...] about 11 babies killed in fire at Senegalese hospital
Bond with your baby through massage
Babies love to be touched. It is one of the senses that develops even before they are born, and one of the best ways for parents to quickly bond with their little ones. Massage is a form of skin-to-skin contact that helps improve the bond between parents and infants. This is as it helps to engender trust, especially in the first few years of a child’s life. Both fathers and mothers should also engage in other forms of physical contact, such as cuddling, hugging and rocking their newborns. Big benefits Massage is a primal form of intimacy between a mother and her baby. One of its benefits is that it helps stimulate maternal feelings, as well as the release of the hormone oxytocin. This hormone is usually secreted before pregnancy, during birth and later as mum comes into physical contact with baby. It is responsible for triggering various physiological functions and emotions such as happiness, attraction, love and affection. Another benefit is that touch also helps … [Read more...] about Bond with your baby through massage