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Speedster, painter, musician, author and rebel. These diverse labels sit easy with Henry Olonga. However, the former Zimbabwean seamer and current Australian citizen, would rather be known as a man with a heart. His fingers smudged with paint, Olonga, was busy drawing a picture of a stadium at the Adelaide Oval’s Village Green area here on Saturday. Next to him a lone vocalist and a musician belted out songs. Olonga is comfortable in this universe of arts. He also stays in touch with cricket, a game he played at the international level from 1995 to 2003. Twenty one years ago, Olonga and Andy Flower wore a black armband to protest the atrocities committed by the then Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe. At the India vs Aus test in the Village to memorialise the Adelaide pink test in a painting. It's gonna be rockin here pic.twitter.com/5ObyU2d7wt Their careers ended and Olonga moved to England, and later to Australia. This tale of exile is a constant: “I was born in Zambia and had a Kenyan father and I felt even when I played for Zimbabwe I was considered an outsider.” He now feels at home Down Under: “I love Australia. I am married to an Australian wife and I have got two children.” He does multiple things, cuts music albums, delivers speeches, paints for causes, is a casual coach with the South Australia Cricket Association and is an umpire at weekend games. “A lot of Indians, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis play and much later they get to know who I am,” he said. A fast bowler with soft-skills may seem an anachronism but Olonga insisted that he was always into aesthetics: “I always had that soft side and I never saw it as different or odd. I always liked variety. I get bored doing one thing.” And the decision to protest and quit cricket? The answer is quick: “I stood up for what I believed. It meant the end of my career, but there are things more important than the game. When I lived in a country with a man (Mugabe), who slaughtered so many of his own people, I got to say something. No regrets.” For Indian fans, Olonga stirs a memory in association with Sachin Tendulkar. In the 1998 Coca-Cola Cup at Sharjah, the pacer dismissed the maestro cheaply but in the final, it was payback time and a century (124 n.o.) was hammered. “Everyone remembers because it is on YouTube. I got him out and then in the final, he went crazy, I went for plenty of runs (6-0-50-0) and he smashed it,” Olonga recalled. As the conversation wound to a close, the 48-year-old conscience-keeper said: “A lot of people say, stay out of politics. But, sportspeople are human beings and have strong ideas. You should not be excluded from using your voice to convey strong feelings.” But cricket cannot be far when Olonga is around and he is quick to praise the Indian pacers: “They are amazing. (Jasprit) Bumrah is the best bowler, has got a bit of hyper-extension, which gives him a crack. He reminds me of Wasim (Akram) of the short run-up.” Published - December 08, 2024 12:41 am IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit
Former member of the state backward classes commission during the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government Juluri Gowrishankar filed a public interest litigation (PIL) petition in the state high court on Saturday challenging the redesigning of the“Telangana Thalli” (Mother Telangana) as proposed by the ruling Congress party in the state. The Telangana activist filed the petition ahead of the opening of the new statue in the state secretariat on Monday. The upcoming inauguration will be done by chief minister A Revanth Reddy and has kicked up a political slugfest with the opposition BRS criticising the statue’s design saying that it does not represent Telangana’s identity. “The existing design of the statue was widely approved and appreciated by all sections of the people. Any changes in the design will deeply hurt the sentiment of the Telangana people,” Gowrishankar in the petition, which is expected to come up for hearing on Monday. The existing statue of Telangana Thalli, designed during the BRS regime in 2014, has the image of a goddess sporting a pink silk saree and wearing glittering gold ornaments like long necklace, bangles and waistband, besides a crown on the head. She has Bathukamma (a floral arrangement symbolising Telangana folk festival) in the left hand and cobs of maize and jowar in the right hand. “It is a symbol of our identity, created through consensus among Telanganites from all sections during the Telangana movement. It includes all elements that are truly Telangana,” the BRS said in a post on X. However, the redesigned statue of Telangana Thalli, the image of which was released to the media by the government on Friday, depicts her as a simple woman without any divine appearance. Draped in a green coloured cotton saree, the Telangana Thalli has simple-looking ornaments and ordinary bangles. She has cobs of maize and pearl millet in the left hand, while her right hand has a gesture of ensuring protection to the people. BRS working president K T Rama Rao told reporters that the redesigned statue deviates from traditional representations. He pointed out that the new statue lacks a crown, which undermines the divine and symbolic essence of Telangana Thalli. “It excludes Bathukamma, a symbol deeply intertwined with Telangana’s cultural identity. The statue’s hand gesture resembles the Congress party’s emblem, suggesting an attempt to politicize a cultural symbol,” he said. He accused the Congress leader Revanth Reddy of attacking Telangana’s history and identity out of political vendetta against BRS chief KCR. The Congress leaders defended the redesign of the statue. The state Congress committee president Mahesh Kumar Goud said the new Telangana Thalli statue reflects the rural ethos of Telangana, while the one projected by the BRS represented the feudal culture. “The statue reflects a humble Telangana woman, symbolising the state’s agrarian roots, dressed in a green saree with millet and paddy in hand,” he said. Another senior Congress leader, who did not wish to be quoted, said it was ridiculous on the part of KTR to say that the hand gesture symbolises the Congress party. “It is a gesture of reassuring the people. If the gesture reflects the Congress, does it mean Lord Venkateshwara of Tirumala or Lord Lakshmi Narasimha of Yadagirigutta, who also have similar hand gestures, are the Congress leaders?” he asked. He said Telangana’s identity transcends specific iconography like a crown or Bathukamma and instead focuses on representing the resilience and simplicity of its people. Meanwhile, the Telangana government formally invited KCR and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president G Kishan Reddy for the function to unveil the redesigned statue of Telangana Thalli at Secretariat on Monday. On behalf of the chief minister, his cabinet colleague Ponnam Prabhakar, along with advisor (protocol) Harkara Venugopal and senior officials of the protocol department, drove down to the farmhouse of KCR at Erravelli in Siddipet district and extended the invitation to formal chief minister. Later, he also met Kishan Reddy at his residence in Hyderabad and requested him to attend the event. Similar invitation was extended to AIMIM president Asadduddin Owaisi, people familiar with the matter said.
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Thomas uses big drives and putts to hold lead in Bahamas
Former President Jimmy Carter has died at the age of 100. The 39th president of the United States was a Georgia peanut farmer who sought to restore trust in government when he assumed the presidency in 1977 and then built a reputation for tireless work as a humanitarian. He earned a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. Carter died Sunday, more than a year after entering hospice care, at his home in Plains, Georgia. At age 52, Carter was sworn in as president on Jan. 20, 1977, after defeating President Gerald R. Ford in the 1976 general election. Carter left office on Jan. 20, 1981, following his 1980 general election loss to Ronald Reagan. Here's the latest: As reaction poured in from around the world, President Joe Biden mourned Carter’s death, saying the world lost an “extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian” and he lost a dear friend. Biden cited Carter’s compassion and moral clarity, his work to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless and advocacy for the disadvantaged as an example for others. Biden said he is ordering a state funeral for Carter in Washington. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is remembering Carter as a man steeped “in devotion to public service and peace.” The California Democrat said in a statement Sunday that Carter was committed to “honoring the spark of divinity within every person,” something she said manifested in “teaching Sunday school in his beloved Marantha Baptist Church, brokering the landmark Camp David Accords to pave the way to peace or building homes with Habitat for Humanity.” Pelosi also said Carter led “perhaps the most impactful post-presidency in history.” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer noted in a post on X the special contribution Carter made by brokering the Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt and through his work with the Carter Center. “Motivated by his strong faith and values, President Carter redefined the post-presidency with a remarkable commitment to social justice and human rights at home and abroad,” Starmer said. To commemorate Carter’s death, officials with the Empire State Building said in a post on social media that the iconic New York City landmark would be lit in red, white and blue on Sunday night, “to honor the life and legacy” of the late former president. In a statement issued Sunday, former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama said Carter’s beloved Maranatha Baptist Church “will be a little quieter on Sunday,s” but added that the late former president “will never be far away -- buried alongside Rosalynn next to a willow tree down the road, his memory calling all of us to heed our better angels.” Noting the “hundreds of tourists from around the world crammed into the pews” to see the former president teach Sunday school, as he did “for most of his adult life,” the Obamas listed Carter’s accomplishments as president. But they made special note of the Sunday school lessons, saying they were catalysts for people making a pilgrimage to the church. “Many people in that church on Sunday morning were there, at least in part, because of something more fundamental: President Carter’s decency.” The longest-lived American president died Sunday, more than a year after entering hospice care , at his home in the small town of Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife, Rosalynn, who died at 96 in November 2023 , spent most of their lives. “Our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia,” The Carter Center said in posting about his death on the social media platform X. It added in a statement that he died peacefully, surrounded by his family. In his 1975 book “Why Not The Best,” Carter said of himself: “I am a Southerner and an American, I am a farmer, an engineer, a father and husband, a Christian, a politician and former governor, a planner, a businessman, a nuclear physicist, a naval officer, a canoeist, and among other things a lover of Bob Dylan’s songs and Dylan Thomas’s poetry.” A moderate Democrat, Carter entered the 1976 presidential race as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad smile, outspoken Baptist mores and technocratic plans reflecting his education as an engineer. After he left office and returned home to his tiny hometown of Plains in southwest Georgia, Carter regularly taught Sunday School lessons at Maranatha Baptist Church until his mobility declined. Those sessions drew visitors from around the world. Former Vice President Al Gore praised Jimmy Carter for living “a life full of purpose, commitment and kindness” and for being a “lifelong role model for the entire environmental movement.” Carter, who left the White House in 1981 after a landslide defeat to Ronald Reagan. concentrated on conflict resolution, defending democracy and fighting disease in the developing world. Gore, who lost the 2000 presidential election to George W. Bush, remains a leading advocate for action to fight climate change. Both won Nobel Peace Prizes. Gore said that “it is a testament to his unyielding determination to help build a more just and peaceful world” that Carter is often “remembered equally for the work he did as President as he is for his leadership over the 42 years after he left office.” During Gore’s time in the White House, President Bill Clinton had an uneasy relationship with Carter. But Gore said he is “grateful” for “many years of friendship and collaboration” with Carter. Former President Bill Clinton and his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, remember Carter as a man who lived to serve others. “Hillary and I mourn the passing of President Jimmy Carter and give thanks for his long, good life. Guided by his faith, President Carter lived to serve others — until the very end." The statement recalled Carter's many achievements and priorities, including efforts “to protect our natural resources in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, make energy conservation a national priority, return the Panama Canal to Panama, and secure peace between Egypt and Israel at Camp David." After he left office, the Clinton statement said, Carter continued efforts in "supporting honest elections, advancing peace, combating disease, and promoting democracy; to his and Rosalynn’s devotion and hard work at Habitat for Humanity — he worked tirelessly for a better, fairer world,” the statement said.Family of Hamas hostage Edan Alexander celebrates his 21st birthday in NYC's Central Park
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Saturday’s Ohio State-Michigan game ended in shock for many, but what happened after the final whistle is what most fans will likely remember most. Down their best offensive and defensive player in tight end Colston Loveland and cornerback Will Johnson, respectively, unranked Michigan went into Columbus and knocked off the No. 2-ranked Buckeyes. During their postgame celebration, the Wolverines gathered at midfield and planted their school flag at midfield, which started a brawl between the two teams. Things got out of hand quickly, and police were forced to use some pepper spray to keep things from escalating any further. Videos started going viral of several players with mace in their eyes on the sidelines after the brawl was broken up, and one of the players who was on the receiving end of it was Michigan defensive end Josaiah Stewart, who tweeted the details of exactly what happened to him before deleting it moments later. “Got maced, beer thrown at my face hit by a fan all in 5 min what a state 😂 #2-0,” Stewart wrote. It’s not known why Stewart deleted his tweet, but it likely had something to do with not drawing more negative attention to what transpired on the field, especially since many consider Michigan to be the instigator of what happened. While no one is disputing the legitimacy of what Stewart claims happened to him, the videos circulating on social media back up the mace part, but there were no videos (at least at time of publication) showing him getting struck by a fan or having beer thrown at him. Two other Michigan players — running back Tavierre Dunlap and linebacker Jason Hewlett — were seemingly maced as well, and multiple reports indicated that a few Ohio State players were maced as well.
Jets head coach makes Aaron Rodgers prediction after QB offered to leave Bills game(The Center Square) – California Attorney General Rob Bonta said that his office will protect “the health and rights of transgender individuals to access medically necessary care.” Bonta made this statement after the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments Wednesday about Tennessee’s Senate Bill 1. This bill prevents minors from receiving hormone and puberty blockers as well as getting surgery to identify as “a purported identity inconsistent with the minor's sex.” “Laws such as Tennessee’s Senate Bill 1 are dangerous and discriminatory by denying transgender youth the critical, lifesaving care they need,” Bonta said. “Amid a growing wave of legislative attacks on LGBTQ+ rights, it is more important than ever to stand against these harmful measures,” he added. “ I urge the Supreme Court to protect the rights of transgender youth and ensure they are not denied the care they need to live full and authentic lives.” Following the oral arguments, several media outlets reported that the Supreme Court appeared likely to uphold Tennessee’s law. After the Supreme Court oral arguments, Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti said it should be up to the General Assembly. More from this section “Tennessee’s General Assembly reviewed the medical evidence, as well as the evidence-based decisions of European countries that restricted these procedures, and ultimately passed this bipartisan law prohibiting irreversible medical interventions," Skrmetti said in a statement after oral arguments ended. "The plaintiffs in this case are asking the court to take the power to regulate the practice of medicine away from the people’s elected representatives and vest it in unaccountable judges.” Bonta and 19 other state attorneys general filed an amicus brief in the U.S. v. Skrmetti case, urging the Supreme Court to overturn Senate Bill 1. In California, at least 2,024 minors received sex reassignment procedures between 2019 and 2023, The Center Square previously reported . This was the most in the country for a state. Families that underwent these procedures were billed almost $ 29 million. This means that the average medical intervention costs per child were an estimated $14,300. The data came from Do No Harm (DNH), which “represents physicians, nurses, medical students, patients, and policymakers focused on keeping identity politics out of medical education, research, and clinical practice.” DNH data shows three of the top 12 hospitals performing these procedures are in California.
San Francisco Democratic Party leaders voted unanimously Wednesday to adopt a new set of sexual harassment and assault policies and code of conduct following allegations levied against prominent party members earlier this year. “The unanimous vote speaks to the strong coalition of collaborators we created with stakeholders from democratic clubs, survivors, experts, and advocacy groups,” said Lily Ho, the chair of the San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee’s special committee responsible for drafting the new rules, in a statement Thursday. “Next, we will focus on ensuring the integrity of implementation to see these policies to fruition.” The new policies outline proper procedures for identifying, reporting, recording, and investigating incidents of harassment and assault among the members of San Francisco Democratic clubs. Harassment- and assault-prevention trainings are now required, and the local party website will provide reporting forms and access to resources. The party governing body will also retain an independent evaluator who will decide if reported code-of-conduct violations warrant further investigation. Members of affiliated clubs spoke in favor of passing the guidelines during the public comment portion of Wednesday’s DCCC meeting. “All voices have come to the table, and we have been able to come up with a really inclusive and really amazing platform and amazing policy to move forward and change the culture of our democratic clubs and our party,” said Ernesto Cuellar, the vice president of the San Francisco Young Democrats. “As San Francisco Democrats, we have some of the most vulnerable folks to this kind of abuse that happens in our field of work in politics.” The DCCC formed the special committee in April following reports centered on a pair of prominent figures in the local party: former TODCO director Jon Jacobo and Kevin Ortiz, who was then the co-president of the San Francisco Latinx Democratic Club. That month, The San Francisco Standard reported that three women filed police reports accusing Jacobo of domestic violence and sexual assaults not long after he was publicly accused of rape in 2021. The Standard also reported in April that the DCCC’s announcement of “a recent second allegation against a current president of a chartered Democratic club” referred to Ortiz. In July, Zahra Hajee told the San Francisco Chronicle told police that Ortiz sexually assaulted her twice in 2021 . Ortiz stepped down soon after. “These changes reflect a commitment to building an environment where survivors can come forward without fear of retaliation or losing control of their narrative,” Hajee said in a statement Thursday. While voicing support for the new rules during Wednesday’s meeting, others also shared lingering questions about how the guidelines would be implemented moving forward, particularly as one of the penalties for not coming into compliance is a club losing its charter. All clubs are expected to adopt the new guidelines by May 2025. Dennis Hendricks, the vice president of communications for the Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club, suggested “decoupling” the new guidelines from “the chartering process so that the clubs can absorb this as a way to move this forward, separate from the punitive measure.” “The implementation is really a factor,” he added. “An ineffective implementation pushes all the rest of it kind of down the hill.” Nancy Tung, the chair of the San Francisco Democratic Party, acknowledged the months of work that went into drafting the policies by the special committee, but assured those concerned that the current version was not necessarily set in stone. “This is something that I think we should treat as a living document,” Tung said. “I don't think that anyone believes that it can't be improved in some way, shape or form, as we attempt to implement it.”Weekly Horoscope: December 29 to January 4, 2025