King Charles pens personal note for Joe Biden after his cancer diagnosis
Britain's King Charles penned a personal note for former US President Joe Biden after the news of his cancer diagnosis.
According to the PEOPLE's report, Buckingham Palace confirmed that the King, who himself is undergoing treatment for an undisclosed type of cancer, personally penned the message of support.
The contents of the letter remain private.
On Sunday, May 18, Joe Biden's office revealed that the former US president, 82, had been diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer that has spread to his bones.
The diagnosis came after Joe Biden reported experiencing urinary symptoms, prompting doctors to conduct further tests, which revealed a concerning nodule on his prostate.
Biden's prostate cancer has been classified as Stage 4, with a Gleason score of 9—indicating one of the most aggressive forms of the disease—and has already spread to the bones, reported The New York Times, citing a statement from the ex-POTUS's office.
Biden took to X to thank the public for the 'love and support' following the news of his cancer and said, 'Cancer touches us all. Like so many of you, Jill and I have learned that we are strongest in the broken places. Thank you for lifting us up with love and support.'
In February 2024, Buckingham Palace confirmed that King Charles, 76, had been diagnosed with cancer and had started treatment.
Although he was hospitalised a month earlier for an enlarged prostate, palace officials later clarified that his cancer is not prostate-related.
Shortly after the news broke, Biden had expressed his 'concern' for the King, adding that "God willing," he'd be speaking to him soon in better health.
The two leaders have met in person on multiple occasions, dating back to when Joe Biden was vice president and King Charles was still the Prince of Wales.
Biden was the 13th and final US president Queen Elizabeth met before her passing in September 2022, and the first King Charles met after ascending the throne.
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First Post
30 minutes ago
- First Post
How Qatari luxury jet will be converted into Air Force One to fly President Trump
The royal family of Qatar had gifted US President Donald Trump a luxury jet earlier. While Trump plans to use it as Air Force One, the Secret Service has some concerns. What would it take to turn the plane into one fit to fly Potus? read more Qatar Air Force Apache gunships perform a flyover as Air Force One is ready to depart from Al Udeid Air Base in Doha, Qatar. AP President Donald Trump really wants to fly on an upgraded Air Force One — but making that happen could depend on whether he's willing to cut corners with security. As government lawyers sort out the legal arrangement for accepting a luxury jet from the Qatari royal family , another crucial conversation is unfolding about modifying the plane so it's safe for the American president. Installing capabilities equivalent to the decades-old 747s now used as Air Force One would almost certainly consign the project to a similar fate as Boeing's replacement initiative, which has been plagued by delays and cost overruns. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Air Force Secretary Troy Meink told lawmakers Thursday that those security modifications would cost less than $400 million but provided no details. Satisfying Trump's desire to use the new plane before the end of his term could require leaving out some of those precautions, however. A White House official said Trump wants the Qatari jet ready as soon as possible while adhering to security standards. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, did not provide details on equipment issues or the timeline. Trump has survived two assassination attempts, and Iran allegedly also plotted to kill him, so he's well aware of the danger he faces. However, he seems willing to take some chances with security, particularly when it comes to communications. For example, he likes to keep his personal phone handy despite the threat of hacks. He boasted this week that the government got the jet 'for free,' saying, 'We need it as Air Force One until the other ones are done.' Here's a look at what it would take to make the Qatari plane into a presidential transport: What makes a plane worthy of being Air Force One? Air Force One is the call sign for any plane that's carrying the president. The first aircraft to get the designation was a propeller-powered C-54 Skymaster, which ferried Franklin D Roosevelt to the Yalta Conference in 1945. It featured a conference room with a bulletproof window. Things are a lot more complicated these days. Boeing has spent years stripping down and rebuilding two 747s to replace the versions that have carried presidents for more than three decades. The project is slated to cost more than $5.3 billion and may not be finished before Trump leaves office. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A 2021 report made public through the Freedom of Information Act outlines the unclassified requirements for the replacement 747s under construction. At the top of the list — survivability and communications. The government decided more than a decade ago that the new planes had to have four engines so they could remain airborne if one or two failed, said Deborah Lee James, who was Air Force secretary at the time. That creates a challenge because 747s are no longer manufactured, which could make spare parts harder to come by. Air Force One also has to have the highest level of classified communications, anti-jamming capabilities and external protections against foreign surveillance, so the president can securely command military forces and nuclear weapons during a national emergency. It's an extremely sensitive and complex system, including video, voice and data transmissions. James said there are anti-missile measures and shielding against radiation or an electromagnetic pulse that could be caused by a nuclear blast. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'The point is, it remains in flight no matter what,' she said. Will Trump want all the security bells and whistles? If the Qatari plane is retrofitted to presidential standards, it could cost $1.5 billion and take years, according to a US official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to provide details that aren't publicly available. Testifying before Congress this week, Meink discounted such estimates, arguing that some of the costs associated with retrofitting the Qatari plane would have been spent anyway as the Air Force moves to build the long-delayed new presidential planes, including buying aircraft for training and to have spares available if needed. In response, Rep. Joe Courtney, D-Conn., said that based on the contract costs for the planes that the Air Force is building, it would cost about $1 billion to strip down the Qatar plane, install encrypted communications, harden its defences and make other required upgrades. James said simply redoing the wiring means 'you'd have to break that whole thing wide open and almost start from scratch.' President Donald Trump boards Air Force One to depart Joint Base Andrews. File image/AP Trump, as commander-in-chief, could waive some of these requirements. He could decide to skip shielding systems from an electromagnetic pulse, leaving his communications more vulnerable in case of a disaster but shaving time off the project. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD After all, Boeing has already scaled back its original plans for the new 747s. Their range was trimmed by 1,200 nautical miles, and the ability to refuel while airborne was scrapped. 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STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Senator Tammy Duckworth, an Illinois Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said it would be irresponsible to put the president and national security equipment aboard the Qatari plane 'without knowing that the aircraft is fully capable of withstanding a nuclear attack.' 'It's a waste of taxpayer dollars,' she said. Meanwhile, Boeing's project has been hampered by stress corrosion cracks on the planes and excessive noise in the cabins from the decompression system, among other issues that have delayed delivery, according to a Government Accountability Office report released last year. Boeing referred questions to the Air Force, which said in a statement that it's working with the aircraft manufacturer to find ways to accelerate the delivery of at least one of the 747s. Even so, the aircraft will have to be tested and flown in real-world conditions to ensure no other issues. James said it remains to be seen how Trump would handle any of those challenges. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'The normal course of business would say there could be delays in certifications,' she said. 'But things seem to get waived these days when the president wants it.'
India Today
35 minutes ago
- India Today
The Silent Ascent: How Lal Bahadur Shastri became India's Prime Minister
In 1964, India faced uncertainty as Jawaharlal Nehru's health faltered, sparking a fierce succession battle. Lal Bahadur Shastri, a humble yet astute leader, faced a formidable challenge from Morarji Desai and other Congress factions. Helped by the Congress syndicate's intricate politics, with Kamaraj's strategic backing, Shastri's calculated silence and widespread support outshone rivals. This is how the drama unfolded over a period of seven days, leading to Shastri's election as India's second Prime On January 8, 1964, on the opening day of the Congress session at Bhubaneswar, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru suffered a serious stroke affecting his left was showing signs of decline since 1962; his health and spirit had wilted after the 1962 war. But after the stroke in January, India held its breath, and the pace quickened in the struggle for the succession. 'After Nehru, who?' The question began to reverberate through the portals of power in India. The New York Times echoed global fears: 'After Nehru—what?' The question of Nehru's successor was complicated. In 1963, the Kamaraj Plan piloted by Kumarawami Kamaraj, the austere, bachelor chief minister of Tamil Nadu, had purged the Congress of its stalwarts. In accordance with the plan, Nehru's number two in the Cabinet, the ambitious right-wing leader Morarji Desai, five other cabinet colleagues and six chief ministers, resigned from their government posts. They were tasked with strengthening the party organisation. Nehru himself offered to resign but Kamaraj threatened to withdraw the plan if the prime minister didn't agree to continue in office. Among the Cabinet ministers who resigned was Lal Bahadur Shastri, the diminutive leader from Uttar Pradesh, widely seen as Nehru's poor health precipitated a crisis of governance. To handle the day-to-day affairs, Shastri was brought back into the Cabinet as a minister without portfolio. Political pundits and the Indian media saw this as a clear sign that Shastri was next in there was a problem: Desai saw himself as the legitimate heir. And his ambition was burning with ferocity, waiting for the right 27, 1964: The Drama BeginsAt 2:00 PM, the news broke: Nehru had succumbed to his illness. As millions gathered in New Delhi for the funeral, India's future hung in the 4 PM, President S Radhakrishnan swore in Gulzarilal Nanda, the Home Minister, as the interim Prime Minister. But with a condition: the Congress will have to come back with a leader elected by the least three serious claimants to the PM's post emerged immediately – Desai, Dalit leader Jagjivan Ram, and Nanda. Some speculated that the mantle would be passed on to Nehru's daughter, Indira Gandhi. But she remained silent through the succession the public claims of other leaders, Shastri maintained a low profile. Many pundits noticed that Shastri was almost withdrawn and aloof when the question of Nehru's successor was being debated. But Shastri's silence was a calculated ploy: he knew that expressing a desire for power was the fastest way of incurring the wrath of the public, and the animus of rivals. He also knew that behind the scenes the Kingmaker was silently at work, clearing the path for a succession without Kingmaker Steps InadvertisementAfter resigning from the Tamil Nadu chief ministership in 1963, Kamaraj became president of the Congress. With West Bengal's Amulya Ghosh, Maharashtra's SK Chavan, and southern stalwarts S Nijalingappa and N Sanjeeva Reddy, he formed what came to be known as the Congress syndicate. This coterie wielded maximum power in the Congress, and its members were determined to avoid an open power choose Nehru's successor, Kamaraj suggested the pursuit of consensus. For this, he suggested a meeting of the Congress Working Committee, followed by consultations with chief ministers of Congress-led states, and a meeting of the Congress Parliamentary Party, comprising members of both houses. This was a plan to stymie Desai, who believed that the leader would be elected through a secret ballot by Congress bid for power, meanwhile, was harmed by a major development. Jagjivan Ram, who was supposed to be in his camp, suddenly threw his hat into the ring, taking away a large group of potential supporters who could have backed Desai in a contested election. By the time the party's key decision-making body met to discuss Nehru's successor, Desai was not confident about his majority in the 573-member Parliamentary 31, 1964: Morarji TrumpedOn a humid morning, 42 members of the Congress met in Delhi to decide Nehru's successor. After a long and lengthy discussion, where everyone except Indira Gandhi spoke, the party decided to elect the new leader through consensus, avoiding a secret ballot. The task of finding the unanimous leader was left to Kamaraj, through consultation with all the stakeholders. No names were mentioned in the meeting, but the decision was seen as a nod to Shastri, with most newspaper headlines predicting 'Shastri All But Prime Minister.'When asked about their prospects after the meeting, only Nanda seemed still sanguine about his chances: 'The meeting gave a general direction, not the final outcome,' he said. Nanda, who had publicly declared himself out of the race, was secretly hoping the status-quo to continue, and run the government as long as possible as its interim leader. But President Radhakrishnan had given the Congress clear instructions to elect a leader within a the next two days, in accordance with the power vested in him, Kamaraj met hundreds of Congress leaders—chief ministers, ordinary workers, Members of Parliament, and Legislative next day, Kamaraj conveyed his findings to the top leaders of the 2, 1964: The New PMThe central hall of Parliament was buzzing with excitement. By 9 AM, every seat was full, and the press was waiting outside. Kamaraj began the proceedings as the head of the party and started with a tribute to Nehru. He then spoke about his parleys with stakeholders and how Congress had led by example with a unanimous then passed on the mic to the caretaker PM, Nanda, who proposed the name of Shastri as the leader, elected unanimously, seconded by Desai, ending the seven-day suspense over Nehru's how did Shastri emerge as the winner?According to Succession in India, Michael Brecher's riveting 1966 book on Nehru's successors, the Congress bowed to the will of the people, conveyed through notes that Nehru preferred Shastri among all his colleagues. This choice was backed by an opinion poll that put Shastri way ahead of others, especially in the Hindi the scenes, Kamaraj orchestrated a delicate balance. Brecher notes, 'Desai, a senior conservative with a reputation for obstinacy, rallied his supporters, believing his experience gave him a strong claim. However, his rigidity alienated many. Shastri, reinstated in January, emerged as a compromise candidate, his 'remarkable lack of personal enmity' and loyalty to Nehru making him a unifying On June 9, 1964, Shastri was sworn-in as India's second Prime Minister. But the shadows remained as India braced for challenges ahead: war, famine, the weight of Nehru's legacy, and a tragedy that was to strike Shastri.,Must Watch
India Today
2 hours ago
- India Today
YouTube has gone easy on content moderation and putting freedom of speech first, says report
YouTube has quietly changed how it moderates content and a new report suggests the video platform is now giving more freedom to creators, especially on political and social topics. According to internal training material accessed by The New York Times, YouTube is no longer quick to remove videos that partially break its rules, as long as the content is considered to be in the public new approach reportedly started in December 2024. Earlier, if even 25 per cent of a video had content that violated YouTube's policies, like hate speech or misinformation, it would reportedly be taken down. But now, the limit has been raised. Videos can stay up even if half of their content breaks rules, provided they cover political discussions, social issues, or current events that the platform believes people should latest update comes at a time when other social media companies, such as Meta and X, have also reduced their efforts to strictly moderate speech. These companies have faced political pressure, mainly from the right, accusing them of censorship. YouTube, however, has not publicly spoken about this change and has chosen to update its moderation guidelines internally. YouTube says its goal is to strike a balance between reducing harm and protecting freedom of expression. For example, a video that wrongly claimed Covid vaccines change DNA was not removed. The platform allowed it to stay because it also contained news clips, political opinions, and did not directly discourage vaccination. Similarly, another video that used a transphobic slur was also left online because it was part of a longer discussion about government believe this policy change could lead to more hate speech and false information spreading online. They argue that platforms are doing this not for free speech but to save money on moderation and keep controversial content online to drive YouTube reportedly updates its policies based on ongoing public discussions and evolving social concerns. The platform says it will continue removing content that causes serious harm but is also making room for conversations that might previously have been elections and social debates continue to dominate online platforms, YouTube's decision to ease content restrictions could play an important role in changing what viewers see and hear. However, whether it leads to more open conversations or the rise of unchecked misinformation is something only time will tell.
