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The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
My dad was wrongly jailed so now I fight for justice – at least 30 long-term inmates are innocent, says actor Tom Conti
HE is one of our giants of stage and screen, starring in everything from Shirley Valentine to Oppenheimer. Stalwart actor 14 Tom Conti believes there may be as many as 30 long-term inmates in the UK who have committed no crime Credit: Getty 14 After starring in Twelve Angry Men, Conti started tyring to identify potential real-life miscarriages of justice Credit: Supplied 14 Tom as Albert Einstein in Oppenheimer Credit: Alamy 14 Tom with Pauline Collins in Shirley Valentine Credit: Alamy But it was a stage role in Twelve Angry Men that led the Oscar-nominated actor to discover a passion that few movie fans know about. The actor — once described as the thinking woman's crumpet after starring in 1989 romantic comedy Conti says it does not take a rocket scientist to realise there is something seriously wrong with Britain's dangerously overcrowded jails. Read More on crime And the actor blasted the notoriously slow Criminal Cases Review Commission for dragging its feet on cases such as ' Conti told The Sun: 'It's an absolutely shocking story. 'I don't know how this guy is going to manage now. He's been completely institutionalised. 'He's been told what to do every minute of the day for 38 years.' Most read in The Sun 'Damaged my father' Conti became interested in forensics while researching a book he wanted to write in 2014, and got in touch with Tracy Alexander, an expert in cold cases. As a thank you for the advice, he left her tickets for his latest play at the time, Twelve Angry Men, in London's West End. Man jailed 38yrs ago for beating florist to death CLEARED after DNA bombshell They later went for dinner, where Tracy told Conti about UK charity Inside Justice, which campaigns to resolve major miscarriages of justice. It was a conversation that struck a personal chord. Conti's father Alfonso was one of 4,000 Italians interned by Britain during World War Two. They were sent to camps on the Isle of Man in 1940 after Italy's Almost overnight, ordinary Italians were considered the enemy. Conti said: 'Winston Churchill famously said, 'Collar the lot'. 'Collar the lot' 'It must have damaged my father a bit, but he got over it and never resented the British because it was a time of war. 'So, I kind of had knowledge, second-hand, of what it was like to be locked up having committed no sin.' The actor soon found himself on Inside Justice's advisory board, giving guidance on cases to a panel of blood spatter, fingerprint, fibre and DNA experts. It might be easy to dismiss Conti as another do-gooder with too much time on his hands, but he is clearly no pushover. While he worries about the state of the UK's overcrowded jails and questions whether rehabilitation programmes might be the answer, he also says 'we need to take violent people off the streets'. A bear of a man, a charmer with twinkling eyes and an aura of mischief, the actor caused a stir in 2015 when he publicly switched political allegiance from Labour to the Tories. 14 Peter Sullivan, branded 'Beast of Birkenhead', was wrongly convicted of killing 21-year-old Diane Sindall in 1986 14 After serving 38 years, Sullivan was acquitted of killing Diane Credit: Mercury Press Agency 14 Inside Justice is also battling for Roger Kearney, whose case was featured on BBC investigation Conviction: Murder At The Station Credit: Solent News 14 Kearney remains in prison for Paula Poolton's murder Credit: Hampshire Police The Tony Award winner said that socialism was becoming 'a religion of hatred' and even considered running for London Mayor after Boris Johnson. Conti acknowledges there are a huge number of prisoners who apply to Inside Justice 'because they are bored and it gives them something to do', but insists there is a vigorous vetting process. He said: 'It's fairly easy to weed out the ones who are doing that, but there are genuine cases — maybe between 20 and 30 individuals — who are serving long sentences.' The charity is currently working on several high-profile cases, including that of killer nurse Colin Campbell, formerly known as Colin Norris, who was jailed for life for killing elderly patients in two Leeds hospitals in 2008. Originally from Glasgow, His case is currently being heard at the Court of Appeal, where his barrister argued that the evidence against Campbell, 49, was circumstantial, and medical advances could now provide other reasons for the women's deaths. 14 Colin Campbell was jailed for life for killing elderly patients in two Leeds hospitals in 2008 Credit: PA:Press Association 14 Ethel Hall, 86, was one of Campbell's victims Credit: Handout 14 Bridget Bourke, 88, was another of his victims Credit: Ross Parry 14 Doris Ludlam, 80, was also murdered by Campbell Credit: Collect 14 Irene Crookes, 79, was also a victim of killer nurse Campbell 14 Forensics expert Tracy Alexander Credit: Inside Justice is also battling for Roger Kearney, whose case was featured on 2016 BBC investigation Conviction: Murder At The Station, which later streamed on Netflix in 2023. Viewers were left 'flabbergasted' after Hampshire police destroyed evidence that Kearney, 67, hoped would prove his innocence after lover Paula's family remain convinced the cops got the right man, while police claim an officer destroyed the items without first consulting his senior. Conti said: 'Our fibre expert went to get the exhibits but, when she arrived, the police said they had been destroyed. I find that jaw-dropping. 'This was this man's last hope of getting a conviction overturned and this is what happened.' The actor is hugely frustrated at the pace of the Criminal Cases Review Commission which, he says, does not act quickly enough to refer cases to the Court of Appeal — or force the police to hand over exhibits. Conti revealed that Inside Justice has even offered to loan its experts to the CCRC to speed things up, but were rebuffed. He said: 'The CCRC is just not fit for purpose. Most of them work from home when they really should be in the office to discuss cases face to face. 'A real travesty' 'They resolutely refuse to pass cases to the Court of Appeal. They decide whether or not there's a chance of success. 'They don't have any scientists examining evidence and our experts have offered their services for nothing. 'Our scientists have said, 'If you want to send us exhibits, our people will examine them free of charge'. Instead they send them to a lab for 'presumptive' substance tests, whereas we would test for everything.' The CCRC refers around 3.5 per cent of its cases to the Court of Appeal — and around seven in ten of those cases succeed. In 2008, Peter Sullivan, now 68, asked the CCRC to look for DNA evidence that could exonerate him from the murder of 21-year-old barmaid The technique that ended Peter's ordeal this year was available back then — but the CCRC says it was told by forensic scientists that they were unlikely to uncover any useful DNA. There have been absolutely massive advances in science that can reveal new things... the Criminal Cases Review Commission is not fit for purpose Conti says: 'It's a real travesty. There have been huge advances in science over the past ten or 15 years, absolutely massive, that can reveal new things about cases. 'We need the CCRC to move quicker.' Conti might be earnest about the issues close to his heart, but he is also entertaining and fun, with a sharp sense of humour. He's very proud of his daughter Nina, a comic ventriloquist, who he calls a genius for going on stage without a script, and his actor grandson Arthur, who starred in last year's hit Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Conti, who lives in Hampstead, also retains a sense of childlike wonder, talking about how excited he was when he got the chance to sit in He avoided early starts on set by insisting the make-up artist left his wild He said: 'The first morning, I was in the make-up chair at about 5am because the hair had to be done and the moustache curled properly. 'Later that day, I went back into make-up and they said, 'Right okay, we'll get you cleaned up'. 'I said, 'Wait, we're doing four days of shooting, so why don't we just leave it?'.' Conti laughs: 'There were definitely double-takes when I went out for supper those nights.' The star might not be the real Einstein, but he is hoping that, with a handful of clever experts, he can make a genuine difference.
See - Sada Elbalad
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- See - Sada Elbalad
Uncovering Forgotten Frames: Samah Samir's Journey Through Legacy of Nassibian Studio
Ahmed Emam In a city where history is often paved over rather than preserved, it takes a rare kind of determination to dig into the dust and find forgotten gems. With Issue 29 of "Film Magazine", writer and researcher Samah Samir does exactly that—resurrecting the nearly lost story of Hrant Nassibianc and his legendary, though largely overlooked, Nassibian Studio. This is more than a feature. It's an excavation. Samah's pursuit feels both personal and cinematic: a determined search for a name barely mentioned in official histories, yet one that helped shape the early infrastructure of Egyptian cinema. - A Story That Begins with Absence Samah's entry point into the Nassibian saga is beautifully paradoxical—it begins with what isn't there. No full entry in film archives. No detailed biography. Only traces. Through her storytelling, the absence becomes part of the narrative power. Her search through archives, libraries, and conversations reveals as much about Egypt's approach to preserving cultural memory as it does about Nassibian himself. And when that absence is finally filled—thanks to a serendipitous digital call-out and the generous response of Dr. Armin Mazloumian—it feels like a cinematic twist in its own right. Suddenly, we're given photographs, lineage, business ventures, and poignant personal memories that illuminate Hrant Nassibian not just as a film technician, but as a cultural figure and community leader. - The Studio that Time Almost Forgot Founded in 1937, just two years after Talaat Harb's Studio Misr, Nassibian Studio was a fully-equipped production facility, complete with sound stages, labs, and administrative offices. It stood as a symbol of ambition and technical innovation in Egyptian cinema—until it disappeared from the public eye. Samah makes it clear that this disappearance wasn't just due to time. It was also the result of neglect, bureaucratic indifference, and a failure to treat cultural heritage with the seriousness it deserves. And yet, her writing never becomes bitter. It remains hopeful, focused, insistent on the power of remembering. - A New Chapter: Jesuit Cairo and the Cultural Rebirth One of the most powerful dimensions of this piece is how it connects the studio's past to its present and potential future. When the Jesuit Fathers acquired the building in 1996, they not only saved it from destruction—they transformed it into a living center for creativity. Nowadays, Jesuit Cairo's El-Nahda Association is home to artistic programs, community events, and cultural renewal, all unfolding within the same walls that once echoed with the dreams of Egyptian filmmakers. Even after a fire in 2021 destroyed the Nassibian Studio Theatre, the memory and mission remain intact. Samah captures this beautifully, portraying the studio not as a relic, but as a living symbol of Cairo's evolving cultural identity. - 2037 and Beyond: A Dream of Continuity Perhaps the most touching moment in Samah's essay is her imagined vision of the future: a Studio Nassibian Theatre with 600 seats, a cultural hub buzzing with youth and artistry, and a city that finally honors the studio's legacy by renaming a street in its memory. It's a dream grounded in reality—a reminder that places can be more than structures. They can be symbols, anchors of identity, and vessels for intergenerational imagination. - A Review, and a Tribute As a journalist reading Samah Samir's piece, I found myself not only informed, but moved. This is more than documentation; it is reclamation. It reminds us that behind every forgotten studio is a founder with a vision, a team of silent collaborators, and a story that still deserves to be told. Samah doesn't just write about Hrant Nassibian—she restores him to history, piece by piece, frame by frame. In doing so, she challenges all of us—journalists, artists, readers—to think about the spaces we walk past every day, and the histories they might hold. Because if we don't remember them, who will? read more 2 Most Inspirational Green Projects in Egypt AEW Dynamite, WWE NXT to Strive over Viewership Tonight Egypt Marks 70th Anniv. of 2011 Revolution, National Police Day In Depth: WWE NXT Halloween Havoc In Depth: AEW Dynamite, WWE NXT Tuesday Viewership Strive Videos & Features WATCH: Egyptians Break Ramadan Fasts in Matariya Videos & Features GrEEk Campus Hosts Jobzella Fifth Career Fair Videos & Features 3 Iconic Ramadan Songs of All Times Videos & Features Top 4 Destinations to Visit in Upper Egypt News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia News Australia Fines Telegram $600,000 Over Terrorism, Child Abuse Content Arts & Culture Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's $4.7M LA Home Burglarized Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Sports Neymar Announced for Brazil's Preliminary List for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks
Miami Herald
22-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Social Security clawback rules just changed again
The Social Security Administration (SSA) is rolling out significant changes – some of which may leave your head spinning. One of the most consequential updates? How it handles overpayment clawbacks, the recovery of funds mistakenly paid to beneficiaries. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter While Social Security overpayments are relatively rare, the fear of losing essential income can make even the thought of repayment stressful. Adding to the anxiety: scammers are exploiting this confusion to target unsuspecting retirees. Photo by Kawê Rodrigues on Unsplash Until 2024, the SSA could withhold 100% of your Social Security benefit if it determined you were overpaid. That left many retirees with no income while the SSA recouped the overpayment -- an approach widely criticized as overly punitive. In 2024, the agency revised its policy to limit withholding to just 10% of monthly benefits, aiming to reduce the financial burden. But by March, the SSA announced it would revert to full (100%) withholding, a move projected to save the program $7 billion over 10 years, according to the Office of the Chief Actuary. That reversal met strong pushback. By April 2025, the SSA revised its approach again, limiting clawbacks to 50% of future benefits until the full overpayment is recovered. "This is fairer," said Martha Shedden, a Registered Social Security Analyst and co-founder of the National Association of Registered Social Security Analysts. "Many people rely solely on their Social Security benefits, and to have the entire check disappear was unconscionable." Related: Social Security income tax cuts may include a huge new deduction for retirees By way of background, the estimated average Social Security retirement benefit for January 2025 was $1,976, according to SSA. The maximum monthly Social Security benefit was $3,822 for workers retiring at full retirement age in 2024. Based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau and Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median household income for individuals aged 65 and older in 2024 is estimated to be around $75,020, or $6,251 per month. According to SSA, 71.6 million people received benefits from programs administered by the SSA in 2023; 5.8 million people were newly awarded Social Security benefits in 2023; and 55% of adult Social Security beneficiaries in 2023 were women. There has long been debate over how many seniors rely primarily – or exclusively – on Social Security for income in retirement, as well as how much of their pre-retirement income the program replaces on average. According to Andrew Biggs, author of The Real Retirement Crisis: Why (Almost) Everything You Know About the U.S. Retirement System Is Wrong, the reality is often misunderstood. He points out that the number of older Americans who receive all of their income from Social Security is very small, and that the frequently cited figure-that Social Security replaces about 40% of pre-retirement income on average – is outdated and inaccurate. Related: Secretary Bessent hints Social Security income tax changes are coming Biggs notes that the SSA no longer attempts to calculate this average replacement rate. However, in the mid-2000s, the SSA found that fewer than 5% of Americans age 65 and older relied exclusively on Social Security for income. More recent data backs this up. A 2017 U.S. Census Bureau study found that only about 12% of seniors received at least 90% of their income from Social Security. Despite this, some groups continue to claim that as many as 40% of retirees rely solely on Social Security. According to Biggs, those figures are misleading and not supported by rigorous data. According to J.P. Morgan Asset Management, Social Security replaces about 64% of income for individuals earning $30,000 per year, but only 14% for those earning $300,000 annually. Mike Piper, creator of Open Social Security, explains that even under the new rules, SSA regulations allow for reduced withholding if full recovery would cause undue financial hardship. To request a lower repayment rate, file Form SSA-634. To dispute the overpayment itself, use Form SSA-561, the "Request for Reconsideration." Related: Major changes to 529 plan and HSA benefits may be in the cards According to Mike Lynch of Hartford Funds, overpayments are often due to SSA processing errors -- not beneficiary fault. Between FY 2015 and 2022, the agency overpaid roughly $72 billion, less than 1% of total benefits paid. Common overpayment causes: Failure to report income or work activityChanges in marital status or living arrangementsHealth status changes affecting disability eligibilityDelayed reporting or system miscalculations by SSA If you receive an overpayment notice: Repay the full amount online or by mailRequest a payment planFile an appeal or request a waiver if you cannot afford repayment You typically have 30 days from the date of the notice to respond. Contact the SSA at 800-772-1213 for help -- or better yet, consult a financial or tax adviser to understand your options and implications for your broader financial plan. Though only about 1% of recipients experience an overpayment, scammers are increasingly targeting retirees by impersonating the SSA. In 2024 alone, nearly 300,000 government scam attempts were reported, many involving fake Social Security contacts. Be aware: the SSA never does the following: Threatens arrest or legal actionDemands payment via gift cards, crypto, or wire transferSuspends your Social Security numberDirect-messages you on social mediaPressures you into secrecy or urgency The SSA only contacts beneficiaries through official mail. Always verify before responding – and keep your personal information updated at Stay tuned for upcoming articles on other SSA changes, including student loan collection resumption, digital Social Security cards, and improvements to SSA call wait times. Related: How the IRS taxes Social Security income in retirement Got questions about retirement, email The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Mint
19-05-2025
- Health
- Mint
Scott Adams, Dilbert creator, reveals he has same cancer as Joe Biden: ‘My life expectancy is maybe this summer'
Scott Adams, the creator of the popular comic strip Dilbert and a known conservative commentator, has publicly revealed that he is battling an aggressive form of prostate cancer—the same type recently diagnosed in former President Joe Biden. Adams shared the news during his online show, Coffee with Scott Adams, describing his condition as severe and life-altering. Adams shared the grim news during his livestream show Coffee with Scott Adams on Monday. In an emotional and candid announcement, Adams told his viewers that his cancer has metastasised and that he may only have a few months left to live. "I have the same cancer that Joe Biden has. I also have prostate cancer that has also spread to my bones," Adams said. "My life expectancy is maybe this summer. I expect to be checking out from this domain sometime this summer." Adams described the disease as debilitating and said he no longer experiences any good days. "The disease is already intolerable. I can tell you that I don't have good days," he said. "So if you are wondering, 'Hey Scott, do you have any good days'? Nope. Nope. Every day is a nightmare and evening is even worse." Adams also spoke about the physical toll the illness has taken on him, noting that he's been relying on a walker and is in constant pain. "I do have the ability to kind of get up for this part of the day, but I am in pain, and I'm always in pain," he explained. "And the pain moves around to different parts of my body. I've been using a walker to walk for months now." Adams' announcement follows news that Joe Biden, 81, was diagnosed with a high-grade form of prostate cancer, prompting renewed public attention on the disease and its impact. The shared diagnosis has added a somber tone to the national conversation about prostate cancer and late-stage detection. Adams gained international recognition in the early 1990s with the launch of Dilbert, a satirical comic strip poking fun at office life, corporate bureaucracy, and tech culture. Debuting in 1989, Dilbert quickly became a staple in newspapers and online platforms, resonating with workers around the globe. At its peak, the strip was syndicated in over 2,000 publications and translated into dozens of languages. In addition to his cartooning, Adams has authored numerous books, both humorous and philosophical, including The Dilbert Principle and How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big. His writing often blends self-help, management insights, and provocative opinions. In recent years, Adams gained attention as a political commentator, particularly for his vocal support of former President Donald Trump. He frequently shares his views on politics, persuasion, media, and current events through his blog, YouTube livestream (Coffee with Scott Adams), and social media. Former US President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones, his office confirmed in a statement released on May 18. The diagnosis was made following symptoms related to urinary issues, Reuters reported. Despite the advanced stage of the cancer due to metastasis, Biden's medical team emphasised that the cancer is hormone-sensitive, which offers hope for effective treatment. Biden and his family are currently reviewing treatment options in consultation with medical professionals. Joe Biden took to X, to thank the public for the "love and support" following the announcement of his prostate cancer diagnosis. In a statement released on Sunday, his office confirmed that the 82-year-old had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones. '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,' Joe Biden posted on X. The health disclosure comes amid ongoing scrutiny of Biden's health throughout his presidency and during his brief 2024 reelection campaign. Speculation about his health circulated widely last year before Biden withdrew from the race, with then-Vice President Kamala Harris taking over as the Democratic candidate. In February 2024, Biden's physician declared him 'fit to serve' following a physical examination at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
