Latest news with #BritishParliament
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Pocket watch from Great Lakes' deadliest shipwreck returned to family
The Great Lakes have claimed thousands of lives and ships. The exact total will never be known, but historians estimate that 25–30,000 people have drowned on around 6,000 vessels since the 17th century. Despite this uncertainty, experts do know the single deadliest documented shipwreck: the Lady Elgin. On September 8, 1860, the sidewheel steamer crashed into another boat while sailing north of Chicago on Lake Michigan. Over 300 people died as a result, etching the tragedy into cultural memory and even inspiring at least one folk song. But while the Lady Elgin's deteriorating wreckage remains interred across a mile of Lake Michigan lakebed, one remarkably preserved artifact has made it back to the surface. After nearly 165 years, a solid gold pocket watch has been returned to the family of one of the steamer's victims—a man famous for his own reasons. Herbert Ingram was born on May 27, 1811, to a butcher's family in Lincolnshire, England. After starting his career as a printer's apprentice and journeyman, Ingram began noticing newspapers often sold more copies when they included illustrations. Before he could do anything about that, however, he needed money. As luck would have it, Ingram started to amass a small fortune in 1842 thanks to his newly patented 'Parr's Life Pills.' Ingram claimed his supplements were based on a recipe created by the legendary Thomas Parr, a man who supposedly lived to the age of 152. Parr's Life Pills offered no actual medical benefits, but the proceeds did help finance an endeavor with real results. Less than a year after his foray into pharmaceuticals, Ingram launched The Illustrated London News. Unlike its competitors, the London News featured prominent illustrations and images in every weekly issue. Its success paved the way for imitators, and Ingram is now regarded as the father of pictorial journalism. By 1860, Ingram wasn't just a prominent businessman, but a member of the British Parliament. Unfortunately, none of that exactly matters to the Great Lakes. While traveling the US to obtain new material for The Illustrated London News, Ingram and one of his sons were among the hundreds of Lady Elgin passengers to drown in the shipwreck. It would take another 129 years before maritime archeologists rediscovered the wreck of the Lady Elgin. Experts traveled to the location to document the ship's remains, including Holland-based historian Valerie Van Heest in 1992. But unbeknownst to her, another group of divers had also recently visited the Lady Elgin—and they returned to land with a keepsake. 'The location had leaked, and a trio of divers… came upon a pocket watch. A gold pocket watch, an extraordinary discovery,' Van Heest told the local Michigan news outlet Fox 17. For over 30 years, the artifact remained hidden away in storage. After working to restore it, the watch's finders reached out to Van Heest to help identify its owner. Luckily, the timepiece offered a solid lead—the initials 'H.I.' engraved on its watch fob. Additional research indicated Herbert Ingram's descendents still lived in England. After reaching out to them and confirming the watch's provenance, Van Heest learned his hometown's museum was coincidentally in the process of building an exhibit dedicated to him. 'They didn't have any physical artifacts, and here I was offering not only an artifact, but Herbert Ingram's personal watch,' Van Heest explained to Fox 17. 'It was an extraordinary, serendipitous occurrence.' With the watch in the care of museum curators in Ingram's hometown of Boston, Lincolnshire, England, both his family and the public can now visit a tangible relic representing both historical triumphs and tragedies. 'Returning this watch is the right thing to do,' said Van Heest. 'This is reminding people that shipwrecks affected people, affected families, and this shows that 165 years later, we care. People care about the individuals lost.'
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
From Military Roots to Global Innovation: Arun Kar Builds a Greener Future with $145M Net Worth
Arun Kar at the World Leaders Summit 2024, held at the prestigious House of Lords, British Parliament / Source: The News Times UK From Cyclone Survivor to Sustainability Leader: Arun Kar's Journey from Battlefield to Boardroom is Reshaping Tech Impact LONDON, United Kingdom - 2nd Jun, 2025 - In an age dominated by startup valuations and venture capital pomp, Arun Kar 's journey stands apart — a narrative defined not by overnight success but by persistent resilience, clarity of purpose, and quiet determination. Born in Odisha, India, and raised in a modest household, Kar's early life was marked by adversity. One of the most defining moments came in 1999, when he survived the devastating Super Cyclone that ravaged the eastern coast of India. 'Witnessing the destruction and the quiet strength of my community left a lasting impact,' he recalls. That formative experience planted the seeds of a lifelong mission: to build solutions that serve both people and planet. Kar's path initially led to military service. After clearing India's Combined Defence Services examination with an all-India rank of 152, he was commissioned into the Indian Army's Artillery Arm. For seven years, he served with distinction, often in some of the country's most demanding environments. Kar said, 'The Army taught me the value of leadership under pressure, discipline, and unwavering accountability'. Those lessons would prove critical in the chapters to come. Battleground to Boardroom Following his military tenure, Kar transitioned to the corporate world, working with leading global IT firms including Tech Mahindra and Virtusa. There, he gained exposure to digital transformation, enterprise systems, and global operations — insights that laid the foundation for his entrepreneurial vision. In 2016, he founded Xpertnest, alongside partners Chintan Panara and Pradip Butani. With no external funding, the team started from scratch — quite literally from their living rooms. Their first project brought in just $900. But what followed was nearly a decade of steady, values-driven growth. Today, the company is a global digital innovation firm headquartered in London, with operations spanning the UK, Europe, India, and the Middle East. The company's portfolio includes smart city infrastructure, AgriTech platforms supporting Indian farmers, and critical applications for Fortune 500 companies and national law enforcement agencies. Their technology has powered everything from 5G event solutions to IoT-based utility management systems. Notably, several of their applications have been featured in Apple's enterprise success stories — a testament to the firm's technical acumen and real-world impact. In early 2025, the company was independently valued at over $100 million, a figure verified by both a SEBI-registered Category-I Merchant Banker and a UK-based valuation firm, with the milestone reported across the London Stock Exchange (RNS), Reuters, and the Financial Express. Building a Greener Future Kar's ambitions extend beyond technology. In recent years, he launched Earthnest, a sustainability venture focused on biodegradable and plastic-free packaging solutions. The company's flagship product — Bio Bags — aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and is already in use across the UK, including a successful trial with Paultons Park, one of Britain's top family attractions. 'Technology must serve humanity and the environment — not just profit margins,' Kar says. A Quiet Rise In May 2025, Arun Kar's personal net worth was independently assessed and certified at $145 million by a SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) registered Category-I Merchant Banker, based on his equity in Xpertnest, stakes in other high-growth ventures and companies, and a portfolio of income-generating real estate assets. Yet, despite reaching multimillionaire status long before public recognition, Kar remains grounded. His next goal? To support emerging leaders and startups through mentorship, investment, and ethical governance. 'Impact is the true measure of success,' he acknowledges. Kar's journey — from cyclone survivor to Army officer, tech innovator to sustainability champion — is a rare tale of purpose over hype. It serves as a powerful reminder that in an age of instant gratification, long-term vision, discipline, and integrity still have a place at the heart of innovation. Media Contact Company Name: Premium NewsWire Contact Person: Benjamin Sadhu Email: Send Email Address:10, Winnipeg Drive Green Street Green City: Orpington State: Kent Country: United Kingdom Website: Press Release Distributed by To view the original version on ABNewswire visit: From Military Roots to Global Innovation: Arun Kar Builds a Greener Future with $145M Net Worth
Boston Globe
3 days ago
- General
- Boston Globe
Today in History: June 1, priceless recordings destroyed in Universal Studios fire
Advertisement In 1774, in response to the Boston Tea Party, General Thomas Gage, the newly appointed governor of the Massachusetts colony, closed Boston Harbor to all trade, following the orders of the British Parliament. In 1813, the mortally wounded commander of the USS Chesapeake, Captain James Lawrence, gave the order, 'Don't give up the ship,' during a losing battle with the British frigate HMS Shannon inthe War of 1812. In 1916, the Senate voted 47-22 to confirm Louis Brandeis as an associate justice of the US Supreme Court, the first Jewish American to serve on the nation's highest bench. In 1943, a civilian flight from Portugal to England was shot down by German bombers during World War II, killing all 17 people aboard, including actor Leslie Howard. Advertisement In 1957, Don Bowden, a student at the University of California at Berkeley, became the first American to break the four-minute mile during a meet in Stockton, Calif., with a time of 3:58.7. In 1962, former Nazi official Adolf Eichmann was executed after being found guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity for his actions during World War II. In 1980, Cable News Network, the first 24-hour television news channel, made its debut. In 1990, US President George H.W. Bush and Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev signed an agreement to stop producing and reduce existing stockpiles of chemical weapons held by the two Cold War superpowers. In 2001, Crown Prince Dipendra of Nepal shot and killed nine members of the Nepalese royal family, including his parents, King Birendra and Queen Aishwarya, before mortally wounding himself. In 2008, a fire at Universal Studios Hollywood destroyed 3 acres of the studio's property, including a vault that held as many as 175,000 irreplaceable master audio recordings from hundreds of musicians including Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, Aretha Franklin, Elton John, and Nirvana. In 2009, General Motors filed for Chapter 11 reorganization, becoming the largest US industrial company to enter bankruptcy protection. In 2020, police violently broke up a protest by thousands of people in Lafayette Park across from the White House, using chemical agents, clubs, and punches to send protesters fleeing. The protesters had gathered following the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis a week earlier. Later that day, President Trump, after declaring himself 'the president of law and order' and threatening to deploy the US military in a speech, walked across the empty park to be photographed holding a Bible in front of St. John's Church, which had been damaged a night earlier. Advertisement
Calgary Herald
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Calgary Herald
King Charles's throne speech, deconstructed: 'Not a single word was accidental'
Article content The unusual situation of the monarch, the official head of state of Canada as well as the United Kingdom, travelling to Canada to deliver the speech seems tied to the annexations threat to Canada's sovereignty from Trump, and many were looking for some defiance from Charles. Article content Article content As a piece of theatre, the traditions of the monarchy usually deliver rich pageantry in formal settings, and this didn't disappoint. Wearing a formal pinstripe suit bearing a dense row of medals, leading with his Canadian insignias, Charles sat on a throne carved during his mother's reign, beside Queen Camilla, and flanked by two large Canadian flags. Article content 'My jaw hit the floor because he is wearing a pinstripe suit and not an admiral's uniform,' said Vovk. When Charles opened the British Parliament he wore the uniform of the British navy, and Vovk thought he might wear an admiral's uniform of the Canadian navy. Article content Article content 'It was the right move to wear civilian clothing because I think if he would have worn the military uniform that would have been perceived as being too militaristic. He's our constitutional defender, he's not the embodiment of our military defence.' Article content Article content 'Even Donald Trump, with all his supposed money, can't buy what we just saw — that took 1,000 years of history and a hundred years of Canadian history. That's the magic of monarchy and that's what we just saw.' Article content At Charles's feet, almost literally, sat Carney, and a throng of parliamentarians, former prime ministers, Indigenous leaders, Supreme Court judges and special guests crammed inside the chamber and outside at the door. Article content Robert Danisch, a University of Waterloo professor who studies political communication and persuasion said that arrangement was poor: 'I thought Mark Carney looked quite small and like he was supplicating himself to the king. I don't think that was a good visual for a new prime minister.' Article content Article content The proceedings reflected the now-strange traditions that stem from the sometimes-bloody development of the monarchy and democratic parliamentary traditions inherited from the British. Article content Article content Charles' voice was strong, his enunciation clear. Article content 'His delivery was excellent in the sense that this is a man who's 76 plus he's suffering and in treatment for cancer,' said Milnes. Danisch said the delivery was clear but a bit boring and flat. Article content Charles spoke alternatively in English and French. His French was good. Article content The speech also specifically praised the French contribution, always a thorny part of the monarch's relationship with Quebec, saying: 'The French language and the Quebec culture are at the heart of the Canadian identity. They define the country that Canadians and I love so much.' Article content THE SPEECH Article content The words should matter the most, although when the King rolls into town, that might be debated. The speech itself reflected the awkward hybrid of the government's messaging to the voters and the high-minded ideals espoused, at least nominally, by the sovereign.
The Wire
24-05-2025
- Politics
- The Wire
'More Important Than Ever to Speak Truth to Power': Stephen Sackur on BBC Exit and His New Book
Following the shutdown of HARDtalk, the BBC's veteran interviewer Stephen Sackur has, as expected, announced that he will be leaving the corporation in June to focus on writing a book. During my ongoing visit to London, I emailed Sackur requesting a meeting to discuss his thoughts on the programme's axing and his future plans. He graciously agreed, and we met in front of the British Parliament at Westminster on a bright, sunny Thursday evening last week. While commuting on the London Underground, the long ride from Woodford Green in East London to Westminster gave me enough time to reflect on the BBC's decision to scrap HARDtalk. It also allowed me to revisit the insightful remarks Sackur had shared with The Wire's Karan Thapar three months ago. As a journalist, the axing of the BBC's flagship programme HARDtalk came as a rude shock. Known for fearlessly holding the powerful to account, its disappearance felt like a blow to uncompromising journalism. For someone who has never bartered his pen, I could well imagine the cost of shutting it down – and equally imagine the quiet satisfaction of those who once squirmed under its spotlight , now relieved that the hard questions will no longer be asked from that formidable table. Coming from a conflict zone where I have personally witnessed death, devastation and the heartbreaking exodus of the Kashmiri Pandit community – ever since that first bullet was fired by a Kashmiri in defiance of India's 'occupation' of the erstwhile princely state of Jammu and Kashmir – the scrapping of HARDtalk holds profound meaning for me. Unlike most media outlets that routinely echo the state's version of events without probing deeper, HARDtalk represented a rare platform willing to question official narratives, even in complex situations like armed encounters with security forces. Take, for instance, the Chattisinghpora massacre of 20 March, 2000, when 35 innocent Sikhs were gunned down by assailants wearing army fatigues on the eve of then U.S. President Bill Clinton's visit to India. While the army claimed to have eliminated the perpetrators in an encounter soon after, it later emerged that those killed were not Pakistani militants but ordinary labourers. Preliminary findings from the inquiry suggested that the three unidentified 'terrorists' killed in Operation Amshipora were, in fact, local Kashmiris. Army in a rare admission accepted 'soldiers exceeded their powers during an alleged fake gun battle in Kashmir that killed three men'. Such admissions only occur when fearless, principled, and uncompromising journalism holds sway – where the looming threat of exposure compels the wrongdoers to come clean. Without programmes like HARDtalk, not only do such elements gain confidence, but the sycophantic media is left unchecked to dominate the narrative. The BBC's decision prompted me to reach out to Director General Tim Davie, seeking an explanation for what led to the programme's termination. The response, however, came from Robin Miller, Head of Communications for BBC International News. I had sent a detailed email conveying my dismay over the decision, and to his credit, Miller took the time to respond with a thoughtful and comprehensive reply. 'People are coming to the BBC News channel for live and breaking news, while across the whole of BBC News, we have hard-hitting long-form interviews and discussion on more platforms than ever, for instance via our global on-air editors, and our debate and discussion programmes,' Miller wrote. 'We can no longer afford to run so many bespoke programme teams.' Miller added: 'I would like to reassure you that whilst we no longer have HARDtalk, the BBC is committed to holding power to account around the world and we will continue to provide long form interviews that ask the difficult questions and allow for in-depth discussion and analysis.' Somehow, Miller's response didn't quite sound right, and I was eager to put across this to the man himself who had been holding the fort for so long. As I emerged from the TubeStation at Westminster, I got a call from Stephen Sacker and within a minute or two I spotted him waiting for me right at the entrance of the station. His demeanour was calm, gentle, and unexpectedly warm – quite unlike the stern figure he often appeared on his shows. In person, he was as soft as cotton yet as refined as silk. We settled into a nearby pub and began our conversation over a mug of beer. He didn't mince words – he's not leaving by choice. 'I don't want to leave the BBC,' he told me. 'I still have a lot to give.' Though he spoke of moving on and focusing on a book project already backed by a publisher, there was no mistaking the subtle trace of hurt and disappointment beneath his composed exterior. 'It's definitely a strange period,' he sighed. As our conversation turned to the state of global media – particularly the situation in India and the government's move to take down The Wire's website – it became clear that he didn't fully share the view expressed by Miller, who had told me, 'People are coming to the BBC News channel for live and breaking news.' I sensed there was something deeper, perhaps more troubling, behind the decision – something even Sackur seemed reluctant to explore further. In a recent interview with the Guardian's Simon Hattenstone, Sackur expressed concern over BBC's shifting news priorities , highlighting that programmes like HARDtalk, Panorama, and Newsnight, known for their autonomy, are increasingly facing centralisation and control from BBC leadership. This shift, he scorned, has led to reduced staff and resources for these programmes, impacting their ability to produce in-depth, ground-breaking journalism. He fears that this emphasis on live news is turning journalism into 'churnalism,' sacrificing quality and depth for quick updates. He appeared visibly shaken, the trademark stern expression absent – replaced by a subdued, almost extinguished presence, as though a once-bright flame had vanquished. 'What's left for me at the corporation now that the programme I was known for has been scrapped?' Stephen said, his voice low and reflective. 'There's nothing to stay here for – it's best I step away.' Stephen looked genuinely surprised when I showed him the email I had sent to Tim Davie – and the detailed reply I received from Robin Miller. Given how distant and impersonal Davie's relationship with him had been, Stephen raised an eyebrow. 'I must say, it's rather strange that the BBC took the time to respond at length to a query from an Indian journalist,' he remarked, half in wonder, half in irony. Pertinently, his relationship with Tim Davie was distant and tellingly cold. Aside from a brief congratulatory call when Davie took office – during which he praised HARDtalk and vaguely promised to visit the team – there was no meaningful follow-up. The promised visit never materialised, and beyond a token group gathering, Davie remained silent. Most strikingly, after the announcement to axe the programme, Stephen received no direct communication at all – not even a courtesy message. Unyielding men are not easily shaken – their resilience burns brightest in the face of adversity. They rise from the ashes like the proverbial phoenix and make their presence felt with renewed force. Stephen is no exception. With characteristic resolve, he is now channeling his energy into a new project – a book titled Hard Truth , borrowing its name from the very programme, HARDtalk that he dedicated some 20 years of his life to. This powerful connection keeps alive the legacy of fearless journalism that has defined his career. 'My book is called 'Hard Truth: 10 Investigations That Shook the World – and Why They Matter Now'. It tells the stories of 10 truth-telling journalists who confronted abuses of power,' he confided. 'Speaking truth to power is becoming ever more difficult and dangerous. But it's more important than ever if we want to safeguard democracy, especially in the face of rising authoritarianism and intrusive digital technologies.' Headline Press has acquired world all-language rights to the book. The acquisition was made by publisher Martin Redfern from Antony Topping at Greene & Heaton, with the book scheduled for publication in hardback, e-book, and audio version in September 2026. The book is described as a 'rallying cry for investigative journalism,' highlighting the stories of 10 brave journalists, including Daphne Caruana Galizia, Amira Hass, Rana Ayyub and Hopewell Chin'ono, and aims to defend truth-telling against disinformation, authoritarianism and organised crime. They say, 'Never mess with a writer – they have a way with words.' When HARDtalk was trashed, it only ignited a fierce fire within Stephen Sackur. Now armed with a sharpened pen, he prepares his vengeance – not with anger, but with truth. Before leaving, Sackur ushered me to the Westminster Tube station, stepping onto the Jubilee line before we parted ways – our journeys splitting in two different directions – both literally and metaphorically. As the train pulled away, I stood on the platform for a moment, watching the blur of its motion. It struck me then: while his chapter at the BBC may be closing, Stephen Sackur's pursuit of truth is far from over. The tracks ahead may be uncertain, but for a journalist of his calibre, every stop is another story waiting to be told. Farooq Shah is a Kashmir based journalist, currently in London.
