Latest news with #Devil
Toronto Star
10 hours ago
- General
- Toronto Star
Arkansas authorities release photo rendering of ‘Devil in the Ozarks' as manhunt continues
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas authorities on Tuesday released a photo rendering of a convicted murderer and former police chief known as the 'Devil in the Ozarks ' as the search for the escaped inmate entered its second week. The Arkansas Department of Corrections said the photo rendering of Grant Hardin, 56, depicts how he may look after he escaped May 25 from the Calico Rock prison. The rendering shows Hardin with some hair on his head and face.
Daily Maverick
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Maverick
Elegy for Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o – Weep not Africa, the devil is on the cross
the passing of the sage needs an elegy weaving his works into memory woven not from sorrow but from the titles he left us each a thread in the long cloth of liberation Weep Not, Child though Njoroge's dreams were drowned in betrayal still he hoped still he studied still he believed that books could set a colonised people free as the Petals of Blood drift down the River Between Kamina's cries echo through the valley where Waiyaki once stood torn between tradition and the hunger for change Devil on the Cross watches from a billboard in Ilmorog where Wariinga, mother, secretary, warrior walks tall past the businessmen who sold her country for a coin and a foreign tongue through the smoke of the Kenyan stage we hear The Trial of Dedan Kimathi his voice unbroken his spine unbowed his name restored to the tongues of children (did I say Kenya? No, belonged to the world) he spent his life trying to Decolonise the Mind not just from foreign flags flying through the occupied territories and the Dias but from self-doubt from the coloniser who lived behind our eyes whispering shame in our own languages he taught us the necessity of Moving the Centre from empire to earth from London to Limuru from ivory towers to village theatres I Will Marry When I Want, said Gicaamba and Wariinga not when the landlord says not when the priest demands but when freedom rings clear as a blacksmith's hammer and for saying so he was Detained left with nothing but a Writer ' s Prison Diary pages scribbled in secret where even silence was written in resistance yet even in exile he nurtured Dreams in a Time of War walking barefoot through his boyhood while bombs fell and books were rare as rain in the House of the Interpreter he listened to the scriptures of the empire read aloud by boys in uniform and asked what if we spoke of our own prophets instead the Birth of a Dream Weaver was not painless it came with betrayal with exile with his passport stolen and his tongue declared dangerous yet he kept Wrestling with the Devil not to destroy but to expose his weapon not violence but parable his armour not hate but laughter the sting in his pen penetrating and shattering tyrants, and masters the humility in his heart warming every freedom fighter in Africa and beyond Barrel of a Pen in hand wa Thiong ' o resisted repression in neo-colonial Kenya noting that the Mau Mau is Coming Back out of myth walked Matigari wrapped in rags and questions seeking truth in a land where justice had gone into hiding on a windy playground Njamba Nene and the Flying Bus took off lifting young minds beyond fences and flags while Njamba Nene's Pistol reminded us that courage can be held even in small hands his Homecoming was never a return but a revelation a replanting a radical remembering that the village has always been enough on every page he spoke with the Language of Languages from Gikuyu to Kiswahili to the silence between drums reminding us that no language is small when it carries a people's soul he dreamed of The Perfect Nine daughters of Mũmbi mothers of a nation their journey carved in myth and marrow walking barefoot into legend from Something Torn and New he stitched a flag that no coloniser could fold his ink forming stars his stories forming skies weep not Africa the devil is on the cross screaming in white houses the walls of the empire shaking from voices Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o son of Kenya father of African letters fellow traveller of Fanon comrade of Sankara brother in resistance to Biko rooted in Makerere's red soil where he stood among a chorus of East African minds Micere Githae Mugo, fierce and unbending Okot p'Bitek, singing Lawino into eternity Ali Mazrui, mapping Africa's global soul John Ruganda, building stages of truth Pio Zirimu, naming orature as power Grace Ogot, weaving ancestral memory into prose Taban lo Liyong, sharp as iron in a blacksmith's fire Shaaban Robert, a Kiswahili visionary the South and North African contingents the Dias, Walter Rodney and so many others teachers and poets farmers and firebrands the women and men of the people who did more than write back to empire they wrote forward with and among their people they imagined futures in the ashes of conquest they held language not as a tool but as a weapon as shelter as seed Ngũgĩ understood this he knew that the word could build a nation he knew the power of stories told in the mother tongue and like all true cultural workers he toiled not for applause but for transformation now he rests but Njoroge still dreams Wariinga still walks Matigari still searches Dedan still speaks Mazrui lives and children still rise on buses made of books he is not gone his story is not over a monument built on language, knowledge, culture, history this elegy is still becoming. DM
New Indian Express
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Darshan brings a stylish throwback to Ambareesh's iconic Antha look in Devil
Challenging Star Darshan is steadily building anticipation around his upcoming film, Devil, which is being mounted on a grand scale under the Sri Jai Matha Combines banner. The team has now completed the talkie portions, with only a few action sequences and songs left to film. To mark the moment, the makers released a striking new poster that sent Darshan fans into a frenzy. The actor is seen in a look reminiscent of late matinee idol Ambareesh's Kanwarlal from the cult classic Antha.
2 days ago
- General
Japan Just Banned ‘Sparkly' Baby Names in a Wild New Law
Americans may try to find the most whimsical, beautiful, and one-of-a-kind baby names for their children — but in Japan, that is no longer allowed. A new law banning 'sparkly' baby names just went into effect there, which will restrict what baby names Japanese parents are allowed to choose. New revisions to the Japan Family Register Act on May 26 limit the use of kirakira baby names, according to the South China Morning Post. This translates to 'sparkly,' 'shiny,' or 'glittery' names that promote individual expression. More from SheKnows These Baby Names Give Off Major 'Stranger Things' Energy Jewel Lovely Kitty Elsa Ōjisama ('Prince') Naruto Pikachu Naiki (pronounced 'Nike') Pū (like Winnie-the-Pooh) Purin (pronounced 'pudding') Daiya ('Diamond') Akuma ('Devil') According to CNN, special names like this can be 'confusing for hospitals, schools and authorities who don't know how to pronounce them.' This is mostly because names are typically written in Kanji, based on Chinese characters, which can be pronounced multiple ways. Figuring out the right pronunciation for these names is complicated if the names aren't traditional names or if parents pick an unusual combination of characters to write a name. (Think: 'Ashleigh' instead of 'Ashley.') This rule was first prompted by a parents Shigeru and Ayako Sato, who named their child Akuma, which translates to 'Devil' in 1994, per TODAY. Japanese officials approved the name initially, then later took them to court to make them change the name out of concern for the child. They ended up agreeing to change his name. A 2022 study found that unique kirakira names have increased in popularity since the 1980s. They analyzed nearly 60,000 baby names over 40 years published in local newsletters and found that parents have increasingly been giving their babies unique and individual names. Interestingly, this increase was more prevalent for baby girls than for baby boys. Other countries have bans on baby names as well. Like in New Zealand, where they routinely reject names based on royalty like King, Prince, Princess, Duke, Queen, and Royal. In Italy, the name Blue (or the variation Blu) is banned due to a 2000 presidential decree mandating that a child's name must correspond to their gender, and officials have argued that the name Blue is not associated with the female gender. In the US, names that include a numeral are banned, which is why Elon Musk and Grimes dropped the '12' from their son's name and changed it to X AE A-XII. There's nothing wrong with wanting to give your baby a special name, but you might want to double check you aren't breaking any laws first! Best of SheKnows 19 Celebrity Parents With Trans & Nonbinary Kids 20 of Serena Williams' Most Adorable Motherhood Moments 30+ Baby Names With Ivy League Vibes — No Degree Required
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
US visa requirements for Hajj and Umrah one must know
An estimated 1.8 million Muslims from around the globe are preparing for a life-changing spiritual journey: Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. In 2025, Hajj will begin on June 4 and continue through June 9, though pilgrims often begin arriving days or even weeks in advance to spiritually and physically prepare. What is Hajj and when does it take place? Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and is considered a religious obligation for every Muslim who is physically and financially able to make the journey. The pilgrimage is performed annually between the 8th and 12th (or 13th) of Dhul-Hijjah, the final month in the Islamic lunar calendar. Notably, 2025 marks the last time in over a decade that Hajj will fall during Mecca's scorching summer season. The five- to six-day pilgrimage includes sacred rituals performed in and around Mecca, Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah. The journey culminates with the symbolic stoning of the Devil at Jamarat, followed by final rites to mark the completion of Hajj. What is Umrah, and how is it different from Hajj? Unlike Hajj, Umrah is a non-mandatory pilgrimage that Muslims can perform at any time of year. Though it includes some of the same rituals as Hajj, it is shorter in duration and does not substitute for the obligatory Hajj. Many pilgrims choose to perform Umrah alongside or separately from the Hajj season. Visa requirements for Hajj and Umrah Performing Hajj or Umrah requires careful planning and strict adherence to Saudi Arabia's visa policies. For Hajj, in particular, visas are issued only through the official Nusuk Hajj platform, authorized by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. Using the Nusuk Platform Saudi Arabia's Nusuk Hajj platform is the only official portal for booking and managing your Hajj journey. Through Nusuk, pilgrims can select packages, book flights, make payments, and receive their Hajj visa. This process is mandatory for all pilgrims, including U.S. citizens and U.S. residents living in Saudi Arabia. Authorities have warned that Hajj bookings, payments, and visa applications cannot be completed through third-party travel agencies outside of Nusuk. Attempting to perform Hajj without a valid permit can lead to serious consequences which include detention, deportation, fines, or a ban on future entry into Saudi Arabia. Umrah Visa Options Unlike Hajj, Umrah can be performed on either a dedicated Umrah visa or a Saudi tourist visa. U.S. citizens planning to perform Umrah outside of the Hajj season may apply through various channels, including official Saudi visa portals. However, it's important to not overstay your visa. Staying in the country beyond your permitted duration can result in significant fines, possible detention, and a ban on future visits. These penalties can be thousands of dollars, especially during peak Hajj season. Additional guidelines pilgrims should know Travel Areas & Restrictions: Hajj and Umrah visas are not valid for work or residency, and only allow travel to authorized pilgrimage sites. Non-Muslims are strictly prohibited from entering Mecca and the sacred areas of Medina. Duration of Stay: After completing Hajj, pilgrims must depart Saudi Arabia promptly. Travel to other cities like Jeddah or Medina is permitted only if it's part of the pre-approved Hajj package. Women Pilgrims: Women are now allowed to register and perform Hajj without a male guardian (mahram), in line with updated Saudi regulations. Accessibility: While major holy sites like the Grand Mosque in Mecca are accessible, many hotels and public transport options may not meet full accessibility standards. Pilgrims with specific mobility or medical needs should make prior arrangements and consult with travel providers. All official documents related to your pilgrimage—such as flight tickets, hotel bookings, and visa expiry dates—should be carefully reviewed before and during your trip. Saudi Arabia follows the Hijri calendar, so it's essential to double-check dates and timelines listed on your visa. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
