Latest news with #Kari
Indian Express
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Beyond superheroes: 4 Indian graphic novels that tackle social issues
(Written by Taniya Chopra) Once seen as entertainment only for children, graphic novels in India have come a long way. They are no longer confined to only superhero stories or children's comics, they are now being embraced by a new wave of writers and artists who are using it to shed light on social issues. By blending graphics and text, these narratives delve into complex issues, in ways that traditional formats often struggle with. They raise awareness, shedding light on the nation's social realities and spark conversations that challenge the status quo. More than just stories on a page, they push the boundaries of what art and narrative can achieve united, in shaping the society. A picture is worth a thousand words. Hush, by Pratheek Thomas and illustrated by Rajiv Eipe, proves this with heart-wrenching clarity. It is a silent graphic novel that addresses the trauma of child sexual abuse without using a single word. The absence of words shows the way abuse usually goes unspoken in Indian families, where stigma surrounds such issues. The graphic novel, frame by frame, makes readers pay attention to small, haunting details, making it extremely personal and unsettling. The young girl who is abused in the novel is depicted with such realism that one can feel a deep connection to her plight. Reading Hush feels like a direct hit- before you even realise it, it's over, but it leaves a lasting impact in your heart. Begins with a double suicide attempt by two women, an act of desperation in a society that refuses to accept them as they are. Amruta Patil's graphic novel follows the life of a queer woman, Kari, in Mumbai, coping with heartbreak and the weight of social expectations that are usually tied to gender. Though legal, homosexuality is still considered a taboo in India, yet to be fully recognised and accepted. The graphics in the novel become Kari's second voice, showing her inner life beyond what words alone could convey. They show her emotional state in black and white, with colour appearing only in moments that reveal her desires and fantasies. The sewer in the novel is used as a metaphor for the lives and identities that society refuses to recognise. 'I was saved by a sewer, by the stinking river of effluents that snakes past our neighbourhood, the one our buildings avert eyes from'. Amruta Patil's Kari depicts the experiences of those whose voices go unheard. It attempts to show the drastic reality of what it means to be a homosexual in a heteronormative India. Written by Srividya Natarajan and illustrated by Aparajita Ninan, it tells the story of Jyotirao Phule, earliest anti-caste reformer, and his wife, Savitribai Phule, a pioneer of women's education in India. This graphic novel shows their resistance to caste-based discrimination and their fight for the education of oppressed communities. Drawing heavily from Jyotirao Phule's seminal work Gulamgiri, the novel uses graphics to sharpen its critique of caste-based oppression. The power imbalance is clearly depicted in several panels, by showing Brahmins as larger figures compared to the smaller figures of Shudras. This throws light on the oppressive social hierarchy of the varna system. By placing Phule's and the Brahmins' perspectives side by side of ancient Indian myths, it makes readers question the dominant narratives. Through these carefully woven graphics, A Gardener in the Wasteland brings the forgotten voices to the forefront, challenging the history we learn today and planting seeds of change. Illustrated by Durga Bai Vyam and Subhash Vyam, and written by Srividya Natarajan and S. Anand, it tells the tale of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's lifelong battle against caste discrimination. It is about incidents from Ambedkar's own life. It shows how systemic exclusion shapes everyday experience for Dalits in India. What truly makes Bhimayana standout is its artwork. The graphics are inspired by traditional Gond art, they do not use rigid panel structures and replace them with flowing forms. The graphics are scattered across the page, resisting uniformity. It is the art in this graphic novel that shapes how the story is experienced, giving it emotional depth and cultural texture. Bhimayana is not just a tale told, it is a reality that is felt in every line and curve of its art. (The writer is an intern with
Shafaq News
15-05-2025
- Science
- Shafaq News
From junk to genius: Tiny tech of Iraq's model maker
Shafaq News/ In a narrow room tucked behind a family home in southern Iraq, Karar Jabar hunches over a palm-sized turbine, guiding the final adjustments with hands marked by years of cuts from blades and drills. Around him, shelves overflow with miniature models—tiny ships, rotating engines, scaled-down power stations. 'This,' he says without looking up, 'is how I translate science into something you can touch.' Jabar, known professionally as Kari al-Maliki, has built more than 300 working models using scrap materials in his Maysan province workshop. 'Models should demonstrate, not decorate,' he told Shafaq News. 'Each one should do something, not just sit there.' Kari's journey began in primary school when a teacher assigned a basic art project. Without proper materials, he constructed a model from discarded wire and plastic. The response was encouraging—and formative. Through high school and university, he refined his skills. 'It wasn't about learning art, it was about learning how things work,' he recalled. By the time he entered college, demand for his models was growing, and the designs were increasingly realistic and mechanically accurate. Kari splits his work into three tracks: personal prototypes, exhibition pieces showcased online or in festivals, and commissioned models for clients. He reinvests earnings into tools and materials, operating entirely from a compact home workshop that doubles as a lab and storage space. 'I've built machines up to two meters long in this one room,' he explained. 'Every tool, every wire, every piece is selected for what it can do, not what it costs.' His materials include wood, aluminum, plastic, and salvage from scrap yards—each chosen for its functionality. Many of his models are motorized or mobile, simulating real industrial movement. Teachable Moment Kari's work has gained traction among Iraqi university faculty, who use his scaled-down systems in engineering, physics, and environmental science courses. 'These models allow us to show function in classrooms where real equipment is unaffordable or unavailable,' said Dr. Haider al-Abadi, a mechanical engineering lecturer in Maysan. 'They're accurate, practical, and invaluable in technical education.' Some models replicate pumping systems, turbine operations, or engine mechanisms—bridging the gap between theoretical instruction and physical demonstration. Despite suffering repeated injuries from sharp tools and heat-based shaping techniques, Kari maintains a relentless work ethic. 'Every scar reminds me that this work matters.' He currently stores most of his models in his workshop, citing space constraints as a challenge. 'I don't have a display space, so I keep working. That's what matters.' The young artist's goal is to complete 1,000 models that span technical, educational, and artistic applications. 'Creativity has no point if it doesn't serve others,' he concluded. 'If one student learns from what I built, the model has already succeeded.'
Arabian Business
28-04-2025
- Business
- Arabian Business
EXCLUSIVE: AROYA Cruises hosts over 92,000 passengers in first 4 months of operations
Saudi Arabia's AROYA Cruises has welcomed more than 92,250 passengers since launching operations in December 2024, with 38,000 visitors during Ramadan alone, the company's official spokesperson told Arabian Business on Monday. Speaking at Arabian Travel Market 2025, Turky Kari, AROYA's Executive Director of Marketing, revealed strong demand for the first Arabian cruise line, which positions itself as offering a 'remarkably Arabian experience' whilst maintaining global standards. AROYA Cruises soars successfully 'It was a very exciting journey for the last four months. We started December 16 in the Red Sea with very good occupancy trip by trip,' Kari said. 'We're hosting a lot of new guests, new cruisers in the Red Sea, majority from Saudi but we expanded beyond Saudi citizens between GCC, Arab countries and a lot of international travellers.' The company introduced a special concept during the holy month called 'Ramadan Along the Horizon,' which proved particularly successful. The vessel was anchored in front of Jeddah Yacht Club, offering Iftar and Suhoor meals alongside Ramadan-themed activities and overnight stay options, attracting 38,000 visitors. AROYA currently operates two primary itineraries from Jeddah – a three-night weekend trip from Thursday to Sunday and a four-night weekday cruise from Sunday to Thursday. Both itineraries include visits to Saba Beach on the private island of Jabal Al-Sabaya, with weekday cruises also travelling to destinations including Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt, Aqaba in Jordan, and Safaga, which serves as a gateway to Cairo. The cruise line will host the first International Floating Franchise Exhibition from May 5-8, organised by the National Franchise Committee of the Federation of Saudi Chambers. The event will bring together Saudi brands with international investors in a unique maritime setting. The cruise line has attracted a diverse passenger mix, with Kari noting significant numbers from GCC countries alongside unexpected interest from Russian and Uzbekistani tourists, as well as Europeans, particularly Germans and Italians. Beginning June 12, AROYA will reposition its vessel for Mediterranean operations with a nine-night journey from Jeddah to Istanbul through the Suez Canal. From June 21, the company will launch seven-night Mediterranean itineraries visiting destinations in Turkey and Greece including Bodrum, Kaş, Kuşadası, Mykonos, Athens and Rhodes. Cruise prices start from SAR 999 (approximately $266) per person for a three-night all-inclusive weekend trip, with premium 'Khuzama' experiences available that include dedicated restaurants, lounges, butlers and concierge services. The 1,600-cabin vessel features numerous amenities including 12 restaurants, 17 lounges and cafes, a theatre, spa, zip line, water slides and extensive children's facilities.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Yahoo
Waco's beloved minister, after nearly 20 years, still claims he isn't guilty of murdering his wife
Baptist minister Matt Baker was once a beloved pastor just outside Waco, Texas. Unbeknownst to his congregation, he was leading a double life that led him to commit the ultimate sin. Baker is now serving a 65-year sentence after being found guilty in January 2010 of murdering his wife Kari Baker, in 2006. Fifteen years after his conviction, Baker still maintains his innocence, saying that his wife died of an apparent suicide. "Kari Baker didn't kill herself. She was murdered. He was a predator," Texas Ranger Matt Cawthon -- who was involved in the case -- said in a new interview with "20/20." In a 2010 interview with "20/20," Baker admitted to having an affair with Vanessa Bulls, a divorcée who testified at his murder trial that Baker was openly plotting his wife's death. "I'm coming clean on the lying about Vanessa," Baker told "20/20." "I made a mistake. I'm human. I made a mistake there. I should not have ever got involved in that. I was having a tough spot in my marriage and I took the chicken way out. But I would never have hurt my wife. I never did. I never laid a hand on her, ever." MORE: Montana woman reflects on her miraculous survival after getting shot several times On Apr. 7, 2006, 31-year-old Kari was found dead seemingly due to an overdose of sleeping pills. There was a typed, unsigned suicide note, but her family suspected foul play. "She wouldn't have done this, she would not have left her girls," Nancy Lanham, Kari's aunt, told "20/20." The couple had two young daughters at the time. Baker told ABC News in 2008 that his wife's alleged downward spiral began with the tragic loss of another daughter years earlier. She was only one year old when she was diagnosed with a brain tumor and died four months later, leaving Kari devastated. "She had been taking sleeping pills to go to sleep since Kassidy passed away," Baker said. "And started taking more and more of them. And we had discussions that 'you've got to stop doing this, this is too many, this can be dangerous.'" The police investigation initially concluded that Kari's death was a suicide. However, her family began investigating on their own and urged police to further question her husband. Baker passed a polygraph test arranged by his attorney. Frustrated that the police had ruled Kari's death a suicide, her mother Linda Dulin sought out an investigative team of her own. Dulin reached out to Bill Johnston, a former federal prosecutor who was part of the team that prosecuted the 11 surviving Branch Davidians in 1993. Dulin explained to Johnston that she didn't believe her daughter took her own life. She said she had been working on Kari's case with what she called her "Angels" -- her sisters and niece who were determined to find out the truth about what happened to Kari. "What Charlie's Angels were bringing to us was invaluable," Johnston said. "They were this group of strong women who were not going to just let this go. They brought a series of stories about Matt's conduct at different points in his life." Kari's family believed that Baker's affair with Vanessa Bulls was the motive behind what they believed was Kari's murder. In September 2006, Cawthon -- in collaboration with police -- was able to get Kari's body exhumed, and an autopsy was conducted. There was still no clear cause of death, but the generic form of Ambien was discovered in her muscle tissue. The team working with Dulin discovered that Baker searched for the drug online. MORE: Cold cases that once baffled investigators are getting solved with help of cutting-edge DNA technology The findings made it crucial to keep investigating. "During this investigation, we got a clue from a woman who worked in a jewelry store," Cawthon said. "And said within a couple of weeks after Kari's death, Matt Baker comes into the jewelry store with a woman, and they're looking at engagement rings." Baker denied this in his interview with "20/20," saying they had gone to the store to look at earrings for one of his daughters. However, during the trial, Bulls testified that Baker stated that his daughters wanted to look at wedding rings for her. Although she had been previously interviewed, she had never admitted to having an affair with Baker or that she knew anything about Kari's death. Prosecutors then decided to subpoena her to testify in front a grand jury and give her testimonial immunity, hoping she would cooperate. To the surprise of everyone in the room, she admitted on the stand that Baker had told her he had killed Kari. It was enough for prosecutors to indict Baker for his wife's murder that same day. At trial, Bulls said she felt controlled by Baker: "He was a complete and still is a manipulative liar who took me at my vulnerable state." Bulls also testified that she felt intimidated by Baker to keep quiet: "Don't tell anyone or you'll be just another regret" The prosecutors' theory was that Baker had drugged Kari and then suffocated her. The testimony from Bulls corroborated that theory. MORE: How a Colorado man pushing his wife off a cliff exposed decades of lies "She did explain that after he thought that he had killed her, that she'd been suffocated, that when he removed the pillow, she gave one huge gasp," prosecutor Susan Shafer said. "She was still alive, and that he immediately put the pillow back on her face and held it until he was sure that she was dead." In January 2010, Baker went on trial for his wife's murder. After several days of testimony, it took the jury only seven hours to decide Baker's fate: guilty. It was a verdict that seemed to stun him. The next day, Baker was sentenced to 65 years in prison. "I believe the jury made a mistake in this," Baker said in court after he was sentenced. While Kari's family finds some relief in knowing Baker is incarcerated, they say that the guilty verdict didn't alleviate the sadness and pain he has caused them. "She was an amazing mother and cousin," Lindsey Pick, Kari's cousin, told 20/20. "And she would fight for any of us. And, I just wanted everyone to know the truth." Waco's beloved minister, after nearly 20 years, still claims he isn't guilty of murdering his wife originally appeared on
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Five years after cruise ship quarantine, Grand Forks man recalls his wife's final months
Mar. 19—GRAND FORKS — Five years after the discovery of COVID-19 onboard his Grand Princess cruise left him quarantined aboard the ship, a Grand Forks man easily recalls details of the trip. It was the last vacation he spent with his wife, Kari, who had been diagnosed with terminal cancer and died within six months. "We had a lot of people cheering for us," Paul Kolstoe recently told the Grand Forks Herald. "That was cool." In spite of Kari's 2018 diagnosis of stage four neuroendocrine cancer, which had then metastasized to her spine, they decided to proceed with their long-held Hawaii plans, hoping the cruise would serve as a reprieve. Altru Cancer Center staff even found a way to schedule Kari's radiation therapy appointments — which helped manage her pain — to accommodate for the cruise, which began Feb. 21. "The medical people were all cheering us on to get on the cruise and get going," Kolstoe said. His wife loved to travel, and they had a fantastic time in Hawaii, he said. Kari even checked off a bucket list item: touring an island by helicopter. But on March 4, as they approached the U.S. mainland, the ship went into lockdown when staff learned that some passengers had tested positive for COVID-19, Kolstoe said. Everyone had to stay in their rooms, food was left outside their doors, and they were not supposed to interact with each other. As the ship sailed in circles off the coast, many throughout the country — and beyond — followed the complex journey. "Suddenly our existence became known to the news media, and that grew fairly rapidly," Kolstoe said. "There were several people on the ship who they were talking to, but I think Kari kind of became the 'poster child' for the ship, because she was the lady with cancer." People were concerned for her because they knew she needed to get back home for her next round of radiation therapy. Her pain worsened as treatment was delayed, yet she was didn't want to be seen as a "sad story." "She didn't want us to be victims," Kolstoe said. "She wanted to point out that, yeah, she needed to get back for treatment, and that was important — but everybody on the ship had something important to get back to." For a brief time, this was her mission: showing that it's possible to face adversity with a positive attitude and faith. This was perhaps the best distraction she could have had, Kolstoe said. As his wife did interview after interview, he supported her by being her cameraman and discussing possible questions with her in advance of interviews. On March 9, the ship docked and occupants were taken to Travis Air Force Base in northern California, where they anticipated a potential weekslong stay, but the Kolstoes were spared from this and were able to fly home on March 13. When they returned to Grand Forks, they had to quarantine for two weeks before Kari could return to radiation therapy. "At least we were back at our house, and we could position her with pillows and things like that to try and minimize the pain," Kolstoe said. The Grand Princess crew was fantastic, he said, but could only do so much to make his wife more comfortable. She recalled a nice chair on the uppermost deck of the ship, which staff delivered outside their room, but they couldn't fit it through the door. The cushions, at least, were able to be removed and brought inside. While on the base, they shared one bed with two pillows, which Kari needed to prop herself up. Her husband rolled up a pair of jeans to rest his head on at night; she repeatedly expressed how sorry she felt for him. One of their daughters ordered body pillows from Target, which an employee tried to deliver, but he couldn't get onto the base. "He was trying to come up with ideas (of how to get them to us, and he thought) he might just go to the fence of the base and throw them over, so that we could have them," Kolstoe said. One person had to go downstairs to collect their meals three times each day. Rules were made in one moment and changed or discarded entirely the next. People herded together — despite instructions to stand 6 feet apart and not interact — asking what the others knew. There was uncertainty, especially in the early days of the pandemic, and it was especially difficult for those already prone to anxiety, according to Rhonda Dockter, psychotherapist and owner of Therapy Works Midwest, PLLC. She met with clients who never before felt their anxiety impacted their lives enough to warrant treatment. All of the unknowns had caused their mental health to drastically worsen. Providers were generally able to quickly and easily transition to telehealth. Some were resistant prior to the pandemic, but were forced to participate if they hoped to continue providing care during a time when more people needed it. "I think, overall, that change has been positive for accessibility," Dockter said. "But we were just super busy. You couldn't always get in." Also in the psychology field, Paul Kolstoe was able to work remotely during the final months of his wife's life, which they spent together at his parents' lake cabin. Their children and grandchildren visited, staying in a living space inside the garage, keeping their distance to reduce any chance of infection. "My youngest grandson had been born in the early summer," Paul Kolstoe said. "(My wife) didn't get to hold him, but she could see him through the screen door." The COVID-19 pandemic was traumatic for many people, for the fear it caused as well as the impactful life events that had to be altered or foregone entirely, Dockter said. For the Kolstoes, the pandemic was something like background noise. Because they had known for more than a year that Kari was terminal, and nothing would change that, "nothing was going to come along that was going to interfere with our commitment to each other to get through that," Kolstoe said. The couple had also lived through a traumatic experience decades earlier; they lost their home in the Flood of 1997. Kolstoe believes that experience prepared them for this one, more than any of his professional training or experience. Knowing they'd gone through something so difficult, yet powered through and came out the other side, gave them strength. Kari died on her birthday, Aug. 17, 2020, at age 61. It was a little more than a week after the couple's 40th wedding anniversary. Paul Kolstoe recorded his wife's funeral to later show his mother, who was in an assisted living facility and couldn't attend. "I went over, and I stood outside her apartment and showed her the funeral through the window, and we talked through the window," he said. That is the most challenging thing Dockter observed about the pandemic — the inability to be with loved ones, to support them during illness or to say goodbye. "That impacts the grief process, because then there's difficulty with closure," she said. Isolation was difficult for many, but it especially impacted the elderly, particularly those in assisting living or nursing homes, where no one could visit, Dockter said. "The people who are already lonely and depressed were more lonely and depressed," she said. After the loss of his wife, Kolstoe found support through his friends, children, grandchildren and Watson, his Labradoodle. "I have our dog, who is missing her, but he seems to think I am passable, so he stays with me," he said with a laugh. Now 66, Kolstoe still lives in Grand Forks and works as clinical director of the Life Skills and Transition Center in Grafton. He originally planned to retire about two years ago and travel the world with his wife, but his retirement plans were derailed after her death. "As of right now, I'm planning to work another three years," he said. "That's quite a change in strategy and lifestyle, but you have to deal with what life deals you, and take it as it comes, and that's kind of where I'm at now. My agency can use me. If I were to retire right now, it would be a hardship on them. Psychologists are very hard to find, especially willing to work in developmental disabilities. There's not many of us out there. So I'm welcome at work."
