Latest news with #Mast
Irish Independent
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Palestine group slams Kerry senator for meeting controversial US congressman
Congressman Mast was in Ireland last month where he met with Senator Mark Daly – chair of the Seanad Éireann – to discuss trade, technology investment, defence, and other issues 'vital to America's relationship with Ireland'. The United States House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman signed the Seanad visitors' book during his visit. The Florida Republican is known for his controversial views on Palestinians which were the subject of a House of Representatives resolution that was referred to the Committee on Ethics in 2023. Mr Mast, who once volunteered to serve alongside the Israel Defence Forces in support of its defence of democracy in the Middle East, served in the US Army for more than 12 years, earning him the Army Commendation Medal for Valour and the Purple Heart. In 2023, the Congressman was censured for inflammatory statements he made regarding innocent Palestinian civilians in Gaza suffering as a result of the horrific attacks conducted by Hamas on October 7, 2023. He said humanitarian aid to Palestinians should be slowed down and that terrorism is 'absolutely supported by the Palestinian people from elementary school all the way up into the elderly.' On November 1, 2023 – during a speech on the House Floor – Representative Mast compared innocent Palestinian civilians and children to 'Nazi' collaborators that perpetrated the Holocaust against the Jewish people. He also stated that 'there are very few innocent Palestinian civilians'. Congressman Mast is regularly accused of conflating innocent Palestinians with the actions of Hamas, which some fellow congressmen have said 'sends a message to the world' that violence against all Palestinians is legitimate. Kerry Friends of Palestine Group criticised Senator Daly for meeting Congressman Mast in the Seanad in late April, saying it was ill-judged and showed disregard for the lives of innocent Palestinians. 'It's vile to have someone like Mast sidling up to Irish politicians for photographs given his views. Senator Daly looked only too happy to accommodate him,' said a spokesperson for Kerry Friends of Palestine Group. ADVERTISEMENT "Mast has called for the destruction of innocent Palestinians. It's disgusting that he would be welcomed here and allowed such an opportunity to grandstand as a politician of repute when he is not,' he added.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Three remarkable heroes': Trump honors PBSO motorcycle deputies killed in November crash
President Donald Trump honored the three Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office motorcycle deputies who died in a November roadside crash at the White House on May 19, making them the first recipients of the Medal of Sacrifice. The medal will go to law-enforcement officers and other first responders killed in the line of the duty. During a ceremony in the Oval Office, Trump presented the medals to the families of Cpl. Luis Paez and deputies Ralph "Butch" Waller and Ignacio "Dan" Diaz, who died after an SUV struck them on the morning of Nov. 21. The crash happened on Southern Boulevard west of Wellington while the deputies stood on the shoulder of the road awaiting assistance with one deputy's stalled motorcycle. Waller and Paez died at a hospital that day. Diaz succumbed to his injuries days later. The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the crash. 'They were lions': Mourners honor three PBSO deputies killed in SUV crash near Wellington During the White House ceremony, Trump praised the deputies' commitment to protecting the people of Palm Beach County and "well beyond." 'Today, we remember three remarkable heroes who will become the medal's first-ever recipients," the president said. "We will never forget their legacy, and we will never forget the debt we owe all these law-enforcement heroes who have given their lives to keep our communities safe." Among those joining Trump at the ceremony were his son, Eric, and U.S. Reps. Brian Mast and Byron Donalds. Eric Trump recalled attending a memorial service for the three fallen deputies with his father and Mast in December at the South Florida Fairgrounds. He said that event started a conversation about finding away to honor first responders who die in the line of duty. "One simple question was asked," he said. "'Why is there no Medal of Valor, Medal of Sacrifice that commemorates law enforcement officers, first responders who have fallen in the line of duty? … We said 'We're going to take care of this problem. We're going to get involved." Prior to the news conference, Mast introduced a bill before Congress to establish the Medal of Sacrifice Act, which authorizes the President to present an official medal to local, state, or federal law-enforcement officers and first responders who are killed in the line of duty. The bill would create a commission of 12 law-enforcement officers, appointed by the president, who are charged with determining eligibility for the medal, promoting its establishment and determining procedures for award presentation. 'Every day, law-enforcement officers and first responders risk their lives while protecting our communities,' Mast said. 'While we will never be able to truly thank the officers we have lost, this medal is a small way to express our eternal gratitude to those heroes and their loved ones. Their courage and sacrifice will never be forgotten.' Remembering the fallen: Union honors 3 PBSO deputies killed in Southern Boulevard crash The medals will feature national symbols and heraldic elements, including the Great Seal of the United States, redesigned by Tiffany & Co. in 1885. The word 'sacrifice" is inscribed on them, as well as three oak leaves, representing strength, resilience, and honoring the families of the fallen. The medals were designed by the Arnault family, owners of Tiffany & Co. The family agreed to participate 'without hesitation,' Eric Trump said. After accepting the award, Paez' son, Cameron, spoke to reporters. 'I viewed my dad as Superman, someone my whole life you look up to," he said. "An amazing guy. It's horrible that this happened to all three families, but I'm glad that something was done about it and we got represented and everyone in the future will be." Trump said he will look into possibility of awarding to medal to first responders involved in past of line of duty deaths. He presented a fourth medal to be given to Sheriff Ric Bradshaw in the event that it is need to honor another deputy in the future. "I hope it never has to be given out," he said. Julius Whigham II is a criminal justice and public safety reporter for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jwhigham@ and follow him on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @JuliusWhigham. Help support our work: Subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Trump honors three PBSO motorcycle deputies killed in November crash
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Yahoo
No charges to be filed in man's death after traffic stop, altercation with Ashe County Sheriff's Deputies: DA
ASHE COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — No charges will be filed in connection with a man's death following a traffic stop, according to the Ashe County Sheriff's Office and Watauga County District Attorney's Office. On September 13, 2024, deputies monitoring traffic at Highway 16 and Highway 221 spotted a motorcycle with a piece of cardboard with 'no tag' written in Sharpie. When deputies tried to stop the motorcycle near the Corner Market gas station, officials say the rider, 48-year-old Stuart Mast, of Fleetwood, fled. The chase ended with a rolling roadblock about 3.3 miles later, just before the Sheets Bridge. PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Sheriff: Motorcyclist becomes unconscious during arrest in Ashe County, dies Deputy Bledsoe, with his weapon drawn, walked up to the motorcyclist, ordering him to 'get off the bike'. Deputy Bledsoe then put away his gun and took Mast's arm to take him off the motorcycle and make an arrest. When Mast got off the motorcycle, the inflatable vest he was wearing inflated. Deputies say they did not know he was wearing the vest, and a struggle ensued, leading to Mast landing seated on the ground with Deputy Bledsoe 'briefly on top of him' and Deputy Call trying to put Mast in handcuffs. Shortly after, deputies say they noticed that Mast was unconscious and started to provide medical care. They took off Mast's helmet and handcuffs, started CPR and gave two doses of Narcan to try to reverse an overdose. An AED was used but it did not give a shock. Deputies continued trying to resuscitate Mast until paramedics arrived, according to authorities. Mast was later pronounced dead at Ashe Memorial Hospital. Deputy Call was also taken to Ashe Memorial Hospital but was later released. Both deputies were placed on administrative leave as an investigation into the incident began. The Ashe County Sheriff's Office says that before Mast's death, he was under investigation for reportedly distributing methamphetamine in the area. Two days before his death, investigators learned that he had left the county to get narcotics to distribute and it was decided that, if deputies spotted Mast, a traffic stop would be made. Officials did not say if deputies knew who they were stopping on September 13. The Sheriff's Office also says that they do not condone the 'inappropriate language used by officers,' but say the language used did not appear to have led to Mast's death. Homeowner arrested in Chicago, accused of Dilworth house explosion waives extradition to NC The State Medical Examiner's Office says that 13 factors led to Mast's death, the main factor being the inflatable vest. Other factors included methamphetamine and pre-existing heart disease. Since the death happened during an altercation with deputies, it was ruled a homicide. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations took charge of the case, and the Watauga County District Attorney was assigned to help. After reviewing evidence and body-worn camera footage, a grand jury decided on April 28, 2025, not to bring charges against the deputies involved. Watauga County District Attorney Seth Banks has asked for the NCSBI to close the case based on the jury's decision. The Ashe County Sheriff's Office has declined to comment on the case until the investigation into the incident was completed. Sheriff B. Phil Howell says his office is praying for Mast's loved ones, the deputies and the community. Sheriff Howell also voiced concern, stating that the 911 Dispatch Center, Sheriff's Office and their families have received disturbing threats of violence following the incident. He says his hope is for reconciliation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
India.com
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Meet Karisma Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor's cousin who never had good relationship with them, made superhit debut, then gave back-to-back flops, still has net worth of Rs…, his name is…
The Kapoor sisters, aka Karisma Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor, are two of the most celebrated actresses in Bollywood. While Karisma, in her career tenure, has delivered several hits, Kareena is also not far behind. Both actresses are, till date, among the most loved actresses in the Bollywood industry. However, did you know that both Karisma and Kareena have a cousin with whom their equation doesn't really fit? Yes, while many may think it is Ranbir Kapoor, Armaan Jain, or Aadar Jain, let us tell you—it is none of them. The person we are talking about is someone who is from the industry but had to struggle despite having the Kapoor name. If you are wondering who this person is, then let us tell you—we are talking about an actor who has been in the industry for two decades and has done over 40 movies. Yes, we are talking about Aftab Shivdasani. How is Aftab Shivdasani related to Kareena Kapoor or Karisma Kapoor? Karisma and Kareena were born to Randhir Kapoor and Babita Kapoor. Aftab is related to yesteryear actress Babita. Aftab's father, Prem Shivdasani, was the nephew of actress Babita's father, Hari Shivdasani. Hence, Babita is Aftab's aunt. With this aspect, Aftab's relation to Kareena and Karisma is that of cousins. Did you know that Aftab's aunt Sadhana and Babita, despite being sisters, did not have good terms and did not talk to each other? Media reports claim it is because of personal matters. Despite coming from a Kapoor background, Aftab had to struggle for years in the industry. He made his debut with the film Mast alongside Urmila Matondkar. Over the years, he featured in various films. However, his major recognition came when he worked in Kasoor in 2001. Did you know that before Aftab's adult debut, he worked as a child artist? He played the childhood role of Vijay Kumar Srivastava in Anil Kapoor's Mr. India and Amitabh Bachchan's film Shahenshah. Apart from this, he appeared as a child star in ChaalBaaz, Awwal Number, and Insaniyat. Aftab was last seen in Kotigobba 3 and is now all set to feature in his next film Masti 4. The movie is currently under filming.
Finextra
07-05-2025
- Business
- Finextra
Sikoia and Mast team on AI-powered document processing for mortgage lenders
London-based fintech Sikoia, which helps financial services providers automate key processes, is partnering with Mast. 0 This content is provided by an external author without editing by Finextra. It expresses the views and opinions of the author. Largely focussing on mortgages, Mast is a cutting-edge loan origination platform, currently serving UK building societies and lenders. Through this collaboration, Mast will integrate Sikoia's AI-powered application document processing solution into its platform, significantly streamlining case handling and improving the overall user experience. Sikoia automates tasks such as income, employer, and affordability checks directly from customer-submitted documents, including payslips, bank statements, and tax returns. What once took hours of manual review can now be completed in just minutes. The Sikoia platform also automatically verifies document authenticity, detects signs of tampering, and checks whether each document meets the specific lender policy requirements for the application. 'Speed and accuracy are essential in today's mortgage landscape to meaningfully enhance the customer experience,' said Alexis Rog, founder and CEO at Sikoia. 'Our partnership with Mast helps deliver that, cutting processing times, reducing errors, and enabling a smoother journey for borrowers and brokers alike.' By embedding this technology into its origination platform, Mast clients can: • Reduce document handling costs and time by over 75% • Automate identification of gaps and verification of key data points •Cut document analysis errors to below 1%, improving accuracy Joy Abisaab, co-founder and CEO at Mast, commented: 'We're committed to helping lenders process applications faster and more intelligently. Partnering with Sikoia adds a powerful layer of document automation and data verification to our platform - enabling our clients to operate more efficiently while delivering a superior customer experience.' The partnership further strengthens Sikoia's presence in the mortgage ecosystem, working with key technology providers to streamline onboarding and origination processes through intelligent automation.
