Latest news with #StClair
Press and Journal
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Press and Journal
Moray Barber: We need Annie Inglis spirit to save Aberdeen Arts Centre I spent a decade helping to run
Have a think about the great leaders the world has seen, the people who have changed the lives of others for the better. They were all optimists. Could Gandhi have sacrificed so much if he didn't believe that the colonialists would eventually change their minds and leave India? When Martin Luther King said: 'I have a dream', do you think he meant 'I'm hopeful but I can't see it happening to be honest'? Of course not. Malala, Mother Theresa, Nelson Mandela – all believed they could effect positive change. And what about Alex Ferguson on his way to Gothenburg to beat Real Madrid in the European Cup Winners Cup? Ok, that was perhaps self-belief over optimism but I'm sure many of the fans sailing on the St Clair were the latter. Self-belief and optimism are closely intertwined but when the balance tips towards the optimist that's when real change can happen. However, it's hard to be an optimist in challenging times. The Aberdeen Arts Centre is experiencing an incredibly challenging time following an unsuccessful application this year for funding from the city council. Its long-term sustainability is at risk. The team behind Aberdeen Arts Centre has mobilised the community – past, present and future – to rally around, to find their voice. It's a group of people who know and understand that the Arts Centre isn't simply a building. It's a fundamental part of their lives. I could write another essay on the importance of culture in our lives. However, for now, this is a story about local people and what they can achieve in challenging times with the required dose of resilience, self-belief and optimism. When the 'Save the Arts Centre' campaign was launched earlier this week, my social media was flooded with people sharing the news. It demonstrates how much the place is beloved by people in the north-east. Tens (hundreds?) of thousands of people must have been on the stage, watched their sons or daughters perform there, been to see friends' star shine. They'll have laughed and cried. They'll have seen lives change for the better there. Support has been pledged from inspirational creative forces including Laura Main, Brian Cox and Dame Evelyn Glennie. A video was released starring a young performer from Phoenix Theatre, a group who have steadfastly stood by the Arts Centre through thick and thin. Somewhat poignantly, the youth Theatre Group Ragamuffins are celebrating their 30th-anniversary production with The Little Mermaid at the Arts Centre this week. There are too many other similar groups to name here. See the themes? Youth, encouragement, commitment, community. The Arts Centre represents the beating heart of the city – it isn't simply a building. It is a home for creative young people. It offers users a chance to learn new skills and it brings people together. At times like these, we need this more than ever. It champions new, emerging talent – writers, musicians, performers. The team at Aberdeen Arts Centre know these artists. Its independence as a venue gives it the permission to support everyone. Despite constant reductions in funding over the years, the ethos has always been to offer affordable opportunities for the city's young people. Full disclosure, I was on the Board for 10 years and love the place and what it stands for. As a student, I was fortunate to meet and work with Annie Inglis, who fought her own dogged but inspiring campaign to rally the community and keep the Arts Centre alive in the late 90s when the city council wanted to close it. Annie and her team won the day. How? By demonstrating that the Arts Centre was the only place in the city that could support grassroots theatre. To offer inclusive creative learning programmes. By bringing the community together. Yes, there are other theatres in the city. There is only one Arts Centre that can truly provide those things. The ask is simple – the centre needs either donations, for you to spread the word of the financial support required in the hope others can contribute or to simply show up and demonstrate your support. Or to go see and show and maybe donate a pound on your way out. I've two additional asks – one for the local councillors and one for everyone else. To anyone reading this who thinks a pledge, no matter how small, won't make a difference, then be optimistic. It will make a difference to the lives of so many young people, current and in the future. Secondly, I'd like to see the elected councillors form a cross-party working group to collaborate on how they can help the Arts Centre. Cross party you say? Now? It might feel like a big ask, but it's not. Not really. It's a bit of energy, time, collaboration, positivity and leadership. Imagine the goodwill that those participating councillors might create if they did? Of course, they are busy. We all are. But, hey, I'm an optimist. The technologist Kevin Kelly has the following as his website by-line: 'Over the long term, the future is decided by optimists'. So, whilst the community does its bit to raise the funds required and rallies around our local institution, I believe that the elected officials will think about the good they can do in the world over the long term and support the volunteers who have played their part in keeping the stage lights on for the last 25 or so years. Thanks to anyone who has already supported the cause and to anyone who is considering getting involved. The Arts Centre needs your creativity. And it needs your belief in securing a brighter future. Link to donate – Moray Barber is managing partner at EY Aberdeen and a performer and writer with The Flying Pigs
AsiaOne
21-05-2025
- Business
- AsiaOne
American freed from Venezuela back in US, Trump envoy says , World News
CARACAS/HOUSTON — A US citizen who had been detained for months in Venezuela is back in the United States, US President Donald Trump envoy Richard Grenell said on Tuesday (May 20), after the freed man's family said he had been handed over to US authorities. "Joe St Clair is back in America," Grenell said in a post on X, adding he had met Venezuelan officials in "a neutral country" earlier in the day to negotiate. Earlier on Tuesday, Venezuela Information Minister Freddy Nazareth Nanez said in a message to Reuters that Air Force veteran Joseph St Clair had been released to Grenell on the Caribbean island of Antigua. Grenell had met there with Jorge Rodriguez, the head of Venezuela's ruling party-allied legislature, two sources told Reuters. "This news came suddenly, and we are still processing it — but we are overwhelmed with joy and gratitude," St Clair's parents said in a statement. The family's statement said St Clair had been wrongly detained in Venezuela since November 2024. The US State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment, nor did the White House. The sources said Grenell had offered to extend by 60 days the wind-down period for a licence allowing US oil company Chevron to operate in the country. It had been set to expire on May 27. Bloomberg originally reported the meeting and Grenell's offer on Tuesday, citing a single, unnamed source. The 60-day extension would need to be approved by the US Treasury Department and State Department. If granted, the extension would not necessarily lead to the resumption of its exports of Venezuelan oil to the US Venezuela's state-owned PDVSA cancelled cargoes to the company in April over payment uncertainty, a situation that has not been resolved. Chevron must pay royalties, taxes and a portion of its joint ventures' operating expenses in Venezuela in order to get access to crude cargoes. Treasury did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the possible extension. Grenell in January returned from a meeting with Maduro in Caracas with six American citizens, who had been held in Venezuela. [[nid:716894]]
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Venezuela frees US citizen in latest exchange with Trump administration
A United States citizen has been transferred to the US after being held for nearly six months in Venezuela. The family of US Air Force veteran Joseph St Clair confirmed his release on Tuesday, following his detention in November of last year. 'This news came suddenly, and we are still processing it, but we are overwhelmed with joy and gratitude,' St Clair's parents, Scott and Patti, said in a statement. US President Donald Trump's envoy for special missions, Richard Grenell, later explained on social media that he had met with Venezuelan officials on the Caribbean island of Antigua to negotiate the release. Grenell credited St Clair's freedom to Trump's 'America First' political platform. 'Joe St. Clair is back in America,' he wrote. 'I met Venezuelan officials in a neutral country today to negotiate an America First strategy. This is only possible because [Trump] puts Americans first. ' Citing anonymous sources familiar with the negotiations, the Reuters news agency reported that Grenell discussed St Clair's case on Tuesday with Jorge Rodriguez, the president of Venezuela's National Assembly and an ally of President Nicolas Maduro. Reuters and another news agency, Bloomberg, both reported that a deal was struck to extend a licence for the US oil company Chevron to operate in Venezuela by 60 days. The Trump administration had previously announced it was revoking the licence in February, on the basis that Venezuela had not upheld its commitment to fair elections. The licence was due to end on May 27. Any extension will likely need the approval of the US Department of State and the US Treasury. The South American country relies on oil as the pillar of its economy. But since the mid-2010s, Venezuela has experienced an economic crisis that has pushed even basic supplies like food and medicine beyond what some families can afford. That, combined with alleged political repression, has prompted an exodus of nearly 7.9 million people out of Venezuela, according to the United Nations. In 2023, Venezuela committed to electoral reforms under the Barbados Agreement, a deal that the US applauded. Then-US President Joe Biden loosened restrictions on Venezuela's oil industry in the aftermath of the agreement. But Venezuela's presidential election on July 28, 2024 was widely criticised for its lack of transparency. While Maduro and his allies claimed he had won a third term, the electoral authorities did not provide any proof of his victory. Instead, the opposition coalition published voting tallies it said proved that its candidate had won by a landslide. That prompted widespread protests and a deadly crackdown from law enforcement. During his first term in office, from 2017 to 2021, Trump had pursued a campaign of 'maximum pressure' on Maduro's government, even offering a $15m bounty for information that led to the Venezuelan leader's arrest. But critics have pointed out that Trump may need Venezuela's cooperation to carry out his goal of 'mass deportation' during his second term. Since returning to office in January, Trump has signalled a willingness to negotiate with Maduro. In late January, he even sent Grenell to meet with Maduro in person in the capital of Caracas. Part of Grenell's directive was to ensure all detained Americans in the country were returned home. As Grenell left the country, he revealed he was returning with six Americans who had previously been imprisoned in Venezuela. In March, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio estimated that nine Americans remained in Venezuela's custody. Venezuela, for its part, has started to accept deportation flights from the US, although in the past it has refused to accept migrants removed from the US. St Clair's family has said that the military veteran was a language specialist who was seeking treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder in South America.
Otago Daily Times
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Island Park's hopes extinguished
While the big guns continued to flex their muscle in the Metro Senior A pennant series, the story of round 7 was the result between the bottom teams, the Otago B52s moving back into 4th place — condemning Island Park to a 7th straight defeat in Waldronville. In other results, Chisholm Links were no match for St Clair at Corstorphine while the Otago Bombers accounted for Taieri Lakes 4.5-1.5 despite 3 halved games. At Balmacewen, the Bombers flew out of the blocks with wins to Luke Murdoch, Ben Patston and Duncan Croudis. Both matches at 5 and 6 were halved — Callum Judkins (Bombers) and Josh Boath, Ryan Rosevear (Bombers) and Hayden Robertson — which secured a Bombers win. Blair Bennett (Taieri Lakes) halved with Brandon Hodgson to give the visitors a half-point which may prove a key difference come finals time. At St Clair, the presence of youth continues to be a revelation for the defending champions in 2025. After years of playing a Dad's Army squad, the young St Clair sextet continue to grow and are still yet to taste defeat. Logan Clarke, Connor Howes, Parker Aluesi, Harvey O'Neill and Albie Reed all secured wins for the Saints while Will Summers was held to a half against Jason Pegler to complete the 5.5-.5 near whitewash. At Island Park, the home side's hopes of a semifinal resurgence are now all but extinguished, going down to a young Otago B52s side 4-2. The tail games were split each way with Otago Volts cricketer Jamal Todd (B52s) winning on debut while Brent Butler squared things up for Park over Lewis Harper. Brian Helton and George Prendergast won their respective games at the top order to give the visitors 3 games while halves from Riki Bush and Jonty Smith were enough to claim an important away victory. By Michael Minty
Otago Daily Times
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
St Clair dominant force at awards night
St Clair scooped three awards for a standout year at the Bowls Dunedin awards last night. They were named club of the year after what was described as their best season in decades. St Clair won multiple centre titles, are home to countless Dunedin players and won the men's interclub sevens title, which gained them a berth in the national finals. Off the green, they worked hard hosting events for their community and ran a successful twilight bowls programme that attracted new players. It was being part of that work that led to Lyndon Broadley being acknowledged as greenkeeper of the year. Broadley started greenkeeping in 2010 with Caversham before joining St Clair and still helps in a supervisory role at Caversham. He has arguably transformed St Clair into the best green in Dunedin. Jordan McEwan was recognised as men's development player of the year. The St Clair bowler won the centre junior singles, was part of the team that won the interclub sevens title and was a member of Dunedin teams at national championships. It was a tight race for men's and women's bowler of the year. Taieri bowler Beth Brown was named the best women's bowler. She won the open pairs and open triples and was third equal in the open singles and champion of champions singles. Kaikorai bowler Nigel Birkbeck was named men's bowler of the year. He won the open triples and champion of champion pairs and was third equal in the champion of champions singles. Kerrin Wheeler — helped by father and director Colin — was named open disability player of the year. The North East Valley bowler was part of the Parajacks side who beat Australia at the transtasman series this year and he won bronze at the national open disability singles and pairs. He is a member of the New Zealand high performance squad. Cyril Gilfedder (North East Valley) was recognised as umpire of the year, after clocking up more than 107 hours. Gilfedder umpired 14 events at the centre throughout the 2024-25 season and made contributions to the centre and clubs. He supported fellow umpires and players and has been president of the local association for the past two years. Kelsey Bennett (Brighton/St Kilda) was named female development player of the year. She won the champion of champions mixed pairs for St Kilda and champion of champion triples for Brighton. She was also a key in the Dunedin women's development side.
