Latest news with #2015
Telegraph
2 days ago
- General
- Telegraph
After 40 years as a cat person, I've abandoned them for dogs
When we got our first dog in 2015, there was much talk within the media about the scourge of loneliness and social isolation. The more time we spent on our phones in this modern world, the less we knew how to interact in real life. And we were suffering accordingly. But thanks to Missy, a border terrier I sourced, as it happened, on my phone, I found that people are still only too eager to talk to strangers; they just need an excuse to do so. And nothing quite facilitates easy conversation better than walking your dog in a park. I was in my mid-40s when we got her, and she was, at least initially, an unknowable thing to me: over-friendly, over-eager, tauntingly tireless. I'd previously been a cat person, drawn to their aloof independence, and the fact that they could treat you the way Zsa Zsa Gabor occasionally did her husbands. I liked that, for some reason. The dog, in comparison, was a love bomb, always exploding in your face. She arrived at a stage in my life – specifically, midlife – when I was beginning, with palpable relief, to extricate myself from certain friendships, while lamenting those that just seemed to unravel of their own accord. But the dog then led me, without fanfare, into an entirely new social circle, comprised of people I'd never have encountered, much less befriended, without her. Over the next 10 years, she would open up the world in all sorts of ways, a beguiling companion at home, and a perpetual liability outdoors. She'd require me first to interact with strangers, then apologise to them as and when needed, which was often. Like the time she knocked a little girl flying while in pursuit of a pigeon, her mother distinctly unimpressed, or the homeless man whose Greggs' sausage roll she daringly swiped. I'd routinely watch her waltz off with total strangers simply because they had better treats than me, and occasionally stood helpless as she darted out into oncoming traffic because it seemed a good idea at the time. Life with her has been complicated, certainly, but rarely dull. Find your tribe In the small neighbourhood park I'd previously blithely ignored, I found endless drama and incident, and fell in with people who were young and old, and from every conceivable background, each eager to connect. It was here where a graffiti artist, with a limping pug, offered me an unsolicited TED talk on the benefits of investing in bitcoin one morning, while on another I walked with a stoned martial arts enthusiast – barefoot alongside his majestic Akita – to help him look for his shoes, 'which I seem to have misplaced'. I watched arguments erupt and quickly settle, new love blossom, and offered solace to those for whom it had ended. People with dogs seem to talk more openly than those without. While our pets mooched about us, they shared their anxieties, the trials of menopause, their myriad gripes and grouches. It felt lovely to be taken into quite so many confidences, and we became a community. True, I don't think any of us ever met outside the park, and we didn't always learn each other's name quite as quickly as we did the dogs', but within here we had each other's backs. When, for example, the man with Alzheimer's continued to turn up long after his own border terrier had died, and advancements in his condition became increasingly evident, one of us always silently volunteered to walk him home again afterwards. And when we encountered an emotional woman crying into her poodle's fur, the group offered her refuge from her abusive relationship, then helped her to break free from it completely. If ever I lost faith in humanity, I need only come back here to see it restored. Train your dog to obey I would come quickly to learn that getting a dog is much like having a baby. Everyone has an opinion on how you are raising it, and are quick to tell you where you're going wrong. 'Get a firmer grip,' they said. 'Teach her to obey you.' 'Ha,' I replied. 'Good one.' One July, we went to the river to cool off, only to watch – horrified – as Missy was swept away in the water's current in pursuit of a tennis ball that hadn't been thrown for her. The further she drifted, the louder we cried. A crowd gathered. 'You want to control her,' someone chided. 'That's my dog's ball,' said another. We called out to her, but she suffers from selective hearing. Her focus was entirely on the ball. The more she tried to bite it, the further away it bobbed. You'd think she'd give up, but no. Terriers. A large cruise boat loomed into view. This was getting serious. My wife spotted a kayaker, and pleaded for his help. Cheers rose from the crowd. We'd become the afternoon's entertainment, folk abandoning their barbecues to watch. The kayaker paddled fast, grabbed her, then clamped her tight between his thighs. In this way, a life was saved. The reunion was tearful, the kayaker awkward amid the gratitude. And then the cheers turned to jeers. Missy had waded back into the water. The tennis ball was still out there, unclaimed. 'That's my ball,' the lady next to me said again. Be in the moment It's an unavoidably sad fact that our animals age much faster than we do. When Missy was a puppy, I was still clinging hard to youthful energy levels, but both of us have been through much in the intervening years – existential crises (me), clogged anal glands (her) – and it shows on both of us. We've each got grey in our muzzles, both increasingly set in our ways. And our daily walks have become a battle of wills. We don't meet with the same crew any more – some have moved on, a few have died – and Missy doesn't like the newer arrivals. There've been incidents, fights. And so now we head elsewhere. But while I turn right, she veers left. Often, in the middle of the road, she will simply stop, impervious both to the encroaching traffic and to my pulling on the lead, happy to allow her neck to extend like a giraffe's in order to exert her will. I try to stare her out, but she doesn't blink. She leads me instead to a nearby cemetery, where it's quieter. Here amongst the gravestones, I contemplate my mortality while she sniffs every blade of grass at least twice, then lies down. Time slows. At first, this tested my patience greatly – I've things to do, deadlines to meet – but now I've given into it, embraced the mindfulness of it all. Away from my desk for a blessed hour, I take in the trees and the birds, and I feel almost, almost, at peace. Of course, the moment we get home, all is forgiven between us. Her eyes brighten, her tail wags, and she smiles up at me (I swear she smiles). Truly, I'd be lost without her. She's my constant companion, my significant other.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Hindustan Times
‘Assault' on Class 11 student: Rights panel directs Jhajjar SP to submit report in 4 weeks
The Haryana Human Rights Commission (HHRC) has taken a suo-moto cognisance of the incident of alleged physical assault by a Jhajjar private school teacher on a Class 11 student and has directed the superintendent of police (SP) to investigate the matter. The panel has also directed the SP to submit a report within four weeks and has asked the district education officer to conduct an institutional audit of the school. As per information, the student sustained a fracture in the arm due to assault and was later admitted to the hospital run by the same educational group. When the family reached the hospital, they were also subjected to intimidation and misconduct by the staff. Right panel chairperson justice Lalit Batra and other two members— Kuldeep Jain and Deep Bhatia— observed that the facts disclosed suggests serious violations of fundamental and human rights enshrined under the Constitution of India, particularly the right to life and personal liberty under Article 2, which encompasses dignity, mental well-being, and protection from abuse. 'The commission noted that this is not an isolated incident of violence but points to a systemic failure in ensuring student safety and monitoring staff conduct. Reports of intimidation faced by the victim's family further aggravate the seriousness of the matter,' the right panel said, adding such behaviour undermines trust in educational institutions and damages the sanctity of the teacher-student relationship. The panel also expressed concern over the physical and emotional trauma suffered by the student. 'The commission observed that the incident violates Sections 75 and 82 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, which prohibit cruelty and corporal punishment against children. Moreover, it contravenes Articles 19 and 28 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), which call for safeguarding children from all forms of physical or mental violence and ensuring a safe and supportive learning environment. The matter demands immediate and thorough investigation to protect the rights of the victim and ensure accountability,' justice Batra said in the order. Justice Batra also directed the Jhajjar superintendent of police to investigate the matter fairly in a time-bound manner under his own supervision and submit the report within four weeks. Moreover, he also directed the Jhajjar district education officer to conduct an urgent institutional audit of the concerned school. 'The audit will find out whether the educational institute has adopted a child protection policy or not, functioning of grievance redressal mechanisms exist for students and parents or not and whether the internal disciplinary mechanisms for staff misconduct are effectively implemented or not. The next hearing is fixed on July 8,' read the order.
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Indian Express
Dowry death case: Cops seal expelled NCP leader's bank locker
Pimpri Chinchwad Police — who are investigating the dowry death case of Vaishnavi Hagawane, the daughter-in-law of the the expelled NCP leader Rajendra Hagawane— sealed a bank locker operated by the expelled NCP leader and have also initiated the process to freeze the 510 grams of gold taken as dowry by the Hagawane family, which they had mortgaged for a loan. Police have also issued a Look Out Circular against Nilesh Chavan, an associate of Hagavane family, who is accused of cruelty towards Vaishnavi's ten-month-old son. Police have said Chavan, who is currently on the run, is an associate and friend of the Hagawane family. 'On Sunday, a Look Out Circular has been issued in the name of Chavan to ensure that he does not flee the country,' an official from Pimpri Chinchwad police said. A Look Out Circular (LOC) in India is an official notice issued by law enforcement agencies to prevent a person from leaving the country — typically when that person is wanted in a criminal offence. The circular is issued through the Maharashtra state Criminal Investigation Department and is submitted to the Bureau of Immigration. On Sunday Pimpri Chinchwad police added Chavan's name to the main offence of dowry death and booked him on charges of cruelty towards Vaishnavi's son. Police have invoked sections 75 (cruelty to children), 87 (abetment) of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, against Chavan, in this case. 'We have sealed a bank locker operated by the Hagavane family, because it is likely that it can have valuables obtained as dowry or any other proceeds of crime. Probe has also revealed that the Hagavane family had mortgaged the 510 grams of gold taken as dowry to obtain a loan. have also initiated the process to freeze the 510 grams of gold and have written to the finance entity not to release the gold even when the loan is repaid.' said the officer. Vaishnavi (23) was found dead on May 16 at her in-laws' house in Bhukum area of Pune. A First Information Report in the case had been registered at Bavdhan police station under Pimpri Chinchwad jurisdiction by Vaishnavi's father Anil Sahebrao Kaspate (51). Police invoked charges related to dowry death, abetment of suicide, physical assault among other sections. The police had booked Vaishnavi's husband Shashank Hagawane, mother-in-law Lata Rajendra Hagawane, father-in-law and NCP leader Rajendra Hagawane, sister-in-law Karishma Hagawane, and brother-in-law Sushil Hagawane. Police initially arrested Shashank, Lata and Karishma and later arrested Rajendra and Sushil who were on the run. An FIR had been lodged against Chavan at Warje police station in Pune city, for allegedly using a firearm to threaten the members of the Kaspate family, when they had gone to his residence to take custody of Vaishnavi's baby boy on May 20. Police said Vaishnavi's ten-month-old baby boy was earlier with Nilesh Chavan and was now in the custody of the Kaspate family. In the FIR against Hagavane family, Vaishnavi's father had alleged that at the time of Vaishnavi and Shashank's wedding they had given 510 grams gold, silver, and a Fortuner SUV to Vaishnavi's in-laws, but they had been mentally and physically abusing her to bring Rs two crore towards the purchase of property.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
The lowdown on inherited IRAs
Dear Liz: I inherited my mother's Roth IRA when she died in 2015 and have been taking yearly required minimum distributions based on my age. My spouse is my primary beneficiary on this inherited Roth IRA. What happens if I pass away before she does? Can she just roll it over into her existing Roth IRA, as is generally permitted for spousal IRA inheritance? Or are there additional limits imposed because it becomes a "doubly inherited" Roth IRA? Answer: The SECURE Act largely eliminated the so-called stretch IRA that allowed non-spouse beneficiaries to take distributions over their lifetimes. IRAs inherited on or after Jan. 1, 2020, must typically be drained within 10 years. That likely would be the case for your wife. Special rules allow a spouse to treat an inherited IRA as their own, but only when they inherit from the original IRA owner, says Mark Luscombe, principal analyst for Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting. There are a few exceptions. Your wife may be able to spread the distributions over her lifetime if she is disabled or chronically ill, for example. If that's not the case, she's back to draining the account within 10 years. Many inherited IRAs require annual distributions. Since this is a Roth IRA, however, the original owner would not have been required to start distributions. Therefore, the spouse of the inherited Roth IRA beneficiary does not have a requirement to distribute annually over the 10-year period but may wait until the end of the 10-year period to do the full distribution, Luscombe says. Dear Liz: I am in my late 50s, married and woefully unprepared financially for my later years. I was a stay-at-home mom for many years. I now work almost full time but my employer has no 401(k) or profit sharing or really any benefits at all. I just started putting $8,000 (the catch-up amount) into my Roth IRA. What else can I do now to make up for lost time? Answer: You can't really make up for the decades of compounded returns you missed by not investing earlier. But you can make some smart decisions now for a more comfortable retirement. Your most important decision likely will be how you and your spouse claim Social Security. Your spouse almost certainly should wait to claim until age 70 to maximize their lifetime benefit and to lock in the highest possible survivor benefit. If you outlive your spouse, this benefit could comprise the bulk of your income. Consider reading 'Get What's Yours,' a book about Social Security claiming strategies by Laurence J. Kotlikoff and Philip Moeller. Just make sure to get the updated version that was published in 2016, since earlier versions refer to strategies that Congress eliminated. Delaying retirement is another powerful way to compensate for a late start, since you'll have more years to work and save. Consider finding an employer who will help you secure your future by providing a 401(k) with a generous match. You'll be able to contribute substantially more to a workplace retirement plan than you would to a Roth. You and your spouse should consider hiring a fee-only financial planner to review your situation and offer customized advice. Dear Liz: You recently responded to an elderly couple who planned to move into assisted living, but were concerned about capital gains taxes on the sale of their home. You suggested an installment sale or renting out the home as possible options. While not for everyone, another possibility is a home loan or a reverse mortgage to cash out tax free. Answer: Reverse mortgages have to be repaid if the borrowers die, sell or permanently move out of their homes. If one of the spouses planned to stay in the home, a reverse mortgage might work, but not if both plan to move to assisted living. A home equity loan or home equity line of credit might be options if the couple have good credit, sufficient income to make the payments and a cooperative lender. A tax pro or a fee-only financial planner could help them assess their options. Liz Weston, Certified Financial Planner®, is a personal finance columnist. Questions may be sent to her at 3940 Laurel Canyon, No. 238, Studio City, CA 91604, or by using the "Contact" form at Sign up for our Wide Shot newsletter to get the latest entertainment business news, analysis and insights. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
PLAY TEAMSHEET: Can YOU name the Liverpool side who were thrashed 6-1 on the final day in 2015? Or pick YOUR team and guess their starting XI
Welcome back to Teamsheet... Mail Sport's original football memory game with a twist that gives you the chance to test your football knowledge against your mates. Today, we are taking you back to the final day of the 2014-2015 season when Stoke earned a stunning 6-1 victory over Brendan Rodgers ' Liverpool. The Potters stormed into a 5-0 lead at half-time, before an outgoing Liverpool star pulled a goal back in their final match for the club. Stoke would go on the clinch a late sixth through former Liverpool forward Peter Crouch. We want you to name the Liverpool side that started the match. It's just for fun, so see how you fare and share your Teamsheet score... full instructions on how to play are at the bottom of the article and in the game itself. And you can also pick any team you like and guess their starting XI. Best of luck! HOW TO PLAY The aim of the game is to score as few points as possible! If you guess a player at the first attempt you score one point - so the lowest score for guessing every player at the first attempt is 11. Guess a correct letter in the right position, and it'll turn green. Guess a correct letter but in the wrong position, and it'll turn yellow. You have six guesses for each player - and if you fail, we'll reveal their identity for 11 points! You can also ask for a free letter, but it costs you a point. So play on to see if you'll score the best possible total of 11 - or fail on every player and score 121.
