Latest news with #Leighton
9 News
a day ago
- Politics
- 9 News
'One weapon, one plane' that can end Iran's nuclear program
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here Israel claims that in the last few days it has taken complete control of Iran's airspace, and that it has set back the country's nuclear program immensely with targeted attacks on key sites and people. So why is Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu still courting a US entry into the conflict ? It comes down to one weapon. The US GBU-57 massive ordnance penetrator, or "bunker buster" missile. (CNN) Iran's key nuclear enrichment facility, Fordow, is buried up to 100m below the surface of the ground, rendering it all but impervious to Israeli aerial action. And observers say that while this facility is online, Iran's nuclear program may be set back, but it's not knocked out. "There is only one weapon in the world that can destroy a place like Fordow, and there's only one plane in the world that can carry that weapon," retired US Air Force colonel and CNN military analyst Cedric Leighton said. The bunker buster can only be carried by a B2 bomber. (CNN) That weapon is the "bunker buster" that has been brought up at times during the ongoing turmoil. More properly, it's the GBU-57, a massive ordnance penetrator (MOP). The MOP is a six-metre, 13.6-tonne bomb that can strike a deeply buried target after multiple impacts with "pinpoint accuracy", Leighton said. And the only plane in the world capable of carrying it is the USAF B2 bomber. "Israel doesn't have any of these planes, or any of these bombs, and that's why they want the US to join their aerial campaign against Iran," Leighton said. President Donald Trump has given himself a two-week deadline to decide whether the US will do so. national War Weapons military Iran USA World CONTACT US
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Only known oil painting Gandhi sat for heads for UK auction
A rare oil painting of Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi, which is believed to have been damaged by a Hindu nationalist activist, is to be auctioned in London in July. Gandhi, one of the most influential figures in India's history, led a non-violent movement against British rule and inspired similar resistance campaigns across the world. He is the subject of tens of thousands of artworks, books and films. But a 1931 painting by British-American artist Clare Leighton is believed to be the only oil portrait he sat for, according to the painter's family and Bonhams, where it will be auctioned online from July 7 to 15. "Not only is this a rare work by Clare Leighton, who is mainly known for her wood engravings, it is also thought to be the only oil painting of Mahatma Gandhi which he sat for," said Rhyanon Demery, Bonhams Head of Sale for Travel and Exploration. The painting is a "likely hidden treasure", Caspar Leighton, the artist's great-nephew, told AFP. Going under the hammer for the first time next month, the painting is estimated to sell for between £50,000 and £70,000 ($68,000 and $95,000). Leighton met Gandhi in 1931, when he was in London for talks with the British government on India's political future. She was part of London's left-wing artistic circles and was introduced to Gandhi by her partner, journalist Henry Noel Brailsford. "I think there was clearly a bit of artistic intellectual courtship that went on," said Caspar, pointing out that his great-aunt and Gandhi shared a "sense of social justice". Painting attacked The portrait, painted at a crucial time for India's independence struggle, "shows Gandhi at the height of his power", added Caspar. It was exhibited in London in November 1931, following which Gandhi's personal secretary, Mahadev Desai, wrote to Leighton: "It was such a pleasure to have had you here for many mornings doing Mr Gandhi's portrait." "Many of my friends who saw it in the Albany Gallery said to me that it was a good likeness," reads a copy of the letter attached to the painting's backing board. The painting intimately captures Gandhi's likeness but it also bears reminders of his violent death. Gandhi was shot at point-blank range in 1948 by disgruntled Hindu nationalist activist Nathuram Godse, once closely associated with the right-wing paramilitary organisation RSS. Godse and some other Hindu nationalist figures accused Gandhi of betraying Hindus by agreeing to the partition of India and the creation of Muslim-majority Pakistan. According to Leighton's family, the painting was attacked with a knife by a "Hindu extremist" believed to be an RSS activist, in the early 1970s. Although there is no documentation of the attack, a label on the back of the painting confirms that it was restored in the United States in 1974. Under UV light, Demery pointed out the shadow of a deep gash running across Gandhi's face where the now-restored painting was damaged. "It feels very deliberate," she said. 'Real home' The repairs "add to the value of the picture in a sense... to its place in history, that Gandhi was again attacked figuratively many decades after his death", said Caspar. The only other recorded public display of the painting was in 1978 at a Boston Public Library exhibition of Leighton's work. After Leighton's death, the artwork passed down to Caspar's father and then to him. "There's my family's story but the story in this portrait is so much greater," he said. "It's a story for millions of people across the world," he added. Unlike countless depictions of the man known in India as the "father of the nation" – in stamps, busts, paraphernalia and recreated artwork – "this is actually from the time", said Caspar. "This might be really the last truly significant picture of Gandhi to emerge from that time."
Newsweek
11-06-2025
- Newsweek
Passenger Misses Connecting Flight After Rule Break, Internet Furious
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A post accusing inconsiderate flyers of causing a missed connecting flight due to their refusal to follow carry-on bag rules has gone viral on Reddit, reigniting debate about airline policies and passenger etiquette. The post, shared by u/TigerBarFly in the r/mildlyinfuriating subreddit, has garnered 36,000 upvotes and hundreds of comments since it was posted on June 9. Titled "Missed Connecting Flight Because Entitled People Thought 'All Bags Must be Checked' Didn't Apply to Them," the post included a photo of several carry-on sized bags in the aisle of a plane beside a flight staff member. "I was on a flight and we were already delayed because the inbound flight had mechanical issues," the poster wrote. "The gate attendants announced multiple times that 'all carry on's like duffle bags and rolling luggage must be gate checked.' Everyone was allowed one carry on." Despite the repeated announcements, some passengers disregarded the instructions. "I watched as multiple people pushed by the flight attendant and say 'no, it's not a checked bag' while getting on our (tiny) airplane," the poster said. "Note multiple had the little red tag clearly dangling off their bag. Well, lo and behold, after the jetway was pulled back, the flight attendants carry five bags up to the front during a final safety check." As a result, the aircraft was further delayed. "So, then we have to wait for them to bring the jetway back to the plane so they can take the five large bags and stow them under the plane. Our already 30 minute delayed flight was delayed another 30 minutes," the poster wrote. "There were multiple people that missed connecting flights, including myself. Some people literally don't believe any rules apply to them." Stock image: Airline passengers standing their suitcases while being checked by flight staff at a departure gate. Stock image: Airline passengers standing their suitcases while being checked by flight staff at a departure gate. Getty Nick Leighton, an etiquette expert and co-host of the Were You Raised by Wolves? podcast, told Newsweek: "It's definitely confusing why the aircraft door was closed before all baggage was stowed. Definitely feels like the airline missed some opportunities to enforce the rules and then make the boarding process more efficient." Leighton added: "That said, this is a textbook example of entitlement. Carry-on rules exist for a reason and deliberately ignoring the rules is both rude and inconsiderate to everyone else who is." The frustration voiced in the post comes as there were said to be around 2,640 flight delays into, within or out of the United States at the time of reporting on Tuesday, according to FlightAware, a flight tracking website. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) monitors such delays closely. "The Department investigates all extended tarmac delays," the DOT states. Airlines must not allow domestic flights to remain on the tarmac for more than three hours, or international flights for more than four hours, without providing passengers the opportunity to deplane —with exceptions for safety, security, or air traffic control reasons, according to the DOT. 'The Amount of Entitlement Is Absurd' In response to the viral post, fellow Reddit users largely supported the original poster's frustration. U/Cyanide_Cheesecake wrote: "People doing this should be put off the plane," while u/MelonElbows added: "I hope they got tossed off the flight." Others highlighted how passengers circumvent rules. U/Independent_Lab3872 commented: "I've seen people put the gate check tag on their bag and then proceed to carry it onto the plane and escaped the notice of the FA's." U/Zerdalias noted: "I've also seen people get the gate check tag and then once past the ticket check and on the jet bridge, they remove it." Flight crew perspectives also emerged in the discussion. U/Kitchen-Celery8374, who identified as a flight attendant, commented: "The amount of entitlement is absurd... to be fair it was also the gate agents' fault for not proactively gate checking bags as well." Some users criticized the airlines themselves for policies that encourage such conflicts. U/RapidHedgehog asked: "What the f*** is the point of the security checkpoint if you have to check the bags AGAIN at the gate? What a massive waste of time." U/PipsqueakPilot weighed in, noting: "Just going to say that this is in large part the airlines fault. They force everyone to use a carry on—which results in this. How often do you hear the call that overhead is full and free checked bags? Well, if you let us check the bag from the start without an extra fee none of this s*** would happen." U/deepbluenothings agreed, saying: "It's 100 percent the airlines fault, they created this system and profit from this system. They could easily make checking bags free, they could have better systems to avoid checked bags being lost, and most importantly they could add more storage at the cost of a few seats. Yea people could be better but the system is set up in a way that encourages this behavior." Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via Reddit. Do you have a travel-related video or story to share? Let us know via life@ and your story could be featured on Newsweek.
The Herald Scotland
10-06-2025
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
MSPs urged to act on 'housing health emergency' after toddler goes into coma
His mum, Michelle Ure, 28, told The Herald from Wishaw General Hospital where he was in a high dependency unit that she feared her son was going to die and decided to rush him to hospital herself rather than wait on an ambulance. She said: "I was told if I didn't take him then and there he would have gone." She had previously been forced to vacate her two-bedroomed flat in Hamilton for a second time five weeks ago because she was deeply concerned for the health of her son Leighton which she says is the result of living in the council home which experts said is unfit to be lived in. A damning expert study from Healthy Homes and Beyond condemned South Lanarkshire Council's failure to act to remove the mother and child accusing it of "unacceptable and unethical blaming of tenants" and warning that it faced legal issues by not acting. Expert studies, by the group, the latest carried out at the end of April warned the council that the flat remains "unfit for human habitation" and that the family should be moved out. The group's director and founder Kristine Reilly-Blake who began investigations as an independent damp and mould surveyor in the north east of England and Scotland after her eldest daughter had a severe exacerbation of asthma which left her fighting for her life has taken action to warn MSPs that it was a "wake-up call for Scotland's housing and health crisis" after the toddler slipped into a diabetic coma at the weekend. The condition is a life-threatening state of unconsciousness that can occur in people with diabetes due to dangerously high or low blood sugar levels. The council has said that the Hamilton home had been visited on numerous occasions and at no time had they found the property to be anything other than habitable. Ms Ure's case has been previously been credited with helping to force the Scottish Government to propose the introduction of new rules over housing standards which is being dubbed by some as Leighton's Law after her son. Evidence provided to South Lanarkshire Council in the expert report (Image: NQ) Leighton's Law emerged after the Herald revealed more than 700,000 Scottish homes have been classed as not fit for habitation - with 600,000 more properties registered as below a legal tolerable standard since the pandemic. Campaigners say that initial proposals was 'flawed' as they do not go far enough and focus only on the social rented sector which comprises properties owned by councils and housing associations such as Wheatley. Ms Reilly-Blake has told the MSPs that there needs to be a legal infrastructure to hold landlords accountable for negligent repairs or he use of unqualified contractors. She said her appeal was steeped in "urgency and deep concern" and said: "The case of Leighton is not only a symbol of systemic failure—it is a warning." She said that his diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes was a "life-altering" condition could be linked to chronic exposure to mould and poor indoor air quality in the Hamilton flat. "Prolonged exposure to mould and damp conditions can cause irreversible damage to children's developing lungs, immune systems, and neurological health. Medical literature has documented cases of chronic respiratory illness, cognitive impairment, and autoimmune disorders linked to mould exposure. In extreme cases, such exposure can be fatal. This is an extreme case," she said. Research indicates and health organisations have warned that both damp and mould can negatively impact overall health, which in turn can affect diabetes management NHS advise that those with a weakened immune system - which includes people with conditions like diabetes - should stay away from damp and mould as much as possible. Ms Reilly-Blake says Leighton "continues to suffer the long-term consequences of living in a mould-infested home", which Ms Ure moved into three years ago. "His mother, Michelle Ure, has also endured significant emotional and physical tolls. They have been left to navigate a complex medical and legal landscape with little support, while the conditions that caused this harm remain unaddressed for many others. Read more: "This is not just about housing standards - it is about life and death. The cost of inaction is measured in hospital admissions, chronic illness, and preventable tragedies. "Leighton's mother, Michelle has become a powerful voice for thousands of families across Scotland living in damp, mould-infested homes." She said a legal framework was required to ensure no child is left in unsafe housing, and that landlords and authorities are held accountable not just for disrepair, but for professional negligence. "Emerging research suggests that mycotoxins from mould and chronic inflammation caused by water-damaged buildings may contribute to immune dysregulation, potentially triggering autoimmune diseases like Type 1 diabetes in genetically predisposed children. "This is not just a housing issue—it is a public health emergency. "Scotland must not wait for another child to suffer. Leighton's story is not an isolated tragedy—it is a symbol of systemic failure. Let it also be the catalyst for bold, compassionate, and lasting change." Ms Ure backed calls for change and said her son had recovered to such a point that there was talk of him leaving hospital at the end of the week. "We had had the usual symptoms last Wednesday and the symptoms as usual. He got worse on Saturday. His colour drained out him. He couldn't walk he just fell. He was frozen to touch. Evidence provided to South Lanarkshire Council in the expert report (Image: NQ) "I did phone for an ambulance. As you can imagine, I was emotional and upset and people said just go to hospital and so I phoned 999 and told them I was on my way. It is just horrible. "There was risk to his life. Diabetes in anyone is a risk to life, let alone a two-year-old who has been left with irreversible damage for life." Concerns had been raised about a north-south divide over housing standards after the death of toddler Awaab Ishak over four years ago due to conditions at the family's Rochdale flat ushered in tough legislation forcing landlords to fix damp and mould in properties within "strict new time limits". But it will only be enforceable in England and Wales. A petition has been lodged with the Scottish Parliament urging ministers to introduce a similar law for Scotland, requiring all private and registered social landlords to investigate and remediate damp and mould within specified timeframes and to high-quality standards. The rise in 'tolerable standard' failures is believed to be primarily fuelled by amendments to Scots law which came into force in February 2022, and states that smoke, heat and carbon monoxide detectors are a requirement of private rented properties to meet the tolerable standard. Ms Ure, who moved into the Hamilton flat three years ago, has backed changes in how families like hers are dealt with in dealing with sub-standard homes, saying that her son's health has been hit due to rampant damp and mould problems in her council flat which resulted in him being at risk of choking on his own vomit The mother from Hamilton has compared her plight with South Lanarkshire Council with that of two-year-old Awaab Ishak who died in 2020 as a result of damp and mould in his home which was managed by Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH). The mother received an email from a council investigator at the end of January insisting there were no problems with the flat. South Lanarkshire Council previously said it has been working hard to carry out alleviate any dampness issues and say the property has been "confirmed to be habitable". The mother denies this.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tesco to shed light on sales as ‘awful April' bill hikes squeeze budgets
Tesco shareholders will be watching closely for signs that it is managing to fend off competition as the supermarket price war heats up and 'awful April' bill hikes eat into household income. The UK's biggest supermarket chain will unveil its financial results for the first three months of its financial year on Thursday. Tesco recently signalled that a price war was mounting within the sector, saying that it expects to make as much as £400 million less in profit in the year ahead as a result of what it called 'a very competitive market'. Asda has promised its biggest price cuts in 25 years under returning boss Allan Leighton, in a bid to revive the languishing chain. The rapid growth of discounters Aldi and Lidl in the UK has also driven more competition as supermarkets move to match some of their prices to low-cost alternatives. Tesco is expecting to generate a group adjusted operating profit of between £2.7 billion and £3 billion for the year to February 2026, down from the £3.1 billion made over the latest year. A group of analysts for AJ Bell said that, despite fears of a supermarket price war, Tesco's share price was close to a 12-year high. 'Asda's reboot under new chair Allan Leighton prompted such concerns but, for now, the competition seems relatively limited in scope, with a focus on Clubcard and loyalty scheme customers and loss-leaders that drive footfall,' they said. 'Mr Leighton claims he can see the green shoots of recovery at Asda, but the latest Kantar survey of market share in the UK grocery market suggests that Tesco, Aldi and Lidl continue to have both Asda and Morrisons for breakfast.' Asda is the UK's third-largest UK supermarket, behind Sainsbury's, but remains close to being overtaken by Aldi which has seen its share of the market grow steadily. Meanwhile, investors will be looking for an update from Tesco on how consumers are faring following the onset of higher bills during what has been dubbed as 'awful April'. Household bills including for electricity, water, phone deals, and council tax rose for many from the beginning of the month. Financial markets analyst Michael Hewson said trading updates from the UK's biggest retailers can give a strong indication of consumer trends and any signs of weakness in the UK economy. He said Tesco's Booker division – the food wholesaler – was the 'main drag' on its latest annual sales figures, 'largely due to weakness in its tobacco business, as well as the fast-food market serviced by its Best Food logistics brand'. 'This business supplies the likes of Burger King, Pret a Manger, Pizza Express, Zizzi, Nando's and Pizza Hut, and saw a like-for-like sales decline of 5.1% to £1.44 billion,' he said.
