Latest news with #Speaking
Hans India
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Cabin crew sacking: More trouble brews for Air India amid CBI probe demand
New Delhi: Air India, currently reeling under the devastating AI 171 Boeing 787 Dreamliner crash that killed at least 270 people, including 241 passengers and crew members, on Friday faced more heat as the Aviation Industry Employees' Guild (AIEG) demanded a CBI probe into the sacking of two cabin crew members by the airline for reporting a technical fault in the aircraft last year. AIEG General Secretary, George Abraham, told IANS that they have demanded a CBI probe into the sacking of two cabin crew members, as this move, after pressure on them by Air India to change their statements after reporting a technical fault in the Dreamliner 787 aircraft, is a very serious matter. "This poses a threat to the safety of the aviation sector. We have also written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a fair probe into the matter," Abraham said. He further stated that on May 14, 2024, after the Air India flight from Mumbai to London reached its destination, the slide rafts opened in manual mode due to a technical fault in the door of the aircraft. According to Abraham, the slide rafts are activated only when the plane is in automatic mode. The pilot and the entire cabin crew had also admitted the technical fault in the plane in their initial statements, but due to alleged pressure from the airline's management, the statement was later changed. Abraham said that to suppress the technical fault in the plane, the Air India management allegedly pressured these people to change their statement, and when they refused, both these crew members were fired from their jobs. Speaking to IANS, Abraham further said that due to the seriousness of the matter, both these crew complained about the matter to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the regulator called them to Delhi and heard the whole matter and talked about conducting an "informal investigation". However, eight months have passed, but no result of the "informal investigation" has come out, he noted. According to Abraham, after the deadly Ahmedabad plane crash, the attention of the government and the people is back on this issue. "This is why we have raised it once again and written a letter to PM Modi. We hope that this investigation will be expedited," he said. In a statement to IANS, the airline on Friday said that the "said cabin crew members were terminated for their misconduct and behaviour and continuing to falsify critical information during the course of an investigation". "The said investigation was launched after an emergency slide was activated while opening the aircraft door post landing," said Air India. Slide rafts deploy when a door is opened in "armed" or "automatic mode". The crew alleged the Dreamliner's door had malfunctioned as the slide raft deployed, though the door was opened in the "manual mode". The incident is reported to have occurred on May 14 last year, after the Mumbai-London flight AI-129 docked at Heathrow airport and the passengers disembarked. The two former senior cabin crew members have written to PM Modi, alleging they were wrongfully terminated last year after raising an alarm over technical issues in the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. The letter claimed that, "the said accident was waiting to happen as our various statements and contentions relating to the technical aspects and defects in the Aircraft – (Dreamliner Aircraft B787/8 Series), were deliberately pulled under the carpet, ignored, overlooked or not considered seriously for reasons best known to Air India Ltd management (AI) and the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)". The crew claimed the crash was "waiting to happen", and that their repeated warnings about aircraft defects -- especially a 2024 incident involving Dreamliner VT-ANQ -- were ignored by Air India and the DGCA. However, the signatories allege they were later pressured to change their statements, and when they refused, they were sacked without a proper enquiry. "We fail to understand why an informal discussion instead of an impartial full-fledged enquiry was sought to be conducted by DGCA, the Regulatory Authority, when such a grave incident relating to passenger and crew safety was reported," the letter read. Calling it their "last hope," the crew seeks the Prime Minister's intervention to reinstate them and investigate the Dreamliner's safety record
New York Times
5 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
4 Braves takeaways: Vibing after sweep of Mets, 20-year-old pitches Friday, Acuña feats, more
ATLANTA — Eleven days ago, the Braves had stumbled through their second seven-game losing streak of the first half of the season and dropped a sixth consecutive series. Now they've won three series in a row and seven of their last nine games. And four days after an embarrassing 10-1 loss to the Colorado Rockies, the Braves finished a series sweep of their NL East rival New York Mets, who came to Atlanta with the National League's best record, with a 7-1 win Thursday, Advertisement Spencer Strider pitched six strong innings, and Matt Olson broke things open with a three-run double to fuel Atlanta's 26th win in 36 games against the Mets since 2022. 'I feel like that's the closest we've been to playing just a complete series,' said Strider, who had eight strikeouts with one walk. 'We know what we're capable of. Speaking for myself, and I'm sure for everybody else, it's just reassuring to go out and have some justification for the work you've been doing and that belief that we've had this whole time that we can play better baseball. 'Now the challenge is to continue to do it, obviously. It doesn't get easier from here.' Atlanta still trails the Mets and now co-leading Philadelphia Phillies by 10 games in the East, but the Braves have regained momentum and have 10 more games against the Mets, including a four-game series that starts Monday at New York. 'The last three series have been really good, and to cap it off with a (sweep) against the Mets is huge,' said third baseman Austin Riley, who had one of the Braves' season-high nine walks Thursday. 'The biggest thing I hope we can take from this is just that we can compete with anybody. I just hope we can take the confidence away from that and keep it rolling. That was an unbelievable series.' The Braves are within five games of the third and final wild-card spot with 89 to go. Ample time, if they can continue playing as they did during a 5-1 homestand — when the Braves' starting rotation looked as deep as any in the majors and the offense averaged more than 5 1/2 runs despite still having some glaring soft spots in the lineup. After Chris Sale's sensational 8 2/3 innings in Wednesday's 5-0 shutout, Strider came through with his second impressive start in a row. After going 0-5 with a 5.40 ERA in his first starts while shaking off rust from a yearlong rehab for elbow surgery, and also a month sidelined by a hamstring strain, Strider is 2-0 with a 0.75 ERA, 21 Ks and two walks in his last two starts. Advertisement 'I kind of feel like our old selves again,' Braves manager Brian Snitker said. 'This was a really good series. Did some things we hadn't been doing. So, hopefully, that's the start of something really good that we continue to build on.' The Braves are calling up Colombian prospect Didier Fuentes, who turned 20 on Tuesday, to start Friday's series opener at Miami after just six starts above Single A. It's a spot start to allow other Braves to get extra rest before next week's series at New York, and a good showing could put Fuentes in line for more chances this summer. Reliever José Ruiz was designated for assignment to open a roster spot for Fuentes, who will be the first major leaguer born in 2005 and only current one under 21. The 6-foot right-hander will be the third-youngest to pitch for the Braves in the team's Atlanta era since 1966. The move will allow Spencer Schwellenbach, Sale and Strider to start on extra rest against the Mets. Grant Holmes and Bryce Elder will start Saturday and Sunday at Miami. Fuentes, who throws a fastball that reaches 97 mph and a slider, entered this spring ranked as the Braves' No. 11 prospect by The Athletic's Keith Law and No. 7 by Baseball America. But after drawing attention at spring training with seven strikeouts in three scoreless innings against Detroit Tigers prospects in the Spring Breakout game, Fuentes climbed to No. 3 in the Braves system according to FanGraphs, which has him 82nd overall in its top 100 prospects. Not bad for a kid the Braves signed for $75,000 in 2022. Didier Fuentes tossed a beaut in his Triple-A debut 👏 4.2 IP | 3 H | 1 R | 1 ER | 0 BB | 6 SO — Gwinnett Stripers (@GoStripers) June 14, 2025 What has Snitker heard about Fuentes from Braves player development officials and minor-league staffers? 'It's just all really good stuff,' Snitker said. 'The guy throws strikes, and he's got a good fastball that plays. It sounds like he's a kid that's kind of above his years, as far as maturity and (throwing) strikes and (his) stuff.' Advertisement Fuentes will be the youngest major-league starter since 2016, when the Los Angeles Dodgers' Julio Urías pitched against the Phillies four days shy of his 20th birthday. Fuentes has pitched in 37 games (33 starts) above rookie ball, including nine starts above Low A, all this season. He's 0-7 with a 4.81 ERA in those nine, but that line doesn't reflect how the Braves view his recent progress. He began the season at High-A Rome and was promoted after three starts to Double-A Columbus, then promoted again after five starts there, which included a 2.57 ERA and .188 opponents' average in his last three. He continued to impress in his Triple-A debut Saturday, allowing three hits and one run with no walks and six strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings. Fuentes has 48 strikeouts with 12 walks and two homers in 39 1/3 innings this season. The Braves had five sacrifice flies in the first five games of the homestand, the most in the majors during that time. This from a team that had just 12 sacrifice flies through June 12, the fewest in the majors. They also had a majors-worst .267 average with a runner on third and less than two outs before this homestand. They went 3-for-10 with a walk and those five sac flies on the homestand before Thursday, when the big blow in the game was Olson's bases-loaded double with one out in the sixth. 'I feel really good about what we've been doing lately,' Snitker said of situational improvement. 'It's starting to come around with more than just one guy. It's what we've been striving to do. So, hopefully, we're gonna get in a groove where we're passing the baton and keeping the thing moving and being more like what we're capable of.' Riley said of Atlanta's offensive improvement, 'You go through periods where you put pressure on yourself and you want it so bad and then it just kind of spirals. At some point, you just got to let it go, let the game come to you and relax. And I think you're seeing that with some guys, and other guys are feeding off of it. And you're able to move up and down the lineup, flip the lineup. And our pitching has been great.' Advertisement Ronald Acuña Jr. homered on the first pitch in the bottom of the first inning Wednesday off the Mets' Paul Blackburn, his 36th leadoff homer to extend his Braves record. It was Acuña's 15th leadoff homer on the first pitch, the second-most in MLB history behind Hall of Famer Craig Biggio's 19. Since Acuña's 2018 debut, only two others have double-digit leadoff homers: Jose Altuve (12) and Kyle Schwarber (11). First pitch. Ronald Acuña Jr. was ready 😤 — MLB (@MLB) June 18, 2025 The Braves have long been willing to bring up young players sooner than many anticipated, ranging from 19-year-old center fielder Andruw Jones in 1996 to 20-year-old pitchers Michael Soroka (2018) and AJ Smith-Shawver (2023). 'And it doesn't matter if they're young or they've been around a while, when they step on that major-league mound for the first time, you don't know what (will happen),' Snitker said. 'When I managed in Triple A, (former Braves GM John Schuerholz) would call down about bringing a guy up, and I'd say, well, he's done everything he can do here. I have no idea when you put him in that atmosphere in the major leagues what's going to happen. You don't ever know.' Fuentes will be the youngest to pitch in any capacity for the Braves since Mike McQueen made his MLB debut for Atlanta in October 1969, barely a month past his 19th birthday. The youngest Atlanta-era Braves pitcher was Charlie Vaughan, 18 years and 332 days old when he debuted with a start in September 1966. Vaughan was the only major leaguer in 1966 who was younger than Mets rookie Nolan Ryan, who was 19 when he debuted that same month. Vaughan pitched in just two MLB games, that start in 1966 and a relief appearance in June 1969. (Photo of Spencer Strider: Edward M. Pio Roda / Getty Images)
Los Angeles Times
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Secret police have no place in L.A. or democracy. But here they are
I've watched two disturbing videos in the past day of federal authorities acting with frightening disregard for decency and democracy as they arrest immigrants. At least, I think they are federal authorities. But these days, who knows? The alleged officers detaining hundreds if not thousands of people each day in California and across the country are often masked. They sometimes refuse to answer questions, including which agency they represent. They threaten force — and even use it to make arrests of bystanders — when they are challenged. In the first video I watched, a man in an unmarked car detains another man sitting on a bus bench in Pasadena. The man presumed to be a federal agent has on a vest that simply says 'Police' and a cheap black ski mask that covers every bit of his face — the kind that looks like it was purchased on Amazon and that we have previously most associated with criminals such as robbers and rapists. A few of his colleagues are in the background, some also seemingly masked. If these men approached me or one of my kids dressed like that, I would run. I would fight. I would certainly not take his word that he was 'police' and had the right to force me into his car. In the second video, another presumed federal agent jumps out of his unmarked vehicle and draws his weapon on a civilian attempting to take a photo of the license plate. Yes — he points his gun at a civilian who is not threatening him or committing a crime. Folks, maybe you consider it a bad idea to try to photograph what may or may not be a legitimate police operation, but it is not illegal. This alleged officer appears to have simply not liked what was happening, and threatened to shoot the person upsetting him. The man taking the photo ran away, but what would have happened had he not? These actions by alleged authorities are examples of impunity, and it is what happens when accountability is lost. 'It's terrifying to be assaulted by people that you can't be sure are law enforcement and who seem to be hiding their identity from you,' David Sklansky told me. He's a law professor at Stanford and an expert on policing. He said there are times when secrecy by authorities can be justified, but it should be the exception, not the rule. 'The seizure of people by agents of the state who don't identify themselves as agents of the state is a tool that has a long and ugly history of being used by authoritarian regimes,' he said. ICE has claimed that its officers have a need and right to remain anonymous because threats and attacks against them have dramatically increased. The agency has been publicizing that its staff has seen a 413% increase in assaults against them, and that they and their families have been doxxed. Speaking on the New York Times podcast 'The Daily,' President Trump's top border policy advisor, Tom Homan, said that his officers are doing the best they can under difficult circumstances. 'It's not about intimidation,' Homan said. 'ICE officers are wearing masks because they've been doxxed by the thousands. Their families have been doxxed. ICE officers' pictures have shown up on trees and telephone poles. Death threats are sky-high. I know because I've been doxxed 1,000 times myself.' You know what? I believe ICE officers are getting doxxed and threatened. Any violent attack on law enforcement should be condemned. And while we are at it, I don't have any issue with deporting dangerous criminals. For today, I'm leaving aside the issue of whether Trump's aggressive drive to deport people is good or bad. This isn't about what is happening with these deportations, but about how authorities are exercising their power. Threatening a law enforcement official is a crime. Doxxing is a crime. These agencies have the resources to track down, arrest and prosecute anyone who breaks those laws. They should absolutely do that. Instead, federal authorities are hiding, apparently too frightened of online provocateurs and in-person hecklers to do their duty in plain sight. But judges are being doxxed and don't wear masks. Journalists are being doxxed and don't wear masks. Politicians are being doxxed — and even killed — and are still doing their jobs out in the open. Which raises the question: Is it really not about intimidation? 'Quite frankly, I've had lots of guns pointed at me. I've had lots of threats against my life,' Lt. Diane Goldstein told me. 'I never once wore a mask because I was afraid.' Goldstein is the executive director of the Law Enforcement Action Partnership, a nonprofit composed of justice system authorities who advocate for better policies. She was also the first female lieutenant in the Redondo Beach Police Department, where she worked for more than 20 years, including on undercover assignments. She points out that accountability demands some way to attach actions to individuals. Take that officer who pulled the gun on the license plate photographer. 'If one of my officers would have done that, I would have put him on an administrative leave, taken his gun away and initiated an internal affairs investigation,' she said. 'There is no constitutional reason for him to jump out of a car and point a gun in that type of aggressive fashion at an ordinary citizen.' However, we likely will never get to ask that officer what he was thinking — if he saw a threat that justified lethal force — because there is no easy way of identifying him. Forget who he is personally, we don't even know what agency he is from. 'You have no idea if it's the FBI, if it's the DEA, if it's ICE, if it's CBP,' said Goldstein, rattling off the acronyms for various federal authorities. 'There is no accountability and transparency.' Sklansky points out that accountability doesn't necessarily require a name or face. Although there is no law that requires it, federal authorities could simply put their badge number and agency name someplace visible. Voila! Accountability and safety for officers. 'Lots of law enforcement works this way,' he said. Failing to provide any kind of trustworthy identification causes its own dangers, both Sklansky and Goldstein told me. People are required by law not to interfere with law enforcement doing their duty. But if you don't know it's law enforcement and fear you are witnessing an attack or are the victim of one, the situation is different. Goldstein said that she worries about violence if bystanders think they are in the midst of a crime, or that local law enforcement will be called to intervene in what appears to be a kidnapping or assault. 'People can't tell if they're crooks or they're law enforcement,' Goldstein said of officers who mask or hide their affiliation. 'Someone's going to get hurt. A citizen is going to get hurt, a local cop is going to get hurt or a federal agent is going to get hurt. Their tactics are dangerous and putting the community in danger,' she said. That fear that people are posing as law enforcement is real. Last week, a Minnesota legislator and her husband were killed by a gunman posing as a police officer. That same gunman earlier also went to the home of another politician and his wife and shot them as well, though they are expected to survive — their 28-year-old daughter called 911 after being shielded from the bullets by her mom. The shooter banged on the front door of his victims, demanding to be let inside because he was law enforcement. Since then, articles are popping up, pointing out that people have a right to ask questions before just assuming that guy with the badge is really a cop. After that attack, St. Cloud Police Chief Jeff Oxton sought to quell fears of fake cops roaming the streets by putting out a statement that stressed that it is 'important that our public has confidence in the identification of our police officers.' Of course it is important. In fact, it's vital to democracy and public safety. The might of law derives from our trust in those empowered to enforce it, our willingness to respect their authority because it comes with both boundaries and responsibilities. The death of George Floyd and the protests that followed show just how tenuous, and how vital, that trust is. An anonymous man in a ski mask does not inspire that trust, and does not deserve it.
New Straits Times
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Tony revels in portraying P. Ramlee
TONY Eusoff, the 48-year-old actor, has described playing the late Tan Sri P. Ramlee onscreen and in theatre as a significant honour in his two-decade-long artistic career. Tony, whose full name is Anthony Joseph Hermas Rajiman, shared that he never tires of portraying the legendary artiste. "I've acted in the 'P. Ramlee The Musical' theatre production and the 'Saloma' TV mini series, which is based on the life story of the late Puan Sri Saloma and previously starred Nabila Huda. "If it's Saloma's story, there must be a P. Ramlee character in it. I never get tired of playing P. Ramlee because he's a legend, an icon of our arts and culture," he said recently at the premiere of his film, 'Mencari Ramlee'. Tony also revealed he had previously dreamt of acting in a P. Ramlee film. "The first time I played P. Ramlee was in the 'Saloma' biopic. I watched many films which starred him and thoroughly studied his character — his movements, his speech, and so on. "Perhaps because I often watched P. Ramlee's films every night, I even dreamt of acting in one of them. "But I didn't meet him in my dreams. I only dreamt of acting as P. Ramlee, but it wasn't clear, and the dreams were in black and white," he said. Speaking about his role in 'Mencari Ramlee', Tony admitted that he initially felt unqualified to play the lead character. "I see many other actors who could play P. Ramlee and sing better, like Musly Ramlee, but the director had his vision. "I asked Megat Sharizal, the director of 'Mencari Ramlee', and he told me he chose me for the main role because he believed in my talent to give the best performance for the character. "Perhaps it's because we've been friends for a long time, and directors often cast actors from among their friends to collaborate on films," he said. 'Mencari Ramlee' also stars Sofia Jane and Mimi Lana, and began screening in cinemas yesterday.
The Irish Sun
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
‘We're all very excited' says A-list actor on Cillian Murphy as he opens up on working with Oscar winner
CILLIAN Murphy's A-list co-star has opened up on his experience working with the actor. The Oscar winner can next be seen on the big screen in the Peaky Blinders film adaptation, The Immortal Man. Advertisement 2 Cillian Murphy is producing a new blockbuster action movie Credit: GETTY IMAGES 2 One of the films stars opened up on working with Cillian Credit: EPA Until the much-anticipated gangster film is released, fans will have to take an upcoming return to a franchise Murphy once led. 28 Years Later is the third instalment in the 28-film series and will take audiences through the journey of survival with a brand new set of survivors trying to make it through the zombie apocalypse. The cast for this film includes Aaron Taylor Johnson, Jodie Comer and Ralph Fiennes. However, Cillian played a pivotal role in getting this latest instalment made as he starred in the first film of the franchise. Advertisement read more on cillian murphy He is also serving as an executive producer on this film, frequently dropping in on the movie's set. Speaking to FM104 Strawberry Alarm Clock, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, one of the film's stars opened up on his experience working with Cillian Murphy. He said: "He's the sweetest, he's actually such a wonderful man. And we just are so grateful to be a part of this franchise. "And yeah as an audience who enjoys these movies, I think we're all very excited to see Cillian Murphy make an appearance at some point." Advertisement Most read in Celebrity Exclusive Exclusive Cillian could soon make another appearance in a Ever since the rumour mill has been whirring as to who will take on the iconic 007 gig - but now fans want to know who will play the next Bond baddie. Forgotten Cillian Murphy film soars up Netflix charts - despite terrible reviews and Rotten Tomatoes score Now, an According to the bookies, Peaky Blinders actor Cillian Murphy is the current favourite to be named as the next 007 baddie. Advertisement He is leading the pack with odds of 9/2. The Irish actor - best known for playing Thomas Shelby - previously said he was "too old" to play the famous spy. NEW ROLE But thanks to being at the peak of his career, the Oppenheimer star could be the next Bond villain. Bookmaker expert Jake Ashton said: 'The villain role in Bond movies is just as iconic as Bond himself. Advertisement "With Cillian Murphy at the height of his powers and trusted by major directors, he's a natural favourite.' Meanwhile, the race for Stars including
