Afenyo-Markin demonstrated maturity in avoiding blows in Parliament – Political Scientist

Science and Health

The Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin showed leadership and maturity in Parliament last Tuesday when he called his side to step out of the chamber after National Democratic Congress (NDC) lawmakers occupied their seats in Parliament, a Political Scientist at the University of Ghana, Dr. Joshua Jebuntie Zaato, has said.Dr Zaato indicated that Ghanaians were concerned that they were going to witness brawls in Parliament again hence the action of Afeny-Markin was commendable.“Afenyo-Markin saved the country from that spectacle, he demonstrated maturity and decorum by pulling his forces back, he demonstrated maturity,” Dr Zato said on the Key Points on TV3 on Saturday, October 26.It is recalled that Afenyo-Markin indicated that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is a law-abiding party and, therefore, will at all times act within the framework of the law.The NPP lawmakers therefore retreated to their offices from the chamber of parliament an awaited the speaker to arrive to commence proceedings.BackgroundOn Tuesday, October 22, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Members of Parliament occupied the side of the Majority despite the Supreme Court ruling that stayed the execution of the ruling of the speaker in declaring the four seats vacant.Addressing a press conference at Parliament on Tuesday, October 22, he said “We are law-abiding, we have heard that our colleagues say they disagreed with the Supreme Court, using unprinted words on the Supreme Court. Ato Forson led the Minority caucus where they told Ghanaians that today they will come and occupy our seats by their own proclamation. NPP, our tradition is a law-abiding tradition, our forebearers always used the courts to correct the wrongs.“Our leaders had always used civil advocacy and the courts to ensure that we get the peace that we have today. The country is hereby informed that we will not give that lawless platform that NDC is seeking, we will not give them that theatre they so aggressively seek to destroy our democracy“We know there are innocent Ghanaians going about their business, academia, and those struggling, we care about them we understand that there is politics but we must do it in a civil manner. we believe that we should quietly yield to them and wait for Mr Speaker.“Mr Speaker has been part of democracy since 1992, he is a senior lawyer, and even if he disagrees with the Supreme Court he knows what to do. The nation is looking up to Mr Speaker…this is a crucial moment for him to add weight to what we have done to preserve the peace, NPP is for Peace. We will not allow anybody to disturb the peace of this country, it is a notorious fact that we remain the Majority caucus of this house. We are leaving this chamber to our office awaiting Mr Speaker. That lawless theater we will not share with them.”The Supreme Court on Friday, October 18 directed Parliament to recognise and allow the four MPs to continue to serve as lawmakers until the case is determined. This was after the Speaker had, on Thursday, October 17, declared four seats in Parliament vacant.The constituencies and the lawmakers are:1. Cynthia Morrison, the current NPP MP for Agona West constituency in the Central Region, who has filed to run as an independent candidate.2. Kwadwo Asante, the current NPP MP for the Suhum constituency in the Eastern Region, who has also filed to run as an independent candidate.3. Andrew Asiamah Amoako, currently an independent MP for the Fomena constituency in the Ashanti Region, who has filed to run in the upcoming election as a candidate for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).4. Peter Kwakye Ackah (Amenfi Central), NDC.The former Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu had petitioned the Speaker to declare the seats vacant by invoking Article 97 (1)(g) of the Constitution which stipulates that a lawmaker must vacate their seat if they leave the party under which they were elected or attempt to remain in Parliament as an independent candidate. The Majority Leader Afenyo-Markin had filed a suit at the Supreme Court against the petition filed by Haruna Iddrisu.But the National Democratic Congress (NDC) lawmakers said that they would stick to the ruling of the speaker declaring four seats vacant, a ruling that makes them the Majority in Parliament.This was despite the Supreme Court order that stayed the execution of the ruling of Speaker Alban Bagbin,Addressing a press conference in Parliament on Sunday, October 20, leader of the NDC lawmakers, Dr Cassiel Ato Foprson said that “We will jealously protect our new Majority status and will not bow, retreat nor surrender our lawfully earned status. We will also not abdicate our responsibility to the people no matter what! Nothing, absolutely nothing, will change this position!

Clovis FFA Veterinary Science team earns top 5 national ranking

Science and Health

CLOVIS, Calif (FOX26) — Members of the Clovis FFA Chapter can now add a national ranking to their resumes.The Clovis FFA Veterinary Science team placed in the top 5 in the nation this week at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis Indiana.The team consists of students Emma Smalley (Clovis North Student), Navraj Sanhan (Clovis East Student), Leanne Chavez (Clovis East Student), and Sofia Vizcarra (Clovis High student).The team placed 4th out of 46 teams.The team was chosen to represent California at the national contest when they won the State Championship this past spring.[RELATED]Clovis Community’s submersible robotics team wins world championship in TennesseeStudents in the contest answer veterinary knowledge questions, diagnose and explain treatment plans for the animals in scenarios, and answer medical math questions.The students also work together and then present their findings to a panel of judges.They had to work individually to answer veterinary knowledge questions, select equipment and tools, and demonstrate live restraint and clinical skills, said Clovis FFA Advisor and Coach of the team Jennifer Knight.“The scenarios are examples of real-world cases that they would handle in today’s veterinary practice said Knight.All of the Clovis FFA members are part of the Animal Science Career Technical Education Pathway.Sanhan, Chavez, and Vizcarra graduated in June but returned for the opportunity to compete at the national level.It’s a great experience to learn and travel with our teammates,” Chavez said.We had a blast and will have this memory for a lifetime, said ChavezThe Clovis FFA veterinary science team previously earned a national ranking in 2016.

Screen Share | Films that pay an ode to the rains

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

An uncharacteristically wet October has seen several parts of south India swathed in heavy rainfall over the last couple of weeks, thanks to the north-east monsoon. Depending on how many power outages and building leaks you are annually subject to during this period, one’s idea of romanticising the showers might differ accordingly — but it goes without saying that filmmakers, for long, have used the phenomenon as heady motifs. 
Screen Share | Films that speak of homecomingInexplicably, two anime features from Japanese filmmaker and novelist Makoto Shinkai (whose obsession with rain is visible in pretty much every creation from his studio) first come to mind when I think of movies that are homages to downpours. The Garden of Words depicts an almost-romance between a teenager and an older woman as they take refuge from the thunderstorms together inside a Shinjuku park, while Weathering With You’s protagonist is an orphaned girl who can control the weather at will; both coming-of-age dramas feature an inordinate number of spectacular anime rain sequences that paint Tokyo as the most magical of atmospheric escapes.

A still from ‘Garden of Words’
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Gloomy, moody thrillers set against the backdrop of rain is a Hollywood staple, and no film encapsulates it better than David Fincher’s Se7en. The storms shut down only when John Doe surrenders and his reign ends (no? but it was right there…) Martin Scorsese’s Shutter Island and Matt Reeves’ The Batman reboot are worthy additions to this list, along with several Denis Villeneuve outings like Blade Runner 2049 (Ridley Scott’s original is also a great example), Prisoners and Arrival — fans did wonder if there was going to be a rogue shot of Arrakis veiled in fog at some point in the Dune movies… but don’t fret, we still have Messiah to come. Perhaps, a fleeting mention of James Mangold’s divisive whodunit Identity is also in order here, as the entire mystery takes place around a never-ending deluge.
Screen Share | Films that are odes to friendship and platonic loveKorean auteur Bong Joon-Ho is another director whose usage of rains to set context — and subtext — is fascinating; in Memories of Murder, it is a harbinger of dread and doom as the cops discover a serial killer who attacks his victims whenever it rains, while in Parasite, that storm and subsequent flooding lays bare the class differences between the Kim and Park households, and brings hidden truths to the surface. The Host and Mother are two of his other films that have fun with plot points influenced by rains.Closer home, and down south, Mani Ratnam’s Kannathil Muthamittal brims with the lush greens of Sri Lanka drenched in rain, leading to that heartbreaking climax with the family huddled under the umbrella as the strains of AR Rahman’s mesmerising Vellai Pookal takes over. Similarly, the filmmaker’s Raavanan plays out as a love letter to the waterfalls and continual rain in the jungles where the epic adventure was shot. Arivazhagan’s 2009 horror-thriller Eeram is another contender, complete with the lilting number Mazhaiye Mazhaiye.

A shot from ‘Maheshinte Prathikaram’
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Special arrangement
Vishal Bhardwaj’s Kaminey, Mohit Suri’s Aashiqui 2 and Anurag Basu’s Life in a Metro all feature memorable scenes in the rains, whereas Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine as Light echoes both the charm and the chaos of Mumbai’s monsoon season. Finally, two Malayalam dramas: Dileesh Pothan’s Maheshinte Prathikaram in which the cloudy skies and impending showers parallel the state of the romance in Mahesh’s (Fahadh Faasil) life, and Padmarajan’s Thoovanathumbikal, wherein rain is the ultimate metaphor for love and passion; it pours every time Jayakrishnan (Mohanlal) meets or even thinks of the woman he is in love with.Which prompts the thought: who doesn’t love a good rain song? But that’s a discussion for another day.From The Hindu cinema team, a fortnightly column recommending films and shows tied to a mood, theme, or pop cultural event. Published – October 26, 2024 02:32 pm IST
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This was hyped as Akshay Kumar’s 1st Rs 100-crore film, turned DISASTER, failed to earn even Rs 60 crore, still became..

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

This film which was said to be Akshay Kumar’s first Rs 100-crore film, failed at the box office. Akshay Kumar in Chandni Chowk To ChinaAamir Khan was the first Indian actor to set the Rs 100-crore benchmark at the box office with his film Ghajini. This was followed by Salman and Shah Rukh Khan. However, the film was hyped as Akshay Kumar’s first Rs 100-crore movie, turned out to be a huge disaster. 

The film we are talking about also starred a newbie but star actress who got her first ever flop with this. The director didn’t have a hit for 7 years after this. It is Chandni Chowk To China. 

Helmed by Nikkhil Advani, Chandani Chowk To China stars Akshay Kumar, and Deepika Padukone with Mithun Chakraborty, and Hong Kong action cinema actor Gordon Liu among the co-stars. The film was hyped as Akshay Kumar’s first Rs 100-crore film, however, it failed to even recover its budget. Made for Rs 65 crore, the film collected only Rs 29 crore in India and Rs 53 crore worldwide. 

It was Warner Bros. Pictures’ first Hindi film was distributed in the U.S. by them. It was the third Bollywood movie made and distributed in partnership with a major Hollywood studio, following Sony’s Saawariya (2007) and Walt Disney Pictures’ animated feature Roadside Romeo (2008).

In Nepal, there were protests against the film due to a passing claim that Buddha was born in India; Lumbini, which is the birthplace of Buddha, is located in Nepal. Several shows were canceled in Nepal due to the protests. Not only this, Nikkhil Advani recently revealed in an interview that after the film was released, a journalist came outside his house and reported, “This is the house of the director who has wasted your money, throw stones at him.” Nikkhil also revealed that it became one of the most-watched films despite its failure.

The end credits of the film contain a teaser for a sequel titled Chandni Chowk to Africa and a sequel was planned by Warner Bros India but did not materialize. The film was Deepika Padukone’s first-ever flop after giving two hits Om Shanti Om and Bachna Ae Haseeno. 

However, Akshay Kumar has since then given several hits like Airlift, Bhool Bhulaiyaa, Housefull, Kesari, 2.0, Gold, Padman, Toilet Ek Prem Katha, and more. Deepika Padukone has also become a superstar with two Rs 1000 crore films, Jawan and Kalki 2898 AD. Both of them will now be seen sharing the screen in Rohit Shetty’s Singham Again which is set to release in theatres on November 1. The film also stars Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ajay Devgn, Ranveer Singh, Tiger Shroff, and Arjun Kapoor in key roles. It will be clashing with Kartik Aaryan’s Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 on Diwali.

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New on Hulu October 26-November 1: our expert’s picks for 8 movies coming to Hulu this week

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Scrolling for something new to watch on Hulu this week, October 26-November 1? Let me give you a hand with my picks for the best movies, TV shows and more arriving on the streaming service.Unsurprisingly, as the week brings us into a brand new month, Hulu has a large roster of movies that are being added to its library for subscribers to watch, and there’s plenty that caught my eye. Not so much on the TV side, but there is definitely plenty coming down the pipe.Check out all of the picks for this week directly below.Ad Astra (2019)Brad Pitt in Ad Astra (Image credit: 20th Century Fox/FlixPix/Alamy Stock Photo)Brad Pitt sci-fi movie lands on November 1 Brad Pitt stars as an astronaut tasked with taking on a dangerous mission across our solar system to track down his father, gone now 30 years, but whose own mission possibly threatens the universe. While there are plenty of cool set pieces, Ad Astra, from director James Gray, also challenges its viewers with broad and thematically rich ideas.Aliens (1986)Sigourney Weaver in Aliens (Image credit: Moviestore Collection Ltd/Alamy Stock Photo)Sigourney Weaver and Xenomorphs’ classic battle reignites November 1If you’re more interested in a straight-up, pure entertainment sci-fi movie though, Aliens is the perfect choice this week. James Cameron picked up the torch from Ridley Scott and made his own sci-fi classic featuring Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley in her fight against the killer Xenomorphs. The latest franchise entry Alien: Romulus came out earlier this year and is a fun addition, but Aliens remains at the top of the mountain for this sci-fi franchise and is always a good watch.Billy Madison (1995)Adam Sandler in Billy Madison (Image credit: Universal Images Group North America LLC/Alamy Stock Photo)Adam Sandler comedies are coming to Hulu November 1, headlined by this 90s favorite Two of Adam Sandler’s best comedies hit Hulu this month. The first is Happy Gilmore, which I love (I can’t wait for Happy Gilmore 2), but for this pick, I’m actually going with the other Sandler favorite, Billy Madison. Here he plays an immature adult and heir to a massive hotel chain who tries to prove to his father that he isn’t as dumb as he appears by completing elementary through high school with no help this time. It’s got some all-time great Sandler bits and quotes that will have you howling.Eddie Murphy: Raw (1987)Eddie Murphy in Eddie Murphy: Raw (Image credit: Paramount Pictures/Allstar Picture Library Limited./Alamy Stock Photo)One of the most iconic stand-up specials of all time comes to Hulu November 1 Another iconic funny man, a classic Eddie Murphy title also arrives on Hulu this week. In fact, Eddie Murphy: Raw is one of the most famous stand-up specials ever, and it is truly a treat to see Murphy on stage where he first made a name for himself.The latest updates, reviews and unmissable series to watch and more!La La Land (2016)Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling in La La Land (Image credit: Lionsgate)Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone musical dances its way onto Hulu November 1 Best Picture winner or not, La La Land is still one of the best movie musicals that I can think of. Damien Chazelle, Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone crafted a beautiful story of a pair of artists who find love and try to support each other as they pursue their dreams. Great songs, great dancing and great performances make this one of the best movies you can watch on Hulu, or anywhere, this month.The Last Duel (2021)Matt Damon and Jodie Comer in The Last Duel (Image credit: 20th Century Studios)Ridley Scott medieval drama deserves another look when it hits Hulu November 1 A lot of people are excited for Gladiator 2 coming out later in November (I’m one of them), but before then you should take some time to revisit a more recent, generally overlooked movie from Scott, The Last Duel. Starring Jodie Comer, Matt Damon, Adam Driver and an underrated Ben Affleck performance, The Last Duel centers on an alleged crime, told from the perspective of the victim, her husband and the accused. It’s basically Ridley Scott’s version of Rashomon and holds up better on repeat viewings.National Treasure (2004)Nicolas Cage in National Treasure (Image credit: Columbia Pictures/AJ Pics/Alamy Stock Photo)Nicolas Cage adventure, celebrating its 20th anniversary, comes to Hulu November 1 You have to love it when Nicolas Cage goes bonkers for a role (see 2024’s Longlegs for such an example), but sometimes a good, old-fashioned adventure movie is just the ticket. That’s the case with National Treasure, which has long been a favorite of many as it sees Cage play a treasure hunter who believes there’s a map on the Declaration of Independence and has to steal it to prove his theory and protect the document from some shady characters. It’s a great, easy watch.Wild (2014)Reese Witherspoon in Wild (Image credit: Fox Searchlight Pictures/Maximum Film/Alamy Stock Photo)Reese Witherspoon gives a standout performance in acclaimed drama, streaming November 1Based on the best-selling book of the same name, Reese Witherspoon gives one of the best performances of her career in Wild playing Cheryl, who embarks on an 1,100-mile hike up the West Coast as she attempts to deal with her mother’s recent passing. The movie was also brilliantly directed by the late Jean-Marc Vallee, who did multiple great projects with Witherspoon (Big Little Lies season 1).

Meet Abhishek Bachchan’s actress whose father was violently killed, Akshay Kumar film made her star, is now viral amid..

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

This actress was just 11 years old, her life changed forever in 1994 when her father was violently kidnapped and killed by terrorists while they were living in Patiala.We often hear stories of sacrifices and struggles that make people stronger. Today, we will talk about Nimrat Kaur, an actress whose life has been shaped by tragedy. Born on March 13, 1982, in Pilani, Rajasthan, Nimrat grew up in a Sikh family with her father, Major Bhupinder Singh, serving as an Indian Army officer. This meant her family moved often due to his military career. 

When Nimrat was just 11 years old, her life changed forever in 1994 when her father was violently kidnapped and killed by terrorists while they were living in Patiala. This devastating loss deeply affected Nimrat. After this tragedy, she, along with her mother Avinash Kaur and younger sister Rubina Kaur, moved to Noida.

Despite the struggles, Nimrat’s strength and determination helped her pursue her dreams in the film industry, proving that even in the face of hardship, one can rise and shine. Nimrat Kaur studied at the well-known Delhi Public School in Noida and then at Shri Ram College of Commerce at Delhi University before moving to Mumbai to pursue her acting career.

She began as a model and also participated in theater to develop her acting skills. In 2004, she appeared in two popular music videos: Kumar Sanu’s Tera Mera Pyar and Shreya Ghoshal’s Yeh Kya Hua.

In 2005, Nimrat had a small role in Shoojit Sircar’s war drama Yahaan. She made her film debut in the 2006 English film One Night with the King. Her first significant role came in the 2012 film Peddlers, directed by Vasan Bala and produced by Anurag Kashyap, although it never got released.

However, in 2013, Nimrat truly made her mark with her outstanding performance in The Lunchbox. Co-starring Irrfan Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, this film directed by Ritesh Batra is considered one of the finest Indian films of the 21st century.

Nimrat became widely known after starring opposite Akshay Kumar in the 2016 film Airlift. Since then, she has been selective about her projects, appearing in the 2022 film Dasvi with Abhishek Bachchan and the 2023 movie Sajini Shinde Ka Viral Video. Nimrat has also featured in international shows like Homeland, Wayward Pines, and Foundation, as well as Indian web series such as The Test Case and School of Lies.

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Varun admits he wasn’t able to get much recovery as required to be in YRF’s action films

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Bollywood actor Varun Dhawan, one of Bollywood’s busiest stars, has a packed lineup of films ahead. Recently, he reflected on his approach to big-budget projects, especially action films, sharing that he’s ‘realistic’ about his standing in the industry. He admitted that he hasn’t yet reached the level of box-office returns needed to justify the hefty budgets that major action films, like those by Aditya Chopra, require.

Anglia Ruskin University’s MA in children’s book illustration attracts students from all over the world

Arts & Culture, Books

The MA in children’s book illustration at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) attracts students from all over the world – many of whom go on to win awards for their work. New Jersey-born Shelley Jackson is associate professor and course leader for the MA. Shelley Jackson. Picture: Richard Marsham Shelley, who moved from Austin, Texas, in…

How Donald Trump Is Making Big Promises to Big Business

Business News

On a Friday in late September, Donald J. Trump took time off the campaign trail for a closed-door meeting at Mar-a-Lago with officials representing the vaping industry.The vaping emissaries talked about loosening regulations and told the former president he had “saved” the industry in the past. The group — including Mr. Trump’s 2016 campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway, and another 2016 campaign aide, Michael Rubino — showed him mock-ups of mailers they were sending out through Election Day. Mr. Trump asked for input on what he could say on social media about a complicated regulatory issue.Within hours, Mr. Trump had posted about his allegiances to the embattled e-cigarette sector. “I saved Flavored Vaping in 2019,” Mr. Trump wrote on social media. “I’ll save Vaping again!”The head of the Vapor Technology Association, Tony Abboud, who was also in the meeting, quickly declared he was “pleased” that Mr. Trump was “continuing to fight for vapers.” The vaping industry has not been a significant contributor in the presidential race, but the Vapor Technology Association has been quietly sending versions of those mailers to voters in battleground states warning that Democrats want “to steal vapes from freedom-loving Americans.”As Mr. Trump seeks a return to the White House, he has come a long way from his 2016 campaign pitch that he was so rich he was incorruptible. Back then, he mocked the G.O.P.’s donor-lobbyist class and boasted in his announcement speech, “I don’t need anybody’s money.” Today, Mr. Trump is looking everywhere for cash: asking small donors online, pressing fellow billionaires over private meals in Trump Tower and lobbying for donations from industries regulated by the government.As he does so, he is sometimes making overt promises about what he will do once he’s in office, a level of explicitness toward individual industries and a handful of billionaires that has rarely been seen in modern presidential politics.We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber? Log in.Want all of The Times? Subscribe.