Redi Tlhabi speaks with Professor Michele Goodwin about the state of reproductive rights right now and in the future.
Immigration, trade, and free speech are the main topics of conversation as Donald Trump begins his second term in office. However, proponents forewarn about a more subtle campaign that targets abortion and reproductive rights.
Critics claim that new policies reflect a renewed push to erode reproductive freedom, especially for women of color, just a few years after Roe v. Wade was overturned.
Is the Trump administration wagering a covert assault on American women’s reproductive rights?
In a fiery derby between Hull KR and Hull FC, cadet Cust received the first red card of the Super League season.
After 16 minutes, when league leaders KR were in front through an Oliver Gildart try in the meeting of the top two, the Australian stand-off was sent off for a shoulder barge to Arthur Mourgue’s face.
The Black and Whites’ only option was Jack Ashworth, who appeared to have given them the upper hand as Peta Hiku and Arthur Mourgue appeared to have established a stronghold in the hands of the Robins.
The fact that referees could keep their red cards in their pockets helped the sport and its safety record significantly. There were seven dismissals in this period of the season last year.
Cust, who had been playing for Hull FC for 15 years, shoulder-barged Mourgue’s head as the France full-back fielded a kick behind the posts, leaving the official Luke Moore with no choice.
The Robins were already in front at that point when Mikey Lewis, back from injury, delivered a powerful pass that sent Gildart running clear.
Cust’s rush of blood, which was used by KR after an overload down their left, gave them a huge advantage after more than three-quarters of the game.
As Ashworth ran into Aidan Sezer’s grubby kick before two defenders, Mourgue, who had recovered from a head injury assessment following Cust’s challenge, scampered over for a 12-point half-time lead, gave his side something to cheer for.
The Black and Whites threw the ball around with brilliant abandon in the second half, scoring Briscoe for a superb take and finish, and it was obvious that they were on fire in the second half.
The video ref’s sighting of KR players ripping the ball out made it even more successful for Hull FC to score two points as Rapana made another quick passing move to swerve inside and score.
Hull FC’s efforts soon began to speak, and Rovers pounced as their opponents got tired, even though KR appeared rattled and the home crowd was bouncing.
With James Batchelor back from injury and carving inside to extend the lead, they responded with some champagne rugby of their own, keeping the ball alive.
John Cartwright, the head coach of Hull FC, told BBC Radio Humberside:
When you’re playing 13 on 12, there are a few different circumstances. You should try to stay focused and keep the scoreboard close in the end. It was a fantastic effort to have a chance to win the game in the second half.
There were “a few things that really went against us,” the referee said, “and after the Cade Cust incident, I believe there were some punches thrown, and players were very vocal.”
The kicker was beaten to the ground by Johnny Asiata, who received a penalty 60 yards downfield. When Liam Knight was attempting to pick it up, he was taken off the ball. We were really hurt by both of those incidents.
[On the red card] “I do have a problem with the red card generally because I believe Cade was going for the ball very hard and didn’t have much time to pull out of it.
Willie Peters, the head coach of Hull KR, told BBC Radio Humberside:
Credit FC, they were outstanding, they forced us to the limit, and it was “dead set,” according to Credit FC.
“It pleased me how our players were able to advance beyond our current level in the final 20 minutes.”
People say that losing teaches you a lot of things, and that they also learn a lot from playing games like that.
Pryce, Briscoe, Rapana, D Litten, Martin, Cust, Sezer, Ese ‘ese, Bourouh, Knight, Chamberlain, Hardaker, Asiata, and others.
Ashworth, Balmforth, Eseh, Ashworth, and Aydin are the exchanges.
Sent-off: Cust (16).
Mourgue, Davies, Hiku, Gildart, Gildart, Gildart, Gildart, May, Lewis, Sue, J Litten, Waerea-Hargreaves, Batchelor, Hadley, Minchella, and others in Hull KR.
Luckley, Whitbread, Broadbent, and Tanginoa are exchanges.
In a move referred to by Afghanistan as “forced deportation,” Pakistan has confirmed that it has repatriated more than 80 000 Afghan nationals since April 1, in addition to Pakistan’s largest migrant group’s extended April 30 deadline.
The Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan, which was introduced in late 2023 and covers more than three million Afghans, would no longer be extended, according to Talal Chaudhry, Pakistan’s interior ministry official, in Islamabad on Friday.
If a person gives a shop, home, or any other kind of space to an illegal foreigner, they will be held legally accountable, he said in clear instructions to all provinces.
Prior to March 31, those who were denied access to Afghan Citizen Cards or valid documents were initially ordered to leave. That deadline was later changed to a month.
Since the start of April, Pakistan has expelled nearly 60, 000 Afghans, according to the International Organization for Migration, a UN agency.
The head of the IOM’s Afghanistan mission, Mihyung Park, said at the time, “With a new wave of large-scale returns now coming from Pakistan, needs on the ground are rising rapidly, both at the border and in areas where large numbers of returnees are struggling to withstand large numbers of returnees.”
More than 1.3 million Afghans who use UNHCR’s Proof of Registration cards were also instructed to leave Islamabad and the nearby Rawalpindi.
Ishaq Dar, Pakistan’s foreign minister, will travel to Kabul on Saturday to meet with a delegation to discuss important issues with the Taliban-led government.
According to a statement from Pakistan’s foreign office, “the talks will cover the entire gamut of the Pakistan-Afghan relationship, focusing on ways and means to deepen cooperation in all areas of mutual interests, including security, trade, connectivity, and people-to-people ties.”
We don’t want to leave, we say.
Afghan families who have resided in the nation for decades are at risk of being displaced by the crackdown.
Akber Khan, the owner of a restaurant in Peshawar, told The Associated Press news agency earlier this month: “I have been here for almost 50 years. 10 of my family members are interred here, along with my husband, and my children. We don’t want to leave, because of this.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in the northwest of Pakistan, live at least a third of the Afghans Pakistan wants to expel this year.
Afghans can never be completely repatriated, especially those who are from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa because they return via illegal channels or by exploiting system gaps, according to Abdullah Khan, managing director of the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, according to Al Jazeera.
“Security threat”
Kabul, which has consistently criticized Islamabad for making connections between Afghan refugees and growing security threats and criminal activity within its borders, refutes Kabul’s claims that the campaign was politically motivated and forced deportation.
Authorities in Pakistan claim to have processed and accommodated Afghan nationals before returning to their homelands.
The main gateway into eastern Afghanistan is Torkham border crossing in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where the majority of the people are being transported.
The repatriation drive has received criticism from human rights organizations because it poses a risk to vulnerable people, particularly children and women, who may be subject to insecurity or persecution upon return.
Shelby Tribble and Sam Mucklow, stars of “The Only Way Is Essex,” have revealed the couple’s son. On social media, they shared their joyous news with their first-ever adorable photos of their child.
Abel’s father, Shelby and Sam, had already revealed the name of their son and were already parents to him. The couple wrote, “We are completely in love with you,” next to their post. After receiving another beautiful boy, our hearts are now doubled.
They gave his distinctive name, “Our Teskey,” when he was revealed. As Teskey slept in his cot, the couple shared a sweet first glimpse of him in a blue baby grow.
The couple gave their newborn a first impression of (Instagram).
They also recalled the time their son Abel and they discovered they were having another boy. Following Teskey’s arrival, their famous friends and supporters rushed to congratulate them.
Rosie Anna Williams of Love Island remarked, “Oh my goodness! Congratulations to everyone involved. Shelb is gorgeous, according to Amber Davies.
Shelby’s mother, Karen, gushed, “Absolutely besotted and in love with the beautiful perfect little Teskey” and that his big brother, Abel, is a contented little brother to his grandpa’s opulent, beautiful grandson xxxxxxx.
Welcome to the world, our gorgeous baby boy, said Chloe Meadows of TOWIE. In October, Shelby and Sam made the announcement that they were starting a family.
Along with their son Abel, they posted their happy news in an adorable photo on social media. A picture of their ultrasound scan, along with a yellow cake with the words “oh baby” was shared by Shelby and Sam. The couple then shared images of their son and their son assimilating wine glasses into the cake.
As the cake revealed their baby’s gender, they all held their hands in the air for the sweet black and white photo. Baby Number 2 is coming soon, Shelby simply captioned the post.
A cake was used to announce Shelby and Sam’s second pregnancy (instagram.com/shelbytribble).
Sam and Shelby first met when they first appeared on the ITVBe reality show in 2018 and later confirmed their relationship.
After three difficult days in the hospital, they gave birth to son Abel back in November 2020. The couple’s ups and downs were revealed in shock when they split up in October 2023.
The couple’s romantic relationship is over, according to a source who later added that “Shelby is being supported by family and friends.” “They’re still co-parenting their child together and want to keep things normal for Abel,” the source told the Sun at the time.
On TikTok, Shelby also made an apologie for the breakup, sharing a video with audio that read, “This is a song i wrote about men… It is called ew..”. She continued, “Am I speaking for the majority of us at this point?”
Shelby and Sam took a picture together on Instagram last summer while they were on vacation in Ibiza. After Sam left Shelby’s posts, the pair were reunited, and fans were delighted that Sam and Sam had the opportunity to reconnect.
This is a significant piece of showbiz news. Follow The Mirror on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Apple News, TikTok, Follow The Mirror on Facebook, Follow Us on Twitter, and Follow The Mirror on Twitter.
ExCLUSIVE: Musician Michael Aldag has teased new music that is influenced by the Killers, the 1975, and the Bastille after gaining a worldwide following his witty social commentary on TikTok.
TikTok sensation Michael Aldag is gearing up for what could prove to be a memorable summer(Image: Michael Aldag)
Michael Aldag, a TikTok sensation, rose to fame back in 2020 with his incisive observational sketches about daily life and teased new music, promising that fans will soon hear tracks in the vein of The Killers and Lewis Capaldi.
The 23-year-old from West Kirby, Merseyside is gearing up for a memorable summer, with fresh tracks on the horizon in the form of his ‘ The Carousel ‘ EP – which he is aiming to release in the coming months. Entitled, Tonsillitis, and Ghosted, his previous works, which combined lyrical reflections on Gen Z life with energizing anthemic choruses, were popular with listeners.
His social media posts during lockdown garnered attention from around the world, as he experienced the power of viral content first hand. His TikTok videos, which saw him lampoon aspects of modern life from a young person’s perspective, helped him to carve out a niche for himself as an unlikely social commentator and he boats over 900,000 followers on the platform – along with a further 220,000 on Instagram.
READ MORE: Oasis fans spot hidden detail as Liam and Noel Gallagher release new tour posterREAD MORE: Pink Floyd drummer finds newly restored film on the band ‘entertaining and moving’
Aldag’s level-headed outlook, reflecting on what transpired to become a national overnight viral sensation five years ago, demonstrates maturity beyond his young age. He said: “I started doing the sketch videos when I was 18 and I remember doing my first video after being added into uni group chats and it doing my head in!
“I was sat on my couch doing nothing, writing songs in my room and watching Netflix. So I thought ‘I’ll keep doing them’. That kind of grew and as that grew, my music did too. I would sit on TikTok live and would tell people that I had a new song out.
Continue reading the article.
“So it wasn’t planned out. Social media definitely helped me find and grow an audience, which, I suppose, was very important.
He admits to having a life that is frequently ‘splished’ between juggling his duties on TikTok, representing himself, and organizing gigs. Coming off the back of a secret performance at Liverpool’s famous Jacaranda – which launched the Beatles to superstardom and has welcomed esteemed artists such as Blossoms in recent times – he appears enthused when asked about the process of making music.
Brandon Flowers of the Killers has been a major inspiration to Michael Aldag(Image: Redferns via Getty Images)
He still remembers that time in his life as his most productive when he first began to write when he was 14 when he first started to write in his bedroom. However, the craft of songwriting remains his first love, with his passion for his art palpable.
“When I was 16 years old, I really got into that and would spend the night making and producing songs just to get lost in that world.” Then, as the clock would indicate, I would need to go to bed the following morning to get ready for school.
” I’d just be taking my laptop everywhere and producing stuff. I still try to do that, but I also enjoy sharing ideas with a producer about writing on my guitar and keyboard piano.
Michael Aldag has spoken about the influences behind his work including the 1975 and Bastille(Image: Michael Aldag)
The Merseysider acknowledges seeing the Killers’ Brandon Flowers perform when he was a teenager as a major seminal moment in his journey to embarking on a career in music himself. He recalled: “I think that was one of those moments where you feel like your life slowed down, I remember watching him and the Killers when I was 15 in the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool – it was incredible.
He was such a fantastic performer, and I can recall just before that, when I first first heard about these songs as a teenager. Seeing their show, with all the massive lights, it wasn’t trying to be coy, it was like ‘ here’s one banger and here’s one after that ‘ and he was just singing his heart out.
“I got really jealous, I think,” the statement read. I wanted to be in the audience and do it because it was one of those times when I couldn’t bear being there. It’s when you try and do it that you realize just how much hard work it takes”!
Aldag anticipates releasing new material in the upcoming months, with “The Carousel” representing some of his most introspective pieces of work to date. His previously unheard tracks are included in his previously unheard collection. The starlet has gained notoriety for his clever depictions of northern life, but it’s obvious that he is more at ease than ever writing about his own struggles with romance, broken relationships, and dealing with heartache.
Robin Stjernberg of Sweden attends a photocall for the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 at Malmo Arena (Image: Ragnar Singsaas/Getty Images)
He acknowledges that the lyrics to the tracks “Three Minutes” and “Happy” have a more melancholy lyrical undertone than the tracks that are The 1975-esque, with catchy pop choruses and bright, uplifting melodies.
Aldag, who co-wrote these songs with producer and former Eurovision contestant Robin Stjernberg, does not shy away from admitting that he is unapologetically baring his soul like never before. They first worked together last year, with their songwriting partnership having blossomed ever since their initial encounter in a studio in Stockholm.
We had never met each other before, but we were put into a session because it was freezing in the middle of winter. We wrote the first song for that. Both of us were feeling quite jaded and feeling like we were doing things that we didn’t feel rewarded by and out of nowhere]the song] happened”, Aldag remembers.
“I just went with what came naturally,” I said as a result. It’s difficult to sing that song because I was very honest with the lyrics.
Michael will invite comparisons with Lewis Capaldi with the sound of his new record(Image: Getty Images)
They are just heartbreaking songs, but what we’ve done with “Three Minutes” is write something that’s a sort of 80s dance-inspired disco tune. Similar to “Happy,” but lyrically speaking, it is pretty devastating but has a snare kick going all the way through.
Addressing inevitable comparisons which will come with Lewis Capaldi for his vocal delivery on the title track, he admits: “I probably sound like Lewis Capaldi when he’s got a sore throat! I love that song – from there that song sparked the rest of the music.
“From there, I thought, “There’s something in that experience that I had.” That was the embryo of that song and then that grew and became all the different sides of it, which became the rest of the music. We hope to have a cool world in place.
Aldag also makes an announcement about making his first concept record of his career, with all the songs being based on the same source of inspiration that Aldag has used to create this project. He said: “I then tried to tell a story in the lyrics of this relationship and of the nature of it going round and round like a carousel – that’s where the whole thing has come from. In that regard, yes, it’s a concept album.
Michael is delighted to be returning to CarFest, which he previously played at the age of just 17(Image: Michael Aldag)
Michael Aldag proved a major hit on the stage at CarFest previously(Image: Michael Aldag)
It’s been very jarring in my music before, and it’s even more blatantly so at times, but with this, it’s still my life and true, and I tried to explore different sounds and create a distinctive sound with Robin.
Continue reading the article.
With his upcoming release, “The Carousel,” which is scheduled for the summer, Aldag is now aiming to build on his previous successes. The youngster is also brimming with excitement about playing his songs for audiences at festivals including Chris Evans ‘ CarFest this year.
I’m eager to play CarFest, he continued. I remember it vividly because it was my first festival when I first played it on my acoustic guitar when I was 17 years old. I was so nervous. I was pounding my head. I’m still recording a Shaun Mendes cover, so maybe I’ll take that back for nostalgia.
Zak Starkey, the band’s drummer, has been fired from The Who after decades, but that’s not the only tragedy he’s experienced as a result of being born into the wild world of rock and roll.
Zak Starkey is the first child of The Beatles drummer Ringo Starr, and followed in his footsteps(Image: Getty Images Europe)
Zak Starkey has suffered a major blow, being fired from The Who after joining as their full time drummer in 1996. Considering his hugely successful career and birth into rock royalty, it’s surprising his name hasn’t always been in the headlines – but he’s had plenty of ups and downs behind the scenes.
Multi-instrumentalist Zak, 59, is the first child of The Beatles drummer Ringo Starr and his first wife Maureen Cox. He had an illustrious childhood, growing up around major stars while enjoying private education and a home in a gated community in Surrey.
Zak went on to grow his own family, marrying his second wife Sharna Liguz – better known a Sshh – in 2022, the year after they welcomed their daughter Luna Lee Lightnin.
Everything seemed to be going perfectly for the talented performer until this month, when Zak was booted from The Who following their two shows at the Royal Albert Hall at the end of March. Zak – who spent much of his childhood with The Who’s original drummer Keith Moon – admitted to being “surprised and saddened” by the sudden break, which followed a few months of instability.
Zak was fired from The Who last month after joining in 1996 and counting original drummer Keith Moon as his ‘uncle’(Image: Getty Images)
Continue reading the article.
Back in January, Zak experienced a terrifying health scare that forced him to drop out of a gig with Mantra of the Cosmos, which he and Sshh formed. The band, which counts Oasis and Ride guitarist Andy Bell alongside Happy Mondays stars Shaun Ryder and Bez as its core members, was due to perform a secret set in Soho, London, when Zak was rushed for medical attention.
Just hours before he was due on stage, doctors found multiple blood clots in his leg, and was placed on a two-week course of blood thinners alongside being ordered to immediate bed rest.
Zak has addressed his health issues, and blasted the idea that they had anything to do with his firing from The Who. In a statement provided to the Rolling Stone, he emphasised: “In January, I suffered a serious medical emergency with blood clots in my right bass drum calf. This is now completely healed and does not affect my drumming or running.”
Zak, who refers to the band as his “family” and drummer Moon, who died of an overdose in 1978, was given the guts of his departure from The Who.
Moon is known as one of the greatest drummers in history, but also one of the wildest. “He was one of my dad’s best friends. When my brother, sister, and I used to stay with my dad there, we would occasionally spend a few days at Keith’s house. Keith was the babysitter. We would just hang out and talk about anything, really–girls, surfing, bands, drums. He was a really fantastic guy to hang out with,” Zak said of his impact during a chat with the Modern Drummer.
Moon bought Zak his first drum kit – which Zak was forced to sell in his 20s to pay off debts to ‘drug dealers and the taxman’(Image: Getty Images)
Unfortunately, Zak’s uncle may have passed on more than just his drumming abilities, in blood, to him. When Zak was a boy, Moon gave him his first-ever drum kit, which tragically he later sold when he was 26.
The kit went for £12,000 at Sotheby’s, and Zak admitted that he needed the money because he found himself trapped in a corner with financial and drug issues. “I wish I’d never sold it, but, at the time, I owed some drug dealers and the taxman a lot of money,” he told Hi-Fi Plus.
Prior to his marriage to Sshh, the drummer was married to Sarah Menikides from 1985 to 2021. Zak was just 19 when he first tied the knot, and by this point was reportedly already deeply embroiled in the drug world.
According to an anonymous source, “When [Sarah] met him about three years ago, Zak was drinking heavily and doing drugs, and Ringo was disgusted with him, and not even speaking to him.
Sarah, however, sort of reached him. She made the distinction between drinking and using drugs, not alcohol. If he returns to his former, he was once a rogue. Zak’s return to normalcy with his father is another positive outcome of the relationship, according to the source.
The star was rushed to medics in January after multiple blood clots were found in his leg, but he swears the illness doesn’t impact his playing – ahead of hints he might be rejoining Oasis this summer(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Unlike his second wedding – which saw stars such as Liam Gallagher and Johnny Marr descend on a huge Hollywood ceremony – the first was secretly held at a London registry office. “Ringo didn’t go to the wedding, because Zak wanted to avoid publicity. But he did hold the reception for them afterwards at his mansion,” the source added of Zak’s teen nuptials.
Things clearly changed for Zak later in life, and he can count working with major groups such as Oasis and The Lightning Seeds into his impressive CV. The star also has a label that he runs with Sshh, Trojan Jamaica, which they set up shortly before moving to the island nation.
“Jamaica is the most productive musical country I’ve ever been to. It’s second to none, in fact. The other great thing about it is everyone’s really f*****g happy. There’s no pressure. It flows, “ he told Rock Cellar Magazine. He and Sshh moved there in 2017 after being invited to play in Jamaica the year before, and ended up staying in tropical bliss for three years while also cranking out plenty of music.
Continue reading the article.
And, it seems things might be on the up for Zak despite his very public firing. The long-awaited Oasis reunion tour is kicking off this summer, and they’re said to have their eye on Zak to return to the fold as their drummer.
