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We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
Insets, clockwise from top: Kevin Nishita, Laron Gilbert, Hershel Hale and Shadihia Mitchell (Oakland Police Department). Background: The area where Kevin Nishita was killed in Oakland, Calif., by Laron Gilbert, Hershel Hale and Shadihia Mitchell (KPIX/YouTube).
A retired California police officer, who was working security for a news crew on his day off, was tragically killed during a robbery by three individuals who have now been sentenced to lengthy prison terms.
Kevin Nishita, a 56-year-old former officer with the Oakland Police Department, was providing protection to a television news crew when he was attacked by Laron Gilbert, Shadihia Mitchell, and Hershel Hale. During the robbery for camera equipment, Nishita was shot in the abdomen. The incident occurred in November 2021, on the eve of Thanksgiving. This week, an Alameda County court handed down sentences to the three men, who faced murder and other charges.
Laron Gilbert, identified as the shooter, was sentenced to 30 years to life after entering a no contest plea to first-degree murder. His accomplices, Mitchell and Hale, also pleaded no contest, receiving 25-year sentences each for robbery. Their convictions were secured in February.
During the sentencing, Nishita’s wife, Virginia Nishita, delivered an emotional victim impact statement. She reflected on how her husband had been asked to work for just a few hours that fateful day.
“Saying ‘OK’ has haunted me,” she shared, as reported by local CBS affiliate KPIX. “I wish I could go back to that day and say, ‘No, it’s your day off. Let’s prepare our Thanksgiving meal. Let’s continue what we’re doing. Don’t go to work.’ I wish I could go back to that day and say, ‘no.’
Kevin and Virginia Nishita had two children and three grandchildren. He was working security for local CW affiliate KRON in Oakland when the shooting happened. He died three days later while in the hospital.
“During the course of the investigation through surveillance video, forensic evidence and witness statements, Laron Gilbert, Hershel Hale and Shadihia Mitchell were identified as the suspects responsible for the attempted robbery,” Oakland Police said in charging documents obtained and previously reported by Law&Crime.
Nishita worked with the Oakland Housing Authority, Hayward Police Department, San Jose Police Department, and Colma Police Department over the course of his career.
Speaking shortly after the murder, his daughter Maureen Campos described how her father was preparing to join them on a vacation.
“I know for one thing he wants us to stop crying,” she told KPIX at the time. “I know he’ll want us to take the vacation, but to be honest it’s too hard to do, and I don’t even know how many months can pass until we can go on that airplane.”
During an event last night, the vice president faced a question about whether she would pursue the role she previously lost in the upcoming 2024 election.
“Well, I might consider it,” she responded thoughtfully. “I’m contemplating it.”
Vice President Kamala Harris is considering running for the top job in 2028. (AP)
“I have a clear understanding of the position and its demands,” she added.
The remarks were made at the National Action Network’s convention, a civil rights organization established by former candidate Al Sharpton.
Reports indicate she received a warm and enthusiastic welcome from the audience.
“This is a convention, not a revival,” Sharpton told the crowd.
“The status quo is not working,” she said.
“The American people have the right to expect that anyone who wants to run for office – it can’t be about themselves.”
At this stage in the US political cycle, potential candidates are normally very coy about their presidential ambitions.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris. (Getty)
Typically would-be contenders do not announce whether they will run until after the midterm elections in November.
But Harris is touring the country in a way that politicians rarely do if they intend to retire.
Rumours abounded that Harris would run again for president when she declined a bid for the governorship of California last year.
The event also included a series of other likely Democratic candidates for president, including Pete Buttigieg, JB Pritzker, Josh Shapiro and Wes Moore.
Most polls of the Democratic primary for the 2028 election show Kamala Harris with a tenuous lead over her rivals.
While she has the advantage of universal name recognition, it is clear Democratic voters are not convinced she is the best option.
Kamala Harris was in a knife’s-edge election with Donald Trump that ended in a comfortable win for the former president. (AP)
The previous losing candidate typically leads in early polls the next election around.
But it is very rare for a nominee to make a second attempt after losing a general election.
The last major party candidate to claim a presidential nomination twice in a row without winning was Adlai Stevenson in 1952 and 1956.
He lost in a landslide both times. Nevertheless, he tried and failed to get the nomination a third time at the 1960 Democratic convention.
Harris claimed the nomination in an unusual and very expedited fashion in 2024 after Joe Biden dropped out after the primaries but before the convention.
In the 2024 election, Harris lost to Donald Trump by 1.5 percent in the national vote.
A poll released by YouGov this week showed only 62 per cent of people who voted for Trump were confident in that decision.
Kelly Ripa has a unique way of describing how her evening routines impact her relationship with Mark Consuelos, playfully referring to it as a “chastity belt.”
The concept of a family night is one that resonates deeply with Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos. The couple, who co-host Live with Kelly and Mark, showed their unwavering support for their 23-year-old son, Joaquin Consuelos, during his debut on Broadway. Joaquin stepped into the spotlight on April 9 in a revival of Arthur Miller’s iconic play, Death of a Salesman.
This marked a significant milestone for the Consuelos-Ripa family, as it was Joaquin’s first major public appearance with them since he was in school. His previous notable event with the family was back in 2015, during the celebration of Kelly’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
More than just spectators at the Winter Garden Theatre in New York City, Kelly and Mark were also present at the after-party, joining the cast at Katz’s Delicatessen to celebrate the occasion.
Of course, Kelly and Mark weren’t just seated in the audience when the curtains were raised at the Winter Garden Theatre in New York City—they also made it to the cast after-party at Katz’s Delicatessen.
Matching in black attire, the longtime couple—who also share son Michael Consuelos, 28, and daughter Lola Consuelos, 24—were all smiles as they posed for a photo with Joaquin, who plays a younger version of Christopher Abbott‘s Biff character in the production.
A Texas mother faces a prison sentence after allowing her intoxicated 14-year-old son to drive her car, an action that tragically resulted in the death of a bicyclist.
Erika Martinez-Ramirez was handed the maximum penalty of two years in prison following her conviction on April 7 for endangering a child. This information was confirmed by a statement from the McLennan County District Attorney’s Office.
“It is uncommon for parents to be prosecuted for their children’s actions, but the recklessness and habitual nature of this mother’s behavior justified both the prosecution and the harshest sentence,” noted Assistant District Attorneys Michaelina Yearty and Duncan Widmann in their joint statement. They also acknowledged the outstanding efforts of the Bellmead Police Department in building the case.
Erika Martinez-Ramirez’s Son Allegedly Struck and Killed Bicyclist
The incident, which led to the investigation, occurred at 1:30 a.m. on July 14, 2024, after police responded to a vehicular accident. Allegedly, Martinez-Ramirez’s son, who was just 14, collided with a bicyclist before crashing into a nearby residence.
Prosecutors stated, “The police determined the young driver was under the influence of alcohol.” They further revealed that the boy’s 10-year-old sister, who was also in the vehicle at the time, suffered minor injuries from the crash.
Although prosecutors did not identify the victim by name, Bellmead Police identified him in a 2024 statement as 67-year-old Dennis Welch.
During the investigation, detectives learned that Martinez-Ramirez had handed her son the keys that night and asked him to drive his sister to a nearby house to pick up some clothes.
It wasn’t the first time she’d been caught allowing her underage son to drive, either.
Bellmead Police stopped the teen on Dec. 12, 2023 for speeding and discovered other children in the car.
“Officers then contacted Martinez-Ramirez,” prosecutors said, “and issued her a citation for allowing her teenage son to drive.”
Just two weeks later, on Dec. 24, he was driving the car again when he struck another car and fled the scene.
According to prosecutors, “police contacted Martinez-Ramirez and repeated to her that allowing her son to drive was unacceptable.”
Prosecutors said they weren’t able to charge Martinez-Ramirez with manslaughter in Welch’s death because there was no evidence to show that she knew her son was intoxicated when he got behind the wheel that night.
Authorities said Texas law prohibited them from revealing any information about her teenage son’s fate, given his status as a minor.
Integrate these exercises into your morning routine to enhance knee health and strength as you age.
As the years go by, prioritizing knee strength is essential for maintaining overall wellness. Robust knees contribute significantly to balance and mobility, lowering the likelihood of falls. Think of the muscles encircling your knees as efficient shock absorbers that safeguard your joints, facilitating smooth walking, standing, and stair climbing. By taking care of your knees, you can prevent discomfort and potentially avoid the need for knee replacement surgery in the future.
To specifically target knee strength, certain exercises are particularly beneficial. We consulted with experts to identify key moves that bolster knee resilience more effectively than resistance bands, especially after reaching 60. Here are six exercises you can incorporate into your mornings.
“Feeling stiff upon waking isn’t just limited to those in their 60s, but it’s certainly more prevalent with age,” notes Coach Amanda Grimm, a Certified Running Coach and seasoned Personal Trainer with a degree in Sports Science. Grimm, who coaches clients globally, points out, “Aging naturally leads to muscle loss, potential knee injuries, and often a more sedentary lifestyle, all of which can cause weakened and painful knees and legs. For women, in particular, decreasing estrogen levels can impact connective tissue elasticity and joint lubrication, diminishing support and mobility.”
“You don’t have to be in your 60s to wake up feeling stiff, but as we get older, this is a more common ailment in the morning,” explains Coach Amanda Grimm, a Certified Running Coach and experienced Personal Trainer with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Science. Grimm is also a We Run Coach for online clients in the UK, the US, and throughout the world. “It’s natural to lose muscle as we age, potentially have knee injuries, and sometimes have a more sedentary lifestyle; in turn, these can all result in weak and painful knees and legs. With females in particular, estrogen levels often decrease at this age, which can negatively affect connective tissue elasticity and joint lubrication, which will reduce support and movement.”6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e
Putting your body weight to work supports additional stabilizing muscles and enhances balance, which is crucial as you age to avoid falls and injuries.
“Performing tone and strength exercises that don’t just focus on specific muscles, but allow the whole body to adjust, engage, and stabilize, which will better replicate real-life movement patterns,” Grimm tells us. “Morning bodyweight exercises can also be advantageous for active individuals over 60, especially older runners, recreational athletes, and those who enjoy a long round of golf or rambling. Strong knees don’t just make daily life easier, but they can also improve performance and reduce the risk of injury when taking part in active hobbies.”
Resistance bands can certainly be a beneficial tool when focusing on knee strength, but they may not be suitable for everyone due to strength and mobility levels.
“Resistance bands do not typically improve coordination or balance as effectively, since they often focus on a single joint or muscle group. As a result, they may not always train movements used in daily life,” explains Monique Caruth, PT, DPT, an APTA spokesperson who works frequently with older adults and is the founder of Caruth Home Health, providing rehabilitation, nursing, and social work services. “For many older adults looking to build knee strength for everyday movements, it may be more beneficial to begin with range of motion exercises. Simple exercises that mimic daily activities, such as standing, walking, or sitting down, can be more effective because they engage multiple muscles and promote better overall movement patterns.”
Below are a few exercises to add to your morning routine, according to Grimm and Caruth.
Sit-to-Stand
Begin seated at the front of a sturdy chair, feet under your knees.
Lean forward just a bit.
Try to stand up without using your knees, hands, or additional support.
Use control to slowly sit back down.
Perform 3 sets of 10 reps.
Step-Ups
Begin by standing tall, facing a low step, holding an optional lightweight dumbbell in each hand.
Place your left foot firmly onto the surface, keeping your core engaged and chest tall.
Press through your left heel to lift your body until your left leg is straight and you’re standing on the surface.
Use control to lower back to the start position.
Perform 3 sets of 10 reps on each leg.
Wall Sit
Stand tall with your back pressed against a wall and arms extended ahead of you.
Slide down until your knees are bent at a 90-degree angle as if you’re sitting in a chair.
Hold the position for 15 to 20 seconds, working your way up to 23 to 30 seconds as you progress.
Calf Raises
Begin by standing tall with your feet hip-width apart, facing a sturdy chair with your hands lightly resting on the backrest.
Engage your core.
Rise onto your toes slowly.
Hold for 2 to 3 seconds at the top.
Lower back down with control.
Perform 3 sets of 15 reps.
Glute Bridges
Begin by lying flat on your back with bent knees and feet hip-width apart on the mattress, arms at your sides with palms pressing into the ground.
Press through your heels to lift your hips until your body forms a straight line from head to heels.
Squeeze your buttocks, holding at the top for 2 seconds.
Gently lower your hips back to the start position.
Perform 3 sets of 15 reps.
Half Squats
“Half squats are a great way to build knee strength without putting too much strain on the body,” Caruth tells us.
Begin standing tall with your feet shoulder-width apart.
Rest your hands on your thighs or reach them out ahead of you. (If necessary, hold onto a sturdy chair for balance.)
Maintain a tall chest as you slowly lower your hips partially down as if sitting back onto a chair.
The spouse of a Michigan woman who vanished from a boat while in the Bahamas encountered an unexpected mishap when he fell off a vessel during a police escort, according to his lawyer.
Attorney Terrel Butler revealed that 59-year-old Brian Hooker accidentally went overboard and sustained knee injuries along with abrasions on Wednesday.
Butler explained that during the transport, Brian was handcuffed, and the rough conditions made it impossible for him to secure himself safely.
Fox News reported that Brian is currently being transported to Rand Hospital for additional medical evaluation and treatment.
Brian’s arrest by Bahamian authorities occurred on Wednesday following the mysterious disappearance of his wife, Lynette, while they were on a sailing excursion near the islands.
He was detained on the Abaco islands five days after he returned from the expedition without her, claiming she fell overboard.
From Witness to Suspect
Authorities first interviewed Brian and released him, then brought him back in as a witness for further questioning.
He was later brought in for questioning a third time, as a suspect, according to his lawyer.
The Royal Bahamas police said Brian was questioned ‘on probable cause’ and was taken into custody as a suspect in connection with his wife’s disappearance, but he has not been formally charged.
The couple were experienced sailors who had been traveling together for more than a decade, often documenting their life at sea on social media, authorities said.
On Saturday evening, they took out an eight-foot motorboat from Hope Town in the Bahamas, but only Brian returned.
He told authorities that his wife fell overboard with the boat keys as they were returning to their yacht ‘Soulmate’, causing the engine to shut off and forcing him to paddle to the shore.
Unpredictable Seas
In a statement to the Daily Mail, Brian Hooker said he is ‘heartbroken’ by his wife’s disappearance, describing the incident as a ‘boat accident in unpredictable seas and high winds.’
‘Despite desperate attempts to reach her, the winds and currents drove us further apart,’ Brian said. ‘We continue to search for her and that is my sole focus.’
Brian’s attorney said his client ‘categorically and unequivocally denies any wrongdoing’ in his wife’s disappearance, saying he ‘has been cooperating with the relevant authorities as part of an ongoing investigation.’
The couple’s distraught daughter called for a full investigation into the tragedy after she said her parents went through ‘prior issues’ before her mother’s disappearance.
Lynette Hooker’s mother, Darlene Hamlett, said following Brian’s arrest late Wednesday that she was ‘glad to hear’ about the arrest, but declined further comment, saying she was seeking more information.
Earlier on Wednesday, Hamlett said she wants to hear more from her son-in-law about how Lynette vanished.
The couple had been married for more than two decades and lived in Onsted, Michigan.
She Grew Up on the Water
Online records gave Brian Hooker’s age as 58, and the reason for the discrepancy wasn’t immediately clear.
‘I’m going to be interested in what he says, because I haven’t heard from him in almost two days,’ Hamlett said.
‘Our family grew up on water and so Lynette her whole life has been near lakes, on boats, sailing and swimming.’
‘It would be a miracle if [she’s rescued], but I’m still counting on one,’ Hamlett added.
On Tuesday, Lynette’s daughter Karli Aynesworth called for a full investigation into the events leading up to her mother’s fall.
‘There have been prior issues brought to my attention, which may be important for any thorough investigation,’ she told Fox News Digital.
‘If this truly was an accident, I can understand and live with it,’ she added.
‘However, there needs to be an intensive review of the facts and circumstances of this tragic incident before that can be determined.’
Aylesworth also told CBS that her mother is a seasoned sailor and swimmer, with over a decade of experience on the water.
She is unable to wrap her mind around how Lynette fell overboard and vanished.
Jeannie Mai is sharing insights into her life with her daughter, Monaco Mai Jenkins, offering a heartfelt glimpse into her journey as a mother.
In an engaging conversation with Mini Magazine, the television personality opened up about the transformative experience of raising her 4-year-old daughter and the profound impact it has had on her life.
“Monaco cracked me open,” Mai expressed with emotion. “She taught me that tenderness is indeed strength. The ability to be moved, to embrace softness, and to fully experience every emotion is not a sign of weakness but a testament to one’s power. She healed parts of me I wasn’t even aware needed healing.”
Mai continued, “Monaco has made me braver, without a doubt. She observes everything I do. When I encounter daunting challenges—a new project, a difficult conversation, or starting anew—I consider the example I want to set for her. I aspire to show her a woman who doesn’t let fear dominate. A woman who rises again and chooses growth, even when it’s uncomfortable. She is my greatest inspiration to live boldly, as she learns how to navigate life by observing my actions.”
Mai, who shares her daughter with rapper Jeezy, also touched on the complexities of co-parenting and the hurdles they face together.
“Genuinely one of the hardest things I’ve ever navigated,” she said. “There are moments the house is quiet and it just hits different, like a silence that feels loud. What helps me is filling that time with things that make me feel whole, so I come back to her as a better version of myself.”
Asked about a recent sweet moment of motherhood, she said, “I literally just posted a video of this moment the other day. I was driving to the grocery store when Monaco said out of nowhere, I think you’re the best mom ever. Before I melted into the floor, I realized Monaco is reflecting the love she has received from me. I talk to my daughter the way I hope she’ll talk to herself someday.”
“Every word I give her is like a handwritten love letter: intentional, different each time, something she can carry with her. And now that she’s talking so much, I hear it coming back to me,” she continued. “The same softness. The same love. She’s not just learning her voice-she’s helping me rewrite mine too.”
One of the most debated horror films in cinema history has finally made its way back to audiences, although its journey was far from easy.
The reimagined version of “Faces of Death,” originally released in 1978, debuted in theaters this week after spending two years waiting on the shelf.
The original movie, notorious for its shocking content, was initially presented as a real-life documentary. It was later revealed, however, that most of the gruesome scenes were fabricated.
Despite the staged nature of its content, “Faces of Death” faced bans in countries such as the UK, Germany, Australia, and New Zealand. Its reputation was further amplified by marketing campaigns that boldly claimed it was banned in 46 countries.
Now, as the remake garners praise from critics, writer and director Daniel Goldhaber has successfully navigated the challenges posed by censors to bring the film to the big screen.
Starring Euphoria’s Barbie Ferreira and Stranger Things villain Dacre Montgomery, the R-rated remake follows a social media content moderator (Ferreira) who suspects that somebody is recreating the deaths from the original Faces of Death and posting them online.
The new Faces of Death remake starring Barbie Ferreira was shelved for two years and almost didn’t make it past censors for release
Shooting wrapped back in 2023 and the film was supposed to premiere at SXSW in 2024, but was mysteriously pulled from the festival without explanation.
It then spent the next two years in limbo before finally getting released this week.
‘There’s only so much I can get into,’ Goldhaber told Interview magazine.
‘We had to fight very hard. I would say it was a problem of censorship and of corporate interference. I’ll leave it at that.’
The first teaser for the film was finally released in early February, but was instantly banned from YouTube.
Goldhaber confirmed that the ban wasn’t a ‘marketing’ stunt like many horror fans had assumed.
‘We had our own censorship battles with the MPAA too. But the point is that we’ve had trouble marketing the movie, and our materials have gotten banned and taken down,’ he said.
While Faces of Death is incredibly violent, Goldhaber says that a few seconds had to be removed from one particularly gruesome scene involving a man’s head being hammered and mutilated.
The original 1978 Faces of Death was a compilation of violent deaths that was passed off as a real documentary, despite largely being fake
In the remake, a twisted serial killer starts recreating the deaths from the original film and posting them on social media
Charli XCX has a small role in the R-rated horror film, which is earning rave reviews from critics
‘They forced us to cut a section where you see the scalp get peeled back and flopped out from the moderation sequence,’ he said.
Certain posters for the movie were also banned, which is ironic given that one of the main themes in the Faces of Death remake is censorship.
Despite the many setbacks, the hard work to get the film into theaters seems to be paying off so far.
According to Deadline, distributor IFC is reporting $450,000 in Thursday sales – its second highest Thursday ever after Clown In A Cornfield, which was a box office hit.
Critics have also praised the film, with many singing out its social commentary and meta aspects.
‘Faces of Death is fantastic. The type of clever, self-aware, and deeply unsettling “how we live now” horror movie that should — but sadly won’t — embarrass the Scream franchise out of existence,’ wrote IndieWire.
‘Faces of Death is a gory, clever satire for horror audiences who’ve seen everything,’ gushed the Los Angeles Times.
Ferreira and co-star Dacre Montgomery are pictured at the Faces of Death premiere in Los Angeles earlier this week
The film is also garnering attention thanks to a small role from pop star Charli XCX.
While fans have already seen Charli in The Moment, Faces of Death is technically her first acting role given that it was shot way back in 2023.
The original Faces of Death follows a pathologist who presents the viewer with various footage of people dying in gruesome ways.
It is depicted as a real documentary and features some authentic deaths that were caught on tape, but most of the film was staged.
Some of the more unsettling scenes from the original film include an African tribe butchering a cow and footage of war atrocities, including the Holocaust.
Although it was released theatrically in 1978, the movie became a word-of-mouth sensation in the ’80s as people passed VHS copies around, seemingly unaware that many of the deaths were fake.
It eventually earned millions off the back of VHS sales and rentals and spawned a number of sequels and spin-offs.
In a heartfelt ceremony on Friday, the Seattle Mariners paid tribute to their iconic franchise player, Ichiro Suzuki, by unveiling a statue in his honor. However, the event took an unexpected turn, offering a lesson in the intricacies of bronze craftsmanship.
Ichiro, now 52, was a celebrated figure in Japanese baseball, securing three MVP titles before making his mark in the United States. Over his illustrious 19-year career in Major League Baseball, he captivated fans with his extraordinary skills, securing the American League MVP in 2001, earning 10 All-Star selections, and winning 10 Gold Gloves. His presence on the Seattle Mariners was pivotal, keeping the team competitive during his 14-year tenure in the Emerald City.
In recognition of his contributions, the Mariners had already retired his No. 51 jersey. In August, they announced plans to further commemorate Ichiro by erecting a bronze statue. This piece was designed to immortalize his signature pose—a moment when the left-handed batter extended his right arm towards the pitcher, his bat held perpendicular to the field.
To celebrate this occasion, the Mariners also distributed miniature replicas of the statue to fans attending Friday’s game against the Houston Astros, bringing a piece of Ichiro’s legacy into the hands of the public.
However, as the statue was unveiled that morning, an unexpected mishap occurred. The blue covering snagged at the top of the statue’s bat, causing it to bend backwards under the tension, adding a surprising twist to the ceremony. Despite this minor setback, the event successfully highlighted Ichiro’s enduring impact on the sport and the city of Seattle.
Ichiro noticed the problem immediately, pointing upwards in absolute astonishment. Soon he and fellow Mariners legend Ken Griffey Jr. were doubled over in laughter as confetti continued to rain down around them.
As the blue sheet was pulled downward, the fabric pulled at the top of the bat, which quickly bent backwards under the pressure. Ichiro was among the first to notice the problem
The bronze couldn’t support the weight of the sheet as it was pulled from the statue
Known for his distinct sense of humor, Ichiro cracked some jokes about the incident
Always known for his distinct sense of humor, Ichiro immediately cracked a joke about the most dominant relief pitcher of his era, the New York Yankees’ Mariano Rivera.
‘I didn’t think Mariano would come out here and break the bat,’ Ichiro said, as quoted by MLB.com’s Daniel Kramer.
The team also showed a good sense of humor about the incident with a post on X.
The post included a photo of a miniaturized replica statue with a broken bat.
As Ichiro later explained, he wore his uniform from the 2001 season while modeling for sculptor Lou Cella.
‘I can say I was happy that I was still able to fit into that uniform, and probably could say Junior and Edgar probably couldn’t do that,’ Ichiro said. ‘So, I was happy about that.’
Ken Griffey Jr. is seen laughing and patting Ichiro Suzuki on the back after the unveiling
Artist Lou Cella reacts as the bat on his statue of former Seattle Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki breaks during its unveiling outside of T-Mobile Park on Friday
The Seattle Mariners poked fun at the incident with an ‘update’ for Friday’s giveaway
Ichiro also poked fun at his Hall-of-Fame selection, where he received 99.7-percent of the vote, saying he can use that and Friday’s broken bat as motivation.
‘In the Hall of Fame, I was short one vote,’ Suzuki said. ‘Today, the bat was broke. It kind of lets me know that I’m still not there, that I still need to keep going. So, this is a good example of that.’
Fortunately, according to multiple reports, the bat has been fixed and is now perched in bronze Ichiro’s extended right hand.
Of course, any statue of a famous figure lends itself to ridicule. A bust of soccer legend Cristiano Ronaldo at a Portuguese airport was such an eyesore it was ultimately replaced a year later.
Other statues honoring New Jersey Devils goalie Martin Brodeur, Boston Red Sox legend Ted Williams and Chicago Bulls icon Michael Jordan remain popular among sports fans, although a 2024 attempt to recreate Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade continues to be mocked.
Amateur astronomers have discovered a planetary ring around a dwarf planet.
The Berenice and Arthur Page Medal recognises the work of amateur astronomers in Australia and its territories.
Have you ever imagined stumbling upon something you believed was impossible?
In 2021, a trio of backyard astronomers—Jonathan Bradshaw, Renato Langersek, and John Broughton—found themselves facing this very scenario. Their groundbreaking discovery would send ripples through the astronomical community.
These Australians etched their names in history as the first amateur astronomers to uncover a planetary ring. Their remarkable achievement has earned them the highest national honor in amateur astronomy this year, a testament to their relentless dedication and pioneering findings.
As global attention is riveted on the Artemis II mission’s journey around the moon, these citizen scientists shared their insights with SBS News, highlighting the vital role that amateur astronomers play in advancing our understanding of the universe.
While the world keeps watch of the Artemis II mission around the moon, these citizen scientists spoke with SBS News about the significant contributions amateur astronomists have made.
Stargazing brings people together
Jonathan Bradshaw has been into astronomy for “forever”.
The first time he ever saw through a telescope was at the Port Macquarie Observatory in 1975. But it wasn’t until he moved from the UK to Australia, in 2004, that he started pursuing his self-funded astronomy career.
Previously, Jonathan was the President of the Astronomical Association of Queensland but currently serves as the President of the Coffs Harbour Astronomical Society.
His life-long interest in astronomy has led him to meeting his partners in discovering a planetary ring around Quaoar.
Quaoar is a dwarf planet in the Kuiper belt, that is understood to be roughly half the size of Pluto. It was originally discovered in 2002 by astronomers at the California Institute of Technology.
Artist impression of Quaoar and the planetary ring discovered by Jonathan Bradshaw, Renato Langersek and John Broughton. Credit: European Space Agency (ESA)
In 2021, Jonathan, Renato and John were in separate cities across Southeast Queensland where they were all watching as Quaoar passed in front of a distant star.
Initially, the three were looking through their telescopes for an occultation observation, which is when an object goes in front of a star and that star casts a shadow the size of an object onto the Earth’s surface. However, the group understood that they weren’t in the right position for the shadow path.
They thought they might be able to find another moon on Quaoar but ended up finding something extraordinary.
All three registered “blips” in their data that corresponded, and when they discussed this finding with each other, realised that their observations made a straight line. Prior to their discovery, Jonathan explained that while professional astronomers had pre-discovery data, no one had been looking.
This is because, the planetary ring shouldn’t have been there.
“We instantly knew that we discovered a ring, and we instantly knew it was in the wrong place, and that’s what made the whole thing really, really valuable scientifically,” said Jonathan.
Jonathan, John and Renato (from left to right) were in different parts of Southeast Queensland when they all had a ‘blip’ on their radar. Credit: Science in Public
Finding meaning in flickers of light
Like Jonathan, Chris Stockdale’s passion for astronomy started when he was young.
He grew up in South Gippsland, where the skies were dark and his father would wake him up during the night to go outside and look up at the stars.
One of his earliest memories is of Apollo 11 in 1969, and how his former principal took him and other students to his house to watch the moon landing.
“I thought it was pretty cool, and I replayed it that night,” he recalled.
In 1985, Chris purchased his first real telescope and hasn’t looked away from the night sky since.
Chris with his backyard telescope in Hazelbrook, Victoria, where he monitors exoplanets in search of evidence for an Earth-like atmosphere.
Chris was another recipient of this year’s Berenice and Arthur Page Medal, which recognises the contributions that people like him make to astronomy.
The backyard astronomer co-discovered an ‘ultra-hot Neptune’, several potential Earth-like planets, and four ‘super-Jupiters’, which are exoplanets known for being gas giants — their name comes from the fact that they are more than two times the mass of Jupiter.
According to NASA, an exoplanet is any planet that is located outside of our solar system. To date, there are more than 6,000 exoplanets confirmed and over 4,500 surrounding stars.
In his monitoring of exoplanets, Chris looks for “dips in light”, which are planets that orbit distant stars that pass between us and “their sun”. Chris is able to analyse data as small as a one per cent drop in brightness in the appearance of stars that are hundreds of light years away.
Making sense of the universe
Since 2018, Chris has checked the work of NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), which so-far has identified nearly 8,000 exoplanets. He checks this by using his own telescope to validate potential planets so that the NASA-owned James Webb Space Telescope can take a closer look, searching for evidence of an Earth-like atmosphere.
Learning about the potential implications exoplanets have on our solar system, such as how asteroids interact with other bodies and where they are most likely to be found, can help astronomers better understand the risk they can pose to Earth, Chris explained.
“I think it’s useful to understand how the universe works, and you can’t do that from just observing one thing. You actually need a bigger experience, and it’s like sort of walking into a forest, and you just see one tree, and you know about that tree, but you don’t really know about the 2,000 others that are around, and how they came to be, and I think it’s important to get that breadth of knowledge.”
Fred Watson presents Page Medal to Renato, Jonathan and Chris (from left to right). Credit: Science in Public
The Berenice and Arthur Page Medal, given to the three, was inaugurated by the Astronomical Society of Australia (ASA) in 1972 in memory of beloved amateur astronomers, Berenice and Arthur Page.
Every two years, it recognises the excellence in amateur astronomy in Australia and its territories.
One of the people who awards this honour is Dr Tanya Hill, the Senior Curator of Astronomy for Museums Victoria and the Prizes and Awards Coordinator for the Astronomical Society of Australia.
To Tanya, the Page Medal is special because it goes beyond the main work and looks at how amateur astronomists are advancing science and taking it to the next level.
“The great work that they’re doing is really being advocates for astronomy and helping to foster a love of the night sky and putting telescopes out so the public can view things.”
“It’s also lovely to be able to recognise these fantastic amateurs who are using their spare time to enjoy the universe and try and understand some of some mysteries and help us advance our knowledge of what we’re aware of.”
