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Lake Tahoe horror: DoorDash exec Josh Pickles among 8 dead in California's worst boating tragedy since 2019

Lake Tahoe horror: DoorDash exec Josh Pickles among 8 dead in California's worst boating tragedy since 2019

Economic Times4 days ago

A birthday celebration turned tragic on Lake Tahoe when a sudden storm capsized a boat, killing eight, including DoorDash executive Josh Pickles, his parents, and uncle. The incident, California's deadliest boating accident since 2019, claimed the lives of several others. Pickles' wife, who stayed ashore with their infant, expressed devastation.
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Birthday Celebration Turns Into Boating Tragedy on Lake Tahoe
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DoorDash Executive Josh Pickles Among the Victims
Josh's Wife and Infant Daughter Were Not Onboard
Remembering Josh Pickles' Legacy at DoorDash
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A day that was supposed to be filled with joy to celebrate the 71st birthday of the mother of a San Francisco-based DoorDash executive suddenly turned into a devastating tragedy when a luxury powerboat carrying ten people in Lake Tahoe capsized during a sudden storm, according to a report.This incident left eight dead in what officials are calling California's deadliest boating accident since 2019, as reported by ABC 7 San Francisco.The El Dorado County Sheriff's Office Coroner's Division confirmed that one of the victims was 37-year-old Josh Pickles, who was a DoorDash executive from San Francisco, even his parents, Terry Pickles, 73, and Paula Bozinovic, 71, died because of the boating incident, as per the ABC 7 San Francisco report. A spokesperson for the Pickles family said that even Josh's uncle Peter Bayes, 72, had passed away in the accident, reported ABC 7 San Francisco.ALSO READ: Trump dynasty goes Euro-resort: Ivanka and Jared transform ex-Soviet arms base into billion-dollar haven According to the report, the other four victims were identified as Timothy O'Leary, 71, James Guck, 69, Theresa Giullari, 66, and Stephen Lindsay, 63, while the condition of the two people who survived is not known yet.Pickles family's spokesperson shared that "On June 21, Josh and his family went out on the California lake in his 27-foot 'Chris-Craft' luxury powerboat in celebration of his mom Paula's 71st birthday," as quoted in the report. As per officials, they got 911 calls reporting the family's boat was capsised during a storm around 5 p.m., reported ABC 7 San Francisco.The spokesperson said that, "This is a terrible heartbreaking tragedy that took the lives of Joshua Pickles, his father Terry, his mother Paula, his uncle Peter as well as friends and family," adding that, "The family has homes in the Bay Area as well as on Lake Tahoe. They love the lake. That adds to the tragedy that has occurred," as quoted in the report.ALSO READ: Iran-Israel war: 700 Iranians may face imminent execution within days for this alleged grave mistake While, Josh's wife, Jordan Pickles, was not on the boat at the time, as she wanted to stay on shore with their 7-month-old child, and while she survived the deadly boat accident, she said that her life has been forever changed by the loss of her husband, reported ABC 7 San Francisco.She said, "We are devastated by this tragedy," as quoted by ABC 7 San Francisco. Jordan also added that, "No words can express the pain and anguish we feel knowing their lives were lost during what was meant to be a joyful time on the lake. Our hearts go out to those who tragically lost their lives and the two survivors of this unexpected and deadly storm on Lake Tahoe," as quoted in the report.ALSO READ: US unleashes 30,000-pound bunker-busters on Iran — but scientists say Tehran's concrete may have won the day As per Josh's LinkedIn profile, he was the Global Head of Strategic Sourcing and Procurement within the Finance team at DoorDash, and had spent nearly seven years at the company, as reported by E! News.DoorDash's chief financial officer Ravi Inukonda expressed his sadness, saying, "We are heartbroken by the tragic accident that took the life of our beloved colleague, Josh Pickles," as quoted by E! News. He said, "During his nearly seven years at DoorDash, he brought a contagious spirit that lifted those around him. The loss of Josh is immeasurable. We miss him deeply and will carry his memory with us always," as quoted in the report.The CFO also said that, "Our thoughts and love are with his wife, his daughter, his family, and all who were close to him. We are working to support them through this incredibly difficult time," as quoted by E! News.A sudden storm hit the area, and the powerboat carrying 10 people capsized, as per the report.No. His wife, Jordan Pickles, stayed on shore with their 7-month-old baby, as per the report.

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The rape incident in Kolkata's law college is a dark moment — it should also be a turning point
The rape incident in Kolkata's law college is a dark moment — it should also be a turning point

Indian Express

time2 hours ago

  • Indian Express

The rape incident in Kolkata's law college is a dark moment — it should also be a turning point

The alleged gang rape of a 24-year-old law student inside a Kolkata college campus is not merely a tragic anomaly — it is a grim indictment of a state system that increasingly fails to protect the vulnerable, especially women. Allegedly involving a former Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMCP) leader and taking place in the guardroom near the student union office, this act of brutality unfolded in what should have been a space of safety and community. Only months earlier, a postgraduate trainee at R G Kar Medical College was raped and murdered. While the CBI eventually concluded that it was the act of a lone individual, public outrage and the victim's father's remarks revealed a deeper fear: That institutional spaces in West Bengal are becoming dangerously unsafe, and that politics often shields the guilty. One of the most alarming aspects of the law college incident is the alleged involvement of an ex-TMCP leader — a reminder of how political affiliations can enable a sense of impunity. Even as the ruling party publicly condemned the act and sought distance, its silence on the broader issue of student safety and political interference speaks volumes. West Bengal's crime rate against women in 2022 stood at 71.8 per lakh population, significantly higher than the national average of 66.4. Conviction rates remain worryingly low. While Kolkata has been ranked the 'safest city' statistically, Rekha Sharma, then chairperson of the National Commission for Women, rightly pointed out that underreporting and police inaction — due to political pressure — distort the picture. Student union elections — which once served as a training ground for democratic values — have been suspended in most colleges across the state for over a decade. In their absence, political proxies often fill the vacuum. These unelected groups, backed by ruling-party networks, consolidate informal authority without accountability. This dynamic is especially dangerous in institutions of higher learning, where dissent, student safety, and democratic governance are critical. The Calcutta High Court recently directed the state's higher education department to draw up a roadmap for holding these elections, calling out the long-standing statutory failure. Yet without active political will and monitoring, any such roadmap risks remaining on paper. To understand this ecosystem, political theorist Dwaipayan Bhattacharyya's concept of 'franchisee politics' is instructive. According to him, West Bengal's ruling party sustains itself not only through electoral victories but through territorial micro-control by local power brokers. These 'franchisees' operate under the umbrella of 'Brand Mamata,' delivering services, extracting rents, and managing dissent at the grassroots level. Such franchisees often act outside legal frameworks. In many cases, their power depends not just on their proximity to the party, but on their ability to intimidate, suppress opposition, and monopolise resources. Educational institutions, particularly those lacking independent oversight, become easy targets. In recent years, reports have detailed how TMC leaders or affiliates have issued threats, made misogynistic remarks, or enabled intimidation to silence dissent or critics. This culture, especially when allowed to fester in youth politics, sends a clear message: Loyalty is rewarded, while wrongdoing is rarely punished. While much attention is rightly placed on political complicity, it's vital to also view these incidents through a gendered lens. Sexual violence is not only a political failure but a structural outcome of entrenched patriarchy. When male-dominated institutions — whether political, educational, or legal — treat women's bodies as collateral damage in power struggles, violence becomes normalised. Rape is not just an act of lust or anger; it is often an assertion of dominance, enabled by systemic failures and cultural silence. Unless both patriarchy and political capture are addressed together, safety reforms will remain cosmetic. The safety of students — and of women in general — cannot be restored without urgent and tangible reforms. For one, regular student union elections ought to be reinstated across the state and they should be monitored by independent bodies to ensure legitimacy and transparency. Second, the police must be guaranteed autonomy to investigate cases without political interference. There need to be empowered internal complaints committees and crisis cells in all higher educational institutions, staffed by gender-sensitised professionals. There must also be a public commitment to zero tolerance for politically affiliated violence, with action against those who use party connections to intimidate or coerce. Survivors must also be empowered by improving access to legal aid, mental health support, and fast-track courts. The alleged gang rape in Kolkata's law college is a dark moment — but it should also be a turning point. If West Bengal wishes to remain a state that values education, equity, and justice, it must break the grip of informal power networks and reestablish the rule of law within its institutions. Anything less would betray not just the victims, but the future of its youth. The writer is a political anthropologist and teaches at Dr A P J Abdul Kalam Government College, Kolkata.

Engg seats in 3 private Bengaluru colleges being purchased: ED
Engg seats in 3 private Bengaluru colleges being purchased: ED

Hans India

time4 hours ago

  • Hans India

Engg seats in 3 private Bengaluru colleges being purchased: ED

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate on Saturday alleged that admission of students through the management quota in three Bengaluru-based private colleges was being done in an 'opaque' manner using money, including funds in cash. The federal probe agency's statement comes after they conducted searches at 17 locations on June 25-26 in a 'seat blocking scam' case. The raids were carried out at the premises of BMS College of Engineering, Akash Institute of Engineering and Technology, and New Horizon College of Engineering, along with those associated with these institutions, the agency said in a statement. A few entities engaged in educational consultancy services and some private agents were also raided. The ED case stems from a Karnataka Police FIR registered by the KEA (Karnataka Examination Authority) against these colleges. The complaint alleged that these colleges colluded with unknown individuals to acquire the login credentials of students registered with the KEA and subsequently blocked seats in their name for students who did not intend to enroll, the ED said. The searches revealed 'evidence' of 'widespread' seat blocking and the use of cash/money in the admission process for popular professional courses in the private institutes, it said. 'There is an extensive network of agents, educational consultancy service entities, which is used to bring students for admission from across India to these institutes,' the statement said. The agency further alleged that the admission for management quota seats was mostly done in an opaque manner based on extraneous considerations such as cash or money. During the searches, a total of Rs 1.37 crore in cash was allegedly seized. However, the ED did not specify the source of the recovered funds. The colleges or their promoters could not be contacted for a comment on the ED charges made against them.

71 killed in Israeli airstrike on Tehran's Evin prison, says Iran
71 killed in Israeli airstrike on Tehran's Evin prison, says Iran

Hindustan Times

time5 hours ago

  • Hindustan Times

71 killed in Israeli airstrike on Tehran's Evin prison, says Iran

An Israeli strike on Tehran's Evin prison during this month's 12-day war killed at least 71 people, Iran's judiciary said Sunday, days after a ceasefire ended hostilities between the two arch-foes. Rescuers search through the rubble of a damaged section of Evin Prison following an Israeli strike (AP) The strike on Monday destroyed part of the administrative building at Evin, a large, heavily fortified complex in the north of Tehran, which rights groups say holds political prisoners and foreign nationals. "According to official figures, 71 people were killed in the attack on Evin prison," said judiciary spokesman Asghar Jahangir of the attack, part of the bombardment campaign Israel launched on June 13. Also Read: India reiterates concern about Iran-Israel tensions, says monitoring updates on nuke sites According to Jahangir, the victims at Evin included administrative staff, guards, prisoners and visiting relatives as well as people living nearby. Images shared by the judiciary showed destroyed walls, collapsed ceilings, scattered debris, and broken surfaces across waiting areas at the facility. The judiciary said that Evin's medical centre and visiting rooms had been targeted. On Tuesday, a day after the strike, the judiciary said that the Iranian prison authority had transferred inmates out of Evin prison, without specifying their number or identifying them. The inmates at Evin have included Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi as well as several French nationals and other foreigners.

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