Latest news with #Russel
Indian Express
a day ago
- Indian Express
Why so many ‘snake rescuers' across India get bitten on the job
Deepak Mahawar was a popular snake rescuer from Madhya Pradesh's Guna district who on July 14 was seen riding a bike with a cobra slung around his neck. Although his video went viral on the Internet, the 42-year-old was bitten by the venomous snake. He died that night. Mahawar's is not an isolated case. Nobody is keeping a count, and only a fraction of stunts gone wrong make it to the media. But with daring acts of irresponsible snake handling in the garb of 'snake rescue' becoming a social media rage over the last decade, hundreds of 'rescuers' have suffered bites, many fatally. On July 6, 'sarp mitra' J P Yadav died of a cobra bite during a rescue attempt in Bihar's Vaishali. In May, another cobra rescue went wrong in Bihar when 'snake man' Jai Kumar Sahni died in Samastipur. In March, Santosh Kumar met the same fate in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, close to where another snake rescuer, K Murali, was fatally bitten by a Russel's viper last August. In 2023, Karnataka's 'snake' Naresh was carrying in his scooter's trunk a rescued cobra that killed him. In this long list of casualties, one of the most telling is the death of 'snake expert' Manish Vaishnav in Rajasthan's Pali in 2021. The 19-year-old died en route to a Jaipur hospital hours after being bitten by a cobra while addressing 'fans' on Facebook Live. Shortcut to fame, riches The irrational loathing for snakes — ophidiophobia — common among the masses is matched only by their reverence for snake rescuers (read handlers). 'I am a botanist by training and have worked on tigers for over two decades. But people are most impressed when I turn up for an occasional snake rescue,' said Dharmendra Khandal who runs TigerWatch, a non-profit in Ranthambore. Unsurprisingly, 'snake stunts' provide a path to instant visibility on social media, enabling influencers to rack up follower counts and as a result, enjoy big payouts. The biggest such snake influencer in India, Murliwale Hausla from Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh, has a whopping 16 million subscribers on YouTube and 3.6 million followers on Instagram. The mid-range of the spectrum spans from Chhattisgarh's Kamal Choudhary (12 lakh YouTube subscribers) to Karnataka's Snake Hariha (2 lakh YouTube subscribers). Then there are many aspirants vying for the 1-lakh mark. Jose Louies, chief executive of non-profit Wildlife Trust of India, is censorious of snake rescuers who go to great lengths for financial gains. 'They tease snakes for viewership, even stage rescues. One video, for example, shows cobras (predator) and rat snakes (prey) together in a well. Shifting wild animals like that amounts to hunting under the Wildlife Act,' he told The Indian Express. Free for all industry Few states have specific regulations for snake rescue, that is, relocating a snake from a place where it poses a risk to people. Fewer are in a position to enforce those rules since forest officers often rely on volunteers to answer frequent rescue calls. 'There are just too many cases to attend to, particularly during the rainy season. Given our staff strength and the shortage of trained hands, we are forced to rope in private rescuers, knowing very well how some of them would milk those situations,' said a senior forest official in Madhya Pradesh. In 2018, Maharashtra issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for snake rescues, mandating training and documentation. Kerala made certification mandatory for snake rescuers in 2020, followed by Gujarat in 2021, Karnataka in 2022, and Odisha in 2023. So far, however, only Kerala with its technology-enabled, real-time response system — the SARPA App — has succeeded in keeping a tab on certified rescuers and blacklisting some of the unethical ones. Elsewhere, these rules have made little impact on the ground where self-styled 'rescuers' keep playing with fire. A high risk job Even while playing by the book, snake rescue is a high risk job. Of the four most venomous snakes of India, collectively referred to as the Big Four and responsible for a majority of snakebite deaths in the country, the krait (Bungarus caeruleus) is probably the easiest to handle. Known for its deadly neurotoxins, it can spring the occasional surprise but is usually docile, particularly in the daytime. The cobra (Naja naja) tends to follow the rescuer's movement, giving a fair indication of where it is headed. Not aggressive unless hassled, the roaring snake is capable of striking from a considerable distance. It usually contracts its hood — a visual cue — before lunging to strike. Vipers, on the other hand, are often aggressive without much provocation: there is no telling how they might behave. Lightning fast, the saw-scaled viper (Echis carinatus) is under 3 feet, and has a way of warning an adversary by rubbing parts of its body together, creating a 'sawing' sound. The muscular Russel's viper (Daboia russelii) can grow to double the length of the saw-scaled viper, and poses the biggest challenge for rescuers. It resembles a mighty helix poised to explode, and can reach up to 1.5 metres in a flash. Doing it right A simple snake hook and a pipe-necked sack are the best tools for rescuing a snake. These enable rescuers to lead the creature to a burrow-like opening, relying on its natural tendency to enter a dark space. Ideally, rescuers should not need to touch the animal at any stage. Teasing, displays and stunts with snakes are punishable under the Wildlife Act. While the availability of anti-venoms have improved, many rescuers bitten by snakes die during treatment. 'Typically, a snake is agitated during a rescue and likely to deliver a higher quantity of venom if it gets an opportunity to bite,' Louise said. Vivek Sharma, a Jabalpur-based herpetologist, underlined the human cost of recklessness. 'Most of these rescuers are under 40, with limited education, and from a modest background. Many of them are the sole earners in the family, some have young kids. They fail to appreciate the risk they take,' he said. Given that it is impractical to police thousands of snake rescuers in the field, Khandal has a radical solution: 'A stiff penalty for filming and posting rescue videos will disincentivise the stuntmen and leave only the serious rescuers to do the job. This is a vital service in a country where 40-50,000 people die of snakebite every year.' Jay Mazoomdaar is an investigative reporter focused on offshore finance, equitable growth, natural resources management and biodiversity conservation. Over two decades, his work has been recognised by the International Press Institute, the Ramnath Goenka Foundation, the Commonwealth Press Union, the Prem Bhatia Memorial Trust, the Asian College of Journalism etc. Mazoomdaar's major investigations include the extirpation of tigers in Sariska, global offshore probes such as Panama Papers, Robert Vadra's land deals in Rajasthan, India's dubious forest cover data, Vyapam deaths in Madhya Pradesh, mega projects flouting clearance conditions, Nitin Gadkari's link to e-rickshaws, India shifting stand on ivory ban to fly in African cheetahs, the loss of indigenous cow breeds, the hydel rush in Arunachal Pradesh, land mafias inside Corbett, the JDY financial inclusion scheme, an iron ore heist in Odisha, highways expansion through the Kanha-Pench landscape etc. ... Read More
Daily Mirror
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Brits 'triggered' after American tries Greggs for the first time
An American man named Russel tried a selection of Greggs' baked goods for the first time, but his review of the items left many Brits 'triggered' Greggs, the much-loved bakery chain that's a staple among Brits for its easy-on-the-pocket offerings and range of classic comfort food – not to forget the famed sausage roll – has found its way into many a traveller's must-visit list, especially tourists hitting UK shores eager to sample its renowned delights. When an American, Russell, wanted to tick off classic British foods from his checklist, he sampled meal deals from numerous supermarkets before his trip to Greggs sparked quite the online debate amongst Brits. Going by @redbusruss on TikTok, Russell ventured into Greggs to pick up a Cheese and Onion Bake, Chicken Bake, Steak Bake, and the beloved Sausage Roll. However, what really 'triggered' Brits was Russell's use of the word bread instead of pastry. Sampling the Cheese and Onion Bake, Russell extolled its "nice, creamy filling" and applauded the so-called "bread" for being "nice and flaky", declaring, "I really enjoyed that, it was decently filling," and gave it a solid seven out of ten. On to the Chicken Bake, he drew parallels with a "good chicken pot pie", commending "The flakiness of the bread and the creamy chicken filling is really satisfying". His only gripe was that he wished there were more chicken pieces inside. Wrapping up his culinary review, Russ concluded: "Overall it's not a bad bake. It's ok, I would say," dishing out a six out of ten. Russell seemed pleasantly surprised with the Steak Bake, saying it was "really not bad" and was impressed by the generous amount of "actual steak" within, likening it to "It's like a good steak and gravy dinner inside a flaky pastry,". His verdict? A solid 7.5 out of 10 was in order. On the flip side, the famous Sausage Roll didn't quite hit the same heights for him. Despite being the "most spoken about" item he's encountered and seeing why people "like them", he said it failed to blow him away. Even so, he said it was "decently seasoned," and enjoyable to eat. He gave it a seven out of 10 score. Russell's candid takes sparked lively banter among followers in the comments. One user humorously pointed out: "Calling it bread is triggering me, but I'll let it slide because you are one of the few people to give a good, honest review lmao." Another chimed in disbelievingly: "BREAD!??? I work for Greggs mate and it is not bread," and a third echoed the sentiment, stressing, "It's not bread dude: it's pastry." While some reactions were tinged with humour: "7.5 for a steak bake is scandalous," others were playfully disputatious, arguing: "Chicken bake is stupendous." One commenter even jestingly remarked: "How can you score below 10? it's Greggs!". One cheeky remark questioned Russell's taste critique abilities: "Steak bake getting only a 7.5 makes me seriously consider your judgement. Absolutely no respect". As passionate discussions about the ratings took place, there were also suggestions urging him to try the Sausage, Bean and Cheese Melt for the ultimate Greggs experience, culminating with another follower chiming in with a warm, "Glad you enjoyed them".
Hypebeast
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hypebeast
Gorillaz Commemorates 25 Years With Special "House of Kong" Exhibition
Summary Gorillazis celebrating their 25th anniversary with a special 'House of Kong' exhibition. Set to take place at London's Copper Box, the exhibition will run for a limited time from August 8 to September 3. Visitors will immerse themselves in the band's 'life of misadventures, musical innovation and ground-breaking virtual ways.' Fans and attendees will take a deep dive into the journey of Murdoc, 2D, Russel and Noodle, starting from their introduction in the pre-digital world. In addition to access to the exhibition, ticket holders will also have presale access to four limited-capacity live shows. The standalone concerts will take place at Copper Box Arena on August 29, August 30, September 2 and September 3, with more details coming soon. Tickets to 'House of Kong' start £25 GBP and are available now via the'House of Kong' website. Copper Box ArenaQueen Elizabeth Olympic ParkLondon E20 3HB, United Kingdom
Boston Globe
09-05-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
You called me. No — you called ME. Before US-China meeting, nations each say the other wanted talks.
President Donald Trump disagreed. 'They said we initiated it? Well, I think they ought to go back and study their files,' Trump said Wednesday when swearing in David Perdue as the new U.S. ambassador to China. That followed weeks of each side suggesting the other side had reached out first, including Trump implying Chinese President Xi Jinping had called him, only to be refuted by Beijing. Advertisement When it comes to the world's two largest economies readying themselves for what is expected to be tough trade talks, the public back-and-forth is no trivial matter. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'The obsession with who reached out first is a proxy fight over leverage,' said Craig Singleton, senior director of the China program at the Washington-based think tank Foundation for Defense of Democracies. 'For Washington, signaling that Beijing initiated the meeting reinforces the narrative that the tariffs are working. For Beijing, denying outreach preserves the illusion of parity and avoids domestic perception of weakness.' Jockeying for dominance Daniel Russel, a former U.S. diplomat who oversaw East Asian and Pacific affairs, called the exchange 'part diplomatic stalemate and part dominance display worthy of a nature documentary.' Advertisement In his decades-long career as a diplomat, Russel said he is unaware of a single instance where a Chinese leader initiated a call with a U.S. president. 'It may be pride, it may be protocol, but for Beijing, being the demandeur is to show weakness — and that's something the Chinese system is hardwired to avoid,' said Russel, now vice president for international security and diplomacy at the Asia Society Policy Institute. The Trump's administration is less accommodating. 'Their position is: 'If Xi wants the tariffs lifted, he knows how to reach us,'' Russel said. Not long after Trump raised tariffs on Chinese goods to 145% and Beijing retaliated with 125% tariffs on U.S. goods, Trump suggested that China, like many other countries, was in talks with his administration. On April 22, he apparently directed White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt to say 'we're doing very well' regarding a potential trade deal with China. 'I think it's a process that's going to go pretty quickly with China,' Trump said on the same day. 'I think we're going to live together very happily and ideally work together.' Back and forth ... and back again Yet China quickly denied any talk towards a deal. When asked about such negotiations, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun responded: 'All is fake news.' The next day, Guo asked the U.S. to 'stop creating confusion' on tariff talks. Then came a Advertisement Yet soon the word started to spread on China's social media that the Trump administration was contacting Beijing, and it was confirmed a few days later by the Chinese Commerce Ministry. The U.S. had 'repeatedly' and 'proactively' conveyed messages to China recently to express the hope to engage in negotiations with China, the ministry said on May 2. 'In this regard, the Chinese side is assessing it,' the ministry said, in an apparent off-ramp move climbdown that prepared the public opinion for the announcement a few days later that Vice Premier He Lifeng would meet U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Switzerland this weekend. Sun Yun, director of the China program at the Stimson Center, said the reality is more complicated when the two governments have been in regular contact and each side may have its own understanding what constitutes 'reaching out' for tariff talks. 'Technically,' Sun said, 'both sides are correct.' By Thursday, Trump appeared ready to move on. 'We can all play games — who made the first call, who didn't make them. Doesn't matter," Trump said. Referring to the upcoming tariff talk this weekend in Switzerland, Trump said: 'It only matters what happens in that room.'
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
You called me. No — you called ME. Before US-China meeting, nations each say the other wanted talks
WASHINGTON (AP) — Who called first? It's the question that has put Beijing and Washington in a verbal sparring match even as the two countries are heading into a weekend meeting in Switzerland to discuss lowering sky-high tariffs that they slapped on each other in heated moments that have shaken financial markets and stirred worries about the global economy. 'The meeting is being held at the request of the U.S. side,'' Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Wednesday. President Donald Trump disagreed. 'They said we initiated it? Well, I think they ought to go back and study their files,' Trump said Wednesday when swearing in David Perdue as the new U.S. ambassador to China. That followed weeks of each side suggesting the other side had reached out first, including Trump implying Chinese President Xi Jinping had called him, only to be refuted by Beijing. When it comes to the world's two largest economies readying themselves for what is expected to be tough trade talks, the public back-and-forth is no trivial matter. 'The obsession with who reached out first is a proxy fight over leverage,' said Craig Singleton, senior director of the China program at the Washington-based think tank Foundation for Defense of Democracies. 'For Washington, signaling that Beijing initiated the meeting reinforces the narrative that the tariffs are working. For Beijing, denying outreach preserves the illusion of parity and avoids domestic perception of weakness.' Jockeying for dominance Daniel Russel, a former U.S. diplomat who oversaw East Asian and Pacific affairs, called the exchange 'part diplomatic stalemate and part dominance display worthy of a nature documentary.' In his decades-long career as a diplomat, Russel said he is unaware of a single instance where a Chinese leader initiated a call with a U.S. president. 'It may be pride, it may be protocol, but for Beijing, being the demandeur is to show weakness — and that's something the Chinese system is hardwired to avoid,' said Russel, now vice president for international security and diplomacy at the Asia Society Policy Institute. The Trump's administration is less accommodating. 'Their position is: 'If Xi wants the tariffs lifted, he knows how to reach us,'' Russel said. Not long after Trump raised tariffs on Chinese goods to 145% and Beijing retaliated with 125% tariffs on U.S. goods, Trump suggested that China, like many other countries, was in talks with his administration. On April 22, he apparently directed White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt to say 'we're doing very well' regarding a potential trade deal with China. 'I think it's a process that's going to go pretty quickly with China,' Trump said on the same day. 'I think we're going to live together very happily and ideally work together.' Back and forth ... and back again Yet China quickly denied any talk towards a deal. When asked about such negotiations, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun responded: 'All is fake news.' The next day, Guo asked the U.S. to 'stop creating confusion' on tariff talks. Then came a TIME magazine interview when Trump claimed Xi had called him. Details? None provided. When? Trump didn't say. 'He's called. And I don't think that's a sign of weakness on his behalf," Trump said in the interview published on April 25. Beijing dismissed it, saying there was no recent leadership phone call. Yet soon the word started to spread on China's social media that the Trump administration was contacting Beijing, and it was confirmed a few days later by the Chinese Commerce Ministry. The U.S. had 'repeatedly' and 'proactively' conveyed messages to China recently to express the hope to engage in negotiations with China, the ministry said on May 2. 'In this regard, the Chinese side is assessing it," the ministry said, in an apparent off-ramp move climbdown that prepared the public opinion for the announcement a few days later that Vice Premier He Lifeng would meet U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Switzerland this weekend. Sun Yun, director of the China program at the Stimson Center, said the reality is more complicated when the two governments have been in regular contact and each side may have its own understanding what constitutes 'reaching out' for tariff talks. 'Technically," Sun said, 'both sides are correct.' By Thursday, Trump appeared ready to move on. 'We can all play games — who made the first call, who didn't make them. Doesn't matter," Trump said. Referring to the upcoming tariff talk this weekend in Switzerland, Trump said: "It only matters what happens in that room.'
