Latest news with #ex-Soviet
Economic Times
3 days ago
- Economic Times
Lake Tahoe horror: DoorDash exec Josh Pickles among 8 dead in California's worst boating tragedy since 2019
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. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Birthday Celebration Turns Into Boating Tragedy on Lake Tahoe Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads DoorDash Executive Josh Pickles Among the Victims Josh's Wife and Infant Daughter Were Not Onboard Remembering Josh Pickles' Legacy at DoorDash Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads FAQs 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 incident left eight dead in what officials are calling California's deadliest boating accident since 2019, as reported by ABC 7 San 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 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 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 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 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 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 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! 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 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 His wife, Jordan Pickles, stayed on shore with their 7-month-old baby, as per the report.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Lake Tahoe horror: DoorDash exec Josh Pickles among 8 dead in California's worst boating tragedy since 2019
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. Birthday Celebration Turns Into Boating Tragedy on Lake Tahoe 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. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo 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. Live Events 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. DoorDash Executive Josh Pickles Among the Victims 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 Josh's Wife and Infant Daughter Were Not Onboard 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 Remembering Josh Pickles' Legacy at DoorDash 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. FAQs What caused the accident on Lake Tahoe? A sudden storm hit the area, and the powerboat carrying 10 people capsized, as per the report. Was Josh's wife on the boat? No. His wife, Jordan Pickles, stayed on shore with their 7-month-old baby, as per the report.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Kyrgyzstan passes law to prioritise Kyrgyz over Russian
Kyrgyzstan's parliament on Wednesday (June 25, 2025) passed a law to strengthen the use of the Kyrgyz language over Russian, a move that comes with Moscow's influence across Central Asia waning amid its invasion of Ukraine. The five ex-Soviet states in the region have taken steps to promote and reinforce their national identities since February 2022, when Russia ordered troops into Ukraine, another former Soviet state that Moscow sees as part of its sphere of influence. Under the new law, at least 60% of content broadcast on TV and radio must be in Kyrgyz, place names must be written in Kyrgyz and Kyrgyz text on advertisements must appear larger than Russian. Around 80% of Kyrgyzstan's seven million people speak Russian, which is commonly used for daily communication. 'If we are so indifferent to the Kyrgyz language, then in the years to come we will cease to be a nation,' said the speaker of the parliament, Nurlanbek Turgunbek Uulu. The measures also require public officials, including judges, civil servants, prosecutors, and elected figures, to be proficient in Kyrgyz. Some lawmakers expressed concern that many civil servants do not have a good enough grasp of Kyrgyz, which could create staffing problems in parliament. Kyrgyz and Russian are both state languages. Across Central Asia, speaking Russian is still associated with a higher social status, giving access to more prestigious jobs and the opportunity to labour migrants to travel to Russia for work. But Russia's invasion of Ukraine – which Moscow claims was partly motivated by the desire to protect ethnic Russians and Russian speakers in its east – has concerned leaders in the region. Some Russian politicians have hit back at Central Asia's attempts to strengthen national identities, accusing them of seeking to distance themselves from their ally.
Scottish Sun
7 days ago
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Russia hands its own dead soldiers to Ukraine in sick move during body swap as Vlad's best pal frees prisoners for Trump
Some of the dead bodies even carried Russian passports SICK VLAD Russia hands its own dead soldiers to Ukraine in sick move during body swap as Vlad's best pal frees prisoners for Trump Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) RUSSIA handed over 20 bodies it claimed were Ukrainian defenders - but they were actually its own dead troops, says Zelensky. It comes as Russian ally Belarus freed its top jailed opposition leader and other political prisoners - after Trump's envoy met the ex-Soviet state's iron-fisted leader. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 7 20 'Ukrainian' bodies recently handed over by Russia have in fact been Russian, says Zelensky Credit: EPA 7 Some of the bodies even have Russian passports on them Credit: x/Volodymyr Zelenskyy 7 Russian prisoners of war on a bus in Belarus Credit: Getty Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed Russia's grim body-swap blunder on Saturday, as reported by Ukrainska Pravda. He said: "They (Russia) told us these were only Ukrainians and only service members. "But that's a lie, now documented. In some cases, these bodies even have Russian passports on them. "They can't even check who they're sending. We certainly want all of our warriors and the bodies of our heroes back. "But we definitely do not want Russians being handed over simply for the sake of quantity." Russia and Ukraine exchanged at least 1,200 prisoners of war over a week ago after the second round of direct talks in Istanbul. Meanwhile, Sergei Tikhanovsky, a prominent Belarusian opposition leader, was freed from jail along with 13 other political prisoners on Saturday. His release came after US special envoy Keith Kellogg met with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in the country's capital, Minsk. Svetlana Tikhanovskaya - Tikhanovsky's wife and also a Belarusian opposition politician - publicly thanked Donald Trump, Kellogg and "all European allies" for securing her husband's release. Lukashenko's press secretary said the prisoners were freed at Trump's request. Vladimir Putin rages 'all of Ukraine is ours' as he threatens to seize key city while Kyiv slams tyrant as 'deranged' Tikhanovskaya wrote on X: "My husband … is free! It's hard to describe the joy in my heart." She added: "We're not done. 1150 political prisoners remain behind bars. All must be released." Five Belarusian nationals, along with Japanese, Polish and Swedish citizens, were also released, according to Tikhanovskaya's office. The Lithuanian foreign minister said on X that the 14 political prisoners were receiving care in Lithuania. Tikhanovsky was jailed for 18 years in 2021. 7 The moment Russian strikes shatter residential buildings in Kharkiv, injuring 13 including two children on June 5 Credit: East2West 7 Ukrainian soldiers fire a Grad multiple rocket launcher towards Russian positions in Donetsk on June 3 Credit: AP 7 Russian soldiers fire drones in Lyman on April 24 Credit: Getty His wife ran in his place and claimed victory - but fled into exile with their kids the day after. Many Belarusians believe the 2020 election was rigged by Lukashenko's regime to keep him in power - a position he's held since 1994. Hundreds of thousands of Belarusians have fled their homeland since the brutal crackdown on opposition protests in 2020. Belarus has faced heavy Western sanctions for its brutal crackdown and backing Russia's war - including allowing Russian troops to use its land and hosting tactical nukes. Tens of thousands have been arrested in Belarus for political reasons over the past five years, says rights group Viasna. It comes as Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko signed a security agreement in December, finalising the deployment of Russian tactical nuclear arms in Belarus. The signing followed an amendment in Russia's nuclear doctrine, which for the first time placed Belarus under the Russian nuclear umbrella. It effectively gives Lukashenko control over the potential use of Russian tactical nuclear weapons deployed to Belarus in response to aggression. Putin said in a televised remark: "I'm sure that the treaty will ensure the security of Russia and Belarus." After the two leaders signed the pact, Lukashenko asked Putin to deploy the Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) that Russia used for the first time last month against Ukraine.
Sharjah 24
14-06-2025
- Business
- Sharjah 24
Russia to build Kazakhstan's first nuclear power plant
Announcement from Kazakh authorities "Rosatom has been named as the leader of the international consortium for the construction of the first nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan," the former Soviet republic's nuclear power agency said in a statement. Kazakhstan's uranium production Kazakhstan, a vast resource-rich country in Central Asia, is currently the world's top uranium producer, providing 43 percent of supplies. However, it does not produce enough electricity to meet domestic consumption needs. Location of the new power plant The new power plant, whose construction was approved in a referendum in late 2024, will be built near the half-abandoned village of Ulken near Balkhash Lake. The lake, located in the southeast, is the country's second largest. Consortium bid participants China's National Nuclear Corporation, France's EDF, and South Korea's Hydro and Nuclear Power had all bid to build the plant. In their announcement on Saturday, the Kazakh authorities said that the three companies would be included in the consortium led by Rosatom but did not provide any details. Observers' perspectives Observers say the idea of the consortium is a way for authorities to maintain good relations with all the countries involved but are skeptical that it will come to fruition, believing Rosatom will end up building the plant by itself. Kazakhstan's diplomatic relations Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has sought to keep good relations both with former colonial power Russia and with China, which borders the country to the east and finances major infrastructure projects in the region. Project financing and next steps Rosatom has proposed financing the project, and work will now begin to thresh out the details, the statement said. The announcement comes a few days before Chinese leader Xi Jinping is due to visit Kazakhstan for a "China-Central Asia" summit. Historical context of nuclear power in Kazakhstan Kazakhstan had nuclear power plants when it was part of the Soviet Union, in addition to hosting Soviet nuclear weapons. It was also the site for Soviet nuclear testing. After the break-up of the USSR in 1991, the new country gave up its nuclear weapons, along with other ex-Soviet states Belarus and Ukraine; it decommissioned its nuclear power plants in the following years.
