India's top court hearing petitions challenging government's removal of Kashmir's special status
India’s top court is hearing petitions challenging the constitutionality of the legislation passed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government in 2019 that stripped disputed Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, scrapped its separate constitution and removed inherited protections on land and jobs
2023-08-02 14:57
Joe Keery dating history: 'Stranger Things' star was in 4-year relationship before Taylor Swift link
Keery and actress Maika Monroe have been dating since their 2017 on-set meeting for the movie 'After Everything'
2023-06-28 18:55
Why is Grimes supporting Lizzo? Internet turns against singer after she lauds rapper's 'exemplary behavior'
'Lizzo was kind to me and others for a decade before she was 'cool',' Grimes said
2023-08-07 21:55
BOJ set to keep ultra-low rates, may signal inflation overshoot
By Leika Kihara TOKYO The Bank of Japan (BOJ) is expected to maintain ultra-loose monetary policy next week
2023-06-09 15:57
Man pleads guilty to stealing 'Wizard of Oz' ruby slippers from Minnesota museum in 2005
A man charged with stealing ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in the “The Wizard of Oz” from a Minnesota museum has pleaded guilty
2023-10-14 00:15
Donald Trump says he will ask the Judge to step aside
Former US President Trump says that his lawyers will ask for a recusal of the judge on his election fraud case.
2023-08-07 01:15
Kourtney Kardashian has a sweet tooth! Socialite reveals her go-to croissant cafe amid pregnancy cravings
While several fans went back to her story with their own picks for the ultimate croissant cafe, it seems like Kourtney Kardashian knows best
2023-09-12 15:55
Rishi Sunak needs to rally his flagging Conservatives. He hopes a dash of populism will do the trick
Britain's governing Conservative Party is gathering for its annual conference
2023-10-01 14:26
Paige Spiranac announces golf putter giveaway in honor of National Hot Dog Day, here's how to register
It looks like National Hot Dog Day, which is celebrated on the third Wednesday in July every year, will be extra special for one Paige Spiranac fan
2023-07-17 18:27
Ukrainian rapper took fury over war to Eurovision after brother killed
The tragic reality of Russia’s bloody war on Ukraine took centre stage in a rather unusual setting recently – the Eurovision song contest. The embattled nation was supposed to host the event but due to the ongoing and deadly conflict, it was relocated to Liverpool. Ukrainian performers not only attended the ever-popular show but made sure to use the opportunity to spread their message to the huge TV audience. Among them was Kyiv rapper Otoy, who lost his own brother on the frontline. The 24-year-old, whose real name is Vyacheslav Drofa, performed at Eurovision alongside other Ukrainian musicians, bringing awareness of the atrocities of the invasion to millions. He described the “adrenaline and emotion” coursing through his body as he took to the stage earlier this month, telling The Independent: “I have never felt such a level of solidarity and support for the Ukrainian people as I did in Liverpool. “That level of understanding and emotion at Eurovision – it was crazy. Everybody was with you and your country. It felt like, ‘We support you because you are going through hell’.” Otoy is no stranger to that hell, having received tragic news in March that a body discovered in Ukraine was his brother, who had gone missing the previous April while defending besieged Mariupol. “I don’t even know what I felt,” said Otoy. “When you’re hoping for a year that he’s alive and can’t find anything, then realise his body is in Kyiv and you should identify it. “In fact, this isn’t even a body – it’s a head, a bit of a leg, part of a hand, little bits of bones. We could only identify him through his teeth. It feels really bad, the worst emotions I had in my life actually.” The rapper’s music reflects his fury and he accuses Russia of trying to “destroy” Ukraine and its culture. “I feel a lot of anger inside of me because of the things the Russians are doing,” he said. “They already crossed all the red lines, there’s no way back, we should fight till the end. “If we stop now then give it 10 years and they’ll come back with a bigger army and then they’ll invade Poland, which is a member of Nato. We’re fighting a worldwide evil. “The reason we’re doing it is we are really tired of that Russian b******t – trying to destroy Ukraine, our culture, our musicians.” Not only has the 24-year-old tackled the war through his music, he volunteered on the frontline last summer by salvaging the bodies of dead soldiers and bringing them back to their families. He is also fundraising to provide military supplies to Ukrainian soldiers for the country’s planned counteroffensive. His day job is in IT, working as a UX director at a company that created RSFY, a mobile tracker of Russian army losses. The company also developed the app TacticMedAid, which provides medical instructions for people if they input their symptoms after getting injured. Otoy juggles all of these roles during Moscow’s frequent attacks on the Ukrainian capital. “It feels like a surreal dream I live in,” he said. “Every time when there’s some air or rocket attacks, or shelling, it feels like this type of nightmare. I think, give me a couple of minutes, then everything will be OK – but I never wake up because that has continued for more than a year.” He is hopeful the war will come to an end his year but says the road to recovery after that will not be easy. “It will be a hard time – receiving bodies back, lots of funerals, lots of rebuilding cities, people returning to their houses and realising there’s no home because it will have been destroyed,” he said. “After the war, I don’t know what people will do with their emotions, I’m really scared of this.” Otoy said he will continue to make music and apps when the conflict is over, and had nothing but praise for his countrymen and women as they continue to fight against Putin’s forces. “The only thing that helps me feel alive and some kind of emotions is the process of making music and to know that millions of Ukrainians will use the IT applications I work on,” he said. “Those are two things I’ll be doing until the end of my days. “I’m feeling proud about Ukrainians. People are staying in their country, for their homeland, until the end, until their last breath.” Read More Ukraine-Russia war – live: Don’t turn a blind eye to Putin’s invasion, Zelensky warns Arab leaders Britain says Russia will ‘pay the price’ for Ukraine invasion as fresh wave of sanctions unveiled Ukraine's president begins visit to Saudi Arabia, aims to enhance ties with Arab world The Body in the Woods | An Independent TV Original Documentary The harrowing discovery at centre of The Independent’s new documentary
2023-05-28 15:27
Who is Lois Banner? White historian slammed for saying her professional life 'would be better' if she was Black
'Lois Banner is 83 and I keep thinking of all the Black feminist scholars who never got to reach such an age,' a user tweeted
2023-07-04 20:19
US bans new oil and gas leasing around New Mexico cultural site
The Biden administration said on Friday it would stop issuing new oil and gas drilling leases within 10
2023-06-02 18:51
You Might Like...
Russia-Ukraine war – live: Peace talks begin in Saudi Arabia - but without Moscow
Military-ruled Myanmar hosts joint naval exercise with Russia, its close ally and top arms supplier
Dusty Baker tells newspaper he is retiring as manager of the Houston Astros
DeSantis super PAC tackles tricky task of organizing support for him in Iowa without the candidate
Who was Asha Weir? Pepperdine University student tragically struck by out-of-control BMW driver in Malibu multi-car crash
Tornado touches down near Chicago's O'Hare airport amid severe weather warnings
Internet reacts as MrBeast is greeted by unexpected guest at night: 'Just stay outside'
Arkansas lawmakers OK plan to audit purchase of $19,000 lectern for Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders
