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Legendary Actor Donald Sutherland’s Impactful Legacy and Unforgettable Achievements, US

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William Baldwin and a Co-Star Mourn the Loss of Donald Sutherland

Sutherland — who died on June 20 at age 88 in Miami after a long illness — appeared in almost 200 TV and film projects during his illustrious career. Baldwin worked alongside the late actor in three of those projects, including the 1991 action drama Backdraft, 1999’s sci-fi thriller Virus and Dirty Sexy Money, which ran for two seasons from 2007 to 2009.

Starring on the short-lived ABC drama with Sutherland as his onscreen son Patrick Darling IV was by far my favorite, Baldwin, 61, told PEOPLE in a statement.

Donald was a complex, complicated and quirky man in the most delicious way, he said in the statement. He had a gentle, childlike boyish streak in him that I absolutely adored. His persona onscreen and his personality in life were as interesting and original as the features on his face.

He was a true original. A one of a kind, Baldwin continued. I have never known anyone remotely like him. His many incredible qualities and somehow even his flaws made him more unique, more charming… more lovable.

Baldwin recalled one day after a table reading for Dirty Sexy Money when Sutherland emerged with a big smile on his face and a bounce in his step.

[He] said to me… ‘Look at this… read this.’ He proceeded to hand me his script and I read a scene that had lots of snappy, brilliant … dialogue in it, Baldwin explained. He said to me… ‘Can you believe that? Can you believe I get to say that… how wonderful. It was so sweet and so exhilarating for me to see how excited he still was about the work [then] at 73 years old.

The actor also recalled another moment during production of the show when Sutherland expressed his fondness for Baldwin.

We had gotten so close during the two seasons we worked together that he once said to me… ‘I have affection for you as if you were one of my sons.’ That meant to the world to me and I will never forget that, he added.

Another of Sutherland’s Dirty Sexy Money costars, Natalie Zea — who played his onscreen daughter Karen Darling — told PEOPLE in a statement that Donald was a mentor, a father figure and a legend who, despite all that, was somehow always able to make me feel like I was his equal.

His wicked sense of humor and deeply generous spirit is unmatched and precious to those who loved him, Zea added.

Sutherland is survived by five children, including his 24 actor son Kiefer, whom he shared with ex-wife actress Shirley Douglas, and five grandchildren. Sutherland, who was also previously married to Lois Hardwick, wed actress Francine Racette in 1972, and shared kids Roeg, Rossif and Angus with her. He is also dad to daughter Rachel with Douglas, who died in 2020 at 86.

The actor, whose career took off after 1967’s The Dirty Dozen, played Mr. Bennet in 2005’s Pride and Prejudice with Keira Knightley and Hawkeye Pierce in 1970’s M*A*S*H, and he had countless notable film roles in movies like Ordinary People (1980), Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) and as the villainous President Snow in all four Hunger Games movies with Jennifer Lawrence. His more recent projects included shows like The Undoing, Trust and Swimming with Sharks.

While Sutherland won an Emmy for outstanding supporting actor in a miniseries in 1995 for the TV movie Citizen X and was awarded an Honorary Academy Award in 2017 for a lifetime of indelible characters, rendered with unwavering truthfulness, he was never nominated for a competitive Oscar during his decades-long career.

But for many of his costars, including Baldwin, that’s of little importance. Sutherland was an immensely gifted actor that will long be remembered for his singular talent.

There will never be another Donald Sutherland… ever, Baldwin shared. We have lost a true acting master and a quirky, one of a kind, never met anyone like him before original. … He will be dearly missed.

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El Chapo’s Wife Emma Coronel Returns to Beauty Industry After US Prison Release, Mexico

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Emma Coronel is back: The former beauty queen and wife of ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán is turning heads on Instagram

World News – Emma Coronel, the glamorous wife of infamous Mexican drug lord El Chapo, is making waves as she returns to her roots in the beauty industry following her release last year. Despite her husband serving a life sentence, Coronel is revamping her career and captivating her 113,000 Instagram followers with stunning images of her glamorous comeback. Fans are applauding her return, proving that her story is far from over.

Indian Tech Startups See Funding Decline in 2024, with Signs of Stabilization on the Horizon

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The dampened funding environment which began two years ago continues. Domestic tech startups saw a 13% decline in funding in the first half of the current calendar year (January-June) to $4.1 billion, according to Tracxn data. The firms had raised $4.8 billion in the same period in 2023.

The decline in funding was across stages. While seed stage funding dropped 17.3% year-on-year in the first half of this year, funding in early-stage startups was down 28% and that in late-stage companies was slightly lower by 1.3%.

Despite four consecutive half-year periods of declining funding since H1 2022, we are now showing signs of stabilization, going upward, Neha Singh, co-founder, Tracxn, said.

However, when compared to the second half of 2023, the funding scenario has improved in the first half of this year. Overall funding increased by 4% from $3.96 billion in the second half of last year, while across stages, too, funding saw an uptick.

April saw the highest monthly funding of $862 million in the first half of 2024, while January had seen the highest funding of $1.41 billion in H1 of last year. So far this year has seen eight $100 million-plus funding deals, while companies such as Flipkart, Apollo 24|7 and Meesho have managed to raise funds above $250 million during this period.

Three startups – Zepto, InCred Finance, and Porter – became unicorns among Indian startups in the first half of this year. Globally, 36 unicorns were minted during this period. Unlike the slump in funding, the number of IPOs rose significantly to 17 in the first half of 2024, from 6 in the same period in 2023 and 12 in the second half of 2023.

Investors have noted that several late-stage companies are opting to go public instead of waiting for a venture capital check in a dampened funding environment, as public markets are offering better multiples.

The top investors in the first half of this year were Accel, Blume Ventures, and Peak XV Partners. Overall, South-east Asian startups have seen a slight increase in funding in the first half of this year, after four consecutive half-year periods of declining funding since H1 2022.

The second half of this year might show signs of an improvement in funding, as several late-stage startups are in talks to raise big checks, including Zepto, which is finalizing a $650 million round.

President Appoints BJP MP Bhartruhari Mahtab as Pro tem Speaker of 18th Lok Sabha, India

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New Delhi [India], June 20: President Droupadi Murmu has appointed BJP MP Bhartruhari Mahtab as pro tem Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha. Suresh Kodikunnil, Thalikkottai Rajuthevar Baalu, Radha Mohan Singh, Faggan Singh Kulaste, and Sudip Bandyopadhyay will assist Mahtab in the oath-taking of newly-elected members.

The Congress criticized the decision, stating that according to convention, the longest-serving MP should hold the role. Party MP Kodikunnil Suresh, entering his eighth term, was overlooked, causing controversy.

The first session of the 18th Lok Sabha commences on June 24, with the Rajya Sabha session starting on June 27.

Canadian Actor Donald Sutherland Dies at 88, Leaving Legacy of Iconic Roles, Canada

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LOS ANGELES – Donald Sutherland, one of Canada’s most versatile and gifted actors, who charmed and enthralled audiences in films such as M*A*S*H, Klute, Ordinary People and the Hunger Games films, has died at the age of 88.

The Canadian actor, whose lengthy career spanned from the 1960s into the 2020s, died on June 20, his son, actor Kiefer Sutherland, said on social media.

The tall actor with a deep voice, piercing blue eyes and mischievous smile managed to switch effortlessly from character roles to romantic leads, opposite the likes of Jane Fonda and Julie Christie. He also played his share of oddballs and villains during a career that began in the 1960s.

One of the biggest stars in Hollywood in the 1970s, he remained in demand for film and TV projects into his 80s. Known for his unconventional looks and his versatility as an actor, Sutherland played a wide range of memorable characters.

These included a rascally Army surgeon in M*A*S*H (1970), a quirky tank commander in Kelly’s Heroes (1970), a small-town detective in Klute (1971), a stoned and libidinous professor in Animal House (1978), a local official facing an alien presence in Invasion Of The Body Snatchers (1978) and a despairing father in Ordinary People (1980).

He won a new generation of fans with his glorious portrayal of a despotic president in The Hunger Games (2012) and its sequels.

I wish I could say thank you to all of the characters that I’ve played, thank them for using their lives to inform my life, Sutherland said in 2017, in his speech accepting an honorary Academy Award for lifetime achievement.

Sutherland was born on July 17, 1935, in Canada’s New Brunswick province, and was raised in Nova Scotia. He performed in school productions in college, moved to Britain to hone his craft, then moved to the United States, where his first big break came as a member of a top-notch ensemble cast in the war film The Dirty Dozen (1967).

He rocketed to fame three years later playing nonconformist surgeon Hawkeye Pierce in director Robert Altman’s Korean War satire M*A*S*H (1970). The film – later spun off into a TV series – depicted hijinks at a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, tapping into the anti-war sentiment among many Americans during the Vietnam War era.

Real Madrid Rules Out Brahim Diaz’s Olympics Participation Amidst Packed Summer Schedule, Morocco

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In a significant decision affecting both club and international play, Real Madrid has decided not to release another star for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. This decision comes amidst a packed summer schedule for the club. Numerous players are already participating in major tournaments such as Euro 2024 and the Copa America.

Florentino Perez first used his veto power to prevent Kylian Mbappe, the latest Galactico acquisition, from representing France. For the Olympics, my club has a position which is very clear. So, that means I think I will not participate in the Olympics. That is how it is, Mbappe revealed.

The 2024 Olympic soccer competition will run from July 26 to August 9, overlapping with Madrid’s critical preseason period. This timing is particularly problematic given that many of the club’s players are involved in Euro 2024 and Copa America, which also conclude in mid-July. The club’s priority is to ensure that their players are adequately prepared for the start of the new season. However, this includes the UEFA European Super Cup final against Atalanta on August 14 in Warsaw.

According to reports from Sport, now Brahim Diaz has also been informed of Real Madrid’s stance. The club views Diaz as a crucial player for their preseason preparations, especially given the expected late returns of many first-team regulars due to their international commitments.

From the Moroccan Football Federation’s standpoint, the inclusion of Brahim Diaz in their Olympic squad is of significant importance. The Atlas Lions, who made history by reaching the 2022 World Cup semi-finals, are keen to continue their upward trajectory by performing well in the Olympics. The Moroccan team has not qualified for the Olympics since 2012. Nonetheless, they are likely a potential medal contender, and Diaz’s presence would undoubtedly boost their chances.

Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the Moroccan Football Federation, has expressed a strong desire to see Diaz in the Olympic squad, acknowledging his importance to the team. Despite Real Madrid’s current stance, Morocco will continue negotiations, Morocco World News says. They hope to reach an agreement that allows the 24-year-old to participate in the Olympics while balancing his club commitments.

Brahim Diaz has previously shown a keen interest in representing Morocco at the Olympics. However, he has reportedly accepted the club’s decision without insisting on his release. This highlights the professional relationship between the player and his club, where the latter’s priorities take precedence. The club deems the midfielder’s role in the preseason as vital, especially as the Whites aim to start the new season strongly amidst a packed schedule.

Los Blancos’ decision is not unprecedented; the club has also refused to release Kylian Mbappe for the Olympics, indicating a consistent approach to managing player commitments during a crucial period. This decision aligns with the club’s broader strategy to maintain player fitness and readiness for the competitive season ahead.

The decision also underscores a broader trend in soccer where clubs prioritize their preseason preparations and competitive campaigns over international tournaments that are not part of the official FIFA calendar. The Olympics, while prestigious, do not carry the same weight in football as the World Cup or continental championships. Therefore, clubs often weigh the benefits of releasing players against their own strategic needs.

Disney Faces Lawsuit Over Scrapped Florida Move, US

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LOS ANGELES – A pair of Walt Disney Co. employees who sold their Southern California homes and relocated across the country when the company announced it was moving many jobs to a planned new campus in Florida are suing the entertainment giant.

In a proposed class-action lawsuit submitted Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court, Maria De La Cruz and George Fong contend they were told in 2021 that their jobs with Disney in Glendale were being moved from California to Florida, and they both sold their homes locally and bought new homes in the Sunshine State.

Disney announced in 2021 that it planned to relocate the workers to a new $1 billion office complex near Orlando, but later scrapped those plans, leaving employees like De La Cruz and Fong in a state of uncertainty.

The lawsuit alleges solicitation of employee by misrepresentation, intentional misrepresentation, concealment, and negligent misrepresentation. It seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages for the affected individuals.

The employees had to deal with fluctuating housing markets, financial losses, and the stress of uprooting their lives due to Disney’s decision reversal. George Fong, for example, had to navigate selling his Florida home and purchasing a new one with significantly less space in his native California.

As the legal battle unfolds, the case sheds light on the complexities of employment agreements and the repercussions of sudden corporate policy shifts on individual lives. It serves as a cautionary tale for employees who may face similar situations in the future.

France Leads Europe in Generative AI Funding; UK Dominates Startups

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The UK is home to the most generative AI startups compared to the rest of Europe, according to a study by venture capital firm Accel.

In its report, Accel found that of the 221 GenAI startups it analyzed, 30% were UK founded, with 14% in Germany, 11% in France, and 6% found in the Netherlands. The survey also included data on startups founded in the state of Israel, which housed 13% of the 221 startups.

However, the UK has not led the rest of Europe in terms of generative AI funding. France, despite only having 11%, or about 24, startups, had the largest amount of funding, at $2.29 billion (£1.8bn). The UK came in second, with $1.15 billion (£910k).

France’s Mistral, a generative AI company that rivals OpenAI, gained 600m euros (£507m) in a funding round, with a valuation of 5.8 bn euros (£4.9bn), contributing greatly to the country’s lead.

Across the globe, generative AI startups raised over $25 billion (£19.7bn) in funding rounds, with expectations that 2024 will see this figure increase to $45bn (£35.47), according to Accel.

The UK’s universities have largely bolstered the country’s success in founding AI startups, with about a quarter of founders having been educated at UK universities, namely the University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, University College London, and Oxford University.

Overall, more than a third of the startup founders analyzed have worked for academic institutions, according to the data.

About a quarter of startups also had at least one founder who worked for a tech giant, including Alphabet, Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, Deepmind, and Meta.

US Appeals Court Fast-Tracks TikTok Ban Law Challenges

A US Appeals court is sticking to its fast-track schedule to consider the legal challenges to a new law that could ban TikTok in the US. The law requires China-based ByteDance to divest TikTok’s US assets or potentially be shut down in the States. The app is used by nearly 170 million people in the US. Craig Boswell talked with experts about the court case and what comes next.

Streamlined School Assembly Guide with National & International Updates

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Good morning, everyone! Welcome to our school assembly. I’m [Your Name], and I’m thrilled to be your host for today’s event.

First, let’s begin with a moment of morning prayers to reflect on and honour our spiritual beliefs.

Next, let’s catch up on the latest updates from our school and around the world.

Today, we celebrate the accomplishments of our students in academics, sports, and the arts. Let’s give a big round of applause to all our achievers!

Now, let’s consider a thought-provoking idea to inspire us for the day.

I’m honoured to introduce our guest speaker, who will share valuable insights on the importance of faith.

Thank you, [Speaker], for your inspiring words. Let’s give another round of applause for such an enlightening speech.

Moving forward, let’s proceed with the pledge and the national anthem.

As we conclude our assembly, let’s remember the significance of faith in shaping our lives. Let’s strive to embody integrity and make a positive impact on our school community and beyond.

Thank you all for being here today. Have a wonderful day ahead!