Table tennis star Achanta Sharath Kamal was India’s flag bearer at the closing ceremony of the Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022.

New Delhi: Veteran table tennis player and reigning CWG champion Sharath Kamal will be India’s flag-bearer at the 2024 Paris Olympics, while legendary boxer MC Mary Kom was appointed chef de mission of the country’s contingent on Thursday. The 41-year-old table tennis player symbolizes “the unity and spirit of our contingent as they compete on the Olympic stage,” the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) said in a statement while making the announcement.

“It was an incredible three weeks. From not even being assured of an Olympic spot to playing like I did last week in Singapore, rising 54 places in the rankings to the title of India’s flag bearer,” Kamal told PTI. “It is the greatest honor and a fairytale story, as it will be my fifth and last Olympic Games. Moreover, not many TT players worldwide have received that honor. I just got a call from the IOA and I couldn’t believe it.”

Kamal was the flag bearer for India at the closing ceremony of the Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022. Recently, the Indian men’s and women’s teams had qualified for the team events of the Olympic Games for the first time based on their rankings. Six-time world champion Mary Kom, bronze medalist at the 2012 London Olympics, will be assisted by luger Shiva Keshavan, who has been appointed deputy chef de mission.

“Mary Kom’s unparalleled dedication to sport and inspiring journey make her a natural choice to guide and guide our athletes at the Olympic Games,” the IOA said. “Keshavan, a former Olympian in luge, brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to support the team’s management and coordination efforts.”

Olympic bronze medalist in rifle shooting Gagan Narang will oversee India’s operations at the shooting range, which is very far away from the main locations. India will send its largest ever shooting contingent to Paris, with 19 quota already in hand.

“His (Narang’s) meticulous approach and understanding of athletes’ needs will ensure an enabling environment for our shooters,” the statement said. “These appointments represent a blend of experience, expertise and leadership that will contribute significantly to the success of our athletes on the world stage,” the statement said.

Commenting on the appointments, IOA President PT Usha said: “We are delighted to have such a distinguished and capable team of officials leading our contingent for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Their expertise, dedication and passion for sports will undoubtedly inspire our athletes to be the best they can be and make the nation proud.”

Beyoncé unveiled the cover of her highly anticipated country album Cowboy Carter during a speech the backlash she received for entering the genre.

“Today marks the 10-day countdown to the release of Act II,” the Grammy winner began. ‘Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all the supporters of [the album’s singles] TEXAS HOLD ‘EM and 16 CARS.’

She continued, “I am honored to be the first Black woman to have the number one single on the Hot Country Songs chart. That wouldn’t have happened without the outpouring of support from all of you.”

The Texas-born 42-year-old added: “My hope is that years from now, when it comes to releasing music genres, mentioning an artist’s race will no longer be relevant.”

Her album cover depicts Beyoncé on horseback, waving an American flag while wearing a red, white and blue leather outfit with a silver Stetson.

She has a huge silver wig blowing in the wind, and a sash with the name of the album draped across her front.

‘This album has been more than five years in the making. It stemmed from an experience I had years ago where I didn’t feel welcome… and it was very clear that I wasn’t,” Beyoncé wrote in the caption.

“But that experience made me delve deeper into the history of country music and study our rich musical archive. It feels good to see how music can unite so many people around the world, while also amplifying the voices of some people who have dedicated so much of their lives to teaching our music history.”

She added, “The criticism I faced when I first entered this genre forced me to go beyond the limitations placed on me. act ii is the result of challenging myself and taking the time to bend and fuse genres to create this body of work.”

Beyoncé teased: “I have a few surprises on the album and have collaborated with some brilliant artists that I deeply respect. I hope you can hear my heart and soul, and all the love and passion I put into every detail and sound.”

She explained: ‘I focused on this album as a continuation of RENAISSANCE…I hope this music is an experience, creating a new journey where you can close your eyes, start from the beginning and never stop.’

Finally, she wrote, “This is not a country album. This is a “Beyoncé” album. This is act ii COWBOY CARTER, and I’m proud to share it with you!’

Beyoncé, who grew up in Houston, made her first foray into the genre with a country-tinged song called Daddy Issues on her 2016 album Lemonade.

She delivered a controversial performance of the song at that year’s Country Music Association Awards, taking the stage with the girl group then known as The Dixie Chicks and since renamed The Chicks.

When the CMAs posted footage of the performance to their official social media channels, the comments included attacks like, “Beyoncé overrated racist n****rb***h,” to the point where the videos were eventually removed.

Fans demanded that the videos be reinstated, but when the videos were reposted on Facebook, they received another round of racist comments.

Beyoncé announced her new country project last month and released two singles during the Super Bowl, 16 Carriages and Texas Hold ‘Em.

Both songs were hits, with Texas Hold ‘Em debuting at the top of both the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.

The commercial success of Texas Hold ‘Em made Beyoncé the first black woman ever to have a country song reach number one on the Billboard charts.

Texas Hold ‘Em gave Beyonce the opportunity to provide a platform for black folk musician Rhiannon Giddens, who plays the banjo on the track.

However, reactions to the singles were not uniformly positive, as Beyoncé was also strongly denounced by rapper Azealia Banks.

“Yes, black girls can make country music… but you just really don’t push the button… Beyoncé, please stop the madness,” Banks wrote on Instagram.

“The gay bossing, the overtly narcissistic attempts to lazily infringe on a genre where you think your popularity will win you praise in… You look like a food sister,” added Banks, who has built a reputation as scathing outspokenness.

Shortly afterwards, a source told DailyMail.com exclusively that Beyoncé had been bracing herself for the possibility of a backlash over her country album.

“She knows there will be resistance from those who want her to stay on a narrow street, but she doesn’t care,” the insider said, explaining that Beyoncé hoped to offer a “spotlight” to “the contributions that Afro -Americans have contributed to the genre.’

Beyoncé got “the motivation to make a country record after seeing how many of her fans loved her single Daddy Lessons and her performance at the CMAs.”

CAA: Police officers and paramilitary forces have been deployed in areas of Delhi, Noida and Assam after the Center announced the rules for the CAA. Flag marches were also held. Check sensitive areas here.

New Delhi: Security arrangements have been enhanced by Delhi Police in northeast Delhi, Jamia, controversial Shaheen Bagh and other sensitive areas after the Center announced rules for the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) across India. Giving details, North East Delhi DCP Joy Tirkey stated that security has been strengthened keeping in mind the violent protests that took place in 2020. “We have made arrangements in the North-East district. Our experience in 2020 was unpleasant and resulted in heavy losses… We had an Aman Committee meeting where we informed people from both communities. We have tagged the potential troublemakers and some known criminals,” he said.

“We are in contact with our local police officers and also keep an eye on social media. We will be doing a flag march for two days and from tomorrow there will be an extensive flag march. Special attention will be paid to sensitive areas through drones…’ he added.

Implementation of CAA: Flag March in Noida

Following the Centre’s announcement, a flag march was held by the Gautam Buddh Nagar police in Noida. Police are also conducting foot patrols in sensitive areas.

Joint Commissioner Shivhari Meena said, “As per the CM’s directions, we are conducting foot patrols in populated and sensitive areas. With this we try to assure people that we have their backs.”

• Frank Holland was Her Majesty's Traveling Yeoman for almost forty years

By Harry Howard, History Correspondent

Published: 10:09 EST, February 9, 2024 | Updated: 10:38 EST, February 9, 2024

A Jamaican MP who posed with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at a film premiere this week warned just months ago that it was ‘time to say goodbye’ to the monarchy. 

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex joined Marlene Malahoo Forte, minister for legal and constitutional affairs, in Kingston to promote new Bob Marley movie One Love.

It comes eight months after Mrs Forte said Jamaica could ‘sever ties’ with Britain’s monarchy by the end of 2024 and the nation’s future should be ‘in Jamaican hands’.

She also criticised the Royal Family’s ‘own set of issues internally’, said Jamaicans in the UK had suffered from ‘racist’ policies and claimed that people in her country ‘do not identify with King Charles – he is as foreign as it gets to us, plain and simple’.

And back in June 2016, Mrs Forte also hit the headlines when she criticised the US Embassy in Jamaica for flying a rainbow flag following the deadly mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida – saying it was ‘disrespectful of Jamaica’s laws’.

But her post on Twitter – which was later removed – received a huge backlash online, including from the US Embassy itself which replied: ‘We’re listening. Explain the legal reasoning? It was an attack of terror !!and!! hate, targeting the LGBT community.’

After her appearance on the red carpet with Harry and Meghan on Tuesday night, Mrs Forte later tweeted a photo of the trio, prompting an X user to say: ‘Even more hilarious: the person with them here is the minister in charge of changing the constitution and making us a republic.’ Ms Forte replied, saying: ‘This is #OneLove!

She also met Prince William and Kate during their visit in March 2022, saying at the time that they were both ‘very charming and extremely delightful to interact with’.

During Harry and Meghan’s surprise appearance on Tuesday night, they were also photographed with Jamaican prime minister Andrew Holness, who is pushing ahead with plans to make the nation a republic.

He told the now-Prince and Princess of Wales during their 2022 tour that his country is ‘moving on’ and intends to ‘fulfil our true ambitions and destiny as an independent, developed, prosperous country’.

Also at the time of that trip, Mrs Forte tweeted a picture of her meeting William and Kate, saying: ‘#RoyalVisitJamaica HRH the #DukeofCambridge asked me what my work involved as Minister of Legal and Constitutional Affairs. 

‘I will say this much: I found them both very charming and extremely delightful to interact with.’

Last May, Mrs Forte told Sky News ahead of the King’s Coronation that an ‘urgent’ referendum could be held as early as 2024 to ‘sever ties’ and remove Charles as Jamaica’s monarch.

She claimed that republicanism is ‘about us saying goodbye to a form of government that is linked to a painful past of colonialism and the transatlantic slave trade’.

Mrs Forte said Jamaica was looking to write a new constitution, adding: ‘The people of Jamaica are saying the time has come. Jamaica in Jamaican hands.

‘We have to get it done, especially with the transition in the monarchy. My government is saying we have to do it now. Time to say goodbye.’

The former attorney general said: ‘A lot of Jamaicans had warm affection and identified with Queen Elizabeth II. 

‘When Jamaica became independent, Queen Elizabeth was already on the throne.

‘But they do not identify with King Charles. He is as foreign as it gets to us. Plain and simple.’

Mrs Forte also said Jamaica’s desire was partially influenced by the Royal Family’s ‘own set of issues internally’ – adding that these ‘issues’ had been ‘playing out in the news’.

And she said William’s acknowledgment of slavery but lack of apology during the 2022 tour was ‘a step in the right direction, but not far enough at all’.

During William and Kate’s visit in 2022, protesters held signs during the visit demanding the pair apologise for slavery – and at a formal state dinner, William expressed ‘profound sorrow’.

But he stopped short of a formal apology, as did his father, Charles, who spoke of his ‘personal sorrow at the suffering of so many’ in an address to Commonwealth leaders later that year.

Charles also acknowledged growing republican sentiment in some Commonwealth nations and said it was for them to decide their constitutional arrangements. 

The Windrush scandal that emerged in 2017, in which hundreds of immigrants to Britain were detained or deported after living there for years, has added to the grievances of those in Jamaica.

Mrs Forte told Sky News: ‘Jamaicans living in the United Kingdom have experienced the worst of policies that can be regarded as racist. 

‘Windrush was personal for our people. Personal. Many [affected] are our families, our friends, our people.

‘Unfortunately, the UK government got it so wrong. For people who went there to build up the wealth [of Britain]. The policies are racist and unjust – by virtue of nationality, ethnic background, and the colour of your skin. It’s just not right.’

Mrs Forte became minister of legal and constitutional affairs in January 2022, having previously served as attorney general, health minister and foreign affairs minister.

She has studied in both Britain and the US – gaining a law master’s degree from King’s College London as well as a master’s in public administration from Harvard.

Jamaica, which is a former colony of Britain, has begun the process to sever ties with the British monarchy, following in the footsteps of Barbados.

Its history of slavery and a plantation economy made some Britons wealthy but left many Jamaicans impoverished.

Jamaica first came into England’s hands in 1655 when it was seized from Spain, which had brought over the first Africans as slaves.

It gained independence in 1962 but retained the British monarch as head of state and stayed in the Commonwealth.

Waves of immigration to Britain kept the links alive as did an affection for Queen Elizabeth II, who was on the throne at the time of independence.

But even before her death in September 2022, republican sentiment was increasingly gripping the Caribbean region.

Barbados ditched the monarchy in 2021. Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, and the Bahamas have all expressed an interest in cutting ties with the British crown, while Trinidad and Tobago and Dominica are already republics.

When he assumed the crown on his mother’s death, Charles became head of state not only of Britain but 14 other realms, including Canada, Australia and Jamaica.

In order to become a republic Jamaica’s Constitution requires a 2/3 majority in both the elected and nominated Houses of Parliament and a simple majority in a general referendum.

However, if it obtains a 2/3 majority in the elected House but only a simple majority in the nominated House it will require a 2/3 majority of the electorate in a referendum.

About 600,000 Africans were brought to Jamaica as slaves between the 15th and 19th centuries to work on sugar, cotton and banana plantations.

The British government was involved in the Atlantic slave trade and reimbursed plantation owners for the loss of labour that occurred when slavery was outlawed in 1834.

By Olivia Day for Daily Mail Australia

Published: 4:34 PM EST, January 22, 2024 | Updated: 4:34 PM EST, January 22, 2024

By Eliza Mcphee for Daily Mail Australia

Published: 7:06 PM EST, January 17, 2024 | Updated: 8:13 PM EST, January 17, 2024

Last October, the world mourned and celebrated the death and incredibly long life of Bobi, the world's record-breaking oldest dog, or so it seemed.

Bobi, a purebred Rafeiro do Alentejo, died at his home in the village of Conqueiros, located near the west coast of Portugal.

The Guinness World Record holder died at the reported age of 31 years and 165 days old and was universally celebrated as the oldest dog to ever live, as he amassed the equivalent of 200 human years before passing away.

However, vets have now expressed doubts about Bobi's legitimate age, while others are beginning to wonder why there are photos of Bobi, supposedly in his younger years, with white paws, while in his final years the dog had brown paws .

All these suspicions have led to the Guinness World Record announcing that Bobi's crown as the official oldest dog has been temporarily suspended while an investigation is underway.

A Guinness World Records spokeswoman said: 'While our review is still ongoing, we have decided to temporarily pause the record titles for both 'oldest living dog' and 'oldest dog ever' – until all our findings are known. '

It was widely reported that the dog's age had been officially verified by a Portuguese government database.

However, an investigation led by Wired magazine found that Bobi was registered on the system in 2022, just a year before his death.

Bobi's owner, Leonel Costa, stated that the dog was born in 1992 when Leonel was just eight years old.

Costa says his parents had too many animals and had no choice but to euthanize the litter of puppies before Bobi apparently escaped.

Costa claims that he and his brothers kept the dog's existence a secret from their parents until the pup was eventually discovered and became part of the family.

Costa attributed Bobi's long life to his diet consisting of unseasoned human food and to the dog's freedom to roam free through the forests and farmlands.

Despite this claim, a database official said there was “no record or data to confirm or deny this.”

This potential scandal has blown the entire conversation about dog records out of the water.

On paper, it looks like the next oldest dog to claim the title will go to a 24-year-old Chihuahua named Spike from Ohio.

Spike's owner, Rita Kimball, had previously provided Guinness World Records with veterinary records and bills showing the dog was born in 1999.

The owner also provided the Guinness World Records with photos of the dog aging throughout its long life.

This would mean that Spike will have the opportunity to reclaim the title he briefly held in early 2023 at the then age of 23 years and seven days old, before Bobi took him up on it.

However, Kimball acknowledges that she hasn't had Spike since he was born, when she discovered him in a parking lot in 2009 before taking him to his forever home.

A veterinarian then assessed the Chihuahua and predicted he would be about ten years old.

The Guinness World Records told Kimball: “We are currently investigating how we verify animal age data.”

The organization then requested that a second veterinarian be arranged to assess the dog and determine its age.

Bobi's death was announced on social media on October 23 by a veterinarian who met Bobi several times.

Dr. Karen Becker wrote, “Despite outliving every dog ​​in history, his 11,478 days on earth would never be enough for those who loved him.”

That same day, Kimball wrote a letter to the organization asking what it should do to find out if Spike, who is still alive, had regained the title of oldest dog in the world.

For now, the Guinness World Record's review of Bobi's title will continue, casting Bobi's legitimacy for the title under a cloud of suspicion.