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Sherin Mathews Case: Indian-American Adoptive Father Sentenced To Life

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Wesley Mathews, father of Sherin Mathews, walks to the witness stand during a court hearing on 29 November 2017, in Dallas.

HOUSTON — Wesley Mathews, the Indian-American foster father of three-year-old Sherin Mathews, was sentenced to life by a judge in Dallas on Wednesday for the tragic death of the Indian toddler in 2017, in a case that attracted international attention.

Mathews, 39, pleaded guilty Monday to a lesser charge of injury to a child in Sherin’s death. He was originally charged with capital murder by authorities in the US state of Texas.

Mathews stared ahead and did not look at jurors as the judge sentenced him to life in prison, US media reports said.

The 12-member jury deliberated Wednesday afternoon for about three hours before coming to a unanimous decision to give Mathews a sentence of life in the death of his adopted daughter, Sherin. He will be eligible for parole after 30 years’ imprisonment.

Prosecutors argued that Mathews, hailing from Kerala, killed Sherin in October 2017. She was adopted by Mathews and his wife Sini Mathews from an orphanage in Bihar in 2016.

Mathews claimed she accidentally choked to death on milk. 

Prosecutor Sherre Thomas argued that Mathews’ testimony was just another lie. She said testimony and medical records show that it was “medically impossible for a child who is 3 years old to stand up and choke to death” as Mathews claimed.

“It means he’s still a liar. It means he killed that little girl. And when he killed her, he panicked,” Thomas argued, WFAA TV reported.

She said Mathews also took the time to clean up himself and turned off the location tracker on his phone to try to hide what he had done. 

Mathews did not tell investigators where his daughter’s body was. When her body was found, it was so badly decomposed that the medical examiner could not determine an exact cause of death.

“There’s nothing left of her, her teeth had fallen out,” Thomas said. “He covered his crime. He got away with that.” 

While prosecutors asked the jury to hand down a life sentence, defence attorney Rafael De La Garza argued that Mathews was a good father who panicked when his daughter choked and did not call for help. 

He argued that prosecutors could not prove that Mathews killed his child and said he was only guilty of not calling 911, the emergency helpline.

During closing arguments, De La Garza walked over to Mathews and placed his hands on his shoulders.

“This is something he will live with for the rest of his life,” the attorney told jurors.

After the verdict was read, De La Garza called the sentence “cruel and unusual punishment,” WFAA TV reported.

Mathews initially told police that Sherin went missing on October 7, 2017, after he put her outside their home at 3 am in Richardson, Texas because she would not drink her milk. Her badly decomposed body was found 15 days later in a culvert near the family’s home. 

His story evolved during the course of the investigation.

He initially claimed that as punishment for not drinking her milk he sent Sherin outside at 3 am to stand by a tree outside the backyard of their home.

When he checked in on her 15 minutes later, Mathews said Sherin was missing.

He later admitted she died when he “physically assisted” her in drinking the milk and got choked.

On the witness stand during the sentencing trial, Mathews said he panicked after his daughter’s accidental death. He said he wrapped her body in a blue trash bag and dumped her in a culvert so she would be near the home. 

Thomas argued that Sherin suffered abuse the entire time she lived in the US.

Medical records show that she had five broken bones that were at various stages of healing. 

Police charged Sherin’s foster mother Sini, a registered nurse, with child abandonment in November 2017, after her husband told officials the couple left the toddler alone the night of her death while they went to dinner with their biological daughter.

Sini’s case was dismissed in March this year after prosecutors said they could not prove it beyond a reasonable doubt.

Sini sat in the courtroom during closing arguments on Wednesday.

After the judge read the sentence, she quickly left the courtroom without giving a comment to waiting reporters. She and Wesley Mathews were both arrested after Sherin’s body was found. The couple later lost custody of their biological daughter.

Sherin’s death attracted the attention of the Indian government and the then External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj took keen interest in the case and also instructed the Indian mission in Houston to make sure that the Indian toddler received justice. India further tightened the adoption process after Sherin’s tragic death.


Kylie Jenner Squashes Alex Rodriguez's 'Rich' Met Gala Comments

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Kylie Jenner has denied Alex Rodriguez’s statement that she talked about how rich she was at the Met Gala in May. 

The former Yankees player made the remark in an interview with Sports Illustrated published on Tuesday. 

“We had a great table,” Rodriguez told the magazine, referring to who he was seated by at the ball. “The black guy from ‘The Wire’— Idris Elba, yeah, and his new wife.” 

“Some famous singer next to me, I don’t know what her name is,” he continued. “Versace — Donatella. We had Kylie and Kendall. And we had an Asian gentleman from ‘[Crazy] Rich Asians,’ the lead. Kylie was talking about Instagram and her lipstick, and how rich she is.” 

Lopez and Rodriguez together at the Met Gala. 

Jenner tweeted about the remark on Tuesday and flat-out squashed Rodriguez’s account. 

“Umm no i didn’t,” the 21-year-old wrote, responding to a People tweet about the story. “We only spoke about Game of Thrones.”

The former baseball player backtracked on his own remark and tweeted that he agreed with Jenner’s account of the night. 

“OMG that’s right @KylieJenner. It was me talking about you and your makeup line and how much my girls love you,” he tweeted Tuesday night, adding the hashtags “GOT,” “respect” and “all love.” 

Considering that the Kardashians and Jenner are friends with Rodriguez and his fiancée, Jennifer Lopez, it makes sense that the two would want to settle things. 

But if Jenner was talking about her net worth, it would also make sense, given that Forbes dubbed her the “youngest self-made billionaire” ever in March.

Alex Rodriguez, Jennifer Lopez, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West attend the 2019 Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 6 in New York City. 

Now we’re just left wondering what went on behind closed doors (cough, Kris Jenner) to get Rodriguez to change his mind about his original statement.  

How To Make Drinking Just A Tiny Bit Better For You

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A delicious cocktail or a cold beer pairs well with this time of year. But it’s also no secret at this point that your drink can also be wildly unhealthy.

Alcohol can dehydrate you, increase your daily sugar intake and more. Research has also found that alcohol consumption may be linked to an increased risk of cancersleep disruption and weight gain.

As with anything, moderation is key (as long as drinking isn’t completely affecting your daily life, of course, in which case it’s vital to quit altogether and possibly seek treatment). If you are able to drink socially, there are certain steps that you can take in order to make alcohol a little easier on your body.

HuffPost chatted with some experts on how to ease back on the booze and make it just a little bit better for you when you do imbibe during a holiday or an evening with friends. Take a look at their recommendations below: 

Opt For Lower ABVs 

Pay attention to a beverage’s ABV, or alcohol by volume. The typical ABV of a craft beer, for instance, is5.9%. However, something like the 120 Minute IPA by Dogfish Brewery contains a whopping 15 to 20% ABV. So if you’re looking to be kinder to your liver, it might be wise to opt for a beer that doesn’t hit the double-digit ABV mark.

This also applies to wine. “Many European wines from cooler climates, like a pinot noir from Burgundy, provide a lower sugar and lower alcohol without compromising flavor,” said Barney Treadway, founder of the Wine Education Institute and co-owner of the Bitto Bistro in Westminster, CO.

Be Mindful Of Portions 

Everyone appreciates a good pour but it might not be doing your body any favors. “Portions are key. One drink technically equals 5 fluid ounces of wine, 12 fluid ounces of beer or 1.5 fluid ounces of a spirit like vodka, gin or tequila,” saidDana Angelo White, a nutrition consultant, registered dietitian and certified athletic trainer in Fairfield, Connecticut. 

That can add up quickly: Many glasses of wine, beer or mixed drinks contain multiple servings of alcohol, White noted. Basically, it’s important to keep in mind that one pour doesn’t necessarily equate to one serving. Thus, drinking a pint of beer (around 16 ounces) is larger than a recommended serving and ismore than the liver can process in an hour.

Make Your Own Syrups 

Store-bought syrups for cocktails are convenient but can be packed with unhealthy sweeteners and excessive grams of sugar. Sam Nelis, beverage director ofCaledonia Spirits, suggested whipping up your own healthier versions.  

“This way you can be sure that you are using a decent source of real sugar, and know the exact amount that is in syrup,” he said. Nelis recommended swapping sugar for more natural sweeteners like raw honey, maple or agave syrup, or using ingredients like fresh berries, “which you can muddle to add sweetness to a drink without adding extra sugar.”

Choose The Real Stuff

“You read the back of every food label you potentially eat, but do you ever look up the brands you drink?” said Pamela Wiznitzer, a mixologist at The Lookup, a rooftop bar in New York.

If your liquors are filled with artificial flavors that you can’t pronounce, Wiznitzer suggested making your own. She noted that you can craft your own fireball whiskey, for example, by “infusing some bourbon with a cinnamon stick and a few sugar cubes.”

Nelis added that if you use quality spirits, you don’t need to add a heavy dose of other caloric and sugary ingredients to your mixed drinks in order to “mask the flavor,” either.

Fuel Up With Food 

Aim to have a balanced meal close to the time you’ll be consuming alcohol, said Wendy Lopez, a registered dietitian in Port Chester, New York, and the in-house dietitian for Vita Coco.

“Drinking alcohol on an empty stomach can irritate your digestive system. It can also result in faster absorption of alcohol,” Lopez said.

Michelle Miller, a clinical nutritionist at Physio Logic in New York, said that ideally you want to consume a combination of high-quality protein, healthy fats and complex carbohydrates. “This will help to control the rise of alcohol in the blood, as alcohol is first absorbed through the lining of the GI tract. High-fiber foods can help to slow the release of alcohol in a similar way,” she said.  

Hydrate

Alcohol is a diuretic and can actually dehydrate you while you consume it, according to Thanu Jey, the clinic director at Yorkville Sports Medicine Clinic in Toronto. “Furthermore, alcohol flushes important electrolytes out of your system if you don’t properly hydrate. This also makes for a worse hangover,” he said. 

The solution? “Drink a glass of water between every glass of alcohol,” recommended Mike Clancy, a personal trainer in New York. He said that this simple 1:1 ratio principle can significantly improve your next-day outcome.

Ditch The Soda

Everyone loves a good rum and coke, but a can may set you back140 calories and give your drink an added 39 grams of sugar. 

Ariane Resnick, a private chef, certified nutritionist and author ofThe Thinking Girl’s Guide to Drinking,” suggested avoiding soda as a mixer because that excess sugar can increase your potential for hangovers. Fruit juice can do the same (for example, one cup of generic orange juice can pack in21 grams of sugar). Stick with seltzer.

Don’t Overdo It

It seems obvious, but know your limit. Try figuring out how much you want to drink during an outing and then refrain from going over that amount, explained Ashley Wood, a registered nurse in Lawrenceville, Georgia.

“If you know that you’re going to be drinking, make sure to plan ahead by deciding how much you’re going to have and then stick to it. This can be challenging, especially if people you’re with are drinking heavily and are encouraging you to do the same,” but you’ll thank yourself later, Wood said. 

This doesn’t imply that you should pick a high number of drinks for the night. Keep in mind the recommended limits: Binge drinking is considered as five or more drinks on a single occasion for men or four or more drinks on a single occasion for women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Have An Early “Last Call”

Drinking too close to bed may seem like it’ll lure you into a good sleep, but it actually does the opposite and messes with your sleep cycle, Wood said.

“The average person metabolizes alcohol at a rate of around 0.01% to 0.02% per hour. So, if you fell asleep with a blood alcohol level of 0.06 to 0.08, the alcohol would be out of your system after about four or five hours,” she said. This is usually in the middle of the night or early morning, depending on what time you went to bed. Cue the poor sleep. 

The best way to prevent this from happening is to stop drinking ideally at least four hours before you go to sleep, Wood said. And, of course, drink lots of water after that.

Need help with substance abuse or mental health issues? In the U.S., call 800-662-HELP (4357) for the SAMHSA National Helpline.

Mamata Announces Compensation For 3 Pushed Off Train For Not Chanting 'Jai Shri Ram'

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KOLKATA — West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Wednesday announced compensation for three people who sustained injuries after being pushed off a train in the city for allegedly refusing to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’.

A madrassa teacher and two others were allegedly pushed off a moving train in the city on Monday.

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“I have spoken to the victims and have announced compensation of Rs 50,000 each for the three persons. We condemn such incidents and stern action should be taken by the police in this case. We will not allow such things in the state,” Banerjee told reporters.

Hafeez Mohd Sahrukh Haldar, who received minor injuries in the incident, said he was beaten up by a mob, which was shouting slogans and asked him to follow suit.

“We were attacked by a group of men. We were thrashed and then I along with two other persons, who were also beaten up by the mob, was thrown out of the train at Park Circus railway station (in the city),” he told reporters.

Banerjee had also announced compensation for victims of political violence in Bhatpara, which has been witnessing frequent post-poll violence between rivals BJP and Trinamool Congress.

The fight between the two parties has intensified in the area ever since Arjun Singh crossed over from the TMC to the BJP, and won the Barrackpore Lok Sabha seat, under which Bhatpara falls.

Veteran Actor And Director Vijaya Nirmala Dies, Telugu Film Industry Pays Tribute

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Actress and director Vijaya Nirmala died on Thursday at the Continental Hospitals in Hyderabad, her son VK Naresh said.

Nirmala had after suffering a cardiac arrest, Indian Express reported. She was 75. 

The Telugu film veteran had starred in over 200 films including Tamil and Malayalam, and also directed over 40 films, Express said.

She entered the Guinness Book of Records in 2002 for being the female director with most number of films. The Andhra Pradesh government had in 2008 awarded her the Raghupathi Venkaiah Award, the highest honour in Telugu cinema.

Vice President Venkaiah Naidu paid tribute to Nirmala on Twitter.

Members of the Telugu film industry also condoled her death.

How Babus With No Medical Expertise Worsened Bihar's Encephalitis Crisis

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Ravi, suffering from Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES), admitted in a community health centre in Bihar on June 21, 2019. 

MUZAFFARPUR, Bihar — The Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) death toll in Bihar is 154 — and still rising. 

Hundreds of children have died of AES, and given the state of Bihar’s health sector, children will continue dying from this deadly brain inflammation. 

In a conversation with HuffPost India, Ranjit Kumar, a Patna-based government doctor, who is General Secretary of the Bihar Health Services Association, said that AES will kill until Bihar gets doctors, medical infrastructure, and finds a way to combat poverty. 

But the biggest problem, Kumar believes, is that bureaucrats are in-charge of all decision making when it comes to the health sector, while doctors are completely sidelined.

Kumar, who is also General Secretary of the All India Federation of Government Doctors Association, said, “If the government does not keep doctors who live here in the decision-making process, then this situation will arise.

Why is Bihar not prepared to tackle an AES outbreak? 

When it comes to making policies in a technical field, when bureaucrats dominate, when bureaucrats take all decisions, and the role of doctors — at the local level and at the upper level — is ignored, this kind of crisis is bound to happen. 

In Bihar, bureaucrats make all the decisions, doctors are completely removed from the process. Politicians come and go, move from one department to another. If the government does not keep doctors who live here in the decision-making process, then this situation will arise. 

How do you mean? 

Take for instance the promise to set up an institute for AES research in Muzaffarpur. The promise to set up a 100 bedded paediatrics unit, four years ago. These were never considered a priority. The biggest problem is setting priorities. Doctors have no say in this decision making process and yet we are the ones who are questioned. The house surgeon is getting grilled about the number of beds, but does he even have the status of increasing one bed? 

When bureaucrats take all decisions, and the role of doctors is ignored, then this situation will arise.

What is wrong with Bihar’s health system? 

The lack of human resources. There are no paramedics. Even the paramedics who are there, have they been trained to handle this (AES). You will find doctors in Patna and the district hospitals, but not in the periphery. Even in Patna, there will be one doctor for a population of 50,000. So can you imagine the state in the periphery?

How many doctors are there in Bihar? 

There are 2,220 doctors in Bihar. 

How many should there be?

There are 11,373 sanctioned posts in health services. And there are 2,500 doctors, but these include civil surgeons, DIOs (District Medical Officer), CMOs (Chief Medical Officer). There are around 500 posts that are not connected directly to health services but to administration. 

There are 1,500 doctors that are graduating in Bihar, every year, and yet there is a shortage of doctors in the state. What is the reason for this? Why do we have a faulty recruitment policy? After 2016, we are still waiting for an advertisement.

In medical colleges? 

There are 65% vacant posts in medical colleges. There are 60% vacant posts for professors and 70% vacant posts for associate professors.

In Tamil Nadu, 95.6% of positions in the teaching cadre are filled. In Bihar it is 35%. We need to strengthen the medical college. We need to increase its seats. 

How many doctors are there at Shri Krishna Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH) in Muzaffarpur?  

From what I know, there are 15 to 16 doctors (paediatricians) at Muzaffarpur including the head. There is a professor, three associate professors, five assistant professors and six or seven junior residents. Now, you want an associate professor to stay in each of the four wards (Paediatric Intensive Care Units), but you only have  three of them. How can they monitor these wards 24-7? How can these 15 or 16 persons monitor these wards?

They have to look at Emergency, the four paediatric wards, teaching, and if you are head of department then organisational matters. They are not just looking at AES patients. They have to look at everyone. How is that sufficient? 

(SKMCH is handling the bulk of the AES cases from Muzaffarpur, the epicentre of the crisis.)

How does the system cope with the lack of doctors? 

First, we used to retire at 60. Now, it is 67 years of age. Then, it will be 70 and then 90. In Madhya Pradesh, doctors over the age of 50 do not work in Emergency.

In Bihar, 50% of the posts have doctors over the age of 50 or 60. We need a new generation of doctors. We need to recruit doctors. 

What about workload on doctors? 

There are some places where a Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) is being handled by one doctor. There are other places where a PHC is being handled by two doctors. There is organisational work, payments to ASHA workers. How much time is left for treatment? There is no time to treat patients properly. 

One doctor is faced with a crowd of 200 people coming in - what treatment will that doctor do? The doctor is sitting in the middle of the crowd, distributing something, something. Sometimes, the doctors end up feeling like the culprits. 

Doctors are so few that they are quite literally panting. Sometimes, the doctors end up feeling like the culprits.

What about safety? 

Doctors are so few that they are quite literally panting. Paramedics are so few that they are panting. They are all panting and scared. Sometimes, we say that if god exists then it is in Bihar. If a crowd comes in and the doctor survives then it is thanks to god. 

What is the workload like for the ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) healthcare workers?

The ASHA worker has taken healthcare to the general population. ASHA is a huge weapon in our hands. There are large-scale vaccination programs underway. But with the series of health programs under the NHRM (National Rural Health Mission), the ASHA workers, the ANMs (Auxiliary Nurse Midwife), the doctors, are all very tired. 

Even in the pulse polio vaccination program that is going on, we are getting news of healthcare workers falling sick. They have to cover 100 houses, but they are falling sick after 60 houses. They are getting fever and complaining of pain in the abdomen. Then, we are hearing of cases in which their kin are having to finish vaccinations in the rest of the houses. 

The ASHA workers, the ANMs (Auxiliary Nurse Midwife), the doctors, are all very tired.

What is lacking in infrastructure? 

The infrastructure is poor. This isn’t just under the Nitish Kumar government, but it’s always been like this. In all the Five Year Plans, it was said that the infrastructure would be developed, but what had to happen, never happened. Four years ago, the Union Health Minister (Harsh Vardhan) had said that a 100 bedded paediatric unit would be made at the SKMCH. That did not happen. 

What is needed? 

For a long time, we have been demanding the strengthening of infrastructure. We have been demanding that beds in the Emergency and Intensive Care Units (ICUs) of existing hospitals needs to be increased, and not just in Muzaffarpur and Patna. Darbhanga is another zone, Gaya is another zone, Bhagalpur is another zone. We have been demanding that increase the number of ventilators in the ICUs. But no one listens to what we (doctors) say. 

Are these hunger deaths? 

There is malnutrition. There is no safe drinking water and sanitation. It’s not that the government has done nothing. It has set up anganwadi centres, the midday meal scheme. But the specification that is needed, is not there. The implementation that is needed, is not there. Just giving money is not enough. How will the scheme be implemented and what will be distributed? If you are distributing, for instance, iron tablets to combat anaemia, but if there is no health education, then those tablets are going to end up in the gutter. 

Just giving money is not enough. How will the scheme be implemented and what will be distributed?

Health education? 

If there is no health education, then people will continue taking their children to quacks before getting to the hospital. This wastes precious time. Due to lack of health education, people will only move to hospitals when children are in a very serious condition. It is usually when the convulsions set in. 

There have been so many deaths, but we still don’t know what actually causes AES? 

The kind of research program that was needed at the national level — that was never done. A research institute was supposed to be established in Muzaffarpur, but it did not happen. We still don’t know the reasons (for AES).

Malnutrition is at the heart of it?

Poverty, poverty, poverty. What will awareness do in the face of so much poverty. There is no drinking water. If the ASHA workers are going and saying, ‘drink clean water,’ people are saying ‘where is the water’?

What will awareness do in the face of so much poverty. There is no drinking water.

What steps were taken after the AES outbreak? 

Pamphlets were distributed. There is massive distribution of ORS (Oral Rehydration Solution), which will cover half the population in the state. But the question is why not before? 

When the infrastructure is debilitated, there are no human resources, when there is no proper policy in place — this was an AES outbreak — but there could be other things that we are not prepared for. There could be floods in the monsoon. Then, there will be a huge problem of diarrhoea. 

What needs to be done to prevent such a crisis in the future. 

A special program for children to get highly nutritious food should be in place. There should be health education, and not just for AES. 

The ICU facilities in all the district hospitals should be improved. It isn’t enough to say that Muzaffarpur will get another 100 beds. The government has to strengthen all the district hospitals. For this, you need trained staff. You need doctors that correspond to the population. 

But the question is why not before?

The Song-Song Divorce: Fans Mourn As Korean Celebrity Couple Announce Split

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SEOUL — South Korean actors Song Hye-kyo and Song Joong-ki are splitting up less than two years after their fairytale marriage, the couple said on Thursday, shocking fans across Asia.

The co-stars of the 2016 hit television melodrama Descendants of the Sun - who played a soldier and doctor who fall in love - planned to seek a divorce due to personality differences.

“I have begun the arbitration process for divorce from Song Hye-kyo,” Song Joong-ki, 33, said in a statement issued by his lawyer.

“Both of us hope to settle the divorce process in a smooth manner, rather than debating wrongdoing and blaming each other,” he added.

Song Hye-kyo, 37, cited “differences in personality” as the reason for their divorce, her talent agency said in a statement.

The SongSong couple, as they were dubbed by the media, are part of the “Korean Wave” of drama and popular music that has swept through the rest of Asia.

Song Hye-kyo, who first gained fame with a role in the 2000 TV series Autumn in My Heart, was among the guests at a state dinner in Beijing when South Korean President Moon Jae-in visited China in 2017.

Fans rushed to social media to mourn the breakup of what some called the “perfect couple”.

“It’s the end of ‘once’ a beautiful love story,” @BbHourBlythe said on Twitter. “I will remain a fan!”

 

'Still Have A Few Games To Go': Chris Gayle Delays Retirement Plan

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MANCHESTER — West Indies batsman Chris Gayle will retire from international cricket after the home ODI and Test series against India scheduled in August-September, revising his earlier plan to call it quits after the ongoing World Cup.

Among the high profile players in the last two decades, Gayle will follow in the footsteps of Steve Waugh (2004) and Jacques Kallis (2013), who announced their international retirement after playing against India.

It is expected that Gayle will play his final international game, a Test against India, at his home ground Kingston in Jamaica starting 30 August.

The 39-year-old had last month stated that he would retire after the World Cup but speaking to the media on the eve of the game against India, the left-hander said he has had a change of mind. 

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“It’s still not the end. I still have a few games to go. Maybe another series to go, as well. Who knows, we will see what happens,” Gayle said when asked about his career which was supposed to end after the World Cup.

When he was asked a specific questions on his plans post World Cup, he did spill the beans.

“My plans after World Cup? I may play a Test match against India and then I will definitely play the ODIs against India. I won’t play the T20s for sure. That’s my plan after the World Cup,” Gayle said.

West Indies media manager Philip Spooner later confirmed that the assignment against India will be Gayle’s last in national colours.

“Yes, Chris will play his last series against India,” Spooner told PTI.

It has been learnt that Gayle’s participation in the India series was necessary keeping the commercial aspects in mind as it is scheduled right after the World Cup.

Also a Test match in Jamaica and good friend and former IPL teammate Virat Kohli in the opposition ranks will be seen as a fitting farewell for cricket’s greatest modern day entertainers.

India’s tour of West Indies comprises three T20 Internationals, three ODIs followed by a couple of Test matches.

There will be two T20 games in Florida on August 3 and 4, followed by a third in Guyana.

The three-match ODI will start in Guyana from August 8, followed by a couple of games in Trinidad. The Tests will take place from August 22 to September 3.

Gayle has appeared in 103 Tests, accumulating 7215 runs at an average of 42.19. In 294 ODI appearances, Gayle put together 10345 runs, while in 58 T20 Internationals, he has 1627 runs.

He has two triple hundreds in Test matches, a double hundred in ODIs and also has the distinction of scoring the first hundred in a World T20 game.

The man who calls himself the ‘Universe Boss’ is a fan favourite for his flamboyant stroke-play and is considered a game-changing batsman.


India's High Tariffs 'Unacceptable', Says Donald Trump Ahead Of Meet With PM Modi

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WASHINGTON — India’s high tariffs on US goods is “unacceptable” and must be withdrawn, US President Donald Trump said Thursday ahead of his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit in Osaka, Japan.

President Trump early this morning tweeted, “I look forward to speaking with Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi about the fact that India, for years having put very high Tariffs against the United States, just recently increased the Tariffs even further. This is unacceptable and the Tariffs must be withdrawn!”

Trump will hold a bilateral meeting with Modi on Friday on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit. This would be his first meeting with Modi after the BJP’s stunning victory in the general elections.

It comes after the India visit of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, during which he met Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.

The Trump-Modi meeting assumes significance in the wake of the strain that has popped up in the bilateral relationship on a host of trade and economic issues. 

India has raised tariffs on 28 items exported from the US in retaliation to America’s withdrawal of preferential access for Indian products.

The Trump administration wants Modi to lower the trade barriers and embrace “fair and reciprocal” trade.

Camila Mendes Says Tight 'Riverdale' Fittings Prompted Bulimia Therapy

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Camila Mendes said uncomfortable wardrobe fittings for “Riverdale” prompted her to seek therapy for bulimia.

Mendes, who plays Veronica Lodge on CW’s melodramatic spin on the Archie comics, said the tight, revealing outfits triggered tears and self-doubt.

“It was like so the opposite of what I like to wear and it was really uncomfortable,” she said Saturday at the PopSugar Play/Ground women’s festival in New York City, per the New York Post. “It made me really insecure, so it got to a point where I couldn’t get through a fitting. Thirty minutes in, I was crying … I was like, ‘Why don’t things fit me a certain way?’”

Mendes, whose eating disorder emerged in high school and continued into college and show business, took a turn for the better when a “Riverdale” production assistant helped her find professional help.

“That’s when everything changed,” she said, per The Hollywood Reporter. “I highly recommend seeing a therapist.”

Camila Mendes discussed her eating disorder at PopSugar Play/Ground over the weekend.

Mendes said she had previously downplayed the issue to herself.

“I had this mentality … [my sister’s] situation was a lot more serious than mine, so I’d always find comparisons like, ‘Oh, I’m not like that so I must not have an eating disorder like I just purge every once in a while, it’s not a big deal, right?’” she said, per the Post.

The actress noted that her charity work with Project Heal, an organization that helps people recover from eating disorders, helped clarify that she had been in denial about her own problem, The Hollywood Reporter noted.

She shared her struggles online last year and later told Shape: “I had such an emotional relationship with food and anxiety about everything I put into my body. I was so scared of carbs that I wouldn’t let myself eat bread or rice ever. I’d go a week without eating them, then I would binge on them, and that would make me want to purge. If I ate a sweet, I would be like, Oh my God, I’m not going to eat for five hours now. I was always punishing myself.”

In the same December interview, Mendes appeared to have found some relief: “The voices in my head never completely go away. They’re just way quieter now. Every once in a while I’ll look at myself in the mirror and think, Ugh, I don’t like the way that looks. But then I’ll just drop it. I don’t let it consume me.”

If you’re struggling with an eating disorder, call the National Eating Disorder Association hotline at 1-800-931-2237.

Kartik Aaryan And Janhvi Kapoor Will Star In Karan Johar's 'Dostana 2'

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MUMBAI — Producer Karan Johar has roped in actors Kartik Aaryan and Janhvi Kapoor to the play the leads in the much-awaited sequel to 2008 blockbuster Dostana.

The first film, directed by Tarun Mansukhani and featuring Abhishek Bachchan, John Abraham and Priyanka Chopra in the lead, was a major box office and critical success for the producer.

The story follows two men who pretend to be gay to share an apartment with a girl with whom they eventually fall in love. 

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The sequel will be directed by debutant filmmaker Collin D’Cunha and the makers will be soon announcing another male lead for it.

“I am excited to take the Dostana franchise forward with Kartik and Janhvi, and can’t wait to create some desi boy-girl madness with them. This is Dharma Productions’ first film with Kartik and we are looking forward to working with him.

“We will also be introducing a new male lead, who will join the incredible talent at our production house. Collin D’Cunha also makes his directorial debut with ‘Dostana 2’,” Karan said in a statement. 

The project marks yet another collaboration between Janhvi and Karan. The actor, who made her film debut with the filmmaker’s 2018 production Dhadak, will also be seen in his upcoming directorial Takht.

Kartik will next star in Pati, Patni Aur Woh, opposite Bhumi Pednekar and Ananya Pandey. He also has Imtiaz Ali’s yet-untitled next with Sara Ali Khan.

When In A New Relationship Should You Bring Up Past Traumas?

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Getting to know someone at the start of a relationship can often feel like a test of boundaries: how much information do you divulge and how soon? When do you tell them you still sleep with your childhood toy, that you really don’t like the taste of sushi and that your favourite album is still Avril Lavigne’s ‘Let Go’.

And what about those things that are far more personal, those formative experiences that have not only made you the person you are, but also inform the way you meet new people, handle relationships and build intimacy.

Last month viewers praised the openness of one contestant on Channel 4′s First Dates, who told her date she had been a victim of rape despite only having known him a couple of hours, Sinoa, 29, told Liam that she had been sexually assaulted after having her drink spiked at university. 

Sinoa’s date, and the internet, admired her honesty, but it prompts the question, when is the best time to bring up past traumas – assaults, abusive relationships, cheating – when getting to know someone? Is it ever too soon? And what sort of response should you be hoping for when you do? We asked two therapists and a relationship expert for their advice.

When should you tell someone? 

Psychosexual therapist Murray Blacket says it definitely doesn’t need to be on the first date. “On a first meeting only share what you are comfortable sharing – it’s not a share-athon. Laying it all out in the first date might feel cathartic but it might also be a game breaker. Anything challenging or more traumatic can wait until you have a connection. Plus you don’t know what trauma your date might have experienced too.”

Tracey Cox, author and sex columnist, agrees that deciding when to tell someone is a highly personal choice – “that’s like saying how long is a piece of string” – and you shouldn’t feel compelled to put all your cards on the table straight away. “Some people might take years before confessing something traumatic. Others might feel comfortable talking about highly personal things after a few months,” she says.

How do you know when it is the right time? 

Cox says that a lot of this will depend on how serious the issue is and how well you are coping with keeping it under wraps. “The right time to share is when you feel completely comfortable doing so and you trust the person to react in an appropriate way.

“If something significant has happened to you and you don’t tell a long-term partner, it can be hard to achieve closeness and true intimacy. I wouldn’t advise anyone to share anything traumatic or highly personal with anyone they don’t know well. I would wait a few months at least.”

And Blacket says rather than thinking there is a ‘good time’ you might want to find what is an ‘easier time’ so when you’re both in a good place, feel a sense of trust and connection has been established and have time to talk privately. 

How do you go about sharing? 

Aoife Drury, sex and relationship therapist says: “Create time and space for the conversation; choose somewhere you feel safe and secure.” And don’t get drunk beforehand to calm your nerves. She says: “As tempting as it might be to have a few drinks to give yourself courage, try to avoid it. Take it slowly and show yourself compassion.”

What response should you expect?

Once you’ve decided you want to share, what are you hoping to get back from your partner? Blacket says often people just want someone to listen to what they have to say: “You don’t need someone to fix things. You’ll need the space to say what you need to say – and in your own time.”

This doesn’t mean you won’t get questions. Blacket says a partner might want to know more details so be prepared to share, or explain that you’d rather come back to it at a later date. “They might ask how you felt or what happened next – to understand what you went through. You want this: someone who understands context and feelings and doesn’t shy away from an emotionally difficult story. If they can do that, you might have yourself a keeper,” he says.

Red flags to look out for are negative reactions such as shame, minimising or judgement, says Drury. “A healthy relationship, and therefore partner means support,” she says. “They may also feel concerned or worried. [But] if they are caring and supportive, they will respond with empathy.”

The Way Tom Holland Drinks Water In His Spider-Man Costume Is Weird But Genius

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It’s hard to believe your eyes when you see how Tom Holland drinks water in his Spider-Man costume.

The “Spider-Man: Far From Home” star spoke with Entertainment Tonight last week about the unique way he hydrates while he’s on set  — and it’s … something.

We’ll just go ahead and let Holland explain this:

Basically, my eyes in my mask, they clip off. They come off, ’cause they’re glass, and obviously, the suit is fabric, and they need to clip in. And what I can do is I can take my left one out, and there’s a little thing I pull out, and then I put a tube, a squeezy tube, down into my mouth, and then I can drink from a bottle.

That’s right, Spider-Man basically needs to drink out of one of his eyes.

It looks a little like this: 

Tom Holland drinking through his eye.

Holland also admitted that he uses the odd tactic to eat snacks.

“What I found out is that if I push the mask forward,” he said, “I can now squeeze gum and stuff down the eyehole. I’ve had a Kit Kat in the suit now.”

And although all of this is weirdly hilarious, during the same interview, Holland’s “Spider-Man” co-star Zendaya (whom he is probably not dating and has never vacationed with, OK?!) recalled one moment when a little kid caught Holland drinking from his eye while he was in his Spider-Man costume.

Holland’s response to the anecdote is pretty priceless: “[He was] like, ‘You’re ruining the magic for me.’”

This Player Has Virat Kohli's 'Hunger', Says Pakistan Batting Coach

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BIRMINGHAM — Pakistan batting coach Grant Flower feels Babar Azam has got Indian run-machine Virat Kohli’s “hunger” and the talent to match his idol’s awe-inspiring feats one day.

In a must-win match, Babar oozed class on his way to an unbeaten hundred, guiding Pakistan to a six-wicket win over New Zealand in the World Cup on Wednesday.

“He is very special. I believe he is going to be one of the best that Pakistan have ever produced. He’s really hungry, is fit and still very young,” Flower said. 

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“I think he’ll have a really good career if he keeps his feet on the ground, which I think he will. He’s got Virat’s hunger. I think he could be at some point in the future,” Flower added when asked about comparisons with Kohli.

Chasing a tricky target of 238, Pakistan were 110 for three at the halfway stage, but Babar stood tall with his 101-run knock at the Edgbaston.

Impressed by his batsman’s performance, Flower, a former Zimbabwe opener, said, “He’s definitely got that hunger, so if you practice as hard as he does, and you have his skills, I can’t see why he can’t get to the top.”

During his knock, Babar also became the second fastest to 3000 runs in one-day internationals. The Pakistani achieved the feat in 68 innings, which is seven fewer than Kohli. The 24-year-old is now only behind South Africa’s Hashim Amla, who achieved the feat in 11 fewer outings.

On Babar, Flower further said, “He’s had flu over the last couple of days. Tuesday was the first time I’ve not seen him hit any balls the day before a match.

“Confidence-wise, this is definitely his best one (century).

“I’ve seen him get quite a few hundreds on pretty flat wickets, but this was a tough wicket - it was turning, (Lockie) Ferguson was bowling fast and there was a lot of pressure because of the context of the tournament.” 

The Left's Ideas Dominated The First 2020 Democratic Presidential Debate

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Far from every candidate embraced the ideas. When moderator Lester Holt asked who on stage supported abolishing private health insurance in favour of a government-run system, only de Blasio and Warren raised their hands ― but only former Representative John Delaney attacked it. In the second half of the night, Castro and formerRepresentative Beto O’Rourke squabbled over how to handle the humanitarian crisis at the border.  

The differences laid out some of the larger existential issues facing a party that has dramatically changed since 2015, when Sanders entered the Democratic primary as a fringe candidate with ideas that were viewed as radical. 

“What we’re hearing here already in this first round of questions is that battle for the heart and soul of our party,” said de Blasio early in the evening. 

Noticeably absent from the night was any conversation about Democratic front-runner Joe Biden, who will be on stage Thursday night. Candidates had chances to go after his record on women’s rights or criminal justice but instead focused in on their own plans ― or, at times, calling out other candidates on the stage for not going far enough. 

“The centre of gravity was in the direction of bold, progressive change ― on issues like challenging the insurance companies, challenging the corporate gun lobby and taking the fight to people like Mitch McConnell,” said Adam Green, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, which is backing Warren. 

The NBC/Telemundo moderators Wednesday did their best to raise potential objections to the many ambitious progressive policies that have been proposed by the crowded primary field. For “Today” host Savannah Guthrie’s first question, she asked Warren what she would to say to Americans who believe the economy is doing well. For her second, she asked Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota if her opponents on her left were giving voters “a false sense of what’s actually achievable.” 

Even candidates who sit further to the middle employed populist language. O’Rourke referred to the economy as “rigged.” Klobuchar rattled off plans to get tough with pharmaceutical companies, declaring, “Pharma thinks they own Washington. Well, they don’t own me.”

When Booker, who represents a state where many of the largest pharmaceutical companies are based, was asked whether he would hold the big drug makers “criminally liable” for their role in the opioid crisis, he did not flinch. 

“They should absolutely be held criminally liable ― because they are liable and responsible,” he said before citing it as one of the reasons he rejects contributions from the industry’s executives and PACs. (He does not accept contributions from any corporate PACs.) 

But both de Blasio and Castro consistently filled the role of on-stage agitator anyway, attacking O’Rourke in particular after he skirted questions about marginal income tax rates and unlawful border crossings. Castro called for every other candidate on the stage to support the repeal of a law that makes it a misdemeanor to enter the U.S. without papers. 

“Let’s be very clear,” Castro said. “The reason that they’re separating these little children from their families is that they’re using Section 1325 of that act, which criminalises coming across the border, to incarcerate the parents and then separate them.” 

“Some of us on this stage have called to end that section, to terminate it. Some, like Congressman O’Rourke, have not,” said Castro, calling it a “mistake” that needs to be fixed.

Warren, who was the target of many questions challenging her policies and philosophy, never stood down. When asked about corporate consolidation, she responded, “I want to return the government to the people, and that means calling out the names of the monopolists and saying, ‘I have the courage to go after them.’”

One of Warren’s campaign aides said later, “She did what she’s been doing ― talked about a Washington and economy that aren’t working for far too many people and about her plans for big, structural change.”

When the moderators asked Booker about past criticisms of Warren’s plans to break up big technology companies, he effectively stuck by his stance that it was premature to decide which companies needed to be dismantled. 

But he added that he believed the U.S. had “too much of a problem with corporate power growing.” As president, he said, he would assemble a Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission that would “go through the processes to check this kind of corporate concentration.”

Alexandra Rojas, executive director of Justice Democrats, a grassroots progressive organisation, had one major takeaway from the two-hour cacophony. 

“Tonight’s debate made one thing clear: Progressive ideas are at the centre of debate in the Democratic Party.”

Sen.Elizabeth Warrenmay not have spoken the most at the first Democratic presidential debate of the 2020 election cycle, but her ideas ― and those of Sen.Bernie Sanders, who will be at Thursday’s debate ― drove the discussion nonetheless.

“We’ve had the laws out there for a long time to be able to fight back,” Warren said Wednesday. “What’s been missing is courage.” 

Ten candidates stood on stage at the Adrienne Arsht Center’s Knight Concert Hall in Miami on Wednesday, but it was the party’s left-wing that controlled the night. Throughout the evening, Warren, former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio pushed issues including decriminalising unauthorised migrant crossings and “Medicare for All” to the forefront of the party conversation. 

Sen. Elizabeth Warren talks with Sen. Cory Booker during the first Democratic primary debate. The 2020 presidential candidates largely stuck to their progressive stances.

Samantha Bee Unloads On US Media Over Way It Didn't Cover Trump Rape Allegation

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Samantha Bee on Wednesday tore into some sections of the media for the way they covered (or rather, didn’t cover) the latest allegation of sexual assault that has been made against President Donald Trump.

The host of “Full Frontal” noted how advice columnist E. Jean Carroll made what was the 22nd allegation of sexual misconduct against Trump after she last week accused him of raping her in a dressing room at the New York department store Bergdorf Goodman in the mid-1990s.

But “if you missed this story, that’s not surprising,” said Bee, who highlighted how it “didn’t make the front page” of most major newspapers and was still being treated “as a small story.”

Trump has vehemently denied the allegation. “I’ll say it with great respect: No. 1, she’s not my type. No. 2, it never happened. It never happened, OK?” he told The Hill earlier this week.

Bee said Trump’s “not my type” defense “alone should be headline news for days.” “You aren’t her type, either, which is the whole fucking problem,” she continued. “Every woman has heard a guy say some version of ‘you’re not hot enough for me to rape’ and that is how we know he’s probably a rapist.”

Bee then urged every single journalist who sits down with Trump for an interview in the future to ask him about the almost two-dozen allegations of assault.

“It matters, it will never stop mattering,” Bee concluded. “If you’re not going to hold Trump accountable, you are not a journalist. Go do Sunday morning segments about fucking lasagna, otherwise do your jobs, please.”

Check out the segment here:

Bee also picked apart the unfolding migrant crisis on the U.S.-Mexico border with this segment:

And she bid a mocking farewell to outgoing White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders at the end of the show:

Orange Is The New Black Season 7 Trailer Sees Piper Grappling With Life Outside Litchfield

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The first trailer for the upcoming seventh and final series of Orange Is The New Black has now been released.

After six years, 12 Emmy wins and countless twists and turns, the groundbreaking Netflix show comes to an end next month, with the new trailer showing Piper getting to grips with the outside world, having been released from Litchfield at the end of series six.

“I’m trying to get back on my feet… now this is my life,” Piper explains, interspersed with scenes of her walking down a New York street, taking a urine test and trying to get a job.

Taylor Schilling in the Orange Is The New Black trailer

Meanwhile, back in Litchfield, it’s not clear exactly what’s in store for the remaining inmates (as Daya says at the end “no spoilers!”), though it’s teased that changes are coming as Suzanne teases she really wants “ice cream… and justice”.

The trailer also hints that as well as Piper and Sophia (who are reunited at what appears to be the latter’s very own hair salon), there may be other characters being released, as both Alex and Lorna are seen out of their Litchfield uniforms, and Suzanne comes face to face with a chicken. 

Several characters who went overlooked due to changes in series 6 are also seen in the trailer, though it remains to be seen whether this was new footage or flashbacks, as Flores is still seen in her prison uniform, despite it being suggested that she was being deported when we last saw her.

With just a month to go until the new episodes of Orange Is The New Black debut on Netflix, this is the first look we’ve had at the new series, with the first teaser trailer simply showing the cast singing the show’s theme tune as they walk around the set.

Orange Is The New Black series 7 debuts on Netflix on July 26.

After Bomb Threat, Air India Flight Lands In London Escorted By British Fighters

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A US-bound flight of Air India from Mumbai made a precautionary landing in London Thursday following a bomb threat, the airline said.

The flight landed at the Stansted airport in London, Air India tweeted.

“AI 191 Mumbai-Newark of June 27 has made a precautionary landing at London’s Stansted airport due to a bomb threat,” the airline said, PTI quoted.

According to NDTV, the airline deleted the tweet within minutes and did not post an update on the situation.

Meanwhile, London’s Stansted Airport said its runway had reopened and was fully operational after the Air India flight’s precautionary landing, Reuters reported.

Britain’s ministry of defence said Typhoon aircraft were deployed at supersonic speed to intercept a civilian plane. “The aircraft was safely escorted to Stansted airport.”

“We are sorry for any disruption caused by the incident and would like to thank you for your patience,” Stansted Airport said on Twitter.

Haryana Congress Leader Vikas Chaudhary Shot Dead In Faridabad

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FARIDABAD/NEW DELHI — Haryana Congress leader Vikas Chaudhary was shot dead by unknown assailants on Thursday, police said.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi condemned the killing and said it reflects the deteriorating law-and-order situation in the state. 

Chaudhary, a spokesperson of the state Congress, was parking his car outside a gym in sector nine when the assailants fired 12-15 bullets at the vehicle from two sides, killing him on the spot, ACP Jaiveer Singh Rathi said.

Upon hearing the noise, people rushed to the site and Chaudhary was rushed to Sarvodaya hospital where he was declared brought dead, he said.

Rathi said the whole incident was caught on CCTV camera and 12 spent cartridges were recovered from the crime scene.

He further said the attack appears to be pre-planned and the assailants, who came in a vehicle, knew that Chaudhary would come to the gym.

The Congress leader was alone at the time of the incident and the bullets hit him in the neck and chest, Rathi said.

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The body was handed over to Chaudhary’s family after post-mortem, he added.

A murder case has been registered and police are scanning the CCTV footage to identify the accused, the officer said, adding, several police teams have also been formed to search for them.

Rahul Gandhi tweeted in Hindi, “The killing of Congress spokesperson and leader Vikas Chaudhary in Faridabad is a condemnable, shameful and tragic incident. It reflects the deteriorating law-and-order situation in Haryana. May Chaudhary’s soul rest in peace and may God provide his family the strength to bear this loss.”

'Stranger Things' Stars Scare The Bejeezus Out Of Fans In Waxwork Museum Prank

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The cast of “Stranger Things” tricked fans into thinking they were waxwork figures of their characters, and then freaked them out by coming to life.

“The Tonight Show” aired the prank that they pulled on unsuspecting visitors to the Madame Tussauds Wax Museum in New York’s Times Square on Wednesday.

Host Jimmy Fallon even joined in the fun with a tribute to a much-loved and lost character from Netflix’s hit sci-fi series, which returns for its third season on July 4.

Check out the clip above, then watch the trailer for its third season here:

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