Politics

Salman Rushdie Gives First Interview Since 2022 Stabbing

Published

2 years ago

2023-02-06

NEW YORK – Salman Rushdie is blind in his right eye, struggles to write, and has “frightening” nightmares months after being stabbed repeatedly as he prepared to give a lecture.

However, he expressed gratitude during his first interview since the attack.

“Well, you know, I’ve been better,” he told David Remnick of The New Yorker in an interview published Monday. “However, given what happened, I’m not so bad.”

“The major injuries are essentially healed,” Rushdie continued. “I have sensation in my thumb, index finger, and the bottom half of my palm. I’m getting a lot of hand therapy and am told I’m doing great.”

Remnick, who spoke with Rushdie in person at his agent’s office in Manhattan and via Zoom, wrote that the Booker Prize-winning author had lost more than 40 pounds (18 kilograms) and now reads mostly on an iPad, where he can adjust the lighting and font size.

rushdie

Rushdie Went Into Hiding In Iran

“On the right side of his face, there is scar tissue,” Remnick wrote. “He speaks as fluently as ever, but one side of his lower lip droops. His left hand’s ulnar nerve was severely damaged.”

Rushdie, 75, went into hiding for years after Iran’s Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa in 1989 calling for his death because of the novel “The Satanic Verses'” alleged blasphemy. But he’d been moving around freely for a long time, with little security, and had no qualms about appearing at the Chautauqua Institution, a nonprofit education and retreat center in western New York, last August.

Rushdie was on stage when he was approached by a young man in black carrying a knife. Hadi Matar, who is accused of assaulting and trying to kill the victim, has said he is not guilty. Rushdie called Matar an “idiot” in his New Yorker interview but expressed no resentment.

“Over the years, I’ve worked very hard to avoid recrimination and bitterness,” he said. “I don’t think it’s a good look. One of the ways I’ve dealt with this situation is to look forward rather than back. What happens today is less important than what happens tomorrow.”

The Man Complained The Stabbing Made Book Sales Go Up

The interview was published on the eve of the release of Rushdie’s new novel, “Victory City,” which he finished a month before his assassination. “Victory,” which features a protagonist who lives to be 247, is a typically surreal and exuberant narrative about an imagined ancient poem that has received overwhelmingly positive reviews, with The Washington Post’s Ron Charles writing that “Rushdie’s magical style unfurls wonders.”

Rushdie had been silent on social media for months but now occasionally tweets and even responds to insults. When a Twitter user told him last week that he was living a “disgraceful life,” Rushdie responded, “Oh, another fan! “I’m overjoyed.”

During the interview, he complained that the stabbing had increased his book sales, as if people liked him more when he was in danger.

rushdie

Rushdie Suffered From 15 Stab Wounds

“Everyone loves me now that I’m almost dead,” he said. “That was my error back then. I not only lived, but I tried to live well. That was a terrible oversight. Better to get 15 stab wounds.”

On Monday, he tweeted a photo of himself staring directly into the camera lens, his face thinner than in photos taken before the stabbing, his right eye hidden behind a dark lens in his glasses frame.

Otherwise, he is still attempting to recover. Rushdie has written that he initially struggled to write fiction after the fatwa and is still struggling, saying that when he sits down to work, “nothing happens,” just a “combination of blankness and junk.”

One project he might consider is a sequel to his 2012 memoir “Joseph Anton,” which he wrote in the third person.

“This does not feel third-person to me,” Rushdie said of a potential sequel. “I believe a first-person story is when someone sticks a knife into you. “That is an “I” story.”

SOURCE – (AP)

Kiara Grace

Kiara Grace is a staff writer at VORNews, a reputable online publication. Her writing focuses on technology trends, particularly in the realm of consumer electronics and software. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for breaking down complex topics. Kiara delivers insightful analyses that resonate with tech enthusiasts and casual readers alike. Her articles strike a balance between in-depth coverage and accessibility, making them a go-to resource for anyone seeking to stay informed about the latest innovations shaping our digital world.

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Politics

Concerned About Matt Gaetz’s Campaign, Senate Republicans Call for a House Ethics Investigation.

Published

6 hours ago

2024-11-14

Salman Ahmad

Mario Tama/Getty Images/Getty Images North America

(VOR News) – Given that a growing number of Republican senators are seeking access to the investigation of Matt Gaetz conducted by the House Ethics Committee, Gaetz’s nomination for the position of attorney general may encounter significant opposition in the Senate.

On Thursday, Matt Gaetz submitted his resignation from the House of Representatives, one day after President-elect Trump announced his acceptance of these positions.

The House Ethics Committee has completed its investigation into allegations that Matt Gaetz was involved in drug use and sex trafficking.

Similar allegations were levied against Matt Gaetz.

The investigation commenced in 2021. Dick Durbin, a Democratic senator and current chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued a statement on Thursday requesting that the House ethics panel “preserve and share” their report along with any additional evidence collected regarding Gaetz.

Durbin’s statement was made in relation to his ongoing tenure in his current role. Durbin’s remark was made public on Thursday.

Texas Republican Senator John Cornyn, a senior member of the Judiciary Committee who recently lost the Senate Majority Leader race, informed reporters on Thursday that the Senate “should obtain all pertinent information by any means necessary,” potentially including a subpoena for the ethics report.

Cornyn is a prominent member of the Judiciary Committee. Cornyn is a senior member of the committee that supervises the Judiciary. Cornyn is hired by the organization tasked with overseeing the Judiciary.

“None of us desire to operate without guidance,” he stated to the reporters in the Capitol, and his assertion was entirely accurate. It was an entirely accurate assertion. “This serves to safeguard the president from unforeseen information or revelations that he and his team may not have anticipated.”

While other senators are inquiring about the particulars of the investigation undertaken by the Ethics Committee during the confirmation hearings, Cornyn is aligning with those senators who are insisting on this information.

Cornyn has conceded that he lacks definitive clarification over the Senate’s ability to request data from the House; still, this is the current situation.

A source familiar with the process, who requested anonymity to discuss confidential deliberations, indicated that the House Ethics Committee’s meeting was scheduled for Friday. Nonetheless, it remains uncertain whether the meeting will occur without additional clarification.

That meeting may have been the committee’s vote on Matt Gaetz’s disclosure.

This may have been the committee’s plan. Senator Tommy Tuberville, a Republican from Alabama, stated that Matt Gaetz’s candidacy “will be one of those that will be well-scrutinized.”

According to Tuberville’s account on Thursday, his response to the press was: “It will be a fine-tooth comb, and they were aware of that beforehand.” “It will be a meticulously crafted product.”

Tuberville remarked, “I have known Matt Gaetz for an extended period and have consistently admired him.”

In reaction to the inquiries directed at Matt Gaetz, other Republican senators chose to abstain from commenting. Representative Tom Cotton, a Republican from Arkansas, delivered a clear statement declaring, “no comment.”

When queried about Gaetz, Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa responded by commending Elise Stefanik, a congresswoman from New York and a nominee for the Trump administration. Stefanik is a candidate for the role of Secretary of State. Ernst made the statement to National Public Radio while commuting on the Senate subway.

He characterized the situation as “highly intriguing.” “Elise is exceptional!” She remarked about Gaetz as the metro vehicle departed the station: “He faces a formidable challenge.” She stated this while the vehicle was leaving the station.

Cornyn stated to the reporters, “I am unfamiliar with the individual.” That was his observation. In response to the inquiry on any worries about Matt Gaetz candidacy, this reply was made.

SOURCE: NPR

Politics

President-Elect Trump Picks Matt Gaetz to Be Attorney General

Published

1 day ago

2024-11-14

Geoff Thomas

Matt Gaetz's experience as a lawyer and member of the House Judiciary Committee.

President-elect Donald Trump has named Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz, 42, his attorney general. This position doubles as the country’s top prosecutor and the director of the Department of Justice.

Trump announced the nominee in a post on his Truth Social platform on Wednesday, noting Matt Gaetz’s experience as a lawyer and member of the House Judiciary Committee.

He also stated that Gaetz’s nomination would be part of his strategy to rid the government of perceived opponents. Trump has frequently accused Democrats of “weaponizing” the Justice Department against him, a charge he reiterated in Wednesday’s statement.

Matt will halt weaponized government, secure our borders, dismantle criminal organizations, and restore Americans’ severely eroded faith and confidence in the Justice Department, Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Donald Trump has sent shockwaves across Washington by appointing former Democratic congressman Tulsi Gabbard as the new director of national intelligence.

The moves sparked quick criticism that the president-elect ignores qualifications to put his most fervent followers in charge of the country’s most important government agencies.

Even before Gaetz and Gabbard were named, Trump aroused eyebrows by naming Pete Hegseth, an army veteran and Fox News commentator, as his contender for defense secretary.

Trump has also made more conventional picks for prominent jobs, such as choosing Florida Senator Marco Rubio to be Secretary of State.

Gaetz’s planned appointment as attorney general comes as President Trump threatens to restructure the US Department of Justice in retaliation for criminal investigations and indictments initiated against him by federal prosecutors in recent years.

Tulsi Gabbard at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Florida.

Tulsi Gabbard was the Democratic National Committee’s (DNC) Vice-Chair from 2013 to 2016 when she resigned to support Bernie Sanders for the Democratic presidential candidacy.

Tulsi is an Iraq War veteran and Army reservist. Three years ago, she received the rank of lieutenant colonel in the United States Army Reserve.

“As a former Candidate for the Democrat Presidential Nomination, she has broad support in both Parties – She is now a proud Republican!” According to Trump’s remarks.

“I am confident that Tulsi will bring the courageous attitude that has distinguished her remarkable career to our intelligence community, championing our constitutional rights and securing peace through strength. “Tulsi will make us all proud!”

Once confirmed, Tulsi Gabbard will advise Trump, the National Security Council, and the Homeland Security Council on national security issues.

Geoff Thomas

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Politics

Trump Shakes Up Pentagon Names Pete Hegseth Defence Secretary

Published

1 day ago

2024-11-13

Geoff Thomas

Pete Hegseth Trump Defence Secretary - VOR News

U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. David Walsh and Pete Hegseth - U.S. Marine Corps image

US President-elect Donald Trump has picked Pete Hegseth, a decorated Army veteran and Fox News broadcaster, as his defense secretary. The announcement sent shockwaves across the Pentagon and defense industry.

Many in Washington expected the nominee to be a seasoned legislator or someone with defense policy experience. Trump’s choice of Hegseth caught them completely off guard.

In his first political post, 44-year-old Pete Hegseth will be in charge of the world’s most powerful military. He previously served in Afghanistan and Iraq.

When he announced his decision on Tuesday, Trump praised it as “tough, smart, and a true believer in America First.” He also emphasized the former soldier’s schooling at Princeton and Harvard institutions and his combat experience in Afghanistan and Iraq.

“With Pete at the helm, America’s enemies are on notice – our military will be great again, and America will never back down,” the president wrote on Facebook.

The president-elect also highlighted Hegseth’s work as a published novelist. He stated that The War on Warrior “reveals the leftwing betrayal of our warriors and how we must return our military to meritocracy, lethality, accountability, and excellence.”

Hegseth was a major in the Minnesota National Guard who worked as a prison guard in the Guantánamo Bay detention camp and Iraq and Afghanistan and has been an outspoken critic of what he calls “woke” policies inside the US military and its leadership.

“The dumbest phrase on planet earth in the military is our diversity is our strength,” Hegseth stated on a webcast last month.

One of his responsibilities as defense secretary could be to carry out Trump’s campaign vows to remove US generals accused of supporting progressive agendas within the military.

Trump stated that entrepreneur Elon Musk, another political novice, would help the administration decrease costs.

Trump’s government is taking shape following his victory in last week’s presidential election. Hegseth was part of a flurry of security appointments, including Trump’s selection of John Ratcliffe to lead the Central Intelligence Agency.

If confirmed by the US Senate, Hegseth will arrive at the Pentagon with decisions to make on topics such as military aid to Israel during its fight in Gaza and backing for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s invasion.

Trump wants the United States to distance itself from foreign conflicts in general. During the election campaign, he criticized the Biden administration’s spending to aid Ukraine.

Also on Tuesday, Trump stated that he wanted South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem to play a key role as homeland security secretary. Trump appointed another military veteran, Michael Waltz, as national security advisor, which means he will counsel the president on international dangers.

According to sources at the BBC’s US partner CBS News, Senator Marco Rubio, who shares Waltz’s strong views on China, is anticipated to be Trump’s future secretary of state. However, the selection has not yet been verified.

Republicans have regained control of the Senate and the upper chamber of Congress and are closing in on a majority in the House and the lower chamber as vote counting continues.