The Sunday Mail is today revealing communications appearing to show senior party operatives conspiring against ex-leader.

Bombshell text messages showing high ranking SNP figures conspiring against former leader Alex Salmond are today revealed by the Sunday Mail.

The tranche of communications – which were previously before a court but not aired publicly – appear to show senior party operatives involved in a campaign to see the former First Minister jailed for sex offences.

The messages cover a four month period between September 2018 and January 2019 during which an “unlawful” and “biased” Scottish Government misconduct probe against Salmond collapsed, and police began a criminal investigation.

The late SNP leader was ultimately cleared of 13 charges at Edinburgh High Court in March 2020 leading to claims of a plot to destroy him.

In a pre-trial court hearing Salmond’s defence lawyer Gordon Jackson KC, told Lady Dorrian there were text messages between complainants, Scottish government officials and SNP officials that raised questions about an orchestration of some of the allegations.

Jackson sought to get some of that material – which is contained within the documents – admitted into evidence.

He told Dorrian the defence believed “there was a concerted effort made by people in the government to influence the process, to get it as best they could in terms of criminal prosecution”.

He alleged those efforts were motivated by revenge because Salmond had won his judicial review in January 2019, after the Scottish government admitted it had botched an internal inquiry into two sexual harassment complaints against him.

Dorrian refused to allow much of that material to be used in court but allowed other messages to be admitted as evidence.

The messages reveal:

• Senior figures privately doubted their experiences amounted to criminal offences.

• One woman furious her name had been given to detectives without her consent.

• SNP management discussing attempts to round up potential complainers.

Former SNP Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has called for a police investigation.

He said: “I’ve always believed individuals at the heart of the SNP and Scottish Government conspired to bring Alex down because they were worried he was going to make a return to Holyrood and they didn’t want that to happen. These messages confirm my suspicions.

“There should be a police inquiry and public inquiry into this entire affair, it strikes at the heart of our democracy.”

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In the text exchanges believed to have been sent on WhatsApp one senior figure – who was named on charges against Salmond – is asked whether she has “An Alex story”.

She responds: “If I do I don’t remember – wandering hands, some shouting, but not really…I think I wasn’t his type…”

Another woman – also named on charges – states: “How have they got my name? Must be ****. I’ll kill her.”

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After news breaks that Salmond has been charged in January 2019, one woman complained: “Police say mine not on list as. It enough evidence(sic). Yet. Felt like asking what they need and I’ll get it for them!”

Another woman who appeared to have spoken to police states: “I speak for myself here – I don’t think what happened to me would constitute an offence.”

In another message she added: “Tbh, what happened to me didn’t particularly bother me at the time but I felt it was important to back up the other women.”

In response another senior SNP figure said: “Yeah I’m in the same boat in terms of backing others.”

On the same day Salmond was charged one of his accusers writes: “He is going to jail. And I’m ******* glad…was considering briefing media…good move by police to do this now then we are all protected by contempt of court.”

Another text reads: “Jeez. Think **** is in trouble… Salmond isn’t going to stop until he gets her and he’s bringing down Nicola on the way.”

Some of the messages which can now be revealed were previously alluded to in 2021 by Tory MP and Salmond ally David Davis in a Commons speech in which he alleged a plot to take down the former FM.

In one exchange the week after police announce an investigation into Salmond Compliance Officer McCann and Chief Operating Officer Sue Ruddick discuss an attempt to find potential victims.

They appear disappointed that someone who said they could deliver “5 folk by the end of that week” had “overreached” and come up short.

In relation to one woman McCann states: “I think one other said to her that she would. But then didn’t…Or at least, not yet.”

When a senior SNP staffer suggests women involved in Salmond’s criminal case meet up, one woman said: “I’d only be interested if **** wasn’t there. To be honest I’m beginning to feel a bit pressured by the whole thing rather than supported”.

In January 2019 Ruddick told McCann she hoped one of the complainers would be “sickened enough get back in the game” after Salmond won his court challenge against the Scottish Government probe.

In one message a senior SNP figure is referred to as convening a “council of war”.

In another Sue Ruddick writes to Peter Murrell: “**** seems up for the fight. Keen to see him go to jail.”

In a text exchange Peter Murrell appears disappointed with McCann after he was dispatched to talk to a complainer. He said: “Ian has just returned from his chat with ****. forgot to ask if she knew any of the charges involved her or indeed whether ok for us to pass her complaint to us over to police. All in all he’s pissed me off with his attitude again.”

Referring to Salmond he also said: “TBH the more fronts he’s having to firefight on the better for all complainers.”

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A jury of eight women and five men at the high court in Edinburgh cleared Salmond of 13 charges of attempted rape, sexual assault and indecent assault after six hours of deliberations.

It prompted immediate recriminations and demands for resignations within the SNP.

The nine women involved in the charges were all current or former Scottish government officials, or SNP politicians.

The criminal case came after Nicola Sturgeon’s government lost a judicial review into its handling of an internal review of two misconduct complaints against him in 2018.

It has previously been reported a message sent by Leslie Evans, at the time the Scottish government’s top civil servant, read: “We may have lost the battle, but we will win the war.”

An SNP spokesperson said: “These issues, including the question of WhatsApps between women, have been examined repeatedly over the last seven years. The SNP’s focus is on continuing to deliver for the people of Scotland.”

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Destinations loved by Brits are actually paying people to move there. If you fancy a life in the sun, you could make some extra cash while topping up your tan in Spain or Italy

Many people may dream of moving abroad, but you might not realise that some countries will actually pay you to do so. If you fancy living in the glorious sunshine, and making some money in the process, you could actually embark on the travel adventure of a lifetime by packing your bags for good.

Countries like Spain, Italy and Greece will actually pay Brits “thousands” to relocate and start a new life abroad. If you’re fed up of the weather, fancy starting a fresh chapter or simply want to move to somewhere totally different, it may be something worth considering to liven things up.

Schemes people can use were recently highlighted on TikTok by History On A Map to tell people what they need to know. It’s incredible to think you can be paid to relocate to these beautiful countries.

Italy

Italy is one country that pays people to relocate. If you fancy tucking into pasta, enjoying gorgeous wine and immersing yourself in history a little more, you can actually be paid to move here. It explained: “Regions like Calabria, Molise and Sardinia are suffering from massive depopulation.

“To revive these ghost towns, the local governments are offering between €10,000 (£8,705.50) to €30,000 (£26,116.50) to people under 40 who are willing to settle there.”

It turns out Italian regions such as Calabria, Molise and Sardinia offer financial incentives to boost declining populations in rural villages. There are reported to be schemes that offer up to €30,000 to people willing to move to towns with fewer than 2,000 to 3,000 residents.

Usually, to benefit from the scheme, applicants need to be under 40, start a business or renovate a home. There are some guidelines people need to follow to be able to benefit.

Spain

Again, towns in rural areas are looking for people to move there, such as Ponga in Asturias. The video detailed: “As part of the empty Spain initiative, the town of Ponga is offering €3,100 euros per person just to move there.”

According to reports, this figure is actually claimed to be between €2,971 and €3,000 per person (often reported as roughly £2,600) to new residents. However, there are additional incentives for couples and families to boost its dwindling population.

If you fancy taking the leap, the scheme requires a five-year commitment to live in the village. In other words, you need to be sure before you apply to move.

Greece

You can also move to the tiny island of Antikythera in Greece. It’s said people can be paid up to €500 per month for the first three years.

The relocation package aims to repopulate the area, providing new residents with a house, a plot of land and the monthly payments. The initiative primarily targets families and skilled professionals such as bakers, builders and farmers to support the local community.

Other options

The video also highlights that people can be paid to move to Japan. The amounts people can be paid differs, as every scheme has its own set of guidelines, and may not be as much as detailed in the video.

While people can’t be paid for simply moving to Ireland, grants are available for people who move to renovate properties on its remote offshore islands. There are all sorts of schemes people can benefit from, but it’s not as easy as packing your bags.

There are rules people need to follow to benefit, and they vary depending on where you want to apply to move. Do your research to find out more.

The event at The Milner Hotel aims to celebrate the best companies and individuals working to keep us all safe online.

Tickets for the awards and a daytime conference are now available and the awards have begun attracting entries.

The event is hosted by Leeds-based Consultants Like Us (CLU) who specialise in helping firms improve their data security.

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The awards are free to enter and those shortlisted win two free tickets to the awards dinner.

CLU co-founder Gary Hibberd said: “Our desire was to create something that would be educational, inspiring and entertaining. The awards are affordable and accessible to everyone and doesn’t just recognise those who have the biggest marketing budgets.”

The event sponsor, Knowbe4, is a cybersecurity awareness training company that is keen to support firms in exceptional cybersecurity.

KnowBe4 marketing manager Rachel Parr said: “Knowbe4 offers a comprehensive AI-driven ‘best of suite’ platform for human risk management.

“This fits well with the event’s theme, which is ‘From Human Error to Human Advantage: Redefining Risk in a People-First Security World’.”

Lee Scorey and Gary Hibberd (Image: Pic supplied)

New for 2026, CLU are combining the awards event with a daytime conference, including an exciting conference stage and exhibition space. CLU co-founder Lee Scorey said: “Cybersecurity is such a fast-paced industry with change happening almost on an hourly basis, especially with the rise of AI.

“Staying ahead of threats and employing best practice relies on the sector being curious and asking the right questions. Our speakers and exhibitors will help push these conversations forward and inspire companies and individuals.”

Other main sponsors including local York IT company, Techscend, alongside other Yorkshire companies Prove Privacy, Vorago Security and Bristol based Tempo Audits, with judges drawn from experts across the cybersecurity industry. Categories range from celebrating great IT businesses to podcasts, blogs and books.

Thomas Siron, founder of Techscend, said “This major event coming to York is an opportunity to raise awareness of cybersecurity but also another chance to put York on the map for the IT and business sector.”

The awards evening promises to be a glitzy, but fun, event that celebrates the unsung heroes who work tirelessly to prevent cybercrime.

The organisers hope this event will help increase York’s profile as a great destination for business events and that the event will grow into a multiple day event in the future.

Local organisations like Make it York, York St John’s University and York College are also involved as event sponsors, with a few sponsor packages still available.

To enter, buy tickets or sponsor, go to therealcyberawards.co.uk.

Manchester City will go head-to-head with Arsenal in the Premier League today in a game that will go a long way toward deciding who will be champions this season.

It’s a game that has long been billed as a title decider, and the winner will be favourites to lift the Premier League trophy next month. Manchester City host Arsenal today as they look to do what very few thought possible and reel in their title rivals.

City are six points behind the Gunners, but they have a game in hand. A victory today followed by a win over Burnley on Wednesday would see them overtake Mikel Arteta’s side and top the table.

It was revealed on Friday that Ruben Dias would not be back in time for the mammoth clash at the Etihad, but Arsenal have far more potential injury issues than Guardiola’s men. Talisman Bukayo Saka is definitely out, as confirmed by Arteta on Friday, as is Mikel Merino. Martin Odegaard, Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber are all doubts, while Arteta hopes to have Noni Madueke available after he picked up a knock.

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David Raya will start in goal for the visitors, with William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes ahead of him. With Timber facing a late fitness check, Arteta might decide against throwing the Dutchman straight back in given the pace City possess on the wings. Piero Hincapie and Ben White can start in the full-back positions.

Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice are nailed on to start in midfield, but Arteta has decisions to make in attack. Arsenal have scored just three goals in their last five appearances in all competitions, a run that includes their Carabao Cup final defeat to City last month.

Madueke has been a regular in the starting team since Saka picked up an injury, and he can start on the right provided he is fit. Arteta may look to make a change on the opposite flank after the stale display against Sporting Lisbon in midweek, though, with Gabriel Martinelli dropping out and Leandro Trossard coming in.

Viktor Gyokeres is Arteta’s go-to centre-forward and the Sweden international is expected to start at the Etihad today.

Even after today’s game there is still a long way to go in the title race, so it’s not quite a case of winner takes all. But make no mistake about it, today is a huge occasion and whoever wins will be strongly tipped to win the title.

Arsenal predicted XI: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Rice; Madueke, Eze, Trossard; Gyokeres.

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Terry Deary, whose books include Rotten Roman and Ruthless Romans will be at the event on Sunday, July 19, at Orchard Fields.

Terry has written over 351 books – fiction and non-fiction – selling over 38+ million copies in 45 languages.

His best-known children’s book titles are the “Horrible Histories” series, first published in 1993 and still popular thanks to a CBBC television series, theatre shows and a movie based on the books.

Terry will be giving a talk and will sign copies of his latest book ‘Revolting’ and any of his other books, which will be available to buy at the festival.

Another great addition this year will be acclaimed author Lindsay Davis. A prolific author of fiction set within the Ancient Roman period, Lindsay’s ‘Falco’ mysteries run to 20 books and she will be talking to visitors about her latest book in the Flavia Albia series, ‘Murder in Purple and Gold’. She will also sign any of her other novels purchased at the festival.

Fiction writer Clive Ashman will be there too, along with kids’ authors Robin Price and Kate Cunningham with ‘Vlad the Flea in Rome’. The illustrator of the ‘Vlad’ books, Sam Cunningham, will run cartoon drawing workshops for those aspiring artists.

Popular historian, Dr Simon Elliott, author of ‘The African Emperor: The Life of Septimius Severus’ will be in attendance once again, giving one of his very engaging talks.

Along the authors, there will be an re-enactment village and cavalry camp, historical, archaeological and other Roman themed activities for all the family.

The Festival runs from 10am to 4pm. Tickets are £10 per adult, with free entry for children under 14 years old. Discounted tickets are available via the Malton Museum website until July 1.

There is free parking at the event and there are other car parks close by within Malton.

For more information go to www.maltonmuseum.co.uk

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi compared the defeat of a women’s reservation-linked delimitation bill to “female foeticide”, launching a bitter attack on his political rivals a day after his ruling party suffered a rare setback in parliament.

The Modi government’s plan to redraw India’s parliamentary map was defeated in parliament on Friday after opposition parties blocked a constitutional amendment centred on delimitation, the process of reallocating seats, and redrawing constituencies by population.

The delimitation bill is linked to the implementation of a 2023 law mandating that 33 per cent of all seats in federal and state legislatures must be filled by women. Parliament had unanimously passed the Women’s Reservation Act in September 2023, but its provision for 33 per cent quotas in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies was made contingent on the next census and a subsequent delimitation exercise.

The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, failed to secure the two-thirds majority required for the constitutional change. The defeated package proposed increasing the Lok Sabha, India’s lower house of parliament, from 543 seats to 850, with similar expansion in state assemblies. It also sought to change the legal framework governing when delimitation takes place and which census data should be used.

A total of 298 MPs voted in favour and 230 against the bill.

Addressing the nation, the PM “sought forgiveness” from the women of the country after the bills failed to clear the floor test in the Lower House.

“Every citizen of India is watching how dreams of our women have been crushed,” the prime minister said during his address. “Fight for empowering India’s women has been stalled due to selfish politics of opposition parties,” he added.

Mr Modi compared the opposition’s move to “bhrun hatya” (female foeticide), saying the opposition political parties of Congress, DMK, Samajwadi Party and Trinamool Congress “killed” the idea of women’s reservation at its inception, according to reports. “A woman may forget many things, but she never forgets her insult,” he said.

Opposition parties said they supported women’s reservation, but objected to linking it to a nationwide boundary redraw based on older data while the 2026-27 census is underway. They also argued that using 2011 figures could reduce the relative representation of southern and north-eastern states, where population growth has slowed faster than in parts of northern India.

Critics also warned that one or two larger states could gain greater influence because they would send more MPs to the House.

Leader of opposition, Rahul Gandhi, on Friday targeted the prime minister, calling the proposed bills to amend the women’s reservation bill alongside the delimitation exercise a “panic reaction” to change the country’s electoral map, as he added that the “magician has been caught”.

Mr Gandhi said the bills had little to do with advancing women’s empowerment, as he accused the BJP of being “scared of erosion” of its electoral strength. The government is trying “rejig” country’s political map, he said.

“Some truths need to be told here. This is not a women’s bill; this has nothing to do with empowerment of women. This is an attempt to change the electoral map,” he said.

After the result, federal minister, Kiren Rijiju, withdrew two linked measures – the Delimitation Bill, 2026, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026.

During the debate, home minister Amit Shah defended the overhaul, saying constituency sizes had become highly uneven. Stressing the need for the delimitation exercise, Mr Shah said that in the 543-member House, the number of voters is 4.9 million in some constituencies, while it is at 60,000 in others.

“And there are many seats that were frozen in the 1970s. Since then, they have grown so large that an MP cannot even show face to voters, because how can one handle such a huge population,” he said.

Mr Shah said the freeze dated back to decisions taken under Indira Gandhi’s government and accused Congress of opposing the resumption of delimitation.

In 1976, when India’s population stood at about 550 million, the number of Lok Sabha seats was frozen at 543. The move was meant to ensure that states which reduced birth rates were not punished with diminished representation as the size of constituencies was pegged to population. That freeze was due to end after the 2001 census, but was extended until at least 2026 by the previous BJP government of Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Slamming the attempts to block the passage of bill, Mr Shah said: “In 1976, during the Emergency, the process of delimitation was formally suspended through the 42nd Amendment, again under Indira Gandhi’s leadership. At that time, the Congress government enacted laws to halt delimitation. Today, even while in opposition, the Congress continues to oppose the resumption of delimitation. Thus, the Congress originally denied the people the benefits of delimitation, and it is the same party that continues to do so today.”

He also rejected what he called a divisive regional framing.

“Let me make this clear once again: the southern states have exactly the same rights in this House as the northern states. In fact, even a small Union Territory like Lakshadweep has the same rights as Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Bihar,” he said.

Mr Gandhi said: “The amendment bill has fallen. They ⁠used an unconstitutional trick in the name of women to break the Constitution.”

John Terry was undoubtedly a tough player, but maybe we didn’t realise how tough until he revealed how often he was injured during his Chelsea career and played anyway.

The 45-year-old had an epic career with the Blues, joining as a 14-year-old in 1995 and leaving for Aston Villa in 2017.

During that spell he made 717 appearances for the west London club and won a mammoth amount of silverware.

The former Chelsea captain won five Premier League titles, the Champions League, Europa League, five FA Cups and three League Cups with the Blues.

Terry was rarely out of the Chelsea side for around 15 years, with injury keeping him out of the team occasionally, but more often than not he says he played through fitness issues.

A lot more often than not.

Terry has made the extraordinary claim that he only felt fully fit for five of the games he played in his Chelsea career, meaning he played with some form of illness or injury in 712 matches.

‘I was very old school. If I was feeling ill or sick I would just go out and get on with it, I don’t think people should miss matches due to illness – it doesn’t sit right with me,’ Terry said on the Double Tops podcast, sponsored by BetMGM.

‘Everyone says “oh you won’t be at your peak if you’re ill”, but you don’t know that until you get out there and give it a crack.

‘I can’t tell you the amount of injections that I had to get through the next game, but that’s because I wanted to play in every single one.

‘I played 717 games for Chelsea and I could say, genuinely, I was 100 per cent fit for five of them.

‘When I went into a game, I rarely didn’t have a rib, arm, leg, ankle or some sort of injury – something always hurt. That was just part of being a professional footballer and you can’t sit it out because you’re ill.

‘The games come so thick and fast and you can’t afford to miss one. The player who might come in to replace you might not be at your level and in order to win titles and constantly compete, you need to be there, no matter what.’

There was certainly evidence of Terry playing through immense pain and discomfort during his career, memorably declaring himself fit to play despite having two broken ribs in 2012.

‘I’m struggling a bit, to be honest,’ he said after fracturing ribs in a Champions League clash with Benfica. ‘I got an elbow in the ribs about 20 minutes into the away leg and the doctors feared I’d fractured two of them.

‘I thought it was OK but, later in the second half [in the second leg], it just seemed to be getting worse and I was struggling to breathe. It was difficult. I have never felt anything like that before.

‘I don’t think it will mean I’m out at all. It’s just a case of managing it, and things like that. I know there are ways around it. With the ribs you can’t really do anything: you can’t treat the injury or massage it to make it better. You just have to let it heal, but I can get through games, definitely. The guys have got a few ideas to get me through them.’

MORE: In-demand Premier League legend backed to become Arsenal or Chelsea manager

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Beyond Paradise has recently returned for its fourth series, with fans now being urged to watch another beloved drama

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An “addictive” murder mystery series comes highly recommended for Beyond Paradise fans.

Agatha Raisin is a British comedy-drama, adapted from M.C. Beaton’s book series of the same name, following a former PR agent turned amateur detective.

Much like the BBC’s Beyond Paradise, which has recently launched its fourth series, Agatha Raisin unfolds in an idyllic rural village setting. The show debuted as a pilot entitled Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death in 2014, before an eight-episode series premiered on Sky One in 2016. Acorn TV commissioned a second series in 2018, with two additional runs arriving in 2019 and 2021.

“No-nonsense PR whiz Agatha Raisin leaves the London rat race to live in the Cotswold village of Carsley. But all is not as it seems, some villagers are murderous, so she turns from PR to PI,” the official synopsis teases.

Shetland’s Ashley Jensen headlines the cast as Agatha Raisin, supported by Jamie Glover, Jason Merrells, Mathew Horne, Lucy Liemann, Jason Barnett, Matt McCooey, Katy Wix, and Jodie Tyack, reports the Express.

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READ MORE: BBC Silent Witness star cast in gripping new crime thriller airing soonREAD MORE: BBC viewers moan ‘we need answers’ after The Capture series three finale twist

Audiences have consistently championed this “hidden gem” series on digital platforms, with one IMDb reviewer declaring: “Highly addictive! In my opinion, once you get to know and love the characters, you can’t get enough of this wonderful whodunnit, with a humerous twist! It’s a breath of fresh air and is GREAT entertainment! DON’T MISS IT!”

Another added: “Quirky and funny. I really enjoyed this series. The village it is shot in is beautiful and the characters who live there in the show are a real hoot. It’s great that Acorn produces shows like this, no nudity, profanity, drugs or gun play, just snappy dialogue and funny situations.

“Each episode has much the same form but how the crime is solved is far from formulaic and no matter how desperate the situation, Agatha manages with the help of long suffering friends, to come out on top.”

A third remarked: “Agatha Raisin was a brilliantly British masterpiece!” while another similarly commented: “Gets better and better. A great show to binge.”

A fifth enthusiast echoed these feelings, stating: “This is absolutely my favourite show on TV, and much better than the books. Ashley Jensen is a national treasure,” with yet another contributing: “Looking for your next TV obsession? Look no further as Agatha Raisin will have you hooked in minutes.”

Meanwhile, the fourth series of Death in Paradise spin-off Beyond Paradise is presently broadcasting on BBC One and iPlayer, with audiences enthralled by the cases that DI Humphrey Goodman (Kris Marshall) has been tackling alongside his police partner DS Esther Williams (Zahra Ahmadi).

Reports have since emerged that the broadcaster has greenlit the drama for a fifth series, prior to the series four finale broadcasting later this month. Production on season five is set to commence in Devon this July, with new episodes anticipated to air next year, according to TVZone.

The present series has followed Humphrey and his wife, Martha (Sally Bretton), as they adjust to married life, tackling cases such as the death of Humphrey’s favourite crime novelist and an unusual burglary where the crime scene is thoroughly cleaned following the offence.

Lead actor Kris has previously hinted that viewers can anticipate considerable “drama” surrounding his character in the forthcoming episodes.

Agatha Raisin can be viewed on Prime Video via Acorn TV, while Beyond Paradise is available to stream on BBC iPlayer

WASHINGTON (AP) — Lauryn Muller was scrolling on social media when she saw a clip of President Donald Trump belittling California Gov. Gavin Newsom for having dyslexia. It stirred a well of emotion for the 18-year-old Muller, bringing back memories of her own struggles learning to read and the times she felt something was wrong with her.

Trump called Newsom “stupid,” “low IQ,” “mentally disabled” and unfit to become president. Muller knew it was part of a political feud — Trump is a Republican and Newsom is a Democrat who is expected to run for the White House in 2028 — but Trump’s words felt personal.

“We’ve had to overcome so many deficits, and for someone to, on a national stage, say, yeah, they will never be like us — that definitely came as an emotional sting to me,” said Muller, an incoming student at Auburn University whose dyslexia was identified as a child.

It was one more entry in Trump’s history of denigrating the intelligence of his foes and mocking those with disabilities. Yet this time he was maligning tens of millions of people, calling their abilities into question and undermining years of progress fighting stigma around dyslexia.

Among those with dyslexia, his remarks aroused feelings from anguish and anger to dismay. It cut across politics, drawing a rebuke from supporters and critics alike.

Muller’s mother, Marilyn, voted for Trump three times and says she still supports his politics. But she was hurt when Trump linked dyslexia with low intelligence — a dated myth that she has spent years trying to dispel.

“It works against everything I do on a daily basis,” said Marilyn Muller, a literacy advocate in Florida. “It was probably one of the more ignorant comments I have ever heard come from his mouth.”

A learning disability often misunderstood

Trump’s comments clash with a large body of research finding that dyslexia and IQ are unrelated. They also conflict with statements he issued during his first term for national awareness months, heaping praise on the “extraordinary contributions” of those with dyslexia and noting that their ranks include top industry executives and inventors.

Often misunderstood, dyslexia affects the link between the brain and printed language, making it difficult for people to read. Dyslexia often emerges in childhood as kids learn to read and write. It is estimated to affect up to 20% of the world population.

“All of a sudden, you’re not doing so well in school and then people will tell you, oh, you’re not trying, you’re not smart or whatever, and none of that’s accurate. You just have this difference in that bridge from language to print,” said John Gabrieli, a neuroscientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Newsom has for years discussed his dyslexia, including in a children’s book he wrote in 2021 as well as a new memoir. On his recent book tour, he talked about memorizing speeches because he is unable to read them. He described it as a struggle and a gift, saying it forced him to develop other skills.

Advocates say Trump’s words threaten to reverse years of progress unwinding stereotypes. His comments also raise questions about promises his administration has made to protect students with disabilities even as Trump dismantles the Department of Education, which oversees the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

Jacqueline Rodriguez, CEO of the National Center for Learning Disabilities, said it will be hard for families to trust Trump’s education appointees “when their boss is making these really stigmatizing and really inaccurate statements.”

In Decatur, Georgia, Meagan Swingle said Trump’s comments made her sick to her stomach. She brought it up with her 15-year-old son, Enrique, who has dyslexia, knowing he might hear about the remarks at school. Enrique, who excels in math and science, brushed it off, she said.

But it stuck with her.

“I don’t know that he remembers a time like I do when, whether you were a Democrat or a Republican or an independent, you could expect a higher standard from the president of the United States,” she said. “ We build people up, we don’t tear them down.”

NEW YORK (AP) — This year’s Lyrid meteor shower is getting a boost thanks to a dim crescent moon. Skywatchers could see 10 to 20 shooting stars per hour soar across the spring sky, according to NASA, when the fiery display peaks Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.

The show will be visible across the globe, but views will be best in the Northern Hemisphere. And there’s no risk of the crescent moon photobombing the Lyrid shower. It’ll set before the fun starts.

Meteor showers happen when the Earth plows through debris trails left behind by space rocks. Those stray bits get hot as they enter the atmosphere, producing fiery streaks that are also known as shooting stars.

Contrary to the name, most meteor showers are actually debris from comets. The Lyrids are the leftovers from an icy ball called comet Thatcher.

“We only get to see the actual comet once every 415 years. But we pass through the grains that have been left in its wake every year around the same time,” said Maria Valdes, who studies meteorites and works at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

A handful of random meteors are visible on any given night. At predictable times throughout the year, enough can be seen at once to make a more exciting spectacle. The Lyrids are one of the oldest recorded meteor showers, with reported sightings dating back over 2,500 years.

To see the Lyrids, go outside after midnight and venture away from tall buildings and city lights. It’ll take at least 15 to 30 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the nighttime sky and remember to resist looking at your phone.

Bring lawn chairs or a sleeping bag and be patient until the meteors reveal themselves. They’ll appear to come from the constellation Lyra in the northeastern sky.

“A meteor looks like a trail of light in the sky. What you tend to detect is the motion against the background,” said astronomer Lisa Will with San Diego City College.

The next major shower is soon approaching in early May: the Eta Aquarids, debris from Halley’s comet.

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