An ex-Metropolitan Police (London Police) officer has been accused of defrauding thousands of pounds from luxury brands by falsely claiming that expensive online purchases never happened.According to The Telegraph, 28-year-old Sunna Harrison-Aziz allegedly received items from brands including Christian Dior, Cartier and Moncler through fraudulent non-delivery claims.Products cited in court include a £700 Dior bikini, a Cartier wedding band worth almost £2,000, an £840 Moncler jacket and a £2,599 Apple MacBook bought from Currys.Prosecutors allege Harrison-Aziz improperly accessed police systems between January and September 2022 while carrying out the fraud.He has been accused of several crimes including fraud, abuse of police powers and attempting to interfere with the investigation.The court heard he allegedly hid his mobile phone from investigators and falsely claimed it was broken and lost and later destroyed it after police searched his home.Harrison-Aziz, of Croydon, south London, has denied all charges.The investigation was conducted by the Met’s Anti-Corruption and Misconduct Command under the supervision of the Independent Office for Police Conduct.She appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court along with Edgar Morris, who is charged with encouraging the abuse of police powers. Another defendant, Eugene Nunu, did not attend the hearing due to a train cancellation.During the hearing, District Judge Daniel Sternberg rejected a request by Harrison-Aziz’s attorneys to prevent the media from identifying him after concerns were raised about his mental health and concerns about publicity.The case will be next heard at Southwark Crown Court on June 2. Harrison-Aziz is on unconditional bail.

“A short while ago, the Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoorattack on terrorist infrastructure Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir,” the Defense Ministry said in a statement issued at 1.44 pm on May 7, 2025.“In total, nine (9) sites have been targeted,” the statement said, while clarifying that no Pakistani military installation was attacked and that the operation was “focused, measured and non-tense in nature.”Today marks one year of ‘Operation Sindoor’ in India and it is still seen as a defining moment in the country’s counter-terrorism doctrine, which was a rapid military response launched after the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack in which 26 people were killed. The operation, conducted in a quick span of 25 minutes between 1.05 am and 1.30 am on May 7, targeted terrorist infrastructure linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed and Hizbul Mujahideen.April 22: Pahalgam attack shocked the countryThe series of incidents started on April 22, 2025 in Baisaran Valley of Pahalgam. What is usually known as a beautiful tourist meadow became the site of one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in Kashmir since Pulwama in 2019.Militants affiliated with The Resistance Front (TRF), an affiliate of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, entered a civilian area, reportedly separated victims on the basis of religion and killed 26 people, including a Nepalese national. The attack sparked outrage across India and was condemned by world leaders.23–24 April: India downgrades ties with PakistanExternal Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal briefed the media about New Delhi’s measures.India downgraded diplomatic ties with Pakistan, suspended the Indus Water Treaty, sealed the Attari-Wagah border, declared Pakistani diplomats persona non grata and suspended visas for Pakistani citizens. India also conducted naval missile tests and large-scale Indian Air Force exercises.A day later, during a rally in Madhubani, Bihar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed action, saying, “India will identify, trace and punish every terrorist and their supporters.” Pakistan retaliated diplomatically by suspending visas for Indians, closing its airspace to Indian-operated aircraft, freezing trade and suspending the Simla Agreement.April 27–30: War clouds loomAddressing the nation during Mann Ki Baat on 27 April, Modi said, “Today as I speak to you in Mann Ki Baat, there is deep pain in my heart. The terrorist attack in Pahalgam on 22 April has pained every citizen of the country.” On April 30, Pakistan claimed that India was preparing military action. Pakistan’s Information Minister Ataullah Tarar said that Islamabad had “credible intelligence” that India intended to launch a military operation within 24–36 hours.

7 May: Operation Sindoor beginsIn the early hours of 7 May, India launched Operation Sindoor from Indian soil, targeting nine terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The tri-service operation conducted from Indian soil targeted nine terrorist camps linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Hizbul Mujahideen in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Lieutenant Colonel Sophia Qureshi later briefed the media and reiterated that the strikes were “concentrated and non-tense”.Wing Commander Vyomika Singh said, “nine terrorist camps were targeted and destroyed” in direct retaliation to the Pahalgam attack. “The targets of Operation Vermillion were based on credible intelligence and locations were selected to avoid damage to civilian infrastructure and loss of civilian life,” he said.The operation was carried out in a quick period of 25 minutes between 1.05 am and 1.30 am.Lieutenant Colonel Sophia Qureshi later elaborated on the nine terror sites affected:

Mock drills were also conducted in several Indian cities including Delhi, Chandigarh and Varanasi to prepare citizens for any stress.In the days that followed, India intercepted Pakistani drones at 36 locations from Jammu and Kashmir to Gujarat. Prime Minister Narendra Modi later described the operation as the “new normal” and said India would continue to respond to terrorism “in the language they understand”.7-8 May: Pakistan’s drone attack and India’s responsePakistan responded with drone strikes and heavy shelling along the Line of Control (LoC), leading to a sharp rise in tensions between the two countries.On the night of 7 and 8 May, Pakistan attempted multiple airspace violations along India’s western border and launched about 300–400 drones at 36 locations, targeting military infrastructure. Indian forces intercepted and neutralized several drones using both kinetic and non-kinetic systems.Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said India’s response had been “precise” and “non-tense”, emphasizing that only terrorist infrastructure was targeted. He also condemned Pakistan’s attacks which killed 16 civilians in Jammu and Kashmir.Lieutenant Colonel Sophia Qureshi explained the scale of the Pakistani attack during a media briefing. He said, “On the night of May 7 and 8, the Pakistani Army violated Indian airspace several times along the entire western border with the intention of targeting military infrastructure. Not only this, the Pakistani Army also opened fire with heavy caliber weapons along the Line of Control.”“Around 300 to 400 drones were used for infiltration attempts at 36 locations. Indian armed forces shot down many of these drones using kinetic and non-kinetic means,” he said.Qureshi said the purpose of the large-scale air intrusion appears to be to test India’s air defense network and gather intelligence.“The probable purpose of such large-scale air infiltration was to test air defense systems and gather intelligence. Forensic investigation of the drone debris is being done. “Initial reports suggest they are Turkish Assisgard Songer drones,” she said.May 9: India increased retaliatory actionIndia launched a major retaliatory strike on 9 May after Pakistan targeted Indian military positions. IAF drone strikes destroyed Chinese-origin HQ-9 surface-to-air missile and radar system in Lahore. Other locations targeted include Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Attock, Bahawalpur, Miyano and areas near Karachi.Earlier in the day, Pakistan attempted to attack Indian Air Force bases in Awantipora, Srinagar and Uttarlai as well as Army installations in Jammu, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Bathinda and Chandigarh. India’s multilayered air defense network, led by the S-400 ‘Triumph’ missile system, intercepted the attacks.Lt Col Qureshi said Pakistan “used drones, long-range weapons, munitions and fighter aircraft to attack Indian military sites.” “Pakistan tried to intrude by air at more than 26 locations and they damaged our equipment and personnel at air force bases in Udhampur, Bhuj, Pathankot and Bathinda,” he said.“They used high-speed missiles at 1:40 am to target the airport in Punjab. They also attacked health facilities and schools,” he said. He further said that Pakistan targeted army hospitals in Srinagar, Avantipur and Udhampur.Meanwhile, the Border Security Force (BSF) said Pakistan initiated “unprovoked firing” on BSF posts in Jammu sector. BSF said, “Terrorist launch pad at Luni, District Sialkot opposite Akhnoor area was completely destroyed by BSF. Our resolve to protect India’s sovereignty remains unwavering.”May 10: Declaration of ceasefire, then violationIndia confirmed that the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of the two countries have agreed to stop all military activities on land, air and sea.Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said Pakistan’s DGMO contacted his Indian counterpart at 3.35 pm on May 10, following which both sides agreed to stop all firing and military operations from 5 pm IST.But after a few hours, explosions were heard again in Srinagar and surrounding areas. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah reacted sharply on social media, posting, “What happened to the ceasefire? Explosions heard all over Srinagar!!! This is not a ceasefire. Air defense units have just been opened in the middle of Srinagar.”Complete blackout imposed in Rajasthan’s Barmer and Jaisalmer; Firozpur, Pathankot, Moga, Fazilka and Patiala in Punjab; Ambala in Haryana; And Jammu, Kathua, Nagrota, Rajouri and Anantnag in Jammu and Kashmir.The situation has become normal in the states bordering India-Pakistan. The armed forces caused significant damage to Pakistani military assets during the three-day confrontation. DGMO Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai said that 35-40 Pakistani army personnel were killed. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh later said that more than 100 terrorists were killed during Operation Sindoor.May 12-13: PM Modi addressed the nationOn 12 May, Prime Minister Modi addressed the nation for the first time since the operation began, and dedicated Operation Sindoor to “every mother of our country, every sister of our country.” A day later, Pakistan confirmed that 11 of its military personnel were killed and 78 injured in the Indian strikes.One year later: a new theoryMonths after the operation, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi described the military phase of Operation Sindoor as an “88-hour” campaign and warned Pakistan against repeating “something so barbaric” again.A year later, the Indus Waters Treaty remains suspended, reflecting India’s firm position that “terrorism and talks cannot go together”.In his Independence Day speech in 2025, PM Modi had said, “India has now decided that blood and water will not flow together.” The suspension of the treaty is one of the biggest strategic shifts in India-Pakistan relations in decades. This agreement, signed in 1960, governed the sharing of the waters of the Indus River System, including the Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas and Sutlej rivers.As India marks one year of Operation Sindoor, the operation is being seen as a turning point in New Delhi’s approach towards cross-border terrorism, establishing what the government has repeatedly described as the “new normal” in India’s security doctrine.

मुजफ्फरनगर जिले के मोरना क्षेत्र स्थित ब्लॉक सभागार में आयोजित एक महत्वपूर्ण बैठक में पूर्व केंद्रीय मंत्री प्रो. संजीव बालियान गोरक्षा को लेकर ग्राम प्रधानों से भावनात्मक अपील की। उन्होंने पुरकाजी क्षेत्र के तुगलकपुर कम्हेड़ा में स्थापित उत्तर प्रदेश के पहले गौ अभयारण्य के संचालन को सफल बनाने के लिए भूसे और चारे की व्यवस्था में सहयोग का आह्वान किया।

बैठक के दौरान पशु संरक्षण, चारे की उपलब्धता और सामाजिक भागीदारी जैसे मुद्दों पर विस्तार से चर्चा की गई। बड़ी संख्या में ग्राम प्रधानों और स्थानीय जन प्रतिनिधियों की उपस्थिति ने इस अभियान को व्यापक समर्थन का संकेत दिया।

गौ अभ्यारण्य में हजारों पशुओं के लिए चारे की चुनौती

बैठक को संबोधित करते हुए संजीव बालियान ने कहा कि तुगलकपुर कम्हेड़ा स्थित गौ अभयारण्य में बड़ी संख्या में गायों की देखभाल की जा रही है और लगातार उनके लिए पर्याप्त चारे की व्यवस्था करना एक बड़ी चुनौती बन रही है।

उन्होंने कहा कि गायों की सेवा न केवल प्रशासनिक बल्कि समाज की सामूहिक जिम्मेदारी भी है। बलियान ने ग्राम प्रधानों से आग्रह किया कि वे अपने-अपने गांव में किसानों और ग्रामीणों को भूसा दान करने के लिए प्रेरित करें ताकि सेंचुरी में किसी भी जानवर को चारे की कमी न हो।

उन्होंने कहा, “यह सुनिश्चित करना हमारा मानवीय कर्तव्य है कि कोई भी जानवर भूख के कारण पीड़ित न हो।”

ग्राम प्रधानों से जनभागीदारी बढ़ाने की अपील

पूर्व मंत्री ने कहा कि अगर हर गांव से थोड़ा-थोड़ा सहयोग मिले तो हजारों पशुओं के लिए चारे की व्यवस्था आसानी से की जा सकती है. उन्होंने ग्राम प्रधानों को ग्राम स्तर पर अभियान चलाने और किसानों को इस नेक कार्य में शामिल करने की सलाह दी।

बैठक में मौजूद कई प्रधानों ने भी इस पहल का समर्थन किया और आश्वासन दिया कि वे अपने क्षेत्रों में भूसा एकत्र करने की व्यवस्था करेंगे.

ब्लॉक प्रमुख और भाजपा नेताओं ने भी समर्थन किया

कार्यक्रम में उपस्थित प्रखंड प्रमुख मो अनिल राठी कहा कि गोरक्षा भारतीय संस्कृति एवं सामाजिक मूल्यों से जुड़ा विषय है। उन्होंने कहा कि सभी ग्राम प्रधान एवं क्षेत्रवासी एकजुट होकर इस अभियान को सफल बनायें।

भाजपा क्षेत्रीय मंत्री मो अमित राठी साथ ही समाज के सक्षम एवं संपन्न लोगों से इस कार्य में आगे आने की अपील की. उन्होंने कहा कि गौ सेवा न केवल धार्मिक आस्था है बल्कि सामाजिक दायित्व भी है।

प्रशासनिक व्यवस्था पर भी चर्चा की गयी

बैठक के दौरान गौ अभ्यारण्य के संचालन, चारे के भंडारण और ग्राम स्तर पर समन्वय से संबंधित व्यवस्था जैसे मुद्दों पर भी चर्चा की गई.

इस अवसर पर खंड विकास अधिकारी विशाखा, एडीओ पंचायत योगेश्वर दत्त त्यागी, वरिष्ठ सहायक योगेन्द्र सिंह व सामाजिक कार्यकर्ता विनोद शर्मा सहित कई अधिकारी व गणमान्य लोग मौजूद रहे।

अधिकारियों ने कहा कि यदि सामाजिक सहयोग मिलता रहेगा तो सेंचुरी का संचालन बेहतर तरीके से किया जा सकता है।

दर्जनों ग्राम प्रधानों ने सहयोग का आश्वासन दिया

बैठक में क्षेत्र के कई ग्राम प्रधान मौजूद रहे। इनमें सर्वेंद्र राठी, दिनेश राठी, नरेंद्र प्रधान, राजकुमार, आबिद, शाहनवाज, संजय, शौकीन, मोनू और तरूण प्रधान प्रमुख रूप से शामिल रहे।

सभी ग्राम प्रधानों ने एक स्वर में कहा कि वे अपने-अपने गांव से गौ अभयारण्य के लिए पर्याप्त भूसे की व्यवस्था करने का प्रयास करेंगे। कई प्रधानों ने किसानों के साथ बैठक कर इस अभियान को गांव स्तर तक ले जाने की बात कही.

गौ संरक्षण को लेकर बढ़ रही सामाजिक भागीदारी

हाल के वर्षों में उत्तर प्रदेश में गोरक्षा को लेकर कई स्तरों पर अभियान चलाए जा रहे हैं. गौ अभयारण्यों और गौशालाओं के संचालन में सामाजिक भागीदारी बढ़ाने पर भी लगातार जोर दिया जा रहा है।

विशेषज्ञों का मानना ​​है कि सिर्फ सरकारी संसाधनों के भरोसे इतनी बड़ी संख्या में मवेशियों की देखभाल करना चुनौतीपूर्ण है. ऐसे में स्थानीय समाज और ग्रामीणों का सहयोग अहम भूमिका निभा सकता है.

ग्रामीण इलाकों में जागरूकता बढ़ाने पर जोर

बैठक में इस बात पर भी चर्चा हुई कि कई बार किसानों के पास अतिरिक्त भूसा होने के बावजूद उचित समन्वय के अभाव में उसका उपयोग नहीं हो पाता है. इसलिए ग्रामीण स्तर पर जागरूकता अभियान चलाकर लोगों को गौ सेवा से जोड़ने की जरूरत है.

वक्ताओं ने कहा कि यदि हर गांव से नियमित सहयोग मिले तो गौ अभयारण्य में पशुओं के भोजन व देखभाल की समस्या काफी हद तक कम हो सकती है.

काऊ सेंचुरी को लेकर क्षेत्र में सकारात्मक माहौल

तुगलकपुर कम्हेड़ा स्थित गौ अभ्यारण्य को लेकर क्षेत्र में सकारात्मक माहौल देखने को मिल रहा है। स्थानीय लोगों का मानना ​​है कि अगर प्रशासन और समाज मिलकर काम करें तो गौ संरक्षण की दिशा में बेहतर परिणाम मिल सकते हैं.

बैठक के दौरान कई लोगों ने भविष्य में भी ऐसे सामाजिक अभियान बड़े पैमाने पर चलाने की जरूरत जतायी.

New Delhi: The National Testing Agency has opened a small correction window that will allow students to make changes to their CUET-UG 2026 exam status, date and shift after widespread complaints of being allotted centers hundreds of kilometers away from their preferred cities.In a notice on Tuesday, the agency said candidates can opt for change of exam status, date and/or shift for their subject combination “as per the availability of slots”. The window of opportunity opened on May 5 and will remain open till May 7, 11.50 pm. The allotment will be done on “first come first serve basis”.

Many candidates across the country have flagged the logistical difficulties, need for frequent inter-state travel and rising cost of accommodation after being allotted centers outside their chosen cities.The agency said candidates who avail the facility will be issued revised admit cards, while those who do not avail the option within the stipulated period will have to appear as per their already allotted exam city, date and shift.The decision comes after days of criticism on social media, in which students from Delhi, Haryana, Bihar and other states shared examples of being given centers away from their homes during the one-month exam cycle from May 11 to May 31.One of them is Delhi resident Garv Mendiratta, who said she had chosen Delhi and NCR cities as a priority, but she was allotted Agra for the exams to be held on May 11, May 13 and May 30, which required her to travel frequently.Another candidate from Delhi, Sunil Sah, said he was allotted the Jaipur centre, while Delhi’s Devansh Solanki was allotted the center in Mohali.Some candidates also complained about being allotted multiple exams in different shifts on the same day, raising concerns over travel feasibility and exam fatigue.Students said scattered schedules and external allocations have increased travel and accommodation expenses, disrupted preparations and created uncertainty during one of the country’s biggest entrance exams.“I am a student of Haryana and you gave my center in Himachal. Now all my favorite states are missing in this revised exam state option. What should I do?” A candidate wrote on social media.Another student from Bihar wrote: “I have two exams on 14th and 19th May. I cannot afford to travel 350 km, return home and travel again. Please change my center to my hometown Darbhanga.”Responding to the criticism, the NTA said on social media that the situation was largely due to “high concentration of candidates in some cities and limited CBT testing center availability”, while assuring students that the concerns were being reviewed to minimize inconvenience.In a separate press release, the agency said that CUET-UG 2026 had received 15.6 lakh registrations, which would lead to 67.6 lakh tests. Each candidate has selected an average of four subjects.It said the exam was being conducted in 35 shifts across the country and involved 12,906 different subject combinations, making center allocation operationally complex.Explaining the challenge, NTA said that about 43% of the total candidates came from three states – Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Delhi – which together totaled about 29.9 lakh effective test examples in 9,922 subject combinations.The agency said the allotment was not simply a city-matching exercise, as it had to balance the candidate’s preferred city, subject combination and shift availability while working within the bounds of secure CBT infrastructure, trained invigilation staff and examination integrity requirements.According to the agency, 79% of the candidates got the city of their first choice, while 96.6% were allotted one of their preferred cities. The remaining 3.4% candidates were allotted centers outside their selected preferences, mainly in areas where the registration volume exceeded the available CBT capacity.Students and parents questioned the explanation and pointed out that external allocation on such a large scale was not seen in previous CUET cycles.Many called the issue a failure of planning.

Pat Cummins has reportedly been offered a lucrative contract extension by Cricket Australia, taking his annual earnings to around AUD 4 million (roughly Rs. 22 crores) per year as the governing body looks to match the growing financial power of franchise cricket and the IPL.

According to a report by Australian outlet The Age, Cummins has been offered a deal until 2029 If signed, it could be worth around AUD 12 million (about Rs 66 crore) over three years.

The proposed extension would reportedly increase Australia’s captain’s salary by approximately AUD 1 million annually due to the demands of the international schedule, which sees Australia play 21 Tests in a 12-month period.

Cummins, who captains In the IPL, Sunrisers Hyderabad was retained by the franchise for Rs 18 crore before the season.

The report also states that Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green are among the Australian players expected to get better deals.

Under Cricket Australia’s current memorandum of understanding, the average male retainer before match fees and superannuation is just over AU$1 million annually. Cummins’ proposed contract is also expected to include more guaranteed money, regardless of how much cricket he plays.

Cummins will be 36 by the time the deal expires in 2029.

pressure to conform IPL?

Cricket Australia’s head of cricket James Allsopp admitted the governing body faces increasing pressure from the franchise market, particularly for players capable of performing across all formats.

“It’s a really tricky balancing act. One thing we know is that market pressure is coming to the players who have the most commercial value,” Allsop said.

“Your multi-format players like Pat, Josh [Hazlewood] And Trav, those players are in high demand. So making sure they remain committed to Australian cricket is a really big priority.

Allsop also stressed the importance of rewarding players who continue to attract television viewers and viewers.

“There’s a world now where they can jump onto the franchise circuit and make a really good life away from Australian cricket, or even away from our BBL, and that wouldn’t be in the best interests of Australian cricket,” he said.

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FILE – Atlanta Braves owner Ted Turner watches his team play against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first National League Championship Game on October 6, 1982 in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Rusty Kennedy, File)

Ted Turner, billionaire media executive who changed professional wrestling by making WCW the first true national rival vince mcmahonWWF member dies at age 87 Turner Enterprises announced his death on Wednesday, confirming that Turner died peacefully surrounded by family. He was living with Lewy body dementia, a progressive brain disorder that he publicly disclosed in 2018, and was hospitalized in early 2025 with a mild case of pneumonia before recovering in a rehabilitation facility. Although Turner’s extensive legacy spans television, news and sports through CNN, TNT, TBS and the Atlanta Braves, his role in wrestling permanently changed the direction of the industry during the 1990s. Under Turner’s ownership, WCW became the only company in the modern era to consistently beat Vince McMahon’s WWF in television ratings, beating Raw for 83 consecutive weeks during the peak of the Monday Night Wars.

The decision that changed wrestling

Turner entered wrestling in 1988 when he acquired Jim Crockett Promotions and transformed it into World Championship Wrestling under Turner Broadcasting. At the time, Vince McMahon’s WWF had already established itself as wrestling’s dominant national company, but Turner had both the television infrastructure and financial backing to seriously challenge that position. The defining moment came in 1995 during a corporate meeting that Eric Bischoff has repeatedly recalled in later interviews. “Ted Turner asked me, ‘Eric, what do we have to do to compete with WWE?'” Bischoff said. “I wasn’t ready for it. ‘Give me prime time.’ I thought it was safe that he wouldn’t do it. And Ted looks at me, looks at Scott Sasser, and says, ‘Scott, give Eric two hours, Monday night, on TNT.'” That conversation resulted in the live broadcast of WCW Monday Nitro on September 4, 1995, which aired head-to-head with WWF Monday Night Raw. The rivalry between the two companies quickly escalated into the Monday Night Wars, a period that reshaped wrestling television, talent movement, production and storytelling. WCW aggressively signed major WWF stars including Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, and Roddy Piper, while also creating a cruiserweight division that helped introduce a faster and more athletic style to the mainstream American audience. Hogan’s arrival in WCW in 1994 became one of the most significant moments in the history of the wrestling business as the biggest star of wrestling’s previous boom era left Vince McMahon’s company for its main rival.

Nitro and the rise of the nWo

WCW’s greatest success came in 1996 when Hogan turned heel and formed the New World Order with Nash and Hall. The nWo storyline became one of wrestling’s most commercially successful angles and helped WCW overtake WWF Raw in the ratings for 83 consecutive weeks. This race is the closest the wrestling industry has come to two major national promotions operating on competitive parity in the modern era. The WWF responded in 1996 with the famous “Billionaire Ted’s Wrasslin’ Warroom” parody segment, mocking Turner as a Southern caricature with parody versions of Hogan as “The Huckster”, Savage as “The Nacho Man”, and Gene Okerlund as “Scheme Gene”. According to Bischoff, Turner actually enjoyed the sketches and laughed at the parody of himself, while the real-life rivalry between WCW and McMahon was intense. Bischoff reflected on Turner’s influence during an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show following the news of Turner’s death. “He changed my life. He changed my kids’ lives,” Bischoff said. “None of us would be where we are today. I wouldn’t have joined Real American Freestyle if Ted Turner hadn’t given me the opportunities.” Bischoff described Turner as “absolutely isolated” creatively with WCW, explaining that Turner rarely interfered in wrestling operations, but was always called to discuss television ratings, especially when WCW was performing better than the WWF. “He was the media version of Elon Musk in his time,” Bischoff said.

Turner’s relationship with wrestling and television

Bischoff also talked about Turner’s connection with Middle-American audiences and Southern television culture, pointing out that Turner understood the popularity of wrestling long before many television executives took it seriously. “It fits that mentality of Middle America and Ted’s relationship,” Bischoff explained. “He grew up in the South. He knew there were a lot of people who loved pro wrestling culturally. Just like they loved Andy in Mayberry and they loved the Atlanta Braves. According to Bischoff, WCW, Atlanta Braves baseball and The Andy Griffith Show became central pillars of the Turner Superstation identity that eventually expanded into a national media empire.

File – Ted Turner speaking during the CNN World Report Contributors Banquet in Atlanta on May 4, 1995. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)

Outside of wrestling, Turner built one of television’s most influential modern empires. CNN launched in 1980 as the first 24-hour cable news network and gained international attention for its live satellite coverage during the 1990–91 Gulf War. Turner later expanded its television footprint through TNT, TBS, Cartoon Network and Turner Classic Movies, while also unsuccessfully attempting to acquire CBS and briefly purchasing MGM/UA Entertainment before retaining portions of the MGM film catalog. His corporate influence became even greater in 1996 when Turner Broadcasting merged with Time Warner, making him vice president of the company. Later in 2001, the AOL-Time Warner merger, which was considered the largest corporate merger in history at $165 billion, ultimately proved financially disastrous and removed Turner from day-to-day influence.