At an age when many people are moving toward retirement, 69-year-old Mike Marshall is preparing to graduate with a history degree and fulfill a lifelong dream he once believed was out of reach. The former soldier and police officer left school at just 15 with no qualifications and spent decades building a career in public service. Now, after returning to education as a mature student at the University of East Anglia, Marshall is set to graduate with a 2:1 in History. Her journey from leaving school in 1972 to gaining a university degree almost 55 years later has become an inspiring example of determination, lifelong learning and second chances.

Left school at the age of 15 and joined the army

Marshall grew up in Norwich and left school in 1972 after being encouraged by his parents to start working. Without qualifications and unsure of his future, he initially applied to join the police force, but was rejected because he did not meet the academic requirements.Looking for direction, he visited the Army Career Office where a picture of a military policeman caught his attention. The image inspired him to enlist. Although he originally signed up for three years, Marshall served in the army for 14 years and later joined the police service after leaving the army.Throughout his career, he traveled widely and developed a deep appreciation of history and culture. Marshall said that wherever he was stationed, he enjoyed learning about the local past and understanding the historical significance of the places around him.

A chance meeting changed their future

Despite his love of history, a university education always seemed beyond his reach as he lacked formal qualifications. That changed after an unexpected conversation in Norwich.Marshall was sitting at the bar of Jerrolds department store when he met someone from the University of East Anglia’s admissions team. During their conversation, he talked about his interest in studying history, but admitted that he was not sure whether someone of his age and background could apply.The admissions staff member encouraged them to contact the university and reassured them that UEA welcomes mature students. That moment gave Marshall the confidence to take a chance on higher education.Marshall enrolled at the University of East Anglia in 2023 and admitted that he was initially nervous about student life and academic work after so many years away from formal education.Learning how to write essays and adapt to university standards proved challenging at first. However, he said that the support of lecturers and staff helped him to continuously improve. Over time, Marshall went from struggling on his first assignments to receiving top grades on his final essays.He described the experience as “incredible” and said returning to university has been one of the most rewarding chapters of his life.

Graduating at 69 with new ambitions

Now close to graduation, Marshall says he is sad to leave university because he has enjoyed the experience so much. Yet he already has plans for the future.After completing his degree, he hopes to go on a history-focused tour throughout Europe and is also considering pursuing a master’s degree. Instead of seeing graduation as the end of her journey, Marshall sees it as the beginning of a new chapter focused on learning and exploration.Many people have liked his story. It challenges assumptions about age, education and opportunity. Almost 55 years after leaving school with no qualifications, Mike Marshall is finally achieving the educational dream he has dreamed of all his life.

New Delhi: Government expenditure on health care in India has almost tripled in the last decade, while the amount spent directly by households on treatment out of pocket has declined sharply, according to the latest National Health Accounts (NHA) estimates released by the Union Health Ministry.The report showed that government health expenditure (GHE) is expected to increase from ₹1.30 lakh crore in 2013-14 to ₹3.85 lakh crore in 2022-23, indicating a large increase in public investment in healthcare.Government health expenditure as a share of GDP increased from 1.15% to 1.43% during this period, while its share in total health expenditure increased from 28.6% to 43.7%.One of the biggest changes highlighted in the report was the decline in out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) – the money that families spend directly on medicines, hospitalization and treatment. OOPE as a share in total health expenditure to decline from 64.2% in 2013-14 to 43.4% in 2022-23.The ministry said the decline reflects better access to public health services and financial security schemes, including the expansion of more than 1.8 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs that provide free medicines, diagnostics and primary health care close to communities.The report also cited findings of the NSO’s 80th round of survey, which showed a decline in household medical expenditure, including zero average out-of-pocket expenditure for outpatient care at public health facilities.Officials said medicines and health supplements remain the largest contributors to domestic medical expenses. To reduce this burden, the government expanded free medicine schemes and increased access to low-cost medicines through Jan Aushadhi Kendras, Amrit Pharmacies and price control measures.Government spending on health care got an additional boost, rising to 1.84% of GDP in 2021-22 to support emergency response measures and the nationwide vaccination programme.The report also revealed that government expenditure on primary health care more than doubled from ₹0.5 lakh crore in 2013-14 to ₹1.4 lakh crore in 2022-23, while per capita government health expenditure increased from ₹1,042 to ₹2,786.Social security expenditure on health care, including Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY and government-funded insurance schemes, increased from 6% to 9.9% of total health expenditure during the decade.

US President Donald Trump speaking during a cabinet meeting

us President donald trump A wide-ranging Cabinet meeting was held at the White House on Wednesday, discussing issues ranging from ongoing talks with Iran and tensions in the Strait of Hormuz to Ebola preparedness, immigration detention protests and domestic anti-fraud initiatives.Trump said talks with Tehran were progressing “well” but warned that military action could resume if an agreement was not reached, insisting that Iran was “talking on smoke.” He ruled out any arrangement that would allow Iran or Oman to control the Strait of Hormuz, saying, “We will keep an eye on it, but no one will control it.”The US president also addressed the escalating Israel-Hezbollah conflict in Lebanon, defended conditions at a New Jersey immigration detention facility, endorsed a plan for a Kenya-based Ebola treatment center for Americans exposed abroad, and highlighted his administration’s anti-fraud crackdown. Trump spent several minutes discussing renovation projects at Washington landmarks, including the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

iran talks and threats of further attacks

Donald Trump said Iran is eager to reach a deal with Washington, but he also said the US is still not satisfied with the current terms. “They want to make a deal,” Trump said. “So far, they’re not there. We’re not satisfied with it, but we will be.”He also warned of fresh military action if talks fail. “Either that or we just have to finish the job,” Trump said.

‘No one is going to control it’: Trump’s warning to Strait of Hormuz and Oman

Trump ruled out any arrangement that would allow Iran or Oman to control the Strait of Hormuz, calling it international waters. “We will keep an eye on it, but no one will control it,” he said.He also issued a warning to Oman when asked about a possible joint management proposal involving Iran. “Oman will behave like everyone else or we’ll have to blow them up,” Trump said.

pressure of midterm elections

Trump said during a Cabinet meeting that Iranian leaders believe they can delay talks until the US midterm elections in order to gain an edge over them politically.“They thought they’d outwit me, you know,” Trump said, mimicking what he claimed the Iranian leader was saying about him politically. “‘We’ll get past him. He’s got midterms.'”The US President clarified, “I don’t care about the midterms.”Trump also talked about Ken Paxton, his endorsed candidate, in the Texas Republican Senate runoff, calling it a “prelude to the midterms.”

Republicans’ concerns over potential Iran deal

Trump said he would not support Russia or China taking over Iran’s highly enriched uranium reserves as part of any future deal with Tehran. “This will not make me comfortable,” Trump said. Under the proposed framework being discussed, Iran could give up its stockpile of highly enriched uranium in exchange for sanctions relief. The emerging agreement has also been criticized by several Republican lawmakers, who argue that some aspects resemble the Iran nuclear deal negotiated under former President Barack Obama.

Israel–Hezbollah conflict and Lebanon

Trump’s Cabinet meeting also came as fighting between Israel and Hezbollah intensified in southern Lebanon.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced expanded military operations against Hezbollah, while Iran has reportedly insisted that any US-Iran ceasefire agreement must also include Lebanon.

Ebola response and travel screening

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the administration is stepping up efforts to contain the Ebola outbreak in Africa and prevent infected individuals from entering the United States.“The number one priority of our foreign policy is to protect the American people,” Rubio said during a Cabinet meeting. “We cannot and will not allow any more cases of Ebola in the United States.”Rubio said the State Department is coordinating with agencies including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Health and Human Services to contain outbreaks in affected countries and monitor travelers entering the US.Authorities have also expanded enhanced Ebola screening measures for travelers arriving from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan and Uganda. Travelers who have visited those countries within the past 21 days are currently being routed through designated airports, including Washington Dulles International Airport, George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.The administration is reportedly planning a treatment and quarantine facility in Kenya for Americans exposed to Ebola abroad.

immigration detention protest

Trump defended conditions at the New Jersey immigration detention center where protests and hunger strikes were reported. “We run the best facilities of their kind anywhere in the world — but we have some terrible killers,” Trump said.

Washington renovation projects

In a lighter moment, Trump spent several minutes discussing renovation plans for the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and the World War II Memorial in Washington.Trump described the work on the reflecting pool, saying, “We cleaned it. We fumigated it.” He said it would be repainted in “the blue of the American flag.”The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, located between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, is one of the most recognizable landmarks in the U.S. capital and has hosted many historic events, including Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. The nearby World War II Memorial honors the 16 million Americans who served during World War II and the more than 400,000 who died in the conflict.

Anti Fraud Task Force and Social Security

Vice President JD Vance highlighted anti-fraud efforts involving Medicare, Medicaid and student aid programs during the meeting. Trump praised the initiative, saying it was “bringing our country back to honesty.”

Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar and Kalyan Banerjee

New Delhi: East Trinamool Congress MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar on Thursday lodged a formal complaint with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla against party MP and current Chief Whip Kalyan Banerjee, alleging that he had ‘repeatedly verbally abused’ her inside Parliament.“I seek your permission to file a formal complaint for redressal against AITC Lok Sabha member Kalyan Banerjee, who has repeatedly verbally abused me inside the Lok Sabha. This misogyny is against many women members and needs to be punished,” Dastidar said in his letter to the Speaker.The complaint comes amid rising tension within the Trinamool Congress following Dastidar’s recent resignation from key organizational posts and public criticism of some sections of the party leadership following the party’s poor performance in the 2026 assembly elections.The four-time MP from Barasat resigned from all organizational responsibilities in TMC on Wednesday, a day after attending the former chief minister’s event. Mamata BanerjeeAsked not to attend the administrative review meeting in Kalyani despite alleged instructions from the party.Dastidar, who earlier served as the national president of the TMC women’s wing and was associated with the party’s ‘Banga Janani’ programme, informed state party president Subrata Bakshi that she would no longer hold organizational roles. The party is yet to officially comment on his latest move.Taking ‘moral responsibility’ for TMC’s defeat in Barasat, he resigned from the post of president of the party’s Barasat organizational district unit. The resignation was accepted by the party, which later appointed Tapas Chatterjee as the new district chief.Dastidar had also publicly attacked political consultancy firm I-PAC and accused it of pressurizing party leaders and workers and contributing to the party’s electoral decline.He had said, “The way this organization has operated and mistreated us, the way they have pressured us, this is not the way to operate. Wherever they go, I think they will deliver dangerous results in the elections.”Veteran TMC leader Dastidar, considered close to Mamata Banerjee for a long time, was removed from the post of party chief whip in the Lok Sabha after the defeat in the assembly elections and Kalyan Banerjee was appointed in his place.He had alleged increasing ‘criminalisation’ within the party and urged the leadership to once again rely on ‘honest, experienced and dedicated’ workers to rebuild the TMC’s image after the electoral setback.

Day 5 of the French Open 2026 brings a packed schedule of games at Roland Garros, including top seeds, big-name clashes and Indian participation in doubles and mixed doubles. At Court Philippe-Chatrier, world No. 1 Jannik Sinner faced Juan Manuel Cerundolo in his second-round match after an early win over Clément Tabur.

In the women’s draw, Aryna Sabalenka continued her campaign after a confident straight sets win in the opening round and will now face France’s Elsa Jacquemot. Ann Lee plays Diane Perry, while Arthur Rinderknecht meets Matteo Berrettini in a late-night match.

Also read: Jannik Sinner’s French Open quest hits a snag, and it has nothing to do with tennis

The Court Suzanne-Lenglen features Coco Gauff against Meyer Sheriff, Amanda Anisimova against Julia Graber, Zizo Bergs against Ben Shelton and Adolfo Daniel Vallejo against Mos Koume.

On the Court Simone-Mathieu, Naomi Osaka played Donna Vekic, Francisco Cerundolo met Hugo Gaston, Félix Auger-Aliassime met Roman Andrés Burruchaga, and Victoria Mboko met Katerina Siniakova.

Indians’ interest in doubles action continues. In the men’s doubles on Court 2, Anirudh Chandrasekhar paired with Takeru Yuzuki against Jacob Paul and Marcus Willis. In mixed doubles on Court 5, Yuki Bhambri paired with Alexandra Panova against Lyudmila Kichenok and David Pell. Bhambri would like to continue his momentum after an emphatic win in the opening round of men’s doubles.

Here is the schedule for day five of the French Open 2026

Court Philippe-Chatrier

• Jannik Sinner (1) vs. Juan Manuel Cernadolo
• Ann Lee (30) vs. Dianne Perry
• Aryna Sabalenka (1) vs. Elsa Jacquemot
• Arthur Rinderknecht (22) vs. Matteo Berrettini (not before 23:45)

Court Suzanne-Lenglen

• Adolfo Daniel Vallejo vs. Moïse Kouame
• Julia Graber vs. Amanda Anisimova (6)
• Coco Gough (4) vs. Mayor Sheriff
• Zizzou Bergs vs. Ben Shelton (5)

Court Simon-Mathieu

• Donna Vekic vs Naomi Osaka (16)
• Francisco Cernadolo (25) vs. Hugo Gaston
• Felix Auger-Aliassime (4) vs Roman Andres Burruchaga (not before 19:30)
• Victoria Mboko (9) vs Katina Siniakova

Indians in French Open

(men’s doubles)

court 2

• Anirudh Chandrasekhar/Takeru Yuzuki vs. Jacob Paul/Marcus Willis (Round 1)

(Mixed Doubles)

court 5

• Yuki Bhambri/Alexandra Panova vs. Lyudmila Kichenok/David Pell (Round 1)

– ends

(Image credit: Instagram)

There is more to the art of storytelling and filmmaking than meets the eye. It’s not just a creative process. This is the call you make when you listen to your intuition instead of conscience. Yes, there is a difference between the two, and Hollywood’s renowned filmmaker, beloved director, the man behind ‘Jaws’, ‘Jurassic Park’, ‘Indiana Jones’, ‘ET’ and more has shed light on what differentiates intuition and prudence. He said, “I want to make it clear that your intuition is separate from your conscience. They work together, but here’s the difference: Your conscience screams, ‘Here’s what you should do,’ while your intuition whispers, ‘Here’s what you can do.'”

Quote of the Day by Steven Spielberg

“I want to make it clear that your intuition is separate from your conscience. They work together, but here’s the difference: Your conscience screams, ‘Here’s what you should do,’ while your intuition whispers, ‘Here’s what you can do.'”‘Disclosure Day’ filmmaker, Steven Spielbergshared these words of wisdom when he spoke to the Harvard Alumni Association and members of the Class of 2016 during his commencement speech. He highlights how listening to your inner voice, trusting your intuition, is the most important thing you can do.

What did Steven Spielberg actually say?

Encouraging young minds, he shared an anecdote from his life and said, “Parents and professors fill our minds with knowledge and information, and then employers and counselors take their place and explain how this world really works. And usually these voices of authority make sense, but sometimes, doubt starts to creep into our heads and our hearts.” “And even when we think, ‘I don’t see the world that way,’ it’s easy to just nod in agreement and go along, and for a while, I let it define my character. Because I was suppressing my perspective, because, like in that Nilsson song, ‘Everyone was talking over me,’ so I couldn’t hear the echoes of my own mind,” he adds. Explaining how things changed for her, what was the decision that made all the difference, she said, “At first, the inner voice I needed to hear was barely audible, and it was barely noticeable – just like me in high school. But then I started paying more attention and my intuition woke up.”He then continued, “And I want to make it clear that your intuition is separate from your conscience. They work together, but here’s the difference: Your conscience screams, ‘This is what you should do,’ while your intuition whispers, ‘Here’s what you can do.’ Listen to the voice that tells you what you can do. Nothing will define your character more than this.”This helped Steven become the filmmaker he is today. He confessed, “Because once I turned to my intuition, and I got into it, some projects began to draw me toward them, and others I turned away from.”

The meaning behind Steven Spielberg’s quotes

When Steven said, “I want to make it clear that your intuition is different from your conscience,” it was self-explanatory. Our consciousness is governed by our mind. It puts everything within the moral and emotional frame and decides what is right and what is wrong. On the one hand, it is very important to know what your conscience is telling you; On the other hand, it is more important to listen to what your inner voice is telling you.“They work in tandem,” he explained, meaning they work in coordination one behind the other, “but here’s the difference: Your conscience screams, ‘This is what you should do,’ while your intuition whispers, ‘Here’s what you can do.'” Your intuition frees you; It gives you wings to act on your potential and sometimes allows you to go beyond it. This is what ultimately defines your character.

About Steven Spielberg

Oscar-winning filmmaker Steven Spielberg is one of the most influential figures in Hollywood. According to IMDb, he has won 220 titles across various awards and genres, and has 358 prestigious nominations to his name till date. Talking about his work, his first major directorial effort was ‘The Sugarland Express’ released in 1974. This earned him the status of a rising star in the industry. Believe it or not, that was just the beginning, as what happened next made him an international superstar among directors. We’re talking about one of his most popular and favorite movies, the classic shark-attack movie, ‘Jaws’. He then explored the unknown land of UFO stories and came up with ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’ in 1977. Even his upcoming release is about extraterrestrial life, titled ‘Disclosure Day’. The film starring Emily Blunt is scheduled to release on June 12, 2026.

GrannyGamingz has impressed many people online after sharing the sad reason for returning to Valorant streaming. The gaming grandmother said she started streaming again to raise money for a gravesite for her late daughter, Brooke, who died in 2023. His emotional story quickly spread online as viewers learned that his daughter was the person who first encouraged him to become a streamer. Many fans have since shown support by watching his stream and sharing his story on social media.GrannyGamingz has a small but loyal online community with over 3,000 YouTube subscribers and hundreds of videos. Most of her recent streams are long Valorant sessions where she tries to rank up from gold to platinum. In a community post, she explained that Brooke believed she could become a successful streamer because it was “No one likes me.” Even though she was unsure at first, GrannyGamingz said she was surprised that so many people enjoyed watching her play online games and spend time with the audience.

GrannyGamingz says daughter inspired her to return to Valorant streaming

In her emotional message, GrannyGemmings shared details about Brooke’s health struggles before her death. He said his daughter had serious medical problems and underwent a second kidney transplant in October 2022. According to the streamer, Brooke was later diagnosed with lymphoma and passed away in July 2023 after experiencing multiple complications.GrannyGemmings also claimed that the hospital treating Brooke failed to detect the cancer early enough. She believes that the delay in treatment played a major role in her daughter’s death, although those claims have not been independently confirmed.After losing Brooke, the streamer said she never thought she would play Valorant again because her daughter was hers “Gaming friend.” She stayed away from streaming and gaming for a long time because she was deeply saddened after the loss.However, it decided to return to streaming in November 2025 with an important goal. GrannyGamingz explained that any money she makes from Twitch is being saved to pay for Brooke’s gravesite. She also said that she hopes to get legal help before July 2026 so that she can continue the fight to have her daughter’s story heard.Her emotional journey has now touched many viewers, with fans supporting both her streams and her mission to honor Brooke’s memory.

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday greeted the nation on the occasion of Eid ul-Adha, as India celebrated Bakrid with special prayers and charitable festivities.“Happy Eid-ul-Azha! May this occasion deepen the spirit of brotherhood and happiness in our society. Praying for everyone’s success and good health,” Modi posted on Twitter.Rahul Gandhi also shared his wishes on social media regarding this auspicious occasion. He wrote, “Wishing you and your family a very happy Bakrid. May your home be filled with warmth and togetherness today. Eid Mubarak.”

Celebration and preparations all over India

Special prayers were offered at Fatehpuri Masjid in Old Delhi, while large crowds gathered at Jama Masjid in New Delhi and various Eidgahs to offer prayers.Joint Commissioner of Police Madhur Verma, during routine security patrolling, said that the celebrations have been completely incident-free so far and hoped that the trend would continue.Eid-ul-Azha prayers were conducted peacefully under police surveillance in Sambhal district of Uttar Pradesh. Temple attendant Om Prakash said the Hindu and Muslim communities have co-existed harmoniously for generations, with the temple and the Eidgah sharing a common wall.Jannati Darwaza was opened early in the morning at the Dargah of Khwaja Garib Nawaz in Rajasthan, where a huge crowd gathered to offer namaz.The festival is also being celebrated peacefully in other states including Maharashtra, West Bengal, Bihar and Rajasthan.In Uttar Pradesh, Joint Commissioner of Police Bablu Kumar said 46 officers of additional SP rank and about 14 officers of deputy SP rank have been deployed with the police force of about 1,500 personnel. Meetings were held with peace committees by all SHOs and ACPs of all zones.Chandannagar Police Commissioner in West Bengal Sunil Kumar Yadav said 12 companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) along with Rapid Action Force (RAF) and Emergency First Response (EFR) teams would be deployed. About 22 coordination meetings were held with community leaders.“All qurbani (sacrifices) will be done only in closed areas. Meat distribution will also be done in strictly closed areas only. Traffic flow will be normal,” Yadav said.