作者： admin

The United Arab Emirates has lost one of its most significant visual historians with the passing of renowned photographer Ramesh Shukla on February 15, 2026. The 87-year-old artist, celebrated for capturing the iconic ‘Spirit of the Union’ photograph depicting the nation’s founding rulers, succumbed to cardiac arrest at Rashid Hospital in Dubai.

Shukla’s legacy spans decades of documenting the UAE’s remarkable transformation from its formative years to modern statehood. His camera chronicled pivotal moments including the 1971 signing of the Union Agreement at Union House, state visits, and defining national events that shaped the Emirates’ identity.

According to his son Neel Shukla, who spoke with Khaleej Times, the veteran photographer maintained an unwavering dedication to his craft despite declining health. “He was a person of passion and fire, and his camera always had its way,” Neel recounted, noting that even during his final hours, Shukla remained engrossed in his work—reviewing photographs, documenting collections, and sharing his iconic business cards featuring his famous Sheikh Zayed signing image with hospital staff.

Shukla’s technical mastery was particularly evident in his understanding of light, which became a hallmark of his photographic style. His son recalled childhood memories of family involvement in developing negatives and printing photographs in their home laboratory, creating a multi-generational connection to the nation’s visual history.

The photographer’s extensive archive, containing thousands of physical prints developed from original negatives, serves as an invaluable bridge between the UAE’s past and present. His images captured not only historical events but also the essential spirit, ambition, and vision that propelled the nation’s development.

Even as medical complications arose on his final evening, Shukla remained characteristically composed, reassuring family members and maintaining his professional demeanor until the end. His passing marks the conclusion of an extraordinary career that visually preserved the Emirates’ journey from federation to modern global power.

A former minister of an elusive Christian denomination known as The Truth or Two by Twos continues to evade justice despite confessing to sexually abusing multiple children across decades. Robert Corfield, who admitted to systematically abusing Michael Havet for six years starting in the 1980s when the victim was just 12 years old, remains at liberty in Montana despite the FBI launching an investigation following BBC’s groundbreaking report in early 2024.

The case has expanded with the emergence of Edward (pseudonym), who alleges Corfield assaulted him in 1974 during a Canadian camping trip when he was merely 11 years old. This predates Corfield’s abuse of Havet by approximately ten years, directly contradicting the former minister’s previous claims that Havet was his sole victim.

Despite Corfield’s detailed admissions to both the BBC and FBI investigators who visited him approximately one year ago, no charges have been filed. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) confirmed investigating historic sexual assaults in Saskatchewan from the early 1980s, with findings forwarded to Crown Prosecutors for assessment. However, the Saskatchewan Ministry of Justice maintains its policy of not commenting on ongoing investigations.

The church structure itself appears complicit in enabling abuse patterns. With approximately 100,000 members worldwide, the organization operates through ministers (called ‘workers’) who surrender possessions and live with member families during travels. Former members describe this system as creating perfect conditions for child predation, with workers occupying unquestioned authority positions within households.

Private investigator Cynthia Liles, who maintains the 2×2 Church Accountability hotline, reports 1,164 allegations of sexual abuse with over half involving authority figures. Despite approximately 75 convictions, many perpetrators reportedly resume church activities, including one individual in Arizona who gained elder status after serving a rape sentence from 1969.

Victims describe systemic protection of abusers by church leadership. Michael Havet reported his abuse to Saskatchewan overseer Dale Shultz in 1993, only to be violently assaulted weeks later and encouraged to leave the congregation while Corfield was transferred to Montana. Shultz previously denied these allegations as ‘distorted and inaccurate’ without providing specifics.

While institutional accountability remains elusive, victims find solidarity through online communities like the ‘Exposing Abuse: 2x2s’ Facebook group, which has amassed over 10,000 members worldwide offering mutual support and resources for counseling funded by former members rather than the church itself.