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A Norwegian princess weds an American self-proclaimed shaman in a star-studded ceremony

Paraluman P. Funtanilla
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A Norwegian princess weds an American self-proclaimed shaman in a star-studded ceremony

GEIRANGER, NORWAY. In a wedding that has sparked both fascination and controversy, Princess Märtha Louise of Norway, the eldest daughter of King Harald, married Durek Verret, a self-proclaimed sixth-generation shaman from California, on Saturday. The ceremony, held in the scenic town of Geiranger, capped off three days of festivities that drew a star-studded guest list, including social media influencers, reality stars, and TV personalities.

The wedding took place in a large white tent set against the stunning backdrop of Geiranger Fjord, one of Norway’s most famous tourist destinations. The event was marked by a blend of royal tradition and unconventional elements reflecting the couple’s unique beliefs and lifestyle.

However, the celebration did not come without controversy. The couple sold exclusive rights to their wedding photos to British celebrity magazine Hello! and the film rights to Netflix, a move that angered Norwegian media. Critics argue that this commercialization is at odds with the customs of the Norwegian royal family, who have traditionally kept such events more private. The couple, known for their contentious relationship with the press, has frequently used social media to promote themselves while criticizing mainstream media outlets.

King Harald, 87, who has faced health challenges in recent years, attended the ceremony alongside Queen Sonja and other members of the Norwegian royal family. Representing the Swedish royal family were Crown Princess Victoria, her husband Prince Daniel, and her brother Prince Carl Philip with his wife Princess Sofia. Notably absent were other European royals, highlighting the mixed reactions to the marriage within royal circles.

The wedding has further fueled public debate about the Norwegian royal family, which has seen declining support amid reports of family scandals and criticism of the couple’s actions. Märtha Louise, 52, who is fourth in line to the throne, announced in 2022 that she would no longer officially represent the Norwegian royal house. Despite this, she retains her title and has continued to attract attention for her alternative beliefs, claiming to communicate with angels. Verret, 49, has also made headlines for his claims of communicating with spirits and possessing a medallion that he says can ward off spells and cure diseases.

In a 2019 agreement with the royal family, Märtha Louise and Verret agreed not to use her royal status for commercial purposes. However, earlier this year, she controversially labeled bottles of gin with her royal title to launch a brand in time for the wedding, defying a directive from King Harald. After public backlash, the label was eventually changed.

Märtha Louise has three children from her previous marriage to Ari Behn, a Norwegian author and artist, whom she divorced in 2017 after 14 years of marriage. Verret, who will not receive a royal title or take on any official duties, will join the princess in what many see as an unconventional chapter in the history of European royalty.

Philippines and China trade accusations of ramming ships in the South China Sea

Venus L Peñaflor
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Philippines and China trade accusations of ramming ships in the South China Sea

BEIJING. The South China Sea became the latest flashpoint in an escalating conflict between China and the Philippines, as both nations accused each other of intentionally ramming coast guard vessels near the disputed Sabina Shoal on Saturday. This incident marks the fifth maritime confrontation in a month between the two countries, underscoring the ongoing tensions in the strategically vital waterway.

The collision occurred in a region where Beijing claims sovereignty over nearly the entire South China Sea, a claim that extends to areas also claimed by the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam. The South China Sea is not only a critical passage for global trade, with an estimated $3 trillion in goods transiting annually, but it is also believed to be rich in oil, natural gas deposits, and fish stocks.

Despite a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration, which found China’s expansive claims to have no legal basis, Beijing has continued to assert its dominance in the area, leading to frequent clashes with other claimant nations.

Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Jay Tarriela presented videos of Saturday’s confrontation at a press conference, accusing the China Coast Guard of “directly and intentionally” ramming the 97-meter (320-foot) Teresa Magbanua, one of the Philippines’ largest coast guard cutters. “The Chinese vessel’s actions were unprovoked and resulted in significant damage to our ship,” Tarriela stated. Despite the damage, no personnel were injured.

In response, China’s coast guard spokesperson Liu Dejun issued a statement accusing the Philippine ship, which he described as “illegally stranded” at the shoal, of deliberately ramming a Chinese vessel after lifting anchor. Liu warned that the Philippines must “withdraw immediately or bear the consequences” and emphasized that the Chinese coast guard would “take all necessary measures to resolutely thwart any acts of provocation, nuisance, and infringement” to protect China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights.

Tarriela, however, made it clear that Manila has no intention of withdrawing its vessel “despite the harassment, bullying activities, and escalatory actions of the Chinese coast guard.”

The incident drew a strong response from the United States, a treaty ally of the Philippines. U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines, MaryKay Carlson, condemned what she described as “multiple dangerous violations of international law by the PRC, including today’s intentional ramming.” Her statement, shared on the social media platform X, reaffirmed Washington’s support for the Philippines.

The Sabina Shoal, located 75 nautical miles off the coast of the Philippine province of Palawan, has been a site of contention since Manila deployed a ship there in April. The Philippines accused Beijing of constructing an artificial island and documented evidence of crushed coral on the sandbars, which China has denied.

Tensions further escalated this week as the Philippine maritime council reported unsafe maneuvers by Chinese aircraft against a civilian plane conducting patrols over other disputed areas, including the Scarborough Shoal and Subi Reef. Additionally, Manila accused China of blocking a routine resupply mission on Sunday, alleging that Chinese vessels used water cannons and rammed a fisheries bureau ship transporting food, fuel, and medical supplies for Filipino fishermen.

Brazil blocks Musk’s X after feud with Judge: Social media giant faces shutdown

EDGARDO HERNAL
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Brazil blocks Musk’s X after feud with Judge: Social media giant faces shutdown

SAO PAULO, Brazil. Brazil began blocking Elon Musk’s social media platform X early Saturday after the company refused to comply with a court order, making the platform largely inaccessible on both the web and its mobile app. This decision follows a monthslong conflict between Musk and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes over issues including free speech, far-right accounts, and misinformation.

The suspension was triggered when X missed a deadline imposed by Justice de Moraes to appoint a legal representative in Brazil. The justice’s decision is seen as an escalation in the ongoing battle between Musk and the Brazilian judiciary. De Moraes had warned that the platform could face a shutdown if the company did not comply, setting a 24-hour deadline which X failed to meet. As of midnight on Saturday, major internet service providers in Brazil began blocking access to the platform under the direction of the country’s telecommunications regulator, Anatel.

Justice de Moraes condemned Musk’s actions, stating, “Elon Musk showed his total disrespect for Brazilian sovereignty and, in particular, for the judiciary, setting himself up as a true supranational entity and immune to the laws of each country.” He added that the platform would remain suspended until it complies with the court’s orders, and imposed a daily fine of 50,000 reais ($8,900) for anyone using VPNs to access the site.

The conflict between Musk and the Brazilian judiciary extends beyond X. Earlier this week, Justice de Moraes ordered the freezing of bank accounts in Brazil belonging to Musk’s satellite internet provider, Starlink. The company had become entangled in the dispute after X failed to comply with the court’s orders.

X, formerly known as Twitter, has a significant presence in Brazil, with around 40 million users—nearly one-fifth of the country’s population—accessing the platform monthly. In a statement, X’s CEO Linda Yaccarino expressed her disappointment, saying, “This is a sad day for X users around the world, especially those in Brazil, who are being denied access to our platform. I wish it did not have to come to this – it breaks my heart.”

The social media giant has repeatedly clashed with Brazilian authorities over its reluctance to block certain users and content. In his decision, Justice de Moraes cited Musk’s statements as evidence that X intends to encourage extremism, hate speech, and anti-democratic discourse, and is attempting to evade jurisdictional control.

In response to the shutdown, many Brazilian users began seeking out VPNs to continue accessing X by appearing to log in from outside the country. It remains unclear how Brazilian authorities plan to enforce fines related to VPN usage.

Musk has consistently portrayed Justice de Moraes as a tyrant, claiming that the judge’s actions amount to censorship. However, defenders of de Moraes argue that his actions are lawful and necessary to protect democracy, particularly in light of the upcoming October municipal elections.

This is not the first time a social media platform has faced a shutdown in Brazil. Previous incidents have involved Meta’s WhatsApp and the messaging app Telegram, both of which eventually complied with Brazilian authorities’ demands to avoid long-term suspensions.

As the situation develops, it remains to be seen how X and Musk will respond to the legal and financial challenges posed by Brazil’s judiciary, and whether this conflict will set a precedent for other countries grappling with the regulation of global tech giants.

Polio vaccination drive launches in Gaza on the eve of a planned pause in fighting

Venus L Peñaflor
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Polio vaccination drive launches in Gaza on the eve of a planned pause in fighting

GAZA CITY. The Gaza Strip has initiated a crucial campaign to vaccinate children against polio, just one day ahead of an anticipated pause in hostilities between Israel and Hamas. The Gaza Health Ministry announced on Saturday that the campaign began amidst the ongoing Israeli military offensive, which has left both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank reeling.

The vaccination campaign is a response to the discovery of the first polio case in Gaza in 25 years, involving a 10-month-old who was partially paralyzed by a mutated strain of the virus. The child’s condition was attributed to the lack of vaccination due to the ongoing conflict.

At a press conference, Dr. Yousef Abu Al-Rish, Deputy Health Minister, emphasized the urgent need for a cease-fire to ensure the campaign’s success. “There must be a cease-fire so that the teams can reach everyone targeted by this campaign,” he said, highlighting the dire conditions in Gaza, where sewage flows through overcrowded tent camps.

Associated Press journalists witnessed the administration of polio vaccines to about 10 infants at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. The broader campaign, coordinated by the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO), is set to begin on Sunday, targeting approximately 650,000 Palestinian children under the age of 10.

“We will vaccinate up to 10-year-olds, and God willing, we will be fine,” said Dr. Bassam Abu Ahmed, General Coordinator of Public Health Programs at Al-Quds University. The pause in Israel’s military operations, expected to last at least nine hours, is intended to facilitate the vaccination drive. However, officials clarified that this pause is unrelated to ongoing cease-fire negotiations.

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has intensified since October 7, when Hamas-led militants launched a deadly incursion into southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and abducting approximately 250. Israel’s retaliatory airstrikes and ground operations have resulted in over 40,000 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and militants in its reports.

On Saturday alone, the Gaza Health Ministry reported 89 fatalities, including 26 from an overnight bombardment, and 205 injuries, marking one of the highest daily tolls in recent months. Meanwhile, the situation in the West Bank remains volatile as Israeli forces continue a large-scale military campaign, the most intense since the onset of the Israel-Hamas war.

In the West Bank, two car bombs detonated near Israeli settlements in Gush Etzion, injuring three Israeli soldiers. The Israeli military reported that both Palestinian attackers, identified as Muhammad Marqa and Zoodhi Afifeh, were killed following the explosions at a compound in Karmei Tzur and a gas station. Hamas has not claimed the attackers as its fighters but praised the act as a “heroic operation.”

The bombings coincide with Israel’s ongoing raids in Jenin and Tulkarem, which have led to the deaths of around 20 Palestinians. The international community has expressed growing concern that the conflict could extend beyond Gaza. “Many people are in need of assistance, and we cannot reach them,” stated Jenin Governor Kamal Abu-al Rub, underscoring the severity of the situation.

The conflict has also seen a surge in Palestinian casualties in the West Bank, with 663 Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in the nearly 11 months since the war began, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

As Gaza’s hospitals struggle to cope with the influx of casualties, airstrikes continue to devastate the region, with recent attacks reported in central Gaza, Nuseirat, Khan Younis, and Gaza City. Among the victims were a doctor and his family, as well as a child, according to hospital sources and footage provided by Gaza’s civil defense officials.

Efforts by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt to broker a cease-fire have yet to yield results, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains committed to achieving “total victory” over Hamas. At the same time, the militant group demands a lasting cease-fire and full withdrawal from the territory.

New Zealand’s Māori King passes away at 69 after 18 years on the throne

Paraluman P. Funtanilla
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New Zealand’s Māori King passes away at 69 after 18 years on the throne

NUKU’ALOFA, Tonga. Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII, the esteemed Māori King of New Zealand, passed away on Friday at 69, just days after commemorating his 18th year as the leader of the Kiingitanga movement. His death marks the end of an era for the movement, established in 1858 to unify New Zealand’s Indigenous Māori tribes against British colonization.

According to Rahui Papa, a spokesperson for the Kiingitanga, King Tuheitia died in the hospital following heart surgery. The news was confirmed through a post on Instagram, where Papa expressed the deep sorrow felt by the Māori community: “The death of King Tuheitia is a moment of great sadness for followers of Kiingitanga, Maaoridom, and the entire nation.”

Kiingi Tuheitia was the seventh monarch of the Kiingitanga, a role that, while largely ceremonial, holds significant influence in New Zealand, particularly among the Māori, who comprise nearly 20% of the country’s population. The movement, which aimed to halt the sale of land to non-Indigenous people, end inter-tribal warfare, and preserve Māori culture, remains a cornerstone of Māori identity and pride.

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon paid tribute to the late king, noting his “unwavering commitment to his people and his tireless efforts to uphold the values and traditions of the Kiingitanga.” Luxon added, “I will remember his dedication to Aotearoa New Zealand, his commitment to mokopuna (young people), his passion for te ao Māori (the Māori world), and his vision for a future where all people are treated with dignity and respect.”

In his final months, King Tuheitia played a crucial role in leading national unity talks among the Māori in response to policies introduced by Luxon’s center-right government. These policies have been criticized for allegedly reversing gains made in favor of Indigenous rights and language.

International condolences, including from King Charles III, New Zealand’s constitutional head of state, and Queen Camilla, also poured in. King Charles remarked, “I had the greatest pleasure of knowing Kiingi Tuheitia for decades. He was deeply committed to forging a strong future for Māori and Aotearoa New Zealand founded upon culture, traditions, and healing, which he carried out with wisdom and compassion.”

The week before his passing, thousands gathered at Turangawaewae Marae, the headquarters of the Māori King Movement in Ngāruawāhia, to celebrate King Tuheitia’s ascension to the throne. His death leaves the seat of the Māori King, held by the Tainui tribes in the Waikato region, vacant, with no immediate successor announced.

“It is expected that Kiingi Tuheitia will lie in state at Turangawaewae Marae for five days before being taken to his final resting place on Taupiri Mountain,” Rahui Papa said, as the nation prepares to mourn the loss of a leader whose influence and legacy will be remembered for generations to come.

Taal Volcano nagbuga ng sulfur dioxide: Publiko pinag-iingat!

Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
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Taal Volcano nagbuga ng sulfur dioxide: Publiko pinag-iingat!

LIPA CITY, Batangas. Muling nagbuga ng sulfur dioxide (SO2) ang Bulkang Taal sa Batangas nitong Huwebes, ayon sa Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

Sa kanilang pahayag noong Biyernes ng umaga, iniulat ng Phivolcs na nakapagtala sila ng 4,398 metric tons ng SO2 emission sa loob ng nakalipas na 24 oras, mas mataas kumpara sa 2,921 MT na naitala noong Agosto 26.

Umabot ang ibinugang toxic gas sa taas na 2,400 metro mula sa Taal Volcano Island, na lokal na tinatawag na “Pulo,” bago kumalat sa southeast at north-northeast na direksyon.

Ayon sa pinakabagong update, naobserbahan ng state volcanologists ang “upwelling of hot volcanic fluids” sa main crater lake ng bulkan. Gayunpaman, walang naitalang pagyanig sa observation period at walang volcanic smog o “vog” na nakita sa pinakahuling obserbasyon.

Nananatili pa rin sa alert level 1 ang Bulkang Taal, na nangangahulugang ito ay nasa low-level volcanic unrest. Sa kabila nito, pinaaalalahanan ng mga awtoridad ang publiko na ang bulkan ay nananatiling nasa “abnormal condition.”

Patuloy na pinag-iingat ang mga residente sa mga lugar na malapit sa bulkan, lalo na at maaaring magbago ang kalagayan nito anumang oras.

Typhoon Shanshan batters Japan, triggering landslide and flood warnings

Venus L Peñaflor
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Typhoon Shanshan batters Japan, triggering landslide and flood warnings

FUKUOKA/YUFU, Japan. Typhoon Shanshan unleashed torrential rain across large parts of Japan on Friday, sparking widespread warnings of floods and landslides as it disrupted travel and forced major factories to shut down. The storm, which authorities have labeled as potentially one of the strongest ever to hit the region, has already claimed the lives of at least four people and injured 99 others, according to the disaster management agency.

Making landfall in the southwestern region of Kyushu on Thursday, Typhoon Shanshan brought with it heavy rain and fierce winds that left residents grappling with the aftermath. In the resort town of Yufu in Oita Prefecture, 67-year-old Yu Fukuda, who runs a fish farm and restaurant, arrived on Friday morning to find the building submerged under a meter of floodwater.

“There were streaks on the windows and everywhere there were marks from mud and dirt, so I could tell how high the water had risen. I felt very sad,” Fukuda said, as her staff and relatives worked to clear the debris, which included fishing nets and dead fish. “I wish the typhoon had just passed quickly, but it stayed around here for a long time.”

The typhoon, packing gusts of up to 180 km/h (112 mph), was located near Matsuyama in Ehime Prefecture at 3:45 p.m. (2345 GMT) on Friday, moving eastward, according to local authorities. The storm’s powerful winds were strong enough to topple moving trucks, and its slow progression across the country has led to record-breaking rainfall in areas far from its center.

In Kyushu, around 250,000 households were left without power on Thursday, but many saw services restored by Friday, according to Kyushu Electric Power Co. The typhoon’s impact extended far beyond Kyushu, with evacuation notices issued to more than 3.3 million people nationwide. The warnings were most concentrated in Kyushu but also extended to central and eastern regions, including Tokyo and Yokohama, where authorities cautioned about potential landslides and rivers breaching their banks.

Shizuoka, a major city in central Japan, recorded over 500 millimeters of rain in the last 72 hours—the highest volume since data collection began in 1976. However, disaster management minister Yoshifumi Matsumura noted that as of Thursday, only about 30,000 people, mainly in Kyushu, had evacuated.

The Japan Meteorological Agency warned that the storm would continue to threaten central and eastern Japan, including Tokyo, throughout the weekend and into early next week. As a precaution, Toyota has suspended operations at all its domestic plants through Monday morning, while other major companies, including Nissan, Honda, Renesas, Tokyo Electron, and Sony, have also halted production at various facilities.

The storm has severely disrupted travel, with airlines like ANA Holdings and Japan Airlines canceling hundreds of domestic and some international flights. Ferry and rail services, including the bullet train between Tokyo and Nagoya, were also suspended on Friday morning.

Lin Yue-Hua, a 60-year-old tourist from Taiwan, had her flight from Fukuoka back home canceled on Thursday. She was advised to book another flight but faced difficulties reaching the airport. “We were very worried and upset because we didn’t know what to do,” she said at a nearly empty train station on Friday after learning that all rail services, including the subway to the airport, had been canceled. “We stayed one more day in Japan. Then we saw it in the news that our flight from Taiwan couldn’t land in Japan after flying around the area for about 40 minutes and it flew back to Taiwan. We have been busy trying to find our way home.”

Typhoon Shanshan is the latest in a series of severe weather systems to strike Japan, following Typhoon Ampil earlier this month, which also resulted in power outages and evacuations. As the nation braces for more extreme weather, the full impact of Typhoon Shanshan is still unfolding.

Unang kaso ng mpox virus sa Batangas: 12-taong gulang na bata tinamaan

Arman B. Cambe
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Unang kaso ng mpox virus sa Batangas: 12-taong gulang na bata tinamaan

BALAYAN, Batangas. Naiulat ang unang kaso ng Mpox virus sa bayang ito sa Batangas, noong Agosto 27, 2024, ayon sa lokal na punong ehekutibo ng bayan.

Sa isang anunsyo sa Facebook, kinumpirma ni Balayan Mayor Emmanuel Salvador Fronda II na nagpositibo ang isang 12-anyos na batang lalaki sa CLIDE 2 variant ng mpox virus.

Ayon kay Mayor Fronda, nagsimulang makaranas ng mga sintomas ang bata noong Agosto 10, kaya agad itong nagpunta sa Rural Health Office para magpa-check-up. Noong Agosto 23, kinuhaan ng dugo ang bata at ipinadala sa Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) para sa pagsusuri. Kinumpirma ng resulta noong Agosto 27 na positibo ang bata sa mpox.

Ang bata ay nagkaroon ng mga pantal sa mukha, pubic area, paa, binti, braso, at iba pang bahagi ng katawan, kasama ang ubo, lagnat, at pananakit ng katawan. Ayon sa Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (RESU), walang history ng pagbiyahe, lokal man o sa ibang bansa, ang bata.

Sa kabila ng pagkakaroon ng kaso, inanunsyo ni Mayor Fronda na walang ipinatutupad na lockdown sa buong bayan ng Balayan. Pinaalalahanan niya ang pamilya ng bata na sumailalim sa 21-araw na quarantine upang maiwasan ang pagkalat ng virus.

“Ang bata ay nagpapagaling na, at sinusuportahan ng LGU ang pangangailangan ng kanilang pamilya habang naka-quarantine sila, tulad ng pagkain at iba pang kinakailangang gamit,” ayon kay Irish Inciong, Public Information Officer ng Balayan.

Nauna dito, inanunsyo ng Department of Health (DOH) na may naitalang bagong kaso ng mpox mula sa isang 26-anyos na babae mula sa Metro Manila at isang 12-anyos na batang lalaki mula sa Calabarzon, na taga-Batangas.

Israeli forces kill senior Hamas commander in ongoing West Bank operation

Venus L Peñaflor
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Israeli forces kill senior Hamas commander in ongoing West Bank operation

ZABABDEH, West Bank. Israeli forces have killed a top Hamas commander, Wassem Hazem, in the restive city of Jenin, as they continue a major military operation in the occupied West Bank. This marks the third day of intensified actions aimed at disrupting militant activity in the region, the Israeli military reported.

Wassem Hazem, described by the Israeli military as the head of Hamas operations in Jenin, was targeted due to his involvement in orchestrating shooting and bombing attacks within Palestinian territories. The military stated that Hazem, along with two other Hamas militants, was traveling in a vehicle when they were intercepted by Israeli Border Police. While Hazem was killed on the spot, the other two militants attempted to flee but were eliminated by a drone strike. The vehicle they were in was found to contain weapons, explosives, and large amounts of cash.

Hamas has confirmed the deaths of all three men, identifying them as members of its Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the organization.

In Zababdeh, a village near Jenin, residents described the aftermath of the operation. A burnt-out, bullet-riddled car was left at the scene where the Israeli special forces cornered the militants. Saif Ghannam, a local villager, recounted that one of the militants was killed by a drone strike just outside his home, causing significant damage to the surrounding area.

The ongoing operation, which began early Wednesday, involves hundreds of Israeli troops and police units pushing into key areas such as Jenin, Tulkarm, and the Jordan Valley. Armored personnel carriers, helicopters, and drones have been deployed, while armored bulldozers have been used to clear roads of explosives planted by militants.

This escalation in the West Bank is occurring against the backdrop of continued fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, now nearing its 11th month, and increasing tensions with Hezbollah along the Israel-Lebanon border.

Over the first two days of the West Bank operation, at least 17 Palestinians were killed, including a senior commander of the Iranian-backed Islamic Jihad in Tulkarm.

Since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict last October, more than 660 Palestinians—both combatants and civilians—have been killed in the West Bank, according to Palestinian sources. These deaths have resulted from clashes with Israeli forces and attacks by Jewish settlers on Palestinian communities.

Israel has accused Iran of supplying weapons and support to militant groups in the West Bank, which has been under Israeli occupation since the 1967 Middle East war. This accusation has led to increased military operations in the region.

On Friday, the British government expressed deep concern over Israel’s actions in the West Bank, calling for immediate de-escalation. “We recognize Israel’s need to defend itself against security threats, but we are deeply worried by the methods Israel has employed and by reports of civilian casualties and the destruction of civilian infrastructure,” stated a spokesperson for the British Foreign Office.

Dolly Parton expands literacy initiatives across 21 states and the world

Paraluman P. Funtanilla
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Dolly Parton expands literacy initiatives across 21 states and the world

Dolly Parton, the iconic 78-year-old country music legend, is making a profound impact on childhood literacy through her Imagination Library book giveaway program. Inspired by her father, Robert Lee Parton, who grew up in poverty and never learned to read, Dolly has dedicated the past three decades to ensuring that children across the United States and beyond have access to books from an early age.

The Imagination Library, which began in 1995 in a single county in Tennessee, has now expanded to all 21 states where children under the age of 5 can receive free books mailed directly to their homes each month. To celebrate this milestone, Parton made special appearances in Missouri and Kentucky on Tuesday, sharing her father’s story and promoting the program’s continued growth.

“In the mountains, a lot of people never had a chance to go to school because they had to work on the farms,” Parton shared at the Folly Theater in Kansas City, Missouri. “They had to do whatever it took to keep the rest of the family going.” She recalled her father as “one of the smartest people I’ve ever known,” though he was embarrassed by his inability to read.

Motivated by her father’s experience, Parton launched the Imagination Library, which now distributes over 3 million books each month to children in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Australia. To date, more than 240 million books have been delivered through the program.

In Missouri, where the state covers the full cost of the initiative—amounting to $11 million in the latest fiscal year—Parton expressed pride in the program’s success. Most other states support the initiative through cost-sharing models.

“The kids started calling me the ‘book lady,’” Parton recounted. “And Daddy was more proud of that than he was that I was a star. But Daddy got to feeling like he had really done something great as well.”

In Kentucky, where the Imagination Library reaches children in all 120 counties, Governor Andy Beshear and First Lady Britainy Beshear joined Parton in celebrating the program’s achievements. More than 120,000 Kentucky children, nearly half of the state’s preschoolers, are enrolled to receive books. The First Lady highlighted the program’s role in encouraging families to read together and providing children with their own personal library before starting kindergarten.

“It’s really a great way to teach children when they’re very young to learn to love books and to learn to read,” Parton said during the event in Lexington, Kentucky.

Parton, who received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award a decade ago, aims to see the Imagination Library in every state. While there is already a presence in all 50 states, legislation ensures that children under 5 can enroll in 21 states. Reflecting on her father’s influence, Parton said, “That was kind of my way to honor my dad because the Bible says to honor your father and mother. And I don’t think that just means, ‘just obey.’ I think it means to bring honor to their name and to them.”

An accomplished author herself, Parton’s works include the 1996 children’s book “Coat of Many Colors,” which is part of the Imagination Library. During her appearances, she sang the famous song of the same name, which recounts a childhood experience that left a deep mark on her. The song, inspired by a coat her mother made from patchwork fabric, helped heal the hurt of being ridiculed by classmates.

“The fact that that little song has just meant so much not only to me, but to so many other people for so many different reasons, makes it my favorite song,” she said.

When asked in Kentucky about her legacy, Parton reflected, “I want to be remembered as a good ole girl who worked hard and tried to make people happy and the world a better place. Of course, I want to be known as a songwriter and a singer, but I honestly can say that the Imagination Library has meant as much, if not more, to me than nearly anything that I’ve ever done.”

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