I’m an experienced nutritionist with a large number of midlife clients and the one thing everyone asks me is how to lose the pounds without feeling constantly hungry you don’t need to follow some faddy regime There are no supplements or rules around eating only at certain times of day You don’t have to drink apple cider vinegar and neither do you need to inject yourself with a drug (although GLP-1s like Ozempic can be life-saving for some so there is very much a place for them) When you break down the science, weight loss boils down to one thing: consuming fewer calories. We all know this! The trick is making it stick by making it enjoyable and easy. Which means proper food in proper quantities. That’s how I designed The 30g Plan, as a way of life you can adopt for the long-term rather than a gimmicky, one-off diet. You can expect to see noticeable weight loss on this plan after a month, if not sooner, but that’s not the only benefit. People also report better mood, more energy, no more post-lunch lethargy, less need to snack – and no hunger pangs. That’s why ditching the short-term ‘traditional’ diets at this stage of life is so important. A healthy, non-restrictive plan is much more likely to work in the long term with lots of big health gains too. The 30g Plan is a way of life you can adopt for the long-term rather than a gimmicky, one-off diet Emma Bardwell is a leading nutritionist with a large number of midlife clients We’re increasingly conscious of setting a good example to our children, too. As a mother of two teenage girls, I want them to enjoy healthy eating, but also appreciate that food is delicious and powerful, not something to be rationed. I’m reluctant to demonise food or speak about it purely as a means of weight loss or gain. Indeed, if you have any anxiety or stress around eating, then I recommend not focusing on weight or the scales at all. Those numbers can be helpful as raw data as you start and then get used to the plan, but let’s be clear, I’m not saying that the only way to be healthy is to be thin, nor that thin is always healthy. Yes, we all want a quick fix but that mindset really isn’t ideal. That said, I’ve had clients who’ve lost two or three kilos – roughly 4-6lbs – in the first couple of weeks, which is very significant. I love hearing from my 50-something clients saying, ‘My stomach is flatter!’ and also, ‘My energy levels are soaring and my mood is so much better’. Camille, for example, a busy midwife and mother of four, has lost 8kgs (1 stone, 3lbs) in total after ten months on The 30g Plan. ‘I wanted to get rid of my belly – it was bothering me to the point I was considering a tummy tuck,’ she says. ‘But now I’m leaner, stronger, and less tired too.’ The key message in my new book, The 30g Plan, is that you will probably need to eat more, not less, to lose weight, build muscle and feel better. What does that mean in practice? In a nutshell: more protein, more fibre and more tasty plant-based meals. To drop the pounds you need to be in a calorie deficit, but that doesn’t mean you have to starve or stop enjoying the foods you love. I’ve been coaching this regime to clients for years, and more recently offering it as a two-week online programme, which is when it went stratospheric. The book was an obvious next step. It works because it’s a simple, sustainable framework that can be adapted to suit anyone. Here’s the magic formula; 30g of protein per meal, 30g of fibre a day, 30+ different plant foods every week and a small (300-500) calorie deficit every day until the weight loss goal is achieved. You don’t necessarily have to forensically track those calories, however. Many people who follow the principles of The 30g Plan find they lose weight without counting calories at all. Simply put, you choose to eat three or four meals a day. Three meals provides 1500-1800 calories and four meals provides 1800-2200 calories. Roughly speaking, the first option will put the average woman into a small calorie deficit. The second option will do the same, but for a man. All my recipes come with a nutritional breakdown of calories, protein, fibre and number of plants. Participants don’t need to think about calories, etc, as the numbers have been worked out for them. Meal plans – vegan, veggie and flexitarian – are included, with lots of meal prep and batch cooking ideas to make them user-friendly and great for those who are time-poor. Nothing is off the table – I’m definitely not anti-carbs – but the plan does focus on whole foods, minimal UPFs, reduced snacking and a reduction in added sugars. The reason why protein and fibre work brilliantly together is because they are both incredibly filling. Think of them as ‘nature’s Ozempic’. Protein fills you up and slows gastric emptying. And fibre-rich foods tend to be low in calories but high in volume, meaning they trigger stretch receptors in the stomach that then signal to your brain to turn off your appetite. Protein is frequently over-complicated, and people get tied up in knots about how much to eat and when to eat it. A 30g of protein is roughly the size of a pack of cards or the palm of your hand – a fillet of salmon, a chicken breast, half a block of tofu... I list them all in the book and provide a protein calculator so people can work out their personal needs. You can always layer on extra protein from other sources – a few tablespoons of cottage cheese mixed into scrambled eggs some black beans or chickpeas in a burrito or a few dollops of Greek yoghurt on top of overnight oats I can assure you that when people include more protein in their diet they immediately notice they are fuller this is the amount that kickstarts muscle protein synthesis which is the mechanism that builds and repairs muscle tissues We know that muscle is vital for metabolism you need to be maintaining muscle as a priority for future health which unfortunately is often associated with beige But fibre is the unsung hero of the nutrition world and is vital for health It regulates bowel movements and prevents constipation It also slows glucose absorption and feeds beneficial gut bacteria It’s not that hard to eat 30 plants a week either – as this includes veg I’ve translated our protein and fibre needs into delicious recipes dinners and extras like bagels and wraps – suitable whether you’re vegan or a meat lover every recipe is packed with all the ingredients to keep you feeling full and enjoying food rather than seeing it as the enemy Plants And Fibre To Lose Weight And Feel Great by Emma Bardwell is on sale now With salmon: 41g protein • 12.5g fibre • 488 cals With tofu: 44g protein • 15g fibre • 508 cals Prep time: 15 mins • Cook time: 30–40 mins washed and dried well with kitchen roll or 1 block (225g) smoked firm tofu dried well with a paper towel and rolled in 1 tbsp soy sauce (or tamari) and 2 tbsp nutritional yeast Heat a few sprays of oil in a medium-sized non-stick frying pan and saute the onion celery and garlic with a good pinch of salt for 5–10 minutes until they soften Tip the chickpeas and vegetable stock in and add the harissa paste and 2 tbsp of nutritional yeast (if using) Allow to bubble then turn down the heat and simmer for 15–20 minutes until the liquid starts to thicken Salmon: add a few sprays of oil to a small frying pan on a medium heat Lightly score the skin of the salmon 3–4 times and lay skin side down in the pan Cook for 4-5 mins until crisp and golden then flip over and cook until cooked through and the flesh flakes easily Tofu: Preheat oven to 200C (180C fan)/400F Lay the tofu on a baking tray covered with parchment paper (or ideally a silicon mat to get them really crisp) flip the cubes over and bake for another 20 mins Add in the parmesan (if using) or the final tbsp of nutritional yeast and stir to combine Taste and season as needed before serving with your choice of protein and a generous side of rocket Heat a few sprays of oil in a frying pan and add the mushrooms cook until nice and brown and set to one side broccoli and spring onions and cook for a few minutes until soft Add the mushrooms back in and arrange so there’s an even distribution of vegetables across the pan Tip in the whisked eggs and move the pan around to ensure they reach all sides carefully lifting up the edges to ensure the omelette isn’t burning underneath add the feta and set the pan under a hot grill to melt the cheese Serve with a large mixed green salad and a sprinkle of mixed seeds Tip: Swap the vegetables for anything you have to hand in your fridge – asparagus works really nicely here You could also add in 100ml egg whites to the whisked eggs for 11g extra protein Spray the potatoes with oil and prick all over with a fork Season with salt and pepper and cook in oven for 30–40 mins until soft all the way through Meanwhile add a few sprays of oil to a frying pan and saute the onion Add the beef and cook for tenminutes until brown Halve the potatoes and load them up equally with the beef mix sliced spring onion and a generous grind of black pepper The comments below have not been moderated By posting your comment you agree to our house rules Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group Stone’s Throw Media has grown into a thriving business that continues to flourish today The Wolverhampton Council's Business Growth Team has supported Stone’s Throw Media since 2017 the company has expanded to a team of nine delivering a wide range of creative services Their impressive client list includes renowned names such as Collins Aerospace Recognising the need to stay ahead in a competitive market where clients are increasingly budget-conscious Stone’s Throw Media made a strategic decision to enhance their live-streaming capabilities Central to this effort was the acquisition of high-performance cameras and camera controllers To manage costs while making this investment With the guidance of the Business Growth Team they developed a robust business case and successfully navigated the grant application process Stone’s Throw Media secured funding to purchase two advanced 4K Auto Tracking PTZ Cameras with HDBaseT and one Datavideo HDBaseT Robotic Pan Tilt Head These state-of-the-art tools significantly enhance their capacity to handle larger enabling them to expand their market reach and boost revenue our live-streaming revenue grew significantly but we missed out on high-profile opportunities due to limited capacity This funding directly addresses that challenge allowing us to seize every opportunity and safeguard current jobs while paving the way for future growth.” Beyond the immediate benefits of live streaming the company has seen how comprehensive event coverage often leads to increased demand for their other services Stone’s Throw Media is not only meeting client needs but also unlocking cross-selling opportunities that further strengthen their business Matt added:“We’ve worked closely with the Business Growth Team for the past seven years and their support in helping us invest in advanced live-streaming technology has been invaluable This project positions us for significant growth and ensures we can continue to provide exceptional value to our clients and stakeholders.” With their innovative approach and strong partnerships Stone’s Throw Media is well-equipped to build on their success and continue contributing to Wolverhampton’s thriving business landscape Queens of the Stone Age are back to planning their trip to the Catacombs of Paris Queens had originally shared plans to perform in the famous Catacombs in 2024 the band announced that frontman Josh Homme required “emergency surgery,” and canceled all of their European tour dates They ended up scrapping all of their remaining 2024 shows as well Homme has since returned to the live stage and Queens are set to launch a U.S There are no listening rewards available at this time Need help accessing the FCC Public File due to a disability Please contact Melissa Johnson at publicfilestlouis@hubbardradio.com This web site is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area Plymouth Albion are delighted to confirm that two more exciting talents have committed to the club ahead of the 2025/26 season dynamic winger Kyle Speare and promising young scrum-half Morgan Stone These re-signings further reinforce the ambition and continuity being built at Brickfields as Albion continue shaping a squad full of hunger Kyle Speare returns to the fold after a long road to recovery The 6ft winger from Bude made an instant impact in the 2022/23 season registering 40 points across 18 appearances a spiral fracture to the tibia sustained in pre-season 2023 against Cornish Pirates ruled him out for the entirety of last season after months of hard work and perseverance Kyle is ready to pull the Albion shirt back on “It’s been two years since I was last on the field at Brickfields but the boys have helped get me back,” Kyle shared “The group is amazing and I wouldn’t go anywhere else The coaches and staff have been brilliant too I’m really looking forward to getting stuck in again especially with the young talent coming through and being back alongside the old boys means a lot I can’t wait for pre-season with everyone.” Kyle’s return is set to be one of the feel-good stories of the year and his explosive pace and finishing instinct will be a welcome boost to the backline Joining Kyle in re-signing is Morgan Stone who continues to rise in both confidence and influence The energetic scrum-half has made 48 appearances since joining Albion in 2022 and was a consistent contributor across the 2024/25 season crossing the line five times and embracing a vital role both as a starter and impact substitute A popular figure within the squad and among supporters “I’m happy to have signed another year with Albion The club is building toward something special and I’m excited to be a part of it We’ve got a great group of fans and I can’t wait to play another season with the lads for them.” Morgan will be proudly sponsored by Steve Lawrie for the 2025/26 campaign These latest confirmations continue a wave of positive contract news as Plymouth Albion shape a squad rich in continuity With players like Kyle and Morgan committing to the journey ahead excitement is building at Brickfields for what promises to be a milestone season in the club’s 150th year Season tickets are available now at plymouthalbion.comTo explore player sponsorship opportunities, contact commercial@plymouthalbion.com I agree to the terms and conditions © 2025 Plymouth Albion RFC|Privacy Policy|Terms & Conditions|Safeguarding Policy Website by WWE legend "Stone Cold" Steve Austin has opened up about his WrestleMania 41 appearance and the crash that he had in the ATV on the way to the ring Austin was on hand to announce the attendance for night 2 of WrestleMania 41, with him making his entrance on an ATV. During one of the laps around the ring, Austin crashed his ATV into the barricade, which resulted in him abandoning it and entering the ring. During his appearance on "The Ariel Helwani Show," the Hall of Famer explained the reason behind the crash just a different throttle setup than what I'm normally used to just different throttle system because I'm pretty damn handy on a four-wheeler," said "The Texas Rattlesnake." There were worries that the fan who seemed injured when the ATV crashed into the barrier may file a lawsuit against WWE and Austin with Austin confirming that his pride was the only thing that was hurt I was embarrassed about it and I think everybody's okay You go out there and you want to give people the best show that you can and when you fall short of that Austin's crash came as quite a surprise as he handled such vehicles for years during his legendary run in WWE while he also recently raced on four wheels The crash into the barricade wasn't the only goof-up Austin had on that night as fan video captured him getting lost on the way the ring as he missed the ramp to get to the ring Stone Island continues to cement its reputation as a pioneer in technical outerwear and contemporary culture by revisiting its foundational designs with a refreshed perspective The brand’s latest drop—the Tela Resinata Block Colour jacket—is not just a seasonal highlight but a conversation between past and present Brought to life in a new campaign featuring British style figure Gene Gallagher the piece channels Stone Island’s heritage while delivering an update that resonates with today’s generation Building on recent high-profile campaigns with figures like Spike Lee and rapper Giggs, Stone Island’s choice to work with Gallagher, son of legendary rocker Liam Gallagher, is no accident. Gene has quickly become a fashion-forward voice in UK youth culture making him a natural fit for a jacket that represents both tradition and reinvention functional lookbook that perfectly frames Stone Island’s latest evolution in design The Tela Resinata Block Colour isn’t just a striking piece—it’s a direct homage to the first-ever garment produced by Stone Island That original design laid the groundwork for the brand’s now-legendary fabric innovation and utilitarian aesthetic the label continues to pay respect to its past while pushing boundaries in form and function This latest version retains the technical prowess that Stone Island is known for using a garment-dyed canvas fabric treated with a resin coating to achieve a unique texture and protective finish The dark green body is accented with a cream-colored collar that adds contrast without sacrificing cohesion The design feels purposeful—tailored enough to wear on city streets overcast weather conditions typical of British autumns The Tela Resinata Block Colour jacket leans heavily into Stone Island’s functional design language A retractable hood adds utility without compromising the piece’s clean profile The front features exposed button closures that offer tactile contrast while contributing to the overall visual rhythm of the jacket Tonal stitching and slashed pockets maintain a sense of symmetry while subtle construction choices lend an architectural feel to the silhouette Perhaps the most iconic detail remains untouched—the Stone Island compass badge on the left arm a symbol recognized by streetwear loyalists and fashion connoisseurs alike The patch is more than branding; it’s a signal of quality and the forward-thinking mindset the label has cultivated since the early 1980s Gene Gallagher’s involvement in the campaign isn’t just about name recognition While being Liam Gallagher’s son certainly carries weight Gene has established a look and presence of his own With a style that marries mod nostalgia and Gen Z irreverence he embodies the kind of layered cultural influence that Stone Island continues to thrive on Gallagher appears in natural environments—urban backdrops and foggy countryside settings that mirror the jacket’s versatility It’s a subtle nod to how Stone Island garments function across contexts: not just for the runway or fashion week photo ops The pairing of classic outerwear and next-generation energy is an apt reflection of Stone Island’s broader approach—bridging generational gaps while staying rooted in original ideas What makes this campaign feel especially relevant is Stone Island’s consistency Even as fashion cycles shift and hype culture grows louder the brand has remained grounded in research and the real-world functionality of its garments Each release is supported by textile innovation or historical reference The Tela Resinata Block Colour jacket continues that tradition The material itself is the result of extensive experimentation balancing breathability and weather resistance without sacrificing aesthetics but the jacket is built to handle unpredictable conditions—an embodiment of what performancewear should be in the 21st century style-forward campaigns is another reflection of how the brand remains connected to today’s audience each campaign extends the brand’s values to new communities These aren’t just clothes—they’re cultural statements The Tela Resinata Block Colour jacket is now available through select Stone Island stockists and the brand’s official website, stoneisland.com the piece serves both as a collector’s item and a high-functioning addition to any wardrobe looking to elevate its fall outerwear rotation With Stone Island’s meticulous eye for detail this release marks another notch in the brand’s ongoing legacy Whether you’re new to the label or a longtime devotee the Tela Resinata Block Colour jacket offers a compelling intersection of history and utility—all wrapped into one sharply designed garment Input your search keywords and press Enter. Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. appears to have had a fertility-centred belief system I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Archaeologists are revealing the secrets of a long-lost Stone Age civilisation – believed to be the oldest in the world Ongoing investigations by Turkish, British and other archaeologists in southeast Turkey have unearthed 20 previously unknown sites Dating back around 11,500 years, the civilisation appears to have been the first in the world to develop monumental architecture sophisticated sculpture and advanced stone technology The ongoing discoveries are of huge international importance It also seems to have been the first human culture to develop large settlements - embryonic towns with populations of up to a thousand people So far around 30 settlements have been discovered, and archaeologists expect to find at least 30 more. Today, tourists can visit several of the sites currently being investigated – including Karahan Tepe and Göbekli Tepe and (betwen June and November) Sayburç, Çakmaktepe, Sefer Tepe and others – and can explore a remarkable museum featuring sculptures and other spectacular finds from those and other sites of the world's first embryonic civilisation Although two of the sites were excavated as far back as the 1990s nobody at that stage realised that they represented a large and previously unknown ancient civilisation covering over 2000 square miles It is more than twice as old as ancient Egypt or even Stonehenge and almost five times the age of classical Greece The civilisation now gradually being revealed appears to have been the first to create complex architecture – with rock-cut subterranean domed rooms (almost certainly equipped with corbelled ceilings) and large ritual halls supported by highly decorated pillars up to 5.5 metres tall (some weighing over 20 tonnes and probably symbolising giant ancestors or deities) The excavations are also revealing that the Stone Age people who constructed humanity's earliest known sophisticated buildings some 115 centuries ago were also prolific monumental sculptors archaeologists excavating at several sites have unearthed giant sculptures including a 2.45 metre tall statue of what was probably a revered or even defied ancestor unearthed by the archaeologists over recent years It's probably significant that most of the animals portrayed would have been perceived as physically very powerful and dangerous Some images show humans transformed into or masquerading as such animals – and it is therefore conceivable that the sculptures were attempts to enable humans to spiritually harness animal powers (or to express people's totemic beliefs that they were ultimately descended from such powerful creatures) But many other sculptures portrayed human heads – and some rooms at some of the excavated settlements were filled with dozens of real human heads suggests the practice of some sort of head or skull tradition – perhaps connected to ancestor cults (or now known as the Taş Tepeler (literally 'Stone Mounds') Culture also appears to have had some sort of fertility-centred belief system the archaeologists have discovered very large statues portraying men holding their penises a man is portrayed in semi-skeletal form – so it may be that the sexually explicit sculpture represented a key dead ancestor's crucial role in promoting human fertility among his living descendants (or alternatively an extreme ritual fasting tradition) A sexually explicit image of a woman has also been found – her legs apart displaying deliberately elongated private parts Evidence from the sites currently being investigated suggests that the 11,500-year-old culture was not only architecturally and artistically advanced but was also socially highly complex and developed some artefacts have what appear to be symbols on them – and some specialists are now assessing the possibility that the civilisation developed a very early form of ideographic writing The information being obtained from the current excavations is likely to prove essential to understanding the origins of human civilisation cultures or proto-civilisations which came into existence thousands of years ago – and which were not then replicated in any way although people's descendants continued to exist their complex societies and cultures simply didn't There are relatively few examples of early 'dead end' sophisticated cultures – and the remarkable long-lost Stone Age civilisation in southeast Turkey is probably the most remarkable and certainly the oldest of them But others flourished and then vanished throughout prehistory – 4,400 years ago in North America and in East Africa and some 7,000 years ago in Western Europe In the oldest example – the one currently being investigated by Turkish British and other archaeologists – sophisticated monumental architecture did not re emerge anywhere in the world until 3500 years later (when sophisticated architecture and early urbanism began to re-appear – this time in southern Iraq Although the southeast Turkish Stone Age civilisation did eventually collapse (around 10,000 years ago) It appears to have been a relatively stable culture for most of its existence – and its population seems to have lived in what may well have been a real-life Garden of Eden Food was plentiful – and recently discovered archaeological evidence suggests that they feasted on wild deer they lived in well-built houses in often planned and well-designed settlements – and existed in apparently peaceful well-organised societies they had no knowledge of metal or even pottery they were able to make everything they needed from stone the plastic and the porcelain of their era With it they made beautifully crafted bowls weapons and exquisite jewellery (sometimes made of jade!) But their prehistoric Garden of Eden had emerged out of much more challenging times. For the roots of their culture lay in their ancestors' ability to adapt to a 1200 year long period of climatic deterioration – a return to Ice Age conditions which had suddenly forced them to adapt and modernise. The leading Turkish archaeologist involved in the excavations, Istanbul University's Professor Necmi Karul says the discoveries are of "huge international importance". The ongoing investigations are harnessing expertise and recourses from 33 academic institutions in Turkey and around the world. As well as Turkish archaeologists, there are British, German and Japanese academics involved - and the Chinese will be helping from this summer. British archaeologists are working on several aspects of the investigations – and the University of Liverpool's Professor Douglas Baird, a leading Neolithic expert, is directing an excavation at a key Taş Tepeler site called Mendik Tepe. The development of settled life in the area "saw the rapid development of monumental architecture representing the world’s earliest corporate institutions and large scale purpose-built ritual buildings as part of widespread networks of communities”, said Professor Baird. Excavations at more than a dozen key Taş Tepeler sites will restart in just a few weeks time – and further major discoveries are expected. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies who spent a few years finding his feet in film before landing upon an extensive filmography of classic works It was during the late 1970s that Stone began to make his first mark in the film industry, adapting the novel Midnight Express into a screenplay and earning himself an Academy Award in the process Following on from the success of that Alan Parker-directed film Stone immersed himself in a diverse range of well-recieved projects writing screenplays for Scarface and Conan the Barbarian Stone had already tried his hand at directing Although in the modern age, that regrettable first film–titled Seizure–barely constitutes a footnote in the extensive career of Oliver Stone, it did give the director a valuable education in filmmaking – namely, what not to do Recalling the motivation behind the bizarre project and I actually wrote down the entire nightmare and it became a movie.” Dream-based inspiration might work for folks like Paul McCartney translating a fantastical dream into something real Particularly when taking into account the apparent fact that Stone’s dream involved three homicidal maniacs: the Queen of Evil and that those villains were slaying his friends and family to write down a dream like that and carry it through to completion as a film,” Stone declared the final Seizure film was an otherworldy anxiety dream translated onto the big screen (and not in a good way) Admitting that the film didn’t exactly go to plan “I think my problems with Seizure were that my dream was far better than my execution of it We had very limited funds—$150,000—and it was a very ambitious scope That shoestring budget certainly did not aid proceedings on the film but it is difficult to see how such a flawed plot could be made into a better film even with an unlimited budget the director was going for the horror surrealism angle he didn’t really have “the tools to make surrealism work.” that twilight area between trying to make a horror film that would fit the conventional mode of expectations of an audience and at the same time trying to reach for the surreal inside the mind,” the director continued the experience of making Seizure wasn’t a total waste for Stone It taught the director a lot about the complexities of filmmaking but it still has a fire and kind of a madness to it that I appreciate,” he said “What I learned in terms of financing and in terms of how to make a movie was that it was do-able but that I had been too ambitious.” He added more about just the world around me rather than going for Dali or Buñuel on my first shot.” writing about the world around him became much easier for Stone regularly drawing from his experiences serving in the Vietnam War on works like Platoon or Born on the Fourth of July which were worlds apart from the fever dream composition of Seizure Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) will be hosting dry stone walling training events during May at CAFRE’s Hill Farm Centre at Glenwherry Dry stone walls are an important part of the landscape which are durable and attractive field boundary features which will last for many lifetimes if properly maintained Dry stone walls also provide excellent shelter and homes for a wide range of small mammals Excellent examples can be found in the Mourne Mountains and Glens of Antrim Many dry stone walls have been well maintained and remain effective stock proof barriers; others are in need of rebuilding The training delivered at the Hill Farm centre will be an introduction to single skinned Dry Stone Walling for field boundary repairs and maintenance and will include health and safety Niamh Woods explains that: “the course will give participants the skills and knowledge to repair and maintain a single skinned dry stone wall to be stock-proof maintain biosecurity with neighbouring farms and comply with Agri-environment Scheme agreements Each course will take place for one day and will include a short theory session followed by an on-site practical.” Niamh comments that: “The course is open to all farmers For more information including the dates of each course and to register your place please visit the CAFRE website Author: Olga Rudenko – Editor-in-chief of the Kyiv Independent Published: 3rd May To mark World Press Freedom Day on 3rd May we’re joining the call for stronger support of independent media We’re proud to share this powerful piece by Olga Rudenko It’s a rallying cry for journalism that’s rooted in place and accountable to its readers Written with the challenges of local reporting in mind it’s a timely reminder of why informed communities matter and what’s at stake when trusted voices go quiet Olga Rudenko is the editor-in-chief of the Kyiv Independent, a Ukrainian English-language online newspaper. For over three years, the Kyiv Independent has been the voice of Ukraine in the world. It is a reader-funded publication — their work can be supported here When I started in journalism some 15 years ago I jumped on a ship that was going down. that’s what so many people around me seemed to believe The writing was on the wall: journalism was dying New platforms were lining up to tear down that obsolete concept — journalists that’s unfortunate — especially since I just started working in a newspaper faced a number of turbulent events in close succession It started with a revolution – the EuroMaidan protests of 2013-2014 that ousted a corrupt pro-Russian government – followed by the initial Russian invasion and occupation of Crimea Every sharp turn and every crisis — be it a revolution or a war — made the public turn to the press for answers when information was a matter of life or death independent media to tell them the truth about the developments around them Every crisis saw the appearance of new media outlets with more young people motivated to carry out the mission of journalism: keeping the people informed tensions were building at the newspaper I worked at The owner wanted tighter control over the editorial output and the editorial team wouldn’t have it His response was to fire the entire team and re-launch the newspaper with a more obedient staff we quite liked doing independent journalism and didn’t want to go down without a good fight — and what is a better way to fight than start your own publication We were lucky to be naive enough to do it with almost no funding We launched the Kyiv Independent just three months before Russia invaded Ukraine staffed with a mix of Ukrainians and foreigners We have established ourselves as the reliable source of on-the-ground news from Ukraine but we were forced to become one and had to learn on the go someone asked me: why do you need a local English-language newspaper like that when Ukraine is already covered by some of the world’s best journalists That was true — correspondents from every country were flocking to Ukraine to report on Europe’s largest war in nearly a century We were a motley crew of 20- and 30-year-olds often with English as our second language and with miniscule resources compared to our global competitors This challenge — facing a competitor who’s dwarfing your resources — is familiar for thousands of local newsrooms globally In the world of rapidly shrinking revenues and changing audience habits Media face the pressure to “reinvent or die” — and it’s local outlets And yet maybe our story can give them some much-needed hope the Kyiv Independent has been not just surviving — but growing One key reason for our success is the same as what some would identify as our key weakness — we are local Our readers recognize the value in local journalism with its boots on the ground and authors who know the place they are writing about by heart We can bring them closer to the real story in the ways that a beautiful interactive feature produced by a big expensive team in a media giant won’t The Kyiv Independent is funded by our readers — that’s what allows us to stay independent over 17,000 members have joined us and pledged monthly donations If the readers who follow Ukraine see so much value in local reporting that they show up for it like that then the importance of local journalism is far from being forgotten It gives me hope that despite the unfavourable trends and ever-changing challenges local reporting — the basis of all journalism — will be standing strong for many years to come But ultimately it depends on you — the reader Olga Rudenko is the editor-in-chief of the Kyiv Independent, a Ukrainian English-language online newspaper. It is a reader-funded publication — their work can be supported here A Little Bit of Stone has been providing the latest jobs and more for our wonderful town! Copyright © 2010 - 2025 • A Little Bit of Stone Last summer gold-certified alternative rockers Queens Of The Stone Age became the first band to hold a live performance in the Catacombs of Paris in Paris That set was filmed in July of 2024 and was a passion project the band’s vocalist/guitarist Josh Homme had been pursuing for some 18 years Given the landmark nature of the underground ossuary which houses the remains of several million former residents of the city the band’s performance is said to have taken place without an audience Now that set is being prepared to see the light of day under the banner of “Alive In The Catacombs“ with the below teaser for it having newly been shared online this morning by the band Ahead of the performance last year, the held this press conference Queens of the Stone AgeAlive in the CatacombsComing soon… Join the mailing list for the latest.https://t.co/ciAHUbaECu pic.twitter.com/gC4h7gBjjh — QOTSA (@qotsa) May 5, 2025 "These bands are way too popular to be in arrears." "Guess you'll have to go Steal This Album if you want to hear it now.." This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page original members of Sly & The Family Stone and British Invasion hitmakers Herman’s Hermits are among the highlights at this year’s Allegheny County Summer Concert Series at South Park and Hartwood Acres performance by Pittsburgh Opera in South Park Other highlights at South Park include local icons Joe Grushecky & The Houserockers nationally touring singer-songwriter Chuck Prophet and his Latin-music project Chuck Prophet & His Cumbia Shoes At Hartwood, the line-up also includes rock legend Nick Lowe & Los Straightjackets, singer-songwriter KT Tunstall, Jamaican jazz pioneer Monty Alexander, and even a famed reggae rendering of "Dark Side of the Moon." Hop Farm Brewing Company and Black Dog Wine Company At South Park:May 30: Pittsburgh OperaJune 6: Joe Grushecky & The HouserockerJune 13: BPM (Jazz supergroup with Brian Bromberg Paul Brown and Michael Paulo)June 20: The VindysJune 27: Red Baraat (Brooklyn-based brass band)July 5: Pittsburgh Symphony OrchestraJuly 11: American AuthorsJuly 18: Chuck Prophet & His Cumbia ShoesJuly 25: Ashley CookeAug 1: Herman’s Hermits starring Peter NooneAug 22: Pittsburgh Honky Tonk hosted by Jon BindleyAug At Hartwood Acres:June 1: River City BrassJune 8: The SkylinersJune 15: No concert (U.S Open)June 22: East Star All-Stars (performing their “Dub Side of the Moon” album)June 29: 25th Annual Allegheny County Music Festival (with Randall Baumann’s Ramble)July 6: Pittsburgh Symphony OrchestraJuly 13: Mo Lowda & The HumbleJuly 20: The Family StoneJuly 27: Matt KearneyAug More information is here Have a tip for the WESA newsroom? Email news@wesa.fm Abigail Wilson Senior Digital WriterPublished: Invalid Date A WOMAN has revealed she lost eight stone after taking Mounjaro for nine months But Alexandra, who is from the UK and currently living in Dubai, claimed she is “annoyed” after experiencing a “very scary” implication after stopping the weight-loss jabs Alexandra went from weighing 17 stone 9lbs to 9 stone 7.8lbs thanks to Mounjaro Despite slimming down two and a half weeks after coming off of Mounjaro Alexandra confessed to rapidly gaining half a stone This content creator shared a short clip with the caption “Well very annoyed today and back on the Mounjaro after a very big weight gain in a very short time I knew I would have some gain but this is very scary over such a short space of time so back on it She explained: “I was planning on trying to stay off it as long as I could I've gained half a stone - it's taken me five days to gain half a stone that took me two months to lose - the last half a stone I lost was really hard.” My stomach's also in a lot of pain - I've got really bad heartburn Alexandra added: “It's put me in such a bad mood I don't really understand how it's possible that I could have gained half a stone.” Not only has she gained weight, but she is also experiencing a side effect: “My stomach's also in a lot of pain - I've got really bad heartburn which is just something I don't normally have.” Alexandra went onto reveal she ate Five Guys and had a Sunday dinner, but hadn’t "eaten crazy”, so didn’t understand where the weight gain had come from. confessed that although she feels “disappointed” and "embarrassed" As well as this, she shared: “I probably need to work on my fitness a little bit more as well before I come off.” The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @alexandraindubai, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly gone viral and racked up 1.2 million views I fear this is the issue with Mounjaro - if major lifestyle changes are not made during the losses then you are trapped within a never ending cycle of injecting Social media users were left stunned by Alexandra’s claims and many raced to the comments to share their thoughts One person said: “This is the trouble when coming off it unfortunately.” Another added: “Exactly the same thing happened to me A third commented: “I fear this is the issue with Mounjaro - if major lifestyle changes are not made during the losses then you are trapped within a never ending cycle of injecting.” someone else wrote: “Thank you for being honest.” Sun GP Dr Zoe Williams says fat fabs can save the lives of people with “life-threatening levels of obesity” But despite this, the NHS website warns: “Never take an anti-obesity medicine if it has not been prescribed to you These types of medicines may not be safe for you and can cause serious side effects.” About half a million Brits use weight loss drugs - and that number is expected to double in the next year Mounjaro is said to suppress the appetite Weight loss jabs are all the rage as studies and patient stories reveal they help people shed flab at almost unbelievable rates as well as appearing to reduce the risk of serious diseases Wegovy – a modified version of type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic – and Mounjaro are the leading weight loss injections used in the UK has been used on the NHS for years while Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a newer and more powerful addition to the market Mounjaro accounts for most private prescriptions for weight loss and is set to join Wegovy as an NHS staple this year The jabs work by suppressing your appetite making you eat less so your body burns fat for energy instead and you lose weight They do this my mimicking a hormone called GLP-1 which signals to the brain when the stomach is full so the drugs are officially called GLP-1 receptor agonists They slow down digestion and increase insulin production which is why they were first developed to treat type 2 diabetes in which patients' sugar levels are too high mainly Wegovy and an older version called Saxenda (chemical name liraglutide) are controlled through specialist weight loss clinics Typically a patient will have to have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher and also have a weight-related health condition such as high blood pressure GPs generally do not prescribe the drugs for weight loss to anyone who is obese (BMI of 30+) or overweight (BMI 25-30) with a weight-related health risk Private pharmacies have been rapped for handing them out too easily and video calls or face-to-face appointments are now mandatory to check a patient is being truthful about their size and health Yes – side effects are common but most are relatively mild Around half of people taking the drug experience gut issues GP and clinical consultant at patient.info said: “One of the more uncommon side effects is severe acute pancreatitis which is extremely painful and happens to one in 500 people.” Other uncommon side effects include altered taste Evidence has so far been inconclusive about whether the injections are damaging to patients' mental health 85 patient deaths in the UK were suspected to be linked to the medicines Such injections are licensed for patients with type 2 diabetes and to assist those who are clinically obese - with a Body Mass Index of 30 or over One jab is administered each week but the duration is dependent on a person’s weight The drugs can be lawfully supplied only when prescribed by a practitioner - like a doctor nurse or a pharmacist-independent prescriber But many are now buying them through online pharmacies with insufficient checks Earlier this year, figures from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency revealed fat jabs had been linked to 82 deaths across the UK And the family of a man from Burton upon Trent, Staffs, who died after taking Mounjaro are calling for a probe into the jab's "potential to kill" Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/ illuminated by the natural light from large front-facing windows Display cases containing cultural teas and dishes as an homage to Chinese culture encircle the shop decided to close her shop and retire last March “The customer base is similar [to Newton’s Natural Sense] so we’re glad we found that opportunity,” said Yuxuan Huang After Huang’s family immigrated to the United States in 2003 they started their shop with locations in Braintree and at the Prudential Center near Newbury Street until they had to shut down operations due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic “My parents are getting a bit old—we really just want to focus on the community,” Huang said Countless unique stone necklaces hang above other gems while the display tables and cases house a wonderful collection of jades “I-STONE was originally written as ‘i___stone,’ meant to allow the user of the stone to fill in the blank,” said Huang “It emphasizes the personal connection between the individual to the stone.” The Huang family sources their crystals from many different parts of the world allowing them to find stones that serve diverse purposes for whatever customers may need “Different parts of the world produce different crystals.” They have diversified their gem collection through Huang’s extensive knowledge of the stones “Lapis is my favorite stone because I’m a big fan of Egyptian cultures,” Huang said I-STONE sells products to a similar niche as Natural Sense supplying the Newton community with essential oils and specialty candles—all of which add a wonderful floral aroma to the shop’s atmosphere The store is also complemented by interior cultural decorations: Asian teas and tea sets all of which are meticulously and intricately painted lining the walls from the ceiling to the floor I-STONE provides products for many different occasions and people Their delicate stone jewelry is perfect for those looking for a more elegant gift while kids can find something in their collection of stuffed animals recently stopped by the shop for the first time searching for something to commemorate her dog after his recent passing An amethyst stone cut in the shape of a heart caught her eye “The color of his favorite ball was purple so I want to find a heart to put up in my shop,” Burke said A majority of the store’s products are delicate because of their high quality but I-STONE sells more durable string jewelry as well was hesitant to visit the shop after their beloved Natural Sense closed but a string necklace in the shape of a moon that their friend purchased from the shop caught their eye “I didn’t know what this place was,” Johnson-Green said “I kind of avoided it because I didn’t feel like coming in after [Goldstein] left Johnson-Green envisions the shop doing well due to its location near Newton North High School “There are a lot of kids my age and a lot younger fascinated by all things spiritual and also just shiny rocks,” Johnson-Green said Burke thinks this shop will enable Newton residents to be more in touch with their spirituality “I feel like people are becoming more natural and holistic and this is a great opportunity to do that.” NEWS SPORTS ARTS MAGAZINE NEWTON OPINIONS MULTIMEDIA As Record Store releases go this one is a banger picture disc or rather iffy live recording this is an album of two sides B sides and covers with the second side dealing with the live tracks We dive into “American Horse” with John Cooper and Ayron Jones and this is what BSC was built on “Out of Pocket” slows things up very briefly before going in for the kill and Jesse Leach adds the silver lining to what is already a beast of a track If you want to know how to reinvent a song take a listen to this version of Tina Turner’s “What’s Love Got to do with it” For anyone who listened to the radio in the 80s this was massive and if you played this version to most of those listeners it would take about two minutes before they could place it as this has no correlation to the original It is time for a reworking of a classic in Tracy Chapman’s “Give Me One Reason” and they have kept the intro similar with the acoustic but then it goes full on Southern and it works We go to the latest album for an original in “Have You Ever Been Lonely” and this goes to prove how far this band have come It has all the elements of what broke them in the first place but it mixes the lessons learned after all these years and the songwriting is top notch The side finishes with ‘I Miss You” and the boys leave with a powerful statement groove and grind in equal measures and a stunning track Now onto the live side and anyone who has witnessed the boys on stage know that this is where the band thrives There is a whole slice of magic to this band live and you instantly feel it on “ When the Pain Comes” The almost Nu Metal brutality screams at you from the speakers “Peace is Free” is just something very special this band know how to do a ballad and Chris sounds amazing A Brilliant song and a brilliant rendition The heavy Southern is dragged out on “Again” and with it not being one of the big hitters from the back catalouge I was surprised at its inclusion but it sounds incredible It is recorded from the Skydeck and it sounds heavenly It is over to France for this version of “Lonely Train” and you just know that Hellfest crowd went batshit crazy for this monster This is always a highlight live and this does not disappoint Time to bring on the fun for that French Crowd and boy do they get their baguettes in a twist with “Blame it on the Boom Boom” this is BSC at full intensity and a moment that binds a band and an audience The French fun continues with “White Trash Millionaire” and this is BSC at full throttle that is three songs that the band and the live set are built on These are moments in life that you live for a brilliant band and tunes to lose your shit too This is a Black Stone Cherry release that MUST be in your collection but if you missed the physical release do not fear as you can (and will) get it on digital release risght now John Cooper and Ayron Jones)Out Of Pocket (ft Jesse Leach)What’s Love Got To Do With ItGive Me One Reason (The Plug)Have You Ever Been LonelyI Miss You When The Pain Comes – LivePeace Is Free – Acoustic (ft Lzzy Hale)Again – Live from SkydeckLonely Train – Live from HellfestBlame It On The Boom Boom – Live from HellfestWhite Trash Millionaire – Live from Hellfest In the past two decades, BLACK STONE CHERRY have set a new standard for Southern rock revitalising the tradition with its burly riffs and stirring rock hooks. The four-piece consists of Chris Robertson guitar/vocals; and John Fred Young drums and Steve Jewell Jr. on bass/backing vocals https://blackstonecherry.com Full of Hell will release their new EP Broken Sword, Rotten Shield on May 16th [pre-order]… Daniel Stone, 32, said Alysha McClintock’s statement had caused "significant harm" to his father and family by “perpetuating a myth” the Crown case was dropped because witnesses were unavailable. Stephen Stone spent more than 26 years wrongfully imprisoned for the 1989 murders of Deane Fuller-Sandys and Leah Stephens. In July, the Crown admitted he and three others convicted in connection with the crime suffered a miscarriage of justice. The Court of Appeal accepted a police failure to disclose two key documents led to the miscarriage. Stone’s convictions were quashed in October and a retrial ordered. Known as the "Larnoch Road Four", their convictions relied heavily on four eyewitnesses who were given immunity from prosecution and name suppression. On Wednesday, McClintock told the High Court in Auckland one of the key reasons a retrial couldn’t go ahead was because three of the four witnesses were "no longer available, through a combination of the consequences of the appeal decision, death and witnesses no longer being in New Zealand". The Evidence Act sets out scenarios where a witness is considered unavailable. These include if the person is dead; outside of New Zealand and it’s not reasonably practicable for them to be a witness; they are unfit to be a witness; or they cannot be compelled to give evidence. In his complaint, Daniel Stone acknowledged one witness was dead and one was in Australia. However, he claimed that it was not correct to say three witnesses were no longer available. Instead, he believed only one was unavailable, the others were “wholly unreliable” witnesses, and the Crown’s statement was: “Designed to publicly spin the position in favour of the prosecution, in an inappropriate abuse of the Crown's role.” During the Court of Appeal hearing in August, the court heard the two non-recanting witnesses had changed their stories significantly multiple times. “You have change of venues, change of witnesses, change of motives, change in the manner of death, changes in who died, who was alive, and how bodies were disposed of,” Stephen Stone’s lawyer Annabel Maxwell-Scott told the court. The Court of Appeal declined to rule their evidence inadmissible. “The fact Mr X and Mr Y each made a number of startling contradictory statements to the police was before both juries in the earlier trial,” the judgement said. In the High Court on Wednesday, McClintock said there was no longer enough evidence to prove charges against Stone beyond a reasonable double – referring to additional ESR testing on samples collected by police at the time which had not produced any results of significance; and Stone’s admissions of murder to get parole did not provide a basis for prosecution. Private investigator Tim McKinnel, who worked on the case, said outside the court on Wednesday that the Crown’s statement was “incredibly frustrating”. “There is no acknowledgement of their own role in these miscarriages of justice, and they gave the distinct impression that they believe Stephen has done something — and that's outrageous in my view." McClintock told 1News: "It is not appropriate for me to engage in debate about the reasons for my decision or the content of the statement through the media." Attorney-General Judith Collins’ office said: "It is not appropriate for the Attorney-General to comment about what has been said in Court by a prosecutor about a particular criminal prosecution." Stephen Stone’s acquittal was handled very differently to the acquittal of Alan Hall – another high-profile miscarriage of justice case. In that case, the Crown and court acknowledged the miscarriage. "We cannot end this judgment without acknowledging that, just as the criminal justice system has failed Mr Hall, so too has it failed the Easton family," said the 2022 judgment. Alan Hall was declared innocent in 2023 and received nearly $5 million compensation for 19 years wrongful imprisonment. Stephen Stone walks from the High Court in Auckland. (Source: 1News) The son of Stephen Stone has filed a Law Society complaint against the Auckland Crown Solicitor, alleging she misled the court with her statement about the lack of evidence to retry his father, who was acquitted of double murder last week. Owner prosecuted after dog starves to death SPCA inspectors found evidence suggesting Mike had been tethered to the same spot "for an extended period" Crime and Justice Blaze at McDonald's in east Auckland treated as suspected arson Counties Manukau CIB Detective Senior Sergeant Michele Gillespie said a scene guard has been in place at the restaurant overnight Two men's shared name brings years of trouble and a hefty bill to one but one has spent years breaking the law while the other just pays a steep price for sharing his name Police believe wave of Invercargill robberies two burglaries and one attempted burglary took place in Invercargill between 2.30am and 4.20am and are believed to be connected Tree planted as Kyle Whorrall's mother Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei blessed and planted a provided pōhutukawa tree at St Johns Bush in honour of the slain PhD student from the United States Man's cigarette smuggling attempt stubbed out Customs said the body-packing of the more than 1600 cigarettes was "an attempt to defraud Customs revenue" Vandals in 4WDs mow down, destroy 38 pōhutukawa trees in Napier 20 mins ago DOC apologises after non-toxic pellets spark warning at Nelson sandflats 27 mins ago Ex-NZ police head Mike Bush appointed to overhaul Victoria force 36 mins ago Photos: Lorde among stars at 2025 Met Gala 50 mins ago Owner prosecuted after dog starves to death 12:14pm Erica Stanford concedes use of personal email 'untidy' 1 min ago 1Photos: Lorde among stars at 2025 Met Gala Two men's shared name brings years of trouble and a hefty bill to one Govt halts all current pay equity claims, makes it harder to lodge new ones Kiwi motorcyclist killed in 11-bike British Supersport crash National introduces members' bill to ban social media for under 16s Photos: Lorde among stars at 2025 Met Gala A$AP Rocky and Rihanna also revealed they are expecting their third child. Two arrested over alleged plot targeting Lady Gaga concert in RioBrazilian police said they thwarted an alleged bomb attack planned for Lady Gaga's concert on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro. Lady Gaga rocks Copacabana Beach with free concert for over 2 million fans Sun, May 4 Lorde announces new album name, date Thu, May 1 Kim Kardashian to testify in Paris trial over 2016 armed robbery Mon, Apr 28 Chubby Checker, Outkast, Cyndi Lauper join Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Mon, Apr 28 Kim Kardashian to testify in Paris trial over 2016 armed robbery Mon The son of Stephen Stone has filed a Law Society complaint against the Auckland Crown Solicitor alleging she misled the court with her statement about the lack of evidence to retry his father who was acquitted of double murder last week said Alysha McClintock’s statement had caused "significant harm" to his father and family by “perpetuating a myth” the Crown case was dropped because witnesses were unavailable Stephen Stone spent more than 26 years wrongfully imprisoned for the 1989 murders of Deane Fuller-Sandys and Leah Stephens the Crown admitted he and three others convicted in connection with the crime suffered a miscarriage of justice The Court of Appeal accepted a police failure to disclose two key documents led to the miscarriage Stone’s convictions were quashed in October and a retrial ordered Known as the "Larnoch Road Four" their convictions relied heavily on four eyewitnesses who were given immunity from prosecution and name suppression McClintock told the High Court in Auckland one of the key reasons a retrial couldn’t go ahead was because three of the four witnesses were "no longer available through a combination of the consequences of the appeal decision death and witnesses no longer being in New Zealand" The Evidence Act sets out scenarios where a witness is considered unavailable These include if the person is dead; outside of New Zealand and it’s not reasonably practicable for them to be a witness; they are unfit to be a witness; or they cannot be compelled to give evidence Daniel Stone acknowledged one witness was dead and one was in Australia he claimed that it was not correct to say three witnesses were no longer available the others were “wholly unreliable” witnesses and the Crown’s statement was: “Designed to publicly spin the position in favour of the prosecution in an inappropriate abuse of the Crown's role.” During the Court of Appeal hearing in August the court heard the two non-recanting witnesses had changed their stories significantly multiple times and how bodies were disposed of,” Stephen Stone’s lawyer Annabel Maxwell-Scott told the court The Court of Appeal declined to rule their evidence inadmissible “The fact Mr X and Mr Y each made a number of startling contradictory statements to the police was before both juries in the earlier trial,” the judgement said McClintock said there was no longer enough evidence to prove charges against Stone beyond a reasonable double – referring to additional ESR testing on samples collected by police at the time which had not produced any results of significance; and Stone’s admissions of murder to get parole did not provide a basis for prosecution said outside the court on Wednesday that the Crown’s statement was “incredibly frustrating” “There is no acknowledgement of their own role in these miscarriages of justice and they gave the distinct impression that they believe Stephen has done something — and that's outrageous in my view." Stephen Stone’s acquittal was handled very differently to the acquittal of Alan Hall – another high-profile miscarriage of justice case the Crown and court acknowledged the miscarriage "We cannot end this judgment without acknowledging that just as the criminal justice system has failed Mr Hall so too has it failed the Easton family," said the 2022 judgment Alan Hall was declared innocent in 2023 and received nearly $5 million compensation for 19 years wrongful imprisonment A Southland man whose dog was found starved to death has been sentenced to community work was found dead in his kennel by Invercargill City Council Animal Control officers in June 2023 SPCA inspectors executed a search warrant and found evidence which suggested Mike had been tethered to the same spot "for an extended period" with a rusty chain He was prosecuted for failing to seek veterinary care for the severely malnourished dog The ground Mike was restricted to was described as "worn down" "His body was in extremely poor condition and pelvis were clearly visible," SPCA said A post-mortem confirmed the dog had the lowest possible body condition score which suggested Mike had been starved over several weeks His stomach and intestines were "almost entirely empty" The offender admitted he had not checked on the dog for "about a week" The man claimed he had not contacted a vet or the SPCA because he could not afford to do so He was sentenced to 200 hours of community service at the Invercargill District Court after pleading guilty to charges relating to the treatment of Mike He was also ordered to pay reparations of $233.88 for veterinary costs and $500 towards legal costs He was disqualified from owning dogs for a period of five years SPCA chief executive Todd Westwood said Mike's death was the result of neglect that could have been avoided This case is a clear reminder that if an animal is unwell It’s a basic responsibility of pet ownership,” he said He said prolonged tethering was "unacceptable and heartbreaking", which was why the SPCA advocated for new regulations that would be released later this year "The prolonged tethering of dogs is an issue that our inspectors deal with daily While it is difficult to gather accurate numbers it is safe to say this issue impacts the lives of thousands of dogs in New Zealand." Associate Agriculture Minister Andrew Hoggard said in April that the new regulations would give animal welfare inspectors the tools to intervene quickly when dogs are suffering harm from being tied up for long periods Hoggard said he had "been hearing a lot from members of the public" who want to see action taken" on the issue of dog chaining "Most dog owners in New Zealand treat their animals well and these regulations will have little to no impact upon them," he said "I’m confident these regulations will result in better outcomes for those dogs "We have a few steps to follow to get these proposals ready to become law but it is my expectation that these will be finalised by the end of the year That will be followed by a short period with a focus on education so that all dog owners understand their obligations and to allow those who need to make changes time to adapt." The changes agreed on through Cabinet included: A law change was first proposed and consulted on two years ago Nearly 30,000 people signed a petition to Parliament on the issue in 2021 Police say a fire at a McDonald's restaurant in Pakuranga is being investigated as a suspected arson Emergency services attended the fire on Pakuranga Rd just before 3pm yesterday Large plumes of smoke could be seen and explosions heard at the fast food restaurant which has "sustained significant fire damage as a result" "At this point in time we are treating this fire as a suspected arson "A scene examination is being conducted this morning and police will work alongside a fire investigator," she said Gillespie said part of these inquiries would be working to understand how the fire began She said police would like to hear from anyone who saw suspicious activity prior to the fire Anyone with information was urged to contact police online or anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111 Shane William Pritchard has been charged with crimes he didn’t commit and chased for debts he doesn’t owe That’s because the Dunedin man is not the only Shane William Pritchard in town While the duo’s shared name and age has sometimes been a handy loophole for one Shane for the other it has caused problems for 36 years It’s been years of fearing every knock on the door Years of wondering if he’ll be hand-cuffed and taken to jail to be honest,” says Shane William Pritchard a scout and a member of the Air Training Corp remembers getting quite a shock when her friend called one evening She'd been acting as a referee for a gun licence for Shane whose friend informed her that the police had a long list of offences against Shane’s name Not long after that the police turned up to where Shane was working at the local tannery to arrest him “You're scrambling in your head to think of ways that you can prove it's not you.” Another Shane William Pritchard had been born in Otago They were separated by just two weeks and about 50 miles – one growing up in Mosgiel the other in Milton – but also by the lives they’d been leading To watch the full video story go to TVNZ+ Shane from Milton had huge problems focusing at school He was raised in foster care and then boys’ homes I just wanted to look cool and get in trouble,” he tells Fair Go Milton Shane was used to run-ins with police he got pulled over in his car and asked about his driving licence one’s got a licence and the other hasn’t.’ And I’m like ‘obviously it must be the one with a licence’.” he went to his bank to draw out an ACC payment and was asked which bank account was his He says that at that point he was trying to figure out what was going on “I thought it was just an error.” But he took advantage of the situation and withdrew a large sum of cash Mosgiel Shane became aware of the withdrawal when a scheduled car payment was declined and when Milton Shane turned up at the bank to withdraw more money Identity fraud was considered but Milton Shane was legitimately expecting an ACC payment so the withdrawal appeared to be a genuine mistake and the police couldn’t take any action 'Anything I could get away with Mosgiel Shane thought the bank incident would have alerted police to the problem But his nemesis had cottoned on to the advantages of having a second identity to use Milton Shane acquired a suite of furniture on hire-purchase Milton-Shane clocked up more driving offences Mosgiel Shane thought about changing his name but realised he’d have to provide his previous name in the process the courts and debt collectors such as Baycorp should be able to distinguish between himself and Milton Shane The police first addressed the issue in the 1990s after Mosgiel Shane went to the media He was given a letter to carry with him should he be apprehended He and his parents felt his situation wasn’t being taken seriously Mosgiel Shane went to the media a second time in the mid-2000s the police gave their word that a record in their system would stop the misidentification from happening again This does appear to have worked as far as police action goes But while Mosgiel Shane was given the same reassurance by the Ministry of Justice he continued to receive demands from the courts for unpaid fines He’d also get stopped and questioned whenever he left the country for work trips or holidays It took a huge toll on Mosgiel Shane’s mental health not realising the constant stress it placed on his life John Pritchard says that at times his son felt his life wasn’t worth living worrying about what he was going to do to himself and that really ate me up.” he and his son were in tears as Shane admitted he was at breaking point He described going for days at a time unable to eat or sleep wondering what might happen next "Am I going to be in a position where they've got me in handcuffs or I've got debt collectors coming to the door?" ...You're spiralling into this black hole." He started taking anti-anxiety medication which helped And events regarding Milton Shane seemed to settle Milton Shane was charged for fishing without a licence in Twizel and failing to comply with fisheries officers But a court registrar incorrectly entered the birth date of Mosgiel Shane in the system both Shanes were being chased to pay the $1530 fine It was Mosgiel Shane who spotted the error and rang the court He also sent a statement from his manager saying he’d not been fishing in Twizel that day The reply he got was to say he’d been given the wrong form and that they wouldn’t accept his proof They just wanted to know how I was going to pay the fine.” The first Milton Shane knew about this was when Fair Go told him Mosgiel Shane had been chased for the fine He was told to pay up or face the consequences feeling he shouldn’t have to pay good money to correct someone else’s mistake But it cost Mosgiel Shane over $5000 in legal fees and took months of back and forth between him “Why should anybody have to pay their own money to right somebody else's wrongs and prove who they are I’m sick and tired of proving who I am all the time.” He wanted the Ministry of Justice to take responsibility and reimburse him for his legal costs saying court staff such as the registrar in this case have immunity if they make mistakes such as the one made here and if I make a mistake and it's affecting my client that it's going to cost them money to rectify a mistake that I've made.” he deserves a million apologies from those guys,” she says Milton Shane told Fair Go he still gets in trouble but wants the other Shane to know he doesn’t use his birth date anymore And he had a message for him: “We’ve got to get it sorted for you so you can have a good life with you and your family because I’m trying to get my life together with my son and my grandson” He offers to meet to see if they can sort it out together but I’m not interested in meeting him,.” says Mosgiel Shane He says he doesn’t hold any grudges and accepts Milton Shane’s apology And he believes the only way for that to happen is for the courts and the Ministry of Justice to give him a guarantee that mix-ups won’t occur in the future Fair Go asked the Ministry of Justice to appear in person to apologise and provide reassurance to Shane of its plans to guard against these mistakes The Ministry declined our request to be on camera saying any comment on an individual case would compromise the independence of the courts as the Ministry operates separately But it did send a written apology directly to Mosgiel Shane It also admitted mistakes can occur in clerical records but said instructions were clear and the importance of getting things right had been emphasised to staff Mosgiel Shane isn’t totally convinced that’s the end of it “All I want is for the Ministry of Justice and the courts to do their job I'd like to live without this hanging over me all the time his criminal check has come back showing a clean slate Police have appealed to the public after two aggravated robberies and a series of burglaries in Invercargill overnight Detective Inspector Stu Harvey said officers were called to a premises on Dee St at around 2.30am on Monday to reports of two people entering a store demanding cash A worker was assaulted but not seriously injured Harvey said an attempted burglary and two burglaries were reported at three further premises on Windsor St Police then received a report that two people had entered a Tay St premises and demanded cash and items Harvey said information suggested the incidents were linked "Two vehicles were seen in the vicinity of some of the incidents "The other vehicle is described as a dark-coloured car," said Harvey "We would like to speak to anyone who saw vehicles fitting these descriptions between 1am and 5am." Anyone with relevant information about these vehicles or those involved should contact police on 105 A pōhutukawa tree has been planted in honour of Kyle Whorrall the US PhD student slain during an attack at an Auckland bus stop last month The 33-year-old was attacked at a bus stop on St Johns Rd in Meadowbank on April 19 friends and colleagues of Whorrall gathered for a vigil on April 24 at the bus stop where he was attacked Whorrall's mother Carole was joined by members of the community and Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei for the blessing and to plant a pōhutukawa tree in honour of his life The planting ceremony began with a blessing by Otene Reweti from Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei "This tree will stand as a memorial to Kyle to come to this special place and remember Kyle and what he has done and what he was looking to do "This tree indicates times to harvest different things in our seasons and also pōhutukawa in terms of the star from Matariki and pleiades So Kyle is one of those that we are reminded again of his tragic passing in this area," said Reweti Carole was flanked by Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson and one of Whorrall's flatmates as she shovelled dirt onto the base of the tree She softly commented that she enjoyed gardening as the sun shone down on her in St Johns Bush Others shared a poem or short tribute to Whorrall's life and the tragedy that it was cut short Ōrākei Local Board chairperson Scott Milne said that in times of tragedy it was important to "look at the good stuff" and find moments of connection with one another "We have now forged a relationship across the waters This family will come back to see this tree thrive and out of that tragedy we will find good," he said He told Te Karere the tragedy had "turned our community upside down" "Yet in the matter of a few short weeks the community have come together certainly like nothing I have ever seen before "There is just this deep disappointment and we all feel so privileged to live here He said he hoped over time the grief would "turn to healing" and that Carole would continue to come back and see the tree flourish and grow "People understand they have to talk more to each other watch out for one another and we want to make something of this lovely young man's life by changing our attitude." He said the board had worked hard to build relationships over the past six years "The relationship with Ngāti Whātua is deeply personal and important to this board A 16-year-old youth has been remanded in custody after being charged with his murder and a 32-year-old woman was also charged with being an accessory to murder after the fact Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin said the investigation was "by no means over" as police believed "there were other occupants in the vehicle" when Whorrall was attacked He said officers have since seized a black SUV on the North Shore It was being forensically examined by police "Our enquiries are ongoing to locate these persons of interest and I encourage them to do the right thing and come into their nearest police station or phone us." The detective inspector said police were also seeking "critical witnesses" including a white Toyota ute that was cut off by the black SUV doing a U-turn in front of them He said police were still working to fully understand the events leading up to his death Vandals in four-wheel drives have mown down 38 pōhutukawa trees on Napier’s Marine Parade The damage was done overnight on Saturday after the vandals first removed new vehicle barriers in front of the trees She said the council was concerned at the behaviour and said an early estimate to replace the damage came to $20,000 "These trees were planted for our community by the Rotary Club as a gift over the past five years," Wise said "There are lots of community groups who work alongside us to make sure Napier has places and spaces that are beautiful and welcoming and Rotary is a key partner in projects like this one "It is heartbreaking to see community resources time and energy treated in this way," she said "The damage was done by people in 4WD vehicles after removing the vehicle barriers and driving over the trees Our parks' team is looking closely at the cost to replace them and at how to ensure the trees are kept safe." recently erected along Marine Parade to keep vehicles off the beach but there was no evidence to suggest the vandalism was related to that to be installed from the National Aquarium of NZ to the Pump Track were to prevent vehicles from tearing up the grass and destroying trees fishermen profiled in a Hawke’s Bay Today article last week said it was a case of blocking their access to prevent "idiots" "It’s not going to stop the idiots doing the damage," one noted Napier City Council has reported the incident to police Local Democracy Reporting is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air The Department of Conservation has apologised to Nelson City Council and members of the public after non-toxic pellets left behind following a drone trial sparked concern among residents who believed them to be poisonous The incident unfolded following a drone-based experiment conducted last week at the Wakapuaka sandflats located northeast of Nelson DOC terrestrial biodiversity director Hilary Aikman said the trial was part of an ongoing study to test the effectiveness of aerial detection methods "They used non-toxic pellets for this research dyed blue to make them easier to see," she said a drone was used to photograph the area where the pellets lay leading to a member of the public walking their dog reporting them to Nelson City Council on Monday The council issued a warning shortly before 3pm yesterday that green or blue poisonous pellets which were "highly toxic" to animals and humans had been located in the area "There is no indication of how they got there and the matter has been reported to the police," said community services group manager Andrew White in a statement to 1News last night once DOC had clarified the origin and nature of the pellets the council said this morning that the issue had been resolved "The area is safe for recreational users and dog walkers." Aikman said DOC would like to apologise to Nelson City Council and members of the public "We acknowledge the non-toxic pellets should have been removed on the day of the trial and we made an error in judgement by leaving them there." The team would remove any pellets remaining in the area today Former police commissioner Mike Bush has been tasked with leading one Australian state's troubled force out of the mire after months of internal woes Bush has been named Victoria's next chief commissioner and will take over on June 27 Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan said her government had "picked the right man for the job," pointing to his job performance across the ditch "Mike Bush will bring new leadership to Victoria Police," she told reporters "He made the community safer in New Zealand and he'll make the community safer in Victoria." Opposition police spokesperson in Victoria said the new commissioner must not be set up to fail and be able to carry out the job without political interference and the powers required to do the job effectively," Southwick said Bush retired from the New Zealand police force in 2020 after six years in the top job Victoria Police was thrust into leadership turmoil in February with a no-confidence vote from officers costing chief commissioner Shane Patton his job The state government installed Emergency Management Commissioner Rick Nugent as acting chief while it searched for a replacement Nugent was viewed as a frontrunner for the vacant role but pulled out after admitting he didn't have the drive to commit to a five-year term The force has not appointed a top cop from outside Victoria Police since former NSW police assistant commissioner Christine Nixon in 2001 Nixon described Bush as a calm and considered leader "He'll be very focused on working with the Victorian community members of Victoria Police and the government to .. push things to the future," she told ABC Radio Melbourne Bush joined the New Zealand police in 1978 spending his career on the frontline and the criminal investigation branch Bush oversaw the police response to the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings led the force during the Covid-19 pandemic and the Whakaari volcano eruption he became a private investigator and ran his own international consulting firm Bush made headlines in 2022 when he unsuccessfully applied to become the head of the Metropolitan Police in the UK and it was uncovered he had a drink-driving conviction He was a 23-year-old detective constable at the time and disqualified from driving for six months The government is making it harder to make a claim for pay equity that will cut costs There have been massive pay equity claims in recent years for nurses and resthome workers Workplace Minister Brooke van Velden announced the moves to raise the threshold for proving work has been historically undervalued to support a claim on Tuesday saying changes back in 2020 had created problems "Claims have been able to progress without strong evidence of undervaluation and there have been very broad claims where it is difficult to tell whether differences in pay are due to sex-based discrimination or other factors." Claims were concentrated in the public sector with costs to the Crown of all settlements so far totalling $1.78 billion a year "The changes I am proposing will significantly reduce costs to the Crown," she said "The changes will discontinue current pay equity claims." Van Velden told Midday Report she believes in pay equity but the current thresholds were "a bit too loose" Asked how she ensure women were not hurt by this the minister said "I'm a woman and I support women who work" "I also support removing gender based discriminations from our workforces but what I don't support are muddied laws and unclear laws," she said "So these changes are better for all women who are working where we can genuinely say hand on heart that what they are finding with their claims is genuine gender based discrimination." Van Velden told reporters at Parliament any current claims would be stopped and need to restart under the new threshold to show "genuine" gender discrimination and make sure the comparators were right She gave a figure of 33 current claims that would be stopped as the legislation was put through under urgency "You have librarians who've been comparing themselves to transport engineers We have admin and clerical staff at Health New Zealand comparing themselves to mechanical engineers." Social workers had compared themselves to air traffic controllers "We don't believe we have that setting right." Any comparison would now be between female employees and male employees at the same employer "But you cannot go fishing for discrimination across the New Zealand workforce." All current settled claims would continue but the government was drawing "a line in the sand" "We're not stopping claims." The nurse's union has this year had at least 10 pay equity claims in play The PSA union has said pay equity claims and settlements had resulted in significant improvements in pay and working conditions for many workers The union said the changes would make it "impossible for people in female-dominated professions to be paid fairly" "Women across the country will pay the price for this," PSA national secretary Fleur Fitzsimons said "The government's changes today are a dark day for New Zealand women as the government says it will repeal the pay equity law and extinguish 33 existing claims in a constitutional overreach "The PSA is exploring all possible avenues to oppose these unconstitutional amendments and stop this attack on women We will not be deterred in our fight to achieve pay equity for all." "This is a blatant and shameful attack on women," New Zealand Nurses organisation chief executive Paul Goulter said "Women in workforces predominantly performed by female employees have been underpaid and undervalued for generations That is what pay equity claims seek to rectify," he said "This move by the government will widen the pay gap between men and women." The union had at least 10 pay current pay claims across Aged Care These cover many nurses and support workers The E tū union also called the changes an attack on women and a green light to pay them less for work of equal value The government was pulling the rug out from under a 13-year-long fight in aged care "These changes are not about evidence — they are about saving money by keeping women underpaid," national secretary Rachel Mackintosh said in a statement A number of unions have called a snap rally at Parliament at 1pm today in light of the announcement the Council of Trade Unions and representatives of other unions say they will be "protesting the government's attack on women and the destruction of progress on pay equity..." rnz.co.nz The National Party has introduced a new members' bill to ban social media for those aged under 16 Christopher Luxon announced the bill alongside National Tukituki MP Catherine Wedd this morning Wedd said the My Social Media Age-Appropriate Users Bill "puts the onus on social media companies to verify that someone is over the age of 16 before they access social media platforms" Key aspects of the Bill would include obligations for the social media platforms defence for providers to rely on reasonable verification measures regulatory oversight and a review after three years there are no legally enforceable age verification measures for social media platforms in New Zealand Members' bills are introduced by MPs who are not Ministers and need to be drawn from a ballot to be debated in Parliament Luxon said he was hopeful of gaining bipartisan support He had spoken with coalition partners ACT and NZ First about it but would let them speak about their position He said this was an issue he had been passionate about since 2018 and as a dad he felt the party needed to do more to keep young people safe from online harm We want to protect our kids from the harms of social media. That’s why today National has introduced a members bill to ban social media for kids under 16 years old. pic.twitter.com/TiQJs87DhQ "It's time that New Zealand acknowledged that for all the good things that come from social media it's not always a safe place for our young people to be and we need to do something about it." He said teachers and parents had raised issues with him including cyber bullying exposure to inappropriate content and exploitation and social media addiction "Social media should not be exempt from social responsibility and it is time we put the onus on these platforms," he said Wedd said social media was "an extraordinary resource" “As a mother of four children I feel very strongly that families and parents should be better supported when it comes to overseeing their children's online exposure The bill closely mirrors the approach taken in Australia which passed the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill in December 2024 At the end of last year, a 1News Verian Poll found more than two-thirds of New Zealand voters supported restricting social media access for under-16s The poll results showed that 68% backed introducing similar legislation in New Zealand as in Australia and 10% were undecided or preferred not to say National Party supporters and women showed the strongest support for the proposed restrictions while opposition was highest among 18-34-year-olds and men Wedd said "other jurisdictions are also taking action" "Texas recently passed legislation which bans under 18s from social media use and the UK the EU and Canada all have similar work in train," she said "This bill builds on National’s successful and successful cell phone ban in schools and reinforces the Government's commitment to setting our children up for success." Family First chief executive Bob McCoskrie welcomed the introduction of the Bill but questioned why it was not a government priority "or at the very least have a parliamentary and public discussion via a Select Committee process" "Family First thanks Catherine Wedd for drafting the Bill but once again calls on all the coalition parties in the Government (ACT and NZ First) to adopt the bill as a Government bill and ultimately walk the talk when it comes to protecting children online “This important discussion needs to be a priority for the Government and not left in a biscuit tin." Lady Gaga gave a free concert Saturday night in front of 2 million fans who poured onto Copacabana Beach for the biggest show of her career (...) Thank you for making history with me,” Lady Gaga told a screaming crowd kicked off the show at around 22.10pm local time with her 2011 song Bloody Mary Cries of joy rose from the tightly-packed fans who sang and danced shoulder-to-shoulder on the vast stretch of sand Concert organisers said 2.1 million people attended the show switching between an array of dresses including one with the colours of the Brazilian flag Some fans – many of them young – arrived on the beach at the crack of dawn to secure a good spot “Today is the best day of my life,” said Manoela Dobes a 27-year-old designer who was wearing a dress plastered with a photograph from when she met Lady Gaga in the United States in 2019 Madonna also turned Copacabana Beach into a massive dance floor last year The large-scale performances are part of an effort led by City Hall to boost economic activity after Carnival and New Years’ Eve festivities and the upcoming month-long Saint John’s Day celebrations in June “It brings activity to the city during what was previously considered the low season – filling hotels and increasing spending in bars generating jobs and income for the population,” said Osmar Lima the city’s secretary of economic development in a statement released by Rio City Hall’s tourism department last month Rio’s City Hall said in a recent report that around 1.6 million people were expected to attend Lady Gaga's concert and that the show should inject at least 600 million reais (NZ$178.3 million) into Rio’s economy Similar concerts are scheduled to take place every year in May at least until 2028 Lady Gaga arrived in Rio in the early hours of Tuesday The city has been alive with Gaga-mania since as it geared up to welcome the pop star for her first show in the country since 2012 Rio’s metro employees danced to Lady Gaga’s 2008 hit song LoveGame and gave instructions for today in a video A free exhibition celebrating her career sold out While the vast majority of attendees were from Rio the event also attracted Brazilians from across the country and international visitors More than 500,000 tourists poured into the city in the days leading up to the show according to data from the local bus station and Tom Jobim airport Rio’s City Hall said in a statement yesterday made a cross-continent trip from Colombia to Brazil to attend the show “I’ve been a 100% fan of Lady Gaga my whole life,” said Serrano who was wearing a T-shirt featuring Lady Gaga’s outlandish costumes over the years the mega-star represents “total freedom of expression – being who one wants without shame” Rio officials have a history of organising huge concerts on Copacabana Beach Madonna’s show drew an estimated 1.6 million fans last year while 4 million people flooded onto the beach for a 1994 New Year’s Eve show by Rod Stewart in 1994 that was the biggest free rock concert in history sixteen sound towers were spread along the beach Rio state’s security plan included the presence of 3300 military and 1500 police officers Among those present were Lady Gaga admirers who remember their disappointment in 2017 when the artist cancelled a performance scheduled in Rio at the last minute due to health issues “She's the best artist in the world,” the 25-year-old said I love you” in Portuguese rose from the crowd behind him whose real name is Ella Yelich O'Connor which also displayed what appears to be the album cover art — an X-ray of a pelvis "100% written in blood," the website read The new album's announcement came a week after she released her latest single What Was That The song's music video was filmed at a mysterious pop-up event in New York City's Washington Square Park that was initially shut down by police. The event ended up going ahead after all, and fans who stayed got to hear the new song for the first time. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lorde (@lorde) It was the first sign of a follow-up to Lorde's previous album Her other albums were 2013's Pure Heroine and 2017's Melodrama she collaborated with British singer Charli XCX on a remix of Girl so confusing — on a re-release of the Grammy award-winning Brat Kim Kardashian thought she was going to be raped and killed when criminals broke into her bedroom in central Paris tied her up and stole more than US$6 million in jewellery 10 people will go on trial in Paris over the robbery abduction and kidnapping of the media personality and the concierge of the residence where she was staying during Paris Fashion Week the night of October 2 Kardashian’s lawyers said she will testify in person at the trial starting Monday and scheduled to run through May 23 "Ms Kardashian is reserving her testimony for the court and jury and does not wish to elaborate further at this time," they said "She has great respect and admiration for the French justice system and has been treated with great respect by the French authorities "She wishes the trial to proceed in an orderly fashion in accordance with French law and with respect for all parties to the case." In interviews and on her family’s reality TV show Kardashian has described being terrified as robbers pointed a gun at her In a 2020 appearance on David Letterman’s Netflix show she tearfully recalled thinking: "This is the time I’m going to get raped Twelve people were originally expected in the defendants’ box and another is seriously ill and can't be tried five of the 10 defendants were present at the scene of the robbery The French press has dubbed them The Granddad Robbers because the main defendants are elderly and have careers as bank robbers with long criminal records Kardashian told investigators she was taken to a bathroom next to her bedroom and placed in the bathtub Her attackers fled on bicycles or on foot and she managed to free herself by removing the tape from her hands and mouth She had also removed the tape from her feet and rushed to her stylist’s room She called her sister Kourtney to tell her about the theft Kardashian told investigators that she had not been injured adding that she wanted to leave France as soon as possible to be reunited with her children According to her testimony and that of the concierge at least one of the suspects had a handgun The gangsters stole many pieces of jewellery estimated to be worth more than US$6 million (NZ$10 million) Only one piece of jewellery — a diamond cross on platinum that was lost during the suspects' escape — has been recovered Two of the accused have partially confessed to the crime is one of two suspected robbers who allegedly entered the apartment his genetic profile was found on the tape used to gag Kardashian who was waiting for him in a parked car at a nearby train station The second robber said he tied up the concierge with cables but did not go up to Kardashian’s apartment said he acted as a lookout in the ground-floor reception area He said he was unarmed and did not personally threaten Kardashian but admitted he shared responsibility for the crime Abbas was arrested in January 2017 and spent 21 months in prison before being released under judicial supervision he co-authored a French-language book titled I Sequestered Kim Kardashian is the second alleged robber suspected of entering the flat although he was filmed by CCTV cameras and numerous telephone contacts with the other co-defendants show his involvement The other defendants are suspected of providing information about Kardashian’s presence in the apartment Others are accused of playing a role in the resale of the jewellery in Antwerp Joe Cocker and Bad Company will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame — in a class that also includes pop star Cyndi Lauper the rock duo the White Stripes and grunge masters Soundgarden the first female rap act to achieve gold and platinum status and the late singer-songwriter Warren Zevon will get the Musical Influence Award pianist Nicky Hopkins and bassist Carol Kaye will each get the Musical Excellence Award who sang at Woodstock and was best known for his cover of The Beatles’ With a Little Help From My Friends a member of Elvis Costello & The Attractions who argued that Cocker is "about as rock and roll as it gets" Soundgarden — with the late Chris Cornell as singer — get into the Hall on their third nomination They follow two other grunge acts in the Hall — Nirvana and Pearl Jam Bad Company get in having become radio fixtures with such arena-rock staples as Feel Like Makin’ Love Can’t Get Enough and Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy The Ahmet Ertegun Award — given to nonperforming industry professionals who had a major influence on music — will go to Lenny Waronker Some nominees that didn't get in this year included Mariah Carey and subsequent Let’s Twist Again are considered among the most popular songs in the history of rock 'n' roll The 83-year-old has expressed frustration that he hadn't been granted entry before including telling the AP in 2014: "I don’t want to get in there when I’m 85 years old so you better do it quick while I’m still smiling." Lauper rose to fame in the 1980s with hits such as Time After Time and Girls Just Want To Have Fun and went on to win a Tony Award for Kinky Boots have six Grammys and a reputation for pushing the boundaries of hip-hop The White Stripes — made up of Jack White and Meg White — were indie darlings in the early 2000s with such songs as Seven Nation Army Artists must have released their first commercial recording at least 25 years before they’re eligible for induction The induction ceremony will take place in Los Angeles this fall Nominees were voted on by more than 1200 artists historians and music industry professionals The selection criteria include "an artist’s impact on other musicians the scope and longevity of their career and body of work as well as their innovation and excellence in style and technique" Dave Matthews Band and singer-guitarist Peter Frampton were inducted By ZOE HARDY A former binge-drinking DJ who weighed over 22 stone has revealed he shed a colossal amount weight in just one year by ditching ultra processed foods lost a mammoth 7st 8lb after realising he had 'no control' over his eating and drinking habits The former DJ said he used to only eat unhealthy processed meals starting the day with croissants before snacking on sweets and crisps and ending on a takeaway 'I just couldn't look after myself - I was drinking very heavily and had no control over my eating habits as well' whether that was trying to make beats or smoking I was waking up and not liking the person that I was looking at in the mirror after hitting rock bottom — regularly spending up to £350 a week on drugs and alcohol — he knew it was time to change his destructive habits Mr Willers put his weight and low mood down to his lifestyle which often saw him begin partying on a Wednesday and continue for the rest of the week Liam Willers weighed 22st 8lb before he decided something needed to change thanks improving his diet and regular exercise In a mark of how far he's come in his health journey he ran the 26.2 mile run London Marathon last month He said that admitting he had a problem was the hardest part of the journey Mr Willers began to turn things around with the help of his brother a personal trainer and fellow former DJ who gave up the career in pursuit of a healthier lifestyle 'He gave me the power to take that first step and sometimes that is all it takes to completely transform your life He started with a 'benchmark' of two 5-kilometer-long runs a week and completely changed his diet - swapping the takeaways for whole foods These are foods that like that are not or minimally processed like fresh fruit and vegetables and whole grains Mr Willers said changing his diet made the biggest difference in his transformation Just changing from an ultra-processed diet to a whole foods diet will make a massive impact,' he said Mr Willers now has a protein packed breakfast of eggs and sourdough bread snacks on fruit and oats to boost his fibre intake and has protein paired with either rice or potatoes for dinner After hitting rock-bottom and spending hundred of pounds on drugs and alcohol Mr Willers decided to enlist his brother's help Liam said when he was DJing and drinking he neglected his family He recalled how it was really hard to look at himself in the mirror and face family and friends which gave him the motivation he needed to slim down 'It wasn't long before my body began thanking me' he said 'I found it easier to get up in the morning so the results weren't massive to start with But I had a lot more energy and it aggressively snowballed from there,' he added He then began to train more with his brother starting with three at-home full-body sessions a week This combination of healthy eating and exercise completely changed his life providing him with the discipline and stamina to run this year's London Marathon 'The resistance band training led to me joining the gym and starting a weight training routine which built to a half marathon and then a marathon.' 'I now have quite the routine with a lot of discipline' He added that the mental transformation he experienced has had a much more profound impact on his life than his physical one 'My productivity levels almost ten-folded over night because I went from somebody that couldn't get up in the morning to waking up at 5am every single day,' he said Liam is now a partner at his brother's fitness coaching platform helping others to transform not only their physical appearance but their mental health too developed by scientists in Brazil more than a decade ago splits food into four groups based on the amount of processing it has gone through Processed culinary ingredients — which are usually not eaten alone — include oils 'When I was deep in the DJing and drinking I've now spent time rebuilding those relationships' he added Mr Willers now hopes to inspire other people looking to make a similar transformation but warns there are no shortcuts 'A lot of people don't originally start this journey because they're scared on failure' Just changing from an ultra-processed diet to a whole foods diet will make a massive impact which is the bread and butter foundation of my training it’s important to find something you enjoy and lean into that Mr Willers completed the London Marathon last month putting his incredible transformation down to a better diet A WOMAN has revealed that she felt sad and embarrassed when she weighed 27 stone so made the decision to start using Mounjaro In just under a year, thanks to weight loss injections but she’s now on a mission to drop an extra five stone too Prior to using Mounjaro, which is regarded by some as the King Kong of weight loss jabs After “hating” how she “looked and felt”, Chloe, who is from the UK, explained that using Mounjaro “has been life changing.” but she is now so “proud” of herself and her achievements At the start of Chloe’s short clip, we saw pictures of her prior to slimming down. Alongside the video, Chloe wrote: “Tomorrow will be a year since I started my Mounjaro journey…looking back on these pictures makes me feel sad and embarrassed.” Chloe claimed that she had “let herself go” and could see “so much sadness” in her eyes before she slimmed down. she “put on a brave face” but felt “dead inside.” As a result, Chloe knew that she “needed to make changes” and wanted to “better herself” for the sake of her mental health Chloe took the plunge and started using Monjaro as she wanted to “feel in control of her future” Later in the video, Chloe, who is just one in around half a million Brits use weight loss drugs shared a series of selfies after losing the weight and confirmed that she “felt like a different person” and saw her “confidence and self esteem” grow Not only did she see “real changes”, but these were not just physical Thrilled with her new physique and slimmed down appearance Chloe beamed: “I started to see a spark behind my eyes.” The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @mounjaro.withchloe as it has quickly racked up 409,700 views in just three days Social media users were gobsmacked by Chloe’s incredible weight loss and many eagerly rushed to praise her jaw-dropping glow up Another added: “You look absolutely phenomenal.” Not only this, but someone else chimed in: “Omg you look like the daughter of the before picture now.” Although many were impressed with Chloe’s weight loss, those debating whether to start using Mounjaro should know that it can have fatal consequences And experts and NHS medics have shared a stern warning about the dangers of taking such medications without a prescription Common side effects of injections such as Ozempic include: Nausea: This is the most commonly reported side effect especially when first starting the medication It often decreases over time as your body adjusts Diarrhea: Some people experience gastrointestinal upset Constipation: Some individuals may also experience constipation Stomach pain or discomfort: Some people may experience abdominal pain or discomfort Reduced appetite: This is often a desired effect for people using Ozempic for weight loss Indigestion: Can cause a feeling of bloating or discomfort after eating Ozempic may increase the risk of inflammation of the pancreas Kidney problems: There have been reports of kidney issues Thyroid tumors: There’s a potential increased risk of thyroid cancer although this risk is based on animal studies but people with a history of thyroid cancer should avoid Ozempic Vision problems: Rapid changes in blood sugar levels may affect vision and some people have reported blurry vision when taking Ozempic Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar): Especially if used with other medications like sulfonylureas or insulin Sun GP Dr Zoe Williams acknowledged that Mounjaro, which could soon be rolled out on the NHS, can save the lives of people with “life-threatening levels of obesity.” But despite this, the NHS advised people to “never take an anti-obesity medicine if it has not been prescribed to you.” The NHS warned: "These types of medicines may not be safe for you and can cause serious side effects.” Mounjaro works by suppressing your appetite The injections, which are administered every seven days, are licensed for patients with type 2 diabetes They are also available to assist those who are clinically obese (with a Body Mass Index of 30 or over) The drugs, which have been widely regarded as ‘fat jabs’ can be prescribed by a practitioner - such as a doctor But increasingly, we are seeing more and more people buying them through online pharmacies Not only this, but recently, figures from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency revealed that fat jabs had been linked to 82 deaths across the UK Following the death of a man from Burton upon Trent, Staffs, who died after taking Mounjaro, his family are now calling for a probe into the jab's "potential to kill." Sign up for our daily Newsletter and stay up to date with all the latest news You are receiving this pop-up because this is the first time you are visiting our site You are using software which is blocking our advertisements (adblocker) we are relying on revenues from our banners So please disable your adblocker and reload the page to continue using this site.Thanks Summer organic fruits are coming on in California "The timing is mostly on track," says Brenda Haught "There is some slight variability depending on weather—especially for stone fruit and melons We need some heat to size and ripen up the fruit." Cherries: The crop is lighter than average this season "We had a small rain event after the first harvest of the season but it's looking like it didn't have much of an impact," says Creekside's co-CEO It's expected that in the next one to two weeks California organic cherry season will hit its stride "It's a very short window in California—just six to eight weeks Fruit firmness and flavor are great so far this year given how tight the market is," says Kaprielian Apricots: "We're seeing a stronger set than average—it's looking like a great crop," says Kaprielian recently certified as a Women's Business Enterprise (WBE) by the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) will finish out the season," adds Kaprielian noting that the apricots will be sold in a variety of pack styles including cardboard punnets and open pint "ReadyCycle" packs the Mexican mini-watermelon season is winding down after a tight winter production kicks off the third week of May then moving to Bakersfield and then Mendota and seeded watermelons under its Capay Organic and Creekside labels "Fruit is sizing up nicely—timing remains weather-dependent," says Ashley Berlinger "Consumers are excited to shift from citrus into stone fruit," says Kaprielian adding that melons are also seeing growing interest as shoppers start planning for summer gatherings This leaves cherry and apricot pricing slightly stronger than last year and opportunities for promotions are expected during peak apricot season with opportunities for promotions mid-season warm weather temperatures are expected to accelerate ripening This summer season is the first as a newly merged company–in January Fruit World and Creekside Organics announced a 50-50 merger and improved our ability to serve retail partners with consistent high-quality organic produce," says Haught adding that cherries and apricots will be under the new Fruit World branding "The organic market continues pushing for higher quality standards and year-round availability—all of which require careful planning FreshPublishers © 2005-2025 FreshPlaza.com Global law firm White & Case LLP has expanded its Global Intellectual Property Practice in London with a team led by partner David Stone and that includes partners Karla Hughes and Adrian Dykes "The largest intellectual property disputes are often fought in parallel in the US and EMEA so the addition of an elite team of intellectual property litigators in London led by David Stone will be of huge benefit to our global clients," said White & Case partner Yar Chaikovsky Head of the Firm's Global Intellectual Property Practice "Coupled with our leading intellectual property litigation practice in the US our enhanced cross-Atlantic capability will further strengthen White & Case as the go-to firm for international intellectual property litigation." David is an intellectual property litigator and solicitor advocate who advises clients on trade marks registered and unregistered designs and copyright law issues before the High Court of England and Wales and the Court of Justice of the European Union He also sits part time as a Deputy High Court Judge hearing cases in the Chancery Division of the High Court including the Patents Court and the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court David brings nearly 30 years of experience and joins White & Case from A&O Shearman where he was a partner and previously global head of intellectual property at legacy Allen & Overy Karla advises clients on trade marks and design law matters before the European Union Intellectual Property Office UK Intellectual Property Office and the Court of Justice of the European Union as well as advising clients through the lifecycle of their brands on portfolio management clearance and multi-jurisdictional disputes Karla joins White & Case from A&O Shearman where she was head of trade mark and design prosecution Adrian advises clients on contentious and non-contentious intellectual property law matters copyright and registered and unregistered designs and advertising law including global trade mark portfolio management and enforcement He has represented clients before the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court the High Court and Court of Appeal of England and Wales and the European Union Intellectual Property Office and UK Intellectual Property Office Adrian joins White & Case from A&O Shearman "This is a great team that can hit the ground running advising clients on the full spectrum of their contentious intellectual property matters," said Inigo Esteve White & Case Office Executive Partner in London "David is a market leading intellectual property partner with in-house as well as extensive litigation experience will be a major asset to the Firm."White & Case partner and Vice Chair Oliver Brettle said: "The growth of our disputes practices globally remains a strategic focus for the Firm and this includes intellectual property litigation Since the arrival of partners Yar Chaikovsky and Phil Ou in Silicon Valley and Anna Naydonov in Washington DC at the start of 2023 we have been building out our intellectual property practice harnessing our global footprint which provides a unique platform on which to build a strong practice that spans all our regions Due to the importance of English law for international companies London is a central component to that practice." Karla and Adrian follows the addition of intellectual property and disputes partner Shinsuke Yakura in Tokyo in September 2024 and the arrival of intellectual property partners Melissa Anyetei in Chicago Adam Greenfield and Mark Davies in Washington Bethany Hills and Sapna Palla in New York and Michael Evans in London in 2024 White & Case welcomed intellectual property partners David Okano and Bruce Yen in Silicon Valley Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome As Elton John and Brandi Carlile grace the cover of Rolling Stone UK the pair have both shared their key tips for making it as a new artist – while Elton discusses how music saved his life The pair grace the April/May issue of Rolling Stone UK (order your copy here) to discuss Who Believes In Angels? their anticipated joint album which arrives later this month While they’re both legendary musicians in their own right Elton says it’s playing live that will help emerging talents hone their craft on the way to greatness That’s the way you improve as a musician and songwriter It doesn’t matter if you’re playing to 40 people The more experience you get playing to nobody we played to hardly anybody sometimes,” said Elton. “That experience stood me in great stead for when I became Elton John because I had backbone because the worst thing that can happen to you in the industry are things like X Factor and instant fame on television where you have no experience of playing live Go and play in a pub.” ” it’s a close-knit group that can help artists elevate their talent Although I do listen to jazz and stuff like that but it’s the music of the future that keeps me alive,” Elton said Elton said of Brandi: “I love her so much and not just as a person but I love what’s inside of her musically and creatively And it hasn’t really touched the surface and she’s done a hell of a lot to be an embryo but she’s going to just burst.” Taken from the current issue of Rolling Stone UK. You can buy it here. Rolling Stone UK is published by Stream Publishing Ltd Welcome to BirdLife International en As a global Partnership We have translated as much content in your language as our resources allow Please visit the English language site to view all of our content After 40 years of dedicated conservation efforts the Stone-curlew is making a remarkable return to the UK a shy and peculiar looking sandy-brown bird was once a common sight in England during the spring and summer months with only 150 breeding pairs remaining. The decline of this species was primarily driven by habitat loss where they find an abundant supply of insects to eat. As traditional grasslands and heathland disappeared Stone-curlews were forced to nest on cultivated land where their eggs and chicks faced significant threats from intensified farming practices and pesticides. launched two conservation initiatives in partnership with Natural England and with government support These initiatives focused on creating special nesting plots within farmland ensuring eggs and chicks could remain undisturbed and protected. 207 farms and landowners across southern and eastern England are part of this initiative providing around 305 nesting plots monitored by RSPB volunteers hundreds of hectares of grass heathland have been restored or created in collaboration with various partners re-establishing ideal breeding conditions for the species. the number of breeding pairs in southern England has surged from around 30 in 1985 to approximately 120 pairs today an impressive 70% of all confirmed breeding attempts in southern England took place on specially created nesting plots funded through government agri-environment schemes the population has grown from fewer than 100 breeding pairs in 1985 to 226 in 2024. The outstanding recovery of the Stone-curlew is a testament to what can be achieved when conservation groups With well-designed agri-environment schemes wildlife can thrive alongside sustainable farming the RSPB has launched a petition calling on the UK Government to guarantee long-term support for farmers who help protect nature we can create a future where both people and nature flourish. Cover picture by Wildlife World/Shutterstock This article was originally published by our UK Partner RSBP. Do you want to show your loved ones that you care about them during these holidays but you do not know what could be the perfect gift? Fear no more, the ultimate gift for bird lovers (and those to be) lays before you. Among Europe’s migratory raptors, the Red-footed Falcon (Falco vespertinus) stands out with its striking colours and unique migration patterns. Unlike many raptors, Red-footed Falcons are social birds, often migrating in flocks and even roosting together during migration and wintering season. The acrobatic pirate of the sky is our migratory bird of the month. This beautiful seabird has a slight problem with kleptomania, read all about it!