Friday, June 12, 2015
Shark killed in truck accident
A shark being transported from Florida to an aquarium in New York died after sustaining injuries when the truck carrying the fish experienced a blowout, authorities say. Three other sharks that were also in the semi-trailer truck at the time of the incident were unharmed and safely transferred to SeaWorld Orlando.
A spokesperson with the Florida Highway Patrol said the incident happened at around 2:24pm on Wednesday near Edgewater.
Early reports from authorities indicated that there was a total of five sandbar sharks inside the truck. FHP later corrected that number, from five to four. Troopers said the truck was travelling northbound when it experienced a right, front tyre tread separation and then travelled into the median. The driver attempted to maintain control of the truck, but as the vehicle went off the road, it became too bumpy and resulted in fatal injuries to one of the sharks after it was thrown out of its tank.
No other vehicles were involved, and the driver and two passengers were not harmed. The three sharks that survived the crash appear to be okay. "They're in good condition. The rest are well and appear to be in good health," said Jim Kinsler, Assistant Curator of Fishes at SeaWorld Orlando. "We'll care for them until future plans are made to take them on the rest of their journey." Crews cut down trees surrounding the truck so that it could be towed from the scene.
YouTube link.
The team from SeaWorld Orlando carried each shark from the truck to a special vehicle brought over from Orlando. "Sharks require good water conditions and appropriate space and care during the transport. With our expertise and equipment and knowledge, that's what will make a successful transport," Kinsler added. The trailer is owned by Dynasty Marine Transportation, Inc. out of Marathon, Florida and was transporting the sharks to the New York Aquarium on Coney Island. A spokesperson with SeaWorld Orlando said it is not yet known how long the sharks will be staying at their facility.
Early reports from authorities indicated that there was a total of five sandbar sharks inside the truck. FHP later corrected that number, from five to four. Troopers said the truck was travelling northbound when it experienced a right, front tyre tread separation and then travelled into the median. The driver attempted to maintain control of the truck, but as the vehicle went off the road, it became too bumpy and resulted in fatal injuries to one of the sharks after it was thrown out of its tank.
No other vehicles were involved, and the driver and two passengers were not harmed. The three sharks that survived the crash appear to be okay. "They're in good condition. The rest are well and appear to be in good health," said Jim Kinsler, Assistant Curator of Fishes at SeaWorld Orlando. "We'll care for them until future plans are made to take them on the rest of their journey." Crews cut down trees surrounding the truck so that it could be towed from the scene.
YouTube link.
The team from SeaWorld Orlando carried each shark from the truck to a special vehicle brought over from Orlando. "Sharks require good water conditions and appropriate space and care during the transport. With our expertise and equipment and knowledge, that's what will make a successful transport," Kinsler added. The trailer is owned by Dynasty Marine Transportation, Inc. out of Marathon, Florida and was transporting the sharks to the New York Aquarium on Coney Island. A spokesperson with SeaWorld Orlando said it is not yet known how long the sharks will be staying at their facility.
Mother charged with leaving children in hot car while turning herself in for leaving child in hot car
A mother from Henrico, Virginia, was charged with three counts of contributing to the delinquency or abuse of child after police said she left her children, ages six and one, inside her hot car outside the Henrico County Courthouse. Laquanda Newby, 25, arrived at court on Monday to turn herself in for a previous situation that involved leaving a child in the car.
On May 26, Newby was initially accused of leaving a child in her car while she shopped at the Sam’s Club at White Oak Village. When police arrived they found Newby by her car, but could not arrest her because the officer had not witnessed the alleged crime. Instead, the officer swore out a warrant if Newby promised to later turn herself in.
When Newby turned herself in, police said she again left children in her car. Deputies could not say how long the two children were inside the car, but surveillance video showed it was more than an hour. The car’s windows were closed and the car keys were left on the floorboard, police said. Temperatures hit the 90s on Monday.
“Had a citizen not alerted us to this, it’s a situation that would’ve turned out much differently,” Henrico Sheriff’s Capt. David Kinkle said. “Their shirts were wet, sweat rolling off their brows,” Kinkle added. “They seemed to be okay, but it was very hot.” Deputies took the children inside the courts building and gave them water and snacks until their dad picked them up. Newby was booked in the Henrico Jail. Her bond was later denied.
With news video.
On May 26, Newby was initially accused of leaving a child in her car while she shopped at the Sam’s Club at White Oak Village. When police arrived they found Newby by her car, but could not arrest her because the officer had not witnessed the alleged crime. Instead, the officer swore out a warrant if Newby promised to later turn herself in.
When Newby turned herself in, police said she again left children in her car. Deputies could not say how long the two children were inside the car, but surveillance video showed it was more than an hour. The car’s windows were closed and the car keys were left on the floorboard, police said. Temperatures hit the 90s on Monday.
“Had a citizen not alerted us to this, it’s a situation that would’ve turned out much differently,” Henrico Sheriff’s Capt. David Kinkle said. “Their shirts were wet, sweat rolling off their brows,” Kinkle added. “They seemed to be okay, but it was very hot.” Deputies took the children inside the courts building and gave them water and snacks until their dad picked them up. Newby was booked in the Henrico Jail. Her bond was later denied.
With news video.
Turkish policeman sentenced to plant trees for teargas attack on lady in red
A Turkish policeman who teargassed a woman in a red dress two years ago was found guilty on Wednesday of misconduct and ordered by a court to plant 600 trees.
The images of the "lady in red", her hair billowing upwards as officer Fatih Zengin sprayed teargas in her face, later became a symbol of anti-government protests.
Zengin's sentence appeared to contain a deliberate irony. The protests, which began as a bid to stop the redevelopment of Gezi Park in central Istanbul, were dismissed by the government at the time as "nothing to do with trees".
The demonstrations spiralled into the worst anti-government unrest for years, spreading to cities around the country. The Istanbul court handed down a suspended sentence of 20 months in jail, which Zengin will only serve if he repeats the offence in the next five years. He will, however, be responsible for the young trees for six months after planting them.
The images of the "lady in red", her hair billowing upwards as officer Fatih Zengin sprayed teargas in her face, later became a symbol of anti-government protests.
Zengin's sentence appeared to contain a deliberate irony. The protests, which began as a bid to stop the redevelopment of Gezi Park in central Istanbul, were dismissed by the government at the time as "nothing to do with trees".
The demonstrations spiralled into the worst anti-government unrest for years, spreading to cities around the country. The Istanbul court handed down a suspended sentence of 20 months in jail, which Zengin will only serve if he repeats the offence in the next five years. He will, however, be responsible for the young trees for six months after planting them.
Officials say keeping busy tunnel closed for 45 minutes after man had a poo was justified
Transport officials say they were justified in keeping a tunnel in central Wellington, New Zealand, closed for 45 minutes on Thursday morning after a man was caught defecating inside it.
However, the New Zealand Transport Agency says it will now review its response times.
The busy commuter tunnel, which forms part of State Highway 1 through the city, had been scheduled to reopen at 6am on Thursday after being closed for routine maintenance overnight. But just as it was about to reopen, a man jumped down from the walkway and answered the call of nature. A cleanup crew had to be called in, delaying the reopening until 6.45am.
NZTA regional performance manager Mark Owen said the incident happened after the overnight tunnel crew had packed up, and another crew had to be called in to deal with what he called a hygiene and road safety issue. "At the end of the day, this is an unusual and isolated case in which an irresponsible act resulted in a slight delay to a scheduled tunnel reopening," Owen said.
"We'll be looking into whether response times could be improved, although we're hoping there isn't a next time. Effluent of any kind can be dangerous to road users like motorcyclists, as it makes the road surface slippery. This can be especially hazardous inside a tunnel, and we had a responsibility to ensure that the road surface was safe before opening the tunnel to motorists," Owen said. Police said the defecating man was drunk and was taken home without any apparent injuries.
The busy commuter tunnel, which forms part of State Highway 1 through the city, had been scheduled to reopen at 6am on Thursday after being closed for routine maintenance overnight. But just as it was about to reopen, a man jumped down from the walkway and answered the call of nature. A cleanup crew had to be called in, delaying the reopening until 6.45am.
NZTA regional performance manager Mark Owen said the incident happened after the overnight tunnel crew had packed up, and another crew had to be called in to deal with what he called a hygiene and road safety issue. "At the end of the day, this is an unusual and isolated case in which an irresponsible act resulted in a slight delay to a scheduled tunnel reopening," Owen said.
"We'll be looking into whether response times could be improved, although we're hoping there isn't a next time. Effluent of any kind can be dangerous to road users like motorcyclists, as it makes the road surface slippery. This can be especially hazardous inside a tunnel, and we had a responsibility to ensure that the road surface was safe before opening the tunnel to motorists," Owen said. Police said the defecating man was drunk and was taken home without any apparent injuries.
Tomb raiding gang resold stolen plots
Police in Naples, Italy, have uncovered a gang who allegedly made a killing from emptying graves of their human remains and reselling the plots.
For more than five years the gang have managed to tap into the lucrative burial plot market at one of Europe's largest cemeteries.
The gang would empty tombs and chapels, some of them dating back to the 19th century, at Pioggioreale cemetery and dispose of the human remains, before selling the plots for thousands of euros.
Police caught wind of the grave goings-on in 2012, when a family pressed charges after returning to the city to find their loved one's burial plot occupied by a newly restored chapel complete with gate. Roberto D'Auria, the judge in charge of preliminary investigations, said the gang had an elaborate system worked out that involved a “circle of informers.” It was made up of a notary, who is accused of providing false deeds for the plots, as well as two owners of a local funeral parlour.
Fourteen others were also involved, including employees of the city council who were responsible for finding forgotten tombs that were fit for “recycling". Public prosecutor Vincenzo Piscitelli highlighted the grim reality of “recycling”, stating that it involved more than giving an old tomb a lick of paint. “Above all else, the tombs needed to be emptied of their human remains, which were then disposed of who knows where,” he said. Once the gang had identified, emptied and restored a tomb, it was ready to be sold. Some of the plots were sold online.
One gigantic burial chapel that was seized by the police had been placed online with an asking price of €800,000. Pioggioreale is the biggest cemetery in Naples and one of the largest in Europe. Laws currently prohibit the private sale of funeral plots. Owners wishing to give up their spot must inform the local authority, who will reallocate the space and collect a fee. The high cost of burial plots in Naples means that grave robbing is a lucrative business. It costs between €10,000 and €50,000 for a plot – and even then, there's no guarantee it will be an eternal resting place.
Police caught wind of the grave goings-on in 2012, when a family pressed charges after returning to the city to find their loved one's burial plot occupied by a newly restored chapel complete with gate. Roberto D'Auria, the judge in charge of preliminary investigations, said the gang had an elaborate system worked out that involved a “circle of informers.” It was made up of a notary, who is accused of providing false deeds for the plots, as well as two owners of a local funeral parlour.
Fourteen others were also involved, including employees of the city council who were responsible for finding forgotten tombs that were fit for “recycling". Public prosecutor Vincenzo Piscitelli highlighted the grim reality of “recycling”, stating that it involved more than giving an old tomb a lick of paint. “Above all else, the tombs needed to be emptied of their human remains, which were then disposed of who knows where,” he said. Once the gang had identified, emptied and restored a tomb, it was ready to be sold. Some of the plots were sold online.
One gigantic burial chapel that was seized by the police had been placed online with an asking price of €800,000. Pioggioreale is the biggest cemetery in Naples and one of the largest in Europe. Laws currently prohibit the private sale of funeral plots. Owners wishing to give up their spot must inform the local authority, who will reallocate the space and collect a fee. The high cost of burial plots in Naples means that grave robbing is a lucrative business. It costs between €10,000 and €50,000 for a plot – and even then, there's no guarantee it will be an eternal resting place.
Brothel offering free sex in tax protest
A licensed brothel in Salzburg, Austria, has started offering free drinks and free sex in a protest against what its owner says is unfair taxation.
It has been reported that the news “has spread like wildfire, with punters lining up to get inside”.
Salzburg’s “red light district king” Hermann ‘Pascha’ Müller, who owns the well-known Pascha brothel, says that he no longer wants to be “the tax office’s pimp”. German-born Müller says that he’s already had to “turn away hundreds of disappointed customers” as he has had a full house since the "summer special" went on offer.
He says that he plans to continue the offer for four to eight weeks. Drinks are on the house and Müller says that he is paying the prostitutes’ usual hourly rate out of his own pocket. "In the last decade I have paid taxes of almost €5 million,” Müller said. “The problem is, the tax office wants more and more, and they are not cracking down on illegal street and apartment prostitution.”
He said that the summer special would be offset by any profits made in his other establishments, and that Pasha would not be liable for any tax during the special offer. He complained that officials come to check up on the business at Pascha every 14 days. “They allow me no room for manoeuvre.” He added that he rejected any allegations that he is involved in tax evasion or human trafficking.
Salzburg’s “red light district king” Hermann ‘Pascha’ Müller, who owns the well-known Pascha brothel, says that he no longer wants to be “the tax office’s pimp”. German-born Müller says that he’s already had to “turn away hundreds of disappointed customers” as he has had a full house since the "summer special" went on offer.
He says that he plans to continue the offer for four to eight weeks. Drinks are on the house and Müller says that he is paying the prostitutes’ usual hourly rate out of his own pocket. "In the last decade I have paid taxes of almost €5 million,” Müller said. “The problem is, the tax office wants more and more, and they are not cracking down on illegal street and apartment prostitution.”
He said that the summer special would be offset by any profits made in his other establishments, and that Pasha would not be liable for any tax during the special offer. He complained that officials come to check up on the business at Pascha every 14 days. “They allow me no room for manoeuvre.” He added that he rejected any allegations that he is involved in tax evasion or human trafficking.
Pensioner’s life made a misery by banana skin-throwing prankster
A desperate pensioner plagued by a prankster throwing banana skins in to her garden has made a last-ditch appeal for police action.
Ann Quick, 88, who lives in Clitheroe, Lancashire, has been the victim of a 14-month-long harassment campaign where a cruel prankster has been throwing banana skins into her rear yard.
Now, police are stepping up patrols in the area and warning the prankster to stop being a nuisance.
Mother-of-two Ann, who moved to Clitheroe from Liverpool 11 years ago after her husband died, says “enough is enough” and no longer sees the funny side of this. “I enjoy living in Clitheroe and moved here to be closer to my daughter,” said Ann. “I keep myself to myself and have never bothered anyone. I first noticed the banana peels 14 months ago. At one time there were 22 on the roof of an outhouse in my rear yard. I had to climb a ladder and use a long brush to get rid of them. I just thought it was some school prankster who finds it funny. However, this has continued and it is now making my life a misery.”
Ann, who has four grandchildren, added: “I am 88 years old and suffer from osteoporosis. It takes one banana peel for me to slip and that’s it, I will suffer serious injuries. My neighbours have also discovered banana peels in their gardens too. They cannot understand why someone would do that. It’s hard to catch the offender because he/she strikes at different times of the day. I’ve had enough, it’s too much for me and my plea to the prankster is to stop now. The funny thing is I don’t like eating fruit at all. In fact, the last time I ate a banana was three years ago.”
Police officers have vowed to come down hard on the culprit and have warned he/she is already on a slippery slope. PC Mark Parrington, of Clitheroe Police, said: “We were first alerted about this problem in November last year and then again in April. We had patrols in the area in the past and it seems the problem stopped for while, however, it seems the prankster is back. Whoever is littering Ann’s garden, we would urge them to stop immediately. This is affecting the life and well being of a pensioner and it’s not fair. If caught, the offender could face a harassment charge and will be dealt with severely.”
Mother-of-two Ann, who moved to Clitheroe from Liverpool 11 years ago after her husband died, says “enough is enough” and no longer sees the funny side of this. “I enjoy living in Clitheroe and moved here to be closer to my daughter,” said Ann. “I keep myself to myself and have never bothered anyone. I first noticed the banana peels 14 months ago. At one time there were 22 on the roof of an outhouse in my rear yard. I had to climb a ladder and use a long brush to get rid of them. I just thought it was some school prankster who finds it funny. However, this has continued and it is now making my life a misery.”
Ann, who has four grandchildren, added: “I am 88 years old and suffer from osteoporosis. It takes one banana peel for me to slip and that’s it, I will suffer serious injuries. My neighbours have also discovered banana peels in their gardens too. They cannot understand why someone would do that. It’s hard to catch the offender because he/she strikes at different times of the day. I’ve had enough, it’s too much for me and my plea to the prankster is to stop now. The funny thing is I don’t like eating fruit at all. In fact, the last time I ate a banana was three years ago.”
Police officers have vowed to come down hard on the culprit and have warned he/she is already on a slippery slope. PC Mark Parrington, of Clitheroe Police, said: “We were first alerted about this problem in November last year and then again in April. We had patrols in the area in the past and it seems the problem stopped for while, however, it seems the prankster is back. Whoever is littering Ann’s garden, we would urge them to stop immediately. This is affecting the life and well being of a pensioner and it’s not fair. If caught, the offender could face a harassment charge and will be dealt with severely.”
Water company criticised over child deterrent reservoir bomb signs
Thames Water has been accused of going "over the top" with warning signs about unexploded bombs at a reservoir.
The company said it posted the signs at the facility in Staines, Surrey which has been drained for maintenance, to deter children from entering the site.
But Reverend Andrew McCluskey said such a warning from a "responsible" company would obviously cause alarm.
Despite the signs claiming "significant risk" of unexploded bombs, Thames Water has now said the risk is only "slight". The company said it has not had "any reports of devices found" and there was "no need for people to be concerned". During World War Two, reservoirs in Staines were used for military testing, including early experiments of the bouncing bomb later used on attacks on Germany and immortalised in the film Dambusters.
Thames Water said it is possible unexploded devices remain encased in the depths of the recently-drained reservoir. It said there has always been "a slight risk" because of the age of the reservoir but the signs were put up as a precaution to stop children trying to scale the fence. Mr McCluskey said that if the intention was to scare children off, the company had gone "over the top". He said he had not seen many children at the site but that it did attract birdwatchers.
"It is going to get us worried because there is this background of military testing," he said. He believes Thames Water should have either said nothing or explained the risk further and said what they were going to do about it. "Just to say there is a risk and leave it at that isn't enough. They have started the scare and they have got to see the thing through to the conclusion."
Despite the signs claiming "significant risk" of unexploded bombs, Thames Water has now said the risk is only "slight". The company said it has not had "any reports of devices found" and there was "no need for people to be concerned". During World War Two, reservoirs in Staines were used for military testing, including early experiments of the bouncing bomb later used on attacks on Germany and immortalised in the film Dambusters.
Thames Water said it is possible unexploded devices remain encased in the depths of the recently-drained reservoir. It said there has always been "a slight risk" because of the age of the reservoir but the signs were put up as a precaution to stop children trying to scale the fence. Mr McCluskey said that if the intention was to scare children off, the company had gone "over the top". He said he had not seen many children at the site but that it did attract birdwatchers.
"It is going to get us worried because there is this background of military testing," he said. He believes Thames Water should have either said nothing or explained the risk further and said what they were going to do about it. "Just to say there is a risk and leave it at that isn't enough. They have started the scare and they have got to see the thing through to the conclusion."