The "And in other news..." thread

[Sun Chariot]

Not in the UK but surely wins an award for we couldn't see that happening...
"A man was mauled to death and eaten by his pet lion just days after buying the beast to keep in his back garden.
A resident of Najaf, southern Iraq, was horrifically attacked by the predator before it consumed most of his body on Thursday."

Man mauled to death and EATEN by pet lion days after buying the beast

A resident of Najaf, southern Iraq , was horrifically attacked by the predator before it consumed most of his body on Thursday.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Calthrop]

A tragic occurrence for both man and beast; but has me -- perhaps frivoloulsly -- wondering quite how, and from where, the chap got the lion: though of course, pretty well anything can be accomplished if one has enough money; especially in corruption-prone places. (It's mentioned in the linked-to article, that "Iraq continues to grapple with rampant illegal wildlife trafficking, a problem exacerbated by years of conflict, weak enforcement, and high demand for rare species... Poachers and smugglers routinely exploit the country's lack of regulation.") The Asiatic sub-species of lion ceased to be present in the wild in Iraq, at some time in the 19th century -- the only place where Asiatic lions are now to be found "for real", sort-of: is in the Gir Forest reserve in western India.

 

[High Dyke]

BBC News - Case quacked: Flying duck caught by Swiss speed camera is repeat offender

Speeding duck: Switzerland traffic cameras catch flying mallard

Police say the mallard was likely a repeat offender and was caught in the same spot seven years ago.

www.bbc.com

Local police said the mallard - a wild duck - was snapped on radar images on 13 April clocking in at 52km (32 miles) in a 30km zone.

 

[edwin_m]

BBC News - Case quacked: Flying duck caught by Swiss speed camera is repeat offender

Speeding duck: Switzerland traffic cameras catch flying mallard

Police say the mallard was likely a repeat offender and was caught in the same spot seven years ago.

www.bbc.com

That's nothing - mallards can do 126mph.

 

[styles]

A tragic occurrence for both man and beast; but has me -- perhaps frivoloulsly -- wondering quite how, and from where, the chap got the lion: though of course, pretty well anything can be accomplished if one has enough money; especially in corruption-prone places. (It's mentioned in the linked-to article, that "Iraq continues to grapple with rampant illegal wildlife trafficking, a problem exacerbated by years of conflict, weak enforcement, and high demand for rare species... Poachers and smugglers routinely exploit the country's lack of regulation.") The Asiatic sub-species of lion ceased to be present in the wild in Iraq, at some time in the 19th century -- the only place where Asiatic lions are now to be found "for real", sort-of: is in the Gir Forest reserve in western India.

Beeston Railway Station used to have a zoo sited right next to it, I believe run by the same people who ran the Victoria Hotel pub at the time: https://nottinghamhiddenhistoryteam.wordpress.com/2017/02/18/memories-of-beeston-zoo/

There the story might have ended, if it were not for the actions of an eccentric landlord in the early 1970’s. Free from the modern constrains of keeping exotic animals, he was able to establish a mini zoo in the extensive outbuildings to the rear of the property. Among the collection were three big cats, – a puma, a lion and a leopard, – there was also a bear and a baboon, as well as a python which was kept in the main house.


The good folk of Beeston were frequently treated to the sight of the bear being taken for a walk at the end of a rope. Two of the big cats caused their own problems. On one occasion the landlord caused some alarm when he was bitten by the leopard. Another time the puma bounded into the main bar area and terrified the regulars.

Obviously different in the UK to Iraq. While I imagine it would be much more difficult now than when Beeston had a lion and a bear, all you need in England/Wales is a 'dangerous wild animals' licence and potentially a zoo licence.

I can't imagine you'd get away with buying a lion for import into the UK - customs would intervene unless you smuggled it, but it's pretty tricky to keep a wild lion hidden even once it's here, unless you live somewhere like Knoydart. Like the Five Sisters Zoo near Edinburgh though, rescuing wild animals is an accepted process. No doubt there's a few bodies you'd have to satisfy as to your ability to care of the lion.

Someone near where my mum lives in Wales tried to get permission for large cat cages to then bring wild cats into, but was refused the planning permission, which is another stumbling block I guess!

 

[RT4038]

Beeston Railway Station used to have a zoo sited right next to it, I believe run by the same people who ran the Victoria Hotel pub at the time: https://nottinghamhiddenhistoryteam.wordpress.com/2017/02/18/memories-of-beeston-zoo/



View attachment 179932

Obviously different in the UK to Iraq. While I imagine it would be much more difficult now than when Beeston had a lion and a bear, all you need in England/Wales is a 'dangerous wild animals' licence and potentially a zoo licence.

I can't imagine you'd get away with buying a lion for import into the UK - customs would intervene unless you smuggled it, but it's pretty tricky to keep a wild lion hidden even once it's here, unless you live somewhere like Knoydart. Like the Five Sisters Zoo near Edinburgh though, rescuing wild animals is an accepted process. No doubt there's a few bodies you'd have to satisfy as to your ability to care of the lion.

Someone near where my mum lives in Wales tried to get permission for large cat cages to then bring wild cats into, but was refused the planning permission, which is another stumbling block I guess!

Altnabreac?

 

[styles]

Altnabreac?

We can have guard lions to escort passengers and Network Rail staff safely past the house.

 

[Calthrop]

Beeston Railway Station used to have a zoo sited right next to it, I believe run by the same people who ran the Victoria Hotel pub at the time: https://nottinghamhiddenhistoryteam.wordpress.com/2017/02/18/memories-of-beeston-zoo/



View attachment 179932

(Computer-idiot me -- can't fathom how to reproduce your "bit in grey" -- so, copying it word-for-word): "There the story might have ended, if it were not for the actions of an eccentric landlord in the early 1970's. Free from the modern constraints of keeping exotic animals, he was able to establish a mini zoo in the extensive outbuildings to the rear of the property. Among the collection were three big cats -- a puma, a lion and a leopard -- there were also a bear and a baboon, as well as a python which was kept in the main house. The good folk of Beeston were frequently treated to the sight of the bear being taken for a walk at the end of a rope. Two of the big cats caused their own problems. On one occasion the landlord caused some alarm when he was bitten by the leopard. Another time the puma bounded into the main bar and terrified the regulars."

Sounds like an absolutely wondrous scene ! Mind goes, foolishly, to a folk-music tune and refrain -- venerable one, I think, with many words-of-songs attached to it: can only think of the one affectionately taking the mickey out of the Republic of Ireland's navy, such as it was (if that gives any association, to anyone) -- idea for a song "in the folk idiom", about the landlord of Beeston's Victoria and his menagerie -- the chorus would be:

The puma, the lion and the leopard / The bear, the baboon and the snake; / I take them on walks through the township -- / A splendid procession we make.

 

[PG]

Altnabreac?

 

[High Dyke]

That's nothing - mallards can do 126mph.

 

[najaB]

This is taking drop shipping to a completely new level:

A man in Norway woke up to find a huge container ship had run aground and crashed into his front garden.

The 135m-ship (443ft) missed Johan Helberg's house by metres at about 05:00 local time (03:00 GMT) on Thursday.

Mr Helberg was only alerted to the commotion by his panicked neighbour who had watched the ship as it headed straight for shore, in Byneset, near Trondheim.

"The doorbell rang at a time of day when I don't like to open," Mr Helberg told television channel TV2.

"I went to the window and was quite astonished to see a big ship," he added, in an interview with the Guardian.

"I had to bend my neck to see the top of it. It was so unreal."

"Five metres further south and it would have entered the bedroom," he added to the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation. "I didn't hear anything."

Man in Norway wakes to find huge container ship in garden

Johan Helberg says he was "quite astonished" to look out of his window and see the vessel.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Gloster]

What particularly amused me was that he seems to have slept through it. The ship appears to have form in hitting things.

 

[PG]

Was he expecting something? It'll be shipped direct to you...

 

[ChristopherJ]

Emmanuel Macron getting slapped by his wife. HAHAHA!!!

 

[najaB]

Emmanuel Macron getting slapped by his wife. HAHAHA!!!

I don't know why they felt the need to add a slap sound effect - unless we're supposed to believe that it was audible at that distance over the sound of jet engines, etc?

 

[ainsworth74]

I don't know why they felt the need to add a slap sound effect - unless we're supposed to believe that it was audible at that distance over the sound of jet engines, etc?

It's GB News it's basically supposed to be entertainment masquerading as news. Same as Fox.

 

[Gloster]

Carefully covering themselves by using the word ‘appears’, which is the TV version of ‘allegedly’. (I haven’t watched the piece as I won’t contribute to that bunch’s profits.)

Having watched it on the BBC, it does appear to be, as claimed, just a couple messing about.

 

[43055]

Well I don't think they are the three wise men.

Appeal after Christmas decorations stolen from Ilkeston flat

Police say "two or three" masked men broke into the home in the early hours of Saturday morning.

www.bbc.co.uk

Police are appealing for information after masked burglars stole a box of Christmas decorations from a home in Ilkeston.
Derbyshire Police said "either two or three men" broke into a flat in Cotmanhay Road at about 03:00 BST on Saturday.
They stole a set of festive decorations from inside the property before running away from the scene.
Officers believe the men then got into a dark VW Passat which was driven at speed towards Beauvale Drive.
Anyone with any information about the burglary or with footage taken in the area at the time is urged to contact the force.

 

[PG]

Well I don't think they are the three wise men.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwyj1r5n3kpo

 If the police do find them red-handed with the loot, the arresting officer could start off with Ho Ho Ho!! What have we got here then?

 

[edwin_m]

 If the police do find them red-handed with the loot, the arresting officer could start off with Ho Ho Ho!! What have we got here then?

They'd be santa to jail.

 

[THC]

They'd be santa to jail.

Saint Nicked

THC

 

[generalnerd]

Well I don't think they are the three wise men.

Appeal after Christmas decorations stolen from Ilkeston flat

Police say "two or three" masked men broke into the home in the early hours of Saturday morning.

www.bbc.co.uk

They’ll be on the naughty list

 

[najaB]

And now we know what it is that makes it "The happy world of Haribo":

Haribo has urgently recalled packets of sweets after they were allegedly found to contain cannabis following reports of several people falling ill.

The issue emerged when multiple members of one family, including both children and adults, became unwell after eating Happy Cola F!ZZ sweets and contacted police.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/haribo-issues-urgent-recall-after-cannabis-discovered-in-sweets/

 

[Trackman]

And now we know what it is that makes it "The happy world of Haribo":

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/haribo-issues-urgent-recall-after-cannabis-discovered-in-sweets/

Sound like a marketing ploy

The link doesn't work, so here is another
edit: This was in the Netherlands.

Haribo recalls product in Netherlands after cannabis found

The confectionary company says it is working with the police after several people report feeling ill.

www.bbc.co.uk

Haribo is recalling packets of sweets in the Netherlands after some were found to contain traces of cannabis.
Several people, including multiple members of one family, reported feeling unwell after eating from a 1kg pack of Haribo Happy Cola F!ZZ.
A spokesperson for the food safety body in the Netherlands (NVWA) said some had reported "dizziness" after eating the sweets. The agency told Dutch broadcaster SBS6, external that "samples were taken and cannabis was found in them".
A Haribo spokesperson told the BBC it was working with police to "establish the facts around the contamination".
NVWA said three packs were found to be contaminated, but Haribo is recalling its entire stock as a precaution.
The bags in question have a best-before date of January 2026.
It is not clear how many people have become unwell.
NVWA said police were investigating how cannabis ended up in the sweets, Dutch media report.
The agency said there were bags in circulation that "can lead to health complaints, such as dizziness, when consumed".
"Do not eat the sweets," the statement added.
It is not clear whether the contaminated products are genuine Haribo bags or fake.
Haribo said the safety of its consumers was its highest priority, adding that it was taking the incident "very seriously".
The confectionery giant said the recall was only in place in the Netherlands, with other regions unaffected.
All other products are safe to consume, the company says.

 

[Ashley Hill]

I wonder if there’s been a rush on them?

 

[edwin_m]

People will be getting drunk on their wine gums next.

 

[styles]

Imagine clocking into work on the trains and failing your random drugs test for Haribo.

 

[brad465]

I have many puns but I'm pretty sure they won't get past moderation for this news' story:

200-year-old condom displayed in Amsterdam museum

The sheath is part of an exhibition on 19th Century prostitution and sexuality.

www.bbc.co.uk

An almost 200-year-old condom - in "mint condition" - has just gone on display at an exhibition at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
It is thought to be made of a sheep's appendix and features an explicit print representing a nun and three clergymen.
The rare artefact dates back to 1830 and was purchased by the museum at an auction last year. The condom is part of an exhibition on 19th Century prostitution and sexuality. Prints, drawings and photographs also form part of the display.
Rijksmuseum curator Joyce Zelen told the BBC when she and her colleague first spotted the condom at auction they "were laughing".
Ms Zelen said "no-one else noticed it" and they were the only ones who bid on it.
After obtaining the item, they inspected it with UV light and ascertained that it had not been used.
"It's in mint condition," said Ms Zelen.
Since it was put on display the museum has been packed with people - young and old - and the "response has been amazing", she added.
Ms Zelen explained the condom is believed to have been a "luxury souvenir" from a fancy brothel in France, and that only two such objects are known to have survived to the present day.
The museum said the unusual item "embodies both the lighter and darker sides of sexual health, in an era when the quest for sensual pleasure was fraught with fears of unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases – especially syphilis".
The explicit print on this specific object shows the nun sitting in front of the three men with her dress up and her legs apart pointing her finger at the clergymen, all of whom are standing in front of her holding up their habits.
The condom also bears the inscription "Voilà mon choix", meaning "There is my choice".
The museum noted the print is thus to be considered as a "parody of both celibacy and the Judgement of Paris from Greek mythology", the latter being the mythological story of a Trojan Prince named Paris who had to decide who was the fairest goddess among Aphrodite, Hera and Athena.
The Dutch museum notes that their Print Room collection holds some 750,000 prints, drawings and photographs but that this is the first example in the collection of a print on a condom.
"As far as we can tell we are the only art museum with a printed condom," said Ms Zelen.
She said her institution was "open to loan" the artefact out to other museums, but noted that the condom was very delicate.
It will be on display until the end of November.

 

[Sun Chariot]

I have many puns but I'm pretty sure they won't get past moderation for this news' story:

200-year-old condom displayed in Amsterdam museum

The sheath is part of an exhibition on 19th Century prostitution and sexuality.

www.bbc.co.uk

An almost 200-year-old condom - in "mint condition"
Mint condition? As in, one with a hole in the middle?

 

[PG]

An almost 200-year-old condom - in "mint condition"
Mint condition? As in, one with a hole in the middle?

It'd have to be mint at one end though in order for it to be useable!