Home Blog Page 138

Ole Miss Students’ Toxicology Reports Pending; Families Will Be Notified First, Officials Say

0

Toxicology reports for two Ole Miss students who died on Sept. 21 are expected to be completed “in due course,” a Mississippi official told News Media. The families of Aidan Hamilton and Robert Strang will be informed of the findings before the results are released publicly.

Hamilton, 18, and Strang, 20, were found dead on Sept. 21. Court records say both men had similar packages of kratom or synthetic kratom in their possession. Officials said Hamilton “could have died due to a Pulmonary Edema,” a condition that can be consistent with a drug overdose. Strang was “cold to the touch” when first responders arrived at his home near the University of Mississippi campus.

Alex Gibert, press secretary for the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, told News Media: “Commissioner met with the [medical examiner’s] Office yesterday and we expect the reports to be finalized ‘in due course.’ The families will be the first to know.”

The update came as the American Kratom Association held a news conference Wednesday, where it criticized what it called a “delay in publicly identifying the specific products purchased by two Ole Miss students before their deaths.”

The organization said the tablets involved were “not natural kratom leaf” and argued that students should have received specific warnings about the products under investigation.

Robert Strang and Aidan Hamilton

Robert Strang and Aidan Hamilton in a split image provided by their families. (Strang family, Kathleen Hamilton/Facebook)

Court documents say the packages found near the two men were labeled “Smax, Pseudo-DHM” tablets. The product was described as a “Kratom like substance at gas stations or tobacco shops” that users purchase for its “narcotic like effect.”

In September, Hamilton made several purchases at Puffs Vape, Tobacco and Beer Store in Oxford. Employees Yahya Mohamed Mosleh, 51, and Islam Mohamed, 18, were later arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. Court documents do not state that the kratom found near Hamilton after his death came from the store. One of his purchases was made the day before he was found dead.

Three synthetic kratom tablet packages laid on a dark surface, including two Smax-brand packs and a cherry-flavored package, with loose tablets visible inside the blister packing.

Packages of synthetic kratom products, including Smax Pseudo-DHM and Smax Pseudo tablets, that authorities say were found at the scene where Robert Strang was discovered dead. (Court records)

About an hour after Hamilton was found dead, police were called to a home near campus and discovered Strang. A package of “Smax, Pseudo-DHM” tablets was on his nightstand, along with 20 to 30 nitrous oxide canisters, commonly called “whippets.” His roommates said he used them daily. They also told officers Strang had been watching football and took a Xanax bar the day before his death.

Officials said Strang purchased the synthetic kratom-derived product at a gas station roughly 30 minutes from Oxford.

Stweart Hall, a Seven story brick building at Ole Miss

Stewart Hall, a dorm building on the University of Mississippi campus where an 18-year-old student is believed to have died on Monday. Dispatch records show first responders arrived within a minute of being sent to the address. (Adam Sabes/News Media)

The exact role, if any, that kratom played in the deaths of Hamilton and Strang has not been established. Toxicology results remain pending.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This report has been updated to clarify that an official said the toxicology reports had not been completed as of Wednesday morning.

Newington College Trip at Centre of Rape Case Involving Teacher

0

I’m 56 but Look Years Younger—Why I Don’t Have Children

0

New Images Reveal Damage to Nicolas Cage’s Malibu Home After Sinkhole

0

New aerial photographs offer a fresh look at the damage inflicted on Nicolas Cage’s Malibu home after a massive sinkhole opened beside the beachfront property.

The images show the mansion undergoing further changes after the disaster. The property already appeared to be under renovation when the ground collapsed.

The home is now fenced off from the street, while much of its tiled patio appears to have been removed, leaving only sections of the surface behind.

Planks coated in dirt, apparently connected to the patio’s foundation, can also be seen along the exposed bluff.

Firefighters discovered the collapsed driveway in early September after being called to a suspected gas-main break. Measuring roughly 30 feet by 30 feet, the sinkhole also swallowed a fence, a portable restroom and part of the neighboring street.

Cage, 62, bought the home for $10.5 million in 2024. It now looks dramatically different from the luxurious, multimillion-dollar residence he purchased.

Aerial images show the aftermath of a destructive sinkhole which appeared in front of Nicolas Cage's propertyin early September

Aerial images capture the aftermath of the destructive sinkhole that appeared in front of Nicolas Cage’s property in early September

The boarded up property now bears little resemblance to the luxurious property it once was, above

The boarded-up property now looks markedly different from the luxurious home it once was, above

It remains unclear whether the patio was removed because of the sinkhole damage or as part of renovation plans that were already underway.

Set in a highly sought-after oceanfront location, the home features a rooftop deck with a jacuzzi, expansive glass walls, multiple bedrooms and a history as its former owner’s “happy place.”

The residence was built in the 1990s by the late Jose Liberman, co-founder of Liberman Broadcasting. It remained in his family until Cage purchased it.

“Yes, Nicolas Cage bought our home in Malibu,” Lenard Liberman, Jose’s son and a co-founder of Liberman Broadcasting, told The New York Times in 2024.

“My parents would go on weekends and it was my father’s ‘happy place,’” he said.

“My father passed away and my mom just couldn’t go to the house anymore. Too many memories,” he added.

The property includes access to a secluded beach, a chef’s kitchen and a garage connected to an elevator.

The new images show the mansion sitting along the Pacific coastline, three weeks after the sinkhole incident

The latest images show the mansion along the Pacific coastline, three weeks after the sinkhole incident

Cage purchased the palatial home for $10.5m in 2024

Cage purchased the palatial Malibu home for $10.5 million in 2024

The Oscar-winning actor is also part of one of Hollywood’s best-known dynasties.

Born Nicolas Kim Coppola, Cage is the son of the late American academic and author August Coppola. He is also the nephew of filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola and actress Talia Shire.

His extended family includes his cousins, filmmaker Sofia Coppola and actor Jason Schwartzman.

His grandparents were composer Carmine Coppola, who scored many of Francis’s films, and Italia Coppola, who also appeared in her son’s Godfather films. 

Over the decades, Cage carved out a wildly impressive acting career with roles in films Moonstruck, Raising Arizona, Gone in 60 Seconds, National Treasure and an Oscar win for Leaving Las Vegas.  

A member of a Hollywood dynasty, Cage rose to fame with roles in Moonstruck and more

A member of a Hollywood dynasty, Cage rose to fame with roles in Moonstruck and more

Cage has been married to his wife Riko Shibata since 2021

Cage has been married to his wife Riko Shibata since 2021 

Last year, Cage legally changed his name to ‘Nick Cage’ to avoid being the Coppola ‘clown cousin.’

‘I am Nick Cage. I changed my name legally last year,’ he told Variety. 

The name was inspired by Marvel character Luke Cage, a last name he thought was ‘cool.’

‘I’m Nick Cage in life, and I’m Nick Cage on camera. ‘Tis better to be the patriarch of my own little family than the clown cousin on the margins of someone else’s, so I decided I’m going to bring it on and be “Cage.”

‘”Cage” is a name that I liked coming across in the comics – I just thought he had a cool name – and I grew up in a very avant-garde, artsy family and there was talk about John Cage and the experimental compositions that he did. I was looking for something like “James Dean”; I was looking for something short and sweet. 

‘I thought, well, I’ll keep the name “Nicolas” because my father named me Nicolas -with French spelling, which has always frustrated me, because everyone adds an “h.” I don’t know why he gave me the French spelling! But he did.’

Whether he prefers ‘Nick’ or ‘Nicolas,’ the actor told Variety: ‘I’m both! I think people know me as both.’ 

In 2021, Cage walked down the aisle a fifth time when he wed his much-younger wife Riko Shibata, now age 31. They welcomed daughter August Francesca in 2022.

The actor also has sons Kal-El, 20, with ex-wife Kim and Weston, 35, with ex-girlfriend Christina Fulton.

Santa Cruz Rescuers Save Couple Swept From Panther Beach Rocks

0

A couple was swept from the rocks into the frigid Pacific Ocean off Northern California, triggering a dramatic rescue operation.

The pair, whose identities have not been released, were pulled into the surf by powerful waves at Santa Cruz’s notoriously dangerous Panther Beach on Tuesday afternoon.

Dramatic footage showed rescue swimmers from the Santa Cruz Fire Department and California State Parks Public Safety team reaching the couple and bringing them back to shore. Once on the sand, rescuers performed chest compressions.

Video released by NBC also showed an official watching from a cliff with binoculars as bystanders helped direct rescuers toward the injured pair below.

Both victims are in their 30s and were treated by emergency crews, although their conditions have not been disclosed.

According to KSBW, one person was airlifted by Stanford Life Flight, while the other was taken to a hospital by ambulance.


Exclusive: State Department Revokes More Than 250,000 Visas in Immigration Vetting Crackdown

0

The State Department has revoked more than 250,000 visas since President Donald Trump took office, as the administration intensifies its crackdown on unlawful immigration and expands scrutiny of people seeking to enter the United States.

A State Department official told News Media that the cancellations involved a range of violations. They included breaking visa terms, committing crimes, encouraging violence against the United States or Americans, defrauding U.S. citizens, abusing the immigration system and posing national security risks.

The total includes 2,300 visas revoked over birth tourism, in which pregnant foreign nationals travel to the United States specifically to give birth so their children automatically receive U.S. citizenship.

A split image of President Donald Trump with an image of a visa

The Trump administration has moved aggressively to cancel visas held by foreign nationals accused of various offenses or violations of the terms of their stay in the United States, the State Department said. (Harry Hamburg/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images; Aaron Schwartz / AFP via Getty Images)

“Under President Trump and Secretary Rubio, the State Department has now revoked more than 250,000 visas — a historic milestone that reflects our unwavering commitment to protecting the American people,” State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said.

“Every visa decision is a national security decision. Through continuous vetting on a scale never seen before, we are identifying and removing those who commit crimes, support terrorism, defraud Americans, or abuse our immigration system,” Pigott said. “A U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right — and if you violate the terms of that privilege, you will lose it. We will not stop until every foreign national who threatens the safety of our communities is held accountable.”

On Monday, the State Department canceled the visas of 27 current and former Latin American officials and their family members over corruption allegations. The officials are from Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.

During the summer, the Trump administration also began preparing to revoke the business and tourist visas of as many as 200,000 foreigners who had applied for asylum in the United States.

Trump admin says foreign student visa vetting will be continued process not a one-time check.

During the summer, the Trump administration began preparing to cancel the business and tourist visas of as many as 200,000 people. (iStock)

The proposed action would affect B1 and B2 visas issued from 2016 through 2026 to foreign nationals who later sought asylum. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said at the time that Americans were “fed up” with “bogus asylum claims.”

“Asylum isn’t supposed to be a loophole to circumvent immigration laws; rather, it’s supposed to provide a narrow safe harbor for persons persecuted because of their ‘race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion,’” Landau wrote on X.

Side by side photo of the Department of State headquarters and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Under Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the State Department has canceled thousands of visas over overstays and violations of U.S. law, including support for terrorism. (Reuters)

Landau said frivolous applications had overwhelmed the asylum system, potentially leaving it to take years to determine whether applicants qualify for protection in the United States.

The State Department also revoked more than 175,000 visas in August. Most of those cancellations followed law enforcement encounters involving criminal activity, with assault, driving under the influence, theft and drug offenses cited as the leading causes.

The agency said other significant categories included reckless driving, sexual assault, child abuse, fraud, embezzlement and additional crimes.

Seattle Hired DEI Trainers Who Called White People Cannibals

0

A Washington state man has sued the city of Seattle, alleging that taxpayer-funded diversity, equity and inclusion trainers told employees that “all white people are cannibals.”

Joshua Diemert, who is white, worked for the Seattle Human Services Department (HSD) from 2013 until resigning in 2021, according to an appellate court opinion reviewed by the Daily Mail.

Diemert said he was never disciplined during his employment and consistently received satisfactory performance reviews. According to the filing, that changed after he took part in the city’s Race and Social Justice Initiative (RSJI).

He filed a lawsuit against the city in November 2022, claiming that RSJI training sessions led to discrimination against him in the workplace.

A district court judge dismissed Diemert’s claims in February 2025. However, on Monday, a three-judge panel of the federal appeals court ruled that the incidents described in his complaint were “sufficiently numerous, frequent, and severe to create a triable issue” for a jury to consider.

All employees in the department, including Diemert, were required to participate in the RSJI program, which seeks to “undo institutionalized racism and achieve racial equity in city government and the Seattle community,” according to the opinion.

The initiative, first introduced in 2004, requires employees to attend training sessions. However, the legal document states that employees who do not participate “can still receive satisfactory performance reviews.”

Diemert attended a November 2019 session titled the “Undoing Institutional Racism Workshop.” During the training, an unnamed instructor allegedly said, “The real truth is… that all white people are cannibals,” Diemert recalled, according to the filing.

Joshua Diemert worked for the Seattle Human Services Department (HSD) from 2013 until he resigned in 2021 for being discriminated against in the workplace, according to a legal filing

Joshua Diemert worked for the Seattle Human Services Department (HSD) from 2013 until resigning in 2021, alleging in a legal filing that he faced workplace discrimination

During his time there, Diemert was never disciplined and received satisfactory reviews from his employer - but that changed after he participated in the city's Race and Social Justice Initiative (RSJI), the filing stated

Diemert said he was never disciplined and received satisfactory reviews while working for HSD, but alleged that his treatment changed after he participated in Seattle’s Race and Social Justice Initiative (RSJI)

The same trainer also “ranted” that it was a “lie” that Christopher Columbus traveled to the Caribbean and that the Indigenous people living there were cannibals, the appellate opinion said.

Other trainers at the session allegedly said that “racism is in white people’s DNA” and that “white people are like the devil,” according to the filing.

Diemert also alleged that coworkers labeled him a “white supremacist” because of comments he made during the training. The opinion did not specify what he said.

He further described an incident involving his manager, Gloria Hatcher-Mays. Diemert said she discouraged him from applying for an open supervisory position, telling him she wanted someone who was bilingual and had connections within a marginalized community, according to the court document.

Hatcher-Mays, now the fire commissioner for King County Fire Protection District No. 20, ultimately filled the position with a person of color who, Diemert alleged, was inexperienced and unqualified, the opinion stated.

Although he was not selected for the job, Diemert claimed he was required to carry out many of the position’s responsibilities without receiving the corresponding title or pay.

Later that month, another unnamed HSD manager allegedly asked him, “[W]hat could you possibly offer our department…, being a straight white male?” according to the documents.

Diemert also recalled seeing a coworker deny utility assistance to an eligible white applicant. The colleague allegedly justified the decision by saying the applicant had “white privilege,” the filing said.

Gloria Hatcher-Mays, Diemert's former manager, told him to refrain from applying for an open supervisor position 'because she was looking for someone who was bilingual and who had contacts within one of the marginalized communities,' the document read

Gloria Hatcher-Mays, Diemert’s former manager, allegedly told him not to apply for an open supervisory position because she wanted someone who was bilingual and had connections within a marginalized community, according to the document

When Diemert raised the issue with his coworker, Hatcher-Mays allegedly “berated him” and said that “it was impossible to be racist toward white people,” according to the appellate opinion.

Diemert also mentioned another one of his superiors in the complaint filing, Shamsu Said. 

Said, whom Diemert reported to at HSD, called Diemert a ‘colonist’ with ‘white privilege,’ according to the documents. 

He also told Diemert that he ‘was to blame for all injustices in the United States,’ the former HSD employee said, per the opinion. 

After his case was backed by the judges on Monday, Diemert’s lawyer, Laura D’Agostino, stressed that this is the kind of justice that they have been seeking for all these years. 

D’Agostino, who is representing Diemert pro bono, told the Daily Mail: ‘Title VII protects every employee from a racially hostile work environment, regardless of race. 

‘No one should have to endure years of racial hostility at work. The Ninth Circuit recognized that the repeated racial hostility Joshua Diemert endured deserves to be heard at trial. We look forward to returning to the district court so that Mr. Diemert can finally have his day in court.’ 

Now, the hostile workplace claims are headed back to US District Judge Jamal Whitehead (pictured) - the judge who threw out Diemert's case to begin with

Now, the hostile workplace claims are headed back to US District Judge Jamal Whitehead (pictured) – the judge who threw out Diemert’s case to begin with

Although the judges ruled in his favor, they decided to toss Diemert’s equal protection claim on standing, the filing said. 

They ruled that the city’s race-based groups, like the White Caucus and the African Descent Caucus, and some race-based trainings were ‘explicit racial classifications,’ according to the documents. 

The court determined that Diemert was never forced into the White Caucus or barred from training, so he was not personally injured. 

Now, the hostile workplace claims are headed back to US District Judge Jamal Whitehead – the judge who threw out Diemert’s case to begin with. 

When approached for comment by the Daily Mail, Hatcher-Mays’s legal counsel said to direct inquiries about the matter to the attorney for the city of Seattle. 

The Daily Mail contacted D’Agostino, the Seattle Human Services Department, Said, and Seattle City Attorney Erika Evans for comment.

Healthiest McDonald’s Meals: What to Order for a Better Choice

0

Few food brands have a worse reputation for healthy eating than McDonald’s.

The fast-food chain serves around four million people in Britain every day, yet its Big Macs, burgers and fried chicken have long made it the poster child for junk food.

But does McDonald’s really deserve its unhealthy image?

As a health editor who has spent more than a decade covering diet and nutrition, I am prepared to risk my professional credibility by arguing that the fast-food giant may not be quite as bad for you as many assume.

Over the past 10 years, McDonald’s has made a series of changes aimed at improving its menu, cutting levels of salt, sugar and fat. By April last year, 89 per cent of its core food and drink range in the UK contained 500 calories or fewer.

The chain has also rejected longstanding claims that its meat products contain poor-quality animal offcuts. McDonald’s says its chicken tenders, patties and nuggets are made with chicken breast, or beef from forequarter and flank cuts.

Even so, sales have fallen, while profits hit a four-year low last week. The decline has been attributed in part to consumers becoming increasingly health-conscious.

With help from Biomel gut-health nutritionist Holly Caske, we have examined McDonald’s meals that are no less healthy than an average chicken sandwich. In some cases, they may even be the better choice.

A hamburger contains a surprisingly low 250 calories and only 3.5g of saturated fat

A hamburger contains a surprisingly modest 250 calories and just 3.5g of saturated fat

Hamburger (with optional small fries and milk)

Per burger: 255 calories, 3.5 grams saturated fat, 6.9g sugar, 13g protein, 2.1g fibre, 1.1g salt

Per small fries: 237 calories, 1.1g saturated fat, 0.4g sugar, 2.3g protein, 2.6g fibre, 0.44g salt

Burgers are often assumed to be high in fat, but this one is a notable exception. An egg-mayonnaise sandwich contains around three times as much saturated fat.

The burger is relatively low in protein, so it may not keep you satisfied for long. Add a bottle of milk, however, and the meal provides more than 20g of protein—roughly the amount experts recommend at each meal—for about 100 additional calories.

The sugar comes from the bun and ketchup, with some of it occurring naturally in the tomatoes.

Caske says: ‘A plain hamburger is one of the more sensible choices on the menu. I was surprised by how moderate the salt content is—combined with small fries, it totals around 1.5g, or a quarter of the daily maximum.

‘The main shortfall is fibre, which supports gut health and helps you feel full for longer. Adding a bag of carrot sticks or apple slices is a simple way to increase it.’

Chicken McNuggets® Happy Meal® with carrot sticks and milk

McDonald's Happy Meals now come alongside vegetables, fruit and milk, rather than fizzy pop

McDonald’s Happy Meals now include vegetables, fruit and milk instead of fizzy drinks

Per meal with four nuggets: 333 calories, 3.9g saturated fat, 18.2g sugar, 19.5g protein, 3.3g fibre, 0.74g salt

The meal contains about as many calories as a fashionable avocado-on-toast lunch, along with a similar amount of saturated fat—the type associated with artery damage and an increased risk of heart attack.

The sugar figure may look high, but Caske explains: ‘Almost all of it is natural sugar from the milk and carrots. It is not “free sugar”, which we are advised to reduce. That refers to sugar added to foods and drinks, as well as sugar found in honey, syrups and fruit juice.’

Despite being deep-fried, there’s less than 4g of saturated fat in a portion – just a fifth of a woman’s daily limit and less than a seventh of a man’s. 

The saturated fat limit varies for children, depending on age, but experts suggest five- to ten-year-olds have no more than roughly 19g daily.

Cheeseburger 

The difference in calories between a cheeseburger and a hamburger is just 50 - so choose what you prefer, experts suggest

The difference in calories between a cheeseburger and a hamburger is just 50 – so choose what you prefer, experts suggest

Per burger: 303 calories, 5.8g saturated fat, 7.5g sugar, 16g protein, 2.1g fibre, 1.4g salt

Caske says: ‘When you can, I’d choose the plain hamburger. The cheese slice only adds 48 calories but takes the saturated fat from 3.5g to 5.8.’

However, the cheeseburger is still no fattier than a bowl of pesto pasta or a curry made with coconut milk. 

The two teaspoons of sugar are entirely from the bun and the ketchup. 

Egg and cheese McMuffin®

The breakfast favourite is less fatty and sugary than a granola and yoghurt bowl

The breakfast favourite is less fatty and sugary than a granola and yoghurt bowl

Per muffin: 296 calories, 5g saturated fat, 2.6g sugar, 15g protein, 1.8g fibre, 0.96g salt

There are fewer calories, less sugar and virtually the same saturated fat as you’ll find in a ‘healthy’ breakfast of yoghurt, granola and fruit. 

While there’s a little less protein than a typical yoghurt pot, there’s about as much as a portion of bircher muesli – but without the additional sugar that comes from dried fruits and apple juice that’s found in many breakfasts. 

The low fibre is unfortunate for a breakfast food, as this tends to be the meal that delivers the most. 

‘At home, porridge or wholegrain cereal with fruit will give you more fibre, along with more vitamins and minerals,’ Caske adds, describing the McMuffin as a ‘reasonable’ breakfast.

Caske advises adding an apple bag for just less than 2g of extra fibre, which takes the total up to roughly the equivalent of a slice of wholemeal bread. 

Crispy tikka chicken wrap

Nutritionist Holly Caske says a grilled chicken wrap would be her top choice

Nutritionist Holly Caske says a grilled chicken wrap would be her top choice

Per wrap: 455 calories, 2g saturated fat, 4.2g sugar, 21g protein, 4.8g fibre, 1.8g salt

Caske says this wrap has more protein and more than twice the fibre of a hamburger, so it may keep you fuller. 

‘It’s a shame that McDonald’s got rid of its grilled chicken option, as it’s lower in calories,’ she adds. 

This is a sensible choice that offers a sixth of your daily fibre needs – and even more if you add a bag of apples and carrots.

The one teaspoon of sugar – from the mango and lime chutney – is worth it for the extra fibre from the fruit.

Crispy chicken salad 

McDonald's chicken salad is a better option than the Pret-a-Manger alternative, experts say

McDonald’s chicken salad is a better option than the Pret-a-Manger alternative, experts say

Per salad: 355 calories, 3.5g saturated fat, 3.7g sugar, 21g protein, 3.5g fibre, 1.3g salt

As far as chicken salads go this one isn’t bad at all.

In fact, compared to Pret’s chef’s Italian chicken salad, it’s far less calorific, fatty and sugary. There’s also a gram less salt.  

You’ll also get more fibre here, but less protein – although only slightly (25.3g in Pret’s salad). 

The amount of saturated fat here – from the dressing – is only around a tenth of a man’s recommended daily limit and a sixth of a woman’s. 

‘The fibre is a little low, so I’d recommend adding a carrot or apple bag, or both, to top it up,’ says Caske.

McCrispy 

The calorie content in the McCrispy is at the lower end of the 400-600 that nutritionist Holly Caske recommends for lunch

The calorie content in the McCrispy is at the lower end of the 400-600 that nutritionist Holly Caske recommends for lunch

Per burger: 484 calories, 2g saturated fat, 6.9g sugar, 26g protein, 3.7g fibre, 1.9g salt

Sometimes, a larger burger is a better choice than a small, low-calorie option, says Caske.

‘If you’re having McDonald’s, a meal that fills you up may be a better choice than the lowest-calorie item, which can leave you hungry and snacking later. 

‘The McCrispy has 26g of protein and nearly 4g of fibre, which should be satisfying.’

However, she advises keeping salt low in the rest of the day’s meals, as the burger is on the salty side.

The sugar count is relatively high – all of which comes from the sweet sourdough bun and the chicken batter. 

Chicken Selects® with carrot sticks and apple slices 

Pairing three chicken selects with carrots and apples is a filling and healthy option

Pairing three chicken selects with carrots and apples is a filling and healthy option

Per three Chicken Selects with carrot and apple bags: 416 calories, 1.6g saturated fat, 15.8g sugars, 23g protein, 5.6g fibre, 1.8g salt

The sugar here is naturally occurring in the carrots, apples and the wheat used for the chicken batter.

There’s nearly twice as much protein in just three chicken tenders than a hamburger – making this combination a more satisfying choice. 

The salt is relatively high, so Caske suggests balancing with low-salt meals for the rest of the day.

British Pilot Pulled Hijacked Flydubai Jet From Fatal Plunge

0

A British pilot helped prevent a flight bound for Israel from crashing after the captain was allegedly stabbed by his co-pilot in what passengers believe was an attempted hijacking.

Passengers and crew aboard the Flydubai aircraft reportedly restrained the alleged attacker, fearing he intended to crash the jet in a suicide mission. They then fought to regain control of the plane, which plunged from 33,000 feet to 17,000 feet (10,000 metres to 5,100 metres) in about a minute.

It has since emerged that one of the people who helped save the aircraft and everyone aboard was a British pilot who was off duty at the time.

Passenger Amol Itali told the BBC: “There were two pilots at the front. One stabbed the other, and there were two spare pilots who were due to operate the next flight.

“The relief pilots were European, and one of them was British. He entered the cockpit, pulled the aircraft up, used the yoke to stabilise the plane and landed us in Saudi Arabia.”

The injured pilot, identified as Captain Smit Machchhar, was praised for helping save the lives of the 180 passengers on board. During the flight, he reportedly confronted his co-pilot in the cockpit and resisted attempts to interfere with the aircraft’s systems.

Disturbing footage recorded by passengers showed Mr Machchhar with blood running from a wound between his nose and forehead. As he struggled to speak, passengers could be heard calling him a hero and telling him: “You saved the plane. You did well.”

Flydubai flight FZ1073 was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv when it was diverted over Jordanian airspace. The aircraft later landed at Tabuk airport in Saudi Arabia.

Graphic footage filmed by passengers on the flight shows the wounded pilot Smit Machchhar lying on the floor as others tend to him

Graphic footage filmed by passengers shows wounded pilot Smit Machchhar lying on the floor while others attend to him

Mr Machchhar was hailed for saving the lives of those 180 passengers on board. While cruising mid-air, the hero was able to fight off his co-pilot in the cockpit and his attempts to sabotage the plane's systems

Mr Machchhar was praised for helping save the lives of the 180 passengers on board after reportedly fighting off his co-pilot and attempts to sabotage the aircraft’s systems

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with an Israeli hero who helped prevent the hijacking on the Flydubai plane

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met an Israeli passenger who helped prevent the suspected hijacking of the Flydubai plane

The aircraft transmitted a general emergency signal using squawk code 7700, a four-digit code used for in-flight communications, while making a U-turn near the border between the two countries.

While over Saudi Arabia, the plane briefly transmitted code 7500, which indicates unlawful interference or a hijacking. Officials feared the incident could develop into another “September 11” attack, while passengers were said to have prevented an “Israeli 9/11” by restraining the alleged attacker.

Israel closed its airspace and scrambled fighter jets amid fears that the aircraft had been hijacked. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also called an emergency security meeting with Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz.

Mr Katz described the incident as “an attempted jihadist terror attack” that was “thwarted only thanks to the heroism of several Israeli passengers”.

One passenger later told the Israeli prime minister that the stabbed captain managed to open the cockpit door before collapsing. This enabled passengers to enter, overpower the alleged attacker and stop him as he tried to damage the aircraft’s systems and bring down the plane.

The Israeli prime minister said the assailant had been arrested and was “currently being questioned by the Saudi authorities”.

He said: “During the flight, as they were approaching Israel, one pilot stabbed the other and apparently tried to crash the plane with its passengers on board.

“I spoke with one of the Israeli passengers. He told me the plane went into a spin and began descending. Somehow, he managed to enter the cockpit with a member of the crew, and together they overpowered the pilot who had carried out the stabbing while he was attempting to sabotage the aircraft’s systems.

“Another member of the air crew who was on board entered the cockpit and succeeded in stabilising the aircraft.”

Passengers from the flight wait at Tabuk airport in Saudi Arabia after their flight from Dubai to Israel was diverted

Passengers from the flight wait at Tabuk airport in Saudi Arabia after their flight from Dubai to Israel was diverted

Passengers told Israel's Channel 12 that they heard shouts from the front of the jet relating to the altercation between the pilots

Passengers told Israel’s Channel 12 that they heard shouts from the front of the jet relating to the altercation between the pilots

‘I salute these heroes who demonstrated extraordinary resourcefulness and courage. They saved many lives and prevented a major disaster.’ 

Footage filmed by passengers showed children and adults on the plane crying out in fright as the jet seemed to veer downwards. Their terror was backdropped by a growing noise of turbulence, while the cabin rattled around them. 

One woman was seen crouching in the aisle, while others were seen putting their heads by their legs in the brace position. Another clip showed passengers panicking on the plane. 

As a handful of passengers went up to the front to investigate, screams were heard across the cabin. A member of the cabin crew was heard telling passengers to remain seated and fasten their seatbelts.

One passenger recorded a video with blood over his face, emerging from a gash that stretches from his forehead down to his nose.

He said: ‘We’re here during the hijacking of an airplane. At this point we’ve subdued the terrorists, we’re approaching landing. Whoever is hearing me, we need help.

‘We’re landing in Tabuk, apparently in Saudi Arabia. An unknown, unfamiliar area. On the plane, everybody is safe and sound, other than the pilot. We need help.’

A woman holds an Israeli flag, as passengers who were on the Flydubai aircraft are greeted by their friends and family, while they arrive at the Ben Gurion International Airport

A woman holds an Israeli flag, as passengers who were on the Flydubai aircraft are greeted by their friends and family, while they arrive at the Ben Gurion International Airport

The jet dropped from 30,875 feet to 16,750 feet in just 29 seconds

The jet dropped from 30,875 feet to 16,750 feet in just 29 seconds

Data from Flightradar24 shows the jet rapidly losing altitude over Saudi Arabia, just two hours after take-off, descending more than 17,000ft (over 5,000m) in less than two minutes just after 05.21 UTC (06.21 BST).

The aircraft recovered slightly for several seconds, reaching 21,650ft, before dropping sharply again, this time to under 14,000ft.

Over the next hour, the plane failed to maintain a steady altitude but it remained at around 15,000ft, indicating it was being controlled by hand rather than autopilot, according to The Times of Israel.

The plane initially transmitted squawk code 7700, indicating a general emergency, before switching to 7500, which signals unlawful interference, and later reverting to the initial code.

A regional official briefed on the incident said a fight broke out in the cockpit and apparently involved pilots, but added it wasn’t immediately clear what had caused the dispute.

Israeli authorities were unable to make contact with the jet during the incident.

The growing consensus among the Israeli security establishment, including the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Mossad, and Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), is that the incident was intended as an act of terror.

Passengers on the plane told Israel’s Channel 12 that they heard shouts from others at the front of the jet who overheard the violent altercation.

Images appeared to show that a section of the rudder was missing from the vertical stabiliser after the flight touched down

Images appeared to show that a section of the rudder was missing from the vertical stabiliser after the flight touched down

Passengers file out of the rear of the plane after it landed in Saudi Arabia

Passengers file out of the rear of the plane after it landed in Saudi Arabia 

According to witnesses, two pilots who were at the back of the jet came forward to help land it, with one passenger saying: ‘I shouted at them to run and take control of the plane.’

As the other pilots took control of the aircraft, passengers ran towards the man who had a knife.

Another passenger on the Boeing 737 MAX told Israel’s Channel 12: ‘We heard screams on the plane. Then they opened the cockpit and we saw blood, and someone had stabbed the pilot with a pocketknife.’

She described how the Israeli passengers helped restrain an attacker along with members of the crew. ‘We prayed, ‘Shema Yisrael’,’ she said.

‘There were also moments when we thought we weren’t going to make it out alive.’

Another woman, identifying herself as Noam, told the network in a call: ‘Screams began on the plane… by passengers who realised what was happening.

‘We understand that one of the pilots was stabbed and seriously wounded, and they lost control of the plane. It started to dive quickly. It was very scary.’

One passenger, Itzhak Liber, recorded a video addressed to his family before uploading it onto Facebook. ‘We took control of the situation here on the flight,’ he said. ‘There was an attacker with a knife who stabbed one of the pilots.

‘We just jumped on him and restrained him together with the pilot.’

He said the attacker had been ‘neutralised’, was ‘seriously injured’ and had been ‘tied up’.

Zvika Manes, a passenger on the plane with his wife and daughter, said the incident was incredibly ‘traumatic’.

He said he heard ‘shouting’ and ‘screams’ as his daughter was in the bathroom while his wife was near the cockpit.

Mr Manes said he went in to help subdue the attacker, adding: ‘I’m covered in blood. It was crazy.’

One passenger, speaking to Channel 12, said her husband helped to ‘neutralise the terrorist’.

The woman, Meital, says a member of the flight crew in the cockpit ‘tried to crash the plane’ and was subdued by passengers.

‘Someone shouted ‘stabbing’ and my husband immediately understood what was happening and rushed to the front of the plane, and along with other Israelis they neutralised the terrorist,’ she said.

‘There were stabbings and a lot of blood,’ Meital added.

‘We’re very emotional and under terrible stress, it’s very difficult for me to talk.’

Flydubai said that a second plane had been sent to Tabuk Airport to pick up stranded passengers.

But Israeli media reported that some passengers on the plane are refusing to board it, instead demanding an Israeli carrier pick them up.

A senior Israeli official told the channel that if the pilots had not been on the jet, the incident could have ended in another ‘September 11, 2001, attack or 1976 Entebbe hostage incident’.

A second official confirmed that Israel had scrambled warplanes, fearing a hijacking of a plane carrying dozens of its citizens.

Not long after the incident, the plane landed in Tabuk, a civilian and military base in the kingdom, with 180 passengers onboard.

Mr Netanyahu has warned in recent days of unspecified, escalated security threats.

Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the incident was still under investigation.

Prosecutors: Accused Shooter Wanted Rihanna Killed; Others Collateral

0

Prosecutors say Ivanna Ortiz intended to kill Rihanna when she allegedly opened fire on the singer’s multimillion-dollar Los Angeles mansion and an Airstream trailer parked in the driveway.

“This is a person who wanted to kill Rihanna. Everyone else was collateral damage,” Deputy District Attorney Alexander Bott told reporters outside a downtown courtroom Wednesday morning after Ortiz’s grand jury indictment was unsealed.

The indictment contains 10 upgraded charges, including assault with a semiautomatic firearm and assault with an assault weapon.

According to Bott, the 36-year-old suspect allegedly obtained the assault weapon used in the shooting in Florida, where it was registered.

Ortiz appeared in court Wednesday wearing a yellow jumpsuit, with her hands shackled and long blond bangs framing her face. Through her attorney, she pleaded not guilty to every charge.

Her bail was increased to $2.65 million. Ortiz is scheduled to return to court on Oct. 29 and answered “yes” when asked whether she agreed to the date.

The indictment was unsealed after a four-month delay prompted by a judge’s concerns about Ortiz’s mental competency.

Ortiz is accused of firing a high-powered rifle from her Tesla at Rihanna’s home on March 8.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said bullets also struck an Airstream trailer in the driveway, where Rihanna and her husband, A$AP Rocky, were inside at the time.

The couple’s three children — RZA, Riot and Rocky, ages 4, 3 and 1 — were inside the main residence with Rihanna’s mother when the shooting occurred.

Police said Ortiz was the only person in the vehicle. She allegedly fled the scene but was stopped roughly three miles away during a traffic stop in Sherman Oaks, a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley.

Investigators later recovered an assault-style rifle from the vehicle, officials said.

Bott said Ortiz had ammunition and a disguise, was captured on surveillance footage, planned the attack and fired 20 rounds toward the residence while children were present.

The shooting unsettled the normally quiet celebrity enclave, an exclusive area known for multimillion-dollar estates and extensive private security. In the aftermath, Rihanna and her family left the mansion, boarded a private jet and departed Los Angeles.

After the alleged attack, Ortiz posted a series of disturbing videos that appeared to outline a bizarre motive.

In clips posted to her YouTube channel, Ortiz claimed Rihanna was “stealing” from her, was “jealous” of her and was a “witch” with a “devil’s face.”

The charges against Ortiz include attempted murder with special allegations, 10 counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm with special allegations, and three counts of shooting into an inhabited dwelling or vehicle.

Hochman said the alleged shooter’s bail had been set at just over $1.8 million. If convicted on all charges, Ortiz faces the possibility of life in prison.