Break all the rules

A father from east Hull who said he couldn't breathe seven times as security guards pinned him face down on the ground was 'unlawfully killed', a court has ruled. Jack Barnes, 29, from Longhill, died after suffering a cardiac arrest at Manchester Victoria Station where he was held down by four Customer Service Representatives (CSRs) after allegedly being caught smoking inside the station. An inquest into his death on Friday in Manchester Coroner's Court heard that the factory worker had pleaded for his life while the four men used 'excessive and unreasonable force' to keep him pinned to the ground during the incident in 2016. Jack Barnes, 29, died after suffering a cardiac arrest at Manchester Victoria Station where he was pinned down on the ground by four Customer Service Representatives in 2016 Mr Barnes, a former bricklayer, leaves behind a daughter. The inquest heard that the four men, who worked for an external company called Palladium Associates, were told to … [Read more...] about Dad who died while being pinned down by four security guards and yelling ‘I can’t breathe’ was unlawfully killed, inquest rules

UK campsites with shared facilities have been left off the list when it comes to reopening, after the government announced some holidays can resume from April 12. However, this is only for self-catered accommodation , where there are no shared facilities - meaning campsites that have shower and toilet blocks are not included. Instead, they will reopen from May 17 , along with hotels, meaning many are missing out on the end of the Easter holidays. Martin Smith, founder of Campsites.co.uk , said they have seen a booking boom of 300 per cent following the announcement, but that they were being unfairly penalised due to the shared toilet and shower facilities. He warned: "Under the current roadmap, pubs and shops can open their toilet facilities for customers from April 12, but campsites must keep theirs closed until May 17. "This matters, because it stops thousands of campsites opening for the early Bank Holiday weekend, depriving independent sites the chance to claw … [Read more...] about UK campsites devastated as thousands to remain closed until May 17 due to shared toilet rules

Amsterdam could ban tourists from its cannabis shops (also known as coffee shops) in a bid to crack down on the rise of demand for cannabis. The city's mayor Femke Halsema has submitted a proposal to the Amsterdam city council which would see access to these coffee shops limited only to Dutch residents. The decision comes as the popularity of these coffee shops with tourists has seen a rise in demand for cannabis and, as a result, "soft drug trade is increasing". It's hoped that by making the coffee shops less of a draw for tourists, soft drug trade could be reduced. Other measures could also include limiting the number of coffee shops which can be owned by the same chain, and stricter regulations around the transport and storage of cannabis in the industry. If successful, the policy is anticipated to come into force from next year. Amsterdam currently has 166 coffee shops - which accounts for almost 30% of all of the Netherlands' coffee shops. Recent research by … [Read more...] about Amsterdam could ban tourists from its cannabis shops from next year

After weeks of snow and subzero temperatures, there is a touch of spring in the air in late February in Berlin. Thousands of people are out on the streets. In busy areas, just a handful wear masks. Although nonessential retailers remain closed and eateries are only open for takeouts, long lines snake outside every coffee shop, artisanal bakery and outdoor food market. It would be easy to forget that Germany has been in lockdown for nearly four months and strict contact limits remain in place. And the lockdown is no longer working: COVID-19 cases have begun to rise again, and experts say Germany is heading into the third wave of the pandemic. The vaccine rollout is going slower than in other countries like the US and the UK, and the spread of virus variants is on the rise, most notably the more contagious B.1.1.7 British mutation. Lockdowns less popular "All the data and surveys so far show that a large majority still follow the rules," Rolf van Dick, professor of social … [Read more...] about COVID: Germany in lockdown lethargy

HASBRO has rebranded their Mr Potato Head line to break away from "gender norms." Hasbro, the company that makes the potato-shaped plastic toy, is giving the spud a gender-neutral new name: Potato Head . The change will appear on boxes this year. Hasbro announced on Thursday that the "Mr Potato Head" brand would not just be called "Potato Head," which has been around for about 70 years, needed a modern makeover. The company tweeted : "Hold that Tot – your main spud, MR. POTATO HEAD isn’t going anywhere! "While it was announced today that the POTATO HEAD brand name & logo are dropping the ‘MR.’ I yam proud to confirm that MR. & MRS. POTATO HEAD aren’t going anywhere and will remain MR. & MRS. POTATO HEAD." Hold that Tot – your main spud, MR. POTATO HEAD isn’t going anywhere! While it was announced today that the POTATO HEAD brand name & logo are dropping the ‘MR.’ I yam proud to confirm that MR. & MRS. POTATO HEAD aren’t going anywhere and … [Read more...] about Mr Potato Head goes gender-neutral and loses his title in modern makeover after 70 years