Doctor, Who Falsely Diagnosed Patients in $118M Fraud Scheme to Fund His ‘Luxurious Lifestyle,’ Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison
Doctor, Who Falsely Diagnosed Patients in $118M Fraud Scheme to Fund His ‘Luxurious Lifestyle,’ Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison
A Texas doctor, who was found guilty of orchestrating a $118 million medical fraud scheme for his own financial gain, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison on May 21
Dr. Jorge Zamora-Quezada falsely diagnosed his patients with illnesses such as rheumatoid arthritis and billed their insurance companies for procedures and tests they did not need
He is also being forced to forfeit about $28 million, including 13 real estate properties, a jet and a Maserati sports car
A Texas doctor, who was found guilty of fraud for falsely diagnosing patients with diseases they did not have, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison.
According to a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Public Affairs, Dr. Jorge Zamora-Quezada was sentenced on May 21 to 10 years in prison and three years of supervised release for his role in a health care fraud scheme that involved more than $118 million in false claims and the payment of more than $28 million by insurers.
During Zamora-Quezada’s Texas trial, prosecutors said he falsely diagnosed his patients with illnesses and billed their insurance companies for procedures and tests they did not need for his own financial gain.
Following his sentencing, Zamora-Quezada, 68, is also being forced to forfeit about $28 million, including 13 real estate properties, a jet and a Maserati GranTurismo sports car.
justice.gov
Jorge Zamora-Quezada’s jet.
“Zamora-Quezada falsely diagnosed his patients with rheumatoid arthritis and administered toxic medications in order to defraud Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE and Blue Cross Blue Shield,” the press release stated. “The fraudulent diagnoses made the defendant’s patients believe that they had a lifelong, incurable condition that required regular treatment at his offices.”
“After falsely diagnosing his patients, Zamora-Quezada administered unnecessary treatments and ordered unnecessary testing on them, including a variety of injections, infusions, X-rays, MRIs and other procedures — all with potentially harmful and even deadly side effects,” the press release continued. “To receive payment for these expensive services, Zamora-Quezada fabricated medical records and lied about the patients’ condition to insurers.”
According to the DOJ, Zamora-Quezada was a rheumatologist who was licensed to practice medicine in Texas, Arizona and Massachusetts. All of his medical licenses have since been revoked.
FBI San Antonio
Jorge Zamora-Quezada
Prosecutors also argued that Zamora-Quezada attempted to cover up the fraud and “falsified patient records to support the false diagnoses after receiving a federal grand jury subpoena.” His scheme lasted nearly 20 years and involved about $325 million, the DOJ previously said.
Zamora-Quezada was found guilty on one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, seven counts of health care fraud and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice in 2020.
Local outlet KRGV reported that his sentencing was delayed several times because prosecutors and Zamora-Quezada’s defense attorneys could not agree on a number of victims in the scheme or agree on the amount of money that was stolen.
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Zamora-Quezada was also accused of creating a toxic environment for his clinic’s employees — many of whom were on work visas to live in the U.S. — by getting angry if they did not meet a quota for procedures or saying that he would fire them and try to revoke their visa if they spoke out against him.
justice.gov
One of Jorge Zamora-Quezada’s real estate properties.
“Testimony at trial established that Zamora-Quezada told employees to ‘aparecer’ the missing records — ‘to make them appear,’ ” the DOJ said. “Former employees also recounted being sent to a dilapidated barn to attempt to retrieve records. There, files were saturated with ****** and ******, rodents and termites that infested not only the records but also the structure.”
According to the DOJ, other rheumatologists in Texas’ Rio Grande Valley region testified during Zamora-Quezada’s 2020 trial that they saw hundreds of patients whom he had falsely diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. One doctor even testified that it would be “obvious” to “most” doctors that these patients did not have the autoimmune condition.
Prosecutors also argued that the false diagnoses and medications that Zamora-Quezada prescribed to patients caused “debilitating” side effects, including strokes, necrosis (or cell and tissue death) of the jawbone, hair loss, liver damage and severe pain.
justice.gov
Jorge Zamora-Quezada’s patient file storage facility.
“Constantly being in bed and being unable to get up from bed alone, and being pumped with medication, I didn’t feel like my life had any meaning,” one patient testified during the trial, per the DOJ.
Another patient’s mother testified that she felt like her child served as a “lab rat,” and other patients testified that they were “living a life in the body of an elderly person.”
“Dr. Zamora-Quezada funded his luxurious lifestyle for two decades by traumatizing his patients, abusing his employees, lying to insurers and stealing taxpayer money,” Matthew R. Galeotti, the head of the DOJ’s criminal division, said in the press release.
“His depraved conduct represents a profound betrayal of trust toward vulnerable patients who depend on care and integrity from their doctor,” Galeotti added.
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Timberwolves-Thunder: 5 takeaways as Oklahoma City's stars shine in Game 4 – NBA
Timberwolves-Thunder: 5 takeaways as Oklahoma City's stars shine in Game 4 – NBA
Timberwolves-Thunder: 5 takeaways as Oklahoma City’s stars shine in Game 4 NBAThunder take 3-1 lead as SGA drops 40 on Wolves ESPNTimberwolves vs. Thunder highlights: OKC one win from NBA Finals with 128-126 victory USA TodayThunder vs. Timberwolves: OKC limits Anthony Edwards, gets 40 from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to secure Game 4 thriller Yahoo SportsTimberwolves vs. Thunder schedule, odds, game times: Western Conference finals dates CBS Sports
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Stamp duty exemption plan reheated for first homebuyers
Stamp duty exemption plan reheated for first homebuyers
Stamp duty would be scrapped for first homebuyers spending up to $1 million under a state election pitch that creates a $1 billion budget shortfall.
In his budget reply speech, Victorian shadow treasurer James Newbury unveiled a policy to lift the stamp duty exemption for first homebuyers to $1 million with “no conditions, no catches”.
First homebuyers in the state are only exempt from paying stamp duty on properties valued $600,000 or less and receive a concession on purchases between $600,001 and $750,000.
Those thresholds have remained unchanged since 2017.
A first homebuyer purchasing a $1 million Victorian home would save $55,000 under the change, a centrepiece of Mr Newbury’s “Go for Growth” plan that echoed a slogan from John Howard’s failed 2007 election campaign.
Crucially, they would have to pay the full stamp duty amount if the price rises above the threshold by a dollar.
The policy, which applies to all new and established homes and off-the-plan builds, hinges on the coalition winning the next state election in November 2026.
Mr Newbury said the move would deliver about 17,000 exemptions in its first year and cost $1.09 billion over four years.
He refused to release the parliamentary budget office’s cost modelling of the policy or explain where the coalition would find the money to pay for it until closer to the election.
“If we were to give you the costing on one policy, it would foreshadow the other commitments we’re going to make,” Mr Newbury told reporters.
It is the fifth tax change the state coalition has committed to after vowing to repeal the schools payroll tax, GP tax, short-stay levy and expanded fire services levy.
The coalition took the same stamp duty policy to the 2022 state election.
It has not raised the $1 million threshold to account for rising house prices over the past two and a half years.
“It’s absolutely long overdue that they are elevated,” Property Council of Australia’s Victorian executive director Cath Evans said.
The Victorian budget on May 20 extended the stamp duty exemption for all buyers of off-the-plan developments to October 2026 at a cost of $61 million.
There were no other tax concessions to help first homebuyers crack into the market, although the state Labor government is overhauling planning rules to build more higher density housing and townhouses.
Speaking at a Property Council breakfast, Treasurer Jaclyn Symes was skeptical of the opposition’s counter offer.
“When you create a policy that has a financial impact, the obviously question is what services, what hospitals will suffer as a consequence,” she said.
Stamp duty was forecast to rake in $9.2 billion in revenue for Victoria this financial year.
In 2023, NSW repealed an option for first homebuyers to pay an annual land tax instead of stamp duty on homes valued up to $1.5 million.
It was replaced with a scheme that raised stamp duty exemptions from $650,000 to $800,000 and concessions from $800,000 to $1 million.
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Protests grip Bangladesh as pressure mounts on Yunus-led government
Protests grip Bangladesh as pressure mounts on Yunus-led government
By Ruma Paul
DHAKA (Reuters) -Primary school teachers in Bangladesh joined public sector workers in protests against the interim government on Monday amid growing discontent and political uncertainty in the South Asian country.
Nobel peace laureate Muhammad Yunus, 84, took over as interim head of the country of 173 million last August after deadly student-led protests forced then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to flee to India.
Yunus’ administration has faced pressure from civil servants, teachers, political parties and the military as the caretaker government attempts to guide the country through a fragile transition before holding a general election.
The government issued an ordinance on Sunday allowing the Ministry of Public Administration to dismiss public servants for misconduct without lengthy procedures, sparking outrage across the bureaucracy.
Government employees continued their demonstrations for a third consecutive day on Monday, calling the ordinance “repressive” and demanding its immediate withdrawal.
Thousands of teachers in government primary schools also began indefinite leave from work on Monday, demanding a hike in wages.
In the face of protests by the employees of National Board of Revenue, the interim government was forced on Sunday to withdraw an order to dissolve the tax body and replace it with two divisions under the finance ministry.
The strike was then called off.
Political uncertainty also deepened last week after a top student leader said Yunus said he could step down if political parties cannot agree on reforms and an election timeline.
Wahiduddin Mahmud, the planning adviser in Yunus’ cabinet, however, said the de-facto prime minister was not quitting.
“We are not going anywhere till our job is done,” Mahmud said during the weekend, adding that Yunus acknowledged the obstacles but remained committed to holding a fair election.
The interim government has been caught between competing demands for swift general elections and reforms. Yunus has said the elections could be held by June, 2026 while the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, has been pushing for polls by December.
Bangladesh’s army chief, General Waker-Uz-Zaman, added to the pressure by calling for elections to be held in December during a speech last week, expressing his dissatisfaction over the political situation.
Yunus convened a last-minute meeting of his Advisory Council on Saturday and also held talks during the weekend with the country’s main political forces, including the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and the student-led National Citizen Party.
Leaders of other political parties also met Yunus.
“We are in a war-like situation,” Yunus’ press secretary Shafiqul Alam told reporters on Sunday. “After the Awami League’s activities were banned, attempts are on to destabilise us in various ways. We have to get out of this situation.”
The registration of Hasina’s Awami League party was suspended this month, effectively barring the party from contesting the next election.
(Reporting by Ruma Paul; editing by Sudipto Ganguly and Raju Gopalakrishnan)
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Timberwolves vs. Thunder score: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC win Game 4 thriller, now one win from NBA Finals – CBS Sports
Timberwolves vs. Thunder score: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC win Game 4 thriller, now one win from NBA Finals – CBS Sports
Timberwolves vs. Thunder score: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC win Game 4 thriller, now one win from NBA Finals CBS SportsThunder vs. Timberwolves: OKC limits Anthony Edwards, gets 40 from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to secure Game 4 thriller Yahoo SportsNBA play-offs: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander puts Oklahoma City Thunder on brink of Finals BBCHow it happened: Wolves suffer 128-126 loss to Thunder in crucial Game 4 of Western Conference finals Star TribuneTimberwolves vs. Thunder schedule, odds, game times: Western Conference finals dates CBS Sports
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England vs West Indies: Spinner Tom Hartley back after winter of shifts in garden centre
England vs West Indies: Spinner Tom Hartley back after winter of shifts in garden centre
Hartley, 26, could make his England return this week in the one-day international series against West Indies, which starts on Thursday at Edgbaston.
He has had a decent start to the season with Lancashire but has still been putting in the hours amid the perennials.
“It is a 5am or 5:30am wake-up, walk the dogs, water the plants and then set up jobs for the staff, supervise and help where I can,” Hartley says.
“They clock off at 5pm and I get organised for the next day.
“It probably is too much and I feel myself getting tired at times.
“If my on-field wasn’t going well I would have to change things but I am doing all right on the field at the minute so it must be helping me.”
The garden centre – Hartley’s Nurseries to give it its proper name – is 10 miles or so outside of Liverpool and is a sixth-generation family business.
Hartley’s father, Bill, won 4x400m gold at the European Championship in 1974 and later took on the company. The plan remains that Tom will do the same one day.
“My dad helps me out a bit but you have got to learn on your feet,” he says.
“It is a bit of trial and error. Some prefer a lot of sunlight, some prefer the shade.
“It settles me on the field knowing there is something for me there after cricket and it takes the pressure off a little bit.
“If you have a bad game or season it is not the end of the world.”
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Swans superboot 'sends' it for longest goal ever
Swans superboot 'sends' it for longest goal ever
Sydney VFL superboot Jordan Endemann has ambitions to be more than a social media sensation after kicking a goal that travelled more than 100m.
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India’s ex-wrestling chief cleared in minor’s ******* harassment case
India’s ex-wrestling chief cleared in minor’s ******* harassment case
The former head of India’s wrestling federation has been cleared in a ******* harassment case filed by a minor female wrestler.
A court in the capital, Delhi, accepted a Delhi police report, recommending the cancellation of the case against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
A former MP from the governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Singh still faces charges of ******* harassment and stalking in a separate case by six adult female wrestlers.
Singh has always denied these charges.
The cases against Singh made headlines in 2023 when he was charged with ******* harassment after months of protests by India’s top wrestlers.
The protests made headlines globally, especially after the police detained them as they tried to march to India’s new parliament building in Delhi.
Footage of the Olympic medallists Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia and two-time world champion medallist Vinesh Phogat being dragged in the streets and carried off in police vans went viral, sparking criticism from top athletes and opposition politicians.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) also condemned the way the wrestlers were being treated and called for an impartial inquiry into their complaints.
The government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi was criticised for not acting strongly or swiftly enough against Singh since he was a member of his party. The government had rejected the allegations.
The wrestlers agreed to pause their protests after meeting Home Minister Amit Shah and then Sports Minister Anurag Thakur.
Thakur assured them that charges would be filed against Singh by 15 June 2023.
Seven female wrestlers, including the minor, registered complaints with the police accusing Singh of molesting and groping them at training camps and tournaments.
In the case of the minor, police had invoked the stringent Protection of Children from ******* Offences (Pocso) Act.
Singh, denied all the allegations, accusing the wrestlers of being “politically motivated”.
Weeks later, the minor retracted her earlier statements and withdrew her allegations, reports said. Wrestler Sakshi Malik told the BBC at the time that she believed “the player was pressurised into withdrawing the charges”. Mr Singh refused to comment on the allegation, saying “let law take its course”.
On Monday, legal news site Bar and Bench reported that the police had given a report in court seeking cancellation of the case as the minor wrestler’s father said he had made a false complaint.
The prosecution lawyer said “no corroborative evidence” had been found in the allegations after a detailed investigation in the case.
Bar and Bench said the wrestler and her father had appeared before the court and expressed satisfaction with the police investigation. They also did not oppose the cancellation report.
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3 more of the 10 escapees from a New Orleans jail are captured, leaving 2 on the run, officials say – AP News
3 more of the 10 escapees from a New Orleans jail are captured, leaving 2 on the run, officials say – AP News
3 more of the 10 escapees from a New Orleans jail are captured, leaving 2 on the run, officials say AP NewsSearch enters second week for 5 escaped inmates from Orleans jail fox8live.comSixth escaped inmate captured in Baton Rouge WDSUDay 11: Eight inmates captured, two still at large wwltv.comOrleans jail escapee captured in Baton Rouge with help from anonymous tip, authorities say WAFB
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‘My life was saved by a stranger on the other side of the world’
‘My life was saved by a stranger on the other side of the world’
Fi Lamdin & Emma Petrie
BBC News
Caters Photographic
Luke Melling, right, meets Alastair Hawken three years after a life-saving stem cell donation
A man with a rare form of blood ******* has travelled 10,000 miles to meet the stranger who saved his life.
Luke Melling, 31, from Melbourne, Australia, says he was “staring death in the face” before receiving a stem-cell transplant from Alastair Hawken, of Grantham, Lincolnshire.
The match between the pair was so perfect that the men now believe they could be distantly related, as both their families hail from Preston, Lancashire – the town they chose for their emotional first meeting.
They are sharing their story to encourage more people to join the NHS Stem Cell Donor Registry.
Three years ago, Luke, who was then 28, was desperately ill in hospital with Hodgkin lymphoma.
He had been living with the condition since he was 16 and, despite being in remission four times, the ******* kept coming back.
After exhausting all other treatments, he was told he needed a transplant of stem cells – which can be found in the bone marrow and produce essential blood cells – to survive.
But no-one in his family, and no-one in Australia, was a match, so doctors started searching global stem-cell registries for a donor.
“It was pretty much like, ‘This is it – this is the only option you have. It’s either this or you’re going to die’,” Luke says.
Luke Melling
Luke faced a long wait for a donor and knew that without one “survival rates just plummet”
“Finding out that my sister wasn’t a match was terrifying – we just didn’t know if there would be anybody registered who would be a suitable match for me.”
But then, after a six-month wait, Luke was told there was hope. The register had discovered a potential donor on the other side of the world.
“When we found out we had the perfect match, that was an emotional moment,” Luke recalls. “I remember mum – she was in hysterics, crying.”
For Alastair, then 48, the phone call came out of the blue. A regular blood donor, he had signed up to the NHS registry in 2008.
When he was asked if he was still willing to donate, the father-of-three did not hesitate.
“It was no problem at all,” he says. “What can I do, where can I be? It was nice to be wanted, or to feel that I could be of use to someone.”
Alastair Hawken
Alastair says he “felt amazing” after donating his stem cells
Before the donation, Alastair was injected with a high-strength cell-generating drug. After a couple of days he could barely move, but he was told that showed the process was working and the body was “over-generating stem cells”.
He then went to a hospital for the stem cells to be “harvested” in a process similar to blood donation, while he was fed snacks and watched television.
“There’s no discomfort,” he says. “The stem cells are taken out and packaged up, and then they’re counted in the laboratory – 85 million is what we needed for Luke, and that’s what was taken.
“I felt amazing – my body was made up of fresh stem cells – and then my [harvested] stem cells went on their journey.”
The cells were cryogenically frozen within hours to be sent to Australia, where Luke was waiting.
Caters Photographic
Alastair, left, and Luke believe they may have a family connection
Luke had his transplant a month later, but all he knew about the donor was that he was a 48-year-old man from the ***.
He was not allowed to contact Alastair until two years had passed and the treatment was considered successful.
At that point, Alastair did not know whether Luke had survived.
“I just hoped. I hoped and prayed that he had,” he says.
And then an email dropped into his inbox via the stem cell registry.
“It was like all my Christmases had come at once,” Alastair recalls. “It was a really beautiful moment.”
The men were put in contact with each other and finally met in Preston on Friday.
Luke told Alastair: “To have someone like you, who is so beautiful, lovely and kind, having done all this, I’m glad it’s your cells. I just can’t thank you enough.”
For his part, Alastair, who runs a gingerbread business, describes the donation as his “legacy”.
He told Luke: “If I achieve nothing more than just seeing that smile on your face, then I’ve achieved everything I need to achieve.”
Caters Photographic
Luke and Alastair in Avenham Park, Preston
Preston was a fitting place to meet as Alastair’s grandparents lived in the town and Luke’s family also have roots there.
Luke, who is now 31 and back to full health, feels he can put the last 15 years behind him. He has even run a marathon.
“Meeting Alastair in person is a dream come true,” he says. “What do you say to the person who has given you your life back by literally giving a part of themselves?
“Me being able to get on that plane and fly across the world is possible only because of him.
“The moment I got to give him that huge hug and thank him in person is a moment I’ll never forget.”
Alastair, now 51, hopes their story will encourage others to sign up to the stem cell registry.
“Meeting Luke today really brings home just what a difference that simple act can make,” he says.
“I just wish more people would put themselves forward to be on the register to donate, whether it’s platelets or organs or blood or stem cells – that is just the gift of life.
“There’s nothing that makes you feel more complete as a human being – and when it’s a success story, like it clearly has been in our case, it makes everything all worthwhile.”
Additional reporting by Paul Johnson
The NHS is encouraging more people aged 17-40, from all ethnic backgrounds, to join the NHS Stem Cell Donor Registry, to give more patients a better chance of finding the life-saving matches they need.
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Two people in Broome charged after drug investigation leads to multiple seizures by police
Two people in Broome charged after drug investigation leads to multiple seizures by police
Two people have been charged following a drug investigation in Broome that resulted in multiple seizures of drugs and cash.
A traffic stop by Broome police on Sunday May 25 led officers to a Carnarvon St property, where they recovered methamphetamine, ******** and cash.
A 25-year-old man from Carlisle and a 26-year-old woman from Eglington were arrested and charged with multiple offences, including possessing a trafficable quantity of meth with intent to sell or supply, and possessing ******** with intent to sell or supply.
Further inquiries led police to a parcel of interest at another Broome location.
Officers executed a search warrant on Monday and discovered ********, meth and ketamine inside the package.
As a result, the man from Carlisle faces three additional charges of attempting to possess prohibited drugs — specifically methylamphetamine, ******** and ketamine.
Both accused have been remanded in custody and are due to appear in Broome Magistrates Court next month.
Sen. Sgt Blair Smith, officer-in-charge of Broome Police Station, said the arrests form part of broader efforts to disrupt the local drug trade.
“We continue to make Broome a hostile environment for drug dealers,” Sen. Sgt Smith said.
“Big or small, make no mistake, we will continue to do everything we can to stop illicit drug operations in our neighbourhoods.
“Drugs ruin lives and communities, and we will use every resource we have at our disposal to keep our region safe.”
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Car sales in Europe dip slightly in April, Tesla's 49% drop tempers EV gains – Reuters
Car sales in Europe dip slightly in April, Tesla's 49% drop tempers EV gains – Reuters
Car sales in Europe dip slightly in April, Tesla’s 49% drop tempers EV gains ReutersTesla’s Europe sales plunge 49% on brand damage, rising competition CNBCChina’s BYD Outsells Tesla in Europe for First Time The New York TimesTesla Misses out on European EV Market Growth as Sales Halved Last Month WSJEurope Car Sales Slip as Economic Woes Hold Back Consumers Bloomberg.com
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Swinfen Hall prison lockdowns harming rehabilitation
Swinfen Hall prison lockdowns harming rehabilitation
Josh Sandiford
BBC News, West Midlands
BBC
Families of Swinfen Hall prisoners say they are not being rehabilitated
Criminals at a prison where some cells have been locked down during the day due to serious violence could pose an even higher risk to the public when released, their families have warned.
Staff members and inmates at HMP Swinfen Hall, in Lichfield, have been hurt in attacks, including a prison officer who was stabbed in the head.
The BBC has spoken to families who fear the disorder means their loved ones are not being rehabilitated and could come out more dangerous than they went in.
The Ministry of Justice said it did not recognise claims made by relatives, but was working to protect staff and improve prisoner access to education.
About 600 men aged between 18 to 28 are housed in the jail, including 130 serving life sentences.
The prison is designed to help inmates get training, with bosses promising a “safe, decent and respectful environment for personal growth”.
But six families have told the BBC they are worried about violence, drug use, prison officer behaviour, mental health support and access to education.
Three mothers agreed to speak on camera but asked to remain anonymous. They believe their sons could be targeted by fellow inmates or staff at the prison for speaking out.
They each insisted it was right their children were being punished for serious offences, but said change was needed to stop them coming out and potentially reoffending.
Swinfen Hall prison is home to 600 young men but has been plagued by issues
One mother said she used to be “judgemental” and shared online stories about sex offenders before her own son became one.
He is currently serving an eight-year sentence for offences including *****, which he committed when he was 17.
The woman doesn’t expect any sympathy, but warns any young person can take a wrong turn.
“My son deserves to be where he is, no doubt,” she said.
“But what is the point in locking him up if he’s not going to come out a better man?”
Inmates’ mothers told the BBC it was important to provide effective rehabilitation in prison
Unlike other prisons, sex offenders are not housed on a separate wing in Swinfen Hall, meaning they are easily singled out by gang members.
The mother explained her son had spent long periods self-isolating in his cell eating noodles, because he was too scared to visit the canteen or showers.
During one incident, she alleged fellow inmates urinated over her son’s freshly-washed clothes while guards stood and watched.
She also claimed he was threatened with a weapon for attempting to enrol on to classes, and told by fellow inmates there was a “rule” sex offenders did not do education.
A report published by HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) in November said staff-prisoner relationships were “problematic” and also highlighted the amount of time inmates spent in locked cells during the working day.
A report by Ofsted rated the effectiveness of education, work and skills at the site as “requires improvement”.
Previous inspections by HMIP have also criticised “high rates of violence” and “significant use of force” at Swinfen Hall, although the most recent report said violence was reducing.
Prison officers are alleged to have taunted prisoners whose families have complained
Multiple parents said their sons had been targeted further by staff and fellow inmates after complaining.
The mother added: “I’ll write to the governor and then the guard will say really degrading things to him like ‘are you going to keep writing to your mummy?'”
Another parent, originally from the ****** Country but based in South Wales, said she was in a “living nightmare” of battling for her son to get support for his mental health conditions.
The 21-year-old has been at Swinfen Hall since October, after being jailed for more than seven years for ******* offences.
The mother insisted the jail was not suited to deal with his personality disorder, because there was no wing for vulnerable prisoners.
“I worry about what he’s going to be if he ever comes out,” she said. “These are still human beings.
“The way they’re being treated in prisons is why they are reoffending. The system is not working.”
Concerns have been raised about mental health support and access to education
A third mother, from Warwickshire, said her inmate son had changed for the worse, explaining crimes he once found “horrendous” now amused him.
“It’s like he’s got no heart,” she said.
The 26-year-old was sentenced to seven a half years for wounding with intent.
His mother said it was his first significant offence, but he was now fighting most days – she believes because of the lack of structure and training.
“He can’t get on any courses,” she claimed. “I just want him to have some rehabilitation.
“You can’t [put someone] in a little cell and say see you in five years and expect them to come out and be a model prisoner.”
Geoff Willetts, of the POA, said more work was needed to recruit the best staff
The Prison Officers’ Association (POA) has demanded a “reset” at Swinfen Hall, saying: “It is clear senior leaders have lost control.”
Geoff Willetts, the union’s Midlands representative, said he did not recognise concerns raised by parents about staff, but more vetting and investment was needed to get the best officers.
“No one should go to work to feel they are going to be hurt or hospitalised,” he said.
“The ******** and wellbeing of our members should be paramount.”
The Ministry of Justice said it did not recognise concerns raised to the BBC
Last week, the Justice Secretary announced “landmark” sentencing reforms and said they would help cut crime, boost rehabilitation and reduce reoffending.
Ministers want to create 14,000 new prison places by 2031, with £2.3bn committed to build new jails.
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said the government had inherited a prisons crisis.
“We do not recognise many of these claims,” a statement read, responding to the families’ comments.
“All prisoners have daily access to showers and open air, and ******** checks are carried out in response to family concerns reported through the safety hotline.
“We recognise that more needs to be done across the prison estate to protect staff and improve prisoner access to education and training.”
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Tesla Europe sales plunge 49% as Elon Musk brand fallout continues
Tesla Europe sales plunge 49% as Elon Musk brand fallout continues
Elon Musk interviews on CNBC from the Tesla Headquarters in Texas.
CNBC
European sales of Tesla vehicles plunged in April, as the U.S. electric carmaker continues to face reputational damage regionally and rising competition.
Tesla sold 7,261 cars in Europe in April, down 49% year-on-year, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA). That drop came even as overall battery electric car sales rose 34.1% annually in April.
Tesla has faced brand damage over the past few months because of CEO Elon Musk’s political involvement with U.S. President Donald Trump, with protests erupting at Tesla dealerships across Europe in March.
Tesla sales tanked nearly 40% year-on-year over the January-April *******.
The company launched an upgraded version of its Model Y sports utility vehicle this year, but its overall line-up of cars is still ageing, with no new mass market offering unveiled to date.
At the same time, Tesla continues to battle rising competition from traditional automakers as well as aggressive ******** players. Last week, separate data showed auto giant BYD sold more pure electric cars in Europe than Tesla for the first time.
European consumers are also showing a preference for hybrid electric vehicles — cars with a small battery that still mainly run on traditional fuel. Hybrid electric vehicles account for just over 35% of the total European car market, ACEA data showed.
Tesla does not have any hybrid electric cars on the market, only selling full battery-powered vehicles.
Investors have questioned Musk’s dedication to Tesla because of his time advising Trump and his role leading the so-called Department of Government Efficiency. Musk said on the most recent Tesla earnings call that his time spent running DOGE would drop significantly by the end of May, but that he plans to dedicate a “day or two per week” on government work.
The tech billionaire added in a recent public speech that he is committed to leading Tesla for the next five years.
– CNBC’s Ashley Capoot contributed to this report.
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Telstra boss Vicki Brady ‘stands by’ mobile coverage claims following rival Vodafone’s allegations
Telstra boss Vicki Brady ‘stands by’ mobile coverage claims following rival Vodafone’s allegations
Telstra boss Vicki Brady has stood by the company’s claim of providing three million square kilometres of coverage following allegations from rival Vodafone it misled consumers by inflating how far its network reached.
Ms Brady’s comments come as she unveiled Telstra’s new strategy to investors on Tuesday. The three-pronged plan — which aims to set Telstra up until 2030 — aims to boost its customer loyalty metric by more than 50 per cent, establish its ‘network as product’ model and get its digital infrastructure arm to sustained cash earning by the end of the decade.
Australia’s biggest telco last week faced accusations from Vodafone, along with parent company TPG, of “dramatically” overstating its mobile phone coverage by about one million square kilometres.
After being alerted to the claims, Telstra was forced to clarify its coverage was based on using an external antenna and boosters — which can cost thousands of dollars and are not generally owned by people outside regional communities — but has since backflipped.
“Yes, we stand by the three million square kilometre of coverage without an external antenna,” Ms Brady told investors and analysts during Telstra’s strategy day on Tuesday.
“When we got challenged on it recently, we did take the time to go back over that. You don’t brush aside a serious allegation like that . . . we ran additional testing just to be 100 per cent sure in our labs.”
Ms Brady added there needed to be a standardised approach to mobile coverage maps that telcos provide.
“There was discussions last year through (the *********** Mobile Telecommunications Association) around trying to align on some standards here because I think that would be a good path forward,” she said.
“When you talk to global operators, there is no standard on how you predict and assess mobile coverage.”
TPG’s allegations have already attracted the attention of the consumer watchdog, saying telcos needed to be transparent about their coverage network.
Asked if Telstra was price gouging customers after recently whacking them with mobile phone price rises around triple the rate of inflation, Ms Brady said customers continued to value its mobile and broadband services.
“Any decision we make on price, we consider very carefully,” she said.
“Ultimately, we have to be able to keep investing in the capacity, in the different capabilities that we need to be able to deliver for customers.
“We’re also very conscious of choice, so we don’t have lock in contracts. Customers can choose what they plan they’re on to meet their needs.”
Separately, Ms Brady said artificial intelligence would be “significant” for the business and its customers, but at the expense of Telstra’s staff.
“No one can predict exactly what our workforces will look like in 2030, but in our case, we believe our workforce will likely be smaller in 2030 than it is today,” she said.
Telstra reaffirmed its full-year earnings guidance of between $8.5 billion to $8.7b.
Telstra shares were trading 0.5 per cent higher to $4.76 just before the close on Tuesday.
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Tesla Europe sales plunge 49% as Elon Musk brand fallout continues
Tesla Europe sales plunge 49% as Elon Musk brand fallout continues
Elon Musk interviews on CNBC from the Tesla Headquarters in Texas.
CNBC
European sales of Tesla vehicles plunged in April, as the U.S. electric carmaker continues to face reputational damage regionally and rising competition.
Tesla sold 7,261 cars in Europe in April, down 49% year-on-year, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA). That drop came even as overall battery electric car sales rose 34.1% annually in April.
Tesla has faced brand damage over the past few months because of CEO Elon Musk’s political involvement with U.S. President Donald Trump, with protests erupting at Tesla dealerships across Europe in March.
Tesla sales tanked nearly 40% year-on-year over the January-April *******.
The company launched an upgraded version of its Model Y sports utility vehicle this year, but its overall line-up of cars is still ageing, with no new mass market offering unveiled to date.
At the same time, Tesla continues to battle rising competition from traditional automakers as well as aggressive ******** players. Last week, separate data showed auto giant BYD sold more pure electric cars in Europe than Tesla for the first time.
European consumers are also showing a preference for hybrid electric vehicles — cars with a small battery that still mainly run on traditional fuel. Hybrid electric vehicles account for just over 35% of the total European car market, ACEA data showed.
Tesla does not have any hybrid electric cars on the market, only selling full battery-powered vehicles.
Investors have questioned Musk’s dedication to Tesla because of his time advising Trump and his role leading the so-called Department of Government Efficiency. Musk said on the most recent Tesla earnings call that his time spent running DOGE would drop significantly by the end of May, but that he plans to dedicate a “day or two per week” on government work.
The tech billionaire added in a recent public speech that he is committed to leading Tesla for the next five years.
– CNBC’s Ashley Capoot contributed to this report.
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#Tesla #Europe #sales #plunge #Elon #Musk #brand #fallout #continues
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Inside ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Series Finale: Elisabeth Moss and Creator Bruce Miller Explain That Ending – The Hollywood Reporter
Inside ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Series Finale: Elisabeth Moss and Creator Bruce Miller Explain That Ending – The Hollywood Reporter
Inside ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Series Finale: Elisabeth Moss and Creator Bruce Miller Explain That Ending The Hollywood ReporterElisabeth Moss took Handmaid’s Tale role to stop another actor getting the part: ‘Over my dead body’ The IndependentThe Handmaid’s Tale is over after six seasons. What was that? *********** Broadcasting CorporationThe Handmaid’s Tale Season 6 Episode 10 – Release Date, Schedule, Where To Watch Newsweek’The Handmaid’s Tale’s Ending Has Been Planned Since Day One — How It Convinced Elisabeth Moss to Star TV Insider
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Alcohol-related brain damage could affect thousands, warns expert
Alcohol-related brain damage could affect thousands, warns expert
Jenny Rees
Health Correspondent
BBC
Former Royal Navy engineer, Lee, has been through rehabilitation for alcohol-related brain damage (ARBD)
Thousands of people with alcohol-related brain damage (ARBD) could be going undiagnosed, an expert says.
Research suggests consuming 35 units of alcohol per week for five years or more can cause ARBD, which affects a person’s ability to carry out basic daily tasks.
Lee Caldwell, 56, who was diagnosed with ARBD last year, said he struggled with short-term memory and impulse control.
Prof Gareth Roderique Davies said stigma and lack of awareness led to ARBD being missed or misdiagnosed, and said adequate resources remained a challenge.
The Welsh government said it was investing £67m to help people affected by drugs and alcohol, including ARBD.
If left undiagnosed, patients with ARBD can end up requiring long term nursing care, but with the right intervention they can improve and live independently.
Mr Caldwell was admitted to Brynawel House, a residential rehabilitation facility in south Wales, where he was diagnosed with ARBD last September.
He said said at the peak of his drinking he found it “easier to cross the road to the garage” to buy alcohol than to confront the feelings of guilt and shame associated with his habit.
Getty Images
The NHS advises men and women not to drink more than 14 units per week on a regular basis
“The addiction became more important than living,” said Mr Caldwell, a former Royal Navy engineer and construction manager.
Explaining the daily challenges ARBD could present, he said: “One day [in rehab] I couldn’t find my room.”
“I could see room seven, there’s eight – where’s nine?”
“This lad I got on with said: ‘It would help if you were in the right building – you live over there’.”
Mr Caldwell said his longer term memory was unaffected but he struggled with “silly things” like whether he had taken his medication, as well as impulse control.
How many units are in alcoholic drinks?Pint of lower strength lager, beer or cider – 2 unitsPint of higher strength lager, beer or cider – 3 unitsSmall glass of wine (125ml) – 1.5 unitsLarge glass of wine (250ml) – 3 unitsSingle shot of spirits (25m) – 1 unit
Source: NHS
Mr Caldwell said since undergoing six months of rehabilitation, “I don’t wake up with cravings now and I am getting physically more and more fit”.
“But I still worry about going out somewhere I’m not familiar with,” he added.
“With ARBD, as you’re recovering, your memory comes back, which doesn’t happen to many people really.”
Mr Caldwell had mixed feelings about leaving and returning to his home area of north Wales.
“I knew I could do it – but I know I’m an addict, so I was always waiting for that ******.”
Asked if he could see how far he had come, he said: “No. But I can see how far I’m going to go.”
Sue Gwyn says alcohol-related brain damage has become more of an issue since the pandemic
“Post-pandemic we are seeing people with far more extensive brain problems because of their drinking,” said Sue Gwyn, chief executive of Brynawel House.
The charity provides rehabilitation for substance misuse, but specialises in ARBD.
She said patients were typically referred by local authorities and their cognitive function was then assessed.
“Even as low as 35 units of alcohol a week for maybe four or five years can impact on your brain,” said Ms Gwyn.
“Sometimes [patients] will have been working with community services for 18 months but ARBD hasn’t been picked up.
“And that’s a worry because we know that up to 75% of people with ARBD, if they have rehab, they can make a very meaningful recovery.
“If it’s not picked up the outcomes will be poorer for them, and in the most severe cases they’re going to end up in long term nursing care.
“When you think that 36 units is around four bottles of wine, there are an awful lot of people who will be routinely drinking that as a minimum every week and thinking that’s OK because they haven’t got obvious liver problems.
“But we are as worried about people’s brains as we are about anything else.”
Brynawel House has a resident therapy dog, called Myfi
“We see a massive change in people by the time they leave,” said occupational therapist at Brynawel House, Jan Bevan.
“Life evolved around alcohol and when they could get their next drink. But they’re actually looking at a future and what’s meaningful, because they’d forgotten what meaningful is.”
She said part of her work was to help patients to build routines, with prompts to aid memory.
“My job is to ensure that when they go from here they have strategies and support to enable them to carry on.”
As a charity and the only not-for-profit providing ARBD rehabilitation in Wales, Ms Gwyn said funding arrangements were not clear cut.
While area planning boards have ringfenced funding for addiction support, she said few would fund ARBD rehabilitation.
Support at Brynawel House, which includes a multi-disciplinary team and costs £1,760 a week, is provided for a minimum of six months.
“If you look at the long-term impact of somebody having to go into residential care for maybe 10 or 20 years, then six months or a year spent in rehab here, I think it is money well invested,” she said.
Jan Bevan says ARBD can affect a person’s gait, movement and cause them to physically shake
Prof Gareth Roderique Davies is co-lead of the addictions research group at the University of South Wales, where work is being done to better understand ARBD and its prevalence.
He said as co-author of the Welsh government’s substance misuse treatment framework, published four years ago, he was frustrated with the lack of progress creating clinical pathways into treatment.
“In many ways Wales is leading the way in terms of recognising ARBD as an issue, but there is the road block of putting the appropriate resources in place in order to deal with it,” he said.
“We did some research a few years ago which suggested a prevalence of about 34 per 100,000 in south Wales, which is almost certainly a huge underestimation.
“So just scaling up those figures, you’re talking about thousands of people in Wales with a potential diagnosis.”
Prof Gareth Roderique Davies says there are likely to be thousands of people in Wales with a potential ARBD diagnosis
Prof Davies said stigma played a “big role” in people being correctly diagnosed.
“Individuals who are drinking excessively may present as confused and chaotic and possibly even aggressive and that immediately means they’re treated in a stigmatised way,” he said.
“Whereas in fact they’re exhibiting signs of alcohol related brain damage. But the pathways to recovery are really, really ill defined.
“There is some evidence suggesting some individuals with ARBD are being misdiagnosed with early onset dementia. But memory clinics are not necessarily the right place for them because that’s dealing with a degenerative disorder – whereas if interventions take place at the right time, ARBD doesn’t have to get any worse.
“In many circumstances it can improve with correct intervention.”
The Welsh government said it was investing more than £67m “to help people affected by drugs and alcohol, including people with alcohol related brain damage, to ensure a range of services and support is in place”.
A spokesperson added: “Clinical pathways are a matter for each area planning board area to determine and it is important they work closely with all appropriate organisations to ensure early identification of ARBD.”
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Hastings heads down multi-commodity road with WA gold grab
Hastings heads down multi-commodity road with WA gold grab
Hastings Technology Metals has nabbed a promising Western *********** gold project, pushing along the company’s plans to diversify into other commodities. The acquisition adds to Hastings’ rare earths, gold and niobium portfolio, which includes its flagship Yangibana rare earths project.
Hastings has signed a binding agreement to acquire all the shares in private firm Great Western Gold, which has an option and agreements to scoop up interests in the Whiteheads gold project held by several ASX-listed companies.
The tenement package comprises 14 licences across 380 square kilometres, 80km northeast of Kalgoorlie, and will amalgamate and consolidate leases in an overlooked Goldfields area crying out for new managers to throw time and funding its way.
Hastings will acquire the Whiteheads package via Great Western Gold’s option to purchase a 75 per cent stake in nine exploration licences and a prospecting licence held by Great Boulder Resources. These licences are held in joint venture with private company Zebina Minerals.
Great Western Gold has also reached an agreement to grab three remaining exploration licences and one mining lease from a mix of interests held by Great Boulder, Mithril Resources and Aberdeen Mining. Hastings will hold all of the three licences and the lease.
Hastings will be able to lay its hands on a significant volume of historic data to instigate an extensive and systematic exploration program to outline a maiden JORC resource at Whiteheads. The company anticipates the estimate will be reveal-ready later this year.
Andrew Forrest’s Wyloo recently struck a deal with Hastings, in which Wyloo will pick up 60 per cent of Hastings’ imposing Yangibana rare earths project, which also contains the coveted mineral niobium. Yangibana is 270km east-northeast of Carnarvon in WA’s Gascoyne region.
This acquisition is the next step in Hastings’ growth trajectory following the successful creation of the Yangibana joint venture in partnership with Wyloo. The Whiteheads project provides Hastings with a low-cost entry to a well-understood gold exploration opportunity with significant upside potential.
The Whiteheads project is in the gold-rich Eastern Goldfields and hosts several high-priority, drill-ready targets, including Blue Poles, Seven Leaders and Lady Betty. An estimated 10,000 metres of historical drilling, soil sampling, gravity surveys and geochemical programs have been completed across the project’s ground.
Whiteheads is considered an advanced gold project. It is close to existing gold processing facilities with a total processing capacity of more than 9 million tonnes per annum, established infrastructure, a well-maintained road network and other mines, such as Northern Star Resources’ Kanowna Belle mine.
Kanowna Bell is 40km south of Whiteheads and produced 166,000 ounces of gold in the past financial year. It has a processing plant with a 2Mtpa processing capacity.
The purchase cost of $370,000 in cash and 3 million Hastings shares, valued today at 32.5 cents each for a share value of $975,000, could be considered a modest upfront sum at $1.345M in total if the company can quickly prove up a worthwhile resource.
Hastings will pay an additional deferred sum up to $800,000 upon reporting certain mineral resource milestones, above minimum cut-off grades.
Hastings expects to begin its due diligence and to start drafting the relevant paperwork to complete the purchase in the coming weeks.
After it completes the acquisition, the company plans to launch into initial air core and reverse circulation drilling programs to test for extensions and infill key prospect areas at Blue Pole, Lady Betty and Seven Leaders.
It will undertake soil and geochemistry programs across the entire project, conduct scoping studies and baseline environmental assessments, and assess the project’s mining potential using nearby third-party processing options.
The deal with Wyloo encouragingly resulted in Hastings shedding about $220M debt owed to Wyloo, which was becoming a burden to the company.
That debt was created when Wyloo provided an exchangeable note to Hastings so it could pick up 21.5 per cent of ********* rare earths magnet manufacturer Neo Performance Materials. Those shares have since dropped in value after the sharp decline in global rare earths prices.
About $80M of the debt was paid down back in February when Hastings transferred the bulk of its shares in Neo to Wyloo. Under the terms of the now completed deal, Wyloo and Hastings have formed a 60:40 joint venture, with Wyloo assuming operatorship of Yangibana, which is considered one of the most advanced unmined rare earths projects globally in terms of spent capital.
Wyloo retains an option to increase its stake to 70 per cent for at least an additional $20M.
Hastings sees Whiteheads as a low-cost entry to a well-understood gold exploration opportunity, with plenty of upside potential, drill targets at the ready and other untested anomalies near surface.
The company’s latest decision to spread its wings across a diverse commodity base is part of its growth trajectory plans and could pay big dividends, as the gold price continues its gangbuster run, hovering near US$3330 (A$5145) per ounce.
Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: *****@*****.tld
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James Wynn, the Trader Who Bet $1B on Bitcoin, Is Now Long Pepe
James Wynn, the Trader Who Bet $1B on Bitcoin, Is Now Long Pepe
One of the most closely watched crypto wallets in recent weeks is now betting on pepe (PEPE), days after drumming up a record billion-dollar notional position on bitcoin BTC on the onchain trading platform Hyperliquid.
The wallet has gone long on PEPE with $1 million at 10x leverage, flipping from billion-dollar bitcoin trades to high-stakes memecoin bets. The position is already up $500,000 as of European morning hours, with pepe up nearly 6% in the past few hours.
Pseudonymous trader “James Wynn” — known as “moonpig” on decentralized exchange Hyperliquid — closed their $1.2 billion BTC long position with a $17.5 million loss on Monday.
Wynn then opened a $1 billion short using 40x leverage, effectively wagering their entire $50 million wallet on the downside. Both positions are a record for an onchain platform and represent the biggest bets placed entirely on a blockchain-based service.
Wynn’s new short was opened at an average price of $107,077, and has already netted about $3 million in profit as BTC hovered just below that level Monday, before losing some value.
The trade is a high-risk musical chairs event: if BTC rises above $110,446, Wynn’s position could be liquidated unless additional collateral is posted, data shows.
That position is since closed and Wynn said on X stepping away from perpetual trading altogether. They have netted a total profit of $25 million from an initial above $3 million, the account said on X.
“Now decided to leave the casino with my $25,000,000 profit,” he posted. “It’s been fun, but now it’s time for me to walk away a wynner.”
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All Of Jennifer Lopez’s Outfits As Host Of The 2025 American Music Awards – Deadline
All Of Jennifer Lopez’s Outfits As Host Of The 2025 American Music Awards – Deadline
All Of Jennifer Lopez’s Outfits As Host Of The 2025 American Music Awards DeadlineView Full Coverage on Google News
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New powers to shoot ravens after livestock attacks on Orkney
New powers to shoot ravens after livestock attacks on Orkney
Getty Images
Juvenile ravens – like this one pictured on a hilltop in Orkney – could be shot in areas where attacks become a problem
New powers to shoot young ravens in Orkney are being drawn up by Scotland’s natural heritage agency following a spate of attacks on livestock.
Farmers say the birds have killed and injured lambs, sheep and calves, caused distress to both the animals and those caring for them, and significant financial losses.
In a meeting organised by farmers in the islands, NatureScot officials agreed current controls are not proving an effective deterrent.
NatureScot believes it will be possible to introduce an area licensing scheme for Orkney by this winter and will update farmers later this summer.
The BBC has approached the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) for comment.
Licences to shoot ravens are currently granted by NatureScot only where there is no other satisfactory solution. Shooters target juvenile birds, because breeding pairs are not associated with livestock attacks.
Applicants have to demonstrate they have tried other scaring techniques and found them insufficient in reducing damage.
NatureScot presented evidence that 34 licences had been granted in Orkney since 2016 covering 28 locations. This resulted in 124 ravens being culled, 58% of the number which was permitted.
The farmers present said there was a lack of confidence in the current licensing regime, which includes restricting shooting permissions to specific fields.
This means birds can simply fly to safety in nearby land. NatureScot’s Director of the Green Economy, Robbie Kernahan, admitted this was “bonkers”.
He said new terms could be agreed that are more flexible. It is likely this will mean permission to shoot the birds over a wider area and for a longer ******* than currently permitted.
Robbie Kernahan from NatureScot and farmer Douglas Paterson both felt the meeting to control raven numbers had been constructive
During the meeting on Monday, Mr Kernahan told farmers: “I don’t think there’s ever been any doubt ravens can and do have a significant impact on livestock.
“Where it becomes more interesting and challenging is what we do about that. It soon becomes clear there are not many alternatives to using lethal controls to scare them off.”
Farmer Douglas Paterson has been one of Orkney’s loudest voices demanding action to control raven numbers.
He said the birds have killed lambs and also sheep, which can be vulnerable and exposed when they roll onto their backs.
Other farmers told NatureScot officials that the birds have attacked the tongues and feet of young calves, leaving them with devastating injuries.
During the meeting a dead lamb was produced from a bag and placed in front of the officials as evidence of the problem.
Reacting to NatureScot’s commitment to address Orkney’s issue with ravens, Mr Paterson said: “I’m not 100% convinced it will happen, but if it does, I will be delighted.
“It just remains to be seen how well NatureScot will deliver this. We will not let them off with doing nothing.”
Orkney is not the first place in Scotland, or the ***, to report problems with young ravens, which are the largest birds in the crow family in this country.
Greater controls on raven populations have previously been introduced in Skye and Argyll.
Mr Kernahan believes a more tailored approach in Orkney can now be justified.
He said: “I think enabling control measures at the right time of year is key.
“NatureScot will come up with licensing solutions enabling more flexibility so birds are taken a bit earlier across the islands where there are particular issues with attacks.
“We’re committing to coming back by the end of the summer to explore that in more depth and have something in place by the back end of the year, in time for next winter.”
‘Clever birds’
NatureScot say they would be gathering more data on the need for greater control of raven numbers, but it would not t let the need for further surveys be a barrier to action.
However, Orkney wildlife expert Andy Mitchell said there was no significant increase in the number of raven nests, or the number of fledged young in the most recent surveys, though the last one was carried out in 2014.
Mr Mitchell said: “I have seen no compelling evidence of ravens killing healthy lambs. NatureScot cannot and must not ride roughshod over licensing rules to accommodate a few farmers.”
Local shooter Robert Reid has experience of working within the current licensing regime on farms across Orkney.
He believes a more flexible scheme which covers a greater area stands a better chance of success.
Robert Reid says very few farmers experiencing problems with ravens obtain licenses to control them.
“These birds are clever,” he said. “They are very difficult to shoot. NatureScot told us about how far fewer birds are being taken than the current licenses permit.
“In the current time limit it’s very difficult to get close to them.
“If we could shoot them throughout the year, we would be able to drop the number of young birds causing these problems and help the farmers save a few of their livestock.”
During the meeting NatureScot committed to a holding a similar meeting in Shetland, after hearing farmers there are suffering similar issues with ravens attacking their livestock.
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What is RTK for robot lawn mowers?
What is RTK for robot lawn mowers?
RTK stands for ‘real time kinematic [positioning]’, and it’s a system that works to make GPS data more accurate. So satellite data alone might help locate your robot lawn mower correct to within a few meters, but combine it with RTK positioning, and it can narrow that down to a few centimeters.
This is the technology that has enabled modern lawnbots to navigate without a boundary wire. It also means the lawnbot can mow in an ordered, logical fashion, rather than just traversing the lawn randomly.
However, the effectiveness of RTK positioning is reliant on specific factors – and if certain things are off, it might not work very well at all. Read on for more on how RTK positioning works in robot lawn mowers.
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Why is satellite data not accurate enough?
We’ve been using the term GPS, but that is in fact just one of four systems that might be providing the satellite data that helps your lawnbot find its way around – so a more correct acronym would be GNSS (global navigation satellite system).
The satellites use two main signal types. The oldest type of satellite signal is the L1 signal, and this can’t pass through any solid object. Newer L2 signals can penetrate through some objects – including things like thinner timber, plastic and light tree coverage – but every time it does so, the signal gets weaker.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
The time it takes for the signal to get from the satellite down to earth is what creates the inaccuracies in positioning data. Even passing through our atmosphere causes delays; the signal passes through some areas more quickly than others.
How does RTK positioning help?
RTK essentially helps correct inaccuracies in satellite positioning data, to make it more precise. It does this in real time.
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The system relies on a fixed, antenna-equipped base station with known coordinates (this is separate from the robot lawn mower’s charging station, which is where the bot docks and recharges its battery). Both the RTK base station and lawnbot connect to satellites in the sky.
To do this they need a direct line of sight to each satellite – things like walls, roofs and even tree coverage can block the signal. What’s more, both the base station and lawnbot both need to connect to the same satellites in order to function.
The RTK station needs to be placed so it has the widest unobstructed view of the sky as possible, in as many directions as possible. It should be high up, and away from overhanging buildings and trees.
(Image credit: Future)
Because the lawnbot needs to be able to connect to satellites when it’s docked as well as when it’s working, the charge station also needs to be in a position with a direct line of sight to the sky (you can generally get away with there being a wall behind, provided the other three directions are open and have good line of sight to the sky.)
The RTK base station also connects to the lawnbot, but this connection doesn’t require a direct line of sight – it’s usually a radio signal, which can pass through solid objects.
Are there any down-sides of the RTK system?
The big benefit of using RTK and GPSS data for navigation is that it means you don’t need to go through the hassle of adding a boundary wire to your garden.
However, it’s not a failsafe system. The whole thing hinges on there being plenty of spread out satellites that both the robot mower and the RTK station can connect to. Overhead obstructions like trees and buildings will impact on how effective it is, and having a good place to put your RTK station is vital.
Because they’re so sensitive to environmental factors, lawnbots that rely on RTK are more prone to getting lost, or straying out of bounds, than those that use perimeter wires.
(Image credit: Future)
You might also find that the location data still isn’t quite precise enough. An RTK-powered robot mower will will navigate your lawn in neat lines, but because there’s still a few centimeters’ margin of error, you might end up with unmown strips of grass between rows. You might also need to leave a larger buffer at potentially hazardous perimeters – for example, the edge of a pond. Lawnbots that use boundary wires will cover the area in a much more haphazard way, but they’ll never go over a boundary, and are perhaps less likely to end up missing a spot.
These potential weak points mean almost all modern lawnbots will include another kind of navigation system as backup for when signal is poor. That might be something like radar or LiDAR (the method used in most of today’s best robot vacuums), or a camera. There are of course limitations for each system, but technologies are getting ever more advanced, and as a result, so are the lawnbots they power.
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GSFL 2025: Railways move game clear on top after disposing of reigning premiers who lose defender to injury
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