Watch: Swimmer circumnavigates Martha's Vineyard for shark conservation
May 27 (UPI) -- An endurance swimmer spent 12 days swimming 59 miles around Martha's Vineyard, the filming location of the classic movie Jaws, to raise awareness for shark conservation.
British-South African swimmer Lewis Pugh became the first swimmer to circumnavigate the Massachusetts island when he completed his swim on Monday.
"It's been one of the toughest swims of my life. Cold water, relentless wind, big waves and the constant thought of what might be beneath me," Pugh wrote on social media.
The swimmer chose Martha's Vineyard for his swim on the 50th anniversary of Jaws to push back against the common perception of sharks as undersea monsters.
"For the past 50 years, it's all been about fear and about the danger of sharks. What I want to do is I want to try to change the narrative for a new generation and say sharks actually bring life, they sustain life, they make oceans healthy," Pugh told PBS News.
Pugh said Jaws and the films that followed in its wake contributed to negative perceptions of the animals.
"They portrayed sharks in a way that they are villains. They're out to get humans and we know that they are nothing of the sort. And so this is an opportunity to try and tell a new narrative for a new generation," he said.
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Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Tears and heartbreak over tragic story of South African girl sold by her mother
A video clip of a laughing Joshlin Smith, who was six years old when she went missing more than a year ago in South Africa, left most people in the courtroom sobbing. It was shown during a hearing in Saldanha Bay, near Cape Town, ahead of the sentencing of Joshlin's mother - a drug addict who is believed to have sold her for money. Racquel Smith, also known as Kelly Smith, was convicted of kidnapping and trafficking her daughter earlier this month. The 35-year-old mother of three was found guilty along with her boyfriend Jacquen Appollis and their friend Steveno van Rhyn. Even the court interpreter could not hold back her tears as she translated the victim impact statements into English. A court official read out those statements first in Afrikaans, the language spoken by those in the impoverished Middelpos informal settlement of Saldanha Bay, where Joshlin had lived. In their own words, Joshlin's grandmother, the family friend who had wanted to adopt Joshlin and her teacher spoke of their pain and bewilderment about how she could have been sold by her mother. One witness during the trial had alleged this was to a traditional healer, known in South Africa as a "sangoma", who wanted Joshlin for "her eyes and skin". A local pastor also testified that he had once heard Smith talk of selling her children for 20,000 rand ($1,100; £850) each, but would have been willing to accept a lower figure of $275. "How do you sleep [and] live with yourself?" a devastated Amanda Smith-Daniels, who is looking after her other two grandchildren, asked her daughter in her victim statement on Wednesday. Smith and her co-accused refused to take the stand during the six-week trial that began in March and was held at a community centre in Saldanha to allow the wider community to attend proceedings. But as Joshlin's mother heard the statements on Wednesday and saw the video clip, she sobbed uncontrollably. Joshlin's teacher, Edna Maart, described the little girl as a quiet pupil who was "very tidy". She said she struggled with daily questions from Joshlin's schoolmates about her whereabouts. Determined not to forget her, she said the class listened to her favourite gospel song - God Will Work It Out - at the start of every school day. It was also played to a teary courtroom on Wednesday. To this day no-one knows what has happened to Joshlin. Her disappearance on 19 February 2024 caused shockwaves countrywide. Bianca van Aswegen, a criminologist and national co-ordinator at Missing Children South Africa, likened it to the case of Madeleine McCann, a British girl who went missing in Portugal in 2007. Madeleine was aged three when she vanished from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in the Algarve - and hers is one of the most high-profile, unsolved missing person cases in the world. Ms Van Aswegen told the BBC that while the trio's conviction in Joshlin's case had given people a sense of relief, "the matter of fact is that nobody knows where Joshlin is and I think that's the big question that South Africa is still asking". A picture of Joshlin's troubled life emerged during the trial - and a better sense of her personality during this week's hearings ahead of sentencing. She was born in October 2017, to Smith and her former partner Jose Emke, who broke down on Wednesday and had to be carried out of the courtroom. Their second child - she and her older brother, now 11, had both suffered from neglect, according to a social worker who testified during the trial. Growing up, Kelly Smith had lived with her maternal grandmother and had struggled with substance abuse since she was 15 - often becoming abusive towards her and her children when she was high, social workers said. A report prepared by a social worker for the sentencing hearing paints a stark picture of Smith's drug addiction at the time of Joshlin's birth. Her grandmother had kicked Smith out of the family home because of her drug use and she had threatened to stab her own son at that time. The judge noted that it took Smith five months to register Joshlin's birth - by law this must be done within 30 days - and had lived intermittently at a shelter for abused women. When she went into rehab later on, family friend Natasha Andrews stepped in to care for Joshlin - and she and her husband had wanted to adopt her. "We could have provided for her better than her mother," Ms Andrews said during the trial, but the plans fell apart in 2018 as the parents "wouldn't agree" to it. Despite this, Joshlin often visited the Andrews family for weekends and school holidays and would go on trips with them. The clip shown in court on Wednesday of Joshlin laughing was from one of those holidays and formed part of Ms Andrews' victim statement. She shared this and other photos of Joshlin playing with her own daughter because "so many people… don't know what Joshlin sounds like", she said. It was this and her description of her family's pain that sparked the greatest outpouring of emotion in the courtroom. Joshlin grew up in a corrugated iron structure located in Middelpos informal settlement with her mother, her mother's partner, her brother and younger half-sister. The social workers' report described the shack as offering "little in the way of privacy due to its highly restrictive living space". Smith did odd jobs to support her family, including part-time domestic work for Kelly Zeegers, who lived with her family in a nearby neighbourhood and paid her with groceries instead of cash. "This is to make sure that she and the children have a plate of food," Ms Zeegers said during her testimony. Some witnesses did describe Smith as a good mother; her sister told the court Joshlin was the spitting image of her mum when she was young. The little that is known of what happened to Joshlin on the day she disappeared is thanks to Laurentia Lombaard, who turned state witness. She had been at the shack smoking drugs with Appollis and Van Rhyn at the time. She explained that Joshlin, who had started school a few weeks before her disappearance, and her brother had stayed at home that day because they did not have clean uniforms. The children had been mainly left in the care of Appollis as Smith was in and out during course of the day, occasionally returning to smoke. It is not clear exactly how or when Joshlin went missing but the trial established it was some time during the afternoon - but the preoccupation of most of the adults meant the disappearance was only reported to the police at 21:00. The social worker appointed to compile the report on the trio ahead of their sentencing described Smith as "manipulative" and someone who told "bald-faced lies". "It is therefore not a stretch to conclude that Smith is the mastermind behind the trafficking of her own daughter," he said. Ms Van Aswegen said she hoped the trio would be given "a proper sentence" that reflected a growing crisis in child trafficking. "It is much more of a crisis than police stats actually show us due to the fact of many cases going unreported," she told the BBC. She said what was unusual in Joshlin's case was that it had captured the whole nation. "I have never really seen a case blow up like this in South Africa before [and] neither have we seen such a big search for a missing child. I think social media played a big role [and] we had political parties get involved in the case." According to South African news site IOL, 632 children were reported missing last year and 8,743 over the past 10 years. Earlier this month, police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said many children were eventually reunited with their families. Ms Van Aswegen said this showed that one could never give up hope and the search for Joshlin would continue. This hope was reflected most by the Andrews family during the sentencing hearing. A poem written by Ms Andrews' 14-year-old daughter Tayla was also read out about the pain of not knowing what had happened to Joshlin and her hope that she was safe. "We just want to hug you again," Ms Andrews' said in her statement. "You are our flower, our baby and our green-eyed child." Joshlin Smith: A six-year-old's disappearance spreads fear in South Africa's Saldhana Bay 'The selfie that revealed I was a stolen baby' Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Focus on Africa This Is Africa
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Prince William's Alleged Plans For 'Disgraced' Uncle Prince Andrew Revealed Amid Strained Relationship
Royal experts say Prince William is determined to permanently sideline Prince Andrew from royal life due to his damaging scandals, particularly ties to Jeffrey Epstein. The future king reportedly holds a deep grudge with his uncle and sees him as a liability to the British monarchy's reputation. With public support on his side, reports claim Prince William plans to exclude Prince Andrew from any official role once he ascends to the throne. According to Fox News Digital, royal experts revealed that Prince William is expected to take decisive action regarding Prince Andrew's role in the monarchy once he becomes king. British royal expert Hilary Fordwich explained that "Prince William has long had a strained and distant relationship with Andrew," reportedly holding "a grudge against his disgraced uncle." She noted: "Andrew's future within the royal family is beyond bleak since Prince William is firmly opposed to any public rehabilitation with no foreseeable path back. He wants Andrew to vanish from public view." Fordwich emphasized that William's stance on the matter has remained "consistent and unwavering," driven by a deep desire to "protect the monarchy's reputation," and ensure its long-term survival. "[William is] very in touch with the public," she added, per the New York Post. "Every public opinion poll has Andrew at the bottom, reinforcing Prince William's stance. Once king, no doubt, Prince William will ensure Andrew is completely excluded from royal life, as well as all public appearances." Fordwich's remarks echo recent statements by longtime BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond, who told Closer Weekly that William has little interest in managing his uncle's tarnished reputation. "William has been a strong voice in managing 'the Andrew problem," Bond said. "He is adamant that there is no way back for his uncle." Bond emphasized that William is focused on keeping the monarchy relevant in a rapidly changing world. "I think [the Prince and Princess of Wales] are completely united in doing all they can to keep the monarchy connected with the younger generation," she explained. "They look modern, they act modern." British broadcaster and royal commentator Helena Chard echoed similar sentiments regarding William's feelings about Andrew in a conversation with Fox News Digital. Chard said that "Prince William's role within the royal family is more prominent and influential than ever, as is his center stage position in diplomatic relations." "He recognizes the public animosity towards Andrew," Chard explained. "He views him as a complete liability with his series of scandals, both past and present, shoveling shame on the family. His stance towards his uncle is tough. He will not entertain anyone toxic to the brand. Andrew will not be part of the streamlined monarchy." Once positioned as second in line to the British throne, Andrew has become a lasting figure of controversy. His public image took a significant hit after a widely criticized BBC interview in 2019, which was an attempt to address his connection to disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Instead of offering clarity or compassion for Epstein's victims, Andrew's responses raised more questions and sparked widespread backlash. The fallout was swift as his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, removed him from official royal duties and patronages, effectively sidelining him from public life. In recent years, his older brother, King Charles III, has reportedly sought to further distance the monarchy from scandal by encouraging Andrew to vacate Royal Lodge, a vast, 30-room residence on the Windsor estate, and relocate to a smaller cottage within the castle grounds. Despite these efforts, Andrew has held onto the property, resisting pressure to downsize. According to reports, William is also slowly "seizing" power from his father as the monarch continues to battle cancer. Since King Charles III was diagnosed with the illness last year, he has reportedly handed over more and more responsibilities to the Prince of Wales, seemingly "acknowledging that his time to rule will be sooner rather than later." Now, the heir apparent is said to be making bold, tough decisions, regardless of whose toes he steps on, amid his influence growing in recent months. He is also not hesitating to let go of those who oppose him, particularly when it comes to making decisions he believes will benefit the Crown in the long run. "It's no secret that anyone who pushes back against him will be swiftly shown the door," a palace insider told Intouch.
UPI
4 hours ago
- UPI
E.l.f Beauty to acquire Hailey Bieber's Rhode in $1 billion deal
1 of 3 | Hailey and Justin Bieber watch the 2023 U.S. Open Tennis Championships on September 1, 2023, in New York City. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo May 28 (UPI) -- E.l.f. Beauty announced Wednesday it will acquire Hailey Bieber's three-year-old beauty company Rhode for $1 billion. "This powerhouse alliance between E.l.f. Beauty and Rhode is built on both brands' shared focus on disruption and product innovation, setting the stage for transformative global expansion," E.l.f. Beauty said in a news release about the acquisition of the company known for its high-performance, skin-focused products. The 27-year-old model, who is married to pop singer Justin Bieber, in 2022 launched Rhode. The company has more than doubled its customer base over the past year and brought in $212 million in revenue in the 12 months ended March 31. Last year, Rhode became the No. 1 skincare brand in earned media value with 367% year-over-year growth. The acquisition comprises $600 million in cash and $200 million in stock, plus an additional potential $200 million payout based on Rhode's performance over the next three years. The cash consists of fully committed debt financing of $600 million. They plan to close the deal by the close of the company's second quarter of fiscal year 2026. E.l.f's brands include e.l.f. Cosmetics, E.l.f. Skin, Keys Soulcare, Naturium and Well People. "We can't wait to bring Rhode to more faces, places, and spaces," Bieber said in a news release. "From day one, my vision for Rhode has been to make essential skin care and hybrid makeup you can use every day. Just three years into this journey, our partnership with E.l.f. Beauty marks an incredible opportunity to elevate and accelerate our ability to reach more of our community with even more innovative products and widen our distribution globally." She plans to step into an expanded role of Chief Creative Officer and Head of Innovation for the new company. "I look forward to leading the brand into this exciting new chapter of possibilities alongside my Co-Founders Michael D. Ratner and Lauren Ratner, who have helped bring my vision to life from the start," she said. E.l.f. Chairman and CEO Tarang Amin told CNBC: "I've been in the consumer space 34 years, and I've been blown away by seeing this brand over time." In a news release, Amin said: "E.l.f. Beauty found a like-minded disruptor in Rhode. Rhode further diversifies our portfolio with a fast-growing brand that makes the best of prestige accessible. We are excited by Rhode's ability to break beauty barriers, fully aligning with e.l.f. Beauty's vision to create a different kind of company. Rhode is a beautiful brand that we believe is ready for rocketship growth. E.l.f. shares declined about 4% in extended trading in the New York Stock Exchange. After the market closed at 4 p.m., the company also posted fourth-quarter financial data: $332.7 million revenue and 76 cents adjusted earnings per share over nine months. About 75% of its products come from China, which has been slapped with a 30% duty on exports to the U.S. Last week, the company announced plans to raise prices by $1 on Aug. 1 to offset higher costs from tariffs. Hailey Bieber is the daughter of actor Stephen Baldwin and her maternal grandfather is Brazilian musician Eumir Deodato. She married Justin Bieber in November 2018 and they have one child, who is 9 months old. Justin Bieber is 31.
