
Gangs destroy Haiti's beloved ‘gingerbread' Grand Hotel Oloffson
©Associated Press
Haiti's once-illustrious Grand Hotel Oloffson, a beloved gothic gingerbread home that inspired books, hosted parties until dawn and attracted visitors from Mick Jagger to Haitian presidents, was burnt down by gangs over the weekend.
Hundreds of Haitians and foreigners mourned the news as it spread across social media, with the hotel manager yesterday confirming the fire in a brief comment on X.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- The Irish Sun
D-Day veteran war hero and TikTok star who survived German gunfire on Normandy beaches dies aged 102
A D-DAY veteran war hero who became a TikTok sensation late in life has died aged 102. Papa Jake Larson survived German gunfire on Normandy beaches in 1944 and then gained over 1.2 million followers by sharing stories to commemorate World War II and his fallen comrades. Advertisement 4 D-Day veteran Jake Larson poses before going for a ride in the 'The Spirit of Benovia' World War II-era aircraft in 2019 Credit: AP 4 Larson is greeted by pilot Joe Anderson, left, before going for a ride in the aircraft Credit: AP:Associated Press 4 World War II veteran Jake Larson meets youths during ceremonies at the US cemetery to commemorate the 81st anniversary of the D-Day landings Credit: AP The war hero's grieving granddaughter McKaela announced his death on social media, sharing how he passed "peacefully" on Thursday. She wrote: "An animated speaker who charmed strangers young and old with his quick smile and generous hugs, the self-described country boy from Minnesota was cracking jokes til the end." McKaela added: "As Papa would say, love you all the mostest." Tributes have poured into his Story Time with Papa Jake TikTok account. Advertisement read more news Meanwhile towns around Normandy, still grateful to Allied forces who helped defeat the occupying Nazis in World War II, paid him homage too. Born in 1922, in Owatonna, Minnesota, Larson enlisted in the National Guard in 1938. The war hero had lied about his age as he was just 15 years old at the time. In 1942, he was sent overseas and was stationed in Northern Ireland before becoming operations sergeant and assembling the planning books for the invasion of Normandy. Advertisement Most read in The US Sun Live Blog He was among the nearly 160,000 brave allied troops who stormed the Normandy shore on D-Day, June 6, 1944, surviving machine-gun fire when he landed on Omaha Beach. Larson said at the 81st anniversary of D-Day in June: "We are the lucky ones. We are their family . We have the responsibility to honor these guys who gave us a chance to be alive." Nazi Hunters Thomas Will Ludwigsburg Germany Robin Perrie It represents one of the defining moments of the war and of evil Hitler's defeat. Larson's incredible service earned him a Bronze Star and a French Legion of Honor award. Advertisement In recent years, Larson made repeated trips to Normandy for D-Day commemorations and at every stop. And since gaining social media popularity too, Papa Jake was greeted by people asking for a selfie - but offered big hugs instead. One memorable encounter came in 2023, when he came across Bill Gladden, a then-99-year-old British veteran who survived a glider landing on D-Day and a bullet that tore through his ankle. He told Gladden as they held hands: "I want to give you a hug, thank you. I got tears in my eyes. We were meant to meet." Advertisement Gladden passed away the following year. In his TikTok posts that have accumulated hundreds of thousands of views and likes, Larson combined humorous anecdotes with somber reminders about the horrors of war. Speaking of his social media fame in 2023, he said: "I'm just a country boy. Now I'm a star on TikTok. I'm a legend! I didn't plan this, it came about." Larson has previously refused to call himself a "hero" and asked world leaders to "make peace not war". Advertisement 4 Larson talks to a girl who wears an American flag around her neck during a gathering in preparation of the 79th D-Day anniversary in La Fiere Credit: AP


Irish Independent
17-07-2025
- Irish Independent
Thai police arrest woman who allegedly seduced and blackmailed Buddhist monks
The woman allegedly received more than €10m over a three-year period ©Associated Press Police in Thailand arrested a woman on Tuesday who allegedly enticed a string of Buddhist monks into sexual relationships and then pressured them into making large payments to cover up their intimacy. The possible violation of the celibacy rule for monks has rocked Buddhist institutions and gripped public attention in Thailand. Register for free to read this story Register and create a profile to get access to our free stories. You'll also unlock more free stories each week. Already registered? Log In


Irish Independent
17-07-2025
- Irish Independent
With Labubu driving record revenue, Pop Mart cashes in on latest viral toy craze
The success of the plush toy is reminiscent of the hype around Beanie Babies, Tamagotchi, and fidget spinners ©Associated Press Pop Mart has struck it rich. The Chinese company catering to toy connoisseurs and influencers says it expects profit for the first six months of this year to jump at least 350pc compared with the same period last year, largely because of its smash hit plush toy, the Labubu. Pop Mart joins a small list of companies that have tapped into the zeitgeist, drawing in millions of buyers who simply must get their hands on the toy or gadget of the moment. Register for free to read this story Register and create a profile to get access to our free stories. You'll also unlock more free stories each week.