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The Sun
11 hours ago
- The Sun
Brit, 73, strangled to death with his own belt in his driveway while being robbed of his mobile for 4th time in 6 months
A 73-year-old British engineer has been strangled to death with his own belt in his driveway after popping down to the pub for a beer. Retired expat Karl Lauks was said to be the 'life and soul' of his adoptive town of Tulbagh 70 miles north of Cape Town, in South Africa. 3 3 3 On Sunday evening after visiting his local watering hole he went back home. But after parking his car in the drive he was attacked before he could get out from behind the wheel. Lauks was battered into submission and his leather belt taken off him. The killer is said to have used Karl's scarf to silence him by jamming it in his mouth to stop his screams. He is then believed to have wrapped the tragic man's belt around his neck and choked him to death. The cold-blooded killer took Lauks' mobile phone – the fourth one stolen from him in 6 months – the murder weapon, wallet and house keys and left him dead in the car. AC/DC enthusiast Lauks started work in Western Province over 20 years ago, but fell in love with South Africa's fourth oldest town and never returned home. He was originally from Bradford, Yorkshire. His beaten up corpse was only discovered when a neighbour saw his drive gate and car door open on Monday the next day. is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun.
Daily Mail
12 hours ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Brit, 73, is ambushed and strangled to death with his own belt outside his South Africa home as he's robbed for his phone for fourth time in six months
A retired British engineer who settled down in South Africa was ambushed in his car driveway and strangled with his own belt after popping down the pub for a beer. Murder victim Karl Lauks, 73, was said to be the 'life and soul' of his adoptive town of Tulbagh 70 miles north of Cape Town known for its award-winning wines. The AC/ DC rock fan was sent to the Western Province to work over 20 years ago but fell in love with South Africa's fourth oldest town and never returned home. But on Sunday evening, after visiting his usual watering hole, he drove the short distance back home, unaware a killer was waiting for him to open his house gates. After parking his Smart car in the drive, he was attacked before he could get out from behind the wheel and battered into submission and his leather belt taken off him. The killer is said to have used Karl's scarf to silence him by jamming it in his mouth to stop his screams, then wrapped the belt round his neck and choked him to death. The cold-blooded killer took his mobile phone – the fourth one stolen from him in 6 months – the murder weapon, wallet and house keys and left him dead in the car. The bearded rocker from Bradford, Yorks, who also saw Pink Floyd play many times was only discovered when a neighbour saw his drive gate and car door open on Monday. His cousin Tessa Muller, who is a chef in the Tulbagh Hotel where Karl was a regular for his full English breakfast most days, was called and asked to check on him. She told Netwerk24: 'When I got there and saw the security gate and his car door open I knew that was not like him and feared the worst as I walked up and looked inside. 'I knew he was dead right then and there when I saw the scarf in his mouth and his eyes wide open and I knew I must not touch anything and I called the police. 'Karl was loved and probably one of the best know person in Tulbagh and would always be out and about having breakfast with us then his lunch at Herholdt's Pub. 'There was not a single day he ever stayed in and he was the life and soul of everywhere he went but as he got older the locals watched over him the best they could. 'For this very gentle man to meet his end like this is just truly horrible' she said. His death came as the second wave of Afrikaner's left South Africa for a new life in the USA at the weekend having been granted 'refugee status' by President Trump. Trump and sidekick the world's richest man Elon Musk accused South Africa of allowing 'white genocide' saying they turned a blind eye to the murder of its farmers. Ironically police did not have far to go as their police station is in the same road where Karl was murdered as is the magistrates court where an arrested man was taken. A close friend and fellow drinker at the Herholdt's Pub said: 'Karl lit his place up and a number of other bars in Tulbagh and now his regular seat is sitting there empty. 'His British sense of humour and jokes endeared him to everyone and he would always finish at the bar with 'one for the road' before 'going home to feed the crocodile'. 'Karl's 'crocodile' was a pit bull he bought called Wally for protection after he was badly beaten up in robbery for his phone last year and had his shoulder broken. 'The shoulder never repaired properly so he was seen as easy prey and it was known he had money and each time his phone was robbed they knew he would get another. 'He got a pit bull to protect himself at night but kept it indoors to stop him barking and I guess the robber knew that and attacked Karl before he could get in the front door. 'Everyone here looked out for him and watched him home if they could to get him in safely but that could not happen 24/7 and on Sunday his killer I guess was just waiting. 'Sadly the dog had been diagnosed with cancer in its legs and was in pain so when Karl was murdered it was decided the kindest thing was to put Wally down as well. 'Karl was a widower and lost his wife to cancer some 15 years ago and lived alone ever since but he was a rolling stone and just enjoyed being out and about having a beer. 'Tulbagh loved Karl and he will be well and truly missed – even for an Englishman! He would like me to say that. But in fairness he was one of us – a true local' he said. A 29-year-old suspect was arrested and stolen property allegedly found at his home and has was remanded in custody by Tulbagh Magistrates to get a state aid solicitor. Locals said Karl had a brother called Imants in Canada who is an extremely well known and much lauded inventor of pioneering products with many patents in the USA. A Western Cape police spokesman confirmed: 'A 29-year-old man has been arrested for the murder of a 73-year-old man and remanded in custody until next Monday'. Close friend and drinking buddy Neels Venter said on Facebook posting a pic of them together in their local pub: 'Mr Karl, Karl with a K, Our Carl. Your chair is empty. 'We will always remember to 'take one for the road'. RIP our Friend'. Miranda van Wyk, a former P& O ship's purser, of Guildford, Surrey, said: 'I will miss you Karl with a K. My fellow Brit I will miss our regular chit chats when we were in the UK. 'Then we would laugh that we much prefer it here in South Africa. You were such a kind and gentle man, but also a true Gentleman, who always went above and beyond. 'So cruelly taken from us, no one deserves that ending, least of all you. RIP Karl' Close friend Inga Christensen said: 'I hope the evil culprit that ended your life gets the karma they deserve. You were a loving soul full of wit and wicked sense of humour.
Forbes
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Queen Claims Multiple Top 10 Hits With Decades-Old Classics
Queen lands two top 10 hits on the U.K.'s Rock & Metal Singles chart with "Don't Stop Me Now" and ... More "Bohemian Rhapsody," and the band claims four smashes at once. UNSPECIFIED - FEBRUARY 01: Photo of Freddie MERCURY and QUEEN; Freddie Mercury performing live on stage (Photo by Fin Costello/Redferns) Queen is a band that's known for so many things – unique songwriting, incredible showmanship, and of course, frontman Freddie Mercury's unmatchable charisma – but after all the years that have passed, it's the countless iconic rock anthems that have stuck in millions of minds, hearts, and ears. These tunes continue to power several compilations from the group, which rarely vanish from the charts in the Western world. The constant streaming and buying of a handful of especially huge tracks is enough to ensure that Queen's music is always present, and sometimes, the cuts themselves can appear as well. The band performs the best in the United Kingdom, where the rockers got their start, and where they are still regarded as superheroes to this day. This week, Queen scores multiple top 10 hits on one specific tally – an achievement no other rock act can currently match. The band occupies two spots inside the highest tier of the Official Rock & Metal Singles chart, the U.K.'s ranking of the top-selling tracks in those genres. No other name manages more than one win in the space at the moment, and Queen shares the region with stars like Disturbed, AC/DC, Metallica and Bon Jovi, among others. "Don't Stop Me Now" climbs one space to No. 4, while "Bohemian Rhapsody" returns to the top 10 this frame, jumping from No. 12 to No. 9. Both "Don't Stop Me Now" and "Bohemian Rhapsody" are counted among Queen's five No. 1 hits on the Official Rock & Metal Singles chart, and they remain the longest-running of the bunch. The band's other three champions — "Let Me Live," "C-lebrity" with Paul Rodgers, and "Thank God It's Christmas" — have each spent just one frame in the top spot. In total, Queen fills 10% of the available spaces on the 40-spot Official Rock & Metal Singles chart. "Another One Bites the Dust" bolts from No. 26 to No. 18. Next week, it will hit 550 frames on the tally. Simultaneously, "We Will Rock You" returns to the list, breaking back in at No. 37. That track recently passed 700 weeks on this ranking, while both "Don't Stop Me Now" and "Bohemian Rhapsody" have already pushed past the 800-frame milestone — and will likely reach 900 in the coming months.
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Edinburgh fringe event organisers urged to capitalise on Oasis and AC/DC gigs
Organisers of Edinburgh fringe events have been urged to be 'pretty smart' and capitalise on the decision by Oasis and AC/DC to play gigs in the city midway through the festival. There was surprise and irritation when it emerged the bands would be staging four concerts at Murrayfield stadium in mid-August when the world's largest arts festival is in full flow. Tony Lankester, who recently took over as the Fringe Society's chief executive, said fringe companies should see the concerts as an opportunity rather than fret about downsides. About 75,000 fans are expected for each concert – three by Oasis and one by AC/DC, putting the city's trains, buses and trams under even greater strain, with visitors competing for already scarce and expensive hotel beds. Lankester, who previously ran South Africa's national arts festival, said fringe venues should tempt Edinburgh residents who may 'want to hide' when the concerts take place with discounted tickets or free wine. Venues could also tempt Oasis and AC/DC concertgoers with 'morning after' performances in the city with free bacon rolls and coffee, he suggested. 'What we don't want to happen is for the local audience to hide that night,' he said. 'There's some pretty smart marketing type things that I think venues could be looking at. The fact is that it's not going away. Why not be completely opportunistic about it?' This year's fringe, which runs from 1 to 25 Augustand takes place alongside the international festival and book festival, is expected to involve about 50,000 performances at 265 venues. Lankester said the strength of the programme, which includes themes such as rebellious women, the apocalypse, queer joy and rave culture, showed artists were as hungry as ever to perform despite global crises and tensions. 'What excites me most about the programme, is the signal that it sends is of an industry in healthy shape,' he said. For the first time, five shows from US performers are being underwritten by donors to the Keep it Fringe funding strand launched in 2023 by the Fleabag creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge, the fringe's honorary president, to support new, marginalised or innovative acts. Lankester said he had numerous conversations that 'reaffirmed for me what I knew coming into this job, that there's a lot of love and joy around the fringe. It's something that people absolutely want to preserve, protect, engage with, be part of. It's still on an incredible number of people's bucket lists.' He said he was talking to major brands about the potential to become headline sponsors of the fringe for the first time, to bring in extra revenue for performers and venues at a time of intense pressure on public funding. He said those discussions were at an early stage, but indicated it could involve a bank or beer brand. No sponsor would be allowed to rebrand the fringe, but their investments would help the festival to improve its finances. Sign up to The Guide Get our weekly pop culture email, free in your inbox every Friday after newsletter promotion In her last newspaper interview, Shona McCarthy, Lankester's immediate predecessor, accused political leaders of consistently neglecting the fringe and failing to adequately invest in services, transport and infrastructure such as mobile phone services. Lankester said he 'stood by' everything McCarthy had said. Her 'enormously valuable' intervention had fuelled action and more responsiveness in the council, the Scottish government and other agencies, he said, adding: 'The message landed.' Lankester is lobbying Edinburgh council to devote at least £1.1m of a new visitor levy on hotel beds to supporting the festival, and is in talks about strengthening the city's ailing mobile and wifi services, as well as improved rail services for non-residents. The visitor levy will come into force in July 2026, but hotels will begin collecting it on all bookings made from October this year. 'What we don't want to happen is for that money to sort of disappear into a black hole and for no benefit to be felt by the people [who] drive a big chunk of that revenue,' he said.
Forbes
28-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Metallica Become The First Metal Band To Hit Double Diamond
(MANDATORY CREDIT Midori Tsukagoshi/) Metallica photo session in a dressing ... More room during live in Berlin, Berlin, November 5, 1992. (Photo by Midori Tsukagoshi/) Standing as the most popular metal band in the world, it doesn't come as much of a surprise to see that Metallica's Black Album is now RIAA certified double diamond, i.e. 20 times platinum. This news comes straight from the RIAA awards social media page, which also notes that Metallica's magnum opus Master of Puppets has now gone eight times platinum as well. Metallica saw their biggest mainstream breakthrough with their 1991 self-titled LP (aka The Black Album) earning the band their first No.1 charting album. To date it's their highest selling album, and the first metal album to reach double diamond, which of course makes The Black Album the most popular metal record of all time. It's safe to say that much of the band's mainstream appeal is a direct result of The Black Album. Sure, just about every metal fan will say that any of the band's previous four albums are superior, and while they might be true, none of those album would have seen the multi-decade success they've had if it wasn't for The Black Album breaking Metallica through to millions of new fans. Metallica now holds the accolade for becoming the first metal band to have a record go double diamond, but there are handful of other hard-rock albums that have managed to reach the same feat. AC/DC's 1980 opus Back In Black is certified 27 times platinum, and Guns N' Roses' 1987 debut Appetite For Destruction, is triple diamond (30 times platinum). The only other metal record to come close to Metallica's double diamond certification is Black Sabbath's 1970 sophomore LP, Paranoid, which currently sits at 12 million sales worldwide. It's hard to say whether or not there will ever be another metal band that's as successful or as popular as Metallica. Of course, the sky is the limit as to what's possible, but the ceiling that Metallica continue to raise make it seem less than likely another metal act will surpass or even match their feats in the next few decades. Hopefully these proves to be wrong and some other band soon reinvents the wheel just as Metallica did in 1991.
