Latest news with #DavidHopkins
Wales Online
6 days ago
- Wales Online
Nearly 25 tonnes of fake toys seized by Swansea trading standards officers
Nearly 25 tonnes of fake toys seized by Swansea trading standards officers It's the second major operation targeting distribution outlets in London sending fake and often dangerous toys to be sold in Wales Swansea Council Trading Standards Leader, Rhys Harries, showing some of the fake toys seized in Swansea (Image: Swansea Council) In a major operation, Swansea Council's Trading Standards team has seized nearly 25 tonnes of fake toys in London. It's the second such operation conducted in less than three months. Just in May, Swansea Council announced it had seized fake toys worth £10m through a joint operation in London. The current seizure of fake toys is thought to be valued at £3 million and comes as the council's Trading Standards officers are continuing to follow the trail of "fake and dangerous" toys being sold in shops in Swansea. These 25 tonnes of fake toys have been seized from several distribution outlets on the outskirts of London. Read here about the fake Labubu dolls seized in Swansea shops The fake toys found in London in a joint operation (Image: Swansea Council) The seized toys include thousands of fake 'Labubu' dolls, which are currently one of the most popular toys in the UK, along with fake toys from other popular brands like Pokémon, Disney, and Marvel. Never miss a Swansea story by signing up to our newsletter here Thousands of illegal vapes were also seized during the raids. Not only are the seized toys fake in terms of brand name, but they can also be dangerous for young children as they pose choking hazards due to poor manufacturing. The seizures are a part of the ongoing 'Operation Grinch', which is led by Swansea Council and also involves the Metropolitan Police, Anti Counterfeiting Group, as well as Trading Standards in Newport, Kent and Sussex. Rhys Harries, Swansea Council's Trading Standards lead officer, said: "The latest seizure is the result of detailed investigations around the sources of counterfeit toys that we discovered being sold in Swansea, mainly at Christmas time where pop-up shops were visited by officers. "Recently, we seized a significant number of Labubu toys from shops in Swansea. "This seems to be one of the most popular toys at present, so it's no surprise that during the most recent operation in London, we found many more waiting to be distributed to shops around the UK. They have all now been confiscated. "All these toys appear to be fake in terms of the brand. They are also poorly manufactured with most creating a danger to young children due to choking hazards. David Hopkins, cabinet member for corporate services and performance, added: "This latest counterfeit seizure is significant in terms of the positive impact it has had, not only in Swansea, but around the UK. "Our own Trading Standards did not stop at simply dealing with counterfeit goods being sold on the street in Swansea, they showed a lot of professionalism and determination to tackle the wider distribution into other towns and cities. "I'm extremely proud of everyone's efforts, along with the assistance of external partners who have provided support for this operation." Article continues below
NZ Herald
31-07-2025
- Politics
- NZ Herald
Letters: Why we should appreciate the hidden and often undervalued benefits of art and architecture to our communities
Let councils work hard to save money on providing basic services so they / we can afford a few architectural gems that lift the spirit, boost the economy generally, and leave something special for all to enjoy. David Hopkins, Remuera. Power to the people Too many New Zealanders are paying too much for food, water, electricity and housing, essentials for life of every person. New Zealand produces these 'essentials' abundantly and cheaply to meet legitimate needs of the people. Why do New Zealanders pay so much? Your Power To The People article series provides analysis about people unable to pay high-cost power bills, disconnection/reconnection fees plus company responses. Every home needs basic lighting and power for cooking and heating at minimal cost, which requires cheap electricity. People in huge luxury houses, profitable businesses and high-tech data centres using massive amounts of water and electricity should pay market rates. The modest majority of New Zealand citizens and ratepayers want an equitable system, good wages and affordable essential services. This requires the Government and multinational corporations to do better act in the interest of our people and the environment. Laurie Ross, Glen Eden. Get housing right It seems that Housing Minister Chris Bishop thinks Auckland's main purpose is to boost the economy and he knows just how to achieve it – by building lots of high-rise apartment blocks next to railway stations without any consideration for the environment. Forget good design, volcanic views and character areas. He is driven by a mindless economic imperative that will allow developers to throw up the slums of the future. He portrays himself as a housing warrior but he will find that Aucklanders disagree. We want more housing but not at the detriment of this beautiful city. Margot McRae, Devonport. A bilingual world worth striving for Your editorial (July 30) sums up the continued opposition of some of our leaders to all things Māori. Changing the position of the words on our passport – puting New Zealand above Aotearoa – is a symbolically significant, but petty and ridiculous decision, which sadly may gain support from those who firmly believe English, and all things English, should forever come first. We have a unique culture in this country, thanks to the courage, persistence and generosity of the indigenous people, and we should treasure it, not fear it. The language, still at risk, is essential to the culture, so its status should always be recognised, and its wider use ecouraged. The English language, on the other hand, faces no such threats. It's always going to be dominant. A bilingual, bicultural country would be a goal worth striving for. I, for one, would rather live in it rather than in a colourless, defensively monolingual world. J.A. Mills, Whangārei. Passport to discovery New Zealanders travel. A lot. Most who travel as tourists do so to experience other cultures. How proud most of us are of our bilingual passport cover which acknowledges we are a forward-looking country that respects the indigenous culture of those who were here before. How embarrassing it is that our Government is changing this as if it's a good thing. Samantha Cunningham, Henderson. A unique bicultural society I enjoyed the irony in your editorial (July 30) on the proposed switch in the order of name on the cover of the Aotearoa New Zealand passport. Like, is this what is exercising our Government while our country suffers from the major effects of climate change? While house prices are out of reach for many families and homelessness is increasing? While healthcare access and treatment is limited? And the impact of inflation steadily bites the most disadvantaged citizens? Aotearoa New Zealand has a unique bicultural society which increasingly embraces the original indigenous culture whose language has sound and meaning which English, the second culture, does not. Nobody knows where 'Zealand' even is, do they? Christine Keller Smith, Northcote Point.
BBC News
21-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Norfolk school with 17 pupils to close
A school that had just 17 pupils will not reopen in the new academic declining student numbers means Cantley Primary has been closed by Norfolk County Council and merged with Freethorpe Primary, which is also run by AIM Federation of authority warned falling birth rates both locally and nationally could see more schools affected as funding was linked to student numbers."We have to put the children's education first and we just can't see how Cantley can continue to provide a good education with so few children," said Penny Carpenter, councillor for children's services. "Next year there would have been just one class for children from year 1 to year 6 and that would make delivering a broad curriculum almost impossible."The authority added that the majority of students at Cantley had come from outside the catchment area and there were surplus places at several nearby a consultation on the merger began in May, parents argued they were not being given enough time and the trust had not promoted the school enough. On 11 July, the council discussed school sustainability amid falling numbers at its children, families and community select that, the local authority said it would work with groups of schools to help them prepare "for a future with fewer children".It was suggested schools could reduce admission numbers, change their catchment area, share resources, merge or face closure. David Hopkins, executive head teacher at the AIM Federation of Schools, said: "Our priority as a federation is to ensure that all of our children get the very best education. "Unfortunately, we just don't feel we can deliver a broad enough curriculum with the numbers as they are at Cantley."Freethorpe is a good school and we will spend the last days of term preparing children for their transition and marking the end of an era at Cantley, which has been a much-loved school for so many."This is a sad decision but we believe that amalgamation will give us a stronger, more resilient school community and is in the children's best interests." Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
The Herald
08-07-2025
- Business
- The Herald
Elon Musk faces daunting path in challenging US two-party system
'There are just very, very significant barriers to the creation of a viable third party,' said David Hopkins, a Boston College political science professor. He said challenges include building party infrastructure, organising volunteers and qualifying for the ballot. David Jolly, a former Republican congressman from Florida who left the party over Trump, said Musk can provide what has long been required for such a push: money. 'What the independent space has been lacking has been resources,' Jolly said. 'It's more than filing with the Federal Election Commission. It's really [about] starting 50 state parties. You're talking about $100m (R1.78bn) just to enter the space with real serious intent.' In 2016 former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, another billionaire, made a similar conclusion, rejecting the idea of running for president as an independent, saying that such a candidate would have 'no chance of winning'. Jolly estimated it would take Musk 10 years and perhaps $1bn (R17.7bn) to build a viable national party — and said Musk's recent history with his department of government efficiency (Doge) suggests the billionaire may not be in it for the long haul. Musk left Doge after just a few months in Trump's administration, having delivered little of the savings he promised.
Otago Daily Times
20-06-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Former jet-sprint world champ jailed for assault
David Hopkins in 2014 after returning from the United States as Union Internationale Motionautique world jetsprint champion. PHOTO: ODT FILES A former world champion jet-sprinter has been jailed after dragging his partner by her hair and smashing her face into the floor. David Raymond Hopkins, 59, of Milton, appeared in the Dunedin District court this week after earlier admitting two charges of assault in a family relationship, breaching a protection order, intimidation and wilful damage. Hopkins won titles in World SuperBoat jetsprinting in the 2010s. The court heard that on November 9, 2023, the defendant's on-off partner of 10 years sent him a text saying she wanted to break up. At 7pm that day, an agitated Hopkins arrived at their shared family home where the woman accused him of cheating on her. A verbal argument turned physical when the defendant hit the woman in the face multiple times causing her mouth to bleed. She picked up her phone to call for help, but Hopkins snatched it from her and snapped it in half. He then grabbed her by the hair and dragged her from the kitchen to the spare room where he forced her head into the floor. While she was on the ground, he kicked her in the chest and back and said he was going to kill her, and he knew how to hide a body. Judge David Robinson said while the relationship was "toxic" on both sides, Hopkins still failed to accept he had done anything wrong. A pre-sentence report said he "fails to see any wrongdoing on his part" and "there is a lack of insight in terms of what happened". This was the third time Hopkins had been before the court in relation to the same victim and he had convictions dating back to 2006. The judge accepted there were indications the victim could be "manipulative" but said that did not excuse the defendant's behaviour. "Your position can't be characterised as anything but victim blaming," the judge said. In a statement to the court, the victim said she suffered pain in her muscles and bones as a result of the attack and thinking about it gave her anxiety. Judge Robinson sentenced Hopkins to 21 months' imprisonment and considered home detention "entirely inappropriate" as it was insufficient to denounce his behaviour or deter him from reoffending. , Court reporter
