Latest news with #Higgins
Irish Daily Mirror
6 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
All-Ireland winner to face trial over sexual assault charges on team holiday
Aidan Nugent, who won an All-Ireland football title with Armagh last year, was ordered on Tuesday to stand trial in the Crown Court, facing eight charges of sexual assault. Appearing in the dock of Armagh Magistrates Court, sitting in Newry, the 31-year-old confirmed he was aware of the charges against him, all of them alleged to have been committed "in the United States of America," on 17 November last year. Nugent, from the Cullyhanna Road in Newtownhamilton, Armagh, faces seven charges of sexual assault and one of sexual assault involving penetration, alleged to have been committed against a single complainant, reports Belfast Live. It is understood to be the Crown case the offences were committed in America when the Armagh GAA team travelled to Miami in Florida to celebrate the team's All-Ireland win, their first All-Ireland title in 22 years, after they defeated Galway at Croke Park last July . Nugent's defence solicitor Patrick Higgins has emphasised that during formal police interviews, the defendant claimed that "any sexual activity was consensual". Mr Higgins has also revealed that when Nugent was charged with the offences, the All-Ireland winner replied: "I deny the allegations - it was consensual." During a brief preliminary enquiry court on Tuesday, the legal step necessary for any case to be returned to the Crown Court, a prosecuting lawyer submitted there is a prima facie case against Nugent. Mr Higgins conceded the point but declared that Nugent "strenuously denies the allegations". The court clerk told Nugent he had the right to comment on the charges or to call evidence on his own behalf, but he declined. Returning the case to Newry Crown Court, District Judge Anne Marshall freed Nugent on £500 (approximately €575) bail and ordered him to appear for his arraignment on October 2. Applying for legal aid to be extended in allow a senior barrister to be instructed, Mr Higgins told the judge that was on the basis that one of the charges carried a potential sentence of life imprisonment. He also contended that "all of the people involved in this are in the public eye" and that if Nugent is convicted, there is not only a risk to his reputation "but also a risk to his liberty and livelihood". Judge Marshall told the solicitor she would rule on his application later on Tuesday. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week
RNZ News
a day ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Fletcher Building considers sale of its construction division assets
Fletcher Building was considering selling off some assets. (File photo) Photo: supplied Fletcher Building is considering the sale of its construction division assets following a strategic review of the business. The company said it was exploring potential divestment options for its Higgins, Brian Perry Civil and Fletcher Construction Major Projects business units, including the appointment of financial advisers. The company was testing the market, though no decisions had been made to sell, Chief executive Andrew Reding said. "Given the quality and strong recent performance of our construction businesses, and the role they will play in New Zealand's growing infrastructure pipeline, we were not surprised to receive inbound interest for them, which has motivated us to test whether there are attractive divestment options. "We will carefully consider the value of any options presented from this process before deciding whether to move ahead." Last month Fletcher Building announced hundreds of millions of dollars of new restructuring and impairment costs. At an investor day briefing it disclosed estimated losses for the current financial year between $573 million to $781m of significant items which will hit its full-year results to be announced in August. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Irish Post
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Post
President Michael D. Higgins to release spoken word album
PRESIDENT Michael D. Higgins is to release a spoken word album featuring his poetry set to music by Myles O'Reilly. The 10-track album is due be released on September 5, not long before the end of Higgins' second term as president in November. The title track, Against All Certainty, has already been released and is available now via streaming platforms. 'Incredibly interesting life' Higgins, 84, began his political career in 1973 when he was appointed to the Seanad by Taoiseach Liam Cosgrove. He later served two terms as TD for Galway West and for several years was Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht. However, throughout his political career, he also worked as a writer, broadcaster and poet. He had a regular column for the music magazine Hot Press and has had four poetry collections published, as well as a number of non-fiction books. Against All Certainty is the president's debut spoken word album and will feature 10 of his most well-known works. "Listeners can expect to find themselves fully transposed into the incredibly interesting life and times of the poet before he became Ireland's President, from childhood to adulthood," press for the album states. The album was recorded in Áras an Uachtaráin, the official residence and office of the President of Ireland. The tracks will be set to musical compositions by O'Reilly, a member of the band Juno Falls, who has also directed a number of music videos and documentaries. 'Prodigious poems' Against All Certainty will be released on CD, hardback CD book and vinyl formats by Claddagh Records. Irish novelist, playwright and poet Sebastian Barry, who was Laureate for Irish Fiction from 2018 until 2021, hailed the president's work. "These are truly prodigious poems by Michael D. Higgins — not just a milestone in his own work but in Irish poetry," he said. President Higgins will step down from his role later this year, having served the maximum two terms. The album is available to pre-order from Claddagh Records by clicking here. See More: Claddagh Records, Michael D Higgins, Poetry
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Texans rookie WR Jayden Higgins expected to reach bold claim in Year 1
How good will Houston Texans rookie wide receiver Jayden Higgins be in his rookie season? Well, one publication has a bold take on a potential breakout year. The Athletic's Mike Jones recently released his list of "breakout players" for each team heading into training camp. For the Texans, options are limited since both cornerback Kamari Lassiter and defensive back Calen Bullock become fixtures of the secondary last season during their rookie campaigns. Since Higgins is still finding his footing in the pros, he's an option that's poised to perhaps exceed expectaions as the second-best weapon behind Pro Bowler Nico Collins. "With their wide receiver unit hit hard by injury (Tank Dell) and free agency (Stefon Diggs), the Texans set out this offseason to find young quarterback C.J. Stroud some impactful playmakers," Jones wrote. "Higgins, a second-round pick this year out of Iowa State, certainly seems capable of fitting the bill. The 6-foot-4, 214-pound receiver out of Iowa State brings size, athleticism and speed. Lining up along with Nico Collins and new veteran addition Christian Kirk, Higgins should receive plenty of opportunities to help the Texans. He can win 50-50 balls, gets good separation and should make a name for himself in Houston this season." Higgins, who made history earlier this offseason as the first second-round pick in league history to receive a four-year, fully guaranteed contract worth $11.7 million, is expected to step into a substantial role after the Texans selected him 34th overall in April. The 6-foot-4 Miami native was arguably college football's most consistent weapon over his two seasons in Ames. In 2023 as Cyclones' top weapon, he caught 53 passes for 983 yards and six touchdowns. Last year, while helping Iowa State secure its first-ever 11-win season, Higgins collected 87 receptions for 1,183 yards and nine touchdowns. He also has been praised for having exceptional speed and sure-fire hands, dropping just one pass in two seasons while playing in the Big 12. As a physical and athletic target, Higgins should pair well next to Collins as a promising addition on the outside for Nick Caley's offense. Given his speed and catch radius, Collins should provide more versatility in this receiving corps to help get C.J. Stroud back on track in a prove-it year ahead of contract negotiations. Texans coach DeMeco Ryans and general manager Nick Caserio were high on Higgins coming out of college. Caley, who helped the Los Angeles Rams' passing attack finish top five last season, also has seen the flashes. Expect him to start Week 1 opposite Collins on the outside and newcomer Christian Kirk in the slot. The Texans and Higgins return to the Methodist Training Center for the start of training camp next Wednesday.
Time Magazine
5 days ago
- Health
- Time Magazine
What Is Chronic Venous Insufficiency? Trump's Diagnosis, Explained
On July 17, the White House announced that President Donald Trump was diagnosed with a condition called chronic venous insufficiency after he noticed swelling in his legs. According to Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Trump, who is 79, was diagnosed following an ultrasound of his legs; he does not have complications of the condition, such as deep vein thrombosis, and an echocardiogram indicated that he has normal cardiac structure and function. We asked experts what to know about the condition, including what it feels like and how it's treated. What is chronic venous insufficiency? Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) affects more than 25 million adults in the U.S. It's one of the most common diagnoses that Dr. Ali Azizzadeh, professor and director of vascular surgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and associate director of the Smidt Heart Institute, sees in his patients every day. CVI occurs when the valves in the legs don't work correctly, which causes blood to pool, putting increased pressure on the veins. It tends to affect both legs, though it can occur in just one. Read More: 7 Myths About Cardiomyopathy—Debunked 'We have blood vessels that take the blood from the heart to the rest of the body—those are arteries,' Azizzadeh says. 'Veins are responsible for returning the blood from the rest of the body back to the heart. When somebody has chronic venous insufficiency, that means the veins are not working properly, and because of that, the blood—instead of going up towards the heart from the legs—can pool in the leg.' That often leads to visible swelling in the ankles and feet. What causes the condition? There are a variety of risk factors for chronic venous insufficiency. The condition is most common in people who are middle-aged or older, since veins naturally weaken over time, says Dr. John Higgins, professor of cardiology at UTHealth Houston. Women are at heightened risk compared to men: 'It's about 2 to 1 for women, and the reason for that is pregnancy, as well as the effects of hormones like estrogen and progesterone on the the valves,' he says. Read More: 9 Weird Symptoms Cardiologists Say You Should Never Ignore Other risk factors include a family history of CVI, being overweight or obese, and having a history of blood clots in the legs. Standing for long periods of time can also play a role. 'When you stand up, there's more pressure on your veins than when you're sitting or laying down,' Higgins says. As for the president—who is not a patient of Higgins—'he's someone who's on his feet a lot.' What kind of symptoms and complications does it cause? The majority of the time, chronic venous insufficiency is little more than a 'nuisance,' according to Dr. Sean Lyden, department chair of vascular surgery at Cleveland Clinic. 'For most people, it's nothing except for some leg swelling,' he says. 'As the day goes on, their leg swells more and more, so it feels tight, heavy, and bursting.' By the time patients with CVI go to bed, they might notice the 'big sock lines' that indent skin where socks hit, a common thing among older adults, he adds. Some people also experience discoloration in their feet and ankles. When people have CVI for a long time—10 or 15 years—they can develop hardening and thickening in the skin, which can eventually cut off the blood supply and lead to venous ulcers, Lyden adds. Generally, however, most people are able to successfully manage the condition, and it does not affect life expectancy. 'It's a very common diagnosis, and it's not dangerous,' says Azizzadeh. 'It's more that it bothers the patient, with regards to the swelling and the pain and the discomfort." Azizzadeh, who does not treat Trump, adds that CVI "doesn't impact [Trump's] prognosis in terms of life expectancy or anything like that.' How is chronic venous insufficiency treated? The most common treatment for chronic venous insufficiency is wearing 20-30 mmHg medical-grade compression socks, which push blood back up to the heart. 'You put them on in the morning and you keep them on all day,' Lyden says. 'It stops the veins from dilating until they drain better.' Most people with CVI need to wear these socks forever, though Lyden acknowledges that, in the summer heat, the extra layer can be unpleasant. People often don't put them on when they're going outside on hot days, which causes their legs to swell up again. People with CVI also benefit from elevating their legs above their heart during the day, which can be done by lying down and resting the legs on pillows or cushions, or on top of, for example, a coffee table or desk. Simple exercises can also make a positive difference. 'Pumping your calf muscles helps,' Higgins says. For those who are overweight, losing weight can improve symptoms. Read More: The 1 Heart-Health Habit You Should Start When You're Young In advanced cases, when conservative treatment doesn't sufficiently improve symptoms, some people undergo a minimally invasive outpatient procedure called venous ablation. 'It's a very simple operation,' Azizzadeh says. 'It closes the leak,' so blood no longer flows in the wrong direction. 'It's very straightforward and successful." Still, for the majority of people, CVI doesn't reach the point of requiring surgical intervention. 'The bottom line is, it's very manageable,' Higgins says. 'Most people will do just fine with the conservative therapy.'
