Latest news with #Marius
Telegraph
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
On patrol with Poland's ultra-nationalist border vigilantes
Binoculars in hand and slathered with homemade bug spray, Maly and Marius head into the wilderness, their eyes peeled for any sign of asylum seekers in the woods of north-west Poland. As they creep along the border with Germany, Maly scans the treeline while Marius checks the ground for footprints. With no migrants in sight, the pair end the patrol and return to their campsite to swap shifts with other volunteers near Stolec, a village by the Krzyz Barnima border crossing. Then a cyclist appears, and Marius gives him a friendly look. Sometimes, he says, locals come over to congratulate them for defending Europe's borders. 'Get a real job!' the cyclist shouts in Polish as he furiously rides away. Suffice to say, this was no ordinary ride-along with Polish border guards – Maly and Marius are vigilantes, the self-appointed guardians of a remote stretch of woodland on the Polish-German border that they say is so badly protected they need to do it themselves. Over the past fortnight, 'citizens' patrol' groups have sprung up across Poland as part of an escalating diplomatic spat with the German government, under which Friedrich Merz, the country's chancellor, is turning away asylum seekers from its land borders. The decision has caused outrage among Polish Right-wingers and some border communities, who claim that their side of the frontier risks becoming a dumping ground for rejected asylum seekers and illegal migrants. In an attempt to placate the vigilantes, Donald Tusk, the Polish prime minister, this month deployed armed border guards to all 52 crossings with Germany, including the spot where Maly and Marius conduct their patrols. But the gesture seems to have backfired – the vigilantes have now declared a David-and-Goliath style victory over the Polish government, and are vowing to keep up the patrols unless further demands are met. While the volunteers here say they are an apolitical grassroots organisation, the wider 'citizens' patrol' movement appears to be driven by the Polish hard-Right, and in particular Robert Bakiewicz, a nationalist activist. Since the patrols started, Mr Bakiewicz and other Right-wing activists have flooded the internet with viral videos, which purportedly show German police vans secretly dropping off unwanted migrants on the Polish side of the border. In an interview with The Telegraph, Mr Bakiewicz accused the German government of waging 'hybrid warfare' on Poland by pushing back asylum seekers, echoing the West's term for Russian sabotage attacks on Nato allies. 'As you know, the Russians have been trying to destabilise the situation by pushing migrants from the east,' he said, referring to the influx of migrants from Belarus, and more recently, Belarus via Lithuania. 'Now the Germans are doing the same to us, and because our government is Germany-friendly, they allow it to happen.' Mr Bakiewicz claimed Germany's actions were rooted in jealousy of Poland's vast economic success over the past few decades. 'Poland is getting stronger and stronger, and this is their way of making Poland weaker,' he said. Germany denies that its new border policies are unlawful. Some vigilantes believe they have managed to stop German border forces from sending asylum seekers back to Poland. 'We've seen German police vans with tinted windows coming to the border, most likely full of asylum seekers,' says one 51-year-old patrol member, also named Marius, who works as a welder in the Stolec area. 'When they saw us, the car turned around. In my opinion, we scared them away.' Patricia, 45, another volunteer who patrols the forests surrounding Stolec, adds: 'We consider it a success because we forced the government to do something. But the government has only sent the guards here for 30 days, and we are afraid after that the roads will be empty. So we still patrol. We want the controls to be permanent.' In May, Mr Merz ordered his border guards to turn back asylum seekers under pressure from the far-Right, anti-migrant Alternative for Germany party, which came second in last February's elections and is now the de facto opposition. The chancellor has also faced public anger over a string of recent terror attacks in Germany committed by asylum seekers facing deportation orders. Some vigilantes say this is a key part of their motivation – they fear that Germany is pushing mentally ill or extremist asylum seekers onto their side of the border, who may then commit similar atrocities. Back at the border near Stolec, Maly and Marius have allowed The Telegraph to join them for another sortie on the condition that their faces and surnames are not published. While they insist they are not breaking the law, the Polish government has threatened to prosecute anyone suspected of impersonating border guards or hindering their work. During that patrol, the pair once again found no migrants, though they did lead The Telegraph to a clearing where soiled clothing was strewn on the ground. 'We think maybe this was a meeting point with smugglers where they changed their clothes and left,' says Maly. 'But we are not sure if they were coming into Poland or going to Germany.' Standing at the patrol's makeshift headquarters, a green gazebo full of high-viz jackets, coffee mugs and water bottles, next to a border checkpoint manned by Polish soldiers with assault rifles, Marius later says: 'We get on well with the border guards, there is no hostility.' The vigilantes' presence seems to be tolerated by two young border guards on the crossing, perhaps because they are too busy flagging down drivers to check their passports and inspect their car boots. Many of the drivers seem far from happy about the checks, which have been imposed mainly to appease the vigilante border patrols. 'I've always felt strongly about security at the border,' says Marius, 'but many Polish people are hostile to us. The country is very divided, and they are not thinking about the well-being of Poland – they are thinking about ideology.' As the end of the week draws near, more vigilantes turn up at the checkpoint, hoping to join in. Among them is Maksymilian Katarzynski, a teenager who has dressed up in tactical-style fatigues with the Polish flag on the epaulettes. Viewed from a distance, he could easily be mistaken for a Polish border guard, and that seems to be the idea. But the 19-year-old says he is not worried about the legal consequences because he is acting out of patriotism. 'If we see any illegal persons, we will apprehend them and take them to border control,' he says, as he sets up a tent near the border checkpoint with a 'no illegal immigration' banner. 'I'm here as a duty to my society.' While there is no doubt that asylum seekers are active on the German-Polish border, official statistics suggest the numbers are low compared to other migration routes in Europe. In mid-May, when the new German border rules were introduced, the total number of people requesting asylum at Germany's nine land borders was recorded as between two and 13 per day, peaking on May 17. In total, 105 asylum seekers were rejected from Germany's land borders during that period, with only 28 of those rejections taking place at the Polish-German border. By comparison, as many as 1,100 migrants have been known to cross the English Channel on small boats in a single day. Critics of the vigilantes say this means they are over-reacting to the problems at the border, and that their work potentially risks benefiting their arch-foe Russia, which revels in spreading disinformation across Europe, particularly around migration. The flood of public anger about poor border security has also been a huge benefit to Poland's Right-wing opposition party, Law and Justice (PiS). Last month, Karol Nawrocki, the party's preferred candidate in the Polish presidential elections, swept to victory and has since become one of the border patrollers' most vocal cheerleaders. Once he is sworn in as president next month, Mr Nawrocki will be able to veto key legislation by Mr Tusk's government, which has the potential to collapse his centrist coalition. Rumours abound in Warsaw that encouraging anger towards the Tusk government in the border regions could also be part of PiS's strategy.
Int'l Business Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Int'l Business Times
"We Just Wanted to Spend Our Crypto": How CoinsBee Reached 500,000 Users by Solving a Real Problem
In 2019, Marius H. came across some Satoshis—not through speculation or investing, but as part of a side project exploring new payment technologies. It was a time when crypto was starting to gain traction, and he was curious to see how it might work in practice. What he found was surprising: the asset had grown in value. But using it in everyday life? That was another story. When he tried to spend it on something as simple as a Spotify subscription or a digital gift for a friend abroad, the process was far from seamless. "I believed in the idea behind Bitcoin," Marius recalls. "But turning that belief into practical use wasn't easy." That gap between promise and usability became the starting point for CoinsBee—the platform Marius co-founded to make crypto spendable for real-world needs. It began with a few brands and a simple idea. Today, CoinsBee is used by more than 500,000 people worldwide, many of whom were facing the same practical problem: What good is holding value if you cannot use it? From Friction to Function The early vision behind CoinsBee was simple: make crypto usable in everyday life. Not just as an investment vehicle or trading asset, but as something you could spend instantly on real-world needs. At the time, converting crypto into fiat—or trying to use it at a retail store—meant dealing with delays, compliance forms, or fees. Marius and his Co-Founder, Tobias, believed there had to be a more direct way. Their idea: build a platform where users could instantly exchange crypto for digital gift cards, prepaid services, and mobile top-ups, all delivered by email. No account creation, no KYC, no wait times. "We didn't start with a grand strategy," Marius says. "We started with a personal pain point. And we built the kind of product we wanted to use ourselves." That product quietly found traction. And four years later, it has become one of the most widely used crypto spending platforms in the world. Half a Million Users — and Counting CoinsBee recently surpassed 500,000 users, a milestone that reflects not only technical growth but a growing demand for real-world crypto utility. Unlike many app-based wallets or token-driven platforms, CoinsBee's users are not just casual signups—they are active crypto holders looking for ways to turn their digital assets into tangible value. "We noticed that a huge part of our audience was already deep into crypto," says Marius. "They weren't beginners. They held tokens. But even they struggled to use those assets for anything outside of trading or holding." That insight guided how the platform evolved. CoinsBee made it a priority to offer a wide range of brands and services—from mobile credit and grocery vouchers to gaming, streaming, electronics, and travel. Today, users can spend crypto on services in over 180 countries, with access to more than 5,000 brands, including global names like Amazon, Airbnb, Uber Eats, Netflix, Apple, and Vodafone. But for Marius, the product is less about brand count and more about removing friction. "What we offer is simple: crypto in, product out," he says. "No conversions, no lock-ins. Just access." A Platform Built by the Community It Serves One of the reasons CoinsBee grew without needing hype marketing campaigns, token launches, or venture capital was its resonance with real users—particularly in regions where access to stable banking or fiat offramps is limited. Over time, users from Latin America, Africa, Southeast Asia, and Eastern Europe began using CoinsBee not just to shop, but to move value across borders, send gifts to relatives, or even donate to global charities—all in crypto. The team responded by expanding its partnerships and integrations. Today, CoinsBee supports major crypto payment solutions like Binance Pay, Pay, and more integrations are underway. And the platform is not stopping there. Looking Ahead: From Transactions to Intelligent Experiences As crypto payments mature, CoinsBee is already working on the next generation of user experiences. Plans are underway to roll out AI-powered shopping assistants, in-app smart recommendations, and token-specific experiences. Imagine a tool that understands your wallet, your region, and your preferences—and suggests useful ways to spend your assets, instantly. CoinsBee also plans to integrate more deeply with wallets, exchanges, and mobile apps, making the spending experience even smoother. The long-term vision is to become the default layer for crypto utility—embedded wherever users already store or earn their assets. "We think spending crypto should feel as natural as using Apple Pay or Google Pay," says Marius. "You hold value. You should be able to use it—easily, securely, and globally." The Quiet Power of Utility CoinsBee has never launched a token. It has not raised millions. It does not operate as a DAO, and there is no flashy roadmap promising the metaverse. What it does have is a simple, working solution to one of crypto's oldest problems: how to spend what you hold. That focus—on real-world usability over speculation—is what makes the platform stand out. And as it quietly passes half a million users, that focus seems more relevant than ever. "CoinsBee was never meant to be loud," Marius reflects. "It was meant to work. And that's what keeps people coming back."
The Citizen
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Mrs. Pretoria-Tshwane 2023 dies after brief illness
Shannon Bilijon, Mrs. Pretoria-Tshwane 2023 and founder of a charity that provided thousands of school shoes to children, has died at the age of 49 after a brief illness. She passed away in the hospital on Friday, just six days after being admitted with a fever that revealed early-stage kidney failure. Her husband told the media that blood tests indicated Shannon was in the early stages of kidney failure, after which she was admitted to the intensive care unit. It is believed her lungs and heart failed within just six days. Shannon was crowned Mrs. Pretoria-Tshwane 2023. She and Marius started a charity organisation. Shoose Life has since ensured that more than 20,000 pairs of school shoes, made from recycled materials, have found a home. Over the past year, she also poured her energy into the couple's restaurant in Garsfontein. The pair met in 2021 and married the following year. She is survived by her adult son and daughter. Messages of condolence have since poured in on social media, with many paying tribute to her kindness and the impact she had. Shannon will be laid to rest on July 18 at 11:00 AM, with the service taking place at Faith City Church in Centurion. Mrs. Johannesburg 2025, Thandiwe G. Melato, shared a heartfelt tribute on social media: 'Oh dear Shannon… Why did you break our hearts like this? What a special human you were — a powerful woman of God, dedicated to transforming lives and making a great impact in this world. You will be missed dearly, sis. Thank you for your kindness to me and the love you so proudly shared with the world. Rest in Glory, sis.' She added, 'What an unexpected transition. May your husband Marius, children, family, and loved ones be comforted in this difficult time. May they find strength in the Lord.' Also read: Young beloved rider dies during Motocross Race in Gauteng Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to [email protected] or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Daily Record
5 days ago
- Health
- Daily Record
Vulnerable mental health service user exposes deadly "crisis" in Glasgow system
Marius Samavicius, 33, launched his own investigation after a three-year battle for support, which saw his suicidal thoughts referenced as a 'lovely wee email'. A deadly "crisis" over mental health care in Scotland's biggest city has been exposed by a service user who claims they was denied help in their darkest time. Marius Samavicius launched an investigation after a three-year battle for support in Glasgow, which saw the 33-year-old's suicidal thoughts referenced as a 'lovely wee email'. The artist found almost one in three of the more than 86,000 people seeking help from Glasgow's adult Community Mental Health Teams over the last seven years were rejected for care, while more than 1,100 people died under the service. The data - branded "heartbreaking" by campaigners - revealed just 6% of those accepted for care were referred for psychology over the period, between 2018 and 2024. The figures come amid a backdrop of shattering cuts to other mental health services across the city and show the number of people seeking help was at its highest over the last two years - as were the number of rejections. Marius, whose mental health battle led to them becoming homeless during Covid, said: 'Asking for mental health support takes courage and many stay silent out of fear or shame. 'I was shocked by the sheer number of people who died in care. How many died before seeking help, or after being rejected or discharged? The NHS doesn't publish this data. 'The NHS mental health system isn't broken - it's already collapsed and patients are left under the rubble. 'There's no scan that proves mental illness, so people are often dismissed as dramatic, unstable, or 'not ready' for therapy.' Data released under the Freedom of Information Act shows that 86,226 patients sought help through 10 of the city's adult centres during the period. The figures refer to Shawpark Resource Centre in Maryhill, North east Glasgow's Arran, Auchinlea and Springpark centres, the Arndale and Riverside centres in the North West of the city as well as Brand Street, Florence Street, Rossdale and the Stewart Centre in the south. Nearly one in three people (27,431) were rejected outright for care for various reasons while 9,649 were discharged from care for failing to attend appointments. A total of 1,103 patients died under the care of the service. Across nine of the centres, excluding Shawpark, which could not provide complete data, just 6% (5,310 patients) were allocated to psychology, while 7,135 completed treatment. The longest wait time for treatment hit 81 weeks - 4.5 times longer than Scotland's 18-week target. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Marius demanded answers after his battle for support through Shawpark. A subject access request exposed correspondence in which staff handling a complaint from Marius which referenced suicidal thoughts describe it as a 'lovely wee email' in 2023. Marius said there was no subsequent risk assessment or welfare check. The artist claims they were discharged from the service three times through no fault of their own and were never put on the psychology waiting list. They said: 'When I was finally assessed by Shawpark, I was told that trauma therapy might make me worse. I felt dismissed and written off but charity LGBT Health and Wellbeing responded immediately. They gave me weekly sessions and, despite limited resources, offered around 20 sessions of wellbeing and trauma-focused support.' In March, the Glasgow Integrated Joint Board (IJB) for Health and Social Care services set a budget that included £42 million worth of cuts across a range of services, including lifeline mental health services like counselling, psychotherapy and trauma recovery. Scottish Labour Mental Health spokesperson Paul Sweeney MSP said: 'These heartbreaking figures show the cost of failing to support mental health services. 'Services like this are stretched to breaking point under the SNP, leaving far too many Scots falling through the cracks. 'With thousands of people being turned away from our health service in their hour of need, it's clear the founding principles of our NHS have been compromised.' NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde apologised to Marius for any distress caused but insisted that appropriate treatment was offered. A spokesman said: 'Our staff continue to work tirelessly to meet the increasing demands for psychological therapies and to ensure those who need to support of our teams are seen as quickly as possible. 'In line with the national policy, patients referred to our services will be assessed and if appropriate will be redirected or supported to alternative services. Those who are rejected include patients who are given advice about treatment, referred to other services, or in cases where a referral is inappropriate or incomplete.' The Scottish Government said mental health was an 'absolute priority' and expects its overall spending to be over £1.3 billion for the next year. A spokeswoman said: 'Every death by suicide is a tragedy and our heartfelt sympathies go out to all those affected by suicide. We expect anyone in distress or experiencing suicidal thoughts who presents themselves to NHS or community services to be treated with respect and receive timely access to high quality and safe mental health care, as close to home as possible. 'Whilst one in two people start psychological therapy treatment within three weeks of referral, some people still wait too long, so we will continue to provide enhanced support to those health boards not on track to meet the standard.'
Metro
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Netflix adds outstanding crime-thriller that you 'need to watch immediately'
Netflix has quietly added one of the sharpest and most addictive crime thrillers to its lineup – and fans are already calling it essential viewing. Sneaky Pete, a critically praised series that originally aired on Prime Video, has landed on Netflix this week (July 10), giving the con-artist drama a new life and a much bigger audience. The show stars Giovanni Ribisi as Marius, a skilled grifter who gets out of prison and immediately assumes the identity of his old cellmate, Pete, in a desperate attempt to dodge a dangerous enemy. But what starts as a simple case of identity theft quickly snowballs. Marius ends up embedded in Pete's family, who haven't seen the real Pete in over 20 years – and are now running a family-owned bail bond business with secrets of their own. Caught in a web of lies, Marius must balance playing the perfect 'long-lost grandson' while running cons of his own and trying to avoid being found by Vince, the violent gangster played with icy charm by Breaking Bad's Bryan Cranston – who also co-created the series. Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro's TV Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we'll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you. It's sharp, fast-paced, and full of tension – the kind of series you tell a friend about halfway through episode two because it's just that good. Since arriving on Netflix, Sneaky Pete has been rediscovered by viewers who missed it the first time around, with fans calling it one of the most underrated shows 'that you need to watch immediately.' One Reddit user, @ershkan266, praised the series: 'THIS SHOW IS A MASTERPIECE.' 'Such an amazing show.' Dyxnsty added on reddit. The show originally ran for three seasons between 2017 and 2019. While it didn't become a massive mainstream hit at the time, it earned consistent critical praise and a loyal following for its clever storytelling and high-stakes twists. The first season holds a 96% score on Rotten Tomatoes, with reviewers praising the show's tight plotting and strong performances across the board. Ribisi brings a unique mix of charm and vulnerability to Marius, making him one of the most complex and watchable antiheroes in recent TV memory. His constant juggling act – lying to a family who genuinely care about him, while running scams to stay ahead – is both thrilling and, surprisingly, moving. Then there's Margo Martindale, who steals scenes as Audrey, Pete's no-nonsense grandmother and the true powerhouse of the family. Marin Ireland, Peter Gerety, Shane McRae, and Libe Barer round out the ensemble, each bringing depth and intrigue to a family that might not be as innocent as they seem. If Breaking Bad is a show about a man becoming a criminal, Sneaky Pete is about a criminal learning what it means to be human – all while trying to stay alive and out of trouble. The show's creator, David Shore (House), left early in the process, but Graham Yost (Justified) stepped in as showrunner. Even more exciting? The real Pete eventually re-enters the picture, throwing Marius into an even deeper mess of his own making. More Trending While some fans were disappointed the series wasn't renewed beyond season three, others say it ended at the perfect moment – and now, thanks to Netflix, a whole new wave of viewers can experience the rollercoaster from the beginning. Social media users have already started posting about the show's return, with comments like, 'really good show that got no recognition.' – @randelpho on Reddit. It may have flown under the radar when it first aired, but with its arrival on Netflix, Sneaky Pete is finally getting the attention it deserves. View More » Sneaky Pete is available to stream now on Netflix. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: WWE Evolution 2.0 UK start time on Netflix for all-women's show MORE: 'It's a one season banger': Your favourite underrated true crime shows MORE: My ex never wanted to get married — when we broke up, he got engaged
