Latest news with #Ming-era
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
Tourists scramble as 600-year-old Chinese tower partially collapses
Visitors to a centuries-old tourist site in eastern China were sent scrambling after hundreds of roof tiles came loose and cascaded more than two stories to the ground. The Fengyang Drum Tower—built in 1375 and used to announce the beginning of ceremonies and the time of day—is one of the largest such towers in China, according to state media. The tower is a major tourist attraction in Anhui province, which is around 200 miles away from Beijing, China's capital. But on Monday the quiet around the site was shattered as hundreds of roof tiles began slipping from the roof and crashing to the ground, raising a huge cloud of gray-brown dust. 'The tile falling lasted for a minute or two,' one eyewitness told Yangcheng Evening News, a state-controlled newspaper. Another witness described how he heard the crisp sound of one tile falling after another from a shop at the entrance of the Drum Tower. 'There was no one in the square and no one was injured,' he told state media outlet The Beijing News. 'If it happened a little later, there would be many children playing (near the tower) after dinner.' The local culture and tourism bureau said no casualties had been reported and that the 'situation is under investigation.' The collapse happened just a year after the tower was renovated following minor damage to the roof. However, the building consists of two parts: the original Ming-era tower base and the tower on top of it. Damages mainly happened to the latter, which was once rebuilt in 1995, local officials say. Fengyang county is famous for its history and culture, and was the hometown of Zhu Yuanzhang (the Hongwu Emperor), founder of the Ming dynasty. He oversaw a prosperous era fueled by strong international trade and a growing population. During this time, China replaced its traditional currency of silver and gold with paper money.
Japan Today
25-04-2025
- Japan Today
3 men sentenced to over a century in prison after plot to kill ringleader in UK's biggest heist
This undated handout file photos issued by the Metropolitan Police on Friday, April 25, 2025 shows from left, Daniel Kelly, Stewart Ahearne and Louis Ahearne, who have been jailed at the Old Bailey for plotting to kill former cagefighter Paul Allen. (Metropolitan Police via AP) By PAN PYLAS Three men who plotted to kill a former cage fighter, who years before had been convicted of being one of the ringleaders in the UK's biggest-ever heist, were sentenced Friday to a collective term of over a century in prison. Daniel Kelly, 46, and brothers Louis Ahearne, 36, and Stewart Ahearne, 46, were found guilty by a jury last month for conspiracy to murder Paul Allen, then 41, in 2019. Allen, who was left for dead, was paralyzed from the chest down after being shot at his large home in Woodford Green, northeast London. Police said the details of the case and the criminal backgrounds of the three men — who were also involved in the burglary of a Geneva museum a month before the shooting — resembled the plot of a Hollywood crime caper. Solving it involved the retrieval of an iPad from the River Thames weeks after the shooting, they said. Judge Sarah Whitehouse said the three men were 'motivated by a promise of financial gain' in their agreement to murder Allen. But what they stood to gain remained unclear. During the trial, prosecutors alleged that the background to the shooting was the fact that Allen was a 'sophisticated' career criminal. He was convicted in 2009 for his part three years earlier in Britain's biggest armed robbery at a depot in Kent, southeast England, in which 54 million pounds ($72 million at current prices) in cash was stolen, much of which has never been recovered. During their investigation into the shooting, police discovered along with Swiss authorities that the three men were also involved in a burglary at the Museum of Far Eastern Art in Geneva on June 1, 2019. Three pieces of Ming-era porcelain were taken from the museum, which had a combined insurance value of around $3.6 million. Investigators also uncovered that the defendants flew to Hong Kong later that month, where they tried to sell one of the items they had stolen — a phoenix bowl — at an auction house. The two brothers were extradited to Switzerland and were convicted of the burglary in January 2024. Both were subsequently returned to the UK to be tried for the shooting of Allen. Kelly is still the subject of an extradition request by Swiss authorities. Jurors heard how elements of that museum heist echoed with the shooting of Allen, including the use of a Renault Captur hire vehicle. The case against the three men was given further impetus with the discovery in Nov. 2024 of an iPad in the Thames that had been used to track the movements of Allen before he was shot. 'This attack may look like the plot to a Hollywood blockbuster but the reality is something quite different,' said Detective Superintendent Matt Webb of the Metropolitan Police, who led the investigation. 'This was horrific criminality.' Whitehouse sentenced Kelly to 36 years in prison with an extended license period of five years. Louis Ahearne was sentenced to 36 years in prison while Stewart Ahearne was sentenced to 30 years. They will all serve a minimum of two-thirds of their sentences before being eligible for parole. She said Kelly was the shooter and was 'higher up in the chain' of the conspiracy. Apart from the outstanding extradition request from Switzerland, Kelly is also wanted in Japan for a separate alleged robbery. © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Yahoo
3 men sentenced to over a century in prison after plot to kill a ringleader in UK's biggest heist
LONDON (AP) — Three men who plotted to kill a former cage fighter, who years before had been convicted of being one of the ringleaders in the U.K.'s biggest-ever heist, were sentenced Friday to a collective term of over a century in prison. Daniel Kelly, 46, and brothers Louis Ahearne, 36, and Stewart Ahearne, 46, were found guilty by a jury last month for conspiracy to murder Paul Allen, then 41, in 2019. Allen, who was left for dead, was paralyzed from the chest down after being shot at his large home in Woodford Green, northeast London. Police said the details of the case and the criminal backgrounds of the three men — who were also involved in the burglary of a Geneva museum a month before the shooting — resembled the plot of a Hollywood crime caper. Solving it involved the retrieval of an iPad from the River Thames weeks after the shooting, they said. Judge Sarah Whitehouse said the three men were 'motivated by a promise of financial gain' in their agreement to murder Allen. But what they stood to gain remained unclear. During the trial, prosecutors alleged that the background to the shooting was the fact that Allen was a 'sophisticated' career criminal. He was convicted in 2009 for his part three years earlier in Britain's biggest armed robbery at a depot in Kent, southeast England, in which 54 million pounds ($72 million at current prices) in cash was stolen, much of which has never been recovered. During their investigation into the shooting, police discovered along with Swiss authorities that the three men were also involved in a burglary at the Museum of Far Eastern Art in Geneva on June 1, 2019. Three pieces of Ming-era porcelain were taken from the museum, which had a combined insurance value of around $3.6 million. Investigators also uncovered that the defendants flew to Hong Kong later that month, where they tried to sell one of the items they had stolen — a phoenix bowl — at an auction house. The two brothers were extradited to Switzerland and were convicted of the burglary in January 2024. Both were subsequently returned to the U.K. to be tried for the shooting of Allen. Kelly is still the subject of an extradition request by Swiss authorities. Jurors heard how elements of that museum heist echoed with the shooting of Allen, including the use of a Renault Captur hire vehicle. The case against the three men was given further impetus with the discovery in Nov. 2024 of an iPad in the Thames that had been used to track the movements of Allen before he was shot. 'This attack may look like the plot to a Hollywood blockbuster but the reality is something quite different,' said Detective Superintendent Matt Webb of the Metropolitan Police, who led the investigation. 'This was horrific criminality.' Whitehouse sentenced Kelly to 36 years in prison with an extended license period of five years. Louis Ahearne was sentenced to 36 years in prison while Stewart Ahearne was sentenced to 30 years. They will all serve a minimum of two-thirds of their sentences before being eligible for parole. She said Kelly was the shooter and was 'higher up in the chain' of the conspiracy. Apart from the outstanding extradition request from Switzerland, Kelly is also wanted in Japan for a separate alleged robbery. Pan Pylas, The Associated Press
25-04-2025
3 men sentenced to over a century in prison after plot to kill a ringleader in UK's biggest heist
LONDON -- Three men who plotted to kill a former cage fighter, who years before had been convicted of being one of the ringleaders in the U.K.'s biggest-ever heist, were sentenced Friday to a collective term of over a century in prison. The sentencing of the three men at London's Central Criminal Court, which is better known as the Old Bailey, brings to an end a six-year case that had the hallmarks of a movie crime caper. It involved the metal detector-assisted retrieval of an iPad from the River Thames in the capital, as well as the theft of Ming-era porcelain from a museum in Geneva and even an attempted sale of the treasure in Hong Kong. Daniel Kelly, 46, and brothers Louis Ahearne, 36, and Stewart Ahearne, 46, were found guilty by a jury last month for conspiracy to murder Paul Allen, then 41, in 2019. Allen, who was left for dead, was paralyzed from the chest down after being shot at his large home in Woodford Green, northeast London. Judge Sarah Whitehouse sentenced Kelly to 36 years in prison with an extended license period of five years. Louis Ahearne was sentenced to 36 years in prison while Stewart Ahearne was sentenced to 30 years. They will all serve a minimum of two-thirds of their sentences before being eligible for parole. The judge said the men were 'motivated by a promise of financial gain" in their agreement to murder Allen. During the trial, prosecutors alleged that the background to the shooting was the fact that Allen was a 'sophisticated' career criminal. He was convicted in 2009 for his part three years earlier in Britain's biggest armed robbery at a depot in Kent, southeast England, in which 54 million pounds ($72 million at current prices) in cash was stolen, much of which has never been recovered. Prosecutors said the men had burgled the Museum of Far Eastern Art in Geneva on June 1, 2019, a month before Allen was shot. Three pieces of Ming-era porcelain were taken from the museum, which had a combined insurance value of around $3.6 million. Investigators also uncovered that the defendants flew to Hong Kong later that month, where they tried to sell one of the items they had stolen — a phoenix bowl — at an auction house. Jurors heard how elements of that crime echoed with the shooting of Allen, including the use of a Renault Captur hire vehicle. The case against the three men was given further impetus with the discovery in Nov. 2024 of an iPad in the River Thames that was used to track the movements of Allen before he was shot. 'This attack may look like the plot to a Hollywood blockbuster but the reality is something quite different,' said Detective Superintendent Matt Webb of the Metropolitan Police, who led the investigation. "This was horrific criminality."
Toronto Sun
25-04-2025
- Toronto Sun
Three men sentenced to century in prison after plot to kill ringleader in UK's biggest heist
Published Apr 25, 2025 • 2 minute read This undated file photo issued by the Metropolitan Police on Friday, April 25, 2025 shows Daniel Kelly and Stewart Ahearne. Photo by Metropolitan Police / AP LONDON — Three men who plotted to kill a former cage fighter, who years before had been convicted of being one of the ringleaders in the U.K.'s biggest-ever heist, were sentenced Friday to a collective term of over a century in prison. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The sentencing of the three men at London's Central Criminal Court, which is better known as the Old Bailey, brings to an end a six-year case that had the hallmarks of a movie crime caper. It involved the metal detector-assisted retrieval of an iPad from the River Thames in the capital, as well as the theft of Ming-era porcelain from a museum in Geneva and even an attempted sale of the treasure in Hong Kong. Daniel Kelly, 46, and brothers Louis Ahearne, 36, and Stewart Ahearne, 46, were found guilty by a jury last month for conspiracy to murder Paul Allen, then 41, in 2019. Allen, who was left for dead, was paralyzed from the chest down after being shot at his large home in Woodford Green, northeast London. Judge Sarah Whitehouse sentenced Kelly to 36 years in prison with an extended license period of five years. Louis Ahearne was sentenced to 36 years in prison while Stewart Ahearne was sentenced to 30 years. They will all serve a minimum of two-thirds of their sentences before being eligible for parole. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The judge said the men were 'motivated by a promise of financial gain' in their agreement to murder Allen. During the trial, prosecutors alleged that the background to the shooting was the fact that Allen was a 'sophisticated' career criminal. He was convicted in 2009 for his part three years earlier in Britain's biggest armed robbery at a depot in Kent, southeast England, in which 54 million pounds ($72 million at current prices) in cash was stolen, much of which has never been recovered. Prosecutors said the men had burgled the Museum of Far Eastern Art in Geneva on June 1, 2019, a month before Allen was shot. Three pieces of Ming-era porcelain were taken from the museum, which had a combined insurance value of around $3.6 million. Investigators also uncovered that the defendants flew to Hong Kong later that month, where they tried to sell one of the items they had stolen — a phoenix bowl — at an auction house. Jurors heard how elements of that crime echoed with the shooting of Allen, including the use of a Renault Captur hire vehicle. The case against the three men was given further impetus with the discovery in Nov. 2024 of an iPad in the River Thames that was used to track the movements of Allen before he was shot. 'This attack may look like the plot to a Hollywood blockbuster but the reality is something quite different,' said Detective Superintendent Matt Webb of the Metropolitan Police, who led the investigation. 'This was horrific criminality.' Sunshine Girls Toronto Maple Leafs Editorial Cartoons Diet & Fitness Canada
