Latest news with #Nutt
South Wales Argus
4 days ago
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Can Reform challenge the two main parties in Wales?
No doubt, the Reform party is on the rise, and it will be extremely interesting to ascertain how the party will perform in the next Welsh Government elections in May of next year, 2026. For a party that at the beginning of 2024 had no members of the British parliament, practically no local councillors to speak of, its rise in popularity nationally is meteoric, it has to be said. Reform councillors being elected in Gwent, West Wales and across England, with the party gaining control of a string of councils in last month's local elections, total over 800 newly elected, delivering a stinging rebuke of both Labour and the Tories. This also included the first Reform mayor in Lincolnshire. Both the main parties certainly in Westminster, but further afield too, (Wales and Scotland) are, it must be admitted, running scared. Mr. Farage does talk the talk, but can he walk the walk? Time will tell, with the first big acid test I would suggest on May 7, 2026. Let's see? Get the obsession of Farage out of your head Mr. Nutt, or at least wait and see if he can achieve where the two main parties have spectacularly failed, with both the Labour administrations in Cardiff and Westminster currently floundering and sinking quicker than a boulder in a mill pond. He'll only drive you crazy if you don't. Paul Graham, Abergavenny
Spectator
03-06-2025
- Health
- Spectator
The moral case for alcohol
Another day, another warning about the perils of alcohol from a body that should know better. The World Health Organisation, which just a few years ago was prescribing solitary confinement as the cure for our ills, has recently announced the preferred level we should be drinking every day: zero, zip, nada – not a drop. Last week a Professor Nutt – nominative determinism in action if ever I saw it – was a little more generous. He suggested we would be safe with 'one glass a year'. He was joined last weekend by a dreary columnist in the Financial Times, who said he took up drinking at 30 but wishes he hadn't; it would be better for his health. What madness is this? As the Italians say: 'la madre degli imbecili è sempre incinta', or the mother of imbeciles is always pregnant.
Perth Now
02-06-2025
- Health
- Perth Now
Scientist claims that people should only drink one glass of wine a year
People should only drink one large glass of wine per year. Leading scientist Professor David Nutt, a former UK government drug tsar, claims that studies reveal that the maximum amount of wine a person should be drinking a year is 250ml. The boffin suggests that alcohol would fail modern food safety standards if it had been invented today as a result of the harm it does to the body. Professor Nutt - who was sacked from his role as an advisor to Gordon Brown's government in 2009 for claiming that ecstasy and LSD were less dangerous than booze - told the Instant Genius podcast: "I can accept that 40,000 years of alcohol use is precedence but if we invented it today we wouldn't have that precedence. "So what would we do? Well, what we would do is you put your alcohol through food safety testing and it would fail. "It would fail because the maximal recommended amount of alcohol any individual should consume in a year, based on the toxicology, is a large glass of wine per year. "That's why they had to exempt it, because you couldn't put it through normal testing, so that tells you how relatively harmful alcohol is."
West Australian
15-05-2025
- West Australian
Dramatic CCTV footage shows synagogue arson in Melbourne
Counter-terrorism authorities have released dramatic CCTV footage and images of suspects believed to be responsible for the politically motivated arson attack on the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne late last year. The Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) is appealing for public assistance to identify the individuals involved or anyone connected to a blue 2020 VW Golf sedan believed to have been used in the attack. The footage, captured on December 6, 2024, shows the blue Golf driving past the Elsternwick synagogue multiple times before parking outside the main entrance. Three masked individuals wearing hoodies are then seen exiting the vehicle, using an axe to break into the synagogue. At least two of the offenders are captured on CCTV pouring the contents of red jerry cans inside the entrance and returning to the car to retrieve more. The flammable liquid was then ignited, and the group fled in the Golf, heading towards Melbourne's western suburbs. The ultra-Orthodox temple was firebombed and significantly damaged about 4am on Friday December 6.' Two worshippers were in the temple at the time. Millions of dollars of holy texts, handwritten Torah scrolls, artefacts and furniture were destroyed or badly damaged. The vehicle, which was stolen and bore cloned number plates, has since been recovered by police. Investigators say it was also used in other serious crimes across the city, including the Lux nightclub arson in South Yarra in November 2024, and a shooting and arson in Bundoora on the same night as the synagogue attack. While the other incidents are being investigated by Victoria Police and are not considered politically motivated, the synagogue fire remains a terrorism matter. AFP Assistant Commissioner for Counter Terrorism and Special Investigations Command Stephen Nutt said officers had examined CCTV from more than 1400 locations to track the alleged offenders. 'We believe there are multiple offenders directly and indirectly linked to the synagogue arson, and our terrorism investigation into their actions continues,' he said. 'I remind those involved that the penalty for terrorism is life imprisonment. It is just a matter of time before police knock on your door. It is in your interest to come forward now. 'This is no normal crime and that is why it is being investigated by the JCTT with the full force and capability of Victoria Police, the AFP and ASIO. Do not stay silent, come forward. 'Based on the information we have, we suspect some of the individuals involved are extremely violent.' Assistant Commissioner Nutt said investigators were pursuing all leads and thanked both the Jewish and wider Victorian communities for their support and assistance. Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner for Counter Terrorism Command Tess Walsh said the investigation had been a top priority over the past five months. 'This was an attack that impacted Victorians' feeling of safety and left people feeling deeply shocked, saddened and rightly concerned,' she said. She said both the JCTT and specialist detectives, including the Arson and Explosives Squad, had been working to uncover not only who carried out the attack but who planned it and why. 'Today has provided us with a breakthrough in the Lux nightclub arson investigation and we are now in a position to publicly confirm that we believe the vehicle used in that incident is the same as the synagogue fire, as well as many other incidents of significant criminality such as shootings and aggravated burglaries across Melbourne,' she said. Assistant Commissioner Walsh said the blue VW Golf sedan was a crucial link in the investigation and urged the public to help identify who had used it and what they were involved in. 'We need assistance from the public as we attempt to identify those who have been using this vehicle and what they have been involved in, and we know there are people out there who can supply this information. Any small detail could be crucial.' She said it was time for people with information to come forward and warned of the potentially deadly consequences of such reckless behaviour. 'We have said many times before; it is only luck that stands between a fire that damages a property and a fire that kills dozens of people. Fire is absolutely uncontrollable, and the sheer recklessness of this offending cannot be tolerated.' She reassured the Jewish community that police remained committed to tracking down those responsible. 'I understand that it can be difficult when these matters take time, but again, make no mistake that this investigation remains a key priority for Victoria Police and the AFP and we are dedicated to bringing it to a successful conclusion as soon as possible.' The public is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or the National Security Hotline on 1800 123 400 if they recognise anyone in the CCTV footage or have information about the vehicle or the individuals involved. Reports can also be made confidentially online.
New York Times
05-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
The Brashard Smith-Isiah Pacheco comparisons take back seat at Chiefs rookie reports to camp
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The comparisons are there for Chiefs rookie running back Brashard Smith. In fact, they've been there for a while. After three seasons as a receiver with minimal production at Miami, Smith hit the transfer portal in 2023 and reconnected with Rhett Lashlee, the head coach at SMU who was formerly the Hurricanes' offensive coordinator. Lashlee sold Smith on making a move to the Mustangs with the catch that he'd switch positions and become SMU's version of Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco. Advertisement Consider the similarities: Pass-catching prowess. Quickness. Seventh-round draft picks. And now — one year later — teammates. But at rookie minicamp Sunday, Smith didn't compare himself to any NFL running backs. Instead, Smith was ready to set himself apart on his second day of initiation to the Chiefs' playbook. 'I'm going to show who I am,' he said. 'There are not a lot of running backs that have receiving skills and running back skills. So I feel like just coming in and I can contribute for sure with my skill set.' Head coach Andy Reid was on the same page, saying he 'probably hasn't seen enough' of Smith to compare him to anyone else. 'Some of the backs have a low center of gravity; they can kind of move where they can drop their weight a little bit,' Reid said. 'It looks like he has that, now nobody has hit him, so it will be a little different story there. And it looks like he has good hands.' Graded as a fourth- or fifth-round prospect by The Athletic's Dane Brugler, the Chiefs selected Smith with their last pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, No. 288. Director of player personnel/college scouting Ryne Nutt said the Chiefs had Smith higher on their boards, but they used their fifth-round pick on linebacker Jeff Bassa, who they considered the best fit available at the time. From there, Kansas City turned its attention toward selecting a running back to complete the draft class. The Chiefs signed Elijah Mitchell in free agency to add to a running back tandem led by Pacheco and Kareem Hunt. But the draft added another layer of reinforcements, particularly as Pacheco and Mitchell recover from injuries. Nutt said Smith's strength and toughness as a runner in his 5-foot-10, 194-pound build stood out. His dual-threat ability as a receiver was an obvious plus, 'but his balance and contact strength are sneaky good,' Nutt said. Smith's 4.39-second 40 was the third-fastest among running backs at this year's NFL Scouting Combine. 'Talent-wise, there's no reason this kid shouldn't help us at some point this season,' Nutt said last week. 'Our coaches are going to be very willing and able to work with him to get him into roles where he can help us.' .@BrashardS is route running already 🏃♂️ — Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) May 4, 2025 Smith showed his versatility as a senior at SMU. In 2024, he was the only FBS player with at least 1,300 yards rushing, 300 yards receiving and 300 kick-return yards. His 1,977 all-purpose yards ranked No. 4 in the FBS behind Ashton Jeanty (first-round pick), Cam Skattebo (fourth-round pick) and Omarion Hampton (first-round pick). Smith was immediately impactful despite adjusting to a new scheme and playing a new position (though he did play running back in youth football and high school). Advertisement Smith participated in punt return drills Sunday and was modestly involved in team drills. He made a solid catch along the sideline from quarterback Chris Oladokun during the 7-on-7 period. 'Getting everything down as far as the playbook, I feel like it will come natural,' Smith said. 'The first time (I looked at it) I was like 'Woah,' but just taking it day by day, it gets better.' It doesn't come naturally to all, but Smith said his adaptability could work to his advantage as he transitions to the NFL and leaves comparisons behind him. 'Being in different systems, being in different offenses, that helped me out,' Smith said. 'I expected to come in and just learn.'
