Latest news with #Primrose
Daily Mail
31-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Moment panicked mother makes horrifying discovery in her child's room
A mother was left horrified after she discovered a hissing seven-foot snake lurking in her child's bedroom while her daughter played next to it. Natasha Robinson from Cheshire, thought her fiancé Gary Minshull, 40, was playing a prank on her when, on June 15, he told her that he'd found a snake in their son's bedroom. The 34-year-old went upstairs and saw what she thought was a toy, but her jaw dropped when she spotted the serpent's tongue suddenly flick in and out. The shocked wedding accessories business owner ushered her three-year-old Primrose, who had been playing while blissfully unaware of the exotic intruder, out of the room and closed the door. Natasha then took Primrose, along with her sons Jacob, seven, and Theo, six, into the garden to check on the family's cats, which she feared might have been eaten. She frantically tried to identify the black and yellow snake on Google before contacting local pet shops, but her efforts were to no avail. Natasha and her husband, a health, safety and quality manager, then resorted to social media, and shared a post on Facebook pleading for help. A couple who lives locally to Natasha and own exotic pets reached out to her and said they'd claim the snake. The mother-of-three cornered the serpent for two hours while she waited for them to arrive. The snake was later identified as a Taiwanese Beauty Rat Snake, a non-venomous constrictor snake that's legal to keep without a licence in Britain. They're typically six to 10 feet in length and usually docile, but if they perceive a threat they can bite without warning. Natasha said: 'My partner called me from upstairs in a panic, saying 'Come upstairs there is a snake in the boys' room'. 'Me and my son both thought he was talking rubbish and that he wanted to pull a prank on us. 'Even in the split second when I first saw it, I still thought that he'd bought a toy snake off Temu. But then I saw it moving and its tongue coming out. 'To begin with, I thought "It's got to just be a grass snake" or something else not so dangerous but it didn't look anything like the pictures - and it was so big.' From the size and appearance of the snake, the couple inferred that it definitely wasn't native. 'Then we put it on Facebook pages and other people were commenting saying that it was an exotic snake of some form,' Natasha added. Natasha said: 'My partner and I were just in disbelief really - especially knowing it had been in there with our daughter. 'I'm just so grateful it was spotted and that she didn't accidentally tread on it. One of my sons is autistic, he would've grabbed it. I dread to think what could've happened then.' After making sure the children and their two cats were safe, Natasha started ringing around for help, but because they found the snake on a Sunday, many shops were shut. Her Facebook plea was heard by a couple who own exotic pets, and luckily, they staged a rescue on the 'grumpy, hissing' critter. Natasha said: 'We tried local pet shops but they were closed. A few people on local [Facebook] pages suggested we try and catch it in a pillowcase. 'I thought, "Are you serious? I'm not doing that". It probably wouldn't have fit in a pillowcase anyway. 'Luckily, we had a message from a couple a few roads away who keep exotic pets who said they would come and get it if nobody else was helping. 'When the lady came to get it, it had hidden away behind a storage unit. She grabbed its head and then had to quickly get to the end of the tail because she said it would restrict you if it got the chance. The woman told Natasha and Gary that the snake was hissing because it was being caught. 'It definitely wasn't very happy in this container that she had to transport it in,' Natasha said. The mother-of-three believes that the slippery visitor may have got in through an open window. Though the snake is now safely fostered with the couple who rescued it, Natasha admitted that for a few days, she frantically checked where she stood in case another one got in too. Natasha said: 'We think it came in through the open upstairs window of the bedroom, but we'll never know. 'I didn't know how long it had been in the house, or whether there were more. I don't think I could've slept with it in the house - even if it was shut behind a closed door. 'We had new mattresses delivered in the boys' room where it appeared, and I was thinking, "Has it come out of that mattress? Is there a nest of them in there?" She added: 'After they took the snake away, I took all the beds off and I searched everywhere.' 'Then for days I was checking where I trod and lifting the pillows and duvets before getting into bed. 'Luckily that fear did go. We're still really baffled about where it came from and we get asked about it to this day, because no owner ever came forward. 'The children weren't frightened of it, they thought it was really cool having a snake in their bedroom. 'It was totally bizarre. You'd think if it was a loved pet it would've been claimed,' she said, adding, 'We have been like celebrities around here ever since, I'm asked about it constantly.' They're typically six to ten feet in length, and usually docile - but if they perceive a threat they can bite without warning, often triggered by quick movement.
Daily Mirror
24-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- Daily Mirror
Expert reveals best way to keep bird baths clean and maintained all year round
Bird baths are more than just an ornamental addition to your garden; they serve as a crucial resource for local wildlife, which is why its important to keep them clean and maintained Birds require water not only for drinking but also for bathing, which aids in keeping their feathers clean and in optimal condition for insulation and flight. A well-kept bird bath can transform into a lively centre of activity, offering endless hours of bird-watching as various species visit your garden. Plus, they can act as a perfect centrepiece in any outdoor space. Models like this Junious Iron Bird Bat h can add a rustic and timeless effect to your garden or patio while helping the local wildlife. That said, a bird bath that isn't cleaned regularly and maintained properly can swiftly become a health risk. Stagnant water, accumulated debris, and the growth of algae and bacteria can pose serious threats to birds. Knowing how to keep your bird bath clean is vital for the well-being of your avian visitors and the overall attractiveness of your garden. Cleaning expert Matthew Harrison from has chimed in with his top suggestions for keeping your bird bath clean and maintained, ensuring it remains a safe and welcoming spot throughout the year. If you've been debating buying a bird bath for your garden or fancy upgrading your existing one, Wayfair has a range of options available. This Junious Iron Bird Bath from ClassicLiving (£27.99) is a traditionally designed bird bath in an authentic and rustic iron material. Built at the ideal height for birds to enjoy either as a feeding, drinking, or bathing station, this simplistic bird bath is easily added to elevate any garden, patio, decking, or even balcony. Plus, it will naturally weather over time to create a timeless and almost vintage aesthetic. Wayfair also has this Haygazn Plastic/Acrylic Birdbath (£36.99), which bestows a similar design as the iron option but is made from plastic that is set to withstand the elements without deteriorating over time. Set to turn your garden or courtyard into an elegant and charming space that invites birds to play or drink, this beautiful and durable birdbath is made of quality PP material covered with a resin coating. This means that this bird bath resists rain, water, and other weather and will not dent, break, or fracture. For more options, Amazon has plenty of alternatives, including this VIVOHOME Birdbath that's constructed from a similar resin-coated plastic and retails for £41.99. For something a bit more upmarket, Debenhams has this Primrose Glazed Ceramic Pedestal Outdoor Garden Bird Bath for £67.99. Why do you need to clean your bird bath regularly? Bird baths full of warm, still water are the perfect breeding ground for algae and other organic matter. This results in a slippery green layer (biofilm) on the bird bath's surface, which not only looks unpleasant but can also harbour harmful bacteria. Stagnant water is also the ideal breeding site for mosquitoes. These insects can carry and transmit diseases that can affect both birds and humans. On top of that, the bird bath fills with bird droppings, decaying leaves, and other debris that fall into the water, which can introduce bacteria. Usual suspects include Salmonella and which can cause severe illnesses in birds, leading to symptoms like lethargy, ruffled feathers, and even death. What's more, a shared, contaminated water source can rapidly spread diseases among bird populations. How do you clean your bird bath? It's a relatively simple and easy process that can be done weekly or bi-weekly to ensure algae and bacteria build-up doesn't occur. Start by tipping out all of the old water. Rinse out the bird bath with fresh water, then use a stiff-bristled brush to vigorously scrub all surfaces of the bird bath, paying close attention to the bottom and sides where algae and biofilm will tend to accumulate. You might not need a cleaning agent for every routine scrub, but a bit of elbow grease will go a long way. Give it another rinse and then fill with clean water. Diluted bleach, white wine vinegar, and other cleaning agents can be used for more serious cleaning successions, recommended once a month. During these, you can leave the bath to soak, ensuring all of the bacteria is stripped from the bath. A clean and well-kept bird bath is a straightforward way to help your local bird populations and boost the attractiveness and biodiversity of your garden.
Arabian Post
06-07-2025
- Business
- Arabian Post
Primrose Capital Gains Strategic Regulatory Window in Abu Dhabi
Primrose Capital Management has obtained in‑principle approval from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Abu Dhabi Global Market, marking the inception of its journey toward a full Financial Services Permission. The clearance paves the way for the Singapore‑based quantitative trading firm to establish a regulated presence in the UAE's leading international financial centre, offering data‑driven investment products to regional institutional investors and family offices. Approval from the FSRA is a key hurdle for asset managers seeking to operate within ADGM's regulated framework. For Primrose, this milestone enables the deployment of its machine‑learning‑powered strategies—including global futures, options and digital‑asset derivatives—targeted specifically at family offices and sovereign investors in the Gulf. The move aligns with the growing trend of Gulf capital allocated to systematically managed hedge‑fund structures. Primrose's Chief Investment Officer, Linus Ong, underscored the importance of regulated access. He stated that the clarity of ADGM's technology‑oriented rulebook provides assurance as the firm scales its operations, maintaining robust governance and client protection. He described the IPA as 'an important vote of confidence' in Primrose's investment model and its team. ADVERTISEMENT The approval enables Primrose to deepen capital market linkages between Singapore—its headquarters—and Abu Dhabi. With Gulf family offices managing over US$500 billion, there is rising appetite for transparent, risk‑managed products. Primrose intends to launch MENA‑domiciled feeder funds in the latter half of 2025, providing local investors with direct access to its flagship Global Multi‑Strategy and Digital Options programmes. As it progresses toward full FSP status, Primrose plans to recruit portfolio‑engineering and client‑coverage specialists to its Abu Dhabi office. The expansion supports ADGM's goal of scaling its fintech and asset‑management ecosystem, and complements Abu Dhabi's strategy to position itself as a regional hub for innovation in both traditional and digital assets. ADGM has been actively promoting its jurisdiction as a forward‑looking centre. From adopting English common law to establishing a bespoke regulatory framework for digital asset intermediaries, the authority seeks to balance innovation with investor protection. The in‑principle nod to Primrose underscores the regulator's willingness to support quantitative and technology‑centric financial firms. The IPA is not Primrose's first engagement with ADGM. Earlier approvals, such as VersiFi's clearance for digital‑asset trading, attest to the FSRA's evolving regulatory regime aimed at market integrity and security. Firms granted IPA are expected to meet stipulated conditions before earning full licences, ensuring measured market entry. Primrose Capital, founded in 2023, combines expertise from established quantitative hedge funds with digital‑asset innovation. Its founders include seasoned professionals from WorldQuant, Systematica, QCP and BlueCrest. The firm utilises proprietary machine‑learning infrastructure and rigorous risk‑management frameworks to deliver consistent performance across market cycles. The Singapore‑Abu Dhabi corridor reflects broader strategic cooperation in capital‑markets and fintech. Regulatory harmony and mutual recognition across jurisdictions empower firms like Primrose to tap multiple pools of investor capital. The IPA feature reinforces the nascent but growing pipeline of cross‑border asset‑management activity in the Middle East. That said, Primrose's approval emerges amid intensifying competition. ADGM has recently granted IPAs to a number of digital‑asset and commodity trading firms, all vying to serve Gulf‑based institutional investors. These include entities such as VersiFi, underscoring ADGM's ambition to assemble a diversified financial‑technology cluster. The road ahead will require Primrose to meet various conditions set by FSRA, ranging from governance protocols and risk‑management systems to client‑onboarding processes and capital adequacy. Close collaboration with ADGM is expected over the coming months. Once full FSP status is awarded, Primrose will be authorised to market its full suite of strategies and legally establish feeder‑fund vehicles. For ADGM, facilitating the entry of technology‑first managers is central to its mission. Its regulatory architecture—as seen in previous licences granted—strives to balance innovation with investor safeguards. With IPAs converted to full permissions, ADGM stands to solidify its standing as a premier hub for fintech, digital assets and quantitative finance in the Middle East. Primrose's timing is opportune. Market indicators suggest digital‑asset derivatives and quant‑trading strategies are gaining acceptance among Gulf investors seeking diversified returns and capital‑efficiency. By positioning itself early through regulated access, Primrose hopes to capture a segment of the growing systematically‑oriented asset‑management market.
Arabian Post
05-07-2025
- Business
- Arabian Post
Primrose Capital Secures ADGM Nod to Tap Gulf Family Offices
Primrose Capital Management has obtained in‑principle approval from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Abu Dhabi Global Market, positioning itself for full licencing and regional expansion. The firm plans to recruit portfolio‑engineering and client‑coverage specialists in Abu Dhabi and aims to launch MENA‑domiciled feeder funds in the latter part of 2025. With the Gulf family office sector estimated at approximately $500 billion, Primrose's data‑driven, machine‑learning strategies in global futures, options and digital-asset derivatives are being tailored to meet growing demand. Its flagship Global Multi‑Strategy and Digital Options programmes are expected to be accessible via its feeder funds in H2 2025. Abu Dhabi is quickly establishing itself as a magnet for global asset managers. At ADGM, the number of registered firms rose over 32 per cent last year, with assets under management more than doubling. Financial giants including BlackRock, Morgan Stanley and Marshall Wace have all entered the market, while Circle received its own in‑principle nod to operate as a money‑services provider just weeks ago. ADVERTISEMENT This upsurge reflects Abu Dhabi's strategic pivot from an oil‑dependent economy toward financial services. The emirate's comparative tax environment, adoption of English common law, and deep sovereign wealth pools have made it competitive with Dubai's DIFC, which remains the region's leading financial hub. Primrose's entry mirrors a broader trend. PGIM and Nuveen both established ADGM offices in September 2024, following a surge of interest from international asset managers. PGIM, with approximately $1.3 trillion under management, launched its first Middle East office in Abu Dhabi; Nuveen, managing $1.2 trillion, followed closely. Barings, a US group with $421 billion AUM, has outlined plans to set up an Abu Dhabi office by end‑2025. ADGM's regulatory environment, modelled on English common law, offers clarity and governance that global investors seek. Its transparent, technology‑focused rulebook is seen as a competitive advantage over other regional jurisdictions. Cost efficiency and strategic location—spanning Europe, Asia and Africa—further add to its appeal. Primrose's CIO, Linus Ong, noted that ADGM's regulatory clarity 'gives us the certainty to scale our platform while upholding the highest standards of governance and client protection'. The IPA is being regarded as a strong endorsement of the firm's quantitative, data‑driven model. Establishing a physical presence through senior hires in Abu Dhabi aims to support Primrose's goal of bridging capital from Singapore and the Gulf—an increasingly common strategic posture among asset managers building in the region. The broader context is one of escalating activity: the region's sovereign wealth funds, including ADIA, Mubadala and ADQ, invested more than $36 billion globally within the first three quarters of 2024. Combined with the entry of financial technology providers like Circle and Coinbase, this influx underlines Abu Dhabi's expanding role in both traditional and digital finance. Primrose's plan to launch feeder vehicles domiciled in the MENA region caters directly to on‑shore regulatory and tax efficiencies, aligning with preferences of Gulf investors seeking accessible, compliant exposure to systematic trading strategies. This localised fund structure is gaining traction amid tightening global scrutiny over tax and cross-border investment structures. As Primrose pursues its full financial services permission, the firm's trajectory aligns with ADGM's broader ambition to consolidate its standing as the 'Capital of Capital'. Its arrival underscores a crescendo of institutional confidence in the emirate's regulatory environment and its capacity to host sophisticated, quant‑driven investment platforms. Continued expansion among major international asset managers appears all but inevitable as Abu Dhabi's financial ecosystem deepens.
7NEWS
24-06-2025
- Health
- 7NEWS
Australians with disability urge the federal government to stop cuts to vital health services amid NDIS overhaul
Thousands of Australians with disability are calling on the federal government to urgently reverse funding changes that could slash access to vital health services. Physiotherapists, psychologists, podiatrists and other professionals warn the cuts will threaten independence, dignity and even safety for many NDIS participants. Among those affected is 55-year-old Megan Fitzgerald, who lives with cerebral palsy. For years, she has relied on weekly visits from a physiotherapist to maintain her independence. 'I'm wanting to keep myself as independent and fit as possible and keep my body moving, and it's not happening,' Fitzgerald told 7NEWS. Funding cuts have meant she has to make her own way to centres and it's already impacted her mobility. 'I found my body getting stiffer, not having the regular movements, not being able to move,' she said. But Megan Fitzgerald is not alone. Taylor Lahoud, 29, who has a newborn at home, cares for his mother, Rosanna, who suffered brain damage after being hit by a car decades ago. He says therapy changed her life. But when services began to be cut, her health deteriorated. 'It definitely was helping when we were coming here and they were coming to the home more often. It made a big difference. Mum was actually able to walk a lot more ... now she's pretty much in the wheelchair 99 per cent of the time,' Lahoud told 7NEWS. 'You've got some people out there with all this funding and other people without it. It's so inconsistent, it's like a slap to the face. 'This is a program that's meant to help people but it's so skewed and it's just so backwards. It does not feel like there was any thinking or planning to anything that's going on.' Four-year-old Primrose Peach also benefits greatly from NDIS-funded services. Primrose has a rare genetic condition that currently prevents her from walking or talking. She receives intensive therapy to help with speech and mobility. Mum Tahlia said further cuts to the sector will have severe consequences. 'Primrose is so close to walking, but without these services, she probably won't be walking for years ... services like this are integral to her development,' she said. From next week, NDIS funding will be reduced across the board. Hourly rates for allied health professionals including physiotherapy, dietitians, speech pathology, occupational therapy and psychology will be cut by up to $10. Travel expense reimbursements will be slashed by 50 per cent and a seven-year freeze on pricing adjustments will remain in place. Physiotherapist Melissa McConaghy said the changes will decimate an already distressed market. 'At the end of the day, it will be the participants that lose out,' she said. However, the federal government insists the cuts are necessary. Health Minister Mark Butler said: 'We want to make sure that NDIS participants are not paying above the odds for therapy and for their support. We want to make sure that taxpayers are getting value for money.' But experts argue that the short-term savings will ultimately lead to greater costs, as vulnerable Australians who lose access to support services will likely end up in hospital-further straining the healthcare system. 'Physiotherapists can be life-saving. We keep people independent, we keep them mobile and we keep people out of hospital. We are already seeing cuts in the market that is leading to hospitalisations for chest infections, for pressure sores, for falls. We are just going to see so much more of this down the track,' Melissa McConaghy told 7NEWS. Paediatric therapist Louise Conn said it was really important to have an increased level of early intervention, to prevent further issues down the track. 'It's going to make a huge difference in terms of access to families to all sorts of programs like this and particularly for any allied health, particularly occupational therapists and speech pathologists who go out into the community and see families in their home settings, in school settings and beyond,' Conn said. 'This is going to make a huge, huge difference to what we're able to provide to these families.' In just over a week, more than 50,000 Australians have signed a petition urging the federal government to halt the changes — and consult meaningfully with the sector. Advocates are now calling for an immediate review — before people with disability are left without the essential support they rely on.
