Latest news with #StephanieMartin
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Drug dealers arrested at Spanish holiday hotspot where Jay Slater partied
The drug ring targeted sun-seeking British tourists in the Canary Islands, with dealers pretending to sell sunglasses, watches, and souvenirs while also offering dangerous drugs Spanish police have cracked down on a major drug syndicate targeting British holidaymakers in the Canary Islands, with street vendors doubling as dealers offering crack cocaine, ecstasy, ketamine, and designer drugs to tourists. In a sweeping raid, 55 individuals were apprehended across various sites in Tenerife, the archipelago's most frequented spot by sun-loving Brits, in a collaborative sting by National Police and local forces. The operation was sparked by the discovery of a common ploy used by the traffickers, who feigned selling sunglasses, watches, and trinkets while stashing illicit substances in public spots like benches and foliage, a tactic designed to evade capture with drugs in their possession. One key area under surveillance during the police action was the notorious Las Veronicas strip in Playa de las Americas, the same locale where 19-year-old British lad Jay Slater had his last night out before his tragic death in June 2024. At the inquest for the Lancashire youngster, Dr Stephanie Martin, a toxicologist, reported finding cocaine, ecstasy, and ketamine in his system post-mortem. A drug dealer, previously convicted, who accompanied Jay that fateful evening confessed to the Preston coroner that the teen had "popped a pill" and "had a bit of sniff" prior to his ill-fated trek through a perilous national park. The Canarian Weekly has reported that all 55 men, aged between 25 and 40, who were arrested in Tenerife for allegedly peddling drugs to tourists, have prior convictions for drug-related offences. The arrests took place from April to July during a focused operation in areas frequented by holidaymakers. In total, the Canarian revealed that the investigation removed the following from circulation: 29 doses of crack, 22 doses of MDMA, 38 doses of cocaine, 10 doses of ketamine, 56 ecstasy tablets, 18 packets of hashish, and 114 single doses of marijuana. Spanish authorities stated that these dealers primarily targeted young British tourists on beaches and in popular party locations, with numerous arrests also occurring along Tenerife's Fañabé seafront and Avenida España. They further noted that this operation was designed to safeguard residents, tourists, and the island's reputation as a secure destination for British holidaymakers.
Scoop
05-08-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Architects Board Must Prioritise Safe Buildings Over Mandated Ideologies
Architects' registrations and livelihoods should not be on the line over differing worldviews. The Free Speech Union recommends that the New Zealand Registered Architects Board (NZRAB) focus on competence and physical safety, not subjective ideologies, as part of the organisation's consultation on possible registration requirements, says Stephanie Martin, spokesperson for the Free Speech Union. 'The NZRAB is proposing to assess architects on whether their work reflects a particular ideological viewpoint rather than simply whether they are professionally competent. The NZRAB invited us to be a key stakeholder in their consultation process on proposed expansions to the performance criteria required for architects' professional registration. 'We've urged NZRAB to consider matters that affect the safety of buildings and the public, leaving architects free to hold their own opinions regarding subjective topics such as the degree of integration of indigenous knowledge or Māori worldviews into the design process. 'Architects should absolutely have the right to incorporate te ao Māori, and to upskill in this area if they have a particular interest or a related project. Likewise, if they have a project that relates to a different culture, religion, or tradition, it would be best practice to understand more about the context in which they're working. But mandated opinions on such topics? That would be a dangerous overreach. 'When registration hinges not on technical skills but on social, cultural or ideological attitudes, compulsory regulation becomes a tool for policing speech, mandating approaches, and limiting discussion, whether intentionally or not. That is inappropriate in a liberal democracy and inconsistent with the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act. Regulatory bodies have a responsibility to protect the public. This does not include 'protection' from ideas they might disagree with. 'Ideological requirements should not determine whether an individual can become an architect, nor should current architects be limited in the cultural opinions or approaches they are allowed to hold or express. NZRAB should focus on physical safety and allow architects to explore and express different worldviews freely.'
Scoop
28-04-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Free Speech Union Submits On Phase 2 Of Covid-19 Inquiry: Speech Rights Undermined During Pandemic
Press Release – Free Speech Union Suppressing legitimate questions and professional judgments ultimately undermines public trust and weakens democratic institutions. The Government's response to the Covid-19 pandemic compromised speech rights, especially in healthcare, academia, and education. The Free Speech Union has submitted to the Phase 2 of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCOI) into the Government's response to the Covid-19 pandemic as speech rights are cornerstone to ensuring transparency and trust in public institutions, says Stephanie Martin, the Free Speech Union's Stakeholder Relationship Manager. 'We submitted to ensure to ensure the Royal Commission recognises the significant chilling effect that aspects of the Government response had on open debate, professional dissent, and academic freedom in New Zealand. Our concerns include the suppression of dissent, mandates and speech, one-way communication, and behavioural messaging vs. informed dialogue. 'Our professional memberships, such as healthcare professionals, academics, and teachers, enabled us to highlight specific areas where speech rights were directly affected and collate feedback from members of our industry-specific members and Councils. Their stories provide evidence of the ways many professionals were silenced, and sometimes faced severe consequences, for expressing views that differed from the Government's. 'Members expressed the lasting effects this had on their trust and confidence in Government, professionals, and regulatory bodies such as the Medical Council. This is in line with cases where the Free Speech Union is currently defending the speech rights of healthcare professionals who are under fire from regulatory bodies for expressing certain views online about Covid-19, mandates, and vaccines. 'Suppressing legitimate questions and professional judgments ultimately undermines public trust and weakens democratic institutions.'
Scoop
28-04-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Free Speech Union Submits On Phase 2 Of Covid-19 Inquiry: Speech Rights Undermined During Pandemic
The Government's response to the Covid-19 pandemic compromised speech rights, especially in healthcare, academia, and education. The Free Speech Union has submitted to the Phase 2 of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCOI) into the Government's response to the Covid-19 pandemic as speech rights are cornerstone to ensuring transparency and trust in public institutions, says Stephanie Martin, the Free Speech Union's Stakeholder Relationship Manager. 'We submitted to ensure to ensure the Royal Commission recognises the significant chilling effect that aspects of the Government response had on open debate, professional dissent, and academic freedom in New Zealand. Our concerns include the suppression of dissent, mandates and speech, one-way communication, and behavioural messaging vs. informed dialogue. 'Our professional memberships, such as healthcare professionals, academics, and teachers, enabled us to highlight specific areas where speech rights were directly affected and collate feedback from members of our industry-specific members and Councils. Their stories provide evidence of the ways many professionals were silenced, and sometimes faced severe consequences, for expressing views that differed from the Government's. 'Members expressed the lasting effects this had on their trust and confidence in Government, professionals, and regulatory bodies such as the Medical Council. This is in line with cases where the Free Speech Union is currently defending the speech rights of healthcare professionals who are under fire from regulatory bodies for expressing certain views online about Covid-19, mandates, and vaccines. 'Suppressing legitimate questions and professional judgments ultimately undermines public trust and weakens democratic institutions.'
Ottawa Citizen
24-04-2025
- Business
- Ottawa Citizen
Interior trends: Every home deserves good design
Article content The Stephanie Martin Interior Design team likes to get up close and personal with clients. It's part of their process for understanding how people live so they can craft interiors that reflect their individuality, and it often entails knowing who cooks, who cleans, what time they go to bed or where the kids drop their backpacks after school. Article content Article content 'We're not just there to make a space beautiful. We're there to make your home enjoyable and livable and functional,' said Stephanie Martin, founder and creative director of the Calgary-based firm. 'We are problem solving through design to improve lives and who doesn't want that in their home?' Article content Article content So when she hears people express concern that good design is out of reach financially, Martin is quick to point out why that isn't necessarily so. In fact, she prefers not to use wording like fees or charges in her practice, referring to design as an investment that adds value instead, and firmly believes there is a designer out there for any size home or renovation budget, even for a DIYer looking to keep costs down by doing the work themselves. Article content Article content 'A designer doesn't have to be a full meal deal all of the time. Sometimes a designer is an expert guide to steer you in the right direction,' said Martin. Article content Some clients prefer to work with their designer on an hourly consultation basis; others keep their designer in the loop from start to finish and are willing to spend $30,000 to $50,000 or more on design for a large-scale renovation project. Either way, they are accessing professionals who can help them to avoid costly mistakes, steer them in ways they may not have considered, and provide access to forward-thinking products that aren't always available through retailers. Article content Article content What's not often understood, added Martin, is that designers can actually help to maximize a budget by pointing out how to stretch dollars. For example, they may suggest switching a single sink vanity in a bathroom to a double sink to add value to the home, and then cover the additional cost by choosing a basic tile for the floor but applying it in a fun pattern to elevate the room. Article content Article content In a recent blog post, designer Cynthia Soda of Soda Pop Design Inc. in the GTA points out how intentional design can save money by guarding against impulse buys and missteps that can be expensive to correct. Article content 'Working with an interior design doesn't mean extravagant spending – it means smart spending. It means having an expert who can guide you, maximize your budget and ensure that every dollar is spent wisely,' writes Soda.
