Latest news with #Winstanley
The National
3 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Met Police silent after unlawful seizure of journalist Asa Winstanley's property
A reported 10 officers from the Metropolitan Police had raided Asa Winstanley's home in October 2024 and confiscated items including his laptop and mobile phone, despite having no legal right to do so. The police force then put in a retrospective request for a Production Order, which would have made their actions lawful. However, it was denied earlier this week. Winstanley writes for the pro-Palestine website Electronic Intifada as well as running a Substack blog called Palestine is Still the Issue. READ MORE: BBC Question Time audience member in fiery Israel exchange with Labour MP Writing on his blog after the court ruling, Winstanley said: 'My legal team successfully argued that the police should have instead asked to speak to me, rather than raiding my home and seizing the devices I use for my journalism.' He went on: 'Even the police themselves, in November correspondence with my lawyers, conceded that the warrants they used to search my home were unlawful. 'In any event, there was no need for them to access private devices and documents simply to confirm the author of a public Twitter account. Such access would have endangered my contacts and violated my duty to protect my journalistic sources. 'To date, I have been neither arrested nor charged with any crime. 'I call on the police to drop their ongoing investigation into my tweets and to apologise for the unlawful raid on my home and seizure of my devices. They should provide compensation for the harm caused to me and my family, as well as for any detriment to my journalistic contacts and sources.' Asa Winstanley (Image: X/Asa Winstanley) The National Union of Journalists had supported Winstanley. Its general secretary, Laura Davison, said: 'This ruling resoundingly affirms journalists' right to protect sources as enshrined in law. 'The seizure of our member's property was a brazen attempt to intimidate journalists working in the public interest. Abusing counter-terror legislation to stifle press freedom undermines public trust in the police, journalists' safety, and democracy. 'Just weeks ago the UK Prime Minister stood up in Parliament and spoke about the importance of a free press and independent journalism. We urge the government to make good on their words and prevent the targeting of journalists, like Asa Winstanley, through raids and detentions. 'We welcome the judge's verdict and seek urgent clarity on police plans to prevent further unlawful investigations of journalists.' Winstanley was represented by solicitor Tayab Ali, from Bindmans. READ MORE: Gerry Adams wins €100k in libel trial as jury finds BBC 'did not act in good faith' Ali said: 'This ruling is a resounding victory for press freedom and the rule of law. The actions of the police, raiding a journalist's home under the guise of counter-terrorism, were not only unlawful but a grave threat to the democratic principle that journalists must be able to work without fear of state harassment. 'The court recognised that the warrants were unlawfully obtained, the police conduct was unjustified, and their attempt to retrospectively legitimise the raid failed. This case was not about national security, it was about silencing a journalist who had made comments on the situation in Gaza. 'The police acted improperly by applying for warrants at the Magistrates Court where there simply is no power to retain journalistic and privileged material and despite repeated warnings refused to concede they had acted unlawfully. 'The police should now urgently review why this happened and what policy decisions led to this unlawful violation on journalistic freedom.' The Solicitors Journal reported that the "significant ruling has raised questions about the conduct of the police and their subsequent failure to issue an apology or discontinue the ongoing investigation into Winstanley's journalistic work". The Met Police have still not responded to a request for a comment put in on May 28.
Middle East Eye
3 days ago
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Raid on Asa Winstanley's home deemed unlawful by UK court
A raid on the house of British pro-Palestine journalist Asa Winstanley has been ruled unlawful by a British court. The Central Criminal Court ruled earlier this week that the Metropolitan Police needed to immediately return all devices seized during the October 2024 raid on the writer's home, which included computers and phones. Solicitor Tayab Ali called the ruling a victory for press freedom and accused the police of 'silencing a journalist who had made comments on the situation in Gaza". "This ruling is a resounding victory for press freedom and the rule of law," he said, according to Solicitors Journal. "The actions of the police, raiding a journalist's home under the guise of counter-terrorism, were not only unlawful but a grave threat to the democratic principle that journalists must be able to work without fear of state harassment.' New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Recorder of London Mark Lucraft KC, the senior circuit judge at the Central Criminal Court, stated he was 'very troubled by the way in which the search warrant application was drafted, approved and granted where items were to be seized from a journalist.' Winstanley, who has written for the Electronic Intifada since 2009 and has been its associate editor since 2012, regularly uses social media to comment on issues relating to Palestine and Israel, including the ongoing war in Gaza. 'This ruling is a resounding victory for press freedom and the rule of law' Tayab Ali, solicitor Winstanley contributed a number of articles to Middle East Eye between 2015 and 2018. He is the author of Weaponising Anti-Semitism, which accused the pro-Israel lobby in the UK of orchestrating a campaign to undermine former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. Last year, the general secretaries of the UK's National Union of Journalists and the International Federation of Journalists wrote to Metropolitan Police Assistance Commissioner Matt Jukes, the head of Counter Terrorism Policing in the UK, to raise concerns about the use of counter-terrorism powers against journalists. The letter came after freelance journalist Richard Medhurst was detained and questioned by police at Heathrow Airport. Medhurst said he believed he was targeted for speaking out on the situation in Palestine.
Vancouver Sun
13-05-2025
- General
- Vancouver Sun
Winning ticket-holder for record $80 million Lotto Max jackpot still hasn't stepped forward
As of Tuesday afternoon, no one had yet stepped forward to claim their $80 million prize from Lotto Max last Friday, but there are probably lots of Metro Vancouverites imagining what they would do with that record-setting ticket if it had been them. For most people, lotteries are a harmless way to have a little fun, a University of B.C. psychology professor says, but it's a wager nonetheless and, like any form of gambling, it can become a problem. Especially if, as studies have suggested, about a third of Canadians include winning a lottery as part of their retirement plans. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'I think there are two aspects to the appeal of buying lottery tickets and it shows similarities with lots of commercial gambling, recreation, if you like, in the what you're doing is you're paying money for a sense of enjoyment, and lotteries in particular, a bit of escapism, a bit of hope,' said Catharine Winstanley, whose research investigates the brain mechanisms involved in impulse control. 'But what you should never do when gambling is think that you're actually going to win, the odds are absolutely stacked against you, and particularly with lotteries where the chances of winning are infinitesimally small. 'I can't really overstate that enough.' Friday's was the largest lottery prize ever won in B.C. and it's also the largest lottery prize ever won by a single ticket in Canada. The winning ticket was bought in Surrey. The last $80 million Lotto Max jackpot prize was split between two winners, from the Dec. 3, 2024, draw. Two winners also split an $80 million Lotto Max jackpot from the Sept. 17, 2024, draw. For interest's sake, the payout on the 50/50 draw at the Canucks' final home game this season was $1.151 million, the fifth-highest 50/50 payout in club history (the highest was $1.414 million in November 2018.). The odds of winning the 50/50, while still unfavourable to any one ticket purchaser, are a lot better than they are in something like Lotto Max at one in 140,000 or so instead of one in 33 million. But overall, we're not that good at assessing astronomical odds such as winning the Lotto Max, said Winstanley, who admits to her family buying a weekly $5 lottery ticket. 'I think the human brain struggles to deal with those kind of numbers very reliably,' she said. It's also unlikely to get hit by lightning (but at less than one in a million , still more likely than winning the Lotto Max), yet most homeowners, for example, have building insurance as a precaution. 'Nearly all responsible homeowners carry insurance because we would really, really hate for that terrible thing to happen, and so we spend a few dollars every month to make sure that, if it does happen, we're covered, but the chances of that happening are really, really, really, really, really, really low in most places.' Home insurance, in other words, is literally like hedging your bets, she said. 'When we're talking about very, very unlikely (bets), there's no insurance for that,' Winstanley said. 'The fact that up to a third of Canadians are thinking that the lottery might provide for retirement is very ill-advised and really quite worrying.' And that's the thing about buying lottery tickets, rationally it doesn't make sense. 'In general, humans are very likely to overestimate the chances of something very, very, very, very, very unlikely actually happening,' Winstanley said. 'And that feeds into both our level of insurance coverage, which generally is a good thing, because you don't want to be skewered if things go wrong, and also a tendency to do things like gamble and play lotteries. 'If we would actually computationally work out the chances of winning, and ask ourselves if it's worth it financially to blow five bucks every week in the hope that our long shot pays off, we say to ourselves, 'No, you shouldn't spend that money.' 'But there are other things about gambling that, for most of us, are just harmless recreation. 'You get to buy into that dream: Wouldn't it be nice if you get to have that conversation with your friends and your partner and have that little sort of thrill of excitement.' The $80 million winner has a year in which to claim the prize. gordmcintyre@
BBC News
03-05-2025
- BBC News
Garstang Walking Festival returns for 21st year
A walking festival which features 40 walks over 11 days is set to Garstang Walking Festival, taking place from 3 to 11 May, is in its 21st year with walks taking place around Garstang, rural Wyre, the Forest of Bowland and Morecambe festival includes a diverse range of guided walks suitable for all ages and abilities, including dog-friendly walks, heritage rambles and tramper Winstanley, assistant director of environment at Wyre Council, said: "We hope everyone who participates has a fantastic time and shares their experiences, helping the festival continue to grow and thrive each year". Highlights from the festival include:The three-day Wyre Way challenge from Abbeystead to Knott EndFleetwood's jewel of the bay walk - exploring stories of the town's heritage and peopleThe Great Eccleston to St Michael's walk - a circular route along the banks of the River WyreLapwings and hares tramper trek from Claughton-on-Brock Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
Straits Times
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
A British magic society welcomes its first woman
Sophie Lloyd finally received her membership to the the Magic Circle in London from the club's president Marvin Berglas on April 24. PHOTO: BRENDAN RODRIGUES/NYTIMES LONDON – Magicians never reveal their secrets. But sometimes, they admit they were wrong. In London on April 24, members of a top British magic society came together to right a three-decade-old blunder: The rejection of what they now consider one of the greatest deception acts their members ever fell for. 'It was an amazing ruse – fooling a room full of magicians,' said Maddie Spencer, 48, who is in the group, known as the Magic Circle. In March 1991, when the club was restricted to men, a woman named Sophie Lloyd disguised herself as a man and earned full membership. Her alias: 'Raymond Lloyd'. But when she and her accomplice revealed their ruse later that year – at the same time as the Circle started accepting women – the society promptly ousted her. For years, 'Raymond' was like a ghost floating through the Circle; a rumour or a half-formed memory. Then, in November 2024, the Circle announced a public search for Lloyd. They wanted to apologise and welcome her back. They took a step toward righting the wrong on April 24 night. Being magicians, any old 'sorry' would not do. They needed a performance worthy of such a daring deception. So they invited about 100 members and guests to a show, and the surprise was revealed on April 24 morning when news of Lloyd's reappearance ricocheted through the British press. The evening's performance began with a video montage, with archival photos of Lloyd as Raymond and Jenny Winstanley, her friend, teacher and accomplice. Sophie Lloyd (right) and Jenny Winstanley holding a Magic Circle certificate in the name of Raymond Lloyd. PHOTO: SOPHIE LLOYD/NYTIMES Then – four acts, two fake rabbits and endless decks of cards later – the real magic began. British magician Marvin Berglas, the president of the Circle, apologised to Lloyd and presented her with a certificate of membership. This time, it read 'Sophie Lloyd'. 'Tonight, we do what we should have done long ago,' he said, adding, 'On behalf of the Magic Circle, past and present, we apologise.' Lloyd spoke about Winstanley, who died in 2004. 'Jenny patiently taught me all the magic I needed to know so I could pass my exam,' she said, tearing up onstage. The Circle, which was founded in 1905, did not (intentionally) admit any women until late 1991. That had long bothered Winstanley. She met Lloyd, then in her 20s, when the two women were in mime school. Lloyd often joined Winstanley in her magic performances as 'Claude', her assistant, and 'Timmy', her young son. After a while, Winstanley suggested a more ambitious role: What about an older boy, who could audition for the Circle? She pledged to teach Lloyd all the magic she would need. Over 18 months, Winstanley instructed her in sleight-of-hand and helped her develop 'boyish mannerisms'. They assembled a convincing costume. And they built a credible enough persona to get the Circle's attention. 'Jenny was so patient,' Lloyd, now in her 60s, said in an interview. 'It was a big routine.' During the audition, 'Raymond Lloyd' cut and restored a 5-pound banknote. He held fire in his hands. All while wearing gloves, Lloyd said: 'You really can't show feminine hands.' The second (secret) test came when she and Winstanley had a drink with an examiner. Again, Lloyd said, her friend saved the day: ''Say you have laryngitis,'' she remembered, laughing. It worked. Raymond Lloyd was granted full membership. Sophie Lloyd as Raymond Lloyd, performing under the identity so she could be accepted into the Magic Circle. PHOTO: SOPHIE LLOYD/NYTIMES 'It was the best trick ever,' said Andrew Eborn, a longtime member, who remembered the days when the club did not want to admit women because of a belief they 'couldn't keep secrets'. Seven months later, the group finally decided to admit women, and Lloyd and Winstanley revealed their ruse. But instead of celebrating the trick, a Circle leader ruled, according to transcripts of documents that the group shared with The New York Times, that Raymond's application was 'null and void', citing the 'deliberate deception'. 'Jenny was very, very hurt,' Lloyd said, adding, 'We couldn't get our heads around it.' On April 24, women at the event said the evening was a sign of how far they had come, but also how hard they had to struggle to get there. Women are still fighting for recognition in professional magic. In the Circle, they account for about 5 per cent of the 1,700 current members. 'It wasn't just a celebration – it was an acknowledgment,' said Goldie Puricelli, a member who got into magic in her 50s. Fay Presto, 76, worked the story into her performance on April 24. As she cut a string into tiny pieces, she spoke of the club's past. Now, Presto said, the group was a little more whole. In her hands, the tiny pieces of string unfurled in one, uncut line. 'Every now and then,' she said, 'this club gets it right.' In November, the Circle went to the press to try to find Lloyd. And Lloyd, who now lives in Spain, heard they were looking for her. At first, she hesitated. Old wounds still hurt: 'I wasn't interested, to be honest with you.' Then, she heard from magician Laura London, the first woman to serve as the chair. In January, they had lunch. 'A meeting that should have lasted for two hours went on for seven hours,' Lloyd said. For London, it was what she called a 'dream come true'. She had long wanted to apologise on behalf of the Circle – and meet a trailblazer. Lloyd eventually decided to rejoin. 'It was for Jenny,' she said. 'I look upon it as Jenny and I being a member.' After the show, Winstanley received a posthumous award. Her granddaughter Charlotte Allen, 27, accepted it on her behalf. 'She really did want to be a member, but couldn't be,' Ms Allen said in an interview, remembering how her grandmother would perform at her birthday parties. 'It's really inspiring to see my grandmother recognised, and Sophie, when they were so mistreated,' she added. 'It means a lot.' NYTIMES Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
