Latest news with #organisation
RNZ News
6 days ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Complaints against early childhood education advocacy group filed with commerce commission
An organisation representing early childhood centre owners and managers has filed a complaint with the commerce commission about a sector advocacy group called the 'Office of Early Childhood Education'. Alexa Cook reports. Tags: To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
CBS News
7 days ago
- CBS News
Police bust "spiritual retreat" offering frog venom, hallucinogenic drugs in Spain
Spanish police said Monday that they had dismantled a group accused of running a "spiritual retreat" that offered hallucinogenic drugs and dangerous frog venom to clients from around the world. The gang is suspected of operating from a villa in the southeastern town of Pedreguer, charging over $1,160 for multi-day stays that included consumption of ayahuasca, San Pedro cactus and a frog venom known as Kambo. "The retreats were held in groups of up to twenty participants, who were attended to by six employees of the organisation during the 'astral journeys'," the Guardia Civil police force said in a statement. A photo released by the force showed a large room with several mattresses on the floor, along with water bottles and tissue boxes and a guitar leaned against a wall. Police said the investigation began last March "after receiving a complaint from a victim." :As a result, officers discovered a company that advertised itself online as an internationally renowned spiritual retreat organization and boasted awards as a guarantee," police said. Police say the group held several retreats a week without the means to respond to intoxications, and generated hundreds of thousands of euros in undeclared income last year. It promoted the retreats online with promises of a "mystical" experience and health benefits that drew clients "from around the world, the majority from Europe." Police arrested two men and a woman suspected of leading the group and placed five other people under investigation for allegedly acting as "spiritual guides" at the retreats. They face charges of drug trafficking, money laundering and criminal association. Officers seized 11 liters of ayahuasca, 117 San Pedro cactus plants and several bottles of Kambo, an oozy substance harvested from the skin secretions of the Amazonian giant monkey tree frog. Police said that 945 Ritalin tablets as well as cash and numerous documents were also seized. Police said the substances "can have unpredictable, dangerous effects." According to the BBC, the frog, which is found throughout the Amazon, secretes the substance as a defense mechanism to kill or warn off animals that try to eat it. For centuries, Indigenous people in South America have used kambo, believing it wards off bad luck and improves hunting skills. Today, proponents claim kambo "rids the body of toxins, brings mental clarity and treats various illnesses" but there is no research proving its supposed health benefits, the BBC reports. Kambo has been linked to deaths, seizures, liver failure and heart attacks, according to the BBC.
News.com.au
12-08-2025
- News.com.au
Spanish police bust 'spiritual retreat' offering hallucinogenic drugs
Spanish police said Monday that they had dismantled a group accused of running a "spiritual retreat" that offered hallucinogenic drugs to clients from around the world. The gang is suspected of operating from a villa in the southeastern town of Pedreguer, charging over 1,000 euros ($1,160) for multi-day stays that included consumption of ayahuasca, San Pedro cactus and a frog venom known as Kambo. "The retreats were held in groups of up to twenty participants, who were attended to by six employees of the organisation during the 'astral journeys'," the Guardia Civil police force said in a statement. A photo released by the force showed a large room with several mattresses on the floor, along with water bottles and tissue boxes and a guitar leaned against a wall. Police say the group held several retreats a week without the means to respond to intoxications, and generated hundreds of thousands of euros in undeclared income last year. It promoted the retreats online with promises of a "mystical" experience and health benefits that drew clients "from around the world, the majority from Europe". Police arrested two men and a woman suspected of leading the group and placed five other people under investigation for allegedly acting as "spiritual guides" at the retreats. They face charges of drug trafficking, money laundering and criminal association. Officers seized 11 litres of ayahuasca, 117 San Pedro cactus plants and several bottles of Kambo, an oozy substance harvested from the skin secretions of the Amazonian giant monkey tree frog.
Daily Mail
08-06-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
The must-have $20 item from Bunnings every driver needs: 'Total game changer'
A newly launched storage item has solved the common driver gripe of having random items rolling around in the car boot - and it only costs $20. Bunnings Warehouse have released the Trojan Boot Organiser, which is designed as a storage solution to keep 'your car belongings neat, organised, and secure'. It's the width of a car boot and features different sized open pockets and flapped pouches to hold a variety of different items. The hardware store showcased the storage gadget in a new Instagram video captioned: 'From chaos to clean. This organiser is a total game changer for keeping your boot neat and tidy always.' The overlaid text adds: 'This is your sign to organise your boot.' The video demonstrates how the vertical storage device can be filled with various items that would commonly be stored loose in the back of a car. This also frees up additional space in the boot, which would make it helpful for road trips. In the clip, the product was used to store packet of wipes, a sunscreen tube, a first aid kit, an umbrella and even trendy oversized water bottles. The Trojan Boot Organiser, $20, is available at Bunnings and is a space-saving storage solution for items that would normally be stored loose in the back of a car The item can be used by hanging it off the head rests of the car's back seats via straps, so it hangs flush onto the back wall of the boot. In the comments, one person helpfully suggested that the organiser could also be a useful spot to store reusable shopping bags for supermarket trips. The organiser is made from durable polyester an it also comes with a rare lifetime warranty. The product description says the storage device is 'easy to install in most vehicles'. Trojan Tools, the brand behind the organiser, jumped into the video comments section to declare the new item as 'the best'. Priced at only $20, this is certainly an affordable way to add extra storage areas inside your car. The latest cheap car organisation upgrade comes after shoppers recently discovered a 'life-changing' $6 pop-up bin for the car. Perfect for all the wrappers, cups, crumbs and other bits and bobs that end up on the floor for months, this little beauty was dubbed a 'must' by hundreds of shoppers. The space-saving bin is easily installed behind a seat in your vehicle and is large enough to be useful yet small enough to avoid being an eyesore at 19cm x 16cm. The little black bin has been an unlikely hit, with a near clean sweep of five-star reviews. 'Game-changer for the car... love this,' one shopper wrote. 'Definitely helps keep the car tidy and a nice size that doesn't take up too much room,' another added. 'Works great! I have it sitting in the middle seat [as an] organiser for the kids! Fits small bags and does a great job,' one more said. It's not the first mini car bin to capture the attention of Kmart customers though, with a 'car trash can' for the centre console proving popular earlier this year. The compact $5 tube is black, stamped with the word 'push' on the lid, just like a regular-sized push-top bin. Ideal for disposing of wrappers and waste on the go, the lightweight design is 20cm x 7.8cm and fits in most car cup holders. Alternatively it can be placed in the side doors or in the middle of the two back seats for passenger use. The buy landed as part of a wider car range at Kmart, which includes a $5 car safety pack and a $5 car snack holder.
RNZ News
16-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- RNZ News
Weekend Stuff: tips for housekeeping
Rachael Quinn is a professional housekeeper, cleaner and organiser. Last week we had so many questions from listeners, we couldn't get to all of them. So, we've invited her back to this week to pick up where we let off. If you do have any questions around the organistion and management of your home text the show on 2101 or email afternoons@ To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
