Latest news with #ChrisBarnes
7NEWS
a day ago
- Business
- 7NEWS
Power bank warning: Anker and Baseus among chargers recently recalled as Singapore Airlines and Qantas issue bans
Experts warn they are 'playing catch-up' with new lithium batteries flooding the market as Australia's consumer watchdog issues a safety alert to any Australian buying the popular wireless chargers. A lack of regulation and soaring demand has contributed to a growing number of wireless power banks getting recalled, experts added. The competition watchdog warns 34,000 defective portable chargers are still being used by customers, after a surging number of recalls of the product. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has issued 17 different recalls of power banks since 2020, with more than half being made since 2024. Popular brands including Anker, Baseus and SnapWireless power banks were the most recent products to be recalled. Power banks are portable battery chargers designed to power devices on-the-go. They use rechargeable lithium-ion or lithium-polymer batteries that are highly flammable, can explode or vent toxic gas, the commission says. Product recalls for some of the bigger brands is a surprise for Chris Barnes, a senior project officer for consumer advocacy group Choice. 'You're always playing catch-up with new technologies, always having to implement specific new mandatory standards or a product ban to cover these sorts of situations,' he told AAP. 'Consumers should be able to trust that anything they buy through a reputable retailer is OK.' The uptick in recalls is being caused by more products on the market, a lack of regulation and differing materials inside the models, University of Melbourne head of chemical biomedical engineering Amanda Ellis says. While most power banks are safe to use, a person's safety rests on how they use them, she said. 'We don't have Australian standards for batteries at the moment so that's one of the problems,' Ellis told AAP. 'We don't really know what is in these batteries because it's all (intellectual property) protected, so it's challenging, and more and more people are using them than five years ago.' The extreme end of people carrying dangerous power banks was felt by South Korea's Air Busan in January when a fire started in one of its planes' overhead lockers. The blaze, believed to have started from a power bank, destroyed the plane with all 179 passengers on-board managing to evacuate safely. Some of the ways to lower the risk are following manufacturer instructions, not charging near flammable furniture and never using damaged or leaking power banks, the commission said. 'Some consumers have suffered serious burn injuries, and some have had their property damaged because of power banks overheating and catching fire,' the watchdog's deputy chair Catriona Lowe said. Suppliers offer a full refund or free replacement under the recalls, Ms Lowe said. Power bank restrictions for airlines including Qantas, Virgin and Singapore Airlines The horrific incident involving Air Busan has prompted a number of airlines to completely ban power banks in its carry-on luggage to ensure passengers' safety. Back in April, Singapore Airlines went a step further, banning passengers from using their seat's USB charging port to juice up their power banks. 'Effective 1st April 2025, Singapore Airlines customers will not be allowed to charge portable power banks via the onboard USB ports, or use power banks to charge their personal devices, throughout the duration of the flight,' the airline said. 'This means power banks must be carried in cabin baggage on all SIA flights and are not permitted in checked baggage. Customers may bring power banks with a capacity of up to 100Wh without special approval, while those between 100Wh and 160Wh require airline approval. 'We seek customers' understanding that safety will always be our top priority.' Qantas has also cracked down on power banks. 'Baggage fitted with non-removable lithium batteries or power banks are forbidden,' the national carrier said. 'If in checked baggage the lithium battery or lithium power bank must be removed from the bag. 'The removed lithium battery or power bank must be in carry-on baggage only. 'Non-lithium batteries/power banks can remain fitted in the bag and carried as carry-on or checked baggage.' Virgin Australia has similar rules. 'Spare/loose batteries (including power banks/packs must be in carry-on baggage only and must be protected against short circuit by, placing in its original retail packaging, placing each battery in a separate plastic bag or protective pouch or insulating terminals by taping over exposed terminals,' the airline said.
New York Times
20-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
UK Athletics permanently bans coach over relationship with athlete, racist comments
UK Athletics (UKA) has permanently banned a coach from the sport after being found guilty of an intimate relationship with an athlete, sending sexually inappropriate images and racist slurs. After being charged in April, a disciplinary committee found Chris Barnes guilty of nine charges that breached the coaches code of conduct, all of which he admitted to. Advertisement A disciplinary report published by UKA showed its disciplinary panel found that between March 2019 and January 2021, Barnes conducted an intimate relationship with one of the athletes that he coached. In that same time frame, he was found guilty of sending two sexually inappropriate images and sexually explicit messages to an athlete he coached. Between February 2020 and June 2020, Barnes also conducted an intimate relationship with another athlete, having not told them he was married. The report said Barnes was also found to have made numerous racist comments between September 2013 and August 2020. 'Bloody p*** shop worker,' he said in 2020. 'It's simple, tomorrow I'll just blame the p***s for losing our license,' he said months later. The former coach and events organiser made multiple comments bringing athletics into disrepute and being demeaning over athletes' weight, including calling an athlete a 'f***ing heffer' and 'chubby f***er'. He told one athlete to run three miles all between 7.15-7.30 'or no sex ever again'. Barnes also refused to take a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check after a 15-year-old athlete joined Ribble Valley Running Club, where he was a coach. UKA's chief operating officer Tom Solesbury said: 'This was a very serious case, and we are satisfied that the outcome reflects the gravity of the behaviour involved. It demonstrates that regardless of your role or position, if you are active in our sport and your conduct falls short of the standards we expect, we will act to address it. 'The vast majority of coaches in our sport uphold the highest standards and make a hugely positive contribution to athletics — and we owe it to them, and to everyone in the sport, to ensure a safe, respectful and supportive environment for all.'
The Guardian
20-06-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Race director and athletics coach banned for life over inappropriate relationships and racist language
A prominent race director and coach has been banned from athletics for life after a UK Athletics disciplinary panel found him guilty of multiple breaches of the coaches' code of conduct, including inappropriate relationships with his athletes and using racist and misogynistic language. Chris Barnes, who ran the popular Podium 5km series of races, admitted all nine charges against him, which also included bringing the sport into disrepute and using inappropriate language. Barnes was found to have had an intimate relationship and to have sent a series of explicit images to one athlete between March 2019 and January 2021 while acting as her coach. He also admitted to having had an intimate relationship with another athlete between February and June 2020, having not told her was married. Between September 2013 and August 2020, Barnes also admitted he had made inappropriate remarks during conversations over Facebook Messenger. They included remarks such as 'it's simple tomorrow I'll just blame the pakis for losing our license' and, when discussing whether he would be captain in a football match, saying: 'yep in a game against blacks and browns' … 'with a brown ref'. Barnes also admitted to being obsessive over body weight and telling athletes what they could or could not eat. One one occasion he told an athlete they were not allowed to purchase food. This led to an argument in which the athlete was told: 'This is why your parents don't want anything to do with you.' He pleaded guilty for making comments about one female athlete in August 2022 that included saying: 'she's a fucking heifer' and 'she's blown up'. The case was heard under UK Athletics' Disciplinary Rules and Procedures, following an independent investigation into breaches of the UK Athletics code of conduct for coaches. UK Athletics confirmed that Barnes has been permanently banned from participating in any capacity in the sport of athletics within Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 'This includes any roles involving coaching, the organisation of events, and any other activities governed by the UK Athletics competition rules or the rules of World Athletics,' it added. UKA's chief operating officer Tom Solesbury said: 'This was a very serious case, and we are satisfied that the outcome reflects the gravity of the behaviour involved. It demonstrates that regardless of your role or position, if you are active in our sport and your conduct falls short of the standards we expect, we will act to address it. 'The vast majority of coaches in our sport uphold the highest standards and make a hugely positive contribution to athletics – and we owe it to them, and to everyone in the sport, to ensure a safe, respectful and supportive environment for all.'
Telegraph
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Liverpool trophy parade, live: Players to take open-top bus through city
26 May 2025 1:34pm 1:34PM Police officer among 17 hurt injured by flares A police officer is among 17 people who were injured in incidents involving flares ahead of the bus parade. Chief Inspector of Merseyside Police Chris Barnes said they want people to enjoy the party atmosphere but urged fans not to use flares. The force said a quantity of flares were seized and also four drones that were being flown over Anfield in breach of a temporary air restrictions in place over the ground. 'We want everyone who attends today's victory parade to have a safe and enjoyable time,' Barnes said. 'Nobody should have to suffer an injury as a result of the reckless actions of another individual. 'We know that people want to enjoy the party atmosphere in the city but it is important that we think of everyone's safety and wellbeing. The parade will have its own professionally organised special effects, including confetti canons and fireworks, which will be adding to the fantastic atmosphere in a safe and controlled manner and my urge would be for people to leave it to the professionals.' 1:31PM Getting their hands on the trophy yesterday 1:24PM Time to celebrate This is the moment Liverpool fans have been waiting for. Having missed out on the opportunity to celebrate winning the Premier League in 2020 due to Covid restrictions during the pandemic, the fans now have their chance to properly celebrate winning their 20th league title through the streets of Liverpool. In reality, the fans have been celebrating for a month already having wrapped up the title courtesy of a thumping 5-1 of Tottenham at Anfield at the end of April with four games to spare. After yesterday's 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace on the final day of the season, captain Virgil van Dijk was handed the Premier League trophy by Liverpool great and former captain Alan Hansen, who was the last Liverpool captain to lift the league title in front of fans at Anfield, and lifted it aloft in front of a packed-out Anfield. When Liverpool won the league in 2020, then-captain Jordan Henderson lifted the trophy at a nearly-empty Anfield, with only family, close friends and media permitted to attend during the pandemic. It is just over a year ago that Liverpool said goodbye to Jurgen Klopp after nearly nine years under the German. 12 months later Liverpool are celebrating winning the Premier League in Arne Slot's debut season. The route is 10 miles in length, which could take between three and five hours as the parade will wind around the streets of Liverpool. The parade will begin at Allerton Maze and travel north on Queens Drive before heading along Mill Bank, West Derby Road, Islington, Leeds Street and The Strand before finishing on Blundell Street. In recent years Liverpool have had trophy parades along the same rout to celebrate winning the Champions League and the domestic cup double. In 2019, nearly a million people descended on the city centre after Liverpool beat Tottenham 2-0 in Madrid in the Champions League final, which was the first trophy won under Slot's predecessor Klopp. Three years later in 2022, Liverpool paraded the League Cup and FA Cup, with a similar number of Liverpool fans congregating to have a party. DJ Calvin Harris was on board the Liverpool bus back on 2022 so might we see him again this afternoon providing the tunes. The parade is set to begin at 2.30pm.
ITV News
25-05-2025
- Sport
- ITV News
Liverpool FC Premier League title victory parade: all you need to know
Hundreds of thousands of Liverpool fans are expected to watch the club's Premier League open top bus parade. The celebrations on Monday 26th May to mark the club's 20th English title win, will see the city turn into a sea of red as supporters cheer on the players and staff on a 15 km (9mi) route. The Reds clinched the victory after beating Tottenham 5-1 at Anfield last month. What is the parade route? The victory parade will follow a similar route to the Champions League parade in 2019, including driving along The Strand and Queens Drive The route will start at Allerton Maze at 2.30pm and will travel northbound on Queens Drive towards the Fiveways roundabout in Childwall and the Rocket flyover. From there, it will travel along Queens Drive, Mill Bank, West Derby Road, Islington, Leeds Street, The Strand before finishing at Blundell Street. The parade is expected to last three- five hours, but that is subject to change. Will there be road closures in place? The Strand will be closed northbound from the Upper Parliament Street/Great George Street junction to Leeds Street/Great Howard Street junction from 4 am to 10 pm, or until it is safe to re-open. The southbound lane will be closed from approximately 12 pm to 8 pm, again subject to crowd safety requirements. Additionally, Leeds Street City-bound will be closed from 12 pm until approximately 8 pm. Drivers are advised to avoid the route and use public transport to get to the city centre. Where can I see the parade? There are no dedicated viewing areas but there will be animation across the route this year. The public is advised to view the parade as close to home as possible and to walk or use public transport. Supporters are also being advised to line the whole route, rather than travelling to the city centre to avoid crowding in busy areas. How can I find out where the bus is? You can find more information about the parade on Liverpool FC's social media account @LFCHELP Pyrotechnics and flares The use of flares, pyrotechnics, or anything similar is strictly prohibited. Fans are being urged to party without pyro after previous celebrations left dozens hospitalised. Club bosses said celebrations when the Reds clinched their 20th league title last month resulted in 50 reports of burns suffered by those outside Anfield Stadium – including an injury to a three-year-old child. Liverpool FC has joined forces with police, Liverpool City Council and Alder Hey Children's Hospital – where several youngsters were treated in April for burns to their hands, face and scalp from flares – to ask fans to protect children from pyrotechnics and celebrate safely. Merseyside Police Chief Inspector Chris Barnes, who is silver commander for the parade, said: 'We want the parade to be memorable for the right reasons which is why we joined together with Liverpool Football Club, Liverpool City Council and Alder Hey Hospital to highlight how dangerous pyrotechnics can be, particularly to children and those who suffer respiratory problems. "While recognising that some supporters feel they can add to the atmosphere of the occasion, this is a real concern and we fully support the club and our partners in working to eradicate this dangerous and reckless practice and would ask that supporters work with us, not only at the victory parade but at the final LFC game of the season at Anfield on Sunday 25 May. 'It's also worth remembering that the parade will have its own professionally organised special effects, including confetti canons and fireworks, which will be adding to the fantastic atmosphere on the day in a safe and controlled manner.'
