Latest news with #O'Dowd
Belfast Telegraph
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
Sinn Féin Minister calls for redevelopment or relocation of ‘militarised' police station
Sinn Féin MLA John O'Dowd said the current building is a 'large, outdated and militarised structure that many in the local community view as completely out of step with modern 21st century policing'. 'Its scale and appearance have been repeatedly raised with me as a barrier to the wider regeneration of Lurgan – particularly efforts to attract investment, grow footfall, and create a town centre that is vibrant, welcoming, and fit for families, shoppers and workers,' he said. 'There is strong and growing local ambition to revitalise Lurgan, and there are real opportunities to do so. But the existing station, sitting in such a prominent location, stands in stark contrast to that vision and acts as a visual barrier to progress.' The Upper Bann representative has asked the Jon Boutcher to explore the option of relocating to a modern, fit-for-purpose facility elsewhere in the town, claiming that suitable alternative sites exist which could meet operational policing needs while contributing positively to the local environment. 'Modern policing should reflect and support the communities it serves,' Mr O'Dowd said. "A new, purpose-built facility on the current site or at an alternative location could do just that.' Who is Rory McIlroy and what is golf's Career Grand Slam? The minister concluded by stating his willingness to work with the PSNI and other partners to ensure that both policing needs and town development goals are met. 'Lurgan deserves a town centre that inspires confidence and ambition,' Mr O'Dowd added. 'I am ready to work with all involved to help deliver that.'
ITV News
30-06-2025
- Business
- ITV News
Police recovery funding to be prioritised in future monitoring rounds – O'Dowd
Funding to boost PSNI recruitment numbers will be prioritised in future monitoring rounds this year, Finance Minister John O'Dowd has said. Mr O'Dowd also said that the Department of Justice is to receive £5 million to cover unforeseen costs for the police from dealing with recent rioting. The Executive has agreed allocations of over £78 million resource and £40 million capital funding as part of the June 2025/26 monitoring round. Monitoring rounds provide a system to review spending plans, including allocating new money which flows from Westminster spending decisions. Mr O'Dowd said the Executive had agreed to provide £25 million for health, £25 million for education to include funding for special educational needs and childcare and additional funding for ending violence against women and girls. He said: 'In line with our commitment to make childcare more accessible and affordable the £50 million set aside in Budget 2025-26 for the early years and childcare strategy, as well as the further £5 million being committed to in-year is now being formally allocated.' The Finance Minister added: '£5 million is being allocated to cover unforeseen costs facing the PSNI in dealing with the recent deplorable public disorder. 'Recognising the importance of investing in our police workforce we have also agreed the Department of Justice will be given first call of up to £7 million on funding in future monitoring rounds this year for PSNI recruitment. 'I look forward to working with (Justice) Minister (Naomi) Long and the Executive on progressing on delivery of the PSNI Workforce Recovery Plan as part of the multiyear Budget process.' Mr O'Dowd said a further £11 million will be provided to the Department for Infrastructure for water with £9 million being provided to create more social, affordable and sustainable housing. He added: 'Looking forward my department's focus will now turn to the multi-year budget. 'With public expenditure likely to be constrained for some time, transformation must be an essential part of this Budget if the Executive is to deliver its ambitions within the funding available. 'This will be the first multi-year budget in over 10 years. 'This will provide an important opportunity to put our finances on a more sustainable footing and, along with the Programme for Government, will set the longer-term strategic direction.'
Miami Herald
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
‘Bridesmaids' Star Unrecognizable While Attending Wimbledon in Quirky-But-Classy Blazer, Shorts and Boots Combo
A familiar face from the big screen generated a significant buzz at Wimbledon this week, but for an unexpected O'Dowd, the beloved Bridesmaids star, appeared almost unrecognizable, sporting a distinctively quirky-but-classy ensemble that stood out from the crowd at the prestigious tennis tournament. O'Dowd's standout look at the event perfectly blended unconventional elements with a touch of sophistication. He sported a crisp mint green blazer, offering a fresh, summery hue. This vibrant jacket contrasted playfully with navy shorts, creating a relaxed yet unexpectedly chic silhouette. Grounding the unique outfit, O'Dowd opted for khaki Chelsea boots, adding an earthy, rugged edge to the otherwise light attire. His bright and bold choice for a top, a bright blue shirt which looked to be adorned with a lemon print, injected a whimsical and very summery motif, ensuring his look was far from traditional Wimbledon fashion. Unlike the strict dress code mandated for the Royal Box, which requires attendees to dress smartly, Wimbledon's general spectator areas do not enforce a formal dress code. However, a tradition of smart-casual attire, often leaning towards summer elegance, subtly prevails among attendees. O'Dowd's full ensemble, particularly the unique combination of a blazer and Chelsea boots with shorts, offered a distinctive and fashion-forward take on the unwritten style norms of the prestigious event. This particular style choice might come as a delightful surprise to audiences most familiar with O'Dowd's extensive acting career, often characterized by his charming and affable roles. The Irish actor gained widespread recognition as Officer Rhodes in the hit 2011 comedy Bridesmaids, a role that cemented his status as a beloved comedic talent. O'Dowd captivated audiences as Roy Trenneman in the British cult fave The IT Crowd and showcased his dramatic range in critically acclaimed series like Girls and Get Shorty. His film roles also include appearances in This Is 40, St. Vincent, Molly's Game, and Slumberland. Chris O'Dowd attended the event with his wife, British author, television presenter, and fashion designer Dawn O'Porter. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Disturbing Test Shows What Happens When Tesla Robotaxi Sees a Child Mannequin Pop Out From Behind a School Bus
After promising self-driving robotaxis for more than a decade, it's probably no surprise that Tesla CEO Elon Musk has blown way past his promised rollout date of June 12. Now scheduled to formally roll out on the streets in Austin, Texas on either June 22 or 28 — not even Musk seems to know at this point — the tech billionaire's self-driving charade is running seriously behind. As consumer interest in Tesla continues to plummet, one generational hater is showing just how far Musk's last ditch effort to save Tesla is really lagging. In a live demonstration on public roads in Austin, a recent media stunt showed that "self-driving" Tesla robotaxis make no qualms about running down children in cold blood. The demonstration, sponsored by the Dawn Project — a watchdog group founded by Musk's fellow billionaire and longtime Pentagon contractor Dan O'Dowd — showed what happens when a Tesla running on current-gen self-driving software comes up on a stopped school bus. Making no attempt to slow down, the Tesla model Y barrels past the bus and its blinking stop light. When a child mannequin darts across the road, the EV plows right through it, taking a full car's length to come to a complete stop. "What it shows is a full self-driving Tesla will not stop at a bus, and if a kid steps out, it will mow them down," O'Dowd told Futurism. Despite a two-year campaign by the Dawn Project to highlight the school bus issue — which included a full-page in the New York Times and a Superbowl commercial — O'Dowd says lawmakers, not to mention Tesla itself, have done nothing to fix the issue. Sadly, that inaction has already had real consequences. In North Carolina in 2023, for example, a student was struck while exiting a school bus by a self-driving Tesla, and had to be airlifted to a hospital with life-threatening injuries. "What's happened since? Tesla has not fixed the bug," O'Dowd said. "And still the government hasn't forced a recall." For O'Dowd and the Dawn Project, Tesla is unique among carmakers adding self-driving features to their vehicles. Asked about the Dawn Project's stance on Waymo — which has its own history of dangerous traffic maneuvers — O'Dowd says "Waymo gets the job done." "They actually can do ten million rides and not kill anybody," he notes. "Tesla can't do any self-driving and it's killed a lot of people. So that's my question, how many people have they killed? How many people have they injured?" (As a point of fact, Waymo has logged a total of 696 accidents since 2021, with one Waymo-involved fatality recorded so far. Teslas, for comparison, have notched well over 2,146 incidents, with 553 Tesla-involved fatalities.) While the writing might be on the wall for Tesla, O'Dowd continues to pour resources into raising awareness about the dangers Musk's vehicles pose to civilians, partnering with movements like the nationwide Tesla Takedown initiative. Despite the obvious, O'Dowd says it's not over 'til it's over. "I've never been willing to go out there and short Tesla," the billionaire told us. "It's too risky. The guy's too good at making up stories to convince people he can make a bunch of money." More on Tesla: Terrifying Footage Shows Self-Driving Tesla Get Confused by the Sun, Mow Down Innocent Grandmother
Int'l Cricket Council
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Int'l Cricket Council
O'Dowd and Dutch have final say against Munsey muscle in CWC League 2
The promise of drama in ICC Men's Cricket World Cup League 2 was backed up once again as Max O'Dowd and The Netherlands overshadowed a record effort from Scotland opener George Munsey in Dundee. In a showcase of two openers at the peak of their powers, it was an O'Dowd six in the 100th over the match to complete the heist away from the hosts, as he finished with 158 not out in just 130 balls in a staggering chase of 370. Scotland v Netherlands | Match Highlights | ICC Men's CWCL2 2023-27 Another stunning Cricket World Cup League 2 match in Dundee as Scotland and The Netherlands launch in a high-scoring battle Earlier, it had looked like another Munsey mauling had taken Scotland to victory, with his 191 from 150 rewriting the history books. Bludgeoning 14 fours and 11 sixes in a typical knock of power all around the wicket, Munsey broke the record for the higest individual ODI score by an Associate batter, passing a 2010 effort from then-Associate Ireland's Paul Stirling, who made 177 against Canada in 2010. Munsey's exploits almost meant he claimed bragging rights off Calum MacLeod for the highest ODI score by a Scot, while the innings is also the biggest in the short history of the six-year history of Cricket World Cup League 2 format, beating American Milind Kumar's 155* versus UAE. Munsey's efforts fell just short of the highest individual score by an Associate in an international match with List A status, with Gerrie Snyman's 196 against UAE in April 2010 in the old World Cricket League 2 competition still unbeaten. And in a scarcely-believable parallel to Snyman's knock which came in a losing side 15 years ago, Munsey's efforts also proved in vain, with O'Dowd's swashbuckling response helping the men in orange to the competition points. While joined along the way by a number of partners, particularly Teja Nidamanuru (51) and a late Noah Croes of 50 in just 29 balls, O'Dowd was the obvious aggressor, responding to Munsey's efforts with 27 boundaries of his own. Having kept the required rate in check for the first 40 overs, the injection of Croes helped O'Dowd move into the final gear. Needing 86 runs from the final 54 balls, the pair made 37 in the next four overs, before overs of 17 and 14 broke the back the back of the Scots. Croes would fall before victory, though the experience of Roelof van der Merwe ensured the Dutch sealed victory, ticking strike over to O'Dowd who closed out. The win puts the Dutch alongside the USA at the top of the League 2 table (28 points), though have played four more matches than the Americans in the 36-match cycle. Scotland and Oman, who also enjoy four matches in hand over the Dutch, sit two wins back on 20 points. ICC CWC League 2, 2023-27NewsMax O'DowdGeorge Munsey
