Latest news with #Robinson
New York Times
32 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Lemony Snicket's Anti-Summer Summer Reading List
It's summertime, and the living is queasy. People are sweatier, the weather is sweltering and everywhere one looks, from campfires to barbecues, the air is thick with the discomfiting patina of enforced fun. Those of us who wince at the sound of giddy laughter, who find frolicking wearisome and who desperately search picnic baskets for a cocktail know exactly what to do when June lurches into view: Hide indoors with a pile of books until the autumnal chill arrives. Here are some suggestions for this wretchedly cheerful time of year. The Bears' Famous Invasion of Sicily It is difficult for me to begin any list of books without my favorite book in the world. The best literature lives in a space of endless possibility, and this novel (in prose and verse) starts with a gallery of characters that includes a portrait of a werewolf who 'may not appear in our story … but one never knows.' If the magic wands, sea serpents and gambling dens fail to amuse you, perhaps you will find the king who allows his personal obsessions to overwhelm his civic responsibilities somehow relevant in this day and age. The moments I love most are when the author, Buzzati, takes issue with the illustrations, which are by Buzzati. (Ages 8 to 12) Leo: A Ghost Story 'This is Leo. Most people cannot see him.' The opening lines of this picture book — written by Barnett, our new national ambassador for young people's literature — give us a much-needed shiver on these unbearably hot days, and Robinson's cool-blue paintings keep the temperature just right inside, where a ghost tries his best to get along with new, living housemates. I'm not much for handing out literary prizes, but 'Leo' wins the silver medal in the Best Children's Book Containing Robbers category. (Ages 3 to 6) And the gold goes to … Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
IOL News
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Nonku Williams sets the record straight on Jojo Robinson friendship drama
Nonku Williams responds to Jojo Robinson's emotional letter, aiming to mend their friendship after a turbulent season on 'The Real Housewives of Durban'. Image: Instagram It has been a rocky season for Nonku Williams and Jojo Robinson's friendship. Their breakup story has left many The Real Housewives of Durban (RHOD) fans with mixed emotions ever since it transpired. Recently, Robinson broke her silence on her friendship with Williams, penning an emotional letter that left many fans wondering about the state of their relationship. The wound Robinson was dealing with was deeper than viewers had anticipated, as she was seen on Instagram live crying her eyes out about the matter. The letter was a response to previous comments made by Williams about their friendship. However, Williams has now broken her silence, setting the record straight and clarifying her previous statements while also apologising to Robinson. In an Instagram post, the author and businesswoman details what she meant by her statements and apologises to Robinson for how she treated her during their on-and-off-screen five-year friendship. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading 'As I reflect on my recent statement about my friendship with Jojo on the show, I want to take a moment and address the hurt and misunderstanding it may have caused,' she wrote. 'I never intended to denounce our friendship or diminish the value Jojo has brought to my life,' Williams explained, adding that she was trying to articulate how her spiritual growth had led her to approach certain aspects of her life differently. Williams acknowledged that their friendship has been subject to the challenges of reality TV, where moments are often taken out of context for the sake of drama. She expressed her gratitude for the years they've shared and assured Robinson that her love and appreciation for her as a friend have never shaken. She also apologised for her words about their friendship, admitting she could have delivered her message more gently. 'I want to apologise for using the words 'surface level' when referring to my friendship with Jojo. In no way was I speaking about the love or bond we share; that was never my intention. The truth is, I tend to be very blunt in how I express myself, and I'm actively working on being more mindful and gentle in my delivery.' Williams also shared that Robinson brings out the childlike side of her, emphasising the joy and laughter they have shared. However, she no longer wants every moment captured or posted online, seeking a more sacred and intimate connection with her spirituality. According to Williams, she has reached out to Robinson and they are planning to meet soon. The reality star highlighted that every friendship has its seasons, lessons and growing pains, and she hopes to move forward with Robinson in a place of mutual understanding and respect. 'I'm committed to nurturing it, and I hope we can reach a place of mutual understanding and respect,' she said.
Irish Independent
5 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Woman set up Facebook ‘honeytrap' to snare aunt's killer from 10,000km away
'It was brutal,' recalls Ms Sergison, the shock still raw 11 years later. 'The waiter was passing me a pizza and I was taking in what I'd been told.' Her 59-year-old aunt lived nearly 10,000km away in Thabazimbi, South Africa. The pair were close, speaking on the phone every Sunday and exchanging emails. And now Ms Robinson had been found, raped and murdered, in the lodge she had bought and built up with her late Irish husband. Initially, it was thought to be a farm killing, but then it emerged that the 26-year-old gardener, Andrea Imbayarwo (then known as Andrew Ndlovu), had disappeared along with £1,400 (€1,600) that had been drawn from the bank to pay staff wages. With such an obvious suspect, Ms Sergison and her family expected his arrest and trial to be swift, but as days became weeks and months turned into years, any chance of justice seemed to slip away. She was driven by a desire for justice for the aunt she had shared a close bond with Catching Ms Robinson's murderer became something the South African authorities, the UK government and, eventually, even Ms Sergison's own family gave up on. Everyone, in fact, except Ms Sergison. She never quite stopped believing that it might be possible to bring him to justice. So began a quest that would eventually result in the man responsible being arrested. That he was finally caught was all thanks to Ms Sergison, who had single- handedly made contact with the main suspect, honeytrapping him into messaging with her on Facebook and ultimately leading the police to his whereabouts – all without ever visiting South Africa. How she managed to secure the conviction of Imbayarwo is the subject of a new documentary, The Facebook Honeytrap: Catching a Killer, available on Amazon Prime Video from July 27. She was driven by a desire for justice for the aunt she had always shared a close bond with, but the past 11 years have shown her how femicide still goes virtually unchallenged. In South Africa, an average of 153 rapes are reported and eight women are murdered every day. ADVERTISEMENT 'I think life is cheap there. It's accepted,' Ms Sergison said. 'Even when they find the men responsible, cases fall apart because the systems aren't robust enough. And then you start to read UN reports about femicide, rape and gender-based violence and they show that – right across the world – women have no value.' In 2002, after Ms Robinson met and married Irishman 'Robbie' Robinson – the love of her life – the couple bought a game park near the Botswana border. While she and Mr Robinson had been concerned about violence, the life they opted for was a long way from any of South Africa's volatile townships. They had CCTV and two Alsatians that were trained to protect. And life was good until Mr Robinson was diagnosed with cancer. In 2012, he died at home in Belfast with Ms Robinson by his side. Afterwards, still deep in grief, she made the decision to return to South Africa to continue running the 30-guest lodge near Limpopo. By the time Ms Sergison took that call in 2014, Ms Robinson was in the process of selling the place with the intention of returning to the UK. There were three or four attempts at extradition, but the paperwork was always wrong On the day of her murder, she missed an appointment about the sale. The same day, Imbayarwo fled to his native Zimbabwe. There followed a painfully inadequate attempt to extradite him. 'There were three or four attempts at extradition, but the paperwork was always wrong in some way. They'd tell me it was getting done, but it wasn't. The authorities were so incompetent,' Ms Sergison said. Her dealings with the British Foreign Office were equally frustrating. And going to South Africa herself was out of the question due to health problems. Through texts and emails, she maintained contact with the lodge manager – and Ms Robinson's friend – Noelle Denis. It was through Ms Denis that, in 2015, Ms Sergison was told about a sighting of Imbayarwo. He was back in South Africa, living in Johannesburg. Ms Sergison told the South African authorities. Nothing happened. Imbayarwo's Facebook page had been inactive since he fled in 2014, but in 2016, turning sleuth, Ms Sergison discovered he had three other active profiles. Taking matters into her own hands, she created a fake profile of her own – a flirty 20-something cabin attendant called Missy Falcao – to reel him in. She messaged him flirtatiously, telling him he was 'so hot' and had 'sexy eyes'. Imbayarwo took the bait and, over the next six months, Ms Sergison gleaned new information that she passed on to the South African authorities. 'I told him I was a stewardess, as it meant I wasn't always contactable. I had to keep it light. I didn't want to tie myself up in lies that I couldn't remember. I thought if I kept him flattered, it would keep his interest,' she said of her messages. Her information led to a failed triangulation of his location by the authorities in 2017. When a sting operation failed after Imbayarwo did not show at a meet-up, the trail went cold in 2018. Then, on July 30, 2020, the sixth anniversary of Ms Robinson's murder, Ms Sergison posted: 'Six years ago today, this man raped and murdered my aunt Christine Robinson. Andrew Ndlovu is still a free man enjoying his life after taking hers.' It was important the judge heard that she wasn't a nobody. She wasn't just a photo The post went viral and, on the same day, a woman got in touch. Imbayarwo had been working for her family for the past five years and living in her yard for the last year. That evening, he was arrested. 'He'd worked for them for years and was trusted,' Ms Sergison said. Although too ill to travel to the court case in April, 2022, Ms Sergison wrote a victim impact statement to be read out. 'It was important the judge heard that she wasn't a nobody. She had family. She had friends. She was real. She wasn't just a photograph in the evidence docket,' she said. Imbayarwo was found guilty of murder and rape eight years after killing and raping Christine Robinson. Ms Sergison's grief for her aunt remains raw. She said: 'The phone calls and the emails don't come. There was a life left for her to lead and someone took that away from her for £1,400.'
STV News
13 hours ago
- Sport
- STV News
St Mirren sign attackers Jalmaro Calvin and Malik Dijksteel
St Mirren have made signings for the short and long term as manager Stephen Robinson increases his attacking options. The Buddies have confirmed the signing of 22-year-old Jamaican forward Jalmaro Calvin, subject to a work permit. They earlier secured Cork City winger Malik Dijksteel on a pre-contract agreement which will see him arrive in Paisley in January, when his contract with the League of Ireland side expires. Calvin is a former team-mate of fellow summer signing Richard King. The pair played together at Jamaican Premier League side Cavalier, where Calvin scored 39 goals in 101 appearances. He has signed a two-year deal with the club holding an option for a further season. Robinson told St Mirren's website: 'Jalmaro was a player that kept coming up every time we looked at Richard. 'We've built up a really good relationship with Cavalier and their owner Rudolph Speed. 'Jalmaro has real pace and energy. He can play wide and he can play through the middle. 'We need to build him up. He's a project for us in terms of getting him used to the Scottish game and the physicality, but his electric pace will give us something that we don't have in the squad at this time. 'He reminds me of Toyosi Olusanya in terms of that raw pace that he can offer us in the wide areas.' Dutchman Dijksteel, 24, was previously on the books of Feyenoord and Middlesbrough – alongside elder brother Anfernee on Teesside – but has kick-started his career in Ireland where he has scored five goals in 41 appearances. Robinson said: 'Malik is a player that we have kept tabs on over the last six months. He's a real bright spark in the final third. 'He's quick, direct, takes players on and I think the fans will really take to him given how exciting he is.' STV News is now on WhatsApp Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News
STV News
14 hours ago
- Politics
- STV News
Tram power lines shutdown after demonstrators 'ignore safety issues'
A pro-Palestinian demonstration is set to be rerouted to avoid protesters getting close to the tram line, after an emergency shutdown of power lines was needed at a march over the weekend. Police Scotland expressed concerns over the August 9 march after a demonstration on Saturday saw 'frantic calls' to get the power to the trams cut off over electrocution concerns. They said that the rally's route was changed two days before it started, which made policing it more difficult and led to road closures not being in place in time. The August 9 march, which is estimated to have 500 participants, is set to be held on the same day as a major Orange walk, which will see 1,500 participants descend on the city centre at the height of the festival. The city's licensing sub-committee considered two pro-Palestine demonstrations from the organisers of Saturday's march on Monday, with one set to run on August 2 and the other on August 9. Police sergeant Grant Robinson said: 'Our assessment was that serious safety issues were frankly ignored by participants and stewards. 'Many presented waving high flags and banners on approach to the Edinburgh Tram line. 'This resulted in an emergency shutdown of the overhead power cables, as if the flags or banners touched or came near these items, the electricity would have arced, causing serious injury or worse. 'It's essential that we have agreed routes with sufficient notice, so that safety measures can be put in place in advance, as this caused frantic calls between police and Edinburgh Trams to enable the shutdown.' A spokesperson for Edinburgh Trams confirmed that the power lines were shut down for 15 minutes on Saturday over safety concerns. Sergeant Robinson also said the 'number, ability and knowledge' of the protest stewards was concerning to the police service. He said Police Scotland was willing to arrange third-party free training sessions to 'upskill' stewards. The organisers of the event were not present, having asked if the council sub-committee meeting could be delayed so they could attend. Council officers proposed that the routes of the pro-Palestine rally on August 2 be swapped with one on the 9th, in order to space out the demonstrations happening on that day. Councillors elected not to swap the routes, but modified the route of the march on the 9th to keep it away from the Edinburgh Trams infrastructure. Liberal Democrat councillor Jack Caldwell asked if the organisers could be sanctioned for not attending the sub-committee meeting or for amending the routes of past demonstrations. Council officer Max Mitchell replied: 'This is not a license application, notification of parades. There is no sanction for not attending the committee. 'What the act simply says is that if the council makes an order, and the organiser departs from the terms of that order, that would potentially become a matter for Police Scotland, and would become a statutory offence under the act.' Sergeant Robinson said the police would only charge organisers as a last resort, continuing to say: 'We are very practical. We take an informed, reasonable approach. 'We're looking to do the, you know, engage encourage educate, before we really go down that route. 'I very much stress that we do not want to charge people for exercising their right [to protest], but it is a qualified right.' Addressing the request by council officers to swap the routes of the two marches, Conservative councillor and sub-committee convener Joanna Mowat said: 'I would be mindful not to alter their fundamental structure, as in, they want to go up to the American consulate. 'I don't know why they want to go on the second of August, but that's not relevant for us. 'I would be minded, because we are going to have to do something on the 9th, which is quite a big change that we're going to have to make to their routes, that I wouldn't alter the dates. 'I think public safety has asked us to do that, but I'm not sure we have justification to do that.' For the march on the 9th, committee agreed a new route intended to keep protesters away from the trams, which would run from Waverley Bridge and up Market Street, turning left at the Mound. The previous route had an ambiguous staging area of the Mound itself, which could take protesters close to the tramway at the junction with Princes Street. Cllr Mowat said: 'They shouldn't be going anywhere near tram lines with their banners at that point. 'I mean, obviously that's going to be a conversation public safety is going to have to have with them, because the next thing we're going to have to say is that there will be a no-banners march if they're going anywhere near the tram line.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
