Latest news with #SarahOwen
Telegraph
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Miliband: Build solar panels on churches
Ed Miliband has said he would like to see solar panels installed on church roofs across Britain. The Energy Secretary said he would be 'enthusiastic' about expanding a scheme to place the panels on the roofs of hundreds of schools and hospitals to include religious buildings. The scheme is the first major project of Great British Energy, the organisation set up by Mr Miliband. A £200 million investment to put rooftop solar on schools and NHS sites was announced by the Government earlier this year, with the aim of saving hundreds of millions of pounds on energy bills and freeing up cash to reinvest in frontline services. However, many people will be appalled at the idea that historic churches could be disfigured with solar panels. Mr Miliband made his comment during a statement on climate and nature in the Commons. He used the statement to accuse those of questioning the way the government was tackling climate change as 'talking the country down'. The Energy Secretary was asked by Labour MP Sarah Owen: 'While we welcome Great British Energy's roll out of solar panels on hospitals and on schools, could he outline any support for religious buildings that also want to do the same?' She added that there are many 'faith communities' who want to 'tackle' climate change. Mr Miliband replied: 'Following the successful roll out to schools and hospitals, we've now got a lot of requests to expand this scheme, and I'm very enthusiastic about doing so, and it's something we're looking at.' Bring down global temperature Under the scheme, around £80million will support 200 schools and £100million will go to 200 NHS sites in England. Scotland will get £4.85million, Wales £2.88million and Northern Ireland £1.62million for power projects including community energy and rooftop solar for public buildings. During the statement on Monday, Mr Miliband said Britain can provide 'leadership' around the world to bring down the global temperature. 'Before the Paris climate agreement was negotiated 10 years ago, the world was on course for 4C of global warming. Now, national commitments imply 2.6C of warming, or global warming below two degrees, if countries meet their full climate targets… 'The lesson is clear. The choices we make as a country have influenced the course of global action, and in doing so, reduced the impact of the climate and nature crisis on future generations in Britain. 'To those who say Britain cannot make a difference. I say you are wrong. Stop talking our country down. British leadership matters.' In his Commons statement, he pledged to deal with the 'grid zombies'. This came in response to Labour MP Ruth Cadbury, who asked: 'What steps is the Energy Secretary making to prioritise grid connections, and will he commit to reforming the grid queuing system so that projects essential to decarbonise our transport sector are brought forward more quickly?' He replied: 'We are dealing with the zombies, the grid zombies, the zombie queue, and that reordering of the queue is precisely designed to open up the queue to projects like the ones she talked about. 'And my honourable friend, the energy minister, is having a series of round tables with DfT (Department for Transport) on precisely this subject.'
News.com.au
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Olivia Newton-John's widower John Easterling finds love with American businesswoman
Olivia Newton-John's widower has found love three years after her death. Daily Telegraph reports John Easterling, who married the late Australian singer in 2008, has moved on with US businesswoman Sarah Owen. Owen is the founder and owner of two companies: Striphair, which is a gentle grooming brush for pets, and Betty's Best, The outlet claims the pair met at a New Year's Eve event in December, 2022. Newton-John died at her ranch in California in August 2022. She was 73. The Grease star, who suffered a long battle with breast cancer, spent her final days at the sprawling Santa Ynez Valley estate with Easterling, where the couple had lived since purchasing the property in 2015. Easterling sold the home for $US7.95 million (AUD$12.16 million) in February this year after it was first listed in June 2024. 'Olivia and I made many wonderful memories at our home in Florida and the ranch in California. The message that keeps coming through so clearly is to love life, live life, and never forget about the good things that are going on,' Easterling told PEOPLE at the time. 'The 'Indian Way' Ranch in Santa Ynez is a spectacular property where I can see a new family having great nature adventures and relishing the life experience. I'll still maintain a presence in both Florida and California.' Easterling, who founded the Amazon Herb Company in 1990, first met Newton-John in 1993 when they were married to other people. After years of friendship, the pair began dating in 2007 before marrying in a spiritual ceremony in Peru in June 2008, followed by a legally-binding wedding on Jupiter Island in Florida. Newton-John's first marriage was with Matt Lattanzi, who she met on the set of the 1980 film Xanadu. They later married in 1984, welcoming their daughter Chloe Lattanzi in January 1986. The couple divorced in 1996. At the time of her death, Easterling paid heartfelt tribute to Newton-John, describing every day with his wife as 'supernatural.' 'Every day with Olivia was a bit of magic,' Easterling wrote. Lattanzi, for his part, shared a joint statement written by his current wife, Michelle. 'Today we lost one of the world's greats Olivia Newton-John. Matt and I are so overwhelmed with the love and gratitude shared with us by friends, family and a deeply loving community of fans who will all miss Olivia's presence in this world,' Michelle wrote in a post shared to Facebook. 'I have heard truly lovely stories and memories from people near and far, and honour in each of you where those feelings and memories come from. 'Nothing will replace the icon we lost, yet her legacy is alive and well in our hearts and memories, as well as her contributions to our global culture, her beloved daughter Chloe Lattanzi, and her cancer research and wellness centre in Melbourne, AU.'
Daily Mail
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Olivia Newton-John's widower John Easterling finds new love with American businesswoman - and she looks just like the late Aussie icon
John Easterling has found love again almost three years after the tragic death of wife and Aussie icon Olivia Newton-John. The singer died at age 73 in August 2022, after a long battle with breast cancer, and just four months later Easterling reportedly met her doppleganger Sarah Owen. Sources say Easterling and Owen, 62, are now dating, after being seen in Santa Ynez, California together in recent months, reported The Daily Telegraph on Saturday. They are believed to have met at a New Year's Eve event in December 2022, and have recently been spending more time together out in public. According to her socials, Owen is the founder and owner of American pet product companies StripHair and The Gentle Groomer—trademarked under Betty's Best. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. The equestrian and boutique owner was briefly married to US actor James Howard Woods in 1989 when she was 26 and he was 42. The former couple married on July 2 that year in a small ceremony at the Greystone Mansion on the historic Doheny Estate in Beverly Hills, California. It was said to be the first time a wedding had been held at the mansion, with star-studded attendees including James Garner and Robert Downey Jr. Sarah Jessica parker, director Jonathan Kaplan, and rock stars Don Henley and Bob Seger were also in attendance. Sarah Jessica arker, director Jonathan Kaplan, and rock stars Don Henley and Bob Seger were also in attendance. Owen and Woods divorced four months later. Remarkably, the US businesswoman looks to be the spitting image of Newton-John, with the pair sporting a very similar eyes, nose, and radiant smile. The pair even have a similar shade of blonde locks, though Newton-John often kept hers short, while Owen prefers a lengthy look. Easterling's new romance will come as a shock to some, as the widow recently said he didn't expect to ever find the kind of love he had with his late wife again. The singer died at age 73 in August 2022 after a long battle with breast cancer, and just four months later, Easterling reportedly met her doppelganger Sarah Owen, 62. Sources say Easterling and Owen are now dating, after being seen in California together in recent months 'Olivia and I had a love so big and so indefinite in time. We embraced it as something even bigger than ourselves,' he told People magazine late last year. 'We never had any petty arguments or anything like that. I mean, our whole life experience and the things that we shared and believed in were just too important. 'I didn't even think love could be like that.' Just months earlier, Easterling listed the California ranch where the Grease star spent her final days. The Australian music icon died peacefully at her home in Southern California, following a 20-year battle with breast cancer. The four-bedroom, five-bathroom house was purchased by Newton-John in 2015 for US$4.69million (approx. AU$6.7million). The property, built in 1975, spans across 12 acres near the Santa Ynez River and includes a guest house, a pool and a barn and stables for horses. Easterling decided to sell the home with an asking price of $US8.965million (approx. AU$13.57million), reported People at the time. 'Olivia and I made many wonderful memories at our home in Florida and the ranch in California,' he said. 'The message that keeps coming through so clearly is to love life, live life, and never forget about the good things that are going on.' 'The "Indian Way" Ranch in Santa Ynez is a spectacular property where I can see a new family having great nature adventures and relishing the life experience.' The main house on the property has a total of four bedrooms and five bathrooms, while the guesthouse has two bedrooms. The property, about 200km northwest of Los Angeles, also features an outdoor kitchen, office, game room and detached four-car-garage. Newton-John listed her beloved ranch for US$5.4million (approx. AU$7.7million) back in 2019. But the property was ultimately taken off the market as the entertainer decided to spend her last days in the home. Newton-John fought several brave battles against cancer. She was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992, which was successfully treated. She went into remission, but it later returned in both 2013 and 2017. Newton-John's death resulted in an outpouring of public grief and heartfelt tributes from those close to her.
Daily Mirror
10-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
UK parents breathe a sigh of relief amid changes to bereavement leave
On July 7, 2025, the UK government announced that families suffering from pregnancy loss will be given new rights to time off, as past of Employment Rights Bill The government is set to give more parents who have experienced a miscarriage the option of bereavement leave. As announced on July 7, 2025, amendments to the Employment Rights Bill will offer 'at least one week's leave' to couples who have suffered a miscarriage before 24 weeks of pregnancy. Current bereavement leave rules give parents a maximum of two weeks of bereavement leave if a child younger than 18 dies or if they suffer pregnancy loss after 24 weeks. The proposed extended right to leave would be unpaid and last for at least one week, though the exact length is still being consulted on. As stated in the official press announcement, hundreds of thousands of employees are impacted by pregnancy loss each year - with one estimate suggesting that there are around 250,000 pregnancy losses caused by miscarriages alone in the UK annually and a further 12,000 impacted by loss due to ectopic pregnancies. "No one who is going through the heartbreak of pregnancy loss should have to go back to work before they are ready," says Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner. She says the change will give "people time away from work to grieve and spend time with their families". Following the announcement, many UK couples took to social media to emphasise their relief with many sharing their own experiences grieving a lost pregnancy. One user shared their devastating loss and their difficult experience returning to work. 'This is very good news,' one Facebook user commented on news of the bereavement leave amendments. 'We had a loss at 12 weeks and it devastated me.' For more stories like this subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The Weekly Gulp, for a curated roundup of trending stories, poignant interviews, and viral lifestyle picks from The Mirror's Audience U35 team delivered straight to your inbox. She continued: 'We went to have the 12 week scan, to be told we'd had a loss, on the 23rd Dec…My boss was very understanding in January, as that's when it really hit me and at the time let me take the time off (one week) as sick leave. ' She continued to explain that a miscarriage 'isn't just a heavy period' and that it can result in bleeding, pain and a devastating constant reminder of what you have lost. Another user shared: 'It's such a difficult time, physically and emotionally, and having to be 'sick' over this period can be difficult. I know I felt like a burden for needing a longer time off to process and accept what has happened.' The amendment comes after heavy campaigning from Women and Equalities Committee chair Sarah Owen MP. 'From my personal experience of miscarriage to the powerful testimony the Women & Equalities Select Committee heard, I know the difference that bereavement leave will make.' Owen called the amendments a 'bold and necessary move' from the government. 'Nothing will ever take away the pain of losing a pregnancy, but this law change will provide workers with the security of time to grieve and help end the stigma of miscarriage for good.' The announcement follows the launch of the landmark Parental Leave and Pay Review the week prior, which will look at ways to fix the parental leave system for millions of parents so that it delivers a better start to life for all children. Help us improve our content by completing the survey below. We'd love to hear from you!
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Bereavement leave to be extended to miscarriages before 24 weeks
Parents who experience a miscarriage before 24 weeks of pregnancy will be entitled to bereavement leave under a planned law change. The government is set to amend the Employment Rights Bill to give parents the legal right to take time off work to grieve if they experience pregnancy loss at any stage. As it stands, bereavement leave is only available to parents who lose an unborn child after 24 weeks of pregnancy. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said the change will give "people time away from work to grieve". "No one who is going through the heartbreak of pregnancy loss should have to go back to work before they are ready," Rayner said. Parents are currently entitled to a fortnight's leave if they suffer pregnancy loss after 24 weeks, or if a child younger than 18 dies. The extended right to leave will be for "at least" one week, though the exact length is still being consulted on. The Employment Rights Bill, which includes further measures to protect in law the right of employees to have time off to grieve the loss of a loved one, is already making its way through Parliament. Labour MP Sarah Owen, who chairs the Women and Equalities Committee, has previously campaigned for the change. In 2021, she told MPs that after her own miscarriage she felt physically better in a few days but had "all the classic signs" of grieving. "I could not eat, I could not sleep. I really did not hold much hope that life would ever get brighter," she said. In March, business minister Justin Madders told MPs he accepted the principle of bereavement leave for pregnancy loss and promised to look at adding the right to the Employment Rights Bill. Vicki Robinson, chief executive of the Miscarriage Association, welcomed the announcement. She said it was "a hugely important step that acknowledges the often very significant impact of pre-24-week loss, not only for those experiencing the physical loss, but for their partners too". Government backs miscarriage bereavement leave Paid leave for bereaved parents is 'crucial' 'I went back after 3 days': Calls for miscarriage bereavement leave
