Latest news with #Strange
The Advertiser
2 days ago
- The Advertiser
Gastro in Spain, thieves in Italy: travel insurer pinpoints European hotspots
Corfu, Greece. Picture: Shutterstock By Sarah Falson Updated July 18 2025 - 3:31pm, first published 3:02pm A European gastro hotspot has emerged among new travel insurance data that shows the surprising travel binds Aussies have found themselves in across Europe this season. Subscribe now for unlimited access. or signup to continue reading All articles from our website The digital version of Today's Paper All other in your area Southern Cross Travel Insurance (SCTI) May 2025 data shows the top-five European countries Australians made claims in were the UK, Italy, France, Greece and Spain. Spain ranked the most likely place for gastro cases, according to data provided by SCTI chief customer officer, Jess Strange. When it came to pickpocketing, Italy, France and Spain were all hotspots. In the UK, watch out for your sunnies, as prescription glasses and sunglasses were among the most common lost or stolen items, along with phones and AirPods. Damaged bags were most likely to be claimed after trips to the UK. The UK was also a hotspot for slips, trips and falls on trains and at train stations. "In the UK rental vehicle excess claims were the highest compared to other European destinations. The most common claims were for chipped windscreens, which are not usually covered by standard car rental insurance," Ms Strange said. Italy had a high propensity for medical claims after skiing accidents, as well as respiratory illnesses including pneumonia, that required hospitalisation. There were also multiple claims for items lost at sea including phones, jewellery or sunglasses lost either while swimming or because they fell into the water, as well as phones and wallets stolen by pickpockets. While train platform-related injuries weren't as common as they were in the UK, there was one case of a female traveller who fell on a train platform and fractured her kneecap. "Following x-rays and being fitted with a knee-brace she was unable to continue her tour due to being unable to walk or bend her leg and returned to Australia early. The claim paid out over $39,000," Ms Strange said. Claims for travel interruptions were common in France, where one male traveller had his wallet and driver's license stolen and was unable to collect his rental car. "As a result, he had to use taxis and rideshares to get to his accommodation which was a significant distance away from the main tourist areas of the city. The claim paid out over $2400 in travel costs," Ms Strange said. A wedding ring was lost in the ocean in Greece, and ear infections and dehydration were among the medical claims. One traveller from Queensland was involved in a quadbike accident and was luckily wearing a helmet, so SCTI paid her $9700 to cover her medical expenses. In Spain, multiple medical claims including fevers and gastro-related illnesses were paid out, as was a broken foot a traveller sustained while climbing down from the top bunk in a hostel. Two travellers destined for Barcelona were paid $695 in travel-related costs because their destination was flooded and they were unable to travel there. Tower of Pisa, Italy. Picture: Shutterstock Ms Strange said before purchasing travel insurance, know what you're covered for. "Certain extreme sports, such as kite surfing and skydiving wouldn't be covered by your insurance policy due to the high-risk nature of the activity. We also don't cover contact sports or anyone who is being paid to play sport, such as professional sportspeople," she said. In addition to extreme sports, the insurer doesn't cover mountaineering, hiking, trekking or tramping if you're at an altitude of above 3000 metres or if you're at an altitude of between 1500 and 3000 metres and you're climbing or intending to climb more than 500 metres per day "This means some adventurous climbs, such as trekking to Everest Base Camp in Nepal, wouldn't be covered under our policy," Ms Strange said. Words by Sarah Falson Sarah is ACM's travel producer. She believes regional travel is just as fun (if not better) than staying in the big cities and loves any travel experience to do with nature, animals and food!.My all-time favourite destination is ... Cornwall. From the giant seagulls to the blustery beaches, Cornish pasties and fishing villages, it stirs something romantic and seafaring in me. Next on my bucket list is … Mongolia. I want to go somewhere really unique that feels totally foreign and challenges my way of life. My top travel tip is … Don't plan too much. Walk the streets and let it happen. And make sure you check out what's within a few blocks of your hotel - sometimes the best local food is found that way.
Global News
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Global News
Ontario councillor facing criminal charge speaks at meeting, advocates denied deputation
Advocates attending the meeting of an Ontario municipality shouted their frustrations Tuesday evening, as a councillor facing a criminal charge was allowed to speak on the very topic they had been banned from discussing. Members of the Women of Ontario Say No advocacy group sat in the Niagara Falls council chamber, alongside supporters of Coun. Mike Strange, where Mayor Jim Diodati struggled to maintain decorum from both sides. The meeting followed dramatic events in June, where the advocacy group was denied the chance to speak about issues of municipal conduct because the city said it could impact an ongoing legal matter. After they were told they could not speak, the group attended a June 17 meeting with signs, and its members were arrested. They were later released without charge. Their frustration bubbled over at Tuesday's meeting, as Coun. Strange, who was charged with domestic assault in May, was allowed to stand during the council meeting and talk about municipal accountability legislation — and the allegation against him. Story continues below advertisement The charge against Strange has not been proven in court. 'Every individual is presumed innocent until proven guilty,' Strange said during Tuesday's meeting. 'This is not just a legal technicality; it is a fundamental protection of fairness and justice in our society. To remove an elected official based on an unproven and unfounded allegation would set a dangerous precedent and undermines the very democratic principles that we rely on.' His speech was punctuated with expressions of frustration from the advocates and met with applause from his supporters. The councillor had previously asked his friends and supporters to attend the meeting and applauded his speech. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy It has been roughly six weeks since the Women of Ontario Say No first asked to present to Niagara Falls council about municipal reform. Their intention, they say, was to seek support for amendments to provincial law, including having councillors put on paid leave if they are criminally charged. Emily McIntosh, the founder of the group, said it was 'shocking' that Strange was allowed to speak on the very topic her group had been denied a delegation on. 'It really undermines the credibility of council to allow double rules,' she said. 'Frankly, it felt terrible to be on the other side of that, where we were denied the opportunity to speak because it may relate to ongoing legal proceedings — even though that wasn't the case, it was very general in nature — and then a councillor could get up, not only speak to that but then also speak to his own personal support that he received.' Story continues below advertisement McIntosh said it was 'extremely unprofessional' that council allowed Strange to speak at all on the topic. 'This is exactly why the public is losing trust in publicly-elected officials,' she said. Another councillor did suggest Strange should not address the ongoing legal matter during the meeting, but the city's CAO said he believed Strange could talk on the topic because he could waive his own privilege rights. Mayor Diodati, who makes calls on who can speak as the chair of the council meeting, told Strange he should avoid referencing his own situation. He did not intervene when Strange discussed the charge. McIntosh said she spoke to a member of the local group who turned out to support Strange. She said they agreed to add supporting the Women of Ontario Say No's municipal reform plans to the agenda at their next meeting. 'So, I will give credit where credit is due,' she said. 'It is very fascinating to me that that core group is willing to provide space to discuss and engage and we couldn't see the same from the Niagara Falls council.' The Women of Ontario Say No has also retained a lawyer, who wrote to the city and local police after the arrests in June. They are considering a legal challenge to force Niagara Falls to allow them to make their presentation and for a public apology. Story continues below advertisement At Tuesday's meeting, Coun. Lori Lococo said her colleagues and the city had not treated the group fairly. 'It was stated that they could not have a delegation; there was no opportunity for something to be put on the agenda,' she said. 'I'm all about fairness — they weren't treated fairly to provide what they needed. I understand what you're saying, maybe in the lawyer's correspondence, they were given that option, but they were not given that option from day one.' During the meeting, Strange tabled a motion to ask staff to research proposed municipal conduct legislation. He said the advocacy group could speak on the day the staff report is finished, at which point — they say — it will be too late. The legislation that the Women of Ontario Say No wanted to discuss at Niagara Falls council is currently being debated by a legislative committee, as the Ford government decides if it needs to make changes. Ontario NDP MPP Jeff Burch said Niagara Falls council was in danger of distracting and taking away from a discussion on how to improve the law. 'It's really detracting from what is supposed to be a bill that makes the municipal arena safer for women, so more people feel comfortable putting their name in the ring to become councillors and work for municipalities,' he said. Story continues below advertisement 'It's about making things safer for women and all of these actions designed to silence the voices of women who are trying to make things safer for women is something I find very troubling.'
Global News
08-07-2025
- Global News
Ontario council braces for potential faceoff after advocates denied deputation, arrested
An Ontario municipality is bracing for a potentially tense council meeting, which a group of advocates calling for governance reform and supporters of a councillor facing a criminal charge are both set to attend. The City of Niagara Falls will meet for its regular council session on Tuesday, with stepped-up security plans in place for a meeting where councillors will discuss dramatic events in June. Among the items on the agenda is a report on its June 17 meeting, where three representatives of the Women of Ontario Say No were arrested inside council chambers. The trio attended the meeting hoping to discuss a reform to provincial law which would put councillors facing criminal charges on paid leave. They were told they could not make their presentation, and instead, they sat in the room with signs reading 'Women of Ontario Say No.' Story continues below advertisement Staff with the local municipality called the police, who told the three advocates they were in danger of trespassing and arrested them. They were later released without charge. Niagara Falls staff said the group could not make its presentation because they felt it interfered with an ongoing legal matter, although they did not cite exactly what they were referring to. Coun. Mike Strange, a Niagara Falls councillor, was charged with domestic assault by Niagara Regional Police in May, a charge which has not been proven in court. The events of that June 17 meeting will be front and centre again on Tuesday because a report written by city staff on the incident will be discussed by councillors. Supporters of the advocacy group and of Coun. Strange are also both set to attend. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Strange said he has asked his friends and supporters to attend the meeting after feeling targeted by the Women of Ontario Say No in June. A communication seen by Global News suggested Strange had asked members of a local group he is involved with to fill the council chamber to make it difficult for the advocates to find space to sit and to support the councillor. 'I will be making a statement tomorrow during the council meeting and yes, I invited my fellow members of the Falls View Hose Brigade because at the last meeting I felt targeted by the protesters,' Strange wrote in an email to Global News. Story continues below advertisement 'I am innocent of the allegations against me and am confident that it will be proven in court.' The Women of Ontario Say No are also planning to attend and said they will bring signage with them to city hall. They told Global News, however, they do not plan to hold it up inside the chamber itself, a key point of contention last time around. The group is pursuing potential legal action against the City of Niagara Falls, demanding they are allowed to make the delegation they originally asked to share with councillors. 'That is really the most critical aspect of what my clients are looking for,' lawyer Susan Toth previously told Global News. 'They're just looking for the right to exercise their democratic process and speak to their elected officials. And it's a bit baffling why the city is so afraid to let these women speak.' The chief administrative officer for Niagara Falls said extra security measures would be in place at the meeting, including requiring those attending inside the chambers to agree that protests should not be held inside the room. 'The City of Niagara Falls has a third party security company on site at all times and we also use our bylaw officers for additional security,' CAO Jason Burgess said in an email to Global News. 'We have established additional security protocols for the Council meeting tomorrow night due to a number of media reports and increased risk.' Story continues below advertisement Burgess previously said that, while the city did not press charges against the advocates in June, its position could change if they are arrested again.
Global News
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Global News
Advocates push Ontario council to apologize after women arrested holding signs
An Ontario municipality is facing the threat of a legal challenge and calls to apologize after advocates were removed from its council chambers and arrested for holding signs. On June 17, three members of the group Women of Ontario Say No attended a Niagara Falls council meeting, hoping to talk about a proposed provincial law and the conduct of municipal councillors. Specifically, they wanted to discuss gaining local support for legal changes that would put sitting councillors facing criminal charges on a paid leave. The city, however, said it would not hear their delegation, suggesting it related to an ongoing legal matter. The advocates then sat in the council chamber, with signs printed on card stock which said, 'Women of Ontario Say No.' Niagara Falls officials say they asked the women to put their signs down and called the police. Officers arrested the trio and eventually released them without charge. Story continues below advertisement Now, the group — which has long called for stricter local accountability at councils — is threatening to take legal action against Niagara Falls if they are not allowed to present to councillors. They're also calling for an apology. Denied delegation Emily McIntosh, the founder of Women of Ontario Say No, said her group wanted to appear at a Niagara Falls council meeting to seek support for their changes to the rules that govern councillors. The group, which has made presentations to various city councils over the year, said it wanted to talk about the possibility of changes to provincial legislation to put any councillor charged with a criminal offence on a paid leave of absence until a court decides on the charges. The Women of Ontario Say No were told they could not present at the meeting, although they were allowed to submit written statements if they chose. Story continues below advertisement 'The municipality cited ongoing court proceedings; it is my understanding that currently there is a councillor who has been charged with domestic assault,' McIntosh said. 'But that is not a reason to exclude productive dialogue and democratic engagement when it comes to legislative change that would benefit all Ontarians.' Niagara Falls Coun. Mike Strange was charged with domestic assault on May 3, according to media reports. In response to questions about Strange from Global News, Niagara Regional Police said they had charged a 54-year-old man with domestic assault on May 3, but did not name him. Strange did not respond to written questions ahead of publication. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Despite the delegation request being denied by the Niagara Falls council, three members of Women of Ontario Say No attended a June 17 meeting with small placards showing the name of the group. They sat with them in the chamber — something a report written by city staff alleges created 'an unsafe, unwelcoming, undemocratic and uncivil situation.' St. Catharines Coun. Haley Bateman was one of the three women attending the meeting and holding the signs. She said the advocates were quiet and did not wave their signs. 'It was peaceful, there should be no reason why a sign — an 8.5 by 11 piece of card stock with 'The Women of Ontario Ontario Say No' — should have been intimidating or threatening to them at all,' she said. Story continues below advertisement 'We sat there peacefully, we didn't approach, we didn't get out of our seats, we didn't shake our signs.' Officers with Niagara Regional Police were called. The City of Niagara Falls would not confirm to Global News who called the police, but CAO Jason Burgess said it was 'staff's decision.' Police said they received the call around 4:15 p.m. on June 17 and told the advocates they would be in violation of trespassing laws if they did not leave. 'Following a prolonged discussion, three adult females continued to display their signs and were briefly detained by police,' a spokesperson for Niagara Regional Police told Global News. 'They were escorted from council chambers and off City property. The individuals were released unconditionally after the City declined to proceed with formal charges.' Burgess said the city was 'attempting to get compliance' and therefore was not looking to press charges. Legal letter After the arrests and deputation denial, the Women of Ontario Say No retained a lawyer, who wrote to both Niagara Regional Police and Niagara Falls City Council. Story continues below advertisement In her letter to councillors, lawyer Susan Toth said the women at the June 17 meeting had been 'exercising their lawful right,' holding signs that 'were neither offensive nor derogatory.' The letter called for council to allow the presentation to go ahead and to issue an apology and admission of wrongdoing. In a report to council, city staff said they would allow the Women of Ontario Say No to submit written information to the council meeting and to protest outside the council building — but not in the room where meetings take place. 'The group has opposed Staff's enforcement of the decorum policy, and more specifically, of the conditions that signs with messages not be held up inside chambers, and that legal matters outside council's jurisdiction not be spoken to as part of the deputation,' part of the staff report said. Toth said she didn't accept the city's position. 'Frankly, they're just not on solid legal ground,' she said. 'You don't get to pick and choose when the rule of law is convenient to you. You don't get to pick and choose when you like charter rights to what it looks like.' Provincial policy The Women of Ontario Say No wanted to present to councillors about provincial legislation which, if passed, will make it easier to remove municipal councillors found guilty of serious violations. Story continues below advertisement Removal would have to be recommended by integrity commissioners and would ultimately be approved by a unanimous vote of councillors. Allowing colleagues to make the final decision on the punishment for councillors who face removal is a gap, the group argues, pointing to Strange's continued presence at Niagara Falls council as an example. 'If this was the judicial system and we were looking at a case there, no council person would qualify to be a juror because the bias is so strong,' McIntosh said. 'So when we're looking at this legislative development, it's not just about getting it done, it's about making sure that it's done right and we're modelling it off of best practices. And (Niagara Falls) is a great example as to why it would not be appropriate for a decision like that to come back to council.' Neither the current Municipal Act nor the proposed new policy automatically deals with what councillors facing criminal charges should do. Strange has been charged. The allegations against him have not been proven. A spokesperson for Ontario's Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing said the government had carefully considered its legislation. 'Removal from office is a serious measure, reserved for the most extreme code of conduct violations, and safeguarded by a high threshold and thorough review to ensure it is never taken lightly,' they wrote in a statement. Story continues below advertisement Upcoming meeting Niagara Falls City Council will meet again on Tuesday, July 8, and members of the Women of Ontario Say No intend to attend. The city told Global News it would be telling anyone going to the meeting to 'acknowledge the rules and confirm that they are not going to undertake behavior that will be against the written rules.' Burgess said, if police are called again, 'the City may take a different stand on whether to formally press charges.' Bateman said the move was 'laughable' and said advocates would likely be there again. 'Oh how ridiculous of them, that's the most absurd thing I've ever heard,' she said of requiring an acknowledgement before entering the chamber. 'I can't even imagine what the thought process is on this.'
USA Today
05-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
WATCH: Every target for Jacksonville Jaguar's TE Brenton Strange in 2024
Take a look at every target Jaguars' TE Brenton Strange had during the 2024 season. Take a look below at every one of the targets that Jacksonville Jaguars' tight end Brenton Strange had during the 2024 season. Strange assumed a much larger role in 2024 compared to his rookie year in 2023. When it was all said and done, Strange was targeted 54 times, catching 40 of those passes for 411 yards with two touchdowns. Of note, Strange ranked 17th out of 45 eligible tight ends in yards per route run, an efficiency metric from Pro Football Focus. The Jaguars' organization is extremely bullish on Strange this season, who now sits atop the team's tight end depth chart. That in itself will lead to more opportunities, but within Liam Coen's offense, the tight end is a key part of the passing game. Last season, with Coen calling the plays in Tampa Bay, Bucs' tight end Cade Otton finished the year with 84 targets, which was the ninth-most among all tight ends in the NFL. Along with Strange's ability to impact the game as a pass-catcher, he's also versatile, able to line up across the formation, and he's a capable run-blocker as well. When a tight end can fill a variety of roles, it adds a level of unpredictability to an offense.
