Strange Darling
Moment protesters gatecrash new Gucci store in Scots city just minutes after grand opening
THIS is the moment protesters gatecrashed the opening of a new Gucci store in Edinburgh.
The luxury retailer is the latest addition to the capital’s high-end Multrees Walk, near St James Quarter.
Activists from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) can be seen storming the shop holding placards which read: “Gucci: Ban Wild-Animal Skins”.
The protest follows a PETA Asia investigation into an Indonesian abattoir, where workers allegedly tie up and decapitate lizards to make leather purses, belts, and wallets for the brand.
The group claims this leads to a “prolonged and agonising death”.
Video footage, shared by the animal rights organisation today, shows two protesters entering the store as security officers quickly try to usher them out.
Stunned shoppers look on as the drama unfolded this morning.
One can be heard saying: “Gucci profits from animal abuse.
“Snakes are hit with hammers, impaled, inflated with water and skinned for bags and shoes.”
The back of his hoodie reads: “Animals are not ours to experiment on, eat, wear, use for entertainment, or abuse in any other way.”
The pair are then escorted by an officer into St James Quarter shopping centre.
Posting on X, formerly Twitter, PETA wrote: “PETA just crashed the grand opening Gucci’s new store in Edinburgh to call out their use of cruel reptile skins.”
The organisation has launched a petition urging Gucci to ban the use of wildlife skins.
So far, it has received more than 35,000 signatures.
The Scottish Sun approached Gucci for comment.
Ex-Rangers star blasts ‘people making things up’ with cryptic swipe after shock sacking but says he’s ready for new job
IAN MURRAY still disagrees with Raith Rovers’ decision to sack him after just ONE league game this season.
The ex-Airdrie and St Mirren boss was axed after defeat on the opening day of the Championship – to his former Diamonds side.
Murray’s exit was an even bigger surprise coming just months after he took Raith to within a game of the Premiership – losing in the promotion play-offs to Ross County.
His stock remains high after last season’s second place finish and the 43-year-old has been linked with the replacing Craig Levein at St Johnstone – another SPFL dismissal that caught many by surprise.
He only signed a contract extension six months before the axe fell and Neil Collins replaced him.
Now Murray says he’s ready for his next job wherever that may be – and is willing to abandon a busy schedule to return to the game.
However his exit still wrankles almost two months on – both the decision and how it was handled – and he took a cryptic swipe as he discussed his situation with the BBC’s Scottish Football Podcast.
He said: “I wasn’t expecting it. It was a less than three-minute phone conversation.
“I was told they wanted to go in a different direction. They felt that they had regressed in recent months and they were going to terminate my contract.
“And that was the end of the conversation.
“The first thought for most people was there was something else behind it, which then starts questioning my integrity at times because people like to talk and make some things up that they don’t know about.
“But there was nothing. I told him that I didn’t agree with the decision, 100 per cent. And I didn’t expect that decision to be made.”
Murray went on: “I wasn’t going to sit there and beg for my job.
“I felt I had enough credit in the bank to at least have had a conversation before a decision was made where we could maybe sit down around a table, shake hands even and walk away.
“But to do it over the phone I felt wasn’t right. You obviously try and evaluate the reasons that they gave, but they still don’t make any sense to me.”
Murray is raring to go again. He was named among the potential replacements at St Johnstone as soon as Levein’s exit was announced – alongside his Airdrie successor Rhys McCabe and fellow Championship rivals Scott Brown and John McGlynn.
Next Manager Odds
According to Gambling.com
- John McGlynn 6/4
- Tiernan Lynch 2/1
- Tommy Wright 5/2
- David Martindale 5/2
- Scot Gemmill 3/1
- Ian Murray 4/1
- Alex Neil 5/1
- Callum Davidson 11/2
- Scott Brown 6/1
- Billy McKinlay 15/2
- John Kennedy 8/1
- Neil Lennon 12/1
Murray added: “You have to be ready and I am ready. I didn’t need a rest. I’ve had my rest in the summer, so it wasn’t like I needed to recharge my batteries.
“Like any manager, I am open to any offer.
It’s sad when someone loses their job but that’s the nature of the business that we are in. Unfortunately, you are always waiting for someone to leave and you might have an opportunity.
“I have got a lot coming up in the next couple of weeks, which is really, really good – all football related – but if a job comes up before that, then fantastic.”
Website Gambling.com made league leading Falkirk boss McGlynn front-runner for the job in Perth at 6/4, followed by Larne FC manager Tiernan Lynch at 2/1
Former Celtic duo Brown and John Kennedy are 6/1 and 8/1 shots respectively, with Murray himself priced at 4/1.
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Influencer and designer Joel Pringle found dead weeks after vanishing as heartbroken partner releases tragic statement
GRAPHIC design influencer Joe Pringle has been found dead weeks after vanishing.
The 40-year-old was last seen in Queensland’s Whitsundays region on August 19 – sparking a massive search.
Local volunteers assisted his family and authorities to help find Joe where his phone was last detected in Conway National Park.
But his heartbroken partner Eve Houghton announced on Wednesday that their search had come to an end.
She wrote on Facebook: “It is with deep sadness that we share the news that Joel was found late yesterday evening. Unfortunately he passed away.
“We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has come together in the search for Joel – family, friends, and the many people who travelled from far and wide to help.
“We are incredibly thankful to the police, water police, SES, and local businesses that displayed flyers and posters.
“To everyone who offered their support and kindness – your love and care will forever be treasured by Joel’s family and close friends.”
The death is being treated as non-suspicious and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
There’s a reason you need to focus on your garden right now – do 5 jobs this weekend & they’ll be sorted for the year
WITH the upcoming week set for crisp weather, it’s the perfect time to give your garden an Autumn revamp.
For those of you who want to save money, but are still wanting to transform your space, this next week is the ideal temperature to get your hands dirty and engage in some garden DIY.
To help you know where to start, garden and landscaping experts at Dino Decking have revealed the easy to do, quick and budget friendly garden jobs to get stuck into.
Shed maintenance
To prepare your shed ahead of Autumn and Winter, there are a few maintenance bits and pieces to carry out.
Not only will it make your shed look wonderful, but painting your shed can help it endure the colder months easier by adding protection from weathering.
If you’re feeling particularly handy, you could check your shed roof for any holes and tears and do a DIY repair job.
Additionally, apply a wood treatment to add an extra layer of protection.
To keep your shed from rotting and decaying, keep your gutters clear of leaves so that water can run freely off your shed which will prevent it from flooding.
If you don’t feel like getting your hands dirty, you could spend time decluttering and clearing out your shed, which will help you find things easier, prevent buying duplicates of tools and also free up space.
The first step is to remove everything and start with a clean slate, before grouping items in terms of keep and chuck.
Once this has been done, plan your layout to make it easier to find items in the future and then put back all the necessary items.
Focus on the vegetables
September is a great time to prepare the soil if you’re wanting to sow seed or lay turf, as well as getting your fruits and veg in the ground.
Early to mid September, it’s the ideal temperature to provide an optimal growing environment for lettuce (16-18°C).
To get the best result, keep soil moist and cool, but ensure it’s not waterlogged.
Planting spring onions in September also gives them time to take advantage of the summer sun, which is needed for germination.
It’s also the perfect time to plant up your well rooted strawberry runners into new beds, and finish pruning fruit trees to encourage fruiting for the next season.
Lawn maintenance
Autumn is the perfect time to start lawn maintenance again. Make sure you set your mowing height to 4 cm to allow grass to get winter ready.
If you don’t have a lawn mower, you can also do this manually. Whilst you’re rejuvenating your lawn, it’s also a great opportunity to scarify, aerate, repair patches and overseed your lawn.
To repair patches, simply take a rake and some lawn seed and begin by clearing out any obvious weeds and dead grass.
Once it’s clear, rake it level and add some compost to keep your soil looking and feeling healthy before spreading an even layer of seeds to the soil. Rake in gently and then lightly firm it with your feet.
Depending on the British weather, if it doesn’t look like it will be raining soon, spray gently with a hose, being mindful of not pushing the seeds out.
Wash your decking
Take advantage of the crisp but dry weather by setting time aside to inspect your decking for any signs of wear, damage, or potential issues.
Have a look for areas where boards may be loose or uneven, as well as any signs of rot, mould, or mildew.
It’s important that you promptly address these issues to prevent them from worsening and help maintain the integrity of your decking over time.
Once you’ve inspected your decking, it’s time to give it a good clean. To begin, use a broom to push aside any leaves or debris to give you a clear surface to work on.
Then, using lukewarm water, gently scrub the surface with a soft-bristled brush. Rinse thoroughly, or for a quicker solution, mop away any excess water.
For any stubborn stains caused by grease and oil spill from the BBQ, consider purchasing a specialised spray or cleaner, and with a bit of scrubbing, they’ll vanish like magic.
September gardening jobs
With September starting, so does autumn, and The Sun's Gardening Editor Veronica Lorraine has a few tasks to keep you busy as the summer sun winds down.
1. Starting thinking about Spring bulbs
Its early bulb time! As well as the more traditional daffodils, crocuses, alliums and bluebells, try snake-head fratillaries for something slightly different.
2. Remember the bees
Make sure you’re still looking after the bees with autumn flowering pollinators – like sedums, honeysuckle and asters.
3. Dig and enjoy your potatoes
Maincrop potatoes are ready to dig up – make sure you get them all so they don’t get slug damage.
4. Change your lawn mowing schedule
Raise the height of your lawn mower and start to reduce the amount of mowing you do. GIve it an autumn feed, especially if you didn’t get round to it in Summer and start to rake to remove thatch.
5. Plant out new perennials while the soil is still warm.
6. Take salvia cuttings
It’s as easy as cutting a shoot tip above a node and chucking it in a glass of water to see if it sprouts roots. Especially with tender Salvias which wont survive the winter.
7. Keep camelias well watered to make sure that buds form next year.
8. Keep on deadheading and watering your hanging baskets
They should keep going until the first frosts.
9. Get pumpkins Halloween ready
Remove any leaves shading pumpkins to make sure they’ll be ready for halloween – and make sure you keep watering them, they’re very thirsty.
10. Check on your pond
Net your pond to stop it filling with fallen leaves when the trees start to drop.
Get weeding
To keep your garden in tip top condition, it’s time to remove the annoying weeds.
You can simply remove weeds by cutting them down with scissors.
However if you prefer, you can also use your hands to dig out the weeds and roots too.
Once you’ve weeded your garden, set aside 15 minutes every few days to prevent it getting messy again.
Also ensure you’re annually trimming climbers and plants by cutting them down and removing the dead stems.
Happy Planting!
HI, I’m Veronica Lorraine, The Sun’s new Gardening Editor.
It’s a great honour to carry on the paper’s proud tradition of horticultural coverage.
As an RHS-trained professional gardener and journalist with 18 years at The Sun, I know our readers are passionate about tending their outside spaces.
So each week I’ll bring you all the news, tips, tutorials, competitions, Q&As and seasonal advice.
No matter how or where you garden.
Happy Planting!
Major motorway used by 150k daily will close TONIGHT – check full diversion route
DRIVERS have been warned to check their route ahead of a major UK motorway closure TONIGHT.
Travel chaos could strike across the weekend as works take place on a busy stretch of road – used by around 150,000 motorists daily.
A diversion route has been put in place for those wishing to use the M62, which connects Liverpool to Hull, due to an essential bridge replacement.
Network Rail will be working on the 60-year-old Castleton bridge from today.
Closures are place from 9pm until 6am on Monday September 23.
Affected stretches of the motorway include eastbound routes shut from junction 18 at Simister Island interchange to junction 20 at Rochdale.
Westbound the closure extends between junction 20 and junction 19 at Heywood.
Eastbound traffic from the M66 or clockwise M60 has been advised to exit at junction 21 of the M60 at Chadderton.
Drivers are then urged to follow the northbound A663 (Broadway) and A627M to rejoin the M62 at junction 20.
Meanwhile, westbound drivers will be diverted off the M62 at junction 20 onto the southbound A627(M), then westbound A664 and northbound A6046 to rejoin at junction 19.
This is the second dose of disruption, after another closure earlier this month.
Amid the shutdowns, Manchester Airport issued warning to passengers looking to jet off this weekend.
Writing on X, airport bosses suggested using “alternative routes” to get to the terminal and leaving earlier to avoid missing flights.
And in a similar statement, major airline Jet2 urged drivers to “avoid” the affected sections of the road.
The firm added: “Please allow enough time to travel to your departure airport as all Jet2.com flights are still due to operate as scheduled.”
There will also be no trains running on the line, which connects Manchester Victoria to Rochdale.
Rail replacement bus services will be in operation instead.
Network Rail sponsor Olivia Bolan, said: “The replacement of Castleton bridge is essential for the safe running of our railway, and crucial to the country’s economy as six per cent of the UK’s energy supply relies on the bridge for transportation.
“I’d like to thank passengers and motorists for their understanding while we carry out this work.
“It is a unique project that sees weekend closures of the M62 for the first time.
“Please, check before you travel on the M62 or between Manchester and Rochdale from 6-25 September 2024.”
Steve Mason, Nationals Highways’ North West programme delivery manager, added: “The collaboration between Network Rail and National Highways highlights our commitment to minimising disruption for both rail and road users during this essential project.
“We appreciate the understanding of passengers and motorists during this work and urge them to check travel plans for September 2024.
“National Highways is actively working with Network Rail to communicate the impact on road users and ensure a smooth process during this important upgrade.”
New details revealed on Meghan Markle’s ARO brand as she aims to ‘elevate the everyday’ with her jam despite setbacks
MEGHAN Markle has been fairly quiet lately, despite having numerous projects on the horizon, such as her new lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard (ARO).
The Duchess of Sussex announced she is launching the brand back in March – but has so far only sent branded jams to 50 high-profile friends and influencers.
Meghan, 43, is also set to debut a cooking show on Netflix that will tie in with the selling of her ARO products, which could include everything from tableware to dog treats.
According to royal biographer Emily Andrews, ARO is aiming to sell Meghan as a “beacon of inspiration, aspiration and attainability.”
She told Grazia: “Her style will be sold as ‘affordable elegance’ and while her image will concentrate on her status as a family-orientated yet ‘regal’ figure, while customers will be urged to embrace their innate elegance and ‘elevate the everyday.’”
However, her lifestyle brand has recently “suffered a bit of a blow.”
Trademark woes
The Duchess of Sussex has experienced a setback in the bid to trademark her new homewares empire – after trying to claim ownership of the entire American Riviera.
In a setback officials pointed out that the wording of her brand is a common nickname for Santa Barbara in California.
Without a trademark in place, anyone can “imitate the brand, flog cut-price rip-offs and cheapen its image.”
Emily added: “Of course, Meghan’s office might submit a disclaimer mark confirming no claim is made to the exclusive right of ‘American Riviera’ but that does prove rather a headache for her and for Netflix (who are helping to bankroll it).”
Further hitches include Meg and her team filling in the official forms incorrectly, and failing to send enough cash.
And their application wasn’t even signed.
Her team, led by top US attorney Marjorie Witter Norman under Meghan’s fledgling Mama Knows Best LLC firm, applied to the Patent and Trademark Office in the States for legal protection to exclusively trade using the name ‘American Riviera Orchard’.
But the application, filed in March, has been rejected and now she has three months to amend the request – or it will be removed from the register.
What has Meghan Markle teased from American Riviera Orchard so far?
MEGHAN Markle launched her brand's new Instagram page in March 2024, but no products are available to buy as of yet.
Industry insiders said the site will focus on home, food, garden and lifestyle goods.
Meghan kicked off promoting American Riviera Orchard by sending 50 branded jams to friends and influencers.
Those who received a package included Chrissy Teigen, Heather Dorak, Tracy Robbins and Kris Jenner.
She later unveiled two new products from her American Riviera Orchard brand just hours before Trooping the Colour.
Polo player and close friend of Prince Harry, Nacho Figueras was treated to a jar of raspberry jam from the collection as well as a jar of luxury dog biscuits for his pooch.
‘Tricky time’
Emily added: “This all comes at a rather tricky time for Meghan – she and Harry signed a five-year deal with Netflix, which is due to come to an end next year.
“Neither side ever confirmed how much the deal was worth, but aside from their tell-all self-titled documentary series and another on the Invictus Games, they had nothing else to show for the reported 50 million.”
The Sussexes have bought the film rights to make a movie based on the book Meet Me at the Lake which is said to still be “in the works.”
Meanwhile, alongside Meghan’s cooking show, Prince Harry is reportedly filming a documentary on polo.
This comes as Meghan and Harry’s reported $20million Spotify deal falling through after one podcast series of Archetypes – with one senior official labelling them as “f***ing grifters”.
Harry’s in the money
However, the Sussexes may be receiving a large sum of cash soon, as it was reported Prince Harry will accept an £8million inheritance despite not being a working royal.
Before her death, Harry’s great-gran the Queen Mother arranged for him to get the trust fund payment on his 40th birthday, which recently took place.
Former royal butler Grant Harrold told the New York Post: “I’ve no doubt that Harry will accept it.
“It’s money that’s owed to him, money that’s coming to him. I don’t think he will decline the money.
“It’s inheritance so it’s his right. It’s already something that has been set in place for years now.”
I make $50k a year as a plus-size bikini model – trolls say I’m ‘glorifying obesity’ but fat isn’t a dirty word to me
THE world of plus-size modelling is evolving, but for the women on the frontlines of the movement, the path to self-love isn’t always easy.
From battling societal stigma to overcoming limitations, four plus-size models offered their insights into the industry.
Aly Avina, 30, from Virginia, regularly models for brands like Unique and Fabletics and averages about $50,000 (£37,600) a year.
Fo Aly, stepping into the industry began as a way to share body-positive messages with other plus-size women.
“I wanted to reach plus-size women who weren’t comfortable with how they looked yet,” she explained.
Posting on social media helped her build a following of over 200,000, but it also brought inevitable backlash.
“There are always people who want to troll the plus-size community,” she said.
“It’s going to attract those that want to tear you down, you’ll hear people say you’re glorifying obesity just because you’re in a larger body.”
However, Avina said that she has “taken the power back” through her platform.
“If someone wants to use ‘fat’ as a negative connotation, that’s their prerogative, but I’m not going to take being called ‘fat’ as an insult because that’s who I am,” she said.
Despite the negativity, Avina stresses that body positivity is about accepting yourself at any size.
Her biggest challenge is ignoring the hate, but she’s learned to develop a thick skin.
“You just have to stand up for yourself and not let it get to you,” she said.
Alex Aspasia, 30, a Fashion Nova Curve and OnlyFans model from Florida, believes that brands still overlook the larger end of the plus-size spectrum.
“I wear a size 24 (UK 28), and I feel like we’re still missing representation,” she explained.
“The average body for a plus-size model is a size 14 or 16 (UK 18 or 20), which is great, but there are also women beyond that size who need representation.”
Aspasia began her journey in 2019 by posting her fashion and lifestyle on social media, inspired by other plus-size creators.
The 5 Best Body Positive Influencers To Follow
- @_nelly_london – Nelly has been on a journey with breast corrective surgery and has also shared her experience with eating disorders, her honesty and openness makes her a great follow.
- @lottiedryna – She regularly shares content on living with IBS and finds bloat-friendly outfits to share with her followers.
- @stephanieyeboah – Stephanie Yeboah’s body positive content has the most incredible message – everyone is worthy of being loved, plus she has the best fashion inspo going.
- @isabelladavis6 – Bella’s content spans more than just body image and is ideal for women wanting a community of women supporting women.
- @jessontheplussize – She advocates for women wearing what they want no matter their body shape.
But she’s often accused of promoting obesity simply by existing in her body.
“I never once have said it’s OK to be obese, I tell people to love themselves and live authentically,” she said.
“Fatphobia seems to be ramping up again with things like Ozempic and diet culture, but I know people are just projecting their insecurities onto me.”
“I tell people it’s OK to live authentically and love yourself because the best way to go through this life is with self-love and to be a kind person to spread positivity,” she added.
“And that’s literally been my message since day one.”
Ivy Davenport, 38, who is also from Florida, started modelling as a way to fund her education and now owns HFG Multimedia.
“I started doing online adult plus-size modelling to pay for college,” she explained.
After one video went viral, Davenport received hundreds of nasty messages, including, “You’re disgusting,” “You don’t deserve to breathe,” and “Get away from the refrigerator.”
While the nature of her work has sparked controversy, Davenport is unfazed by negative comments.
“There’s always going to be people saying hateful things, but I just ignore it or laugh,” she said.
“Fat isn’t a dirty word, it’s a descriptor.”
Through modelling, Davenport has developed a deep sense of self-acceptance.
“Modelling taught me to see beauty in everyone, regardless of size.
“Especially in plus-size modelling, it’s nice because it shines a light on people who might be overlooked in other settings.”
Dutchess Jones, 39, from Alabama, faces unique challenges as a “curvy plus-size” model, straddling the line between traditional slim models and larger BBW models.
“I’m a size 12, so I’m neither slim nor BBW. For me, it’s difficult on both sides because I’m neither of them,” she explained.
Jones, who models for up-and-coming designers in the plus-size community, highlighted the lack of inclusive sizing from many designers.
“There are still a lot of boutiques and designers that don’t cater to anyone over a size 8 (UK 12),” she said.
“A lot of designers don’t want to invest in the fabric or use plus-size models.”
Despite the hurdles, Jones is hopeful about the future of plus-size modelling.
“As of late, the world is becoming more aware of the talent that plus-size models bring to the table — the pizazz, the energy, the talent. There’s more to come.”
Secrets Behind 61-Year-Old Joan Vassos’ Beauty- Expert’s Verdict on Her Plastic Surgery Allegations
The Golden Bachelor has met its other half – The Golden Bachelorette. The very first season of The Bachelorette’s spin-off was released a couple of days ago on ABC. Unlike the OG show, this version focuses on giving senior citizens a chance at love. Standing in the center of the spotlight in season 1 is […]
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Chechen warlord, Putin ally accuses Elon Musk of disabling his machine-gun mounted Tesla Cybertruck on front lines
"He gives expensive gifts from the bottom of his heart and then remotely disconnects them.”
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