The "And In Other News" Thread After Hours

[Spikey]

After being identified as a "high-risk" game by German authorities, England and Serbia fans will only be able to buy low-alcohol beer on Sunday.
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The full-strength Bitburger lager (4.8% ABV) usually served inside the Arena AufSchalke in Gelsenkirchen has been changed to a 2.5%, with fans only allowed to buy two pints at a time in the stadium.⁠
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Gelsenkirchen police said this week: ⁠
⁠
"It is just the England game which will have the low-strength beer … Fans are not allowed to drink alcohol in the city's main square, Heinrich-Konig-Platz. An England fan with a can or bottle of beer in the square will be asked to put it away, or it will be taken away. They will not immediately be arrested.⁠
⁠
"The square will be a fan zone for other games in the city, but not for England. Fans can however drink alcohol in the city's bars and in a fan zone for England fans at the racecourse."⁠
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England vs Serbia kicks off at 8pm on Sunday.

 

[Mamacita]

Surrey Police said it will refer itself to the police complaints watchdog following an incident in which a cow was deliberately struck twice by a response vehicle.

The force said in a statement that after attempts to safely capture the cow "over a period of a number of hours" failed, "the decision was made to stop it using a police car".

Home Secretary James Cleverly said he would be asking for an urgent explanation, describing the actions as "heavy handed".

The RSPCA has said the police response, which saw the animal hit twice by a marked vehicle in Surrey, "appears disproportionate".

Footage shared online shows a marked vehicle ramming into the cow, which appears to be stunned and tries to get to its feet, before being hit a second time.

In the 26-second video, witnesses and bystanders can be heard reacting in shock as the cow is struck by the vehicle.

Surrey Police said: "This matter has been referred to our professional standards department.

"The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has been notified and a voluntary referral will be made in due course."

It said the animal had been seen by a vet and was receiving treatment for a large cut to its leg.

Absolutely disgusting. Why would they do that?

 

[Tom]

Absolutely disgusting. Why would they do that?

They released a statement claiming it was their final option.

I struggle to believe that was a last resort.

 

[Bandit]

Absolutely disgusting. Why would they do that?

Awful that. Idiots.

 

[Janey]

Absolutely disgusting. Why would they do that?

Even if protocol has been covered, which remains to be seen, it's not a good look for the police.

You'd like to assume that ramming an animal is a last resort in preserving human life, which this doesn't appear to be.

 

[Cappuccino Kid]

Absolutely disgusting. Why would they do that?

Could they not have tranquilzed the cow? What a horrible thing never mind once but to hit it twice..

 

[John Steed]

Absolutely disgusting. Why would they do that?

I agree it looks horrific but...

The police are there to protect members of the public. My guess, having seen a man being chased around a car, they decided to take action. In an ideal world a vet would have been called to tranquilize it, but that takes time.

 

[Black Sheep]

Physic medium, Zerah Fleming, has claimed that when she's on a night out, voices of the dead speak and demand she down her drink immediately and go bar-hopping so she can deliver as many messages as possible from beyond the grave.

She said:

"If I tried to ignore it the voice would say the same thing or get louder and be persistent.

"I would never tell my friends why I wanted to go to a particular bar. I would say 'look guys I don't want to go here, shall we go to this next place?' because I had this compulsion to go there.

"Once I got there I realised why when I bumped into someone I had something to tell. It's been a mixed response when I've approached strangers. Sometimes they were taken aback and sometimes it did scare people but it's a very welcome response in the majority of cases."

Zerah says she doesn't find it chatting to the spirits of the dead too frightening, but admitted it was sometimes 'overwhelming'.

 

[Shelby]

A Christian pastor is going viral for selling plots in Heaven for $100 per square meter.

He claims that in 2017, God authorized him to sell these plots, guaranteeing purchasers a spot near God's palace, regardless of the plot size.

A circulating brochure details the purchase process, showing a middle-class house in the sky and a family of four ascending golden steps toward it.

Payment options include Visa, MasterCard, Google Pay, American Express, and Apple Pay, with installment plans available.

 

[Shelby]

Dolce & Gabbana has introduced "Fefé," a $105 fragrance mist designed specifically for dogs.

Inspired by founder Domenico Dolce's miniature poodle, the mist features notes of ylang-ylang, musk, and sandalwood. The product, sold in a sleek green glass bottle with a gold-plated paw, comes with a complimentary Dolce & Gabbana dog collar.

The fragrance is alcohol-free and certified safe for pets, though some experts, like the RSPCA's Alice Potter, advise against using strong scents on dogs, as their sense of smell is crucial for communication and interaction.