Woman Jailed over Neglect of 191 Dogs

Most of the dogs were kept in crates and cages in a remote Devon field, the court heard - RSPCA
Most of the dogs were kept in crates and cages in a remote Devon field, the court heard - RSPCA
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Woman Jailed over Neglect of 191 Dogs

Most of the dogs were kept in crates and cages in a remote Devon field, the court heard - RSPCA
Most of the dogs were kept in crates and cages in a remote Devon field, the court heard - RSPCA

A woman who kept 191 dogs in "pitiful" conditions in Devon has been jailed.

Diana Curtis, 66, of Peters Marland, had kept the dogs in crates and cages in a remote field near Chittlehamholt and in kennels near Chulmleigh Cross, Exeter Crown Court heard, BBC reported.

Curtis had previously pleaded guilty to seven counts of causing unnecessary suffering to animals.

She was jailed for 25 months and handed a lifetime ban from owning animals.

Two animals had to be put down, while others were found with scars, infected wounds and missing ears, probably caused by fighting, the court was told.

The RSPCA said three other puppies also died because of their ill health.

Sentencing, Judge James Adkin said pictures showed the dogs were in "a truly pitiful condition".

"You put yourself and your own feelings before the animals causing them considerable suffering," he said.

The court heard Curtis moved 99 dogs to a remote field with no water or electricity supply near Chittlehamholt.

Other dogs were kept in kennels in Chulmleigh Cross.

Local farmer Bill Bowen tipped off police because of the noise of the barking animals, the court was told.

RSPCA inspectors said they found dogs kept in cramped conditions standing on top of one another to drink water.

Curtis later turned up in a lorry with another 92 dogs inside, the court heard.

The court heard she had already been banned from keeping animals after being convicted in December 2023 of ill-treating horses, chickens and ducks.

For those offences, she was jailed for 16 weeks, suspended for 12 months, and told to pay £10,000 costs.

Mr Bowen said he spent more than two hours on the phone to police after he and his daughter discovered the dogs in the field.

He said it was a shocking sight to see with many of the dogs looking ill.

"Three days later it snowed really heavily and a lot of those dogs would have died in that snow," Mr Bowen said.



Prince William, Wannabe DJ and Film-Lover, Appears on UK Chat Show

Britain's Prince William meets with the public on a street during a royal visit to the Aberfan Disaster Memorial Garden to mark the 60th anniversary of the 1966 disaster, in which 109 children and five teachers were killed at Pantglas Junior School when a coal spoil tip collapsed onto the Welsh village, Britain, October 21, 2026. (Reuters)
Britain's Prince William meets with the public on a street during a royal visit to the Aberfan Disaster Memorial Garden to mark the 60th anniversary of the 1966 disaster, in which 109 children and five teachers were killed at Pantglas Junior School when a coal spoil tip collapsed onto the Welsh village, Britain, October 21, 2026. (Reuters)
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Prince William, Wannabe DJ and Film-Lover, Appears on UK Chat Show

Britain's Prince William meets with the public on a street during a royal visit to the Aberfan Disaster Memorial Garden to mark the 60th anniversary of the 1966 disaster, in which 109 children and five teachers were killed at Pantglas Junior School when a coal spoil tip collapsed onto the Welsh village, Britain, October 21, 2026. (Reuters)
Britain's Prince William meets with the public on a street during a royal visit to the Aberfan Disaster Memorial Garden to mark the 60th anniversary of the 1966 disaster, in which 109 children and five teachers were killed at Pantglas Junior School when a coal spoil tip collapsed onto the Welsh village, Britain, October 21, 2026. (Reuters)

Prince William talked about his ‌love of Christopher Nolan films and how he once wanted to be a DJ as he appeared on a British television chat show on Friday to promote his annual award for climate change innovation.

The heir to the throne, 44, has in recent years regularly appeared in less formal settings in a bid to connect with younger audiences, including Radio One, one of UK's biggest stations for under 30s, and sports podcasts.

William surprised celebrity guests including actors Cate Blanchett and Hannah Waddingham when he joined them ‌on the ‌sofa for an episode of the BBC's Graham ‌Norton ⁠Show, which is ⁠due to air later on Friday.

Asked about how he relaxes, he said he and his family together enjoy reality show The Celebrity Traitors, while he personally turns to music and films.

"I'm a big fan of everything Christopher Nolan does. His films are fantastic – The Dark Knight series is psychologically dark and deep and I ⁠absolutely love that," William said.

"He takes concepts that ‌are completely out there and ‌makes them incredibly entertaining."

Before accepting that his future job would be that ‌of king, he said he had wanted to be a ‌policeman.

"Then I went through a phase of wanting to be a DJ – I wasn’t very good," he said.

William has in recent years sought to provide insights into his personal life, without creating waves by ‌giving too much away about the challenges of life in the public eye.

Two years ago, both ⁠his father, ⁠King Charles, and his wife Kate began treatment for cancer. His wife is now in remission, while Charles's treatment continues.

He has also been estranged from his brother Prince Harry for about six years, after Harry published a book detailing the breakdown of their relationship and repeatedly criticized the royal family.

Talking about The Earthshot Prize, which he set up six years ago to award five winners £1 million each to fund their ideas to save the environment, William said the aim was to bring optimism into an issue which can otherwise feel depressing.

"There are some amazing people out there doing things to protect the world," he said.


Monet’s ‘Iris’ Becomes Most Expensive Artwork Sold at Auction in France, Sotheby’s Says

This photograph shows French painter Claude Monet's "Iris", 1924–1925, during a preview of 28 Impressionist works of the Schlumberger Collection unveiled ahead of the October 22, 2026, sale at Sotheby's auction house in Paris on September 17, 2026.
This photograph shows French painter Claude Monet's "Iris", 1924–1925, during a preview of 28 Impressionist works of the Schlumberger Collection unveiled ahead of the October 22, 2026, sale at Sotheby's auction house in Paris on September 17, 2026.
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Monet’s ‘Iris’ Becomes Most Expensive Artwork Sold at Auction in France, Sotheby’s Says

This photograph shows French painter Claude Monet's "Iris", 1924–1925, during a preview of 28 Impressionist works of the Schlumberger Collection unveiled ahead of the October 22, 2026, sale at Sotheby's auction house in Paris on September 17, 2026.
This photograph shows French painter Claude Monet's "Iris", 1924–1925, during a preview of 28 Impressionist works of the Schlumberger Collection unveiled ahead of the October 22, 2026, sale at Sotheby's auction house in Paris on September 17, 2026.

Claude Monet's "Iris" was sold late on Thursday for €50 million ($56.05 million), becoming the most expensive work of art sold at auction in France, Sotheby's said.

The painting, completed toward ‌the end ‌of Monet's ‌life, attracted ⁠frantic bidding with six ⁠people battling it out for 45 minutes for the piece, before the final two continued ⁠to scrabble for a ‌further ‌20 minutes.

"Iris" finally went ‌to an Asian ‌collector who bid over the phone.

The painting was one of several works ‌up for auction from the Schlumberger Collection ⁠and ⁠had been expected to sell between €22 million and €30 million.

The previous French auction record was set in 2010, by Amedeo Modigliani's "Head of a Caryatid," which sold for €43.2 million.


Greece Passes Social Media Ban for Children Under 15

FILE PHOTO: Instagram app icon is seen on a smartphone in this illustration taken October 27, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Instagram app icon is seen on a smartphone in this illustration taken October 27, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
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Greece Passes Social Media Ban for Children Under 15

FILE PHOTO: Instagram app icon is seen on a smartphone in this illustration taken October 27, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Instagram app icon is seen on a smartphone in this illustration taken October 27, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

Greece's parliament approved a bill on Friday that bans the use of social media platforms for children under 15 amid growing concerns over their impact on the health and safety of minors.

The ban comes ‌into force ‌on January 1, ‌2027, said Reuters.

Australia was the ⁠first country to pass legislation to curb the use of social media by minors, doing so last year. A similar law ⁠passed in France ‌was struck ‌down by the country's Constitutional Council ‌in August

Greek Prime ‌Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said social media platforms have 2-1/2 months to devise a way ‌to verify users' ages and protect their privacy

Greece ⁠is ⁠among seven European Union countries seeking an age verification solution with the European Commission

Greece says it is standing by parents to help curb the "endless scrolling" that deprives children of sleep, concentration and time with their friends