Oh my GOD angels, never has there been I day where I want to spill the beans on something MORE, but just know that yesterday Bel and I had one of the most stressful days EVER for reasons I cannot yet tell you, but one day I’m sure we will write about it for you all 🥺
But all is okay now (you all know that relief is my fave emotion so you can imagine I’m feeling great) and I’m off to record the very first Book Club podcast episode for our paid supporters/ Book Club members!! We also released our pick for next month which is Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow (AKA one of my fave books) so seriously - if you’re not already in the Book Club, you should join!
Ugh, love you all, slay in touch xxxxx
The missing submarine has 40 hours of breathable air left
Andrew Tate has been charged with rape and human trafficking
Taylor Swift released international tour dates
🔔Bel Chimes In: Is it bad to miss a birthday?🔔
The missing submarine has 40 hours of breathable air left
For the five people lost in the missing submarine, the nightmare continues. After reporting on it yesterday, we now have a few more details, like the rest of the people on board:
“British-Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman are two of the five on board, along with British businessman and explorer Hamish Harding
Paul-Henry Nargeolet, a former French Navy diver who has explored the Titanic before, is also on the vessel, as is Stockton Rush, chief executive of OceanGate - the firm behind the dive.”
We also know a bit more about the submarine, which looks like this on the outside:
And this on the inside:
OceanGate Expeditions has been running these ‘tours’ to the Titanic since 2021 (for a price of up to $250k per person) as part of what is being called a “booming high-risk travel industry.”
CBS reporter David Pogue actually went on one of these voyages to see the Titanic last year and, reading from a waiver which describes the vessel says it’s “an “experimental” vessel, "that has not been approved or certified by any regulatory body, and could result in physical injury, disability, emotional trauma or death."
One thing I’ve been seeing that I don’t feel like is entirely helpful right now is just… a lot of jokes with a sort of ‘serves them right’ kinda vibe? Like I get it - eat the rich etc etc etc, but dare I say, while we literally have five people in perhaps one of the most nightmarish scenarios of all time, who have families and are people (maybe with a LOT more than us, but are still people) I feel super icky watching people react in this way. Could be just me getting soft in my old age but felt like I had to say it!!!
More updates on this story here!
Andrew Tate charged with rape and human trafficking
Content warning: Sexual assault.
Every day is a good day in the newsy when I don’t have to talk about Andrew Tate. Today is not one of those days. BUT, the ‘controversial influencer’ (as news outlets like to call him) Andrew Tate has been charged in Romania with rape, human trafficking and forming an organised crime group to sexually exploit women. His brother Tristan and two associates also face charges, and all of them are denying the allegations.
“The indictment deposited with the Bucharest court says that the four defendants formed an organised criminal group in 2021 to commit human trafficking in Romania, but also in other countries including the US and the UK.”
Seven alleged victims have been named in the indictment who were allegedly “recruited by the Tate brothers through false promises of love and marriage.”
The alleged victims were later taken to buildings in Ilfov county in Romania where they were intimidated, placed under constant surveillance and control and forced into debt, according to a statement from Romanian prosecutors.
The defendants allegedly then forced the women to take part in pornography which was later shared on social media.
What happens now?
Well, a Romanian judge now has 60 days to inspect the case files before it can be sent to trial. The trial will not start immediately and is expected to take several years.
🔔Bel Chimes In: Is it bad to miss a birthday?🔔
This section is written by my crush, the refreshing-as-a-house-chardonnay-on-a-steamy-day, Bel Hawkins. She also writes our Sunday newsletter ‘No News is Good News’ which all our paying supporters receive. Upgrade your plan to get her newsy here!
Crushes! Ok, I need your hot takes on this.
I missed three friends' birthdays recently. Good friends. Great friends. Old friends. Friends that, back in the day, I could have done a whole Facebook album tribute to and then met that night for a chic dinner and too many drinks and a hangover at work the next day.
I felt fucking terrible! And am going to blame my recent head dizzy flu for falling me off the planet, but it also begged the question of — do you care if your friends miss your birthday? I hate my bday, you know this about me, but I do also love when it comes around and getting cute messages from the people in my life, and the way they show up in this time where you're expected to enjoy them most.
But life is busy and complicated, and I also think that everyday friendship kinda matters more? Ugh, god, am I talking myself out of this? Anyway, all of this is to say I don't want it to happen again and I have started a painstaking process of asking my friends when I see them to remind me of their birthday and putting them as recurring events in my calendar. A bit psycho? Or an incredible solution? Only time can tell.
If you'd like to be added, you know what to do 🌷
[Luce note: after missing one of my best friends birthday’s for about three years in a row I have started adding everyone’s birthday’s into my calendar too]
Taylor Swift released international tour dates
Before you get too excited… THERE IS NO NEW ZEALAND ˙◠˙
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maybe it’s a callous thing to joke about but when you see international rescue operations for these five people in the submarine as opposed to the response towards the hundreds of migrants that drowned this week, it does feel very dystopian
i say don’t make fun of people potentially dying?? that seems like normal human decency?? idk, maybe i’m a softie like luce