‘Hardest Geezer’ Russ Cook reveals scariest moment from epic run across Africa

Published

1 month ago

April 8, 2024

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“The Hardest Geezer” has revealed the scariest moment from his gruelling 352-day run across the whole length of Africa.

In a news conference, Russ Cook said that – out of the 16 countries he visited during his 9,941-mile journey – he was most afraid “in the Congo on the back of a motorbike, thinking I was about to die”.

He had gone missing and was separated from his supporters for days in the jungle, but was eventually freed after villagers armed with machetes were paid off.

Meanwhile, in Angola, he and his team were robbed at gunpoint – with cameras, phones and passports stolen.

The 27-year-old – who went through 30 pairs of trainers during his quest – has already raised £700,000 for good causes and is aiming to hit £1m.

Donations will go towards supporting young people going through hard times – as well as educational and cultural programmes in Algerian refugee camps.

When asked what motivated him as he ran the equivalent distance of 379 marathons, Cook said his family – and the legacy he will pass on if he has children – was a driving force.

“I’d love for more people to be inspired or motivated to go out running,” he added.

During the live Q&A session, he was also asked about behind-the-scenes logistics from his mammoth journey… including how he washed.

“Not very often,” Cook quipped – adding that everything from rivers, lakes, bucket baths and a makeshift shower on the back of a 4×4 were used to maintain basic hygiene, as well as the odd hotel if he was lucky.

There were some more light-hearted questions too, with curious journalists wondering what his favourite movie is.

Fight Club, Interstellar and the romcom About Time made the list… but Forrest Gump – where Tom Hanks’s character runs across the US for three years, two months, 14 days and 16 hours – didn’t.

Running group challenges Cook’s claim

While the endurance athlete’s huge achievement of taking 19 million steps hasn’t been disputed, the World Runners Association has questioned Cook’s claim that he is the first person to run the length of Africa.

The WRA consists of seven athletes who have successfully circumnavigated the world on foot – and it argues that one of its members, Denmark’s Jesper Kenn Olsen, was actually the first to complete this challenge back in 2010.

Phil Essam, the association’s president, said: “Mr Olsen ran through Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Swaziland and South Africa. He hereby fulfilled the criteria for a full-length run across Africa.”

UK

‘I was told this was a wonder drug but not warned about the deathly consequences’: 100 faces of infected blood scandal

Published

4 hours ago

May 20, 2024

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'I was told this was a wonder drug but not warned about the deathly consequences': 100 faces of infected blood scandal

“Losing Gary, my soul mate, was beyond painful,” says Kathryn Croucher, whose husband died aged 42 in 2010.

“Every day was a struggle dealing with the knowledge he was HIV and Hepatitis C positive.”

“Mum always said she was given a death sentence,” recalls Ronan Fitzgerald. His mother, Jane, died aged 54 after being infected with Hepatitis C when she was 16. “It was a ticking time bomb.”

Updates:
Scandal was ‘not an accident’
Follow reaction to report live

More than 30,000 Britons were infected with HIV and Hepatitis C after being given contaminated blood products in the 1970s and 1980s.

Around 3,000 people have died as a result of the scandal, while many more still live under the shadow of health problems, debilitating treatments and stigma. Now, the findings of a public inquiry, first announced in 2017, will finally be published.

These are 100 faces of infected blood victims that either they, or their families, have shared with Sky News.

Click the images to read their stories.

Sky News will have full coverage of the infected blood report on TV, online and on the Sky News app today.

Sky News would like to thank everyone who contributed to this project.

UK

Julian Assange wins High Court bid to bring appeal against extradition to US

Published

4 hours ago

May 20, 2024

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Julian Assange wins High Court bid to bring appeal against extradition to US

Julian Assange will be allowed to appeal against his extradition to the United States.

Two judges responded today to US assurances that Mr Assange will not face the death penalty – and can rely on the First Amendment right to free speech if he faced a trial for spying.

The WikiLeaks founder faces prosecution in the US over an alleged conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defence information after the publication of hundreds of thousands of leaked documents relating to the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.

Edward Fitzgerald KC, representing Assange, criticised the assurances of Joe Biden’s US administration at the hearing. He said: “Based on the principle of the separation of powers, the US court can and will apply US law, whatever the executive may say or do.”

He added most of the promises were “blatantly inadequate” – but they had accepted the promise about the death penalty.

In written submissions, the barrister said while the assurance over the death penalty was “an unambiguous executive promise”, the other assurance does not give “any reliable promise as to future action”.

The barrister added: “What needs to be conclusively removed is the risk that he will be prevented from relying on the first amendment on grounds of nationality.”

But James Lewis KC, representing the US government, insisted the “judicial branch of the United States will take due notice of this solemn assurance given by its government in the course of international relations”.

In written submissions, he said there is “no question” that Assange, if extradited, “will be entitled to the full panoply of due process trial rights, including the right to raise, and seek to rely upon, the first amendment as a defence”.

He later told the court: “The assurance does make it clear that he will not be discriminated against because of his nationality.

“He can and will be able to raise all those arguments and his nationality will not prejudice a fair trial.”

Today’s decision is the latest chapter in 13 years of legal battles and detentions for Australian-born Mr Assange.

The US authorities want to put Mr Assange on trial over 18 charges, nearly all under the Espionage Act.

They claim his actions with WikiLeaks were reckless, damaged national security, and endangered the lives of agents.

During a two-day hearing in February, lawyers for Mr Assange asked for permission to challenge a judge’s dismissal of the majority of his case to prevent his extradition.

In March, Dame Victoria Sharp and Mr Justice Johnson dismissed most of Mr Assange’s legal arguments – but said unless assurances were given by the US, he would be able to bring an appeal on three grounds.

These assurances are that Assange would be protected by and allowed to rely on the First Amendment – which protects freedom of speech in the US – that he is not “prejudiced at trial” due to his nationality, and that the death penalty is not imposed.

Supporters of Mr Assange have already been gathering outside the High Court to continue their calls for his release.

Mr Assange is currently being held in London’s high security Belmarsh prison.

UK

Hunt for two suspects after man dies in Glasgow stabbing

Published

4 hours ago

May 20, 2024

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Hunt for two suspects after man dies in Glasgow stabbing

Detectives are on the hunt for two men following a fatal stabbing in Glasgow at the weekend.

Police Scotland said the force received a report of a man being attacked and stabbed in Saracen Street, Possil, at around 5pm on Saturday.

Emergency services attended and took the 27-year-old victim to the city’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, where he later died.

The death is being treated as “suspicious” ahead of the completion of a post-mortem examination.

Investigating officers have since established that two men were involved in the attack.

The suspects have been described as white and in their 30s.

One was wearing a light-blue top and black shorts, while the other was dressed in a white top, black shorts and black trainers.

Officers have been gathering and reviewing CCTV footage from in and around the neighbourhood as the probe continues.

Additional patrols have also been mobilised to the area, and anyone with information or concerns can approach these officers.

Detective Inspector Lesley-Ann McGee said: “It was a warm, sunny day and there were lots of people out enjoying the weather in Saracen.

“I am asking them to get in touch with us with any information that could assist us in establishing the motive for this attack. If you saw, heard or know anything please contact us.

“I’m also asking people with dashcam or doorbell recording equipment to check for any footage that could assist our investigation.

“A family is mourning the loss of a loved one and it’s imperative we are able to answer how their loved one died.”