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Hidden cameras: what travelers need to know

Sabir Ansary — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 12:02:33 +0000

This month, Airbnb announced that the company would do so from April 30 ban on the use of surveillance cameras in his rental. The news was welcomed by those concerned about privacy.

“Cameras are both creepy and a threat,” said Albert Fox Cahn, executive director of the Surveillance Technology Monitoring Projectwhich has been campaigning for a ban on cameras in Airbnbs since 2022. “People are terrified that their intimate moments will be photographed without their consent and that owners will be able to monitor their activities within a rental property.”

For many travelers, Airbnb’s new policy has raised some fundamental questions: What were the cameras even doing there? And what are the rights of travelers when it comes to privacy in hotels and rental properties?

Public use of cameras

Cameras are, of course, everywhere in public life, from the self-checkout kiosks at big box stores to airport terminals.

Like other businesses, hotels and vacation rentals use surveillance cameras for two reasons, says Michael McCall, a Hilton Hotels Fellow at Michigan State University’s School of Hospitality Business: to protect their customers and their property.

For example, a traveler may feel safer going to a hotel room or rental apartment with a security camera in the hallway. And a hotel or host can use cameras to monitor property damage or theft, although whether surveillance is effective in preventing crime is a long-standing debate among privacy and security advocates.

“There’s a balance between ‘How do I protect my stuff’ while at the same time not invading the guest’s expected privacy,” Mr. McCall said. “Airbnb said the inside is off limits.”

States differ on whether and to what extent consent is required for surveillance, and there are different rules for audio and video recordings.

“U.S. privacy law is fragmented at best,” Doris DelTosto Brogan, a law professor and Heller McGuinness Endowed Leadership Chair at Villanova University’s Charles Widger School of Law in Villanova, Pennsylvania, wrote in an email. She noted that some federal privacy laws apply to all states, but each state can develop its own privacy laws.

Airbnb previously navigated these schools by requiring that indoor cameras in common areas, such as hallways and kitchens, be disclosed to the tenant.

The short-term rental platform since 2022 VRBO has banned the use of indoor cameras, except those that are made public to guests and can be deactivated by them.

In a statement, the American Hotel and Lodging Associationwhich represents 80 percent of all franchised hotels in the United States, said surveillance cameras in hotels should be limited to common areas – such as lobbies and swimming pools – for security reasons.

‘Reasonable expectation of privacy’

While regulations vary by state, more legal protections also cover video recording without consent in private spaces such as bedrooms and bathrooms.

At the federal level, the Video Voyeurism Prevention Act of 2004 prohibits “knowingly videotaping, photographing, filming, recording in any manner, or broadcasting an image of a private area of an individual, without that individual’s consent, under circumstances where that individual has a reasonable expectation of has privacy.”

Many states and federal laws rely on the expectation of privacy. “So that would often be a bedroom or a bathroom, for example, but not necessarily a common area like a living room,” says Raymond Ku, the John Homer Kapp Professor of Law at Case Western Reserve University School of Law in Cleveland, Ohio.

But it is the illegal use of hidden cameras that has shocked travelers.

Earlier this month, a Royal Caribbean cruise ship cabin crew was arrested on federal charges of producing and possessing child pornography by installing video cameras in guests’ bathrooms and capturing intimate images of passengers as young as 10.

In February there was a man arrested in Palm Beach County, Florida, on charges of video voyeurism for secretly filming sixteen different people, sometimes at Airbnb locations.

In September, a 14-year-old passenger on an American Airlines plane discovered an iPhone taped to a toilet seat, which her family said flight attendant was installed.

Legal and security experts believe such invasions are exceptions given the millions of people who travel every day, but warrant vigilance.

“People who want to use cameras for nefarious reasons are still participating,” said Kenneth Bombace, the intelligence agency’s CEO. Solutions to global threatswhich describes a new generation of recording devices that are small, subtle and cheap.

How to find hidden cameras

In his company, Mr. Bombace uses high-tech devices to conduct searches — from hotel rooms to corporate boardrooms — for hidden recording devices.

For travelers without a high profile or celebrity status, he recommends a “common sense location search.”

This includes looking for small recording devices or telltale lenses in anything plugged into a power source, such as a clock radio, electrical outlets themselves, and battery-charged electronics like smoke detectors and Bluetooth speakers. Turn off the lights and use a flashlight (a cell phone flashlight is sufficient) to look for flashing lights that could reveal a camera.

If you’re not sure, you can throw a towel over an electronic device or tape up the electrical outlets.

Because many recording devices require an Internet connection to stream footage, check the Wi-Fi network on any connected devices and ask the homeowner or property manager what they are. Apps like Network analyzer And Ubiquiti WiFi guy scans networks and detects connected devices.

Numerous portable gadgets on Amazon, priced at less than $150, it claims to detect hidden cameras.

“None of the technologies are 100 percent effective, but they minimize and reduce the chance that a recording device will go undetected,” Mr. Bombace said.

What story do you have?

If you find a hidden camera in a hotel room or short-term rental, collect evidence by taking photos or videos and contacting the police. Then look for new accommodations.

Airbnb directs guests to report privacy violations to it customer support team. HomeAway does the same and notes website that if you leave a property because of the violation, “the host may be required to refund the entire stay” and be kicked off the platform.

Landlords still have methods to ensure their property rules are not abused. Both Vrbo and Airbnb offer hosts the option to use devices that measure sound decibels outdoors without recording conversations if disclosed to renters. Vrbo mentions its use to ward off potential noise complaints from neighbors. Airbnb, which is banned party housessays the devices can detect “unauthorized parties.”

The platforms still allow remote cameras at rental properties as long as they are disclosed to the guest before arrival. The disclosure is usually included in the listing and the device should not be used for indoor peeking. HomeAway goes even further when it comes to outdoor pool cameras, requiring notice both in the property descriptions and on site.

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Airbnb bans all indoor security cameras

Jeffrey Bailey — Tue, 12 Mar 2024 15:51:31 +0000

Airbnb said this week it is banning the use of all indoor security cameras in its listings worldwide, an update to its current policy that allows the devices to be installed in common areas such as hallways and living rooms.

In a statement on Monday, the company said most listings on its site do not have indoor security cameras, but that it makes privacy a priority.

Previously, security cameras were allowed in common areas as long as the landlords disclosed them to guests before booking. They had to be visible, not hidden, and not allowed in sleeping areas or bathrooms. Airbnb said the policy update, which takes effect April 30, bans security cameras anywhere on its properties, even if they are visible.

It was not immediately clear why the company made this change, but the widespread use of indoor security cameras has raised concerns about privacy in vacation rentals, hotels, public bathrooms, locker rooms and on cruise ships.

Newspaper headlines And internet forums have been full of them for a long time reports from unscrupulous holiday home owners accused of spying on guests secret cameras hidden in clocks, smoke detectors, electrical outlets and other common objects.

Juniper Downs, Airbnb’s head of community policy and partnerships, said in the statement that the changes were made in consultation with guests, hosts and privacy experts.

“Our goal was to create new, clear rules that give our community more clarity about what to expect on Airbnb,” she said. Company is one of the biggest players in the short-term rental market, with more than 7 million properties in more than 100,000 cities worldwide.

Airbnb will continue to allow outdoor security cameras, decibel monitors, and doorbell cameras as they are an effective way to monitor security and prevent guests from throwing unauthorized parties.

But hosts will be required to disclose the presence of such cameras and their general location before guests book, and the devices cannot be used to monitor areas where privacy is expected, such as an enclosed outdoor shower or sauna.

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Cruise ship employee accused of hiding cameras in bathrooms to spy on guests

Sabir Ansary — Thu, 07 Mar 2024 05:26:31 +0000

A former employee of the cruise ship company Royal Caribbean was accused of planting cameras in guests’ bathrooms and hiding in their bedrooms, recording them taking off their clothes, with one of his reported targets as young as 10 years old used to be.

Arvin Joseph Mirasol, 34, was arrested Sunday on federal charges of production and possession of child pornography, according to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in South Florida. He is also accused of it six cases of voyeurism in the State Circuit Court in Broward County, Florida.

Royal Caribbean said it had reported the allegations to law enforcement and fired Mr. Mirasol, and that it would continue to cooperate with authorities. It is not clear how the actions that led to the charges came to light.

“We have a zero-tolerance policy for this unacceptable behavior,” the company said in a statement.

The cruise line alerted federal and state law enforcement agencies on Feb. 26, while the ship was still sailing in international waters. On Sunday, as it docked in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, law enforcement officers searched its devices, including a cellphone, camera, Apple Watch and a flash drive.

A video from the flash drive shows Mr. Mirasol installing the camera and pointing it at the shower, according to the complaint. One of the videos also showed a girl about ten years old in the shower.

Mr Mirasol worked as a cabin attendant, cleaning cabins and replenishing towels, and he admitted to investigators that he had hidden cameras and secretly filmed people since he began working on the Symphony of the Seas ship in December 2023 work, according to the complaint.

He admitted to recording a video camera in guests’ bathrooms and later retrieving it, saying he couldn’t control his impulses. Two public defenders listed as representing Mr. Mirasol did not immediately return requests for comment Tuesday.

He placed the camera in rooms where young girls were often present, around 16 years old, he told investigators. When asked how he selected his targets, he replied, “If I like who is in that room, I place them,” the complaint said.

Mr. Mirasol also said that while guests were showering, he entered their rooms, hid under the beds and recorded them on his cell phone as they were getting changed, according to the complaint.

A similar episode occurred on the Royal Caribbean ship, the Harmony of the Seas. In April 2023, FBI agents said a man was accused of hiding a Wi-Fi camera in an upper deck bathroom with the lens pointed at the toilet. The bathroom was close to one of the ship’s surfing simulators and many passengers used it to change into their swimsuits.

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China plans to install ‘all-seeing’ CCTV cameras on the moon to monitor its space base

Jeffrey Bailey — Mon, 04 Mar 2024 23:34:35 +0000

CHINA plans to install chilling all-seeing surveillance on the moon to spy on its citizens and protect its future moon base.

Skynet’s security cameras will reportedly be equipped with AI-powered chips that can detect and target “suspicious targets.”

In China, people are tracked using facial recognition technologyCredit: AP

The Shenzhou-13 manned spacecraft and a Long March-2F launch vehicle are seen at the launch area of the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in ChinaCredit: Getty

Skynet is the world’s largest surveillance network, with more than 600 million cameras currently used to monitor every inch of China.

The name comes from the Chinese proverb: ‘There is a net in the forever skywith large loopholes but does not let anything through,” meaning that the law is all-seeing and that violators will always face retaliation.

China’s plans to send Skynet to the moon stemmed from a desire to ensure the long-term stability and safety of the proposed International Lunar Research Station, according to a research paper written by scientists at the China National Space Administration.

The planned moon base, which is larger than Disneyland, has a radius of 6 miles and includes a command center, a current station, a communications center, scientific facilities and a fleet of robots.

More about China and the moon

It will even have its own satellites for remote sensing, navigation and communications.

China hopes to start construction of the moon base within the country next one and establish a base station based on lunar soil by 2028.

According to the article published in the Chinese academic journal Acta Optica Sinica: “The construction and operation of the optical surveillance system for the [International] Lunar Research Station can build on the successful experience… of China’s Skynet project.”

China’s lunar version of Skynet will include a large number of high-end security cameras – each weighing 100 grams – that operate in visible light and infrared zones. South China Morning Mail reports.

And AI-powered chips in the cameras will be “capable of independently identifying, locating, tracking and targeting suspicious targets.”

If “abnormalities” are detected, the system will “immediately generate alarm signals and initiate appropriate response measures.”

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It is not known what the “response measures” might entail.

The system allows high-resolution, multi-camera live images of events – such as the arrival and departure of spacecraft carrying international astronauts – to be streamed to Earth.

All cameras should automatically connect to each other after arriving on the moon, allowing full coverage of the station.

Decision makers claim that certain areas within the station may require continuous 360-degree surveillance.

The article, co-authored by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, Zhejiang University and the space agency, emphasized that the lunar Skynet needs to be strengthened against potential external threats.

The authors wrote: “Ensuring confidential communications between the various optical sensing terminals and the central control hub poses a significant technical hurdle.

“The encryption techniques used for signal transmission and streaming media must be able to withstand the interference caused by the intense electromagnetic radiation prevalent in deep space. The data must not be damaged or stolen.

“It underscored the need to establish a new set of standards tailored to the unique operational requirements of space missions, ensuring the integrity and security of mass-produced optical surveillance terminals.”

Meanwhile, a team is working on a design for a robot that can make bricks from lunar soil, Chinese media report.

Ding Lieyun, an expert from the Chinese Academy of Engineering, previously proposed an egg-shaped base called the “Lunar Pot Vessel” to house astronauts on the moon.

It would be built with rocks on lunar soil, made with 3D printers and lasers.

Ding said: “Building a habitat on the moon is necessary for long-term lunar exploration, and will definitely be realized in the future.” future.”

A Chinese scientist has proposed building a ‘moon potship’ base on the moonCredit: Handout

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The Premier League could force referees to wear cameras during major changes

Jeffrey Bailey — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 04:20:36 +0000

GERMAN referee Daniel Schlager gave a glimpse of the future of football during Sunday’s Bundesliga match between Eintracht Frankfurt and Wolfsburg.

Schlager’s VAR earpiece contained a camera that recorded his view of incidents in the game.

Premier League referees such as Michael Oliver could soon be wearing camerasCredit: Rex

The footage will be shown at a Bundesliga show, but the concept could be used by PGMOL in the Prem in future after a similar kit was used during a friendly match between Chelsea and Brighton in the US last July.

A refereeing source said: “It could help fans realize why decisions were made.”

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PREM chief Richard Masters pulled out of a high-profile football conference to try to broker a cash deal between feuding clubs.

Masters was announced as the star at today’s FT Business of Football Summit in Mayfair.

Richard Masters canceled a high-profile summit to attend an emergency meeting of Premier League clubsCredit: PA

But instead he scheduled an emergency meeting of the twenty Prem clubs half a kilometer away.

Bosses believe pressure is mounting on EFL chairman Rick Parry to come to the table and accept the proposed extra £155 million a year.

That would take the annual ‘solidarity payment’ to £498 million. However, some top clubs are reluctant to join the ‘New Deal’, arguing that the Big Six should pay more.

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Masters wants Prem clubs to agree financial rules for future seasons.

He is under pressure to improve profitability and sustainability rules, which allow losses of £105 million over three years.

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There are also problems with the planned “mirroring” of UEFA’s new calculation of selection expense ratios, which will see expenditure on wages and transfers directly linked to revenues.

An agreement will be ratified on March 11.

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THE apparent U-turn by UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin on staying in office until 2031 is putting pressure on Olympic chief Thomas Bach to raise his hand.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin’s turnaround to stay in power could have consequences for the OlympicsCredit: Getty

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach may now be forced to raise his hand before his term endsCredit: Alamy

Bach, 70 and a 1976 Montreal gold medalist, will retire in 2025 when his maximum 12-year reign expires.

But the German is still hinting at plans to ‘amend’ the Olympic charter, allowing him to run for another term.

Ceferin’s surprise news in Paris this month that he “has no intention” of competing again in 2027, Olympic insiders have urged Bach (below) to follow suit.

One potential replacement is two-time Olympic 1500m champion Seb Coe, who made his own announcement this week.

Coe, head of World Athletics, will confirm the 2027 world championship host during the indoor version in Glasgow.

Istanbul is the favourite, while Beijing is also in the running, unless Coe has a surprise in store.

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DUMBARTON fans may have to prepare for an unlikely VIP visitor this weekend.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino likes to attend a match after the annual general meeting of the game’s legislative International FA board.

Last year he walked quickly from the County Hall in London to Millwall.

And with this year’s meeting at Cameron House on the banks of Loch Lomond, the nearest match on Saturday is the Scottish League Two match between The Sons and Peterhead.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino may visit Dumbarton this weekendCredit: Getty

Dumbarton Football Stadium is where club hosts Peterhead play in Scottish League Two this weekendCredit: Willie Vass

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Metro cameras led to arrests in D-train murder, police say

Sabir Ansary — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 01:02:42 +0000

Police said Monday that footage from a subway surveillance camera led to the arrest of three people in connection with the fatal shooting of a 45-year-old man last week.

According to the New York Police Department, Justin Herde, 24, Alfredo Trinidad, 42, and Betty Cotto, 38, were in custody in connection with the murder of William Alvarez, 45, of the Bronx.

Mr. Alvarez was on the southbound D train around 5 a.m. Friday morning when the three suspects boarded the train at the Fordham Road station and got into an argument with him, police said. Mr. Alvarez was shot in the chest, Michael M. Kemper, chief of police for the police department, said at a news conference on Monday. Chief Kemper added that Mr. Alvarez’s attackers fled the train at the 182nd-183rd Streets station.

About 1,000 of the system approximately 6,500 cars are equipped with cameras, part of a broader effort started in 2022 by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which plans to install cameras in the rest of the cars by the end of this year.

Murders on the subway are rare, but attract intense public attention. There have been two more fatal incidents in the system this year. Earlier this month, a 35-year-old man was killed and five other people were injured during the evening rush hour at the Mount Eden Avenue station in the Bronx. And in January, a 45-year-old father of three was shot on the No. 3 train in Brooklyn after intervening in an argument.

Transit leaders are under intense pressure to return ridership to pre-pandemic levels, and making the system feel safe is critical to that mission. The number of travelers increased by about 3 percent in January and averaged around 3 million daily passengers. In 2019, the daily number of passengers was approximately 5 million.

Chief Kemper on Monday described the killings as “isolated incidents,” but crime had been declining in the metro in recent months. Total crime was more than 45 percent higher in January than in the same period last year. Most of the increase is due to theft, police said.

In response, Mayor Eric Adams this month ordered an increased police presence, deploying another 1,000 uniformed officers to transit, a show of force that mirrors a similar increase in late 2022.

Over the past two years, state and city leaders have launched several anti-crime initiatives in the metro, including additional overtime for police officers and the involuntary removal of seriously mentally ill homeless people. Officials also installed the cameras in hopes of bringing more surveillance to places where bikers were concerned about random attacks, robberies and rising numbers of homeless people. Privacy watchdogs criticized the camera plan at the time as politically motivated and expensive. The mayor and Governor Kathy Hochul have said the measures were not only intended to improve public safety, but were also intended to combat the public perception – fueled by several high-profile crimes – that the system had become far more dangerous.

An analysis of MTA and New York Times police statistics published in November 2022 found that the likelihood of becoming a victim of violent crime on the subway was low, even though the number of crimes such as murder, rape, assault and theft exceeded doubled since 2019. The analysis found that the rate — 1.2 violent crimes per million subway rides — was about the same as the chance of being injured in a car crash during a two-mile ride.

So far this year, crime is up 13 percent compared to the same period last year. But after the jump early in the year, crime in the metro is down about 17 percent in the month of February so far compared to February last year.

The new cameras have also led to arrests in other crimes, including the Mount Eden attack in January, police said. “You can’t get away with it,” Andrew Albert, an MTA board member, said Monday at the authority’s monthly board meeting. “And your picture will be everywhere.”

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Maidstone’s unusual pre-match routine was picked up by ITV cameras before the FA Cup

Jeffrey Bailey — Mon, 26 Feb 2024 20:54:41 +0000

MAIDSTONE took part in an unusual pre-match routine ahead of their FA Cup fifth round tie.

The National League South side prepared to take on promotion-chasing Championship team Coventry.

Maidstone completed a lap of honor before their FA Cup tie with CoventryCredit: ITV4

Players and staff took part in the gesture normally reserved for after a matchCredit: ITV4

It is estimated that around 5,000 Stones fans traveled to the gameCredit: ITV4

And before kick-off, the Maidstone players and coaching staff were captured on ITV cameras taking a lap of honor around the Coventry Building Society Arena.

The gesture is normally reserved for after a match.

Regardless, the Stones received a loud ovation from their traveling support as they passed by during the round.

An estimated 5,000 fans were expected to be in Maidstone for the match on Monday evening.

And fans on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, were also in a supportive mood the FA Cup underdogs.

One fan said: “Unfortunately I think they’ll get full tonight, but well done for enjoying it to the fullest.”

A second said: “Cheering for @maidstoneunited tonight.”

While a third said: “Bring on the Stones.”

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Maidstone captured the imagination of football fans around the world, with Cameroon World Cup icon Roger Milla sending a message of support to compatriot and Stones boss George Elokobi.

The former Wolves star, 38, told SunSport: “It was to congratulate me. This is what the magic of the FA Cup does.

World Cup icon Roger Milla backs compatriot George Elokobi to guide Maidstone to FA Cup sixth round

“He told me he had been watching us and that he had to keep working hard.

“He knows that I am doing well for Cameroon and that I am carrying the flag high. He wants to wish us the best for the match.” next one round of the FA Cup.

“And he also wanted to wish me the best health and to keep working hard, keep developing and hopefully one day I can help the nation.”

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It’s the Sussex show! Meghan waves for the cameras and snaps Harry on the skeleton bobsled as Duke films with Good Morning America host Will Reeve after pair hit back at ‘make or break’ claims by telling critics: ‘We will not be broken’

Sabir Ansary — Fri, 16 Feb 2024 08:27:43 +0000

Meghan Markle was seen beaming and taking pictures as she watched Prince Harry hurtle down a bobsled track twice yesterday days after the Sussexes vowed they ‘wouldn’t be broken’, after their royal rebrand.

The Duchess of Sussex, 42, looked the part in a black puffer coat, black jeans, ski boots and oversized sunglasses and watched on with a huge smile on her face, in awe of her husband’s skills.

The couple have come under fire in recent days over their new Sussex.com website, in particular Meghan’s coat of arms – which critics claim is a breach of their promise to the late Queen Elizabeth when they acrimoniously quit front-line royal duties.

Their decision to change their children Archie and Lilibet’s surnames to Sussex has also raised eyebrows among royal watchers.

The moves have sparked a fresh round of criticism of the Duke and Duchess and renewed calls for the duo to have their titles removed. But a representative told the Mirror that the couple ‘will not be broken’.

Meghan, 42, watched on with a huge smile on her face, in awe of her husband’s skills

Prince Harry was seen talking to Good Morning America host Will Reeve

Meghan Markle was seen beaming and taking pictures as she watched Prince Harry

Meghan did not take part herself but appeared to enjoy the sight of Harry racing down

Prince Harry 39, enjoyed a thrill-filled ride around a skeleton bobsled track in Whistler

Prince Harry proved himself quite the thrill-seeker today when he attempted a run around a skeleton bobsled track – achieving an impressive top speed of 61 miles-per-hour

While Meghan did not take part in the bobsledding fun, she was able to enjoy every aspect of her husband’s ride when he got off the sled and re-enacted the ride for her

Meghan smiles as she steps out in a black puffer coat, black jeans some ski boots and oversized sunglasses

Meghan was wrapped up warm, sporting a navy beanie as she smiled at her husband

When asked by an onlooker whether she planned to join her husband in trying out the daring sport, Meghan laughingly yelled back, ‘I can’t!’

Prince Harry reacts after sliding down the track on a skeleton sled during an Invictus Games training camp, in Whistler, British Columbia

The Duchess of Sussex opted to wear her chocolate brown tresses down

Meghan held onto Harry’s arm as the pair walked through the snowy resort

The Duke of Sussex laughed as he held his helmet and walked down the path

The 38-year-old Duke of Sussex achieved an impressive top speed of 61 miles-per-hour during his daring adventure – a feat that left even his wife Meghan, 42, voicing her awe

The Duchess clutched onto her husband’s arm as she strolled through the resort in Canada

Meghan opted for natural makeup, as she donned a navy blue beanie

After whizzing round for a second time, a beaming Harry made his way down the hill arm-in-arm with Meghan, posing for pictures as they went

The Duke of Sussex laughed as he held his crash helmet after taking a skeleton run down the Whistler Sliding Centre track

Meghan and Harry pose with a woman holding a flag during their trip to Whistler

Meghan beamed as she chatted to people at the event in Whistler

The pair have also been followed closely by a camera crew from Good Morning America, who are thought to be working on a segment all about the pair’s Invictus Games countdown

They added: ‘We’ve heard time and time again that certain opportunities are make or break for the couple. They’re still here. They’re still working and pursuing what they believe in, despite being constantly challenged and criticized. This couple will not be broken.’

The couple did not look phased as they took part in activities at the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistlers One Year To Go Winter Training Camp, while being followed around by a camera crew.

While Meghan did not take part in the bobsledding fun at the Whistler Sliding Center in British Columbia, she was able to enjoy every aspect of her husband’s ride when he got off the sled – before enthusiastically re-enacting his thrill ride to his wife and Invictus volunteers after getting off.

The Duchess of Sussex – who has joined her husband on a multi-day trip to Canada in honor of the one-year countdown to the 2025 Invictus Games – also served as her husband’s personal photographer – beaming with pride as she held up her phone to snap images and clips as he whizzed to the end of the track.

But Meghan – who accessorized her phone with a $250 case from Bottega Veneta – was not the only videographer on hand to capture every moment of the Duke’s whistle-top trip around the bobsled track.

As well as a team of photographers and onlookers who have captured the couple’s every move, they have also been followed closely by a camera crew from Good Morning America, who are thought to be working on a segment all about the pair’s Invictus Games countdown.

Helming the GMA crew is host Will Reeve, son of the Superman actor Christopher Reeve, who was seen joining the Sussexes during their events on Wednesday – with DailyMail.com revealing exclusive images of the trio chatting together.

ABC – the network that broadcasts GMA – has yet to confirm exactly what the on-air segment will include, however, the crew was closely following the Sussexes today, interviewing Harry for ten minutes after his first bobsledding adventure, before he set off for a second go around the track.

When asked by an onlooker whether she planned to join her husband in trying out the daring sport, Meghan laughingly yelled back, ‘I can’t!’

However, she watched on with pride as her husband completed his two runs – although she took some time to warm up in the back of the couple’s Ford Expedition SUV while Harry took some time out from the track to chat with the GMA crew.

But before long, he was back at it, drawing his wife out of the car to watch on as he enjoyed a second race on the sled.

After whizzing round for a second time, a beaming Harry made his way down the hill arm-in-arm with Meghan, posing for pictures as they went.

Meghan watched on as Harry tried his hand at skeleton bobsled

Meghan dressed for the cold weather, wrapped up warm in a scarf

The bobsled track, which is billed as the fastest in the world, includes a 485-ft vertical drop, as well as 16 curves

The Duke came in at a bit of an angle as he brought his run to an end, having achieved a pretty impressive top speed of 61 miles per hour

Proud Meghan watched on and took videos and photos of Harry as he whizzed to the end of the bobsled track

The mother-of-two bundled up in a black puffer jacket, black jeans, and a navy beanie and scarf, while also flashing a glimpse at her large engagement ring

When asked by an onlooker whether she planned to join her husband in trying out the daring sport, Meghan laughingly yelled back, ‘I can’t!’

Meghan beamed with pride as her husband recounted his trip around the track

Prince Harry slides down the track on a skeleton sled during an Invictus Games training camp

The couple had a chat as film crews followed them around in Whistler

Meghan was wrapped up in a black padded jacket and leggings and a navy hat and scarf

Prince Harry was snapped dressed in thermals and holding his crash helmet

Prince Harry achieved an impressive top speed of 61 miles-per-hour during his daring adventure

Meghan was wrapped up against the 30F (-4C) temperatures in a black padded jacket and a navy hat

Harry kept things casual in a black insulated Invictus Games-branded jacket

Harry and Meghan kicked off day two of their Invictus Games One Year to Go tour shortly after 1pm – although their appearance at the venue was delayed by over 30 minutes while the Duke was given a safety briefing.

The couple, fresh from a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner date, were both on chipper form as they made their entrance to the venue, with a beaming Harry whizzing past on his bobsled and Meghan quipping ‘I can hear him’ as his sled set off and filming him on her phone as he flashed past.

Meghan was wrapped up against the 30F (-4C) temperatures in a black padded jacket and leggings and a navy hat and scarf while her husband kept things casual in gray pants and a black insulated Invictus Games-branded jacket – topped off with a white crash helmet.

After the high-speed arrival, to the sound of Invictus branded cowbells waved by onlookers, came a meet and greet with athletes preparing to perform at the event next year on a platform overlooking the track.

Among the athletes waiting to be introduced were Canadian veteran and mental health advocate Mark Beare, Estonian former soldier and amputee Rasmus Penno and Nigerian powerlifter and ex-soldier Peacemaker Azuegbulam.

Peacemaker, a 27-year-old double amputee from Imo, Nigeria, made his skeleton debut immediately after Harry – despite never having seen snow or been on a bobsled before.

Speaking to DailyMail.com, Peacemaker said he was thrilled to be reunited with the couple after being introduced to them at Invictus Games in Düsseldorf, Germany, last year where he won a gold medal in powerlifting.

Now preparing to take part in the skeleton competition at the 2025 Games, despite only making his debut today, the double amputee said the sport had helped him come to terms with the injuries he sustained during a firefight with Boko Haram terrorists in November 2020.

He said: ‘At first I felt ashamed because of my injuries but then I was introduced to the Games and began with playing volleyball. Now I feel good, now I feel recovered.

Harry looked in high spirits as he tried his hand at the sport, with wife Meghan cheering him on

Prince Harry visits the Whistler Sliding Centre during the training camp for the Invictus Games

Harry and Meghan’s seemingly carefree appearance today comes immediately after Harry hit back at criticism over the newly rebranded Sussex.com

After whizzing round the track for a second time, a beaming Harry made his way down the hill arm-in-arm with Meghan, posing for pictures as they went

Harry appeared in great spirits after completing his attempt at the skeleton race

Meghan and Harry were joined at the track by a camera crew from Good Morning America – who have been trailing them for a large part of their Whistler trip

Meghan was bundled up in a chic black coat – however she did take a brief break from the cold by huddling in the back of the couple’s waiting SUV as Harry spoke to the GMA crew

The Duke of Sussex enjoyed not one but two goes around the skeleton track before rejoining his wife and departing the venue for Vancouver, where they are expected to appear tomorrow

‘I am proud to be the first Invictus champion from Africa and I feel recharged. It totally changed my mindset.’

Certainly there could be no better place to try out the sport than at the track, which is part of the Whistler Blackcomb resort, a venue built specifically for the 2010 Winter Olympics which were also held in the town, and which boasts a bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track.

However, the track – which is billed as the fastest in the world – is certainly not for the faint of heart, featuring a staggering 148m (485ft) vertical drop and 16 curves, while the surrounding stadium has space for 12,000 spectators.

Described by the International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation (IBSF) as an ‘adrenaline sport’, skeleton racing was developed more than 100 years ago in Switzerland when amateur daredevils began racing down icy slopes on toboggan sleds.

Ultimately, the hobby grew so popular that it was added to the Winter Olympics line-up – and the daring athletes who now take part in the sport now reach a staggering top speed of more than 93 miles-per-hour – more than 30 miles faster than Harry managed during his attempts.

While the row over Sussex.com remains ongoing, it has failed to detract from their enjoyment of the Invictus Games training camp with both seen laughing and joking with competitors on day one which took place in sub-zero conditions on the slopes of Blackcomb Mountain.

The trip to the bobsled track comes after the pair kicked off their trip to Whistler with a trip to the ski slopes, where they were joined by the GMA crew

Harry and Meghan were pictured alongside GMA host Will Reeve (right) – son of Superman actor Christopher Reeve – on Wednesday

Later in the day, the pair managed to find time to sneak in a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner at a local Italian restaurant

There, Harry tried his hand at sit-ski – an adapted version of the sport designed for amputees – while Meghan smiled broadly as she met visually impaired athletes who were nonetheless prepared to take to the slopes in next year’s competition.

Later, the couple met First Nations youth ambassadors representing the native Canadian tribes on whose land the Games are taking place.

The duo privately toured the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Center in Whistler where they were shown around by Chief Nelson and Wilson Williams and met artists who created the new Invictus Games logo for the event.

In a statement, Harry and Meghan said: ‘The evening and presentation were extremely meaningful.

‘IG2025 and the couple could not be more proud to share the artists’ piece with the world. The couple recognizes the significance of the First Nation communities welcoming the Invictus Games onto their sacred land and are thankful for their warmth and hospitality.’

The pair, who have been staying in Whistler, are due to head back to Vancouver later today ahead of an event in the City of Glass on Friday morning where Harry is due to make a speech.

After that, the couple are expected to head home to Montecito, California, where they will be reunited with children Archie, four, and Lilibet, two.

The post It’s the Sussex show! Meghan waves for the cameras and snaps Harry on the skeleton bobsled as Duke films with Good Morning America host Will Reeve after pair hit back at ‘make or break’ claims by telling critics: ‘We will not be broken’ appeared first on USMAIL24.COM.

CCTV, drone cameras, barricades: Security has been increased at Delhi's borders in view of the farmers' protest – WATCH

Sabir Ansary — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 02:28:26 +0000

The traffic restrictions, which were initially imposed on commercial vehicles at the Singhu border from Monday, have now been extended to all vehicle types from Tuesday.

Gurugram: Vehicles pass by police barricades during a traffic jam at the Delhi-Gurugram border near Sirhaul Toll Plaza, ahead of the planned march of the protesting farmers in Gurugram,

New Delhi: The meeting between farmer leaders and the central government on Monday failed to yield a solution, leading the farmers to stick to their plan to march to the national capital to protest. The central government delegation, led by Union Minister Piyush Goyal and comprising Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda, along with Punjab Minister Kuldeep Dhaliwal and state government officials, held talks with the farmer leaders. However, the talks made little progress as farmers remained adamant in their demand for a legal guarantee of Minimum Support Price (MSP) for their crops.

Extensive security measures, including a substantial deployment of police and paramilitary forces, along with multi-layered barricades, have been implemented to secure the borders of the national capital Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur. Drones are ALSO used by the police to keep a close eye on border points so that they are prepared for any possible public order situation. Police also carried out a tear gas drill near the Shambu border. The aim is to prevent the farmers participating in the 'Delhi Chalo' march from entering the city, scheduled to take place today.

#WATCH | Delhi: Security has been heightened at Delhi's borders in view of the farmers' march on the national capital today

(Images from the Ghazipur border) pic.twitter.com/OMNwabLnSI

— ANI (@ANI) February 12, 2024

Tens of thousands of farmer convoys with tractors, loaded with protesters and rations, are on the roads of Punjab and Haryana, preparing to head straight to Delhi. The closure of the borders between Punjab and Haryana by erecting barricades, boulders, sand-filled dump trucks, barbed wire and iron spikes has affected the movement of vehicular traffic causing huge traffic disruption. Paramilitary forces have also been deployed to prevent any untoward incidents. Farmers plan to enter Haryana from Shambhu border in Patiala, Moonak in Sangrur, Dabwali in Muktsar and Ratia in Mansa. Haryana Police have sealed off all four entry points. Security has been beefed up along Singhu, Ghazipur and Tikri borders to contain protests in Delhi.

Meanwhile, with police presence on almost all national highways and main roads from Punjab ahead of the protest march, commuters on Monday had to choose village routes to enter Haryana for their onward journey.

The traffic restrictions, which were initially imposed on commercial vehicles at the Singhu border from Monday, have now been extended to all vehicle types from Tuesday.

With more than 5,000 security personnel deployed, cranes and earth-moving machines with large containers are actively blocking roads. The implementation of multiple security barricades, along with nails on roads, aims to thwart any attempt by protesting farmers to enter the national capital through vehicles. Moreover, prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) have been implemented in the northeast district of Delhi to maintain law and order.

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Gondola in sixty seconds: Venice installs speed cameras on its CANALS after a spate of fatal accidents

Albert Elence — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 12:38:22 +0000

Venice is to install speed cameras on its canals after a spate of fatal accidents.

The cameras will be placed along the city's waterways and fines will be issued to boats that break the rules after local lawmakers backed an initiative to enforce the same laws that apply to the region's roads on the canals .

MP Martina Semenzato told Italian media: 'The roads [of Venice] are the lagoon channels, so boat traffic needs to be controlled more effectively.”

The city's canals are often full of ferries, motorboats, gondolas and other vessels, especially during the peak summer season.

Boats are allowed to travel a maximum of seven kilometers per hour in the main canals and five kilometers per hour in the smaller canals. However, speed limits are often ignored and a series of fatal incidents have occurred in recent years, raising concerns about the safety of locals and tourists.

In 2019, three men were killed in a high-speed crash in the city's lagoon and that same year, large cruise ships were banned from the Giudecca Canal after five tourists were injured in a crash.

In 2013, a German tourist was crushed to death when the gondola he was riding in was involved in a collision with a water bus on the Grand Canal.

In 2022, a Belgian tourist stole a water taxi and took it for a quick ride along the Grand Canal before being stopped and fined by police.

Regulatory gaps in the application of fines to ships that have violated local rules have led to a backlog of administrative disputes and an increasing number of unpaid fees.

Semenzato said the changes, which still await final approval from parliament before coming into effect, would make Venice safer and would use new technology to intercept those violating speed rules.

“The amendment introduces a specific speed camera, called Barcavelox, to monitor and record the speed of boats and vessels passing through the canals of the lagoon city,” she said.

The speed limits will also help protect the ecosystem and architecture of Venice's lagoon, which are at risk of being further damaged by the 'wave action' of boats passing through the waters.

Experts have warned it is eroding canal walls below the waterline and damaging historic buildings.

The announcement came as Venice prepares for its annual Carnevale, which starts this week and attracts millions of tourists every year.

The city's canals are often full of ferries, motorboats, gondolas and other vessels, especially during the peak summer season (stock image)

In December, the city announced plans to further tackle mass tourism, setting new limits on the size of tourist groups.

From June, groups will be limited to 25 people, or about half the capacity of a tourist bus, and the use of loudspeakers, “which could cause confusion and disturbances,” will be banned, the city said in a statement.

The city official in charge of security, Elisabetta Pesce, said the policy was aimed at improving the movement of groups through Venice's historic center, as well as the busy islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello.

The city previously announced plans last year to test a new day trip fare.

The rate of five euros (£4.34) per person applies on 29 peak days between April and mid-July, including most weekends.

It aims to regulate crowds, encourage longer visits and improve the quality of life for Venice residents.

The UN Cultural Agency cited the impact of tourism on the fragile lagoon city as a major factor in twice considering putting Venice on UNESCO's list of endangered heritage sites.

The city escaped the first time by restricting the arrival of large cruise ships through the Giudecca Canal and again in September when it announced the introduction of the day tourist tax, which had been postponed as tourism fell during the COVID-19 pandemic.

But with tourism levels back to pre-pandemic levels, chaos in the Floating City appears to be at an all-time high.

Perhaps one of the most dangerous examples of tourists disrespecting Italy's cherished sights saw two Australians zooming along Venice's Grand Canal on £20,000 electric hydrofoils.

The two men were filmed making waves through the main road in August 2022, angering tourists and locals alike.

One of the hooligans on the hydrofoils – a type of foil board often equipped with electrically powered propellers – was seen on his phone chopping through the canal water.

Even the mayor of Venice targeted the two Australians, calling for punishment and offering a free dinner to anyone who could help identify them.

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