Month: March 2024

Influencer Andrew Tate has appeared in court in Romania to appeal against his detention after more than a month in custody. 

Handcuffed to his brother Tristan, he shouted to waiting for reporters that he was innocent.

The pair have been held since late December as police investigate allegations of rape and exploitation, which both men deny.

Last month, a judge extended their detention until the end of February.

Police have not yet laid any charges against the brothers, who moved to Romania five years ago. 

Filing an appeal against the custody extension on Wednesday, Andrew’s lawyer Ioan Gliga told journalists that he had “new evidence” to refute prosecutors’ arguments. 

“The victims deny any wrongdoing – it’s only in the minds of the prosecution that a crime has been committed,” he said.

A verdict in the appeal is expected later today.

Also present in court was a new legal adviser hired by the Tate brothers from the United States. Tina Glandian has experience in representing high-profile figures such as Mike Tyson and Chris Brown and specializes in international human rights. 

There is speculation that her appointment could bring a new approach to the Tates’ legal team, as they try to secure the brothers’ release from preventative custody.

The brothers – who have both US and British citizenship – have also employed a communications specialist to respond to media interest in the case.

In explaining his decision to keep the Tates in custody for another month, a judge last week issued a strongly worded statement, describing “the capacity… of the defendants to exercise permanent psychological control over the victims… including by resorting to constant acts of violence”.

The testimony of alleged victims, he said, “revealed a pattern of action” that lent credibility to their reports. He also highlighted what he said was the “particular dangerousness” of the Tate brothers, in “their ability to target… vulnerable victims”.

Since then, local media have reported that four complaints were made by alleged victims at a police station near the Tate compound – at least one of them as far back as 2021. At least one of the complaints was reportedly not acted on until the Tate investigation was underway.

The Police Inspectorate said in a statement that it had “started checks” into the actions of officers there, to determine if any legal measures should follow.

In 1977, the Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 spacecraft launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Their mission was to explore the solar system and beyond. Aboard each was a “golden record,” a copper phonograph disk containing images, sounds from nature, and music to provide a snapshot of life on Earth to any intelligent life the craft might encounter. These were the first images to be sent into outer space.

Now, as the Voyagers travel into interstellar space, artists are beginning to explore what they can do off Earth. In March a piece by Dubai-based artist and philanthropist Sacha Jafri is set to land on the moon. 

Jafri’s work, “We Rise Together — By the Light of the Moon,” is scheduled to fly into space on a United Launch Alliance rocket powered by engines developed by Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin. The launch is scheduled to take place at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, in the first week of March.

The work is an engraving depicting a male and a female figure surrounded by 88 hearts. 

“The original artwork was this beautiful heart motif. Two figures entwined, reconnecting and around them is blossoming flora, fauna,” explained Jafri. He says he wanted to capture “the unification of humanity through love and empathy” in his design.

For his canvas, a gold alloy was developed over two years to withstand the extreme environment on the lunar surface whilst keeping the artwork intact. But the piece isn’t intended only for extraterrestrial art lovers.

“When we land the physical work of art on the moon, a little beep sounds in the control room,” said Jafri. On that signal, 88 NFTs will be released for sale back on Earth.

Jafri plans to donate all proceeds to humanitarian charities. “I’m hoping to raise a huge amount of money for the four main charitable concerns of our world — health, education, sustainability, and equality,” he said.

The work was commissioned by Spacebit, a UK-based company that develops space robotics technology and data analytics tools, and will be sent to the moon by Spacebit and NASA Commercial Payload Services (CLPS). UAE-based company Selenian Network, which specializes in blockchain technologies, will facilitate the launch of the NFTs.