Latest news with #Uncle
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Daily Mirror
Inside dark and twisted life of perverted PhD student jailed for raping 10 women
Chinese PhD student Zhenhao Zou, 28, has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 22 years for the rape of 10 women in London and China A Chinese PhD student who drugged and raped 10 women in London and China has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 22 years. Zhenhao Zou, 28, kept a trophy box of women's belongings and filmed nine of the rapes on women as they lost consciousness. Judge Rosina Cottage, sentencing Zou to 22 years and 227 days at Inner London Crown Court on Thursday, said the defendant is a "very bright young man" who used a manipulative "charming mask" to hide that he is a "sexual predator". She said that Zou "planned and executed a campaign of rape", treating the women "callously" and as 'sex toys' for his own pleasure, which had 'devastating and long-term effects'. Zou is reported to come from a wealthy and well-connected family. His mother works as a teacher, while his father is employed by a state-owned enterprise. It has been suggested that Zou's parents financed his stay in the UK, though witnesses say he earned some pocket money by trading luxury goods. READ MORE: Chinese PhD student's sick trophies after raping 10 women - including polar bear sock and hair His family owns multiple properties, including a detached house in Dongguan, a city in Guangdong province. Zou, who used the name 'Pakho' on social media, stayed there during extended visits to China. When police raided his London residence in January of last year, his affluent lifestyle was immediately evident. Officers discovered a green Rolex Submariner and other high-end watches, along with at least 70 bottles of alcohol concealed behind a curtain in the living room. Zou lived in an apartment building managed by the company Uncle, promoted as "a work of art" and London's tallest residential tower. Residents have access to a rooftop terrace that the company claims would "make the Shard jealous". Detective Chief Inspector Richard Mackenzie, who led the Metropolitan Police investigation, described the scene, saying: "We found expensive jewellery and multiple shopping bags from luxury brands. Inside his wardrobe were designer clothes from Louis Vuitton, Moncler, and Burberry — many still with tags. For a student, this was unusual." Beyond the luxury items, the police uncovered more disturbing evidence. In his wardrobe, a box contained personal items such as a key, earrings, a black dress, and hairbands — described by police as a "trophy box" of belongings taken from his victims of sexual assault. Investigators also found components of a rape kit: a graduated dropper pipette and a hidden camera used to record Zou engaging in sexual acts with as many as five women per month. Zou told the jury that he habitually recorded consensual sexual encounters and denied any non-consensual activity. Numerous condoms were found hidden in bedside drawers, alongside a Louis Vuitton box containing Viagra pills in a designer pouch. Police also seized bags of white powders and two 500ml brown bottles labelled "1,4-Butanediol" — a colourless liquid precursor to GHB, a drug known for its sedative effects on the nervous system. Even small amounts of GHB can be lethal. Classified as a Class B drug, GHB is commonly referred to as "liquid ecstasy" and is known to induce euphoria and relaxation. Among the seized drugs were dozens of Xanax tablets in blister packs. Zou explained he had suffered from insomnia since attending boarding school in China and obtained the prescription tranquillizer, typically used for anxiety disorders, from a drug dealer he met at a party. "I took it when I couldn't sleep or was anxious," he said, denying giving the drug to anyone else. Zou said he first tried GHB, which he called "e-liquid," after moving to London in 2019. Prior to that, he had completed a two-year mechanical engineering degree at Queen's University Belfast as an exchange student from Guangdong University of Technology, his home institution. Frequenting some of London's largest nightclubs, Zou began using cocaine and ketamine and later experimented with GHB. "I used it at nightclubs to get high," he stated. "It was much cheaper to buy online — the nightclub prices were significantly higher." He purchased the drug used for drug-facilitated sexual assault from TaoBao, a Chinese online shopping platform similar to Amazon which also sells luxury and virtual goods for video games. When police found the unopened bottles of butanediol, Zou panicked and claimed they were face moisturiser. The court heard he had undergone multiple cosmetic procedures in both London and China, including a hair transplant, eyelid surgeries, fat injections under his chin, dental adjustments, and that he wore makeup to improve his appearance. "I didn't tell the police because I didn't want to be labelled a drug user,' Zou said. However, evidence showed Zou had accessed Potato, an encrypted messaging app, to find instructions on drugging and sexually assaulting women. Cached images from his phone included disturbing photos of naked Chinese women wearing face masks, unconscious on a bed. These posts advertised drugs like midazolam and sevoflurane, both used as general anaesthetics. One listing offered a substance described as "obedient liquid," with Mandarin captions promising "guaranteed effects." Zou, who was found guilty of sexually assaulting 10 women on March 5, was sentenced today. He will spend 22 years and 227 days in prison before he could leave on parole, taking the number of days he has already spent in prison into account - meaning the 28-year-old cannot be released from jail before 2048. Judge Rosina Cottage today told him he was a "sexual predator", adding: "These women you treated callously and used them as sex toys for your pleasure." If you have been affected by anything in this story or need support after rape or sexual assault, call the Rape Crisis helpline on 0808 500 2222
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Growing old is inevitable, growing tired of life isn't
As aisles of gift shops were flooded with Father's Day cards last week, I found myself thinking of Nachattar Uncle — the man we lovingly called 'Caretaker Uncle'. The name wasn't just a label; it was a testament to the quiet way he held a space in our lives and in our home. When my father was transferred to another city, he worried the house would grow cold, forgotten. Nachattar Uncle promised he would keep it alive. Each morning, he'd unlock the door, call the maid and the helper, and sip his tea in my father's study, a book resting in his hands. He tended to the mail, answered the phone, and greeted anyone who dropped by with his warm smile. In the evening, he would call my father to share how the day had gone, and then gently close the house again — never hurried, never distracted. My father and he shared a deep belief: A house should never feel abandoned. 'Home is heart,' they would say. And so, in our absence, he cared for the heart we had left behind. When his wife passed away and the walls of his own home grew quiet and still, without complaint or sorrow, he moved into an old age home — not because he was broken, but because he understood a profound truth we often forget: Clinging to emptiness is not the same as truly living. I remember visiting him one cold winter afternoon. My mother had received a call — not for help, not for money, but a simple, gentle request: 'Send me some saag.' That was Uncle, never asking for more than he needed, yet filling every small moment with meaning. He greeted me in his usual style — crisp white shirt, perfectly ironed trousers, silver hair combed neatly, and always wearing a watch. As we sat together on the bench outside the old age home, I found the courage to ask the question weighing on my heart. 'Are you happy here, Uncle?' 'I am content,' he said, without hesitation. 'I've lived life on my own terms. I have no complaints.' There was peace in his voice — a peace that only comes to those who have truly lived, not just existed or endured. Even at 97, long past the age when most surrender to stillness, he remained in motion, riding his old bicycle from place to place, a quiet messenger of communal harmony. Where others saw division, he wove threads of unity. Where others grew weary, he pedalled on. Even in those later years, he was a voracious reader. Every visit, he had a list of books waiting for me to find. Then came the cancer diagnosis that devastated my father as in Nachattar Uncle, he'd quietly found the father he lost too soon. Watching them move from hospital to hospital felt like witnessing one heartbreak lean on another. I remember my last evening with Uncle. His eyes were tired, but still held a flicker of fire. Softly, he said, 'I don't want to die. There are so many things to do.' I asked, 'What things, Uncle?' 'I haven't read that book on the Industrial Revolution. I'm still waiting for it,' he said. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. A tear escaped before I could decide. So this Father's Day, I didn't reach for a card. I reached out for a book to remember the man who showed me that while growing old is inevitable, growing tired of life never has to be. The writer is a Hoshiarpur-based freelance contributor
AsiaOne
13-05-2025
- Business
- AsiaOne
Chicken Supremo owners retiring after 34 years, hawker stall to continue under new owner, Lifestyle News
Fans of Chicken Supremo were hit with a wave of mixed emotions after recent news that the popular Western hawker stall in Jurong would be closing down. An announcement about its impending closure seen online last Wednesday (May 7) had drawn the attention of longtime customers. But the eatery, which has been operating since 1991, took to its Facebook page this past Sunday to clarify that it will not be closing down. Rather, the original owners noted that they will be retiring after more than three decades and that the business is set to continue under new stewardship soon. The caption read: "Uncle together with Makcik will be retiring after 34 wonderful years, but the stall will continue operations under a new owner." Chicken Supremo's new chapter is set to start in June and the stall will be helmed by a "passionate young Malay-Muslim hawker". "We seek your patience and understanding during this transition period as the team has been truly overwhelmed by the support from all of you," the caption added. In the post, the owners urged fans to keep their eyes peeled on their social media page for the latest updates. Customers took to the post's comments section to share their well wishes, with many congratulating the owners on their retirement and hoping the quality of food served at the stall would remain. One Facebook user wrote: "Hopefully, the new owner will continue with the legacy as well as the taste." Established in 1991, Chicken Supremo has grown to be a favourite among residents in the west, serving up Western classics such as Chicken Cutlet, Chicken Chop and Fish and Chip. Address: 493 Jurong West Street 41, #01-02/03, Singapore 640493 Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 1.45pm to 9.30pm. Closed on weekends. [[nid:717424]] amierul@
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Carl Nassib details emotional talk with his dying uncle that inspired him to publicly come out as gay
In 2021, Carl Nassib decided to publicly come out as gay. In doing so, Nassib became the first openly gay active NFL player. That decision took a lot of courage, and Nassib has admitted he battled nerves before finally sending his message out to the world. Advertisement But Nassib also knew how much his coming out would help others in the same situation. During an appearance on Ryan Clark's "The Pivot" podcast, Nassib opened up about a conversation he had with his dying uncle, and how that played a role in Nassib's decision to come out publicly. While Nassib was playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he received a call from his mom informing him his uncle was on his deathbed due to cancer. Nassib briefly left the team to see his uncle — who was openly gay— in person. Nassib — who was only out to his parents, close friends and siblings at the time — decided to come out to his uncle during that visit. His uncle's response played a major role in Nassib coming out publicly a few years later. "I saw him on his deathbed and he was in a really bad shape and I came out to him. We're from a huge family — I have 44 first cousins — and he was the only gay guy, gay person, in the entire family. When I came out to him, he and his husband were there, and he was like, 'This is the biggest weight off my chest.' He was like, 'I'm not the only one.'" Nassib said those words led him to realize there were probably so many other people out there who felt like his uncle. Nassib's uncle died in 2019. Advertisement Nassib didn't come out until 2021, though he considered making his announcement earlier. Nassib thought about coming out in 2020 — after he signed a guaranteed contract with the Raiders — but George Floyd's murder and the COVID-19 pandemic led to Nassib delaying that decision until the following year. His announcement was met with plenty of support. The Las Vegas Raiders — Nassib's team at the time — sent out a tweet saying they were proud of Nassib. James Franklin, who coached Nassib at Penn State, and Saquon Barkley, who was one of Nassib's teammates at the school, also sent out supportive messages to the the defensive lineman. Nassib played the 2021 season with the Raiders before going back to the Buccaneers in 2022. He retired from the NFL the following year. In seven seasons, Nassib registered 187 combined tackles and 25.5 sacks. A part of Nassib's historic announcement will be preserved at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. The museum will display the jersey Nassib wore against the Baltimore Ravens in 2021. It was the first game in which Nassib appeared after announcing he was gay.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Bao Hao: 50y+ bao master brings dim sum haven to the West, serving braised pork bao, lotus leaf rice & more
Dim sum: A Chinese breakfast staple. Steaming baskets of savoury dumplings, sticky rice, and sweet, fluffy baos… sorry, I'm getting ahead of myself. Just thinking of my breakfast at Bao Hao in the inconspicuous 276 Jurong West Street 25 kopitiam has me drooling. The bao shifu behind it all is an uncle who has been making them for a whopping 57 years! I must say, I could certainly taste the dedication and years of experience in his dishes. Bao Hao has only been open for about a month, but they are already attracting a steady crowd. It is currently run by Uncle and his nephew, Vince, who is learning the ropes and secrets to keeping this bao legacy alive. It was obvious that I had to start with their speciality — the baos, of course. I couldn't hide my slight disappointment when we were served our dishes on plastic plates (except for the siew mai), as opposed to the traditional bamboo steamers featured on their Instagram. But never mind that, I just wanted to eat. Bean Paste (S$0.90) is a classic that you'll find at any dim sum establishment. There's not much to say; the dough had a slight natural sweetness to it that complemented the creamy, nutty red bean paste well. Pretty average, but enjoyable nonetheless. Their Coffee (S$0.90) and Pandan (S$0.90) are where it starts to get a little more exciting. As a certified coffee lover, I appreciated that the Coffee Pau retained a strong coffee flavour throughout the dough and the paste. I'm used to this flavour being watered down by a one-dimensional sugary taste, and this one wasn't. Probably my favourite of the 3! It was the same with the Pandan Pau, I like how the pandan flavouring shone through the entire bao without it being cloyingly sweet. They were also so generous with the filling here, I was willing for it not to fall out of the bao as I took this picture. I'm personally not a pandan girlie, but my dining companions liked this one the best! If I had to nitpick, I'd say that the dough across all 3 baos was slightly dense. The smooth paste made up for it, though, seeing that I didn't need a mandatory beverage to chase the remains down my throat. Spoiler alert, these were my FAVS of the day. Weirdly enough, the dough of the Big (S$2) and Braised Pork (S$1.50) was fluffier and airier than the dough of the sweet baos. Immediate plus points for that. The Big Pau is one of Bao Hao's signatures, and I can easily see why. The moment I chomped down on the bao, the juices of the packed pork filling oozed out and engulfed my taste buds. Continuous chewing landed me the perfect combination of a pillowy, slightly sweet dough and savoury meaty goodness. There was a piece of egg and slices of turnip in the filling that elevated the texture and flavour of the bao, too! I loved the crunch and freshness of the turnip to help overcome the jelak-ness. The braised pork was extremely tender and easy to bite through, with a golden ratio of meat to fat. I usually detest the fatty parts of meat, but this one melted in my mouth so smoothly I didn't even bother picking it out. Marinated in the deliciously sweet and salty dark soy sauce, the braised pork was truly a wonder. My dining companions and I enjoyed these 2 so much that we went back to order another one of each. Bao Makers: Beloved eatery reopens in the CBD with budget-friendly delights Finally, we moved away from bao and to another carb Asians can't live without: rice. I ordered their Glutinous Rice with Chicken (S$2.30) and Lotus Leaf Rice (S$3.50) upon Vince's recommendation. The Glutinous Rice with Chicken, better known to most as lo mai gai, was a so-so dish to me. The rice wasn't evenly coated with sauce, so there were still some white bits at the bottom. I did still enjoy this savoury, sticky dish, but it didn't match up to the next one. Although both dishes have the same base of glutinous rice, the wrapped leaves did wonders for the depth of flavour in the Lotus Leaf Rice. It imparted a slightly earthy fragrance to the chewy rice that was addictive, especially when eaten with the sweet chestnuts and well-seasoned savoury chicken bits. Not a dish I'd usually reach for, but so worth every cent. I wasn't sure how else to categorise (3 for S$2.30) and their Portuguese Egg Tart Mini (3 for S$2.50), so this will have to be. The Siew Mai was decent; what I particularly liked about it was the thin dumpling skin that allowed the tender pork to shine. I do think it could've been seasoned a little more as a whole, but dipping it into the chilli sauce definitely helped its case. Just look at them glisten. These Portuguese egg tarts were super buttery, with a flaky crust that hugged the eggy custard. A heads up though, this sweet treat is only available on weekends and public holidays. It is no wonder they are called Bao Hao, because their baos really are tasty and well-made. From the dough to the filling, I felt comforted with every bite. I won't deny, the location isn't the most accessible for many. But I can assure you, their Big Pau and Braised Pork Pau are absolutely worth travelling to the West for. I know I'll be back, that's for sure. Should I try the Century Egg Dumpling next…? Expected damage: S$0.90 – S$3.50 per pax. New stall with fresh bao made daily on-site, using 20-year-old yeast starter The post Bao Hao: 50y+ bao master brings dim sum haven to the West, serving braised pork bao, lotus leaf rice & more appeared first on
