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A group of Norwegian fishermen were left with more questions than answers after repeatedly being approached by a whale they believed to be a Russian spy.
While fishing off the coast of Ingoya — a small Norwegian village — last week, Joar Hesten told a local television station that a large white beluga whale swam up to his crew’s boat, wearing a harness around its body.
The whale had been following the boat for some time, tugging on loose straps hanging from the ship.
“It came over to us, and as it approached, we saw that it had some sort of harness on it,” Hesten told broadcaster NRK, the New York Post reported.
Attached to the harness was a GoPro camera mount with a label, tracking it to St. Petersburg, the New York Post reported.
The harness was later removed by one of the fishermen and shown to a Russian scientist, who explained it was not equipment scientist would use, prompting concern the whale is a spy, BBC reported.
Russia has a naval base in the area where the fishermen were when the whale approached their boat, according to BBC.
Marine biologist Professor Audun Rikardsen told BBC the harness “was attached really tight around its head, in front of its pectoral find and it had clips.”
There was no camera.
“A Russian colleague said they don’t do such experiments, but she knows the navy has caught belugas for some years and trained them — most likely it’s related to that,” Rikardsen explained to BBC.
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Martin Biuw of the Institute of Marine Research in Norway also spoke on the discovery saying, “If this whale comes from Russia — and there is great reason to believe it — then it is not Russian scientist, but rather the navy that has done this,” the New York Post reported.
The Russian navy has since denied that the whale was being used to spy on anyone, explaining in a statement to a Russian broadcaster, “We have military dolphins for combat roles, we don’t cover that up,” BBC reported.
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“If we were using this animal for spying do you really think we’d attach a mobile number with the message ‘please call this number?'”
The use of marine animals for military purposes isn’t new.
Since 1959, the U.S. Navy has trained bottlenose dolphins and California sea lions “to detect, locate, mark and recover objects in harbors, coastal areas, and at depth in the open sea” under the U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program.
PEOPLE Now airs live, Monday through Friday, from the Meredith offices in New York City.
Catch PEOPLE Now every weekday at 12:00 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT on People.com or on the PeopleTV app on your favorite streaming device. Want even more? Check out clips from previous episodes of PEOPLE Now.
A Florida man who contracted a rare flesh-eating bacteria from a fish hook is sharing his story in hopes to prevent someone else from suffering a similar experience.
During a recent fishing trip in the Gulf, Mike Walton accidentally impaled his hand with a fish hook, Bay News 9 reports.
What the fisherman believed was a minor injury turned into a life-threatening illness that kept him in the hospital for nearly two weeks, leaving doctors searching for answers.
Since the incident, Walton has been released from the hospital but is now hoping that his story will encourage other fishermen to use precaution with any fishing-related injuries.
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On the weekend of April 13, Walton was fishing with some friends when the fish hook got stuck in his hand, according to the GoFundMe campaign, which was set up to help Walton in the aftermath of the incident.
Because the Ozona native had experienced similar cuts before, he carried on with his trip, thinking nothing of the minor injury, Bay News 9 reports.
The next day, however, things turned serious when Walton noticed that his hand had gotten drastically worse.
A trip to Urgent Care and antibiotic prescriptions didn’t make his condition any better, as the blistering, bruising, swelling, and black-colored skin started spreading towards his thumb, according to the news outlet.
It was then that the fisherman opted to go to Tampa General Hospital where doctors determined that Walton had contracted an extremely rare, life-threatening, flesh-eating bacteria that spread from his hand into his arm.
WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGE BELOW
Luckily, it was discovered just in time, as doctors told the Florida resident that if he had waited any longer, there was a chance he could have lost his arm — or worse, according to the GoFundMe page.
“They said in a few hours, this would have gone up my arm into my chest and I wouldn’t have been here,” he told Fox News. “There was no saving me.”
“This is a very rare bacteria that has only ffected 30 people historically in a state of Florida,” the GoFundMe campaign reads, noting that after doctors opened and cleaned his hand and arm’s tissue, they weren’t sure if it’d be salvageable or maintain its original functionality.
Walton immediately underwent surgery and to his relief, doctors were able to save his arm and hand.
“When I woke up, you talk about relief, is when you look over and see your thumb still sitting there,” he told Bay News 9.
RELATED VIDEO: California Dad of 2 Dies From Flesh-Eating Bacteria After Fishing with His Son
Walton is now home recovering and once he’s healed, looks forward to participating in his next fishing event, which is the Ozona Annual Inshore Fishing Tournament on June 8, according to Bay News 9.
He also hopes that by sharing his story, other fishermen will be more careful while on the water by wearing gloves and cleaning any cuts immediately after they occur, the outlet reports.
In the meantime, his friends and family are asking for donations on GoFundMe to help Walton with medical and recovery expenses, as he is the sole provider for his family and will be out of work for some time.
“Mike has always been a huge part of this fishing community,” the page reads. “Fishing in local water all his life, he would never imagine something like this striking him and his family.”
Since its creation on April 16, the campaign has raised over $19,000 — a gesture that has not gone unnoticed by Walton.
“The way that everyone’s come together, it just floors me,” he told Bay News 9. “It makes you humble.”
The status of Woodstock 50, the star-studded festival announced last month to mark the semi-centennial of the generation-defining 1969 musical gathering, is up in the air as event investors and organizers issued differing statements Monday.
Dentsu Aegis Network, who were financing the festival, cited production concerns in a statement to Billboard, and fears that the site at Watkins Glen International in upstate New York would not be ready to safely accommodate the 100,000 expected to attend between Friday, Aug. 16 and Sunday, Aug. 18.
“It’s a dream for agencies to work with iconic brands and to be associated with meaningful movements. We have a strong history of producing experiences that bring people together around common interests and causes which is why we chose to be a part of the Woodstock 50th Anniversary Festival,” the statement began. “But despite our tremendous investment of time, effort and commitment, we don’t believe the production of the festival can be executed as an event worthy of the Woodstock Brand name while also ensuring the health and safety of the artists, partners and attendees.”
The statement continues: “As a result and after careful consideration, Dentsu Aegis Network’s Amplifi Live, a partner of Woodstock 50, has decided to cancel the festival. As difficult as it is, we believe this is the most prudent decision for all parties involved.”
However, the publicity firm backing original festival organizer Michael Lang denies that the event is canceled.
“We are committed to ensuring that the 50th Anniversary of Woodstock is marked with a festival deserving of its iconic name and place in American history and culture. Although our financial partner is withdrawing, we will of course be continuing with the planning of the festival and intend to bring on new partners,” the told PEOPLE in a statement Monday evening. “We would like to acknowledge the State of New York and Schuyler County for all of their hard work and support. The bottom line is, there is going to be a Woodstock 50th Anniversary Festival, as there must be, and it’s going to be a blast.”
Headliners were to include Miley Cyrus, JAY-Z, the Killers, the Black Keys and Chance the Rapper, as well as Woodstock ’69 veterans Santana and Grateful Dead offshoot Dead & Company featuring John Mayer. Tickets had not yet gone on sale for the event — on April 19 it was announced that ticket sales would be postponed.
Representatives for Dentsu Aegis Network have yet to respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
Ironically, the 1969 incarnation of Woodstock was filled with logistical headaches that nearly doomed the event before it began. Just a month before the show was due to take place, town officials barred the festival from its original site in Wallkill, New York, leaving Lang and his organizers scrambling to find a suitable replacement.
Dairy farmer Max Yasgur’s allowed his dairy farm in nearby Bethel to serve as the new site, but the venue change left little time for construction. Without the resources to construct both a stage and a fence, the producers declared Woodstock a free festival.
Days after Shannon Beador and her estranged husband David Beador reached a divorce settlement, details of the pair’s financial agreement have been revealed.
Nearly a year-and-half after Shannon, 55, filed for divorce from David in in December 2017, their divorce judgment was filed in Orange County Superior Court on Thursday, April 25, according to court documents obtained by The Blast.
Reps for both Shannon and David did not respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
David has agreed to pay Shannon $1.4 million “to equalize the division of community property as set forth herein,” the documents state.
The duo, who are parents to Sophie, 17, and 14-year-old twins Stella and Adeline, have agreed to joint legal and physical custody of their daughters.
“The parties shall communicate with one another to ensure the children are appropriately cared for at all times. The parties shall cooperate to promote healthy parent-child relationships between each party and each of the children, and neither party shall make derogatory remarks about the other in the presence of the children,” the documents state.
Additionally, as a part of their agreement, David will pay the Real Housewives of Orange County star a total of $10,000 monthly in support.
“By way of illustration, the monthly child support effective May 1, 2019 shall be $2,935, and therefore Respondent shall pay Petitioner $7,065 per month in spousal support — making the combined support payment $10,000,” the documents state. “It is the parties’ bargained-for agreement for this stipulated order that Respondent shall pay Petitioner $10,000 per month in combined child and spousal support for ten (10) years, and no more and no less than the $10,000 per month in combined child and spousal support.”
The documents continue: “Respondent shall pay Petitioner, as and for non-modifiable, nontaxable, non-deductible spousal support, the sum of $10,000 less the amount of any monthly child support then in effect, payable on the first day of each month, commencing May 1, 2019 and continuing thereafter on the first day of each month until the last payment on April 1, 2029, and after such payment, spousal support shall terminate forever.”
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David will also “maintain health insurance coverage for the supported children,” the documents state.
Among the things she will maintain, Shannon will keep a 2015 Cadillac Escalade; a leased 2018 BMW7 Series sedan; her bank accounts; and household furniture and furnishings currently in her possession, the documents state. David will keep a property near Corona, California; the Beador Construction Company; a 1998 Ford Expedition; a 2008 Ford Explorer; a 2011 Land Rover Range Rover SC; a 2017 BMW X3; a 2018 Ford Raptor Truck; a leased 2018 Porsche Carrera Turbo Cabriolet; a 2019 Mercedes-Benz G-Class SUV; and household furniture and furnishings presently in his possession, the documents state.
Shannon and David will be officially restored to the status of single persons on July 1, according to the documents.
They split in September 2017 after over 17 years of marriage and she filed to end their marriage in December 2017.
Their relationship had many ups and downs, as documented throughout Shannon’s time on RHOC. In season 10, she revealed that David was unfaithful to her in an affair she learned about days before filming began. The couple then spent time repairing their marriage through therapy and open dialogue with their family.
Although they appeared to be on track for the better, with David even surprising Shannon with a vow renewal ceremony at the Inn at Rancho Santa Fe — the location where they originally said their “I dos” and where David had proposed to Shannon on her birthday — David began getting distant thereafter, according to Shannon. As she said on the show, he often chose to hit the gym rather than spend time with Shannon and the kids.
Adding to the problem was that Shannon had been battling a 40-lb. weight gain, which occurred over a year of emotional stress-eating following false allegations made by Vicki Gunvalson that David “beat the s—” out of Shannon. The weight allegedly “disgusted” David and created a wedge in her marriage.
Months before Shannon separated from her estranged husband — he asked for the separation, according to Shannon — David had allegedly “checked out” of their marriage. “The truth about the state of my marriage is that it’s not good,” Shannon said on RHOC. “I just want to know how David feels because living in this limbo, it’s kind of a form of torture. I just want to know.”
“David’s checked out,” she continued. “There’s no doubt, my husband is checked out. If you’re done with me, then say it and go.”
In March, Shannon won joint legal and physical custody of the girls and $22,500 per month for child and spousal support, according to documents obtained by PEOPLE. David had reportedly been trying to negotiate less since then.
Last week, the parents of three presented their settlement agreement in front of an Orange County judge. The former couple spent three days in negotiations sorting out the finances around their custody battle before submitting the settlement.
Although reps for both stars did not respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment at the time, a source close to Shannon told PEOPLE that the reality star was “relieved” to have the vicious battled behind them.
Leah Messer is opening up about why she called it quits with Jason Jordan.
On Monday night’s episode of Teen Mom 2, Messer, 27, discussed the breakup with MTV producer Brendan and admitted the relationship “just wasn’t right.”
“My kids weren’t feeling it anymore either, not that they can determine who I’m going to be with, but they were picking up on the energy and it wasn’t okay,” Messer said.
She is mom to three daughters: 9-year-old twins Aliannah and Aleeah with ex Corey Simms, and 6-year-old Adalynn with ex-husband Jeremy Calvert.
When Messer noted that audiences didn’t get to see what really went on behind the scenes, Brendan asked, “So he’s always on our best behavior when we’re around? Is that the deal?”
Messer said yes, adding, “We’ve had a lot of disagreements lately on parenting. He gets openly angry, he doesn’t hit or anything, he just gets upset and takes it out on everyone.”
The MTV star also felt like “there was always an expectation that I could never meet.”
RELATED: Teen Mom’s Leah Messer Reveals She Broke Up with Jason Jordan: ‘Everything Happens for a Reason’
“What I did wasn’t ever enough. It didn’t matter. I could get up, make breakfast, do this and that, have all the kids ready and I felt like it wasn’t enough,” she said, adding the two had gotten in an argument after Jordan left her dog in his garage during cold weather.
“When he told me to go home and take my dog I thought, ‘That’s it. Why do I keep pushing for something that’s not right?’ ” Messer said. “He wanted to try to work on it but I was like, ‘I think this is just toxic, I don’t think this is good.’ That’s okay to accept. To me, that’s healthy dating.”
“I really felt like I was in such a great place. I was ready to put my all in a relationship, it just wasn’t the right person,” she said.
Jordan was unable to be reached for comment by PEOPLE.
Messer confirmed the breakup to PEOPLE earlier this month, saying it was “nice” to have his support with her daughters while their relationship lasted.
“We actually broke up,” Messer said. “I’m perfectly okay with it. Everything happens for a reason.”
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View this post on InstagramA post shared by Ḻε@ℏ Ɖ@ẘƞ ♕✰ (@leahdawn92mtv) on Apr 21, 2019 at 10:16am PDT
She added, “I think just kind of going with the flow. just wasn’t right and that’s perfectly okay.”
As for how she broke the news to her kids, Messer said it was her youngest daughter who made the split known to her twins.
“Addie totally blurted it out. Addie totally ratted me out,” Messer said. “We actually filmed it because Addie was, she’s like, ‘Oh, my gosh, mommy and Jason broke up,’ because he had come over and Addie’s there and the girls were like, ‘What? I want to know what happened.’ ”
She said the breakup was “very” amicable.
Teen Mom 2 airs Mondays (9 p.m. ET) on MTV.
PEOPLE Now airs live, Monday through Friday, from the Meredith offices in New York City.
Catch PEOPLE Now every weekday at 12:00 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT on People.com or on the PeopleTV app on your favorite streaming device. Want even more? Check out clips from previous episodes of PEOPLE Now.
Bollywood cannot exist without dance music. Indian films are known across the globe for being musicals and producing some of the grooviest dance numbers ever. Be it the early 80s or the break of the millennia, movies have changed, but what remained constant was the need for that one dance number that gets the crowd roaring and tapping their feet.
On International Dance Day, here’s listing down the best dance that ruled in the first quarter of 2019. So get your dancing shoes on, because we’re tuning the jukebox.
