Hugh Jackman and wife Deborra-Lee Furness have announced that they’re ending their marriage after 27 years as husband and wife, DailyMail.com can confirm.

‘We have been blessed to share almost 3 decades together as husband and wife in a wonderful, loving marriage. Our journey now is shifting and we have decided to separate to pursue our individual growth,’ the couple said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE on Friday.

‘Our family has been and always will be our highest priority. We undertake this next chapter with gratitude, love, and kindness. We greatly appreciate your understanding in respecting our privacy as our family navigates this transition in all of our lives.’

The former couple signed the statement as ‘Deb and Hugh Jackman,’ adding: ‘This is the sole statement either of us will make.’ 

The Australian couple share two children together; Oscar, 23, and Ava, 18. 

At 67, the Australian blonde is 13 years older Hugh, 54, and they’ve previously stated that they have never spent more than two weeks apart since their 1996 wedding. 

This April marked the pair’s 27th wedding anniversary and the Wolverine star posted a gushing tribute to his wife. 

‘I love you Deb. Today is our 27th wedding anniversary. 27 years! I love you so much,’ the actor gushed to his 79.1M social media followers. 

‘Together we have created a beautiful family. And life. Your laughter, your spirit, generosity, humor, cheekiness, courage, and loyalty is an incredible gift to me. I love you with all my heart.’ 

While he is undoubtedly more well known than his wife, Deborra-Lee had already shot 20 movies by the time she and Jackman met while costarring as a prison psychologist and a brain-damaged convict in ABC’s 10-episode series Correlli in 1995. 

In 2000, The Music Man thespian and Furness adopted son Oscar Maximilian, 23, in 2005, they adopted now 18-year-old daughter Ava Eliot. 

‘I think honesty and intimacy and making time [are the secret to a long and happy marriage]. You can’t just assume that things will just tick along okay. You have to make time,’ Hugh told Smooth Radio in February. 

Deborra-Lee most recently played Jill Bailey alongside Eric Bana in Robert Connolly’s sequel Force of Nature: The Dry 2, which was released in Australian and New Zealand theaters on August 24. 

Hugh has never been shy about speaking on his marriage, and praised Deborra-Lee when promoting his hit film The Greatest Showman in 2017. 

In an interview, he called Deborra-Lee his ‘best friend’ and main source of support in both his career, and personal life. 

Hugh said of his partner: ‘I’m married to the greatest woman alive. She’s amazing. We’re best friends, and we share everything. She’s smart.’

Talking about how they never spend longer than two weeks apart, he explained that it was because they wish to ‘share everything’ together. 

He continued: ‘We always said we’d never spend more than 2 weeks apart. Sometimes life and work does get crazy. 

‘But we met on my first job when she was already a big star, I was a nobody. So we have shared everything, all the ups and downs, and always will.’ 

A British couple on holiday in Crete have been accused of walking out of at least three tavernas without paying.

The couple whose identity is not known are reported to have happily tucked into food and drinks before complaining loudly about their meals and refusing to pay.

They are said to have stormed off without settling their bills in at least three restaurants on separate nights around the village of Koutouloufari in the north of the idyllic Greek island.

The couple are believed to have last struck at the Ariadni Apartments restaurant which is acclaimed for its fine pizzas, seafood and traditional Greek food.

An outraged member of staff posted their picture on Facebook, along with message stating: ‘Keep an eye on this couple. After finishing their meal, they refuse to pay the bill.

‘We are third restaurant so far where they have tried this tactic. It’s good restaurant owners in the village communicate with each other so we know what to expect.’

The post on the Facebook group Koutouloufari For Ever attracted more than 200 comments including many from outraged British holidaymakers and ex-pats accusing the couple of heaping shame on the UK.

One woman rushed to defend the restaurant, posting: ‘Such beautiful people and place!! Shame on you.’

Another furiously posted: ‘How disgusting. How could anyone do such a thing to the lovely people around the area.

‘It’s people like that who give us English a bad name. I see it has been shared on the posts that I am a member of. I hope they rot in hell for what they have done.

‘They are probably on their way back home by now. So sorry to all those lovely people who have been affected x’.

A third Brit added: ‘Why can’t the taverna owners join forces and bring a few hefty brothers/cousins/mates in to the village as an “encouragement” for these lowlifes to pay up, if the cops won’t do anything?’.

One holidaymaker from Newcastle suggested that the couple may be from Liverpool in a comment saying: ‘There (sic) Scousers. I was actually there tonight when it happened. By the way, not bad mouthing Scousers. Good people etc, but ya always get a bad egg.’

But another holidaymaker added to confusion over the identity of the couple, saying: ‘I was sitting opposite them. Sounded like Cockneys to me, or was it Mancs?’

Former Ministry of Defence worker Mark Flynn, 59, who has lived in Crete for 16 years accused the couple of ‘taking advantage of the kindness of Greek people’.

He added: ‘It looks like they have been going into restaurants to eat. It is the custom here for places after a meal to provide a free dessert and a glass of the local raki firewater.

‘They then apparently started complaining in each place about the service and meal they had been given even though they had eaten and drunk everything.

‘As far as restaurants are concerned, it is often just easier for them to let people like that walk away, and forget about it, because most diners are very honest.

‘But in this case, it seems that this couple have gone too far and have tried the same stunt repeatedly in at least three places.

‘It is extremely unusual for local restaurants to post something like this because they don’t like to cause a scene, and it is a sign that they must have been very upset.’

Mr. Flynn who is from Plymouth, Devon, added: ‘It is the first time I have heard of Brits doing this in all my time here.

‘When it has previously happened, it has been Russians or Israelis. Everyone is really angry about it because the behaviour of one couple is giving all British people a bad name.

‘It is not a very nice thing to do at all. The Greeks are wonderful people and do not deserve to be abused like this.’

A woman posted on Facebook that she believed the couple had returned back to the UK on Tuesday last week.

After seeing the picture of the couple, she said that she had seen the man around the former Roman port town of Hersonissos which is near Koutouloufari and renowned for its peaceful beaches and ancient ruins.

The woman posted: ‘We were in Hersonissos until the 29th August. I’m certain I saw him at least once in Hersonissos during the week we were there, and on the last day (29th), I ‘m sure my partner spoke to him while we waited outside down town restaurant (bus stop 22) for our transfer.

‘He was very drunk and eating and drinking in the restaurant, and mentioned his transfer was later in the day.’

The Ariadni Palace Apartments have not yet responded to a request for comment.

Kanye West and his Australian ‘wife’ Bianca Censori have been banned for life by a Venetian boat rental company following their indecent exposure scandal in Italy last week.

The couple sparked controversy last Monday when they were spotted enjoying an amorous moment on a water taxi in Venice, with West exposing his bare buttocks in front of gawking tourists. 

Images of the couple showed the American rapper, 46, seated at the back of the river taxi while his Australian so-called bride, 28, placed her head in his lap.

Venezia Turismo Motoscafi, the company that rented the boat to West and Censori, have since spoken exclusively to Daily Mail Australia and confirmed the couple are ‘no longer welcome’ aboard their boats. 

In its statement the company condemned the pair’s bawdy activity, while confirming it was ‘completely unaware’ what occurred on the boat the photos were made public. 

‘On board, the driver had to keep a lookout for traffic and did not see these obscenities. If this had happened, he would have immediately disembarked and reported the transgressors to those in authority.’

‘In addition, there was a third person on board the taxi, who accompanied Mr. and Mrs. West, who obstructed the captain’s view to the stern in any case.’ 

The third person was a woman who has been pictured chaperoning West and Censori during their Italian holiday. 

The company went on to denounce the couple’s explicit display, saying: ‘We completely dissociate ourselves from such acts and behaviour.

‘Mr. West and his wife will certainly no longer be welcome on board our company’s boats,’ they added. 

Venezia Turismo Motoscafi is one of Venice’s leading private navigation companies, boasting an impressive array of celebrity clientele, including Lady Gaga, Harry Styles, Florence Pugh, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck.

It comes after online critics argued that Kanye’s flesh-baring display constituted ‘public indecency,’ a charge which comes with a fine of up to €309 (AU$520), according to the Italian Constitutional Court. 

‘How are these two not arrested for lewd behaviour?’ one commenter complained, as another agreed: ‘Public indecency! Keep it for the privacy of your own home.’ 

Someone else added: ‘Italian authorities need to arrest them for indecency doing that lewd and disgusting behaviour in public. There are clearly crowds, kids probably saw.’

Yet another user complained: ‘What is the matter with them? Maybe time the police stepped in,’ as someone else asked: ‘Why won’t the Italian government police or someone stop them?’ 

Other users said the bawdy display was ‘disrespectful’ to residents of the conservative Catholic nation. 

‘This kind of dumb stunt is what helps paint all Americans as having zero class or respect,’ one user lamented. 

‘I wish the police would arrest these two for their ignorant behaviour. They are making a mockery of the country,’ another added. 

Other concerned fans have questioned whether the bizarre display is proof that the rapper is ‘controlling’ Bianca. 

‘Cant anyone see that both of these people need help? Where is this woman’s family and surely Kanye has people that are interested in his well being,’ one wrote.  

‘Poor girl. She looks miserable,’ one commented, as someone else added: ‘Well she certainly doesn’t look happy.’

Another fan claimed Bianca ‘needs to get out of that sick relationship’ while someone else wrote: ‘How humiliating for you. That poor woman needs help. She looks miserable. Free Bianca!’ 

One user branded Kanye a ‘sicko’ for the explicit display. 

Prior to boarding the boat, West was covered from head-to-toe in an all-black ensemble while Censori wore a knee-length trench coat which she teamed with a pair of nude heels.

However both shed their layers once getting on board, with Censori ditching her coat in favour of a a strapless nude-coloured number as West pulled down his pants which exposed his bare behind.

It appeared that things were getting very steamy as Censori rested her elbows on his knees while he was then seen cradling her head as they sailed along the river. 

West and Censor have sparked fury among locals over the past month for their odd wardrobe choices while holidaying in Italy, with critics especially taking aim at Censori for ‘going around virtually naked’ in the conservative Catholic country.

The brunette has stepped out on several occasions with her bare breasts clearly visible beneath see-through mesh outfits.

Among them was the outrageous nude catsuit – which saw her forced to cover her nipples with a black cross-body bag.

According to major tourism website CIU Travel, locals find it ‘offensive’ to see visitors ‘wandering the streets in varying states of undress.’

The website reads: ‘Walking around in beach attire or, worse, shirtless, is a huge no-no in Italy, unless you have your feet buried deep in the sand.’ 

It remains to be seen whether West or Censori will face any form of official punishment for their latest over-the-top display. 

The fashion designer — who is widely believed to be behind all of Censori’s recent and controversial looks — and his new muse were first romantically linked in January 2023 just months after his divorce was finalised. 

The couple wed in a private ceremony in Beverly Hills in January, about two months after the rapper’s divorce to Kim Kardashian was finalized.

However, the legality of the union is in question, as they did not file a marriage certificate.

Previously, Kardashian filed for divorce in February 2021 after six years of marriage.

Throughout their longtime romance, West often called her his ‘muse’ and heavily influenced her fashion choices.

The former couple share four children together — North, 10, Saint, seven, Chicago, five, and Psalm, four.

By Ailbhe Macmahon For Mailonline

Updated: 11:28 EDT, 22 August 2023

It might have a population of only 50 people, but Adrian Bennett made his dream come true by moving from Bradford, England, to the tiny dusty town of Silverton in the NSW outback.

The reason Adrian moved his wife and three children to the other side of the world to a rural village on the NSW/SA border? Because he is a Mad Max super fan, and he wanted to build a museum in the rural area where the second movie, Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior, was filmed.

The English family moved to the country in 2006, and while it was always their intention to open the museum, Silverton became their home four years later when the Mad Max 2 Museum was finally erected.

Despite having such a small population, the town has a stretch of road with several galleries on it, including The John Dynon Gallery, and of course, Adrian and Linda’s Mad Max museum.

The small wacky building is instantly recognisable as a museum dedicated to George Miller’s post-apocalyptic movie.

It is a must-see for any film buffs, as it is filled with a large collection of photographs from the movie, character costumes, and an impressive collection of original and replica vehicles from the flick – including two interceptors.

While speaking to Adrian, it is clear that he is obsessed with the movie franchise, and building and running the museum was a dream come true for him.

‘Some people think I’m joking when I talk about how much I love the movie,’ he told Daily Mail Australia.

Adrian first saw the action movie when it was released in cinemas in the UK when he was 18-years-old.

His wife, Linda, said she wasn’t one bit surprised when he came up with the plan to relocate to Australia and start the museum.

‘The first thing he said to me when we met was, “Have you seen a movie called Mad Max?”‘ she said.

‘So when we had been together forever I wasn’t surprised [he wanted to move to Australia].

‘And I always thought it would be nice to come out here, he was always planning it in his head.’

Despite their clear passion, the couple said many people thought they were mad to start a business in a town that has a population of just 50 people.

‘There are two comments I remember from certain people and one was, “You’re a bit of a financial genius aren’t you, starting a museum in a town with a population of 50 people?”‘ Linda said.

‘And I said, “Financial genius? Yes, this town gets hundreds of thousands of tourists.”‘

Adrian said that on top of the town being popular for tourists, Australia needed to have a dedicated Mad Max museum.

‘They needed this museum, it didn’t make sense not to have something like this,’ he added.

‘When we moved in 50 people were living here but I said yes, the financial genius gets 160,000 tourists coming through [the town every year].

‘If I got a dollar off every 160,000 people coming through I’d be doing alright wouldn’t I?’

While it costs $7 to enter the museum, there is also an abundance of merchandise on sale.

However, the couple said despite their success, it has never been about the money for them.

They’ve just always wanted to live comfortably while living their dream of owning a Mad Max museum in the outback.

‘We have never been driven by cash, we just want to live comfortably, for me I’m living the dream anyway,’ Adrian said.

Linda added: ‘It was built from a passion and if this door shuts tomorrow because no one was coming in we still wouldn’t sell up.’

Decked out with turrets, a keep and fortified walls, this stately abode looks like it could have been plucked out of the pages of a fairytale. 

While it models all of the characteristics of a European castle, the princely property actually sits in the heart of Texas, with acres of countryside rolling as far as the eye can see.

The mindboggling estate was the brainchild of architect and developer Terry Young and his wife Kim. The couple ventured to Bavaria in 1995 and came across plans for an unfinished castle imagined by King Ludwig II – the monarch who commissioned the fairytale-esque Neuschwanstein Castle – and they decided to bring his flight of fancy to life back in the US.

The Youngs spent around a decade constructing King Ludwig II’s never-built Falkenstein Castle out of chunks of limestone and granite and today, their stately six-bedroom abode is available via Airbnb for $1,518 per night.

According to the listing, the castle can accommodate up to 16 guests at a time with 14,000 square feet to play with.

On-site amenities include a pool table, a ping pong table, a ‘1,000 plus DVD collection with many classics and series you will not find on streaming services,’ a 40,000 gallon koi pond and a gazebo with a charcoal grill.

In terms of the interiors, antique-style furnishings run throughout, with chandeliers, gilded frames and dark woods being among the running themes. 

One traveler who recently stayed at the quirky vacation rental gave it a 4.87 rating out of 5, writing: ‘Amazing place. Incredibly unique and could accommodate a group of 10 adults no sweat. 

‘The place was very comfortable and peaceful beyond description. Our host was very responsive and friendly.

‘We had an amazing time and totally want to go back.’

Another traveler left similar feedback following a stay in July 2022, writing: ‘Extremely memorable experience for us! Very responsive and gracious hosting. 

‘The kitchen was well-equipped with everything we needed. Living spaces were clean and pretty darn spacious – 11 adults and we never felt cramped. 

‘Surprise hits were the “Tower Shower” in the master bathroom and the PLUSHEST grass by the pond. Definitely the nicest place I’ve ever been allowed to roam unsupervised.’ 

On the castle’s Facebook page, photos reveal the building in various stages of construction. 

One image shows the two-car garage gradually taking shape, while another shows how the rocky terrain had to be flattened out to make way for manicured lawns.  

The Youngs reveal on the castle’s independent website, that they got hold of the plans for Falkenstein Castle during a vacation to Bavaria. 

While they were on a tour of Neuschwanstein Castle, they came across drawings of the castle designed by King Ludwig II hanging on the wall and they came to realize that it had never been built. 

Apparently plans for the palace were abandoned upon his death in 1886. 

They asked the castle’s director where they could get blueprints for the turreted abode and they were sent to find another historian who had recently retired from the directorship role.

Once they met with the castle expert and explained their interest, ‘he was kind enough to make copies of the original artist rendering of Falkenstein Castle and other minor sketches.’

The story goes that on their return flight to the US, Mr Young ‘looked lovingly’ at Mrs Young and asked her if ‘spending the next ten years or so’ building their own Falkenstein Castle in Texas would be a good idea.

To which Mrs Young ‘smiled and replied, “Why not!”‘

Along with being open to holidaymakers, Falkenstein Castle caters to wedding parties and there is a chapel on the plot. 

In terms of the surrounding area, the caste is set amid 133 acres of state park with a labyrinth of hiking trails to explore, while the city of Austin is a 45-minute drive away.  

George Clarke is left gobsmacked when a couple who want to change the entire structure of their terraced home by themselves pull it off for under £40,000 – despite having no building experience whatsoever.

The Geordie architect visits Simon and Holly in Weston Super Mare in tonight’s episode of Old House, New Home, which airs on Channel 4 at 9pm.

The couple have recently bought a three-storey terraced house with six bedrooms on a Georgian crescent in the seaside town – but since it was built, it has been converted into three flats and then back into a townhouse, leaving the whole building with an unusual layout.

As the couple, who have two young children, lead the presenter around their new home, which they purchased for £345,000, they tell him their plans for changing the layout – which include knocking down walls and breaking through ceilings.

However, George is left lost for words when Simon reveals he will be doing the majority of the building work – even though he has never worked on a project like this before.

But after an 11 month project in which Simon and Holly manage to complete the work for under £40,000, George brands it a ‘miracle’. 

Simon and Holly bought the house as a family home for their children Alfie and Daisy after spending four years sailing around the world.

At the beginning of the programme, Holly says: ‘We didn’t intend anything like this. We thought, ‘small mortgage, hassle-free’ after being on a boat. And then somehow we bought this.’

Simon adds: ‘It just kind of spiralled out of control and then we had it.’

Describing the house as a ‘great space but definitely tired’, George said it needed ‘a lot of work’ and asked who would be carrying out the renovation – to which Simon responded it would be him.

George said: ‘You must have loads of building experience.’

‘Zero, none,’ Simon replies, leaving George wide-eyed as he responds: ‘You’ve never built anything before? And you’re going to do all this?’

Simon explains he won’t touch things like the gas and electricity and will instead bring in professionals to take on those jobs – at which point George looks relieved.

Holly then jokes: ‘Do you want me to get a defibrillator in?’

As George is shown around the house and its unusual structure, he decries the ‘bodge’ DIY jobs that have been carried out on the property over the years, when it was split into three flats.

He is shown into one room where he looks out of the window onto the garden, and says it’s ‘a shame’ to see how the 19th century house’s original features have been covered up, such as the fireplaces and the handrails on the stairs.

‘You would never think you were in a beautiful period house in here would you?’ he asks, before adding: ‘It’s pretty miserable actually. Sorry.’

As the couple gets started on their mammoth project, for which their maximum budget is £40,000, they run into problems early on – but luckily, George is on hand to help.

In one scene, he dons his safety goggles to help Simon knock through a hastily-built, tiny bathroom (the placement of which he described as ‘criminal’) to create more space.

Later in the programme, he calls in a favour with a carpenter who helps restore the bannister on the stairs to include a curved handrail which had been cut out and replaced with a hard angle somewhere during the building process.

By the end of the programme and 11 months later, Simon and Holly have completed almost the entire project by themselves – but the architect and his team have spent a few days on the property to put the finishing touches on the project.

The big reveal shows how the couple have managed to knock through a wall on the ground floor of the property to create a farmhouse-style, open plan kitchen diner with patterned tiles that had been hand-painted by Holly.

As he tours the property, George says: ‘I feel like I’m in a completely different house altogether.’

Among the huge changes made by the parents was restoring the first-floor reception room in the house, which had been split into two rooms by previous owners.

The room now features red velvet furniture, patterned wallpaper and a period fireplace which has been restored.

Simon and Holly sit down with George in the reception room at the end of the programme to debrief on the project.

Holly praised her husband for his hard work completing the project almost entirely on his own with no building experience, which she said had taken him away from the children.

The couple tell George they have completed the project for between £35,000 and £40,000.

Holly says: ‘I still think that’s pretty good for what we’ve done!’

George replies: ‘Pretty good? That’s a miracle! It’s an absolute miracle! What are you talking about, ‘pretty good’?’

The wife of the CEO of OceanGate, who was piloting the missing Titanic tourist submersible, is descended from a wealthy New York couple who drowned on the Titanic when the famed ship hit an iceberg in 1912.

Wendy Rush is the wife of Stockton Rush, one of the five people trapped in a Titan sub that went missing Sunday after a trip to visit the Titanic wreckage.

Crews are now racing to try and find the missing sub in a massive international rescue effort.

Wendy’s great-great-grandparents, Isidor and Ida Straus, died in the 1912 disaster.

Isidor is a co-founder of Macy’s department store. He and his wife were featured in James Cameron’s 1997 film about the disaster as the two fictionalized versions were shown embraced on a better as water rushed into the ship and around them.

The pair had in real life been offered seats on a lifeboat – her as a woman, and him as a well-known former congressman and co-owner of Macy’s department store. But Isidor refused, saying he would not go until all the women and children had gone, and Ida then refused to go without her husband of 40 years.

She gave her mink coat to her maid, Ellen Bird, to keep her warm as she sailed away on the lifeboat.

Wendy Rush, born Wendy Hollings Weil, married engineer and entrepreneur Stockton Rush in 1986.

She is descended from Isidor and Ida Straus’s daughter Minnie, who married Dr. Richard Weil in 1905. 

Their son, Richard Weil Jr., later served as president of Macy’s New York, and his son, Dr. Richard Weil III, is Wendy Rush’s father, The New York Times reported. 

Wendy Rush has visited the Titanic wreckage three times with her husband’s company in the last two years, and works as OceanGate’s communications director.

Stockton Rush, 61, founded OceanGate in 2009.

The Seattle-born, Princeton-educated aeronautical engineer worked on fighter jets and initially hoped to go to Mars before switching his attention to the sea.

He tried to buy explorer Steve Fossett’s submersible after his death in 2007, but was unable to do so and began creating his own.

Rush admitted that parts of his sub were improvised – it is controlled by a video game controller, and the light inside was bought from an online camping website – but said it had been built with help from Boeing, NASA and the University of Washington.

Yet it emerged Tuesday that OceanGate’s safety record had been questioned by an industry body.

A 2018 letter to Rush, obtained by the New York Times, warned that ‘the current ‘experimental’ approach’ of the company could result in problems ‘from minor to catastrophic.’

It was sent by the Manned Underwater Vehicles committee of the Marine Technology Society, a 60-year-old trade group that aims to promote ocean technology and educate the public about it.

But it is unclear if any employee or Rush himself responded to the letter, and there was no further detail on why the approach was considered dangerous.

Officials searching for the missing sub have warned that they may not be able to rescue the missing tourist sub even if they find it.

The sub’s oxygen supply was at just 24 hours from Wednesday, giving rescue crews until Thursday morning to find it before it runs out.

Rescue crews from the US, France and Canada are still trying to find the vessel, which is understood to have last ‘pinged’ while directly above the Titanic wreck.

In addition to Rush, the passengers are British billionaire Hamish Harding; French Titanic expert PH Nargeolet; and Pakistani fathe and son Shahzada Dawood, 48, and Sulaiman Dawood, 19.

First District Response Coordinator Capt. Jamie Frederick said the Coast Guard has already searched 7,600 square miles of ocean – a search area the size of Connecticut.

At 12,500ft underwater, there are few vessels able to dive deep enough to find it.

It comes after DailyMail.com revealed that OceanGate refused to put their submersible through an independent inspection process and fired a director in 2018 after he asked for more rigorous safety tests on the craft, named Titan.

Bosses fired David Lochridge, who was Director of Marine operations for the Titan project, after disagreeing with his demand for more rigorous safety checks on the submersible, including ‘testing to prove its integrity’.

The company also opted against having the craft ‘classed’, an industry-wide practice whereby independent inspectors ensure vessels meet accepted technical standards.

OceanGate, which charges up to $250,000 for a seat on the submersible, suggested that seeking classification could take years and would be ‘anathema to rapid innovation’.

In 2019, the firm added that seeking classification for Titan would not ‘ensure that operators adhere to proper operating procedures and decision-making processes – two areas that are much more important for mitigating risks at sea’.

Classification involves recruiting an independent organization to ensure vessels like ships and submersibles meet industry-wide technical standards. It is a crucial way of ensuring a vessel is fit to operate. 

The Manned Underwater Vehicles committee of the Marine Technology Society said in a statement about the tragedy that the ‘modern commercial submarine industry’ is ‘regulated in accordance with international safety standards through classification societies.’

They added: ‘These organizations have rules and safety standards for the design and construction of systems ranging from submersible vehicles to super tankers and oil platforms.

‘The main classification organizations for submersibles include the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), Det Nortke Veritas (DNV) and Lloyds Registry (LR) among others.

‘The submarine industry has a safety record of fifty years without incident. 

‘This is due to the engineering discipline and professional approach exercised by members of the industry, and the collective observation of (and adherence to) a variety of safety standards.’

An unmarried couple have been publicly whipped 21 times each for breaking Sharia law in Indonesia‘s Aceh district after they were caught making out in a parked car.

The couple were found in the Ule Lee Harbor area of Banda Aceh City, on the island of Sumatra, according to Sindo News.

The public whipping took place at the Bustanul Salatin complex on Wednesday afternoon.

The woman, RO, 23, and the man, M, 24, who were described as a non-muhrim couple, were given 21 lashes with a rattan cane, reduced from 25.

Images show a police officer speaking on a microphone to those watching the act while others take photographs. 

The executioner, or Algojo, is seen covered from head to toe in a brown cloak-like costume with two eye holes covered by a white mask.

The woman and man are pictured being individually led to a room before being punished.

While being caned on a blue carpet, the woman, who is wearing a white burka, appears to slump forward towards the floor in agony.

‘The two of them violated Article 25 paragraph (1) of Qanun Aceh Number 6 of 2014 concerning the Jinayat Law, namely the act of conscientiousness,’ said Head of Criminal Investigation Section of the Banda Aceh Prosecutor’s Office, Isnawati, in Banda Aceh.

The car was found parked and swaying, according to Aceh media outlet Bithe.

After checking the vehicle, the officer found the couple making out.

Until now, RO had been detained at the Lhoknga prison, in Aceh Besar and M had been detained at the Kajhu detention center, Isna said.

Indonesia has the world’s largest Muslim population. 

Aceh is the only one of the nation’s 34 provinces that can legally adopt bylaws derived from Sharia. 

The province follows religious law as part of a 2005 autonomy deal agreed with the central government that ended a decades-long separatist insurgency. 

Public whipping remains a common punishment for scores of offenders for a range of charges including gambling, adultery, drinking alcohol, and having gay or pre-marital sex. 

The ‘close proximity’ law makes association by unmarried individuals of the opposite sex a criminal offense in some circumstances.

Aceh’s Sharia police have interpreted the broadly worded Sharia-inspired adultery law to prohibit merely sitting and talking in a ‘quiet’ space with a member of the opposite sex to whom one is not married or related – even without any evidence of intimacy, according to Human Rights Watch. 

The controversial punishment enrages rights activists and generates heated debate in the media and amongst politicians. 

Home and Away’s real-life couple Sophie Dillman and Patrick O’Connor reveal why they left Australia after quitting the long-running soap

By A. James For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 20:11 EDT, 29 May 2023 | Updated: 20:15 EDT, 29 May 2023