A British man who has spent seven years reviewing public benches has finally awarded his first perfect 10/10, after returning to a favourite bench on his wedding day. Sam Wilmot started the Instagram account Rate This Bench in 2019 after jokingly judging benches while walking with friends. Since then, he has reviewed more than 300 benches and attracted nearly 18,000 followers. His long search for perfection ended at St John The Baptist Church in Old Sodbury, South Gloucestershire. The bench overlooks countryside stretching towards Bristol and Wales. Wedding Day Turns a 9/10 Into Perfection Wilmot had previously reviewed the same bench and awarded it 9/10. In fact, the Old Sodbury bench appeared among his favourite early reviews. Its significance grew after Wilmot and his wife, Sophie, chose the church for their wedding. “The first time I reviewed it, I gave it a 9/10. But when we first discussed getting married, I mentioned that I would like this church to be involved purely on the basis of this bench,” Wilmot said. Read More: Becca Bloom’s Plane Shopping Viral Video Sparks Huge Reaction After the ceremony, the newlyweds returned to the bench in their wedding clothes for photographs. “On the wedding day we came back in our suit and dress, and I reviewed it again and it was the very first 10.” Wilmot said the emotion surrounding the day made the bench impossible to beat. “People are always asking why there’s never been a 10,” he said. “I’m never going to sit on a bench again that’s going to have that feeling.” Seven Years of Reviewing Benches Wilmot said the account began almost by accident. “I was jokingly judging benches whilst out on a walk with friends, and one of them said ‘that’d make a good Instagram account’, so I just went for it,” he said. Read More: Social Media Search Helps Bring Wasim Akram’s Puppy Home Since 2019, his reviews have covered benches across England, Wales and Dubai. Followers also send him photographs and personal stories explaining why particular benches matter to them. Wilmot said those emotional connections are among the reasons he plans to continue the account despite finally finding his 10/10. Sophie has played an important role in the project as the account’s photographer since the couple met. “Taking the photos of all the benches is something I feel very grateful for, not only to help, but mainly be a part of the journey,” she said. She described their wedding-day return simply: “The best view, on the best day, sat on the best bench.” What Makes a Perfect Bench? Wilmot uses a surprisingly detailed scoring system. “They need to have armrests and a backrest, there needs to be curvature to the seat, I like a bench to be made out of wood,” he explained. He also awards points for a solid base, the surrounding view and location, and a dedication or plaque. The final point comes from what he calls the “wow factor”. City-centre benches often perform badly because of dividing barriers, awkward armrests and designs that limit comfort. “It qualifies as a bench, but it’s not really a bench,” Wilmot said. After hundreds of reviews, the Old Sodbury seat finally delivered something no technical scoring system could fully measure: a personal memory linked to the day he married the woman he loves.
Becca Bloom’s Plane Shopping Viral Video Sparks Huge Reaction
Social media influencer Rebecca Ma, better known as Becca Bloom, has gone viral after taking followers along on an unusual family shopping trip for a private plane. Bloom joined her parents as her father searched for an anniversary gift for her mother. The video, titled “Come plane shopping with me”, has attracted more than 8 million views. “Let’s go shopping for a new plane. My dad’s been searching for an anniversary present for my mom, so this side quest was actually his idea. When we arrived, our sales associate had a few options parked out front for us,” Bloom says in the video. Family checks out private planes Bloom takes viewers inside the first aircraft and describes it as “quite cosy.” While her parents discussed paperwork with the sales team, Bloom said she became bored and started dozing off. A pilot then invited her into the cockpit and showed her some of the aircraft’s controls. The family later inspected another plane, which quickly became her mother’s preferred option. “This was my mom’s favorite because it needed the least customization. She actually recently had hip surgery, so my dad wanted to make sure she could get in and out of the plane easily,” Bloom said. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rebecca (@beccaxbloom) Her mother, however, also had a lighter reason for visiting the cockpit. “My mom on the other hand was asking the pilot to take a picture of her in the cockpit so she could flex on her Asian mom’s group chat,” Bloom added. The video did not confirm whether the family eventually bought an aircraft or reveal which specific plane they were considering. Social media reacts to luxury shopping trip The unusual anniversary shopping trip quickly sparked humorous reactions online. One user wrote, “‘Let’s go plane shopping.’ Things I can’t wait to say.” Another commented, “We are all just living vicariously through you, girl.” One person joked, “I just got one yesterday. My son made me a paper plane.” Another viewer wrote, “I really love how she shows me my future life.” The reactions reflect the appeal of Bloom’s luxury lifestyle content, which often gives followers a glimpse into experiences far beyond everyday shopping. Who is Becca Bloom? Bloom has become one of the most recognisable creators associated with “RichTok”, a social media trend built around wealth, luxury purchases and extravagant lifestyles. The Wall Street Journal described her as one of RichTok’s biggest stars after she began posting on TikTok in January 2025. Her content has included expensive jewellery, designer shopping trips and elaborate meals. Bloom is the daughter of technology entrepreneurs Simon Ma and Heidi Chou, who previously worked at IBM and later co-founded Camelot Information Systems. She also studied business and economics at the University of Southern California. Her personal life has also attracted attention. Bloom married software engineer David Pownall at Villa Balbiano on Lake Como in August 2025. Vogue reported that the intimate celebration included about 60 close friends and relatives. Her latest viral video adds another eye-catching chapter to the luxury lifestyle content that helped build her online following.
Woman Arrested Over 2,000 Fake Manga Orders Worth $27 Million
A 32-year-old Japanese woman has been arrested for allegedly placing more than 2,000 online orders for manga and anime merchandise worth about 4.3 billion yen, or roughly $27 million, without intending to pay for or receive the products. Police identified the woman as Mayu Yoshida, a restaurant worker from Osaka. Investigators allege she used 238 separate accounts to place repeated orders through Shueisha Inc.’s Jump Characters Store. Authorities say Yoshida repeatedly used payment methods that allowed her to reserve products without immediately completing payment. How the fake orders worked Investigators say Yoshida used Japan’s convenience-store prepayment option for many purchases. Under the system, customers can place an online order and later pay at a convenience store before the deadline. If payment does not arrive, the order is automatically cancelled. Police allege Yoshida repeatedly let deadlines expire after securing popular merchandise. She also selected cash on delivery for some orders, then refused to accept the packages when they reached her. Read More: Man Wins $1 Million Picasso With Just a €100 Ticket Between July 2024 and May 2025, Yoshida allegedly placed more than 2,100 orders involving merchandise linked to popular titles including One Piece and Naruto. Reports say the total value of the cancelled orders exceeded 4.3 billion yen. Shueisha estimates the repeated cancellations caused around 7.5 million yen, or about $47,000, in delivery and related costs. The publisher also said the activity temporarily made some products appear out of stock, potentially blocking genuine customers from buying them. Stress cited as motive Yoshida reportedly admitted to the allegations after her arrest on August 4 on suspicion of fraudulent obstruction of business. “I do not have any resentment towards Shueisha,” she said. She told investigators that everyday stress had driven the behaviour. “I have been feeling stressed from daily life, and I felt a sense of satisfaction and refreshment from ordering items before they sold out.” Read More: Pakistan’s 5G Not Working on iPhones and Pixel Devices Another account of her statement quoted her as saying, “I generally like anime. Ordering the products gave me a sense of satisfying my desires.” Japanese media reported that Yoshida first used the store years earlier as a normal paying customer. The repeated ordering and cancellation pattern reportedly began around October 2023 and continued for roughly two years. Shueisha seeks strict action Shueisha said the cancellations caused financial damage and disrupted normal business operations. The company cited lost sales opportunities, shipping costs and problems with product availability. The Jump Characters Store sells merchandise connected to major manga franchises published by Shueisha. The company is behind globally recognised titles including One Piece and Naruto. Shueisha has asked authorities to take strict action, saying the repeated orders affected other customers’ fair chance to buy products. The case also shows how flexible online payment systems can be abused when a buyer repeatedly creates accounts and blocks inventory without completing purchases.
What Happened Inside This Daycare Left Parents Stunned
Police in Bengaluru have launched an investigation after disturbing videos allegedly showed a young child being abused inside a daycare centre on the HAL campus of global IT company Capgemini. The case involves a child aged between two and three years. Authorities registered a case against five female caregivers after verifying the daycare centre and reviewing videos that surfaced on June 29. One video allegedly shows the child locked inside a toilet. The child lies on the floor and cries uncontrollably while a woman records the incident. Another clip appears to show a caregiver making the child sit on a toilet seat. She then sprays water on the child’s face with a toilet jet. A third video allegedly shows the child sitting inside the drum of a front load washing machine. The child appears frightened and continues crying. Police have not confirmed whether other children also suffered abuse. Investigators are examining the videos and questioning the caregivers. Company closes daycare as inquiry expands Deputy Commissioner of Police Saidulu Adavath said the children enrolled at the centre belong to professionals working on the campus. “The children enrolled at the daycare belong to professionals working on the campus, who leave them there during work hours,” he said. He described the alleged treatment as extremely serious. https://Twitter.com/SmritiSharma_/status/2072327602744999953 Investigators are also trying to determine who managed the daycare. They are examining whether Capgemini operated the facility directly or hired an outside agency. Police have questioned all five caregivers. However, officers have not made any arrests so far. The Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has also taken cognisance of the case. It will seek a detailed report and conduct its own inquiry. Capgemini said employee safety and family wellbeing remain its highest priorities. The company added that it is fully cooperating with investigators. It has also temporarily closed the on campus daycare centre as a precaution. Capgemini is headquartered in Paris. It operates in more than 50 countries and employs around 350,000 people worldwide. The company has major offices in Bengaluru, Pune, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Gurugram, Noida and Kolkata. Experts urge parents to stay alert The incident has renewed concerns about childcare safety at workplace daycare centres. Many companies provide daycare facilities so employees can leave young children nearby during working hours. Child welfare experts advise parents to make unannounced visits whenever possible. They also recommend speaking with children regularly about their daily experiences. Parents should maintain close contact with caregivers. They should also review CCTV footage if the facility allows it. Experts say parents must never ignore unexplained injuries, sudden behavioural changes or signs of fear. If abuse is suspected, parents should immediately contact the police. They should also inform the Child Welfare Committee or the local child protection officer. Seeking legal advice and arranging a medical examination can also help protect the child’s rights. Police continue investigating the case. Officers are trying to determine how the alleged abuse occurred, whether more children were affected and who bears responsibility for operating the daycare.
Couple Climbs Empire State Tower for Love and Lands in Custody
A Russian couple stunned tourists in New York City on Wednesday after climbing the Empire State Building’s transmission tower, unfurling a peace banner and ending the high risk stunt with a marriage proposal before police arrested them. Angela Nikolau and Vanya Beerkus, both well known urban climbers, scaled the transmission tower above the Empire State Building’s 1,454 foot structure. Dressed in sleeveless black outfits and face coverings, they documented the climb on social media while standing on the narrow antenna hundreds of feet above the city. Near the glowing red warning light at the top of the tower, the pair displayed a large black banner carrying the message: “When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace.” The quote is often incorrectly credited to legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix. Historians attribute the original saying to 19th century British politician William Gladstone. The wording on the banner slightly modified Gladstone’s original statement. 🚨 BREAKING: 2 people have climbed the Empire State Building in New York to fly a flag. The flag reads “When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace.” pic.twitter.com/YrIudqf9Lx — FOX 4 NEWS (@FOX4) July 1, 2026 Witnesses watched the climbers move around the restricted tower shortly after noon while visitors filled the building’s observation deck. Around 12:30 p.m. local time, the pair climbed down to a lower platform, where the dramatic stunt took another unexpected turn. Proposal follows dangerous rooftop stunt After reaching the platform near the base of the spire, Beerkus dropped to one knee and proposed to Nikolau. She accepted the proposal before the couple embraced and kissed high above the Manhattan skyline. Nikolau later removed her face covering as they celebrated their engagement. She also shared photos of the proposal, including images of her engagement ring, on Instagram. The couple are no strangers to dangerous rooftop climbs. Nikolau describes herself on social media as a “neoartist exploring identity, fear & freedom.” The pair previously climbed San Francisco’s Bay Bridge and Merdeka 118 in Kuala Lumpur, the world’s second tallest building. They also appeared in the 2024 Netflix documentary Skywalkers: A Love Story, which follows their lives as urban climbers. Police arrest pair as safety concerns grow Police later took the couple into custody without incident. The New York Police Department said they face unspecified charges. Authorities have not explained how they accessed the restricted transmission tower. The incident forced officials to clear the observation deck while nearby streets closed temporarily. An NYPD helicopter also monitored the situation from above. 🚨 BREAKING: DEATH-DEFYING DAREDEVILS DEFY DEATH… AND GET CUFFED! 😱Two Russian thrill-seekers just CLIMBED the EMPIRE STATE BUILDING like it was a jungle gym — no ropes, no harnesses, 1,454 FEET OF PURE TERROR — unfurled a massive PEACE banner, and got ENGAGED at the tip of… pic.twitter.com/kigTQwVvEQ— The Republic Watch (@RepublicWatch55) July 2, 2026 An Empire State Building spokesperson described the climb as an “unauthorised incident.” The spokesperson also noted that the landmark already offers a $1,000 “Happily Ever Empire Proposal Package” for couples wishing to propose from its observation deck. Former CBS News New York chief engineer John Cleary warned that the stunt carried serious risks. He said the tower contains active television and radio transmission equipment with dangerous levels of electrical energy. Cleary added that trained technicians follow strict safety procedures before working on the structure and noted that the couple appeared to climb without safety harnesses. Nikolau’s father, Russian circus artist Dmitriy Nikolau, defended his daughter’s actions after learning of her arrest. “I think it is normal to climb up a roof in any country, including the United States, according to any constitution,” he said. When asked whether he worried about his daughter, he replied: “Why should I be worried? I climb up roofs myself.” The Empire State Building has witnessed other famous climbs, including Jared Leto’s authorised ascent in 2023 and Alain Robert’s unauthorised climb in 1994. However, Wednesday’s combination of a peace message, marriage proposal and arrest made it one of the landmark’s most unusual incidents in recent years.
