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Ian Wilkinson says he is no longer Erin Patterson's victim' as Victorian supreme court hears of impact of crimes on family membersIan Wilkinson says he forgives Erin Patterson for trying to murder him but cannot offer her forgiveness for killing three other people with poisoned beef wellingtons, a Victorian court has heard.The supreme court also heard on Monday that the prosecution and defence both agreed that Patterson should receive a life sentence for her crimes, which Justice Christopher Beale agreed were horrendous". Continue reading...

Pre-sentencing hearing at Victorian supreme court concludes after Patterson was found guilty of triple murder and attempted murder in JulyCourt hears statement from sister of Gail Patterson and Heather WilkinsonProsecutor Nanette Rogers SC is reading a victim impact statement on behalf of Lynette Young, the sister of Gail and Heather. She says:I'm just so angry and so sad that my people are not here to be the loving parents and grandparents that they always were.She was more concerned about our own family, our work, our kids, than she was about her own sudden and unexpected health crisis ...I miss her daily and life feels less bright without her.The world seems colder and harsher knowing this. Continue reading...

The renowned Gokteik bridge was bombed on Sunday, with the ruling military junta and rebel forces blaming each other for its destructionA colonial-era bridge in Myanmar that was once the world's tallest railway trestle has been destroyed during fighting in the years-long conflict.A civil war has consumed Myanmar since a 2021 coup deposed the civilian government, with the military battling myriad pro-democracy guerrilla groups and ethnic armed organisations. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Health secretary says he will not let patients be ripped off' by pharmaceutical companies amid standoff

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Tighter family reunification laws are causing long separations, traumatising children, and can push people towards traffickers, campaigners sayStanding outside Germany's parliament in June, Ahmad Shikh Ali fought back tears as he held up a blurry photo of his three-year-old son. Since fleeing Aleppo more than two years ago, Shikh Ali had done all he could to secure his son a safe future: moving to Hanover, getting full-time employment and wading through endless paperwork so that his wife and son could join him.He was close to reuniting with his family, with just two cases in front of his in the queue. That was, until Germany's lower house of parliament passed a bill in June to suspend family reunifications for migrants like him for at least two years. Continue reading...

Russian foreign minister praises Trump's effort and was defensive when asked if Putin was stringing along' TrumpRussia accused western European leaders on Sunday of not wanting peace in Ukraine, as Moscow's most senior diplomat praised efforts by Donald Trump to end the war, while Vice-President JD Vance said the US would keep on trying" to broker talks in the absence of a deal.Sergei Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, made the comments during a sometimes contentious interview on NBC on Sunday morning, during which he denied his country had bombed civilian targets in Ukraine. Continue reading...

After further demonstrations at hotels housing asylum seekers, MPs say harassment is worse than during BrexitMPs have raised the alarm about a rise in abuse linked to debates around immigration, with some reporting levels of online harassment and death threats worse than during the Brexit years.The warning came after a weekend of protests and counter protests at hotels used to house asylum seekers, with 15 people arrested on Saturday and demonstrations continuing into Sunday. Continue reading...

Moscow says operating capacity of reactor at Kursk site reduced by 50% as Kyiv celebrates independence dayMoscow has accused Kyiv of launching dozens of drone attacks, including one that sparked a fire at a nuclear power plant, as Ukrainians marked 34 years since the country gained independence from the Soviet Union.The drone attack on the Kursk nuclear power plant in western Russia, 37 miles (60km) from the border with Ukraine, caused damage to an auxiliary transformer and forced a 50% reduction in the operating capacity of a reactor, Russian authorities said. Ukraine did not immediately comment on the alleged attack. Continue reading...

Bystanders jumped in to help balloon land on residential road on Saturday, narrowly missing houses and carsA hot air balloon made a dramatic landing in the middle of a street in Bedford on Saturday in front of shocked residents.Sam Coldham said he saw the balloon descending in Bower Street in the east of England town at about 9.30am, while he was out walking the dog with his partner, Sian King. Continue reading...

American owner said to be working with bankers on review of chain, which has more than 2,000 UK outletsCosta Coffee could change hands again after it emerged that Coca-Cola has met potential buyers to discuss a cut-price deal to off-load the chain.The American soft drinks company is said to be working with bankers on a review of Costa, Britain's biggest coffee chain, that could lead to it being sold. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Legislation that will include Texas-style scheme to shorten jail time expected to be rolled out this yearMinisters will legislate next month to abolish most short prison sentences, toughen up community punishments and introduce a Texas-inspired system whereby inmates can earn early release as part of an attempt to avert another prison crisis.Government sources said the legislation, which will bring about the biggest shake-up in sentencing laws in England and Wales for three decades, would be introduced once MPs had returned to the Commons in September. Continue reading...

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In a summer of anti-migrant rallies, flags and nationalistic rhetoric, observers warn there is a lack of government voices pushing backThe Bell hotel in Epping has seen a lot since it was built in the 16th century as a coaching inn, serving travellers passing through the historic Essex market town and on to London, 15 miles to the south-west. This has long been a place that bustled with outsiders, though they have not always been welcome - the small green common opposite was once named after a beacon that local stories say was built to warn of invasion.Though now wrapped in ugly 1960s extensions that have stripped it of anything approaching charm, the unassuming building - close to agricultural land and a cricket pitch - is an unlikely place to spark a potential political crisis. Continue reading...

No plan to alter concessional measures on retirees' superannuation as part of tax reforms, Jim Chalmers says

Breaking from most of her peers in Congress, far-right Georgia Republican has also described crisis as a genocideAmid mostly silence in Congress, some US lawmakers on opposite sides of the political spectrum spoke out Saturday over a UN-backed report warning of famine in parts of Gaza.Let's be clear: President Trump has the power to end the starvation of the Palestinian people," Vermont's politically independent senator Bernie Sanders posted on X. Instead he is doing nothing while watching this famine unfold. Enough is enough. No more American taxpayer dollars to Nethanyahu's [sic] war machine." Continue reading...

Counter-protests also taking place, with police separating rival groups in BristolProtesters have clashed with police as demonstrations against hotels housing asylum seekers began to take place across the UK.Demonstrations under the Abolish Asylum System" slogan were being held in towns and cities across England, including Bristol, Exeter, Tamworth, Cannock, Nuneaton, Liverpool, Wakefield, Newcastle upon Tyne, Horley in Surrey and Canary Wharf in central London. Continue reading...

Relatives of Annie Lewis Marffy in red-tape limbo' over recovery of her body and issuing of death certificateThe family of a British aid volunteer reportedly killed in a drone strike in Ukraine said they were very disappointed by the reaction from the Foreign Office.Annie Lewis Marffy, 69, travelled from her home in Silverton, near Exeter in Devon in late May to deliver supplies packed into a green Toyota Rav4 in a mission arranged by the non-profit organisation Aid Ukraine UK. She was to take the vehicle in convoy with a British volunteer to Kramatorsk in the contested Donbas region. Continue reading...

Three people suffered life-threatening injuries in blaze in Gants Hill area of east London on Friday nightScotland Yard is investigating a suspected arson attack on a restaurant in Ilford, east London, which has left three people in a life-threatening condition.Police, paramedics and firefighters were called to the scene in Woodford Avenue, Gants Hill, at about 9pm on Friday. Continue reading...

Caspar Veldkamp resigns after cabinet reaches deadlock on adopting harsher measures over situation in Gaza

Actor says she finds the condescension she faces when holding hands with her husband in public insultingIt's a sight that makes even the most hard-hearted millennial coo: an octogenarian couple expressing their affection towards one another.But Helen Mirren has railed against being so insulting", saying such condescension makes her want to tell people to fuck off". Continue reading...

Maxwell also said she was not aware of any client list' of Epstein's, released documents from DoJ interview show

Gourmand' fragrances with notes of biscuit or cherries are also trending among young consumers onlineA rise in the number of sweet, food-scented perfumes on the market could be linked to an increase in the use of weight-loss medication, according to the market research firm Mintel.Food-inspired fragrances, with scent profiles that feature vanilla, coffee and caramel and referred to in the industry as gourmand" perfumes, have surged in popularity in the past three years. Launches of sugary-scented, dessert-themed fragrances increased by 24% last year alone, Mintel said. Continue reading...

Women who gave evidence in failed libel trial against Guardian say industries need to safeguard women from sexual predatorsThe culture of the television and film industries needs to change to protect women from the actions of sexual predators, women who gave evidence against Noel Clarke in his failed libel action have said.Noel's behaviour was an open secret, everyone knew," said Penelope, a pseudonym for an actor who filmed a sex scene with Clarke. He didn't work alone. Those who enabled and protected him should be accountable. Continue reading...

Nationals leader rails against regional Australia becoming littered with transmission lines, solar panels and wind turbines at LNP conference

In Kramatorsk, 12 miles from the frontline, daily life goes on amid the constant threat of attacksIn a branch of the Ukrainian coffee chain Lviv Croissants in the frontline city of Kramatorsk, there is a noticeboard where people leave coloured Post-it notes with simple hand-drawn messages. One just says Kramatorsk", with red hearts below and a yellow and blue semi-circular fan above, the colours of Ukraine.Among those looking at the notes is Bohdan, a 26-year-old, who has been serving in the army for the past three years. The soldier, now in logistics, has chosen to spend his one day off in Kramatorsk with his dog Arnold to photograph for himself recent Russian bombing on a city where he was based for 18 months. Continue reading...

The revenue from fuel excise is falling but it's not only because of EVs, which make up less than 2% of cars on the roads

US justice department released transcripts of interview with Jeffrey Epstein associate - here's what we have learnedThe US Department of Justice has released the transcripts and audio recording of an interview conducted by Todd Blanche, the deputy attorney general, with the convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell.The transcripts include redacted documentation from a two-day interview on 24 and 25 July and several audio recordings. Here's what we know so far at a glance:Maxwell said that she never" saw Donald Trump receive a massage. She also said that she never witnessed the president in any inappropriate setting in any way," adding that, whenever she saw the president, he was a gentleman in all respects".One notable point is that Maxwell denied ever recruiting masseuses from Trump's Mar-a-Lago club. I've never recruited a masseuse from Mar-a-Lago for that, as far as I remember. I can't ever recollect doing that," she told Blanche. A reminder that Trump claimed his falling-out with Epstein stemmed from Epstein's efforts to hire workers away from Trump's Florida club.Maxwell detailed the social relationship between Trump and Epstein, who cultivated a wide and powerful social circle for many years. I don't know how they met, and I don't know how they became friends. I certainly saw them together and I remember the few times I observed them together, but they were friendly. I mean, they seemed friendly," she said.Maxwell also did not recall former US president Bill Clinton receiving a massage while travelling with Epstein.Blanche said, on the record, that the conversation was not promising to do anything" for Maxwell. He said that anything she said could not be used against her, unless she provided false statements or there was a retrial in her case.According to Maxwell, Epstein did not have any video or photographic evidence of any high-profile individuals committing sexual offences. And to that point, Maxwell also said she didn't hear or witness any instances of Epstein blackmailing powerful people.Maxwell said she recruited a number of masseuses for Epstein but never checked their age or credentials". She added that, throughout her time with Epstein, she never heard any examples of sexually inappropriate contact" between Epstein's guests and in-house masseuses.Despite her claims that Epstein did not extort anyone, Maxwell said she did not believe that Epstein died by suicide. She chalked that up to mismanagement" at the Bureau of Prisons.In the interview, Maxwell said she did believe that Epstein did a lot of, not all, but some of what he's accused of". But she maintained that he became that man over a period of time".Maxwell did not remember whether Trump submitted a letter for Epstein's 50th birthday album, as reported by the Wall Street Journal. She also could not remember asking Trump to contribute.Maxwell said Hillary Clinton did not associate with Epstein. When Maxwell was asked if Epstein knew or had any sort of visit, dealings or associated with Hillary Clinton," Maxwell responded: I would say no." Continue reading...

Navy pilot Donald McPherson shot down five Japanese service members and earned Congressional Gold MedalThe second world war pilot who was believed to be the US's last surviving ace" - a title he earned by shooting down five enemy combatants - has died.Donald McPherson was 103 when he died on 14 August, according to his online obituary. Continue reading...

War dashboard' showing number of militants killed was objective in itself with no plan for how Gaza could be governed afterwards, say sources in elite Unit 8200As Israel gears up for a new offensive in Gaza, figures from a classified database suggest the country's political and military leadership has for two years misled their country and the world about a war that has overwhelmingly killed civilians.In May this year, Israel's military intelligence database of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad fighters had 47,653 names. Of them, 8,900 were marked as killed, or probably killed, a joint investigation by the Guardian, the Israeli-Palestinian publication +972 Magazine and the Hebrew-language outlet Local Call has found. Continue reading...

Far-right agitator or leadership hopeful? MPs call hypocrisy as former minister rails against system he expandedRobert Jenrick had been migration minister for just a few days in 2022 when he gave a broadcast interview that could easily have been given by a minister in the current government.Suella Braverman [the former home secretary] and her predecessor, Priti Patel, were procuring more hotels," he told Sky News. What I have done in my short tenure is ramp that up and procure even more. Because November, historically, has been one of the highest months of the year for migrants illegally crossing the Channel." Continue reading...

Mark Carney says change will go into effect on 1 September but tariffs on steel, aluminum and autos will remainCanada will drop its counter-tariffs on some American goods in the coming days, Mark Carney has said, as the country's prime minister looks to end a protracted trade war with longtime ally the United States.From 1 September, the Canadian government will remove some levies on US goods that comply with the North American free-trade pact, a move meant to match" how the White House treated Canadian goods. Levies on steel, aluminum and autos will remain in place. Continue reading...

Foreign secretary referred himself to Environment Agency after hosting Vance at Chevening country retreatDavid Lammy has received a formal warning after reporting himself for fishing without a licence with the US vice-president, JD Vance.The foreign secretary took Vance angling at his official country retreat in Chevening, Kent, on 8 August as he hosted him at the start of a holiday in Britain. Continue reading...

Judge ordered Everglades camp to close in 60 days, finding state and federal authorities broke environmental laws

Search reportedly part of investigation into classified documents as FBI director warns no one is above law'

Anti-migrant demonstrations expected on Friday and Saturday, while councils investigate legal challenges against hotelsDozens of protests outside hotels used as temporary accommodation for asylum seekers are expected over the weekend across Britain amid mounting tensions over the issue.Figures released on Thursday showed there were more than 32,000 asylum seekers in hotels, marking a rise of 8% during Labour's first year in office. Continue reading...

High court rejects actor's claim that accusations against him by more than 20 women were false and part of a conspiracy Key findings from the Noel Clarke libel caseThe Guardian has successfully defended a libel action brought by Noel Clarke over an investigation in which the actor was accused of sexual misconduct by more than 20 women.In a landmark high court judgment handed down on Friday, Mrs Justice Steyn rejected Clarke's claims, and ruled the newspaper had succeeded in both its defences: of truth and public interest. Continue reading...

This blog is now closed, you can read more on this story hereMothers in Gaza have resorted to using legume water and herbs as alternative to infant milk amid Famine, charity warnsDr. Ra'ed Al-Baba, who works at Al Awda Hospital run by ActionAid's partner Al-Awda, said usage of alternatives to infant milk had catastrophic" consequences.There are mothers who resort to using legume water, herbs, and other alternatives to infant milk because of the severe shortage. These methods carry catastrophic risks, causing gastroenteritis, food poisoning, delayed growth, severe anaemia, and even the inability to move. We have seen cases of extreme dehydration from polluted water mixed with these substitutes. This is not survival, this is slow death." Continue reading...

Ian Comfort calls for government to recognise cultural importance of event and guarantee its sustainable futureAbout 2 million people are expected to take to the streets this weekend at the annual Notting Hill carnival for its mix of music, food and Caribbean culture, but for the man who runs it, there is a sense of relief to see it taking place at all.The chair of Notting Hill Carnival Ltd, Ian Comfort, told the Guardian that the event needed to secure a sustainable future after a year of funding rows, public disagreements with the Met police, and negative press after violence last year. Continue reading...

Both first and second class mail lag behind Ofcom's target in quarterly update after EP Group's takeoverRoyal Mail missed its targets by delivering nearly a quarter of first class mail late in the first update since its parent company was bought by a Czech billionaire, figures show.The company said on Friday it had delivered 75.9% of first class mail within one working day of collection in the three months to 29 June, up from 74.2% the previous quarter but well behind the 93% target set by the regulator, Ofcom. Continue reading...

Security minister says Labour will close asylum hotels by the end of this parliament but it needs to be done in a managed and ordered way'In an interview on BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme on Friday, MSP Jeremy Balfour who has resigned from the Scottish Conservatives (see 9.13am BST), said he feels the party has lost its way in Scotland" and I don't think it represents true Conservative values".According to the PA news agency, when asked if Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay is the right person for the job and whether he should stay in the post, he said:Clearly I'm no longer a member of the party so that's no longer a decision for me to make.I get on very well as an individual with Russell, I think he's a good individual. Whether he's the person to lead the Scottish Conservatives is obviously for MSPs, for the membership, to decide.What I'm very clear about is that those with disabilities, other minorities and the people of Lothian need a voice for people to hear what we require within our country.I'm not sure any party is actually offering that at the moment but whether I stand or not I'll come to a view in the next few weeks.It's the party that's moved, not me.We are disappointed to read these comments but grateful for Jeremy's service and wish him well.The Scottish Conservatives, under Russell Findlay's leadership, recognise that many people feel completely disconnected from politics. It is absolutely critical that our party continues to champion commonsense Conservative values and policies that focus on the issues of concern to hard-working Scots. Continue reading...

This blog is now closedSpeaking alongside Zelenskyy, Nato's Rutte said the alliance's support for Ukraine remained unwavering" and continues to grow," with more plans to provide Nato funding to ensure a crucial flow of lethal US weapons to Ukraine."He lauded the outcome of Monday's talks at the White House, saying that Trump made it clear the United States will indeed be involved in providing security guarantees for Ukraine."Robust security guarantees will be essential, and this is what we are now working to define, so that when the time comes you for you to enter that bilateral meeting, you have the unmistakable force of Ukraine's friends behind you, ensuring that Russia will uphold any deal, and will never ever again, attempt to take one square kilometre of Ukraine."The Budapest Memorandum and Minsk did not provide those security guarantees. So we clearly know what it should not be, and we are now working together - Ukraine, the Europeans, the United States - to make sure that the security guarantees are of such a level that Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, sitting in Moscow, will never, ever try to attack Ukraine again." Continue reading...

Chiswick Bridge now a frontline in turf war as Richmond and Hounslow councils have licensed different operatorsScattered across pavements, propped against trees and toppled over in bushes, dozens of electric Lime bikes have begun to dominate a 200-metre stretch of road just south of Chiswick Bridge. This is the point where the motors on the hired bikes abruptly stop functioning as they cross the boundary between Richmond and Hounslow, a frontline in what residents describe as a turf war between rival companies.While e-bikes for hire have become an increasingly popular mode of transport in London, fractured regulation means customers can ride them through some boroughs with ease but find that in others they cannot ride or park them. Continue reading...

Michela Malatini used social media to trace two French women and presented them with their 44 billAn Italian pizzeria owner has been praised for her bravery after managing to track down a pair of dine and dash" tourists and handing them the bill.The French women had enjoyed pizza and a few glasses of Aperol spritz at Ai Due Re pizzeria in Civitanova Marche, a town on the Adriatic coast, racking up a 44 bill. But they left without paying. Continue reading...

Podcast host Joshua Haymes voices range of extreme views and says liberalism a greater threat to US than neo-NazismThe US defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, has repeatedly endorsed the Reformation Red Pill podcast, and has appeared on four episodes. But the former pastor who hosts the show, and who attends Hegseth's theocratic church, has voiced a range of extreme positions in recent months on issues including Ice raids, capital punishment, the racist great replacement" theory, adultery and neo-Nazism.The revelations come on top of recent media reports focused on Hegseth also boosting a video of Douglas Wilson and other Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC) pastors arguing that women should lose the vote in the United States. They also follow previous revelations about Hegseth's links to or apparent sympathies for Christian nationalist positions. Continue reading...

Increased checks if claimants have moved abroad could save taxpayers 350m over five years, government says

The infant's mother, in her 30s, had been assisting police with enquiries since Wednesday

Matt Wright has pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice

Company had initially challenged a Choice investigation that questioned SPF claims