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Former Human Rights Commissioner ‘disappointed’ to be sacked over paedo reference

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Belfast Live

In a statement to Belfast Live, Mr Lavery said that he wanted to “apologise unreservedly” for the error in judgment.

Former Northern Ireland Human Rights Commissioner David Lavery has said he is “disappointed” to be leaving the post after new Secretary of State Sir Chris Bryant terminated his contract with immediate effect after he provided a character reference for his paedophile cousin.

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Lavery, who is also the Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Law Society, was first appointed as the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commissioner in August 2020. He was reappointed to the role for a second three-year term in August 2023, which was due to end later this month.

An independent review initiated by the NI Human Rights Commission found that Mr Lavery had breached their Code of Governance and was capable of bringing the organisation into disrepute.

In a statement to Belfast Live, Mr Lavery said that he wanted to “apologise unreservedly” for the error in judgment.

“The Secretary of State has informed me of his decision to remove me from the Human Rights Commission. I am disappointed to be leaving the Commission after six years, but I accept and understand the decision that he has made,” he said.

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“I want to again apologise unreservedly for what I recognise was a serious error in judgement on my part in providing a character reference for my cousin and particularly for any hurt and distress that I caused the victims in this case. I profoundly regret that and I am committed to doing all I can to address it in the time ahead.”

William Lloyd Lavery was convicted by a jury of sexually abusing pupils at an all-girls grammar in Belfast and was handed a two-year jail sentence

The 77-year-old, from Richmond Avenue in Lisburn, will also spend the next ten years on the Sex Offenders Register.

On Tuesday, A Northern Ireland Office spokesperson said: “The public rightly expects the highest standards of integrity and professionalism from those in public appointments.

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“An investigation and an independent review were initiated by the NI Human Rights Commission (NIHRC) after public reports revealed that its Commissioner, David Lavery, had given a reference to a relative convicted of historical and serious sexual offences.“This independent review concluded that in providing this reference, Mr Lavery had breached the NIHRC Code of Governance and was capable of bringing the Commission into disrepute and demonstrated a severe failure of judgment regarding public office responsibilities.“Having considered the findings of this independent review, the Secretary of State, as the appointing Minister, has terminated Mr Lavery’s appointment with immediate effect.”

A Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission spokesperson added: “The protection of victims of sexual violence and abuse is of the utmost importance to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.

“Following media reports that Commissioner David Lavery had given a reference to a relative convicted of historical and serious sexual offences, we initiated an independent investigation under the Commission’s Code of Governance. That investigation is now complete.

“After receipt of the investigation report the Secretary of State has exercised his statutory powers and removed David Lavery from his post as Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission with immediate effect.”

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How schools are winning children over to healthier lunches

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How schools are winning children over to healthier lunches

The government is overhauling school food standards in England for the first time in more than a decade. The challenge is encouraging pupils to embrace the new menu

It’s midday on a Friday and children are pouring into the lunch hall at Greenside primary school, an inner-city state school in west London.

Rather than fish and chips or pizza, often served on the last day of the week, enormous trays of chickpeas and spicy rice are emerging from the kitchen, alongside roasted sweet potatoes, green beans and spinach braised with garlic. According to the excited four- and five-year-olds queuing up, the best thing is that all this can be crammed into a burrito with a choice of toppings served at the table. “I like the olives and cheese best,” says five-year-old Sumaya.

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For anyone still hungry, homemade loaves of focaccia are lined up by the ovens, filling the hall with a sweet, malty aroma. “Every Friday, it’s ‘breaducation’, which means all the pupils get involved in making some kind of bread, and we link it back to whatever they are learning in the curriculum,” explains chef Jo Ilbury, who heads up the school’s catering team. “Anything left over is sold to parents at the end of the day.”

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This is a school that takes food seriously, from the herb planters in the garden, which children can pick from, to the compost bin they help manage. Here, sustainability and an understanding of where food comes from are built into the day.

Two decades on from TV chef Jamie Oliver’s war on turkey twizzlers, Greenside primary is one of a growing number of schools that have made lasting changes to their kitchens, reflecting a national improvement in valuing what children eat. But progress remains patchy. For every school with pupils baking their own sourdough, there’s another serving up bland, highly processed fare, low in vegetables and favour.

A recent poll by the government revealed that three-quarters of parents in the UK are concerned by the food their children eat at school. What’s more, the health figures remain worrying, with one in three children leaving primary school overweight or obese.

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Schools are now producing homemade loaves of focaccia as part of their ‘breaducation’ classes. Illustration by Sam Peet

To level the playing field, the government has announced plans to overhaul school food standards for the first time in more than a decade, while also extending free school meals to every child in a family on universal credit, reaching an extra 500,000 in England. The final version of these changes will be published later this year, following a public consultation, before coming into force in September 2027.

As well as an outright ban on deep-fried food, such as chicken nuggets and chips, the new standards will restrict high-sugar desserts to once a week. For most of the week, fruit-based options will replace puddings such as doughnuts, cakes and ice cream.

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It’s not just about taking away treats. The shake-up also focuses on adding more grains, pulses and vegetables to children’s plates. Sample menus include Mexican bean burritos, cottage pie with root-veg mash and roasted chickpea, vegetable and mozzarella wrap.

“This is a genuinely pivotal moment for school food,” says Stephanie Slater, chief executive of School Food Matters, a charity that campaigns to ensure children have access to nutritious and sustainable food at school. “But the success of these reforms will depend on how they are implemented. Along with clear and robust standards, they will require adequate funding and effective monitoring and compliance in schools.”

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Healthier meals could cost more, but the Department for Education argues that the changes could actually save schools money, for example, by swapping out meat for protein from pulses.

As well as ensuring that schools follow the rules – the government suggests that a school governor should take the lead on adherence – children also have to be up for it.

As well as an outright ban on deep-fried food, such as chicken nuggets and chips, the new standards will restrict high-sugar desserts to once a week

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“It doesn’t matter how healthy a lunch is if most of it goes in the bin,” points out Bee Wilson, food writer and campaigner. Wilson launched TastEd in 2019, a charity offering schools free resources on food education with the aim of encouraging children to enjoy more fruit and vegetables. For the changes to have a significant impact, she believes they must be accompanied with better food education.

“What we’ve seen time and again is schools telling us that when they introduce new dishes, a lot of the food will be wasted,” she says.

In secondary schools, with older children, this can lead to ditching the school canteen altogether in favour of a stop at the corner shop or fried chicken joint on the way home.

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This is a genuinely pivotal moment for school food

To prevent this, Chefs in Schools launched a campaign earlier this year called Try Something New Day – a weekly challenge to add new ingredients into meals – to build young people’s confdence with new flavours. The charity, which recruits trained chefs to run school kitchens, is encouraging all schools to put aside a small part of their catering budget to offer tastings of healthy ingredients.

The concept was devised by Amber Francis head chef and food educator at Christ’s College, a secondary school in Finchley, north London. Every Tuesday, at breaktime, she wheels out her trolley, laying out small pieces of something in bowls for pupils to try. This could be different types of tomato or lesser-known flavours such as kohlrabi, kale, blood orange and pomelo.

‘We’re working with other schools in the borough to help them find ways to put food education at the heart of their curriculum by learning from practices that have worked for us,’ says Ciara Finney, headteacher at Greenside primary school

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“It’s about getting young people to step out of their comfort zone and have conversations about what they do and don’t like,” says Francis, who was crowned Champion of Champions on BBC’s Great British Menu in 2025.

For many schools, taking steps like this will be crucial to the success of the government’s latest plans, helping children become familiar with healthier foods, while making sure the quality of school dinners around the country becomes more consistent. For those ahead of the game, it’s about sharing experiences.

“We’re working with other schools in the borough to help them find ways to put food education at the heart of their curriculum by learning from practices that have worked for us,” says Ciara Finney, headteacher at Greenside primary school. “As for our menu, it won’t need to change. We’re there already.”

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Photography: Henry Cavendish and Chefs in Schools

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Man dressed as ‘Grim Reaper’ climbed onto hospital roof and stared at patients

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Man dressed as 'Grim Reaper' climbed onto hospital roof and stared at patients
Leon Gillespie donned an all-black hooded outfit and stood overlooking the entrance to Ysbyty Glan Clwyd hospital in Denbighshire (Picture: Wales News Service)

A hospital intruder dressed up as the ‘Grim Reaper’ and glared at patients, a court heard.

Leon Gillespie, 26, donned an all-black hooded outfit and stood overlooking the entrance to Ysbyty Glan Clwyd hospital in Denbighshire, North Wales.

Four police cars and a fire crew were sent to apprehend Gillespie after he stayed on the roof for nearly an hour on Saturday.

Hospital visitors were shocked at the sight of him standing motionless and brandishing what appeared to be a long blade.

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No explanation was given for the stunt when Gillespie appeared in front of magistrates in Llandudno.

His outfit was also described in court as being a ‘crow’.

Gillespie was fined £200 after pleading guilty to causing a nuisance at a hospital.

A spokesman for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board said: ‘The health board has previously stated it has a zero-tolerance approach to abuse, aggression or nuisance within its hospital sites.’

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Gillespie also admitted separate offences of stealing £30 to 40 of cat food and cat litter from Pets at Home on March 26, and food and drink from Sainsbury’s on May 28.

Both were committed in Llandudno.

He was ordered to pay £50 in compensation, £100 in fines, and £100 in costs to the Crown Prosecution Service.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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Russian ballistic missile strike on Kyiv kills at least 17

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Firefighters work at a site of a Russian missile strike, their silhouettes contrasted against the glowing yellow and orange of smoke plumes illuminated by large fires.

Russia has attacked Ukraine with ballistic missiles and drones, killing at least 17 people and leaving at least 44 injured, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

In one of the deadliest strikes across Kyiv this year, which started after midnight on Wednesday, the head of the city’s military administration, Timur Tkachenko, said the “enemy is once again massively attacking”.

Air raid alerts were in place for more than an hour as the capital’s military administration said the barrage damaged residential buildings and warehouses.

Ukraine has urged allies for more US-made Patriot missile interceptors to defend against Russian ballistic attacks.

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The Russia defence ministry said it had struck logistics hubs and supply centres in Kyiv and the surrounding region.

“These centres were involved in the storage, delivery of various weapons and military supplies, as well as in the production and distribution of unmanned aerial vehicles,” it said.

It also said it had also hit three cargo vessels “which were transporting weapons and military equipment” near the Black Sea port of Odesa.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said there were fears people could be trapped under rubble after strikes on the centre of the city.

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He noted on Telegram that four of the injured people were in serious condition.

“The enemy is once again deliberately striking civilians and civilian infrastructure,” Kyiv’s military administration said.

Ukraine’s air force did not report intercepting any missiles during the attack, saying in a post on Telegram that Russia had launched 24 ballistic missiles and four anti-ship missiles.

It added that 115 drones had been launched by Russia during the attack and air defence systems intercepted 98 of them.

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Russia has intensified attacks on Kyiv in recent weeks, while Ukraine has also increased its attacks on Russian civilian infrastructure, including power facilities.

Dmitry Milyaev, the governor of Russia’s Tula region, said on Wednesday that a drone had crashed into a warehouse of e-commerce giant Wildberries in the region overnight and caused a fire.

He said on Telegram that one person had been injured and there had been no deaths reported, with the retailer saying firefighting teams were working at the site and the facility had been evacuated pre-emptively.

Ukraine has repeatedly targeted warehouses, including those operated by Wildberries. Five people were killed and 10 wounded in the Moscow region on Tuesday morning in the most recent strikes on warehouses.

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The day before, Russian officials said seven people were killed and 58 injured after a drone hit a busy beach in the southern Krasnodar region.

Ukraine, meanwhile, expressed outrage over a video showing a man chased by a drone in Kherson, calling it a deliberate “hunt” and “safari” targeting civilians.

Both sides have denied deliberately targeting civilians.

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One of Elon Musk’s discarded SpaceX rockets crashes into the MOON at 5,400mph – producing a blast equivalent to 15,000 sticks of dynamite and carving out a brand new crater

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One of Elon Musk's discarded SpaceX rockets has crashed into the moon. Pictured: The rocket launching in January 2025, from Kennedy Space Centre in Florida

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One of Elon Musk‘s discarded SpaceX rockets has crashed into the moon’s surface at 5,400 miles per hour (8,690 km/h).

The out-of-control spacecraft is the upper stage of a Falcon 9 rocket, which weighs 4,500 kg and measures 39 feet long (12 m), about the size of a five-story building.

The rocket struck near the Einstein Crater, on the moon’s western edge facing Earth.

Scientists estimate that its impact produced a blast equivalent to 15,000 sticks of dynamite, or three tonnes of TNT.

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That should produce a flash big enough to see from Earth using a telescope, but not with the naked eye.

Due to the lack of wind and low gravity, the impact will also launch a cloud of dust and debris that will linger for tens of minutes.

Scientists and space agencies were carefully watching as the rocket approached, but we are still waiting to see if any pictures of the crash were captured.

Astronomers expect that the impact will carve a crater into the lunar surface roughly 27 metres across and five metres deep.

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One of Elon Musk’s discarded SpaceX rockets has crashed into the moon. Pictured: The rocket launching in January 2025, from Kennedy Space Centre in Florida

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched from Kennedy Space Centre, Florida, in January last year.

It was carrying two private lunar landers, Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost and ispace’s Resilience, into lunar orbit and was not intended to crash into the moon.

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Parts of the Falcon 9 are designed to be reusable, safely returning to Earth after pushing the upper stages out into space.

However, other sections are simply jettisoned and left to drift through space, where they usually burn up in Earth’s atmosphere.

However, after delivering the scientific instruments to the moon, the upper stage has been drifting through space under the influence of the moon’s gravitational pull.

NASA’s Centre for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), concluded that the rocket was on a collision course with our lunar satellite after independent astronomers noticed its dangerous trajectory.

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‘Brilliant’ garden storage box with next day delivery is ‘easy to assemble’ and keeps BBQs dry

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The Keter Outdoor Garden Furniture Storage Shed is currently available from Amazon for £145 and has been bought more than 2,000 times in the past month

Shoppers are flocking to purchase a ‘large capacity’ storage shed from Amazon, with many praising how it’s ‘easier to put together than they thought’. The Keter Outdoor Garden Furniture Storage Shed is presently priced at £145 on Amazon.

Recognised as an Amazon’s Choice product, over 2,000 units have been purchased in the last month alone, highlighting its widespread appeal. This particular price applies to the light grey version, which boasts an 880L capacity.

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It’s promoted as the ‘ideal outdoor storage solution for garden tools and equipment, BBQ and accessories and two 120L wheelie bins’.

The weather-resistant shed showcases stylish wood-effect panels that can be accessed from either the top or front, complete with a lockable mechanism for added security. It includes a ‘heavy-duty floor’ with integrated support for shelving, though shelves aren’t part of the package.

When fully assembled, it measures 132cm x 71.5cm x 113.5cm, reports the Express.

For shoppers willing to spend more, Argos offers the Suncast Columbia Plastic Shed (7 x 4ft) at £799. According to the retailer, the multi-wall resin panels are designed for robustness and longevity, while the all-weather build delivers water resistance and UV defence.

Alternatively, Debenhams stocks the Living and Home Outdoor Solid Wood Storage Cabinet Garden Tool Shed for £85.97, reduced from £219.99. This features a solid wood frame, waterproof asphalt roof and is ideal for ‘organised tool storage’.

The Keter Outdoor Garden Furniture Storage Shed boasts an impressive average rating of 4.4 out of five stars based on over 14,800 Amazon reviews. One customer praised: “Absolutely brilliant, large capacity, a lot easier to put together than I thought was. Able to do it alone, perfect garden storage.”

Another buyer remarked: “Excellent product, researched a number of garden storage systems and this came out the best, would certainly buy another if needed. Took about an hour to build, wasn’t too difficult, only tool needed was a screwdriver.”

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A third reviewer noted: “Second one I’ve bought. I’m a woman on my own and assembled this in less than an hour (had already done one before) with the help of an electric screwdriver. Ideal storage for garden, everything has stayed dry and a great bargain with next day delivery.”

Some purchasers offered constructive feedback alongside their reviews. One customer shared: “Comes flat-packed in a huge box. I managed to assemble it in about two hours, I am 79 so I think I did well. Two people would make it easy. The instructions are very good, easy step-by-step. It does seem a little flimsy, but when fully assembled, it seems sturdy enough. Quite big, it holds quite a lot. There are built-in shelf supports if you want, but you have to buy the shelves yourself. It does what I wanted it for. Bit expensive to be honest though. I bought the light grey one, which was cheaper than the other colours. I am pleased.”

Someone else remarked: “Went together very easily, just a one-man job. Looks nice and seems fairly sturdy. Also, when it’s finished, it’s light enough to move to another location fairly easily. Only thing is, it’s quite a bit lighter in colour than the pictures.”

The Keter Outdoor Garden Furniture Storage Shed can be purchased through Amazon.

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Two Hartlepool HMOs allowed despite police warning ‘significant’ risk

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Two Hartlepool HMOs allowed despite police warning 'significant' risk

Hartlepool Borough Council has granted certificates of lawful development for the conversion of 22 and 24 Kilwick Street into two separate five-bedroom HMOs.

The decision comes despite strong opposition from Cleveland Police.

The force previously warned the HMOs pose a “clear and significant” risk to the community, citing concerns about increased crime, anti-social behaviour, and additional pressure on policing resources.

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They also argued the move could disrupt what they called a “fragile community” and harm the character of the street.

However, the applications were for certificates of lawful development rather than planning permission.

This means the change of use and internal works did not require formal planning approval.

They said: “A certificate of lawful development (proposed use) as set out in the application should be granted.”

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Cleveland Police maintained their opposition.

The force said: “The HMOs presented clear and significant risks relating to vulnerability, crime, anti-social behaviour, policing demand, community cohesion, and cumulative impact.

“The development was inappropriate for this location, risked undermining ongoing policing operations, and should be refused in the interests of public safety, community wellbeing, and responsible urban planning.”

The scheme at 22 Kilwick Street will include a communal dining room, utility room, kitchen, and a ground floor bedroom.

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There will also be two en-suite bedrooms on the first floor and two en-suite bedrooms in the loft.

The layout of 24 Kilwick Street will also include communal living areas and five bedrooms, with two en-suite rooms on each of the upper levels.

While the council acknowledged the concerns, they noted the applications met the legal requirements.

They said: “Comments from police had been relayed to the applicant directly and are not discussed further in the report.”

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However, decision reports for both properties stated issues of crime, fear of crime, and anti-social behaviour were “considered in detail.”

The council has concluded the plans were acceptable “on balance.”

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Rutherglen MSP welcomes Scottish Government financial support for families with hospitalised children

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Through the Young Patients Family Fund, the Scottish Government has provided over £72,000 this financial year to families receiving care from NHS Lanarkshire.

Clare Haughey, MSP for Rutherglen, has welcomed new figures from the Scottish Government which show that 400 families whose children are receiving treatment from NHS Lanarkshire have received financial support while their kids underwent a hospital stay.

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Through the Young Patients Family Fund, the Scottish Government has provided over £72,000 this financial year to families receiving care from NHS Lanarkshire.

The Young Patients Family Fund is a Scottish Government scheme which provides financial help for travel, food, and accommodation costs for parents, primary carers, and young siblings who are visiting a young inpatient in hospital.

Launched by the Scottish Government in 2021, the unique-to-Scotland fund has helped thousands of families through the difficult experience of a young loved one undergoing a long stay in hospital.

Ms Haughey said: “When a child or young person is in hospital, it can be an incredibly challenging time for them and their family, and anything that we can do to help to reduce this stress is really welcome.

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“Families understandably will want to focus on the health and wellbeing of their child, without any additional worry of the costs around being there for them – and this cash support can be absolutely vital.

“This policy is unique to Scotland, having been in place for five years now, and I am proud that are continuing to support families in their time of need.”

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Meghan Markle posts clip of her dancing to a happy birthday song wearing a tiara-like headband while Harry laughs and says ‘oh dear’ – as duchess celebrates turning 45

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Meghan Markle has posted a new clip of her dancing to a happy birthday song to mark her turning 45 - white wearing a tiara-like headband

Meghan Markle has posted a new clip of her dancing to a happy birthday song wearing a tiara-like headband to celebrate turning 45. 

The Duchess of Sussex posted a series of videos from her special day on Instagram, showing her bopping to the music and laughing as she and Prince Harry put paper hats on their two dogs, Pula and Mamma Mia. 

In the new clips, Meghan shares a rare glimpse of herself in casual attire as she sports white pyjama bottoms and a T-shirt branded with the words ‘It’s giving Mrs’. 

A birthday song plays in the background, while Prince Harry laughs and says ‘oh dear’ from behind the camera. 

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Her Instagram story then flicks to a second video showing the couple’s two dogs wearing paper hats – with the duke and duchess laughing as the pets appear less than impressed by their accessories. 

The hats slip on and off the dogs, before Harry repeats ‘oh dear’ and Meghan chuckles, adding: ‘Oh no, okay, let’s take it off. I’m sorry.’ 

The clips came hours after Meghan marked the occasion by sharing photos of herself jumping into an outdoor pool while holding balloons – as she thanked her followers for ‘the birthday love’ on social media. 

Her lifestyle brand As Ever also congratulated the mother-of-two with a snap of Meghan wearing a designer striped shirt from Céline and white Anine Bing ‘Brie’ jeans.

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Meghan Markle has posted a new clip of her dancing to a happy birthday song to mark her turning 45 – white wearing a tiara-like headband 

Harry and Meghan's dog Mamma Mia is seen wearing a paper birthday hat for the occasion

Harry and Meghan’s dog Mamma Mia is seen wearing a paper birthday hat for the occasion

Their other dog, Pula, stretches as she seems less than impressed by her birthday accessory

Their other dog, Pula, stretches as she seems less than impressed by her birthday accessory

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The company’s social media post also included a throwback photo of a young Meghan sporting pigtails and a white turtleneck, seated in what looks to be her childhood bedroom. 

To mark the duchess’s birthday, the brand wrote on social media: ‘Happy birthday to our founder, @meghan. Lighting No. 084 to celebrate!’ 

The caption referenced a candle sold by the brand, which appeared alongside other As Ever products in one of a quartet of photos posted to celebrate Meghan’s special day.  

Last weekend, Meghan showcased her jewellery collection during her latest promotional footage for As Ever. 

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On Sunday, she shared the recipe for her ‘favourite ice cream sundae’, made by placing her raspberry spread into a glass before adding vanilla ice cream, crumbled shortbread and flower sprinkles. 

But royal fans couldn’t take their eyes off the former actress’ rings, which were on full display as she created the dessert. 

Prince Harry‘s wife wore her wedding ring, as well as a giant diamond pear band, thought to be worth $250,000 and once dubbed ‘an engagement ring upgrade’ by jewellery experts.

Meghan thanked her followers 'for the birthday love' as she celebrated turning 45 by jumping into a pool

Meghan thanked her followers ‘for the birthday love’ as she celebrated turning 45 by jumping into a pool

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Taking to Instagram, the duchess posted black and white photos of herself in a swimsuit, plunging into the water excitedly

Taking to Instagram, the duchess posted black and white photos of herself in a swimsuit, plunging into the water excitedly

Her lifestyle brand As Ever also congratulated the mother-of-two with a sleek snap of the founder wearing a striped shirt and white trousers

Her lifestyle brand As Ever also congratulated the mother-of-two with a sleek snap of the founder wearing a striped shirt and white trousers

As Ever shared a sweet throwback photo of Meghan (pictured) to mark her special day

As Ever shared a sweet throwback photo of Meghan (pictured) to mark her special day 

She also wore a new, unidentified gold band on her right hand, and Princess Diana‘s Cartier Tank Française watch, worth £17,800 ($24,020), which was given to her after she married the Duke of Sussex.

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Meghan was also seen wearing her £2,370 ($3,197) Jennifer Meyer mini bezel tennis bracelet, which is handcrafted from polished 18-carat yellow gold and was designed by Tobey Maguire‘s ex-wife.

However, despite the enviable jewellery collection on display, there was one item noticeably absent – the duchess’ £120,000 ($161,922) engagement ring.

The Suits star is believed to have not worn the sparkler in over four months; the last time she was pictured with the jewel was in February 2026 when she wore it to an NBA game in California. 

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Dad died trying to save his daughter in devastating double drowning, inquest hears

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John Peter Collins, 66, lost his life trying to save his daughter Samantha Adele Collins, 32, after she was dragged into the sea while fishing on rocks in Newquay

A father died while attempting to rescue his daughter after she was swept into the sea, an inquest has heard.

John Peter Collins, 66, and Samantha Adele Collins, 32, were pulled from the water at Fistral Beach in Newquay on July 26. Cornwall Coroner’s Court heard that the family, who hailed from Doncaster, South Yorkshire, had been enjoying a holiday in the coastal town.

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Assistant coroner Emma Hillson said: “Samantha Collins was on holiday with her family in Newquay. She and her father were fishing on rocks when Samantha was dragged into the sea.

“John tried to save her, but very sadly was unable to so and they both lost their lives.”

The court was told that Adele Collins, wife of Mr Collins and mother of Miss Collins, formally identified both bodies. Post-mortem examinations were carried out at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Treliske on July 29, with drowning given as the provisional cause of death for both.

“Given the reported circumstances of the death, and the provisional cause of death, I have reason to suspect the death may be as a result of an unnatural cause,” the coroner said.

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“I am going to adjourn for a provisional full hearing date of July 19 2027 at 10am, with a time estimate of three hours. This will be a joint inquest.”

The Truro hearing was told Mr Collins was a retired technical engineer who was married, while his daughter was single. Devon and Cornwall Police previously confirmed officers were called to Fistral Beach at around 9.45pm on July 26.

Both Mr Collins and his daughter were pulled from the water. Emergency services rushed to the scene, but tragically the pair were pronounced dead at the scene.

Miss Collins is understood to have gone into the water with a handbag, described as orange or peach-coloured with a shoulder strap.

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A police spokeswoman previously said it was “thought to contain a number of personal items of great sentimental value to her loved ones”.

“At what is an incredibly difficult time for the family, they would take great comfort in being reunited with these belongings if possible,” she added.

Anyone discovering a bag matching this description is urged to hand it in at Newquay police station, or to contact police quoting incident number 50260197209.

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Iran-US war latest: Trump warns Tehran will be ‘hit very hard’ unless Hormuz reopens

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Iran-US war latest: Trump warns Tehran will be ‘hit very hard’ unless Hormuz reopens

Yemen condemns ‘terrorist attack’ on Indian ship

Yemen’s foreign ministry this morning issued a statement condemning the Houthi attack on an Indian commercial tanker on the Red Sea.

The Yemeni coast guard rescued the 14 crew members of the MSV Faize Noore Oliya, 13 of them Indian, and took them to the port of Mokha, India’s shipping and waterways minister, Sarbananda Sonowal, said.

Yemen said the attack “constitutes a flagrant violation of international law and the rules of international maritime law, and poses a direct threat to the security and safety of navigation and the freedom of trade along international waterways”.

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Alisha Rahaman Sarkar5 August 2026 07:36

India condemns ‘unprovoked attack’ after projectile sinks ship

An Indian vessel sank in the Red Sea after it was struck by a projectile off the coast of Yemen, officials confirmed.

The Yemeni coast guard rescued the ship’s 14 crew members, 13 of them Indian, and took them to the port of Mokha, India’s shipping and waterways minister Sarbananda Sonowal said.

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Sonowal described the incident involving the MSV Faize Noore Oliya as an “unprovoked attack” and said the directorate general of maritime administration had been instructed to coordinate with relevant agencies to safeguard Indian seafarers in the region and give assistance to the rescued crew members.

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar5 August 2026 07:25

The seven times Trump threatened Iran before pulling back

President Donald Trump announced late Saturday that he had called off planned US strikes on Iran, saying renewed negotiations had raised hopes of easing the conflict and reopening shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

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The announcement follows a familiar pattern in Trump’s handling of the five-month conflict, with repeated threats of military action followed by abrupt pauses as diplomatic efforts resume. Several previous ceasefires and negotiating windows have collapsed within days, leading to fresh rounds of US strikes.

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar5 August 2026 07:17

US officials suggest strait deal imminent

Senior US officials struck an optimistic tone, suggesting a deal to reopen the strait could be reached soon.

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Secretary of state Marco Rubio confirmed there has been progress made in talks between Iran and Oman, “but not finality yet.”

Treasury secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC that “there is a chance we may have a deal today or tomorrow to open the strait and move towards a more normalized position in this conflict.”

The Strait of Hormuz is the crucial waterway at the mouth of the Persian Gulf through which a fifth of the world’s traded oil and natural gas passed before the war. It has been effectively shut by Iran’s attacks on shipping since the start of the war in February.

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar5 August 2026 06:53

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Spike in antisemitism in UK after Iran war began – report

Antisemitism in the UK spiked in the immediate aftermath of the US and Israel launching their war on Iran and following a double stabbing of two visibly Jewish men in London, according to a report.

Data from the Community Security Trust (CST), showed there were 1,926 antisemitic incidents recorded across the UK in January to June of 2026 – up by a fifth on the first half of last year from 1,598.

It is the second-highest total reported to CST in the first six months of any year, exceeded only by the 2,019 incidents recorded in the first half of 2024.

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The statistics have been branded “appalling” by policing and crime minister Sarah Jones, who said each incident represents “people living in fear just for being who they are”.

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar5 August 2026 06:00

Trump says ‘all-day negotiation’ was held with Iran yesterday

US president Donald Trump said there ⁠was an “all-day negotiation” yesterday ⁠with ​Iran, characterizing ⁠the talks ⁠positively while ​also ⁠threatening to hit ‌Iran “really hard” if ‌a deal ‌was not reached.

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Alisha Rahaman Sarkar5 August 2026 05:25

Oil prices slip below $80 a barrel

Oil prices fell below $80 a barrel after US official said there was progress in talks with Iran and Oman about ships moving through Strait of Hormuz.

However, US secretary of state Marco Rubio yesterday said a final agreement had yet to be ​reached. Treasury secretary Scott Bessent earlier said that a deal with Iran to reopen the strait could come as soon ⁠as yesterday or today.

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Brent crude futures fell $4.41, or 5.3 per cent, to settle at $79.36 a barrel, the lowest since 13 July.

US West Texas Intermediate futures ​dropped $4.57, or 5.7 per cent, to settle at $75.77 a barrel, also a three-week low.

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar5 August 2026 05:10

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Ships attacked in Strait of Hormuz and in Red Sea

A cargo ship reported being “hit by an unknown projectile” while traversing the Strait of Hormuz, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Center.

The center said the reported strike damaged the vessel at around 2 am local time while it was about 37km northeast of Al Khasab, a port city in Oman.

On the Red Sea, meanwhile, an Indian-flagged commercial ship sank off Yemen after being struck by an explosive-laden boat, Yemeni and Indian authorities said.

Yemen’s coast guard rescued the crew, which included 13 Indians and a Yemeni.

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India’s foreign ministry condemned the attack, though no one immediately claimed responsibility. Iran-backed Houthi militants have repeatedly struck ships traversing the Red Sea near Yemen.

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar5 August 2026 04:50

Trump says US having ‘very good discussion’ with Iran

Donald Trump has claimed that the US was having a “very good discussion” with Iran after issuing a “last chance” warning to Tehran to bring them back to the negotiating table.

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Trump told Fox News that the Strait of Hormuz “will open very soon” or Iran “will take a very hard hit”.

“They called me and asked very politely, ‘Please, can we talk?’” Trump claimed.

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar5 August 2026 04:35

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US military says it has helped over 1,000 ships transit Strait of Hormuz

US Central Command has said it has helped more than 1,000 ships transit the Strait of Hormuz over the past three months.

CENTCOM claimed the key oil waterway in the Middle East “remains free and open,” but maritime traffic remains muted.

Rachel Dobkin5 August 2026 04:25

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