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MAIL ON SUNDAY COMMENT: Andrew is not worthy of ANY royal money

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Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Queen Elizabeth II attend the funeral of Patricia Knatchbull, Countess Mountbatten of Burma in 2017

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Every family has to think, from time to time, about funerals. It may not be welcome, but it is usually wise. 

It is certainly not the taboo it used to be – some TV stations nowadays are full of advertisements for funeral plans.

For the Royal Family, the problem is rather bigger. The death of any senior royal raises delicate and intricate questions of protocol and precedence.

Where will the service be held? Where will the interment be?

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We must all die, even if the current Royal Family has developed a reputation for longevity. 

The well-oiled machine of the British monarchy does not wish to be unprepared for any eventuality, and quite right too.

So inevitably the awkward question of the funeral of the former Duke of York, now Mr Mountbatten-Windsor, has come up. 

And currently there are plans for him to have a funeral thought to be similar to that accorded to the late Queen’s sister, Princess Margaret. 

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Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Queen Elizabeth II attend the funeral of Patricia Knatchbull, Countess Mountbatten of Burma in 2017

Let us not be vindictive here, but the former Prince, by his behaviour and attitude in the Epstein affair, has surely forfeited any entitlement to such ceremonies.

Plainly, in common decency, he should be buried with his forebears, and his unquestioned bravery in the Falklands will not be forgotten by the Navy.

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But the British public will be dismayed if his obsequies take place in royal surroundings or with the trappings of monarchy. 

He is now a private citizen and his funeral should be private too.

A fine choice of school, minister. A shame others can’t follow suit 

Has Labour under Andy Burnham quietly become the party of the super-rich?

Roughly 21 per cent of Mr Burnham’s Cabinet went to private schools, which are now increasingly beyond the reach of the aspiring middle classes.

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This is thanks to tax changes – VAT, National Insurance increases and business rates – imposed on them by Labour Party chairman and former Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson.

Even those ministers who went to state schools seem to have been fortunate in their education.

An impressive 54 per cent of the Burnham Cabinet attended either Oxford or Cambridge, as 99 per cent of British children do not do.

And now we learn that the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Miatta Fahnbulleh, is educating her own three children privately. We do not know how much she and her husband – who is said to be ‘in finance’ – pay. 

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Miatta  Fahnbulleh (pictured with Andy Burnham) championed Labour's decision to slap VAT on public school fees - despite sending all three of her own children to private school

Miatta  Fahnbulleh (pictured with Andy Burnham) championed Labour’s decision to slap VAT on public school fees – despite sending all three of her own children to private school

But Ms Fahnbulleh’s own former school, Beechwood in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, currently charges boarders almost £45,000 a year and day pupils up to £24,597.

There is nothing wrong with that. The Mail on Sunday supports aspiration and ambition. We only wish more children could go to independent schools.

The problem is that Labour’s own actions are currently devastating much of private education across the country. We must assume they know what they are doing, when they make private schools too expensive for the middle class while continuing to use such schools themselves.

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Even if they do not make the same choice as Ms Fahnbulleh, they must surely grasp that Ms Phillipson’s fierce taxes have reinforced the privilege of wealth, not weakened it.

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Lily Allen headlines Boardmasters Festival in a satin corset and lace underwear as she brings her her West End Girl show to Cornwall

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Lily Allen stripped down to her underwear as she headlined Boardmasters Festival with her West End Girl show in Newquay on Saturday

Lily Allen stripped down to her underwear as she headlined Boardmasters Festival with her West End Girl show in Newquay on Saturday.

The singer, 41, had a huge musical comeback last year with her album West End Girl, which detailed her tumultuous split from husband David Harbour, and allegations he cheated on her. 

And Lily pulled out all the stops as she took to the stage to perform the break-up album in full. 

Dressed in a gold ruched dress, Lily later stripped it off to reveal a nude satin corset bodysuit and black lace underwear. 

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She later donned a sheer pink gown as she lay on a bed. 

West End Girl is a 55-minute performance which is structured more like a one-woman stage play rather than a traditional concert. It features no crowd interaction or encores. 

Lily Allen stripped down to her underwear as she headlined Boardmasters Festival with her West End Girl show in Newquay on Saturday

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The singer, 41, had a huge musical comeback last year with her album West End Girl, which detailed her tumultuous split from husband David Harbour, and allegations he cheated on her

The singer, 41, had a huge musical comeback last year with her album West End Girl, which detailed her tumultuous split from husband David Harbour, and allegations he cheated on her

Boardmasters Festival is the UK’s biggest combined surf and music festival and welcomes 46,000 attendees across two coastal sites. 

It features around 90 artists playing across multiple stages with Saturday also featuring Nia Archives, Ren, Alessi Rose and Example. 

It comes as Lily is set to star in a new Prime Video documentary charting her ‘extraordinary’ rise to fame.

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The singer has had a triumphant return to the music scene with her comeback album West End Girl, and will now appear in the feature-length film looking back at her life.

The retrospective documentary will chart Lily’s journey, from the “Queen of MySpace” who changed the rules of the music industry, to the cultural force she is today. 

As a pioneering woman in modern music, Lily’s sharp wit and candid storytelling directly paved the way for a generation of today’s biggest female artists.

Featuring interviews with those who know her best, the documentary builds a rich and revealing portrait of an artist defined by her creative fearlessness. 

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The documentary will be directed by award-winning film-maker Mat Whitecross, who previously directed Oasis: Supersonic and Coldplay: A Head Full of Dreams, and will be released on Prime Video in 2027.

Lily pulled out all the stops as she took to the stage to perform the break-up album in full

Lily pulled out all the stops as she took to the stage to perform the break-up album in full

West End Girl is a 55-minute performance which is structured more like a one-woman stage play rather than a traditional concert. It features no crowd interaction or encores

West End Girl is a 55-minute performance which is structured more like a one-woman stage play rather than a traditional concert. It features no crowd interaction or encores

Dressed in a gold ruched dress, Lily later stripped it off to reveal a nude satin corset bodysuit and black lace underwear

Dressed in a gold ruched dress, Lily later stripped it off to reveal a nude satin corset bodysuit and black lace underwear

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It comes as Lily is set to star in a new Prime Video documentary charting her 'extraordinary' rise to fame

It comes as Lily is set to star in a new Prime Video documentary charting her ‘extraordinary’ rise to fame

Lily appeared overwhelmed with the response from the crowd

Lily appeared overwhelmed with the response from the crowd

At one point she took a phone call during the play

At one point she took a phone call during the play 

Boardmasters Festival is the UK's biggest combined surf and music festival and welcomes over 50,000 attendees across two coastal sites

Boardmasters Festival is the UK’s biggest combined surf and music festival and welcomes over 50,000 attendees across two coastal sites

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Earlier this year, the Smile hitmaker opened up about the toll her tumultuous last year has taken on her daughters as she admitted they are struggling to readjust following the family’s relocation to the UK.

The star revealed that Ethel and Marnie are finding it difficult to navigate changes after moving from New York back to the UK.

Lily, who released her West End Girl album that detailed ex David Harbour’s alleged affair whilst they were together, returned home after the breakdown of her marriage to the 51-year-old.

Speaking candidly on her podcast Miss Me? Lily said: ‘I’ve done quite a lot this year.

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‘I’ve finished an album, I got a boob job, I had a nervous breakdown, I went into hospital for a bit, I came out, I did some podcasting for a while, then I played one of the hardest tracks in theatre and killed myself [in the role of Hedda Gabler] every night for seven weeks.’

She continued: ‘My kids are f***ing mental at the moment… They are really developing their personalities. It’s just a lot. There’s a lot of questions.

‘There’s a lot of change in our lives at the moment. We’ve changed houses, we’ve changed countries, we’ve changed schools, and it’s a lot.’

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Wes Streeting Says Andy Burnham Might Not Be PM If Resigned

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Wes Streeting Says Andy Burnham Might Not Be PM If Resigned

Andy Burnham would “probably” not be prime minister if Wes Streeting had not resigned from the cabinet, the defence secretary has claimed.

Streeting said his decision to quit as health secretary in May had “forced” other ministers to speak out against Keir Starmer’s leadership.

Speaking at the Edinburgh Fringe festival, he said he had given up his own plan to run for the Labour leadership after realising that there weren’t enough “fundamental differences” between him and Burnham.

Streeting quit Starmer’s cabinet in the wake of the May 7 elections, which saw Labour thrashed in England, Wales and Scotland.

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In a ferocious resignation letter, he said he had “lost confidence” in the then prime minister’s leadership.

He said: “It is now clear that you will not lead the Labour Party into the next general election and that Labour MPs and Labour unions want the debate about what comes next to be a battle of ideas, not of personalities or petty factionalism.

“It needs to be broad, and it needs the best possible field of candidates. I support that approach and I hope that you will facilitate this.”

Despite repeatedly insisting that he had enough support to enter the leadership race, Streeting announced he would not run in the wake of Burnham’s victory in the Makerfield by-election in June.

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Asked whether he thought Burnham would be PM if he had not resigned as health secretary, Streeting said: “Probably not.”

He added: “What I think my resignation did that week was force choices for others.”

Elsewhere in the interview, Streeting also revealed he has received an “unbelievable volume” of homophobic abuse online since becoming defence secretary.

He said it was clear that many people online “cannot cope with the idea” of a gay man in the role.

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Listen to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.

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The Shark FlexStyle Kept My Hair Festival-Ready For Three Days

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The Shark FlexStyle Kept My Hair Festival-Ready For Three Days

One of my biggest concerns ahead of venturing to a music festival which involved camping in the Scottish Highlands was undoubtedly: how am I going to keep my hair looking good for three days?

I know, nice hair and camping in a field don’t exactly go hand-in-hand, but my hair is my thing and I take pride in it looking nice – no matter the conditions.

Anyone who knows even the tiniest bit about Scotland knows that the weather is, to say the least, unpredictable. So, when I saw that heavy rain was forecast for the entire three days, I was concerned about what that meant for my locks.

I have naturally thick, frizzy, wavy hair and I needed to think of a good solution. I’ll admit, I went down a TikTok rabbit hole and thought of everything. I considered heatless curlers, rollers, even looked at portable straighteners at one point. Then I realised I had just the tool in my arsenal to make this problem disappear.

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I recently acquired a Shark FlexStyle and as a longtime Dyson lover, I’ll admit, I was skeptical. But it promises amazing blowouts and, more importantly, long-lasting styles. Could it provide me with a festival-proof look?

The morning I was leaving, I decided to really put my back into it and give myself a full blowout.

The first thing I realised was just how powerful the blowdryer was. I was blown away (quite literally), as it dried my hair in seven minutes.

I found the curling attachment easy to use, but it did require me to take smaller sections than I usually would, which was a bit time-consuming. That said, I was still very impressed with the results. It achieved a salon-finish, albeit from the comfort of my parent’s spare room.

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The blowout stayed put despite assembling a tent in windy conditions.
The blowout stayed put despite assembling a tent in windy conditions.

The blowout survived the first day of dancing, drinking and inclement weather.

For sleeping, I put my hair in a loose, low bun and put some serum in it to try and keep the style in place. The inside of the tent was warm and I was unsure how everything would hold up. But – thank the festival gods – when I woke up on the second morning, the style had stayed in place.

I had assumed that by day two I’d need to put my hair up or hide it under a hat, but I didn’t need to at all. In fact, it somehow looked even better…

It held up so well.

And by day three, with the help of a little dry shampoo, it was still going strong. No updos were needed. Great times were had by all.

By day three, my hair still looked fresh.
By day three, my hair still looked fresh.

What’s the verdict?

I would 100% recommend this styler – I was amazed by how long-lasting my blowout was. I’ve always struggled with getting my hair to hold styles, but this could not have been further from the case with the Shark FlexStyle.

I put it to to the ultimate test – wet and windy weather in a Scottish field for three days – and it passed with flying colours.

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If it can keep my hair looking fresh at a music festival, then it can do anything in my opinion! It gets a 10/10 from me and I can’t wait to keep using it for day-to-day styles.

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The hidden Lancashire beauty spot with falcons and coastal views

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The hidden Lancashire beauty spot with falcons and coastal views

The stunning cliffs that provide an impressive welcome to the crag are a result of the more recent history of the area, from quarrying in the 50s and 60s.

You’ll have most likely driven over the very same limestone, as it was used to make the M6 Preston bypass.

Peregrine falcons nest high on the limestone walls, starting their courtship in spring (Image: Surrey Hills Photography)

Peregrine falcons nest high on the limestone walls, starting their courtship in spring.

Before you’ve even left the car park for the footpaths, you might catch a glimpse of the peregrine falcons that nest high on the limestone walls, starting their courtship in spring and spending the summer feeding their chicks.

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These birds are the fastest animals on earth, reaching more than 186 miles per hour when diving for prey, nearly the speed that F1 cars drive.

Steep, rocky paths will get your heart pumping as you head up through the tree line, and the woods contain a wonderfully rich and diverse collection of species, including the rare Lancaster whitebeam which is only found around Morecambe Bay.

Early purple orchids, violets, bluebells, wood-anemone and kidney-vetch all bring colour to the forest floor alongside a range of rich green ferns.

Once you’re out of the tree line, you can see the glorious coastline of Morecambe Bay.

On a super clear day, you’ve even got a chance of seeing all the way to the Isle of Man, though you probably won’t be able to spot any TT racers.

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Out of the trees and onto the craggy limestone grassland, you’ll often come across some big shaggy cattle.

They graze the scrub and trample some of the plant life down, making sure that the grass doesn’t get too prolific and the limestone-loving plants such as juniper and St John’s wort get their spot in the sun.

Butterflies are the stars of the show at Warton Crag, which is home to rare species of small pearl-bordered fritillary (Image: Tom Marshall)

Ecologically, butterflies are the stars of the show at Warton Crag.

It’s home to nationally important populations of rare species like the pearl-bordered and small pearl-bordered fritillary, whose caterpillars feed on the violets in the woodlands.

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The butterflies can be seen on warm days soaking up the heat from the limestone and flitting around the grasses and wildflowers.

If you are really lucky, you may see two of our native lizards, the snake-like slow worm and common lizard, darting through the grass as they finish basking.

Warton Crag is a beautiful spot, and it’s an excellent place to venture after the cold, wet winter.

Follow the example of the butterflies and reptiles and sit on the limestone, watching the world go by, enjoy a sea of colour in the woods and on the grassland as the earth starts to wake up again, and take a moment to really take in and notice what’s going on.

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There’s more than you think, and it’s sure to bring you a sense of wellbeing.

For more articles like this subscribe to Lancashire Life.

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How to clean carpet stains, with and without a carpet cleaning machine

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How to clean carpet stains, with and without a carpet cleaning machine

However effective your vacuum cleaner, there will always be those unfortunate spills and baked-in stains that need closer attention. I run a commercial cleaning business and rely on a homemade paste to remove the most stubborn marks from my carpets (and deploy it after any accidents). It’s inexpensive and you will probably have the ingredients in your cupboards already.

It won’t achieve a deep clean, though. If you’re looking to tackle bigger areas and own – or can hire – a carpet cleaner, I also have some fail-safe advice to ensure a pristine finish.

Spot clean stains with a homemade paste

For small stains, this quick concoction is all you need. Simply mix the following ingredients together slowly until they form a paste:

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  • Half a cup bicarbonate of soda
  • 1 tbsp mild washing up liquid
  • 1-2 tbsp of warm water

Avoid brightly coloured washing up liquids, especially if you have lighter-coloured carpets, as the dye may transfer onto the fibres. Before you start, there’s one step that applies to any carpet cleaning; always test your cleaning solution (homemade or otherwise) on a small, hidden area of flooring to check for colour-fastness and compatibility.

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Does more vitamin D in pregnancy make children smarter?

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Does more vitamin D in pregnancy make children smarter?

Vitamins in pregnancy are usually discussed in terms of a baby’s health at birth. But could the amount of vitamin D taken during pregnancy also influence how a child’s brain works many years later?

A recent Danish study suggests that it might. Children whose mothers received a higher dose of vitamin D during late pregnancy performed slightly better on tests of verbal and visual memory at age ten than children whose mothers received the standard dose.

The findings are intriguing, but they need to be kept in perspective. The differences were small, and the higher dose was not linked to better intelligence, attention, thinking speed, planning or working memory. The researchers also did not examine whether the memory differences affected schoolwork or daily life.

The study followed children whose mothers had taken part in a randomised trial originally designed to determine whether high-dose vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy reduced the risk of persistent wheeze and asthma in offspring. From the 24th week of pregnancy until one week after birth, one group received 2,800 international units (IU), or 70 micrograms, of vitamin D each day. The other received the standard Danish dose of 400 IU, or 10 micrograms.

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Of the 623 children in the original trial, 498 returned for cognitive testing at around ten years old. After accounting for factors that might have influenced the results, the researchers found that children in the higher-dose group performed slightly better at recalling words and objects and remembering where visual patterns had appeared.

They also initially appeared better at switching between different rules or ways of solving a problem. However, that result could no longer be distinguished confidently from chance once the researchers accounted for the number of tests they had carried out.

Why the findings need caution

An important strength of the study is that the mothers were randomly assigned to receive either the higher or standard dose. This makes it less likely that differences in income, diet, health or lifestyle explain the results.

However, the original trial was designed to investigate childhood wheeze and asthma. Cognition was analysed later and was not one of the study’s original outcomes.

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Researchers call this a “post-hoc secondary analysis”. Testing many possible outcomes increases the chance that some apparent differences will arise by coincidence. The two memory findings survived the researchers’ statistical checks, but the improvements were modest and need to be confirmed in trials designed specifically to study cognitive development.

The number of children who returned for testing also needs to be considered. If those who returned differed from those who did not, the findings may be less representative of the original group.

The children were tested only once, at age ten. The research cannot show when the differences appeared, whether they will continue into adolescence or whether a higher dose earlier in pregnancy would have the same effect.

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A child’s vitamin D level after birth is influenced by sunlight, food and supplementation, as well as maternal factors such as breastfeeding, and maternal vitamin D status. The researchers measured blood levels at six months and six years, but two tests cannot show a child’s vitamin D exposure throughout the first decade of life. The study therefore cannot establish precisely when vitamin D might have influenced development. For example, it is unclear whether the effects were caused by vitamin D exposure during pregnancy, after birth, or by vitamin D supplements taken during childhood up to the age of ten.

Most of the mothers did not have low vitamin D levels when the trial began. Only 15% had levels below 20 nanograms per millilitre, although definitions of deficiency vary. The findings tell us more about giving extra vitamin D to women whose levels were already relatively high than about treating a clear deficiency.

The researchers found no convincing evidence that the higher dose worked differently according to the mother’s starting vitamin D level. However, the unplanned analysis, small improvements and study population mean that this study alone is unlikely to justify changing UK guidance.

Around 96% of the children who completed the follow-up were white. This limits how confidently the findings can be applied to more diverse populations or groups at greater risk of low vitamin D.

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This is particularly relevant in the UK because people with darker skin generally produce less vitamin D in response to sunlight. Future trials should include participants from a wider range of ethnic backgrounds and more women with low vitamin D levels.

Should pregnant women take a higher dose?

Current NHS guidance recommends that pregnant women take 10 micrograms, equivalent to 400 IU, of vitamin D each day from early October to late March.

People who spend little time outdoors or usually cover most of their skin should take this amount throughout the year. People with black or brown skin should also consider taking vitamin D all year. A doctor may recommend a different dose when blood tests show a deficiency or there is another medical reason.

The dose used in the Danish trial was seven times the routine NHS recommendation, although it remained below the adult upper limit of 100 micrograms a day. That does not show that the higher dose offers extra benefits or suits every pregnancy.

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Taking too much vitamin D over time can cause calcium to build up in the body, potentially damaging the kidneys and heart. Pregnant women should not increase their dose in the hope of improving their child’s memory without first speaking to a midwife, GP or another healthcare professional. They should also check whether vitamin D is included in more than one of the supplement they are taking.

The study offers tentative evidence that taking more vitamin D during late pregnancy may have a small effect on verbal and visual memory at age ten. Further trials should make cognition a planned outcome, test children at several ages and include a more diverse group of participants.

Until stronger evidence is available, pregnant women should follow current guidance and seek individual medical advice when deficiency is suspected.

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Large field fire near Malton – crews called to scene

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Large field fire near Malton - crews called to scene

Five fire crews were called to the blaze in Duggleby, near Malton, at about 7.50pm on Saturday (August 8).

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said the fire measured around 150m x 100m and was to a stubble and standing crop field.

The field fire in Duggleby, near Malton, on Saturday night (August 8) (Image: North Yorkshire Weather Updates)

Farm machinery was used to cut fire breaks around the blaze.

Crews used hose reel jets and sprayers to extinguish the fire.

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In a statement, the fire service said: “Farm machinery was used to cut fire breaks around the fire and crews used hose reel jets, knapsack sprayers and beaters to extinguish the fire and put a wet line in to prevent re-ignition of the fire.”

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Tree deliberately set on fire in Bishopthorpe Road, York

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Meat stolen after shed burglary in Lansdown Road, Goole

Firefighters extinguished the blaze in Bishopthorpe Road at about 4.20am on Sunday (August 9).

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said it understood that the fire was started deliberately and informed police about the incident.

In a statement, the fire service said: “A crew from York responded to a tree that was on fire. 

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“Crews extinguished the fire using two knapsack sprayers. 

“Police were informed due to the cause of the fire was believed deliberate.”

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Banbridge incident: PSNI statement as cordons lifted after security alert

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Belfast Live

Temporary cordons in the Huntley Road area, Banbridge, have now been lifted

Cordons have been lifted after an incident in Co Down sparked a security alert.

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Police were contacted on Saturday afternoon, August 8, with a report of a concern for the welfare of an individual in the Huntley Road area of Banbridge.

Officers and Ammunition Technical Officers attended and examined items found while the road was closed, with diversions in place at the Glassestown Road and Ballykeel Road.

On Saturday evening, police released a statement and said nothing suspicious was found and the individual concerned was “receiving appropriate support and treatment at this time”.

A PSNI spokeswoman said: “Police received a report of concern for the welfare of an individual in the area of Huntley Road Banbridge earlier today at approximately 12.30pm, Saturday 8th August.

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“Officers together with Ammunition Technical Officers (ATO) examined items found and located nothing suspicious.

“Other unrelated items were removed by police for further examination. The individual concerned is receiving appropriate support and treatment at this time.

“Temporary cordons in the area have now been lifted and we would like to thank members of the public for their patience.”

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

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Trump visibly deflated after reporter’s stinging comeback to claim he’s ‘one of the greatest presidents ever’

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Donald Trump appeared a bit taken aback when an interviewer contradicted him on his belief that he's considered 'one of the greatest Presidents ever'

Donald Trump appeared taken aback when an interviewer delivered a quick-witted response to the brag that he’s considered ‘one of the greatest Presidents ever.’

The Commander-in-Chief spoke to Punchbowl News and was asked about how he might deal with a Democrat-controlled Congress in 2027. 

Reporter Jake Sherman asked: ‘If Democrats do take over the House, it’s just going to be investigation mania. They’re going to do oversight. They could impeach you again. Do you think they will?’

‘Well, a lot of people are saying I’m one of the greatest presidents ever,’ Trump replied.

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‘They’re not saying that though,’ Sherman said with a chuckle, referring to the Democrats. 

‘Yeah, but they know. They see the results,’ Trump responded, before rolling off a list of his accomplishments.

He cited ‘more money being invested in the United States than at any time in history,’ as well as construction of factories, investment in AI and companies leaving countries like Mexico, Canada, Germany, Japan and coming to the US.’

Trump, however, seems unsure whether the coalition that won him an electoral college landslide will come out for the Republican Party without him on the ballot in November.

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Donald Trump appeared a bit taken aback when an interviewer contradicted him on his belief that he’s considered ‘one of the greatest Presidents ever’

The Commander-in-Chief spoke to Punchbowl News earlier this week and was asked about how he might deal with a Democrat-controlled Congress in 2027. Pictured: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (pictured right) and Democrat Senator Patty Murray (pictured left)

The Commander-in-Chief spoke to Punchbowl News earlier this week and was asked about how he might deal with a Democrat-controlled Congress in 2027. Pictured: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (pictured right) and Democrat Senator Patty Murray (pictured left)

‘If I don’t run, will those people go out and vote, and that’s the one thing I can’t tell,’ Trump told Punchbowl News in an interview released Friday.

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Then the President revealed his greatest open question about the coming elections and conservative voters: ‘Will they vote?’ 

‘A lot of them are very angry at Republicans, to be honest with you … they are not angry with me, but they are angry with Republicans.’

Republicans’ odds of keeping control of both chambers of Congress are glum, at least according to prediction markets. 

As it stands, Republicans have less than a 20 percent chance of maintaining control of the House, per Kalshi data. In the Senate, Republicans’ odds of staying in power are much more favorable at 54 percent.

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But the President has a trick up his sleeve to help Republicans – he has a massive political war chest that he can deploy to help his party members campaign against their Democratic opponents.

‘I could spend it on pretty much anything I want,’ Trump noted in the interview, adding, ‘I’m going to help Republicans.’

The President’s political action committee, MAGA Inc., has $400 million in cash on hand, according to the latest Federal Election Commission filings in late June. 

Trump has noted repeatedly his close relationship with House Speaker Mike Johnson, who he has called a 'fantastic person' but has wondered if Republicans will show up in the midterm elections

Trump has noted repeatedly his close relationship with House Speaker Mike Johnson, who he has called a ‘fantastic person’ but has wondered if Republicans will show up in the midterm elections

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Trump said that voters are angry with Republicans, but 'they are not angry with me'

Trump said that voters are angry with Republicans, but ‘they are not angry with me’

The fate of Trump’s remaining two years in power hinges largely on whether conservatives maintain control of Congress.

Should he lose just one chamber, either the House or the Senate, any legislation the President wants passed would need at least some Democratic support. 

The thing is, Democrats have been outspoken for years about their ardent opposition to the President and his agenda, and it is hard to see them finding common ground to push through bipartisan legislation. 

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During the interview with the Congress-focused outlet, the President also spoke about his relationships with Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Republican Leader John Thune, or lack thereof. 

Johnson, Trump said, is a ‘fantastic person.’ The two have worked closely together on the President’s legislation in the House, and the Speaker has largely been able to deliver votes on must-pass bills for the President. 

The same cannot be said of the Senate.

When pressed on whether he would back Thune to lead the Senate Republicans again next year, the President did not offer the leader, whom he has clashed with at times, his support. 

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‘I don’t want to get into that,’ Trump answered. 

Though Trump did note that there was no ‘disconnect’ between him and Thune, adding, ‘I think we have a good relationship.’ 

Trump has repeatedly requested that the Senate pass voter ID laws, which were already approved by the House. He sees the legislation as imperative for Republicans ahead of the midterm elections given his claims that elections have been ‘rigged.’ 

Thune has worked to get his Republican conference on board, but the legislation has stalled out, and the Senate Republican Leader has repeatedly told the President he does not have the votes to get it passed. 

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