As autumn arrives, garden pests become more active

As autumn sets in, squirrels and mice can become more active as they prepare for colder conditions. This can turn them into a greater problem in gardens, where they might dig up lawns and flower beds while searching for food or shelter.

However, there could be a straightforward method to discourage them from lingering. According to experts at Pest Defence, the answer might be found in your kitchen cupboard.

One common household item can be sprayed across the grass to make your garden less inviting to these unwelcome guests.

The experts explained: “If you’ve ever watched squirrels closely, you’ll notice their little noses twitching. That’s because they have a keen sense of smell, something that is crucial for them in finding food and avoiding potential dangers.

“Any strong, unfamiliar or even irritating odour will disrupt their behaviour, sometimes even driving them away. That’s why natural repellents are a smart move as your first step in preventing an infestation.”

The same principle works for mice. These creatures also possess a highly developed sense of smell, which they rely on to locate food and navigate. Yet this can equally be exploited to repel them.

What to use to deter squirrels and mice?

Pest Defence recommends using peppermint oil, as the minty aroma is exceptionally powerful to squirrels and can irritate their noses. Unlike vinegar, which can be unpleasant to humans and damage your lawns and plants, peppermint has a bearable scent yet proves effective when applied properly.

Rather than buying a peppermint deterrent online, you can create your own mixture by diluting pure peppermint essential oil with water in a spray bottle. To apply the spray properly, “coat the perimeters of raised beds, the rims of containers, and the poles or bases of bird feeders”.

However, gardeners should avoid spraying bird food or feeding ports directly, as strong essential oils can irritate the birds they welcome.

To stop squirrels from becoming accustomed to the mint, apply the spray at least two to three times weekly. It is also recommended to alternate with cayenne pepper for a week before switching back to peppermint.

A writer at Homes and Garden also suggested: “Soak cotton balls in pure peppermint essential oil and tuck them directly into the soil of vulnerable containers, raised beds, or near the base of prized plants.

“Because the oil is shielded slightly by the cotton, it holds its scent longer outdoors than a topical spray.”

Does it actually work?

Peppermint oil has limitations. It may deter squirrels, but it does not form a complete barrier.

Hungry or territorial squirrels may disregard the scent if they have a compelling reason to remain, reported the West Side Journal. Properties with settled squirrel populations are more difficult to safeguard than those with only sporadic visits.

Squirrels may continue returning to dependable food sources, nesting spots, or well-known pathways despite the scent.

Ultimately, peppermint oil creates discomfort rather than rendering an area completely inaccessible, particularly when food is scarce.

By SAMEER SURI, US SENIOR SHOWBUSINESS REPORTER

Published: 19:04 BST, 1 September 2026 | Updated: 05:59 BST, 2 September 2026

Madonna could scarcely be recognized in the latest jaw-dropping suite of age-defying photos she posted to her Instagram page.

The 68-year-old’s makeup and voluminous blonde hairdo had an air of Pamela Anderson, 59, about them as she posed for the new images.

One snapshot allowed her to showcase her enviably toned physique to full advantage in a clinging scarlet jumpsuit as she strolled down a hallway.

In a behind-the-scenes glimpse from a recent photoshoot, the Queen of Pop slid her statuesque frame into a nude bodysuit and black lace corset.

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‘Paint me with your memory, and not with your eyes…….,’ she wrote alongside her new album, which also featured close-ups of her astonishingly smooth complexion.

Admirers flooded into the comments bubbling with praise for the pictures, including her fellow popstar Ricky Martin, who gushed: ‘Yessss.’

Madonna could scarcely be recognized in the latest jaw-dropping suite of age-defying photos she posted to her Instagram page 

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The 68-year-old’s makeup and voluminous blonde hairdo had an air of Pamela Anderson, 59, about them as she posed for the new images

Julia Garner, whom Madonna handpicked to play her in a planned self-directed biopic that eventually fell through because of a budgetary dispute, squealed: ‘Wow!!!!’

Madonna’s latest post comes two weeks after the MTV Video Music Award (VMA) nominations were announced and she emerged as the artist with the most nods.

The Material Girl is in competition for a staggering 11 prizes, narrowly beating out Taylor Swift, who has nods in nine categories.

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Swift, 36, and Beyonce, 44, are currently tied as the most decorated artists in the history of the VMAs, each with 30 gongs to their name.

Inasmuch as Beyonce has no nominations this year, all Swift has to do is win a single prize in order to become the reigning record-holder, via the Associated Press. 

Madonna famously performed at the first-ever VMAs in 1984, bursting from a gigantic wedding cake while dressed in a bridal gown for a rendition of Like A Virgin.

She has emerged as a reliable engine of memorable moments at the extravaganza, where she ignited a fan frenzy in 2003 by kissing Britney Spears on the lips.

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Over the course of her more than four-decade career, Madonna has earned a total of 19 VMAs, meaning that in order to equal Swift and Beyonce’s current record she will have to triumph in every category in which she is nominated this year.

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Has Madonna’s ever-changing appearance enhanced her artistry or overshadowed her legacy?

Admirers flooded into the comments bubbling with praise for the pictures, including her fellow popstar Ricky Martin, who gushed: ‘Yessss’ 

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Madonna’s VMAs coup comes after she earned a burst of critical acclaim and fan adoration for her latest album Confessions II, which was released July 3 and serves as a sequel to her 2005 smash hit Confessions On A Dance Floor.

During the promotions for Confessions II, Madonna went viral for describing John F Kennedy Jr as one of the best lovers she ever had. 

Madonna was asked to reveal her ‘best f***,’ and after insisting she would ‘only name dead people,’ whispered: ‘John Kennedy Jr.’

The Queen of Pop indulged in a dalliance with ‘America’s Prince’ in the 1980s, to the purported dismay of his mother Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.

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Madonna paid her compliments to JFK Jr’s bedroom skills while appearing in a video for the gay hookup app Grindr, with which she had launched a Pride month partnership as an advertisement for Confessions II.

On the increase of the core funding, Mr Tomlinson added: “That reflects this bottom-up assessment that has taken place, looking across the needs of the Royal Household and making sure that it is being funded adequately for the work, for the public duties that His Royal Highness the King and the royal family carry out.

Alan Eccles, from Giffnock, near Glasgow, had his practising certificate renewed last year despite child abuse chats coming to light.

A paedophile lawyer who engaged in child abuse chat online could finally be struck off after being allowed to keep working more than a year after admitting his vile crimes.

We told how a “disgusted” legal insider had called for an urgent probe after Alan Eccles, from Giffnock, near Glasgow, had his practising certificate renewed last year after being spared jail for “despicable” offences.

Eccles, a former lawyer for the Scottish Youth Parliament, was sentenced to 300 hours of community service after admitting to engaging in online conversations about the sexual abuse of children as well as sharing indecent photos of kids and an intimate picture of a woman in 2023.

But Law Society of Scotland procedures means a sentence of less than a year in prison does not trigger a suspension and Eccles’ licence to operate was renewed in November, sparking outrage.

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Now the Scottish Solicitors’ Discipline Tribunal (SSDT), which has the power to barr a lawyer from practising, has brought misconduct proceedings against Eccles, with a hearing scheduled for later this month.

But it’s understood Eccles will continue to be allowed to work until the process is complete – which could take several more months.

A Law Society of Scotland spokesman said: “Where we have reason to believe that one of our members has not met the high professional standards expected of them we will take action.

“By law, we have powers to suspend a solicitor from practice in limited circumstances, which include where a solicitor has been convicted and sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 12 months or more. Other disciplinary measures are available where that threshold is not met but a solicitor is still able to practice pending the conclusion and outcome of the disciplinary process.

“Due to our successful lobbying… we will have enhanced powers to suspend solicitors in the future.”

In June last year, Eccles was tagged for eight months as he was handed his community-based sentence at Paisley Sheriff Court, which included a three-year supervision order. He was also added to the sex offenders register for three years.

His lawyer John Scullion KC told the court the offences took place when his mental health was poor, saying: “He accepts full responsibility.”

Sheriff Bruce Erroch told first offender Eccles his behaviour was “despicable”.

Eccles’s profile was removed from the Law Society’s pages following his conviction but later reinstated.

The society’s new practice year began in November, with details of Eccles’s Hillington-based business remaining on the register after his certificate was renewed.

His webpage still features references from legal professionals, describing him as a “consummate professional” as well as “caring” and “empathetic”.

The decision to allow Eccles, 45, to work again was branded “shameful” at the time but Eccles told the Record there was “nothing unusual” that he still had a practising certificate.

Scottish Conservative spokeswoman for victims and community safety Sharon Dowey said the public would be “appalled” to learn that the “predatory offender” had not only escaped jail but, “as a result of his lenient sentence, is able to continue practising law”.

Scottish Labour justice spokeswoman Pauline McNeill said it was “worrying” that Alan Eccles was still freely practising, saying it was vital appropriate safeguards are in place.

The SSDT decides whether a solicitor is guilty of professional misconduct and on any sanction. It can censure, fine or restrict solicitors’ practice and, in the serious cases, trike a solicitor off the roll.

The procedural hearing of Eccles’ case will be heard privately later this month.

The SSDT said a hearing had been set to hear legal submissions on the case, which require to be heard in private “in the interests of justice”.

It said depending on what the tribunal decides, future hearings of this case may be made public.

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It wasn’t the usual blood and thunder Belfast derby because the Blues boss made 10 changes to the team that defeated Limavady United at the weekend

Declan Devine’s Glentoran booked their place in round two of the ToalsBet Senior Shield following a 3-1 victory over a youthful Linfield side at the BetMcLean Oval.

It was striker Jordan Jenkins, who was the tormentor in chief, bagging a delicious double within the first six minutes! Substitute Carl Weatherup put the icing on the cake late on with a third.

But it wasn’t the usual blood and thunder Belfast derby because Blues boss David Healy made 10 changes to the team that defeated Limavady United at the weekend, using mostly Under-20 personnel.

They did, however, produce a gutsy showing that heralded a fine strike by Charlie Chapman in the second half.

“We selected a team based on trusting what we have in and around the U20s and in and around the squad. Part of their learning and part of their journey is to come to places like this when you are up against it,” said Healy.

“Glentoran picked a pretty strong team. We got off to the worst start but credit to the players, after 10 or 15 minutes we realised we could cope, we could play.

“We got ourselves back into the game. More positives than negatives. Our most important game is going to be Saturday (Carrick Rangers).”

Most of the talk around the old stadium centred on Glentoran’s new signing Conor McMenamin, who was yesterday snapped up from Coleraine, with Joe Thomson going in the opposite direction.

The former St Mirren man, however, wasn’t involved. No doubt, there are good days up ahead to come form the Northern Ireland international.

Instead, it was Jenkins who had the home fans eating out of his hand.

He required only two minutes to open his goal account for the season.

James Douglas was given time and space on the edge of the box to lay the ball off the the striker and his vicious low drive arrowed into the bottom corner, giving goalkeeper Aidan Glavin no chance.

The home fans were on their feet again four minutes later.

This time, Ryan Cooney drilled in a trademark free kick from the right that was cleverly headed back into the box by Daniel Larmour and Jenkins scored with the flick of his head.

The youthful Linfield side were caught cold.

In fact, the could have been three goals down after only nine minutes only for a miraculous double save from Glavin.

First, he kept out a Jenkins header and when the ball broke to John Daniels, his header was also kept out.

Linfield showed little up front in terms of attacking possibilities. Their only foray forward came on 20 minutes when Dylan Wells showed great feet on the left before looping over a cross that ended in the roof of the netting.

But it was the Glens who almost extended their advantage just after the half-hour. Cooney was again the provider only for Josh Kelly’s wicked low drive to force Glavin into a fantastic low save.

The Blues were almost back in it four three minutes after the interval.

Wells was right out of luck with a 25-yard free kick that had goalkeeper Billy Crellin beaten all ends up only for the ball to strike the outside of the post.

But the visitors were back in it on 56 minutes.

Chapman showed strength and hunger in the box and, when he tried his luck with a low drive, it deflected off the boot of Ethan Brown before nestling in the bottom corner.

Sean Brown then tried his luck with an audacious 30-yard effort, that flashed over.

But it was the Glens who almost increased their lead on 63 minutes. Daniel found Cooney, whose curling effort had Glavin at full stretch, the big shot stopper managing to flick over the top.

They did get a third 14 minutes from time. Cooney’s long throw fell to Weatherup and he cleverly flicked the ball past Glavin.

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Prominent Hong Kong pro-democracy campaigner Joshua Wong has pleaded guilty to collusion with foreign entities, a charge that carries a maximum sentence of life in prison under Beijing’s sweeping National Security Law (NSL).

The 29-year-old, who has become the poster child for political activism in Hong Kong, is already serving a sentence of four years and eight months after being convicted of subversion – another NSL violation – in late 2024.

The court said Wong would be sentenced at a later date. His earlier jail term is due to end early next year.

Wong was at the forefront of the Umbrella Movement in 2014 and massive pro-democracy protests in 2019.

The latest charge accuses Wong of conspiring with other campaigners, including exiled activist Nathan Law, to ask foreign countries and entities outside China to impose sanctions or blockades against Beijing.

These include activities that took place between July and late November 2020, the court heard. That was the year China introduced the controversial NSL, which critics say has created a climate of fear and quashed dissent in Hong Kong.

Beijing and Hong Kong authorities argue the law is necessary to maintain stability and deny it has weakened autonomy.

On Tuesday, the court heard that Wong and Law had participated in “international lobbying on numerous occasions”, including via visits to the US, Germany and Italy.

The duo are among several leaders who founded the pro-democracy party Demosistō in April 2016, and ran for the Hong Kong Legislative Council elections that year.

Among other things, prosecutors on Tuesday also accused Wong, along with Law, of promoting the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act: a US federal law that came into force in November 2019, during Donald Trump’s first administration. The Act compels the US government to impose sanctions against mainland China and Hong Kong officials if they are deemed responsible for human rights abuses in Hong Kong.

Even after Demosistō disbanded, Wong had maintained that he would not abandon his political stance and would continue to seek support from the international community, the prosecutors said.

Wong, dressed in a dark blue shirt and dark-rimmed glasses, did not dispute these allegations.

About 40 of Wong’s supporters, including fellow activists and some of his close friends, gathered in court on Tuesday. Some shouted: “Hang in there, Joshua!”

Wong was seen smiling and nodding in response from the dock.

Tsang Kin-shing, a former member of the now-dissolved League of Social Democrats, said he hopes the court will impose a lenient sentence, noting that Wong has by now spent more than 2,000 days in prison.

Fellow activist Louis Lee said Wong and his supporters were disheartened that he was handed another NSL charge while already serving time in prison.

Wong has continued seeking out new interests while in prison, including learning how to play the guitar and working out.

“I hope everyone can learn from him,” Lee says.

Now, they are off the back of a third-place finish in the Premier League and club bosses are talking fancifully of a tilt at the Premier League and Champions League. But have they given Michael Carrick the tools to achieve those ambitions?

Last season ended with chief executive Omar Berrada stressing the need to be “really disciplined” in the transfer market. In fact, he predicted what was coming over the following few months.

“I think the template for what we did last summer will be replicated in many ways,” Berrada said in an in-house interview. He probably didn’t mean it quite so literally, but that is how this summer has panned out.

After Casemiro’s departure, it was always the plan to revamp the midfield this summer, and it was always likely that three new faces would arrive. Part of that was contingent on Manuel Ugarte leaving, but his World Cup injury, which will rule him out for the majority of the season, saw his wages covered by FIFA, allowing United to press on with their midfield search.

The surprise is that more hasn’t been done. United intended to strengthen their left-hand side, and this has happened with the return of Marcus Rashford, but the failure to sign a left-back could yet prove costly.

Rashford dominated the early part of the summer. Barcelona’s decision to spend £69million on Anthony Gordon blindsided the 28-year-old and his camp. The Catalan club considered another loan move and even weighed up lowballing United with an offer half the size of the £26million option.

By June, United had become exasperated with Barcelona’s approach and resolved not to sanction another loan and not to consider an offer of less than £26million. Fairly swiftly, options for Rashford withered, and both parties became open to reintegration.

There was a meeting between United officials and Rashford’s camp during the World Cup and Michael Carrick made contact with his former teammate and someone who he had coached while on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s backroom staff. Even before he returned to pre-season training, sources close to the discussions this summer felt United had decided that keeping Rashford was now their best course of action.

Rashford’s return means Patrick Dorgu could be freed up to play at left-back, although internally he is viewed as a winger, and people close to Dorgu believe he will eventually end up as a right-winger rather than a left-back. That leaves right-backs Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui as the only senior cover for Luke Shaw, as well as 19-year-old Harry Amass, who hasn’t made a matchday squad this season.

Several areas in the UK will climb to 27C this September as the Met Office delivers a September heatwave verdict following the nation’s hottest summer on record

The UK is set for further scorching temperatures this week following the nation’s hottest summer on record.

Despite a cooler end to August, temperatures will shoot up on Thursday, as areas in the south are forecast 27C according to Netweather Maps.

The Met Office has said that September may see further “very warm spells”, especially in the south, but these are expected to be short lived.

An official heatwave is declared by the Met Office when temperatures reach the “heatwave threshold” for three consecutive days.

The threshold sits at 28C in the south-east, where conditions tend to be warmer, dropping to 25C the further from the south-east you travel.

Therefore, temperatures tomorrow will climb to near heatwave highs, however they are not expected to last. In London and surrounding areas, the weather maps predict that at 3pm, highs of 27C are on the cards.

As Essex and Kent will sit at 26C and 27C, areas further west in the Midlands will sit at around 25C.

Further north headed towards Yorkshire temperatures in the afternoon are likely to be around 21C, with cooler temperatures forecast in Scotland.

By 6pm, it will feel even hotter as more areas will reach 27C.

The weather maps forecast that Berkshire, London and Essex will be the warmest areas.

Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and Norfolk are also predicted to reach 25C.

Along the south coast areas including Bournemouth and Brighton will also climb to 25C. Further north in Greater Manchester, the temperature may only reach 18C.

Therefore, although temperatures may not quite climb to the heatwave threshold as outlined by the Met Office the weather is likely to be warm in most areas.

The Met Office forecast for August 31 to September 9 states: “Likely remaining unsettled with showers or longer spells of rain across all areas at times.

“Rainfall amounts will probably be above average for the time year with the wettest conditions in the northwest.

“Potential for some strong winds at times. Some drier and more settled interludes could develop, perhaps becoming longer in duration across southern areas later in this period.

“Temperatures are likely to be near average, although some short-lived warm or very warm spells are possible, especially in the south.”

The gang were seen working in two groups to rob the premises in the early hours of Monday, August 31.

A robbery gang targeted a car garage in West Lothian in a ‘stolen to order’ operation.

The masked and gloved thieves were captured on CCTV stealing alloys and driving equipment worth thousands from Hardie Recovery Services in Polbeth in the early hours of Monday, August 31.

Footage showed the gang working in two groups with youngsters in tracksuits arriving around midnight to scout the premises.

A second group of masked men – wearing head torches and gloves – arrived two hours later and made off with unique gold alloys, BMW goods and tools worth more than £7,000.

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Garage boss William Hardie believes the organised crime gang were operating with a list of items stolen to order.

The 34-year-old said: “I’ve been told a crew from Liverpool are coming up and targeting garages for theft-to-order jobs.

“I’m on holiday for a family wedding in Cyprus. I think they knew and waited to target my garage while I was away.

“The first mob that turned up around midnight were all wearing Montirex tracksuits.

“The second group that arrived at 2am appear to be the professionals, wearing head torches and gloves.

“They were there for 40 minutes and came back close to 4am and filled up their car.

“They were obviously here for alloys and knew exactly what they were looking for.

“All in they left with three sets of alloys and ten mid-range Churchill tyres.

“I’m a professional drift car driver and one set of stolen alloys is a unique set that nobody else has. I imagine they will just be turned into scrap because they will be too hot to handle.”

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The CCTV shows a black Ford Focus arriving at the premises with the full beam on.

It parks up at the rear of the yard, before hooded figures emerge wearing tracksuits and Nike trainers.

One man immediately walks up to a vehicle and crouches down to inspect the alloy wheels.

He is joined by another man who scouts out the car.

Later on, a second gang of men appear. CCTV shows one man breaking into the garage premises with a set of bolt cutters. They are seen piling up stolen goods near an awaiting Ford Focus.

William added: “They’ve stolen £7,000 worth of equipment from my garage. I’m a hard working guy.

“To have gangs sniffing around your business and robbing you in the middle of the night is disgusting.”

Police Scotland have been contacted for comment.

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Prominent Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong pleaded guilty Wednesday to conspiracy to collude with foreign forces to endanger national security under a Beijing-imposed law that has effectively stifled the city’s once-thriving pro-democracy movement.

It was the second time Wong, a former student leader in the pro-democracy movement, has been prosecuted under the national security law introduced in Hong Kong in 2020, following massive anti-government protests that rocked the city the year before. Wong faces up to life in prison and is expected to be sentenced later.

Wong was already serving a prison term of four years and eight months after entering a guilty plea in a separate national security case linked to an unofficial primary. Pleading guilty could typically result in a reduced sentence.

Before the arrest for the collusion-related offence in June 2025, Wong, one of the most recognizable faces of the pro-democracy movement, had been expected to be freed in January next year.

Critics say Wong’s case showed the authorities’ determination to silence prominent dissidents, causing a chilling effect on civic activism. But to Beijing, Wong is an anti-China figure who supports Hong Kong independence, a red line for authorities.

Wong, 29, was accused of conspiring with fellow activist Nathan Law and others to ask foreign countries, or institutions, organisations, or individuals outside China to impose sanctions, blockades or engage in other hostile actions against Hong Kong or China between 1 July and 23 Nov 2020.

The offence is punishable by a prison term of three to 10 years, or up to life imprisonment if the offense is deemed to be “of a grave nature.”

In 2012, Wong rose to prominence in Hong Kong as a high school student leading protests against the introduction of national education in schools. Later, his fame spread internationally as a student leader of the 2014 Occupy Movement.

Wong co-founded a political party, “Demosisto”, in 2016 with fellow young activists, including Law, who became the city’s youngest lawmaker that same year.

During the 2019 leaderless protests, Wong helped seek overseas support for the democracy movement, including from the U.S. But Beijing criticised his actions, saying he “begged for interference” by foreign countries.

Demosisto disbanded when Beijing imposed the security law in 2020, which authorities said was necessary for the city’s stability.

Many other leading activists were also jailed under the same law, including former media tycoon Jimmy Lai. Some activists fled to other democratic countries, including the U.S. and the U.K.

Hong Kong authorities separately offered rewards of 1 million Hong Kong dollars ($127,600) for information leading to the arrests of Law, who moved to Britain, and other overseas-based activists.