The war of words between the two camps has escalated in recent days with accusations flying around

Former South Africa head coach Nick Mallett has accused the All Blacks of “basically cheating” as the war of words between the two camps continues ahead of their blockbuster third Test in Johannesburg this weekend.

‘Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry’ has exploded into life in recent days, as the Springboks levelled the series with a victory in the second Test in Cape Town on Saturday. After watching his side fall to the 33-26 defeat, frustrated New Zealand boss Dave Rennie hit out at their opponents’ scrummaging technique, accusing the world champions of “walking around” during scrums.

Rennie alleged that the South African forwards were gaining an unfair advantage by illegally angling sideways rather than staying square and driving straight, claiming that the hosts were “able to walk around and go straight through our tighthead.”

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That prompted a furious response from Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus, who slammed Rennie’s comments as “nonsense” and told reporters: “We’re not f***ing walking around. We’re scrumming through.”

Now, Erasmus’ comments have been echoed by former Boks chief Mallett, who has in turn accused the All Blacks of turning the scrum into “a joke” by repeatedly collapsing it in the hope of having it reset or winning a penalty.

“What they do now is they don’t want to stay up because if they collapse, they force the referee to make a decision between one or the other side,” he told the Talking Boks podcast. “So you have a 50 per cent chance of getting it right, of actually getting a penalty.

“Whereas the referees should be good enough to see who is actually pancaking, who’s going down. So this Saturday, we’re going to come as hard as we can in the scrums and hopefully we’re going to get better reward for our dominance in that area of the game.”

“If Rassie is correct in saying the first six scrums went down and there was only a penalty in the 35th minute when Marx and Ox Nche came on, then that’s inexcusable,” Mallett added.

“You’re turning it into, basically, a joke because the side that puts the ball in just collapses the scrum. How can you go forward if the scrum is lying on the ground? You can’t. So, in fact, they are basically cheating to stop themselves giving a penalty away.”

Mallett’s comments come after Springboks scrum guru Daan Human hit back at Rennie’s claims and insisted that his side have been scrummaging legally throughout the series.

Rezart Balesi, 44, used the Village Bistro on Vernon Street in Greenmount as a hub for his drug dealing business that involved his son Joshua Balesi, 22, and brother Refail Balesi, 39.

Their operation having been cracked open in a police investigation earlier this year, they were brought before Manchester Crown Court this week alongside their co-conspirators.

Judge Sarah Johnston said: “This operation was not characterised by hand-to-mouth dealing by those addicted to the substances themselves.

“This was a commercial enterprise, and a profitable one.”

The case was heard at Manchester Crown Court (Image: Phil Taylor)

Turning to Rezart, who she described as the “senior figure” in the drugs operation, Judge Johnston said: “You tried not to get your hands dirty but were prepared to do so.”

The two-day hearing had previously been told by Lee Fish, prosecuting, that Rezart had not controlled a mobile phone line, known as “the deal line”, himself.

Instead, it was controlled by his son and younger brother, who reported to him and they had led a gang of “trusted street dealers” working under them.

They were Fatos Vrenezi, 53, Immanuel Lumaj, 30, Fjoraldo Lukaj, 31, and Lorenzo Canovi, 48, who each sat with the Balesis in the dock.

Rezart Balesi used his bistro as a hub for his cocaine business (Image: Public)

Another man, named in court as Konstantinos Vaso, was also said to be a regular controller of the drug line and was still at large.

Their conspiracy had first come into focus in May 2024 and ended with a series of police raids in March 2026.

Joshua Balesi had also been involved in leading a separate cannabis conspiracy with Antonino Precaj, 33.

Judge Johnston said: “This was not oppressive but collegiate; all of you were willingly involved.”

Rezart Balesi (Image: NWROCU)

She added: “No one who spends any amount of time in the crown court can fail to see the problems drugs, particularly but not always of Class A, cause to our community.”

But she said despite this, the Balesis and their associates had decided to profit off the “misery” wrought by drug abuse.

She said that prosecution had struggled to identify the true scale of the operation but the messages between the group showed that at times this involved making £9,000 over a single night.

Judge Johnston also noted other messages that alluded to buying cocaine in bulk for £36,000.

Joshua Balesi (Image: NWROCU)

Rezart Balesi, of Caldy Drive, Ramsbottom, Refail Balesi, of Links View Court, Whitefield, and Joshua Balesi, of Hazelwood Drive, Bury, all confessed to conspiracy to supply cocaine.

Vrenezi, of Sunny Bank Road, Bury, Lumaj, of Heathway, Dagenham, Lukaj, of Albert Avenue, Hull, and Canovi, of Lune Close, Whitefield, all admitted to the same charge.

Joshua further confessed to conspiracy to supply and to conspiracy to produce cannabis, while Precaj, of Capstan Ride, Enfield, confessed to being concerned in the production of cannabis.

The absent Vaso’s wife, Megi Zaimi, 32, was also involved in collecting cash and dealing with street dealers and confessed to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

Refail Balesi (Image: NWROCU)

At a previous hearing, she was sentenced to 25 months, suspended for two years and ordered to carry out 10 days of rehabilitation activity requirement days with 100 hours of unpaid work.

No further evidence had been offered against Rezart’s wife Claire Balesi, 33 of Caldy Drive, Ramsbottom, and a not guilty verdict was recorded.

Sentencing Rezart, a former landlord of the Lord Raglan pub in Radcliffe before he took over the Village Bistro in Greenmount, Judge Johnston said he had played a leading role.

Dressed in the dock in a plain white T-shirt, he showed no visible reaction as Judge Johnston told him, “It should be to your eternal shame”, that he had led his then 18-year-old son into the plot.

Fatos Vrenezi (Image: NWROCU)

Judge Johnston jailed Rezart Balesi for seven years and six months.

Turning to his younger brother Refail, Judge Johnston noted that he had been granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK and sentenced him to five years and three months in prison.

Turning to Joshua, Judge Johnston said that “the presence of your father and uncle in the dock is an important feature to note” and jailed him for four years.

She jailed Vrenezi, who had become involved in drugs despite coming from an “upstanding family”, for four years and Canovi, a “trusted street dealer acting under instruction”, for 37 months.

Fjoraldo Lukaj (Image: NWROCU)

Lumaj was jailed for three years and nine months, while Lukaj, who had come to the UK illegally and will be subject to a deportation order, was jailed for three years and six months.

Finally, Judge Johnston jailed Precaj for 27 months, telling him that even if it were possible for her to suspend his sentence she would not do so.

The men all went down from the dock in silence, and Judge Johnston closed by thanking the officers involved in the case.

Speaking after the hearing Detective Inspector Michael Robinson from the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit said: “This was a lengthy and complex investigation, but the results speak for themselves.

Imanuel Lumaj (Image: NWROCU)

“Through months of dedication and determination, officers dismantled a significant organised crime group that was causing considerable harm to our communities.

“Let this serve as a warning to those who seek to flood our streets with drugs.

“We remain committed to targeting individuals who profit from the exploitation and misery of others.

“We will relentlessly pursue those involved in organised crime and bring them to justice.”

Aldi has confirmed that store workers will be given the chance to enjoy more time with their family and friends around Christmas, as all shops will close for 24 hours on Boxing Day.

Customers will be able to return to shopping at Aldi when shops reopen the following day on Sunday, December 27.

Aldi stores will also close on New Year’s Day and reopen on Saturday, January 2, 2027.

Opening times will vary locally in the days before Christmas, with many stores extending their hours to help customers pick up everything they need for the festive period.

Explaining the decision, Rachel Geary, Communications Director at Aldi UK, said: “Christmas is a special time for our customers, but it is also one of the busiest periods of the year for our teams.

“Our colleagues work incredibly hard to ensure customers can pick up everything they need ahead of the big day.

“We never take that effort for granted. Closing our stores on Boxing Day is one way of saying thank you and giving colleagues a proper chance to rest, switch off and spend more time with the people closest to them.”

Customers are encouraged to check the Aldi Store Finder nearer the time for the latest opening hours at their local store.

Aldi Store Assistants earn £13.50 per hour nationally and £14.88 inside the M25, rising to £14.47 and £15.20 respectively with length of service. Aldi also remains the only major supermarket to offer paid breaks, worth around £1,500 a year to the average store colleague.

Meanwhile, research from consumer group Which? has named the UK’s cheapest supermarket.

The budget retailer topped the list for August, according to consumer group Which?, based on a comparison of 92 popular grocery items.

Shoppers would have paid up to £30.09 less at Aldi than at Tesco, where the basket cost £189.45, and £26.19 less than at Sainsbury’s, which totalled £185.55.

Morrisons was £34.75 more expensive at £194.11, while Waitrose shoppers would have paid £223.75 for the same items—£64.39 more than at Aldi.

Julie Ashfield, chief commercial officer at Aldi UK, said: “We’re proud to have been recognised as the UK’s cheapest supermarket for the tenth consecutive month.

“This achievement reflects our continued commitment to offering dependable value every time our customers shop with us.

“As families prepare for the new school year, we know household budgets can come under added pressure, so we’re focused on making quality groceries more affordable and helping customers make their money go further.”

Aldi has topped the Which? rankings every month in 2026 so far, following its title of Cheapest Supermarket of the Year for 2025.

Billionaire investor Leon Black has taken legal action against the House Oversight Committee after refusing to show up for a scheduled congressional deposition on Thursday.

Instead, he filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block subpoenas issued as part of the panel’s probe into disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Lawmakers originally served Black with two subpoenas during a private voluntary interview in June after he reportedly declined to answer questions about nondisclosure agreements. One subpoena demanded that he produce NDAs and related files, while the second ordered him to return for a deposition.

In his lawsuit, Black argues that the subpoenas exceed the committee’s authority by seeking personal information unrelated to Epstein or any legitimate legislative purpose. The filing asks a federal judge to strike down the subpoenas as invalid and prevent the committee from enforcing them.

“The Committee is on a fishing expedition that oversteps its authority and completely ignores its responsibility,” Black’s attorney, Susan Estrich, said in a statement. “This is no longer about finding the truth about Epstein. It is about trying to destroy Mr. Black.”

Lawmaker calls for Leon Black to be held in contempt

Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the Oversight Committee, argued that Congress “must hold him in contempt immediately.”

“By refusing to testify today, Leon Black is now defying two Congressional subpoenas,” Garcia said. “Black gave Jeffrey Epstein over $180 million over six years. He funded Epstein’s abuse and trafficking of women. Multiple women have also accused Black of sexual assault. His connections to Epstein and his unwillingness to cooperate are unacceptable. We must hold him in contempt immediately.”

The committee’s chair, Kentucky Rep. James Comer, accused Black of “hiding behind litigation rather than provide answers to the American people.”

Comer’s statement cotinued, “Our investigation is examining how the federal government for decades failed survivors of Jeffery Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell’s crimes and how Mr. Epstein sought to curry favor with influential individuals to avoid scrutiny. Mr. Black’s testimony is crucial to our investigation as he was one of Mr. Epstein’s fee paying clients and has several nondisclosure agreements. Our deposition is moving forward this morning for the record and there will be an empty chair for Mr. Black. I will speak with our members about next steps.”

Leon Black’s connection to Jeffrey Epstein

Black co-founded and served as chief executive of the private equity firm Apollo Global Management before stepping down in 2021 amid public fallout over his ties to Epstein.

He is one of several high-profile individuals to feature in the probe into Epstein and the network of wealth and influence surrounding him. Others involved in the investigation include former Democratic President Bill Clinton, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates.

Files released by the Department of Justice regarding the Epstein case mention Black repeatedly. He was also featured in a collection of birthday greetings made public by the committee last year, which included a poem attributed to Black referencing “Blond, Red or Brunette, spread out geographically.”

Prior to his June 26 interview, Black maintained that he was unaware of Epstein’s “nefarious activity” until 2019, asserting that his payments to Epstein were for legitimate advice based on his “unrivaled network of relationships” with prominent figures.

People in England now have to wait an additional year to receive their free bus pass

The age that you can get a bus pass for free in England has changed this year as a major update to the State Pension comes into affect.

The Department for Transport previously confirmed that from April 2026, individuals in England will have to wait an additional year to receive their free bus pass.

Since April, the waiting period for a free pass in England has been extended by another 12 months. This change corresponds with the planned increase in the State Pension age from 66 to 67, set to be fully implemented across the UK by 2028 for both men and women.

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This modification to the official retirement age has been in the pipeline since 2014, with a further increase from 67 to 68 expected between 2044 and 2046. The Pensions Act 2014 fast-tracked the increase in the State Pension age from 66 to 67 by eight years.

The UK Government also adjusted the phasing of the State Pension age increase, meaning that instead of reaching State Pension age on a specific date, individuals born between March 6, 1961, and April 5, 1977, will be eligible to claim the State Pension once they turn 67 – and the same will apply to their concessionary bus passes.

The Department for Transport has confirmed concessionary bus passes will also be impacted by the State Pension age change.

A spokesperson said: “We fully recognise bus passes are vital to many older people, providing access to essential services and keeping people connected through free local travel. We’re already in the process of making ambitious reforms to improve bus services for all passengers and supporting local areas to improve reliability and affordability.”

It comes despite a substantial campaign last year that pushed for the same concessionary travel benefits as those in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – where free bus travel is available from the age of 60 – in England, complimentary travel is only granted from the age of 66, aligning with the state pension age.

State Pension age is scheduled to increase from 66 to 67 between 2026 and 2028, as set out in the State Pension Act 2014. The DfT added: “Local authorities in England have the power to offer concessions in addition to their statutory obligations, for example, by lowering the age of eligibility. These are additional local concessions provided and funded by local authorities from local resources, depending on the needs and priorities of each area.”

The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme provides free off-peak bus travel to those with qualifying disabilities and individuals who have reached state pension age (under the Pension Act 2014), operating from 9.30am to 11pm on weekdays and throughout weekends and Bank Holidays.

In response to a substantial petition on the Parliament website last year, calling for free bus travel for those aged over 60 in England, the DfT said that funding had been distributed to local authorities, which could be utilised to provide free travel from age 60.

It said: “The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme costs around £700 million annually. Any changes to the statutory scheme must be carefully considered for their impact on its financial sustainability.”

Vogue Williams‘ husband Spencer Matthews gave a glimpse of their fourth child with in a sweet Instagram post shared on Thursday.

The Irish TV presenter, 40, and the former Made In Chelsea star, 38, announced the birth of their baby boy via her Instagram on Tuesday evening and Spencer returned to the site to post a ‘bump to baby’ post two days later.

The star, who is already parent to sons Theodore, seven, and Otto, four, and daughter Gigi, six, posed in her hospital room in a sports bra and knickers with her bump on show in the first image in the post. 

The next shot saw her walking in the park with the swaddled newborn, whose name she is yet to reveal, while looking svelte in a white T-shirt.  

In announcing her news, Vogue wrote: ‘Our beautiful baby boy has arrived safely… The house is bursting with excitement, love and happiness and we couldn’t be more delighted.’

The family received congratulatory messages from their famous friends, including Holly Willoughby, who branded her ‘super mamma’, Amanda Holden and Zoe Ball.

The Irish TV presenter, 40, and the former Made In Chelsea star, 38, announced the birth of their baby boy via her Instagram on Tuesday evening and Spencer returned to the site to post a ‘bump to baby’ post two days later

The mother-of-four has not yet revealed the name of their newborn after revealing she and Spencer had changed their baby boy’s name at the last minute.

The couple had originally planned to call their fourth child Elvis, inspired by the rock’n’roll legend. Ahead of her due date, Vogue revealed they had made a U-turn and needed to decide on a new name.

Speaking on her My Therapist Ghosted Me podcast this week, Vogue said: Do you know what? Big news from my week.

‘We have changed our baby name – we have no name. You know the name was pretty full on and I loved the name.

‘Spenny has been getting a few phone calls from family members regarding the name.’

The mother-of-four has not yet revealed the name of their newborn after revealing she and Spencer had changed their baby boy’s name at the last minute 

The couple announced they were expecting baby number four on social media in April, with Vogue sharing some pictures on Instagram with the caption, ‘BABY NUMBER 4 INCOMING…’ 

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Her co-host and pal Joanne McNally quipped: ‘I just don’t think Gary is that controversial.’ Vogue continued: ‘I honestly thought though because it’s been on my mind I just, I haven’t ever been 100 per cent comfortable with it.

‘But because as much as I love the name it’s such a big name to take on when you’re little or trying to get a job when you’re older.

‘I have got other very cool options, though that was my favourite name,’ before she confirmed: ‘We were going to call the baby Elvis, I love it.’

The couple announced they were expecting baby number four on social media in April, with Vogue sharing some pictures on Instagram with the caption, ‘BABY NUMBER 4 INCOMING…’

Vogue and Spencer tied the knot in 2018. However divorce rumours swirled last year after they failed to publicly mark their seventh wedding anniversary – months after Spencer stepped down from their joint podcast Spencer & Vogue to focus on his own project, Untapped.

But Vogue previously insisted she and her husband are ‘happy’ and that their marriage is secure, while dispelling past rumours of a potential crisis.

Speaking to The Sun, the presenter said she has reached a point in her life where only ‘their truth’ matters, stressing that they remain very much a happy couple.

She recalled: ‘When he left our podcast, everyone was like, “What’s going on?”‘

Vogue also admitted to worrying about their children hearing the ‘baseless and cruel’ gossip at school.

There’s not much else to go on when it comes to prediction which other games we’ll see at State of Play today.

I’m not a betting man, but if I had to put money on one game being shown, it would be God of War Laufey. The game was announced back at the last State of Play in June with 17 minutes of raw gameplay.

Since then, it’s been confirmed that it’s headed to PS5 consoles on February 16, 2027. With six months until launch, it seems likely that we’ll get a new trailer for the game here.

I also reckon we’ll see a launch trailer for Marvel’s Wolverine, which is set to launch on September 15. I doubt that we’ll learn anything new about the game given we’re so close to release, but it makes sense that a final trailer would be shown here to tease out a few last minute pre-orders.

Other than those two, it’s pretty much anyone’s guess as to which games we’ll see later today. Of course, we’ll likely see the usual smattering of indie titles thrown in here, as well as hopefully a few surprises that we’re not expecting.

By LEWIS BROWNING, SPORTS REPORTER

Published: 14:14 BST, 3 September 2026 | Updated: 14:30 BST, 3 September 2026

A Royal Mail staffing crisis has left residents queuing for hours to get their essential deliveries after waiting for over a month for their post.

Huge lines formed outside Bridgwater’s post office in Somerset as locals attempted to get their mail.

Residents claim they were left unable to get their essential prescriptions, documents, bank statements, and credit cards for up to six weeks.

Royal Mail has said staff sickness caused the delays at the Friarn Street delivery office.

In an attempt to resolve the delays, residents missing post have been given two-hour time slots between 8am to 10am and 4pm to 6pm during which they can pick up their post.

Despite the time slots, residents have said the queues are ‘horrendous’, with one woman saying she’d gone several times to get her prescription.

Support worker Tina Hucker, 56, spent her day off waiting in line to find out if her prescription medications were being held at the depot.

She said: ‘As things have happened now, I’ve come here several times and the queues have been horrendous.

‘I’m coming back to give it a last go, or I’m going to have to order more meds again, but I don’t know if they’ll turn up as they normally do because of this issue.’

Tina didn’t want to ‘over-order’ medication but she’s unsure if the ones currently at the depot will ever arrive.

Even if she attempts to get a fresh prescription, the doctor may not approve it, or it could still wind up stuck at the depot just like the first batch.

‘I can’t remember the last time I got post – months. I’ve had to park over the other side of town to wait in the queue,’ she said.

‘I’ve never seen this before. I don’t know how long it’s going to be, or if I’ll get in before six o’clock. Luckily it’s my day off today, so I’m able to come and wait here.’

Jerry Lomax, a local resident who is planning on going on holiday next week, said he has been waiting on a credit card for over a fortnight.

‘They keep telling me I need to activate it, otherwise they’re going to null and void it,’ he said. ‘How long am I going to have to wait?’

He’s only able to queue in the evening because of work commitments and with his shift ending at 5pm, he’s unsure if he gets his card before his holiday.

‘If I didn’t have important documents, I’d probably let it go, but it’s stuff I need,’ Jerry added.

Partners Kieron and Shannon expressed concern over elderly and disabled residents, who may be unable to wait in long queues by a busy road.

Kieron said: ‘It’s quite an inconvenience. The queue the other day was all the way down the road – waiting for hours to pick up our post.

‘It’s time-consuming – people have other things to do. We’ve had to do it a couple of times now.

‘I can imagine for people with disabilities, it’s not easy. It’s not exactly safe for us just sat on the road – it’s not ideal.’

Shannon added: ‘I got an email from Royal Mail saying I need to come and collect my parcel – they didn’t even try and deliver it. They’re not even attempting to post it.

‘I had letters delivered three days ago – about ten letters – but not for a couple of weeks before that.’

Another resident, Simon Reynolds, said he last received a letter six weeks ago, and claimed his local postman had told him that several extra rounds had been added to his route.

He said: ‘We’re getting no post, and a lot of this is strange. Some people are saying it’s a couple of hours they’ve been here for.

‘It is an inconvenience – you expect your mail to come to your house, that’s the service.’

A Royal Mail spokesperson said short-term staff sickness had affected deliveries in parts of Bridgwater.

They said: ‘We know how important it is that customers receive their mail when expected and take concerns about deliveries very seriously.

‘Short-term sickness has affected deliveries in parts of Bridgwater. Additional staffing is now in place and our posties are working to clear any outstanding mail as quickly as possible.

‘We expect services in the affected areas to return to normal over the coming week.’

Until normal service resumes, it appears locals will have to continue queuing in hopes that they can get their hands on their post.

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

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Four people were detained on the west coast with five more captured in the North East.

Immigration officers arrested nine people after fishing boats were targeted in Aberdeenshire and the Highlands. Four were captured in Mallaig and another five in Fraserburgh between July 26 and 30.

The Immigration Enforcement’s Threat Response and Volume Crime Unit visited 34 boats across the ports of Barra, Oban, Fraserburgh, and Mallaig following intelligence received about a suspected rogue fishing fleet operator.

The operation was in response to reports of modern slavery, labour exploitation, illegal working, and wider criminality within the UK commercial fishing industry, reports the BBC.

Those arrested included five Sri Lankan nationals and four Philippine nationals, with the latter having since returned to their home country voluntarily.

The multi-agency sting involved Border Security Command, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Police Scotland, and the exploitation and modern slavery team.

The Home Office said civil penalty referral notices were issued and employers could also face a fine of up to a whopping £60,000 per worker if they are found guilty.

Anna Turley, UK minister for border security and asylum, said: “This government is tackling illegal working and ensuring unscrupulous employers are not exploiting vulnerable individuals and undercutting legitimate business.

“That is why in Scotland illegal working visits and arrests were at record levels in 2025, and have more than doubled across the UK since the election.”

Adam San, assistant director of Immigration Enforcement’s Threat Response and Volume Crime Unit, said: “Immigration Enforcement deal with threats across the UK and this is not limited to illegal activity occurring solely on land.

“These arrests demonstrate our ability to tackle all illegal working, in whatever form it takes.”

In the first six months of this year there was a 31 per cent surge on immigration enforcement visits and a 20 per cent hike on arrests, compared with the same period last year.

From October onwards, firms hiring gig economy and zero-hours workers across all sectors will be legally required to carry out checks to confirm anyone working in their name is allowed to work in the UK.

Hefty penalties including fines of up to £60,000 per worker, director disqualifications and potential prison sentences of up to five years will be issued to anyone who fails to comply.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has stated she will double the Immigration Enforcement budget by 2028/29 and boost workforce numbers by 60 per cent.

This could lead to tens of thousands more raids, arrests, and removal of people who are not entitled to be in the UK. Since May’s general election, over 80,000 immigration offenders and foreign criminals have been expelled from the UK.

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