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All Blacks secret document leaked as crisis emerges in New Zealand

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Wales Online

Even with a British and Irish Lions tour in 2029, New Zealand Rugby are expecting to make major losses in the next five years

An alarming document has revealed that New Zealand Rugby are predicted to lose £28m over the next five years, despite expecting to bring in record revenues from the 2029 British and Irish Lions tour.

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Media in New Zealand have unearthed a confidential NZ Rugby document titled ‘Rugby System Programme’ which spells out the sport’s financial woes. The document has been designed for stakeholders ahead of a rugby summit next week.

Despite the commercial power of the All Blacks, the bleak financial picture painted by the document is set to usher in a complete overhaul of the professional game in New Zealand.

That summit is set to review the entire structure of the game in the country, starting with men’s competitions – such as the five Super Rugby franchises and 14 provincial unions that play in the NPC.

“Current five-year projections have NZR continuing to lose a combined $66m across 2027–31,” the document states, according to The Post in New Zealand. “That includes the 1-in-12-year profit from the 2029 Men’s Lions tour. NZR is incurring significant losses on women’s elite competitions – $8.5m a year.”

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The document also reveals that NRL is the most-watched competition in New Zealand, showing the threat faced by rugby league in the country.

“NRL now draws 28m NZ viewing hours against Super Rugby’s 19m and NPC’s 14m,” the document states.

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The New Zealand Herald report that NZ Rugby currently remains in a strong financial position – with NZ$150m in cash reserves.

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They add that there is a NZ$62.5m legacy fund remaining from the sale of an small stake in its commercial operations to private equity firm Silver Lake back in 2022.

The Lions tour in 2029 is expected to exceed the NZ$40m made from the previous tour of Aotearoa in 2017.

And while Lions tours have tended to underpin the finances of SANZAAR nations, with Australia clearing a £32m debt after hosting Andy Farrell’s side last summer, there’s only so much one tour every 12 years can write off.

And the scale of NZ Rugby’s deficit forecast has left the governing body with little option but to implement “structural change to the NZ rugby system” to reduce costs.

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The document goes on to reveal that the All Blacks are the only side in New Zealand making a profit, with a return of NZ$38m for the 2026 financial year.

The New Zealand Herald recently revealed that the All Blacks’ fourth Test against South Africa in Baltimore generated around NZ$9m for the union.

However, the women’s side, the Black Ferns, cost the governing body NZ$11m.

The document revealed that payments to players in the national and provincial setups cost NZ$95m. NZ$46m was also paid separately to the five Super Rugby clubs and provincial unions.

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Earlier this year, Deloitte assessed that no Super Rugby side in New Zealand would have been profitable since 2019 without NZ Rugby funding.

Former New Zealand captain David Kirk, who skippered his side to World Cup glory in 1987, is heading up the strategic overhaul.

Following a review of men’s and women’s competitions, the next stage of the overhaul will reportedly look at the level of investment in professional players and how rugby is delivered to communities.

Options will be drawn up ahead of a final board decision in December.

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New Zealand’s financial woes are just the latest among world rugby’s established nations.

The Rugby Football Union are expected to lose £10m this year, while the Welsh Rugby Union are in the midst of trying to cut a professional team, believing they cannot afford four competitive sides.

Follow all of our channels to ensure you stay up to date with the latest Welsh rugby news. Sign up to our free daily newsletter here and our WhatsApp channel here for all the breaking news.

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Damson Madder x Clarks Are The Shoes Every Fashion Girl Will Want This Autumn

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Damson Madder x Clarks Are The Shoes Every Fashion Girl Will Want This Autumn

It’s only September, but we’ve already lived through some of the best fashion shoe collabs of our time in 2026.

Clarks’ classic Wallabees have had a huge comeback over the last few years, solidifying themselves as a fashion shoe, so it was really only a matter of time before cult brand Damson Madder got its hands on them.

Made up of two pairs of shoes, the collection offers a pair of red suede Wallabees and a pair of brown slip-on Nomad mules.

While they might be classic shapes, Damson Madder has injected its fashionista touch into the shoes with the addition of red polka dot insoles, as well as metal hardware and lacing details.

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They’re already on the way to selling out, so you better race to the checkout if you want to be in with a chance of getting your feet in a pair.

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New cat law change call key October deadline for Government update

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Daily Record

Proposals to overhaul legislation affecting every cat in the UK will see a showdown

Proposals to overhaul legislation affecting every cat in the UK have reached a pivotal moment, with a crucial parliamentary debate now scheduled involving MPs. A soaring petition demanding new laws requiring motorists to report collisions involving cats amassed nearly 190,000 signatures on the Parliament website, after public backing surged.

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It has now been confirmed that the debate will take place on Monday, October 26, placing the government under mounting pressure to set out its stance and potentially outline prospective changes. Those behind the petition are urging cat owners to contact their local MPs beforehand, encouraging them to attend and bolster the prospects of meaningful reform.

The petition states: “It is legal in the UK to hit a cat when driving and not need to stop or report collisions, leaving them scared, alone, and in pain. Cats are important, loved, valued family members for many, and we believe the law should reflect this.

“We want the Government to legislate to require drivers to stop, check and report any road collisions with cats if they’re injured on the road, and hold drivers accountable if they fail to stop and report a collision involving a cat on the basis that they left a cat to unnecessarily suffer. We believe asking drivers to be made responsible for seeking help for an injured cat is a perfectly reasonable and simple ask.”

Cats Matter said: “While the Government has stated that it currently has no plans to amend legislation, the public response tells a very different story. Cat owners, vets, rescues, and communities across the UK have made it clear that the status quo is not good enough and them keep throwing back the same old dated arguments simply doesn’t wash anymore. Families deserve to know when their cats have been harmed, and cats deserve the same basic recognition already afforded to dogs.”

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“The upcoming debate is a pivotal moment. It represents not only the strength of public feeling, but also a growing expectation that the law should reflect modern attitudes toward companion animals. We anticipate strong cross‐party contributions, with MPs raising both the emotional and practical implications of the current gap in reporting requirements.

“In these days leading up to the debate, we are encouraging supporters to contact their MPs and invite them to attend.”

The organisers added: “What we can not accept and do not understand is the drivers who drive off and leave the cats scared, alone, in pain, or worse, roadside. Not stopping to help a cat, or any animal, is unforgivable in our view and we want the law to stand with us on that. We do not want drivers to have criminal records or pay our vet bills, we simply want drivers to help our cats should the worst happen. If they fail to do so, we want them to, by law, be accountable and face justice.”

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Latest figures from PetPlan show that roughly 230,000 cats are struck by vehicles annually – that’s 630 every single day – while 35 per cent of motorists have admitted to hitting a cat. Britain remains a nation of cat lovers, with approximately 12.2 million felines living in UK households, making them the nation’s second most popular pet after dogs, with 27 per cent of homes having at least one cat.

Under section 170 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, motorists must stop and report accidents involving horses, cattle, ass, mules, sheep, pigs, goats or dogs – but cats are notably absent from the list. The distinction was originally drawn to safeguard working animals.

A 2018 survey conducted by Carbuyer discovered that nearly 60 per cent of respondents believed the law ought to be amended to include cats as well.

The petition prompted a response from the Department for Transport. It stated: “The Government has no current plans to require drivers to report collisions with cats. However, the Road Safety Strategy will improve road safety for all road users, including cats and other animals.

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“This is a compassionate country and although there is no obligation to report all animal deaths on roads, drivers should, if possible, make enquiries to ascertain the owner of domestic animals, such as cats, and advise them of the situation.

“Under section 170 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, a driver is required to stop and report an accident involving specified animals including horses, cattle, ass, mules, sheep, pigs, goats or dogs, but not cats or wild animals. This requirement arises from their status as working animals rather than as domestic pets. To introduce such a measure within the provision of section 170, would require primary legislation. (Note that certain legislation still uses the word ‘accident’, although the preferred terms are collision or crash.)”.

“Because cats are much smaller than other specified animals, and often most active at dawn or dusk, in many cases drivers may not be aware they’ve hit them – particularly with larger vehicles. Because of that, it would be difficult to prosecute drivers if the law was changed.”

The complete government response and petition can be viewed here. Further information, including template emails for constituents, is available at: www.catsmatter.org/downloads.

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Turton School comes after smell of gas last night

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Turton School comes after smell of gas last night

The secondary school in Bromley announced on Thursday morning that it would be closed to students for the day after the leak left the site without a gas supply.

Engineers are now on site working to resolve the issue after Cadent Gas crews attended last night.

Headteacher Sam Gorse said the leak was discovered late on Wednesday night.

Turton School (Image: Nq)

She said: “The engineers are just here at the minute.

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“It was late last night and Cadent came out last night and the engineers came out this morning.

“It was people in the leisure centre who suspected that they could smell gas.”

Earlier, the school told parents: “Turton School is closed to students today.

We have had a gas leak and have no gas currently.

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We expect this to be sorted today and intend to reopen tomorrow.”

Pupils have instead been set work to complete remotely, with schools now equipped to move lessons online during emergency closures.

Ms Gorse said engineers remain at the site and the school is hoping to reopen on Friday, subject to the gas supply being restored and the site being declared safe.

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Boston Jill hails Celtic Park after dumping Tartan Army Tommy as big-hearted Hoops fans gift her free ticket

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Daily Record

Jill Roberts attended the Hoops’ 3-0 win over Aberdeen on September 2 at Celtic Park.

Boston Jill has hailed Celtic Park as “breath-taking” after dumping Tartan Army Tommy as big-hearted Hoops fans gifted her a free match ticket.

Jill Roberts, 42, announced the end of her summer romance with Tommy Morrison in August, after the Record revealed her former lover was facing serious criminal charges. The pair had met in Boston during Scotland’s World Cup adventure, when thousands of fans descended on Fenway Park on June 16.

The whirlwind romance between the Massachusetts mum and the 38-year-old joiner from Bonnyrigg captured the attention of fans online, with Jill even booking flights to Scotland to visit Tommy. Despite their split, she decided to make the trip across the Atlantic anyway and was given a warm welcome at Parkhead.

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Jill headed to the home of the Scottish Premiership champions on September 2 to watch the Hoops beat Aberdeen 3-0 after kind-hearted supporters gifted her a ticket and merchandise – and she was later seen wearing a home shirt and hat.

Her football adventure began at Grace’s bar, where she enjoyed Guinness and fish and chips before meeting her friend and heading to Tollcross Tavern. Then came the walk to Celtic Park.

Jill said: “When we took that corner and I saw the stadium, I was blown away. It reminded me of my first Patriots game I went to with my dad.”

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Her excitement was mixed with nerves when she discovered her seat was close to the travelling Aberdeen fans.

She said: “I didn’t know there would be this much separation between the teams. I get why but it was a little nerve-wracking.”

From there, however, the night became unforgettable. Jill watched all three Celtic goals from the stands and was swept up in the atmosphere before tucking into a traditional scotch pie and Bovril at half-time.

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She continued: “There’s something magical about a stadium full of people rooting for the same thing. I really, really enjoyed that part.”

The Boston singer later admitted she got lost after the match before meeting friends and heading for a night out at the Polo nightclub.

Jill stressed that she had gone to Celtic Park as a tourist rather than a committed supporter, explaining that someone had simply offered her a free ticket after she announced she was still travelling to Scotland.

Although, after a night surrounded by passionate Hoops supporters, she signed off her video with a cry of, “C’mon the Hoops.”

However, Jill also revealed she wants to experience the other side of Glasgow’s Old Firm divide by visiting Ibrox for a Rangers game.

The pair first crossed paths after Jill went to watch the Boston Red Sox take on the Toronto Blue Jays for Pride Night, unaware thousands of Scotland supporters would also descend on the famous ballpark. As she walked to her car, she bumped into Tommy, who was heading towards the train station.

The pair chatted briefly and Jill recorded a video of their encounter, but they went their separate ways without exchanging numbers. She later admitted she immediately regretted not getting his contact details.

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Fate intervened when one of Tommy’s ex-girlfriends spotted Jill’s social media post and commented that she knew him, before passing over his number and Jill began messaging him on WhatsApp.

At the time, Jill described the relationship as an unexpected gift from Scotland’s World Cup adventure.

Tommy had also spoken excitedly about their planned reunion, joking that Jill believed everyone in Scotland lived in castles and wore kilts every day. He had promised to organise a special surprise so she could experience the country in full.

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The Record then revealed Tommy had appeared in court earlier this year on charges of offences under Solemn Procedure, usually dealt with by trial before a judge and a jury of 15 people.

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Juvenile arrested by police after disturbance in Bradshaw

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Juvenile arrested by police after disturbance in Bradshaw

Police were called to Turton Road following on Wednesday evening.

Greater Manchester Police said a juvenile was arrested on suspicion of common assault after officers attended at around 7pm.

A police car and van were spotted at the scene, and the force confirmed there is no further risk to the public.

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A GMP spokesperson said: “We were called to Turton Road to a report of a domestic disturbance.

“A juvenile has been arrested on suspicion of common assault.

“There is no further risk to the public.”

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Trump Torched After Threatening To Cut Off US Trade With Europe

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Trump Torched After Threatening To Cut Off US Trade With Europe

Donald Trump has been condemned after he threatened to cut off US trade with Europe over the EU’s attempts to have closer ties with Canada.

The US president said he could take the drastic step after EU president Ursula von der Leyen announced that Canada is to become the bloc’s first ever “associate member”.

It comes amid the ongoing trade war between the US and Canada.

Talks between America and Canada have collapsed, with Trump imposing 50% tariffs on imports from its northern neighbour.

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Reacting to the news on Wednesday, Trump said that could be construed as “a hostile act”.

He said: “I think it’s laughable. Canada has been a terrible trade partner.

“If they do that, if I think it’s at all a hostile act, I will put very serious tariffs or stop trading with Europe on many things.

“If Europe does that with a bad intention – if it’s a good intention, that’s fine – if it’s a bad intention we’ll put very heavy tariffs on them.”

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Such a move would be unprecedented by an American president, and would be potentially disastrous for the European economy, which relies heavily on selling goods to America.

Trump’s comments drew an angry response online, with one X user saying the president “does not understand how trade works in the 21st century”.

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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British man killed in Spain floods after car swept away near Barcelona

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Daily Record

Red and orange alerts are in force across parts of Catalonia and Valencia

A British man has reportedly died after his car was swept away in devastating floods in Spain as authorities issued the highest level weather warnings amid torrential rain.

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The victim was in Olivella, near Barcelona, when his vehicle approached a stream and was allegedly “swallowed by the force of the water” as floodwaters surged through the area.

According to La Vanguardia, the driver was caught off guard by the torrent at the Begues stream near a bridge before his car plunged into the raging water and was dragged away.

The tragedy unfolded as violent storms battered eastern Spain, with red and orange alerts in force across parts of Catalonia and Valencia amid fears of dangerous flooding, The Mirror reports.

Local fire crews reportedly received calls of a vehicle falling into water in Olivella at around 11pm on Wednesday (September 16). An update at around 12.30pm on Thursday confirmed the fire service had discovered the lifeless body of a man, roughly 500 meters from where the vehicle was found in the water.

The rescue operation was made up of eleven crews with the assistance of drones and rescue divers. The victim is understood to be a “middle-aged British man” who lived in the Las Colinas neighbourhood of Olivella in Catalonia, according to local media,

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has been approached for comment but it yet to respond at the time of publication.

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Royal Family live: Earl Spencer in war of words with King Charles

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Daily Mirror

Despite becoming embroiled in a war of words with Earl Spencer over claims made in his upcoming book, today is business as usual for the King as he prepares for an engagement at Dumfries House in Scotland.

Later today, the monarch will convene leaders from the artificial intelligence sector, Government, and thought leaders to discuss how AI can be developed and deployed in ways that benefit society.

Charles, 77, who has never owned a mobile phone, is understood to have taken a keen interest in AI’s development and the risks it posed.

A source said he hopes the summit would encourage tech leaders to consider “the responsibilities of developing this technology, as well as the opportunities”.

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King Charles will host an event in Scotland today(Image: Getty)

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Does Sugar Cause Diabetes? | HuffPost UK Life

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Does Sugar Cause Diabetes? | HuffPost UK Life

Growing up, I always heard that eating too much sugar would lead directly to type 2 diabetes.

It’s a trope often repeated in film and TV. For instance, in 2013’s Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters, Hansel, who has been force-fed sugar, contracts the “sugar sickness” that’s instantly cured with a shot of insulin. Charity Diabetes UK said this is a “gross oversimplification of how diabetes is caused”.

Meanwhile, the NHS’ East Lancashire Hospitals Trust writes that the idea that type 2 diabetes is caused by eating too much sugar is a “myth”, adding it is “not true to say that Type 2 diabetes is caused by sugar directly”.

So what does cause the condition, and where does sugar come into it all?

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Here, we asked Dr Giuseppe Aragona, a GP and medical adviser for Prescription Doctor, to weigh in on the topic.

What is type 2 diabetes?

Dr Aragona described it as a “condition in which the body becomes increasingly resistant to the effects of insulin, meaning that glucose is not taken up and regulated as effectively as it should be, while the pancreas may also become less able to produce enough insulin to compensate.”

Though being overweight is a risk factor for type two diabetes, it doens’t paint the whole picture, he added.

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Not only can people who aren’t overweight develop type 2 diabetes, but the GP said many other risk factors can come into play, including:

  • family history,
  • increasing age,
  • ethnicity,
  • previous gestational diabetes,
  • high blood pressure,
  • polycystic ovary syndrome, and
  • certain medications.

This is why “it is usually unhelpful to reduce the condition to simply having eaten too much sugar, and equally unhelpful to assume that someone has somehow brought it upon themselves through their diet”.

So… does sugar cause type 2 diabetes?

It has a role, said Dr Aragona – but probably not as straightforward a one as you might think.

“The NHS description is broadly right, although the wording can be a little misleading because sugar intake and type 2 diabetes are not completely unrelated,” he explained.

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“Eating sugar does not, by itself, directly cause type 2 diabetes in the simple sense that having sugar in your diet inevitably produces the condition, as type 2 diabetes develops through a combination of insulin resistance, reduced insulin production over time and a range of genetic, metabolic and lifestyle factors”.

Nonetheless, he said, a diet high in sugar can make type 2 diabetes more likely to occur, “particularly because it can make it easier to consume excess calories, gain weight and develop excess body fat, all of which can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes.

“It is therefore more accurate to think of sugar as one potential contributor to the overall dietary pattern and metabolic risk rather than as a single direct cause”, he said.

What are the symptoms of type 2 diabetes?

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Sometimes, the doctor told us, type 2 diabetes can develop slowly, making it harder to spot.

But he shared that some symptoms should always prompt you to plan a GP appointment, including:

  • being unusually thirsty,
  • ]passing urine more frequently than normal,
  • particularly at night,
  • feeling persistently tired,
  • losing weight without trying,
  • having blurred vision,
  • experiencing recurrent infections such as thrush, or
  • noticing that cuts and other minor wounds are taking longer than usual to heal.

These don’t always spell dementia, and they can have other causes, he added. However, they’re still worth investigating, especially if you have multiple symptoms at once.

“If you are worried about diabetes but have no symptoms, it is also worth speaking to your GP about whether you should have a blood glucose or HbA1c test, as testing is often how type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes is picked up before symptoms become apparent,” added Dr Aragona.

Can people with type 2 diabetes eat sugar?

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Another myth on the NHS list about type 2 diabetes is that those with the condition can never eat sugar.

The doctor said, “If someone already has type 2 diabetes, I would not generally tell them that they need to eliminate sugar completely.

“The more useful approach is to look at the overall diet, with particular attention to sugary drinks, sweets, biscuits, cakes and other foods that contain a lot of free sugars, while aiming for a balanced diet containing plenty of vegetables, higher-fibre carbohydrates, pulses, fruit in sensible portions, protein and healthier sources of fat.”

He said some changes are still advised – for instance, water is a better option than sugary drinks, and eating a lot of foods with high amounts of free sugars can be risky.

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“It is also worth remembering that carbohydrates in general affect blood glucose, so simply switching from sugar to another highly refined carbohydrate does not necessarily solve the problem,” the doctor said.

Finally, he ended, “People taking insulin or certain diabetes tablets need to be particularly careful about making major changes to their carbohydrate intake without discussing it with their healthcare professional, because some medicines can cause blood glucose to fall too low.

“For most people, though, the aim is not a completely sugar-free existence but a sustainable eating pattern, regular physical activity, appropriate medication where needed and sensible monitoring of blood glucose and cardiovascular risk factors.”

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Lovers are flogged 100 times each for adultery with girlfriend begging for mercy then collapsing in pain during brutal Sharia caning in Indonesia

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Lovers are flogged 100 times each for adultery with girlfriend begging for mercy then collapsing in pain during brutal Sharia caning in Indonesia

A couple was flogged 100 times each for adultery under an Indonesian province’s strict Sharia laws. 

The caning in Banda Aceh on Thursday was so severe that the woman was seen begging for mercy before collapsing from the pain. 

The couple was convicted of adultery and were sentenced to 100 lashes each by the Banda Aceh Sharia Court last month.

Unmarried couples are not allowed to have sex under the harsh laws in the region of Aceh, which is the only place in Muslim-majority Indonesia to administer Sharia law.

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Caning is used to punish a wide range of offences, including gambling, drinking alcohol, homosexual acts, and having sexual relations outside marriage.

Images from the public caning today showed the woman grimacing in pain and holding her hand up as she pleaded for mercy while she received lashes on her back. 

However, later pictures showed the woman being helped off the ground after she collapsed to her knees. 

Images of her partner also showed him wincing as he was struck.

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A woman grimaces in pain while serving a public caning sentence in Taman Sari, Banda Aceh, Aceh Province, Indonesia, on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, for adultery

Officers assist the convicted woman after she received 100 lashings

Officers assist the convicted woman after she received 100 lashings 

Pictured: A man found guilty of adultery under Sharia law grimaces in pain as he is whipped 100 times

Pictured: A man found guilty of adultery under Sharia law grimaces in pain as he is whipped 100 times 

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According to local news outlet AJNN, the man’s caning was halted temporarily after he received 60 lashes over concerns for his health. 

Head of the General Crimes Section of the Banda Aceh District Attorney’s Office, Darma Mustika, said: ‘Perhaps his health was a little compromised, or he simply couldn’t handle the whipping. So we stopped him first to give him a chance to rest.’

The caning then resumed until the man received 100 lashes in total. 

The couple was among a group of 10 people who received lashings on Thursday. 

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The remaining eight convicts – men and women – were sentenced to between 16 and 21 lashes after being found guilty of intermingling at a birthday party. 

Under Sharia law, the mixing of men and women who are unrelated is strictly forbidden. 

The public nature of canings in Aceh is intended to shame as well as inflict pain on people found to have violated Sharia law. 

Canings are often staged outside mosques or in community squares, with crowds watching and documenting the event on their mobile phones. 

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The woman puts her hands to her face after she received 100 lashes

The woman puts her hands to her face after she received 100 lashes 

Pictured: A man reacts in pain as he is whipped 100 times. The caning was halted temporarily over concerns about his health

Pictured: A man reacts in pain as he is whipped 100 times. The caning was halted temporarily over concerns about his health

Pictured: A separate man who was accused of intermingling with women at a birthday party was also lashed on Thursday

Pictured: A separate man who was accused of intermingling with women at a birthday party was also lashed on Thursday 

The public nature of canings in Aceh is intended to shame as well as inflict pain on people found to have violated Sharia law

The public nature of canings in Aceh is intended to shame as well as inflict pain on people found to have violated Sharia law

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A man grimaces in pain while serving a public caning sentence in Taman Sari, Banda Aceh, Aceh

A man grimaces in pain while serving a public caning sentence in Taman Sari, Banda Aceh, Aceh

Canings are often staged outside mosques or in community squares

Canings are often staged outside mosques or in community squares

Local officials have defended the practice as a deterrent and as part of the province's identity

Local officials have defended the practice as a deterrent and as part of the province’s identity

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have repeatedly condemned the practice

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have repeatedly condemned the practice

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A man found in violation of Sharia law received water from an official during his public caning in Banda Aceh, Aceh Province, Indonesia, on Thursday

A man found in violation of Sharia law received water from an official during his public caning in Banda Aceh, Aceh Province, Indonesia, on Thursday

Human rights groups say the humiliation adds to the cruelty and causes lasting psychological damage.

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have repeatedly condemned the practice, saying it violates Indonesia’s constitution and its obligations under international law.

Amnesty said in a statement: ‘Caning contravenes Indonesia’s constitution and is in clear violation of international human rights law and standards.

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‘It constitutes a cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment and can amount to torture in violation of the UN Convention against Torture and other international covenants, to which Indonesia is a State Party.’

Local officials have defended the practice as a deterrent and as part of the province’s identity, while critics warn it has negatively impacted Indonesia’s human rights reputation and inflicted lasting trauma on those who endure it. 

Just weeks ago, a woman became the first person to be publicly caned in Aceh for ‘committing obscenity live with a man on social media.’

The punishment was handed down after she and her partner were accused of kissing during a TikTok livestream.

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Images showed the woman kneeling and screaming in agony as a masked Sharia police officer repeatedly brought the cane down across her back.

The woman eventually lost consciousness and had to receive medical attention. 

Her partner was also caned over the TikTok livestream.

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