To celebrate the launch, Five Sisters Zoo was delighted to welcome its new friends from Livingston FC for a special World Lion Day celebration.

Five Sisters Zoo has announced a new partnership with Livingston FC, bringing together two local organisations that are right on each other’s doorstep and share a strong connection with the West Lothian community.

To celebrate the launch, Five Sisters Zoo was delighted to welcome its new friends from Livingston FC for a special World Lion Day celebration.

There was no better day for the visit, with Livingston FC’s very own lion mascot, LiviLion, joining staff, players and visitors at the zoo.

Members of Livingston FC’s men’s first team, club staff and LiviLion spent the afternoon meeting visitors, joining in with the celebrations and handing out tickets for an upcoming match. The team also had the chance to meet some of the zoo’s residents, including capybaras and penguins.

As part of the new partnership, Five Sisters Zoo is also supporting Livingston FC’s Lions Roar Kids Club. Children who join the club will be entered into a draw to win an Annual Family Pass to Five Sisters Zoo, as well as receiving a day pass to visit the zoo.

Members will also enjoy a range of exclusive club benefits and matchday experiences, including opportunities to meet the players and management team.

A Five Sisters spokesperson said: “Five Sisters Zoo looks forward to working alongside Livingston FC and creating exciting experiences for children, families and supporters across West Lothian.

“A huge thank you to everyone at Livingston FC for coming along and helping us celebrate World Lion Day. With LiviLion leading the way, it was certainly a roaring start!”

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Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has regularly targeted civilians and civilian infrastructure with missile attacks. The strategy adopted by the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, and his generals is two-fold: to increase the cost of continuing to resist and to erode civilian morale.

The attacks have aimed to disrupt and destroy Ukraine’s military supply and logistics capabilities, its power generation and civilian housing.

The war on the front lines has reached a bloody stalemate, with ever-increasing casualties, especially on the Russian side where more troops are being killed or injured each month than can be recruited and trained. So Russia’s air campaign conducted behind the front line is clearly seen by the Kremlin as having major strategic value.

Major-General Vadym Skibitsky, the deputy head of Ukraine’s military intelligence directorate, said on August 10 that Russia has restructured its defence production to prioritise the production of long-range ballistic and cruise missiles. It is also reportedly receiving missiles from allies such as North Korea (which is also sending 50,000 more troops to fight in Ukraine).

With the ground war in Ukraine not developing as they wish, Moscow’s military planners increasingly view the Ukrainian homeland as a potential weak link.

Russia will be well aware of reports that the war in Iran has massively depleted US stocks of air defence systems, particularly the Patriot (which stands for phased array tracking radar for intercept on target) and Thaad (terminal high altitude area defense). These are both costly and take a considerable time to replace. US-based thinktank the Center for Strategic and International Studies estimates it could take between three and eight years for America to replenish its stocks to the levels they were at before the conflict began at the end of February.

A single Thaad interceptor missile is reported to cost US$12.77 million (£9.5 million), while Patriots cost around US$4 million each.

With no end to the US conflict against Iran in sight, Patriot missiles will be prioritised for this theatre. And, while there has been discussion of Ukraine being licensed to build its own Patriots, this would take years. The coming winter looks to be extremely challenging for Ukraine.

As combat operations slow on the front lines, Russia will look to use its missile capability to cause increased hardship and suffering. As in previous years, there will be a concerted campaign targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. A lack of air defence systems means more Russian missiles will be able to hit their targets.

In early August, Ukraine’s defence minister, Mikhailo Federov (who has since been removed from post) said “Over the last few months, Russia fires more missiles a week at us than we get from partners over months.”. Only 29 out of 195 Russian ballistic missiles were successfully intercepted in July.

Kyiv’s European allies are trying to go at least some way towards filling the gap. But they need to maintain their own stockpiles to ensure their own security and fulfill their Nato obligations.

Drones: advantages and limitations

But this doesn’t mean Ukraine is unable to mount its own offensive strategy. Kyiv has been using drones to attack key targets: oil storage and refinery facilities, designed to increase pressure on the Russian economy and its ability to export oil on the black market. It is also hitting road and rail infrastructure and bridges, particularly in and around Crimea in a bid to isolate the peninsula.

And, as of August 8, Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces claim to have struck 218 Russian shadow fleet vessels, including 134 in the Sea of Azov and 84 in the Black Sea – another blow to Russia’s oil economy.

Ukraine has also conducted strikes on at least 20 Wildberries warehouses. Wildberries is an e-commerce giant, Russia’s answer to Amazon and an important supplier of battlefield equipment for the Russian military. It also stores and sells goods produced by third-party small and medium-sized firms. The loss of inventory and lack of compensation for those losses, is putting a lot of private business under threat of collapse.

These attacks will take time to have a material effect on the Russian economy. But Russia’s central bank has downgraded its economic growth forecasts, inflation is at an average of 7% a year and interest rates are running at 14%

The use of drones as an instrument of strategy, however, is limited. While they are cheaper and easier to replace, most drones don’t have the same firepower as most ballistic missiles. Ukraine is reportedly developing and deploying improved drones with greater range, enabling Kyiv to hit targets deep inside Russia. But on the whole the power of Ukraine’s drones, thus far at least, is considerably less devastating than Russia’s missiles.

So it’s harder for Ukraine drone strikes to break the will of either the government or population the way Putin is hoping Russia’s onslaught of ballistic missiles might.

The Russian president and his military planners will see Ukraine’s challenges in maintaining its missile defence capability as an opportunity to put Ukraine under severe pressure.

Unless President Volodymyr Zelensky and his war planners can find a way to solve this increasingly urgent problem, this winter could be the harshest of the war to date for the Ukrainian people.

People will have to apply to the courts to get their seized e-scooters and e-bikes returned to them

Police have warned that they could destroy e-scooters and e-bikes that are being ridden illegally in Northern Ireland.

Over the past week officers have seized a number of e-scooters and e-bikes across Northern Ireland as they deal with reports of anti-social and danagerous behaviour involving the vehicles.

Following this, a number of officers took to social media to highlight the seizures and say that the owners of the e-scooters and e-bikes will have 14 days to apply to the courts, at their own expense, to have them returned or they will be destroyed.

Police have said that e-scooters and e-bikes are deemed to be motor vehicles and riders must have a driving licence and the vehicle must be taxed, insured and fitted with lights and a number plate. This means that many people who ride them, including children, are committing offences when they do so.

A PSNI spokesperson said: “Under existing legislation, e-scooters are deemed to be a motor vehicle, meaning the rider must have a driving licence and the vehicle must be taxed, insured and fitted with lights and a number plate.

This means e-scooters on roads and in public spaces are being ridden illegally and, so, a large number of individuals – many of them children – are committing offences in that the machine they are riding is not legally allowed to be in a public space.

“Dependent on the circumstances when our officers engage with riders, they use the four ‘Es’ approach – Engage, Explain, Encourage and Enforce.

“We are also asking people to report inappropriate use so that we can seize machines safely, however, we recognise that on some occasions there can be public safety risks with enforcement, especially if the detection is made in a busy, built-up area. We will engage with the rider and seize the e-scooter when it is safe to do so.

“Long term, we believe the only durable, long-term solution to dealing with issues in relation to e-scooters is through legislative reform, and we are actively engaging with government departments to explore these options.

“Overall, it will require a co-ordinated approach by sellers, parents, users/owners, PSNI and partners to reduce the number of e-scooters on our roads and encourage their responsible and legal use.

“Information was circulated to officers last week reminding them of the power of seizure for uninsured motor vehicles, which includes e-scooters.

“This information outlined some of the tactical options available to officers when responding to reports of e-scooters on roads, or in public places. For example, use of drones, CCTV or a planned policing operation.

“It reminded officers of the offence of no insurance and the powers of seizure and disposal under the relevant legislation under the Road Traffic Order.

“This information is not part of any new Police Service instruction, and was contained in an internal document for officer-use only, and not for public dissemination.”

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The University of Cambridge has announced an independent review of all relevant university processes to run alongside its ongoing inquiry into how Professor Jason Arday was appointed by the Faculty of Education, following his resignation amid plagiarism allegations.

The University of Cambridge is to hold an independent review of “all relevant processes” alongside an ongoing investigation into how a professor who stepped down amid a plagiarism row was appointed by its Faculty of Education.

Last week, the university confirmed it would press ahead with its investigation into the circumstances surrounding Professor Jason Arday’s “appointment and tenure” following his resignation, adding that the findings would inform a broader review of the procedures for appointing senior academic posts.

Scores of academics at the world-famous university put their names to a letter demanding an independent inquiry into the processes surrounding his appointment. Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Prentice announced the independent review on Thursday (August 13).

She said in a statement: “I have – taken the step of asking the Deputy Chair of the University Council and the Council’s Audit Committee to establish the terms of an independent review of all relevant University processes, with the outcome to be reported directly to the Council.

“This will operate independently of, but alongside, the investigation into the circumstances around Jason Arday’s appointment and time at Cambridge. I am also aware of calls from some members of our community for an audit of our HR procedures and practices, which I will ask that this review addresses. I will also stress the importance of this review proceeding at pace and concluding as quickly as is possible.”

In an update on Wednesday (August 12), Prof Prentice confirmed that the inquiry into Prof Arday’s employment would be conducted “independently by senior academics from within and beyond Cambridge”.

In her statement, she said: “I fully understand the concerns being raised across the university and well beyond it regarding Jason Arday’s appointment and I share them. I know there is anger and anxiety around this damaging and difficult case.

“We will now investigate the circumstances around his appointment by the Faculty of Education back in 2022 and his time here in Cambridge since his appointment nearly four years ago.”

Prof Prentice added: “In light of the focus on this troubling case and the widespread commentary around it, I want to be very clear that we do not need the outcomes of an investigation to clearly and loudly affirm that our staff of colour are highly valued, for their scholarship, their achievements and the contributions they make to the institution and the wider academic community.

“This particular case is an aberration and should not be used to cast aspersions on their work or the legitimacy of their roles at Cambridge.”

Professor Priyamvada Gopal, professor of postcolonial studies at Cambridge’s English faculty and one of the signatories who called for an independent inquiry, told the Press Association last week that Prof Arday’s case had “acted as a gift to people and forces who have been targeting equality, diversity and inclusion in universities for a long time now”.

Prof Arday, a professor of sociology of education who became Cambridge’s youngest black professor in 2023, stepped down following a series of media reports alleging he had plagiarised his PhD thesis – completed at Liverpool John Moores University – as well as other research.

Further scrutiny emerged in the press regarding the veracity of other assertions he had made, including claims that he ran 600 miles in six days and had raised £5.5 million for charity.

A subsequent investigation at Liverpool John Moores University cleared Prof Arday of any wrongdoing. Durham and Glasgow universities are examining the circumstances surrounding Prof Arday’s appointment to academic positions there, while Cambridge’s Jesus College has accepted his resignation from his fellowship, according to Prof Prentice.

In his open resignation letter, Prof Arday stated that the “only way to bring this chapter to an end is to step away”.

He said: “This decision should not be interpreted as a loss of faith in scholarship or in the values that first brought me to Cambridge. Nor should it be mistaken for an acceptance of the narratives that have surrounded me. It is simply the decision of someone who has reached the limits of what any person should reasonably be expected to endure.”

At the weekend, he pulled out of engagements arranged to promote his upcoming memoir. Publisher Simon & Schuster had previously confirmed that the book, Great And Unfortunate Things, was due for release in the UK on August 27.

There was an unsavoury ending to Saturday night’s Group B clash at Davitt Park as Killeavy scored 0-3 in injury-time to salvage a draw against Clan na Gael

Cormac Leonard Armagh SFC Round One, Group B: Clan na Gael 0-14 Killeavy 0-14

Killeavy hit 0-3 in the final two minutes of injury-time to snatch a dramatic draw in their Armagh SFC opener against Clan na Gael at Davitt Park.

However, a shemozzle after the full-time whistle was sparked when managers Roger Keenan (Clan na Gael) and Steven McDonnell (Killeavy) squared up to each other having exchanged verbals throughout the second half.

A member of the Killeavy squad threw a ball at Keenan’s head, which led to players from both side becoming involved in a heated exchange that threatened to overshadow what had been a sporting contest up until the end.

To his credit, referee Martin Conroy swiftly restored calm and ordered the two teams to separate and Jamie Cosgrove was singled out and issued with a straight red, meaning he’ll play no involvement in next Friday night’s trip to Silverbridge.

In what could prove to be the most competitive group in this season’s Armagh SFC, Killeavy gaining a point in Lurgan could prove invaluable, but it was the least they deserved.

They ought to have been further ahead after dominating the early exchanges with the home side very slow out of the traps.

Gareth Murphy and Ronan McGuinness landed early points while Fergal Boylan converted a free with Shea Magill crashing a 45 off the posts.

After a handful of wides in the opening minutes, the Clans found their stride with good scores from Callum O’Neill and Stefan Campbell.

Niall Magennis had a great goal chance for the south Armagh men, but he hit the post after Ciaron O’Hanlon had forced a turnover.

Boylan’s second free put Killeavy two ahead after 19 minutes before Campbell began to get some space ahead of Cathair McKinney.

The former Armagh star landed two excellent points either side of another from O’Neill to edge the hosts ahead for the first time on 26 minutes.

The lively Michael McConville put Clan na Gael two ahead before Murphy reduced the gap to one before half-time.

After a very cagey first half, the game opened up more in the second, although both teams continued to squander goal chances.

Jamie Brady opened the scoring just one minute into the half before Campbell fired wide when through on goal.

Kealan McDonnell cut the gap back to one while Tiarnan Brown made an instant impact when introduced to tie the game at 0-7 each.

The next six points were shared and, heading into the final 10 minutes of the game, a draw seemed the most likely outcome.

However, Killeavy lacked composure in the final quarter of the game, hitting four wides and dropping a further three short.

The Clans were more efficient in that regard and opened up a three-point cushion thanks a point from James Austin and a two-point free from Shane McPartlan.

Murphy and Michael Toland exchanged points as they game moved into stoppage-time.

Ryan Conway did remarkably well to emerge with possession following a scramble in his goalmouth with Boylan and then Caolan McConville threatening to plunder a goal for Killeavy.

In the end, they settled for a two-pointer from the right boot of Callum O’Hare and gambled on winning the resulting kickout.

When they did, their captain O’Hanlon struck for the equaliser from just inside the arc to salvage a share of the spoils for his side.

Clan na Gael scorers: Stefan Campbell 0-3, Shane McPartlan 0-3 (0-1f, 0-2fpf), Callum O’Neill 0-2, Michael McConville 0-1, Jamie Brady 0-1, Matthew Lennon 0-1, Calvin McConville 0-1, Niall Henderson 0-1, James Austin 0-1, Michael Toland 0-1.

Killeavy scorers: Tiarnan Brown 0-3, Fergal Boylan 0-3 (0-2fs), Gareth Murphy 0-2, Callum O’Hare 0-2 (1tp), Ronan McGuinness 0-1, Ciaron O’Hanlon 0-1, Kealan McDonnell 0-1, Caolan McConville 0-1.

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Failure to follow strict rules can lead to the loss of a licence but it is free to do

Older drivers have been put on notice that they risk losing their right to drive if they fail to act. The number of motorists born before 1956 who are still taking to the roads has been on the rise.

The DVLA has now issued a reminder that drivers must renew their licence every three years once they hit 70. Reaching that milestone doesn’t mean hanging up the car keys for good, but their standard driving entitlement does expire – and they must renew it, confirming they still meet the required vision standards, if they wish to continue driving.

The DVLA confirms the process is completely free and can be done online, with a replacement licence typically arriving within a week. The rule has been in place since 1976, when the Government overhauled the licensing system so that standard driving licences would remain valid until the age of 70, rather than requiring everyone to renew every three years.

Beyond that age, three-yearly renewals were kept in place given that advancing years can bring health and fitness changes that may impact a person’s ability to drive safely.

The Department for Transport states that the renewal process serves as a regular prompt for older motorists to reflect on their health, including their eyesight, and to declare any medical conditions that could have a bearing on their driving, reports Wales Online.

What happens when you turn 70?

The DVLA will ordinarily dispatch a D46P renewal form roughly 90 days before the driver’s 70th birthday. Alternatively, motorists aged 70 or over, or within 90 days of their 70th birthday, can complete the renewal process online.

The online application asks drivers to confirm they satisfy the minimum eyesight standards and aren’t barred from driving for any other reason. They can also refresh their licence photograph while renewing.

A separate procedure exists for Northern Ireland.

What older drivers must do

The crucial point is that turning 70 doesn’t trigger an automatic driving prohibition. However, motorists must ensure they:

• Renew their licence at 70 and every three years afterwards.
• Meet the legal eyesight standards.
• Tell the DVLA about medical conditions which could affect their ability to drive.
• Continue to meet those standards between renewals — drivers have an ongoing legal responsibility to be medically fit to drive.
• Wear glasses or contact lenses when required.
• Check that their licence remains valid rather than assuming it automatically continues.

The legal eyesight standard includes being capable of reading a number plate from 20 metres and possessing the necessary level of visual acuity and field of vision. Drivers who neglect to renew cannot simply presume they’re entitled to keep driving indefinitely.

There are situations in which someone may continue driving while a renewal application is being handled, though stringent conditions apply, including having held a valid licence and satisfying the other criteria outlined by the DVLA.

Why eyesight has become a big issue

The three-year renewal system faces renewed examination due to worries about ageing motorists and declining eyesight. The Government initiated a consultation in January 2026 on whether drivers aged 70 and above should face a compulsory eyesight test when renewing their licence.

Currently, older motorists essentially self-certify that they meet the eyesight benchmark. The consultation highlighted that eyesight deterioration is a natural consequence of ageing and conditions including glaucoma and macular degeneration become more widespread in later life.

The Government is yet to make eyesight tests compulsory for drivers. A Department for Transport evidence review, published in 2025, concluded there was relatively limited concrete UK evidence directly connecting visual impairment with the risk of collisions or casualties.

Nevertheless, it established that cataracts were clearly linked to considerably higher rates of motor vehicle collisions. The statistics in this area are striking.

A roadside vision screening exercise carried out in 2024, involving 3,010 drivers and riders, revealed that 1.7% failed the number-plate test. The failure rate was considerably greater amongst the oldest road users, with 10.2% of drivers aged 81 to 90 falling short. In total, 1.4% of those pulled over had their driving licence revoked, including 38 immediate revocations.

The same Government review references a study of police data conducted by the College of Optometrists, which found that uncorrected defective eyesight was recorded as a contributing factor in 77% of a substantial sample of collision reports involving people aged over 60. However, this figure warrants careful interpretation. It is drawn from a specific sample of police collision reports and does not indicate that 77% of all crashes involving older motorists are caused by poor vision.

Older drivers and road deaths

Official statistics reveal why the Government is scrutinising older motorists more closely, though they don’t confirm that poor eyesight was to blame for those deaths or injuries. In 2024, 115 older car drivers lost their lives and 1,109 sustained serious injuries in reported crashes. Overall, there were 4,669 casualties among older car drivers.

Older drivers represented roughly 24% of all car-driver fatalities in 2024, despite forming a considerably smaller share of all drivers. Crashes involving at least one older car driver led to 239 deaths and 3,061 serious injuries throughout the year.

The statistics also demonstrate that the danger isn’t solely about causing accidents. Older motorists face greater vulnerability to serious injury or death when crashes happen due to the impact of frailty.

The Department for Transport states that KSI – killed or seriously injured – casualty rates per billion miles are elevated for male and female drivers aged 76 and above compared to nearly every other age bracket, except for drivers aged 29 and younger.

There were approximately 6.3 million full driving licence holders aged 70 and over in Great Britain in 2025, representing a 60% increase from 3.9 million in 2012. Roughly 2 million over-70s renew their licences annually.

Brittan said she had previously been offered compensation for another data breach by the Met, after they disclosed sensitive information about her first police interview by mistake to two people in Australia.

Speaking about the latest breach, the 61-year-old told the BBC: “It’s very shocking because they were meant to have learned all lessons and it would never happen again.

“And although the first one was far more egregious because it was very sensitive data that was sent to Australia, I was promised that they had learned and the same thing couldn’t happen again.

She added that many of Al Fayed’s alleged victims would be distressed by the breach, saying: “For me, it’s more of the same, really, and deeply re abusive, to be honest. It’s unbelievable.”

Jen Mills and Lindsay Mason, co-chairs of the Justice for Fayed and Harrod Survivors group – which represents a number of survivors – have demanded more explanations from the Met.

“For decades, survivors of Fayed had to carry what happened to them in silence, and every woman who eventually spoke had to find the courage to do so.

“Handing that over to the police is the hardest thing many of them have ever done, and this week they learned that information identifying them had been exposed to people they had never chosen to share it with.

“It is appalling, and the Met needs to explain how it happened.”

The organisation has also asked the Met to address how survivors’ information and privacy is being better protected since the incident, it said in a statement.

Dame Jasvinder Sanghera, an advocate for survivors of alleged abuse by Al Fayed, told the BBC: “I have had so many contacts today from survivors who have told me that they feel violated by the police in a space where there is already a lack of confidence in the police investigation.

“They said they received an insipid apology five hours later and, I am sorry, it is just not good enough.”

Brittan first reported allegations to police in 2017.

According to correspondence previously supplied to the BBC, she alleged she was sexually abused by Ahmed Obaidly, a former United Arab Emirates diplomat and associate of Al Fayed, after working for a company linked to the UAE royal family in the early 1990s.

The Met has said the original report, made to Devon and Cornwall Police in 2017, was transferred to London because the alleged offending took place within its jurisdiction. It said the case was initially investigated as a rape allegation against Obaidly, who died in 2015.

The force has also said criminal allegations concerning Mohamed Al Fayed were made in 2024 and now form part of Operation Cornpoppy, which remains ongoing.

In correspondence previously provided to the BBC, the Met said: “The live investigation into those who could have facilitated or enabled Mohamed Al Fayed’s offending continues.”

The force added that victim-survivors remained its priority and said it was committed to providing updates to those involved in the investigation.

The latest incident comes shortly after the ICO took enforcement action against the Metropolitan Police over two unrelated data breaches.

In a decision published on 5 August, the watchdog issued the force with a reprimand and enforcement notice after concluding it had failed to put in place appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect personal information.

The ICO said its investigation had uncovered “serious and ongoing shortcomings” in data protection training.

It also found wider weaknesses in policies, procedures and assurance arrangements for handling sensitive personal data.

One breach involved an officer disclosing a stalking victim’s new address and telephone number to her alleged stalker.

As part of its enforcement notice, the ICO ordered the Metropolitan Police to improve its data protection training compliance, monitoring and governance arrangements.

More than 170,000 Canadians have signed a petition demanding the removal of U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra, after months of boycotting American goods and canceling trips in response to escalating trade disputes and talk of annexing the country.

Submitted on July 21 by a Calgary resident, the parliamentary petition urges the Canadian government to declare Hoekstra persona non grata under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. It also calls for a parliamentary committee to investigate “U.S. diplomatic interference in Canadian domestic affairs.”

Under Canadian parliamentary rules, online petitions require only 500 validated signatures to earn a formal presentation on the floor of the House of Commons.

Because this filing far exceeded that threshold, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May is expected to bring the matter forward for parliamentary debate when lawmakers return this fall, The New York Times reported. Once presented, the federal government is required to lay a formal response on the table within 45 calendar days.

The petition follows a decline in relations between the two countries. A Pew survey released in June indicated that 35 percent of Canadians viewed the United States as a reliable partner, down from 82 percent in 2022. Canadian leisure travel to the U.S. has dropped by more than a quarter over the last year, while Canadian consumers have increasingly turned away from American products.

Tensions have been high between the U.S. and its neighbor since President Donald Trump returned to office. He blasted the country and its trade with the U.S., threatened new tariffs and even talked about Canada becoming the “51st state.”

“If people wanted to play the game right, it would be 100 percent certain that they’d become a state,” Trump said early in his term.

After the U.S. administration imposed fresh tariffs on Canadian goods, Prime Minister Mark Carney warned at the World Economic Forum in January that global alliances faced “a rupture, not a transition.”

Tensions escalated further over Canadian objections to U.S. rhetoric regarding Greenland, as well as an Ontario-funded advertising campaign against tariffs that quoted former President Ronald Reagan.

Military cooperation has also faced strain. Following discussions regarding Canada’s procurement of American F-35 fighter jets, Hoekstra warned that changes to Ottawa’s purchase plans could affect North American Aerospace Defense Command operations.

“NORAD would have to be altered,” Hoekstra told CBC News.

The petition accuses Hoekstra, a former Republican representative from Michigan and former ambassador to the Netherlands, of harming bilateral relations and normalizing rhetoric regarding the annexation of Canada as a “51st state.” The petition also highlights social media posts by the ambassador referencing these annexation remarks, as well as statements dismissing Canadian public concern as “emotional.”

The filing also alleges that Hoekstra engaged in improper political involvement by meeting with Alberta separatists, raising questions regarding U.S. positions on Canadian unity. The petition further cites his acquaintance with the developer of a voter ID application used by Alberta separatist groups. Hoekstra has denied allegations of improper engagement with separatist entities.

Despite the controversy, representatives from the cross-border business community have defended Hoekstra’s work. Rick Tachuk, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Canada, stated that Hoekstra remained accessible to business leaders and focused on trade relations, The New York Times reported.

“He at times can be blunt, but, in many respects, that is an advantage for us because he helps articulate the view of the president, and helps us understand what the challenges are,” Tachuk said.

No U.S. ambassador has ever been declared persona non grata by Canada, though foreign envoys have been expelled globally during historical diplomatic crises.

Canadian officials have not formally summoned Hoekstra, but other U.S. envoys in Europe — including those to France and Belgium — have recently been called in by host governments over comments about local affairs.

Rob Bennett, an experienced runner,with no known health problems, went for a run near his home in Swansea and suffered a cardiac arrest the day before his 57th birthday.

Kev Morgan and Rob Bennett were running buddies as well as brothers, but their plan to run an ultra marathon together never came to fruition.

Last year Rob, an experienced runner of decades, who was apparently fit and healthy, went out for his usual weekend run and had a cardiac arrest. It was the day before what would have been his 57th birthday and all his cards and presents were ready for him at home.

Despite the efforts of a member of the public, who called emergency services, Rob, never regained consciousness. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here.

Rob, a married father of three teenagers, from Swansea, was kept on life support in Morriston Hospital for several days, but tests confirmed that loss of oxygen had left no brain activity, said Kev.

Rob, who worked at the DVLA, had been apparently fit. A healthy weight, he had run regularly for decades and did not suffer from diabetes or known high cholesterol.

But hospital tests revealed a blood clot that had caused the cardiac arrest that killed him, said Kev.

“He was just out on a 10 mile run, which was quite normal for him – we are both road runners. We did not expect it. The year prior we ran a marathon together in Pembrey. He was tired but fine after that and no signs he was in distress, but they found a partial blockage in one of his arteries in hospital.

“Rob started running in his 40s and ran four or five times a week ranging from six to 10 miles. He was really slim and fit and it was an absolute shock.”

Kev admits that for about a month after the tragedy in May 2025 he was too frightened to run himself, but soon he was back training.

This summer he completed the gruelling 100km ultra-endurance challenge across the Bannau Brycheiniog in memory of Rob and to raise money for the British Heart Foundation (BHF) Cymru

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Kev completed the brutal Brecons Way Ultra 100km in a 23 hours and nine minutes, saying thoughts of Rob kept him going over rough terrain and through hours of dark, light and rain along the challenging route.

He said Rob’s sudden and unexpected death rocked the family, but he could have died whether he had been running, or not.

Rob’s wife was alerted almost immediately because her husband’s runner’s heart rate monitor was connected from his phone to hers. When it bleeped and she saw Rob must have collapsed she raced to the scene to find an ambulance crew already there.

“We’ll never know how long Rob was without help, or whether a trained passer-by or a nearby defibrillator could have saved him — but it’s possible. And that possibility was the driving force behind this Brecons Way Ultra 100k challenge,” says Kev.

“My brother and I had always talked about doing an ultramarathon one day, but it was one of those things we never got around to. This was my way of doing it for him.

“It was a tough day, and the race left me questioning my life choices at times, but I’m really proud to have finished the race.

“Raising more than £2,000 along the way for BHF Cymru is an added bonus. I ran the ultra to raise awareness of how vital CPR training and quick access to defibrillators can be. With greater CPR awareness and wider access to defibrillators, another family’s story could have a different ending.”

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Kev said long-distance running has also help him to process his grief at suddenly losing Rob, who, at 10 years older, was a father figure.

“He wore a heart rate monitor like a lot of runners do, it was connected to his watch and alerted his wife that there had been a cardiac event because it was also connected to her phone.

“His wife drove to the location and paramedics were there. They have three children, twins aged 18 and a 15 year -old. It’s really terrible for the family.

“It is crazy to think we ran the Great Welsh Run only the year before, We were always talking about one day doing an ultra marathon together. That was a running conversation that never came about.

“Initially it had a massive effect on my running. I did not want to do it. I really relate what happened to him to running. That was how I processed it.

“But we don’t know whether it was his running that was the catalyst. it could have happened when he was sitting at work.

Kev, who works for The Foster Care Charity, runs several times a week on routes ranging from five to 30 miles. He said Rob became a male role model as well as a brother after his father died.

Kev lost his father aged 12 to a brain haemorrhage and when his mother married again Rob became his half brother.

“He was a bit of a male role model all my life as he is older than me.”

Kev, who has an 18 month-old daughter Layla with his partner Jessica Samuel wants to honour Rob’s memory by running and raising awareness and money for BHF Cymru.

“The ultra marathon was crazy. It took me a year’s training to get ready and when I did it I was thinking about my brother all the time. That helped a lot.

“I set off at 12pm on the Saturday and was back on the Sunday 23 hours and nine minutes later. It was a really tough race and I was determined to do it, for Rob, before the 24 hour cut off time.

“Running has helped me come to terms with losing my brother. It’s given me the time and space to think, and to focus on doing something positive in his memory. If this challenge helps even one person understand CPR or find a defibrillator in time, then it will be worth it.”

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