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NewsBeat

Photos of the scars of war among survivors in Sudan

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Photos of the scars of war among survivors in Sudan

KHARTOUM, Sudan (AP) — Three years of war have devastated much of Sudan. The impact has been pressed into the skin of survivors, and their memories.

Thousands of people are dead. Millions are displaced. Associated Press journalists spent more than a week in and around the capital after the army retook Khartoum last year. It continues to fight elsewhere against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

Here are some of the war’s survivors and their stories. A member of the military media accompanied the AP during the visit, including during interviews. The AP retains full editorial control of its content.

Soccer dreams shattered

When I saw that my leg was amputated, I knew that this is my fate.”

– Omer al-Toum

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Omer al-Toum had dreamed of playing for Sudan’s national soccer team. But everything changed in October, when an unexploded weapon went off in his house as he tried to use it to loosen a nail. He lost part of his right leg and left arm. His remaining leg was shattered.

Calm and good-natured, the 33-year-old swoons these days over his 8-month old daughter, trying to stay positive.

“When I knew that my leg had been amputated, my family expected more of a reaction from me but I didn’t show them how affected I was,” he said.

Now al-Toum can’t bathe or get out of bed alone, and some doorways in the house aren’t wide enough for his wheelchair. He wants prosthetics but must travel abroad for good ones.

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He’s found solace in coaching soccer, and tells young players to stay in school to keep other options alive.

“As long as you are still breathing, you are still capable of doing many things. And when God takes something away from you, he will surely compensate you with other things,” he said.

A sister’s death

I used to serve people … Now I feel like I am a burden.”

– Tariq Abuzeid

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My world has darkened … What did they do to deserve this? They are children.”

– Omar Bakar, father of 16-year-old Noon Madani

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Noon Madani didn’t want to leave the house that day in August nearly three years ago, but her older sister insisted. Paramilitary forces controlled her neighborhood outside Khartoum, but an overdue bill needed to be paid.

On the way home, a missile killed her 18-year-old sister and crushed the 16-year-old Madani’s legs.

Soft-spoken in her wheelchair, her legs in casts, she recalled looking at missile fragments in her sister’s head as she lay beside her, unable to move.

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“You can’t imagine when someone suddenly tells you that your daughters were hit by an artillery shell. You enter a phase of breakdown,” said their father, Omer Bakar.

Madani remained in a hospital for six months for surgeries, battling infections and sometimes waiting for a doctor to be found after others fled.

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Doctors say she should be able to walk again. Her younger brothers wheel her to school every day. She studies science and dreams of becoming a doctor.

“We are trying to forget the war,” her father said, “the nightmare we finally woke up from.”

8 years old

When her house was struck in February 2025, Fatma Ageb’s husband was asleep. Her older daughters had just discussed what to get their baby sister for her birthday. That was the last thing the 38-year-old remembers of that day.

The shelling killed her husband and their older daughters, 10 and 12. It pierced her body with shrapnel and badly injured their 8-year-old.

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“If it wasn’t for Zeinab I wouldn’t want to live. She’s always calling for her sisters and father,” Ageb said, wiping tears from her cheeks.

The attack scarred her daughter’s face and she lost her right eye. She wears a glass one in its place.

Sitting beside her mother at a hospital and wearing a necklace with a character from the movie “Frozen,” Zeinab shyly held up a drawing she made and winced in pain while a doctor attended her wounds.

Friends and relatives pooled money for the girl’s operations but she needs more, and her mother doesn’t know where she’ll find the money.

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While she tries to be strong for her daughter, Zeinab’s scars are a reminder of what they’ve lost.

A volunteer shaken

Tariq Abuzeid had spent years helping others, raising money to run soup kitchens out of his house and distributing medicine to the sick. When the war came to Khartoum, the construction worker kept assisting people.

But in December 2023, he was caught in intense shelling after distributing food. He lost his right leg.

Surrounded by family, the 52-year-old now tries to be stoic, yet breaks down when he thinks about how circumstances have changed.

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“I used to serve people. … Now I feel like I am a burden,” he said.

The attack caused massive bleeding, which he said compromised his immune system. He takes dozens of pills a day but is still in pain. He struggles to find a good prosthetic and a wheelchair, not easy in Khartoum.

And yet his volunteer work continues. Large metal bowls were stacked in his yard as he prepared to serve others their next meal.

Fleeing sexual assault

The scars of war are inside my heart, not just on the outside.”

– Woman who endured beatings and sexual assault for months by paramilitary forces

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By July the hunger had become too much to bear, so the 50-year-old woman fled the besieged town of Dilling in South Kordofan with her two daughters. But she says they were abducted by the paramilitary RSF.

Hands bound, faces covered, they said they were driven for hours to a makeshift base in the desert with more than a dozen other women. The woman said she was gang-raped there until she bled, and was beaten regularly for months.

The AP does not name people who have been sexually assaulted. The United Nations has called sexual violence one of the Sudan war’s “defining features.”

Each night, the woman would cringe hearing fighters’ footsteps approach the room where they were held. The men would point to the woman they wanted and take her away, she said.

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When they came for her daughters, 25 and 20, she told them to take her instead.

One night when the fighters were out, she fled with her daughters into the desert. Terrified and weak, they walked for days before finding help in another town.

The RSF did not respond to request for comment.

Now they are in a center for women in Khartoum. Crying, she said a doctor told her the injuries from sexual assaults were so bad that her uterus should be removed.

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For more on Africa and development: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-pulse

The Associated Press receives financial support for global health and development coverage in Africa from the Gates Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

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How Keir Starmer let Andy Burnham through the door of 10 Downing Street

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How Keir Starmer let Andy Burnham through the door of 10 Downing Street

Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation speech on Monday was a list of declared successes, with all the signs of being hurriedly written in a bad mood — staccato sentences and a stiff list of boasts of everything that had gone right — just as it had all gone so spectacularly wrong. “Welcome to the Job Centre, Keir” was the heartless poster waved by a protester outside the No 10 gates as the PM bowed out after less than two years in the job. He has, as an old friend from his legal days put it to me last night, “Just completely blown it. He is a smart guy and an honest man, and I still do not entirely understand why he could not grip the job.”

Starmer sees this very differently. He highlighted supporting Ukraine, raising defence spending, ensuring renters’ and workers’ rights, tackling immigration numbers and “lifting half a million children out of poverty” by removing the two-child benefit cap as his legacy. He had, he insisted, turned around a Labour Party he inherited in 2020, as “politically, financially and morally bankrupt”, and taken it to power with a huge majority.

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Iran-US war latest: Tehran says ‘blind strikes’ won’t dent Hormuz control after Trump threatens more attacks

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Iran-US war latest: Tehran says ‘blind strikes’ won’t dent Hormuz control after Trump threatens more attacks

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard says US strikes won’t change control over Hormuz

The naval command of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said that the US “blind strikes” on Sirik did not resolve Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran and the US continued their attacks in the Gulf as each accused the other of violating an interim deal signed less than two weeks ago to end their four-month-old war.

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“America’s blind strikes on Sirik will not undermine our control over the Strait. But our strikes against violators serve as a reminder to other vessels of the proper route for safe passage,” the Guard posted on X.

“As for US bases in the region, that is a separate matter. They will experience hell in the days ahead.”

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar28 June 2026 06:14

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Israeli military says it killed militants in southern Syria

The Israeli military this morning said ⁠its forces killed several armed ⁠militants ​in ⁠the security ⁠zone ​in ⁠southern Syria.

The Israeli military ‌said it ‌would continue ⁠to operate in the area to remove any threats ‌to ​Israeli ‌civilians and ⁠its soldiers.

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar28 June 2026 06:10

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Iran condemns US strikes as violation of interim deal

Iran this morning said that the US airstrikes ⁠targeted several monitoring and surveillance facilities on Iran’s ⁠southern ​coast, calling ⁠the attacks a violation ⁠of an interim ​deal ⁠meant to ‌end the four-month-old war between the ‌two countries.

“These ‌brutal attacks … show that the ⁠US does not place the slightest value and credibility on its commitments, and breaking ‌promises is part ​of ‌its nature,” ⁠the foreign ministry said in a ‌statement.

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar28 June 2026 05:54

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Iran’s Guard says it struck US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said its naval and aerospace forces carried out a joint missile and drone operation targeting military sites in Kuwait and Bahrain.

The Guard said the strikes were in response to US attacks on Iranian coastal positions. It warned that further violations would receive a “crushing response.

Both Bahrain and Kuwait confirmed this morning that Iran targeted them with drone and missile fire overnight after new US airstrikes hit Iran.

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar28 June 2026 05:44

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Israeli military says it killed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon

Israeli military this morning said ⁠it killed Hezbollah militants armed with rocket-propelled ⁠grenades and ​struck ⁠a rocket ⁠launcher in ​the Nabatieh ⁠area ‌of southern Lebanon to remove ‌threats to ‌its soldiers.

The Israeli ⁠military said it struck the structure from which the militants operated ‌and dismantled ​a ‌rocket launcher ⁠that posed ⁠a threat.

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar28 June 2026 05:20

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Iran says it hit U.S. military facilities in Kuwait and Bahrain

Iran claims it has targeted U.S. military facilities in Kuwait and Bahrain early on Sunday morning, in response to earlier U.S. strikes, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said, per Reuters.

According to Iranian state media, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps said it had hit eight American targets, at a U.S. naval base in Bahrain and Kuwait’s Ali Al Salem Air Base.

Graeme Massie28 June 2026 05:15

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US releases video of Iran strikes

Graeme Massie28 June 2026 05:01

Hezbollah chief rejects Israel-Lebanon framework agreement, calls it a humiliation

Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem said ⁠on Saturday that the Israel-Lebanon framework agreement ⁠signed ​in Washington ⁠is “null”, a “humiliation” ⁠and a ​surrender of sovereignty, ⁠and ‌should be replaced by ‌the Iran-US ‌memorandum.

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Qassem said in ⁠a statement that any attempt to link Israel’s withdrawal from southern ‌Lebanon to ​the ‌group’s disarmament crossed “red ⁠lines.”

Dan Haygarth28 June 2026 03:00

Air fares remain expensive even though jet fuel prices have fallen amid Iran peace deal

Though jet fuel prices have fallen more than 40 percent from February, American consumers aren’t feeling much relief from airfare prices that jumped because of costs connected to the US- Iran war.

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Airfares booked from the last week of June through the end of August are 15 percent higher than they were in 2025, Bloomberg reported on Thursday, citing figures from airfare tracker Going. Through March 30, the average price of a domestic ticket in the United States was $428 – $19 higher than the average at the end of 2025, and the second-highest average fare since September 2022, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

“The house always wins,” Harteveldt told Bloomberg. “If the marketplace isn’t demanding that an airline reduces its fares to the very lowest levels it was charging before, airlines aren’t going to lower those fares.”

Dan Haygarth28 June 2026 02:00

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Trump warns Iran ‘will no longer exist’ if it keeps breaking ceasefire

Donald Trump took to Truth Social on Saturday evening to warn that Iran ‘will no longer exist’ if Tehran keeps breaking the ceasefire.

Trump’s latest threat came after the U.S. launched fresh strikes on Iranian missile and drone locations and radar sites “ for violating the Cease Fire Agreement, AGAIN.“

“It is very possible that they will never learn! There may come a point when we are no longer able to be reasonable, and will be forced to militarily complete the job that we very successfully started. If that happens, the Islamic Republic of Iran will no longer exist!”

Graeme Massie28 June 2026 01:06

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York solar panel plans for university sports centre

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York solar panel plans for university sports centre

The University of York has applied to install 198 solar panels on the roof of the sports centre in its Heslington campus.

Its application lodged with City of York Council stated the panels would generate an estimated roughly 91 kilowatt-peak (kWp) in power.

Solar panels would be installed on the roof of York Sports Centre, in James Way, if the council approves them.


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They would mostly be flat and would sit at 25cm above the roof at their highest point.

The panels would feature anti-reflective coating to help increase the amount of light absorbed into the cells.

Each bifacial double glass module solar panel would be capable of generating up to 590W.

Plans for the panels follow a separate application from the university to install eight welcome signs at key locations across its West and East campuses.

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Plans showing solar panels of the roof of York Sports Centre, in James Way, at the University of York’s Campus West in Heslington (Image: University of York/City of York Council planning portal)

The university stated the signs were designed to reinforce campus identity and improve wayfinding but its plans have been withdrawn following their submission in January.

Council planning officers stated in early June they would take no further action on the plans.

An application lodged by the university to install a sculpture by a 20th Century British artist in its grounds was approved in April.

The university applied to put Michael Kenny’s work Original Sin in its campus grounds between Derwent College and Heslington Hall.

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Wildfire activity surges in western United States amid hot, dry weather

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Wildfire activity surges in western United States amid hot, dry weather

BEAVER, Utah (AP) — Wildfire activity has intensified across the western United States, as consecutive days of hot, dry and windy weather have fueled flames in Utah, Arizona and elsewhere as new fires popped up across the region.

The largest blaze, the Cottonwood Fire, was burning in rugged terrain in southwest Utah. It ballooned Saturday to more than 144 square miles (373 square kilometers) after marching through canyons and mountainsides, destroying part of a ski resort and other summer cabins along the way.

Authorities in Beaver County began working with fire teams on Saturday to assess the extent of the damage, but no estimates were immediately available. Gov. Spencer Cox in a post on social media called it bleak, but he thanked crews for what he called “several miraculous stops and saves.”

The cliffs and steep slopes have made the job even harder, said Alyssa Mason, a spokesperson assigned to the fire.

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“It’s hard to get dozers and other heavy equipment into that. It’s hard to get engines into that,” she said. “It doesn’t make it impossible to firefight, but it does just kind of slow things down.”

Hundreds of firefighters have been arriving in the arid state to battle new starts as well as those that have been growing because of what forecasters called critical fire weather — dangerously low humidity levels, warm temperatures and gusty winds.

The danger is even higher this year because of Utah’s record-low snowpack and its warmest winter on record. Much of the West is grappling with similar conditions, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.

From Alaska to Florida, crews worked Saturday to corral dozens of fires, including three dozen that were classified as large and uncontained.

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Nationally, nearly 3 million acres (1.2 million hectares) have burned since the start of the year. That is more than the 10-year average.

The conditions in Utah were critical enough for Gov. Spencer Cox to declare an emergency earlier this week and clear the way for the state to ban fireworks ahead of the July Fourth holiday. The order comes as Utah is experiencing one of the most severe wildfire seasons in recent history, fueled by historic drought conditions.

State officials said that over the past week, Utah has seen an increase in wildfire starts, with each fire showing unprecedented behavior. These starts have stretched the state’s wildland firefighting capabilities, State Forester Jamie Barnes said.

Forecasters with the National Weather Service over recent days have been issuing red flag warnings for a wide swath of the West, from California to Arizona and New Mexico.

South of Grand Canyon National Park, authorities said the flames of a new wildfire were moving away from Grand Canyon Village and the nearby community of Tusayan on Saturday. But about 50 miles (80 kilometers) away, another fire prompted Coconino County officials to issue evacuation orders for those near Kendrick Mountain.

Parts of northern Arizona were without power Saturday as the utility serving the area initiated a safety shut-off in hopes of lessening the wildfire risk.

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Power shutoffs have become more common in the West as wildfire risk has expanded. It is usually a last resort after utility forecasters weigh factors like sustained wind and gust speeds, available fuels and topography.

With extreme fire conditions persisting in Utah, Rocky Mountain Power also shut off power lines serving Beaver County and other areas.

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Montoya Bryan reported from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Associated Press writers Jamie Stengle in Dallas; Julie Carr Smyth in Columbus, Ohio; and Ed White in Detroit contributed.

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John Swinney slammed for giving MSP at heart of scandals new top job

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Daily Record

Newly elected MSP Kirsten Osward handpicked by Swinney for top team despite involvement in raft of SNP scandals.

John Swinney’s appointment of a woman embroiled in a catalogue of scandals to a top ministerial job has been slammed as “disgusting and insulting” by whistleblowers.

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Newly elected MSP Kirsten Oswald was given the role of minister for victims and community safety by the First Minister shortly after the Nationalists won May’s Holyrood election.

But we can reveal that ex-SNP deputy Westminster leader Oswald, 53, was at the heart of multiple claims of whistleblowers being shut down and bullied.

  • As chair of party’s ruling body she presided over a pile-on against fellow NEC member Allison Graham when she tried to sound the alarm on SNP finances.
  • At Westminster she shut down a young party worker who complained about sexual harassment by ex-MP Patrick Grady.
  • Prior to becoming an MP, she was head of HR at South Lanarkshire College as a shocking scandal around fraud, theft and systematic bullying allegations began to unfold.

Graham, who resigned from the SNP’s Finance and Audit Committee over accounting concerns in 2021, has said she is “absolutely disgusted” at Oswald’s appointment.

She told the Sunday Mail: “She is supposed to be the ‘victims’ minister’ and whistleblowers have got to have confidence that she has their back.

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“But she has demonstrated that her intent was to close things down and to allow a vile attack. She not only didn’t step in, she joined in.

“It’s an absolutely appalling judgment call from John Swinney. From a leadership point of view, you would distance yourself from that NEC. You would not promote them and bring them into your government.

“He’s telling everybody he solved the problem while surrounding himself with the ones that caused it.”

Graham, a business analyst, was part of a wave of reforming candidates elected to the SNP’s ruling committee in 2020 to improve governance and transparency.

Former treasurer Douglas Chapman asked her and two others, Cynthia Guthrie and former Edinburgh Lord Provost Frank Ross, to join the party’s Finance and Audit Committee (FAC).

But she has told how she was blocked by embezzler CEO Peter Murrell, Sturgeon’s husband, from scrutinising SNP finances at every turn. It led the trio to resign from the FAC in March 2021, followed two months later by ex-MPs Chapman and Joanna Cherry quitting the NEC.

Graham wanted their resignations properly recorded so read out their statement at an infamous virtual NEC meeting attended by Oswald, Nicola Sturgeon and others – and was met by a vicious pile-on.

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After former Highland councillor Ian Cockburn launched a furious rant against Allison for reading the statement out, Sturgeon posted in the group chat, “Well said, Ian.”

Other NEC members then “clambered over themselves” to slam Graham, with Heather Anderson. who is also now an SNP MSP, suggesting a “new hashtag I’mwithIan”.

When Graham tried to defend herself, saying she had only sent the written statement to Oswald, the future minister bit back: “Well Alison you have just read it out to the whole NEC so that is neither here not there [sic].”

Sturgeon then spoke on the call angrily warning officials to be “very careful” suggesting any problems with party finances in bombshell footage first revealed by the Sunday Mail.

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Nicola Sturgeon claims ‘no reasons to be concerned about party finances’ at SNP National Executive Committee In March 2021

It came two months before police began their five-year Operation Branchform probe into SNP finances, which led to Murrell’s conviction for embezzling £400,000 from the party. On Tuesday, he was jailed for five years.

Oswald then failed to properly record the resignation statement in the official minutes from the meeting.

Allison said: “It was like a fight club – what happens in the NEC stays in the NEC. The way Kirsten spoke to me was as if she was slapping me across the knees.

“Saying ‘that’s neither here nor there’ to three members of your audit committee basically saying there’s a problem with the CEO – that was her response?

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“Now Nicola is saying she wasn’t told about the embezzlement. Well, we weren’t Columbo.

“This was the First Minister of Scotland. We told the NEC there was a problem and it was their job to address it. They should have authorised a forensic accountant to come in and demonstrate there wasn’t a problem if they thought there wasn’t.

“That’s what the police did. Everything the police did in May, the SNP could have done in March – and they would have saved the public purse £2million out of a police investigation.

“They didn’t just allow Peter to continue his crimes, they emboldened him.

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“Because he had just watched as somebody had finally clocked on – and then everybody else protected him. He was bulletproof, he was Teflon at that point.”

She added: “Nicola was clearly content that Kirsten would manage the meetings the way she wanted them to be managed. It was completely controlling and toxic.

“On the finances, the behaviour was so bizarre that it was a clarion call which said there’s something seriously wrong here and we couldn’t understand why nobody else was doing anything about it.

“I’ve worked in governance and strategy and I was genuinely appalled. It was like pulling the curtain back and finding the organisation which runs the government was held together by sticky-back plastic and pipecleaners.”

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Caroline McAllister, who was SNP women’s convener at the time, said the bullying she witnessed was the “straw that broke the camel’s back” for her as she quit shortly afterwards.

She said: “I wasn’t prepared at all for it. I was concerned about the contents of Allison’s statement, but the response afterwards really shocked me. If I’m really honest, it left me reeling.

“It was just the force of verbal aggression aimed at an elected official who had raised very worrying concerns, but in a very calm and measured way.

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“I was an SNP councillor and I’ve sat in many committees and boards, and that level of aggression would not be tolerated. I’ve never operated within such a toxic environment.

“When I saw the bullying of Allison, I just thought, I can’t be party to this anymore. It’s a regret I will always carry with me that I didn’t interject in Allison’s defence.”

McAllister also highlighted the mistreatment of an SNP Westminster staffer who raised a complaint against shamed former MP Patrick Grady.

She said: “What’s really distressing and disgraceful is John Swinney’s attitude and the fact that Kirsten Oswald is sat in that Parliament.

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“It’s almost like she’s got a reward for being a good little gatekeeper. And then to make her the minister for victims is just crass.

“I couldn’t help but think that was John signalling to the public, I really don’t care what you think. I don’t care that Kirsten Oswald has this terrible reputation.

“It wasn’t just the fact that she allowed the attack on Allison and joined in the pile-on.

“She’s also caught up in the scandal involving Patrick Grady. Jordan Linden was another one that was swept under the carpet. Kirsten Oswald is no friend to victims.”

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It emerged in 2022 that Oswald threatened disciplinary action against the young staffer who raised complaints about Grady. The victim was just 19 when the then-SNP chief whip harassed him at a night out in 2016.

Ian Blackford, the SNP Commons leader at the time, tried to deal with the incident informally in 2018 when told about it.

Three years later Ms Oswald, then Blackford’s deputy, warned the staffer he could be sanctioned if he did not “desist”. The man’s parliament email account was also locked. A year later Commons sleaze watchdogs found Grady had touched him inappropriately.

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McAllister added: “It was utterly disgraceful to me the way that young man was treated after Patrick Grady’s sexual harassment.

“My heart goes out to him. He had the courage to stand up and then he was absolutely ostracised and isolated.”

Oswald was MP for East Renfrewshire from 2015 to 2017, then again from 2019 to 2024 where she lost her Westminster seat to Labour.

She was selected as the SNP’s candidate for Eastwood at Holyrood this year, defeating ex-Tory leader Jackson Carlaw to gain the seat in the election on May 7. Just two weeks later, Swinney appointed her to his ministerial team.

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Oswald has also never answered for what she knew of a historic fraud and bullying scandal that engulfed South Lanarkshire College, involving claims of staff using teaching materials and stolen equipment to remodel their homes.

She was the college’s HR boss for 12 years up to getting elected to Westminster in 2015. Whistleblower concerns around theft and fraud first emerged in 2013.

Former Tory-turned-Reform MSP Graham Simpson, who spoke out about the college scandal at the time, said: “Kirsten Oswald has faced serious questions for years. Her name has repeatedly surfaced in connection with some of the SNP’s most damaging controversies, yet many of those questions remain unanswered.

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“It is astonishing that someone who has faced allegations of shielding the SNP establishment from scrutiny has been handed responsibility for victims and community safety.“John Swinney must explain why he believes this appointment is appropriate. Now that Ms Oswald is at the heart of the SNP government, she must address these concerns directly with a full public statement.“Victims and whistleblowers deserve answers, transparency and accountability. Not another SNP cover up.”

Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: “There remain serious concerns about Kirsten Oswald’s handling of complaints made about Patrick Grady while they were both SNP MPs.

“However, rather than addressing these concerns, John Swinney has not only chosen to stand by her during the campaign, he has now appointed her as a minister. What makes it even worse is that Swinney has named her as a minister for victims. This is the ultimate insult to victims.

“How can any victim of heinous wrongdoing have any faith in someone who attempted to silence the person who made complaints to her about Patrick Grady and shut down whistleblowers raising concerns over Murrell and SNP finances.

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“Swinney has shown, yet again, his appalling judgement, and victims deserve better. He must urgently explain why he thought that Oswald was the right person for this position, and set out whether he is content with how she handled the complaints about Grady and the NEC whistleblowers.”

An SNP spokeswoman said: “These allegations are utterly inaccurate.“As business convener, Kirsten Oswald was committed to transparency and she took many steps to improve accountability and governance within the SNP.“The criminal wrongdoing of Peter Murrell was uncovered by a complex and extensive Police investigation years after the events in question. The SNP was the victim of that wrongdoing.”

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Major UK furniture maker, homebuilder and 3 more companies collapse into administration

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Several UK businesses have entered administration in recent weeks, including 150-year-old furniture maker. Here’s the latest news you need to know about.

Over the past while, a number of UK firms have sadly fallen into administration. This has become an increasingly frequent scenario in 2026, with thousands of businesses confronting this challenge throughout the year.

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Among the companies that have recently been forced to seek help from administrators are a furniture manufacturer, which had been trading for 150 years. Additionally, a housebuilder and a party organising firm have also entered administration.

Here’s a summary of all the recent developments.

Airsprung

This manufacturer, which produces mattresses and beds for leading retailers, has been in operation for 150 years. Unfortunately, it has now fallen into administration following difficult trading circumstances over recent years.

The Wiltshire-based firm had investigated various options in an attempt to rescue the situation, but ultimately had no alternative but to appoint administrators.

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While 71 employees were made redundant, those remaining were kept to assist with the company’s continuing operations. It is still trading for the time being.

Groupia

This stag and hen party organiser has entered administration after initially launching in 1999. The firm specialised in arranging group holidays for stag and hen party celebrations.

It has now stopped trading, and new bookings cannot be taken.

Groupia representatives did confirm trips scheduled to depart on or before August 31 would be fulfilled, and that refunds would be issued for any arrangements from September 1 onwards.

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Devonshire Homes

The housebuilding firm, which had been operating for more than three decades, has gone into administration. Previously trading as Langworthy Construction before changing its name, it carried out work throughout Devon, Cornwall and Somerset.

Since 2008, it constructed over 2,000 properties across the South West, focusing on traditional rural homes with thatched roofs, modern flats and new-build houses, and even renovated Grade II listed properties.

Ardmore

Following a significant High Court judgment in April, this construction firm has also entered administration. Contractor Ardmore’s construction group, which was established in 1974, encompasses Ardmore Hotels & Commercial, Ardmore Major Projects, Ardmore Fitout, Landmark Facades and Ardmore Regeneration.

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The company had approximately 77 employees, and attributed its problems to a partly finished timber-frame scheme that ended up being far more expensive to complete than expected.

BMB Logistics

The UK-based food distribution firm has gone into administration after only three years of trading.

Headquartered in Tonbridge, Kent, the business prided itself on its facilities designed specifically for “temperature-sensitive goods,” according to its website.

It also stated its commitment to “providing a cost-effective, highly efficient service” that enabled them to fulfil their customer’s individual needs. The reason behind the appointment of administrators remains unclear.

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The surprising secrets of Durham Cathedral revealed

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The surprising secrets of Durham Cathedral revealed

Most of them walked in through the north door, admired the nave, looked at the tomb of St Cuthbert and left.

Here are the surprising secrets they may have missed.

It contains the world’s first structural pointed arch

Before Durham, every great building in Europe used rounded, Roman arches.

The cathedral’s builders, working on the nave between 1093 and 1133, were the first in the world to use a structural pointed transverse ribbed vault, the architectural invention that made Gothic cathedrals possible.

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Without the engineers who worked out the geometry in this building in the north of England, there would be no Notre Dame, no Chartres, no Westminster Abbey as we know them.

(Image: Phoebe Abruzzese)

The walls and ceiling were originally painted in vivid colour

The pale sandstone interior you see today is not what medieval worshippers experienced.

The cathedral’s ceilings, walls and columns were originally painted in rich blues, reds and gold, and traces of the original paint survive in places if you know where to look.

The great cylindrical pillars of the nave, each 6.6 metres round and 6.6 metres high, almost certainly blazed with colour when first carved.

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The Sanctuary Knocker on the north door gave murderers 37 days of protection

The bronze lion’s head on the north door is one of the most recognisable objects in the cathedral, but most people do not know what it was for.

Any fugitive who reached the door and grasped the ring, regardless of what they had done, was granted 37 days of sanctuary inside the cathedral.

Monks were stationed in a small room above the door, watching day and night, ready to ring the Galilee bell the moment someone seized the knocker.

The fugitive was given a black gown with St Cuthbert’s cross on the shoulder, housed in a small room, and fed at the abbey’s expense.

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After 37 days they had to choose: face trial, or confess their crime, swear never to return to England, and walk to the coast.

The right of sanctuary was abolished in 1624. The knocker on the door today is a replica; the 12th-century original is in the cathedral museum.

It houses the tomb of the Venerable Bede

The Galilee Chapel at the west end of the cathedral is the resting place of Bede, the 7th-century monk from Jarrow who wrote the first history of the English people and is one of only two English people ever declared a Doctor of the Church.

Bede rarely left his monastery at Jarrow during his lifetime, but his remains were brought to Durham in 1022, placed initially with St Cuthbert’s relics, and moved to their permanent home in the Galilee Chapel around 1370.

There is a story that a monk tasked with composing a Latin inscription for the gravestone was struggling to find the right words, and left blanks overnight, only to find in the morning that an unseen hand had filled them in.

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The Bishop’s throne is taller than the Pope’s

Bishop Hatfield, who served in the 14th century, allegedly sent representatives to Rome specifically to measure the height of the papal throne so he could order one an inch taller.

The Cathedra at Durham remains, on that basis, the highest bishop’s throne in Christendom.

It was a prison for 2,500 Scottish soldiers

During the English Civil War, worship at the cathedral was suspended entirely. Between 1650 and 1651, 2,500 Scottish prisoners of war captured at the Battle of Dunbar were held inside the building.

They burned almost everything wooden to keep warm through the winter, but left the medieval Prior’s Clock completely untouched.

The reason, according to tradition, is that a thistle, the emblem of Scotland, is carved into the clock, and the prisoners respected it too much to destroy it.

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(Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

It holds the only surviving copy of the 1216 Magna Carta

Durham Cathedral’s collection contains three issues of Magna Carta, from 1216, 1225 and 1300, along with three Forest Charters.

The 1216 copy is the only surviving example of that particular issue anywhere in the world.

Three clauses from the 1225 issue remain in force in English law today.

The Prince Bishops were a state within a state

The cathedral was the spiritual centre of one of the most unusual political arrangements in English history.

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From 1075, the Bishops of Durham held the powers of a sovereign ruler within the territory between the Tyne and the Tees, with the right to raise their own army, mint their own coins, levy their own taxes and hold their own courts.

This arrangement lasted, largely intact, until 1836, when the palatinate rights were finally transferred to the Crown.

The last Prince Bishop, William Van Mildert, used what remained of his wealth to co-found Durham University in 1832.

(Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

It costs £6 a minute to maintain

The cathedral holds more than 1,700 services a year and is free to enter.

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Running costs stand at approximately £60,000 per week, around £6 per minute, funded entirely by donations, visitor income and charitable support.

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Lionel Messi sets another astonishing record as Argentina land World Cup first vs Jordan

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Lionel Messi just can’t help hogging the headlines.

Even when he’s handed a rest, he still manages to go on and make himself the star of the show. Again.

For 80 minutes of this one-sided game, it looked like being a case of no Messi, no problem for Argentina. Not when someone like Giovani Lo Celso can produce the kind of goal the great man himself would be proud of. Lauturo Martinez added a second and it felt like for once, the mercurial skills of Messi were not needed.

But as promised, Lionel Scaloni introduced Messi on the hour mark. Which was more than enough time for him to create yet more footballing history. With his late free kick making him the first player ever to score in seven consecutive World Cup games. A run which started against Australia in the last 16 of the last World Cup in Qatar. Providing another glorious addition to his personal highlight reel from this 2026 edition in North America and ensuring Argentina won all three group games at a finals for the first time.

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Messi starting on the bench had given someone else in blue and white the chance to score a goal for their team at this World Cup. And Lo Celso took up the challenge with relish.

He thought he had scored in the opening minutes, but his effort was ruled out for off-side. Lo Celso wouldn’t be denied, however, and put Argentine ahead with a sublime free kick into the top corner.

Where was that skill when he was at Tottenham?

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Martinez came close to doubling Argentina’s lead when he smashed a shot against the post. But from the resulting scramble, Marcos Senesi was kicked in the head attempting to convert the loose ball, and referee Istvan Kovacs awarded a penalty. Martinez hammered the spot kick past Yawed Abulaila to make it 2-0.

Argentina were in complete cruise control. Nicolas Otamendi flashed a header just wide and Martinez was denied by Abulaila. Scaloni’s men could sense the chance to run up a cricket score.

While Jordan’s beleaguers players could sense being able to get on the plane to leave North America. Messi got a standing ovation when he jumped off his feet to warm up.

The prospect of him going on most have sent a cold shiver down the spine of the Jordanians. This was the last thing they needed. But then something happened no one had expected.

Jordan pulled one back through substitute Mousa Altamari, who beat Emiliano Martinez from close range. Which instantly felt like a big mistake, considering Argentina sent on Messi straight after.

Within minutes he had whistled a free kick just over the crossbar. But he never makes the same mistake twice.

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And with the next one, he curled it around the wall and past Abulaila, to have the final word on a night which was never supposed to be about him.

But always seems to be.

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Upgrade your World Cup TV setup with the Sky Glass ‘designed for football’

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Joe Doering dead: Former wrestling champion dies after third brain tumor diagnosis

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Joe Doering was forced to leave wrestling in 2016 after he was diagnosed with a brain tumor, but sadly 10 years later he died after being diagnosed two further times

Retired pro wrestling star Joe Doering has died aged 44 after complications from brain cancer.

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Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) announced Doering’s death on social media on Friday, June 26. TNA wrote: ” We are heartbroken to learn of the passing of Joe Doering. A commanding in-ring performer and a wonderful person, he will never be forgotten. We offer our deepest condolences to his fans, his friends and his family.”

His family shared in a verified GoFundMe that he died at 9:13 a.m. on June 26 after being diagnosed with brain cancer nearly 10 years ago. Mandy Banh, Doering’s sister-in-law, said that she started the fundraiser to help “alleviate some financial” burdens and raise funds for Doering’s treatment, including radiation and chemotherapy, after doctors found “a third brain tumor.”

After he had undergone brain surgery in 2022 he “developed ataxia” which “greatly impacted his mobility.” Due to this, he began using a wheelchair and walker but Banh said that the wrestler “remained determined, focused, and most of all — in good spirits” as he continued treatments.

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However, Doering’s health began to deteriorate in the last few months leading up to his death after CT scans showed that his brain tumor was “growing.” In a June 22 update, they said that he was heading to “hospice,” a specialized form of medical care that focuses on comfort or patients with terminal illnesses who are nearing the end of life.

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Following his death, his family wrote, “Please keep Joe’s family and friends in your thoughts during this difficult time. Thank you all for your love, support, and kindness — it has meant so much to us. We love you, Joe. You will be forever in our hearts and deeply missed.”

Following the news of his death, several pro wrestlers paid tribute to Doering, including retired WWE wrestler Adam Pearce.

“Godspeed, Joe Doering. I didn’t have the good fortune of being around you, but things my friends have said make me wish I had,” Pearce, 48, wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of the late wrestling star. “My heart goes out to his friends, family, and everyone affected. Rest well, sir.”

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The GoFundMe has reached over $22,000. To find out more click here.

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GP shares the Google question he asks his patients

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A GP has shared the question he sometimes asks patients during consultations

A GP has shared a question about Google that he asks his patients. He explained that it helps him better understand their worries.

Many of us visit our GP surgery when confronted with a health issue, but this does not always guarantee a swift or correct diagnosis. Symptoms can prove challenging to pinpoint or may be confused with a completely different condition. With this in mind, Doctor Suraj Kukadia has revealed some of his techniques. Dr Kukadia, widely known as Dr Sooj, used social media platform TikTok to explain his approach. In response to a commenter, he disclosed that he asks patients whether they have “Googled” their symptoms.

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He said: “As part of my history taking, I do ask my patients sometimes have you googled your symptoms? Is there anything that you’re worried about?

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“Is there something that you would like me to tackle head on that you’re really concerned about that might be causing your symptoms? Is there a potential diagnosis that you think could be happening?”.

This enables him to build a clearer understanding of what is concerning the patient, he explained. Dr Sooj added: “Because it just means that I can really focus my history down on the things that I’m worried about, but also the thing that the patient’s worried about.

“If I don’t ask questions like, what do you think is going on, what are you worried about, what are you hoping that we do, then what if my agenda or the thing that I’m worried about for the patient is completely different to what they’re worried about? Then they don’t feel heard, and they think I’ve dismissed their symptoms.”

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He added: “And look, even though you may not Google your symptoms, great. A lot of my patients do, and a lot of patients in general will Google their symptoms, so I have to incorporate that into my history taking.”

In a previous TikTok video, Dr Sooj also addressed why GPs occasionally ask questions that could seemingly be answered by simply looking through a patient’s medical records, accepting that this can be “frustrating”.

He told his followers: “That can feel really dismissive, and it can feel like they haven’t even done the basics. Honestly, this will be as much of a letdown for the doctor as it is for you.”

He continued by explaining that the typical 10-minute appointment slots often leave GPs with inadequate time to examine a patient’s full file, affording them just a narrow opportunity to speak with you, hear your concerns and formulate a treatment plan. Dr Sooj said: “In real terms, that means you get about six or seven minutes, max.

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“So when a doctor asks you something that’s already in your record, it’s not because they don’t care. It’s usually because they haven’t had time to read through everything, or they want to hear it from you in your own words.

“Under a system that’s under this much pressure, it’s not always possible to give every patient’s backstory the time it deserves before the consult starts. I think it’s a fair question to ask, especially if your GP doesn’t know you well. But I also think it’s fair to explain that most of us wish we had more time to spend with you.”

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