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Phyllida Law dead aged 94: Mother of Emma Thompson and revered actress passes away ‘peacefully at home’

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Emma Thompson's mother Phyllida Law has died aged 94 'peacefully at home', (Pictured in March 2010)

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Scottish actress Phyllida Law has died aged 94 at home surrounded by her loved ones. 

Phyllida is mother to actresses Emma and Sophie Thompson and starred in Jane Austen’s Emma and voiced a role in Nanny McPhee. 

The news was confirmed by her manager, Jacky Leggo on Tuesday, who said the star ‘died supremely peacefully at home, surrounded by all of her family’. 

She was born in Glasgow in 1932, and was accepted at Bristol Old Vic Theatre school – initially to be a stage designer but then changed to acting. 

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She met her husband Eric Thompson while starring in Bristol Old Vic productions in the 1950s – they married in 1957, having just £30 between them. 

Emma Thompson’s mother Phyllida Law has died aged 94 ‘peacefully at home’, (Pictured in March 2010) 

Phyllida wearing her Officer of the Order of the British Empire award, with daughters Sophie Thompson and Emma Thompson (R) after the Investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace on November 11, 2014

Phyllida wearing her Officer of the Order of the British Empire award, with daughters Sophie Thompson and Emma Thompson (R) after the Investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace on November 11, 2014 

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They lived in a crumbling Georgian property in Kensington with a sign on the lavatory: ‘No Solids From This Facility.’ 

Her career began on the TV in the late 1950s, with appearances on Dr Finlay’s Casebook, Dixon of Dock Green and The Troubleshooters. 

She later had a successful film career in the 1980s, appearing alongside daughter Emma in Peter’s Friends, which was directed by Emma’s then husband Kenneth Branagh.

She also starred in Much Ado About Nothing and Jane Austen’s Emma alongside her other daughter Sophie. 

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Phyllida and Emma played mother and daughter in The Winter Guest. 

Beyond acting, Phyllida was a gifted writer who published witty memoirs and in 2014, she was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her outstanding services to drama and charity work.

Following news of her death, tributes flooded in. The actress’ granddaughter Gaia Wise – Emma’s daughter – wrote: ‘Rest well my queen’.

Phyllida pictured in a scene from the television drama Sad About Eddie in 1964

Phyllida pictured in a scene from the television drama Sad About Eddie in 1964

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Following news of her death, tributes flooded in. The actress' granddaughter Gaia Wise – Emma’s daughter – wrote: 'Rest well my queen'

Following news of her death, tributes flooded in. The actress’ granddaughter Gaia Wise – Emma’s daughter – wrote: ‘Rest well my queen’

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Other fans added: 'RIP Phyllida Law. Very sad news. Obviously enduringly well-loved for her acting work but I also loved listening to her talking about the The Magic Roundabout'

Other fans added: ‘RIP Phyllida Law. Very sad news. Obviously enduringly well-loved for her acting work but I also loved listening to her talking about the The Magic Roundabout’ 

Other fans added: ‘RIP Phyllida Law. Very sad news. Obviously enduringly well-loved for her acting work but I also loved listening to her talking about the The Magic Roundabout, very funny.’

‘Sad to read that Phyllida Law has now passed away. Phyllida starred in many great works over 8 decades, as well as the 2002 adaptation of Stig of the Dump, filmed near my hiraeth place. Thoughts are with her daughters Emma and Sophie & other loved ones.’  

Emma previously spoke about their close bond and how they drew strength from one another when her father suddenly died of a heart attack aged just 53.

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Eric was best known for devising and narrating The Magic Roundabout. 

Emma said: ‘Our relationship is unusual, and the reason is that there’s three of us in the family left now, me, my sister, and my mother, because my father died when my sister was 18 and I was 21.

‘Now I think if my father was still alive, it would be very different. I mean, we know mum so much better because we spent so much time together.

‘We’re far closer-knit because of that event in our lives – also we’re three actresses who always had to earn our own living. We’ve never been supported by anyone.’

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Ainsley Harriott visited Morrisons Foss Islands Retail Park

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Ainsley Harriott visited Morrisons Foss Islands Retail Park

Ainsley Harriott visited Morrisons in Foss Islands Retail Park yesterday (August 17) as part of a visit to Morrisons stores across Yorkshire, Greater Manchester and Lancashire this August with his brand Ainsley Foods Company.

The visit to York as the first of nine across the country where the Ready, Steady, Cook chef met with shoppers to take pictures together, share recipe inspiration, and surprise customers with prizes and food vouchers.


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After dancing with shoppers, hugging dogs, and signing autographs, Ainsley said that it was great to see so many people visit the supermarket to meet him despite the bad weather.

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He said: “I was up in York recently, so it’s really nice to be back. It’s great to visit Morrisons and connect with people, tell them about the brand, and give them some tips that they can use in their own cooking.

“People always ask me what my favourite meal or recipe it is, but as a chef, I can cook most things. What I really love is the company and eating with my loved ones.”

Mike Benton, MD at Ainsley Foods Company, added that the company would be donating £1,000 to a local charity, chosen by the shop itself, with an additional £100 to one lucky shopper.

He said: “We’re passionate about bringing people together through great food, and we’re delighted to be supporting local communities alongside our Where’s Ainsley tour.

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“By donating £3,000 worth of food in each region we visit, we hope to make a meaningful contribution to the fantastic food banks and community organisations making a difference every day.”

Ainsley meets a golden retriever puppy (Image: Alice Kavanagh)

Mike added that they would also be visiting Martin House Children’s Hospice.

He said: “It’s a great cause and we want to keep on supporting it.”

Morrisons store manager Nick Bennett added that it was great to see Ainsley in the shop and that the donations he gave to the food bank were set to make a big difference.

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He said: “When they let us know that there was a chance for him to visit us, we were more than happy to accommodate.

Ainsley with one shopperAinsley with one shopper Catarina (Image: Alice Kavanagh)

“It’s great for the store and it’s great for York to have someone like Ainsley visit – look at all the smiling faces in here. He’s a man who creates a crowd.

“We do a lot here for charity and we have several local food banks who visit each week, so it’s a really nice boost for them to have this experience and donation too.”

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Egg warning: Major salmonella outbreak leaves one dead and 200 sick – here’s how to tell if yours are safe

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More than a third of people affected in the outbreak were admitted to hospital

One person has died and hundreds more have fallen ill with salmonella food poisoning in a major outbreak which health officials believe is linked to contaminated imported eggs.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said the surge in cases was caused by a single strain of the bug. They are investigating the outbreak, which has seen 207 cases detected since the start of the year.

The vast majority of the cases have been in England, with more than a third of those struck down needing hospital care.

Those affected include babies and patients in their 90s, and two have developed life-threatening blood infections.

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Salmonella usually causes a fever, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea which clears up in a few days. But it can be fatal. 

It is typically caught by eating contaminated food such as poultry, meat, eggs, raw fruit and vegetables and unpasteurised dairy products. 

According to the UKHSA, the current outbreak appears to be linked to a previous bout of cases in 2025, which was also linked back to contaminated eggs. 

Of the 207 cases confirmed by August 13, 114 have identified five different food businesses, with cross-contamination risks at two of these premises. 

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However, the UKHSA warned: ‘At this time there is no identified link to UK-produced eggs or poultry.’  

More than a third of people affected in the outbreak were admitted to hospital 

Health officials are now urging people to take precautionary measures against catching the bacteria, which it said are common causes of food poisoning.

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Those in vulnerable groups may develop more severe illness such as bloodstream infections, infection of metastatic sites, sepsis and multiorgan failure, it added. 

Hannah Charles, lead epidemiologist for gastrointestinal infections at the UKHSA, said: ‘We’re working with Food Standards Agency and other public health agencies to investigate a salmonella outbreak that may be linked to eggs imported from outside of the UK.

‘Salmonellosis is often caused by eating or handling contaminated food and can be spread rarely from person to person. 

‘Symptoms – which can take up to 72 hours to develop – include diarrhoea, stomach cramps and sometimes vomiting and fever.

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‘Anyone who is concerned about symptoms should contact their GP or out-of-hours service in the first instance.

The UKHSA and the FSA said that last year there were 10,406 recorded cases of salmonella

The UKHSA and the FSA said that last year there were 10,406 recorded cases of salmonella

‘There are simple steps to prevent the spread of salmonella – wash your hands thoroughly after using the bathroom and before preparing and handling food, cook food thoroughly, and if you have any symptoms, avoid handling food for others where possible.’

Of the 207 cases, 199 are in England, six are in Scotland, one is in Wales and one in Northern Ireland.

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In England, London has seen the highest number of cases, with 47 cases confirmed, followed by Yorkshire and Humber where 38 people have fallen ill. 

In response, Dr Damien Tully, Associate Professor at the London School of Hygiene said: ‘This is a sizeable outbreak, but the number of confirmed cases is likely to be just the tip of the iceberg. 

‘Many Salmonella infections cause relatively short-lived gastrointestinal illness and people may recover without ever being tested, meaning the true number of infections associated with an outbreak can be considerably higher than the number identified through laboratory surveillance.’ 

There is no reliable way to tell whether an egg is carrying salmonella simply by looking at it, smelling it or checking its shell. 

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The safest option is to buy eggs from reputable retailers, keep them according to the instructions on the pack and check the best-before date. 

UK-produced eggs carrying the British Lion stamp or the laid in Britain logo on the shell have additional salmonella controls, including vaccination and testing, and eggs under them are considered very low risk.

If you are unsure of the eggs’ origin, cook them thoroughly until both the white and yolk are firm. 

Washing your hands after handling raw eggs and taking care not to let raw egg come into contact with ready-to-eat food can also help minimise the risk of infection. 

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Importantly, there is currently no advice to avoid all eggs. UKHSA says the current outbreak may be linked to eggs imported from outside the UK. 

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Get rid of garden weeds using 1 unexpected kitchen cupboard item

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Wales Online

Anyone trying to rid their garden of weeds might be interested in the easy hack

Gardeners looking for a homemade weed killer might already have what they need in their kitchen. While it’s not as well-known as some popular hacks, one item often found in drink cabinets could be useful around the garden.

Vodka can be used to tackle common weeds, such as dandelions. Jen McDonald, a certified organic garden specialist, told Homes and Gardens: “Vodka can be used in place of herbicides to kill broad-leaf weeds, such as dandelions. A garden cocktail consisting of one ounce vodka, two cups of water, and a few drops of Castile dish soap will do the trick.

“Serve it up in a spray bottle and apply directly to weeds on a sunny day. The vodka and sunlight will scorch the weeds, making them easier to pull within a few days.”

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For gardeners who don’t have vodka to use, other common kitchen ingredients, such as bicarbonate of soda and distilled vinegar, can also do the trick. Demonstrating the method on TikTok, content creator and author Michael Griffiths explained how to use the two-ingredient mixture.

Posting as @Themichaelgriffiths, the gardening enthusiast shared a ‘homemade weed killer that actually works’. He said: “The first ingredient to use is distilled vinegar.

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“This works as a herbicide. The second ingredient is bicarbonate of soda, but don’t add too much bicarbonate at once, or it will fizz everywhere.

“Instead, add it slowly, mixing as you go. This will create a more effective weed destroyer. Make sure it’s all mixed together and add it to a spray bottle. Give the weed a good soaking, and it’ll be finished before you know it.”

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In the caption, he added: “I used a 2:1 (two parts vinegar, one part bicarbonate) solution. Mix together until the solution is completely clear otherwise it will clog your spray bottle. Give the weed a really good soak. This is best used on young weeds.”

The video impressed social media users, gaining thousands of likes. Reacting to the post, a social media user said: “I use vinegar and salt plus put in a splash of washing up liquid so the mixture sticks to the plants. Works wonders.”

Someone else thought: “Salt, white vinegar and washing up liquid. Perfect combination.” Another comment read: “I make my own weedkiller, vinegar, a small squeeze of dish liquid, a small teaspoon of salt, give it a good shake, works a treat.” A different reply claimed: “Boiling water straight out of the kettle works best.”

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Three rescued near South Shields after 14ft boat capsizes

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Three rescued near South Shields after 14ft boat capsizes

On Saturday, August 15, a white 14ft cabin cruiser with a brown stripe capsized near the mouth of the River Tyne shortly before 3pm.

The sinking cruiser’s crew of three managed to call for help using a VHF radio and were later rescued from the water and transferred to a waiting ambulance, South Shields Volunteer Life Brigade and Tynemouth RNLI lifeboat confirmed.

The vessel has not been recovered and its current position remains unknown, prompting a warning to mariners to take extra caution.

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Greg Maitland, harbour master at the Port of Tyne, said: “Following the capsize, the vessel has subsequently been lost from sight and its present position and condition are unknown.

“It is probable that the vessel has sunk; however, the possibility that it remains submerged or partially submerged cannot be excluded and may therefore present a hazard to navigation.”

He urged mariners to take extra care in the Seaward Approaches to the River Tyne.

Mr Maitland said: “Mariners navigating in the Seaward Approaches to the River Tyne are requested to proceed with caution, maintain a sharp lookout and navigate at a safe speed, having regard to the possibility of a partially or wholly submerged obstruction.”

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He also called on anyone who spots the vessel or related debris to notify authorities immediately.

Mr Maitland said: “Any sighting of the vessel, floating wreckage or debris believed to be associated should be reported immediately, together with the position and any other relevant information.”

Mariners are also requested to report any oil, fuel or other signs of pollution observed in the vicinity to Tyne VTS on VHF Channel 12 or by telephone on 0191 427 8143.

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Lindsay Clancy’s mother-in-law says she was ‘begging for help’ before killing her children: Live updates

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Lindsay Clancy's mother-in-law says she was 'begging for help' before killing her children: Live updates

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Lindsay Clancy’s mother-in-law testified that she was ‘begging for help’ months before she strangled her children.

Patrick Clancy’s mother, Sue Clancy, told the jury that Clancy confided in her about her mental health struggles.

‘She was begging for help,’ Sue said, adding that the family was very concerned about her.

Clancy, 36, is on trial for the murders of her three children, Cora, five, Dawson, three, and eight-month-old Callan, at her home in Duxbury, Massachusetts, in 2023.

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She strangled her children with exercise bands and then allegedly attempted to kill herself, but her efforts failed and left her paralyzed and in a wheelchair for life.

The prosecution rested its case against Clancy on Monday after using the first three weeks of the trial to argue the killings were intentional and well planned, not the work of someone who had lost control.

Clancy has admitted to killing her children but pleaded not guilty to murder by reason of insanity, citing postpartum psychosis, and is also suing her former healthcare providers for medical malpractice and negligence.

If you or someone you know needs help, please call or text the confidential 24/7 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the US on 988. There is also an online chat available at 988lifeline.org

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Follow along for live updates…

‘She was begging for help,’ Patrick Clancy’s mother says

Patrick Clancy’s mother, Sue Clancy, testified that she noticed a change in Lindsay in the fall of 2022.

Lindsay told her she was struggling with insomnia and depression. So she helped to connect her with Nurse Julie Paul at South Shore.

‘She reached out to me in November and told me that she felt unwell,’ she said.

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‘Mostly, she had insomnia, she was losing her appetite, she was very anxious and sad.’

When asked if Lindsay wanted to get better, she said ‘very much so.’

‘She was begging for help,’ Sue said.

Sue said that they were all very concerned about her.

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Susan Clancy  	Lindsay Clancy trial day 15 August 18 202616058283 Lindsay Clancy's parents are almost millionaires thanks to GoFundMe as nurse stands trial accused of murdering her three young children

Lawyers argue over defense drawings

When the state objected to the defense’s evidence, Kevin Reddington just simply went ‘no.’

ADA Jennifer Sprague argued against a diagram that Reddington wants to introduce depicting how Clancy jumped from the window. She claimed that the drawing is inaccurate, specifically the window well.

Prosecutors have tried to suggest that Clancy clung to the window ledge and dropped to the ground that night rather than jumping.

This goes toward the state’s doubts around her suicide attempt.

The defense aims to show that she jumped headfirst from the window. Clancy was left paralyzed from the waist down from the fall.

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Lindsay Clancy trial day 15 August 18 2026

Prosecutor asks grandmother if she is aware that ‘murder is considered a mortal sin’

In a tense moment, the prosecution asked Sue Clancy if she was aware that ‘murder is considered a mortal sin.’

‘Are you an active member in the Catholic church?’ the prosecutor asked.

‘Yes,’ Sue answered.

‘So you are aware that murder is considered a mortal sin,’ the prosecutor continued.

Defense attorney Kevin Reddington quickly interjected, ‘Objection!’

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After sidebar, the judge told the jury that the answer and question were stricken and that hey should not consider them.

Patrick Clancy’s mother called to the stand

The first witness called to the stand by the defense today is Patrick Clancy’s mother, Sue Clancy.

‘Lindsay married my son Patrick and they had a very good relationship,’ she said.

Sue said she had a ‘very good relationship’ with Lindsay Clancy.

‘She was very nurturing, very loving, she was a wonderful mother,’ Sue said.

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‘She loved her children, all of them, very, very much.’

When asked about her relationship with grandkids, she choked out one single word: ‘Beautiful.’

She would visit the grandkids roughly twice a month, she said.

As a nurse working in the labor and delivery room for 38 years, she was aware of postpartum issues in women.

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Susan Clancy  	Lindsay Clancy trial day 15 August 18 202616058283 Lindsay Clancy's parents are almost millionaires thanks to GoFundMe as nurse stands trial accused of murdering her three young children

Court is in session

Lindsay Clancy, dressed in a pink blouse and her hair in loose waves, has been brought in and seated at the defense table.

Her parents, Mike and Paula Musgrove, are seated with a family friend and Dr Paul Zeizel.

Her former father-in-law, Chris Clancy, is a couple of rows behind with his priest.

There are around 15 members of the public here today – less than yesterday – but more members of the media who are here for the first time.

Court kicked off with a sidebar with the attorneys.

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Lindsay Clancy trial day 15 August 18 202616058283 Lindsay Clancy's parents are almost millionaires thanks to GoFundMe as nurse stands trial accused of murdering her three young children

Read full list of Lindsay Clancy’s Google searches in final weeks before she killed her children

Four days after making these disturbing searches on her phone, Lindsay Clancy would attempt to kill herself after strangling her three children.

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Inside the secret lives of Lindsay Clancy’s silent parents

A GoFundMe for Lindsay Clancy’s parents, Mike and Paula Musgrove, has raised nearly $1 million.

The intensely private Connecticut couple who lost all three grandchildren at their daughter’s hands have nevertheless remained beside her through everything that has followed.

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Patrick Clancy’s parents arrive at court

Patrick Clancy’s parents, Sue and Chris Clancy, are waiting in the corridor outside the courtroom.

Sue is expected to be called as a defense witness today.

This marks the first time she has attended the trial.

Chris was at the courthouse for one day earlier in the trial, when the prosecution called him as a witness.

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Clancy was not aware of Andrea Yates case, according to colleague

Margaret Hamp recounted a time when Lindsay Clancy was working when a patient was admitted who had plans to harm herself while pregnant.

‘We had a conversation. Lindsay was brand new; it was the summer she had just started, and we had a conversation about mental health in pregnancy and postpartum,’ Hamp said.

‘I asked her if she ever heard of the Andrea Yates case, and she hadn’t.

‘I explained that to her, and she cried, and she said, “How could a mother hurt her children.”’

Clancy’s case has been compared to Yates.

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Yates drowned her five children in a bathtub in Texas in 2001. Her attorneys said she suffered from postpartum psychosis and believed killing her children would save them from hell.

Her initial murder conviction was overturned, and in a retrial she was found not guilty by reason of insanity and committed to a state mental hospital.

Lindsay Clancy at the defense table watches a witness during her trial in Plymouth Superior Court, Plymouth, Massachusetts, U.S., August 17, 2026. Clancy is charged with murdering her three young children, Cora, Dawson and Callan, in their Duxbury home in 2023. Greg Derr/Pool via REUTERS

Clancy confessed to having thoughts of harming the kids, her mother said

Paula Musgrove testified that her daughter, Lindsay Clancy, previously told her and Patrick that she had thoughts of harming the kids.

In December 2022, Clancy’s mom told the jury that there was a moment where Clancy said she had to tell her and Patrick something.

She was very nervous, she said. ‘She told us she had thoughts of harming the children,’ she testified.

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Musgrove said she began to notice a change in Clancy around October 2022. She added that Clancy did not appear to improve through November and December.

In one text exchange from October, Clancy asked: ‘Mom, will you please come up and stay with me for a bit. I’m really sick.

‘Something is wrong. I had horrible insomnia all night, and I just don’t know how I’m going to get through the day.’

Clancy continued: ‘I started taking the medicine my doctor prescribed for anxiety, and I think it’s made things worse. It’s just really scary, and I don’t want to be alone.’

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Lindsay Clancy’s sister recounts ‘gut feeling’ before tragic killings

Lindsay Clancy’s sister, Allison Ozga, testified that in December 2022 Clancy told her, ‘I’m in a really tough spot.’

‘I had this gut feeling that something was off and that she was really struggling, and I asked her if she was safe,’ Ozga said while on the stand Monday. ‘She said “yes” at that point.’

She said at Thanksgiving 2022, Clancy ‘did not look good; she didn’t seem very energized. It definitely seemed off from how I’d seen her in the past.’

By December, Ozga said, ‘She reported her mood was worsening, as she described it as depression, she was having more suicidal thoughts, insomnia continued to be an issue. She was really not feeling like herself.

‘I believe the very end of the month, she told me she had had suicidal ideation every day for a month.’

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Ozga testified that at Cora’s birthday party in January it looked like Clancy was ‘going through the motions’ and ‘still struggling.’

‘I think she looked like she was going through the motions of putting together a birthday party for her daughter. But she looked tired. She looked like she was still struggling.’

On cross-examination, the prosecution asked Ozga, a licensed social worker and mandated reporter, whether she ever felt concerned enough to report Clancy.

Ozga said no.

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Lindsay Clancy's siter Allison Ozga on the witness stand during Clancy's trial in Plymouth Superior Court, Plymouth, Massachusetts, U.S., August 17, 2026. Clancy is charged with murdering her three young children, Cora, Dawson and Callan, in their Duxbury home in 2023. Greg Derr/Pool via REUTERS

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Madonna BEATS Taylor Swift as she sweeps nominations at MTV VMAs

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The nominations for the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) were unveiled Tuesday morning, with Madonna emerging as the artist with the most nods

The nominations for the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) were unveiled Tuesday morning, with Madonna emerging as the artist with the most nods.

Madonna, 68, is in competition for a staggering 11 prizes, narrowly beating out Taylor Swift, who has nods in nine categories.

They will be vying against each other for the evening’s top honor, video of the year, with Swift up for The Fate of Ophelia and Madonna for Confessions II – The Film.

Rounding out the category are the music videos for Hate That I Made You Love Me by Ariana Grande, Tears by Sabrina Carpenter, I Just Might by Bruno Mars and Storm by GENER8ION (starring Yung Lean).

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

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

The nominations for the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) were unveiled Tuesday morning, with Madonna emerging as the artist with the most nods

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Madonna, 68, is in competition for a staggering 11 prizes, narrowly beating out Taylor Swift, who has nods in nine categories

Madonna, 68, is in competition for a staggering 11 prizes, narrowly beating out Taylor Swift, who has nods in nine categories

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

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

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

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The VMAs will be held on September 27 at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles and will be broadcast live on CBS at 7:30pm EST.

Trailing Madonna and Swift, Grande and Carpenter are tied for third place with seven nominations apiece, while Mars, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsonn each have five.

The artist of the year category is a face-off between Madonna, Swift, Grande, Carpenter, Mars and country music heartthrob Morgan Wallen.

Madonna and Carpenter have landed a joint song of the year nomination for their due Bring Your Love, the lead single of the former’s new album Confessions II.

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Their rivals are Ella Langley for Choosin’ Texas, BTS for Swim, Raye for Where Is My Husband, Olivia Dean for Man I Need and HUNTR/X for their Oscar-winning number Golden from the streaming sensation KPop Demon Hunters.

Madonna’s Confessions II (The Film) is up for dance video of the year, against such competition as  Aperture by Harry Styles, Runway by Lady Gaga and Doechii nad New Religion by Bebe Rexha and Faithless.

The other nominees in that category are Dance… by Slayyyter, Stateside by PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson and Nobody’s Girl by Tate McRae.

Madonna’s VMAs coup comes after she earned a burst of critical acclaim and fan adoration for her latest album Confessions II, which was released June 5 and serves as a sequel to her 2005 smash hit Confessions on a Dance Floor.

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

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

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

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

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Meanwhile, the fever-pitch publicity around Swift reached a zenith this summer with her Madison Square Garden wedding to NFL star Travis Kelce on July 3.

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Jeff Bezos: Amazon founder’s consortium bought close to 40% of Liverpool

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Premier League wildcards to watch

A consortium including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos bought close to 40% of Liverpool from Fenway Sports Group (FSG).

It was initially reported that 1892 Holdings had bought about a third of the club, but – as first reported by The Athletic, external – it is actually about 38%.

There is also an option for the consortium to buy a controlling stake in Liverpool in the next 12 months, though that does not involve a formal commitment.

In a statement on Friday, FSG confirmed it had entered into a “definitive agreement” for the sale of a “strategic minority investment” to 1892 Holdings.

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The group – named after Liverpool‘s founding year – is led by British-Indian millionaire businessman Amit Bhatia and also includes Bezos and billionaire Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin.

Bhatia will become Liverpool‘s vice-chairman and join an expanded board pending regulatory approval.

The son-in-law of Indian billionaire businessman Lakshmi Mittal, he had been a director and co-owner of Queens Park Rangers for 18 years before relinquishing his stake in the club last month.

The deal is understood to value Liverpool between £5bn and £6bn.

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EA FC 27 ratings reveal LIVE as Premier League and WSL stats unveiled – updates

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Daily Mirror

Perhaps the biggest surprise is England skipper Leah Williamson’s omission from the top 27 ratings. The Arsenal defender was rated 87 overall in EA FC 26, but has seemingly dropped to no higher than 85 in FC 27.

Fellow Lioness Keira Walsh has also not made the top 27, but given she was 85 overall last year it’s possible that the cut-off means her and Williamson share the same rating as Park, James, Greenwood, Le Tissier and Bronze.

The biggest upgrade for WSL players goes to Yui Hasegawa at Man City (+3 to 88 OVR).

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Disney sues FCC, alleging a violation of its First Amendment rights

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Disney sues FCC, alleging a violation of its First Amendment rights

WASHINGTON (AP) — Disney filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the Trump administration’s Federal Communications Commission alleging a violation of its First Amendment rights.

The suit comes after FCC Chairman Brendan Carr recently defended the agency’s actions against ABC, saying broadcasters have a duty to “operate in the public interest” and the FCC is merely trying to restore that standard.

Carr has said the country should have a “trusted, respected news media, and we’re not there.”

ABC had accused the agency of a brazen attempt to chill its constitutionally protected free speech — and by extension, that of every media outlet in the country. The network’s July comments came in its latest filing to the agency, expressing its formal opposition to the FCC’s early review, launched in April, of eight ABC local broadcast licenses well before they expire.

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President Donald Trump has repeatedly called for late-night host Jimmy Kimmel to be fired. When the FCC launched its early review of ABC’s licenses in April, it came amid a fight with Kimmel over a joke that offended Trump. The agency cited diversity, equity and inclusion practices at the company.

Messages were sent seeking comment to the FCC and ABC.

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1,600 homes could be built in tiny Cambridgeshire city as Network Rail raises ‘significant concerns’

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Cambridgeshire Live

The plans could extend a Cambridgeshire city

Plans could see more than 1,600 homes built to extend Ely. Network Rail has raised “significant concerns” about the proposals, saying the potential increased use of level crossings could introduce “additional safety risk”.

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The Church Commissioners for England, which manages the Church of England’s investment portfolio, has submitted plans for up to 1,607 new homes in Ely. The plans are for land at High Flyer Farm on the north of Apollo Chase.

They also propose an extension to Ely Country Park and a community allotment or orchard, as well as an extension to the Chettisham Business Park. The site covers 85.21 hectares.

The applicant said: “The redevelopment of the site will contribute towards meeting the council’s housing requirements within the planned growth strategy for Ely, delivering a range of homes including affordable housing to meet local needs, alongside significant publicly accessible open space and landscape enhancement.”

They added that the plans would aim to create an “attractive, distinctive and inclusive new neighbourhood of exemplary design quality”.

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The plans form part of the larger Ely1 allocation in the East Cambridgeshire District Council Local Plan for 2015, covering around 210 hectares of land and plans for up to 3,000 homes. The applicant also proposes to build two new primary schools and two local centres to “incorporate retail and community facilities”.

Concerns have been raised since the plans were submitted to East Cambridgeshire District Council in July. A member of the public said the development seems to be “focusing on just cramming more housing onto land”, which they see as “critical for future food production”.

The objector said: “We have had multiple developments built within the last twenty or so years at the expense of good quality arable farm land. Seen previous developers promise infrastructure improvements and nothing ever comes of it.” They urged to “put the brakes on this development until Ely can support it properly on non arable farm land and infrastructure to support”.

Due to the scale of the scheme, its proximity to operational railway infrastructure, the potential increase in rail demand, and the “likely impacts” on nearby level crossings, Network Rail has raised “significant concerns regarding the safety and operation of the railway network”.

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The comment put forward by Network Rail states: “Given the scale of the proposal, comprising up to 1,607 dwellings, Network Rail considers that the development would generate a significant increase in pedestrian, cyclist and equestrian movements across these level crossings.

“Increased use of level crossings introduces additional safety risk and is contrary to Network Rail’s long-term objective of reducing, and where possible eliminating, level crossing use.”

Network Rail has put forward “suitable mitigation” that should be secured. This includes the provision of a grade-separated bridleway bridge across the railway, replacing the function currently served by the Clayway and Second Drove level crossings, which would aim to provide a safer crossing point for non-motorised users while reducing level crossing risk.

In a separate issue, another member of the public said that there “needs to be much more greenery” leading to the Chettisham boundary to make the Ely Country Park extension “a true country park that is additive to the local landscape”.

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The objector added: “Chettisham must remain a separate entity to the city and not become part of the general urban sprawl; this can be achieved by adding a much more expansive green space, protecting biodiversity.”

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