Meet the pint-sized ponies visiting hospitals, schools and care homes – providing therapeutic cuddles for those in need. Owner Sarah Woodland, 42, was gifted two mini Shetland ponies in the summer of 2022 by a friend. Poppy, 16, and Tinks, 17, stand at just 30 inches tall and love being stroked and fussed over. Sarah started doing private one-to-one enrichment sessions with the pair before deciding to visit a local care home with them to encourage residents connect with the animals. The session went so well she decided to make them both therapy ponies – to provide comfort and interaction to people who need it – and now she takes them into special schools, hospitals and care homes.

Good morning. Today, I report on rising concerns about Russian meddling in Moldova’s EU membership referendum, and reveal that the first EU-UK summit is being pencilled in for the first half of next year.

Have a great weekend.

Hybrid threats

Russia is attempting to derail Moldova’s EU membership bid through a hybrid pressure campaign targeting a referendum in three weeks on its accession ambitions, its pro-European government has warned.

Context: Moldova formally began EU accession talks in June. On October 20, the country will hold a referendum on whether to enshrine EU aspirations in the country’s constitution.

President Maia Sandu is leading the “yes” campaign, and a group of five Russia-affiliated opposition parties — including one run by fugitive pro-Kremlin oligarch Ilan Shor — are campaigning against; and calling for geopolitical alignment with Moscow instead.

That “no” campaign is benefiting from some €100mn that Moldova’s security services say is being funnelled into the country by Russia to support pro-Russian political groups and influence campaigns, and widespread disinformation on social media.

“Russia’s hybrid attacks aren’t a new chapter for Moldova; what’s unprecedented is their intensity, marked by a diverse arsenal of tactics and a massive influx of dirty money,” said Stanislav Secrieru, Moldova’s national security adviser.

Russia is “proliferating clone parties and candidates across the political spectrum, from pro-Russian to self-styled independents and fake pro-European actors, all designed to keep Moldova stuck in a grey zone”, Secrieru said. “With their ‘not now’ messaging, they know that Moldova’s window of opportunity won’t remain open forever, and their ultimate goal is to derail our EU accession.”

The US, UK and Canada in June warned that Moscow was trying to meddle in Moldovan politics and warned Russia would seek to incite mass protests if its campaign fails.

“These Russian proxies are already laying the groundwork to claim elections are fraudulent. Their objective is clear: sow doubt about the legitimacy of the electoral process to create chaos,” said Secrieru.

But Moldovan officials say there is one silver lining: Moscow’s increased intensity related to the referendum has come with a fall in Russian activity opposing Sandu’s re-election campaign. Citizens will vote in the presidential election on the same day as the referendum, and officials link Russia’s falling interest in that vote to Sandu’s now strong polling lead.

“Our conclusion is that they have realised there’s not a lot of point trying to campaign against her,” said a senior Moldovan official. “So that’s one positive.”

Chart du jour: Space battle

Elon Musk’s SpaceX is pushing to loosen power limits on transmissions in low Earth orbit, but some fear that any changes could interfere with already existing satellite networks.

Friends reunited

EU and UK officials are discussing holding their first joint summit since Britain left the bloc in the first half of next year, according to people briefed on the preparations, in a move to solidify the “reset” of relations between Brussels and London.

Context: The UK left the EU in 2020. Britain’s Labour Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to build better post-Brexit relations than his Conservative predecessors. The EU regularly holds summits with third countries such as India or China; or groups of countries, such as with the Gulf Cooperation Council next month.

The planned UK summit would take place during Poland’s rotating presidency of the EU, but would be held in Brussels, two of the people said.

The talks come as Starmer prepares to visit Brussels next week for bilateral talks with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen to “discuss the reset of EU-UK relations”.

Last month Starmer said he was “absolutely clear” about his desire to restore good relations with the EU eight years after the UK voted to leave the union. “That does not mean reversing Brexit or re-entering the single market or the customs union,” he added.

What to watch today

1. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hosts Italian President Sergio Mattarella in Berlin.

2. Pope Francis meets Belgian King Philippe and Prime Minister Alexander De Croo in Brussels.

Now read these

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Terence Richardson, who was sentenced to life in prison in 2001 despite being found not guilty of murder, has been granted a hearing to present new evidence in the case, according to a February 2024 report by The Appeal. In 1998, Richardson and Ferrone Claiborne were arrested as suspects in the murder of police officer Allen Gibson, who was shot and killed with his own weapon behind an apartment complex in Waverly, Virginia.

Richardson and Claiborne both pled guilty to avoid harsher sentences, but federal prosecutors later brought heavier charges. Although a jury found them not guilty, Judge Robert E. Payne sentenced the pair to life in prison using “acquitted conduct sentencing.” This practice means that “a jury’s acquittal does not prevent a judge from using the conduct the defendant was acquitted of against them when sentencing them for another charge.”

Neighbor Evette Newby claimed she saw Richardson and Claiborne go into the woods behind the apartments, making them prime suspects in the murder, despite a lack of DNA evidence linking either of them to the crime. However, police had other evidence that pointed to a third suspect, Leonard Newby, Evette’s brother.

Another witness claimed they saw Richardson, Claiborne, and Gibson at the scene and provided a description to the police. Yet, neither Richardson nor Claiborne fits that description. The witness even picked Leonard Newby’s photo in the lineup, but none of this evidence or information regarding other suspects was disclosed to either defendant’s lawyers. 

Based on the new evidence, Richardson’s attorney “filed a petition for a writ of actual innocence with the Virginia Court of Appeals in 2021, seeking to vacate Richardson’s conviction.” Claiborne’s options are more limited. Because he pled guilty to a misdemeanor and not a felony, he cannot file a writ of innocence. But if Richardson’s petition is successful, Claiborne might be able to seek “other types of appeals or clemency petitions.”

This is not the only case where someone has been wrongfully convicted, and not the first time evidence has been hidden, this is just one case out of thousands. This is a recurring problem in the US justice system. According to the Innocence Project, there have been over 375 DNA exonerations as of January 2020, but more than 3,300 cases are pending in the National Registry of Exonerations database. The Innocence Project states, “…examining more than 375 DNA exonerations, although it may seem unimaginable, innocent people confess to crimes they did not commit for various reasons.”

Richardson told The Appeal his defense attorney “said if you go to trial and you mess around and you lose, you could get the death penalty.” 

As of February 2024, Terence Richardson and Ferrone Claiborne’s story has no national coverage.

Sources:

Meg O’Connor, “New Hearing For Man Sentenced to Life in Prison Despite Not Guilty Verdict,” The Appeal, February 2, 2024.

Meg O’Connor, “A Jury Found Them Not Guilty Of Killing A Cop. A Judge Sentenced Them To Life Anyway,” The Appeal, November 21, 2023.

Student Researcher: R’riana Crawford-King (City College of San Francisco)

Faculty Evaluator: Jennifer Levinson (City College of San Francisco)

HOLIDAYMAKERS have been warned of a looming tourist tax that will see the existing levy raised by 65 percent with the hope of deterring visitors.

The New Zealand government announced in a statement on Tuesday that it has plans to hike up international visitor and conservation fees to force visitors to “contribute to public services”.

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Frequent flyers will need to remember to set aside their savings to ensure they’re not left short for the nation’s entry fee.

Currently, those landing into one of the five international airports across the Māori and English speaking islands contribute NZ$35 towards the “high-quality experiences while visiting”.

However, the government’s announcement confirms that prices will see a 65 percent elevation.

From October 1, tourists will face a NZ$100 tourism fee.

Those boarding from Australia and most Pacific nations will not have to pay the levy which is equivalent to just under £50.

Despite hiking up the cost of the fee, the Tourism Industry Association has confidence that the number of those heading to traverse, bungee or enjoy the incredible scenery on offer will remain consistent.

However, the association’s chief executive, Rebecca Ingram, said: “New Zealand’s tourism recovery [from the Covid-19 pandemic] is falling behind the rest of the world, and this will further dent our global competitiveness.”

The government has backed the decision by suggesting the fee was competitive and would not put tourists off the destination.

Tourism minister, Matt Doocey, explained that the levy was necessary to ensure “international visitors contribute to high-value conservation areas and projects, such as supporting biodiversity in national parks.”

Last year, more than 3.2 million tourists headed to the nation known for offering thrill-seekers ample dare-devil experiences alongside wineries, Hobbiton set tours, active volcanoes and even the Fergburger – if you know, you know.

However, data from Stats NZ last week revealed that visitor numbers are only around 80% of the level before the border closed for the pandemic.

NZ Airports chief executive, Billie Moore, said: “It is a triple-whammy for our sector, which is trying to work hard for New Zealand’s economic recovery.”

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Shigeru Ishiba will become the next prime minister of Japan after winning the presidency of the ruling Liberal Democratic party in a closely contested run-off vote on Friday.

As president of the LDP the 67-year-old former defence and agriculture minister will succeed Fumio Kishida after a parliamentary vote on October 1.

Ishiba’s campaign proposals included the creation of an “Asian Nato” to counter the rise of China.

His victory came at the expense of Sanae Takaichi, a hardline conservative, whom he beat in a second-round run-off on Friday. LDP MPs and party representatives from Japan’s 47 prefectures voted.

Takaichi received 194 votes to Ishiba’s 215, narrowly missing the chance to become Japan’s first female prime minister.

This is a developing story

A SUPERMARKET’s own-label baked beans have beaten family-favourite brands including Heinz and Branston in a taste test.

The favourite cupboard staple was ranked top by a team of 66 testers, put together by consumer experts Which?.

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The panel ranked 10 variations of baked beans from top supermarkets including Aldi, Asda, Co-op, Morrisons, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, as well brands Branston and Heinz.

Each was given a score out of 100 based on 50% flavour, 20% appearance, 20% aroma and 10% texture.

In the final scores, there was less than 10% between the winner and lowest scorer.

However, the top spot was taken by Aldi Bramwell’s Baked Beans, with an overall score of 76%.

The panel thought the beans looked good, had an appealing aroma, and three-quarters said the strength of flavour was perfect.

Just behind with a score of 75% was Branstons Baked Beans.

The panel said these beans looked appetising and the strength of flavour satisfied seven 70% tasters. The level of sweetness was enjoyed by a similar number of tasters.

In third and fourth spots were the Co-Op’s Baked Beans and Asda’s Baked Beans, with scores of 74% and 73%, respectively.

Heinz Beanz was voted into fifth place with an overall score of 72%.

The panel thought the big brand beans looked good and had a pleasing texture, but the aroma was less well liked than others, and just over a third (35%) thought the sauce was too thin. 

If you get through two tins per week, switching from Heinz beans to Aldi’s offering could save you over £100 per year, as a year’s supply of Aldi baked beans comes in at £42.64 versus £145.60 for Heinz – a £103 saving.

The overall scores were close, but there were bigger variations on individual parts of the scoring.

For example, M&S Baked Beans had a score of 67%, but less than half (45%) were satisfied with the strength of flavour, while a third wanted them to be sweeter. 

Aldi and Branston have now both earned Which?’s Best Buy  endorsement and Aldi also has the Great Value backing too.

Lidl‘s own-label items are usually included on taste tests, but the supermarket told Which? there is variation in the product recipe due to dual supply, so it wasn’t tested this time.

Natalie Hitchins, Which? head of home products and services, said: “Baked beans are a staple for many households and our results show you don’t have to pay a premium for the best taste.

“Choosing supermarket own-label groceries is not only a great way to save money, but our tests prove that you can end up with a better tasting product and can save over £100 a year by making the switch.”

The Sun team has recently taste tested tinned pasta and boxed wines.