Two women who were arrested during a vigil for murdered Sarah Everard will receive payouts from the Metropolitan Police.

The Met was criticised for its ‘heavy handed’ and ‘tone deaf’ reaction to the vigil, which was held out of outrage Ms Everard had been murdered by Wayne Couzens, then a serving police officer.

Patsy Stevenson and Dania Al-Obeid were both detained at the event, held amid ongoing Covid restrictions, on Clapham Common in March 2021.

The event was originally planned by campaign group Reclaim These Streets, which cancelled the protest after Met officers threatened organisers with £10,000 fines under lockdown rules in place at the time.

But members of the public attended anyway, with no police intervention for around six hours before clashes occurred.

Ms Stevenson said: ‘It has taken over two years to reach this conclusion, it’s been a really tiring and difficult process but it has felt important to push for some form of accountability and justice for myself and all women who attended the vigil to express our anger and grief over the murder of Sarah Everard by a serving Metropolitan Police officer.’

Ms Al-Obeid said: ‘I have found this journey incredibly difficult but very important as a survivor of domestic violence and someone who has been failed by the police in that context.

‘I appreciate that the Met Police have acknowledged our motivations for attending it but “badly let down” is an understatement.

‘I have felt abused, abandoned by the police prior to, during and post the vigil – I do not feel protected or safe with any police force.’

A legal battle went on long after the vigil, with the original Reclaim These Streets organisers successfully arguing their right to protest had been breached by the Met.

Now Ms Stevenson and Ms Al-Obeid will receive an undisclosed sum from the force.

Commander Karen Findlay wrote in letters to both women: ‘I wish to emphasise that I fully acknowledge that your motivations in attending the vigil were to express your grief and anger regarding the circumstances of the tragic murder of Sarah Everard, and to express the level of concern and dissatisfaction felt by you and many other women who were understandably feeling badly let down by the Met.

‘The policing plan for the vigil was devised to provide an opportunity for members of the public to attend in order to express their grief and anger.

‘Acknowledging that the fundamental right to protest remained, the circumstances at the time of the vigil – namely that we were in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic – presented an extremely difficult challenge for policing and the officers present due to the need to balance the potential risk such a gathering could pose to public health.

‘That aside, I appreciate the anger, frustration and alarm your arrest undoubtedly caused you, exacerbated by the subsequent proceedings, and I regret that your opportunity to express your grief and anger was curtailed by your arrest and removal.’

A spokesperson for the Met said: ‘The Clapham Common vigil took place in extraordinary circumstances, in the midst of a pandemic where restrictions on gatherings were in force for very valid public health reasons and in the days immediately following the most appalling murder of Sarah Everard by a serving Met officer.

‘We tried to achieve a balance that recognised the rights of the public to protest and to express their grief and sadness, while also continuing to enforce the relevant Covid legislation.

“‘The actions of individual officers were found by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabularies to have been appropriate.

‘They acted in good faith, interpreting complex and changing legislation in very challenging circumstances in a way that was entirely consistent with their colleagues working across London at the time.

‘A protracted legal dispute is not in the interests of any party, least of all the complainants who we recognise have already experienced significant distress as a result of this incident.

‘The most appropriate decision, to minimise the ongoing impact on all involved, was to reach an agreed settlement.’

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Role models and innovators in the engineering and technology fields have been honoured at a prestigious ceremony in London.

The Engineering Talent Awards (ETAs) seek to celebrate, attract and develop talent throughout the sector, with a particular focus on championing female, ethnic minority, LGBT+ and disabled engineers.

Known for its commitment to LGBTQ+ rights, Metro.co.uk partnered with founders EqualEngineers and the Royal Academy of Engineering to help recognise those making the industry accessible to everyone.

Metro executive editor Richard Hartley-Parkinson was in attendance to deliver the night’s keynote speech, paying tribute to the winners while reaffirming the outlets’ commitment to championing diversity.

Winners included Anthony Buckley, lead engineer at Rolls-Royce SMR, who took home the coveted Engineer of the Year prize for his leadership, while Aimee Jones of Mott Macdonald won the Engineering Apprentice of the Year for inspiring young people to engage with engineering.

Amitoj Singh, of Ethical Power Connections Limited, was named Executive Leader of the Year. Samiksha Raviraja was crowned Student of the Year for her work at the University of Leicester, where she is studying Aerospace Engineering. 

Her achievements and commitment to being a role model were so compelling, she was also awarded the coveted Overall Excellence in Engineering Award.

Elsewhere, there were big wins for corporate leaders like Wessex Water and Jacobs ACE Network, while University College London lifted the Inclusion Programme of the Year award for their partnership with BADU Sport on their ‘Bridging the Gap’ campaign, which supports more than 90 students with free bespoke tuition.

‘We celebrated the most inspiring and hard-working role models in the engineering and technology sectors working all across the UK, said Dr Mark McBride-Wright, founder and director of EqualEngineers.

‘The Engineering Talent Awards exist to shine a light on success and ingenuity, so I’m really pleased we were able to do that.’

Dr Mcbride-Wright, who in 2022 received the coveted Rooke Award from the Royal Academy of Engineering, added: ‘This is one of the major events in the UK that also gives a huge platform to our country’s engineering businesses as well as the organisations nurturing the next generation.’

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Three members of 10-year-old Sara Sharif’s family, who are wanted in connection with her death, have arrived back in the UK on a flight from Pakistan.

Urfan Sharif, the father of Sara Sharif, his partner Beinash Batool and brother Faisal Malik have been arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the 10-year-old’s death, Surrey Police said.

The trio arrived at London’s Gatwick airport on Wednesday evening after negotiations with the police and British authorities in Pakistan, the Guardian reported earlier today.

Sara was found dead at her home in Woking, Surrey, last month.

Although her exact cause of death has not yet been determined, a post-mortem examination revealed she had suffered ‘extensive injuries’ suffered over a ‘sustained and extended period of time’ and police are treating her death as a murder investigation.

Police were informed of her death after Urfan contacted authorities in the UK after fleeing to Pakistan with his wife, brother and five children.

Earlier today, a Sialkot police spokesperson Khan Mudassir revealed that three people had been arrested and flown to the UK, the Associated Press reported.

He said the three were handed over to the Federal Investigation Agency, which flew them to Britain from Sialkot in eastern Punjab province.

The trio will now be questioned by police over the circumstances surrounding Sara’s death.

Last week, Sky News shared a video of Sara’s step-mother, Ms Batool, who said her side of the family is willing to cooperate with British police and ‘fight our case in court’.

She could be heard to say: ‘Firstly, I would like to talk about Sara. Sara’s death was an incident. Our family in Pakistan are severely affected by all that is going on.

‘All the media have been giving wrong statements and making up lies.

‘All of our family members have gone into hiding as everyone is scared for their safety.

‘The groceries have run out and there is no food for the kids as the adults are unable to leave their homes out of fear for safety.’

The five children, aged between one and 13, were believed to have been travelling with the trio, but were later revealed to have been staying with their grandfather Muhammad Sharif at his home in Jhelum.

They were found after a police raid and have since been taken into care in Pakistan.

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Here in the UK, we change the clocks twice a year to bookend the different stages of the year.

The clocks go forward as we enter British Summer Time, to get us up earlier and to enjoy the longer days, and they go back again as we prepare for the winter.

However, some have raised the possibility of getting rid of putting the clocks forward and back – a tradition which dates back over a century.

The Daylight Savings Time initiative was introduced and formalised as British Summer Time with the Summer Time Act 1916.

The change gave farmers an extra hour of sunlight to work, a helpful boost to the agricultural sector following the crippled British economy during the First World War.

When are the clock changes in 2023/24?

When do the clocks change this Autumn?

This autumn, the clocks will go back an hour on Sunday, October 29 2023.

At this time, 2am will go back to 1am, giving us an extra hour in bed and preparing us for the colder months when the sun sets earlier and days get significantly shorter.

In 2024, the clocks will go forward again by an hour, on Sunday, March 31.

Which countries change the clocks?

While it’s been a practice in the UK for over a century, we aren’t alone in changing the clocks for British Summer Time (known as Daylight Savings Time in other places).

All European Union countries and many European non-members continue to make the switch twice a year.

Outside of Europe, changing the clocks is also practiced in Argentina, Paraguay, Cuba, Haiti, the Levant, New Zealand and parts of Australia.

The US has changed the clocks twice a year for many decades, like the UK, but this is all set to change.

The US Senate passed a bill to make Daylight Savings Time permanent.

The Sunshine Protection Act was unanimously passed in 2022 meaning clocks will no longer change back and forth twice a year. From 2023, it will establish a fixed time all year round.

MORE : Exact date major tax and benefits changes could be announced in Autumn Statement

MORE : Pret announces autumn range and it might be its best menu yet

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A 10-year-old boy who died after suffering an electric shock in the reception area of a seaside hotel has been named.

Jack Piper-Sheach, from Wales, tragically died from his injuries at Tiffany’s Hotel on Blackpool’s famed promenade.

Lancashire Police said they were called to the guest house, known locally as the ‘pink hotel’, shortly after 10.30pm on September 3 after a boy was found unresponsive.

They said he was then taken to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool and had injuries ‘consistent with coming into contact with a high voltage of electricity’.

The youngster’s family were by his bedside as doctors made every effort to save him before he tragically passed away four days later on September 7.

Coroner Alan Wilson has now confirmed that an inquest into his death at Blackpool and Fylde Coroner’s Court will open on Friday, September 15.

After initial enquiries, police handed their investigation into the incident to Blackpool Council.

And the local authority advised the hotel to temporarily close while it undertakes health and safety investigations.

A spokesperson for Blackpool Council said: ‘The investigation is still ongoing and at this stage. We are unable to predict when the hotel will be able to reopen.

‘We are carrying out the investigation and officers from the Health and Safety Executive have been offering specialist support.’

Following news of Jack’s tragic passing, a spokesperson for the Tiffany’s Hotel said they were ‘heartbroken’.

They said: ‘We are heartbroken by the news we have received today, and our thoughts and prayers remain with the family at this distressing time.

‘We will continue to provide the relevant authorities any assistance they need to carry out their investigations.’

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A Manchester police officer has been sentenced to 26 years in prison for 20 offences, including multiple counts of rape and sexual assault on a child.

Stephen Hardy, 46, was suspended from duty as a detective constable at Greater Manchester Police (GMP) after his conviction in July.

He was found guilty of the offences, which included six counts of rape, following a trial at Liverpool Crown Court.

Judge Robert Trevor-Jones said Hardy used his teenage victim, who attended the hearing with members of her family, as a ‘puppet or sex object’.

Sentencing him earlier today, the judge said: ‘You have never shown one iota of remorse for your behaviour.

‘The indictment reflects a highly calculated and cynical course of grooming behaviour.’

He added: ‘You have been a long-serving police officer. That is a career which will now inevitably end.

‘You would have been well aware of the widespread and lasting trauma that victims of sexual abuse suffer and yet you gave no thought to that and that is an aggravating factor.’

In a statement read out to the court, the victim said the abuse had permanently affected her mental health, and that she was not sure she would ever be able to fully trust members of law enforcement.

She said: ‘I maintain a deep fear of authority figures, despite overcoming that fear to report these crimes.

‘His position in the Greater Manchester Police force has deeply affected me.’

Prosecutor Vanessa Thomson said: ‘The defendant was a controlling and manipulative man.’

The victim first reported the abuse to the police in 2020.

Laura Nash, defending, said her client continued to deny all the offences, and added that he would ‘inevitably’ find prison ‘harder than most’ due to his role in the police.

Head of the GMP Professional Standards Branch, Detective Chief Superintendent Mike Allen, said: ‘Given Hardy contested the indictment he faced at the crown court, we were unable to proceed with hearing such matters within the regulated police disciplinary system. He was nevertheless suspended from GMP.

‘Now that Hardy has been convicted, he will face disciplinary proceedings, and as the public would rightly expect, he will not be paid a wage by GMP during the time it takes for his case to be heard.’

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Legs amputated during surgery may be used in an experiment to see if they help police dogs find victims’ bodies.

The lower limbs would be donated by consenting, living hospital patients with conditions like diabetes.

If the plans are approved, trials will go ahead to see if the dogs can tell the difference between animal and human remains.

They will take place in October at Porton Down – a science and defence technology campus in Wiltshire – according to government sources.

Police dogs are typically trained to search for the bodies of missing people using pig flesh. But without training using human tissue, there is a risk dogs may miss victims who could have been found.

It is thought dogs will be offered a mix of decomposed animal and human scent samples to test whether they can identify the difference.

Ethical approval from the Health Research Authority (HRA) is legally required for the research – commissioned by the Home Office – before it can start.

The application is currently being reviewed by the body with an update expected in the coming days, an HRA spokeswoman said.

The HRA has been told the project has been reviewed by the Ministry of Defence’s research ethics committee, she added.

If successful, the trial could lead to changes in government policy on how police dogs are trained.

It comes as the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) is reviewing dog training practices.

A source said: ‘This is the first time research of this kind would be carried out in the UK and it could be groundbreaking if it shows using human flesh in training can help dogs find more missing victims.

‘The work even has the potential to pave the way for the country to have its first body farm.’

A body farm is a research facility which studies the decomposition of human corpses. There are several in the United States of America, one in Australia and another in the Netherlands – thought to be the only one in Europe – but none so far in the UK.

A Home Office spokesperson said: ‘We have commissioned a pilot to understand whether the training of victim detection dogs can be enhanced.

‘Studies of this nature are vital to evolve our capabilities to protect the public and bring offenders to justice.’

The NPCC said it would not comment on the project.

Metro.co.uk has asked the Human Tissue Authority for comment.

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While on a late shift as a surgeon at the Royal Stoke University Hospital, I was led into a room by a senior colleague under the guise of discussing work.

Once there, he sexually assaulted me and prevented me from leaving. He massaged my back, kissed my face and neck, hugged me and pushed me against a desk.

It was 11 June 2020 and I felt so violated and appalled at his behaviour. My story is unfortunately far from rare.

A recent survey shows that, appallingly, almost a third (29%) of female surgeons working in the NHS have been sexually assaulted by a colleague in the last five years.

It also found that 40% of women surveyed reported receiving uninvited comments about their body and 38% experienced sexual banter at work.

The report concluded: ‘Sexual misconduct occurs frequently and appears to go unchecked in the surgical environment owing to a combination of a deeply hierarchical structure and a gender and power imbalance. The result is an unsafe working environment and an unsafe space for patients.’

These statistics are horrifying, but entirely unsurprising.

I have experienced so much sexual harassment in my time as a surgeon – from consultants openly discussing junior doctors’ breasts, who they’d most like to sleep with, to 3am WhatsApp messages from amorous bosses.

I’d worked hard to gain a place in surgery, and I knew the risk that came with complaining about sexism. For me and my female colleagues, a career in this field involved walking a tightrope of brushing off such behaviour while not being labelled as ‘frigid’ or a ‘troublemaker’.

Harassment, disguised as ‘banter’ was the norm, with a permissive attitude towards misogyny in general, and constant overt and subtle sexism. I often thought to myself: Perhaps if I was a good enough surgeon, I could overcome being a woman in their eyes.

What happened to me in June 2020 felt so stark and predatory though, I knew I had to say something.

Reporting my assault was nearly as traumatising as the incident itself.

When I initially spoke to my supervisor, he wasn’t sure how to proceed so I sought advice from the British Medical Association (BMA), who told me to find the relevant policy. When I did – a generic Dignity At Work Policy – the link on the intranet didn’t work for me.

I contacted HR and made a complaint. I subsequently discovered that they made no note what had happened, and did nothing to progress the case. After a week, I chased again. 

Little did I know that my perpetrator had been arrested days after my assault, this time for sexually assaulting a girl under 16. Despite this, and my report, the Trust initially provided him with a conditional offer of a further 12 months fixed term contract, failing to fully suspend him at the time.

A case investigator was appointed and almost five weeks after I reported my assault, I finally attended an interview, which was recorded. 

In that interview, I requested that she not make contact with my consultant colleagues as I was scared of the stigma reporting such an assault might bring. This was not respected and she telephoned my bosses to engage in informal conversations about me, to discuss whether I was known to have ‘inappropriate relationships’ in the department.

One of my friends told me about this, and I asked to have the investigator removed from my case. My request was rejected. 

I was then contacted by HR, who told me that the recording of my interview had been inadvertently attached to an email and shared with third parties unrelated to the case.

Meanwhile, my perpetrator requested that his colleagues weren’t contacted about him, and of course this request was honoured. While my name was dragged through the mud, bosses were asked about rumours about me, and my clinical ability dissected, he seemingly remained unscathed from probing into his behaviour.

Eventually, the investigator completed her report and initially found that he had no case to answer. In the meantime – after I heard about her questions and the Trust’s refusal to remove her from the investigation or to investigate my concerns – I raised an employment tribunal claim.

Remarkably, the case complaint manager – against Trust policy – amended the investigator’s report and changed the outcome to state that there was indeed a case for misconduct to be answered.

It is rare to report sexual harassment in the NHS, and my story is a perfect illustration of why this is the case. Some of what I went through can be put down to ineptitude, but there was a sinister undertone of misogyny present throughout. 

Failing to take reports of sexual assault seriously, investigating the victim rather than the event, victim blaming and slut shaming – my experience was like something out of 1970, not 2020.

My win at tribunal has come too late for my medical career. After my experiences, I left surgery. I now have a non-medical job as an administrator, which means years of training wasted.

I hope my story can make a difference to someone else though. It is clear to me that in isolation, trusts will not improve their handling of sexual harassment and assault, and I suspect only with sustained public scrutiny will the situation improve.

NHS trusts that perpetuate toxic cultures need to be named and shamed.

Campaigning groups such as Surviving in Scrubs – who help share survivor stories of sexism, harassment, and sexual assault in the healthcare workforce – are so important. It is essential to raise awareness of the plague of sexual harassment in medicine so more people feel capable of speaking out, but more critically – to put pressure on organisations such as the General Medical Council (GMC) and NHS trusts to investigate and deal with sexual harassment appropriately.

It is not sufficient to put the onus on the individual to report harassment, when the entire culture feels stacked against them. And when, in my case, they will be punished for doing so.

There is an epidemic of sexual assault in medicine that badly needs addressing.

As for my attacker, he has never faced justice. The last I heard, he had left the country.

Following my employment tribunal win, the next step for me is a follow-up hearing to determine compensation, which is known as a remedy hearing.

But no remedy could ever make up for my experiences, for not being believed or listened to, for being victim blamed and for losing my career because of sexual harassment.

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing James.Besanvalle@metro.co.uk. 

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MORE : Half of women ‘have woken up to find their partner sexually assaulting them’

MORE : What exactly constitutes sexual harassment in the work place?

MORE : Sexual assault is endemic among gay men – it took years to realise it happened to me

Sir Keir Starmer branded the Prime Minister ‘inaction man’ over his failure to respond to problems in the UK’s schools and prisons.

Rishi Sunak has faced heavy criticism in recent weeks over his government’s failure to deal with the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in schools, which is prone to collapse.

The chaos was then compounded by the escape of prisoner and terror suspect Daniel Khalife from Wandsworth prison, which prompted a nationwide four-day manhunt.

And to make matters worse, a parliamentary researcher with close links to Tory MPs was arrested earlier this week on suspicion of spying for China– a charge he has strenuously denied.

Speaking in the Commons, the Labour leader said: ‘Probation, prison, schools, China, yet again inaction man fails to heed the warning and then blames everyone else for the consequences.

‘On Sunday, the Home Secretary celebrated her first anniversary in post. That is if you overlook the six days she missed when she was deemed a national security risk.

‘In that year, 40,000 people have crossed the Channel on a small boat, and the taxpayer is now spending £6 million a day on hotel bills.

‘He is failing to stop terrorists strolling out of prison, failing to guard Britain against hostile actors, he is completely failing to stop the boats. How can anyone trust him to protect the country?’

Rishi Sunak responded by laying out the Government’s planned reforms to the Levelling Up Bill, telling MPs: ‘He talks about trust, he tried in this House to talk the talk on house building, but at the first sign of a cheap political hit, what did he do? He has caved in.

‘Rather than make the right long-term decisions for the country he has taken the easy way out. It is typical of the principles-free, conviction-free type of leadership that he offers.

‘Flip-flopping from being a builder to a blocker. The British people can’t trust a word he says.’

Responding to the PM, Starmer went on to call for a General Election and said: ‘No one voted for this shambles. No one voted for him. So how much more damage do the British public have to put up with before he finally finds the stomach to give them a say?’

But Sunak hit back by saying: ‘We are getting on for the British public, just in the last week announcing a new landmark deal for British scientists, attracting £600m for new investment for our world-leading auto industry, and wages now rising at the fastest rate on record. 

‘Where has he been this week? Locked away with Labour’s union paymasters, promising to give them more power and scrap the laws that protect British families and their access to public services. It is clear it is only the Conservatives that are on the side of the hardworking British public.’

Asked to respond to Starmer’s comment, the PM’s press secretary later told journalists: ‘The PM’s a man of action. If you look at his record on stuff – the Windsor framework, the Aukus deal, Atlantic declaration, Horizon deal, long-term energy security package, toughest legislation ever on immigration.

‘[The Starmer comment] comes from someone today … who is literally doing something to play politics in Westminster with 100,000 new homes when he claims to be the leader of a party that wants to back the builders. So, he might want to get a mirror.’

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Schools crumbling; terror suspects escaping prison; toxic sewage pouring into our precious rivers and seas. 

Pile these crises on top of a cost-of-living emergency and an ever-worsening climate catastrophe, and you might be forgiven for thinking that Rishi Sunak had plenty of legislation his in-tray to be getting on with. 

There is so much legislation that could be introduced, and actions that could be taken, to at least start tackling the huge problems our country is currently facing.  

Yet it seems like nothing is happening; Rishi Sunak’s Government simply isn’t governing. 

It’s out of ideas, running scared of scrutiny, and stumbling lifelessly towards the next election.  

A figurative tumbleweed has been rolling across the House of Commons for months, with the daily order paper, a list of the day’s business, getting thinner and thinner.

Last week, the Energy Bill – a vitally important piece of legislation offering an opportunity to regulate our energy market and begin to address the climate crisis – came back before the House of Commons. 

Normally, entire sitting days or even weeks would be set aside to discuss complex legislation. Yet how long were MPs given to discuss the remaining stages of this vast Bill, and its 300-plus amendments? 

Barely three hours – showing again Rishi Sunak’s complete lack of interest in, and willingness to tackle, the most pressing issue of our time.

There is a total absence of new proposed legislation – this government doesn’t even properly advance laws like the vital Renters’ Reform Bill, which was first promised three whole prime ministers ago, under Theresa May.

The number of urgent questions – a chance to grill Government Ministers on an important issue of the day – granted by the Speaker in this current Parliamentary session is one of the highest in 25 years. I believe this is due to backbenchers stepping up to fill the vacuum of government action. 

That’s not to say the government hasn’t made announcements – but new policies were announced over the summer Recess period when Parliament isn’t sitting, avoiding scrutiny from MPs.  

Rishi Sunak’s decision to rubber stamp hundreds of new oil and gas licences was announced in late July via press release. 

People desperately need some hope for a better, more liveable future

The Prime Minister didn’t offer MPs even the slightest opportunity to challenge from the green benches the obscenity of new licences in the middle of a climate emergency. 

In August, ministers announced they would scrap critical EU rules on pollution with regard to new house building projects. 

If I hadn’t dragged the Levelling Up Minister to the Despatch Box for an urgent question to explain why on earth these vital rules were being ditched, the Government’s decision wouldn’t have faced even the slightest query in the House of Commons. 

It’s pure cowardice. If the Government has policy announcements to make – which have enormous implications on the future of our country and planet – ministers should come to Parliament and make their case, face scrutiny, and have the guts to put its measures to a vote. 

That’s how the Government, Parliament, and our democracy function and Sunak’s administration isn’t functioning. 

People desperately need some hope for a better, more liveable future. 

But they’re certainly not getting it from Keir Starmer’s Labour Party either, which only seems to be saying what it wouldn’t do in Government, rather than what it would: no free movement of people, a refusal to ditch the two-child benefit cap, no scrapping of tuition fees.

With so many crises facing our country – inaction from either party is not an option. 

If we’re going to fund our NHS and schools properly after 13 years of Tory austerity, we need to reform our country’s deeply regressive tax system.

And in order to give our railways, postal services and water companies a much-needed jolt of life after decades of stagnation, we must bring these public services back into public hands as soon as possible, so they work for people not profit. 

This zombie Parliament we’re currently witnessing doesn’t serve anyone’s best interests: neither MPs, who are unable to scrutinise vital legislation; nor the public, who aren’t seeing the Government even attempting to make their lives better. 

The best way to bury it once and for all? Call a general election – and end this stagnation once and for all.

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing jess.austin@metro.co.uk. 

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MORE : Government may have broken law over sewage disposal, watchdog finds

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MORE : Trust that runs school forced to close over crumbling concrete speaks out as government refuses to reveal full list

The mother of a bride-to-be who was hit by a car and killed ‘would have been highly visible’ to the driver, an expert has said.

Judith Wadsworth, 66, was crossing an access road outside the Coniston Hotel and Spa, near Skipton, North Yorkshire, when she was hit by a Range Rover being driven by the hotel’s owner Nicholas Bannister.

The incident happened on February 7, 2020, as Judith had arrived at the hotel the day before her daughter’s wedding, which was due to take place there.

Bannister had driven a short distance from the front of the hotel, and is estimated to have been travelling between 9-12mph at the time.

He’s now on trial accused of causing death by driving without due care and attention, which he denies.

Ergonomics expert Dr David Usher told the jury at Bradford crown court that he had examined all the evidence to assess the ‘conspicuity’ of both Judith to Bannister, and the Range Rover to Judith.

He said: ‘In my opinion she would have been highly visible throughout Mr Bannister’s approach to the crossing, had he been looking at her.’

Dr Usher was asked about the influence of the A-pillar of the Range Rover.

He said it is ‘not credible’ that the structure could have obscured Bannister’s view of Mrs Wadsworth throughout the time she was walking from the car park to the point of impact.

He said: ‘She would have to had to run very fast, so I believe that is not credible.’

Dr Usher accepted an A-pillar can obscure a driver’s view momentarily, but said the relative positions of the post and the pedestrian are moving.

He also stressed it is a ‘natural part of driving’ for a motorist to move their head to compensate for this problem.

Dr Usher added Bannister’s familiarity with the location of the crossing was another factor increasing the conspicuity of Mrs Wadsworth.

Lisa Judge, defending, asked Dr Usher if it is possible that Mrs Wadsworth was distracted as she walked between the car park and the hotel, making the final preparations for her daughter’s wedding.

The expert told the jury: ‘We have no evidence to suggest that she was.’

Ms Judge said: ‘We have no evidence to suggest that she wasn’t.’

Dr Usher said ‘the likelihood was that she wasn’t’ but agreed with the barrister that it was possible.

The trial continues.

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Meghan and Harry joined in waving crowds cheering on athletes at the Invictus Games.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex watched a game of wheelchair basketball tensely with Australia supporters on Wednesday morning in Dusseldorf, Germany.

The pair were all smiles as they held hands while walking in the Merkur Spiel-Arena, Harry in an Invictus Games polo top and trousers and Meghan wearing a black top with white shorts and a white cardigan with gold buttons.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex handed out medals to children on the basketball court and the couple also posed for photographs with others at the event.

It comes after Meghan arrived late at the Invictus Games on Tuesday, saying she had to spend more time getting their ‘little ones settled at home’.

Meghan and Harry appeared on a stage where the duchess made an impromptu speech and described the Invictus Games as an ‘amazing event’, and joked with the audience as she ran slightly late.

The pair were in high spirits as they spoke during the event’s party for friends and family of the competitors.

The duchess, who was wearing a black dress, added she would one day like to bring her children to the games.

Meghan travelled from the Sussexes’ home in California to the German city, where Harry launched the sporting event for wounded military personnel and veterans on Saturday night.

The couple appeared in public together for the first time at the Toronto Invictus Games in 2017, pictured hand in hand at a wheelchair tennis event.

It is likely that Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland is looking after the Sussexes’ young children Archie and Lilibet at their home in Montecito, California.

Harry was pictured earlier on Tuesday sharing a joke with TV presenter and Invictus Games medallist JJ Chalmers during the wheelchair basketball competition, after taking part in some ‘seat dancing’.

On Monday, Harry, the founding patron of the Invictus Games, warmly embraced a wheelchair rugby player by kissing him on the head.

He watched matches in an eight-team wheelchair rugby knockout tournament, then presented medals and spoke to players after Team USA defeated the United Kingdom 21-13 in the final.

His attendance at the games comes after a brief visit to the UK, where he attended the WellChild Awards and visited St George’s Chapel in Windsor on the anniversary of the death of his grandmother, the late Queen.

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A crossbow-toting intruder who stormed Windsor Castle in a plot to kill the Queen believed from a young age his purpose was to ‘do something dramatic to the Royal Family’, the Old Bailey has heard. 

Star Wars fan Jaswant Singh Chail, 21, wore a ‘Sith’ mask when he climbed into the grounds with a nylon rope ladder on Christmas Day 2021. 

When captured close to the late monarch’s private Berkshire residence, where she and other royals were at the time, he told officers: ‘I am here to kill the Queen.’ 

In a journal, Chail wrote that if Queen Elizabeth II was ‘unobtainable’ he would ‘go for’ the ‘prince’ as a ‘suitable figurehead’, in an apparent reference to King Charles, the court has heard. 

He was said to have been egged on in his plans by his AI girlfriend, named ‘Sarai’, whom he believed was an ’angel’ in avatar form.

Chail has pleaded guilty to an offence under the Treason Act, making a threat to kill the then-Queen and having a loaded crossbow in a public place. 

The judge, Mr Justice Hilliard, has been hearing evidence from doctors about whether to send him to prison or make a hospital order under the Mental Health Act. 

Dr Christian Brown, a psychiatrist who has treated Chail at Broadmoor Hospital since November 2022, told the court Chail believed the plot to kill Queen Elizabeth II was his ‘purpose’ in life. 

He said: ‘There is one feature, with a bit of distance, that looks like a psychotic delusion… the emergence of belief around his purpose. 

‘At the time he believed his entire life had led to this point. He had these vague [ideas] to do something dramatic to the Royal Family. 

‘Perhaps it escaped some peoples span of views, it is very normal… but if you look at the way he talks about it, I think a picture emerges of what is straight-forwardly a psychotic delusion. 

‘There was a religious element to it, he really thought he was on a mission…… he carried on talking about purpose.’ 

The court has heard Chail was motivated by an ideology inspired by Star Wars films around destroying old empires and wanted to avenge the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh Massacre at Amritsar. 

Chail, who took up the identity of a ‘Sith lord’ – villains in the sci-fi saga – named ‘Darth Chailus’, had bought a deadly ‘supersonic’ crossbow online in November 2021.

He went to a forge the metal disguise he was wearing at the castle, reminiscent of a Star Wars-style mask, which he called his ‘true face’. 

The court was shown a homemade video from December 21, 2021, in which Chail called himself ‘Darth Chailus’ and a ‘Sith’ in a distorted voice.

Wearing dark clothes and his homemade facemask, he said: ‘I’m sorry for what I’ve done and what I will do.

‘I’m going to attempt to assassinate Elizabeth Queen of the Royal Family. This is revenge for those who have died in the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre…’

Dr Brown said: ‘He did not think he was somebody from the Star Wars world. He did not think he could “use the force”.

‘That he did take on another identity is undeniable and that makes this feel psychotic rather than fantasy. He never thought he had become a Sith Lord.

‘It went beyond fantasy. When he started taking medication all heat came out of it.’

Mr Justice Hilliard noted Chail was able to make preparations, travel to Windsor and apologise for what he was about to do in his homemade video despite his mental illness.

The judge asked: ‘What factors are you looking for to try to assess the degree to which he is psychotic?’

Dr Brown said it was ‘not uncommon at all’ for a psychotic person to maintain a ‘degree of function’.

He was asked whether Chail’s repeated apologies indicated he was aware that what he was doing was wrong.

The expert witness said the defendant was an ‘extremely polite person’ but was ‘clearly very motivated to do what he did’.

Cross-examining, prosecutor Alison Morgan KC suggested Dr Brown’s assessment of Chail as psychotic was at odds with his journal.

She asserted that Chail was exercising voluntary decision-making and had a ‘genuinely held purpose’ to get close to the royal family to avenge colonial wrongs.

Chail knew Sarai was an AI chatbot and others might see the relationship as ‘sad or pathetic’, Ms Morgan said.

She said: ‘He knows full well how his activities might be construed by others. He described himself as a “delusional mad bastard”. This is a man grounded in reality and how others might perceive him.’

In the journal, Chail requested the Depeche Mode song Enjoy The Silence at his funeral, described suffering from acne and called the Co-op supermarket where he worked until August 2021 a ‘cesspool of degeneracy’.

He stated: ‘I knew what I was gonna do the whole reason for it all was all a means to THE end. I’ve known what my purpose was gonna be for a very long time.’

Ms Morgan observed: ‘Having a purpose, even if it’s a grandiose one, is not in of itself evidence of psychosis.’

Chail, from Southampton, Hampshire, is being held in Broadmoor maximum security hospital ahead of sentencing. 

The hearing continues.

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A Ukrainian infantryman has revealed how his team is using ‘tiny birds’ to destroy Russian tanks as his homeland shifts to drone warfare.

Valentyn Ilchuk is part of a highly mobile team of military-trained volunteers that has fought in some of the country’s hottest spots in support of larger Ukrainian formations.

He now leads a three-man ‘hunter-killer crew’ using first-person view (FPV) kamikaze strike drones loaded with high explosives, capable of taking out targets far behind Russian lines.

The former University of Warwick exchange student told Metro.co.uk he has had British donations to his crowdfunder for the rapid provision of drones to his team in the south-eastern Zaporizhzhia region, one of the areas of the Ukrainian counter-offensive against Russian forces.

His crew has been using equipment such as DJI Mavic quadcopters and heavy-duty ‘agro-drones’ which are used as bombers. They are also trained to fly winged unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and have used one that had previously been used to smuggle cigarettes into Romania.

Using high levels of improvisation, they adapt the drones to deploy grenades or larger payloads, depending on the target.

The team leader said: ‘Drones have become an amazing tool for small groups like us to hit the Russians where it hurts.

‘Usually we would work alongside artillery or mortar teams, but now with FPV drones we can do the strikes ourselves, which works miracles.

‘Using the virtual reality goggles for first-person view we can fly the drones into the target where they successfully explode.

‘It is really changing the face of warfare right now.

‘One of those tiny birds costing 500 bucks can take out a tank or a Grad [missile launcher], not in one hit, but by severely damaging it or immobilising it at the very least.

‘If you ask me what war will be like in five to 10 years, there will be far fewer rifles. Sometimes we joke about having to drag our rifles around with us, because in half a year we haven’t shot them once. This is the future of warfare; shooting drones at each other rather than bullets or shells.’

The FPV drones are kamikaze weapons to which the soldiers attach various types of improvised explosive devices.

Mr Illchuk is crowdsourcing for equipment, which includes control boards, batteries, chargers, munitions and ground station software and hardware. In an appeal on Facebook he described his ‘hunter-killer crew’ as ‘eagerly trying to upgrade and resupply’.

A blurb on the fundraising page reads: ‘Imagine how many losses there would be if we stormed these targets with manpower.’

The appeal has so far raised around $25k (£20k) from a $45k (£36k) target sourced from donations from across the world, including the UK.

Mr Ilchuk explained: ‘We usually fly behind the Russian frontline and go deeper in. They have a system where they report back so the radio warfare part of the Russian army can try to bring us down by jamming our signals. It’s a two-stage war. One is carrying the payload to where it needs to hit and not be hit in the process and the other is to break through the jamming.

‘In the south there is barely any urban combat as usually a contested village is just rubble. To prepare for advances by troops on a position, village or the terrain around it, artillery and drones, and a combination of both, are by far the most effective weapons. This is where military technology is heading and we are evolving along with it.’

The digital agency boss is part of the Thor Squad, which consists of Donbas war veterans who had been in civilian roles before voluntarily mobilising at the start of Vladimir Putin’s disastrous full-scale invasion 18 months ago.

He has previously described taking part in a fierce battle to liberate Lukyanivka on the northern outskirts of Kyiv and expressed his joy at being among forward troops in the liberation of the Kherson region.

The squad’s members have adapted to utilise the aerial technology and are currently working in drone strike teams across Zaporizhzhia.

A video of one successful hit shared by Mr Ilchuk, filmed in Donetsk, shows smoke rising from a Russian target in an operation his team carried out alongside UAV operators from the 59th Motorised Brigade.

His wartime service is a far cry from his civilian life as the boss of Zgraya Digital, which specialises in websites, apps and branding.

He studied International Business and Marketing at the University of Richmond in the US, which included an exchange term at Warwick in 2005.

The Thor Squad, which has been in Zaporizhzhia since late November, is registered with the police so it can lawfully fight and is used as a task force, which includes combat, reconnaissance and support missions.

Drone warfare has rapidly become an integral tool for the versatile Ukrainian military in its efforts to drive out the invasion forces.

Damage has been inflicted far behind enemy lines, with repeated attacks on Moscow and on air bases and other military targets deep inside Russia.

On the battlefield, Ukrainian forces are continuing offensive operations in at least two sectors of the eastern front, the US Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said yesterday. Kyiv’s forces were said by the research group to have advanced near the shattered city of Bakhmut, along the Adviivka-Donetsk City line and in the west of the Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

Putin is attempting to shore up ammunition for his war with the visit of North Korean ruler Kim Jong-un to Russia.

They are likely to discuss the provision of artillery munitions to the Kremlin’s forces, according to the ISW.

MORE : Ukrainian soldier vows to ‘fight to end’ after 365 days of war

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Police have confirmed the body of a young boy found in a German river is not that of missing British toddler Ben Needham.

South Yorkshire Police, working with Interpol, revealed a DNA sample taken from a child whose body was pulled from the River Danube in May last year did not come back with a match.

Ben was staying at his grandparents’ farmhouse on the Greek island of Kos when he vanished on July 24, 1991, aged just 21 months.

His heartbroken mum Kerry has been searching for him ever since and was anxiously awaiting updates on the identity of the remains.

After South Yorkshire Police confirmed they are looking into the reports, Ms Needham said: ‘I’m pleased they are looking into it. Every possibility has to be investigated and ruled out.’

But on Wednesday, the force said: ‘South Yorkshire Police, supported by Interpol, has received confirmation that a DNA sample of the body found in the River Danube in Germany does not match that of Ben Needham.

‘Ben’s family has been informed and are being supported.

‘Our thoughts remain with the young boy who is yet to be identified and, of course, the Needham family who continue in their search for answers.’

Interpol previously revealed the deceased child had been weighed down with a flagstone slab and his body wrapped in foil.

He was described as being around 3ft 6ins tall and around 2st 4lbs with brown hair and type O blood.

Interpol DNA Database Manager Francois-Xavier Laurent told local media last week: ‘We have received 33 hints from the public.’

He added: ‘We can now assume that this boy was probably not German.’

British police have previously said it is their ‘professional belief’ Ben was killed in an accident involving a large digger being used to clear land behind the farmhouse that was being renovated.

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The Money Saving Expert has shared valuable advice for students starting or returning to university.

Martin Lewis warned that student maintenance loans are rising far less than inflation in England, which will leave many feeling the squeeze.

He’s shared eight tips in his newsletter which explain the current financial situation and will help students make the most of their money.

He said: ‘Millions of undergraduates across the UK are preparing to start or return to university.

‘A good chunk though will see significant financial changes that won’t make easy reading.

‘This is especially true for English students, where the squeeze looks tightest.

‘Perversely, while over the long term, new starters will need to repay up to 50% more than their predecessors, right now for them the biggest practical issue may be that the loan’s too small.’

1. English student maintenance loans are rising far less than inflation

The typical full maintenance support – used to pay for rent and bills, transport, books, food, and other essentials – increases every year, but this year the increase is well below inflation for English students.

This academic year’s support has increased by 2.8% for English students, to a total of £9,978.

Meanwhile, in Wales, the support has increased by 9.4%, to £11,720 a year, by 11% in Scotland to £9,000 per year, and in Northern Ireland by 27% to £8,136 per year.

Martin explains: ‘Contrast these to inflation, the rate at which prices rise. On the lowest measure, it was over 10% when the new English loans were announced and is still currently 6.8% year on year.

‘So this is a real-terms cut that will be a blow to many English students already close to the affordability bone – in fact, the government’s own assessment shows that in real terms the loan has been cut 11% to 15% compared to three years ago.’

2. The hidden parental contribution for English, Scottish and Northern Irish students

The amount of maintenance support a student gets is dependent on a means test of their family’s income. This usually includes parents, but sometimes also includes step-parents.

The higher their family’s income, the less support the state gives, implying parents will support their student children.

However, parents cannot be forced to fill the gap – so it’s crucial students speak to their parents ahead of time about how much financial support they may or may not be able to give.

3. New English students are on the brand new ‘Plan 5’ student loans

They’re a bit different to previous student loan plans, but some of the key points Martin highlights include:

• The student loan price tag can be £60,000, but that’s not the cost
• The amount you borrow isn’t the key factor, as the loan works more like a graduate tax
• Interest is added, but there’s no ‘real’ cost to it, and not everyone pays it
• The cost from 2023 will be substantially higher than for previous generations – many will repay up to 50% more

4. Things are staying much the same for Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish students

If you started university in or before 2022, your student loan system won’t be substantially changing.

How it works will depend on when you started university and which country you live in.

5. Make banks fight for your student account

Banks love students because they hope you’ll remain a customer for life.

That’s not a good idea – but Martin recommends getting the most you possibly can out of a student account.

Top offers at some of the student bank accounts this year include a £1,500 0% overdraft, or a free four-year railcard.

6. How to budget

A simple maxim for working people is ‘don’t spend more than you earn’ – but how do you know how much you actually earn as a student?

Martin recommends combining your student loan, any grants, money from parents, and any income from a job as your income – and not including your overdraft in the total.

7. Sort out your household – TV licence, council tax, and insurance

You may not need to pay for home or contents insurance, as you might be covered by your parents’ policies.

You also might be able to avoid paying the licence fee, as there is a student loophole.

Students are exempt from paying council tax, but you have to tell the council that you’re a student to avoid the bills arriving.

8. Make the most of student discounts

There are loads of discount and loyalty schemes out there for students, to help you save a bit of cash.

Martin recommends a few offers, including six months of free Amazon Prime, £10 off £75 at Ikea, free Microsoft Office, and 10% off Apple products, which should help kit out your student flat.

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Three adults who police want to speak to over the death of 10-year-old Sara Sharif are returning to the UK from Pakistan.

Sara’s father, Urfan Sharif, 41, along with his wife Beinash Batool, 29, and his brother, Faisal Malik, have been identified by police as people they want to speak to as part of their investigation.

Sharif traveled to Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital, with Batool and Malik on August 9, bringing Sara’s five siblings with them.

The 10-year-old was found dead at her home in Woking, Surrey, last month, sparking a murder investigation.

A post-mortem examination earlier this week found she had suffered ‘extensive injuries’ suffered over a ‘sustained and extended period of time’.

Sialkot police spokesperson Khan Mudassir said three people had been arrested and flown to the UK, the Associated Press reported.

He said the three were handed over to the Federal Investigation Agency, which flew them to Britain from Sialkot in eastern Punjab province.

She was living with her father, Urfan Sharif, 41 and his partner, Beinash Batool, 29, who reportedly left the UK along with Mr Sharif’s brother, Faisal Malik, the day before her body was found.

The exact nature of Sara’s injuries have not been fully disclosed, though Sara’s mum, Olga, described severe bruising and swelling on her daughter’s face when she went to identify her.

Speaking to Polish broadcaster TVN on Wednesday, Sara’s grandmother, Sylwia Kurz, said: ‘It wasn’t Sara [anymore], she was entirely changed and bruised.

‘If someone hadn’t told me it was Sara, I would have never believed it.’

Sara and her brother lived with their mother from 2015 to 2019, when a family court ruled they should live with Mr Sharif.

Olga told TVN: ‘One of her cheeks was swollen and the other side was bruised.

‘Even now, when I close my eyes I can see what my baby looked like.’

Sara’s mum had equal rights to spend time with her kids but said it became harder to maintain contact over time.

In a video shared with Sky News, Sara’s step-mum, Ms Batool said her side of the family is willing to cooperate with British police and ‘fight our case in court’.

She could be heard to say: ‘Firstly, I would like to talk about Sara. Sara’s death was an incident. Our family in Pakistan are severely affected by all that is going on.

‘All the media have been giving wrong statements and making up lies.

‘All of our family members have gone into hiding as everyone is scared for their safety.

‘The groceries have run out and there is no food for the kids as the adults are unable to leave their homes out of fear for safety.’

Surrey Police have expressed concern over the ‘welfare’ of ‘five children who travelled to Pakistan on August 9’, believed to be a group of youngsters aged between one and 13 years old who travelled with Mr Sharif and Ms Batool.

MORE : Five children taken from UK by Sara Sharif’s dad temporarily taken into care

MORE : Friend of Sara Sharif’s parents allegedly urged them to flee UK after her death

MORE : Sara Sharif’s grandfather and uncles detained by police in Pakistan

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The Range has agreed on a multi-million-pound deal to buy the Wilko brand after talks with the collapsed retailer’s administrators, it has been reported.

The move, which is said to be announced by administrators PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) later today, means the brand will not disappear from the high street but instead be seen in The Range’s stores.

It comes just a few days after Poundland owner Pepco said it will buy up to 71 Wilko stores, following a series of failed deals, it’s been announced.

Pepco has announced the ex-Wilko branches will be rebranded as Poundland stores, and hope to reopen the closed branches by the end of 2023.

Rival bargain chain B&M has also agreed to buy 51 of Wilko’s buildings in a £13m deal, which will also not be operating under the WIlko brand.

Just yesterday it was announced that more than 9,000 more people are set to be made redundant after attempts to reach a rescue deal had failed.

Administrators said a further 9,100 people will be made redundant by early October.

52 branches of the high street store are set to close this week, but now all shops will close next month.

A rescue deal that could have saved 300 branches under Doug Putman, the billionaire owner of HMV, fell through yesterday.

Earlier today in Westminster the Prime Minister has pledged full support for those impacted by Wilko’s collapse and its resulting lay-offs.

The retailer, founded in Leicester in 1930, plunged into administration last month after struggling with losses.

Earlier this week, administrators confirmed all Wilko’s remaining shop, warehouse and support centre workers are set to lose their jobs after failing to secure a rescue deal.

Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions, Mr Clarke-Smith said: ‘This week we were hit by the devastating news that all Wilko stores would be closing, meaning the loss of 12,500 jobs.

‘Bassetlaw and Worksop are the home of Wilko’s HQ and a distribution centre, with 1,500 jobs set to go.’

After arguing that ‘Wilko has been mismanaged for years’, he added: ‘Can the Prime Minister reassure my constituents and all those nationally affected by the demise of Wilko that he and the Government will do everything in their power to help support people into jobs and make sure their redundancies and pensions are protected, and that we will take whatever action is available to us to hold the ownership to account?’

The PM replied: ‘As he knows, some of the topics that he raised will be commercial matters for the company.

‘I do know that this is a concerning time for workers at Wilko. The Business Secretary is keeping close to developments and we have already started supporting those who have been made redundant, and we stand ready to support others to the fullest of our abilities.’

MORE : I tried to spend £20 in the Wilko closing down sale – and failed miserably

MORE : Another 9,100 Wilko staff will be made redundant after rescue deal fails

MORE : Full list of Wilko stores set to become Poundland shops

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A man is being held on suspicion of murder after a woman was shot dead.

Norfolk Police said officers were called shortly before 7.30am on Monday to a report that a woman’s body had been found at a property in Lady’s Drove, Emneth in Norfolk.

She has been provisionally identified as Lesley Page, 65, police said, with her provisional cause of death recorded as gunshot wounds to the torso.

A man in his 60s was arrested on suspicion of murder on Monday, police said.

He is being held at King’s Lynn Police Investigation Centre and officers have been granted an additional 36 hours to question him after making an application at Norwich Magistrates’ Court.

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A walker was trampled to death by a herd of cows as she led her dogs through a farmland field, police have said.

The woman was walking her dogs on a public path through the field of 40 cows when the incident happened.

The tragedy happened in the countryside near the village of Guilsfield, Welshpool, on the evening of September 1.

Dyfed-Powys Police said the woman’s family had been informed and the Health and Safety Executive were notified.

A HSE spokesperson added: ‘We are aware of this incident and making enquiries.’

It is not the only cow-related incident in Wales in recent years. In 2021 a woman was badly injured when she was attacked by a herd of cows that have free rein in a Welsh village.

The tourist, who is in her 30s, was left with a broken arm when the cow flicked its head and hit her.

People in the village of Southgate on the Gower peninsula, south Wales, have been warned in the past that the cows are becoming more comfortable with humans.

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The UK may be facing a ban on disposable vapes in a bid to protect the health of children – amid concerns many of the products target youngsters.

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health has called for a ban on disposable vapes, warning that ‘youth vaping is fast becoming an epidemic among children’, and that ‘e-cigarettes are not a risk-free product and can be just as addictive, if not more so than traditional cigarettes’..

Science and Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan told Sky News: ‘We have been looking into this and have been doing a review because this is a very worrying trend that we’re seeing of young children taking up vaping that had never smoked before, and it is extremely dangerous to their health and their wellbeing.

‘It’s something that we do need to act on and, as a Government, what we’re trying to do is recognise what are the key challenges and grip them.’

If the ban goes ahead the UK will join a list of countries where vaping is partially or completely banned.

But where else in the world are vapes a no-no? Here’s what you need to know…

Where in the world is vaping banned?

Disposable vapes are banned in the following countries:

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Argentina
• Bhutan
• Brazil
• Brunei
• Cambodia
• China
• East Timor
• Ethiopia
• Gambia
• Hong Kong
• India
• Iran
• Iraq
• Lebanon
• Malaysia (four states: Penang, Jodoh, Kedah and Kelantan)

• Mauritius
• Mexico
• Nepal
• Nicaragua
• North Korea
• Palestine
• Qatar
• Seychelles
• Singapore
• Sri Lanka
• Syria
• Thailand
• Turkmenistan
• Uganda
• Uruguay

Possessing or using nicotine e-liquid is also a no-no in Australia, Ghana, South Africa and other parts of Malaysia unless prescribed by a doctor.

Which countries have restrictions on vaping?

While not banned outright, some other countries have placed restrictions on vaping.

In Spain (including Ibiza, all the Balearic islands and the Canary Islands), for example, vaping is banned in all indoor state-owned public places, on public transport and in certain outdoor places such as parks and some beaches. 

All 10 of Barcelona’s beaches are vape and smoke-free, along with 28 in the Balearic islands) and those who flout the law face a fine.

In Turkey, the sale of vapes is illegal but you can bring your own e-cigarettes into the country and use them.

However, you’ll have to do it in private as vaping in public buildings such as schools, hospitals and government offices is banned – as is vaping on public transport.

Where is vaping legal?

If a country is not listed above then vaping is either legal there or it does not have any specific laws relating to vapes.

However, many places will have some rules and regulations around vapes and these can vary from one place to the next.

In some for example, only quantities below 20mg or ml are legal, while others, including most of those in Europe, have minimum age restrictions – generally 18, although it’s higher in some countries – for example 19 in Jordan and 21 in the Philippines.

Other countries have placed bans or restrictions on the advertising of vapes, or have placed restrictions on which flavours can be sold – while even in places where it’s legal, laws may exist such as bans on sparking up in certain buildings, or on public transport.

And it’s equally possible that vapes could be banned in certain countries where they are currently allowed.

For example, reports have suggested France is considering a plan to ban vapes as part of a national plan to fight smoking – while Ireland is holding a national consultation on whether they should be prohibited.

If you’re planning a trip abroad and you use vapes, you should check the most up-to-date laws in your destination country before you set off to avoid any potential issues while you are there.

MORE : Over half of British smokers now believe vapes are just as harmful as cigarettes

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A man has been arrested in connection with a horrifying American XL bully dog attack on an 11-year-old girl.

Schoolgirl Ana Paun was ‘ferociously’ savaged by the animal as she walked to the shops with her sister Geneza, 18, in Bordesley Green, Birmingham, on Saturday.

Police have now arrested a 60-year-old man on suspicion of possessing a dog dangerously out of control.

West Midlands Police said today: ‘He has been bailed with conditions while enquiries continue.’

Officers also said the dog, which is an American XL bully XL and Staffordshire bull terrier crossbreed puppy, remains in secure kennels.

The shocking incident left young Ana with bad injuries and ‘too frightened to leave home’ – and she says she wants the dog to be put down.

Recalling the attack, Ana told how the dog ‘just came at me out of nowhere’ after breaking free from its collar.

She told MailOnline: ‘The dog stared at me and as I got closer it suddenly jumped up and bit my arm.

‘It didn’t take its gaze off me and continued staring while it was biting.

‘It sort of locked on my arm and wouldn’t let go. I was screaming as loud as I could.’

Cops also previously praised the bravery of the people who intervened to help Ana.

Two men who came to her aide were also bitten and left with injuries to their shoulders and arms after the dog broke free from its collar twice.

They were taken to hospital to be treated for their wounds – the force said Ana sustained similar injuries not thought to be life-threatening.

In a statement issued on Monday, West Midlands Police said: ‘The dog was seized by officers and taken to a vet suffering from heat exhaustion.

‘He has now been taken into secure kennels and our dog unit will consider what will happen to it.

‘The dog’s owner is currently in hospital and we will be speaking to him in due course.

‘This was an alarming and shocking incident on a busy road in high temperatures and members of the public showed immense courage in tackling such a ferocious dog.

‘We are taking statements from the victims and witnesses, and will have increased patrols in the area for anyone who would like to speak to us.’

The incident prompted Home Secretary Suella Braverman to seek ‘urgent advice’ on whether the breed should be banned.

This specific breed has been linked to nine deaths – including three children – since 2021.

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A 12-year-old girl was given detention by her school for ‘not wearing a jumper’ under her school blazer on one of the hottest days of the year.

Ruby Reid attends Rivers Academy West London in Feltham, West London, and was told off at the gates despite the 28C heat last Thursday.

Her parents Carrie-anne and David Vickers have been left angry and claim the teachers were wearing summer outfits.

The school now claims rules were relaxed later in the day after Ruby’s arrival even though she later ended up in detention.

Stepdad David, 39, said: ‘Ruby was really upset – she’s only young and doesn’t have much of a voice, so she just had to go with it.

‘It would have been incredibly easy for someone to pass out in that temperature – or even lose their life if they got too dehydrated.

‘I couldn’t believe it – I phoned up the school when she got home and was told it’s the “head’s policy” and they needed to enforce it.

‘The next day they weren’t threatening breaktime detentions, but full 90 minute detentions instead – and the head was stood at the gates enforcing it himself.

‘I can’t see any logic in it, but hearing from other parents, apparently this school has a history of this.

‘It’s just completely inappropriate.’

The school denies the 90 minute threat was issued, and claims no pupils were told they’d have to wear jumpers and blazers ‘all day’.

Rivers Academy’s website states it has ‘the very highest expectations in terms of uniform, behaviour, attendance and punctuality’.

David said he now has no choice but to lodge an official complaint against the school.

He said: ‘I don’t know what the reason is – I don’t know if the rule is intended to cause harm.

‘But in severe cases it could even have led to lives lost.

‘There are many good things about this school, but the uniform policy isn’t one of them.’

Carrie-anne said: ‘I felt angry, shocked and disgusted when I heard about it.

‘The school know these children are young and vulnerable, my daughter was essentially punished just for not wanting to put her jumper on.

‘It’s beyond belief, it feels draconian.

‘It’s not an isolated incident and it’s strange nothing is being done – if we have to be that voice to speak up for change then we will be.’

A spokesperson for Rivers Academy said: ‘At Rivers Academy we believe that our Academy uniform provides a sense of belonging and self-worth, which are central to our guiding principles. Our students take pride in their appearance and we hope that by instilling these values, we are preparing them for the professional expectations of the world of work.

‘We asked students to arrive in full uniform on the day in question but by 10am, in accordance with our protocol, we’d informed them that the Academy had moved to a “no jumper day.” This meant that all pupils could remove jumpers and blazers in the classroom so as to be able to learn comfortably in the unseasonable heat.

‘No students were told on either day by the principal or any other member of staff that they’d have to wear jumpers and blazers all day and there is no 90 minute sanction for uniform infringements.

‘Our guidelines apply to staff who lead by example. Staff members were also invited to remove jackets from 10am. It is possible that visitors to the school after that time would encounter staff without jackets.

‘Uniform is a key discipline. Our policy and our expectations are clearly set out for all pupils joining the Academy. In instances where uniform requirements are breached we are able to lend brand new or freshly laundered items which will allow students to attend lessons.’

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Pints served at venues owned by the UK’s biggest pub chain will cost more at busy times, after the introduction of a ‘dynamic pricing’ system.

Stonegate’s decision to bring in the scheme, which will increase or decrease the price of drinks at its sites depending on demand, has been met with criticism by customers on social media and a campaign group for pubgoers.

The company is the owner of Slug & Lettuce, Yates and Craft Union bars, with more than 4,500 venues across the country. Dynamic pricing has reportedly come into effect at 800 of them.

According to the Telegraph, one central London pub was increasing the cost of a pint by 20p on weekends.

Small notices placed on tables in the pubs read: ‘Dynamic pricing is currently live in this venue during this peak trading session.’

The sign says the cost increases will pay for bar staff, licencing requirements and extra cleaning.

People reacted angrily to the scheme online, with one social media user saying: ‘If they push on with this there will be no such thing as a busy Stonegate pub.’

Tom Stainer, chief executive of the Campaign for Real Ale, told the Financial Times: ‘We know pubs and brewers are having a difficult time at the moment, but we don’t think an extra charge penalising customers that want to support the industry is the right solution.’

It’s not the first time the chain has brought in movable prices according to how busy they are – a similar system was used while venues were showing matches during the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

Customers were charged up to 50p more per pint when England matches were shown at certain pubs.

Dynamic pricing is also widely used in the airline and hotel industry, and ride sharing app Uber uses it to decide how much passengers should be charged.

Particular attention has been drawn to Ticketmaster’s use of the system to fluctuate the price of concert tickets, with Cure frontman Robert Smith describing it as ‘a bit of a scam’ earlier this year.

A spokesperson for Stonegate said dynamic pricing allows pubs to offer ‘a range of promotions’ such as ‘happy hours, two-for-one cocktails, and discounts on food and drink products at different times on different days throughout the week’.

They added: ‘This flexibility may mean that on occasions pricing may marginally increase in selective pubs and bars due to the increased cost demands on the business with additional staffing or licensing requirements such as additional door team members.’

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Police have charged a woman with the murder of a pub landlord after he was stabbed to death.

Matthew Bryant was discovered with life-threatening injuries outside the Hare and Hounds, in Maidstone, Kent, following a stabbing.

Police rushed to the pub on Lower Boxley Road at around 6pm on Monday.

Paramedics administered medical treatment but he was pronounced dead shortly after.

Stephane Langley, 54, has been remanded in custody and is due to appear before Medway Magistrates’ Court later today.

Following the tragic death, people have paid respect to the landlord who took over the Hare and Hounds in 2015.

He had been a pub landlord for 25 years and also had long experience as a door supervisor, off and on for 30 years, it was reported by Kent Online.

A Kent Police spokesperson said: ‘The woman, who was known to the victim, was taken into custody and an investigation commenced by the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate.

‘In the early hours of Wednesday 13 September, the Crown Prosecution Service authorised a charge of murder against Stephane Langley, of Wilsons Lane, Maidstone.

‘She was also charged with a count of possessing a knife in a public place.

‘The 54-year-old has been remanded in custody and will appear before Medway Magistrates’ Court later the same day.’

This is a breaking news story, more to follow soon… Check back shortly for further updates.

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Thousands of homes across London have been left with low water pressure or no supply at all following an issue at Thames Water today.

The water provider has apologised to its customers, saying that a ‘power supply problem’ caused the issue.

‘We’re really sorry if you have low pressure or no water. It’s been caused by a power supply problem which has affected our Ashford and Hampton water treatment works in west London,’ a message on their website said.

‘We’re working hard to fix the issue and to get things back to normal.’

As the company revealed in an updated statement this afternoon, the power issue is fixed but ‘it’s likely to take some time for the supply system to refill and for water to fully return to the whole area’.

Is your postcode one of those affected? Here’s what you need to know…

Which postcodes are affected by the Thames Water outage?

Thames Water has said 54 postcodes in London are affected by the current problem.

These stretch across all parts of the capital, from Central London as far as parts of Croydon.

The affected postcodes are as follows:

When will the supply return to normal?

Thames Water has not given any indication as to when the supply might return to normal.

They have advised customers that they will provide further updates on their website as soon as they have more information.

You can also keep an eye on Twitter for updates here.

MORE : Thames Water says it needs another £2,500,000,000 by 2030 to survive

MORE : Protests outside London shop after employee ‘strangled’ suspected thief

MORE : You could get on the London property ladder for £215,000 – but there’s a catch

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The Conservative Party had to pull two of its MP candidates after M15 said they may be a security risk to the country, it has been reported.

They were allegedly scrapped from the Tories’ central list of future hopefuls after M15 issued its warning in 2021 and 2022.

The Times quoted a source saying: ‘It was made very clear that they posed a risk.

‘They were subsequently blocked from the candidates list. They weren’t told why.’

The Conservative Party said: ‘When we receive credible information regarding security concerns over potential candidates we act upon them.’

It comes as ministers continue to face questions about allegations of espionage in Westminster after the arrest of a parliamentary researcher on suspicion of spying for Beijing.

The researcher, who had links with senior Tories including security minister Tom Tugendhat and Foreign Affairs Committee chair Alicia Kearns, was arrested back in March – but it went undisclosed until last weekend.

The arrest under the Official Secrets Act led to the Prime Minister confronting Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the G20 summit in India on Sunday.

During PMQs today, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer pressed Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on whether Foreign Secretary James Cleverly had raised this specific case when he vistied China last month.

Sir Keir said: ‘When I asked the Prime Minister on Monday whether the Foreign Secretary raised the specific issue of the alleged spy arrested in March when he visited China a few weeks ago, the Prime Minister would only say that he raised that “type of activity” but avoided specifics.

‘So, I ask the Prime Minister again, did the foreign secretary raise this specific case when he visited China, yes or no?’

Mr Sunak responded: ‘I refer Sir Keir to my previous answer where I said very clearly that the Foreign Secretary raised these issues with the Chinese foreign minister who he met, as did I when I had my meeting with premier Li Qiang over the weekend.’

The PM slammed the ‘unacceptable’ interference in democracy in his brief meeting with the premier yesterday.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman and Mr Tugendhat are pushing for China to be relabelled as a threat to Britain’s safety and interests under new national security laws, the Times reported.

Anyone working at the direction of China or a state-linked firm would have to register and disclose their activities or risk jail under the plans.

Sir Iain Duncan Smith, the former party leader who has been sanctioned by Beijing, was among the Tories pressing the Prime Minister to strengthen his language towards China.

He hit out at the ‘weak’ position of not labelling China a threat, and said: ‘The result is that China is penetrating all our institutions from universities to Parliament.

‘Time to speak through strength not weakness.’

But justice secretary Alex Chalk defended the prime minister to the BBC.

He said: ‘You cannot wish away China – China is the world’s second-biggest economy.

 ‘It would be wrong to totally disengage and, incidentally, our other G7 allies – if you look at France, if you look at Germany – they’re adopting a similar approach as well.

‘So of course there are plenty of things taking place in China which we are right to raise with the Chinese.

‘We will always uphold our values as a rule of law nation, as a nation that believes in fundamental human rights and we won’t be afraid to assert them.

‘But it would be quite wrong to pretend they (China) don’t exist and don’t engage. Given that livelihoods in our country depend on what happens in Beijing, it’s right to engage.’

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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex appeared on stage together at Invictus Games in Dusseldorf, Germany.

Meghan Markle described the games as an ‘amazing event’ -and apologised for running slightly late.

‘It’s so special to be here and I’m sorry I’m a little late for the party,’ she said.

‘I had to spend a little more time getting our little ones settled at home and get them to drop off.

‘Three milkshakes and a school drop-off and I just landed a couple of hours ago, and I am thrilled that the first event I can do for Invictus is here with all of you.

‘It’s amazing and I hear it has got off to a good start so far.’

The duchess said she was ‘thrilled’ to be a part of the event, and welcomed competitors and fans as her ‘Invictus family’.

She said: ‘I’m really proud to be a part of this Invictus family with all of you – I’m grateful for all of you here.’

The duchess added she would one day like to bring her children to the games.

Meghan travelled from the Sussexes’ home in California to the German city, where Harry launched the sporting event for wounded military personnel and veterans on Saturday night.

The couple appeared in public together for the first time at the Toronto Invictus Games in 2017, pictured hand in hand at a wheelchair tennis event.

It is likely that Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland is looking after the Sussexes’ young children Archie and Lilibet at their home in Montecito, California.

Harry was pictured earlier on Tuesday sharing a joke with TV presenter and Invictus Games medalist JJ Chalmers during the wheelchair basketball competition, after taking part in some ‘seat dancing’.

On Monday, Harry, the founding patron of the Invictus Games, warmly embraced a wheelchair rugby player by kissing him on the head.

He watched matches in an eight-team wheelchair rugby knockout tournament, then presented medals and spoke to players after Team USA defeated the United Kingdom 21-13 in the final.

His attendance at the games comes after a brief visit to the UK, where he attended the WellChild Awards and visited St George’s Chapel in Windsor on the anniversary of the death of his grandmother, the late Queen.

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Thousands of homes across London have either been left without running water or are experiencing low pressure.

Properties in the west and south west of the capital are affected, according to Thames Water.

Several schools have reportedly also been forced to close and are resorting to online learning for the day.

The water provider has apologised to its customers and says the issue has been caused by a ‘power supply problem’.

A Thames Water spokesman said on X, previously known as Twitter: ‘Following a power issue in West London some customers have no water or low pressure this morning.

‘We’re sorry for the disruption and we are working hard to fix the issue.’

The following postcodes are currently affected: SW4, SW8, SW9, SW13, SW14, SW15, SW18, SW19, TW1, TW2, TW3, TW4, TW5, TW7, TW8, TW9, TW10, TW11, TW12, TW13, TW14, TW17, W1H, W1H, W1M, W1N, W2, W3, W4, W6, W7, W10, W12, W13, W14.

MP for Twickenham, Munira Wilson, confirmed a number of schools have been unable to open this morning due to ‘lack of water’.

She said that Thames Water ‘need to sort this soon’.

Ms Wilson wrote on X: ‘I’m trying to get more information for local residents and alarmed that schools are having to close because of this issue.’

Local businesses are also understood to be severely impacted.

Thames Water added on its website: ‘It’s been caused by a power supply problem which has affected our Ashford and Hampton water treatment works in west London.’

The power supply has since been turned back on but could still take some time for the impacted areas to see a full return of water services.

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A doctor had sex with multiple women in his GP practice including with a ‘vulnerable’ colleague, a tribunal was told.

Tom Plimmer, 40, has been accused of forcing a woman into weekly sex sessions at the surgery in Swindon, Wiltshire.

At least five others have also accused the 40-year-old of inviting them to the practice for sex acts during working hours, the Medical Practitioners Tribunal heard.

He is accused of sending one woman unsolicited pictures of his genitals which were taken at work, The Sun reports.

The tribunal also heard he threatened another women, saying if the ‘c*** takes me to the GMC, I’ll slit her throat’.

It is also alleged he lied about his mum and brother being ill, so he could avoid one woman in order to see another instead.

His relationship with his colleague began over an ‘innuendo about a chocolate rabbit’, the tribunal heard.

In May 2018, Plimmer ‘without warning’ showed her a video of him having sex with another woman.

He then tried to ‘kiss’ and ‘touch’ her, and would ‘come into her room with his trousers undone and flirt with her’, Mark Monaghan, presenting the case on behalf of the General Medical Council said.

The woman also claimed she walked in on Plimmer performing sex acts in his consulting room multiple times.

Mr Monaghan argued Plimmer knew the colleague was ‘vulnerable’ and ‘abused his position’.

He described one instance when Plimmer ‘put his arm around her’ when she was ‘clearly distressed’ and led her into his consulting room to ‘cheer her up’.

He then put his hands on her genitals, the tribunal was told.

Plimmer admits he would frequently send her explicit videos, but insists the sexual behaviour was ‘always consensual’.

The Cambridge-educated doctor met a second woman on a dating app before bringing her to his consulting room on January 3.

He made her a mug of tea and locked the door before she performed a sex act on him, the tribunal heard.

The woman said she felt ‘uncomfortable’ because she could ‘hear people walk past’, Mr Monaghan said.

In May 2018, Plimmer met a third woman, and went to watch tennis Wimbledon, the tribunal was also told.

He then started ‘making excuses’ to stop seeing her, including his mother had suffered ‘several serious strokes’.

‘These excuses were deliberate lies to allow him to juggle and see other women instead,’ Mr Monaghan argued.

After the pair had been together for two years in May 2020, the woman was invited to Plimmer’s practice and they had sex during work hours, it was claimed.

By this time Plimmer had already been living with another, fourth, woman who he met in January 2019.

He had cancelled several dates with her, claiming his brother was sick in hospital, even sending photos and ‘play by play’ updates on his brother’s alleged conditions, the tribunal heard.

A fifth woman who he also met on a dating site in 2021 claimed he would send photos of his genitals which were taken at work.

A sixth woman alleged he threatened to cut her throat.

The tribunal continues.

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