Portugal's Defense Minister Nuno Melo has reignited a long-standing territorial dispute claiming that the Spanish town of Olivenza rightfully belongs to Portugal and asserting that the country will not relinquish its claim.  about 60 kilometers (37.2 miles) from the Portuguese border Olivenza has been a point of contention between the two nations for centuries Referring to the 1297 Treaty of Alcanices between the Kingdoms of Castile and Portugal Olivenza should be handed over to the Portuguese State," adding it is "not a question of yesterday signed in 1297 between the Kingdoms of Castile and Portugal established new borders and transferred the town of Olivenza to Portugal Olivenza was recaptured by Spain and remains under Spanish control today The remarks have drawn criticism from both sides of the border the mayor of Olivenza has urged Saturday Melo to abandon "speeches that raise walls and cause divisions," according to local media Andrade emphasized that the residents of Olivenza are proud of their history and content with their current status opposition leader Pedro Nuno Santos of the Socialist Party accused Melo of irresponsible rhetoric warning that such statements could have serious implications for foreign relations The Spanish government has yet to issue a response to Melo’s comments prompted by comments by Portugal’s defence minister","title":"","credits":null,"url":"https://www.thetimes.com/imageserver/image/%2Fmethode%2Ftimes%2Fprod%2Fweb%2Fbin%2F70f3c5d6-61d1-49c7-95a8-fd903328b2ca.jpg?crop=5000%2C3335%2C0%2C0","ratio":"5000:3335","relativeHorizontalOffset":0,"relativeVerticalOffset":0,"relativeWidth":1,"relativeHeight":1},"children":[]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","attributes":{"value":"Portugal and Spain are not obvious candidates for a border war buried ancient enmities in favour of a quieter But old habits die hard on the passionate Iberian peninsula and pulses have been set racing by the vexed issue of Olivenza the infamous border dispute that no one outside Olivenza has paid any serious attention to for just about ever took it upon himself to resurrect in polemical form the great War of the Oranges of 1801 You know the one."},"children":[]}]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","attributes":{"value":"Olivenza depending on which side of the border one hails from is"},"children":[]}]}]},"summary({\"maxCharCount\":200})":{"type":"json","json":[{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","attributes":{"value":"Portugal and Spain are not obvious candidates for a border war The TimesOlivenza is at the centre of a fresh dispute between the neighbouring countries prompted by comments by Portugal’s defence ministerPortugal and Spain are not obvious candidates for a border war Registered in England No. 894646. Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, SE1 9GF. Like a boat stranded at sea, asymmetric precast concrete tiles and grilles mechanized on either side, given the extreme boundary condition of the site, the far horizons marked by the agricultural simplification of vegetation, the building emerges as a local and urban reference. Like an Atlantean who steps forward vigorously, the Olivenza ITC is established as a local community center as essentially public space for the neighborhood You'll now receive updates based on what you follow Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors If you have done all of this and still can't find the email The TimesA quiet town on the Portuguese-Spanish border has once again found itself at the centre of a dispute between the two countries that has dragged on for 200 years has rekindled a diplomatic row over the contested sovereignty of Olivenza Though the town and its 12,000 inhabitants have been under Spanish control since 1801 some Portuguese groups claim it should have been handed back to them 16 years later Olivenza should be handed over to the Portuguese state.” said he was not speaking on behalf of the government but of his own partyHORACIO VILLALOBOS/CORBIS VIA GETTY IMAGESPortuguese campaigners have long compared their claim to Olivenza Extremadura initially drew me in with its almost obstinate lack of glamour; with the extreme hardness of its name vast austere landscapes and granite-built villages seemed oddly resistant to the idea of tourism and to some extent I found this ambivalence seductive Despite preaching the virtues of slow travel for me travelling had too often meant being elsewhere Fields near Monasterio RocamadorMarina DenisovaThe pandemic I found myself finally exploring my home region with vigour – heading out towards meandering country lanes I first drove eastwards into the county of La Vera where the summer heat had released torrents of snowmelt from the Gredos mountains which coursed through stone gorges studded with secret bathing pools Emperor Charles V chose the verdant hills outside Cuacos de Yuste as the site of his monastery and retirement home I found vine-covered cloisters and arches; cherry trees One day I took a trip on a motor-launch boat from the village of La Pesga along the River Ambroz and into the great lake of Gabriel y Galán Olive groves and oak woods were racked up the hillsides above the water If Extremadura has a reputation for dust and drought the view reminded me of a lesser-known fact: that the region has a greater length of coastline than any of Spain’s 17 autonomous communities if the definition includes the shores of lakes Exterior of Monasterio RocamadorMarina DenisovaFrom La Pesga reacquainting myself with sights I hadn’t laid eyes on for years the famous conquistador town on a crag rising like a citadel from the plateau; the Guadalupe monastery – mothership of the Spanish enterprise in the New World and home to Extremadura’s single greatest artistic treasure eight blindingly beautiful portraits of monks in rigorous chiaroscuro by the great religious painter Francisco de Zurbarán centuries of flip-flopping between Portuguese and Spanish domination have left a bewitching mélange of blue-painted tiles twisty barley-sugar columns and churches whitewashed as a bulwark against the relentless heat of the Extremeño summer Around the town sprawls the vastness of the dehesa a semi-cultivated woodland of pasture and holm oaks troops of black-footed Ibérico pigs can be seen roaming the dehesa as they gorge on sweet acorns – the irreplaceable ingredient of the world’s most delicious and expensive hams Backstreets of OlivenzaMarina DenisovaHistorically Extremadura has had its fair share of disadvantages The ghouls of poverty and social deprivation have dogged it through the ages Mario Camus’ 1984 film The Holy Innocents is a shocking portrait of the virtual slavery in which many farm workers lived on the region’s great aristocratic estates Following a 1922 visit by King Alfonso XIII and doctor Gregorio Marañón to the remote mountains of Las Hurdes it became a cause célèbre and a byword for backwardness Director Luis Buñuel’s documentary about the area bore the sensational if disingenuous subtitle: Tierra Sin Pan trailing the rest of the country in per capita income with an agricultural sector producing industrial quantities of tomatoes It got so used to hearing itself referred to as Spain’s ‘great unknown’ that it almost began to think this cliché was its manifest destiny Casas del Naval seating areaMarina DenisovaAs tourism is such a low priority characterful places to stay have long been few and far between there were only a handful I could wholeheartedly recommend to prospective visitors though happily my recent explorations have brought to light at least two or three more And in Cáceres – a provincial capital of palacios granite churches and convents – there has been a quiet artistic revival The sparkling new wing of a contemporary art museum housing the collection of German-born Spain-based gallerist Helga de Alvear opened its doors last winter on the fringes of the old town with great white spaces hosting challenging work by artists such as Dan Flavin a crumpled simulacrum of a Chinese lamp made of 60,000 crystal beads has become the poster child of Extremadura’s long-delayed cultural awakening Finding a local restaurant with creative modern cooking had been a challenge too – despite the towering presence of Atrio Juan Antonio Pérez and José Polo’s two-Michelin-starred restaurant with rooms in Cáceres which for three decades has been a beacon of fine-dining in Extremadura The region’s traditional food is honest-to-goodness rustic stuff which stands or falls on the exceptional quality of the local beef and lamb; Ibérico hams cheeses such as the gooey Torta del Casar and smoked-pepper pimentón If you’re after rib-sticking plates of migas (fried breadcrumbs) or caldereta (a rich goat or lamb casserole) Egg-yolk confit with Ibérico pork at DrómoMarina DenisovaSo it was a fine surprise when my pandemic potterings turned up a pair of fine little restaurants in the space of a week where local boy Alejandro Hernández is flying the flag for bright and breezy New Extremeño food in the hills of the north stuffed with beef and wild mushrooms and finished with shavings of local sheep’s cheese shows his deference to prime local ingredients as much as to his former employer it has won a richly deserved Michelin star Bedroom at Casas del NavalMarina DenisovaThat evening, I drove out of Badajoz, south and west towards the Andalusian border through wild frontier country finally arriving at Hotel Monasterio Rocamador a 16th-century former monastery with a dreamlike setting on a crag rising out of the dehesa when it was owned by the high-society Dominguín/Bosé family of artists and bullfighters after a renovation spearheaded by local winery Pago de las Encomiendas there was life under the barrel vaults and between the metre-thick walls; New Extremeño cooking and brilliant wines from small-scale local bodegas High summer had arrived promptly in these southern reaches like holding a hairdryer in front of your face I sat on the terrace beside a sublime infinity pool and watched the shadows lengthen across the plains far below the oaks of the dehesa turning a greyish green like the background of some Cinquecento painting A herd of Ibérico pigs snuffled indolently under the trees with a dust-haze hanging over the landscape Extremadura resembled a region slumped in a permanent siesta My backyard wanderings had revealed a region which freshly confident of its natural beauty and cultural wealth might just be standing on the brink of a new era Essential digital access to quality FT journalism on any device Complete digital access to quality FT journalism with expert analysis from industry leaders Complete digital access to quality analysis and expert insights complemented with our award-winning Weekend Print edition Terms & Conditions apply Discover all the plans currently available in your country See why over a million readers pay to read the Financial Times Salutatorian Anh Le urged classmates not to give in to fear or failure because no one knows the unforeseen future,” he said Le spoke during Randolph High School’s graduation ceremonies Sunday on Randolph Memorial Field Valedictorian Rebeccah MacKinnon pointed to the virtues displayed by the locomotive in the children’s story “The Little Engine That Could,” perseverance and a positive attitude Class President Pamela Butz said the diversity of classmates added to what they learned in the classroom “We have learned everyone has something to offer you or to teach you,” she said School Superintendent Richard Silverman noted that more than 90 percent of the graduating class would be continuing their education next year Class Orators Melissa Itzkowitz and Kevin Murphy talked about what the school has given them and what members of the class have given back to the community Murphy said the graduates should continue to give back to the world Fred Hanson may be reached at fhanson@ledger.com Class gift: Renovation of school courtyard in memory of the late school librarian Mary Ann Walker The following students graduated from the high school on Sunday: This is the biggest graduation weekend of the year, with 17 high schools awarding diplomas between Friday and Sunday. See, hear and read our coverage of other schools or check out our EDUCATION tab MASHPEE — Molly Vollmer of Cotuit and Adam Lipper of Mashpee were united in marriage at Christ the King Church by the Rev A reception followed at The Beach Club of Centerville daughter of Mark and Jude Vollmer of Cotuit to the son of Kevin and Denise Lipper of Bridgewater Laura Kheary of Marstons Mills was the bride's maid of honor The bridesmaids were Colleen Jaeger of Plymouth; Caitlin Connolly of Weare sister of the bridegroom; Isabel Hall and Leanne Stone of Wellesley; Judy Solar of Dedham and Elizabeth DeLise of Nashville The ushers were Devin Cashman of Needham; Jason Coleman and Joe Barry of Marstons Mills; Matt Fonstein of Reading and Erik Olivenza of Randolph She is an educator for Plymouth County Extension The bridegroom is a 2003 graduate of the Wentworth Institute of Technology He is an applications engineer for Teledyne-Benthos of Falmouth The couple is planning a delayed honeymoon in Italy Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Padilla may have lost vision in his left eye but the matador has not lost his passion for the sport He will return to the ring in the western town of Olivenza on Sunday "Sunday will feel like a dream come true, after some very hard months, and I'm fully aware that nobody thought I would be back now," Padilla told the New York Times. The gruesome incident that derailed his career unfolded last October 7 at the Fiestas del Pilar in Zaragoza, Spain. Padilla slipped and while momentarily prone on the ground, the bull gored him through his jaw, with the horn emerging from Padilla's left eye socket. The Times reports that after a series of reconstructive facial surgeries with titanium plates and mesh, Padilla is still unable to chew food. Despite losing his left eye, the 38-year-old Padilla vowed to return to the sport and practiced by killing as many as 10 bulls on private farms, the newspaper reports. The matador said his remarkable comeback has the blessing of his wife and children but not everyone in his family. "My parents couldn't understand why I would want to return," he said. Stephen Smith is a managing editor for CBSNews.com based in New York. A Washington, D.C. native, Steve was previously an editorial producer for the Washington Post, and has also worked in Los Angeles, Boston and Tokyo. Copyright ©2025 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Farmers from Sorsogon face the constant challenge of extreme weather conditions which damage their crops. Thanks to the US Government, Bicol University, and the World Food Programme, these farmers can now protect some of their crops through the tunnel-type agriculture. Agricultural crops in the Philippines are frequently at risk due to extreme weather conditions that threaten crop production. The Philippines is the third most disaster-prone country in the world with vulnerabilities to typhoons, volcanic eruptions, and earthquakes. Just recently, Typhoon Glenda (international name: Rammasun) battered the country leaving ten million pesos worth of damages to infrastructure, school facilities, and agriculture. Farmers in the Philippines like Leonardo Bo, Sardito Polo, and Simeo Olivenza from Barangay Macawayan in Irosin, Sorsogon are affected by these weather conditions which have been exacerbated by climate change. This increases the risk of food insecurity in the country. “We did not expect Typhoon Glenda to reach signal number four,” said Polo. “It damaged our crops.” To help minimize crop damage and provide supplemental income to farmers, the World Food Programme, in partnership with Bicol University and funded by the United States Agency for International Development’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA), is enhancing family-based disaster preparedness by providing a small-scale climate smart technology called tunnel-type agriculture to some farmers in Sorsogon. “It challenged us to partner with WFP and USAID because it was also an opportunity for us to be able to expand our horizon and accomplish more because in the university, we have very limited budget,” said Bicol University (BU) Extension Service Director Dr. Leilani D. Pavilando. “But we believe that it’s more important for universities to engage the communities because your presence and your impact would be felt if you do your projects in the communities.” Bicol University provided tunnel-type agriculture technology and training to a total of 200 farmers in the Province of Sorsogon, in the municipalities of Irosin, Sta. Magdalena, Casiguran, and Juban. The brain child of Dr. Pavilando and farmer-scientist Henry Rafael, the tunnel-type agriculture is a protective structure made from steel brace and fine mesh net used to shield crops from extreme weather conditions. It covers a 10 square meter area and meant to serve one family. They also introduced the use of coco coir production waste by-product called coco pit as a mulch or protective layer of the soil instead of the usual polyethylene plastic. “The idea itself is not new,” explained Dr. Pavilando. “We developed a tunnel-type structure which is cheaper than what is usually bought from big companies and adapted it so it could fit the small plots that we were establishing in the middle of the different coconut trees.” The tunnel-type structure can reportedly withstand typhoons of up to signal number three. For typhoons packing winds stronger than that, the structure can be collapsed and kept. “It’s really different when the crops are inside the tunnel-type,” said Bo, who plants chili peppers in his plot. “First of all, my chili peppers are protected from animals like rats, chickens, and birds. Next, it’s protected from extreme heat and rain.” “This is really a big help to us because if not for the tunnel-type, perhaps, there would have been nothing left of our crops because of the typhoon,” said Polo. Aside from the protection from weather conditions which the tunnel-type structure provides, the farmers also get extra income from their small plot. “We introduced to them producing high-value vegetables which is both nutritious and safe, and they could make use of it for additional income,” said Dr. Pavilando. “I interchange the use of my tunnel-type – first I use it as a seedling nursery and then I also plant vegetables,” explained Olivenza. “I plant lettuce and I have also tried cauliflower and broccoli. I earn an income of around Php 2,000 from the lettuce.” As the people of Sorsogon rebuild from the damage caused by Typhoon Glenda, the farmers have already planted new crops confident that some will be protected by the tunnel-type structure given to them. “We are thankful to the donors, to the World Food Programme and BU for their tireless support,” said Bo. “I am also thankful to my companions who constantly fight despite the bad weather. We will not stop because if we stop, our family and the people will have nothing to eat. As I always say, we are fortunate that this is our work because without us farmers, people will go hungry.” We’re sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. We’re working to restore it. Please try again later. Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. A WA woman, 75, has been accused of murdering an 88-year-old woman she was sharing a room with at an aged care home. WA Police allege emergency services received reports of a woman located deceased inside a Port Kennedy aged care home on Olivenza Crescent around 4.10am on Friday. “The victim and accused in this matter were known to one another and have shared a room in the retirement village for four days,” a police spokesman said. Homicide squad officers have since charged the 75-year-old woman with one count of murder. She appeared in Northbridge Magistrates Court on Sunday but did not apply for bail. WA Premier Roger Cook said the incident stemmed from “a disagreement” between two residents. “It’s obviously very distressing for everybody involved, and our hearts go out to the victim and their families,” he said. In a statement, Bethanie confirmed the incident occurred at Bethanie Waters Aged Care Home. “The incident, which occurred on 24 January 2025, has deeply affected our community,” the statement read. “Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family and loved ones of the deceased. Our staff responded quickly and professionally when the alarm was raised, and followed all Bethanie procedures. “We wish to reassure the public that no Bethanie staff were involved in this incident. The safety, wellbeing, and care of our residents remain our highest priority.” \\u201CThe victim and accused in this matter were known to one another and have shared a room in the retirement village for four days,\\u201D a police spokesman said. WA Premier Roger Cook said the incident stemmed from \\u201Ca disagreement\\u201D between two residents. \\u201CIt\\u2019s obviously very distressing for everybody involved, and our hearts go out to the victim and their families,\\u201D he said. \\u201CThe incident, which occurred on 24 January 2025, has deeply affected our community,\\u201D the statement read. \\u201COur heartfelt condolences go out to the family and loved ones of the deceased. Our staff responded quickly and professionally when the alarm was raised, and followed all Bethanie procedures. \\u201CWe wish to reassure the public that no Bethanie staff were involved in this incident. The safety, wellbeing, and care of our residents remain our highest priority.\\u201D Police said they were called to the residence on Olivenza Cres in Port Kennedy around 4.10am on Friday. An 88-year-old woman was found dead at the scene. "The victim and accused in this matter were known to one another and have shared a room in the retirement village for four days," a police spokesperson said. A woman is due to appear in the Northbridge Magistrate’s Court today charged with murder. An older person's hands (file image). (Source: istock.com) A 75-year-old woman has today been charged with the alleged murder of her roommate at a retirement village in Perth. US states push for speed-limiting devices on the cars of dangerous drivers Virginia this year became the first state to agree to give its judges such a tool to deal with the most dangerous drivers on the road Crime and Justice Erin Patterson shared love of mushrooms in online group Three members of a true crime Facebook group Patterson was part of gave evidence on day five of her Supreme Court trial Sean 'Diddy' Combs' sex trafficking trial begins with jury selection has been held in a grim federal lockup in Brooklyn since his arrest last September Aziz Al Sa’afin: Australian Labor's comeback a wake-up call for Luxon It was the comeback no one saw coming at the beginning of this year writes 1News' Australia Correspondent World Australian club groper dodges jail after attacks caught on CCTV The offender was facing up to 10 years in prison but was instead sentenced to a two-year community corrections order Soul searching for Australian opposition after election thumping YouGov's Paul Smith said the vote was a referendum on the leadership of the coalition's Peter Dutton National introduces members' bill to ban social media for under 16s 55 mins ago Three in hospital after Christchurch house fire 9:29am US states push for speed-limiting devices on the cars of dangerous drivers 9:20am Ten dead after tourist boats capsize in sudden storm in China 9:07am Qantas confirms new Auckland-Perth flights 8:52am Britain's VE Day parade draws thousands celebrating 80th anniversary 13 mins ago 1Two men's shared name brings years of trouble and a hefty bill to one Person dies following morning crash on Auckland motorway The 'Trump slump' boosts the left in Canada and Oz – but what about NZ? Destiny Church to move out of its South Auckland headquarters Erin Patterson shared love of mushrooms in online group Aziz Al Sa’afin: Australian Labor's comeback a wake-up call for Luxon Two arrested over alleged plot targeting Lady Gaga concert in RioBrazilian police said they thwarted an alleged bomb attack planned for Lady Gaga's concert on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro. Lady Gaga rocks Copacabana Beach with free concert for over 2 million fansCries of joy rose from the tightly-packed fans who sang and danced shoulder-to-shoulder on the vast stretch of sand. Lorde announces new album name, dateThu, May 1 Kim Kardashian to testify in Paris trial over 2016 armed robberyMon, Apr 28 Chubby Checker, Outkast, Cyndi Lauper join Rock & Roll Hall of FameMon, Apr 28 Lorde releases new single after weeks of cryptic teasesThu, Apr 24 Chubby Checker, Outkast, Cyndi Lauper join Rock & Roll Hall of FameMon A 75-year-old woman has today been charged with the alleged murder of her roommate at a retirement village in Perth Police said they were called to the residence on Olivenza Cres in Port Kennedy around 4.10am on Friday An 88-year-old woman was found dead at the scene "The victim and accused in this matter were known to one another and have shared a room in the retirement village for four days," a police spokesperson said A woman is due to appear in the Northbridge Magistrate’s Court today charged with murder A teenager who admitted being "addicted to speed" behind the wheel had totalled two other cars in the year before he slammed into a minivan at 180km/h in a Seattle suburb killing the driver and three of the five children she was transporting for a homeschool co-op After sentencing Chase Daniel Jones last month to more than 17 years in prison the judge tacked on a novel condition should he drive again: His vehicle must be equipped with a device that prevents accelerating far beyond the speed limit already is using it and similar measures await governors' signatures in Washington state and Georgia New York and California also could soon tap the GPS-based technology to help combat a recent national spike in traffic deaths "It's a horror no one should have to experience," said Amy Cohen who founded the victims' advocacy group Families for Safe Streets after her 12-year-old son was killed by a speeding driver in front of their New York home more than a decade ago the minivan driver who was killed when Jones ran a red light was building a backyard greenhouse with her husband to help educate several kids who shuttle between homes during the school day Also killed in the March 2024 crash near Hudson's home in Renton were Boyd "Buster" Brown and Eloise Wilcoxson Hudson's two children were sitting on the passenger side and survived "You always hear of these horrific accidents Smith knew Washington state Representative Mari Leavitt who reached out to offer condolences and tell him she was sponsoring legislation to mandate intelligent speed assistance devices as a condition for habitual speeders to get back their suspended licenses Leavitt predicts it will have an even more powerful impact than revoking driving privileges citing studies showing around three-quarters of people who lose their licenses get behind a wheel anyway the state saw a 200% increase in drivers cited for going at least 80km/h over the speed limit according to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission "I guess I don't understand why someone is compelled to want to drive that fast," Leavitt said "But if they choose to drive that fast with the speed limiter It's going to stop them in their tracks." which Washington legislators passed last month and Democratic Governor Bob Ferguson is expected to soon sign using the first letters of the names of the four victims: Buster didn't receive a speeding ticket in his two previous crashes he likely wouldn't have been required to use the speed-limiter ahead of the fatal one And because it could be 2029 before the law takes effect the judge's requirement at sentencing only applies to his time on probation after being released from prison Competing tech companies that joined forces to lobby for ignition interlock requirements for drunken drivers have been working in unison again the last few years to pitch intelligent speed assistance chief government affairs officer at one manufacturer said fleet vehicles including school buses in the nation's capital have been trying it out for years But it took a lot of refinement before the GPS technology could instantly recognize speed limit changes and compel vehicles with the devices installed to adjust accordingly "We've got a lot more satellites in the sky now," said Ken Denton a retired police officer who is the chief compliance officer at Cincinnati-based LifeSafer the devices would prevent cars from exceeding speed limits or whatever threshold regulators set An override button allows speeding in emergencies but states can decide whether to activate it and authorities would be alerted any time the button is pushed which beeps to alert drivers when they are going too fast is required for new cars in the European Union California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed a similar proposal last year explaining vehicle safety requirements are set by the federal government and he was concerned a patchwork of state laws could stir confusion Before Delegate Patrick Hope agreed to sponsor the proposal in the Virginia Legislature he tried out the device in Nannini's car which was calibrated to not go more than 14km/h over the speed limit "That was my first question: Is it safe?" Hope said Hope is now pondering whether to install it on the cars of his three children the price could be hefty: US$4 (NZ$6.70) per day and a US$100 (NZz$167.50) installation fee The fee would be less for low-income offenders which provides support services to the loved ones of crash victims knows firsthand the kind of impact slowing down speeders can make A year after her son was struck and killed in front of their New York apartment the road's speed limit had been lowered "When you are going a few miles slower it's much less likely to be deadly." Erin Patterson had shared with true crime fans her love of mushrooms excitement over buying a food dehydrator and plans to cook beef Wellington The 50-year-old mother of two has pleaded not guilty to all counts against her including three murder charges for killing her estranged husband's family after feeding them lunch at her Leongatha home Don and Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson all died in hospital from death cap mushroom poisoning after eating a beef Wellington Patterson had prepared for them on July 2023 Patterson claims it was "a terrible accident" Three members of a true crime Facebook group Patterson was part of gave evidence on day five of her Supreme Court trial in Morwell The group was created to go over the case of convicted baby killer Keli Lane she was a really good researcher," group member Christine Hunt said about Patterson's online reputation said in 2023 Patterson had shared photos of a black dehydrator with mushrooms inside "She was a bit excited that she'd purchased a food dehydrator," Barkley said via video link Screenshots of Patterson's messages to the group were also shown to the jury "I've been hiding powdered mushrooms in everything the kids had no idea," she wrote in one post said Patterson "seemed to really like mushrooms" In the weeks before the deadly mushroom meal Patterson asked the group if anyone had cooked a beef Wellington and if they had advice Erin said she was making beef Wellington," Hay said "I think she was at the supermarket and she messaged us something about the beef that she was buying." She said Patterson had told them the mushrooms came from an Asian grocer Hay said Patterson asked her for tips on how to make sure the beef Wellington pastry did not go "soggy" as it was one of Hay's favourite dishes said she joked: "I'd make a tofu Wellington" so we had a good laugh about that," she said Patterson's estranged husband Simon finished his evidence to the jury after almost three days in the witness box Defence barrister Colin Mandy SC put it to Simon that he had asked Erin - two days after the lunch - "is that what you used to poison them?" "I did not say that to Erin," Simon responded The jury of 15 people were shown messages from a family group Signal chat between Simon his former wife and his parents - in December 2022 - after he last week claimed she had sent "extremely aggressive" messages to his mother and father which he said were from a few months later having a crack at me and accusing me of some things in response to what I'd messaged her about," he said After his parents tried to help Erin and Simon resolve a dispute over his child support payments his mother Gail took a step back and stopped reading messages from Erin in the group chat "Mum really struggled with anxiety," he said The trial before Justice Christopher Beale will continue today The federal sex trafficking trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs the hip-hop entrepreneur whose wildly successful career has been dotted by allegations of violence began this morning in New York City with jury selection that could last several days Opening statements by lawyers and the start of testimony are expected next week Several dozen prospective jurors got a brief description of the sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges against Combs from the judge who reminded them that Combs had pleaded not guilty and was presumed innocent He wore a sweater over a white collared shirt and grey slacks which the judge had allowed rather than jail clothing His hair and goatee were almost fully grey because dye isn't allowed in jail Unlike other recent high-profile celebrity trials Combs' court case won’t be broadcast live because federal courtrooms don’t allow electronic recordings inside — meaning courtroom sketch artists serve as the public's eyes in the courtroom The trial is expected to take at least eight weeks he faces the possibility of decades in prison Several prospective jurors indicated they had seen news reports featuring a key piece of evidence in the case: a video of the hip-hop mogul hitting and kicking one of his accusers in a Los Angeles hotel hallway in 2016 One prospective juror described a still image she saw from the video as "damning evidence" That woman was rejected from consideration "I'm sorry your honour I'm a little nervous today" The 17-page indictment against Combs — which reads like a charging document filed against a Mafia leader or the head of a drug gang — alleges that Combs engaged in a two-decade pattern of abusive behaviour against women and others with the help of people in his entourage and employees from his network of businesses Combs and his lawyers say he's innocent and any group sex was consensual They say there was no effort to coerce people into things they didn't want to do and nothing that happened amounted to a criminal racket Prosecutors say women were manipulated into drug-fuelled sexual performances with male sex workers that Combs called "Freak Offs" prosecutors say Combs used a mix of influence and violence: He offered to boost their entertainment careers if they did what he asked — or cut them off if they didn't And when he wasn't getting what he wanted the indictment says Combs and his associates resorted to violent acts including beatings Combs has acknowledged one episode of violence that is likely to be featured in the trial a security camera recorded him beating up his former girlfriend Cassie filed a lawsuit in late 2023 saying Combs had subjected her to years of abuse The Associated Press does not typically name people who say they have been sexually abused unless they come forward publicly has said Combs was "not a perfect person" and that there had been drug use and toxic relationships but said all sexual activity between Combs The trial is the most serious in a long string of legal problems for Combs In 1999 he was charged with bursting into the offices of an Interscope Records executive with his bodyguards and beating him with a champagne bottle and a chair later asked prosecutors to go easy on Combs who pleaded guilty to a lesser charge and took an anger management class Combs was stopped by police after he and his then-girlfriend fled a nightclub where three people were wounded by gunfire Combs was acquitted of all charges related to the episode at a 2001 trial was convicted in the shooting and served nearly nine years in prison Combs was charged with assaulting someone with a weight-room kettlebell at the University of California Combs said he was defending himself and prosecutors dropped the case didn’t just hold on to power in Australia’s federal election,­­ they surged ahead — snatching seats off the Greens routing the Liberals and securing a majority stronger than any seen in nearly two decades It marked the first time since federation in 1901 that a Labor prime minister has increased their majority at re-election Because this wasn't a win powered by fear or division And if New Zealand’s major parties — both in government and opposition — aren’t paying attention they could be walking towards their own political reckoning Albanese and his senior ministers made one thing clear: Australia doesn’t want to go the way of Donald Trump Penny Wong said it plain and clear in her speech where I was on election night: "We choose our future Albanese was trailing now-former opposition leader Peter Dutton in the polls But the tone of the campaign changed as Dutton faced growing criticism over a series of policy backflips and cultural positions that drew comparisons to the US president — despite his campaign pushing back on the label Dutton proposed cutting back public service jobs and made controversial comments about women — moves that voters and analysts said echoed Trump-era politics He tried to present himself as strong on international affairs even claiming he was better positioned than Albanese to stand up to Donald Trump over new tariffs Trump replied: "I don’t even know who the other guy is." the exchange highlighted Dutton’s limited influence Little wonder some voters were questioning whether the Liberal Party had drifted too far from the political centre he was even introduced on stage with the phrase "we’ll make Australia great again" capped by the unprecedented defeat of Dutton in his own electorate He was hoping to make history as the first opposition leader to unseat a first-term government in 100 years he became the first opposition leader to lose his seat at a federal election Winston Peters has fuelled a so-called "gender debate" that inflamed division was seen by some as a direct challenge to Māori rights and the status of Te Tiriti Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and National voted against it at first reading while distancing themselves from the bill — but only after allowing it to progress as part of the coalition agreement Political analysts agreed allowing the bill to be introduced came at a cost While Luxon may not have backed the bill himself his alignment with the parties pushing it drew inevitable criticism Kiwis I have spoken to — not just in New Zealand but here in Australia — said it sent a message (intentional or not) that extreme views still had a seat at the table And that's the real lesson from Australia: When you amplify voices that divide As voters across the ditch and recently in Canada have shown they’re tired of leaders who amplify anger instead of offering answers to everyday struggles such as the cost of living I spotted a familiar face in the crowd at Albanese HQ and made my way over Watching Australian Labor's victory up close was none other than Kieran McAnulty He wasn’t just there to cheer; he was there to learn "You’ve got to give people something to vote for not just something to vote against," he told me summing up what he sees as one of the Australian Labor Party’s key strengths "That was one of the big lessons here they were clear about what they stood for." McAnulty has also spent time in the UK observing how centre-left movements rebuild after defeat shoulder-to-shoulder with the architects of Labor’s success and offering voters a story they can be part of "People want to feel like they're included in a bigger plan they gave people a reason to hope again." New Zealand Labour has its own major challenges to overcome Former prime minister Chris Hipkins struggled to inspire voters during the last election campaign and the party’s support among Māori and younger voters was deeply dented "We’re not pretending we’ve got it all figured out But if there’s one thing we’ve taken from here We’ve got to earn that trust back," McAnulty told me That principle applied to every party in New Zealand The reality is that when politics becomes a game of blame We’ve seen that in New Zealand’s lower voter turnout at the last election where voting was not compulsory — unlike Australia there has also been a general move towards Australia’s independents including the so-called "teal" candidates Their appeal lay in offering an alternative to the binary red-versus-blue approach And that’s something both Labour and National in New Zealand would be wise to reflect on Our next general election is expected in October 2026 Especially when it comes to resetting the tone The National-led coalition could risk looking like Dutton’s and less like Luxon’s original pitch of getting New Zealand "Back On Track" with a steady hand on the economy that was also a slogan used by the now-ousted Liberal leader it’s often said that comebacks happen when leaders offer hope Australia reminded us that when parties reconnect with people’s values and focus on the issues that are front and centre — the cost of living housing affordability and universal healthcare — voters respond at the ballot box A brazen serial groper who preyed upon 18 women in an Australian nightclub has avoided jail time after a judge found his risk of reoffending was low was facing up to 10 years in prison but was instead sentenced to a two-year community corrections order on Monday He dodged reporters' questions as he left the Victorian County Court The former PwC IT worker pleaded guilty to 17 charges of sexual assault and one count of attempted sexual assault over the attacks at Revolver Upstairs in Melbourne's inner east CCTV footage from the nightclub showed Rayan groping his victims on the buttocks stroking their backs and kissing them on the arms and shoulders The attacks happened on three separate occasions in September and October 2023 Rayan admitted to police he touched one of the women accidentally but claimed he could not remember the other incidents because he was too drunk Victorian County Court Judge Peter Rozen said he held reservations about those claims as he sentenced Rayan over the "brazen" attacks "Your offending was deliberate and you knew what you were doing," he said Judge Rozen said the women were entitled to feel safe in the nightclub and the scale of Rayan's crimes was concerning He noted that three victim impact statements were read to the court where the women described their ongoing anxiety and shattered sense of security Judge Rozen also decided Rayan's moral culpability was considerable and said the 34-year-old lacked insight into his offending But the judge accepted the sexual assaults were at the lower end of seriousness given Rayan's victims were adults and the attacks were fleeting no pending charges and no diagnosed mental health conditions "I accept this offending was out of character for you," the judge said Rayan was sentenced to a two-year community corrections order with 180 hours of unpaid community work He will also have to complete treatment for alcohol abuse and programs to reduce his risk of reoffending A leading Australian pollster says the coalition will be forced to carry out a "fundamental reorganisation" of its party structure to ensure ongoing relevance to voters after facing a wipeout in Saturday's election As votes continue to be counted after Saturday's poll figures show the coalition could slump to its lowest percentage of seats in parliament since the formation of the Liberal Party in the 1940s the Australian Labor Party has claimed 86 seats in the House of Representatives compared to the coalition's 39 While Anthony Albanese has claimed an expanded mandate as PM with a larger majority in his second term questions are being raised as to where the coalition will go But it could be some time before a new leader is appointed by the Liberals Deputy leader Sussan Ley said the party room would meet to elect an opposition leader and deputy After consulting with the party's senior leadership Ley said several seats where preferential counting was continuing would have to be decided before the meeting could take place She said her party was reflecting on the results with humility YouGov director of public data Paul Smith said the election was a referendum on the leadership of Peter Dutton "The Liberal Party result was devastating and requires a fundamental reorganisation of who they are .. they are not representative of Australians," he told AAP "This is a situation where if they were a company you would call in the administrators and look for a new business owner After the opposition leader lost his seat of Dickson in Labor's biggest scalp of the election a vacuum has emerged for the leadership of the coalition Frontrunners include shadow treasurer Angus Taylor along with opposition frontbenchers Dan Tehan and Andrew Hastie Smith said the loss by the coalition was a "self-inflicted defeat" "Their strategy was to win working-class votes in Sydney and Melbourne but the problem was their strategy was at odds with their policies," he said "They now hold no seats in Perth or Adelaide and hardly any in Sydney or Melbourne Albanese has aimed for a tone of humility in his landslide win thanking supporters in his inner-western Sydney seat of Grayndler before pledging to get back to the job at hand just like we have been in our first," he said "We've been given a great honour of serving the Australian people and we'll work hard each and every day." We want to protect our kids from the harms of social media. That’s why today National has introduced a members bill to ban social media for kids under 16 years old. pic.twitter.com/TiQJs87DhQ Four boats capsized in a sudden storm at a tourist spot in southwestern China More than 80 people fell into a river when strong winds hit the scenic area in Guizhou province late Sunday afternoon The boats capsized after a sudden rain and hail storm on the upper reaches of the Wu River a man could be seen performing CPR on another person while one of the vessels drifted upside down Initial reports said two tourist boats had capsized but state media said on Monday that four boats were involved and the seven crew members were able to save themselves Guizhou's mountains and rivers are a major tourism draw and many Chinese were travelling during a five-day national holiday that ended Monday Chinese President Xi Jinping called for all-out efforts to find the missing and care for the injured the official Xinhua News Agency said on Sunday Xi underscored the importance of strengthening safety at tourist attractions large public venues and residential communities as well as for the rush of people returning at the end of major holidays CCTV said the capsized boats had a maximum capacity of about 40 people each and were not overloaded An eyewitness told state-owned Beijing News the waters were deep but that some people had managed to swim to safety the storm had come suddenly and a thick mist obscured the surface of the river Qantas has announced that direct flights between Perth and Auckland will take off later this year Flights between Auckland and Western Australia's capital would begin in December The airline also added flights between Perth and Johannesburg and Sundays with an approximate flight time of 8 hours Perth to Auckland flights would operate as QF111 on Monday The approximate flight time was around six hours and 45 minutes Both flights would use Qantas A330 aircraft with 27 business class seats and 224 economy seats The new flights would allow a one-stop route to London via Perth It would also allow for connections via Perth from Auckland to airports across South Africa the new flight to Auckland would also allow a one-stop connection to New York on the airline's QF3 service “We’re so excited to be launching two new international routes unlocking more options and greater choice for all Australians to connect to the world through our growing network," Qantas International chief executive Cam Wallace said “By connecting Perth directly with Auckland and Johannesburg we’re supporting the local economy by opening valuable inbound tourism opportunities for Western Australia as well as generating new jobs for the state These routes also enable further growth throughout Australia with connections across our domestic network." A 100-year-old Royal Air Force veteran accepted the thanks of a nation as Britain paused to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day and honour the men and women who fought to save the country during World War II The day featured a procession by 1300 members of the British armed forces accompanied by troops from Ukraine and the UK’s NATO allies The parade didn't begin until Alan Kennett accepted the salute from Garrison Sgt Major Andrew Stokes in front of an audience that included King Charles III “Thank you and your generation for securing our freedom 80 years ago,” Stokes wearing a navy blue blazer with his medals pinned on the left breast This year’s V-E Day events have taken on increased significance because they are likely to be the last major observance to include significant numbers of World War II veterans actor Timothy Spall recited the victory speech wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill delivered to a roaring crowd in central London on May 8 Britain started its V-E Day ceremonies three days early because Monday is a public holiday in the UK “I think we’ve been very lucky that we’ve had 80 years of peace … and we’ve got to think about all those that have (made) the ultimate sacrifice and there’s very few of them left now because they’re all over 100,″ said Michael Burn who wore a suit patterned after Britain’s red “This is the last time we will celebrate the day in this sort of scale.” Then it was time for the parade from the Houses of Parliament through Trafalgar Square and down the Mall to Buckingham Palace won a huge round of applause as their flag swept past the royal viewing platform The event ended with a flyover by British military aircraft including a wartime Lancaster bomber and the RAF’s Red Arrows aerobatic team the Princess of Wales chatted amiably with Bernard Morgan a veteran who worked as a code breaker during the conflict Their place in the front row was a reminder of the gulf between those who fought in World War II and the present generation With even the youngest of those men and women nearing their 100th birthdays and their ranks dwindling rapidly many have said they feel a special imperative to tell their stories and attend events that honour their fallen comrades a mechanic who landed in Normandy to set up an airfield said he was proud to represent the veterans “I just remember those that didn’t come back,” he said Shane William Pritchard has been charged with crimes he didn’t commit and chased for debts he doesn’t owe That’s because the Dunedin man is not the only Shane William Pritchard in town While the duo’s shared name and age has sometimes been a handy loophole for one Shane for the other it has caused problems for 36 years It’s been years of fearing every knock on the door Years of wondering if he’ll be hand-cuffed and taken to jail to be honest,” says Shane William Pritchard a scout and a member of the Air Training Corp remembers getting quite a shock when her friend called one evening She'd been acting as a referee for a gun licence for Shane whose friend informed her that the police had a long list of offences against Shane’s name Not long after that the police turned up to where Shane was working at the local tannery to arrest him “You're scrambling in your head to think of ways that you can prove it's not you.” Another Shane William Pritchard had been born in Otago They were separated by just two weeks and about 50 miles – one growing up in Mosgiel the other in Milton – but also by the lives they’d been leading To watch the full video story go to TVNZ+ Shane from Milton had huge problems focusing at school He was raised in foster care and then boys’ homes I just wanted to look cool and get in trouble,” he tells Fair Go Milton Shane was used to run-ins with police he got pulled over in his car and asked about his driving licence one’s got a licence and the other hasn’t.’ And I’m like ‘obviously it must be the one with a licence’.” he went to his bank to draw out an ACC payment and was asked which bank account was his He says that at that point he was trying to figure out what was going on “I thought it was just an error.” But he took advantage of the situation and withdrew a large sum of cash Mosgiel Shane became aware of the withdrawal when a scheduled car payment was declined and when Milton Shane turned up at the bank to withdraw more money Identity fraud was considered but Milton Shane was legitimately expecting an ACC payment so the withdrawal appeared to be a genuine mistake and the police couldn’t take any action 'Anything I could get away with Mosgiel Shane thought the bank incident would have alerted police to the problem But his nemesis had cottoned on to the advantages of having a second identity to use Milton Shane acquired a suite of furniture on hire-purchase Milton-Shane clocked up more driving offences Mosgiel Shane thought about changing his name but realised he’d have to provide his previous name in the process the courts and debt collectors such as Baycorp should be able to distinguish between himself and Milton Shane The police first addressed the issue in the 1990s after Mosgiel Shane went to the media He was given a letter to carry with him should he be apprehended He and his parents felt his situation wasn’t being taken seriously Mosgiel Shane went to the media a second time in the mid-2000s the police gave their word that a record in their system would stop the misidentification from happening again This does appear to have worked as far as police action goes But while Mosgiel Shane was given the same reassurance by the Ministry of Justice he continued to receive demands from the courts for unpaid fines He’d also get stopped and questioned whenever he left the country for work trips or holidays It took a huge toll on Mosgiel Shane’s mental health not realising the constant stress it placed on his life John Pritchard says that at times his son felt his life wasn’t worth living worrying about what he was going to do to himself and that really ate me up.” he and his son were in tears as Shane admitted he was at breaking point He described going for days at a time unable to eat or sleep wondering what might happen next "Am I going to be in a position where they've got me in handcuffs or I've got debt collectors coming to the door?" ...You're spiralling into this black hole." He started taking anti-anxiety medication which helped And events regarding Milton Shane seemed to settle Milton Shane was charged for fishing without a licence in Twizel and failing to comply with fisheries officers But a court registrar incorrectly entered the birth date of Mosgiel Shane in the system both Shanes were being chased to pay the $1530 fine It was Mosgiel Shane who spotted the error and rang the court He also sent a statement from his manager saying he’d not been fishing in Twizel that day The reply he got was to say he’d been given the wrong form and that they wouldn’t accept his proof They just wanted to know how I was going to pay the fine.” The first Milton Shane knew about this was when Fair Go told him Mosgiel Shane had been chased for the fine He was told to pay up or face the consequences feeling he shouldn’t have to pay good money to correct someone else’s mistake But it cost Mosgiel Shane over $5000 in legal fees and took months of back and forth between him “Why should anybody have to pay their own money to right somebody else's wrongs and prove who they are I’m sick and tired of proving who I am all the time.” He wanted the Ministry of Justice to take responsibility and reimburse him for his legal costs saying court staff such as the registrar in this case have immunity if they make mistakes such as the one made here and if I make a mistake and it's affecting my client that it's going to cost them money to rectify a mistake that I've made.” he deserves a million apologies from those guys,” she says Milton Shane told Fair Go he still gets in trouble but wants the other Shane to know he doesn’t use his birth date anymore And he had a message for him: “We’ve got to get it sorted for you so you can have a good life with you and your family because I’m trying to get my life together with my son and my grandson” He offers to meet to see if they can sort it out together but I’m not interested in meeting him,.” says Mosgiel Shane He says he doesn’t hold any grudges and accepts Milton Shane’s apology And he believes the only way for that to happen is for the courts and the Ministry of Justice to give him a guarantee that mix-ups won’t occur in the future Fair Go asked the Ministry of Justice to appear in person to apologise and provide reassurance to Shane of its plans to guard against these mistakes The Ministry declined our request to be on camera saying any comment on an individual case would compromise the independence of the courts as the Ministry operates separately But it did send a written apology directly to Mosgiel Shane It also admitted mistakes can occur in clerical records but said instructions were clear and the importance of getting things right had been emphasised to staff Mosgiel Shane isn’t totally convinced that’s the end of it “All I want is for the Ministry of Justice and the courts to do their job I'd like to live without this hanging over me all the time his criminal check has come back showing a clean slate A person has died following a crash on Auckland's south-western motorway this morning The single vehicle crash was reported to police shortly before 5am the sole occupant of this vehicle died at the scene," a police spokesperson said "Earlier closures of northbound lanes have now lifted and police advise motorists to continue to expect delays as earlier backlogs clear "We appreciate motorists' understanding this morning while emergency services carried out their work." Police said the serious crash unit examined the scene this morning and an investigation was underway into this morning's crash on behalf of the Coroner This is in addition to an earlier crash on Auckland's northern motorway near the Auckland Harbour Bridge Emergency services responded to a two-truck collision on the northern motorway near the Auckland Harbour Bridge shortly after 5am New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) said all lanes south on State Highway 1 were open again following this earlier crash with five lanes available on the Harbour Bridge "Allow extra time for delays on the Northern Motorway to slowly ease this morning three lanes going south were now open again between Onewa Rd and the Harbour Bridge," NZTA said Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's landslide win at the weekend following Canadian Prime Minister's Mark Carney's victory less than a week before should indicate to our politicians that the New Zealand "Trump trend" of 2024 may have peaked Trying to capitalise on the electoral success of US President Donald Trump now that his policies are having real-world effects is proving to be a big mistake for conservative leaders Australian voters have delivered a landslide win for the incumbent Labor Party returning Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for a second term with a clear majority of seats When he said in his victory speech that Australians had “voted for Australian values” an unspoken message was that they’d firmly rejected Trumpian values opposition and Liberal Party leader Peter Dutton had such a bad election he lost his own seat While not the only reason for his electoral demise Dutton’s adoption of themes associated with Trump backfired Opinion polls were projecting Dutton’s Coalition to win and exceeded expectations in the election itself the Liberals were “reduced to a right-wing populist party that is all but exiled from the biggest cities” Commentators identified a number of reasons including his “culture wars” and being depicted by Labor as “Trump-lite” Following a Trumpian pathway turned out to be a strategic blunder And Dutton’s downfall mirrors Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre’s defeat in Canada’s election on April 28 Canada’s incumbent centre-left Liberals were heading for defeat to the Conservatives But there were two gamechangers: the Liberals switched leaders from Justin Trudeau to Mark Carney and Trump caused a national uproar with his aggressive tariffs and his call for Canada to become the 51st US state Pre-election opinion polls then did a dramatic flip in favour of the Liberals who went on to win their fourth election in a row Poilievre’s campaign had adopted elements of the Trump style such as attacking “wokeness” and using derogatory nicknames for opponents His strategy failed as soon as Trump rolled out “America First” policies contrary to Canadians’ economic interests and national pride The takeaway for serious right-wing leaders in liberal democracies is clear: let Trump do Trump; his brand is toxic Trump’s actions are harming America’s allies affirmative action and climate change have seen voters outside the US react with self-protective patriotism A perceived association with Trump’s brand has now upended the electoral fortunes of (so far) two centre-right parties that had been in line to win and had been banking on the 2024 MAGA success somehow rubbing off on them what has been dubbed the “Trump slump” isn’t a universal trend the centre-left Social Democratic-led government was ousted in February in spite of Trump ally Elon Musk’s unhelpful support for the far-right anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) party the populist Reform UK party has risen above 25% while Labour has fallen from 34% in last year’s election to the low 20s in recent polls But other governing centre-left parties are seeing an upside of the Trump effect In early January it looked like the incumbent Labour Party would be trounced by the Conservatives and the right-wing Progress Party Opinion polls dramatically flipped in early February boosting Labour from below 20% back into the lead Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre will get another term in office Denmark’s governing Social Democrats have enjoyed a small polling boost since Trump declared he’d like to take Greenland off their hands The common denominator underlying these shifts to the left seems to be the Trump effect Voters in countries normally closely allied with the US are turning away from Trump-adjacent politicians people are rallying patriotically around centre-left Trump is harming leaders who could have been his allies the man himself seemed proud of the impact he had in Canada polls in mid-2024 showed support for Trump was growing – heading well above 20% Australia’s election suggests that trend may now be past its peak with debate over ACT’s contentious Treaty Principles Bill behind it and despite NZ First leader Winston Peters’ overt culture-war rhetoric (which may appeal to his 6% support base) the right-wing coalition government’s polling shows it could be on track for a second term – for the time being While the Trump effect may have benefited centre-left parties in Australia and Canada polling for New Zealand’s Labour opposition is softer than at the start of the year While “America First” policies continue to damage the global economy centre-right leaders who learn the lesson will quietly distance themselves from the Trump brand while maintaining cordial relations with the White House could do worse than follow Anthony Albanese’s example of not getting distracted by “Trump-lite” and instead promoting his own country’s values of fairness and mutual respect.","type":"text"},{"_id":"GUGWB5HTRVGGNP5PFWDLBH7SXM","content":"Grant Duncan is a teaching fellow in Politics and International Relations This story is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons licence ","type":"text"},{"_id":"BMPLRKQ2NRDPZOPKHPADSUD4UE","content":" Lady Gaga gave a free concert Saturday night in front of 2 million fans who poured onto Copacabana Beach for the biggest show of her career (...) Thank you for making history with me,” Lady Gaga told a screaming crowd kicked off the show at around 22.10pm local time with her 2011 song Bloody Mary Cries of joy rose from the tightly-packed fans who sang and danced shoulder-to-shoulder on the vast stretch of sand Concert organisers said 2.1 million people attended the show switching between an array of dresses including one with the colours of the Brazilian flag Some fans – many of them young – arrived on the beach at the crack of dawn to secure a good spot “Today is the best day of my life,” said Manoela Dobes a 27-year-old designer who was wearing a dress plastered with a photograph from when she met Lady Gaga in the United States in 2019 Madonna also turned Copacabana Beach into a massive dance floor last year The large-scale performances are part of an effort led by City Hall to boost economic activity after Carnival and New Years’ Eve festivities and the upcoming month-long Saint John’s Day celebrations in June “It brings activity to the city during what was previously considered the low season – filling hotels and increasing spending in bars generating jobs and income for the population,” said Osmar Lima the city’s secretary of economic development in a statement released by Rio City Hall’s tourism department last month Rio’s City Hall said in a recent report that around 1.6 million people were expected to attend Lady Gaga's concert and that the show should inject at least 600 million reais (NZ$178.3 million) into Rio’s economy Similar concerts are scheduled to take place every year in May at least until 2028 Lady Gaga arrived in Rio in the early hours of Tuesday The city has been alive with Gaga-mania since as it geared up to welcome the pop star for her first show in the country since 2012 Rio’s metro employees danced to Lady Gaga’s 2008 hit song LoveGame and gave instructions for today in a video A free exhibition celebrating her career sold out While the vast majority of attendees were from Rio the event also attracted Brazilians from across the country and international visitors More than 500,000 tourists poured into the city in the days leading up to the show according to data from the local bus station and Tom Jobim airport Rio’s City Hall said in a statement yesterday made a cross-continent trip from Colombia to Brazil to attend the show “I’ve been a 100% fan of Lady Gaga my whole life,” said Serrano who was wearing a T-shirt featuring Lady Gaga’s outlandish costumes over the years the mega-star represents “total freedom of expression – being who one wants without shame” Rio officials have a history of organising huge concerts on Copacabana Beach Madonna’s show drew an estimated 1.6 million fans last year while 4 million people flooded onto the beach for a 1994 New Year’s Eve show by Rod Stewart in 1994 that was the biggest free rock concert in history sixteen sound towers were spread along the beach Rio state’s security plan included the presence of 3300 military and 1500 police officers Among those present were Lady Gaga admirers who remember their disappointment in 2017 when the artist cancelled a performance scheduled in Rio at the last minute due to health issues “She's the best artist in the world,” the 25-year-old said I love you” in Portuguese rose from the crowd behind him whose real name is Ella Yelich O'Connor which also displayed what appears to be the album cover art — an X-ray of a pelvis "100% written in blood," the website read The new album's announcement came a week after she released her latest single What Was That The song's music video was filmed at a mysterious pop-up event in New York City's Washington Square Park that was initially shut down by police. The event ended up going ahead after all, and fans who stayed got to hear the new song for the first time. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lorde (@lorde) It was the first sign of a follow-up to Lorde's previous album Her other albums were 2013's Pure Heroine and 2017's Melodrama she collaborated with British singer Charli XCX on a remix of Girl so confusing — on a re-release of the Grammy award-winning Brat Kim Kardashian thought she was going to be raped and killed when criminals broke into her bedroom in central Paris tied her up and stole more than US$6 million in jewellery 10 people will go on trial in Paris over the robbery abduction and kidnapping of the media personality and the concierge of the residence where she was staying during Paris Fashion Week the night of October 2 Kardashian’s lawyers said she will testify in person at the trial starting Monday and scheduled to run through May 23 "Ms Kardashian is reserving her testimony for the court and jury and does not wish to elaborate further at this time," they said "She has great respect and admiration for the French justice system and has been treated with great respect by the French authorities "She wishes the trial to proceed in an orderly fashion in accordance with French law and with respect for all parties to the case." In interviews and on her family’s reality TV show Kardashian has described being terrified as robbers pointed a gun at her In a 2020 appearance on David Letterman’s Netflix show she tearfully recalled thinking: "This is the time I’m going to get raped Twelve people were originally expected in the defendants’ box and another is seriously ill and can't be tried five of the 10 defendants were present at the scene of the robbery The French press has dubbed them The Granddad Robbers because the main defendants are elderly and have careers as bank robbers with long criminal records Kardashian told investigators she was taken to a bathroom next to her bedroom and placed in the bathtub Her attackers fled on bicycles or on foot and she managed to free herself by removing the tape from her hands and mouth She had also removed the tape from her feet and rushed to her stylist’s room She called her sister Kourtney to tell her about the theft Kardashian told investigators that she had not been injured adding that she wanted to leave France as soon as possible to be reunited with her children According to her testimony and that of the concierge at least one of the suspects had a handgun The gangsters stole many pieces of jewellery estimated to be worth more than US$6 million (NZ$10 million) Only one piece of jewellery — a diamond cross on platinum that was lost during the suspects' escape — has been recovered Two of the accused have partially confessed to the crime is one of two suspected robbers who allegedly entered the apartment his genetic profile was found on the tape used to gag Kardashian who was waiting for him in a parked car at a nearby train station The second robber said he tied up the concierge with cables but did not go up to Kardashian’s apartment said he acted as a lookout in the ground-floor reception area He said he was unarmed and did not personally threaten Kardashian but admitted he shared responsibility for the crime Abbas was arrested in January 2017 and spent 21 months in prison before being released under judicial supervision he co-authored a French-language book titled I Sequestered Kim Kardashian is the second alleged robber suspected of entering the flat although he was filmed by CCTV cameras and numerous telephone contacts with the other co-defendants show his involvement The other defendants are suspected of providing information about Kardashian’s presence in the apartment Others are accused of playing a role in the resale of the jewellery in Antwerp Joe Cocker and Bad Company will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame — in a class that also includes pop star Cyndi Lauper the rock duo the White Stripes and grunge masters Soundgarden the first female rap act to achieve gold and platinum status and the late singer-songwriter Warren Zevon will get the Musical Influence Award pianist Nicky Hopkins and bassist Carol Kaye will each get the Musical Excellence Award who sang at Woodstock and was best known for his cover of The Beatles’ With a Little Help From My Friends a member of Elvis Costello & The Attractions who argued that Cocker is "about as rock and roll as it gets" Soundgarden — with the late Chris Cornell as singer — get into the Hall on their third nomination They follow two other grunge acts in the Hall — Nirvana and Pearl Jam Bad Company get in having become radio fixtures with such arena-rock staples as Feel Like Makin’ Love Can’t Get Enough and Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy The Ahmet Ertegun Award — given to nonperforming industry professionals who had a major influence on music — will go to Lenny Waronker Some nominees that didn't get in this year included Mariah Carey and subsequent Let’s Twist Again are considered among the most popular songs in the history of rock 'n' roll The 83-year-old has expressed frustration that he hadn't been granted entry before including telling the AP in 2014: "I don’t want to get in there when I’m 85 years old so you better do it quick while I’m still smiling." Lauper rose to fame in the 1980s with hits such as Time After Time and Girls Just Want To Have Fun and went on to win a Tony Award for Kinky Boots have six Grammys and a reputation for pushing the boundaries of hip-hop The White Stripes — made up of Jack White and Meg White — were indie darlings in the early 2000s with such songs as Seven Nation Army Artists must have released their first commercial recording at least 25 years before they’re eligible for induction The induction ceremony will take place in Los Angeles this fall Nominees were voted on by more than 1200 artists historians and music industry professionals The selection criteria include "an artist’s impact on other musicians the scope and longevity of their career and body of work as well as their innovation and excellence in style and technique" Dave Matthews Band and singer-guitarist Peter Frampton were inducted Lorde has dropped her new single What Was That after weeks of cryptic posts and teases that set fans buzzing It's the lead single from her upcoming fourth album and her first original solo release since 2021's Solar Power which is three minutes and 28 seconds in length Some fans had been lucky enough to hear the track in full earlier this week. On Wednesday, Lorde posted a picture of Washington Square Park yesterday with the caption "tonight 7pm". Fans flooded the park an hour before she was supposed to appear, with photos shared of eager fans scaling trees to catch a glimpse of the singer. Shortly before she was to perform, the Royals singer took to social media to tell fans police had shut the event down. "Omg @thepark the cops are shutting us down," the message read. "I am truly amazed by how many of you showed !!! "But they’re telling me you gotta disperse ... I’m so sorry." However, the pop-up event ended up going ahead after all, with fans who stayed getting their first full airing of Lorde's new single. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lorde (@lorde) Lorde, real name Ella Yelich O'Connor, announced the single last week sharing a headshot-style photo of her wearing a red shirt with a dripping wet face Earlier this month, she dropped a 15-second snippet of the unreleased song Lorde was seen wearing a white shirt and jeans while walking through New York City I gave you everything/Now we wake from a dream What was that?” she sings over a synth beat It was the first sign of a follow up to Lorde's previous album Please disable adblocker to support this website Open Modalf