Daily Mail - 15.08.2026
2026-08-15 Boosty PDF 中文极简摘要
Daily Mail - 15.08.2026.pdf
- Boosty 帖子：Newspapers - 15.08.2026
- 新闻 / 医生因与连环杀手莱特比通信被解雇后去世：一名53岁顾问医生因向定罪杀手露西·莱特比发送不当信息被NHS医院解雇，次日突然倒在车内，于九天后在重症监护室去世。
- 政治 / 奈杰尔·法拉奇赢得克拉克顿补选但缺席宣布仪式：改革英国党领导人法拉奇在克拉克顿补选中获胜，但为避免被竞争对手“羞辱”，决定不出席结果宣布仪式，成为罕见的缺席获胜候选人。
- 特别报道 / A医生与露西·莱特比关系的后续影响：A医生在听证会上承认被莱特比操纵，其职业名誉在被解雇前已毁，其友人将其视为该连环杀手的另一名受害者。
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- 娱乐 / HBO新剧引发露易丝及其家人争议：HBO计划制作一部关于露易丝及其过去关系的争议剧集，相关当事人及埃彭家族均拒绝就该剧发表评论。
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Daily Mail - 15.08.2026.pdf
Daily
2026年8月15日，星期六
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内部附赠
巨幅亮面英超联赛墙报
参阅 周末 杂志
莱特比的“男友”
在被解雇几天后 去世
在医院决定因其向护士发送关于其企图杀害婴儿的信息而将其解雇后，该医生被发现瘫倒在车内
独家报道
作者：Liz Hull
《每日邮报》可以透露，露西·莱特比（Lucy Letby）的“男友”在因与这名被定罪的连环杀手就其企图谋杀一名婴儿交换信息而被解雇后去世。
这名53岁的顾问医生在他被就职的NHS医院解雇后的第二天，被发现瘫倒在自己的车内。
他被送入重症监护室，但于7月3.，即九天后去世。关于其死亡的死因研讯（inquest）即将开启，日期尚未确定。
由于法律原因，该医生不能透露姓名。他曾在6月因在两人共事期间向该前新生儿科护士发送的一系列不当短信而被传唤至纪律听证会
丹妮·戴尔（Dani Dyer）在去年的戏剧性退出后，重新回到了《舞动奇迹》团队
见第三页
请翻至第2页
每日邮报，2026年8月15日，星期六
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接第一页
《每日邮报》获悉，两人曾在切斯特伯爵夫人医院共事。
据了解，这些涉嫌违反患者保密协议的信息涉及一名患有血友病的早产男婴（仅被称为 Baby N）的护理细节。36 岁的莱特比被判定在 2016 年 6 月该婴儿出生次日企图将其杀害。
据了解，该医生还面临其他严重指控——包括不当访问医疗记录并危及患者安全——由于法律原因，这些指控无法公开。
在审判期间，莱特比被迫否认她与这位被称为“A 医生”的医护人员存在浪漫关系，声称他们只是“最好的朋友”。
但当 A 医生进入曼彻斯特刑事法院（Manchester Crown Court）出庭作证时，她崩溃落泪并试图离开被告席。在警方搜查其住所时发现的短信中，她称他为“更甜蜜的人”，并在写有他名字和爱心的便条中称他为“爱人”。
莱特比在 2013 年 6 月至 2016 年 6 月期间，在切斯特伯爵夫人医院被判定谋杀七名婴儿并企图谋杀另外七名婴儿（其中一名被她攻击了两次），目前正在服刑 15 个终身监禁。
消息人士告诉《每日邮报》，A 医生在 6 月初参加了为期三天的纪律听证会，并在两周后的 6 月 23 日因严重违纪被解雇。
次日，其亲属报案称其失踪，随后他在一个零售园区内的汽车中被发现，距离此处约 20 英里
终身监禁：露西·莱特比
莱特比与一段极亲密的关系
第 10-11 页
他在切希尔的家中。他再也没有恢复意识，于 7 月 3 日在默西赛德郡的惠斯顿医院去世。
他的死因尚不明确，但已移交给切希尔郡验尸官，后者确认“初步”调查已经开始。
他的 NHS 上级有义务将其被解雇的情况报告给医生监管机构——通用医学委员会（General Medical Council），这可能会威胁到他的专业注册资格以及再次从事医疗工作的能力。A 医生在 2024 年 10 月向瑟尔沃尔调查组（Thirlwall Inquiry）——一个调查莱特比罪行的公开调查组——陈述称，这名 5 级护士“误导并可能操纵”他，使其向她提供关于被她攻击的婴儿的信息。
在 2016 年 6 月至 9 月期间，当时身为初级医生的 A 医生与莱特比交换了 1,355 条 Facebook 消息，讨论他们在共同值班期间出现崩溃情况的婴儿。
两人还就私生活交换了更多带有调情意味的消息，有时是在深夜，他们还会在业余时间一起散步、用餐，并一起前往伦敦一日游。
在一条消息中，莱特比询问 A 医生关于婴儿 N 的情况，并质疑自己在护理过程中是否做错了什么。
A 医生回复道：“噢，露西，可怜的小家伙。我相信他得到了最好的护理，你也已经为他尽了全力。”在调查期间被问及此类消息是否合适时，A 医生表示：“事后看来，不合适。回顾这里的消息内容，我分享得太多了。”
在由高等法院法官瑟尔沃尔女士（Lady Justice Thirlwall）监督且计划于今年晚些时候提交报告的调查证词中，婴儿 N 的母亲指责 A 医生“公然”违反了其儿子的患者保密协议。她还透露，她已就其行为向他随后就职的医院提交了正式投诉。
原籍于赫里福德的莱特比于 2023. 年 8 月被定罪。她一直坚称自己没有杀死或伤害任何由她护理的婴儿。
作者：大卫·丘吉尔（David Churchill）
工党昨日宣布计划放宽电动汽车的净零排放目标——承认这些目标有推高成本的风险且无法实现。
部长们表示，由于普及速度“低于预期”，他们正寻求放宽销售规定，因为这些规定已不再“适用”。这意味着到本十年末，所有新售汽车中可能仍有一半配备化石燃料发动机。根据现行法律，到 2030 年，新售汽车中仅有 20% 能使用汽油或柴油。
这一被称为零排放车辆（ZEV）指令的目标在今年为 33%，并每年递增直到 2030 年。但目前每四辆新售汽车中仅有一辆是电动车，因为公共充电桩的缺乏、价格较高以及对电量耗尽的焦虑抑制了需求。
大多数销量是由企业对其车队进行脱碳驱动的，而非私人驾驶员。汽车制造商每销售一辆超过化石燃料汽车配额的新车，将面临高达 1.5 万英镑 的罚款，而这些费用最终将转嫁给消费者。
交通大臣海蒂
工党在放宽电动汽车净零目标方面出现倒退
亚历山大（Alexander）表示：“我们对目标进行持续审查以确保其具有实用性并支持英国工业，这是正确的。最终目标没有改变，但我们需要采取商业
“最终目标没有改变”
与我们同行。这正是我们今天所做的，即确保工业界有机会塑造我们达成目标的方式。”
商业大臣乔纳森·雷诺兹（Jonathan Reynolds）表示，此举是为了“倾听工业界的声音”，而工业界数月来一直警告称这些目标是不切实际的。
磋商文件指出：“零排放车辆（ZEV）的需求低于预期，同时还存在影响英国汽车行业的更广泛因素，包括相对较高的能源和劳动力成本、关税以及贸易壁垒。”
此次审查将考虑是否将 2030 年的强制目标从目前的 80% 降低至 70%、60% 甚至 50%。
审查还将研究为未能达成目标的制造商提供更多灵活性。另一项关于 2030 年禁止所有新型纯内燃机汽车的禁令将维持不变，而有时使用汽油和柴油的混合动力汽车将被允许使用至 2035 年。
汽车制造商和贸易商协会（The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders）的迈克·霍斯（Mike Hawes）表示：“我们欢迎此次磋商。工业界仍然全力致力于零排放的未来。该法规是在截然不同的条件下构思的——当时能源更便宜，生产成本迅速下降，且全球需求预期更为乐观。”
今年，汽油车最受欢迎，注册量占比 42.8%。保守党交通发言人理查德·霍尔登（Richard Holden）表示：“工党对净零排放的痴迷正在给勤奋工作的家庭和纳税人增加成本。安迪·伯纳姆（Andy Burnham）不应仅仅发起一项磋商，而应立即采取具体行动以减轻压力。”
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擦亮闪光球，新一季《舞动奇迹》明星到场（无论你是否认识他们）
阵容：梅兰妮·沃尔特斯（Melanie Walters）、莱西·特纳（Lacey Turner）和肖恩·赖特-菲利普斯（Shaun Wright-Phillips）
二十年来，它一直是 BBC 的皇冠之珠——是名人们恳求经纪人为其争取入选的终极黄金时段节目。
但如果这次出现的一系列鲜为人知的“明星”能说明问题的话，那么《舞动奇迹》（Strictly Come Dancing）的那些日子已经结束了。
在下个月第 24 季开播之前，人们看到他们抵达伦敦的一家舞蹈工作室进行首日排练。
他们包括前《爱之岛》（Love Island）参赛者丹妮·戴尔（Dani Dyer）、澳大利亚歌手及前《邻居》（Neighbours）明星德尔塔·古德雷姆（Delta Goodrem）、足球运动员肖恩·赖特-菲利普斯（Shaun Wright-Phillips）、演员杰米·温斯顿（Jamie Winstone）以及《东区人》（EastEnders）明星莱西·特纳（Lacey Turner）。
这份名单引发了今年阵容是“史上最差”的说法，其中知名度最高的参赛者可能是 64 岁的梅兰妮·沃尔特斯，她在 BBC 热门情景喜剧《加文和斯泰西》（Gavin And Stacey）中饰演格温。
30, 岁的戴尔女士被粉丝认为是“回收签约”，因为她在去年因脚踝骨折被迫退出后再次回归。
今年阵容的其余成员包括《老大哥》（Big Brother）主持人威尔（Will）
资深演艺记者
贝斯特（Best）、《龙之屋》（House Of The Dragon）的贝瑟尼·安东尼娅（Bethany Antonia）、主持人格雷姆·“狗之父”·霍尔（Graeme 'The Dogfather' Hall）、《艾默代尔》（Emmerdale）的劳伦斯·罗布（Lawrence Robb）、奥运选手塔比·斯托克（Tabby Stoecker）、残奥选手莎拉·斯托里女爵士（Dame Sarah Storey）、《爱之岛》明星卡奇·默瑟（Cach Mercer）以及 YouTuber 约翰·内利斯（John Nellis）。
一些观众认为，《舞动奇迹》的专业舞者比明星参赛者更出名。
此前，这部 BBC 的周六晚间旗舰舞蹈节目经历了艰难的三年，期间
“丑闻系列”
它受到了一系列丑闻的打击。专业舞者乔瓦尼·佩尼切（Giovanni Pernice）被指控“霸凌”，扎拉·麦克德莫特（Zara McDermott）的搭档格拉齐亚诺·迪·普里马（Graziano Di Prima）在排练期间踢了她，而温·埃文斯（Wynne Evans）则因对共同出演者的不当行为被解雇。
但据信节目负责人并不担心今年缺乏明星影响力，而是根据社交媒体关注度来预订人选。
回归：丹妮·戴尔昨日在排练
这 15 位参赛者的总粉丝数高达 4720 万。
今年早些时候，《舞动奇迹》任职时间最长的女性专业舞者卡伦·豪尔（Karen Hauer）在残酷的裁员中被剔除，同事纳迪亚·比奇科娃（Nadiya Bychkova）、米歇尔·齐亚卡斯（Michelle Tsiakkas）、卢巴·穆什图克（Luba Mushtuk）和戈尔卡·马尔克斯（Gorka Marquez）同样被裁，取而代之的是
微笑：前《邻居》明星德尔塔·古德雷姆
五位更年轻且“符合 TikTok 风格”的新舞者。
艾玛·威利斯（Emma Willis）、前专业舞者约翰内斯·拉德比（Johannes Radebe）和喜剧演员乔什·威迪科姆（Josh Widdicombe）将主持新一季，取代去年卸任的资深主持人泰丝·戴利（Tess Daly）和克劳迪娅·温克尔曼（Claudia Winkleman）。
预计会有细微的格式调整，而衍生节目《It Takes Two》正被改版为视频播客形式。作为调整的一部分，珍妮特·曼拉拉（Janette Manrara）和弗勒·伊斯特（Fleur East）卸任了主持职务。
预计他们的接替者将在威利斯女士今天的 BBC Radio 2 下午节目中公布。
评委雪莉是否准备好华尔兹般地跳向该节目的美国版？
她在电视界拥有最令人向往的角色之一，担任《舞动奇迹》首席评委已有九年时间。
但雪莉·巴拉斯（Shirley Ballas）暗示，她在 BBC 舞厅的时光可能即将结束——并且她正准备好快步跳向美国版节目。
这位 65 岁的女士（如图）即将结束一份为期三年的合同，她承认自己希望加入《与星共舞》（DWTS）。
在一次出席美国电视节目以推广其 DWTS 衍生节目《下一位专业舞者》（The Next Pro）期间，巴拉斯女士表示：“那将是一个梦想。我的老师兼挚友，已故的《舞动奇迹》首席评委伦（Len Goodman）就做到了，他以前经常跨海前往那里。”
“如果我能获得那个机会，我绝对会[愿意尝试]……接触美国公众，确保我能提供高质量的[建议]……真正帮助人们在《与星共舞》的旅程中获得进步。”
看来这种感觉是相互的。据信，ABC 网络的负责人一段时间以来一直在关注巴拉斯女士，希望邀请她担任评委，因为他们看到了她在英国版节目中强硬的风格。巴拉斯女士被誉为“拉丁舞厅女王”，她曾与前夫科基（Corky）在德克萨斯州休斯顿抚养儿子马克（Mark），两人结婚 22 年，随后她搬到伦敦创办了一所舞蹈学校。
马克是一位 40 岁的舞者，与妻子和两岁的儿子住在洛杉矶，巴拉斯女士分享了她希望加入他们的愿望。她说：“我就是喜欢在美国，离我的家人近一些。”
BBC 已被联系以寻求评论。
克拉克顿马戏团
法拉奇：这次胜利
计票时的计票员：克拉克顿候选人，从左至右，Woke Trump Carrzee（独立候选人，8 票），Nick Pelas（独立候选人，202 票），Glenn Cummings（独立候选人，7 票），Kai Stephens（英国垃圾桶伯爵（Count Binface Party，9,455 票），Amy Morris（独立候选人，46 票），Marcus White（人人都是神党，10 票），Marc Wilkinson（独立候选人，11 票），Michael O'Keeffe（独立候选人，19 票），Robin
作者：马丁·贝克福德（Martin Beckford） 政策编辑
奈杰尔·法拉奇（NIGEL Farage）的补选豪赌在昨晚被贴上了“毫无意义的闹剧”的标签，因为就在他获胜几小时后，针对其财务状况的调查再次启动。
改革英国党（Reform UK）的领导人在昨天上午以 22,239 票再次当选克拉克顿的国会议员，票数超过了他在 2024 年大选中的得票，但投票率（63.3%）低于预期。
他未能出席在埃塞克斯镇休闲中心举行的结果公布仪式，并取消了原定的获胜演说，其政党声称他面临“可靠的威胁”——尽管警方否认曾建议他远离现场。
这引发了人们的怀疑，认为他想避免与以垃圾桶伯爵（Count Binface）为首的搞笑候选人一同被拍到而蒙羞。在这次打破纪录的 34 人候选名单中，垃圾桶伯爵以 9,455 票位列第二。
法拉奇先生宣布，这一结果证明了他上个月在财务问题引发质疑之际决定辞去议员职务的决定是正确的。
他说：“裁决现在已经出来了，这是一次令人信服的、压倒性的胜利，得票数比我们在 2024. 年大选中获得的还要多。今天，克拉克顿的选民向整个政治建制派竖起了中指。”
然而，在一次采访中，他似乎首次承认，由于没有申报在 2024 年大选前从加密货币大亨克里斯托弗·哈本（Christopher Harborne）处收到的 500 万英镑 million “礼金”，他可能违反了下议院的规则。
法拉奇先生在为支持者举办的彻夜“法拉奇节”（Farage Fest）活动中告诉 GB News：“你知道我犯过一个罪吗？我没填一张表格。”
他继续说道：“我没有违反任何法律。我没有违反任何税务法。我没有拿过任何公共资金。我甚至没有拥有
但监管机构立即重启 500万英镑 礼金调查，保守党称补选为毫无意义的闹剧
自信：奈杰尔·法拉奇在克拉克顿选举结果公布前的改革党集会上发表讲话
Binface：我的受欢迎程度提高了1,000倍
垃圾桶脸（COUNT Binface）昨天庆祝其受欢迎程度比上次参加的补选时提高了1,000倍。
这位候选人是喜剧演员乔恩·哈维（Jon Harvey）的另一个身份，他在克拉克顿（Clacton）赢得了9,455票，占总票数的26.9%——这被认为是新奇类候选人在议会补选中获得的最稳固的得票率。这也是他第一次能够保住自己的£500押金。
就在两个月前，他在参加对抗安迪·伯纳姆（Andy Burnham）的梅克菲尔德（Makerfield）补选时仅获得了95票。
在埃塞克斯郡公布结果后，他表示：“八周前在梅克菲尔德，我得到了95票。”
“所以，与对抗安迪·伯纳姆相比，在对抗奈杰尔·法拉奇（Nigel Farage）时，我的受欢迎程度提高了1,000倍。”然而，克拉克顿其他32名候选人中的一位抱怨说，这位“星际太空战士”抢走了所有的注意力。独立候选人马克·威尔金森（Marc Wilkinson）仅获得11票，他表示其他竞争者“简直没有任何曝光度”，并且“基本上被忽略了”。
一辆房车。而且，你知道，也许我没填某张纸。我有信心我是正确的。我们看看接下来的进展。”
当议会于9月1.复会时，法拉奇先生将第二次宣誓就任克拉克顿的国会议员。但在早上6点公布结果后的几小时内，下议院丑闻监察机构——议会标准专员（Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards）重启了对其的调查，该调查在竞选期间曾被暂停。
该机构声明，法拉奇先生再次因涉嫌“未能登记一项利益”而接受调查，预计他将在几周内接受询问。随后他可能面临另一次补选，届时主流政党将在他们抵制周四的竞选之后参与竞争。这将要求监察机构认定他违反了行为准则，委员会建议对其进行长期停职，并且有10%的选民在撤回请愿书中支持重新投票。
他的盟友表示，这样做没有意义。
改革英国党（Reform UK）主席兼国会议员李·安德森（Lee Anderson）告诉BBC：“就我以及改革英国党而言，克拉克顿的账单现在已经清零了。”
昨晚，一名保守党消息人士告诉《每日邮报》：“整个过程是一场毫无意义的闹剧。在补选结果出炉后的几小时内，标准调查就重新开始了。法拉奇希望他的噱头能转移人们对他那笔可疑的£500万捐款的注意力。但事实并非如此。”
工党主席布里奇特·菲利普森（Bridget Phillipson）表示：“这并不是奈杰尔·法拉奇的胜利。在他试图通过参加一场对抗某个小人物的补选来转移公众注意力时，他与改革英国党目前陷入的丑闻和贪腐之山已经越积越高。”
英国领先的民调专家还警告说，尽管克拉克顿44%的投票率“相当健康”，但改革英国党目前在全国民调中陷入苦战。
约翰·柯蒂斯爵士（Professor Sir John Curtice）教授表示，该党正受到“伯纳姆反弹”、保守党复苏以及来自“恢复英国”（Restore Britain）对其右翼威胁的影响。他表示：
Page 5
是我的证明
民主党人，132），阿德汉·阿尔卡蒂普（Adham Alkhatip，前进党，49），绿党（独立，59）以及帕梅拉·沃尔福德（Pamela Walford，独立，371）
不要低估奈杰尔·法拉奇……这位政治海盗依然充满活力 Littlejohn
'改革英国党（Reform UK）曾经似乎大有希望地能实现法拉奇的梦想——取代保守党成为英国右翼的主要政党，而现在看来，这种机会已大打折扣。'
博彩公司还降低了法拉奇成为下一个被替换领导人的赔率，同时表示他成为下一任首相的机会正处于“自由落体”状态。
此前，克拉克顿（Clacton）的选举结果公布，但由于关于法拉奇为何缺席的争论，该结果被掩盖了。
他在凌晨宣布将不会出席，成为自 1981 年 IRA 囚犯鲍比·桑兹（Bobby Sands）以来，首位缺席自身结果公布的补选获胜者。
法拉奇表示：'我很遗憾地告诉大家，在从事活跃政治作为候选人的 33 年后，埃塞克斯警方今晚告知我，有一个有组织的活动旨在干扰并贬低将在几小时后公布的结果。'
然而，埃塞克斯警方否认曾建议任何候选人不要参加计票。警方表示：'我们的目标是确保克拉克顿的居民能够正常处理日常事务，确保人们能够安全地投票，并确保计票过程顺利进行。'
'我们很高兴地说，所有这些都实现了，没有发生任何事故或问题。'
'候选人是否参加选举计票，是由个人及其安保团队决定的。'
评论 - 第 16 页
1967 年 8 月 14 日，极受欢迎的海盗电台“卡罗琳电台”（Radio Caroline）锚定在克拉克顿附近，被工党政府通过的《海洋违法法案》强制离开英国领海，该法案旨在维护 BBC 对无线电波的窒息性垄断。
2026 年 8 月 14 日，奈杰尔·法拉奇为民粹主义赢得了一次胜利，在克拉克顿补选中击败了拼命试图维护自身垄断并强迫他远走高飞的政治建制派。
卡罗琳电台继续在 12 海里界限之外全天候播放流行音乐。
政府采取了所有手段将其关闭，包括干扰其广播频率。
今天的情况与建制派决心摧毁法拉奇的行为有相似之处。在结果公布后几分钟内，议会标准委员会就他重返政治战场前收到的一笔来自加密货币亿万富翁的 £300 万捐赠重新启动了调查。他们一直打算这么做。
法拉奇坚称，他唯一的错误是没有填写所有国会议员必须填写的、涵盖选举前 12 个月的申报表。他说他的律师建议他没有必要这样做。
改革英国党领导人决定让克拉克顿的民众来做出评判，而不是屈服于建制派的“袋鼠法庭”（形式主义法庭）。周五，民众给了他更高比例的选票。建制派的反应是：'这些混蛋，民众发话了。'他们将这次补选斥为一场闹剧，因为法拉奇只面对 33 个玩笑候选人——其中包括荒诞的“垃圾桶伯爵”（Count Binface），后者被左翼媒体赞誉为严肃的挑战者。
如果法拉奇所谓的“统一党”（Uniparty）相信民主，他们就应该派出候选人与他竞争。相反，用玛格丽特·撒切尔的话来说，他们是“胆怯”的。他们知道他会以压倒性优势击败他们。
让他们回答这个问题：如果克拉克顿是一场闹剧，那么梅克菲尔德（Makerfield）的补选又说明了什么？那次补选被愤世嫉俗地发起，是为了给安迪·伯纳姆（Andy Burnham）重返威斯敏斯特铺平道路。
这是没有必要的，因为那里已经有一名在任议员——据可靠消息，该议员将因支持伯纳姆而辞职，从而被提升至上议院，并获得一份政府内部的六位数年薪工作作为奖励。
为什么在这种令人不齿的权力滥用行为面前，竟然没有一项议会标准调查？
“安迪·潘迪”（Andy Pandy）的得票数仅比法拉奇多出几千票，但他却被奉为救世主，在没有任何授权或面对大选的情况下，毫无阻碍地被推举为首相。
但法拉奇却几乎被建制派、左翼广播媒体，以及日益增多的“泡沫中的男孩们”（Boys In The Bubble）视为唯一的贱民。
当£300 万捐款的消息传出时，我写道他需要对此做出解答。
是的，这是一笔巨款，但这是他可以随心支配的私人赠礼。
法拉奇表示，这笔钱将用于支付他余生的安保费用。没有哪个政治家比他面临过更多的威胁，也没有哪个比他更勇敢。
然而，尽管他的政党在上次选举中获得了400万张选票，国家却一直拒绝为他提供保护。
因此，他必须自费支付。这些年来，我曾与他共进过几次正式午餐，我知道那辆路虎车以及坐在隔壁桌的三个特种部队大块头要花多少钱。这么多年下来，500万英镑也不会撑太久。
关于A 8因未能出席计票，他告诉我，周四晚上10点，埃塞克斯警方告知他的安保团队存在可靠的威胁，并建议他远离。
我认识他25年了，我相信他，无论埃塞克斯警察局官方怎么说。
既然反恐警察已经重新调查一起针对他住所的纵火企图，尤其是在改革英国党（Reform UK）的安·威德科姆（Ann Widdecombe）被谋杀之后，为什么要冒险？
这件事还没有结束。建制派将继续努力摧毁法拉奇，就像他们最终强迫卡罗琳广播电台（Radio Caroline）停播一样。
如果议会标准委员会已经做出了“有罪”的裁决，请不要感到惊讶。
在最近几周遭受猛烈抨击后，他在全国范围内的支持率有所下降，但改革英国党（Reform UK）仍然拥有四分之一选民的支持。
如果议会裁决引发第二次补选，他同样会获胜。
这个政治海盗依然充满活力。
安德鲁·尼尔（ANDREW NEIL） 第23页
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克拉克顿马戏团
by Fred Kelly
他引发了这场补选。他赢了。然后，奈杰尔·法拉奇消失了。
周五 2.50am，克拉克顿仍在计票，但由于胜局已定，改革英国党（Reform UK）的领导人采取了一次前所未有的干预行动。
在距离选举大厅 12 英里的一组信任盟友面前，法拉奇在一个私人舞台上宣布，他将不会出席结果宣布仪式。这将使他成为自 1981 年被监禁的爱尔兰共和主义者鲍比·桑兹以来，首位在缺席情况下被宣布获胜的议会候选人。
“我绝不会在赢得压倒性胜利后……站在舞台上，被一群无名小辈贬低和羞辱，”法拉奇告诉人群，他指的是与他竞争的 33 位古怪的候选人。
3.30am，改革英国党（Reform UK）的一位发言人澄清说，由于存在“旨在干扰和降低结果影响的组织化活动”，埃塞克斯警方建议法拉奇不要出席。
奇怪的是，埃塞克斯警方否认发布过此类指令。一小时后，记者被告知，法拉奇原定于上午 11 点发表的“重大演讲”已被取消。
奈杰尔·法拉奇到底在哪里，为什么他要逃避自己的加冕礼？
早上 6 点刚过，代理选举官员伊恩·戴维森走上克拉克顿休闲中心的讲台。他确认法拉奇以 22,239 票的显著优势赢回了他在一个月前放弃的席位，占总票数的 63%。这一数字是其最接近的竞争对手 Binface 伯爵（9,455 票）的两倍多。
面对这一宣布，一排沮丧的候选人们几乎陷入了沉默。这些人包括三名官方怪物咆哮疯子党的成员、一名认为全球变暖是骗局的寻求庇护者、一名 19 岁的 TikTok 影响者，当然还有自称是“星际太空战士”的 Binface 伯爵。
当候选人们陆续走出选举大厅时，人们不禁感到，这场克拉克顿狂欢不仅是这一代人中最不寻常的事件之一，更是英国民主的一次羞辱。
那么我们是如何走到这一步的，这一切意味着什么，而且——至关重要的是——在今年结束之前，我们是否会再次回到克拉克顿休闲中心参加另一场补选？
7, 法拉奇宣布辞去克拉克顿议员职务，从而引发了一场他也将参加的补选。他做出这一决定是因为他反对议会标准专员的一项调查，该调查旨在核实他在 2024 年大选前是否因未能申报来自泰国加密货币亿万富翁克里斯托弗·巴博恩的 £500 万 礼金，以及来自被定罪的诈骗犯兼党内助手乔治·科特雷尔的礼品而违反了规则。
法拉奇认为，赢得随后这场耗资 35 万英镑 的补选将洗清他的任何不当行为。
在他看来，这次胜利抹去了所有关于丑闻的记录。
隐藏内容：在周五凌晨结果出炉前，法拉奇与改革英国党盟友在一起
我与 Howling Laud Hope、Baron Von Thundercap 共同度过的离奇（且漫长）之夜……但遗憾的是没有 No-Show Nigel
但事实真的是这样吗？首先，针对涉嫌财务不端行为的议会调查于昨天上午重启，但我们稍后再谈。
其他候选人真的提供了除了象征性竞争之外的任何东西吗？请记住，在保守党党魁凯米·巴德诺克（Kemi Badenoch）所谓的“虚假补选”中，没有一个主要政党选择派出候选人。
在投票日，35,401 名选民投了票，投票率为 44.37%。周四晚上 10 点，投票结束，第一个投票箱在 15 分钟后送抵计票点。官方怪物狂吠疯子党（Official Monster Raving Loony Party）在 11. 45 分后从一辆多功能车中钻了出来。
在该讽刺团体的三名候选人中，包括 84 岁的党魁 Alan Hope，他化名为 Howling Laud Hope，并在 1999 年与他的宠物猫共同当选为该党共同领袖。
在“Catmando”被车撞死后，Hope 接管了疯子党的唯一领导权，其“狂躁宣言”（manicifesto）包括将英法海底隧道变成洗车场，以及将灰松鼠染成红色。他获得了 18 票。
其他疯子党的成员表现同样糟糕，Nick The Incredible Flying Brick 和 Baron Von Thundercap 分别获得了 28 票和 15 票。
候选人名单如此之长——选票本身就有 3 英尺长——以至于许多人似乎忘记了那位备受关注的、走强硬右翼路线的演员转职活动家劳伦斯·福克斯（Laurence Fox）也在参选。
福克斯获得了 347 票，在 34, 中排名第六，但仍远低于候选人拿回 £500 押金所需的 5 per cent 得票率。
当然，还有喜剧演员乔纳森·哈维（Jonathan Harvey），他在午夜左右抵达选举大厅，然后溜进休闲中心的洗手间，在头上套了一个垃圾桶，化身为另一个身份——垃圾桶伯爵（Count Binface）。
这是 Binface 参加的第八次选举，他是法拉奇唯一现实的挑战者。根据民调机构 Survation 的数据显示，他的支持率在 20 per cent，而法拉奇为 73 per cent。为了确认这场两强争霸的局面，周五凌晨 1. 20 分，代理选举官员宣布，选票将被分成三堆以方便计票：法拉奇、Binface 以及所有其他人。
尽管围绕着垃圾桶伯爵及其略显幽默的政策（包括“至少建造一套经济适用房”以及将 99 Flake 冰淇淋的价格上限定为 99p）而产生了一些兴奋感，但这从来就不是一场真正的竞争。早在午夜半点，在计票刚刚开始时，法拉奇就在克拉克顿（Clacton）外的营地宣布，他已“相当令人信服地”获胜。
但随后在 2. 50 分，当法拉奇在网上直播演讲时，震惊的消息传来了。
“今天，克拉克顿的选民向建制派竖起了中指，”他宣布道。但随后这位改革英国党（Reform UK）的领导人透露，他将不会出席自己的加冕礼。
周五晚些时候，来自改革英国党的内部沟通告诉记者不要寻找法拉奇，因为他正在进行一次“应得的休息”。
无论是否应得，这无疑是一次压倒性的胜利。在其他 33 名候选人中，只有垃圾桶伯爵获得了超过 5 per cent 的选票。也许结果从未有过悬念。
用伦敦女王玛丽大学的政治学教授蒂姆·贝尔（Tim Bale）的话来说，这里是“典型的法拉奇领地”。2016 年，超过 70 per cent 的克拉克顿选民选择脱离欧盟，而约 95 per cent 的居民出生在英国。
“只要奈杰想让我们去的地方，我们就会去，”改革英国党的竞选员 Kat Brenton 在投票日告诉《每日邮报》。“我们要夺回我们的国家，我们将不惜一切代价让奈杰成为首相。”
“最好的结果就是奈杰拿到 No.10 的钥匙，”62 岁的塞缪尔（Samuel）说道。“这个国家完蛋了，”他补充道。
法拉奇的粉丝们可能得到了他们所希望并投票支持的结果，但当然，这个离奇的故事在结尾处隐藏着危机。因为截至昨天早晨，针对法拉奇涉嫌财务不端行为的调查已经重启。
如果发现严重过错，极有可能将再次举行一场补选。
或者，如果法拉奇被下议院停职 10 天或更长时间，那么在克拉克顿（Clacton）10% 选民的支持下，一项撤职请愿可能会在无需议会干预的情况下促成另一场补选。
换句话说，再次投票并非不可能。而在经历了本周这场闹剧般的补选之后，想象克拉克顿还有人想要那样，简直令人难以置信。
火药桶英国（TINDERBOX BRITAIN）
Page 7
24小时内第二列火车脱轨
但铁路主管称极端高温下铁路依然安全
作者：Andy Jehring
昨日，第二列火车发生脱轨——就在此前几小时，铁路主管们还坚称线路在炎热天气下是安全的。
在萨塞克斯郡一列南方铁路（Southern Rail）列车车厢翻覆不足24小时后，一列大东区（Greater Anglia）服务列车在埃塞克斯郡脱轨。
昨日在威克福德（Wickford）没有报告人员受伤，照片显示火车保持直立，仅前方的车厢脱轨。
但在周四下午刘易斯（Lewes）发生脱轨事故后，此次事件引发了人们对破纪录的高温导致轨道变形的担忧。
在刘易斯那次脱轨事故中，两名乘客因伤势“严重”被送往重大创伤中心。另有18人在三节车厢侧翻后在医院接受治疗。
刘易斯议员詹姆斯·麦克利里（James MacCleary）透露，几天前他就向铁路主管反映过由于高温导致线路变得“更颠簸”的问题。据透露，在火车脱轨的那段轨道上，就在事故发生前24小时刚进行过一次安全检查。
英国的轨道设计标准是针对27℃ (80°F) 的夏季平均气温，但本周东南部部分地区的气温已突破37℃ (99F)。
Greater Thameslink Railway 首席执行官约翰·怀特赫斯特（John Whitehurst）昨日向旅客保证，脱轨“极其罕见”，且在炎热天气下“铁路是安全的”。
他在 Radio 4 的 Today 节目中表示：“我们设有控制流程，包括检查、临时限速，甚至在必要时暂停服务。”
但几小时后，下午 2.12，第二列火车在威克福德车站南侧脱轨。
空中救护车紧急出动，担架处于待命状态，警方和消防员也同步被派遣至现场。
这列从绍森德（Southend）开往伦敦利物浦街（London Liverpool Street）的列车上有大约 45 人。车内拍摄的画面显示窗外烟雾弥漫。
住在铁路线旁边的亚伦·波伊瑟（Aaron Poyser）当时正在花园里，听到了一声“巨大的碎裂声”。他告诉 BBC：“简直就像有人在铲石头一样。我看到一团尘土和烟雾。你能看出火车脱轨了。这相当吓人。”
幸运逃脱：昨日埃塞克斯郡脱轨事故后没有报告人员受伤，火车保持直立
昨日，铁路工作人员、警方以及铁路事故调查局（Rail Accident Investigation Bureau）的成员被看到在检查轨道，旨在确定原因的调查正在进行中。
Network Rail 董事马丁·弗罗比舍尔（Martin Frobisher）表示：“在进一步信息公布之前，我们请求公众不要对任何事故的原因进行猜测。”
他表示，调查“将研究
“近几个月来波动较大”
所有可能的起因和因素”，并承认炎热的天气给“铁路带来了异常挑战”。
此次脱轨事件加剧了人们对英国基础设施无法应对高温的担忧。
麦克莱里（Mr MacCleary）告诉时代广播电台（Times Radio）：“我上周与 GTR [Greater Thameslink Railway]（Southern Rail 的母公司）举行了会议，我们讨论了轨道情况，以及
近几个月来情况确实有些波动，这可能是由于我们最近经历的极度炎热天气所导致的。”
他表示自己不能进行“推测”，但补充道，“铁路公司一直在报告，极度干燥的条件已经影响到了路堤和轨道状况”。
他补充说：“最近该地区实施了许多限速措施，这与高温直接相关……最近确实有人对轨道状况表示担忧。”
周四，西伦敦的 Kew Gardens 记录到 38.1℃ (100.6F) 的温度，使其正式成为今年最热的一天。
本周的高温也标志着今年夏天的第五次热浪，英格兰和威尔士各地的交通基础设施都在艰难应对。
英国轨道的无应力温度为 27℃ (80F)，这意味着当温度高于此值时，轨道存在变形（buckle）的风险。
在经常经历更高温度的国家，工程师会使用实心混凝土板
事故现场：萨塞克斯郡，三节车厢翻覆的地点
以防止这种情况发生，但英国没有这样做，因为其成本大约是标准轨道的四倍。
此外还存在这样一个问题，即此类线路在冬季可能会出现问题。因此，在高温期间，火车会以较低速度行驶，以减轻线路上的热压力。
旅客已收到警告，Lewes 与 Haywards Heath 之间的线路，以及 Wickford 与 Southend 之间的线路，在可预见的未来将保持关闭。在因 Lewes 事故被送往医院的 20 人中，18 人已于昨日出院。
交通部表示：“虽然此类事件极其罕见，但一旦发生，我们将非常严肃地对待。”
火药桶英国
伯纳姆动用军队灭火，烧烤被禁
作者：Sam Greenhill 首席记者
安迪·伯纳姆（ANDY Burnham）昨日请求军队协助应对英国的野火，并警告称危机“远未结束”。
由于担心庆祝 A-level 成绩的毕业生可能意外引发多起火灾，首相在“火药桶英国”禁用了一次性烧烤炉。
昨晚全国仍有约 37 处火灾在燃烧——其中四处被宣布为重大事件——在周四这一年中最热的一天，整条街道被大火吞噬，居民们正在统计损失。
调查人员正在核实，在市场小镇斯托尔布里奇（Stourbridge）的百万富翁聚集区 Quarry Park Road 和 Brunswick Gate 附近的一场大火（导致 19 栋房屋被“摧毁”）是否由烧烤引起。
震惊的居民昨日正在视察他们价值 £100 万 房屋的焦黑残骸。
在西米德兰兹郡的其他地方，在斯托克-昂-特伦特（Stoke-on-Trent）四栋房屋被大火席卷后，两人因涉嫌纵火被捕。
随着英国各城镇面临“火浪”（城市地区同时发生多起火灾）的风险日益增加，伯纳姆先生敦促道：“这些问题远未结束。我们将进入一个困难的周末。请思考我们目前所处的境地。英国现在就像一个火药桶。在任何户外环境下点火，无论何种形式，都会对他人的房屋和他人的生命造成风险。请不要这样做。”
消防部门负责人正在调查这场混乱是否与庆祝 A-level 的学生风潮有关。一些年轻人拍摄了自己焚烧旧笔记本和课程作业的视频。
西米德兰兹消防局承认有此类传闻，但表示其发现
“这些问题远未结束”
没有直接证据。一名发言人表示：“我们不想责怪年轻人或任何特定群体，但我们的调查尚处于早期阶段。”
在视察斯图尔布里奇（Stourbridge）的破坏情况时，首相告诉 BBC：“走过一座昨天还是家庭中心，而现在被完全烧毁、仍在冒烟的房屋，景象相当诡异。你无法想象那种感觉。”
伯纳姆（Burnham）先生表示，已有 100 名军事人员被部署到南威尔士的一场大火中，并宣布计划订购消防飞机（类似于在欧洲和美国用于扑灭火焰的飞机），以帮助对抗山火的蔓延。
他还表示，最近在怀特霍尔（Whitehall）举行的 Cobra 紧急会议上收到警告，英国可能会面临一个潮湿的秋季和冬季，“因此在火灾之后可能会出现洪水”。
首相表示，零售商已被告知停止销售一次性烧烤炉，因为它们对“公众构成风险”，并补充道：“我不能说[所有火灾]都归咎于一次性烧烤炉，但其中一些很可能是这样引起的。”
在西米德兰兹郡，一名工党议员表示，在火势蔓延至住宅旁干草地和林地后，多达 30 处房产被毁。西米德兰兹消防局首席消防官西蒙·图希尔（Simon Tuhill）表示，有 19 栋房屋被毁，18 栋受损。无人机
视察：首相昨天在斯图尔布里奇，当地山火摧毁了房屋
手机警报惊动数百万人
昨晚，全英国的手机都收到了一条警告山火具有“极高风险”的紧急警报。
政府发出的通知伴随着数百万部手机发出的巨大嗡嗡声。
公众被告知不要在开放空间点火，包括使用一次性烧烤炉、火坑和烟花。晚上 7 点，当通勤者的手机响起警报时，英格兰和威尔士各地的火车站充满了噪音。它甚至中断了 BBC One 的《The One Show》节目。
斯图尔布里奇上空烟雾弥漫的画面显示，大火曾威胁要吞噬更多房产。伯纳姆先生说：“情况本可能糟糕得多。应急服务部门在困难的情况下做了极其令人印象深刻的工作。”他还承诺为消防部门提供更多资金。
大约 100 名消防员扑灭了斯图尔布里奇高尔夫球场附近的一场大火，该火灾烧毁了 40 英亩土地。高尔夫球手们开着球车逃离，居民描述灰烬像“下雨一样落下”。
斯图尔布里奇高尔夫俱乐部主席西蒙·马基（Simon Markey）说：“令人惊恐的是风向不断变化。就像世界末日一样。”
西米德兰兹郡的火灾导致约 54 人受伤，19 人被送往医院。
在斯图尔布里奇，火焰在房屋之间跳跃，居民纷纷逃离。简·巴克斯特（Jane Baxter）讲述了她如何“从卧室窗户看到火焰”，随后警察告诉她“拿上需要的东西赶紧离开”。邻居们说，他们徒劳地试图击退席卷花园并吞噬房屋的 125 团火焰。房主马克·贝宾顿（Mark Bebbington）回忆道：“它真的在几秒钟内就烧起来了。”
退休建筑工人理查德·琼斯（Richard Jones），60 岁，帮助一名使用助行器的年长邻居逃离。
在约 20 英里外的伯明翰海特斯希斯（Highter's Heath），安德鲁·雷诺兹（Andrew Reynolds），42 岁，讲述了他如何看着自己童年时代的家被烧毁，导致他的母亲金·马修斯（Kim Matthews）“精神崩溃”。
他说：“我妈妈失去了一切。全部没了，包括 100 年的
“我妈妈失去了一切”
来自该家庭的照片。”在斯塔福德郡，警方逮捕了一名 23 岁的男子和一名女子，24, 两人均来自斯托克-昂-特伦特，涉嫌在戈尔登希尔发生的一起损坏四栋房屋的火灾后实施纵火。
“火浪”在近年来变得更加普遍。在 2022 年 7 月出现的创纪录 40℃ 高温中，伦敦消防局经历了自第二次世界大战以来最繁忙的一天，首都各地爆发火灾，包括东伦敦一场摧毁了 37 栋建筑的毁灭性大火。
前环境署主席、现任独立国家热风险委员会主席艾玛·霍华德·博伊德（Emma Howard Boyd）表示：“过去 24 小时的画面以及我们听到的故事，让我立刻回想起 2022 年 40 度的高温热浪——我认为公众完全有理由询问，自那时起我们是否取得了多少进展。”
她告诉 BBC：“我非常希望听到中央政府将如何采取控制措施。这需要中央协调。”
作者：杰克·哈迪（Jack Hardy） 在斯图尔布里奇
就在几天前，保罗·麦克维（Paul McVeigh）还惬意地躺在花园的躺椅上，凝视着他位于斯图尔布里奇家上的天空，希望能瞥见日食。
而现在，他椅子被烧焦的框架阴森地立在草坪上，覆盖着唯一一块没有被野火熏黑的草地。
周四下午 1.30pm，这位退休电信工程师，57, 惊恐地看着一场巨大的大火席卷了与他房产接壤的高尔夫球场，并向他的家蔓延。
这场烈火在几分钟内席卷了西米德兰兹郡这个富裕的角落，摧毁了 19 处房产和 500 多英亩的土地——但幸运的是，麦克维先生位于梅尔罗斯大道的宽敞家园幸免于难。
在一年中最热的一天（气温达到 38℃），干枯如稻草的草地和干燥如火柴的林地助长了火势，火灾似乎始于附近的一块农田。
火焰向东穿过昂蒂·约翰巷（Ounty John Lane），那里的房屋被吞噬，随后从农田向北汹涌，穿过历史悠久的斯图尔布里奇高尔夫俱乐部，最后到达梅尔罗斯大道房屋的花园。
据透露，火源地土地所有者的一位亲属认为，火灾是在三个不同的地点被蓄意点燃的。
应急服务部门接到了数千通 999 报警电话，导致 68 人接受了护理人员的治疗，25 人被送往医院，其中包括一名儿童和六名消防员。数十名居民被迫逃离家园。
灭火工作昨天仍在继续，因为斯图尔布里奇高尔夫球场的部分区域仍在阴燃，散发出有毒烟雾。令人担忧的是，消防部门预测此次行动可能会持续数周，以确保地面得到充分润湿，防止火灾再次发生。
“火焰远高于房屋，”麦克维先生告诉《每日邮报》：“就像一部末日电影。但我认为我们极其幸运。”
因为高尔夫球场的另一侧是一片废墟。消防队无法阻止大火席卷农田，导致昂蒂·约翰巷上的几栋大宅被烧毁。
现在剩下的只有那些售价高达 £140 万 的豪华房产的参差不齐的结构，以及包括法拉利到宝马在内的名车的焦黑残骸。
在马路对面，一旦火势蔓延到高尔夫球场边缘的树木，火焰便会进一步增强，使得火势比背靠球场的每栋房屋都要高。
几位梅尔罗斯大道的居民告诉《每日邮报》，这些树木长期以来一直是他们与高尔夫俱乐部之间紧张关系的根源，他们曾多次投诉这些树木没有被修剪。
昨天早上，麦克维先生站在草坪上（草地已变成灰烬），描述了他周四下午看到烟雾后如何冒险前往高尔夫球场的情况。
“火势在一小时内就蔓延到了高尔夫球场的一半，”他说。“当我走回去时，右侧有一大片树丛起火了，你可以看到一只鹿正朝着我们的围栏线跑来。”
就像有人在地上泼了易燃液体一样。火势向四面八方蔓延，速度像慢走一样。原本棕色的地方变成了黑色，一圈火环一直向上蔓延。
警方建议麦维先生（如图所示）撤离，他于下午 3.30 左右带着家人逃离。他带我来到围栏线处，那里他棚屋的背面已被烧成了焦黑的碎片。我们透过曾经是围栏的缺口看向高尔夫球场。由于消防队喷洒了大量的水，地面变得泥泞不堪。
大片被烧焦的草皮在球场的其余部分留下了伤痕，附近的一片林地中继续冒出不祥的浓烟。
一名消防员继续在附近浇水。在地平线上，周围山丘上的大部分田地只剩下煤灰。
麦维先生的邻居，65 岁的退休人员斯特拉·莱顿告诉《每日邮报》：“我以为我们要失去房子了。你可以看到火焰
当火焰席卷房屋、居民四处逃散——斯图尔布里奇的大火是否是一场蓄势待发的意外？
……从建筑物顶部翻滚而下。我们当时直接跑了。”
她指向曾经是她围栏的黑色焦壳：“火势正好在边界处停止，把围栏烧掉了。你能听到那种轰鸣声和噼啪声——然后你能听到房子里传来的爆炸声，”她补充道。
“有人说那是烟花，我说，‘那不是烟花’。”
莱顿女士在第一次看到高尔夫球场上方升起烟柱时，立即冲出去用水浇灌她的花园。这次迅速的反应似乎使她的房产免受严重损坏。
在警方建议她和丈夫米克离开后，他们带着两只狗跳进车里，撤退到当地的一家酒吧。“当我们走出家门时，我以为我们再也回不到自己的家了，”她说。
莱顿女士说，她甚至在几个月前对米克提到过，如果山火蔓延到这里，他们“可能会陷入麻烦”。
“你可以看到地面像干柴一样干燥，”她解释道。在这条富裕街道的边缘，警方正在扩大封锁线，警告居民如果离开，一段时间内将不允许返回。
“很多居民感到非常难过，”燃气工程师保罗·克雷恩说。“尽管这里是保护区，但高尔夫球场上的树木位于居民的土地上。而且这些树没有得到管理。”
“高尔夫俱乐部不想承担任何责任。必须有人对此负责。”
“问题在于这片林地里有太多的草、树枝和枯死物质，
毁灭现场：大火席卷高尔夫球场，摧毁了500多英亩土地后，房屋变成了被烧毁的空壳
这简直就是一场蓄势待发的意外。”
斯图尔布里奇高尔夫俱乐部在声明中表示：“我们始终认真对待邻居的要求，在收到任何沟通后都会进行调查和评估。”
几名农民也参与了试图阻止这场炼狱之火的努力，《每日邮报》获取的画面显示，他们驾驶拖拉机靠近推进的火焰，试图通过向地面喷水来创建防火带。他们的英勇努力还不够——到这个阶段，火势实在太猛烈了。
69, 岁的农民布莱恩·帕多说，火灾始于他表亲的土地。他补充说，这是几周内的第二场火灾。
“那次实际上是联合收割机产生的火花，”他在谈到之前的火灾时说。“这次看起来更像是故意的，不是吗？”
“火是在三个地方同时点燃的。在某个阶段，它在三个不同的地方燃烧，所以在我看来，意外的可能性很小。”
事实上，昨天西米德兰兹消防局并未排除庆祝成绩的 A-level 学生可能对此负责的可能性。但西米德兰兹消防局的一位发言人补充道：“在目前这个早期阶段，我们不想指责年轻人或任何特定群体。”
回到艾弗利公园农场，帕多先生告诉我，当他听到火灾消息时立即采取行动，他的儿子丹尼尔也是驾驶拖拉机与火焰搏斗的人员之一。
随着火灾在英国各地继续蔓延，关于自然环境（例如高尔夫俱乐部的那些树木）是否应该任其自然生长的问题依然存在。
试着把这话告诉那些在斯图尔布里奇失去家园的居民吧。
6月 24 日是定罪的婴儿杀手露西·莱特比犯罪时间线上的一个具有病态意义的日期。
就在 2016, 年的这一天，这名前新生儿护士被发现杀害了她的最后一名受害者。
早产三胞胎中的第二个兄弟——她通过向他们的幼小身体注入空气杀死了其中两名兄弟姐妹——被称为“婴儿 P”，是死在她手中的第七名婴儿。
整整 10 年后，这个周年纪念日对莱特比来说变得更加沉重。
因为现在这一天也将标志着她的“男朋友”被警察发现神秘地瘫倒在车内。在审判中获悉，她对他如此痴迷，以至于故意杀死和伤害婴儿来吸引他的注意，而这名医生已婚。
今年6月24日，救护车被叫到了英格兰西北部一个不起眼的零售园区，他的昏迷身体就躺在那里。这名医生此前已被亲属报失，随后被送往医院。
遗憾的是，这位53岁的医生在莱特比的审判中被允许匿名，且出于法律原因不能透露姓名，他最终未能康复。一周多后，于7月3日在默西赛德郡一家医院的重症监护室去世。
现在，人们开始质疑这名医生猝死的死因，而且更进一步地，质疑他与莱特比的联系是否在某种程度上负有责任。可以肯定的是，当莱特比被判定
医生的猝死是否与莱特比案有关？
谋杀七名婴儿并企图谋杀另外七名婴儿（其中一名受害者曾遭遇两次企图谋杀）时，该男子确实发现自己陷入了极高压力的境地，莱特比目前因此被判处创纪录的15个终身监禁。
毫无疑问，围绕他去世的任何疑问都将成为死因研讯的基础。切希尔验尸官法院的一位发言人已确认“初步调查”正在进行中，听证会日期尚未确定。
然而，我被告知，在审判中被称为 A 医生的这位顾问医生，是在被其工作的医院解雇仅一天后被发现瘫倒的。
他被解雇的部分原因是，在2016年6月两人共同在切斯特伯爵夫人医院工作期间，他与现年36岁的莱特比之间就一名被判定莱特比企图谋杀的婴儿交换了一系列信息。
他于同年9月离开切斯特伯爵夫人医院，在去世时，他在另一个 NHS 信托机构担任顾问医生。然而，今年6月，他似乎因之前向莱特比发送的 Facebook 消息而被现任上司传唤参加内部纪律听证会。这些消息集中在一名患有血友病的早产男婴（被称为 N 婴儿）的护理上。
莱特比被判定在 2016年6月3日，即该婴儿出生次日企图将其杀死。当这些包含婴儿姓氏及其医疗状况详情的消息在莱特比的审判期间曝光时，该婴儿的母亲感到愤怒，并对 A 医生提出了正式投诉，指控他“公然”违反其儿子的患者保密协议。
一项调查随即展开，在为期三天的纪律听证会后，A 医生因严重违纪于6月23日被解雇。
除了这些不恰当的消息外，据了解，他还面临其他严重指控，包括被指不恰当地访问医疗记录并危及患者安全。出于法律原因，这些指控的详细内容无法公开。
按照程序，他的 NHS 雇主有义务将其被解雇的情况报告给医生专业监管机构——英国通用医学委员会（General Medical Council）。
伦敦之行、购物、午餐——以及数十条深夜信息 莱特比与她那身为已婚医生的“男友”之间极亲密的关系
特别报道 记者：Liz Hull
这威胁到了他未来再次从事医生工作的机会。
那么，据报道在去世前健康状况不佳的 A 医生，在被解雇一天后，且恰逢莱特比最后一名受害者被谋杀的周年纪念日当天突然倒下，这能仅仅是一个巧合吗？
无论其死因如何，显然到 6 月 24 日为止，他的职业生涯和名誉已毁于一旦。
因此，正如他的一位朋友告诉我的那样，这位医生间接地成为了英国最臭名昭著的囚犯的又一名受害者。
这位朋友说：“人们会犯错，会做出糟糕的选择，但无论他做了什么，这对 A 医生及其家人来说都是一场可怕的悲剧。他是露西·莱特比的又一名受害者。”事实上，在为调查其罪行而设立的公开听证会上提供证词时，这位医生承认自己感到“遗憾”，并觉得被莱特比“误导，或许还被操纵了”。
就她而言，在审判期间，莱特比坚称她与比她年长 17 岁的 A 医生之间并非浪漫的恋爱关系，而“只是最好的朋友”。
但对于一个在长达十个月的案件过程中几乎没有表现出任何情感的人来说，值得注意的是，当他在 2023 年 2 月首次进入法庭为指控她而作证时，莱特比因感受到背叛而崩溃落泪，并试图离开被告席。
据莱特比服刑的布朗兹菲尔德监狱（HMP Bronzefield）的一名内部人士透露，上周末相关消息在媒体传出后不久，一名监狱官员告知了她 A 医生突然去世的消息。
本周与我交谈的消息人士表示：“没有出现剧烈的情绪反应。可能流了一些泪，但她回到了牢房里，在那里待了几个小时。”
在审判期间，证据显示两人曾一起去伦敦一日游，在业余时间一起散步和用餐，且他曾造访她独自居住的家。
在警方在该郊区半独立式住宅中发现的笔记上，莱特比在爱心涂鸦和其他短语旁边反复写着他的名字，包括：“我最好的朋友……爱……我爱过你，我想你知道……我希望你站在我身边，但你没有。”
警员还发现，她在 Facebook 上多次搜索他结婚近 28 年的妻子。在 2016 年 6 月至 9 月短短三个月的时间里，两人通过 Facebook 交换了 1,350 多条信息，且经常在深夜和凌晨发送。A 医生与莱特比的亲密关系始于 2016 年 6 月初，当时这位医生通过 Facebook 给这名护士发信息请求一个“帮手”。
就在同一天晚上，莱特比在值夜班期间通过 WhatsApp 给她的一位亲近的护士朋友发信息——就在她袭击并试图杀死婴儿 N 的几个小时之前。
莱特比写道：“早些时候收到 [A 医生] 的奇怪信息。”
她的朋友开玩笑地回复道：“真的吗？说什么？让你‘不穿内衣’（go commando）？”
莱特比说：“问我下周什么时候上班，因为想跟我谈件事，有个帮手想请我……？”她的朋友补充道：“我觉得他也喜欢你。嗯，你没问是什么事吗？”
莱特比说：“没，就说了我什么时候上班，他说想听听我对某件事的看法。嗯……你觉得他是不是有点奇怪？”
她的朋友回复道：“我觉得他跟你一样爱调情。”
莱特比说：“闭嘴！我没跟他调情！绝对没看上他，哈哈，他只是个好人。”
她后来在法庭上声称
她不知道“go commando”（一个指不穿内衣的短语）是什么意思。
在 12 天后另一次值班期间发送的其他信息中，莱特比和 A 医生讨论了她即将到来的年假以及在德文郡考金顿的假期。当他买巧克力让她开心时，她称他为“甜心”。
他还向她提供自己的车，这样她就不用在那个压力巨大的班次结束后步行回家——在那个班次中，婴儿 N 几乎死亡并必须被转送到一家专科医院。露西·莱特比后来被指控在该班次期间两次袭击婴儿 N，但陪审团未能就这两项谋杀未遂指控达成裁决。
然而，在婴儿 N 被转移后不久发给 A 医生的信息中，莱特比谈到了该孩子的病情，并询问自己在照顾他时是否做错了什么，随后补充道：“坐在这儿享受片刻安静，想哭。”他回复道：“噢，露西，可怜的小家伙，还有你……你还好吗？哭一场吧，我相信这样你会感觉好些。如果你太累了走不动，欢迎开车回家。我明天早上会安排把车接回来。很遗憾你度过了糟糕的一天。”
当 A 医生被传唤到
“闭嘴！我没跟他调情！”
在 2024 年 10 月的公开调查中提供证词时，他被问及了这些信息。
他承认这些违反了患者保密协议的短信是不恰当的，如果婴儿 N 的父母知道他们的儿子被这样讨论，将会感到非常难过。
“回顾这里的信息内容，我分享得太多了，”他说。“在不透露姓名、不提供过多临床细节的情况下，告知对方患者近况是很常见的，以帮助接收者了解患者目前的状况。”
“我提供了一些我认为有帮助的细节，但现在看来可能并非如此。”
“我完全接受这种信息管理方式是不正确的，但这其中并没有恶意。这样做是为了分享信息，仅此而已。”
2016 年 6 月 23 日，A 医生也在值班，但当时他在医院的另一个地方主持诊所。而莱特比在结束为期一周的伊比萨岛假期后的第一个班次中，杀害了三胞胎兄弟中的第一个——婴儿 O。检察官尼克·约翰逊（Nick Johnson）
被判 15 项终身监禁：连环杀婴犯露西·莱特比，以及上方她在切斯特伯爵夫人医院与一名婴儿患者在一起的照片
KC 建议，到那时——在她杀戮狂欢开始 12 个月后——她袭击婴儿是为了制造“危机”局面，以便这位大律师反复称其为男友的 A 医生能被紧急呼叫（crash-bleeped）前来帮忙。
短信显示，两人在当天早些时候就互发信息，莱特比告诉 A 医生，他在诊所里被困住真是“糟糕”，随后她向婴儿 O 注射了空气，促使该医生紧急赶到她的病房。
两人都参与了对婴儿 O 失败的抢救，在下班后，他们又在婴儿 O 死亡后恢复了信息往来。短信一直持续到深夜，直到次日凌晨他们互道晚安。
几小时后，当莱特比和 A 医生回到工作岗位时，在婴儿 O 的兄弟婴儿 P 身上发生了几乎完全相同的情况。
作为婴儿 P 的指定护士，莱特比再次被发现通过注射空气破坏了他的护理，促使 A 医生被叫来帮忙。
遗憾的是，他也没能获救。约翰逊先生询问莱特比，她是否“享受与 A 医生共同处于这些危机局面中”。
“这是否给了你一些可以和他讨论和发信息聊的话题？”约翰逊先生说。“一些你们可以分享的共同点？”
“不，他只是个朋友，”她坚持道。与最终揭发莱特比的同事们不同，A 医生并未怀疑她参与了三胞胎的死亡，甚至还转发给她一封来自新生儿科最高级别医生斯蒂芬·布雷里（Stephen Brearey）的机密邮件，邮件指出他们可能会在死因研讯中受到调查。
A 医生再次向公开调查承认，发送该邮件是一个“错误”，但他声称自己只是试图提供“支持”，因为“她（莱特比）给我留下的印象是她非常难过”。
尽管如此，在几天后莱特比被调离一线岗位时，他依然对她保持忠诚，告诉她她把工作做得“完美”。他在一条信息中写道：“在整个地区（我几乎在所有地方都工作过）的护士中，你是少数几个我愿意将自己的孩子托付给的人之一。”
在 2017 年全年，当莱特比因被调任文职工作而向伯爵夫人（Countess）提出申诉时，他也一直支持她。在她得知自己被指控导致婴儿死亡后，他是管理层允许她联系的仅有的三名临床同事之一。
莱特比和 A 医生继续共度时光，在 2017 年 5 月和 6 月期间见面五次，
“我愿意将自己的孩子托付给你”
期间他们访问了距离切斯特 16 英里的哈特福德村，以及附近埃尔姆斯波特的切希尔橡树购物中心。他们还一起在切斯特的一家美式主题餐厅 Hickory's 用餐，随后一起前往伦敦旅行。
莱特比坚称他们从未在首都共同过夜，而原计划于 2017 年 9 月进行的第二次旅行被取消了。
最终，在 2018 年初因谋杀案调查被警方询问后，即使是 A 医生也背弃了她。
用莱特比的话说，这段友谊“渐渐淡化”了。
无论他们的关系真相如何，毫无疑问，那段时间他与莱特比的亲密关系一直沉重地压在他的心头。“在过去的六到八年里，我每天都会思考这件事，”他告诉主持此次公开调查的法官瑟尔沃尔女士（Lady Justice Thirlwall）。“我对这件事的反思程度是非常深刻的。”
“我因为被误导，或许是被操纵，而向（莱特比）提供了支持，对此我深表歉意。”
“对于那段时间发生的一切，我有很多遗憾。”
毫无疑问，那些孩子被莱特比杀害的家庭会说，这些遗憾来得太少，也太迟了。
Page 12
现有一百万人坚持要求杀害警员的凶手必须留在狱中
作者：Joshua Haining
一项要求将杀害警员 Andrew Harper 的凶手继续留在狱中的请愿书在昨日突破一百万个签名。
这名来自泰晤士河谷的警员，28岁，在七年前的今天响应一起四轮摩托车盗窃报告后被杀。
在脚踝被勾在逃跑车辆后部的带子上后，他被沿着一条乡村公路拖行了一英多米。
司机 Henry Long 被判处 16 年监禁，乘客 Albert Bowers 和 Jessie Cole 在 2020 年因过失杀人被判处 13
鲍里斯阅读其在第 19 页的专栏
年监禁。作为政府缓解监狱过度拥挤努力的一部分，Bowers 和 Cole 有资格获得提前释放，这引发了由泰晤士河谷警察联合会组织的请愿。与此同时，首相 Andy Burnham 面临着越来越大的压力，以确保这对搭档在 10 月提前释放计划开始时不会被释放。
Harper 警员的母亲 Debbie Adlam 表示，唐宁街在两人是否继续留在狱中问题上的犹豫不决让她感到“精疲力竭”。
她在《每日邮报》的 Trial 播客中表示，如果 Burnham 先生违背其阻止释放的承诺：“那么这一切都白费了。我会感到绝对愤怒，因为 Andrew 的生命是以如此恐怖的方式终结的。我真的不知道如果那样发生，我该如何面对。”
悲剧：Andrew Harper 警员与妻子 Lissie
数千个监狱牢房在等待消防安全维修期间处于空置状态
尽管政府正在提前释放罪犯以解决过度拥挤问题，但仍有数千个监狱牢房处于空置状态。
由于一项安装名为“自动火灾探测”消防安全系统的承诺，多达 1,800 个监禁名额无法填充。
在建筑公司 ISG 及其关联公司 ESS 于 2024 年在进行维修期间倒闭后，包括伯明翰监狱（HMP Birmingham）的大型维多利亚式翼楼在内的数百个牢房仍无法使用。
一整座监狱——达特穆尔监狱（HMP Dartmoor）——也依然处于封存状态，在发现天然气氡含量达到不安全水平后，有 640 个牢房处于空置状态
“这简直不可接受”
在 2024 年。目前还没有重新开放的时间表，但纳税人仍在支付数百万资金向康沃尔公国租赁该场地。
最新的官方数据显示，英格兰和威尔士的监狱中目前有 4,024 个床位无法使用，原因是这些床位被“损坏”或“受建筑工程影响”，尽管司法部坚持认为可以通过增加单间牢房的入住人数来寻找额外空间。
批评人士称，如果这些牢房能重新投入使用，部长们就不必通过在囚犯仅服刑三分之一刑期后将其释放，从而腾出 5,000 个名额的空间。
安迪·伯纳姆（Andy Burnham）已经介入以阻止强奸犯被允许提前获释，而现在
独家报道 作者：Sam Merriman 和 Martin Beckford
正在考虑激进措施，例如将男性安置在女性监狱中。
监狱官员协会全国主席马克·费尔赫斯特（Mark Fairhurst）表示，无法使用的床位数量是对“监狱房产状态的沉痛控诉”。
他说：“在政府依赖提前释放来管理过度拥挤的时候，数千个牢房因为损坏、维护和施工延迟而空置，这简直不可接受。”
“对于监狱官员来说，特别令人沮丧的是，一线人员被要求处理这些失败带来的后果，而我对高级管理层中是否有人会被追究责任几乎没有信心。”
“尽管有反复的证据表明存在无能和决策失误，但很难看到负责此事的管理高层有人被问责。”
保守党司法发言人尼克·蒂莫西（Nick Timothy）指责工党“在实际可用监狱牢房数量问题上一直不诚实”。
一名司法部发言人表示：“我们正在通过提供 14,000 个额外床位来解决这场危机，其中已有 3,200 多个床位交付使用。”
消息人士称，不可用的非拥挤监狱床位数量并不意味着监狱系统中还有空间容纳另外 4,024 名囚犯，且运营能力是单独计算的，其中考虑了可以共用的牢房。
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11
真是太惊人了！杜阿·利帕（Dua Lipa）时尚出航
卡勒姆在里面吗？利帕女士在 JFK 机场携带她的 6,170 英镑 Chanel 托特包
如果您曾因随身行李的大小与机场办理登机手续的人员发生争执，现在请移开视线。
从她那只尺寸惊人的 Chanel 机舱包来看，普通的规则似乎并不适用于杜阿·利帕。
这位 30 岁的歌手周四在纽约 JFK 机场将这只超大号 6,170 英镑 红白蓝条纹拉菲草托特包作为随身行李携带。
作者：Codie Bullen 高级娱乐记者
利帕女士通常更倾向于将爱马仕 Birkin 包作为旅行伴侣，此次她将其与一件布列塔尼条纹套衫、一条磨边低腰牛仔裤以及黑色尖头高跟鞋搭配在一起。
利帕女士前往大苹果城是为了参加电影《One Night Only》的首映式，该片由她的丈夫、36 岁的卡勒姆·特纳（Callum Turner）主演。这对夫妇于 5 月结婚，随后在欧洲度蜜月，然后前往美国，以便特纳宣传这部电影。
事实上，由于工作原因，这对居住在伦敦的新婚夫妇自结婚以来大部分时间都住在纽约。据信利帕女士正在那里录制新歌，此前有人看到她离开格林威治村的 Electric Lady 录音室。
剑桥大学前教授杰森·阿尔代被发现死亡
作者：Sam Greenhill, Rebecca Camber 和 Eleanor Harding
一名处于剑桥大学抄袭风波中心的顶尖学者被发现死亡。
前教授杰森·阿尔代（Jason Arday）于昨日下午 3. 点后不久，在伦敦的一处住址被发现失去意识。
此前几周情况动荡，同行学者质疑这位 41 岁的学者的研究成果是否具有原创性。这也引发了对其此前学术职位的审查。
随着来自学者、记者和广播从业者的质疑不断增加，阿尔代先生辞去了其显赫的职务。
他是剑桥大学历史上最年轻的黑人教授；于 2023 年 3 月被任命为教育社会学教授。
但在其过往成就遭到接连质疑后，他于 8 月 5 日辞职。
剑桥大学宣布，在获得关于阿尔代先生学术资格和荣誉职位的新信息后，已启动调查。他曾担任研究员的耶稣学院（Jesus College）也启动了调查。
阿尔代先生辞去了教授职和研究员职。他表示，这不应被“误认为是对围绕我的种种说法的认可”。他提到这场风波带来的“个人代价”而言“太大了”。
他还取消了为其回忆录《伟大而不幸之事》（Great And Unfortunate Things）举办的宣传活动，该书于本周在美国发行。
伦敦警察厅在昨日的一份声明中表示：“伦敦救护服务中心于 8 月 14, 日星期五下午 3.12 分接报
辞职：杰森·阿尔代
一名男子在屋内被发现失去意识，随即通知警方。
“遗憾的是，一名 41 岁的男子在现场被宣布死亡。其近亲已获悉此事，并正由警员提供支持。
“目前，其死亡被视为意外，但被认为没有可疑之处。”
声明补充道：“此案正由伦敦警察厅中南指挥单位（Central South Command Unit）的警员调查。一份文件将
“深切的悲痛”
准备好面对验尸官。”作为两个孩子的父亲，阿尔代（Arday）先生在 2023 年时似乎拥有大好前程，当时他被剑桥大学任命一事受到了全球媒体的关注，他成为了许多赞美报道的主角。
考虑到他所描述的童年经历，他的崛起速度惊人。
阿尔代先生表示，由于被诊断出患有自闭症和全球发育迟缓，他直到 11 岁才学会说话，直到 18 岁才学会读写。
近几周，他的这些说法受到了质疑，但这位当时的教授否认了针对他的指控，并对有关其过去的相关说法提出了异议。其中许多指控与他的慈善工作有关，他声称通过长跑筹集了 £500 万，其中包括在 35 天内跑了 30 场马拉松。
在辞职时，阿尔代先生表示这是“带着深切的悲痛”。他说，这次任命“毫无疑问是我人生中最大的职业荣幸”，并补充道：“成为该大学历史上最年轻的黑人教授，是我一个在自闭症诊断下长大、直到 11 岁才学会说话的孩子在童年时几乎无法想象的事情。”
在经历了数日的质疑后，他表示：“当个人代价变得过于沉重时，就会达到一个临界点。我有家庭，我想陪伴在他们身边。我想找回一些平静、一些隐私，以及某种程度上的普通生活。我不再希望感觉自己生活在持续的聚光灯下，生活中的每一个方面都受到公众的审视和评判。”
“为了我自己的健康，为了我的家人，以及在这个困难时期一直支持我的人，我得出结论，结束这一章节的唯一方法就是离开。”
他补充道：“这一决定不应被解读为对学术研究或最初将我带到剑桥的价值观失去了信心。”
“也不应被误认为是对围绕在我的那些叙事的认可。”
“这仅仅是一个已经达到了任何人在合理预期内所能忍受的极限的人所做出的决定。”
本周，剑桥大学副校长德博拉·普伦蒂斯（Deborah Prentice）教授在给员工的一封信中表示，她理解其任命所引发的担忧，并且她也持有同样的看法。
--。
嘲讽边境安保：驶向白崖的“VIP移民”
一艘从法国出发、载有 VIP 移民的强力快艇在几乎抵达多佛白崖时，让英国的边境防御显得像个笑话。
上周末早餐时分，渔民们发现 15 名戴着昂贵帽子、穿着名贵夹克的乘客正向肯特郡多佛港的入口驶来。
他们乘坐着一艘全新的白色充气艇，配备了一台 20 马力的 12,000 铃木（Suzuki）外挂发动机，成功避开了法国海军和英国边境局（Border Force）的监测。我们的独家照片显示，发动机上还贴着购买说明。
此次披露是政府面临的最新尴尬。本周一，一艘载有 230 名移民的超级快艇抵达，这是迄今为止穿越英吉利海峡的最大规模走私船只，令政府措手不及。
据认为，如果这次航行是由走私者组织的，这艘白色快艇上的 VIP 乘客每人可能支付了至少 4,000 英镑 的费用。
一名与同事一起在乘客接近肯特郡时拍摄快艇照片和视频的渔民表示：“另一种可能是，其中两名穿着皮夹克的乘客可能是自己购买了船只和发动机。”
“这艘充气艇是顶级的，显然来自一家正规的游艇店。他们可能是自行前往英国的。”
渔民们告诉《每日邮报》，他们是在上周六早晨 7.54am，在距离多佛三英里处首次发现这艘 VIP 快艇的。这是近年来首次发现移民船只潜入英吉利海峡抵达肯特郡海岸。
快艇驾驶员向经过的船只发出信号，称铃木发动机已停止工作，并向渔民大喊，让他们通知英国海岸警卫队派遣一艘边境局船只来接他们。
渔民们开始实施救援，但当驾驶员变得不耐烦并轻松地重新启动发动机时，他们意识到这个警报是一个圈套。
这艘 VIP 快艇的驾驶员继续向多佛驶去，随后再次停下，在第二次启动铃木外挂发动机之前询问海岸警卫队的情况。
轻松航行：乘坐全新快艇接近肯特郡海岸的移民
“我们认为他在钻制度的漏洞。我们跟随这艘价值约 1,500 英镑 的船一直行驶到肯特郡海岸。在距离目的地不到一英里时，一艘边境局船只驶出，阻止其凭借自身动力进入多佛，”我们的消息人士补充道。
快艇外挂发动机上贴给新买家的说明书详细介绍了在启程前如何向发动机加注机油。
“它和船显然都是崭新的。我相信驾驶员是一个走私者，因为他很清楚如何通过假装故障来吸引海岸警卫队的注意，”其中一名渔民补充道。
“根据海事法，如果船只发动机停止运行，乘客必须由经过的船只或海岸警卫队派遣的救援队营救。”
这些移民很可能希望被边境局官员接走，以便进入英国的庇护系统。
这将使他们获得免费的住宿和医疗服务——以及最高奖赏：在英国定居的机会。
这是在从法国出发穿越海峡的航行中，首次见到这种载有富裕外国乘客（怀疑是印度人或伊朗人）的定制旅行船。
如果驱动中型充气艇，铃木发动机的最高时速可达 20 英里。这意味着，尽管中途停靠并呼叫海岸警卫队，这艘船从法国出发到抵达海岸可能仅用了几个小时。
“乘客中似乎没有人穿着救生衣，这表明他们觉得这次快速航行没有任何危险，”我们的消息人士说。“他们的穿着就像是要去购物一日游一样。”
“我们不知道他们是谁，但他们一心想要抵达英国。”
这一事件表明，尽管人口贩子将越来越多的英吉利海峡移民塞进巨型充气艇的趋势仍在继续，但那些有钱的人现在正购买“头等舱”跨境服务。
内政部表示：“我们在减少小船跨境人数方面取得了进展，今年小船跨境数量有所下降，且 7 月份记录的数字为 2020 年以来最低。”
“但我们必须采取进一步行动，这就是为什么我们与法国签署了一项基于结果付费的协议，以增加 40% 的地面部署人员。”
这个年幼的婴儿被粗鲁地搬上英吉利海峡的一艘小船，右臂被紧紧地拎在空中。孩子面无表情，毫无防备，穿着一件白色连体衣，戴着围嘴，周围环绕着穿着救生衣和肮脏衣服的男人。
但这个在去年周日被拍到于法国北部海滩、身处前往英国的人口贩子充气艇上的小婴儿，却没有救生设备来保护。
年龄大约六个月，上下浮动。一个无辜的生命。目前尚不清楚是男孩还是女孩，但让我们称这个孩子为 Dylan，这个名字的意思是“大海之子”——尽管在现代它已成为中性名字。
当 Dylan 被拖上充气艇时，站在水里的人——也许是孩子的父亲或母亲——将一个装满牛奶的奶瓶扔进了船里。
看着这些照片，我不禁在想，这是这个婴儿第一次去海边旅行吗？一次在死亡陷阱般的充气艇上置生命于危难之地的旅行？一艘载满了陌生男人，且船舱内无疑充斥着汽油和污垢的船？
只有最冷酷的人才会不对 Dylan 的悲惨境遇产生触动。但另一种可以理解的反应是愤怒——这个无辜的孩子被无端置于如此危险之中。毕竟，法国是一个安全的国家，Dylan 的父母本可以在那里申请庇护。
根据国际移民组织的数据，自 2018 年英吉利海峡危机开始以来，已有 34 名儿童在尝试从欧洲大陆抵达英国的过程中死亡。
总数包括 2024 年 9 月在布洛涅附近的格里内角（Cape Gris-Nez）一次翻船事故中丧生的六名青少年。
而在 2020 年 10 月，一个库尔德-伊朗家庭——Rasoul Iran-Nejad、妻子 Shiva Mohammed Panahi（两人均为 35 岁）、女儿 Anita（9 岁）以及儿子 Armin（6 岁）和 Artin（仅 15 个月大）——在他们的充气艇沉没时全部溺亡。想到那些可怜的孩子在最后时刻所经历的
“这个年轻人的胜算似乎微乎其微”
恐惧，实在太可怕了。幸好，婴儿 Dylan 似乎在旅途中幸存了下来。
但考虑到随着小船危机进入第九年且毫无解决迹象，英国纳税人每年仍需支付数十亿英镑的账单，他或她现在的情况同样令人担忧。
目前没有关于 Dylan 在英国的生活可能会给公共财政带来多少成本的准确数据。
我们也不能预判其未来的道路。就我们所知，Dylan 可能会成为学术和经济上的成功典范，并为社会做出巨大贡献。希望这一切确实能够实现。
但这种情况发生的胜算似乎微乎其微。现有数据表明，与其余人口相比，以寻求庇护者身份抵达的人员对经济的贡献显著较低。
去年 12 月，政府官方移民政策顾问机构——移民咨询委员会（MAC）的一份报告称，通过庇护和难民渠道进入英国的人员对公共资金的贡献是“明确负面”的。
该委员会引用了荷兰的一项研究，将每位寻求庇护者的“终身净财政影响”定为负 39 万英镑，以及澳大利亚的一项类似研究，估计数值为负 19.8 万英镑。
MAC 主席布赖恩·贝尔（Brian Bell）教授当时表示：“如果澳大利亚和荷兰不能成为我们的良好参照，我会感到非常惊讶，在
作者：大卫·巴雷特（David Barrett）
内政编辑
通用劳动力市场的条款（以及）就申请庇护的人员类型而言。
“我不想给出一个具体数字，但我认为来自那些国家的这类核心数据，如果英国的情况也是类似的量级，我不会感到惊讶。”
MAC报告称：“我们预计，通过庇护和难民途径入境的人员，其终身净财政影响将毫无疑问是负面的。”
“这在很大程度上是因为他们的就业率和工资较低，经济不活跃率较高，且他们被豁免于‘无权使用公共资金’的规定。例如，（牛津大学）移民观察站的分析表明，在报告最初抵达英国申请庇护且处于工作年龄的人员中，有 56% 就业，而英国本土出生人口的就业率为 75%。”
“在就业时，男性的年薪中位数为 2 万英镑，女性为 1.8 万英镑，而英国本土出生的人员分别为 1.1 万英镑 和 2.2 万英镑。”
报告补充道：“请注意，许多通过庇护途径入境的人员，还会因为被安置在庇护所而产生巨额的额外成本（由公共财政承担）。”
“其收入低于平均水平的可能性很高”
住宿。”进一步的类似证据来自政府自身关于“难民融入成果”的数据。
去年 9 月公布的内政部分析称：“与英格兰和威尔士的工作年龄人口相比——在 2021, 57% 就业，3% 失业——就业的难民百分比要小得多，而失业的百分比则更高。”
通过庇护途径抵达的难民中，仅有 37% 以上在工作。而 12.6% 处于失—
VI
毫无防备：一名婴儿在法国海岸附近被拉上一艘充气艇。与船上的移民不同，这名孩子没有穿救生衣。
英国本周接纳了那个被鲁莽地拉上小船的无辜婴儿。那么，在未来的几十年里，我们的同情心将让我们付出多少代价？
ployed, it said. 所有这些都表明，婴儿 Dylan 至少会让纳税人承担一项费用，其金额在荷兰研究数据的 39 万英镑 与澳大利亚研究数据的 19.8 万英镑 之间。
但真实数字可能会高得多。首先是处理一项寻求庇护申请的费用。
假设 Dylan 的父母也在这里，他们可能会代表这个婴儿提出一项共同申请。
内政部上个月披露，每项申请给纳税人带来的平均账单为 18,700 英镑，其中包括提供住宿和生活费的价格，以及在处理和法律上诉上花费的金额。但对于那些申请被拒绝却无法被遣返的寻求庇护家庭来说，账单远高于平均水平，内政部表示，这类家庭每年的平均费用为 15.8 万英镑。
一旦抵达这里，只有 5% 的小船移民会被遣返，因此 Dylan 及其家人极有可能永久留在英国。在寻求庇护申请处理期间的扶养费用之后，还将产生进一步的纳税人支出。
英格兰 NHS 的人均平均成本为每年 3,492 英镑，虽然婴儿在某些方面需要的护理较少，但仍会有新生儿随访费用。然后是教育成本。根据教育部的数据，每名学生的年平均资助额为 6,771 英镑。
因此，假设 12 年的全日制教育，按目前的费率计算，总额将略高于 8.1 万英镑，这还不包括例如英语语言支持等额外费用。
如果最糟糕的情况发生——再次强调，让我们希望这种情况不要发生——Dylan 在其余生中将依赖于福利国家。
按目前的费率，居住在伦敦以外的单身人士年度福利上限为 14,753 英镑，而在首都则为 16,967 英镑。
根据一项初步计算，从 18 岁到退休年龄的 50 年福利金总额将在 737,650 英镑 到 848,350 英镑 之间。
随后将是额外的养老金成本——根据平均预期寿命，男性可能领取 11 年，女性领取 15 年。按目前费率，基础国家养老金每年 9,614 英镑 计算，总额在 105,754 英镑 到 144,210 英镑 之间。
总而言之，根据一个非常粗略的估计，在最糟糕的情况下，国家在婴儿 Dylan 身上的总支出可能会远超 £100 万。重要的是，如果这个孩子
“失职的父母可能会成为一种威慑”
如果他们能获得成功，那么上述支出中的很大一部分将是不必要的。而且，如果 Dylan 成年以后能为财政部创造可观的税收，那么早期的部分成本将得以回收。
由于 Dylan 未来的生活方向尚不明确，目前无法计算出纳税人将为此支付多少金额的具有实际意义的数字。
但正如我们所见，根据官方数据，如果 Dylan 能够找到工作的话，其最终收入很有可能低于平均水平。
随着英吉利海峡危机的持续升级——几天前，创纪录的 230 人乘坐一艘“巨型充气艇”越境——上周日在埃科 beach（Ecault Beach）的场景将会重演，更多儿童将被迫登上船只。
在这个国家，如果父母在明知存在重大死亡风险的情况下，仍带着孩子乘坐危险的充气艇，他们将因疏忽而被起诉，社会工作者也会登门造访。孩子甚至可能会被带走并交给护理机构。
历任内政大臣都无法向我解释，为什么同样的标准不适用于那些为了非法穿越海峡而置像 Dylan 这样的婴儿生命于危难之中的移民父母。
如果这些鲁莽的父母被送进监狱，这可能会成为一种威慑。而且我相信，那些对儿童生命被置于危险之中感到震惊的、理智且体面的纳税人，会很乐意看到他们的钱被用于支付由此产生的任何寄养费用，特别是如果这能导致穿越海峡的人数下降。
就目前情况而言，最残酷的事实是，船只将继续出现，更多的婴儿将死于完全不必要的死亡。
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右翼可以从克拉克顿（Clacton）中汲取重要教训
不可否认，克拉克顿的补选在很大程度上是对公共资金的浪费。
改革英国党（Reform UK）党魁奈杰尔·法拉奇（Nigel Farage）在整个事件中处于不利地位，而这次选举是由他触发的，他曾误以为这会演变成一场伟大的“人民对抗建制”的较量。
事实上，这场选举陷入了荒诞的境地，而法拉奇先生决定不出席计票工作，使情况变得更糟。
即便如此，这次埃塞克斯郡海滨的民调并非完全没有收获。它揭示了英国政治中几个更广泛的问题，并提供了所有右翼政党必须学习的教训。
最显著的一点是，自由派媒体心甘情愿地接纳了获得第二名的“垃圾桶脸伯爵”（Count Binface）。面具背后的这位喜剧演员在过程中带来了一些欢笑。
但值得注意的是，一些媒体 outlet 给予“垃圾桶脸”的空间远比给予法拉奇先生的多，这种迟疑极有可能是由改革英国党在移民问题上的立场所导致的。这表明，如果保守党、改革英国党和恢复党（Restore）想要以详细、全面且理智的方式向选民传达其政策，必须克服这些障碍。
法拉奇先生微弱增加的多数席位也表明，公众对那些提供非政治正统方案的候选人有着相当大的支持。
即便如此，显而易见的是，通过发起这次补选，这位改革英国党党魁陷入了政治险境，因为他未能意识到工党、保守党和其他主要政党极有可能决定不参与该席位的竞争。
当时的保守党影子内政大臣大卫·戴维斯（David Davis）在 2008 年尝试过类似的伎俩，结果同样陷入了窘境。法拉奇先生难道没有意识到同样的事情会发生在他身上吗？如果没意识到，这样一个简单的战略错误将使人们更难将他视为未来的潜在首相。
相比之下，保守党党魁凯米·巴登诺克（Kemi Badenock）的政治地位日益提高，她的政党也比近年来任何时候都更强大。
从克拉克顿得到的另一个重要教训是，右翼政党需要放下分歧，团结起来共同应对工党对这个国家经济实力和社会凝聚力构成的威胁。
《每日邮报》多次指出，他们之间存在显著的共同点。在未来的几个月和几年里，这应该成为协作的源泉，而非对抗的理由。
至于法拉奇先生的未来，很大程度上取决于议会标准专员目前已恢复的调查，该调查针对的是来自加密货币大亨克里斯托弗·哈博恩（Christopher Harborne）的 £300 万 赠款。
任何人都不应干扰该调查可能得出的结论。
目前，工党在更换领导人后，民调出现了不可避免的反弹，但这不会持续太久。
让我们记住，安迪·伯纳姆（Andy Burnham）还没有面对过任何真正的审查。在几周后的首相问答环节中，当他被巴登诺克女士严厉质询时，他那些令人难以忍受的亲昵社交媒体视频将毫无帮助。
在内部政变之后，工党在一些最重要的政策领域——仅举三例：税收、公共借款和国防——的立场仍然完全是个谜。
事实上，首相对其真实计划的透露如此之少，他简直就像在头上套了一个垃圾桶一样。
谎言汉堡
鲜血从死者的头骨中渗出。他面朝下趴在滚烫的跑道上，血液在他周围汇聚，宛如一圈光环。
一名在停机坪上疾奔的人用手机摄像头捕捉到了另一具尸体。这个男人的左膝盖已经炸裂成一团猩红的软骨。他的右腿被砸碎了，脚已经缺失。
最后，我看到第三个男人仰面躺着。另一个人正试图用一块破布地绑在他的破碎头部，试图将其固定住。
这段视频拍摄于2021年8月16日。这些绝望的人在试图攀附逃离喀布尔机场的美国飞机机翼和起落架后，全部坠落身亡。
在前一天，塔利班（在普什图语——两种官方语言之一中，该词意为“学生”）占领了阿富汗首都。那天捕捉到的画面成为了西方世界无法抹去的污点。
我在那段视频中看到的最后一个男人是哈立德·霍塔克（Khalid Hotak）。尽管在跑道上得到了救助，他还是在当天死于伤势。现在，我正与他的兄弟扎比胡拉（Zabihullah）坐在一家餐厅里。“哈立德有一份‘秘密’工作，”他告诉我，“这就是为什么他如此渴望逃离。”
我怀疑这意味着他曾为美国人工作——而且在这方面，他绝非孤例。美国与英国、加拿大及其他盟友在2001年10月7日，即 9 / 11 事件发生不到一个月后，入侵了阿富汗。
在接下来的20年里，华盛顿向这个国家投入了数以万计的人员、$2 trillion以及无数的武器。根据美国布朗大学的数据，在长达二十年的时间里，每天在冲突上花费的资金超过5亿美元。
美国建立，或者认为自己建立了一支国民军队。它设立了各部委和大使馆。它加固了喀布尔。然后，在五年前的这个夏天，西方联盟花费巨资支撑的阿富汗共和国政府崩溃了。
省会城市相继陷落。士兵们弃岗而逃。随后，塔利班战士在城镇中行进，杀害安全部队和政府官员，同时征收了超过100万件武器和其他军事硬件。
8月15日——恰好是五年前的今天——塔利班抵达喀布尔。总统阿什拉夫·加尼（Ashraf Ghani）逃往阿拉伯联合酋长国，据报道他一直留在那里，直到今年早些时候移居黎巴嫩。
塔利班战士强行闯入总统府，在水晶吊灯下趾高气扬。
2001年“持久自由行动”的“震撼与敬畏”将那些武装分子驱散到了山区和村庄——但现在，他们回来了。
如今的阿富汗伊斯兰酋长国是一个什么样的国家？我为此而来。
在喀布尔，烤面包的香味与露天下水道的恶臭交织在一起。武装塔利班走在街头；孩子们在乞讨；“美德与罪恶”警察在巡逻，搜寻着着装不当者或音乐声——音乐现在与音乐会、电视剧和电影一起被禁止。每天五次，毫无例外，唤礼声在交通的喧嚣中响起。
这座城市被颠倒了。塔利班曾经袭击喀布尔，现在他们控制了这里。
那些由美国人加固的装甲大院，现在由那些它们原本旨在抵御的人员维护。据报道耗资$800 million的美国大使馆现在处于被遗弃状态，成为了傲慢的纪念碑。
塔利班战胜西方的官方标志随处可见。
在公共卫生广场，国家认可的涂鸦明确地表达了观点：“我们的伊斯兰制度是以烈士的鲜血为代价实现的，”其中一条写道。“我们致力于引入并实施神圣的沙里亚法，”另一条写道。
在抵达后的第一个晚上，我访问了一座俯瞰城市的巨大山丘，那里有一个公共公园和一座献给穆拉·奥马尔（Mullah Omar）的清真寺，后者在1994年创立了塔利班，并于2013年死于肺结核。
当我们沿着道路蜿蜒而上前往山顶时，我看到很少有女性，但有数十名塔利班战士：有的在行走，有的倚在装甲车上；有的在轿车里随意地拿着自动武器。
年老的，中年人的，有些几乎还是孩子——而且每个人都是该政权的成员或支持者，可以通过标志着其终身“学生”身份的黑色头巾来辨认。
我们到达了山顶。在一个临时检查站旁有一栋
小型木制建筑，透过它敞开的窗户，我看到墙上挂满了自动武器。战士们像挂外套一样把他们的 AK-47 挂在上面。
在公园内，“俄罗斯游泳池”的跳水平台进入了视线，该泳池是由苏联在 20 世纪 80 年代占领该国期间建造的。
将水抽上山被证明很困难，因此泳池很少注满水。塔利班总是能想出新招，他们会将囚犯从 10 米高的平台上扔到下面的混凝土地上。
生存被视为清白的证据，死亡则被视为有罪的证据。
这是一个极权政权，但在获得相关许可后，我可以自由旅行，无需官方陪同，并可以与我想说的任何人交谈。
我问一个留着邋遢胡子的年轻人他对塔利班统治怎么看。“他们正在修建许多道路和
--。
塔利班的讲坛
照片：JEWAN SANDAR, DAILY TIMES / DA
大卫·帕特里卡拉科斯（David Patrikarakos）的周六特派报道
在喀布尔
“改善基础设施，”他回答道。“我们对现状很满意，”他的朋友插话道。我相信他们：他们显然支持该政权。
宣礼声响起，人们开始涌向那座巨大的清真寺，该建筑模仿了耶路撒冷 7 世纪的圆顶清真寺——那是世界上现存最古老的伊斯兰建筑。
在清真寺附近，一面巨大的塔利班旗帜高高飘扬：宽 131 英尺，高 85 英尺，于 2022. 3 月升起。旗帜上印着高耸的黑色阿拉伯书法，写着穆斯林的“清真言”（shahada）或信仰宣言：“除真主外，再无神明；穆罕默德是真主的使者。”
在信息与文化部，我见到了“出版部副部长”米塔杰尔·法拉希（Mithajer Farahi）。在寂静的候诊室的一个角落里，堆放着一叠叠英文书籍：法拉希的工作就是监督这些书籍的审查，以决定它们是否可以出版。
他光着脚坐在办公室里，身边还有两名塔利班成员，其中一人携带自动步枪。我询问法拉希决定书籍是否可以出版的标准是什么。“伊斯兰法、国家利益和我们的文化，”他轻声且审慎地回答。
对他以及其他塔利班成员来说，与西方的战争并未结束，而仅仅是改变了形式。
敌人可能已经离开了战场，但该政权仍通过互联网、电视、报纸和文学传播的思想而遭受攻击。这就是为什么法拉希认为他作为审查员的工作如此重要。
他认为，美国人拥有武器和金钱，但塔利班拥有两件更强大的武器：信仰和人民。“平民与我们在一起。他们为我们提供了一切，”他说。对他而言，2021 年喀布尔的陷落是一次神圣的证明。
五年过去了，他对其事业依然如此笃定。“（乔治·W.）布什命令我们投降，而真主命令我们成功，”他说。然后他笑了：“我们已经看到了谁才是正确的。”
当天晚些时候，我见到了卫生部发言人沙拉法特·扎曼·阿马尔（Dr Sharafat Zaman Amar）博士。他的英语非常流利，并急于强调，如果阿富汗人民在受苦，那仅仅是因为西方的制裁。“在过去的三十年里，医疗体系一直依赖国际援助，”他说。“我们需要更多时间。而且我们必须将政治与医疗服务分开。”
根据英国慈善机构 Afghanaid 的数据，这里约 5000 万 的总人口中，有 1260 万 人面临“严重的粮食不安全”。其中约 350 万 是五岁以下的儿童。
当我将此情况告知阿马尔博士时，他坚称，治疗营养不良的站点数量已从美国支持的共和国时期的约 800 个增加到塔利班时期的 3,200 个，并增加了约 1,000 名工作人员。
当我听着他天衣无缝地回避问题，躲在统计数据后面，并将今天的失败归咎于前政府时，我看着他，突然意识到：去掉那个携带 AK-47 的武装卫兵，去掉光着的脚，以及我们坐在地毯上的事实，我可能是在与韦斯·斯特里廷（Wes Streeting）交谈。
第二天下午，我在喀布尔散步时，与一名面包师聊了起来。“工作机会减少了，但这里很和平，”他告诉我。“过去，晚上 7 点以后你不能出门：那样不安全。现在你可以出去了。”
我的摄影师阿德南（Adnan）在阿富汗工作多年，他表示赞同。“2021, 伊斯兰国袭击了这座城市，我看到一名塔利班战士在现场收集的装满肢体的黑色垃圾袋中翻找，试图找到他朋友的身份证，”他告诉我。
“那时候情况要危险得多。”
现在秩序占据了上风。但代价是恐惧。
那天晚上，晚餐后，我被一群孩子围住了。他们拽着我的袖子和腰带，索要钱财，直到其中一个孩子发现了路边的一辆安保车辆。“塔利班，塔利班！”男孩尖叫道——随后他们消失在夜色中。
另一位当地人对我坦诚得多。“经济非常糟糕，”他说，“很多人失去了工作，而且找不到活干。”
联合国估计，由于长期的干旱和国际援助的骤减，有 2800 万 人（约占全国人口的一半）生活在贫困之中。
“我们不能自由发言，”同一位当地人说，“道德警察好几次拦下我的车，问我们是否在放音乐。我们说没有，然后开车离开后又把它打开。”
在我的第四天，我漫步在喀布尔的主要市场，经过一家商店，盘子里摆着两个被砍下的山羊头，苍蝇在上面嗡嗡作响。小贩们在烈日下悬挂着未经冷藏的鸡尸体。
我停在一名“接骨医生”那里，他负责掰正男人们身体的各个部位。他告诉我，他治疗的最常见伤情之一来自塔利班战士，因为他们随处携带自动步枪而导致肩膀疼痛。
随后，我沿着坑洼不平的道路前往迈丹沙（Maidanshah），一座位于喀布尔西南约 20 英里的城市，去见警察副局长兼前战士萨米乌拉·法特（Samiullah Fateh）。
他某种程度上是当地的传奇，曾参与过大约 14 次针对美国人的伏击。他认为自己大约 33 岁，但不确定。
像许多塔利班成员一样，法特留着长发以模仿先知。他骨子里是个塔利班战士。几年前，他在与当地抵抗力量战斗时胸部中弹，他自豪地向我展示了伤口的照片。
“其中一次伏击是对抗三辆美国坦克，”他说，“他们总是先派阿富汗人去侦察区域。”
“我们让他们通过，当美国坦克出现时，我们向他们发射装满汽油的火箭弹。我们摧毁了前两辆坦克。第三辆撤退了。我们缴获了美国人的武器。”
我问他，西方人作为战士表现如何？“你们经常撤退，受伤时会尖叫，”他平静地说。
他重复了另一名战士告诉我们的话：“如果你们再次尝试入侵，我们将再次击败你们。”
采访结束后，我随法特一起巡逻，坐在他的福特卡车（由美国人遗弃）后座，身边还有几名武装塔利班成员。我被告知，现在犯罪率很低，尽管偶尔仍有谋杀和贩毒案件。尽管塔利班激烈地反对毒品，但这个问题依然无法根除。
一天早上，我开车前往喀布尔东北部的“1,000 床位毒品康复诊所”。这里绝非普莱里（The Priory）那种级别的场所。当我到达时，映入眼帘的是一群剃光头、穿着统一绿色监狱风格服装的男人。
在塔利班最高领导人希巴图拉·阿孔扎达（Hibatullah Akhundzada）于 2022, 禁止麻醉品后，该政权摧毁了罂粟田，并在一年内将种植量削减了 95%。
这次打击摧毁了依赖鸦片生存的农民的生计，但像甲基苯丙胺这样的合成毒品仍然是一个严重问题。
我走在设施阴暗的，
翻页
--。
接前页
狭窄的走廊，最后到达“戒毒中心”。
这里的男人正处于戒断状态，情绪激动。49岁的奥拜杜拉（Obaidullah）是一名冰毒成瘾者。他以前在市场里推着独轮车为顾客运货，他对该政权公开表示愤怒。
“这里没有塔利班——只有黑手党，”他对我厉声说道。“他们深夜来到我家把我抓走，带到了这里。什么样的警察会这么做？”
我问他为什么需要药物。“我需要它来增强性能力，”他声称。
“你不需要戒毒，”我们的导游开玩笑说，“我们应该把你的阴茎切掉。”
自2021年以来，联合国调查人员记录了塔利班对被拘留者进行的大规模酷刑，包括窒息、吊顶和电击。国际特赦组织进一步提到“拔牙和拔指甲”以及水刑。
今年3月，联合国人权专家报告称，仅去年一年，该国就有至少1,110人被公开鞭笞——这一数字几乎是2024年的两倍。
即便该政权清理了街道，但这与它给阿富汗女性生活带来的转变相比根本不算什么。
我在少数几家允许女性在没有丈夫或男性亲属陪同下进入的餐厅之一见到了阿米拉（Amira，化名）。这个区域的巡逻并不严密，我的摄影师阿德南（Adnan）听到一些阿富汗人用带有英国口音的普什图语交谈。
餐厅位于一扇钢门之后，以便在塔利班到达时有时间警告顾客。
她无法忘记2021年。“塔利班从山上下来，”她说，“他们肮脏且狼狈。喀布尔就像一座僵尸之城，所有人都逃跑了。”
女性自由的抹杀始于儿童。2021年9月，女孩被排除在中学教育之外——这一举措在次年3月被永久化。
从2021年12月起，所有女性在进行任何长途旅行时都被要求必须由一名“马哈拉姆”（mahram，男性亲属）陪同。阿米拉的马哈拉姆是她的哥哥。
“他想离开这个国家，”阿米拉用普什图语告诉我，“我担心如果他走了，我会发生什么。我的自由会进一步减少。”
2022年5月，塔利班命令女性必须全身覆盖全遮面罩（burqa），甚至不允许留有眼睛可见的缝隙（niqab）。不过，他们更希望女性干脆留在家里。
同年11月，女性被禁止进入公园、健身房和其他公共娱乐场所；一个月后，该政权正式“暂停”了所有女性的大学教育。
我问阿米拉，如今在阿富汗做一个女人是什么感觉？“就像永久处于隔离状态，”她回答道。我问她塔利班是否能被击败。她不需要思考。“塔利班大多是普什图人：这里最大的族群。我看不到任何其他群体能够压倒他们。”
在塔利班统治下的五年生活让她明白了一件事，正如这次旅行让我明白的那样：他们不会离开。至少目前来看，他们的胜利似乎已经彻底完成。
以色列领导人称英国为“伊斯兰共和国”
本雅明·内塔尼亚胡在一次极具冲击力的采访中，将英国称为“不列颠伊斯兰共和国”。
这位以色列总理在讨论与温斯顿·丘吉尔的孙子（同样名叫温斯顿）会面时发表了上述言论，他将后者描述为一名“以色列爱好者”。
内塔尼亚胡告诉前军官阿维·哈鲁什（Avi Harush）——其儿子在加沙与哈马斯作战时牺牲——年轻的温斯顿是一个“不错的人”，他将六日战争（即 1967 年导致以色列占领约旦河西岸和加沙地带的冲突）视为一种“积极”之举。
如图所示，内塔尼亚胡在哈鲁什的播客中表示：“现在试着在英国——或者在所谓的‘不列颠伊斯兰共和国’中——寻找这种态度吧。你找不到的。”
这位以色列领导人还提到了其国家阻止伊朗获得核武器的目标，同时拿英国开了一个玩笑。
他说：“有人说，第一个拥有核武器的伊斯兰共和国将是
作者：Perkin Amalaraj
不列颠伊斯兰共和国。所以，我们正在确保伊朗不会出现另一个那样的国家。”
由于加沙战争以及英国承认巴勒斯坦为一个国家，英国与以色列的关系在过去一年中变得紧张。
当时，内塔尼亚胡指责时任首相基尔·斯塔默在安抚哈马斯。与此同时，斯塔默的继任者在最近几周指责内塔尼亚胡试图让“两国方案”变得不可能实现。
安迪·伯纳姆（Andy Burnham）暗示英国在中东问题上的做法将有所转变，并为工党过去几年对以色列在加沙行动的反应表示道歉。
他承认工党的立场疏远了很大一部分选民，并造成了“巨大的伤害”。
与此同时，美国总统唐纳德·特朗普的女婿兼谈判代表贾里德·库什纳（Jared Kushner）计划下周前往中东，以推进结束加沙冲突的计划。
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当我在 2021, 年 11 月在唐宁街 10 号见到莉西·哈珀（Lissie Harper）时，我们并没有讨论她的丈夫在整整七年前的今天，是如何死在三名青少年窃贼之手的。
我们没有深入探讨细节——因为那些细节实在太恐怖了。
莉西是以首相的身份来见我的，旨在讨论她关于《哈珀法》（Harper's Law）的提案——即如何确保在未来能够妥善惩罚那些杀害应急服务部门成员的罪犯。
警察安德鲁·哈珀（PC Andrew Harper）的遗孀端庄、勇敢且坚定。在我们的交谈过程中，无需要求她回顾其丈夫所遭受的残酷痛苦。但读者有必要回顾一下基本情况。
2019, 年 8 月那个傍晚时分，哈珀警员在伯克郡一条狭窄的乡村小路上失去了生命。此前，他英勇地试图阻止三名来自“流动社区”的人偷窃一辆四轮摩托车。
他试图抓住其中一人，而那人随即跳进逃跑的西雅特托莱多（Seat Toledo）轿车的后窗，并向同伙大喊“开车，快开车！”。当时 18, 岁的亨利·隆（Henry Long）猛踩油门，导致这名 28 岁的警员不幸被用于偷窃四轮车的牵引绳缠住。
在超过一英里的距离里，他们将他拖在车后，疯狂地左右摆动试图将他甩掉。当他们最终停下时，他已面目全非。
另一名司机将这名警员的尸体误认为是血淋淋的鹿尸。
当然，这些罪犯后来声称他们没有意识到车后拖着一个 14 石（约 89 公斤）的人；而且，即便你认为他们的否认不可信，这一点在法庭上也难以证实——至少无法达到排除合理怀疑的程度。
但无论他们具体知道或相信什么，在莉西·哈珀看来，以及在我倾听她讲述时看来，他们仍应对他的死亡承担道德责任。
他们是惯犯，带着撬棍和其他设备在后备箱里，意图实施一项严重且危险的犯罪。他们还拆除了托莱多轿车的尾灯以避免被追捕。
他们讨论过如果被警察抓到该怎么办，以及以最高速度逃离现场的重要性。
即便——尽管我对此深表怀疑——他们最初没有意识到自己在做什么，他们也犯下了在犯罪活动过程中杀害一名警员的罪行。在我看来，这是一种极其令人发指的罪行。
一名警员——或者一名消防员或急救员——与我们其他人不同，因为他们没有选择
我见过莉西·哈珀，与首相不同，我感受到了数百万想要让杀夫凶手在狱中服刑之人的愤怒
但他们必须走向危险。他们必须像安德鲁·哈珀那样，刻意让自己陷入生命危险，以保护我们其余的公众。
这就是为什么法律一直试图给警察提供特殊保护，以认可他们每天承担的风险。事实上，直到 1965 年，杀死一名警察仍被视为一项资本罪行——一种可被处以死刑的罪行，而这比死刑被普遍废除的时间晚了数年。
因此，我同意莉西、警员哈珀的家人以及他的众多支持者的观点，即在 2020 年 7 月被判定犯有过失杀人罪的凶手所获刑期太轻：司机亨利·隆（Henry Long）仅被判 16 年，两名乘客阿尔伯特·鲍尔斯（Albert Bowers）和杰西·科尔（Jessie Cole）仅被判 13 年。无论作为惩罚
还是威慑，这似乎都不足够，而且凶手们似乎知道自己逃过了一劫。
他们离开法庭时冷笑和大笑的画面，已令我们所有人感到震惊且熟悉。
五个月后，我们通过了《哈珀法》（Harper's Law），规定任何从事危险且犯罪行为并导致一名警察或其他紧急服务人员死亡的人将被判处终身监禁。我知道莉西和她的家人为这一成就感到自豪并获得了慰藉——这是为了所有可能因罪犯而失去生命的警察及其他紧急工作人员的家庭。
但当然，《哈珀法》没有追溯力。我们无法改变法院对先前法律的解释方式；多年来，
安德鲁·哈珀的亲属不得不面对一个令人作呕的事实，即他的凶手将相对较快地出狱。
这令人愤怒但不可避免。然而，没有任何事情能让哈珀一家为现在正在上演的这场闹剧做好准备。
在我们最疯狂的想象中，也从未想到工党政府上台后会像斯塔默（Starmer）那样修改法律，允许此类罪犯在仅服刑一半后就被释放。
而且，这种提前释放计划竟然适用于像警员哈珀的凶手这样的人，这简直令人难以置信。但这就是工党所做的。
新任首相安迪·伯纳姆（Andy Burnham）被明确给予了将长刑期囚犯留在监狱中的选项。他被明确告知，这是
避免释放警员哈珀凶手的方法。
他拒绝了那个选项。他非常清楚这个决定意味着什么——鲍尔斯和科尔将成为数千名被提前地排到这个国家街道上的严重罪犯之一，而从统计学上看，其中约 25% 的人注定会在第一年内再次犯罪。
他知道自己在做什么，但依然执意而行。直到面对公众的强烈抗议，他才退缩。
在决定释放他们之后，他现在又以同样轻率的态度说，如果他们被释放，他的良心将无法安宁。我想对伯纳姆说，选民们或许能原谅你穿露趾凉鞋——但他们绝对无法忍受这种出尔反尔（flip-flops）。
他溜去国外度假，并指示他那不幸的司法大臣去“寻找解决方案”。
寻找（FIND）解决方案？亚历克斯·诺里斯（Alex Norris）怎么能找到解决方案？首相对提前释放计划的看法完全不可理喻。当伯纳姆似乎同时支持又反对提前释放计划时，诺里斯该如何寻找解决方案？
担任首相的是伯纳姆，而不是诺里斯——后者可能在自己的家里都不是个知名人物。当你遇到这类问题，且官方称你别无选择时，只有首相才能打破僵局。
正如凯米·巴德诺克（Kemi Badenoch）所说，事实上有很多解决方案。如果伯纳姆废除《人权法案》并驱逐外国罪犯，他可以为英国监狱腾出容纳数千名更多罪犯的空间。
工党可以克服他们左翼的局促感，重启我们在海外租赁监狱空间的计划。或者，他们可以采取果断措施，建设临时监狱。
事实是，工党实际上对公众在此问题上的强烈情绪漠不关心——截至昨天，已有100万人签署请愿书，要求将 PC Harper 的凶手留在监狱中——因为在内心深处，他们并不在意。
伯纳姆明确拒绝了布莱尔和布莱尔主义，显而易见，在拒绝强硬刑事政策方面，我们回到了那个最糟糕的、软弱的旧工党时代——对犯罪软弱，对犯罪诱因也软弱。
首相在他的第一次重大考验中失败了。他应该迅速废除提前释放计划，并且如果他想证明自己关心并理解，他应该抽出时间去见 Lissie Harper。
选民们或许能原谅伯纳姆穿露趾凉鞋——但他们无法忍受他的出尔反尔
Page 20
ESCORTED TOUR
探索印度的金三角与虎迹之旅
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参加一次包含德里、斋浦尔和阿格拉停留的旅程，让自己沉浸在印度的文化、精神和野生自然之心中。乘坐人力车体验旧城，探索斋浦尔这座“粉红之城”以及被联合国教科文组织列入名录的琥珀堡。参观马哈拉贾城市宫殿、风之宫（Hawa Mahal）以及风之宫殿。探索月亮井（Chand Baori）和梅塔布巴格月光花园（Mehtab Bagh Moonlit Garden），并在日出时分欣赏泰姬陵。参观阿格拉雄伟的堡垒，乘火车前往历史名城卡朱拉霍，并在潘纳国家公园搜寻老虎。探索卡朱拉霍的寺庙，并在联合国教科文组织世界遗产达兰普拉哈韦利（Dharampura Haveli）享用今晚的特别告别晚餐。
印度：金三角与虎迹之旅
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2027 年还有其他出发日期可选
Day 1: 英国至 .
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** 12:** 卡朱拉霍至 .
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ABTA ABTA 编号 Y174X
$^{1}$旅行保险由 Astrenaka Insurance Limited 承保，需经过医疗筛查。如果不需要包含在内的旅行保险，将适用减价。出发前取消保障（取消权利）由 提供，且仅在购买包含的保险时可用。特别优惠：仅适用于新预订，不能追溯应用于现有预订。折扣不能与其他任何优惠同时使用。January 16, 2027 出发可节省 £300，且限时享受 2027 年出发行程额外 10% 的优惠。预订时输入代码 SAVE27。 保留随时撤回、延长或减少优惠的权利。优惠先到先得，可能会发生变化且仅在有限时间内有效——您的假期价格将在预订时确认。所有英国本土宾客均可使用往返全国共享司机服务。 保留为您的行程选择最合适交通方式的权利。您可能会与最多三名（极少数情况下为五名）其他 客户共同乘坐我们较大的 MPV 车型。 专为 50, 岁以上人士设计，但同行伴侣可为 40+。本页并非宣传册。适用条款与条件。August 2026。NHA-GH2486
Page 21
Platell's People
为了嫁给克鲁斯而牺牲事业？尼科尔，你在骗谁呢！
在一次有史以来最坦诚的采访中，妮可·基德曼告诉《英国版Vogue》，当她在22岁嫁给汤姆·克鲁斯时，朋友们告诉她应该放弃事业，因为事业很快就会结束。
他们坚称，如果她嫁给世界上最著名的演员之一，她将变得只不过是克鲁斯的妻子。
尼科尔回忆道：“我当时觉得，‘我不在乎。我恋爱了。我想结婚。’ 然后我就成了他的‘妻子’，他们就说，‘看吧，我们告诉过你。’ 我觉得，‘那又怎样？我不应该嫁给我爱的人吗？我当然会抛弃我的事业。我不在乎。’”
她忘了补充的是，在1990年于动作片《雷霆日》片场遇到克鲁斯并几乎立即与他结婚之前，她主要是在澳大利亚的一名小演员，出演的电影包括青少年电影《BMX强盗》和剧情片《丛林圣诞节》（她在片中拯救了一个澳大利亚内陆的羊场）。
至于暂停事业，她在与克鲁斯结婚期间出演了13部电影，其中不乏与丈夫共同出演的、极其不性感且带有“色情”色彩的惊悚片《大开眼界》，以及《永远的蝙蝠侠》。而一旦他们十年的婚姻结束，她便主演了巴兹·鲁曼的热门电影《红磨坊》。此时她已成为国际巨星。有些人可能会说，这并非因为她是克鲁斯夫人，而恰恰是因为她是克鲁斯夫人。
令人费解的是，在这么长时间之后——她和克鲁斯在25年前就离婚了——尼科尔仍觉得有必要重新翻出她与这位《碟中谍》明星在一起的时光。除非是因为他巨大的名气。
她讲述的那个22岁爱上超级巨星并为他牺牲一切的“可怜小我”故事经不起推敲——成为克鲁斯夫人让她获益匪浅，而且她现在仍在利用他的名气！
天哪，尼科尔觉得她在骗谁呢？
别让死狗扫兴
安妮·海瑟薇主张将有狗死亡的电影评为R级是正确的，因为这太令人难过了。有一个名为 doesthedogdie.com 的网站，会在电影中有狗狗死去时向你发出警告。
在《老黄》中，忠诚到最后的英雄死于狂犬病；在《马利与我》中，它死于胃扭转。
为什么不能有更多电影拥有狗狗的幸福结局，就像1963年的《不可思议的旅程》，当时我们以为已经死掉的博杰一瘸一拐地回到家与家人团聚？
■ 乔纳森·罗斯说，自从2024年的剧集《一天》播出后，演员里奥·伍德尔说话变得含糊不清。伍西，这话从你嘴里说出来也太讽刺了——你这个靠着滑稽地发不出“R”音而闯出名堂的主持人。
艾米在人气之争中全速冲刺
在欧洲锦标赛中获得100米和200米金牌后，24岁的短跑运动员艾米·亨特（Amy Hunt）正处于成为英国最受喜爱的女运动员的快车道上。
这位剑桥大学毕业生在YouTube上拥有大量粉丝，她每天训练五小时，并在比赛前听《妈妈咪呀！》，许多赞助商正排队等着签约她，看中了她的亲和力。艾玛·拉杜卡努请让路吧。这是一位我们女孩可以仰望的运动员——而且她真的能赢！
■ 很高兴听到，在出演HBO改编自JK罗琳《哈利·波特》系列书籍的剧集之前，演员贝尔·波利（Bel Powley）拒绝像前主演丹尼尔·雷德克利夫和艾玛·沃特森那样诋毁作者。
贝尔说：“我强烈反对JK罗琳关于性别的观点，”并补充道：“我热爱《哈利·波特》，我伴随着这些书长大，我热爱其中的魔法。”瞧，你可以不同意关于性别的观点，但依然热爱JK。
图片：BARTORREUX
■ 关于布拉德·皮特是否又开始酗酒，存在许多一本正经的猜测，他曾声称自己能“用俄罗斯人的伏特加把俄罗斯人喝趴下”。他透露，在戒酒七年后，他现在偶尔会和交往四年的女友伊内斯·德·拉蒙（Ines de Ramon）喝一两杯葡萄酒。在那些扫兴的人看来，事情总是非黑即白的。喝得比建议量多一点，你突然就变成了保罗·加斯科因。
苔藓般模糊的回忆
看到凯特·摩丝（Kate Moss）和她的女儿莱拉（Lila）在地中海嬉戏，让我想起了母亲和我一起在家庭度假期间于大海中嬉戏的快乐回忆。那时我们戴着配套的花朵泳帽，而父亲和我的兄弟们则在做他们的男孩活动。母亲不像凯特那样美丽，我也不像莱拉，但母亲与女儿之间有一种特殊的纽带，在水中，我们都觉得自己像美人鱼。
目睹我人生中第一次日食是多么快乐。我唯一另一次机会是在 1964 年的牛津，当时我七岁。我费尽心思用一个 Coco Pops 谷物麦片盒做了一个针孔投影仪，结果被野蛮的多拉齐奥（Dorazio）兄弟给毁了。
尽管有警告说不要离开教室，也不要直视太阳，他们还是冲了出去，沿途砸碎了我们的盒子，结果被老师们强行拖回来并把他们绑在椅子上。虽然过了 62 年，但看到日食确实值得等待。
++威斯敏斯特之战++
关于安迪·伯纳姆（Andy Burnham），最让我震惊的是，尽管他有进入唐宁街 10 号的野心，但他的政策却如此空洞。以下是我们从他的“倾听练习”中了解到的情况：
■ 他计划减少电子烟店的数量，在英国遭受火灾之苦时考虑禁止一次性烧烤炉，并希望找到一种方法不释放杀害警察安德鲁·哈珀（Andrew Harper）的凶手。
■ GREGGS 将其“香肠、豆子和奶酪融化三明治”（sausage, bean and cheese melt）重新命名为“香肠、豆子和奶酪玩意儿”（sausage, bean and cheese thing），因为尽管安迪自称是粉丝，却记不起它的名字。
当罗德·斯图尔特（Rod Stewart）迎接他的第六个孙辈时，他不得不取消在墨西哥和美国的巡演最后几场演出，以便进行心脏支架手术。此前，他在一场演出中不得不暂停并使用氧气面罩才能继续。81 岁的罗德可能不想谈论这件事，但担心的粉丝们想谈——许多人在问，他是否应该用摇椅取代他的摇滚表演了。
■ 而且他决心“基于原则”在中产阶级地区安置更多寻求庇护者。为什么不把他们安置在他所属政党 405 名议员的选区里——然后听听工党议席上的尖叫，因为他们知道自己会失去席位？
■ 在我们最贫困的地区之一，米凯拉社区学校（Michaela Community school）的学生在 A-level 考试中取得了 70% 的 A 和 A* 成绩。该校由“英国最严厉的教师”凯瑟琳·比尔巴尔辛（Katharine Birbalsingh）管理。在教育大臣露西·鲍威尔（Lucy Powell）声称优先考虑学术学习会让弱势学生失望之后，现在难道不是她向比尔巴尔辛夫人道歉的时候了吗？
梅根从不拥抱猫咪
《饼干女王》（COOKIE Queens）是一部关于筹款女童军制作饼干的电影——由萨塞克斯公爵夫妇共同制作——但在美国票房上被一部包含滑板猫在内的猫咪视频合集击败了。我的猫 Ted 说这是报复——因为萨塞克斯夫妇显然不喜欢猫。“你什么时候见过梅根拥抱过猫？”他问。答案是从来没有。
在 X 上关注我 @amanda@platell 电子邮件：amanda.platell@dailymail.co.uk
--。
两名囚犯因企图谋杀悲剧少女 Sara 的凶手父亲而被起诉
作者：Elizabeth Haigh 和 Rory Tingle
两名囚犯因使用“金枪鱼罐头盖”袭击 Sara Sharif 被监禁的父亲，而被指控企图谋杀。
Urfan Sharif 在贝尔马什监狱（HMP Belmarsh）遭到伏击，他因虐待并谋杀其女儿而被判处终身监禁。
Steven Sansom（47岁）和 Adam Watson（39岁）被指控于去年元旦在伦敦东南部这座高安全级别监狱中企图杀死他。
Sharif（43岁）在牢房内遭到袭击，一度处于危急状态，但幸免于难。此前几周，他因杀害十岁女儿被判处最低 40 年监禁。Sansom 因谋杀被判处终身监禁。他在 2024 年杀害了 38 岁的 Sarah Mayhew，并在 1998 年谋杀一名出租车司机获释期间，将她的遗骸丢弃在伦敦各处。
Watson 在 2024 年因在汉普郡法恩伯勒家中谋杀两个孩子的母亲 Samantha Holden（56岁）而被判处 21 年监禁。一名监狱消息人士在 Sharif 遭到袭击时表示：“他的颈部和面部被割伤，目前仍在医疗区接受治疗，情况非常糟糕。他能活下来很幸运。”
他们被指控企图谋杀和袭击，将于 8 月 26 日在威斯敏斯特治安法院出庭。Sharif 的审判听到，Sara 在两年多的虐待中遭受了“难以想象的痛苦”，并被 Sharif 及其继母 Beinash Batool（30岁）折磨致死。
她被板球拍、金属杆和擀面杖殴打，被掐至颈部骨折，被熨斗烫伤并被撕咬。
贝尔马什监狱监督委员会的最近一次检查发现，在截至 2025 年 6 月的一年里，发生了 226 起囚犯之间的袭击事件，比 2024 年增加了 11%。
我不敢相信！养老金领取者比年轻人更乐观
作者：Olivia Allhusen
由于情景喜剧《坟墓边的一只脚》（One Foot In The Grave）中脾气暴躁的维克多·梅尔德鲁（Victor Meldrew），养老金领取者一直被认为是一群阴沉的人。
但新数据表明，他们比年轻一代更乐观，且抱怨服务差的可能性要低得多。
一项针对超过一百万次客户互动的分析发现，男女两性随着年龄的增长，对自身体验的满意度都在稳步提升。
在商店、机场和其他场所运营客户反馈终端的 HappyOrNot 发现，65 岁及以上人群中，有 91.5% 的人给出了正面反馈。
相比之下，15 至 24 岁人群中的这一比例为 82.3%。
HappyOrNot 指出，年轻人更高的不满情绪部分可以用他们对在线购物的预期来解释，因为在网上购物可以快速完成，无需排队，也不会出现缺货情况。
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Page 23
安德鲁·博恩 (ANDREW BONE)
周四，奈杰尔·法拉奇（Nigel Farage）在一次由他自己制造的、毫无必要的补选中获胜，以改革英国党（Reform UK）克拉克顿（Clacton）议员的身份重返下议院。
他的胜利并没有解决今年一直困扰他的任何问题，而这些问题此前一直拖累着他及其政党的民调支持率。
他获胜的规模令人信服。他获得了 63% 的选票，比 2024 年大选提高了 17 个百分点。即便在投票率下降的情况下（投票率为 43%，但这对于一场补选来说仍然令人印象深刻），他的得票数仍比两年前多了 1,000 票。
其他大党为了降低此次补选的重要性而拒绝参与，这一举措取得了丰厚的回报。这场补选变成了一场闹剧，有 33 名“职业”候选人填补了空白。
有时我们对待民主这一珍贵礼物过于轻率、过于粗心——而且显然有些人不知道在夏天该做些什么，即便阳光灿烂。
被厌恶改革英国党的媒体和议论阶层钦定为法拉奇主要挑战者的“垃圾桶伯爵”（Count Binface）成为了反改革力量的受益者，获得了近 9,500 票。它
在金钱问题上烦躁且易怒
令我依然感到困惑的是，改革英国党竟然没有预见到这次抵制，因为 2008 年保守党议员大卫·戴维斯（David Davis）出于现在没人记得住的原因，玩了同样出人意料的补选噱头时，情况完全一样。
对于一个有志于治理国家的政党来说，改革英国党依然散发出一种无知与天真的奇特混合体。
如果改革英国党希望克拉克顿能帮助其在陷入一系列困境后重新获得动力，那么它可能会很快感到失望。克拉克顿所证明的唯一一点就是，法拉奇在自己的地盘上就像安迪·伯纳姆（Andy Burnham）在他的地盘上一样受欢迎。我想我们早就知道这一点了。
在克拉克顿之前削弱法拉奇及其政党的任何问题，都没有因为周四的胜利而得到缓解。在克拉克顿竞选期间暂停的议会调查将很快重启，调查内容是为什么一名常驻泰国的加密货币亿万富翁在 2024 年大选前“赠送”了法拉奇 £500 万。
鉴于法拉奇此前为接收如此巨额款项给出的理由相互矛盾（用于支付安保费用、作为脱欧的奖励、因为捐赠者钦佩他），这次调查很可能对法拉奇不利。
此外，还有他从被定罪的诈骗犯和加密货币赌徒“时髦乔”科特雷尔（'Posh George' Cottrell）那里获得的资金支持，这些资金被用于资助法拉奇的办公室和安保。伦敦警察厅（Metropolitan Police）对科特雷尔之母向改革英国党捐款中的 50 万英镑 已经调查了一年多。这些以及其他指控—。
保守党与改革英国党是时候停止内斗，放下自尊，为英国做出最佳选择了
围绕法拉奇及其政党的种种指控已造成了影响，不仅影响了改革英国党（Reform UK）的民调支持率，也影响了法拉奇本人。
当被追问资金问题时，他变得越来越烦躁且易怒，从那个面对敌意时带着标志性咯咯笑声的“快乐战士”，变成了阴郁的吉米——他并非偏执，而是确信每个人都对他心怀恶意。
目前涉及的不仅仅是法拉奇的命运。英国政治可能正处于另一个转折点。如果说 2025 年是“造反者”之年，即右翼的改革英国党和左翼的绿党以牺牲工党和保守党为代价而崛起，那么 2026 年则是这场造反不仅被遏制，而且被击退的一年。
就在几个月前，改革英国党在民调中还处于高位，始终领先，一度突破 30% 的大关，使其认为在下次选举中获得绝对多数席位并非不可能。
工党已经在右翼阵线流失选票给改革英国党，当时它正陷入恐慌，因为在左翼阵线流失给绿党的选票更多，绿党在民调中紧追工党。而保守党则低于 20%，正努力防止进一步下跌。
现在看看局势。最新的 YouGov 民调显示，工党以 24% 领先，18 个月来首次超过了支持率为 22% 的改革英国党，后者创下了 2025 年 3 月以来的最低民调记录。保守党上升了两个百分点，目前以 21% 紧随改革英国党之后。
绿党已下滑至 12%，在古怪的扎克·波兰斯基（Zack Polanski）领导下毫无进展，波兰斯基在近几个月里和法拉奇一样被看穿了。
在缺乏活力的埃德·“阴郁”·戴维（Ed 'Dismal' Davey）的领导下，自由民主党再次处于边缘化状态，支持率仅为 11%（自由民主党肯定必须在下个月的年度会议上正视“戴维问题”）。法拉奇的不幸在于，就在伯纳姆（Burnham）为工党注入新活力、凯米·巴德诺克（Kemi Badenoch）作为保守党党魁渐入佳境之时，他却发现自己陷入了苦海。
结果，改革英国党原本明显且稳定的领先优势消失了，现在与工党和保守党处于民调 3% 统计误差范围之内。这意味着三方都有机会。绿党和自民党则越来越像陪跑者。
当然，我们生活在一个狂热的政治时代，趋势一旦被识别就立刻反转。伯纳姆尚未完成从 TikTok 影响力人物到首相的完全转型，还没有经过考验。
巴德诺克个人的受欢迎程度——现在约 38% 的人认为她作为保守党党魁表现良好，而近一年前这一比例仅为 23%——并不一定会转化为她所领导的那个受损品牌的优势。因此，我们曾经认为的国家两大主导政党的复兴可能是短暂的。
伯纳姆面临的挑战更大。本周穿越英吉利海峡的巨型充气艇让非法移民问题再次被牢牢地提上议事日程。这符合改革英国党的议程。将非法移民分散到绿树成荫的城镇和村庄也是如此。伯纳姆对这两个问题几乎没有定论——而且他在暴力犯罪囚犯提前释放的问题上立场摇摆不定。
最重要的是，我们尚未看到伯纳姆经济政策的轮廓。所有这一切无疑将在 10 月 28 日的预算案中揭晓。
那可能不是一个美好的景象：鉴于我们已经借贷到了极限，很难想象伯纳姆在不进一步大幅增税的情况下，能实现他所谈论的那些昂贵项目——社会护理、国有化、权力下放、增加公共投资。
但法拉奇也有他自己的“克拉克顿之后”的问题。不仅是下议院的调查，而且在他的政党面临被复苏的保守党和鲁珀特·洛（Rupert Lowe）的 Restore
我们尚未看到伯纳姆的经济政策
党。单人乐队的问题在于，当那个人弹错音符时——正如法拉奇一直以来所做的那样——整个合奏都会跑调。
改革英国党（Reform UK）在取代保守党成为右翼主要政党的战略目标上已经失败了。如果伯纳姆作为首相比他目前表现出的更强大，你可能会看到工党在民调中进一步攀升，向那个神奇的 30% 迈进，而改革英国党和保守党则在 20% 左右的低位苦苦挣扎。
工党战略家们现在竟敢于认为，他们最终可能会赢得下次选举——或者至少成为最大的政党。
在改革英国党和保守党互相内斗的情况下，这完全是有可能的。现在谈论协议还为时过早。只有当工党在民调中开始领先时，改革英国党和保守党的心思才会集中。
但右翼的任何一个政党都不应该说或做任何让未来的妥协变得不可能或更困难的事情。改革英国党需要成熟起来，而保守党则需要意识到，至少在这个十年里，仅凭自身重新夺回政权几乎是不可能的。
改革英国党与保守党之间的政策分歧已经缩小——并且可以进一步缩小。让洛的“恢复党”（Restore）成为反动右翼的聚集地吧。
工党的第二个五年任期将使英国陷入永久的高税收、高支出、高监管的社会主义停滞。现在是所有主流右翼人士放下自尊，为英国做出最佳选择的时候了。
工党战略家们现在竟敢于认为，他们最终可能会赢得下次选举
VI
走进斯诺登的故居
by Richard Kay
高级特约编辑
在英格兰乡村的深处，但直线距离盖特威克机场仅约十英里，沿着一条僻静的小巷，穿过一片片弗里西安牛的牧场，Old House 以其如画般的壮丽姿态屹立在此。
这是一座充满秘密与乐趣、浪漫与痴迷、禁忌之恋与大胆诱惑、出轨与丑闻的房子。如果它古老的墙壁能够开口，定会讲述一个惊心动魄的故事。
40 年来，这里一直是斯诺登伯爵的乡村避风港。他是一位社交名摄影师，也是玛格丽特公主（已故女王伊丽莎白之妹）那好色丈夫。在这里，他款待他的情人们和情妇，而他认为他的妻子对此一无所知，处于一种幸福的盲目之中。
他曾在这里为他那由演员、模特、艺术家和时尚名流组成的迷人圈子举办开放日，并在洗涤间里囤积从肯辛顿宫地窖和厨房中私自拿走的食物、葡萄酒和香槟——而现在，这座房子正被公开出售。
那位愿意支付近 £400 万 的幸运且富有的买家，将购得一段令人心痒的现代王室历史。
这座建筑的几乎每一寸肌理都回荡着往昔的余音。那些由油灯照明的波希米亚风格内饰——玛格丽特对此深恶痛绝，在她的时代这里没有中央供暖，楼下衣帽间的“洗手池”其实是一个被斯诺登的牙医钻通排水孔的布丁盆——如今已被当代奢华的舒适设施所取代。
Old House 此前从未在公开市场上出售。由于资金短缺，斯诺登在 2003 年私下出售了该房产，而现任业主在两年后的 2005 年低调将其购入。
2017, 年去世、享年 86, 岁的斯诺登勋爵所留下的创造力、想象力和俏皮的痕迹依然存在。他以前的摄影暗房现在成了一座图书馆，而庄园内还隐藏着一座装饰性建筑（folly），其中包含一个阳台，那是他在 1960 年代雅士谷赛马场翻修期间从皇家包厢抢救回来的。
王室联系随处可见。为了穿过庄园湖泊最浅的部分而安装的踏脚石，是由他的岳母——王太后在一次古灵精怪的仪式上正式“启用”的。在仪式上，她挥舞着一把园艺剪刀剪断丝带，仪式由附近霍舍姆的主教主持。
或许最令人震惊的特点位于楼上的一间浴室里，墙上贴满了由原始报纸剪报组成的拼贴画，记录着王室八卦，包括关于退位危机（所有王室丑闻之最）的抢眼标题，以及 20 世纪初的历史事件。
然而，这里没有任何关于他自身不检点行为的剪报。不过，如果要把那些记录下来，恐怕需要单独开一间房才放得下。
尽管这座房产可以追溯到 13 世纪，但其更近期的血统才会让潜在买家感到兴奋。
许多名人在坚固的橡木梁下入眠，包括彼得·塞勒斯和约翰·米尔斯等电影明星，芭蕾舞演员玛格特·芳登，戏剧评论家肯尼斯·泰南（第一个在电视上故意使用 F 开头的四字母禁词的人），以及爱尔兰艳情小说家、致命女人埃德娜·奥布莱恩。
房产中介的宣传册将 Old House 描述为斯诺登勋爵和玛格丽特结婚期间的隐居地。但对于公主来说，这里并非避风港。在他们波涛汹涌的共同生活中，造成最大麻烦的并非是不忠——两人都曾不忠——而是这座房子。
在 1960 年婚礼后寻找一个秘密据点曾让他们费心良久。在 1960 年代，他们是好莱坞式的名人，也是王室成员中最被摄影师追捧且最受欢迎的人物。
斯诺登发现，位于温莎大公园的王太后故居——皇家小屋（Royal Lodge，后来传给安德鲁·蒙巴顿-温莎）——即便在那里度过的大多数周末，也让他感到过于拘束。他想要一个属于自己的空间，配备工作室和画室。在皇家小屋，主要的娱乐活动就是一边看电视一边在托盘里吃晚餐。
斯诺登决定选择老房子（Old House），那是他童年时在西萨塞克斯郡祖父神奇的尼曼斯庄园（Nymans estate）中的避风港，也是他在1958年收到的一份早婚礼物。
退隐之地：住宅与花园。左图为贴在墙上的新闻剪报。
她不得不妥协。她虽然这么做了，但极其厌恶那个地方，去那里的次数很少且心情糟糕。
相反，斯诺登则会抓住每一个机会消失在那里，唯一的停留就是去肯辛顿宫的食品储藏室搜刮龙虾、奶酪、葡萄酒和其他美食，这引发了两人之间的又一次争吵。
“为什么我得负责喂饱你所有的朋友？”她质问道。
“难道我不能从自己家里拿食物吗？”他会大声吼回去。
她非常愤怒，因为丈夫将老房子当作一个既定事实（fait accompli）摆在她面前，而且在任何改造过程中都从未征求过她的意见。她认为那里距离伦敦有两小时车程，太远了，而且房子缺乏基本的生活舒适设施。
即便在接通卫生设施后，那里依然没有暖气，冬天冷得彻骨。她觉得那里令人感到幽闭恐惧，但考虑到她出生在苏格兰巨大的格拉米斯城堡（Glamis Castle），一生都住在宫殿里，因此她自然觉得那里狭小局促。而且房子位于一条公共通行道上，她讨厌徒步旅行者停下来窥视她的皇室身影。
那里也没有一名住家仆人。玛格丽特——正如一位朋友曾告诉我，她甚至从未亲自拉过窗帘——根本不知道如何烹饪、清洁或熨烫，完全束手无策。
她还认为那个地方闹鬼，曾声称看到一个穿着马裤、系着领巾的男人到来。当她告诉托尼说他的某个朋友一定是骑马顺道拜访时，斯诺登说没有人来过。
奇怪的是，她的一名保镖也看到了同样的幻象，并得到了斯诺登同样的反应。无论是否闹鬼，托尼购买那些需要复杂烹饪的食物，让他的妻子更加反感。然后他会看着她在那个狭小且设备简陋的厨房里彻底陷入混乱。
为了尽量减轻她的不适，玛格丽特会选择住在他们最近的邻居——雷丁侯爵夫妇（Marquess and Marchioness of Reading）那无限轻松的家中。这对公主来说可能是一个惬意的解决方案，但在她不知情的情况下，另一场戏剧正在上演。
雷丁夫妇四个孩子中有两个是托尼的朋友：他们的二儿子、电影制片人安东尼勋爵（Lord Antony），以及他们的女儿杰奎琳·鲁弗斯-艾萨克斯女士（Lady Jacqueline Rufus-Isaacs）——被称为杰基（Jackie）。从1968年起，斯诺登与这位迷人的模特陷入了一场全面的婚外情，且充满了丑闻的危险。她从14岁托尼刚开始使用老房子时就认识他，比他小16岁。
“他就像一个在我们的生活中爆炸的烟花，”该家庭的一员后来说道。
起初，他们设法将其保密，但曾发生过一次近乎灾难的事件。在她结束一个周末并返回伦敦的途中——
那里破旧且原始，没有自来水或电，但他对此深爱不已。
女王向这对夫妇提供了一块位于伯克郡萨宁希尔（Sunninghill）附近的土地。尽管有机会从零开始打造一个家，但斯诺登（家人称他为托尼）坚持要老房子。玛格丽特要求选择萨宁希尔，两人为此激烈争吵。
他们就此问题进行的争吵如此激烈且公开，以至于目击此景的员工回家时都感到精疲力竭——且深感震惊。一名愤怒的朝臣在向斯诺登的传记作者安妮·德·库西（Anne de Courcy）讲述时观察到，他们在管家面前对着楼梯大吼大叫。
公主不知道的是，托尼已经请来了建筑工人，并且已经在努力改造老房子，而且
--。
皇室情巢...
图片：BEN WROEGER, JOHN GINZER, BAKES / GETTY BAKES
坐落在萨塞克斯郡的乡村之中，这里是他背着玛格丽特公主诱惑情人们的地方。随着 Old House 首次进入公开市场，其房间里字里行间地写满了社交圈的丑闻。
朋友们，玛格丽特决定顺道拜访。他狡黠的司机约翰·拉金（John Larkin）知道斯诺登（Snowdon）在卧室里的活动，非常担心这次对峙以及随之而来的对公主造成的伤害。当然，那时还没有手机，所以他能做的就是反复闪烁皇家豪华轿车在通往 Old House 小路上的大灯，希望托尼（Tony）能接收到信号。
当他们到达时，面带微笑的斯诺登在门口迎接他们，在亲昵地问候完玛格丽特后，他带着心领神会的眼神看向拉金，要求他给自己的车加满汽油。“你会在村里找到油的，”他告诉他。拉金随即将车开到斯塔普尔菲尔德（Staplefield），在那里他打开斯诺登那辆蓝色阿斯顿·马丁 DB5 的后备箱，发现杰基夫人（Lady Jackie）
激烈争吵：1966 年的玛格丽特公主与斯诺登勋爵
蜷缩在里面。从村子里，她可以公开且天真地走回父母家。这段婚外情不仅在萨塞克斯郡继续，在伦敦也是如此。斯诺登会打电话给她在邦德街（Bond Street）工作的圣罗兰（Yves St Laurent）精品店，使用化名“里克茨医生”（Dr Ricketts）要求见杰奎琳夫人（Lady Jacqueline）。如果情况安全，他就会骑着摩托车呼啸而至，杰基则会溜到后座上。他们会前往圣洛伦佐（San Lorenzo），这家位于骑士桥（Knightsbridge）的餐厅在多年后成为了戴安娜王妃秘密会见密友的地方。当他因一个小手术住院时，工作人员注意到坐在他床边的是杰基，而不是他的妻子。堤坝终将崩溃，在 1971 年初，情况果然发生了。美国报纸声称斯诺登的婚姻正在分崩离析，并将托尼与杰基联系在一起。这段情事戛然而止，尽管在公众面前他与玛格丽特显得已经和解，但事实却有所不同。
他对妻子极其刻薄，留下嘲讽她的便条，并确保她能在床头柜、书本和浴室里发现这些便条。
不到两年后，他遇到了后来成为他第二任妻子的露西（Lucy），她最近与电影导演迈克尔·林赛-霍格（Michael Lindsay-Hogg）离婚。另一段情事开始了，而 Old House 处于这一切的中心。露西热爱这座房子的简约，但也对其进行了现代化改造，安装了急需的中央供暖系统和室外加热游泳池。
年长且睿智的玛格丽特知道发生了什么，尽管她同样感到受伤。她会轻蔑且刻薄地将露西称为“那个东西”，在向朋友解释斯诺登的缺席时，她说他在“工作”，并强调这是一个委婉说法。
这对皇室夫妇之间的关系此时已冷若冰霜。有过至少两段婚外情的玛格丽特遇到了最终导致这段婚姻落幕的男人，罗迪·卢埃林（Roddy Llewellyn）。当他们的情事曝光时，公众的同情心倾向于斯诺登。
他们分开了，在离婚后的六个月内，他与露西结婚。
但这绝非他与皇室关系的终结。查尔斯王子选择由托尼为他与戴安娜的订婚照拍摄，而他与王太后之间的关系依然稳固；她将他们婚姻的灾难归咎于她的女儿。
还有一件事没有改变：他永不知足的性欲。多年来，他与陷入困扰的记者安·希尔斯（Ann Hills）一直维持着一段断断续续的婚外情。1996 年 12 月下旬，她服用药物并饮用香槟自杀。
在印度度假期间，露西从报纸报道中发现，她的丈夫在他们整个婚姻期间以及之前一直有一个情妇。这是一个重磅炸弹，但更糟糕的事情还在后面。
在为《乡村生活》（Country Life）杂志撰稿期间，托尼结识了男爵之女梅拉妮·凯布尔-亚历山大（Melanie Cable-Alexander）。两人开始了婚外情，大部分时间在老房子（Old House）幽会，随后她怀孕了。露西与斯诺登分居，在儿子出生几年后，托尼与梅拉妮的关系也逐渐冷却。
其他女性接踵而至，包括准将之女艾米莉·赫斯特（Emily Hirst）以及作家兼心理健康活动家马乔里·华莱士（Marjorie Wallace）。但随着托尼因童年时期的小儿麻痹症而日益行动不便，且现在偶尔需要使用轮椅，老房子与其说是情趣之所，不如说成了一块沉重的负担。
然而，这座房子在皇室和文化历史中的地位如此根深蒂固，以至于后来启发了 Netflix 系列剧集《王冠》（The Crown）的一整集。如今，随着人们对斯诺登的想象力和恶作剧的记忆逐渐淡去，它正在等待一位新主人。
六年监禁： 考特尼·加特肖尔（Courtney Gartshore）
28岁母亲用吹风机将新生儿烫死
一名母亲因用吹风机对着三个月大的女儿猛吹导致其死亡，被判处六年监禁。 考特尼·加特肖（Courtney Gartshore）让达莉亚-罗斯（Dahlia-Rose）承受了来自该设备50-80℃的“显著且持续的热量”，导致其于2023年9月死亡。
作者：詹姆斯·马尔霍兰德（James Mulholland）
该婴儿全身18%的面积被烧伤，专家认为这种伤势本可存活。但由于长时间接触吹风机，可能导致她死于高热症（体温异常升高）和中暑。
她在位于阿伯丁郡彼得黑德（Peterhead, Aberdeenshire）的家中，身体右侧遭受大面积烧伤，包括手臂、胸部、腋下、肩膀、面部、头皮以及大脑。
28岁的加特肖在审判期间否认过失且鲁莽地杀害达莉亚-罗斯，但阿伯丁高等法院的陪审团判定她犯有过失杀人罪。
在婴儿死亡前，加特肖带着孩子与朋友和邻居社交，饮用了大量酒精，并于凌晨4点左右回到家中。
“严重违反父母职责”
她拨打了999紧急电话，声称自己当天早上醒来发现女儿在家里死亡。加特肖告诉接线员：“我刚醒来，她的头全是紫色的。”接线员询问达莉亚-罗斯是否“已无法救治”，加特肖回答道：“是的。”
她声称孩子前一天还“完全没事”，但现在的皮肤正在“脱落”。
护理人员肖娜·赫尔姆（Shona Helm）形容发现婴儿时的情景“令人心碎”。在吹风机的喷嘴上发现了含有达莉亚-罗斯DNA的物质。
辩护律师默里·马卡拉（Murray Macara）KC告诉法庭，没有人知道他的当事人为何对孩子使用吹风机。他说：“关于使用吹风机的原因，我只能推测。也许是鲁莽地将其用作热源。”
他称此案为“真正悲剧且令人心碎”的案件，并表示加特肖患有一种被称为情感不稳定人格障碍的心理健康疾病。
昨天，加特肖在监狱中通过视频链路参加爱丁堡高等法院的庭审时流下了眼泪。
西蒙·柯林斯（Simon Collins）KC法官表示，此案尤其令人揪心，因为婴儿对母亲有着“完全的依赖”，他补充道：“这起犯罪行为严重违反了父母最基本的职责——保护孩子并确保其免受伤害。”
他说：“这既是悲剧，也是恐怖之事。因为证据表明被告热爱达莉亚-罗斯，但她余生都将生活在自己应对其死亡负责的认知之中。”
盗窃亚马逊货车者引发100英里时速警车追逐
一名盗窃亚马逊配送货车的窃贼在40分钟内以100英里时速带领警方展开追逐。
警方在周三下午6.30pm接到一起999电话，报告一辆装有价值1,000 英镑包裹的货车被盗。
警员在大曼彻斯特郡的威根（Wigan）发现了该货车，并试图拦截车辆，但司机加速逃离。
警方在博尔顿（Bolton）以及兰开夏郡的乔利（Chorley）追击该司机。警方表示，在40分钟的追逐过程中，货车时速达到了100英里。
司机最终撞上了行人护栏和一辆停在红绿灯前的车辆。
一名25岁的嫌疑人在车祸现场被捕，涉嫌盗窃机动车、危险驾驶、拒不停车、受管制物质影响驾驶以及持有A类和C类毒品。
他目前已被保释，等待进一步调查。
引擎碎片击碎飞机窗户
调查人员表示，在一次瑞安航空（Ryanair）航班中，一名乘客被部分吸出机外的破碎窗户是由发动机损坏部件造成的。
据称，这架波音 737-800 飞机的右侧发动机中的一个风扇叶片在 7 月 10 日于希腊起飞后不久脱落，导致碎片高速喷出。
在从塞萨洛尼基起飞 20 分钟后，在约 15,000 英尺的高空，柳比沙·卡罗维奇（Ljubisa Karovic）被部分吸入窗户破洞中，随后被其他乘客拉回。这名 61 岁的塞尔维亚国民颈部和肩部受伤，并伴有摩擦灼伤。
由于该喷气式飞机是在美国组装的，希腊已将调查移交给美国国家运输安全委员会（NTSB），后者发布了初步报告。
右侧发动机的叶片曾在 2026 年 5 月和 2025 年 11 月接受过检查，当时未发现损坏。但飞行机组人员报告称，在过去一年中疑似发生了四次鸟击。
调查人员可能会检查检查是如何进行的，以及疑似鸟击是否造成了任何损坏。
来源：AAFI, 2023, 2024.
Robbie：我是自闭症患者……这解释了很多事情
作者：Bethan Edwards 和 Laura Fox
以“坏小子”形象著称的罗比·威廉姆斯（Robbie Williams）被诊断出患有“轻微自闭症”——当他的行为失控时，他将其作为一张“免死金牌”。
这位前 Take That 组合的歌手此前已被诊断出患有 ADHD（注意缺陷多动障碍），并学会了“训练大脑变得有创造力”，以屏蔽那些可能让他“恐慌或害怕”的事物。
52 岁的威廉姆斯表示：“我患有 ADHD，而且我刚刚发现我也有一点自闭症，我其实他妈的太喜欢这个诊断了，因为它解释了很多事情。”
“这现在成了我的免死金牌，所有我做的那些古怪的烂事，我只要说：‘抱歉，我是自闭症患者’就行了。”
这位四个孩子的父亲补充道：“患有 ADHD 时，你可以 1,000% 地完全且绝对地专注于某件事，但对于其他所有事情，你就是做不到。问问我的孩子们就知道了。”
“我完全且绝对痴迷的是创作图像和制作有趣的东西。”
“如果我在创作图像和有趣的东西，我就不会想到我自己，因为我的大脑极具创造力，而且它可以针对世界上任何让你恐慌或害怕的事情进行‘创造’。”
“例如——这就是我有多疯狂——最近，我坐在飞机上，我想：‘如果我有意念移物能力，而我的强迫性想法命令飞机坠毁怎么办？’”
“这就是我所面对的疯狂程度。最好训练我的大脑去做”
一年内诊断人数激增 50%
自闭症的诊断人数在一年内激增了 50% 以上。
英国国家医疗服务体系（NHS）英格兰分部表示，在过去一年中，约有 23,345 人发现自己患有该障碍，比截至 2025 年 6 月的 12 个月内的 15,340 人增加了 52%，使总数达到 700,000 人以上。
另有 300,000 人正在等待疑似自闭症的评估——这是 2021 年人数的四倍。
这些创纪录的数据（其中许多与儿童有关）出现之际，自闭症研究先驱乌塔·弗里思（Uta Frith）教授警告称，诊断标准已变得“过于宽泛”，使其变得“完全毫无意义”。
她表示，现在“任何人”都可能患有自闭症，它已成为其他心理问题的“万能口袋”。
比担心拥有超能力并导致飞机坠毁更好的事情。
自闭症曾被定义为一种严重的发育
“这是我的‘出狱特赦卡’”
这种障碍曾被定义为以智力障碍以及学习或理解语言困难为特征，但近年来专家们放宽了定义。其
症状包括重复性的言语或行为、难以改变常规以及在社交场合感到困难。
曾创下赢得 18 项 Brit Awards 纪录的威廉姆斯表示，他曾三次被诊断出患有注意缺陷多动障碍（ADHD），因为他总是忘记自己患有此病。
周四，他在伦敦市中心牛津街的 Flannels 商店为其服装品牌 Hopeium 的秋冬系列发布会发表讲话时解释道：“第一次是在
2006 年左右，我在互联网上看到了这些关于 ADHD 的内容。我想，‘所有这些情况都像我——哇’。然后我开始听说可以获得一种效果有点像速度（speed）的药物。”
“能得到正式诊断让我感到宽慰，但更让我宽慰的是我得到了 200 片这样的药片。”
“我以为药片能治好我，因为你总是在寻找治愈脑内疾病的方法。于是我很快从服用药片变成了将它们压碎并吸入。”
RSPCA 表示必须停止“弗兰肯斯坦猫”繁育
慈善机构警告称，旨在培育极端或非自然特征的定制“弗兰肯斯坦猫”的兴起，正导致动物“遭受不必要的痛苦”。
社交媒体和名人趋势创造了对折耳、短肢以及缺失尾巴或毛发的宠物的巨大需求。
但这些品种通常伴有终身且令人衰弱的健康问题。
专家警告称，除非对“残酷的繁育行为”采取紧急行动，否则猫可能很快将与“传统的家猫”毫无相似之处。RSPCA 和 Cats Protection 表示，苏格兰折耳猫，
作者：Wiliam Hunter
例如流行歌手泰勒·斯威夫特（Taylor Swift）所养的品种，目前占英国猫群数量的 2%。
但导致“可爱”折耳的同一基因也会影响软骨，导致骨骼发育异常和慢性疼痛。
RSPCA 的爱丽丝·波特（Alice Potter）表示：“不能因为某些人类认为理想的身体特征，而强迫猫遭受不必要的痛苦。”
从 2016 年到 2025 年，RSPCA 发现英国短毛猫的数量增加了 200%，波斯猫增加了 180%——这两个品种都被繁育得患有极端的颅骨畸形，以便拥有非常扁平的脸。
同样在增加的还有“XL Bully”猫，它是斯芬克斯猫和曼基康猫的杂交品种，没有胡须且患有肢体畸形。
Cats Protection 的麦迪逊·罗杰斯（Madison Rogers）表示：“数百年来，猫的体型基本保持不变，但现在情况发生了剧变。如果不迅速采取行动，我们可能会看到更多令人震惊的所谓‘弗兰肯斯坦猫’的例子。”
潮流：泰勒·斯威夫特与宠物
克雷兄弟的帮派对手埃迪·理查森去世，享年 90 岁
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臭名昭著：埃迪
作者：Jamie Boys
前帮派头目、克雷兄弟的对手埃迪·理查森（Eddie Richardson）去世，享年 90 岁。
理查森在 20 世纪 60 年代的伦敦领导着“酷刑帮”——与他的兄弟查理（Charlie）一起在首都制造恐怖。他因肺炎入院，于昨日在医院去世。查理于 2012 年去世，享年 78 岁。
他们的妹妹伊莱恩（Elaine）表示：“我们都非常悲痛。他在一月份刚过了 90 岁生日。埃迪是个顾家的人，有很多朋友。他对朋友非常忠诚。我们知道他已经 90 岁了，但我们都会想念他的。”
当被问及他在晚年是否仍参与犯罪活动时，一名消息人士表示：“他是个如此坚韧的老家伙，他可能在搞什么名堂，但你永远不会知道。”
总部位于南伦敦的理查森帮派在 60 多年前与东伦敦的克雷双胞胎——罗尼（Ronnie）和雷吉（Reggie）之间存在世仇。
理查森帮最令人恐惧的是他们的“执行者”——“疯狂”的弗兰基·弗雷泽（'Mad' Frankie Fraser），他会折磨任何敢于与他们对抗的人。
他曾用钳子拔牙，并用 6 英寸长的钉子将人钉在地板上。他的专长是通过电击生殖器进行酷刑折磨。
理查森总共在监狱中服刑 23 年。
建筑工在墙内发现价值750 万英镑m金库
在翻修地下室时，工人们在墙内发现了一批估计价值£750 万的金藏。
这批金条、金块和大量金币是由一名学生工在与同事于比利时的一家前酿酒厂铺设污水管道时发现的。
这名18岁的工人表示，他起初认为这些硬币只是普通的“1欧元硬币”，直到他“意识到这是件更大的事情”——价值900 万 euros的宝藏。
许多金条上似乎盖有1957年和1961.年左右的印记。一些报道称这批藏品是在一个箱子中被发现的，而另一些报道则称其被塑料包裹。
这批宝藏随后被移至一个高安全性金库。警察局长帕特里克·费斯（Patrick Feys）告诉涌向现场的当地居民，“所有东西都保证已被移走”。
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作者：芭芭拉·戴维斯（Barbara Davies）
在什罗普郡的布里奇诺斯（Bridgnorth）镇上行走时，露易丝·埃尔克斯（Louise Elkes）看起来十分低调。如果说她的面孔曾经在全世界都被认得，那么今天在街上与这位48岁女性擦肩而过的人，不太可能将她认作是被定罪的儿童杀手露易丝·伍德沃德（Louise Woodward）。
回到1997年，伍德沃德当时是一名在美工作的18岁保姆，她被指控将照顾的男婴摇晃致死。
她最初被判定为二级谋杀罪，随后其定罪被法官推翻并减轻为过失杀人罪，在刑期被改为折抵羁押时间后，她被释放。回到英国后，她学习了法律，结婚并生了一个女儿。
为了摆脱“杀手保姆”的标签，在过去的29年里，她一直努力为自己打造一种远离公众关注的简单生活。但近三十年后，由于美国正在制作一部新的五集剧集，这位尽职的单女之母的过去即将再次被翻出。
该剧由流媒体服务平台 HBO 委托制作，旨在纪念英国和美国法律史上最轰动的审判之一的30周年。该剧将于明年播出，由迷人的36岁《白莲花度假村》女演员梅根·法希（Meghann Fahy）饰演青少年时期的露易丝。
然而，尽管拍摄计划于本月开始，但剧本不太可能涵盖伍德沃德生活中的最新转折。因为，尽管她作为一名妻子和母亲在英格兰郡区安静地生活，找到了她渴望的幸福结局，但《每日邮报》获悉，她的婚姻已经结束。
她47岁的分居丈夫安东尼（Antony）——布里奇诺斯一家叉车公司的老板——根据其 Facebook 页面显示，目前正与一名来自马恩岛的30岁女性交往。据信他是在该岛参加拉力赛时与对方相识，且根据接近两人的消息人士透露，他此后离开了 26 万英镑 栋露易丝仍与他们12岁女儿共同居住的四居室婚房。
关于她与这名在2006,年切斯特一家夜总会相识的男人的感情生活，稍后将详细报道。在相识后不久，她曾告诉《每日邮报》，“那是我就像被闪电击中一样心动的感觉”，并且与他相遇是“发生在我身上最好的事情”。
对于一直希望将动荡的过去抛在脑后的她来说，电视网络 HBO 现在将她的生活戏剧化的消息，无疑将是又一次沉重的打击。《露易丝·伍德沃德审判》（The Trial of Louise Woodward）将回顾伍德沃德在青少年时期，在马萨诸塞州波士顿附近的纽顿为埃彭（Eappen）一家担任保姆期间发生的争议事件。
原本计划作为 A-level 后的间隔年冒险，最终却以悲剧收场。在英国少女开始为该家庭工作三个月后，精英医生德博拉·埃彭（Deborah Eappen）和苏尼尔·埃彭（Sunil Eappen）之子、八个月大的马修（Matthew）死于严重的头部创伤和脑肿胀。
英国最臭名昭著的“杀婴保姆”再陷心碎
历史性法庭审理：路易丝·伍德沃德（Louise Woodward）在1997年被捕后的样子，以及在八个月大时夭折的婴儿马修·埃彭（Matthew Eappen）
路易丝·伍德沃德曾作为一名互惠生，在一场引发全球争议的审判中被判定杀害一名婴儿。三十年后，一部电视剧将重新审视她的故事——而《每日邮报》在此揭露，由于婚姻破裂，她在什罗普郡的家庭生活已陷入混乱
伍德沃德在切希尔郡宁静的埃顿村长大，她一直坚称自己没有伤害埃彭夫妇的婴儿，并且不知道该婴儿在1997年2月导致其死亡的伤势是如何造成的。
但针对她的指控以及她在马萨诸塞州剑桥市米德尔塞克斯高等法院为期三周的审判，让她一夜之间成为了家喻户晓的人物。这是历史上第一次有英国人在电视直播中接受谋杀罪审判。
由于大西洋两岸的公众舆论分歧严重，数百万人紧盯着屏幕，看着当时19岁的伍德沃德在法庭上，因为经常戴着发箍而显得比实际年龄更年轻，她就坐在婴儿埃彭心碎的父母身边几米之遥。
在最后令人紧张的环节——宣判时，伍德沃德家乡的亲友和邻居们聚集在当地的酒吧里。这家名为 The Rigger 的酒吧成为了“释放路易丝”运动的临时总部。
他们深信伍德沃德是清白的，因此在陪审团宣布路易丝“有罪”时，他们惊呼、哭泣并难以置信地尖叫。伍德沃德本人崩溃大哭，喊道：“我什么都没做。我没有伤害马蒂，我没有。”而她心碎的父母——木工加里（Gary）和文员苏（Sue）只能无助地看着。
他们的女儿在1996年夏天，在切希尔郡的赫尔斯比高中参加完 A-level 考试后不久，前往美国，并签约了国际中介 EF Au Pair。
同年11月，伍德沃德开始在牛顿市的家中为苏尼尔（Sunil）和德博拉·埃彭（Deborah Eappen）工作，照顾他们年幼的儿子：两岁的布伦丹（Brendan）以及被雇佣时仅六个月大的马修。
1997年2月4日，马修被发现躺在婴儿床中没有反应，在惊慌失措的伍德沃德拨打救护车后，他因严重的脑损伤被紧急送往医院。她声称发现他时正在喘气且脸色发青，她曾尝试抢救并呼救。他于五天后的2月9日去世。
尸检结果显示其颅骨骨折、脑出血、眼部出血以及手腕骨折，但由于没有法医证据或任何目击者，从一开始对于他如何受伤就没有任何明确的共识。
检察官将伍德沃德描绘成一个经常熬夜且早晨难以起床的“派对女孩”，指控她剧烈摇晃了马修并撞击了他的头部
图片：SPLASH NEWS / BACKGRID; REUTERS; AP
平凡的身影：路易丝·伍德沃德（Louise Woodward），本月早些时候在布里奇诺斯（Bridgnorth）拍摄
撞击在坚硬的表面上。辩方则主张，他至少部分伤势发生在当天之前。
在美国，这起案件被视为 1992 年恐怖电影《摇篮里的手》（The Hand That Rocks The Cradle）的现实版，该片讲述了一个关于杀人保姆的虚构故事。然而，在英国，此案引发了人们对美国司法系统的严重担忧。
这不仅触动了那些将年幼孩子托付给他人照顾的父母的神经，也触动了那些送青少年出国进行间隔年冒险的家长的神经。人们还质疑，富有的埃彭（Eappen）一家为何雇佣一名没有资质的青少年，而不是一名专业保姆来照顾这么小的婴儿。
直到今天，人们对其过失杀人罪的定罪仍持有怀疑态度。许多医学和法律专家认为该判决是不安全的，她根本不应该有犯罪记录。怀疑之声不断，其中一个重要的来源正是控方的一名关键医学证人。
在法庭上，小儿神经病学专家帕特里克·巴恩斯（Patrick Barnes）博士表示，马修（Matthew）的伤势符合摇晃婴儿综合征（SBS）的“经典模型”。他指出存在一组被当时许多专家视为 SBS 证据的“三联征”——脑出血、视网膜出血和脑肿胀。
然而，四年前他表示，他将不再能够“提供足以在排除合理怀疑的情况下定罪路易丝的证词”，并且他“当初不应该那样做”。
他表示，由于此前从未质疑过在培训中学到的 SBS “三联征”理论，但后来的研究和扫描技术的进步表明，其他医疗状况也可能模拟 SBS 的症状，而医生现在更倾向于将其称为“虐待性头部创伤”。
伍德沃德的案件表明，在无法解释的婴儿死亡事件中，对医学证据的不同解读会产生多么巨大的影响。随后，英国迅速发生了三起备受关注的母亲被起诉案件，其婴儿均突然死亡。
这三名女性均基于医学证据被起诉，而这些证据后来被证明是不可信的。提供这些证据的是罗伊·米多爵士（Professor Sir Roy Meadow）教授，他当时是英国最著名的儿科医生，也是一个极具影响力的人物。他曾在法庭上做出一个著名的且错误的断言，称同一个家庭发生两起婴儿猝死综合征的概率是 7300 万 分之 1——这一说法立即遭到了英国皇家统计学会的驳斥。
萨莉·克拉克（Sally Clark）在 1999 年被判定杀害了她的两个男婴。安吉拉·坎宁（Angela Canning）在 2002 年被判定谋杀她的两个男婴。特鲁普蒂·帕特尔（Trupti Patel）在 2003 年因被指控杀害三个孩子而被起诉，但最终被宣判无罪。
同年晚些时候，随着人们对婴儿死亡事件中医学证据的可靠性和局限性日益关注，克拉克和坎宁的定罪在上诉中被撤销。在上诉法院批评米多的证据“明显错误”且“严重误导”之后，总医学委员会（GMC）认定他犯有严重的专业失职行为并将其除名。2006 年，高等法院撤销了该认定。
尽管英国的这些案件集中在婴儿猝死综合征而非 SBS，但它们成为了关于在涉嫌虐待儿童案件中使用专家医学证据的更广泛信任危机的一部分。然而，对于在心爱的小男孩“马蒂”（Matty）不幸去世后又育有两个孩子的德博拉（Deborah）和苏尼尔（Sunil）来说，并不存在这样的怀疑。
为了纪念马蒂而成立的马蒂·埃彭基金会（The Matty Eappen Foundation）致力于通过向公众普及摇晃儿童的危险性，来提高儿童的安全与福利。
该基金会的网站明确指出，“马蒂·埃彭在八个月大时，因被一名护理人员剧烈摇晃而死亡”，并补充道，“我们无法理解，我们的马蒂之所以死去，是因为一个我们信任的人伤害了他”。
眼科医生德博拉·埃潘（Deborah Eappen）是该基金会的主席。医院麻醉师苏尼尔（Sunil）是董事会成员。这对夫妇的长子布伦丹（Brendan）同样在董事会任职，他毕业于哈佛大学，现年 32 岁，此前也由露易丝（Louise）照顾，目前是波士顿一家医院的住院医师。
在马修（Matthew）去世两年后，这对夫妇又生了一个儿子凯文（Kevin），现年 28 岁，同样就读于哈佛大学，目前正在学习医学。他们最小的孩子是女儿伊丽莎白（Elisabeth），现年 24 岁，担任老年人护理顾问。
如果他还活着，马修·埃潘（Matthew Eappen）将在今年 5 月满 30 岁。在 2003 年的一次采访中，露易丝将他描述为一个“甜美”且“爱笑”的婴儿，并表示：“在这一切之中，我从未忘记有一个小男孩死去了。我对此感到由衷的遗憾。整件事是一场巨大的创伤，我绝对没有忘记他。”
回到英国后，她在伦敦南岸大学学习法律，并在 2002 年毕业后获得了奥尔德姆（Oldham）律师事务所 North Ainley Halliwell 提供的培训合同。
在与舞蹈教练理查德·科利（Richard Colley）相爱后，她于一年后离开该行业，成为一名
“此案引发了深刻的质疑”
切斯特的一名国标舞和拉丁舞教师。在她在2006.年11月遇到安东尼·埃尔克斯（Antony Elkes）之前，两人友好地分手了。在次年接受《每日邮报》的联合采访中，露易丝（Louise）表示，她非常担心当她告诉新男友自己的过去时，他会拒绝她。
安东尼坚称：“我一点也不在乎发生了什么，因为我知道露易丝不可能伤害任何人。我的朋友和家人都非常喜欢她。当我们见到彼此时，瞬间就产生了共鸣。我们俩都不常去夜总会，我们相信我们的相遇是命中注定的。”
两人于2013年5月结婚，并在次年1月迎来了他们的女儿。在随后的几年里，露易丝在当地的村礼堂教授舞蹈课程，同时投入大量时间为女儿的小学筹款。
本周，露易丝及其亲属拒绝就新的HBO剧集或她的婚姻破裂发表评论。安东尼·埃尔克斯也拒绝评论。埃彭（Eappen）家族也没有做出回应。
HBO曾打造出《黑道家族》（The Sopranos）和《权力的游戏》（Game of Thrones）等成功作品，该公司未就其是否在制作这部备受争议的新剧时咨询过露易丝或埃彭家族的问题做出回应。
据该剧的威尔士编剧马修·巴里（Matthew Barry）称（他此前曾为《东区东区》（EastEnders）和《伤员》（Casualty）撰写剧本）：“露易丝·伍德沃德（Louise Woodward）的审判引发了关于育儿、职场母亲、阶级以及新兴的24 / 7媒体作用的深刻质疑。30年后的今天，这些问题比以往任何时候都显得更加紧迫且具有相关性。”
当然，在现实中，很难想象任何电视剧集能接近1997.年上演的真实生活戏剧。在近三十年后的今天，露易丝·埃尔克斯无疑希望能够将这段往事彻底抛在脑后。
作者：杰西卡·格林（Jessica Green）
在昨天举行的帕迪·麦克纳利（Paddy McNally）葬礼上，贝娅特丽斯（Beatrice）公主是其家族唯一的代表。麦克纳利曾是其母亲的前情人。
据报道，前一级方程式赛车款待业大亨麦克纳利为其留了一笔“生活费”，而莎拉·弗格森（Sarah Ferguson）在现场并未出现。
麦克纳利先生被安葬在威尔特郡塞文汉普顿（Sevenhampton）的圣詹姆斯教堂（St James' Church），他与弗格森女士曾有过一段为期三年的情史，于1985.年结束。但这位88岁的大亨在随后的数十年里一直资助着这位前约克公爵夫人——她比他小22岁。
现年66,岁的弗格森女士最近一次公开露面是在4月的奥地利阿尔卑斯山的一家豪华滑雪度假村，此前由于其与恋童癖杰弗里·爱泼斯坦（Jeffrey Epstein）友情的曝光，她被迫隐匿行踪。
在恋情结束后，麦克纳利先生和弗格森女士仍保持着密切的友谊，据报道，这位商人
“他教会了我很多关于生活的道理”
将其在欧洲豪华房产组合中的房产出借给她及其女儿。
本周早些时候，《邮报》资深特约编辑理查德·凯（Richard Kay）透露，弗格森女士一直住在麦克纳利先生位于瑞士的“装修豪华”的别墅中。他告诉《邮报》的“宫廷机密”（Palace Confidential）专栏：“据我了解，莎拉夏天一直在韦尔比耶（Verbier）帕迪的住所度过。”
“这很合理，因为这些地方在夏天有完全不同的氛围。”
“那里没有挤满了来滑雪的英国人。你只能看到几个喜欢在山间徒步的中年人，氛围要悠闲低调得多。是一个绝佳的藏身之所。”
麦克纳利先生在长期患病后，于7月22日平静去世——就在他的儿子肖恩（Sean）突然去世两个月后，肖恩是他两个儿子中的一个。
肃穆：昨日帕迪·麦克纳利的棺椁
亲密：莎拉·弗格森与麦克纳利
费吉（Fergie）在哪？贝特丽丝是其母亲前情人的葬礼上唯一的家族成员
悼词：昨日葬礼的仪式流程
与他已故的妻子安妮（Anne）在一起。“他曾一度情况很糟糕，所以这算是个好消息，”一位老友在他去世后告诉《每日邮报》的理查德·伊登（Richard Eden）。他留下了估计 £6 亿 的遗产，这笔财富建立在 2006 年以 £2.62 亿 的价格出售其酒店管理业务 All-sport Management 的基础上。
他在韦尔比耶（Verbier）拥有三栋度假别墅，其中一栋价值 £2500 万 的住宅因其放纵的行为而被人们称为“可卡因城堡”，这些别墅共同提升了该地作为“山坡上的斯隆广场”的声誉。
他在安妮 1980 年去世后，因费吉女士被招募为照顾肖恩（Sean）及其兄弟罗洛（Rollo）的保姆而与她相识。
当时，麦克纳利先生（Mr McNally）凭借与伯尼·埃克莱斯顿（Bernie Ecclestone）共同创立一级方程式赛车围场俱乐部（Formula One Paddock Club）而积累了财富，该俱乐部彻底改变了这项运动中的企业娱乐方式。这项业务曾一度使他成为英国第 238 位最富有的人。他的财富使他能够用各种形式的成人娱乐来款待朋友——这让费吉女士非常高兴。
但他们为期三年的私情在 1985 年结束，一年后她与当时的安德鲁王子订婚。
据称，费吉女士对这个被她描述为“父亲般的人物”和“导师”的男人的去世感到“心碎”。她告诉一名采访者：“他教会了我很多关于生活的道理。当我需要建议时，我会向他求教。他似乎见多识广，尝试过一切。”但尽管她深感悲痛，代表家族出席昨日仪式的职责仍由 38 岁的长女贝特丽丝承担。
庄重：贝特丽丝公主在教堂
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为什么 4 / 10 的男性认为自己能成为奥运选手
参加奥运会的运动员通常在人生的大部分时间里都在为这项赛事做准备。
但根据一项民意调查，近四成英国男性认为，如果现在开始训练，他们可以获得下一届奥运会的参赛资格。
一项针对 2,000 名成年人的调查发现，整体而言，26% 的英国人认为他们可以在自己选择的运动项目中进入 2028 年洛杉矶奥运会。在男性中，这一比例上升至 38%，同样比例的人表示，如果能获得专业教练的指导并遵循严格的训练计划，他们会对尝试参加奥运会充满信心。
“超过四分之一的英国人相信只要有足够的时间就能获得 2028 年洛杉矶奥运会的参赛资格，这清楚地表明我们是一个拥有巨大体育雄心的国家，”沃克斯豪尔（Vauxhall）的 Eurig Druce 表示，该公司委托开展此次研究是为了纪念其与英国队（Team GB）的合作伙伴关系。
“看到人们对自己潜力的信心，即使这可能是盲目的信心，也令人深受鼓舞。”
分析显示，足球是人们在竞技方面最自信的运动，其次是网球和游泳。英国人对自己的骑行能力也感到乐观，希望效仿英国队的杰森·肯尼爵士（Sir Jason Kenny，见插图），他获得的七枚奥运金牌创下了英国纪录。6% 的人认为他们可以在这项运动中进行严肃的竞争。
然而，在体操方面，信心则低得多，45% 的人承认这将是最难掌握的奥运项目。跳水紧随其后，占比 33%，然后是柔道，占比 23%。
总体而言，在 OnePoll.com 采访的人员中，有三分之一的人表示，在取得体育成就方面，信心比天赋更重要。
Mangione 伪装成 580亿美元 投资者欺骗医疗公司……随后用 3D 打印枪枪杀其老板
作者：James Tozer
路易吉·曼吉奥内（LUIGI Mangione）昨日戏剧性地承认，他在纽约一家酒店外枪杀了某富有私人医疗保健公司的高管。就在人们翘首以盼的谋杀案审判开始前几周，这名 28 岁的男子承认杀害了布莱恩·汤普森（Brian Thompson），并声称其动机是长期的背痛。
作为马里兰州一个名门望族的儿子，检察官指控他对他所谓的美国“寄生”医疗保险公司心怀怨恨，批评者指责这些公司在拒绝理赔的同时赚取巨额利润。
“我开枪射击了汤普森先生，他死了，”他在昨日挤满人的纽约法庭上承认联邦跟踪指控时说道。“我知道我的行为会让他面临死亡或身体受伤的恐惧。我知道我的行为是违法的。”
然而，他的坦白引发了猜测，认为这是由其法律团队策划的一场计谋。
他们立即要求停止原定于下个月开始的独立谋杀案审判，称曼吉奥内现在已为这次杀戮承担“全部责任”。
美国法律专家认为，他们的策略是为客户争取较短的刑期，或将其送往较低级别的监狱。
至关重要的一点是，法官已经阻止了检察官在曼吉奥内被判定谋杀罪后对其执行死刑的尝试。
汤普森先生是美国医疗保险公司 UnitedHealthcare 的 50 岁首席执行官，他于 2024 年 12 月 4 日在曼哈顿前往投资者会议的途中被枪杀。谋杀案的监控视频显示，一名戴面具的枪手从背后向他开火。曼吉奥内告诉法庭，他使用 3D 打印机制造了这把枪。
在经过五天的搜捕后，前冲浪者曼吉奥内在一家麦当劳被捕
“这些寄生虫罪有应得”
宾夕法尼亚州，据称随身携带一把枪、子弹、多张假身份证和现金。
他还携带了一份手写文件，警方称该文件表达了对美国企业界的“恶意”，据报道其中包含这样一段话：“坦白说，这些寄生虫罪有应得。”据调查人员称，在谋杀现场发现的弹壳上写有“否认”（Deny）、“防御”（Defend）和“罢免”（Depose）等词——据称是指美国医疗公司被指用于拒绝患者索赔的策略。
Mangione 吸引了大量的粉丝——主要是女性——而支持者已承诺为他的辩护提供超过 100 万。
他昨天的认罪是在一场涉及两项导致死亡的跟踪指控的联邦听证会上进行的。他面临联邦指控是因为他在行凶前跨越了州界。
他还将于 9 月 8 日在纽约州法院接受二级谋杀罪的审判。昨天的听证会是汤普森先生的家人——包括他的遗孀 Paulette——第一次与 Mangione 面对面。他们看着他回答玛格丽特·加内特（Margaret Garnett）法官关于其精神状态的一系列问题，并在他认罪时开始哭泣。
Mangione 身穿米色囚服，他说“在忍受了多年脊柱骨折带来的痛苦之后”，他得知了在纽约举行的联合健康保险（UnitedHealthcare）投资者会议。
他伪装成一名管理 580亿美元 的投资者，给该公司发送了电子邮件，并收到了快速回复，他说这次回复“与之前与保险公司的互动截然不同”。
在他认罪后，汤普森先生的家人表示：“我们很感激联邦司法系统让这个残忍行为的责任人承担责任。”虽然联邦和州政府可以对同一项涉嫌犯罪行为提起诉讼，但根据纽约州的双重审判法，如果联邦诉讼先得到解决，州级案件可能必须停止。
听证会后，Mangione 的律师凯伦·弗里德曼·阿格尼菲洛（Karen Friedman Agnifilo）表示，州级谋杀指控“现在必须被撤销”。她说，他在“努力应对医疗和保险系统的同时，忍受了多年令人虚弱的痛苦”，并认为这些因素摧毁了他的生活。
但美国地区检察官杰米·麦克唐纳（Jamie McDonald）谴责 Mangione 试图“通过暴力传递公开信息”。
Mangione 将在 12 月接受联邦跟踪指控审判，届时他面临终身监禁。
从高空俯瞰，景象令人惊叹。在视线所及之处，到处是焦黑的花园和干枯的田野，而斯图尔特·格林德尔（Stuart Grindle）在约克郡这个小角落里的草坪依然郁郁葱葱，美不胜收。而且绿得如此耀眼——仿佛上帝调整了滤镜。
“如果你用航拍镜头，我会收到仇恨邮件的，”这位 83 岁的退休木工开玩笑说。“以前发生过一次。我想是 ITV 派无人机上来的时候。当时所有人的草坪都是褐色的，只有我的草坪是翠绿色的。我收到信说，‘在干旱期间，你为什么还要给草坪浇水？’”
“好问题：他为什么要浇水？”斯图尔特指出，“首先，我们这里目前没有实施软管禁令。而且人们想仔细看看照片。你会看到我有四个集水桶。我非常注重用水。老实说，我甚至不喜欢在草坪上用自来水，草不喜欢。”
“而且当我使用洒水器时——我用的是 360 度洒水器——我只开 10 或 15 分钟。花园不需要更多。草需要的是潮湿，而不是湿透。人们出错的地方在于，他们打开洒水器，然后就跑去看《加冕街》（Coronation Street）。你的草不会为此感谢你。”
此外，斯图尔特每年支付 1,200 英镑 的水费：他使用的是固定费率。去年实施软管禁令期间，他就为此与约克郡水务公司（Yorkshire Water）的人争论过。“我说‘如果我从约翰刘易斯合伙公司买一套三件套家具——一个沙发和两把椅子——他们不会把家具寄给我然后说“你不能坐在椅子上”’。”
为什么我在一年中最热的日子里，坐在唐卡斯特蒂克希尔（Tickhill, Doncaster）斯图尔特（Stuart）那像绿洲一样的小花园里，几乎只是在看着草生长（公平地说，这很迷人，而且有点让人上瘾）？
因为在研究如何维护英格兰这片绿色且宜人的土地方面，斯图尔特就是那个专家。距离斯图尔特赢得一项寻找英国最佳草坪的比赛已经过去九年了。在2017年，他的花园——他一生的心血——成为了全国讨论的话题，一个既令人向往又令人着迷的对象。
这个承认自己每天花费多达16小时，且多年来花费数万英镑来照料草坪，甚至曾跪在地上用厨房剪刀来完善边缘的男人，一夜之间成了名人。
《园艺世界》（Gardener's World）派来了一个摄像组（“我的妻子安（Anne）本希望是蒙蒂·唐（Monty Don）来，但没等到他”），一家德国报纸还派了一名记者来测试脚下的弹性。
我们到达后说：“格林德尔先生（Mr Grindle），我给你带来了一件礼物”，但那是一个花园小矮人像。我说：“我会给它找个地方放的”。
所以你不是那种喜欢花园小矮人的人？“我不是，”他说。
那位德国记者自豪地向他展示了自己草坪的照片。斯图尔特并不感冒。“那得翻地。得用耕耘机。我问他多久剪一次草，他说‘相当定期，至少每两周一次’。而那个时候，我一天要剪两次。”
在同意向公众开放他的草坪并将所有收益捐给慈善机构后，斯图尔特（以及自称“草坪寡妇”的长期忍耐的安）发现自己被访客淹没了。
然后是婚礼。一位新娘询问在他的草坪上拍婚纱照需要多少钱。他说：“现在得付钱了，姑娘”，于是婚礼队伍随之而来。“我确实告诉她必须脱掉鞋子，因为我不能让细高跟鞋踩在我的草坪上，”他回忆道。对他（以及草坪）而言幸运的是，她很乐意光脚。
当然，我们都喜欢看别人的草坪，尤其是当我们自己的草坪枯萎死亡的时候。今天我们聊到了歌手罗德·斯图尔特（Rod Stewart）在埃塞克斯（Essex）的草坪，报纸上的照片显示那里绿意盎然。斯图尔特想知道罗德使用的是什么草种（他自己最喜欢的是“Bent”，也就是
作者：珍妮·约翰斯顿（Jenny Johnston）
高尔夫球场果岭上使用的那种，它如此纤细，以至于只要有一点风就无法使用。
然而，他告诉我，他的除草日子已经结束了。在他成名之时没有被报道的是，由于终身与关节炎作斗争，他已经接受了双侧髋关节置换手术。他在28岁时被诊断出患病，并在36岁时进行了第一次髋关节置换。
他现在已经换了六个新髋关节（第一组之后，他们称之为“修正手术”）。他还换了两个新肩膀，并且拄着拐杖行走。即使走到花园尽头也是一种挣扎。
推着割草机，哪怕是他那台能剪到5毫米的心爱机器？他已经很多年没这么做了。他也无法再跪在地上进行细致的检查了。那么，这个花-
园怎么可能依然看起来如此壮丽？这部分归功于现在与他同住的儿子乔纳森（Jonathan），乔纳森精通修剪剪刀的使用；但主要归功于他的朋友丹（Dan），丹负责照料当地一家高尔夫球场的绿地。
“他过来帮我打理花园。不收钱，”斯图尔特说。“他这么做是因为他太出色了，而且他知道这对我的意义。我是世界上最幸运的人。”
丹几乎每天都会过来。他现在正跪在地上修剪边缘，拒绝喝茶。“我负责指挥操作，”斯图尔特说。
多年前曾从二楼卧室窗户探出身子拍摄的摄影师格伦（Glen）今天回来拍照，并向斯图尔特展示手机里的旧照片。他以全球最挑剔的眼光审视着这些照片。
“那时候草坪的状态更好，”他谈到他的草坪时说，“但现在相比起来也不算太糟。不过因为我们经历了这次干旱，现在处于维护模式。只要能让它活下来就行。”
之前的照片中最令人印象深刻的一张，是斯图尔特和安妮自豪地站在花园中央，双臂张开。他接过手机，轻轻亲吻了一下那张照片。安妮在12月去世了。这是没有她的第一个夏天。这个夏天过得很漫长。
“痴呆症，”他说，“她病了大约三年。到后期情况非常糟糕。她变得相当暴力，不知道自己在做什么。我们不得不锁上门。她在大概9月份停止进食。我是说完全停止了，一次吃不超过一勺酸奶。她最后进了医院，临终前在养老院。”
他让丹在花园半路的一棵名为“蕾丝女士”的树后为安妮种了一个小小的纪念花园，那棵树优雅地覆盖在草坪之上。那里现在有一张小长凳，我们沿着小路走过去（因为我穿着运动鞋，所以才被允许走在草坪上）。在这个阴凉的地方，矮针叶树生长得很好。
“我就坐在这里想她。小安妮。你知道的，我们很少吵架。我们 17 相识， 21 结婚。她是我唯一的真爱。”
你怎么知道她就是那个对的人？“护士制服，”他一本正经地开玩笑。他们在一家青年俱乐部相识，于 1964 年结婚，起初和他的母亲住在一起，后来在马尔特比买了他们的第一套房子（带有一个邮票大小的花园）。
1969 年，他们搬到了沃克斯奥普的一个新开发区，1973 年乔纳森出生了。不过附近有一个高尔夫球场，斯图尔特发现自己盯着那片绿地看，变得“有点痴迷”。
他邻居的父亲是一名绿地管理员，他们聊起了草种。它
暖心故事：这位男士在热浪中打造的草坪将让你羡慕不已
他刚刚失去了相伴 50 年的妻子，且经历过六次髋关节置换手术——但即便在干旱之中，也没能阻止斯图尔特（Stuart）创造完美。那么，他究竟是如何做到的？
Page 33
直到 1976, 年他们搬到这栋房子后，他们才拥有了一块足够大的花园可以打理。
在斯图尔特开始着手打理之前，这里曾是一片荒地，而且在他真正投入热情之前，他还允许朋友们将其作为分配地使用。“种子是我自己播种的，”他回忆道，“这里没有铺现成的草皮。然后我看着它生长……”
半个世纪过去了，他依然在观察。他目光敏锐。“我不喜欢起伏不平的花园，这就是为什么我的花园里没有直线。必须引导视线。你会觉得‘噢，这很有趣，那边是什么？’”
这些年来他在这个花园上花了多少钱？“我想大概 6 万英镑。”这还不包括投入的人力时间。
在工作期间，斯图尔特会在早上 6 点起床进行“刷草”（基本上就是刷草坪），然后下班回家立即开始修剪。退休后，他可以将整天的时间都花在草地上。他从未允许乔纳森（Jonathan）在草坪上踢足球。他们不能去长假旅行，因为花园无法承受被忽视。
我们是否敢问他是否会离开他的花园，或者更糟，任由自然接管？他已经让其中几个区域荒废了，“但不行。我觉得那很难。这是我一辈子的心血，这是我生命中的 50 年，也是安妮（Anne）的 50 年。除非他们把我抬出去，否则我不会离开。”
那么，他会关心在他不在之后发生的事情吗？他说乔纳森不太可能继续打理这个花园。“不会的。他会把它卖掉，也许会有一对年轻夫妇搬进来，带着两个小屁孩，然后把这里全部铲掉。”
如果他们铺上——天哪！——人造草坪，并摆上一整家花园小矮人雕像怎么办？“到那时我不在了，”他说，“他们想怎么做就怎么做。这就是花园的特点。它是私人的。”
纪念：斯图尔特在没有安妮的第一个夏天打理他的草坪，安妮于 12 月去世。
你的草坪更绿吗？请发送邮件至：GREENLAWNS@DAILYMAIL.CO.UK
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德普如何帮助凯莉重拾笑容
强尼·德普（JOHNNY Depp）帮助凯莉·奥斯本（Kelly Osbourne）重新露出了笑容。
她看着这位好莱坞明星向她的父亲奥兹·奥斯本（Ozzy Osbourne）致敬，后者去年去世，享年 76 岁。
德普当时正与他的乐队“好莱坞吸血鬼”（Hollywood Vampires，成员包括爱丽丝·库珀）在伦敦的 02 体育馆演出。凯莉, 41, 岁此前因体重剧减以及与重金属乐队 Slipknot 的键盘手, 49, 岁的西德·威尔逊（Sid Wilson）分手而面临审视，她与西德有一个三岁的儿子西德尼（Sidney）。右侧的凯莉表示：“一年多以来，我还没有和朋友们笑得这么开心过。”
伊甸园
揭秘：俱乐部老板 Lineker 与 OnlyFans 女性的关系
大多数门店适用。不包括在线商店和 Morrisons Daily。优惠不包括鞋类和外套，截止日期为 10 / 08 / 26。
在转发了一段将老鼠图像与标题“两分钟内详解犹太复国主义”并列的视频后，加里·莱克尔（Gary Lineker）在 2025 年被迫离开 BBC，但他随后迅速前行，几乎没有回头看一眼。
事实上，他持有至少 25% 股份的那家播客公司仅在去年就获得了 £3790 万 的收入。
但这位前英格兰前锋并不是唯一一个成功掌控新媒体世界的莱克尔。
我可以透露，他的弟弟韦恩（Wayne），64, 岁，一位不安分的企业家，因拥有派对之岛上最热闹的俱乐部 O Beach Ibiza 而闻名，他也一直在分一杯羹。
韦恩并没有让自己坐在麦克风前，而是在可以被描述为市场“图像端”的领域提供帮助，并对 OnlyFans 表现出浓厚兴趣。
这是一种在线服务，允许订阅者查看由特定人员（被称为“内容创作者”）提供的照片和视频——在后者类别中，包括“直播”内容。这些创作者包括演员、音乐家和健身教练。
但最赚钱的领域是含蓄地被称为“成人内容”的部分，任何愿意在付费观众面前脱衣，并通过进行毫无保留的亲密行为来娱乐他们的人都可以提供此类内容。
韦恩的角色是鼓励迷人的女性签约一家专门代理 OnlyFans “内容
Entrepreneur: Wayne Lineker
创作者”的“机构”。他的发言人拒绝透露该“机构”的名称，并声称他仅接触了已经在 OnlyFans 上的女性。
不难看出为什么管理机构集中在“成人内容”上。
28, 岁的洛蒂·莫斯（Lottie Moss）是超模凯特（Kate）的同父异母妹妹，在她担任“内容创作者”期间，每月稳定赚取 3 万英镑。但与那些年入百万的超级巨星相比，这不过是零花钱。
从表面上看，这似乎很适合韦恩。
除了在没有公开所有母亲姓名的情况下生了三个儿子和一个女儿（现已成年）之外，正如他哥哥曾经所说，他“擅长经商”。
结过两次婚的加里（Gary），65, 岁，在经历了长期的疏远之后现在已与韦恩愉快地和解，他补充道：“他一直能把一便士变成两便士。”
但我被告知，这次并非如此。他的代表坚持认为：“韦恩从未收到过任何款项。”发言人补充说，该安排现已结束。
谁知道呢，也许这是一个“慈善始于家门”的例子——在这种情况下，是指在 O Beach？
精英圈在议论……哈里好友的前任风靡边缘艺术节
萨塞克斯公爵夫人可能背弃了英国，但另一位与王室有联系的迷人美国人却发现自己在这个大西洋彼岸感觉像在家里一样。
前模特亚历山德拉·福特（Alessandra Ford）是哈里王子好友亚瑟·兰登（Arthur Landon）的前未婚妻，她正凭借其单人喜剧《30 And F***ed》在爱丁堡边缘艺术节（Edinburgh Fringe）首次亮相，并且到目前为止每场演出都售罄。这位 36 岁的女性是
奇尔滕消防局酒店（Chiltern Firehouse）老板安德烈·巴拉斯（Andre Balazs）和福特模特公司（Ford Models）创始人凯蒂·福特（Katie Ford）的女儿，她说：“我不能要求一个更好的开始。”
亚历山德拉（左）在一年多前开始了她的喜剧生涯，她的新剧挖掘了她现实生活中的不幸，包括在与 44 岁的电影制作人亚瑟分手后，她在 30 岁时如何发现自己回到了童年时期的卧室——体验到了“重新开始的荒诞之辱”。
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机密专栏
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相信什么？左图为 Dara，上图为她佩戴 B 字项链及“订婚”戒指的照片
Dara Huang 闪现钻戒，订婚之谜引发关注
Huang 是个极其擅长挑逗的人。贝特丽丝公主丈夫 Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi 的前未婚妻在网上发布了照片，暗示她已经订婚。
出生于美国的 ，43 岁，分享了一张她的手与一名男子十指相扣的照片。她的无名指上戴着一枚巨大的钻戒。她写道：“依然相信爱情，某种程度上挺时髦的。”拒绝置评的 还发布了一张照片，照片中她佩戴着一条吊坠为 B 形的项链。这个 B 会是指 Brett 吗？
今年 5 月，我披露过她与电影导演 Brett Ratner（57 岁）之间正处于一段萌芽中的友谊。然而他告诉我，他们订婚的消息“并非事实”。
（非常）现代的礼仪
大卫·贝克汉姆爵士在玩这个。至于莉莉·詹姆斯，嗯，她对此痴迷不已。
那么威尔士王妃很快也会加入吗？我指的当然是板式网球（padel），这项运动 20 世纪 60 年代末发源于墨西哥，但现在正风靡全球——甚至传到了 Hurlingham 俱乐部。这家俱乐部坐落在伦敦西南部 42 英亩修剪完美的土地上，凯瑟琳经常带孩子们去那里上网球课。我可以透露，该俱乐部正寻求许可，计划拆除其中一个神圣的网球场和一个小型网球场，取而代之的是两个由玻璃和金属网围成的板式网球场。那里将安装八盏 20 英尺高的泛光灯——或许这足以让凯瑟琳打退堂鼓？
赫斯特的前女友谈生活艺术
达米安·赫斯特（Damien Hirst）的前女友 Roxie Nafousi 比他小 25 岁，她承认自己并非总是出于正确的理由与男性约会。
这位 36 岁的前派对女孩曾与这位艺术家交往三年，直到 2015 年，后者的财富估计超过 £3.15 亿。她曾依赖权力强大的男性来获得认可。Roxie 解释道：“过去，我的价值总是取决于我约会的男人。所以如果我能和成功、有钱、有名的人约会，我就会觉得，‘哦，也许这意味着我也足够优秀’。”
在与达米安分手后，右图的 Roxie 撰写了《显化》（Manifest）——这是一本关于如何将梦想生活变为现实的畅销自助书。她说她不再需要一个高地位的男人来让自己感到自信。
她补充道：“现在我自己取得了成功，拥有财务独立，我不需要寻找拥有这些条件的人来向我证明任何事情。”
Callum 的粉丝让 Monica 分心
MONICA Barbaro 在与 Callum Turner 拍摄火辣的新浪漫电影时，发现很难集中注意力工作，后者是流行歌星 Dua Lipa 的英俊丈夫。
这位 36 岁的好莱坞女演员与这位 36 岁的英国男演员在《仅限一夜》（One Night Only）中共同出演，该片讲述了在纽约，单身人士一年中仅被允许在一天内进行性行为。
但在该市拍摄引发了问题。
“我有 ADHD（注意力缺陷多动障碍），所以我很容易分心，”Monica 承认道，“狗仔队拍摄了这么多场景，所以你可能会说，‘能麻烦您移出我的视线范围吗？’他们明白你在说什么，然后就会避开。”
她补充道：“而且，人群会聚集。我们正拍到戏中间，有人会说，‘那是 Callum Turner 吗？’我就会觉得，‘对不起，我忘了戏拍到哪儿了’。”
“Callum 能直接
浪漫喜剧：Monica 和 Turner 在《仅限一夜》片场
继续演下去，他对我也非常有耐心，但我只会说，‘什么？我们拍到哪儿了？’”
寻找“风趣且俏皮”的明星饰演年轻时的卡米拉
你长得像王后吗？一场寻找“风趣且俏皮”的女演员的行动已经开始，她将在一部关于卡米拉·帕克·鲍尔斯年轻时代的“爆炸性”电影中饰演该角色。
“现在是时候给观众一个机会，通过卡米拉的视角来看待这件事了，”美国制片人布伦特·罗斯克（Brent Roske）告诉我。
这部名为《卡米拉》（Camilla）的电影将是他 2023 年剧情片《陷入爱河的戴安娜》（Diana In Love）的前传，后者探讨了威尔士王妃与多迪·法耶德（Dodi Fayed）的浪漫情史。
“我正在寻找一位能够捕捉到卡米拉的机智、笑声和自然魅力的卓越人才，”罗斯克说。“她经常是派对上的灵魂人物，独立且极具吸引力。现在是时候让观众看到故事的这一面了。”
■ 弗兰克·斯金纳（FRANK Skinner）对他在家乡伯明翰那颗好莱坞风格的星光大道之星在毫无预警的情况下被拆除感到沮丧。
这位 69 岁的喜剧演员最近访问了该市的布罗德街（Broad Street），想让 14 岁的儿子巴兹（Buzz）看看他在 2009 年与包括摇滚明星奥兹·奥斯本（Ozzy Osbourne）在内的当地英雄们共同获得的荣誉。
“我带儿子去看我的星星。但现在因为有了有轨电车，他们必须更换所有的路面，所以它不见了。被撕掉了，”弗兰克说。“这非常令人失望。
“据说它们被存放在某个地下仓库里。奥兹的星星在博物馆的展览中。现在那里全是糟糕的空心砖。”
在谈到返回爱尔兰时，丹尼尔·基纳汉（Daniel Kinahan）描述说，除了那里的人们及其幽默感，他最期待的就是食物。
“回到家，吃一点批次面包（batch bread）和一包 King 薯片或 Tayto 薯片，”他说道，列举了他最想念的当地“美食”。
对于一个在过去十年里在迪拜过着奢靡生活的人来说，这位 49 岁的都柏林人显然仍然保留着对生活中简单事物的喜爱。
考虑到他现在所处的环境，这倒是件好事。自周日从阿拉伯联合酋长国被引渡以来，基纳汉一直被关押在爱尔兰的波特莱斯监狱（Portlaoise Prison），爱。
每日邮报记者
该国安保级别最高的监狱。这座监狱建于19世纪，该国一些最臭名昭著的准军事组织成员曾在其雉堞墙后服刑。
由于他们构成的风险极大，直到最近，这里还由一个专门的士兵排负责守卫，并接到了在发现任何人企图逃狱时直接击毙的命令。
如今，波特莱斯监狱的200多名囚犯包括那些因强奸、谋杀、恐怖主义和贩毒等罪行而被定罪或等待审判的人。在它的三个区域中，A区由五个平台组成，每个平台有八个牢房，专门用于安置那些无法与其他囚犯接触的人——原因要么是他们构成的风险，要么是帮派关系，或者是他们属于有组织犯罪集团。
基纳汉目前就被关押在A4区，等待今年晚些时候的审判。
作为基纳汉有组织犯罪集团的所谓头目——丹尼尔因其聪明和狡诈而被起绰号为“国际象棋”——他被指控领导一个价值10亿欧元的卡特尔，据称该组织控制了欧洲约三分之一的可卡因供应，并在枪支和敲诈勒索方面从事犯罪副业。
尽管他坚称自己是一名合法的商人，而非全球最强大的黑帮头目之一，但当局显然没有采取任何冒险行为。
当然，考虑到他所能支配的资源，不能排除逃狱的可能性。
但消息人士称，首要关注点是防止基纳汉在狱中被其敌人“算计”。
基纳汉面临的指控可以追溯到十多年前在都柏林与竞争对手哈奇帮之间血腥的地盘战争。这场冲突导致了多达20起谋杀案，以及更多次数的殴打、刺杀、枪击和炸弹袭击。
但尽管他们是长期宿敌，有些人认为基纳汉不会因为来自那方面的报复而失眠。
一名与基纳汉家族有联系的消息人士告诉《每日邮报》：“[基纳汉]卡特尔基本上控制了爱尔兰的大部分监狱系统，因此当丹尼尔结束隔离后，任何针对他的威胁都将是微不足道的。”
“我知道该卡特尔完全不担心哈奇阵营可能在想什么。他们现在被认为已经完蛋了。”
但其他人可能并不这么认为，基纳汉本人也表达了担心自己成为目标的恐惧。
在被关押于迪拜臭名昭著的阿尔阿维尔中央监狱（被称为“迪拜的阿尔卡特拉斯”，其环境曾受到前囚犯和人权组织的批评）期间，他能够给一名播客主持人打电话，讨论他即将返回爱尔兰的事宜。
讨论的话题涵盖了他最喜欢的零食，以及关于他所面临威胁的隐晦评论。“如果我恰好摔倒，或者在戴着手铐时低下了头，那不是摔倒，”他说。
“如果我最后被发现是上吊、自杀或中毒，那都不是真实发生的。我没有自杀倾向。”
正如研究犯罪的智库 World Of Crime 的一名主管克里斯·达尔比（Chris Dalby）所言，
提供导致基纳汉被捕信息的奖励金为500万美元，并可能在爱尔兰审判结束后对他进行采访。
情报来源称，他拥有关于利用所谓的“影子舰队”船舶向中国和印度出口伊朗和俄罗斯原油的详细信息，以及据称伊朗用于资助真主党和哈马斯的秘密金融网络。
“很多人可能会对他可能揭露的内容感到紧张，”达尔比先生说。“所以如果爱尔兰政府进行了风险评估，并认为‘很多人将从这个人的死亡中获益’，我不会感到惊讶。”
通过将他安置在波特莱斯监狱的A区（一个“监狱中的监狱”），当局希望能够掌控每一天、每一秒的情况。
按照标准流程，基纳汉在抵达时被列入自杀监视名单，并在监禁的前两周内每15分钟接受一次检查。
他将被允许穿着自己的衣服——由亲友递交，然后由监狱工作人员仔细检查。
他的绝大部分时间将在牢房中度过。监狱警员
“担心他可能透露的信息”
将在上午 8am 提供早餐，中午 12.30pm 提供午餐，下午 4.30pm 提供晚餐。
他的饮食将像任何囚犯一样单调且重复——早餐是谷物片，午餐是“肉类加两种蔬菜”，晚餐则是香肠和焗豆。
额外的零食，如薯片或糖果，可以从监狱的小卖部购买。
他在牢房内的娱乐活动可能包括来自监狱图书馆的书籍、一台电视以及部分流媒体服务的访问权限。
在锻炼方面，基纳汉（Kinahan）将在押送下前往一个配备了自由重量训练器材和跑步机的小型健身房。
监区内的户外锻炼区域覆盖有金属网，以防止无人机投递违禁品。
与面对面访客（如其法律团队成员）的交流将通过玻璃隔板进行。
一名监狱服务部门的消息人士告诉《每日邮报》：“波特莱斯（Portlaoise）是爱尔兰当局能够提供的控制程度最高的环境，而这正是他被安置在那里的原因。”
“监狱内部的危险在于，不一定需要竞争对手帮派的高层人物才能接近他。”
“可能会有另一名持有不满情绪、具有某种忠诚度或关联关系的囚犯准备发动袭击。”
“这意味着监狱服务部门必须极其小心地决定谁被安置在他附近，他与谁一起锻炼，他与谁交往，以及他在监狱内转移时会遇到谁。”
“他可能并不一定在一天中的每一分钟都处于完全隔离状态，但任何被允许与他交往的人，可能都经过了安全视角的考量。”
A 区的囚犯包括安迪·卡什（Andy Cash），他在 2022 年于都柏林谋杀了他的年幼弟妹——18 岁的莉莎·卡什（Liza Cash）以及 8 岁的双胞胎克里斯蒂·考利（Christy Cawley）和切尔西·考利（Chelsea Cawley）。
此外还有内森·麦克唐纳（Nathan McDonnell），他因参与一项阴谋而被监禁
MUSIC2YOU 荣幸呈献
这个新合集包含 66 首 60 和 70 年代最热门的金曲，以格伦·坎贝尔（Glen Campbell）备受赞誉的热门歌曲《Wichita Lineman》开篇，以及来自芝加哥乐队（Chicago）、沃克兄弟（The Walker Brothers）和鲍比·根特里（Bobbie Gentry）的榜单冠军歌曲。我们有哈里·尼尔森（Harry Nilsson）的《Everybody's Talkin》，卡普顿与特尼尔（Captain & Tennille）的《Love Will Keep Us Together》，以及一些进入录音室的最出色的女声，包括达斯蒂·斯普林菲尔德（Dusty Springfield）、雪莉·巴塞利（Shirley Bassey）、妈妈卡斯（Mama Cass）和迪翁·沃里克（Dionne Warwick）。光盘 2 以 The Commodores 乐队的《Easy》开始。
- 1 Glen Campbell - Wichita Lineman
- 2 Harry Nilsson - Everybody's Talkin
- 3 Bread - Make It with You
- 4 Chicago - If You Leave Me Now
- 5 Disc - The Things We Do for Love
- 6 Alessi Brothers - Oh Lori
- 7 Andrew Gold - Never Let Her Slip Away
- 8 Captain & Tennille - Love Will Keep Us Together
- 9 Helen Reddy - Angie Baby
- 10 Dusty Springfield - The Windmills of Your Mind
- 11 Judy Collins - Send in the Clowns
- 12 Rita Coolidge - We're All Alone
- 13 Elke Brooks - Don't Cry Out Lead
- 14 Gladys Knight & The Pigs - Try to Remember/The Way We Were
- 15 Shirley Bassey - Something
- 16 Andy Williams - Where Do I Begin/Love Story
- 17 Mama Cass - Dream a Little Dream of Me
-
18 The Walker Brothers - Make It Easy on Yourself
-
19 Jackie DeShannen - What the World Needs Now Is Love
- 20 Bobbie Gentry - I'll Never Fall in Love Again
- 21 Dionne Warwick - The Girl's in Love with You
- 22 Acker Bills - Stranger on the Shore
- 23 光盘 2 以 The Commodores 的《Easy》开始
- 24 Conmodores - Easy
- 25 Rose Royce - Love Don't Live Here Anymore
- 26 The Three Degrees - Woman in Love
- 27 Aretha Franklin - Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)
- 28 Cilla Black - Anyone Who Had a Heart
- 29 Lesley Gore - Misty
- 30 Engelbert Humperdinck - The Last Waltz
- 31 All Marches - Spanish Eyes
- 32 Matt Moore - Born Free
- 33 Tony Bennett - The Good Life
- 34 Jack Jones - Wives and Lovers
- 35 The Johnny Mann Singers - Up Up and Away
以及来自 Rose Royce 的《Love Don't Live Here Anymore》，还有来自 Three Degrees、The New Seekers、艾瑞莎·富兰克林（Aretha Franklin）、西拉·布莱克（Cilla Black）和马特·摩尔（Matt Moore）的热门歌曲，外加托尼·班尼特（Tony Bennett）演唱的《The Good Life》。光盘 3 以《A Summer Place》的主题曲开始，随后是克里斯托·盖尔（Crystal Gayle）、巴里·马尼洛（Barry Manilow）和汤姆·琼斯（Tom Jones）的热门歌曲，以及德米斯·鲁索斯（Demis Roussos）的冠军单曲《Forever and Ever》，还有来自布鲁克·本顿（Brook Benton）和丹尼·威廉姆斯（Danny Williams）的灵魂乐情歌……以及由查尔斯·阿兹纳夫尔（Charles Aznavour）演绎的真正震撼的《She》。
- 13 Christie - Yellow River
- 14 The New Seekers - I'd Like to Touch the World to Sing (In Part of Harmony)
- 15 Dawn & Tony Orlando - I'm a Yellow Ribbon Round the Old Oak Tree
- 16 Carole Bayar-Sagar - You're Moving out Today
- 17 Peter Shelley - Love Me, Love My Dog
- 18 Dana - Please Tell Him That I Said Hello
- 19 Jacky - White Horses
- 20 Sammy Davis Jr. - The Candy Man
- 21 George Baker Selection - Paloma Blanca
- 22 Scott Fitzgerald & Yvonne Keely - If I Had About.
- 23 光盘 2 以 The Commodores 的《Easy》开始
- 24 Pony Faith & His Orchestra - Theme from 'A Summer Place'
- 25 Bobby Goldshorn - Honey
- 26 Charlie Rich - The Most Beautiful Girl
- 27 Crystal Gayle - Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue
-
28 Eric Carmen - All By Myself
-
29 Barry Manilow - Tryin' to Get the Feeling Again
- 30 Tom Jones - She's A Lady
- 31 Demis Roussos - Forever & Ever
- 32 Ben E. King - Spanish Harlem
- 33 Johnny Mathis & Ray Connell & His Orchestra & Chorus - Wonderful Wonderful
- 34 Doris Day - Move Over Darling
- 35 Kitty Lester - Love Letters
- 36 Mary Mason - Angel of the Morning/Any Way That You Want Me
- 37 Liverpool Copress - Every Man Must Have A Dream
- 38 Neil Sedake - Laughter in the Rain
- 39 Frankie Valli - My Eyes Altered You
- 40 George Benton - The Greatest Love of All
- 41 Brook Benton - Many Night in Georgia
- 42 Danny Williams - Moon River
- 43 Perry Como - And I Love You So
- 44 Charles Aznavour - The/You Les Ginges De L'amour
- 45 James Galway - Annie's Song
读者可以通过访问 music2you.co.uk / easy 订购这套精彩的 66 首曲目三碟套装，价格仅为 £9.99（含邮费），无论是自用还是作为礼物送给朋友或爱人都非常合适。如需查看我们所有热门 CD、DVD、有声书和书籍的完整系列，请访问 music2you.co.uk
MUSIC2YOU
立即购买：music2you.co.uk / easy
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深入爱尔兰最严苛监狱的 A4 区域：狱警竭力阻止涉嫌毒品头目丹尼尔·基纳汉（Daniel Kinahan）与其朋友或敌人的接触
正义之约：据信载有基纳汉的车辆抵达法院
他曾为一家与墨西哥锡那罗亚卡特尔（Sinaloa cartel）——全球最大且最危险的毒品组织之一——有联系的爱尔兰帮派，在其园艺中心存放价值 £2700万 的冰毒。
麦克唐纳（McDonnell）此前没有犯罪记录，被判处 12 年监禁，在一部关于一名受人尊敬的化学教师转变为毒品制造商的热门电视剧播出后，他被冠以“《绝命毒师》商人”之名。
该监狱目前已关押基纳汉的高级心腹肖恩·麦戈文（Sean McGovern），40 岁，绰号“小刀”（Knife）。他去年从迪拜被引渡回国，并于 6 月因指挥犯罪组织活动被判处 24 年监禁——这与他前老板面临的指控相同。两人将被分开关押，至少在最初阶段如此。
监狱当局面临的另一个担忧是，基纳汉即使在狱中仍能继续施加影响。
正如道尔比（Dalby）先生观察到的：“他的性格中没有任何迹象表明他会，你知道，在监狱里退休。显然，还剩下一个组织需要有人来管理。”
被羁押：丹尼尔·基纳汉被指控指挥犯罪组织活动
图片：路透社 / PA 档案
尽管安装了防无人机网，但去年有报道称，囚犯们仍然设法绕过了这些措施。
C 区的囚犯点燃了少量纸张，烟雾触发了监狱的通风系统启动。随后，一架载有违禁品的无人机通过一个外部开放的通风口飞入监狱。
震惊的监狱消息人士将其比作 Deliveroo——只不过配送的是毒品、武器和手机。非法物品被走私进监狱的另一个潜在途径是通过腐败员工。据了解，监狱警卫将采取轮岗制度作为安全预防措施，以尽量降低卡特尔关联人员针对他们或其家人的风险。
“像基纳汉这样在有组织犯罪中据称具有地位的人，有可能在监狱内部继续发挥影响力，因此当局也将密切关注他的通信情况，”该消息人士表示。
“电话、探视、书信以及与其他囚犯的接触不可避免地会受到相当程度的审查。”至于基纳汉的家人，丹尼尔可能会发现他的父亲克里斯蒂（Christy），69 岁，以及哥哥小克里斯蒂（Christy Jnr），45 岁，也将加入他的行列。
他们也必须担心被捕，尤其是家族家长克里斯蒂（父），他被称为“时髦教父”（Dapper Don），其迪拜居留签证已于 4 月到期，这使他在其他通缉他进一步犯罪的国家容易被驱逐和逮捕。
20 世纪 90 年代末，克里斯蒂在兑现了
最高安全级别：他被关押的波特莱斯监狱（Portlaoise Prison）
一批在武装抢劫中被盗的旅行支票后，被判处四年监禁。
他在波特莱斯监狱服刑，利用狱中时间攻读学位并学习西班牙语和荷兰语。
上周末在出庭时，丹尼尔·基纳汉被指控在 2015 年至 2017 年期间指挥犯罪组织活动，并承认自己短期内无法离开。
他被告知只能通过高等法院申请保释。他回答主审法官帕特里克·麦格拉思（Patrick McGrath）大法官说：“我想我们都知道我不会获得保释，但非常感谢您向我解释这一点。”
在他早前的一次监狱播客聊天中，他进一步表示，告诉采访者他成了“替罪羊”，并补充道：“我认为我已经注定要终身监禁了。”
如果他的预言成真，那么在未来的几十年里，波特莱斯监狱的新成员将对监狱的日常流程——以及没完没了的香肠豆汤——变得过于熟悉。
当然，还有始终存在的暴力袭击威胁。
--。
如何活到110岁？美食、新鲜空气，当然还有《每日邮报》！
作者：安迪·多兰 (Andy Dolan)
110岁的凯瑟琳·赫奇斯 (Catherine Hedges) 出生于泰坦尼克号沉没四年后，她将自己的长寿归功于美食、充足的新鲜空气——以及每天必读的《每日邮报》。
这位早已退休的地方政府工作人员自1944年从爱尔兰移居英国以来就一直在阅读《每日邮报》，当时英国仍处于战争状态。
上个月，赫奇斯太太在汉普郡的护理院举办了一场花园派对，庆祝她迎来最新的里程碑——这使她成为了全球估计仅有的300名110岁或以上的人之一，即一名“超级百岁老人”。
她接待了市长的到访，欣赏了一名歌手的表演，并收到了国王寄来的第四张生日贺卡。
那天，就像大多数下午一样，赫奇斯太太还抽出时间阅读她最喜爱的报纸。这位寡妇表示，阅读《每日邮报》不仅帮助她了解国家和全球事务，还能保持大脑活跃。
她说：“自从我28岁移居英国以来，我就一直在阅读《每日邮报》。我只读过《每日邮报》。我喜欢阅读”
超级百岁老人：凯瑟琳·赫奇斯自1944年起每天阅读《每日邮报》
“这份报纸，因为它让我能及时了解世界上发生的事情，无论好坏，而且我喜欢体育版面——尤其是赛马。”
赫奇斯太太于1916年7月8日出生在爱尔兰利默里克郡，1944年移居雷丁以“看看世界”，因为非常喜欢那里，她决定留下来。
在那里，她遇到了她的丈夫莱斯利·威廉·赫奇斯 (Leslie William Hedges)，他是一名货运运输经理。在转职到地方政府之前，她曾在财务部门担任簿记员。
没有孩子的赫奇斯太太在16年前失去了丈夫。她搬到汉普郡是为了离侄女更近一些，已经在钱德勒斯福德 (Chandler's Ford) 的查洛纳之家 (Challoner House) 护理院生活了16个月。
赫奇斯太太通常在享受一个悠闲的早晨后，“坐在阳光下”阅读她的《每日邮报》。她说她喜欢“美味的家常”食物，并补充道：“我一直很活跃，热爱在新鲜空气中户外活动。”
护理院经理莎拉·海曼 (Sarah Hayman) 表示：“看到凯瑟琳坐在我们美丽花园里她最喜欢的位置阅读报纸，真是件令人愉快的事。”目前世界上最年长的人是住在萨里郡的116岁埃塞尔·卡特汉姆 (Ethel Caterham)。
KUROSU
| | | | | |
O O / X | | | | | O | O
今日难度评级 ★★★
每天在《每日邮报》中，你都可以玩 Kurosu，这是自数独以来最令人上瘾的益智游戏。规则有两条：
1：在每个空格中填入圆圈 (O) 或叉号 (X)，使得任何行或列中都没有超过两个连续的圆圈或叉号。重要提示：对角线不计入其中。 2：每行和每列必须包含三个圆圈和三个叉号。
答案见第88页
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奖杯：多洛雷斯庆祝她的儿子赢得意大利冠军
罗纳尔多之母未被邀请参加其秘密婚礼
她曾打两份工，以便儿子能买到像样的足球鞋，并在他的整个职业生涯中始终陪伴在他身边。
但本周，当克里斯蒂亚诺·罗纳尔多与长期伴侣乔治娜·罗德里格斯结婚时，他的母亲却明显缺席。
这位前曼联和皇家马德里球星的家人都没有被邀请参加庆祝活动，这引发了关于两人关系破裂的猜测。
更令人心寒的是，罗纳尔多，41, 显然在仪式开始前仅“30 秒”才告知他们。
周二，这对夫妇在里斯本附近价值 £3000 万 的新豪宅中结为夫妻，现场仅有四名证人和他们的孩子。
罗纳尔多的母亲多洛雷斯·阿韦罗，71, 以及他的三个兄弟姐妹雨果、埃尔玛和卡蒂亚，都没有出席这场民事仪式。
据当地一份报道称，他的家人在罗纳尔多与他 32 岁的阿根廷女友结婚前的一瞬间才得知此事。
《新闻报》（Jornal de Noticias）在周四晚间公布了
作者：Gerard Couzens
这对夫妇结婚证的副本。报道称，唯一的证人是乔治娜的妹妹伊万娜、罗纳尔多的多年好友米格尔·派尚以及一对西班牙夫妇。
葡萄牙电视节目主持人、早间谈话节目 Dois at 10, 的主持人克里斯蒂娜·费雷拉表示：“这将
“母亲是家庭的支柱”
会导致很多问题，因为家人不在场。
“他们甚至不应该知道。或者即使他们知道了，也是在之前 30 秒才知道的。”
多年来，多洛雷斯一直不得不否认她与儿媳关系不睦的传闻，她对这段结合表示祝福。在这对夫妇宣布结婚后不久，她在罗纳尔多官方社交媒体上发布了一个心形表情符号，
以及一张他们戒指的照片。罗纳尔多的妹妹卡蒂亚虽然定居巴西，但周末回到了她的故乡马德拉，她也做了同样的操作。
这位足球运动员的父亲在与酗酒作斗争后于 2005 年去世。他经常谈到母亲为了让他能在 12 岁时从马德拉搬到里斯本追求足球梦想而做出的牺牲。
2019 年，他告诉皮尔斯·摩根：“我的母亲一直是家庭的支柱，我今天所拥有的一切，很大一部分归功于她。”他还提到他当时的女友：“我们总有一天会[结婚]的，肯定会。这也是我母亲的梦想。”
罗纳尔多的团队本周确认，这位足球运动员及其伴侣于 8 月 11 日在卡斯凯什举行了一场“私密”仪式结婚。此前有猜测称，他们原定于周六在罗纳尔多故乡马德拉岛的丰沙尔大教堂结婚。
这对夫妇已回到沙特阿拉伯，他所属的利雅得胜利队今晚将进行本赛季的首场比赛。
熊在巴西嘲讽英国警方后被判入狱
《每日邮报》记者
名声扫地的真人秀明星斯蒂芬·熊（Stephen Bear）因违反性犯罪者要求再次被判入狱——并且他在巴西嘲讽警方，称他们“抓不到他”。
36 岁的熊是 2018 年《名人老大哥》的冠军，在承认五项未能遵守性犯罪者登记通知要求后，于昨日被判处 24 周监禁。
他在 2023 年因在自己的 Only-Fans 网站上分享前女友、电视名人乔治亚·哈里森（Georgia Harrison）的私人性爱录像而被判入狱，随后被列入登记册。
去年这次未经授权的旅行是在熊在巴西的一个海滩上发布了一系列社交媒体帖子后被发现的。他没有向警方告知此次行程，随后在返回英国后三天内也未能告知警员。
在上周承认违反禁制令（该禁制令禁止他在网上发布关于哈里森女士的内容）后，他已经在执行 16 个月的监禁。
杀妻凶手必须继续服刑
一名谋杀分居妻子并隐藏其尸体的男子将在法官认定其仍对公众构成威胁后继续留在监狱中。
格林·拉泽尔（Glyn Razzell），66岁，因谋杀琳达·拉泽尔（Linda Razzell）于2003年被判终身监禁，最低刑期近35年。琳达的尸体至今未被找到。
他原定将获假释，但伦敦高等法院昨日推翻了假释委员会释放他的决定。
拉泽尔夫人的女儿凯瑟琳表示，她对父亲将继续留在监狱中感到宽慰。
身为四个孩子母亲的琳达·拉泽尔于2002年3月在前往威尔特郡斯温登学院上班的途中失踪。
假释委员会从2019年起曾三次裁定拉泽尔应继续服刑，但在4月份决定他可以获假释。
在昨日的一项裁决中，奇马-格鲁布（Cheema-Grubb）法官表示，她不认为风险已降低到“如果被告被释放，公众将是安全的”这一水平。
作者：Xantha Leatham 科学编辑
忘掉伴侣治疗或宏大的浪漫举动吧——科学家表示，婚姻成功的秘诀可能是共同健身。
研究人员发现，与配偶一起锻炼与更好的沟通、更强的冲突解决能力以及较低的婚姻压力水平相关。
他们分析了近1,700对年轻夫妇的调查数据，比较了个人锻炼和共同锻炼对他们关系的影响。
结果显示，虽然两种形式的锻炼都与更健康的婚姻相关，但共同健身的夫妇拥有更积极的伴侣关系。
美国犹他州杨百翰大学家庭生活学院教授杰里米·约加森（Jeremy Yorgason）表示：“我们的研究结果表明，共同锻炼在小但显著的程度上促进了和平解决冲突的能力。”
人们报告称，当他们
我们可以解决它……夫妇通过共同锻炼“增强关系”
共同锻炼时，在沟通和冲突解决方面取得了更积极的结果。这项发表在《家庭关系》（Family Relations）杂志上的研究显示，实际上只有少数夫妇以团队形式锻炼。
约60%的丈夫和妻子表示他们定期锻炼，但只有约三分之一的人共同锻炼。
研究发现，徒步旅行是最佳的共同锻炼方式，因为它创造了最多的交谈机会。而步行实际上是研究中夫妇之间最常报告的共同锻炼类型——这表明他们不需要昂贵的健身房会员资格或车库里复杂的举重架，就能获得潜在的关系益处。
研究还发现，共同锻炼的已婚夫妇报告了更好的倾听技巧，以及更强烈的被配偶倾听和支持的感觉。
共同作者艾什琳·海特·米尔登霍尔（Ashlyn Hiatt Mildenhall）表示：“在所有三项结果中，锻炼对沟通的影响最大。”
她补充道：“这就是为什么步行被报告为第一位锻炼方式而令人感兴趣的原因。它自然地提供了沟通的机会。”
女演员露西·戴维斯（Lucy Davis）本周在 Instagram 上发布的一段简短视频中，有一种极其悲伤且——以其自身令人心碎的方式——令人振奋的东西。她身材娇小，金发，对于电视观众来说非常熟悉，因为她在《办公室》（The Office）中饰演的前台道恩·廷斯利（Dawn Tinsley），在荧幕内外赢得了人们的喜爱。此时的露西站在一个医院病房的接待区，敲响了那个已成为癌症治疗结束传统标志的铃铛。
在跨越30多年的职业生涯中，她背诵过无数台词，但阅读手中卡片上印着的简短文字一定是非常艰难的。
“敲响这口钟三次。这是一个清晰的信号，表明我的治疗已经结束，疗程已完成，我正在康复之路上。”在一次
作者：Beth Hale 和 Caroline Graham，发自洛杉矶
随着铃铛响起一声清脆的鸣响，她对着那响亮的叮当声做了一个滑稽的鬼脸，在看不见的医护人员的欢呼和掌声中，她微笑着举起双手向他们回礼。
这一刻充分展现了这位非常接地气的明星的特质，她长期以来一直坚称，就像她的父亲——喜剧演员贾斯珀·卡罗特（Jasper Carrott）一样，她“不喜欢把危机戏剧化”。
因为任何看过那篇帖子的人都会知道，53岁的露西（Lucy）并非在痊愈后走出病房。虽然敲响铃铛在传统上与患者完成治疗并获得积极结果相关联，但情况并非总是如此。
正如她在 Instagram 上向 633,000 名粉丝（这一数字在本周激增）透露的那样，露西患有“不可治愈”的四期乳腺癌，且已扩散至骨骼，包括她的脊柱、髋部和肋骨。
她说，现在进行化疗已经太晚了。她个人——且极其私密的——斗争在过去的 18 个月里一直秘密进行。一位认识这位出生于伯明翰的女演员十多年的朋友告诉《每日邮报》：“这个消息像一颗炸弹一样冲击着每个人。所有人都处于震惊状态。”
“她对所有朋友都保密。在过去几个月里见过她的人完全不知道她正在经历这场健康危机。每个人都爱露西。你找不到一个人会对她有任何负面评价。”
“她是心地最善良、最甜美的人。她热爱生活，而且幽默得令人捧腹。当你和她一起出去时，你永远不会停止大笑。”
迪士尼工作室的一位高级主管也表达了同样的看法，他告诉我们：“本周的震惊感是显而易见的。没有人知道她生病了，更不用说病得这么严重了。在好莱坞，能让每个人都喜爱的人并不多——你可以想象，这很罕见。但她是其中之一。”
这种人格特质在她帖子中那些令人心碎的文字中闪光，她写道：“从现在起，我正努力以尽可能有趣的方式度过我生命中可能剩下的任何时光。我总是喜欢在发生的任何负面事情中寻找可以学习的时刻。而癌症在这方面没有让我失望——我从中学到了很多，对此我心存感激。”
“我不害怕接下来的任何事情。我对此感到平静。我会比预期更早地见到我的格雷西（Gracie，她心爱的可卡西班牙猎犬，于 2024 年去世），对我来说，离开肉体仅仅意味着回家。任何形式的悲痛都是为了我的家人——这对他们来说比对我来说要困难得多。”
与此同时，这位此前也曾面临过健康危机（尤其是近 30 年前需要进行肾移植）的女演员坚持认为，她不会停止在动物权利方面的努力，也不会停止演戏，因为演戏是“我生命中最大的快乐之一”。
她的文字坦诚、真挚且带着一丝不屈，令粉丝们震惊，并立即引发了汹涌的爱意与支持。
几十年来，她一直深受喜爱：在《第四电台：阿彻斯》（Radio 4's The Archers）中饰演海莉·塔克（Hayley Tucker）；在《办公室》（The Office）中用那个幸福结局融化了数百万人的心；还在 Netflix 热播剧《萨布丽娜的惊悚冒险》（Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina）中吸引了观众。
《每日邮报》获悉，她一直在向那些联系她的人发送安慰信息。正如那位朋友所说：“她给朋友们发送甜蜜的信息，告诉他们对自己有多重要。她是我们所有人的好朋友，在危机时刻总是第一个出现，所以每个人都为她独自经历这场磨难而感到难过。”
如果需要证据来证明露西是多么令人心生好感的体贴，只需看看她在 Instagram 上对发私信者的个人回复即可。对于一名患有转移性乳腺癌（已扩散至肺部）并为癌症慈善机构筹款的女性，她回复道：“你所做的事情和你的坚强精神太棒了！爱你。”
对那位在发现肿块后等待首次就诊、内心焦虑的年轻女性：“在想你。希望一切顺利，我的朋友。”
对那位回忆起被诊断出膀胱
“好莱坞没有多少人能让每个人都喜爱，但露西就是其中之一”
癌症：‘我很遗憾你经历了这些。我理解你的恐惧。给你我的爱。’
如此往复，数百条回复，且不仅仅是发给那些有癌症经历的人。一位祝福者提到他‘不是你的名人追随者之一’，他只是‘一个普通家伙’。得到的回复是：‘无论名人与否，我们都一样，共同面对！谢谢你的暖心话语。’
她说，自从发现‘并非严格意义上的肿块，而是一种硬块’以来，她一直在探索所有可能的方案。
正如她向一位追随者解释的那样：‘我已经尝试过替代疗法，但简而言之，它们没有效果。我现在处于考虑生活质量而非生活长度，并充分利用每一天的阶段。’
正如露西自己承认的那样，这对她远在英国的家人来说一定非常艰难。
她 20 多年前搬到了洛杉矶，居住在一个富裕的住宅区，那里也是尼古拉斯·凯奇、卡梅隆·迪亚兹和本·斯蒂勒等一线明星的家。
父亲贾斯珀本周发表了自己的声明，谈到了他的自豪，以及希望女儿的未来能‘如她所愿’。他说：‘她在面对诸多创伤性健康问题时表现出的态度，给我们所有人上了一课。’
对于露西来说，她是四个孩子中的长女，在伯明翰郊区随父亲贾斯珀（原名罗伯特·戴维斯）和母亲海兹尔长大，她此前已经历过重重磨难。
1993 年，她年仅 20 岁，在为出演 BBC 制作的《傲慢与偏见》中玛丽亚·卢卡斯一角而进行常规体检时，检查结果显示她的肾脏有问题。
用她的原话来说，她被告知‘需要移植，余生都要服药，而且这个肾脏可能撑不过 7 年左右’。
她的反应是？‘我下定决心继续我的生活。’
当时她在捐献移植的候补名单上，随后她的健康状况恶化，四年后她的母亲成为活体捐献者——露西称这份礼物是‘最美好的事情’。但随后，在移植恢复期间，她患上了糖尿病。这一次，露西的态度与现在非常相似。
她是英国糖尿病协会（Diabetes UK）的支持者，并告诉该慈善机构：‘我认识一些让生活中的困难定义自己的人。他们会问，“为什么是我？”但我必须告诉自己，“为什么不能是我？”’
‘许多人每天的生活中都要应对艰巨的挑战，我们很幸运，能够使用许多年前其他人无法获得的药物和技术。’
她后来又遇到了进一步的健康问题，2005 年因另一次肾脏问题被紧急送往医院。
然后是她与贪食症的斗争——对此她同样非常坦率，描述了她如何暴饮暴食然后催吐，节食一周，然后‘在一天之内吃掉前七天没吃的所有食物’。
她后来表示：‘我意识到，所有的饮食失调本质上并不是关于你的外貌。’
这种持续的打击在 2011 年左右达到顶峰，当时她与演员同事欧文·约曼五年之久的婚姻走到了尽头。
威尔士人约曼在美剧《精神侦探》中成名，他与露西在洛杉矶的一家酒吧相识，在一段旋风般的浪漫恋情后，于 2006 年在圣保罗大教堂结婚（得益于她父亲的 OBE 勋衔）。但这段浪漫关系逐渐冷却，两人于 2011 年离婚，理由是不可调和的分歧。
她从未公开评论过分开的原因。‘就是没能走下去，但生活就是这样！’是她一贯乐观的回答。
当被问及是否还会再次结婚时，她说：‘我怎么会不想再次坠入爱河呢？总有一天会发生的。’
她与兄弟姐妹的关系也非常亲密——姐姐汉娜曾是一名女警和创伤治疗师，姐姐珍妮曾担任萨满从业者，弟弟杰克是一名私人教练，多年来一直住在洛杉矶仅四个街区之遥的地方。
到2017年，露西在电影《神奇女侠》中饰演艾塔·坎迪（Etta Candy）登上了大银幕，随后又出演了四季的《萨布丽娜的惊悚冒险》。尽管如此，她与家人的纽带依然深厚。去年这个时候（确诊后），她与姐姐珍妮及其丈夫伊恩在墨西哥度过了一个“神奇”的两周假期。
汉娜本周在LinkedIn和Instagram上表达了她对妹妹的自豪之情。“作为家人，我们已经知道这个令人心碎的消息一段时间了，”她写道，“但她希望尽可能长时间地对此保密，当然，在过去的18个月里，我们尊重了她的意愿。”
“露西希望我们尽可能像往常一样生活，并在Whenever we can（只要有机会）就一起度过快乐和愉快的时光。”
“露西绝对懂得如何开玩笑、搞怪、损人，并且在面对最艰巨的挑战时表现得极其勇敢。作为家人，我们以前经历过这种情况，以后也会再次面对。她激励着每一个接触到她的人，我非常自豪她是我的妹妹。”
至于露西，她非常谨慎地将自己的病情描述为“不可治愈”而非“末期”。“我可能在未来的很多年里还会继续让你们觉得我很无聊！”她打趣道。
周四，她再次出现在Instagram上，感谢所有人的支持，并上传了一段她在学习滑板时大笑不止的视频来活跃气氛。
“对于那几个稍微误读了新闻并评论‘愿逝者安息’（B.I.P.）的人，你们会很高兴地知道我还活着——万岁！”她打趣道。
本周，她因坦诚面对病情而赢得了广泛赞誉——包括来自悲伤辅导员、癌症慈善机构负责人以及粉丝们的称赞。
正如她曾经说过的那样：“每个人的生活中都会出现许多考验我们的事情。让我们脱颖而出的，是我们如何应对这些事情。”
VI
亲爱的贝尔（DEAR BEL），
如果我的女朋友知道我在给你写这封信，她可能会笑话我。
我们在一起快九年了。我们学生时代相识，五年前在利兹市外买了一套房子。我们都有不错的工作，只要没有东西坏掉，每年勉强能负担得起一次度假，而且我们的家人也都相处融洽。我们的生活很美好。
但最近，似乎每个人都决定现在是采取下一步行动的时候了。每次家庭聚会结束时，总有人问我们什么时候要孩子，甚至公司里的伙计们也开始说，我将是下一个在公园里推婴儿车的男人。
我一直以为我会对此充满期待。我从来不是那种说孩子不适合自己的男人。我的姐姐有两个女儿，我很喜欢和她们在一起。当我看到我朋友的小儿子在公园里跑来跑去喊“爸爸！”时，我会露出温柔的微笑。
那么，为什么每次有人问到轮到我们的时候，我都会感到反胃？
我们很好，不吵架——我们太擅长顺从生活了。我们都努力工作，疲惫地回家，在电视机前吃饭，第二天再次开始同样的循环。
周末在超市购物、修剪草坪、拜访家人和朋友中消失。但在某个时刻，我们不再对见到彼此感到兴奋。我甚至不知道这是什么时候发生的。
几周前，我们走在一家购物中心里，她在一家婴儿用品店前停了下来。她指着一辆婴儿车，开始谈论我们需要一辆更大的车。她看起来很开心。
当我把她留在一个朋友身边，回到我的面包车时，我只是坐在那里盯着挡风玻璃看了十分钟。
事实是，我不知道我是害怕成为一名父亲，还是害怕我们的生活死循环会变得更深。她是不是正确的人选？
这听起来很刻薄，因为她绝对没有任何做错的地方。她善良、忠诚，会成为一名出色的母亲。问题一定在我身上。
我们生活得很舒适——但一旦有了孩子，如果你之前忽略了自己的疑虑，就没有简单的回头路了。
她值得得到诚实，而不是因为我突然开始质疑我们生活的方方面面，而让她九年的生活被彻底颠覆。
这是在巨大的生活变故前常见的紧张情绪，还是那种人们在多年后会后悔忽略的疑虑？
达伦（DARREN）
我不确定我是否会将“普通的”这个形容词赋予任何真挚的人类情感。即使字典告诉我们这个词的意思是“在任何方面都没有不同或出乎意料；通常的”，但我认为即使是常见的人类情感，其体验也是独特的，对于那些深夜失眠、苦思冥想该怎么办的人来说，往往会产生毁灭性的后果。
这让人想起列夫·托尔斯泰 1878 年的小说《安娜·卡列尼娜》中著名的开篇之句：“幸福的家庭都是相似的，不幸的家庭则各有各的不幸。”
如果你知道我在面对自己的第一次怀孕时也充满了恐惧和阴郁，你会感到惊讶吗？
在 26, 岁时，我不希望我的享乐自由消失，因为我知道它必然会消失。两个嫂子 / 弟媳生了孩子，所以我感觉自己被困在了一条通往乏味的体面生活的传送带上。
然后……我爱上了那个啼哭的小包裹，从此再未回头。婴儿车和尿布变得迷人，这种感觉是我永远无法预料的。是的，这很累——但最重要的是，这令人兴奋。
我分享这个故事是为了让你放心，无数的男性和女性都曾有过和你一样的恐惧。所以请不要说“这
随《周日邮报》（The Mail on Sunday）附赠
在 SPORTS DIRECT 消费满 £50 或以上可减 £10
仅限店内。适用条款，详见《周日邮报》（The Mail on Sunday）。
VI
MOONEY
WWW.BELMOONEY.CO.UK
死后的第一天，新的缺失 总是如此；我们应当小心 对待彼此，我们应当善良 趁现在还来得及。
摘自《割草者》（The Mower），作者菲利普·拉金（Philip Larkin，英国诗人，1922-1985）
我对成为父亲的恐惧是正常的紧张，还是一个警钟？
问题一定出在我身上”，因为不是你。想到改变时，你会感到完全正常的、作为人类的惶恐。临阵退缩是人类生存状态的一部分。但你处理这件事的方式，对你和你的爱而言将是特别的。
说认真的，达伦，有人会期待在九年后再次见到伴侣时感到“兴奋”吗？我认为如果你们其中一人离开两周，重逢将会是
美妙的——看看电影《真爱至上》的结尾片段。如果对每一个平凡的日子都感到兴奋，那将是非常疲惫的。而且我警告你，当无聊的已婚人士开始外遇时，正是这种兴奋感吸引了他们——随后又将他们吞噬。不建议这样做。
阅读今天另一封来自“罗斯玛丽”的信（见下文），并誓言不要陷入比你描述的更深的泥潭。看在老天的份上，你还只有 30 多岁！这个阶段你应该在工作和操持家庭的同时，享受乐趣。
试着回想一段你们两人都愚蠢且轻率的时光，并尝试重温它来给她一个惊喜。也许可以缺席一次家庭聚会，改为做一些浪漫的事情。重新学习如何与彼此交流。
我告诉你——一件不寻常且令人兴奋的事情就是，带着两个最好的朋友偷偷溜到登记处
完婚。那会让所有人大吃一惊，不是吗？
下次当你们两位母亲唠叨起孩子时，问问她们是否准备好帮忙照顾孩子。带着灿烂的笑容说出这句话，让你掌握主导权。因为你才是主导者。你与一位优秀的女性共同创造了美好的生活，但我们都会改变——我希望在合适的时间，一个可爱的宝宝能成为你们生活中的锦上添花。
插画：NEIL WEBB
我们的新开始变成了僵局
亲爱的贝尔：
我们结婚很久了，有两个成年孩子。汤姆曾做过货车司机，后来做了出租车司机，大部分时间都在外奔波。我习惯了独立，实际上几乎是单枪匹马把孩子们抚养长大。
公平地说，汤姆在家的时候是一个好丈夫和好父亲。
孩子们离家后，我们搬到了另一个地区，因为汤姆第一段婚姻所生的儿子出现了，而我们两人合不来。汤姆不想搬家，但他说如果我们搬，他必须从中获得“一些好处”。
于是他开始打高尔夫球，每周至少去三次俱乐部。我们一周只有一天在一起（购物），以及大多数周六。这留下了两天的“空闲”时间用于房屋维护，或许还能出去逛一天。
我的婚姻变得枯燥乏味了。这次退休是为了他——而不是为了我们。看来直到搬家后，我才真正了解他。他偶尔会帮着做家务，也会给我买礼物。但礼物并不是一切。
我的老朋友们都在我们以前住的地方，孩子们也远在他乡。我试过和他沟通，但通常会导致争吵。我们不睡同一间卧室，几乎没有陪伴。我觉得自己因为对他儿子的态度而受到了惩罚。我有许多值得感激的事情，但我的生活不应该仅仅是在周一准备好饭菜并处理家务。
罗斯玛丽
你的来信会让许多已婚女性产生共鸣。大多数夫妇往往会变得枯燥，无论曾经之间闪现过怎样的火花，最终都被洗碗水和泪水熄灭了。
我不想听起来很愤世嫉俗，但在盎格鲁-撒克逊文学中，我们能找到一首名为《妻子的哀歌》的诗；而像《战争与和平》和《米德尔马契》这样伟大的作品（仅举两例），其核心都包含着关于婚姻的真理。
“时间的流逝可能会带来失望和悲伤，但考虑能做些什么仍然是有价值的。”
那么，让我们看看你信中的两句话：“这次退休是为了他——而不是为了我们”以及“我觉得自己因为对他儿子的态度而受到了惩罚”。
在这些字里行间，隐藏着误解和怨恨的暗示。
搬家完全是为了你，因为你和继子合不来——以至于你准备连根拔起地离开他。这很严重——尤其是当你丈夫不想搬家的时候。
所以，如果说退休是“为了他”（目前尚不清楚这具体意味着什么），那么搬家就是为了你。你说你“直到搬家后才真正了解他”，但你必须问问自己，你对他儿子的极端敌意是否与此有关。
看来这里可能有一个更深层的故事，而你将其掩盖了。你离开了家人和朋友，为了什么？不再有讨厌的继子，但取而代之的是一套高尔夫球杆。
我完全同情你对“更多”生活的渴望。与此同时，你也对生活中所有美好的事物表达了感谢。
所以现在，你必须利用这种积极心态来改变其余的部分。
首先，当你尝试与汤姆交谈时，请确保不要用指责性的“你”来开始任何句子（例如，“你似乎永远不理解……”），而要始终使用“我”或“我们”（例如，“汤姆，我感到有点累……”或者，“我们值得一个改变——所以让我们……”）。这有助于将抱怨转化为建议。
汤姆找到了他的高尔夫生活，因此你找到其他事情同样至关重要。你需要走出家门，结识新朋友。志愿者工作怎么样？不要说你没时间，因为你其实有。
当地有妇女协会（WI）小组吗？这是一个极好的组织，可以改变女性的生活，我强烈推荐。你是否可以在高尔夫俱乐部贴一张告示，建议举办一场“高尔夫遗孀”茶会？或许会收到欢迎的微笑。
你必须创造你想要的生活，并带着汤姆一起前行。下周，放下周一的家务，去弄弄头发吧。
最后
接纳“事实就是如此”的平静
如今，许多人都在写自助书籍，书中充满了所谓的民间智慧。
他们经常用甜美且响亮的词汇来表达那些显而易见的事理——书架和互联网上充斥着如此多的睿智，你可能会认为我们现在应该都像所罗门王一样精明。
这没什么不对——我支持任何有帮助的事物，这也是我写这个专栏的原因。
尽管如此，你仍会对那些伪装成智慧的陈词滥调感到厌倦。
我的女儿和丈夫经常使用一句流行语：“事实就是如此”（It is what it is）。这种口头上的耸肩意味着你必须接受那些你无法改变的事情。
这是悲哀的被动，还是强有力的现实主义？随你选择。
但我发现自己对这种被我定义为简单、现代且简洁的冷漠态度感到相当恼火。
错了！我发现这种措辞一点也不现代。在关于刺绣历史的书籍（由 Rozsika Parker 撰写的《颠覆性的针法》）中，我了解到 14 世纪的英格兰国王爱德华三世曾使用一句格言：“Sy hyj”（或“as hyj' hyj”）。
在 1342 年于康斯特布尔（Constable）举行的一场著名的比武大会上，他在华服上用珍珠和宝石绣上了这句话，甚至在他绿金相间的床幔上，这些闪闪发光的文字也伴他入眠。
你大概可以将这段中古英语翻译为：“事情便是如此。” 换句话说，接纳现状。
而且，这个想法甚至比中世纪还要古老。大约 2,200 年前，“如实”（Tathata）的概念作为一种正式的佛教哲学出现。粗略翻译，它的意思是“如是”或“如此”。
回想一下像“生活就是这样”（通常伴随着一声深沉的叹息）和“就这样吧”（无奈地耸肩）之类的表达，你就明白这个意思了。
当改变事情真正变得不可能时，还有什么选择？
基督教的祷告以“阿门”（amen）结尾——意思是“就让它这样吧”。
■ Bel 每周回答读者关于情感和关系问题的问题：请致信 Bel Mooney, Daily Mail, 9 Derry Street, London W8 5HY，或发送电子邮件至 bel.mooney@dailymail.co.uk。姓名已更改以保护隐私。Bel 会阅读所有信件，但遗憾地无法进行私人通信。
VI
为什么我认为这座迷人的北极岛屿可能是普京发动第三次世界大战的起点
在斯匹次卑尔根岛（Spitsbergen），北极熊多到法律规定离开城镇时必须携带枪支。
斯匹次卑尔根岛是斯瓦尔巴群岛中唯一有人居住的岛屿，属于挪威领土。
但在其首府朗伊尔年（Longyearbyen，人口 2,000）30 英里外，坐落着巴伦茨堡镇（Barentsburg），这里居住着一个俄罗斯矿工社区。
在那里，由莫斯科拥有的 Arktikugol 公司监管着一项散漫的煤矿开采行动。它生产的煤质量低劣，开采成本高昂，但这座矿山为克里姆林宫在西方主权领土内维持一个独特的立足点提供了极佳的借口。
在未来的几个月和几年里，我预测这个位于北极点以南 800 英里的偏僻北极露头，将在俄罗斯破坏北约联盟的计划中发挥关键作用。
斯匹次卑尔根岛可能是一个新兴的旅游目的地——它有自己的年度音乐节——但它也可能成为引发第三次世界大战的导火索。
将军，请冷静点，我听到你在这么说。但我们只需要回顾近期俄罗斯侵略的历史，就能看到这样的灾难是如何演变的。
在 2014 年吞并克里米亚以及八年后入侵乌克兰之前，弗拉基米尔·普京曾导演由雇佣兵和特种部队对生活在这些地区的俄罗斯人发起的袭击。随后他宣布，为了保护这些人，他别无选择，只能下令进行军事干预。
这正是他将用于夺取斯匹次卑尔根岛的那类理由。
作者：理查德·希雷夫爵士将军（General Sir Richard Shirreff）
谁预言了俄罗斯入侵乌克兰
卑尔根。他将声称俄罗斯矿工正遭到挪威邻居的攻击，需要保护。
为了让这个谎言更具可信度，并为其社交媒体水军提供素材以增强其虚假报告的可信度，他将确保这些矿工确实遭到攻击。
而在一个人人持有枪支的北极边境岛屿上，可能会有人被杀。
一次规模较小且经过充分演习的俄罗斯空降行动，涉及特种部队和海军力量，将在几小时内控制斯匹次卑尔根岛，并立即实施戒严。
那么问题来了——北约将如何应对？
北约与俄罗斯之间潜伏的冲突目前处于数十年来最不稳定的状态。上周，在德国莱比锡机场的一架货机附近发现了一架携带 Semtex 炸药的无人机，西方监视渠道警告称，俄罗斯正计划发起一系列攻击以测试北约的决心。
这与本月初美国情报网络向英国安全部门同行发出的警告相呼应，即波罗的海国家正面临威胁。
普京并非在虚张声势。在乌克兰战争持续四年多、国内不满情绪日益增长、陷入绝境的情况下，他正拼命寻找维持权力的方法。
与欧洲爆发全面战争将从两方面对他有所帮助——一是削弱我们支持乌克兰的决心，二是团结
这将是对北约决心的严峻考验
俄罗斯人民面对一个共同的敌人：北约。
波罗的海国家与俄罗斯及其附庸国白俄罗斯共有600英里的边界，因此感到紧张是可以理解的。
立陶宛国防部长罗伯塔斯·考纳斯（Robertas Kaunas）本周警告称，莫斯科正计划发动“假旗”袭击，以使乌克兰看起来像是在欧洲实施恐怖袭击。
他说：“我们掌握的数据显示，俄罗斯正考虑对波罗的海地区的关键基础设施发动非常规动力攻击。俄罗斯很可能会为此使用乌克兰制造的无人机。”
这与8月4日在莱比锡机场发生的事件相吻合：那架携带高能炸药的无人机看起来像是乌克兰的，但几乎可以肯定是由俄罗斯布置的。
一架装满弹药前往基辅的安东诺夫货机就停在附近，仅仅是因为那架破坏性无人机的一个引信故障，才避免了一场可能导致惨重人员伤亡的巨大爆炸。
与此同时，两名被认为受雇于俄罗斯的男子——22岁的乌克兰国民罗曼·拉夫里诺维奇（Roman Lavrynovych）和27岁的乌克兰裔罗马尼亚国民斯坦尼斯拉夫·卡皮乌克（Stanislav Carpiuc）——于6月因对与基尔·斯塔默爵士（Sir Keir Starmer）有关的一栋房屋和一辆汽车实施纵火袭击而被判刑，当时他担任首相。
上个月，在一次对乌克兰目标的轰炸中，一枚俄罗斯巡航导弹飞过了边界，坠落在波兰境内56英里处的一片田野中。
所有这些证明普京意图挑起与北约战争的证据，都得到了6月公布的卫星图像的支持，图像显示俄罗斯在其与西方接壤的五个战略点上正在加强军事部署。
在北极圈高处、距离战略要地摩尔曼斯克港西北方向110英里、距离挪威边界仅7英里的佩琴加（Petsjenga），大片森林正被砍伐以建设基地。
大约4,000名俄罗斯军队
冰冷的威胁：上方为斯匹次卑尔根岛，此处
已经驻扎在那里，但正在建设的新营房可容纳10,000人。
向南约375英里，在与芬兰接壤的坎达拉克沙（Kandalakshna），一个用于安置炮兵旅的基地正在建设中。芬兰国防情报局局长佩卡·图鲁宁（Pekka Turunen）少将警告称，自从他的国家在2023年加入北约以来，俄罗斯增加了沿边境的军事存在。
在位于立陶宛和波兰之间波罗的海沿岸的俄罗斯飞地加里宁格勒，以及与爱沙尼亚的边境，情况也是如此。
当我写我的小说《2017：战争》时
vi
在其对伊朗的灾难性战争中消耗了大量弹药，以至于美国不再可能向基辅提供“爱国者”导弹。美国根本没有多余的库存。
乌克兰短期内的唯一希望是，其他拥有“爱国者”导弹的北约国家能尽力提供帮助，同时特朗普授予其制造许可。
但正如我们所见，这种前景看起来比以往任何时候都更加渺茫。
在面对俄罗斯入侵北极地区时，我们也无法指望他的支持。
我们也不能确定每一个其他北约国家都会与挪威肩并肩作战。自从彼得·马扎尔（Peter Magyar）在今年早些时候罢免了普京的朋友、长期担任总统的维克多·欧尔班（Viktor Orban）以来，匈牙利对联盟的承诺尚未经过考验。
葡萄牙、西班牙和意大利都在努力应对激增的非法移民问题，这使得空间寥寥
普京的目标是挑起一场混乱的战争
以应对其他危机。
所有这些国家，也就是我们的长期盟友，如果指责英国同样缺乏可见的承诺，也是理所应当的。
自从安迪·伯纳姆（Andy Burnham）在一个月前就任首相以来，他几乎没有谈论过国防问题。
工党最著名的重新武装倡导者、前国防大臣约翰·希利（John Healey）现在担任财政大臣——这一任命产生了一种效果（无论是否是偶然），即让他很难再主张英国迫切需要增加国防开支。他现在成了那个必须平衡账目的人。
我完全确定，如果俄罗斯真的入侵斯匹次卑尔根岛——或进行任何其他土地抢夺——英国将处于北约响应的最前线。
挪威是英国珍视的朋友，我们的突击队经常与挪威同行进行训练，我们的北极战争部队也是世界上最顶尖的部队之一。
但我同样深感担忧的是，在与俄罗斯的实战战争中，我们将遭受惨重损失。
我们没有防空系统、海军力量、弹药、军事预备役或任何其他抵御攻击所需的东西。
目前至少有一艘俄罗斯军舰常驻在英国海岸线外。俄罗斯无人机（可能由拖网渔船发射）曾在我们的皇家空军（RAF）基地上空盘旋，拍摄了每一个角落。
我们极其脆弱。英国绝不会逃避支持其北约盟友的责任。
但我们已经丧失了大部分保卫自身城市和自身人民的能力。
普京正在寻找一个与我们开战的借口，且对此毫不掩饰。
如果他成功实现了挑唆北约陷入一场混乱且缺乏协调的战争这一目标，我们在乌克兰看到的破坏和生命损失很可能也会发生在英国身上。
理查德·希雷夫（Richard Shirreff）将军，北约前欧洲盟军最高司令部副司令
右图：俄罗斯的军事侵略，现在提供了比当地北极熊（左图）更严重的威胁
十年前面对俄罗斯时，我认为最可能的触发点是在波罗的海国家。
俄罗斯策划一系列“假旗”行动的可能性极高，将他们自己实施的暴行归咎于北约部队，例如由狙击手杀害拉脱维亚的俄语示威者。
无论普京最终决定采取什么样的入侵行动，他都将寄希望于西方盟友在应对时出现分歧和恐慌。
这将是对北约决心的严峻考验，而他预计我们会失败。而且他至少在一定程度上是对的。
美国似乎极不可能履行其在《北大西洋条约》第 5 条下的义务，这是它在 1949 年做出的承诺，即将对任何一个北约国家的攻击视为对所有成员国的攻击。
我预测唐纳德·特朗普总统将拒绝派遣军队协助任何营救斯匹次卑尔根岛的军事行动。他很可能会对此洋洋得意，并声称如果格陵兰岛像他去年要求的那样割让给美国，俄罗斯就永远不敢行动。当时欧洲拒绝放弃领土，而现在——他可能会说——欧洲必须付出代价。
他已经在严重辜负乌克兰事业了。本周，俄美关系出现了一项耐人寻味的进展：一名叫罗伯特·吉尔曼（Robert Gilman）的前美国海军陆战队员被遣返回美国，他在乌克兰战争爆发前一个月在乘坐火车穿越俄罗斯西南部时被捕。
在被指控醉酒和袭击警察后，他在俄罗斯监狱中度过了过去四年半的时间，他的家人表示，由于遭受看守者的残酷对待，他的健康状况很糟糕。
特朗普将他的释放定格为一次外交神作，称：“俄罗斯没有要求换回任何人——没有进行交换。”
对此，唯一逻辑合理的反应只能是：别逗了，唐纳德。
那么俄罗斯开出的代价是什么？一种传闻中的可能性是，克里姆林宫从华盛顿获得了一项承诺，即美国将拒绝乌克兰允许其制造“爱国者”导弹的请求，而这正是乌克兰加强防御弹道导弹袭击的最佳希望。
基辅从未如此迫切地需要拦截导弹。随着其库存现已几乎完全耗尽，乌克兰首都的市民们正生活在对每夜袭击的恐惧之中。
“特朗普将拒绝派遣军队”
我在那里有许多朋友，其中一位上周告诉我，她现在感到的恐惧程度超过了普京那场疯狂战争开始以来的任何时刻。
俄罗斯正向基辅以及向东南方向 350 英里的扎波罗热发射弹道导弹，以病态的残酷手段瞄准民用建筑，企图摧毁乌克兰人的士气。
这些超音速火箭从地球大气层外落下，在撞击时速度可超过 5,000英里 / 小时。
由于速度极快——一位评论员将其描述为“像送披萨一样快”——这些城市的居民即便在最好的情况下，通常也只有 5, 分钟的预警时间。
有时，他们得知袭击的唯一方式就是导弹爆炸。由此造成的杀戮规模极其巨大。
但美国已经用尽了如此
我简直无法忍受的食物
“这坦白说是一本充满偏见的书，”P. Morton Shand 在其 1927 年的经典著作《食物之书》（A Book Of Food）的前言中如此雷霆般地宣称，“因为所有食物都是关于喜好与厌恶的问题。一个人可以在宗教、政治以及其他一百零一件事情上保持宽容，但唯独不能在所食之物上宽容。”对此我深表赞同。
因为没有什么比你放进嘴里的东西更私人、更主观了。一个人的蜂蜜可能是另一个人的牛肚，而你对食物的选择是对你灵魂深处的洞察。
“告诉我你吃什么，”法国律师、政治家且资深美食家让-安塞尔姆·布里亚-萨瓦兰（Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin）宣称，“我就能告诉你是什么样的人。”
你可以选择独身，逃税，甚至去跳莫里斯舞。但你永远得吃饭。
随着年龄增长，口味会发生变化。那些曾经被定义为令人厌恶的食材——比如像煤灰一样的生蚝，或者带着坚决咸味嘲讽的橄榄——会逐渐变成深受成年人喜爱的主食。
我几乎什么都吃（除了英国航空的餐食），但我就是无法理解山羊奶酪。我想爱上它，想在 Dorstones 和 Bucherons 奶酪中徜徉，但对我来说，它永远尝起来像是在舔农场院子的地板，充满了霉味和野蛮的污垢。
我有一个朋友讨厌蘑菇，另一个无法忍受番茄（尽管他热爱番茄酱），还有一个绝对不碰羊肉。口味之差异确实无法解释。
这就是为什么下面的清单试图在营销夸张的丛林中劈开一条路，以寻求某种可接受的真相。
我像其他人一样讨厌自以为是地指手画脚，吃麦当劳芝士汉堡和我吃最华丽的米其林星级料理一样开心。没人喜欢美食势利眼。但出于伦理和道德原因，有些东西我绝不触碰。此外，还有一些东西我简直无法忍受。
鹅肝
GAVAGE 是指通过塞入喉咙的金属管强行给鸭子和鹅喂食玉米。目的是让它们的肝脏肿胀到正常尺寸的十倍。因此得名 foie gras，即“肥肝”。
在许多情况下，这些鸟被挤在狭小的笼子里，甚至无法伸展翅膀。这很难为其辩护。
我以前确实吃过，也听过关于加斯科涅地区快乐的鸟类实际上跟随他们粗糙之手的农民走来走去，渴望下一次喂食谷物的故事。但这似乎是例外而非普遍情况。
也有公司声称生产“伦理”版本。但没有任何美味值得承受如此程度的痛苦，因此我坚决拒绝鹅肝。
鲭鱼
我最喜欢的鱼类之一，拥有闪闪发光的虹彩皮肤和
作为一名资深的餐厅评论员，你可能会认为汤姆·帕克·鲍尔斯（TOM PARKER BOWLES）什么都吃。但在这次令人愉悦且不羁的坦白中，他揭露了那些永远不会进入他口中的食物。那么，你是热爱还是厌恶它们？
甜美且浓郁的肉质。但尽管尚未被正式列为濒危，东北大西洋的种群数量正在骤减。Waitrose 在一项令人赞赏的举措中停止了销售鲭鱼，取而代之的是一直被低估的鲱鱼。如果想要替代品，可以尝试康沃尔沙丁鱼。
假肉
几年前曾有过一段时间，那些名字取得朗朗上口的“纯素植物基肉类替代品”似乎即将征服地球，彻底终结食肉行为。
各大风投公司纷纷涌入 Beyond Burger、This Isn't Bacon Rashers、La Vie 和 I Am Nut OK 等品牌。到 2022 年，其销售额达到了惊人的 10 亿加元 billion。
但随后热潮退去，衰落开始，每个人都意识到这些“食物”是多么令人作呕。我的问题不在于纯素主义本身，而在于这些极其糟糕的劣作，它们在烹饪吸引力上简直就像烧焦的橡胶。
而且，它们也并非肉类的健康替代品。事实上，大多数这类产品与任何杯面或廉价热狗一样，同样虚假且经过高度加工。
平均成分表
包括诸如“结构化豌豆蛋白”和“分离豌豆蛋白”，以及包含甲基纤维素、魔芋胶、卡拉胶和黄原胶的“增稠剂”、“天然香料”、“葡萄糖”、“色素（甜菜根红）”以及由“海藻酸钠”制成的肠衣。
相比之下，我最喜欢的 HG Walter 猪肉小香肠是由 90 per cent 的英国走地猪肉、面包屑、盐、香草和香料制成的。我知道我会选择哪一个。
集约化养殖肉类
工厂化养殖的恐怖之处显而易见。肉鸡（用于产肉）被培育得生长速度异常之快，在六周大时就被宰杀；在此之前，它们被禁锢在狭窄、恶臭且缺乏自然光的棚舍中，空气中充满了刺激性的氨气，几乎没有空间可以拍打翅膀。
它们大部分时间都趴在地上不动，因为它们的腿几乎不足以支撑沉重的身体。这种不自然的生长还给心脏和肺部带来了压力，每年有数百万只鸡死于心脏病发作。
猪的情况也一样，被挤在带有盐渍混凝土地板的棚舍里，通常甚至没有干草作为垫料和拱掘。同样，没有自然光，也无法接触户外空间。
猪是高度智能且具有社交能力的动物，这些猪会变得无聊且沮丧，从而互相打斗和撕咬。这意味着大多数小猪会被剪牙并截尾。
如果标签上没有写“走地（free-range）”或“有机”，你完全可以肯定这头可怜的牲畜是在极其不快乐的环境中被养大的。
高质量、符合伦理生产的肉类价格总是更高。我知道，作为一个特权阶层的美食作家，告诉你去买一只 £20 的鸡听起来很轻巧，但一只优质的禽类不仅能提供晚餐，还能提供三明治和高汤。
我确实认为我们应该少吃肉，并选择更高质量的肉。信任你的屠夫，他们应该非常乐意告诉你你的肉究竟来自哪里。
不要只盯着鸡胸肉和西冷牛排。鸡腿肉比胸肉更有风味，而牛皮和牛尾（经典的慢炖部位）不仅口感极佳，而且价格更便宜。
同样，向你的屠夫寻求建议。快乐的户外养殖猪和鸡永远能带来更好的食用体验。欲了解更多关于工厂化养殖恐怖之处的信息，请访问 ciw.org.uk。
任何“低脂”产品
我热爱脂肪。脂肪就是风味。脂肪就是生命。所以，不，我不希望我的酸奶或奶酪是除全脂以外的任何版本。至于脱脂牛奶——离我远点，你这个胆小如鼠的撒旦。
辣蜂蜜
好了，够了。我喜欢蜂蜜，我热爱辣椒，当它刚出现时，我大概能理解它的吸引力。但现在它该死的无处不在，像一种家族性的粘稠病毒，被淋在（呃）披萨、汉堡、炸鸡、冰淇淋上。你已经享受过了高光时刻——现在是时候退回到那些早已过时的饮食时尚橱柜深处了。
人造黄油
选择人造黄油而不是天然黄油，永远、绝对没有任何理由。如果由我决定，我会把它带到房子后面，给它最后一根烟，然后对着它的后脑勺开一枪。摆脱这种令人厌恶的涂抹酱真是太好了。
品鉴菜单
啊，品鉴菜单的暴政。它曾是令人陶醉的高级料理体验之巅峰，包含多达 40 道后现代烹饪技巧的菜肴，而现在对我来说简直就是地狱。
无法忍受
食物，那些毫无光彩的食物：最左侧是纯素香肠，左上方是养殖三文鱼（在野生三文鱼之上），以及汤姆在尝试一份即食餐。
并不是说缺乏艺术感（像丽兹酒店和 Ledbury 餐厅依然令人惊叹），而是想到要被钉在椅子上三个多小时，听着一道接一道的菜肴被滔滔不绝地详细讲解，仿佛它们是什么稀有且美妙的艺术品。
没错，肥鸭餐厅、Noma 餐厅和 El Bulli 餐厅都非常有意思，且经常展现出疯狂的才华。不过，由于每道菜都配一杯葡萄酒，到最后我通常已经醉得
几乎无法说话，更不用说记得之前的 20 道菜了。总之，给我三道传统的菜肴，我就心满意足了。
信息过载
在任何一家像样的餐厅里，人们都会假设所有的肉类都是通过伦理方式养殖的。如果你对某个部位或切块特别感兴趣，你可以
询问服务员更多信息。但我不需要在菜单上读到它们的生平履历，包括它来自哪个牧场、它的星座以及它最喜欢的单向组合成员。
虚假的“过敏”与不耐受
真正的食物过敏应该受到最高程度的尊重，因为这关乎生死。乳糜泻患者同样如此。不应被严肃对待的是那些声称“麸质不耐受”的人，因为他们认为面包让他们发胖。或者声称自己对芹菜过敏，结果却发现他们只是不喜欢芹菜。这太矫情、太挑剔，而且对于厨师以及真正遭受过敏之苦的人来说非常令人厌烦。
松露油
这是一个由来已久的心头之患，这种低劣且
辣椒接待：热蜂蜜遭到冷遇
糟糕的油脂所具有的微妙感和优雅度，就像是一条湿漉漉的黑线鳕拍在脸上一样。松露油气味刺鼻且主要由人工香料调味，它毁掉了所有它接触的东西。它不宏大，不精致，而且绝对不聪明。
真正的松露是真正受眷顾的块茎。佩里戈尔黑松露主打风味，而阿尔巴白松露则以其浓郁的香气令人陶醉。相比之下，松露油则是一个愚蠢、粗鲁的蛮汉，其烹饪精致程度仅相当于一根油炸萨沃伊香肠。
莳萝
我知道，我知道，莳萝是世界上许多伟大料理中深受喜爱的明星。但我无法忍受这玩意儿，即使是隐藏得最深的一小片叶子我也能尝出来。它与其说是一种香草，不如说是一个大摇大摆的绿发暴徒。
小盘菜
是的，我听说过你们那个前卫的新概念。西班牙人已经这么做很多年了，东地中海和中东的大部分地区也是如此。线索就在名字里，而且，是的，我知道它们是用来分享的。
养殖三文鱼
几周前我曾详细写过这个话题，至今仍像避瘟疫一样避开这东西。太多的鱼被挤在太少的水中，喂食根本不可持续的颗粒饲料，同时还深受海虱之苦，海虱简直能把它们活活吃掉。
为了控制海虱，需要使用可能摧毁当地海床的化学药剂。养殖鱼还会逃逸并与日益稀少的野生三文鱼种群交配，稀释其遗传抗性。
死亡率可能高得惊人，而且来自养殖场的浓厚且恶臭的污染最终会覆盖海床。最终结果（松软、多脂且色泽暗淡）总体而言，只是其野生亲戚的一个可悲缩影。
尽管如此，我确实收到了 Salmon Scotland 首席执行官 Tavish Scott 的邀请，邀请我亲自去参观养殖场。我会汇报结果的。
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VI
逃离
托斯卡纳之旅 比 CENTER PARCS 更便宜
每天仅需 £1.62
即可抵达天堂 （含机票！）
马尔代夫是全球梦寐以求的度假胜地之一——但它并不一定需要花费巨资。以下是如何以更低成本享受这些热带岛屿的方法……
它是最令人向往的度假目的地之一，但许多人认为由于距离太远，那里简直太贵了。
并非如此。是的，您可能需要飞行 5,300 英里，但价格可能极具吸引力——一周低至每人 £1,207，或十天每人 £1,621。后者计算下来每天仅需 £162……且包含机票。
而现在，经由迪拜和卡塔尔等中东枢纽的航线已恢复，前往马尔代夫的最后一刻临时度假机会大量增加。
作者：TOM CHESSHYRE
在其 1,192 个岛屿中，约有 160 个已开发为旅游区，我访问了其中约五分之一，以及许多没有度假村的当地岛屿。因此，这里是我们为您提供的关于一些不会让您倾家荡产的最佳度假地的指南。
阿杜岛的冒险
访问马尔代夫最南端的地点，即赤道以南的阿杜环礁（Addu Atoll），入住位于宁静小岛甘岛（Gan）的 Equator Village Maldives 酒店。该酒店的部分住宿曾与一个于 1978 年关闭的英国皇家空军（RAF）基地相连。酒吧旁的一个侧室里仍然保留着以前的
请翻至下一页
无需挥金如土：马尔代夫的海龟，顶级
逃离：
接前页
军官斯诺克球桌。与许多度假岛屿不同，甘岛通过一座桥梁与阿杜群岛的其他岛屿相连，因此您可以探索当地村庄，而不会觉得身处“旅游泡沫”之中。附近有优质的潜水点，包括有机会参观一艘第二次世界大战时期的英国沉船。
预订：十天 B&B（含早晚餐）每人 £1,625 起，含曼彻斯特往返机票 (fut.co.uk)，或一周 1,449 英镑。 每日价格：£162。
冲浪者天堂
就在马尔代夫首都马累（Male）东北方向的北马累环礁（North Male Atoll），Adaaran Select. Hudhuran Rushi Maldives 是该群岛最适合冲浪的地点之一。这里还提供潜水、浮潜和桨板运动。您可以期待优质的水疗中心以及多种海滩或水上别墅选择。
可以安排前往当地岛屿的游览，包括前往马累的一日游。还可以组织日落巡航和观海豚巡航。此外还有钓鱼之旅，您钓到的鱼将在船上被准备并烹饪，成为最新鲜的餐点。
预订：一周全包每人 £1,689 起，含希思罗往返机票 (tropicalsky.co.uk)。
每日价格：每人 £241。
最古老的酒店
NIVA Kurumba Maldives 是马尔代夫第一家在私人岛屿上开业的酒店，时间可追溯到 1972 年 10 月 3 日（现为该国的国家旅游日）。这是一个靠近马累的迷人椭圆形岛屿，岛内种满棕榈树并设有吊床，还有两个网球场、一个健身房和瑜伽区。此外还有一个水疗中心，提供使用 Aromatherapy Associates 精油的按摩护理。餐饮选择包括一家泰国餐厅，以及印度和日本餐厅。在受防波堤保护的避风家礁（house reef）上可以进行浮潜。
预订：一周 B&B 每人 £1,249 起，含往返机票 (trailfinders.com)。
每日价格：每人 £178。
水上别墅
预订南马累环礁（South Male Atoll）Sun Siyam Olhuveli 的水上别墅。它由三个岛屿组成，由步道连接。您可以从七家酒吧（包括水中鸡尾酒吧）中任选其一，并在亚洲、意大利、印度和泰国餐厅以及汉堡店和披萨店用餐。Sun Siyam Olhuveli 拥有马尔代夫最长的泳池，每个岛上都设有健身房、水疗中心和潜水中心。这里设有仅限成人的区域，但也有儿童俱乐部以及月光电影院。
预订：一周全餐每人 £1,929 起，含往返机票 (trailfinders.com)。
每日价格：每人 £275。
全包超值优惠
Adaaran Select Meed-hupparu 坐落在拉环礁（Raa Atoll），位于马累以北 90 英里处，是一家广受欢迎的全包度假村。海滩别墅点缀在茂密的热带植被之中，营造出一种生活在丛林中的感觉，不过这里也设有水上别墅。
水上运动爱好者可以尽情体验拖曳伞、浮潜、潜水、桨板冲浪、风帆冲浪和喷气滑雪。此外，还可以尝试飞板（利用水喷射板将你推至 20 米的高空）。在海滩酒吧享受日落饮品，或在 Albino 酒吧品尝 101 种精选鸡尾酒。
预订：每人一周全包价格 £2,189 起，含机票 (tropicalsky.co.uk)。
每日价格：每人 £312。
田园诗般的美景：LUX* South Ari Atoll 的水上飞机、泳池区域和海滩，以及右上方的时尚 Kandima 度假村住宿。
专家建议
■ 如果有机会，请访问首都马累——参观国家博物馆、主清真寺和热闹的鱼市场。
■ 在马累用餐，可以尝试渡轮码头旁出色的 Seahouse Maldives 餐厅。
■ 旺季是 12 月至 4 月，此时天气最好，价格也最高——但这里全年温暖。
■ 如果能从你的“度假村”岛屿前往较小的“有人居住”岛屿，请抓住机会去看看远离大众旅游的传统生活。
■ 学习几句当地语言迪维希语（Dhivehi）；例如，
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*每日等效价格根据每月 £5.49 计算。在 2026 年 4 月 1 日至 2026 年 6 月 30 日期间，10% 通过 theAA.com 购买车辆故障保障的新 AA 客户支付的价格为每月 £5.49。此为新客户专享的入门价格。续费价格可能会更高。保障受保单条款、条件和除外责任限制。请参阅保单条款。处理故障数量更多：基于公布的年度故障处理数据。欲了解更多详情，请访问 theAA.com / why。仅限新客户。适用条款与条件。所有信息在 2026 年 8 月印刷时均正确。
封面故事
让马尔代夫之旅收获最大...
- “谢谢”是 “shukuriyya”，“请”是 “adhes kohla”。
- 不要携带免税酒精饮料，因为这是一个穆斯林国家，抵达时会被没收，不过在“度假村”岛屿上可以获得酒精饮料。
- 如果你喜欢冲浪，某些岛屿的浪头比其他岛屿好得多 (详见 stokedsurfadventures.com)。
- 拥抱“赤脚奢华”——许多游客从抵达岛屿的那一刻起就不再穿鞋。
- 前往靠近机场的岛屿，乘坐快艇接送即可；但前往更远岛屿的水上飞机接送非常精彩——这也是体验的一部分。
- 请注意，全包假期能为旅行者提供更高的性价比。
- 尝试 garudhiya，这是一种马尔代夫的辣汤金枪鱼料理……味道很棒。
- 如果你想社交，板式网球（Padel tennis）是与其他客人交流的好方法。
- 考虑购买一个防水水下相机，以捕捉许多色彩斑斓的鱼类。
-
海滩别墅可能比水上别墅性价比更高，尽管住在后者令人兴奋。
-
在抵达前购买防晒霜……在那儿买很贵。
- 报名参加烹饪课，学习如何制作出色的咖喱，甚至学习如何卷寿司。
- 在两周内入住两个岛屿的双中心行程是规划长假的好方法 (可尝试 trailfinders.com)。
- 如果你是独立旅行者且富有冒险精神，可以乘坐公共渡轮探索群岛，并入住廉价宾馆 (atolltransfer.com)。
时髦且实惠
Kandima Maldives 在 Tripadvisor 上的评分为 4.7（满分 5 分），是另一个热门选择。这里氛围时髦且前卫，设有 DJ 和鸡尾酒吧，还有一个配备网球场和五人制足球场的极佳体育综合体。这里甚至还有一个 500 米长的电动车赛道。海滩俱乐部（Beach Club）有一个配有凉亭的酷炫泳池，以及两座通往圆形平台的码头，设有可供欣赏日落饮品的座位。住宿由水上别墅和海滩别墅混合组成。
预订：含机票的一周 B&B（含早）套餐，每人 £1,721 起 (tui.co.uk)。 每日价格：每人 £245。
全能之选
从机场乘坐快艇仅需 10 分钟即可抵达 Bandos Maldives 私人岛。这里设有网球场、高质量的水疗中心、健身房、潜水中心（您可以在此学习潜水并获得 PADI 资格认证）以及各类水上运动，包括桨板、喷气滑雪和浮潜。此外，还可以组织夜钓船之旅、鲸鲨观测探险、海豚巡航以及访问当地的 Huras 岛以参观传统的马尔代夫定居点。这里提供简约的海滩别墅和水上别墅。
预订：含机票的一周半食（half-board）套餐，每人 £1,539 起 (tui.co.uk)。
每日价格：每人 £219。
热爱运动？
Kuredu 岛上有一个六洞高尔夫球场。您还可以打网球和 Padel 球，参加新兵训练营课程、普拉提指导和日落瑜伽课程。这里还有一个潜水中心，以及包括桨板和皮划艇在内的所有主要水上运动，还有一个提供无穷尽疗程的大型水疗中心。Kuredu 是马尔代夫岛屿中一个充满活力且偏向运动的选择。这里有两家主餐厅和不少于八家酒吧。大多数夜晚都有现场音乐表演。
预订：含水上飞机接送的一周半食（half-board）套餐，每人 £1,207 起 (travelrepublic.co.uk)。 每日价格：每人 £172。
水下用餐
在 Obiu Xperience Allafushi 的马尔代夫最大水下餐厅用餐时，可以观看色彩斑斓的热带鱼游过。该餐厅靠近马累，从机场乘坐快艇即可轻松抵达。这家全包式度假村提供免费的房内迷你吧（含啤酒和软饮），而每天晚上，除了免费的啤酒、葡萄酒和烈酒外，热闹的 X360 酒吧还提供免费鸡尾酒。别墅的装饰明亮，点缀着现代艺术作品。
预订：含机票的一周全包（all-inclusive）套餐，每人 £1,846 起 (travelrepublic.co.uk)。
每日价格：每人 £263。
高性价比的乐趣
在美丽的 Meeru Maldives 度假岛上，客人们可以选择六家餐厅，包括提供意大利和马尔代夫美食（海鲜极佳）的 Aslan 餐厅。这里有五家酒吧，其中两家位于无边泳池旁且仅限成人进入。别墅设计精巧，要么隐匿在棕榈树丛中，要么位于水上平台之上。度假村定期举办“体验”活动，在特定日期举行主题活动，如“世界国际象棋日”、“芝士蛋糕日”和“龙舌兰日”，以及由 DJ 操盘的夜晚。
预订：含机票的一周全食（full-board）套餐，每人 £1,639 起 (tui.co.uk)。 每日价格：每人 £234。
低成本浪漫
位于北阿里环礁（North Ari Atoll）的 Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon 是浪漫度假的绝佳选择，其特色包括位于码头尽头用于用餐的“情侣平台”（Lover's Deck），以及在沙洲上的野餐。Chavana 水疗中心提供巴厘岛按摩。提供的行程包括日落钓鱼、访问当地岛屿和海豚观测巡航。这里有水上别墅和海滨别墅，全部采用干练的极简主义风格装饰。
预订：含机票的一周全包（all-inclusive）套餐，每人 £1,419 起 (tropicalsky.co.uk)。
每日价格：每人 £202。
鲸鱼之乐
如果您入住 LUX* South Ari Atoll，几乎可以保证能看到鲸鲨，因为这里的水域以全年是这些优雅（且绝对安全）的巨型生物的聚集地而闻名。度假村由海洋生物学家带领，组织前往它们最喜爱地点的行程。
度假村本身风格时尚，拥有近期翻新的别墅、无边泳池、一家寿司餐厅，以及一家提供鸡尾酒的绝佳泻湖边海滩酒吧和一家供应烤海鲜的海滩俱乐部。
预订：含机票的一周早晚餐（B&B）每人 £1,295 起 (awayholidays.co.uk)；每人加 £870 可升级为全包套餐。
每日价格：每人 £185。
■ 价格在发稿时准确。
■ TOM Chesshyre 是《Gatecrashing Paradise: Misadventures In The Real Maldives》一书的作者。
逃离：英国假期
阔别 25 年重返英超——这座被低估的城市值得一访
考文垂重回巅峰
作者：YORK MEMBERY
考文垂的新大教堂长期以来一直是这座城市能够从战争逆境中恢复能力的证明。
虽然它在 20 世纪 80 年代因工厂关闭和高失业率而遭受了进一步打击，但在考文垂城足球俱乐部最近升入英超联赛后，居民们的步伐中重新焕发了活力。
在缺席 25 年后的首场比赛，球队将于下周五对阵阿森纳，当地的自豪感在写着“我们回来了！”的横幅中清晰可见。那么，现在正是访问这座位于西米德兰兹郡最中心、距离伦敦乘火车仅一小时多路程的英国城市的最佳时机。
其首屈一指的旅游景点理所当然仍是新旧两座大教堂。站在被德国空军于 1940 年摧毁的中世纪旧大教堂废墟中是一种令人动容的体验，而其闪电战博物馆则将这次轰炸置于历史背景中。
紧邻其侧由 Basil Spence 设计的新大教堂于 1962 年开放，它不仅是一处受人珍视的礼拜场所，更是全球和平与和解的象征。其
历史风貌：美丽的 Spon 街。 上方：考文垂城庆祝
宏伟的洗礼堂窗户拥有近 200 块彩色玻璃窗格。
附近是修复后的圣玛丽行会大厅（St Mary's Guildhall），其历史可追溯至 14 世纪至 15 世纪。苏格兰女王玛丽于 1569 年被违背意愿地囚禁于此，许多其他君主也曾到访。一名导游告诉我：“查尔斯在成为国王后还没有访问过这里，但我们希望他能尽快到来。”
在附近的 Broadgate 有另一个地标：一座骑马的戈迪娃夫人（Lady Godiva）青铜像。传说她赤身裸体骑马穿过考文垂，仅用长发遮体，以向她的丈夫、麦西亚伯爵 Leofric 施压，要求降低税收。
我去考文垂最古老的酒吧 Old Windmill 喝了顿惬意的午后饮品，该酒吧建于 1451 年，内部房间错综复杂。
接下来的目的地是考文垂交通博物馆，这里拥有全球最大的英国制造汽车收藏，其中许多汽车是在当地生产的。博物馆内还收藏了一辆用于乔治六世加冕典礼的宏伟 1937 年代姆勒（Daimler）汽车，以及持有当前 763 英里 / 小时世界陆地速度记录的 ThrustSSC。
这座城市也是 2-Tone 音乐运动的发源地，The Specials 等乐队在 20 世纪 70 年代和 80 年代因此成名。迷人的考文垂音乐博物馆就位于市中心外，讲述了这些行为的故事，你甚至可以坐在出现在 The Specials 的《Ghost Town》视频中的那辆车里。
总而言之，如果你深入挖掘考文垂，会有很多发现——即使你不是足球迷。
旅行信息
Indigo 酒店双人间 £110 起 (coventry.hotelindigo.com)；尤斯顿-考文垂往返预售票 £21 起 (avantivest coast.co.uk)。
独家提供
从英国飞往悉尼，从珀斯返回的航班
赠送 3 晚高级酒店住宿，用于探索悉尼，含每日早餐
赠送蓝山观光之旅
在蓝宝石公主号（Sapphire Princess）上享受 17 晚邮轮之旅，从悉尼前往珀斯
在船上各种免费餐厅用餐
包括现场音乐和表演在内的娱乐活动
赠送 2 晚高级酒店住宿，用于探索珀斯，含每日早餐
赠送罗特尼斯岛一日游
仅需 £849 即可升级为全包套餐( ^{PP} )
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船上饮料套餐、每位宾客 4 份休闲餐饮，
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探索澳大利亚的 顶端地区 从悉尼到珀斯
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逃离：短途旅行
VI
这次托斯卡纳家庭度假比其英国竞争对手更便宜——而且，我们的作者说，它……
作者：CHARLOTTE REATHER
让我们面对现实吧，我们中的许多人都在用喝拉格啤酒的钱寻找香槟级的假期。而我正在寻找一个既有文化和美感，又有户外冒险，且设施可与 Center Parcs 相媲美的目的地。
我想为我自己（和丈夫 Ed）选择托斯卡纳，并为 Tallulah, 11, 和 9 岁的 Matilda 提供水上滑梯。因此，当我发现 Eurocamp 最便宜的目的地之一是 Hu Norcenni Girasole 时，我简直不敢相信自己的运气。这是一个位于基安蒂乡村深处、距离佛罗伦萨 30 分钟车程的托斯卡纳山丘营地 / 度假公园。
在 5 月的半期假期中，住帐篷的价格从 £289 起，住经典度假屋的价格从 £380 起（共 7 晚）——而一个四口之家在 Center Parcs 度过四晚的假期起价为 1,499 英镑 ——这看起来很有前景。
抵达佛罗伦萨机场后，我们租了一辆车开往 Hu Norcenni Girasole。作为一个将家庭度假公园与腕带、排队和平庸自助餐联系在一起的人，我抵达时有些忐忑。但当我们品尝到手工披萨的那一刻，我们就知道这一切会比预想的要好得多——食物太棒了。
第二天早上，我们在拥有两间卧室、最多可住六人的高级度假屋中醒来，耳边是鸟鸣声。窗外，丝柏树点缀在阳光普照的景观中，远处是起伏的绿丘。
住宿条件不错，带有一个露台、一个有顶的户外用餐区、一个燃气烧烤炉和一个小厨房。我们的第一个任务是前往 Figline Valdarno 的 Co-op 超市采购物资。但这与英国的任何一家 Co-op 都不一样，这里有当地生产的水牛莫扎里拉奶酪、最多汁的番茄和美味的佛卡夏面包。
在完成搜寻和采集物资后，我们就可以尽情玩耍了。所有人都是。当我们和孩子们一起从水上滑梯冲下来时，中年危机被暂时搁置了，孩子们宣布这是“有史以来最好的假期”。
Center Parcs 拥有顶级的游泳设施，但这里有 8 个泳池和 6 个水上滑梯，我们很享受在泻湖综合体和更大的标准泳池之间漂浮的感觉。在万里无云的天空下，想到要退回到英国那种热带穹顶室内泳池，感觉明显失去了吸引力。
那么，这里的活动能与英国的 Center Parcs 媲美吗？答案是肯定的，绝对可以。两个女孩都太大了，不能参加儿童俱乐部。相反，Tallulah 参加了早晨的足球训练，而她的姐姐则躺在日光浴椅上浏览无酒精鸡尾酒菜单。
这里有网球、排球、迷你高尔夫、健身房和水疗中心，以及诸如树顶滑索、骑马、电动自行车之旅、烹饪课和葡萄酒
获胜者：度假村。 左图：Charlotte 及其家人
品鉴等“附加”活动。我们探索了基安蒂（Chianti）的格雷韦（Greve）和中世纪小镇圣乔瓦尼·瓦尔达诺（San Giovanni Valdarno）。当然，一次不可或缺的行程是前往佛罗伦萨。我们从菲格利内·瓦尔达诺（Figline Valdarno）乘火车前往，这是最便捷的方式；我们带着孩子们参观了文艺复兴时期的杰作，探索了波波利花园（Boboli Gardens）和历史中心，其中圣母百花大教堂（Duomo）、圣十字大殿（Santa Croce）和米开朗基罗的《大卫》像都列入了行程。然而，最精彩的部分是在中央市场（Mercato Centrale）享用的午餐，大家在 The Pasta by Famiglia Michelis 餐厅尽情享用了野猪肉酱面和松露意饺。
在另一天，女孩们愉快地在度假区内漫游，而我们乘坐接驳车前往 La Palagina，这是一个由营地所有者经营的附近葡萄园 / 农场，在那里我们体验了免费的养蜂和蜂蜜品鉴活动。
最后的发现是在 Tenuta Il Palagio 享用的晚餐，那是 Sting 拥有的庄园。预订时我们并不知道其著名的所有者，而是被其令人惊叹的环境和现场音乐所吸引，而实际体验完全没有让人失望。
是的，在英国度假村 Center Parcs 度假确实非常方便：无需飞行，无需排队候机，无需租车。但意大利的费用更低——即使算上交通费。此外，你还能获得阳光、文化、绝佳的美食、惊人的风景和友好的当地人。
Center Parcs 对阵 Eurocamp 的 Hu Norcenni Girasole？托斯卡纳显然是赢家。
goodtogo 今天在沙发上... 明天在阳光下。 节省您的旅行保险费用！ 随时准备出发。
无年龄限制，涵盖医疗状况。 拨打免费电话获取即时报价 0800 652 8049
基础保费 2 1 2% 折扣 报价代码 DM20
24 / 7 全天候医疗紧急援助 医疗状况承保专家 旅行保险 由英国金融行为监管局（FCA）授权并监管 - 编号 471641. 适用条款与条件。如果我们的 Deficits racing 仅适用于 Platinum 政策和 Premium 邮轮政策。“折扣和 / 或实物仅限，不适用于任何信用或货币条款，性质为可选，但折扣仅在 13 / 12 / 2024 前有效。”条款与条件适用，请在 2026 年访问 https: / www.goodtogoinsurance.com / holiday-price-share-terms-and-conditions 了解详情。
葡萄酒之乡 vs 惠恩费尔森林
- ■ 2027年7月 / 8月在 Hu Norcenni Girasole 的 Comfort 度假屋入住一周，可入住四人 (eurocamp.co.uk)：£864 起。
- ■ 四人的希思罗-佛罗伦萨往返机票：£584 (BA，通过 booking.com 预订)。
- ■ 一周租车 (Locauto，通过 book-
ing.com 预订)：£333 起。总计：1,781 英镑。
- ■ 明年夏天在坎布里亚郡 Center Parcs Whinfell Forest 景区的林间小屋入住七晚，可入住四人 (centerparcs.co.uk)：1,928 英镑 起。
托斯卡纳总节省额：£147
逃离：评论
作者：乔安娜·特威迪 (JOANNA TWEEDY)
还记得以前衡量一家酒店是否优秀的标准，是否仅仅是一张舒适的床、一份像样的早餐和一个友好的主人（而不是像巴兹尔·福尔蒂那样大步走来走去地跺脚）？
当然，预算总是起作用。如果你负担得起，装饰和设施会更豪华，但从托雷莫利诺斯到托基，底线是你能在心仪的目的地有个遮风挡雨的地方。
然而，现在你住在哪里正变得至关重要。旅行已经进入了一个似乎正在失控的“体验式”时代。
根据 Host Unusual（一家总部位于英国的全球旅行指南，提供受 UFO 启发的小型豪华露营舱、改装起重机和洞穴住所）的数据，近年来人们对奇特住宿场所的兴趣有了巨大的飞跃。
那么，这种追求狂野且古怪场所的趋势是由什么驱动的？酒店业者表示，答案是纯粹的逃避主义。
当你住在像阿波罗2号飞船一样布置的房间里，假装自己是一名宇航员（在新西兰），或者在世界上唯一的土豆形状酒店中醒来（在爱达荷州）时，谁还有时间为办公室政治或接送孩子的后勤问题而焦虑？
此外，这些花哨的住所还带来了炫耀的资本。如果你的度假照片在 Facebook 或 Instagram 上看起来绚丽夺目，这反映了你自身极具吸引力的个性，对吧？至少，想法是这样的。
住宿主题化已经
为什么酒店
变得如此疯狂？
个人空间：彭布罗克郡的 Spodnic UFO 是一家新颖的住宿场所
变得如此有利可图，以至于无论规模大小的酒店业主都意识到，款待服务——再加上一点好莱坞式的噱头——往往能让他们在旅游业的蛋糕中分得更大的一块。
但值得注意的是，
世界上大多数最顶级的酒店品牌并不追求这一点。真正高档的机构深知，卓越的服务和低调的优雅更有可能赢得忠诚度。那些高能、色彩斑斓的酒店
就像是旅行界的“一夜成名作”，当最初的多巴胺快感消退后，往往会让你感到内心空虚。
一旦你在一个前污水管中睡过觉——这在
奥地利、德国和荷兰是可能的——你明年可能就不会再回来了。一个明显的例外是如果有孩子同行，因为新奇感每次都能击中他们的度假兴奋点。
几年前我在波士顿的 The Liberty 酒店入住时也曾心存疑虑，那里曾是马萨诸塞州的查尔斯街监狱，囚犯中包括马尔科姆·X 和“猫鼠游戏”原型弗兰克·阿巴格内尔二世。但不知为何，它成功地在品味之间取得了平衡，其房卡看起来像监狱钥匙，餐厅则被命名为 Clink（俚语：监狱）。
在一个千篇一律的酒店世界里，预订一个伪 UFO、一个仙女洞穴或一辆带床的前路面清理车，诚然是一种为平庸的灰色日常注入色彩的方式。
即便如此，如果你进入一家管理良好的一流酒店，你立刻就能感受到——而且许多酒店同样拥有“故事”，关于过去的宾客和往昔的辉煌岁月。无需穿着月球靴。
每人可节省 £200，适用于我们的 2026 和 2027 年 Top 20 Tours。请引用代码 TOUR'200。促销于 8 月 17 日结束。仅适用于新预订的成人。*起价适用于斯里兰卡大巡游的出发行程。©CBCIT。北印度大巡游。©CBCIT。斯里兰卡和印度均需要签证。请注意，我们的起价名额有限。所有优惠视供应情况而定，且可能在不通知的情况下撤销。所示价格包括往返机票、住宿、音乐餐饮、所有内部交通、入场费和英语导游。价格基于从伦敦出发的航班，区域出发可能需要额外付费。适用条款与条件，进一步详情及详细行程请访问 www.mercuryholidays.co.uk。
您的电话将在 3 声铃响内接通
020-7962-9933
节省 50% AI
屡获殊荣的 5 星级 Galley Bay 度假村及水疗中心以其纯正的度假体验而自豪，这里提供精心烹制的美食，坐落在加勒比海最顶级的海滩之一与数英亩的热带花园之间。
机票及酒店 - 7 晚 每人 £3,159 起
巴巴多斯
1 晚免费
The Sandpiper 是一家备受推崇且屡获殊荣的豪华酒店，它散发出极致私密的氛围，被郁郁葱葱的花园和热带植物环绕，坐落在白金西海岸的一片美丽沙滩上。
机票及酒店 - 7 晚 每人 £2,259 起
多米尼加共和国
节省 20% AI
前往仅限成人的 5 星级 Secrets Cap Cana 度假村及水疗中心，享受优雅时尚的体验，这里拥有美食餐厅、极其丰富的娱乐活动、世界级的 Secrets 水疗中心以及卓越的服务。
机票及酒店 - 7 晚 每人 £1,895 起
格林纳达
节省 55% AI
5 星级 Sandals Grenada 坐落在格林纳达著名的 Pire Gln 海滩的绝佳位置，是一家屡获殊荣的异域避世之所。在这里享受顶级的豪华岛屿生活，提供从 10 种餐饮选择到水肺潜水的所有设施。
机票及酒店 - 7 晚 每人 £2,219 起
圣卢西亚
节省 35% AI
5 星级 The Landings 度假村及水疗中心隐匿在圣卢西亚最顶级的海滩之一——罗德尼湾（Rodney Bay）的岸边，散发出奢华感与永恒的优雅，其豪华别墅套房提供管家服务。
机票及酒店 - 7 晚 每人 £3,679 起
--。
50岁以上旅行保险，无年龄上限
✓ 24 / 7 英语紧急救援热线 ✓ 提供无限额医疗保障¹ ✓ 已覆盖 2700 万+ 名旅客 ✓ 25 年信赖之选
Which? 最佳购买 (Best Buy)
Which? & Buy
? & Buy
?
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defaqto
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INSURE AND GO
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InsureandGo Gold 和 Black 等级获得了 ? 最佳购买奖。InsureandGo Gold 和 Black 等级获得了 Defaqto 的 5 星评级。¹ Black 政策提供无限额紧急医疗费用保障。² 折扣仅适用于基础保费，不适用于涵盖医疗状况或可选附加项的任何保费，且会自动应用。此折扣不能与其他任何优惠同时使用。优惠于 31 / 08 / 26 22:59 结束。详情请参阅网站条款与条件。
MercuryHolidays
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优秀 ★ Trustpilot
马尔代夫的天堂在等待
1 周全包行程 1,525 英镑 起
Adaaran Club Rannalhi ★★★★
在这个世外桃源般的岛屿上寻找属于您自己的天堂。度假村坐落在 12 英亩郁郁葱葱的棕榈树林中，拥有纯净的沙滩、顶级的水肺潜水和浮潜体验，且可便捷前往首都马累（Molé）。在度假村宁静的白沙滩上放松身心，欣赏晶莹剔透的印度洋全景。
包含项目
✓ 伦敦往返机票。可选 9 个区域机场出发的航班 ✓ 1 周标准间住宿 ✓ 每日所有餐食，以及精选酒精饮料和软饮 ✓ 快艇接送 ✓ 40% 预订折扣适用于您的酒店住宿
附加价值
✓ 免费日落巡航、桨板冲浪、划独木舟和风帆冲浪
Wash Value 2024 / 27 Rannals
全包 / 1 周 / 10 晚 / 2 周
2026年8月 / % / 1,619 英镑 / 1,889 英镑 / 3,329 英镑 2026年9月 / % / 1,549 英镑 / 2,149 英镑 / 3,285 英镑 2026年10月 / % / 1,659 英镑 / 1,989 英镑 / 2,015 英镑 2026年11月 / % / 1,759 英镑 / 2,149 英镑 / FULL 2026年12月 / % / 1,795 英镑 / 3,025 英镑 / 3,655 英镑 2027年1月 / 2月 / % / 2,028 英镑 / 2,519 英镑 / 3,359 英镑 2027年3月 / % / 1,979 英镑 / 2,499 英镑 / 3,835 英镑 2027年4月 / % / 1,595 英镑 / 1,985 英镑 / 3,355 英镑 2027年5月 / % / 1,935 英镑 / 1,949 英镑 / 3,315 英镑
提供其他月份和时长选择
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9 non 适用于 09-15 / 09 / 27 出发的行程。40% 预订折扣适用于选定日期。请注意，我们的起步 9 non 价格名额有限。价格于 14 / 08 / 26 准确标明，由于航空公司可用性，在前往点之后可能会发生变化。所有优惠均视供应情况而定，且可能在 9 non 情况下无需通知而更改。适用条款与条件。价格基于伦敦出发的航班，其他区域机场可选，且可能需支付额外费用。价格为每人价格，基于 2 成年人合住。我们的酒店成本不会改变。更多详情及条款与条件，请访问 www.mercuryholidays.co.uk。
just you
SOLO HOLIDAYS BETTER TOGETHER
最好的旅程不仅仅在于您去哪里，而在于您在那里时的感受。
“一种极佳的单人旅行方式，因为你并不孤单！太棒了，我期待预订我的下一次旅行。”
Jacqueline, Just You 旅客
探索普利亚
8 天行程 原价 1,949 英镑 现价 1,749 英镑
假期包含：往返机票 · 4 星级酒店 · 15 餐 · 专业假期总监与当地专家导游 · 奥斯图尼、橄榄油品鉴及切斯特里诺 · 访问阿尔贝罗贝洛和马蒂纳弗兰卡 · 洛科罗通多及在正宗普利亚 Masseria 农庄享用午餐 · 探索马泰拉的 Sassi 洞穴 dwelling 住宅
索取我们的最新手册
01858 415250 / JUSTYOU.CO.UK
或咨询您当地的旅行社
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真实价值
真实价值
价格在印刷时准确。由 G Touring Ltd 运营并受其预订条件约束，地址：202 Harborough Enterprise Centre, Market Harborough, LE16 9HW, ABTA Y6412, ATOL 11266。
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020 7938 0253
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ATOL 许可证：1458
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Trustpilot
第一大旅行社
寻找您的奢华海滩逃逸之所...
马尔代夫，Coco Badu Hithi 7 晚 2,349 英镑 起( ^{1} )
机票、5 星级全包海滩度假村及快艇接送
- 享受以观察玳瑁海龟而闻名的绝佳潜水点 • 在大型海滨无边泳池中放松
特别优惠 房费折扣
& 免费升级至全包服务
- 每对夫妇可节省 4,050 英镑 以上
毛里求斯 Maritim 度假村及水疗中心
7 晚 2,549 英镑 起( ^{1} )
另需在当地支付每人 21 欧元
机票、5 星级全包海滩度假村及私人接送
- 这家近期翻新的度假村坐落在俯瞰壮丽海龟湾的田园诗般环境中
特别优惠 20% 房费折扣
- 每对夫妇可节省 £350 以上
马来西亚，婆罗洲，Gaya Island 度假村
7 晚 1,699 英镑 起( ^{1} )
另需在当地支付每人 70 马来西亚林吉特
机票、5 星级海滩度假村、早餐及私人接送
特别优惠 房费折扣 & 免费情侣水疗按摩
- 每对夫妇可节省 £750 以上
TF 精选
12 晚泰国奢华之旅 城市与海滩 1,599 英镑
寻找您的度假灵感...
美国加州巡游
14 晚 1,199 英镑 起-
另需在当地支付每人 349 美元
直飞航班，3 晚 4★ 旧金山酒店（含早餐），11 晚可容纳最多 5 人的房车租赁（含 1,500 英里里程包）以及阿尔卡特拉斯岛与旧金山 2 日随上随下巴士之旅
- 沿着标志性的 1 号公路南下加州海岸
特别优惠：里程包 50% 折扣
- 每对夫妇可节省 £250 以上
澳大利亚与新西兰航程
32 晚 9,999 英镑( ^{†} ) 起
航班，2 晚 4★+ 香港酒店，16 晚 3★+ 至 4★+ 澳大利亚酒店，罗特尼斯岛探险，珀斯 3 天租车，印度太平洋铁路 3 天金级双人舱（含火车外体验及部分餐饮），乌鲁鲁早晨导览基础步行游，从乌鲁鲁前往国王峡谷，以及 12 晚名人邮轮（Celebrity cruise，含全餐、经典饮品套餐及 wi-fi）
南非花园大道与野生动物猎游，超值之选
12 晚 2,199 英镑( ^{1} ) 起
另需在当地支付每人 670 欧元
航班，3★+ 至 4★ 酒店，9 天租车，开普敦 2 日随上随下巴士之旅，法兰舒克葡萄酒电车，刚果洞穴之旅，猫鼬猎游，2 次半日 Pumba 野生动物猎游体验，10 餐及私人接机服务
- 探索开普敦的活力
加拿大西部 家庭冒险之旅
13 晚 2,549 英镑* 起
另需在当地支付每人 135 加元
直飞航班，酒店，11 天租车，温哥华随上随下巴士城市之旅，FlyOver Canada；夏季阿尔卑斯体验，滑索之旅，熊类观赏之旅，终极落基山探索票及牛仔烧烤（含午餐）
价格适用于 2027 年夏季假期
寻找您的巡游冒险...
越南与柬埔寨精华游
17 晚 2,499 英镑- 起
航班，1 晚游前酒店及 17 天导览小型团体冒险之旅（含 14 晚酒店，1 晚传统帆船，1 晚卧铺火车，共享交通，领队，活动 / 远足及 20 餐）
特别优惠：行程折扣
- 每人可节省 £150 以上
日本：大阪、京都、富士山与东京
7 晚 3,299 英镑( ^{2} ) 起
航班，1 晚游前 4★+ 酒店及 7 天导览小型团体冒险之旅（含 6 晚酒店，共享交通，领队，活动 / 远足及 2 餐）
- 漫步于京都最著名的艺伎区——祇园 • 穿行在伏见稻荷大社数以千计的标志性鸟居之下
斯里兰卡深度高端游
14 晚 4,399 英镑( ^{2} ) 起
航班，1 晚游前酒店及 14 天导览小型团体冒险之旅（含 13 晚酒店，共享交通，领队，活动 / 远足及 21 餐）
-
在文化三角区了解该国迷人的历史
-
在加勒体验烹饪课程 TF 独家行程折扣
-
每人可节省 £200 以上
经典哥斯达黎加
12 晚 3,599 英镑- 起
航班及 13 天私人行程（含 10 晚酒店及 2 晚山庄，私人及共享交通与导游，活动 / 远足及 17 餐）
- 领略哥斯达黎加惊人的生物多样性 • 欣赏阿雷纳尔火山的壮丽景色 • 漫步于神秘的蒙特韦尔德云雾森林
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AllClear™
AllClear Gold、Gold Plus 和 Platinum 获得了 Which? Best Buy 认证。AllClear Gold Plus 和 Platinum 被 Defaqto 评为 5 星级。“我们在 99.5% 以上的案例中提供了承保（2025 quotes），但不能保证在所有情况下都能承保。” 2025年英国经纪商奖，客户服务奖。* 折扣仅适用于基础保费，不适用于任何用于承保医疗状况或可选附加项的保费，且自动适用。此折扣不能与其他任何优惠同时使用。优惠于 23:59 在 31 / 08 / 26 结束。欲了解更多信息，请参阅 AllClearTravel.co.uk 的条款与条件。
惊艳邮轮假期
Celebrity X Cruises®
西班牙加那利群岛与摩洛哥
14 NIGHTS HOLIDAY - 12 NIGHTS CELEBRITY INFINITY
包含项目：
英国至巴塞罗那往返机票
手提及托运行李
2nts 巴塞罗那住宿
12nts 全包邮轮行程
（提供61nts套餐）
巴塞罗那至英国往返机票
行程
- 巴塞罗那
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- 直布罗陀
- 巴塞罗那
参考号：13687
flightsandpackages.com™
机票 假期 酒店 邮轮
出发时间 Nov 2026 - Mar 2027
立即致电：0208 176 4952
旅游保险 有医疗状况？没问题！
我们的医疗筛查方式不同。您可能会获得更优惠的价格！
免费致电：
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由金融行为监管局授权并监管，编号 471641。适用条款与条件。* 折扣仅适用于基础保费，不适用于任何医疗筛查保费、可选附加项或管理费。折扣有效期至 31 / 12 / 2026。
年度及单次行程
承保所有类型的病史
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© 2025. 保留所有权利。此处包含的所有信息如有更改，恕不另行通知 此处包含的所有信息如有更改，恕不另行通知。
Page 59
THE SOVEREIGN
邮轮俱乐部
自 1998 年起的奢华邮轮专家
闪购！冠莎邮轮（Cunard）往期乘客可享额外最高 10% 折扣！适用于许多 2027 & 2028 年的航次！ 致电了解详情。7 NIGHTS 挪威峡湾 £675 及 82 NIGHTS 南美探索之旅 £740！
THE 5★ 挪威与北角
13 October 2026, 12 Nights, Queen Anne
南安普顿 > 亚历山德鲁（Alesund） > 特罗姆瑟（Tromso，过夜） > 纳尔维克（Narvik，过夜） > 斯塔万格 > 南安普顿 (H626)
IC Inside £1061
Oceanview WATLISTED
CB Balcony £2335
Q2 Grill Suite £8971
名额有限，包括 Balcony 及以上房型，船上消费额最高可达 $470
THE 5★ 汉堡与泽布鲁赫
18 October 2026, 5 Nights, RMS Queen Mary 2
南安普顿 > 汉堡 > 泽布鲁赫（布鲁日） > 南安普顿 (M62&D)
IC Inside £676
Oceanview WATLISTED
DC Balcony £820
Grill Suite
名额有限
THE 5★ 加那利群岛与马德拉
4 December 2026, 12 Nights, Queen Victoria
南安普顿 > 马德拉 > 拉帕尔马 > 特内里费 > 兰萨罗特 > 里斯本 > 南安普顿 (V623)
Inside £918
£1014
BF Balcony £1207
Grill Suite £3712
名额有限，包括 Grill Suite，船上消费额最高可达 $340
5星级圣诞加那利群岛之旅
2026年12月20日，14晚，安妮女王号 (Queen Anne)
南安普顿 > 马德拉 > 兰萨罗特 > 福尔特文图拉 > 特内里费 > 拉帕尔马 > 里斯本（过夜） > 南安普顿 (H7101)
ID 内舱房 £26422
海景房 候补中 (WAITLISTED)
CC 阳台房 £2829
格里尔套房 (Grill Suite) £5009
名额有限，含格里尔套房最高 $390 的船上消费金
5星级西班牙与法国之旅
2027年3月28日，7晚，伊丽莎白女王号 (Queen Elizabeth)
南安普顿 > 拉科鲁尼亚 > 希洪 > 桑坦德 > 谢尔堡 > 南安普顿 (Q709N)
IE 内舱房 £675
海景房 £772
BF 阳台房 £917
P1 格里尔套房 £2210
含格里尔套房最高 $400 的船上消费金
5星级挪威峡湾之旅
2027年4月4日，7晚，伊丽莎白女王号 (Queen Elizabeth)
南安普顿 > 斯塔万格 > 舍尔登 > 奥勒松 > 豪格松 > 南安普顿 (Q709P)
ID 内舱房 £830
£897
BE 阳台房 £1283
格里尔套房 £2301
是时候升级到 Sovereign 了！如果您的豪华旅行代理不能在三声铃响内接听 95% 的所有电话，且没有自动电话答复，并为您提供最优质的服务、著名的专业知识、保证最低的价格以及完整的 ABTA / ATOL 保护，请立即致电我们！
5星级亚速尔群岛、葡萄牙与西班牙之旅
2026年11月1日，12晚，安妮女王号 (Queen Anne)
南安普顿 > 庞塔德尔加达（过夜） > 马德拉 > 里斯本 > 维戈 > 南安普顿 (H628)
内舱房 £946
候补中 (WAITLISTED)
BE 阳台房 £1641
格里尔套房 £3793
名额有限，含阳台房及以上房型最高 $340 的船上消费金
5星级西班牙、摩洛哥与葡萄牙之旅
2026年11月11日，16晚，维多利亚女王号 (Queen Victoria)
南安普顿 > 马德拉 > 特内里费 > 兰萨罗特 > 阿加迪尔 > 卡萨布兰卡 > 丹吉尔 > 里斯本 > 南安普顿 (V623)
内舱房 £1497
£1574
BF 阳台房 £2095
£6905
名额有限，含格里尔套房最高 $450 的船上消费金
5星级荷兰之旅
2026年11月25日，4晚，安妮女王号 (Queen Anne)
南安普顿 > 鹿特丹（过夜） > 南安普顿 (H630)
IC 内舱房 £348
CB 阳台房 £522
P1 格里尔套房 £1586
名额有限
5星级南美探索之旅
2027年1月19日，82晚，安妮女王号 (Queen Anne)
南安普顿 > 7天海上航行 > 汉密尔顿（百慕大） > 卡纳维拉尔港 > 劳德代尔堡 > 大特克岛 > 巴巴多斯 > 福塔莱萨 > 萨尔瓦多 > 布齐奥斯 > 里约热内卢（过夜） > 桑托斯（前往圣保罗游览） > 蒙得维的亚 > 布宜诺斯艾利斯（过夜） > 马德林港 > 乌斯怀亚 > 霍恩角（航行经过） > 蓬塔阿雷纳斯 > 阿马利亚冰川（景观巡航） > PIO X 冰川（景观巡航） > 蒙特港 > 圣安东尼奥（过夜 - 前往圣地亚哥游览） > 科金博 > 阿里卡 > 卡亚俄（过夜 - 前往利马游览） > 阿马多尔港（过夜 - 前往巴拿马城游览） > 过巴拿马运河 > 阿鲁巴 > 劳德代尔堡 > 卡纳维拉尔港（过夜） > 7天海上航行 > 维多利亚海滩 > 南安普顿 (H7038)
£7401
EC 海景房 10,335 英镑
BB 阳台房 11,020 英镑
24,885 英镑
本周特惠 6，含格里尔套房最高 $3700 的船上消费金
5星级加那利群岛与摩洛哥之旅
2027年1月19日，16晚，伊丽莎白女王号 (Queen Elizabeth)
南安普顿 > 兰萨罗特 > 特内里费 > 大加那利岛 > 阿加迪尔 > 卡萨布兰卡 > 丹吉尔 > 里斯本 > 南安普顿 (Q703N)
£1787
£1816
BB 阳台房 £2867
13,345 英镑
名额有限，含格里尔套房最高 $860 的船上消费金
5星级地中海之旅
2027年4月7日，14晚，安妮女王号 (Queen Anne)
南安普顿 > 维戈 > 巴塞罗那 > 阿尔盖罗 > 卡利亚里 > 马拉加 > 直布罗陀 > 南安普顿 (H730)
IE 内舱房 £1188
EC 海景房 £1506
阳台房 £1641
£3638
含格里尔套房最高 $600 的船上消费金
5星级挪威峡湾之旅
2027年6月20日，7晚，安妮女王号 (Queen Anne)
南安普顿 > 奥尔登 > 舍尔登 > 豪格松 > 南安普顿 (H717)
£675
£887
CB 阳台房 £1158
£2301
本周特惠 6，含格里尔套房最高 $400 的船上消费金
2027年7月15日，7晚，安妮女王号 (Queen Anne)
南安普顿 > 斯塔万格 > 奥尔登 > 奥勒松 > 豪格松 > 南安普顿 (H720)
£772
EE 海景房 £907
阳台房 £965
£1933
P&O 邮轮 (P&O CRUISES)
延伸航程：从加勒比海岸到地中海之悦
包含超过 £2175 的额外价值
独家提供
从英国飞往迈阿密，从巴塞罗那返回
赠送 1 晚酒店住宿，探索迈阿密
在 MSC Seashore 号上开启从迈阿密到巴塞罗那的 28 晚沉浸式航程
赠送高级额外饮品套餐：尽享您喜爱的所有饮品，包括精选鸡尾酒、烈酒、啤酒、葡萄酒、软饮料、果汁、咖啡、茶以及瓶装水，且不限数量。
船上预付小费
船上涵盖一系列免费场所的餐饮服务
船上娱乐活动，包括现场音乐和表演
包含船上所有港口税费及相关费用
曼彻斯特-伯明翰-格拉斯哥-爱丁堡 价格基于希思罗机场出发
起价 £3990* 内舱房 每人 / 双人共享
日期 2028年3月18日 / 优惠代码 CC-41223
海景房、阳台房、AUREA 房及游艇俱乐部房请致电咨询详情
cruiseclubuk.com / 免费电话 0808 253 5602
★★★★★ leefo
咨询专家 每周营业 7 天
周一至周五：上午 9 点 - 下午 6 点 / 周六及周日 上午 9 点 - 下午 5 点
需要签证：Cruise Club UK 是 Travelworld International MCR 的子公司。Cruise Club UK 作为 ATOL 持有者 / 代理商提供财务保障。请注意，酒店住宿可能涉及当地城市税、旅游税或住宿税，除非另有说明，否则必须由客人直接支付给酒店。*价格基于双人共享每人价格，且视供应情况及汇率波动而定。价格在预订确认前如有变动，恕不另行通知。ABTA 编号：55095 / ATOL 编号：5675。完整条款与条件请参阅：cruiseclubuk.com / terms-conditions.phtml
选择顶级合作伙伴预订 OCEANIA 邮轮
独家票价将于 2026年8月23日 晚上 8 点上涨
信赖 30 余年
成人专属 5★ 无需飞行航程
充满活力的波罗的海之都
最高可节省 30%*
免费
小费、Wi-Fi 及特色餐饮**
免费
基础饮品 套餐**
岸上
观光信用额 最高可达 $800**
汽车停车位**
适用于所有预订
5★ 成人专属邮轮之旅
Oceania Marina 号精致且奢华，搭载乘客不超过 1,250 人，营造出一种自然精致且极具私人感的氛围。这种精品规模提供了宽敞的空间、周到的服务以及大型邮轮无法复制的悠闲节奏。
开放式座位餐饮、不拥挤的柚木甲板以及海景休息室营造出一种宁静而高雅的感觉。“海上最顶尖美食®”定义了 Oceania Cruises 的体验。其烹饪计划赞美世界各大美食地区的食材、技艺和传统——反映了他们访问的目的地。从在全球范围内采购优质的手工艺食材，到宽敞的先进厨房，以及在执行烹饪总监和法国大师级厨师 Alexis Quaretti 与 Eric Barale 的持续启发下不断创新的卓越厨师团队。
14 晚航程 2027年6月8日 出发
请参阅 Cruise.co.uk 以获取完整条款与条件。通话内容将被录音，用于营销及培训目的。每人 $1,500 的优惠额度基于 2027年7月27日 Oceania Nautica 邮轮的船东套房（Owner's Suite），其他舱位等级的金额及上限仅适用于 2027年7月25日、2027, 7月27日、2027年8月8日和 2027年8月18日。此优惠不适用于 2027年8月23日和 2027年7月17日的 Oceania Nautica 邮轮航次、Oceania 邮轮“买一赠一”活动、英国 Oceania 邮轮活动或任何其他 cruise.co.uk 的促销活动。“Luxury For Less”优惠将于 31 August 2026. 结束。大幅折扣作为 Explorer Fare 的一部分提供，且在该票价优惠下，Cruise.co.uk 可在预订时选择客户的舱位号。Cruise.co.uk 保留无需事先通知或公告即可修改或变更本次促销条款的权利。请参阅 cruise.co.uk 以获取完整条款与条件。通话内容将被录音，用于营销和培训目的。$&DE.
探索
由 NON-MEDIAN 提供
度假代码：EUR2292
度假时长在适用时包含过夜航班，且可能会有所变动。*所示价格包含基于两名乘客同住并直接通过 Imagine Cruising 预订的折扣和优惠。
扫描二维码 获取更多信息
IMAGINE CRUISING®
致电我们：
01793 575 239
周一至周日：上午 9 点 - 晚上 8 点
访问我们的网站
imaginecruising.co.uk
欲了解完整条款和条件，请访问 www.imaginecruising.co.uk。Imagine Cruising 已获得 ABTA 和 ATOL 的全面担保。价格在印刷时正确，且可能会有所变动。价格为每人价格，基于两名成人共用一个邮轮客舱或套房，并包含前往伦敦的机票（可补差价选择地区航班）。
亚洲热带三部曲
巴厘岛静修、新加坡司令与古老泰国
cruise.co.uk
航程等级
cruise.co.uk 独家提供
免费入住
巴厘岛和新加坡
12 晚
钻石公主号（Diamond Princess）邮轮之旅
已包含
往返机票
及海外接送
您的 20 晚精彩行程
第 1 天：从英国飞往印度尼西亚巴厘岛（过夜航班）
可选地区出发机场*
今天，您将从英国乘坐过夜航班飞往巴厘岛。
第 2 天：抵达印度尼西亚巴厘岛
抵达巴厘岛并前往酒店，开启五晚的奢华入住。在第一个夜晚，您可以选择在泳池边放松，或在印度洋的日落余晖中享用传统的巴厘岛晚餐。
第 3-6 天：印度尼西亚巴厘岛
在水明漾（Seminyak）或苍古（Canggu）尽情沐浴阳光。漫步在火山沙滩上，观看世界级冲浪者挑战浪尖，并在海滨休息室享用鸡尾酒，静看太阳沉入印度洋。
第 7 天：从印度尼西亚巴厘岛飞往新加坡
在享用最后一顿热带早餐后，前往机场飞往新加坡。抵达后，前往酒店入住一晚。在这座超现代的大都市中，未来主义建筑与郁郁葱葱的植物园相得益彰。
第 8 天：在新加坡登上钻石公主号
上午自由活动后，前往邮轮码头登上优雅的钻石公主号，开启 12 晚的邮轮之旅。入住您的舱房并探索邮轮的独特设施，包括正宗的 Izumi 日式浴池，准备启航。
第 9 天：马来西亚巴生港
巴生港是马来西亚最大的港口，是通往吉隆坡充满活力的城市生活的门户。在这个迷人的港口体验繁忙的氛围，让自己沉浸在当地文化中。
第 10 天：马来西亚兰卡威
兰卡威以其晶莹剔透的蓝色海水、沙滩和热带雨林而闻名，是由 99 个岛屿组成的群岛，位于马来西亚海岸线外，是自然爱好者的天堂。
第 11 天：马来西亚乔治市
探索槟城乔治市充满活力的街道，在这里，殖民时期的魅力与繁华的市场和令人垂涎的美食相结合，构成了文化与风味的难忘织锦。
第 12 天：泰国普吉岛
前往泰国最大的岛屿普吉岛，领略一个神奇且令人着迷的天堂，这里以纯净的沙滩、青绿色的海水和热闹的夜生活而闻名。
第 16 天：泰国苏梅岛
前往位于泰国湾的热带天堂苏梅岛。其纯净的沙滩、清澈见底的海水和茂密的森林，无论是海滩爱好者还是冒险寻求者都将在此找到理想之所。
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14 晚行程，出发日期为 2027 年 1 月 16 日和 30 日、2 月 27 日以及 3 月 27 日
尚有其他日期可选 – 请致电咨询详情
第 1 天 从伦敦飞往越南胡志明市（隔夜航班）
第 2 天 越南，胡志明市 抵达后，接机前往西顿胡志明市大剧院酒店 – 大剧院塔楼（Sheraton Saigon Grand Opera Hotel – Grand Opera Tower）入住两晚 标志性体验：VIP 快速通道服务 通过快速通道服务，您可以在抵达越南胡志明市时享受无缝衔接，尽快开启您的假期。快速通过入境检查和海关
第 3 天 古芝地道 – 越南，胡志明市 参观越南战争期间越南抵抗战士挖掘的古芝地道 标志性体验：参观古芝地道、Furnace On Tushing 及晚餐，以及参观越南之家（Vietnam House）
第 4 天 胡志明市 – 越南 My Thai 登上“湄公河宁静号”（Mekong Serenity）开启为期七晚的湄公河游轮之旅。可选项目包括：城市观光游、Marorbide 骑行、烹饪课、胡志明市购物探险或西贡历史之旅。晚上，在船上享用特别的欢迎晚餐
第 5 天 越南，该边 – 朔德 – 新州 前往参观湄公河三角洲最高的教堂——该边教堂，并参观米纸和椰子糖制造商
第 6 天 新州 – 柬埔寨边境过境 – 金边
换乘小船，沿着蜿蜒在新州周围的细小支流航行。下船进行人力车之旅，并参观当地的藤编工作坊。午餐后，乘坐小船探索长青岛（Evergreen Island）上原汁原味的乡村生活
第 7 天 柬埔寨，金边 今天，可选项目包括：参观杀戮场和种族灭绝博物馆、骑三轮车、参观国家博物馆或王宫及银阁寺
第 8 天 柬埔寨，金边 – 奥东 – 科灿 标志性体验：佛教祈福仪式
第 9 天 柬埔寨，金边 – Oknhu Tey – 吴哥班 第 10 天 柬埔寨，吴哥班 – 科潘 – 磅湛
在导游带领下步行游览吴哥班，这是一个充满柬埔寨文化历史气息的村庄，也是少数在红色高棉政权时期幸存下来的传统村庄之一。 标志性体验：科潘突突车之旅
第 11 天 柬埔寨，磅湛 – 暹粒 下船，调转船头，随后接送至索菲特吴哥波克梅塔高尔夫及水疗度假村（Safitel Angkor Phokmetha Golf & Spa Resort*）入住三晚
第 12 天 柬埔寨，暹粒 标志性体验：吴哥窟日出
第 13 天 柬埔寨，暹粒 可选项目包括：突突车前往 Senteure d'Angkor、全地形车（Quad Bike）探险、APCPO HerakATS 之旅和地雷博物馆、骑马和 Cort 骑行、高棉烹饪课、暹粒购物探险或高棉按摩 标志性体验：参观画廊并享用高棉晚餐及仙女舞（Apsara）表演
标志性体验：参观画廊并享用高棉晚餐及仙女舞（Apsara）表演
第 14 天 柬埔寨，暹粒 前往机场，搭乘隔夜航班返回伦敦
第 15 天 抵达伦敦 （行程主要基于 2027 年 1 月 30 日，其他日期可能按相反顺序运行）
您的亮点
吴哥窟日出
高棉晚餐及仙女舞表演
科潘突突车之旅
佛教祈福仪式
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独家
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2026 年 8 月 17 日
成人专属邮轮之旅
-
在仅限成人的 Borealis 号上享受无需飞行的邮轮之旅，包括**：
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午餐和晚餐包含饮品，包括店内啤酒、葡萄酒和现饮软饮
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包含小费
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丰富的餐厅、休息室和酒吧选择，以及经典的双层剧院
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整个航程的所有餐饮，从五道菜单点晚餐到休闲的早餐和午餐自助餐以及深夜小吃，外加配备所有传统装饰的圣诞盛宴晚餐
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OCEANS 会员可节省 5%*
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船上通用货币为英镑
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船上节日活动
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此外，在 2026 年 8 月 21 日晚上 8 点前预订海景房或以上房型，即可获得一份独家免费 Betty's 礼品*
赚取独家邮轮里程，价值数百英镑，可用于下次 ROL Cruise 邮轮之旅*
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票价基于两名成人共用房间，可能会随时上涨或撤销。优惠仅适用于新预订。价格和可用性在 14 / 08 / 2026 签发时正确。eCreams 会员折扣将在预订时适用，且适用条款与条件。•礼品每笔预订限一份，仅限英国本土地址。**受邮轮公司条款与条件约束。适用 Fred. Olsen 满意度保证条款与条件。††适用“邮轮里程”条款与条件。适用 Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines 条款与条件。£8 / 26
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在 Azamara Journey® 号上享受 14 晚全包式邮轮之旅
包含酒精和非酒精饮料、店内烈酒、葡萄酒和国际啤酒
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内舱房*
3,199 英镑.00
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3,499 英镑.00
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5,999 英镑.00
假期代码：AME8278
所示价格、时长和行程基于 2026 年 11 月 11 日出发。所示价格包含折扣，且基于两名乘客共用房间并直接通过 Imagine Cruising 预订而产生的节省。
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完整条款与条件请访问 www.imaginecruising.co.uk。Imagine Cruising 已获得 ABTA 和 ATOL 的全面担保。价格在印刷时正确，且可能会发生变化。价格为每人价格，基于两名成人共用邮轮客舱，并包含从伦敦出发的航班（区域航班需额外付费）。假期时长包含适用时的过夜航班，且可能会发生变化。
Chums 男装 女装 家居
在 Chums 居家购物
超值优惠，免费配送 且免费退货！
时尚女士露趾一脚蹬凉鞋
夏季绝佳选择，价格实惠！
这些女士露趾一脚蹬凉鞋时尚、迷人且百搭。 无论是搭配长裤、牛仔裤，还是半身裙或连衣裙，都能展现出色的效果。
侧面采用冲孔图案设计，正面点缀精致的花朵细节，这款凉鞋代表了夏季时尚的顶峰。鞋身轻盈且透气，配备缓冲鞋垫和灵活鞋底以增加舒适度；得益于一脚蹬设计，穿脱极其便捷。
每双仅售 £20，为您提供极高的性价比。我们相信您会爱上这款时尚的一脚蹬凉鞋。本产品提供 4 种绝佳颜色：黑色、海军蓝、皮灰色或白色，确保您能找到最符合个人喜好和风格的色调。
鞋面 / 内里 / 鞋垫 / 鞋底：人造材料。标准版型 - 订购编号 LJ435
立即在线订购 —— 快速、安全且便捷！
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少些忧虑
多些生活
选择 Pegasus Home，体验更少的麻烦与更多的自由。在充满活力的社区中，享受时尚且低维护的家；我们还提供额外激励措施以减轻生活成本，您的服务费和主要账单最高可获得两年的覆盖。*
在不妥协生活品质的前提下缩小居住规模，从而腾出更多的时间和金钱，与您爱的人一起做您喜欢的事情。但不要只听我们地介绍：
“搬家让我们的生活变得更好了，我们热爱这里！”
Cynthia 和 Richard，Pegasus Homes 住户
在 2026 年 8 月 31 日前预订您的 Pegasus 新家，即可享受价值高达 4.5 万英镑** 的激励措施，以协助支付生活成本。
服务费 补贴*
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公用事业费
在全国各地的 Pegasus homes 探索愉悦的晚年生活 售价 25 万英镑 起 / 租金每月 1,650 英镑 起
0207 980 8715 / sales@pegasushomes.co.uk
www.pegasushomes.co.uk / moreliving
此激励措施仅适用于 2026 年 5 月 1 日至 8 月 31 日（激励措施结束日）期间的新预订。仅从 Pegasus Homes 购买的指定房产有资格获得此激励措施。该激励措施将补贴最高两年的账单费用，最高金额根据所购房产的价值而定。激励措施将在交易完成时作为财务补贴从结算单中扣除。Pegasus Homes 保留随时在不通知的情况下延长、修改或撤销此促销活动的权利。完整条款请访问 www.pegasushomes.co.uk / termsandconditions
广告
ARTHRO GLOVES
骨关节炎 止痛手套
卓越的医疗修复纤维技术
无需任何药物，缓解您的手部骨关节炎疼痛！是的！无需任何药物！
得益于一种温和且创新的方法：我们的 Arthro Gloves 佩戴舒适，采用高医疗技术制造，其材质和成分可作用于该疾病的所有症状并有效缓解疼痛。
舒缓疼痛 帮助矫正骨骼 帮助修复关节
抗骨关节炎手套通过减轻炎症、阻塞和疼痛来作用于手部关节炎。
- 防止软骨和关节的磨损
- 减轻并预防炎症
- 防止骨骼间相互摩擦
- 帮助矫正错位部位
- 促进良好循环
多重作用 = 超高效：对患处进行持续按摩，设有适配的压力点，为您的双手提供保暖和保护，并扩散磁能以刺激愈合。
抗痛，抗炎
受骨关节炎影响的手部和手腕会产生疼痛。通过抗骨关节炎手套，面料施加的理想压力可保护并维持手部软骨。结果：炎症减轻，您可以在没有任何不适的情况下恢复手指和手腕的活动能力。
修复软骨
在抗关节炎手套的刺激下，血液循环恢复，并有助于软骨的重建：骨骼回到原位，互不接触，使阻塞消失。
磁修复刺激点
手套在骨关节炎影响的关节处精确布置了磁性压力点。这些是磁修复刺激点，能立即缓解疼痛区域。它们像磁铁一样刺激愈合并减轻疼痛。
医疗修复纤维
该手套由一种由医疗修复纤维组成的特殊纺织品制成。它们施加理想的压力以防止手指肿胀。它们还通过热疗为手部保暖并恢复良好的血液循环以治疗炎症。
传统医学
从未展现出 如此显著的效果！
结果证明了这一点……
我们注意到：软骨得到修复，骨骼畸形减轻，炎症得到缓解，关节更加灵活且活动度更高。
致电我们的订购热线：
0203 455 7889
或立即在线订购：
www.MagnoGloves.co.uk
或将填写完整的优惠券邮寄至：Wellform Ltd, Wallbrook West, Queenborough Road, Minster on Sea, Sheerness, ME12 3XT.
WELLFORM LIMITED, Dept H15DMAG, Wallbrook West, Queenborough Road, Minster on Sea, Sheerness, ME12 3XT.
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请邮寄至：WELLFORM LIMITED, Dept H15DMAG, Wallbrook West, Queenborough Road, Minster on Sea, Sheerness, ME12 3XT。标准配送至英国本土。配送至北爱尔兰、高地、苏格兰和海峡群岛、马恩岛需支付 £10.99
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H66195 / 1 双 ARTHRO 手套 / £14.99 Z2H66195 / 2 双 ARTHRO 手套 节省 £5.00 / £24.98 英国本土 (3-5 个工作日) / £4.99 特快配送 (仅限英国本土，1-2 个工作日) / £7.99 北爱尔兰、高地、苏格兰和海峡群岛、马恩岛 (6 个工作日) / £10.99
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即日起直接从 PRESSPLAY DEALS 订购
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每一个字 响亮且 清晰
惊人的
骨传导 声音放大器 仅需 £79.99 · 邮费
清晰地听到一对一对话、 电话通话、广播、电视以及日常 声音，且无不适感。
即时
CLAMSY
放大速度和日常声音，且无失真！
开放式佩戴
舒适感
耳朵内无任何遮挡，呼吸顺畅，聆听自在！
轻量
重量
重量 是必要的 舒适 4 / 8
这款骨传导放大器（BONE CONDUCTOR AMPLIFIER）轻巧、现代且易于佩戴，无需繁琐的控制或不舒服的耳塞，即可为您的生活找回清晰的声音。
它不堵塞耳朵，而是利用骨传导技术将声音通过颧骨直接传输到内耳。其结果是晶莹剔透的声音，并能完全感知周围发生的一切。
无回声或声音沉闷 听到自己的声音
自然，没有轰鸣的脚步声，没有听到自己的声音，只有平衡的听觉。无论您是在行走、交谈还是在家里放松，骨传导放大器都能让您保持连接——自然且毫不费力。轻巧且全天易于佩戴。忘掉那些微小、繁琐的控制按钮和不舒服的耳塞吧。戴上骨传导放大器，重新发现清晰、自然的声音——这就是声音本该被听到的方式！
简短 参考代码 NC 3 0016
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£
汽车
作者：Rob Hull 汽车编辑
当人们拥有一辆罕见的车时，是否还会这样做？
二十年前，我有一辆阿尔法·罗密欧 GT。那是我比较后悔的购买决定之一，但每当我在路上看到另一辆时，我都会本能地向驾驶员点头或挥手致意，希望对方能做出同样的回应。
我发现自己本周也在做同样的事情——但这次是在一辆 Astra 里，这是我们车道上第五常见的车型。但欧宝最新的第八代版本几乎没有增加数量。它如此罕见，以至于看到另一位车主感觉就像遇到了失散多年的亲人。
原因很简单：英国人不再热爱家庭两厢车了。2005年，Astra 是英国第二畅销的车型，注册量接近 108,500 辆，到 2007 年，年销量已攀升至 123,000 辆以上。
去年？只有 3,467 辆找到了主人——在二十年间崩溃了 97%。
如今，它在欧宝的产品线中处于阴影之中。Corsa、Molda 和 Grandland 的销量都轻松超过了它。在家庭两厢车的等级制度中，大众每卖出一辆 Astra，大约能卖出十辆 Golf。
这很遗憾，因为这款车仍然有很多值得喜爱的地方。
为什么我们不再热爱 Astra 了？
经过近期的改款，Astra 系列涵盖了掀背车和旅行车车型，并提供汽油、轻混、插电式混合动力和纯电动力总成。
最便宜的是 1.2 升汽油版，起售价为 27,495 英镑，而混合动力和纯电版本的起售价则统一为 29,995 英镑。掀背车和旅行车的价格也相同。
本次测试的版本是插电式混合动力版，它在提供充足动力的同时，纯电续航里程可达 52 英里。
在外观上，更新较为细微。更具棱角的前格栅和全新的轮毂设计使外观更加犀利，不过新的发光格里芬标志显得有些俗气。
在内饰方面，欧宝（Vauxhall）进行了合理的改进。前排加热座椅和方向盘成为标准配置，而钢琴黑饰条被耐用性更高的缎面处理中控台所取代。10 英寸的信息娱乐屏幕清晰且响应迅速，语音控制功能运行良好。
然而，车厢内部极其单调。虽然一切功能齐全且布局合理，但黑色和灰色的饰条显得阴沉。部分塑料件的感觉就像是从 1990 年代的 Cavalier 上拆下来的一样。
空间表现也好坏参半。前排乘客不会有任何抱怨，但后排乘客的空间比斯柯达 Octavia 要小。
而且，由于插电式混合动力版的电池位于后备箱地板下方，行李容量从 422 升下降至 352 升。
幸运的是，Astra 在行驶表现上弥补了不足。转向力度适中，车身控制出色，在过弯时具有真正的指向性。
悬挂在舒适性和控制力之间取得了不错的平衡。与日产 Qashqai 或起亚 Sportage 相比，你会更明显地感觉到路面的坑洼，但回报是更具参与感的驾驶体验。
插电式混合动力版同样迅猛。它在路口起步时动力强劲，在日常驾驶中感觉充满活力，如果定期充电，还能提供极佳的燃油经济性。
欧宝还优化了其驾驶辅助系统——降低了那没完没了的速度限制警告提示音的频率。
好车：新款 Astra 的道路表现出色
结论
Astra 最大的问题在于如何说服买家将目光移向 Sportage 和 Qashqai 等 SUV 之外。在许多方面，这款车的驾驶感受比它目前竞争的跨界车更好。
它经济实惠，依然是一款极具吸引力的家庭伴侣。然而，竞争对手提供了更令人印象深刻的内饰和更强的实用性。在价格上低于竞争对手一直是 Astra 的王牌。但它不再是曾经的性价比之王。例如，Golf 现在仅比它贵 1,500 英镑。
这很可惜，因为在销售数字之下，是一款值得更多关注的车型。英国市场可能正在发生转移，但 Astra 证明了传统的家庭掀背车依然具有生命力。
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安装楼梯升降机意味着在家中获得更多的自由和便捷。在 ，我们致力于帮助您在您热爱的地方充分地生活。楼梯升降机是增强独立性、舒适度和幸福感的象征，让您能够享受每一个时刻。
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motionciser
击败酷暑 – 使用 Dr. Ho 的 Motionciser 在室内锻炼！
腿部疲劳酸痛？
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现在就尝试 Dr Ho 的 MotionCiser！
1 保持凉爽舒适 坐在最喜欢的椅子上进行被动锻炼 2 让久坐更健康！ 轻柔的行走动作让双腿保持活动 3 按摩下肢！ 缓解肌肉紧张，带来全身心的舒缓舒适
这一切只需在最舒适的椅子上通过简单的远程控制即可实现！
在酷暑中挣扎？
不想出门？
在舒适的家中享受轻柔的锻炼。
Dr Ho 的 Motionciser 让您在最喜欢的椅子上放松时，双腿也能活动起来！
如果久坐后感觉腿部疲劳、沉重或不安，或者脚部经常冰冷、僵硬或酸痛，您会知道这种感觉多么令人疲惫。这种组合会让即使是最简单的一天也变得比预想中更艰难。
三合一疗法
Dr Ho 的 MotionCiser 是一款聪明的三合一设备，通过结合轻柔的运动、舒缓的震动和舒适的温暖，让锻炼变得毫不费力 —— 您只需坐下来放松即可！
轻松融入日常生活
每天仅需 30 分钟，您就能感受到变化。温暖有助于消除脚部的“冰冷”感；震动增加了舒适的按摩效果；而运动
模拟行走的节奏，将久坐转化为一种更健康、更积极的体验。
为双脚提供舒缓热力
85 岁的 L 夫人告诉我们：“它使用简单，用完后我的腿感觉更轻盈了。甚至我的脚已经变得更暖和了。”
全球畅销产品
MotionCiser 由世界著名的疼痛专家 Michael Ho 博士设计，操作简单，运行安静，且体积足够小，可以塞在椅子或沙发下面。
难怪它会成为他在全球范围内最受欢迎的健康创新产品之一。
现在就请在家里放心试用。立即订购，即可免费获得价值 £19.99 的运动弹力带以及免费配送！
价值 £19.99 的 Fit 弹力带
motionciser
持续行走运动
深层震动按摩疗法
为冰冷双脚提供舒缓热力
此外……可选 10 档速度和 5 档温度设置
将双脚放入 MotionCiser，立即感受不同。轻柔的运动让您的双腿保持活跃，舒缓的温暖帮助驱散寒意，而放松的震动则能缓解
坚固耐用的设计 无线遥控器 易握提手
疲劳的肌肉。使用简单，运行安静且易于存放——这是您每天都会需要的舒适与便捷。立即订购，可获价值 £19.99 的运动弹力带及配送服务。
Michael Ho 博士
升级
立即订购即可升级至 MotionCiser FIT，包含配送服务和价值 £19.99 的 Fit 弹力带——以便同时锻炼您的上半身——所有这些均无需额外费用！
“运动就是良药！MotionCiser 就像是疲劳双腿和酸痛双脚的润滑剂！” Michael Ho 博士
退款保证！
如果您现在购买，将受到 100 天无风险居家试用的保护——因此您没有任何损失，只能获得舒缓的舒适感！
运动、按摩和热力如何让您的双腿和双脚焕发活力！
刷新疲劳酸痛的肌肉！
运动是酸痛僵硬关节的润滑剂！
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100 天无风险试用
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裤长 31"
裤长： 特短 (27") 短 (29") 标准 (31")
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不能与其他任何优惠同时使用。*基于简单的 账单。Nationwide Mobility 是 Aquability UK Ltd. 的贸易名称。
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--。
如何为您的花园做好秋季准备
在享受阳光的同时，为您的地块制定计划
八月在花园中似乎是一个停滞期。许多花朵过早凋谢，缺水的草坪变成了令人疲倦的灰褐色，而叶片的边缘则变得干脆且发褐。
现在天气太干燥，不适合种植任何植物——为此我们必须等待凉爽日子的回归——但本月我们仍有许多工作可以做，为花园迎接秋季做好准备。
现在是放慢节奏并识别空隙的理想时机，看看今年是否有生长不佳需要移栽到其他地方的植物，或者有些植物已经无法挽救。
随身带一个笔记本到花园里，写下您的计划——并勾勒出您希望在那里看到什么的创意草图。
最好等到下个月再种新植物，但您现在可以列一份购物清单。您是否需要更多常绿植物来构建结构？如果是，什么样的植物才适合该方位和土壤类型？在现有的紫色鼠尾草背景下，一株亮黄色的鲁德贝基亚是否正合适？您的尖塔状植物是否太多，而雏菊形状或宽头伞形科植物不够？
现在是订购球根植物的好时机，因为热门品种很快就会售罄。根据您的土壤类型，郁金香可能需要每年更换，不过在 11 月之前不应将其种入地下或花盆。水仙、番红花、仙客来、雪滴花、葱属植物、贝母可以在 9 月或 10 月种植，因此请利用本月制定好种植位置的计划。在
彻底清理：夏末是修理棚屋和整理环境的完美时机
蔬菜园仍有时间播种冬季度蔬菜，如菠菜、羽衣甘蓝、甜菜、春季卷心菜和沙拉作物。现在将这些直接播种在准备充分的土地中并保持浇水。将晚熟马铃薯和胡萝卜种在大型容器中，以便在结霜时将其移至室内。
在凉爽的日子里，剪掉任何枯死或濒死的植物组织。不要过于剧烈，因为在天气依然温暖时，这可能会使植物承受压力。
夏末是修理棚屋和附属建筑的好时机，也是进行全面清理的好时机。整理并清扫棚屋和温室，清洗花盆，它们在阳光下会很快晾干。不知不觉中，九月就将到来，因此请利用这段休耕时间，将您的花园塑造为您想要的样子。
图片：ALAN
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--。
每个花园都需要的主打植物 - 节省超过 50%
具有强大开花能力的露台佛手柑
专为盆栽、露台及小型花园培育
Buddleja 'Little Rockstars Red' 1 盆 9cm 盆栽 £12.99
现仅需 £9.99
3 盆 9cm 盆栽 £38.97 £18.99
- 突破性的育种技术带来了具有强大开花能力的矮生佛手柑！
- 浓烈的红色花朵，花期持续且漫长
- 非常适合盆栽、露台、阳台及小型空间
Buddleja 'Little Rockstar Red' 专为自然紧凑的生长习性而培育，将灿烂的红色花朵与极长的花期相结合。
忘掉那些体积过大的蝶花灌木吧，这种节省空间的品种在盆栽、露台、阳台和小型花坛中能提供数周充满活力的色彩，且不失视觉冲击力。
其富含花蜜的花朵对蜜蜂和蝴蝶具有不可抗拒的吸引力，从夏季一直到深秋，都能让您的花园充满色彩和传粉昆虫的活动。该品种耐热且易于生长，仅需在早春进行轻微修剪，无需像传统佛手柑那样进行剧烈修剪。'Little Rockstar Red' 非常适合现代低维护花园，即使在最小的空间内也能提供大胆的色彩、紧凑的生长形态和卓越的野生动物吸引力。
8 月起以 9cm 盆栽形式供应。
请抓紧时间，优惠将于 8 月 29 日结束。
特别赠礼优惠
Antirrhinum Majus 'Shiryu Kiss'
真正的多年生金鱼草！现在，通过这种突破性的多年生新形态，我们最喜爱的床花品种之一可以年复一年地被欣赏。Antirrhinum 'Shiryu Kiss' 展现出令人惊叹的紫色花朵，带有白色和黄色的花喉，在极长的季节内连续不断地开花。
1 盆 9cm 盆栽 £14.99 现价 £9.99
www.thompson-morgan.com / TM_TS6269
在线订购时，请使用订单代码 TM_TS6269 以获取我们的特别优惠。
电话：0844 573 7414
电话线路开放时间：每周 7 天，上午 9 点至下午 5 点。 通话费用为每分钟 7p，外加您的电话公司收取的接入费。
Thompson & Morgan
自 1892 年起成为花园专家
请寄至：
Thompson & Morgan,
Dept TM_TS6269, Poplar Lane,
Ipswich, Suffolk, IP8 3BU.
信誉服务奖 1929-1969
番茄护理
为了让番茄持续结果，请定期给植株施肥和浇水。每周使用一次海藻基肥料，每天浇水——但要避免在正午时分浇水。继续将长茎系在支撑物上，尤其是户外种植时，以保护它们免受风害。
读者提问
我的新灌木变褐且枯萎了。它还能恢复吗？
P. Kramer 先生，大曼彻斯特郡，赛尔（Sale）。
如果您是今年种植的灌木且一直保持浇水，那么它可能是因为炎热干燥的天气而遭受了压力。但希望尚未破灭。
给它覆盖一层由腐熟有机物组成的良好覆盖层，继续浇水，它有可能在冬季月份期间再生。
然而，如果明年结果显示它已经枯死，而您想再次种植类似的灌木，请选择一个不同的位置，或改善种植床的土壤和水分水平。
本周植物
大丽花 'Black Narcissus' 是一款引人注目的半仙人掌型大丽花。其特点是具有深红色的蛛网状花瓣，颜色深到几乎看起来像黑色。它可以长到约 4 英尺高，在混合花境中给人留下令人惊叹的印象。偏好全日照，以及位于避风位置、湿润但排水良好的土壤。
Stay Home Stairlifts
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www.stayhomestairlifts.co.uk
本报读者八月图书特惠
您上次有时间寻找好书且支付如此低廉的价格是什么时候？
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平装本建议零售价 £9.99 《You Are Dead》 ★★★★ 彼得·詹姆斯 (Peter James)
平装本建议零售价 £9.99 《The Chess Men》 ★★★★ 彼得·梅 (Peter May)
平装本建议零售价 £10.99 《The Chalk Pit》 艾莉·格里菲斯 (Elly Griffiths)
免费赠送 奖励书籍 《The Stranger》
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平装本建议零售价 £8.99 ★★★★★ 哈兰·科恩 (Harlan Cohen)
使用优惠码 DMSMT750A
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《OPEN VERDICT》原价 £39.96，节省 £26.97，现仅需 £12.99
《The Fix》 ★★★★★ 大卫·巴拉迪尼 (David Baldacci)
《Doors Open》 伊恩·兰金 (Ian Rankin)
《The Last Coyote》 迈克尔·康奈利 (Michael Connelly)
免费赠送 奖励书籍 《Echo Of The Dead》
亚历克斯·格雷 (Alex Gray)
使用优惠码 DMSMT751A
立即选择您的套装
仅需 £12.99 即可拥有
如果您在接下来的 7 天内下单，可获赠免费书籍。
最高可节省 £26.97
现在，得益于 Bookhound 独特的非订阅图书服务，您可以以最低的价格发现最优秀的书籍——保证比建议零售价低 50% 或更多。
现在只需选择其中一个或两个顶级作者信息——每套仅需 £12.99（+邮费），即可节省至少 65% 的建议零售价。立即订购，每套 3 本书的组合将绝对免费获赠第 4 本奖励书籍。
欲了解更多关于我们及其绝佳优惠的信息，请访问 www.bookhound.com / pages / august--deals 或致电给我们。
请使用对面提供的优惠码以激活折扣
限时优惠
任选 3 本书套装仅需 £12.99 + 邮费
- 赠送价值最高 £9.99 的免费书籍
使用书籍套装旁的套装优惠码以激活折扣
在线订购：www..com / pages / august--deals 或致电 08000 557 997，7-10 天内送达
库存有限，免费奖励书籍优惠在 7 天后到期。如果您订购一套或多套，配送费仅为 £3.99
立即在 www..com / pages / august--deals 订购或致电 08000 557 997
--。
“一种既芬芳且一年能开花 10 个月的垂吊三色堇……没错，真的！”
三色堇 'Top Wave' 混色 买 10 送 10
20 株 庭院 就绪植株 仅需 €14.99 +邮费
节省 £14.99！
每株仅 75p！
打破所有规则的三色堇！
“一年中能开花 10 个月，我亲眼见证了。完全耐寒，而且是我见过最大的三色堇花朵。” —— 彼得，首席园丁
此前从未有人能做到这一点。一种具有真正甜香的全尺寸垂吊三色堇，从秋季一直开花到次年夏天。长达十个月的色彩倾泻，能抵御英国冬季的一切严苛天气！三色堇 'Top Wave' 是全球独家品种，简单来说，是这一代中最令人兴奋的三色堇新品种。
至于花朵本身？比已经很受欢迎的三色堇 'Cool Wave' 大 25%，以巨大的色彩波浪从吊篮、槽盆和高床的边缘溢出。 买 10 送 10 —— 每份订单包含 20 株庭院就绪植株，以 2 x 10 株装包的形式供应，可立即打造垂吊景观。
三色堇 'Top Wave' 商品编号：410233
以 20 株庭院就绪植株形式供应
买 10 送 10！仅需 £14.99
供应状态
每株 75p
独家：买 10 送 10！节省 £9.99
壁花 'Sunset Tutti Frutti'
优惠价 £9.99 可得 20 株
这个品种是对壁花的现代改良，将我们喜爱壁花的所有特点发挥到极致，在大多数植物开始年度生长之前，就为花园增添浓郁的色彩和不可抗拒的香气。以 2 x 10 株庭院就绪植株形式供应！商品编号：410021 仅需 £9.99 买 10 送 10
免费赠送！
100G 优质肥料，让生长速度更快
选择 £4.99
wave
12 年信赖服务
143,000+ 条评论
★★★★★ feelo™
您的双重保证
如果您不完全满意，请在 30 天内退回，我们将为您全额更换或退款。 如果之后有任何植株未能生长良好，我们将免费为您更换。您只需支付邮费。
彼得·麦克德莫特 (Peter McDermott)，首席园丁
you garden
独家优惠！
3 种便捷订购方式
随时在线购物：
0844 502 0050
通话费用为每分钟 5p，外加您的网络接入费
使用代码：DM951
或使用对面优惠券邮寄至：Offer DM951, YouGarden, PO Box 1468, Peterborough, PE1 9XL
© Copyright YouGarden Limited, 2026
经科学证明
由利兹大学开展的独立研究发现，坐在适配良好的 HSL 椅子上经科学证明可以：
降低心率
降低血压
改善血液循环
Andrea Utley 博士
利兹大学研究员
苏格兰
Bathgate EH48 2AG
Glasgow G13 2TG
Sterling Home 的 HSL 店铺：
新店 - Edinburgh BE25 3HR
新店 - Glasgow G32 8MQ
Tillicourtry FK13 6NS
北爱尔兰
Newtownabbey BT36 7LS
每周 7 天营业
专属椅子适配 由职业治疗师培训的座椅专家提供服务。
约克郡手工打造 我们的家族自 1968 年起就开始制造专业座椅。
上门安装 由专家配送并安装，最快 3 天即可完成。¹
选择最广 英国最大的专业座椅选择范围。
尺寸适配 我们的家具提供多种尺寸。
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¹ 2026 年 7 月 1 日至 8 月 31 日期间下单，系列产品最高可享 50% 折扣。不能与 Great Deals 或任何其他促销优惠同时使用，也不适用于追溯购买。所示折扣在印刷时正确，如有更改，恕不另行通知。² 价格是指 A 档面料中最小尺寸的椅子、沙发或床。所示产品为：带翼钮扣床头板的 5 英尺可调节床，颜色为 Steadple Bottle Green（原价 4,965 英镑 起，现价 3,972 英镑 起（免增值税价格））；Booster 单电机起立式躺椅，颜色为 Morris & Co. Willow Boughts Linen（原价 2,095 英镑 起，现价 £995 起（免增值税价格））；Buckingham 壁炉椅，颜色为 Cambridge Plaid Raspberry（原价 1,095 英镑 起，现价 £495 起）；以及 Burrows 经典沙发，颜色为 Fender-Oatmeal（原价 2,095 英镑 起，现价 1,295 英镑 起）。根据英国法律，符合条件的客户可免除可调节床和起立式躺椅的增值税，符合条件需具备合格的残疾或慢性疾病并完成免增值税声明。³ 周一至周四中午 12 点前下单，可支付 £75（含增值税）享受特快配送，并在三个工作日内送达，具体取决于邮政编码限制。所有优惠在库存有限的情况下适用。欲了解详细信息和邮政编码限制，请在店内咨询或访问 www.hslchairs.com。High Seat Limited, Units 1-3a Grange Road Industrial Estate, Grange Road, Batley, WF17 6LN. (Media: DML26)
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AVIVA
您的房产可以让您开启理想的退休生活
Aviva 房屋净值释放 ( Equity Release)
已经帮助 300,000 人 从其房产价值中解锁了超过 110 亿英镑 billion 的资金。这并不适合每个人，但我们可以帮助您了解我们的房屋净值释放是否能为您开启机遇之门。
我们提供的房屋净值释放类型是终身抵押贷款，这是一种以您的房产为担保的长期贷款。面向 55 岁及以上的英国房主。继承遗产将减少。
周一至周五，上午 9 点至下午 5 点，请免费致电：
0808 239 9254
或访问：.co.uk / equityrelease
我们已通过房屋净值释放为 300,000 人 开启了机遇之门
Equity Release UK Limited。在英格兰和威尔士注册，编号 3286484。, Wellington Row, York YO90 1NR。由英国金融行为监管局（FCA）授权并监管，公司参考编号 310433。PF012060B 04 / 2026 (63892)
城市与金融
城市编辑 Alex Brummer
www.thisisnowey.co.uk
商业编辑 Hugo Duncan
赛马运动必须增强动力
这是一件我从未预料到会写的事情。英国的“国王运动”——赛马，可能需要私募股权的治疗。
否则，这项运动可能会像其美国同行一样，处于走向终结的衰退轨道上。
令人不快的是，工党的“觉醒”执念意味着，在一个热爱博彩的国家，它正在为这项运动的棺材钉上另一颗钉子。
赛马一直是我生命的一部分，从我还是个小男孩起就是如此。我已故的父亲 Michael 是一位终身爱好者。
小时候，在陪他前往英格兰南部各地的赛马场时，我被鼓励爬过大门进入 Tattersalls 围场。
即使在 90 岁时，人们仍能看到我父亲坐在霍夫 Church Road 的 Ladbrokes 赌店的凳子上，准备好一堆 £1 硬币进行谨慎的投注。工党曾经
[...OMITTED...]
Alex Brummer
城市编辑
将赌博视为英国休闲产业的一部分。但瑞秋·里夫斯（Rachel Reeves）在担任财政大臣期间，以及现任首相安迪·伯纳姆（Andy Burnham），似乎决心扼杀这个建立在体育博彩之上的全球服务业。Coral的所有者Entain警告称，里夫斯将远程游戏税从 21% 提高到 40% 的举措将产生“巨大影响”。
奇怪的是，伯纳姆将投注站与电子烟店一起归类为高街的破坏者。然而，电子烟店因分销假货、廉价香烟甚至 A 类毒品而臭名昭著。无论人们是否喜欢，英国一直是在线体育博彩的先驱。
赛马处于英国赌博文化的核心，需要通过整容来繁荣。作为夏季社交季的一部分，皇家雅士谷（Royal Ascot）、埃普瑟姆（Epsom）和古德伍德（Goodwood）是繁荣且能吸引赞助的魅力盛事。
尽管动物权利组织试图摧毁这一壮观景象，但大国家赛（Grand National）和切尔滕纳姆节日（Cheltenham Festival）仍深受数百万人喜爱。英国目前仍支持 59 个赛马场。
然而，除非组织者和所有者能够采取有效行动，否则他们可能会步美国的后尘，那里已有 40 个场馆被关闭。
私募股权体育先驱 CVC 展示了如何处理衰落的体育企业。它以约 10亿英镑 的价格从伯尼·埃克莱斯通（Bernie Ecclestone）手中买下了 F1 组织。它将该特许经营权扩展到美国，将品牌货币化，并以约 80亿美元 的价格将其出售给 Liberty Media。F1 已经吸引了全球的新观众，估值达到 250亿美元。
F1 的关键在于拆除疲惫且好争吵的管理层，并用专业化取而代之。
主导赛马的组织——英国赛马管理局（British Horseracing Authority）、骑师俱乐部（Jockey Club）和赛马场协会（Racecourse Association）——虽然接受了中东的资金，但未能利用好机会。
电视版权、流媒体可能性、周边商品和新观众的潜力是巨大的。美国德克萨斯州的 F1 大奖赛已从一个简单的起点演变为一项近一周的活动，吸引了 300,000 名游客前往奥斯汀。
只要具备正确的财务技能，赛马凭借其在英国、美国、澳大利亚、香港和法国的深厚根基，没有理由不能找回它的活力。
停止预算
试探性放风，
希利被敦促
作者：Patrick Tooher
Aviva 的负责人敦促工党在预算案出台前不要“放风”，并建议排除对养老金进行税收突袭的可能性，以缓解储蓄者的恐惧。
这家保险公司的首席执行官阿曼达·布兰克（Amanda Blanc）表示，此前关于免税养老金一次性领取金额将被削减的猜测，导致许多人不必要地从退休金账户中提取现金。
在去年预算案出台前，关于这项高价值养老金福利将被针对的持续传闻，导致焦虑的储蓄者进行了“大量”提取——布兰克表示，这些决定是不可逆转的。
当时的财政大臣瑞秋·里夫斯最终将养老金账户免税提取的限额维持在 268,275 英镑。
“客户最好是等待并观察政府将采取什么行动，”布兰克（如图）说道。
“我们不希望客户做出在长期看来会让他们后悔的决定，以及
地基下陷索赔激增
英国最大的房屋保险公司计划增加其准备金，以应对预计将激增的地基下陷索赔，因为该国正经历今年夏季的第六次热浪。
Aviva 首席执行官 Amanda Blanc 昨日表示：“我们肯定需要审视[我们的]准备金，”但她并未说明可能需要增加多少金额。
但此举是在索赔和赔付额大幅增加之后做出的，这与漫长且炎热的夏天有关。在热浪袭来期间，保险公司在 4 月至 6 月之间支付了 7200 万英镑m 的国内地基下陷索赔，平均赔付额达到了创纪录的 2 万英镑。
地基下陷通常是由土壤失去水分而收缩引起的，这种情况经常发生在持久的热浪中。树木通过从地下吸水也可能导致这一问题。
当保单未作更改时。她补充说，政府应该“鼓励人们向养老金账户储蓄”，而不是“对人们进行双重征税”。
Aviva 还披露其上半年营业利润增长 24% 至 13亿英镑，超过了分析师的预测。
Blanc 称这些结果“非常强劲”，并表示去年以 37亿英镑 收购的房屋和汽车保险公司 Direct Line 的整合工作正“取得非常好的进展”。Aviva 已经发出信号，作为其削减成本计划的一部分，最多可能有 2,300 个工作岗位
可能会被裁减。该公司还将向股东发放的中期股息提高了 7%，至每股 14 便士。
财政部表示，财政大臣 John Healey 将在“财政活动期间公布其决定，而不是常规地对传闻、猜测或提案发表评论”。
BLANCHAILS MAIL AFTER US
掠夺者盯上老年人
《每日邮报》因揭露一家美国掠夺性公司试图从 Aviva 的私人投资者手中低价收购股份而受到赞赏。
本报上月披露，投资公司 Litani 已致信 100,000 名该保险公司的散户股东，寻求以 £5.30, 的价格购买其股份，这远低于昨天的收盘价 £7.26.
Aviva 已敦促零售投资者不要接受该报价。首席执行官
Amanda Blanc 昨天赞扬了《每日邮报》的报道活动。她补充道：“我们对此深表感谢。”
她表示，Litani 针对的股东中有“很多”是老年人。但她同时透露，到目前为止，只有少数人被说服出售。
前养老金大臣奥特曼男爵夫人（Baroness Altmann）此前曾痛斥该报价是“一次利用弱势股东的卑劣企图”。
活动团体 ShareSoc 也敦促 Aviva 的投资者不要掉入“陷阱”。
提到国债（gilts），人们往往表现出厌倦或恐惧。许多投资者认为这些由政府发行的债券缺乏刺激感。另一些人则担心，在国家债务已达 £3 trillion,（相当于国民产出的 95%）之际，进一步增加国家开支的可能性将危及国债价格。
但一些对冲基金经理目前持有更为乐观的看法，或许这也能改变你的想法。
这些专业人士告诉我们，坏消息已经反映在国债价格中，而且在人们对美国科技巨头在 AI 上的挥霍性支出日益担忧之际，这些债券提供了一个替代方案。
对冲基金——其目标是无论市场发生什么都能赚钱——看中国债在到期时提供铁定还本的承诺。自 17 世纪引入国债以来，这一承诺一直被履行。
另一个重大优势是国债收益率目前提供的高于通胀的回报。当国债价格因更高的通胀、利率、政治动荡或股票更具吸引力而承压时，国债收益率就会上升。
你可能会对对冲基金的淡定感到惊讶。毕竟，在进入 No 10 之前，安迪·伯纳姆（Andy Burnham，如图）曾表示，英国应该“摆脱这种受制于债券市场的状态”。
这一言论导致五年期收益率飙升至 5. 以上。十年期国债收益率升至 5.04%。
如果财政大臣约翰·希利（John Healey）在他执掌的首次预算案中公布令人瞠目的支出计划，那么 10 月 28 日的预算案可能会引发另一波收益率激增。
然而，目前对国债感兴趣的不止是对冲基金。Fairview Investing 的 Ben Yearsley 表示：“我认为，无论你如何看待伯纳姆的计划，目前将一部分财富配置在国债中都是一个绝佳的主意。”
他继续说道：“当你能在五年期国债上获得 4.5% 的收益（在扣除通胀后仍有实际回报），并在十年期国债上获得 5% 以上的收益时，为什么不这么做呢？此外还有税收优惠。”
财富管理公司 Quilter Cheviot 的固定收益研究主管 Richard Carter 建议，对对冲基金经理的言论应保持警惕。
他说：“对冲基金正在抛售 AI 股票以降低持仓风险，但他们对策略的保密程度之高是出了名的，这表明他们可能并不将国债视为长期机会。”
“然而，对于零售投资者来说，考虑到收益率和免税收入，即将到期的短期国债仍然具有吸引力。”
在这种背景下，你现在可能认为国债既不枯燥，也不充满
用国债之旅守护你的储蓄
为什么国债再次大放异彩
人们对国债态度的转变是情绪转移的结果，这可能意味着国债收益率在今年会略有下降。
在市场方面，全球新的焦虑焦点是日本和美国的利率政策。
在英国，利率上升的可能性现在似乎比之前低。就业市场疲软，且中东冲突导致油价上涨，但通胀并未像此前担心的那样被推高。
与此同时，人们对科技“巨头”愿意在人工智能（AI）上挥霍数十亿资金感到焦虑，同时也担心这种挥霍行为一旦放缓，会导致全球增长陷入停滞。
摩根资产管理公司（JPMorgan Asset Management）的全球市场策略师亚伦·侯赛因（Aaron Hussein）认为，“政府债券是应对此类情况的最佳对冲或保护手段。”
今年美国标准普尔 500 指数（S&P 500）可能上涨了13%，富时 100 指数（FTSE 100）上涨了8%。但侯赛因表示，投资者仍应意识到，“他们脚下的地面往往不像看起来那么稳固。”
国债的保本承诺
国债有不同的到期期限。“短期”国债期限为 6 到 7 年；“中期”国债为 7 到 15 年；“长期”国债则为 15 到 50 年。
英国财政部国债支付应纳税的固定利率利息（即“票面利率”），并在到期时按每单位 £100 的面值偿还，无论您的买入价格高于还是低于此金额。至今没有任何政府违约此项义务。
同样的资金承诺也适用于英国财政部短期国库券（UK T-Bills），这类债券被称为“零息债券”，因为没有利息。全部回报在到期时一次性获得。
经纪商 Interactive Investor 举例说明了一张发行价为 £97.50 的六个月期国库券。其回报将是 £97.50 和 £100 之间的百分比收益：2.65%。按年化计算，这相当于 5.12% 的收益率。
预算案中可能增加税收的可能性，使得国债的税收优惠更具吸引力。国债利息需纳税，除非将其存入个人储蓄账户（Isa）。但如果您购买国债并持有至到期，任何收益都免征资本利得税。
正如投资平台 AJ Bell 的莎拉·科尔斯（Sarah Coles）所指出的，这凸显了在疫情期间利率接近 0 时发行的极低票面利率国债的吸引力，例如 Treasury 01.25pc January 31 2028。
这张于 2020, 6 月发行的国债目前价格为 £94.48. 其“运行”收益率或当前收益率可能仅为微不足道的 0.12%，但您将在 2028 年 1 月 31 日收到每单位 £100 的偿还款。
这意味着——基于持有该国债直至该日期的——“到期收益率”为 4.05%。这代表了一笔相当可观的免税利润。
国民西敏寺银行（NatWest）的数字化部门 First Active 提供 4.5% 的利率。在扣除储蓄税后，对于基本税率、高税率和附加税率的纳税人，其价值分别为 3.6%、2.7% 和 2.5%。储蓄税率将在明年 4 月提高 2%。
如何开启您的国债之旅
您可以通过债务管理办公室（DMO）购买，该办公室是发行国债的财政部机构。
但使用平台——如 AJ Bell、Bestinvest、Hargreaves Lansdown 或 Interactive Investor——可以让您浏览约 90 种可用品种，比较价格、票面利率和收益率。
需要谨慎。您可能会被 Treasury 5.375% 31 / 10 / 2056 国债 5.7% 的收益率所吸引。然而，30 年间可能会发生很多事情。像 iShares Core UK Gilts 或 Vanguard UK Gilt 这样的交易所交易基金（ETF）是进入该领域的一种简单途径。
其他提供不同时间段敞口的选项包括 iShares UK Gilts 0-5 Year 或 Invesco UK GILT 15+ Year。
但在基金中，您无法享受资本利得税豁免。
构建你的国债阶梯
许多国债爱好者，尤其是退休人员，采用“阶梯原则”。
这包括构建一组交易价格低于 £100 的低息或零息国债，且其到期日与你的未来需求相匹配。事实上，这就像梯子的横档一样。
你可以据此规划偿还抵押贷款或进行一次特别度假的预算。你定期流入资金的约 90% 可能是免税的。
当然，这涉及一定程度的管理工作，而且你也放弃了投资组合中的一部分资金在暴涨股票中可能增值的机会。
但多元化投资往往需要付出一定的代价，作为回报，你将享受到那些丰厚的收益以及资金回笼的承诺。
《每日邮报》，2026年8月5日，星期六
BP 在退出北海后将目光转向委内瑞拉
BP 在放弃北海仅两周后，就获得了委内瑞拉海岸外的钻探许可。
这家石油巨头与这个拉美国家签署了一项协议，旨在探索和开发大西洋中的 Loran 气田。
该协议使 能够获得约 4 万亿立方英尺的天然气，而就在两周前，该公司将其北海业务挂牌出售。
在经营 60 年后决定放弃英国海域——转而关注委内瑞拉等地区——这一决定加剧了人们的担忧，即沉重的超额利润税正使石油和天然气生产商陷入困境，并摧毁该行业。
首席执行官 Meg O'Neill 警告称，北海已不再具有“竞争力”，并敦促 Andy Burnham 取消超额利润税。
保守党能源影子大臣 Andrew Bowie 表示， 在其他地方寻找机会“并不令人惊讶”，因为你面对的是一个
作者：Hugh Duncan
完全反对其核心业务的政府。
他说，北海盆地现在是世界上财政最不稳定（fiscally insecure）的盆地之一。
“这极其不利，且令投资者望而却步。
在税收政策方面，他们完全不知道未来会发生什么，而且在英国这里没有感受到被欢迎的感觉。
‘ 在全球范围内寻找扩展业务的地方并不令人惊讶，因为他们在英国没有希望这样做，因为你面对的是一个完全反对其核心业务的政府。’”
这项在加拉加斯签署并在国家电视台播出的 协议，正值国际石油巨头在今年 1 月前总统尼古拉斯·马杜罗被美国军队逮捕后纷纷进军委内瑞拉之际。 将与阿拉伯联合酋长国公司 XRO 和卡塔尔财团 UCC Holding 共同开发 Loran 气田的第 2 阶段。
签署协议的 O'Neill 表示：“获得 Loran 第 2 阶段许可是一个重要的一步。它建立在我们与委内瑞拉政府及合作伙伴之间建立的强大协作基础之上，并反映了我们共同取得的进展。 在该地区拥有长期的影响力，在开发重大天然气资源方面拥有深厚的经验。”
这些协议共同为推进委内瑞拉的离岸天然气潜力并开启下一阶段开发提供了坚实的基础。
改革英国党（Reform UK）能源发言人 Richard Tice 表示：“ 不在北海而不得不与独裁政权签署钻探协议，这真是个悲剧。
‘这凸显了工党拒绝开放北海的绝对荒谬之处。’”
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Cohort 在潜艇合同后股价上涨
在赢得一项价值 1.2 亿英镑 合同，为波兰的新潜艇舰队提供声呐系统后，国防集团 Cohort 的股价大幅上涨。
这家总部位于雷丁的公司表示，其德国子公司将与瑞典国防巨头 Saab 在波兰 Orka 潜艇计划中开展合作。
Cohort 股价上涨 6.lpc，使其年度涨幅达到 60.lpc。负责人 Andy Thomis 表示：“我们很高兴能建立这一重要的合作关系。我们将紧密协作，确保这些先进舰艇配备最前沿的有源和无源声呐系统，打造世界一流的水下能力，为波罗的海地区的安全做出重大贡献。”
MARKET RAZEN
5.33 MAIDEN HURDLE (4) 3 万英镑 added (5,446 英镑) 7. @ 12mps. / 100
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MARKET RAZEN
5.33 初次出赛跨栏赛 (4) 3 万英镑 已添加 (5,446 英镑) 7. 2m @ 12mps. / 100 5.33 初次出赛城镇赛 (4 ) 7. 2m @ 12mps. / 100
5.33 城镇赛 (4) 7. 2m @ 12mps. / 100 5.33 城镇赛 (4) 7. 2m @ 12mps. / 100
LINOFIELD
5.43 HANDICAP (5) 7,200 英镑 added (3,760 英镑) 7. @ 12mps. / 100 5.43 HANDICAP (5) 7,200 英镑 added (3,760 英镑) 7. @ 12mps. / 100 # 每日邮报赛马服务
英国社区与结果
09016 09 29 39
代理人呼叫 09016 09 53 39
此次呼叫针对第二周的第二天
[版面噪声，已略]
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| 3 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 [内容循环已省略]| 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 [内容循环已省略]| 10 | 10 | 10 | | | --- | --- | --- | --- [内容循环已省略]| --- | | 4 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 [内容循环已省略]| 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 [内容循环已省略]| | | --- | --- | --- | --- [内容循环已省略]| --- | --- | 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. 65. 66. 67. 68. 69. 70. 71. 72. 73. 74. 75. 76. 77. 78. 79. 80. 81. 82. 83. 84. 85. 86. 87. 88. 89. 90. 91. 92. 93. 94. 95. 96. 97. 98. 99. 100.Dense Tabular Data (Omitted)
2. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. 65. 66. 67. 68. 69. 70. 71. 72. 73. 74. 75. 76. 77. 78. 79. 80. 81. 82. 83. 84. 85. 86. 87. 88. 89. 90. 91. 92. 93. 94. 95. 96. 97. 98. 99. 100. --- 96 Daily Mail Sport ATHLETICS: EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS“角斗士”亨特决心通过接力双赛完成目标
作者：RIATH AL-SAMARRAI
伯明翰首席体育特写记者
周四在伯明翰，艾米·亨特（Amy Hunt）的手指诉说着她尚未完成的任务。首先，她伸出两根手指，代表她在统治欧洲短跑赛场至今所斩获的两枚金牌；随后，她伸出四根手指，示意任务才完成了一半。
即便是在这座痴迷于牛的城市，大概也没有哪头牛足够顽固到敢在周末赌她无法达成这个目标。
今天，她将与迪娜·阿舍-史密斯（Dina Asher-Smith）在 4x100 米接力赛中组队，英国四人组是该项赛事的热门；明天，她们将再次出战混合接力赛。
考虑到男选手的人才储备包括罗梅尔·奥拉夫（Romell Olave）和杰里迈亚·阿祖（Jeremiah Azu），亨特实现其惊人预期的机会非常大。
到目前为止，人们已经足够了解她卓越的天赋——不仅是在短距离比赛中获胜的能力，还有她愿意在金牌之余发表犀利言论的意愿。在当今时代，太多同龄人将个性隐藏在厚厚的盾牌之后，而 24 岁的亨特正是田径运动所需要的那种坦率之人。这位剑桥大学毕业生不惧于分享特立独行的自信宣言，并且用强大的表现支撑起了她的豪言壮语。
周四，在周一赢得 100 米金牌后又拿下了 200 米冠军，她化身为罗素·克劳在《角斗士》中的角色，高喊道：“你们难道没有被娱乐到吗？”
随后，她给出了一个迷人的解释：她的父亲如此痴迷于这部电影，以至于在每场比赛前对她说的临别赠言中，都包含另一句马克西姆斯的经典台词：“力量与荣誉。”
加上亨特去年在东京赢得的 200 米世界银牌，她的荣誉正在累积。同样在增加的，还有一种信念，即奥运奖牌
以及阿舍-史密斯的英国纪录可能受到威胁。
但这里有两个注意事项——从成绩来看，30 岁的阿舍-史密斯在巅峰状态下的表现仍领先于我们目前看到的亨特；更关键的是，奥运领奖台的位置竞争则更为激烈。
阿舍-史密斯在巅峰时期是一名世界级运动员，且擅长在锦标赛中掌控预赛节奏，绝非易与之辈。亨特需要保持目前的上升势头，才有可能接近打破国家纪录。另一个话题是追赶顶尖选手，这需要客观视角——在 2026 年，当我们看到亨特在 100 米中的最佳表现时，她在全球排名中仅位列第 25 位，与顶尖水平相差 0.3 秒以上；而她的 200 米水准使其排名第 10 位，落后于朱利安·阿尔弗雷德（Julien Alfred）半秒以上。
提到这些差距的目的并非为了削弱任何炒作，而是在非欧洲选手参赛时，对其所处位置进行准确的衡量，这或许会
英国年轻自行车运动员芬莱之死令人心碎
英国自行车运动员芬莱·塔林（Finlay Tarling）在葡萄牙环赛（Volta a Portugal）发生事故后去世。这名 19 岁的运动员在参加第八赛段时发生了此次事故。比赛随即被暂停。他的 NSN 车队发表声明称：“我们心碎不已。芬是车队中深受喜爱的成员，但更重要的是，他是许多人的儿子、兄弟和朋友。我们将深深地思念他。”
必要的。一名身高 5ft 11ins 的跑者，其大跨步在某种程度上让人联想到尤塞恩·博尔特。权衡之下，她在 100 米赛跑中的起跑速度较慢，但英国田径协会内部有人认为，她的最高时速可以与世界上最顶尖的女性运动员相媲美。
后者在周一短距离赛跑中反超对手的表现，以及周四在直道上超过阿舍-史密斯（Asher-Smith）的表现中得到了证明。
这些优势提供了令人兴奋的可能性，同样如此的还有她在锦标赛这一独特挑战中的从容表现——在这种比赛中，压力最大，且各轮比赛之间疲劳感会不断累积。
到明年的世界锦标赛时，将有更多时间来了解亨特（Hunt）低血压的特殊问题。她在赢得 200 米赛跑后透露了这一点，其后果是她在今年伦敦的一场比赛中感到快要晕厥。
但亨特克服了各种问题才走到今天。她曾多年被伤病折磨。大学期间的一次股四头肌断裂让她陷入如此糟糕的状态，以至于她需要母亲的帮助才能走出淋浴间。如今，她可能只需要有人帮她搬运奖牌，除此之外无需任何帮助。
女子 4x100 米接力决赛
电视：BBC One 晚上 9:48 直播 广播：BBC 5 LIVE 直播
KJT 在争夺七项全能奖牌的过程中远落后于领先水平
对于卡塔里娜·约翰逊-汤普森（Katarina Johnson-Thompson）来说，无人机坠毁是她最不需要担心的事情，因为她昨天在伯明翰挑战欧洲锦标赛奖牌的开局并不理想。在完成三个项目后，这位 33 岁的运动员排名第 15 位，几乎没有迹象表明她已从导致其缺席英联邦运动会的腓肠肌拉伤中完全恢复状态。作为预示后续波折的征兆，约翰逊-汤普森的第一项赛事 100 米栏被推迟了
作者：RIATH AL-SAMARRAI
在一些超现实的场景中，一架无人机在飞行拍摄时发生了令人啼笑皆非的失误。在试图从障碍栏下方穿过时，驾驶员失去了方向并撞上了一道栏架。当发令枪终于响起，运动员们冲出起跑线时，约翰逊-汤普森跑出了 14sec 的成绩——这是她 14 年参加重大锦标赛以来的最差成绩。她在跳高中跳过了 1.83m，挽回了一些局面，使这位两届世界冠军上升至第 10 位，
随后在铅球项目中以 12.79m 的成绩下滑了四个名次，比她的个人最好成绩短了 165cm。在三项赛事结束后，波兰的阿德里安娜·苏莱克-舒伯特（Adrianna Sulek-Schubert）领先于爱尔兰的凯特·奥康纳（Kate O'Connor）。与此同时，世界田联主席塞巴斯蒂安·科（Sebastian Coe）勋爵淡化了有关伯明翰观众人数稀少可能会损害伦敦申办 2029 World Championships 的传闻。亚历山大体育场（Alexander Stadium）可容纳 23,000, 人，在本周早些时候的一些场次中几乎半空，这引发了一些尴尬的问题，
而此时英国田径协会正与罗马、内罗比和慕尼黑竞争 2029. 的举办权。当被问及伯明翰空座的照片是否会影响评审委员会对伦敦演示方案的看法时，科勋爵表示：“听着，这得看具体情况。我们在 2012, 举办了伦敦（奥运会），2017, 举办了伦敦（世锦赛），伦敦还可以指出其钻石联赛在赛前五个月就已售罄。所以我认为这是一个挑战。在周一早晨开始比赛总是具有挑战性的。”
陷入苦战：昨天的 KJT PA
橄榄球联盟 / 每日邮报体育 97
作者：ALEX BYWATER
亨利·波洛克（HENRY POLLOCK）希望尝试参加 2028 年洛杉矶奥运会的七人制橄榄球比赛。
转向橄榄球的短赛制并非易事，尤其是在埃迪·赫恩（Eddie Hearn）要求北安普顿圣徒队（Northampton Saints）每年向波洛克支付 £100 万-a-year 之后。但这并非不可能。
“如果亨利希望参与其中，并在今年或明年进行一些七人制准备工作，那么这个机会依然开放，”旨在撼动橄榄球市场的全新七人制赛事执行董事巴尼·帕斯卡（Barney Pascal）告诉《每日邮报》体育版。
“这项运动中的高知名度球员想要参加七人制比赛，这是一个很棒的故事。如果埃迪想打电话过来，我会准备好。”
帕斯卡正领导着“终极七人赛”（Ultimate Sevens），这项赛事将于下个月在马德里、加的夫、比亚里茨和伦敦连续四周举行。
在布伦特福德 Gtech 社区体育场举行的伦敦站门票起价为 £30.
橄榄球保守的生态系统长期以来一直处于需要新成员加入的状态。
R360，拟议中的 15-a-side 反叛联赛，因遭到现有体育管理机构的拒绝而未能启动。但“终极七人赛”希望与他们合作，因为帕斯卡发现了一个他认为的市场空白。
“这是为了提升七人制橄榄球，”他说。“我们一直非常专注于与生态系统形成互补，这是有原因的——因为我们可以做到。”
创建“终极七人赛”所需的资金并非小数目——已有“数千万”资金投入其中。其支持者是 BIA 体育集团，其投资组合包括英超球队桑德兰。
前英格兰七人制队长汤姆·米切尔（Tom Mitchell）担任体育与创新总监。
该赛事旨在利用七人制橄榄球日益增长的人气——自从法国 15-a-side 超级巨星安托万·杜庞（Antoine Dupont）在 2024 年巴黎奥运会上赢得七人制金牌后，其人气达到了新高度——同时还将吸引那些可能不熟悉这项运动的新观众。
为了实现这一目标，“终极七人赛”采用了“不要称其为橄榄球”的营销口号，这一举措类似于
明星力量：亨利·波洛克渴望效仿右侧的安托万·杜庞参加奥运七人赛 GEITH MARZENKO
橄榄球版的“百球赛”！
Ultimate Sevens 旨在像英格兰板球最受争议的赛制那样，给这项运动带来变革
英格兰及威尔士板球委员会在创建“百球赛”（the Hundred）时曾这样做。与百球赛一样，Ultimate Sevens 创建了全新的球队。就像百球赛——尽管它在板球传统主义者中普遍不受欢迎——他们希望扩大橄榄球的吸引力。
“他们计划有一天效仿这项板球赛事的做法，将球队出售给私人投资者。”
“这对我们来说是一个可以变得激进一些，并挑战人们对橄榄球现有认知的机会，”帕斯卡（Pascal）说道。
“这也有点俏皮。了解七人制橄榄球的人会直接称其为七人制。如果你不在橄榄球生态系统中，这个口号会引发疑问：‘好吧，如果这不是橄榄球，那它是什么？’。这能产生一种兴趣。”
“我认为能被拿来与百球赛相提并论是一种赞美，因为他们尝试过，而且我认为他们成功地为板球吸引了新观众。”
“我们非常明确，我们希望这项运动的完整性始终是我们工作的核心。”
“七人制是一项非常有信誉的运动。它自 1883. 年起就存在了。我们希望在此基础上有所增加。”
与百球赛一样，Ultimate Sevens 的六支队伍——Albion Athletic、Atlantic Novas、Clan Taran、Foudre Bleue、Pacific Current 和 Sol Feroz——均设有男子队和女子队。
随着时间的推移，帕斯卡希望吸引像波洛克（Pollock）这样橄榄球界最顶尖的人物。但第一赛季的球队将由经验丰富的七人制球员主导。在四个锦标赛中，六支男队和女队将以单败淘汰赛制进行比赛。
所有比赛将在一天内完成。每场比赛时长 10 分钟，球队可以选择一次 90 秒的战术暂停。
一项创新在于附加分（conversions）。在球门柱下方得分的达阵将计 7 分。如果在较远位置得分，球队可以选择在不同且更具挑战性的位置进行附加分踢球，以争取更多分数。根据踢球难度，可选的分值分别为 1 分、2 分或 4 分。
“这并非追求一季的昙花一现，”帕斯卡说。“这是一个长期计划。这是为了在未来的许多年里持续存在。年轻观众和女性观众越来越多地通过七人制接触橄榄球。这是一个强大的工具。”
长期以来，橄榄球急需投资，因为除了国际 15 人制比赛外，这项运动持续面临财务困难。PREM Rugby 获得的新融资受到了欢迎，BIA 的到来也应如此。
如果 Ultimate Sevens 能成为其格局中的常规部分，整个橄榄球运动都将从中受益。
“人们问我成功会是什么样子，”帕斯卡说。“我希望人们随着时间的推移能认识这些球员。如果我们能达到那个阶段，我认为我们将完成一件真正特别的事情。”
“我坚信这项对运动的投资将为橄榄球、为英国的奥运希望以及为世界其他国家带来积极的能量。”
首次测试赛前几天，阿扎姆因伤痛苦离场
巴基斯坦队长巴巴尔·阿扎姆（Babar Azam）在右手指受击后，在利兹对阵英格兰的首场测试赛前给客队带来了伤病担忧。
巴巴尔在贝肯汉姆（Beckenham）击球时被汉普郡队的青少年快球手曼尼·卢姆斯登（Manny Lumsden）击中。在三场测试赛系列赛之前，巴基斯坦队正在那里与郡选拔 11 人队进行比赛。
这位 31 岁的球员当时仅获得 5 分，他立即脱掉手套，在揉搓手部后离开了球场
板球
作者：理查德·吉布森 (RICHARD GIBSON)
疼痛。在巴基斯坦医疗团队的建议下，他将不再参加这场为期三天的比赛，不过他的离场被视为预防性措施，预计在周一于海丁利（Headingley）开始周三系列赛首战的准备工作时，他能够进行网球练习。在其他方面，前英格兰队长本·斯托克斯（Ben Stokes）在杜伦队（Durham）赢得奖杯前仅差两场胜利，此前兰开夏队（Lancashire）在老特拉福德（Old Trafford）的一场 Metro Bank 杯四分之一决赛中惨败。斯托克斯在这次 162 分的胜利中贡献了 11 分、一次接球和一次出局，而这场胜利是由南非选手大卫·贝丁汉姆（David Bedingham）的一场精彩百分解以及奥利·罗宾逊（Ollie Robinson）用 57 个球击得的 76 分铺平道路的。
年轻的兰开夏队从未威胁到他们 350 分的目标，但 17 岁的乔·摩尔斯（Joe Moores）——诺丁汉郡教练彼得·摩尔斯（Peter Moores）的侄子——在 6 号位以 51 分中的四个六分球带来了娱乐。兰开夏队另一名青少年成员洛基·弗林托夫（Rocky Flintoff）成为了阿富汗出生的旋转球手沙菲乌拉·加法里（Shafiullah Ghaffari）职业生涯最佳战绩（36 分拿 4 个出局）的一部分，至此杜伦队预定了与米德尔塞克斯队（Middlesex）的半决赛。
约克郡的英格兰 U-19 击球手威尔·森尼森（Will Sennison）也创下了个人最高纪录 91 分，随后诺丁汉郡在约克的一场起伏不定的比赛中反击获胜。客队在追求 274 分的开局前三个回合中失去三个三击球后迅速恢复，这得益于另一位南非选手的百分解，这次是凯尔·维雷恩（Kyle Verreynne），以及杰克·海恩斯（Jack Haynes）的不出局 116 分。
在诺丁汉郡跌至 1-3 后，维雷恩稳定了局面，随后与海恩斯建立了一个 154 分的五号位伙伴关系。海恩斯在六个球中被本·科德（Ben Coad）拿走三个三击球，且林登·詹姆斯（Lyndon James）因侧腹受伤无法击球的情况下，依然在最后 15 次击球中击得 38 分，从而锁定了明天与莱斯特郡（Leicestershire）的东米德兰德斯德比战。
98 每日邮报 体育 足球
复仇窗口
拉什福德与麦努与将他们踢出曼联“炸弹小队”之人的尴尬重逢
作者 NATHAN SALT
在以 1-0 击败富勒姆后的克拉文农场球场狭小的新闻发布室里，时任曼联主帅鲁本·阿莫林（Ruben Amorim）对马库斯·拉什福德（Marcus Rashford）进行了彻底的抨击。
那是 2025 年 1 月，到那时，由于在曼彻斯特德比前被阿莫林弃用，拉什福德已经近两个月没有进入英超联赛的大名单了。
管理层之间关于拉什福德问题的紧张局势已经酝酿了一段时间。有些人至今仍将逼他离开的推手归咎于他人。另一些人则将大量责任归咎于阿莫林的球员管理能力。
但在西伦敦的那个夜晚，阿莫林对这位自亚历克斯·弗格森爵士离开以来曼联最优秀的青训球员采取了极端手段。那一刻，彻底改变了他们两人的轨迹。
“原因总是同一个：训练，以及我认为一名足球运动员在生活中应该有的样子，”阿莫林在那晚说道。“这是每天的事，每一个细节。如果情况不改变，我就不会改变。”
“你可以看到替补席上我们缺少了一些速度。但我宁愿让 [曼联守门员教练豪尔赫] 维塔尔（Jorge Vital）上场，也不愿让一个每天不付出最大努力的球员上场。”
最后那句话是最致命的。阿莫林声称，他宁愿让一名 45 岁且跛脚的人上场，也不愿让一名每周 1 次出场的国际球员上场。当时看来，拉什福德在曼联的故事已经彻底结束了。
向《每日邮报》体育版透露消息的来源随后质疑，阿莫林处理这种情况的方式是否让人怀疑他管理顶尖球员的能力。
快进到 2025 年 12 月，在与西汉姆联 1-1 战平之后，轮到科比·麦努（Kobbie Mainoo）被这位葡萄牙人晾在一边了，而上赛季此时他还没有在联赛中首发过。此时拉什福德已在巴塞罗那租借。毫无疑问，他比大多数人都更能感同身受。
“我明白你在说什么，”阿莫林在一次充满火药味的新闻发布会上说道，会议中心围绕着他对另一位青训之星麦努缺乏信任的问题。
“你们热爱科比，他在英格兰队首发。但这并不意味着当我觉得不应该让科比 [上场] 时，我就必须让他上场，所以这是我的决定。”
现在，令人惊讶的是，我们来到了这里，前往波兰参加曼联的最后一场季前友谊赛。在这场比赛中，阿莫林执教的是对手 AC 米兰，而拉什福德和麦努都准备好与这个将他们踢出门外的男人对阵。
有接近两名球员的消息人士渴望为这段往事画上句号，这是可以理解的。阿莫林走了，而他们还在。理论上，他们赢了。但在曼联后台工作的员工在点球大战击败利兹联后坦率地表示，球队内部非常坚定地想要在比赛中击败阿莫林，而不仅仅是击败米兰。这同样是可以理解的。
特别是针对拉什福德，曼联内部一直在极力推动不要让这个周末变成一场闹剧。阿莫林在去年夏天将拉什福德放入了“炸弹小队”（bomb squad），而 AC 米兰有七名球员被告知他们已不再被需要，这一消息对于斗志昂扬的曼联更衣室来说不会令人惊讶。
拉什福德不想要闹剧，他现在的主教练迈克尔·卡里克（Michael Carrick）也不想要。而且在季前赛一场未胜之后，这可能也不在阿莫林的愿望清单之首。然而，自去年在富勒姆对拉什福德进行那次令人震惊的公开羞辱以来，情况发生了多么巨大的变化，这是无法回避的。
几天后，他租借到了阿斯顿维拉，在经历了“炸弹小队”的待遇后，他又被二次租借到巴塞罗那，在那里他赢得了西甲联赛冠军和西班牙超级杯，而与此同时，阿莫林在老特拉福德陷入崩溃，并在年初被解雇。
拉什福德重返球队，这件事此前看来并非必然，但受到了球员们的高度认可。在许多人看来，他与被外界描绘成的那种傲慢且懒散的形象截然不同。
“他很出色，”新加盟的尤里·蒂莱曼斯（Youri Tielemans）说道，他曾在维拉与拉什福德共事。“关于他的议论很多，他承受着巨大的压力，周围围绕着媒体，但我认为他真的很优秀。非常谦逊，勤奋，从第一次训练开始，你就能感觉到他的触球和加速能力简直惊人。”
当被问及拉什福德的心态时，卡里克表示：“在某些方面，这感觉像是一个全新的开始，有新球员加入，有新的挑战，有新的目标去争取，这相当令人兴奋。”
拉什福德接下来的情况仍不确定。当被问及这位 28 岁的球员在转会窗口关闭后是否还会留在队中时，卡里克没有给出明确答复；而管理层为了削减工资单，长期以来一直对他的离队持开放态度，已有几家英超竞争对手在关注。
但没人预料到我们会走到这一步：阿莫林坐在对方教练席上，而拉什福德和主努（Mainoo）准备再次成为焦点。在卡里克的鼓励下，两名球员已准备就绪。没有什么比面对那个将你定义为“不够格为童年支持的球队效力”的人更精彩的故事了。
没错，两名球员都渴望将这一切翻篇，但复仇是甜蜜的。难怪曼联的一些工作人员如此渴望在今天赢得比赛。
铁锤帮接近达成恩格尔斯纪录级交易
■ 西汉姆联已就凯尔特人中场阿尔内·恩格尔斯（Arne Engels）达成一项价值 £2200 万 的冠军联赛纪录转会费协议。这位比利时国脚昨日在伦敦进行了体检，铁锤帮希望在今天为这位 22-year-old 办理注册。之前的转会费纪录是 1750 万英镑m，由伊普斯维奇支付给诺德舍兰以引进辛德雷·瓦莱·埃格利（Sindre Walle Egeli）。
■ 目前埃弗顿并未寻求引进曼彻斯特城的
转会观察
作者：西蒙·琼斯（SIMON JONES）
杰克·格拉利什（Jack Grealish）。这位边锋，31, 在足部骨折后已恢复训练，并受到了其他俱乐部的关注。
■ 赫尔城面临失去埃弗顿球员蒂姆·伊罗格布纳姆（Tim Iroegbunam）的风险，在由于该中场球员腿筋受伤后，赫尔城已从一项 1500 万英镑m 的交易中退缩。伊普斯维奇和考文垂，以及两支意大利球队也与埃弗顿取得了联系，而埃弗顿正接近达成一项引进曼彻斯特联前锋伊森·惠特利（Ethan Wheatley）的交易。赫尔城已就圣艾蒂安前锋卢卡斯·斯塔辛（Lucas Stassin）发起询问。这位 21-year-old 比利时人曾在 59 场比赛中打入 23 球。
■ 拜仁慕尼黑已告知阿斯顿维拉，他们引进若昂·帕利尼亚（Jaoa Palhinha）的计划取消，因为他们不想再次将他外租。维拉正继续就西汉姆联右后卫亚伦·万-比萨卡（Aaron Wan-Bissaka）进行谈判，并将边锋萨姆·伊林（Sam Iling Jr）租借至博尔顿，租期为整个赛季。
■ 科莫对切尔西前锋利亚姆·德拉普（Liam Delap）表示了兴趣。意大利人希望租借他，而切尔西对这位 23-year-old 的估值为 5500 万英镑m。蓝军还在洽谈将 Omari Kellyman, 20, 出售给斯特拉斯堡，并将前锋达斯坦·萨特帕耶夫（Dastan Satpayev）租借至伯恩利，租期为一季。他在从哈萨克斯坦转会后，于 18 岁生日时与切尔西签署了一份为期六年且包含一年优先续约权的合同。
■ 伯恩利已确认租借签下曼彻斯特城后卫马克斯·艾林（Max Alleyne）。
■ 中场球员 Will Smallbone, 26, 在西布罗姆维奇阿尔比恩将亚历克斯·莫瓦特（Alex Mowatt）出售给德比郡后，成为了后者的目标。这位爱尔兰共和国国脚在上一赛季末离开南安普顿后目前是一名自由球员。
■ 马赛正继续就引进利兹联门将卢卡斯·佩里（Lucas Perri）进行谈判。这位从里昂加盟的巴西人原计划租借至都灵，但马赛在将赫罗尼莫·鲁利（Geronimo Rulli）出售给曼彻斯特城后，一直在争取他。马赛还询问了关于阿森纳前锋里斯·尼尔森（Reiss Nelson）的情况。这位 26-year-old 球员一直在讨论一项 300 万英镑m 的转会西汉姆联计划，但在经历了霍芬海姆、费耶诺德、富勒姆和布伦特福德的租借期后，他不确定是否愿意降级到冠军联赛。
■ 利物浦左后卫卡勒姆·斯坎隆（Calum Scanlon）预计将于今天敲定租借至加的夫城的交易。
■ 雷克斯汉姆希望在本周末敲定引进莱斯特城后卫哈里·索特尔（Harry Souttar）的交易。这家威尔士球队开出了约 750万英镑 的价格，希望能够击败竞争对手谢菲尔德联。
吉米·里默 1948-2026 / 每日邮报体育 99
由伊恩·赫伯特（Ian Herbert）撰写
直到最后，吉米·里默（Jimmy Rimmer）始终表现得谦逊低调，并且总是不愿让自己成为足球故事的中心。
他享受独处，满足于在斯旺西（他称之为家的地方）的一家酒吧角落里独自喝杯啤酒，并且觉得很有趣的是，一些常客会这样评价他：“那个坐在角落里的安静家伙以前很有名。”
他是那个 era, 时代最出色的门将之一，被戈登·班克斯（Gordon Banks）评为世界第 20 位——他将这一评价视为赞美，而不是奇怪这位英格兰传奇人物为何将这么多人排在他前面——如果命运没有阴差阳错地阻碍他，他的足球名声实际上会比现在大得多。
里默在 78, 岁时去世，他拥有一个令人尴尬的殊荣：他是唯一一位在两家不同俱乐部赢得欧洲冠军杯，但在两场决赛结束时均未在场上的英格兰球员。第一次机会来得很早，他在 1964 年曼彻斯特联赢得青年杯的球队中担任角色，这为他赢得了一个位置
他坐在维拉队的更衣室里痛哭，而斯平克顶替他的位置登场
在温布利举行的 1968 年欧洲冠军杯决赛中，他是一名替补。尽管这位 20 岁的年轻人只能在场边看着马特·巴斯比爵士率领的球队横扫本菲卡，而亚历克斯·斯蒂普尼的位置稳如泰山，但里默后来在回顾时，依然感叹能与乔治·贝斯特、鲍比·查尔顿、丹尼斯·劳等人共事是一种荣幸。
对他而言，在决赛前几个月，由于斯蒂普尼在老特拉福德对阵富勒姆的复活节星期一比赛中受伤，他得以在曼联一线队完成首秀，这段记忆就已足够。
但在他的足球旅程中，他先是被租借到斯旺西，随后加盟伯蒂·米率领的阿森纳，并在 1974 年中期成为球队的主力。之后，当他效力的阿斯顿维拉队在 1982 年闯入与拜仁慕尼黑的决赛时，欧洲冠军杯的荣耀再次向他招手。
就在比赛前五天，他在一场联赛中与斯旺西的鲍勃·拉奇福德相撞，颈部重重着地，陷入剧痛之中。
物理治疗师尽了最大努力，在决赛当晚，他的肩膀和颈部被注射了大量的可的松，但比赛进行到第九分钟，他就意识到这已无济于事，于是示意自己
杰出表现：阿森纳队的吉米·里默在赛场上的身影，以及他在决赛因伤落泪后与奈杰尔·斯平克共同持有欧洲冠军杯的照片
史密斯布鲁克（SMITHBROOK）
关于他 1974 年初到阿森纳时那份纯朴的模样。在 1-0 击败利物浦的首秀之后，当在回程的大巴上有人向他提供虾 cocktail 或烟熏三文鱼时，他以为自己被捉弄了。
他说：“在曼联，大巴司机买的是炸鱼和薯条，而现在有两个家伙问我想吃什么前菜，问我要红葡萄酒还是白葡萄酒？简直是顶级的待遇，而我可是从曼联来的！”
他偶尔会犯错，但或许由于他的性格，他倾向于比大多数人更深地将这些错误内化。
“当我犯错时，我会陷入自己的世界，”他回忆道，“我习惯于把错误憋在心里，思考太久。哈里·格雷格会说，‘噢，难道你是唯一一个犯错的人吗？’但你不能到处跟人吹嘘你做过多少次精彩扑救。”
尽管如此，他仍是一个冒险家。在斯旺西结束球员生涯后（他曾两次担任该队的临时主教练），他在中国担任了三年的守门员教练。他免费住在北京香格里拉酒店的一套套房里，起初计划只去三个月，但由于热爱并尊重这里的文化，他一直说这就是他能在那里待这么久的原因。里默还是那个里默，他并没有将此归功于自己的技术能力。
18 年前，在温哥华生活期间，他遭遇心脏病发作并陷入昏迷 11 天。之后，他回到了南威尔士，以便离他的三个孩子之一——儿子大卫更近一些。
他关注着斯旺西市足球俱乐部，偶尔在他们的比赛日休息室发表演讲。当他伸出手表达友谊时，会为自己不再拥有有力的握力而道歉，并解释说，几个人工关节是他职业生涯在门线之间奔波的代价。
里默不会希望改变足球运动带给他的这些磨难。他总是喜欢回顾自己曾效力于英格兰西北部、伦敦、中英格兰以及威尔士最大的俱乐部。
“人们叫我传奇，但我并不这么认为，”他在晚年说道，“但我确实与传奇们一起踢过球——这一点毋庸置疑。”
作为那个时代的杰出守门员之一，谦逊的里默与传奇同行
无法继续比赛。他坐在维拉队的更衣室里痛哭，而尼格尔·斯平克接替他的位置上场，扮演了一个将定义其职业生涯的角色。在此之前，里默在维拉队的五年时间里仅缺席过一场比赛。
许多体育记者尝试询问里默是否后悔离开赛场，但总是被他打断。“你不能那样做，”他总是这样说，“我们是以一个团队的身份进入决赛的。”
“我无法成为人们所期待的那个吉米·里默。”
“我 ”
是一位相当出色的球员，他是曼联巴斯比学派的毕业生，将那位老人灌输给他的每一句话都铭记在心。
“他把你当成男人对待，”里默在晚年谈到马特爵士时说道，“你知道不能做傻事，因为如果你在他面前那样做，你就会被叫到办公室里谈话。”
但真正赋予他最有用智慧的是哈里·格雷格，这位前曼联门将及慕尼黑空难中的不情愿英雄，当时担任守门员教练。“接住球。让你的双手形成一定的形状。封住你的近角。现在的球员在近角处理得没那么好。”
同样是格雷格，说服了 23 岁的里默租借加盟第四 division 的斯旺西，随后在 1974 年 4 月告诉阿森纳球探戈登·克拉克签下他。
里默证明了自己是鲍勃·威尔逊的优秀接班人，后者在该赛季末退休。里默在成为 1 号门将后，三年内仅缺席了三场比赛——在此期间，他在 1976 年对阵 Raly 的比赛中获得了他唯一一次代表英格兰队出场的机会。
里默面前还有雷·克莱门斯和彼得·萨顿，这进一步证明了他的漫长足球生涯中缺乏机遇。
在两年前接受《每日邮报》体育版记者马特·巴洛的一次精彩采访中，里默（采访照片左侧）兴致勃勃地讲述了一个关于自己的故事
100 每日邮报体育 足球
BAY RIATH AL-SAMARRAI
首席体育
特写记者
TONDA ECKERT 喜欢用书的比喻。这一点在上周四变得很明显，当时这位极其不讨喜的主教练在圣玛丽球场向大约 100 名南安普顿球迷亮相。
这是一个球迷论坛，因此出现了一系列关于季票之类的一贯问题，但一个话题主导了这一个小时的会议。
这并不令人惊讶，因为如果你不讨论上个赛季是如何结束的，就无法谈论南安普顿在冠军联赛中的即将到来的赛季——“间谍门”事件不会很快被遗忘。
对于埃克特来说，这位处于丑闻中心的 33 岁德国人，这场间谍剧导致他的球队在三个月前的升级附加赛中被耻辱地驱逐，并被扣除即将到来的赛季的 4 分，这是一个他
赛事简讯...
沃特福德 v 南安普顿
开球时间：明天下午 1.30，维卡里奇路球场
电视：Sky Sports Main Event 直播。
无法摆脱的阴影。它不能被一件东莱的运动服掩盖，也不能被安置在树林里的实习生身后。事实上，在《每日邮报》体育版 5 月披露的一则惊人故事持续引发的余震中，他的工作在未来几周内仍可能丢失。
但上周，在那些支持者面前，埃克特在对光明未来的承诺中寻求庇护。这就是比喻出现的地方。
“我明白，这感觉就像书里被撕掉了一页，”他说，“我相信有许多章节的回忆，尽管我们希望它们全部是积极的，但我认为这是足球俱乐部经历的最艰难的章节之一。”
“但还没有写到最后一页。未来还有很多。我希望 12 个月后我还能坐在这里谈论英超联赛。”
WORTHY
WORTHING
南安普顿在重大开赛前表现出强硬姿态，但“间谍门”的阴云依然笼罩，主帅 Tonda Eckert 仍可能因此丢掉工作
南安普顿是一家渴望向前看的俱乐部，首先是从明天对阵沃特福德的英冠揭幕战开始。即便考虑到起步就扣除 4 分的负担，Eckert 的阵容依然足够强大，足以冲击升级。在大多数博彩公司的升级排名中，他们位列第五或第六。
但他们也陷入了进退两难的境地，因为 Eckert 仍面临英足总（FA）一项严重的违规指控，涉及他上赛季部署分析师监视米德尔斯堡、伊普斯维奇和牛津联的行为。
在向英格兰足球联赛（EFL）调查承认参与米德尔斯堡和牛津联事件后，他正处于危险的境地。
《每日邮报》体育版获悉，近期极不可能做出裁决，南安普顿的消息人士认为裁决时间可能会推迟到下个月。
但关键点在于任何处罚的期限，以及如果 Eckert 被处以长期禁赛，俱乐部老板、塞尔维亚亿万富翁媒体大亨 Dragan Solak 是否能继续对他保持强有力的支持。
今年 6 月，Solak 在接受《南方每日回声报》采访时承认，他对一名才华横溢但有污点的主教练的忠诚是有底线的。他表示：“如果他们禁赛他，我们将提起上诉。如果我们上诉失败，且禁赛时间过长，我们将不得不聘请新教练。我们不能让俱乐部在没有管理的情况下运行。”
对于 Eckert 来说，类似案例的先例几乎无法提供安慰——在 2024 年奥运会期间，由于一架无人机在纽西兰队的训练课上空飞行，国际足联（FIFA）对加拿大女足前教练 Bev Priestman 处以了一年禁赛。
我们在此补充，Eckert 在今年夏天早些时候表达了歉意，尽管有些迟了。南安普顿认为他们已经受到了 EFL 的严厉处罚，这一观点也有一定的道理。
但任何宽容的另一面在 EFL 的书面理由中被清晰地阐述。通过整合证人陈述，他们描绘了一幅令人不快地画面：Eckert 的分析师们被施压去执行卑劣的任务。
就 Eckert 而言，他暗示了一些此前未披露的情况，据推测这些情况超出了“在欧洲大陆监视很常见”这一苍白的借口。周四，他谈到了“一个我认为与事实相去甚远的形象”，但仅
Spence 完成国际米兰交易
DJED SPENCE 昨晚完成了以 £3000 万 转会国际米兰的交易，合同期为五年。这位前热刺后卫于周四前往意大利，随后在昨天上午于 CONI 运动医学研究所进行了体检。这位 26 岁的英格兰国脚将与包括前曼城球星 John Stones 在内的新队友会合，准备在今天的一场友谊赛中对阵皇家贝蒂斯。热刺保留了 10 per cent 的二次转会分成条款，并已开始评估潜在的替代者，水晶宫的 Daniel Munoz 是考虑人选之一。
他们还可以期待从出售 Cristian Romero 中获得进一步资金，后者在加入马德里竞技之前于昨天完成了体检。热刺将为这位阿根廷中后卫获得 3460 万英镑m 及附加费用，并插入了 15 per cent 的二次转会分成条款。
这家伦敦俱乐部依然渴望签下利物浦的 Cody Gakpo。尽管这家默西赛德郡巨头尚未收到正式报价，但他们已知晓热刺的兴趣，并希望获得一笔可观的费用才会考虑出售。
热刺还在就曼城的 Savinho 进行谈判，后者因轻微疾病缺席了昨天的训练。
热刺今天在主场迎来最后一场友谊赛，对阵霍芬海姆，随后他们将在下周六在布伦特福德开启联赛征程。
体育简讯
板球
THE HUNDRED 女子淘汰赛：基亚椭圆球场（the Kia Oval）—— Southern Brave 1H-7（100球）；Sunflowers Leeds 1K-5（99球）；I E C M Wintig 2（83）。Sunflowers Leeds 以 5 个三柱门胜出。
单日杯（One-Day Cup）—— 四分之一决赛 —— Old Stafford，达勒姆（Durham）3 / 4-4（343）6-4-6；D G Bellingham 6 / 4，D G Robinson 7 / 6，兰开夏（Lancashire）6 / 7（30）2-6-8；JH A Munoz 7 / 8，Stonington Gvalon 4-8 / 9，达勒姆以 362 跑胜出。约克（York），约克郡（Yorkshire）（73-9）192-2-6-8；W J Burnham 8 / 10，D Pennington 4-8 / 9；V 诺丁汉郡（Nottinghamshire）（77-7）48-4-6-8；J A Hunter 8 / 10，A Hennessey 8 / 10，D C Leach 5 / 11。诺丁汉郡以 2 个三柱门胜出。
高尔夫
UP 世界巡回赛丹麦高尔夫锦标赛，第二组 —— (3 / 2) 及第一系列（Killed）标准杆 72：133 —— A Roamer (7)：69, 64；C Adam 70：63；134 —— E Ferguson 69：65；135 —— M Jordan 68：67；R Langhouse (7)：69, 66；B Stone (54)：66, 68；J Parton (Ret) 69：66；C Surratt (55)：69, 66；136 —— B Watson (55)：69, 66；T Zhou (Div) 69：67；137 —— F Sirtori (53)：67, 70；R Hoogward (Ret) 70：67；T Clements 69：68；F Call (R) 67：70；138 —— A Del Rey (Sp) 70：68；M Siam (G) 70：68；M Armitage 70：68；D Lasker () 67：70；S Barnslow (2) 66；J Wimmer () 71：67；J Senior 70：66；G Goweta () 69：68；M Heiligstorp () 70：68；F Lansgren () 71：67；139 —— B Missburger (Aut) 68：71；J Guerrier (F) 69：70；D Bradbury 68：70；M Eps () 71：66；A Kwon (Sp) 69：70；J Skov Deren () 70：69；F Lepette (R) 67：72；J Dean 68：71；D Jorany 68：71；D Goftermundegee (F) 70：69；F More (F) 69：70；R Rader (R) 72：67；J Lombard (54)：70：68；Y Paul (G) 71：68；140 —— E Lopez-Chacarra (Sp) 73：67；J Gumberg (R) 73：67；N von DeBinghausen (Sp) 75：70；M Moneysers (R) 74：68；J Gombach () 72：66；M Wang () 67：71；S Schreiner (A) 70：70；S Jamieson 70：70；J Buchanan (34) 68：72；J Yale 69：71；L Bierregaard () 66：74。
斯诺克
CINDA OPIN（天元市）—— 四分之一决赛：T Zhou (Dec) 1st D Gilbert (Eng) 6-5；N Sainaghham (The) 1st S Murphy (Eng) 6-4；M Selby () 1st N Robertson (A) 9-5；S Bingham () 1st A Zhang (Dec) 6-5。
网球
辛辛那提公开赛（CINCINNATI OPIN）—— 男子第一轮：A Vallejo (Pro) 1st K Jacquet (F) 6-2; 6-4；D Hays (F) 1st V Kogman (C) 7-4 (F) 5-4；G Mcmaher (G) 1st L Mung () 3-6; 6-5; 6-4；S Tobin (F) 6-4；K Koper (F) 7-6 (7-4); 7-5；S Boaz () 1st G Dendron (Aut) 4-6; 6-4; 6-3；Y Hardmann (G) 1st L Van Assche (F) 6-2; 6-4；M Bernadette (R) 1st T Denguel (F) 3-4; 6-4; 6-3；P Curness () 6-2; 6-3；T Marlow (C) 6-3; 6-2；女子第一轮：A Buehler (GB) 1st K Williams (G) 7-5; 6-4; 6-4；D Singer (UK) 1st V Starodobinski (UK) 6-4; 6-3；L Stetson (R) 1st E Cacciaretto (A) 5-3; 6-2；P Stearns (US) 1st H Dart (GB) 6-1; 7-4; 8-5；E Grange (US) 1st V Williams () 6-3; 7-3。
WTA 国家银行公开赛（多伦多）—— 决赛：J Swinton (Pol) 1st L Rybakova (A) 6-2; 6-3。
ATP 国家银行公开赛（蒙特利尔）—— 决赛：B Shelton () 1st B Nakashima () 6-2 (4-7-4)。
今日赛事
板球 —— 第五场四分之一决赛：爱尔兰 v 阿富汗（贝尔法斯特，圣玛丽球场），首场测试赛（第 1 天，共 3 天）：斯里兰卡 v 印度（Gala，5.30am）。
RIGBY 联赛 —— Betfred 超级联赛：布拉德福德 v 威根 (8.30)，图卢兹 v 哈德斯菲尔德 (8.8)，韦克菲尔德 v 圣海伦斯 (5.30)。
Betfred 女子超级联赛 (12.0)：巴罗 v 费瑟斯通 (2.0)，利（Leigh） v 哈德斯菲尔德巨人 (1.0)，圣海伦斯 v 利兹犀牛，威根勇士 v 约克。
RIGBY 联盟 —— 国际赛：澳大利亚 v 日本 (6am)。
明日预告
板球 —— The Hundred 决赛（伦敦）：Trent Rockets 女队 v Sunflowers Leeds 女队 (2.5)。单日杯半决赛：莱斯特郡 v 诺丁汉郡（巴恩，格雷斯路），米德尔塞克斯 v 达勒姆（巴恩，鲁迪特）。
橄榄球联赛 —— Betfred 锦标赛 (3.0)：Balloy v Keighley，唐卡斯特 v Midlands Hurricanes，哈利法克斯 v Willows，奥尔德姆 v 伦敦青铜龙，谢菲尔德 v Hunslet，斯温顿 v 北威尔士十字军 (1.0)，怀特黑文 v 杜斯伯里，沃金顿 v 罗奇代尔 (4.0)。
橄榄球联盟 —— 国际赛：美国 v 阿根廷 (12.)
足球 / 每日邮报体育 101
时间将证明，他所描述的现实版本是否能为英足总（FA）提供令人信服的减轻处罚理由。
无论如何，埃克特（Eckert）正准备迎接一段远离技术区的日子。当南安普顿在本月早些时候的一场友谊赛中对阵普鲁士-明斯特时，埃克特在看台上观看，并尝试了向替补席传递指令的可行性。
作为一种解决方案，这在少数几场比赛中可能足够，但对于一场涉及英超联赛巨额利益、包含 46 场联赛的赛季来说，显然是不够的。
表面上看，人们对埃克特麾下球员阵容的健康状况较少担忧，曼城前锋迪文·穆巴马（Divin Mubama）于周二以租借形式加盟。
尽管上赛季共同得分王罗斯·斯图尔特（Ross Stewart）转会至斯旺西，且中场球员谢伊·查尔斯（Shea Charles）以 5500 万 的价格被出售至富勒姆，但南安普顿仍保留了上赛季获得第四名的核心团队，该团队曾创下 21 场不败纪录，其中包括与米德尔斯堡的两场季后赛。他们还曾在足总杯中将阿森纳淘汰出局。
一个未知数是，赛季结束的方式是否会留下任何内部怨恨，因为在被驱逐后的最初几天里，更衣室里的愤怒是真实的。一些球员曾考虑就失去奖金的问题对俱乐部采取法律行动，但《每日邮报》体育版了解到，这从未转化为实际行动。
与一些经纪人之间的传闻相反，一线队周围的多位人士向我们坚称，俱乐部从未提供过任何补偿金来结算原本在升级后应支付的奖金。如果他们进入英超，一些球员本可以获得高达 25 万英镑 的奖金。
目前尚不清楚本赛季的奖金结构中是否会加入任何增强的补偿方案 —— 《每日邮报》体育版被告知，与俱乐部就此进行的对话部分内容已推迟到下个月 —— 但来自球队的所有公开表态都声称对教练没有不满。
队长杰克·斯蒂芬斯（Jack Stephens）本月表示，他们“全力支持”埃克特，但多个消息来源坚称这是一个渐进的过程。其中一人指出，在紧张局势最高峰时，多达四名一线队球员愿意离开，随后愤怒情绪才逐渐缓和。
这些联盟的稳固程度将在适当的时候受到考验，许多俱乐部消息来源重复的“球队在动荡中被激励”的统一口径也将受到考验。当然，这很有可能。他们不会是第一支从“围城心态”中获益的队伍，这似乎也是俱乐部首席执行官菲尔·帕森斯（Phil Parsons）在与埃克特参加同一个论坛时传达的信息。他的原话是：“今年我们似乎成了每个人都讨厌的俱乐部，但我真的不在乎。”
未来几个月支持者的情绪将非常值得关注。就像俱乐部一样，他们希望忘记这段具有破坏性且代价高昂的插曲，但许多人已经开始适应这种处境。
当埃克特的球队上周末在联赛杯第一轮对阵科尔切斯特时，现场出现了这样的口号：“我们是南安普顿，我们想监视就监视。”如果比赛结果陷入负面趋势，这种幽默感将面临考验。
偷窥者：埃克特承认派遣实习生威廉·索尔特（William Salt）去监视米德尔斯堡（最左侧），以及（上方）圣徒球迷拿这起丑闻开玩笑 PA / GETTY BAGES
“我认为我们现在都已经接受了所发生的一切，并准备好继续前行，”Total Saints 播客的主持人马丁·斯塔克（Martin Starke）说道。“我原以为主教练会走人，而且在当时，我认为他确实应该走。”
“我和很多人一样，对此感到非常愤怒——我们买了温布利球场的门票，结果却被凭空剥夺了。但在夏天这段时间里，我的情绪缓和了一些。我们必须对此画上句号。”
“我仍然认为处罚与罪行不相称，但展望未来，我们的处境不错——我们带着一名主教练和一支已经磨合了一段时间、且证明了自己能在该联赛中赢球的阵容进入新赛季。有充分的理由保持乐观。”
埃克特（Eckert）的近期前景则为上述观点提供了一个警示。即便他能留任，压力依然巨大——2026-27赛季是南安普顿在降级缓冲金（parachute payments）保障下的最后一个赛季。正如斯塔克所言，“现在不拼就没机会了”。
这些财务上的紧迫性在据报道的今年夏天对女足队的削减中得到了体现，不过，一名学院职位已提供给威廉·索尔特（William Salt），这位 23 岁的实习生在丑闻之初被施压进行监视。
他站在一棵树旁，用手机对着米德尔斯堡的训练课拍摄，这一画面是这场离奇阴谋中最超现实的一幕。
无论埃克特在尚未写就的篇章中能带来什么，他似乎不太可能炮制出一个比此前更疯狂的结局。
前提是他能获得这个机会。
贝纳永在所罗门加盟铁锤帮中扮演的角色
马诺尔·所罗门透露，前以色列国家队队友约西·贝纳永鼓励他加盟西汉姆联。
这位 27 岁的球员在以 £500 万 的价格从伦敦对手托特纳姆热刺转会而来，预计将于明天在对阵伯恩利的比赛中完成首秀。在确定自己的未来不在热刺之后，所罗门在选择下一家俱乐部前特意与他的“偶像”进行了沟通。“我们一起训练过，”所罗门说，“能和他共用更衣室真的太棒了。他真的是一个英雄。他以及埃亚尔·贝尔科维奇——他们是我们以色列足球史上出现过的最优秀的球员。”
作者：詹姆斯·夏普
“他曾是我的偶像。首先，他是以色列人。他闯入了英格兰。他在英超联赛效力。他曾效力于利物浦、阿森纳、切尔西、西汉姆联，这些都是英格兰最大的俱乐部。那时我还很小，一直仰慕他。如果他能让梦想成真——来自以色列的一个小城市切尔西，在英超最大的俱乐部效力——那么也许有一天我也能做到。”他补充道：“我真的很热爱这项运动。他曾是一名边锋，一名 10, 号球员，和我很像。虽然有不同，但很相似。我仰望着他并心想：‘如果约西能做到，也许未来我也能接近他的水平。’”
贝纳永曾在铁锤帮效力过两次，曾帮助俱乐部在 2006 年进入足总杯决赛，随后在 2012 年从切尔西租借回归。
所罗门补充道：“我有几个选择。我问他认为最好的选择是什么。显然，他曾在西汉姆联效力，他告诉我他认为我适合英格兰足球。在他看来，我非常适合，而且非常契合英格兰足球。西汉姆联对我来说可能是一个非常、非常好的地方。”所罗门透露，他之前并不知道热刺和西汉姆联之间的敌对关系。
“我之前不知道，”他笑着说，“我知道伦敦的每家俱乐部都互相讨厌，尤其是大俱乐部。托特纳姆热刺、阿森纳、切尔西、西汉姆联——他们都互相讨厌，但我不知道这种敌对程度如此之深。”
“我来自哪里并不重要。我认为无论我是来自热刺、利物浦还是佛罗伦萨，都没有关系。我会尽全力表现。”
本周末赛程
（Open-sphere 状态）
今日
SKY BET 冠军联赛
- 1 博尔顿 v Poudon (32.30)
- 2 布里斯托尔城 v 米尔沃尔
- 3 查尔顿 v 柏林
- 4 米德尔斯堡 v 林肯城
- 5 诺维奇 v 西布罗姆维奇
- 6 朴茨茅斯 v QPR
- 7 斯托克 v 斯旺西
- 8 Skott Utd v 伯明翰 (5.30)
- 9 Sky Sports (Main Event) 直播
SKY BET 第一联赛
- 10 巴恩斯利 v Braddon
- 11 布莱克浦 v 韦茅斯
- 12 布拉德福德城 v 彼得堡
- 13 伯顿 v St. Thomas
- 14 剑桥联 v Wiggin
- 15 哈德斯菲尔德 v AFL 温布尔登
- 16 利顿东方 v South West
- 17 曼斯菲尔德 v 唐卡斯特
- 18 North County v 莱斯特 (32.30)
- 19 Sky Sports (Main Event) 直播
- 20 牛津联 v Mt. Dunc (32.30)
- 21 普利茅斯 v Stockton County
- 22 雷丁 v Eaton (32.30)
SKY BET 第二联赛
- 23 阿克灵顿斯坦利 v 考尔切斯特
- 24 巴尼特 v 索尔福德城
- 25 切尔滕纳姆 v Botherham
- 26 切斯特菲尔德 v Northwood
- 27 Crawley for a Crown
- 28 吉灵汉 v Wistall
- 29 格里姆斯比 v 埃克塞特
- 30 纽波特城 v 罗奇代尔 (32.30)
- 31 北安普顿 v Yarmouth
- 32 奥尔德姆 v 普利茅斯谷 (32.30)
- 33 特兰米尔 v St. Pancras
- 34 约克 v Bristol Bawes
- 35 Sky Sports (Football) 直播
PREMIER SPORTS 杯第二轮
- 1 阿伯丁 v 伦敦
- 2 邓迪联 v 凯尔特人 (5.45pm)
- 3 Premier Sports 直播
- 4 Buttermillers v Rock County
-
WILLIAM HILL SCOTTON 第一联赛
-
5 奥尔顿 v 蒙罗斯
- 6 东基尔布赖德 v Clow Rangers
- 7 汉密尔顿 v Airdriecombe
- 8 彼得黑德 v 东法伊夫
WILLIAM HILL SCOTTON 第二联赛
- 9 Anson Athletic v 克莱德
- 10 邓巴顿 v 爱丁堡城
- 11 埃尔金 v Wally Heavitt
- 12 弗法 v 斯特灵
- 13 Stranham v Spedham
SNOEBERG 国家联赛
- 1 奥尔德肖特 v 哈特尔普尔
- 2 巴罗 v Northchurch
- 3 FC Halifax v Burnham Wood
- 4 Caledonian v 沃金
- 5 Ackermanshire v Eadleigh
- 6 Solihull Maury v 波士顿联
- 7 绍森德 v Southbridge
- 8 萨顿 v 阿特林查姆
- 9 塔姆沃思 v AFL Fythe
- 10 Westphane v Newcastle Te
- 11 沃辛 v Hovey Green
- 12 Yeomil v 卡莱尔
友谊赛
- 13 8 门兴格拉德巴赫 v 阿斯顿维拉 (2.30)
- 14 布伦特福德 v 法兰克福
- 15 布莱顿 v Kelligan
- 16 切尔西 v Hull Sociedad (2pm)
- 17 埃弗顿 v 里尔
- 18 弗赖堡 v 水晶宫 (2pm)
- 19 富勒姆 v 斯图加特 (4pm)
- 20 Half v Wex
- 21 利兹 v 奥格斯堡 (2pm)
- 22 Madax v AFL 伯恩茅斯 (2.30)
- 23 曼联 v AC米兰 (3.45)
- 24 纽卡斯尔 v Royal Liverpool
- 25 桑德兰 v Stockton
- 26 托特纳姆热刺 v Woffenhoven
- 27 柏林联合 v 伊普斯维奇 (2.30)
西班牙联赛
- 28 Alberts v Duluth (8.30)
- 29 塞维利亚 v Royal Hurricanes (8.30)
- 30 葡萄牙 LIGA NOS
- 31 Alberta v Earnest (3.30)
- 32 Viton v East Lincs (4pm)
- 33 里奥阿维 v FC波尔图 (8.30)
荷兰联赛
- 34 乌得勒支 v AJ (5.45pm)
- 35 埃克塞尔西奥尔 v PSV (2pm)
- 36 绍森德 v Cumbria (4pm)
- 37 Wilton St v NE (3.30pm)
- 38 比利时联赛
- 39 Uttam & Dorset (4pm)
- 40 Sunk v Western (7.45)
- 41 Corryab v Ashworth (8.30)
- 42 OH Leaven v 布鲁日俱乐部 (7.45)
澳大利亚联赛
- 43 Austria Lawrence v Pöhlingstrup v EC (4pm)
- 44 土耳其联赛
- 45 Kuzingasa v Tinkhanger (2pm)
- 46 康亚体育 v 里泽体育 (2pm)
- 47 Gesslerheftig v Ferenheims (7.30pm)
明日
FA 社区盾杯
- 1 阿森纳 v 默西赛德城
- 2 THI Sports 直播
SKY BET 冠军联赛
- 6 沃特福德 v 南安普顿 (1.30pm)
- 7 Sky Sports (Main Event) 直播
- 8 伯恩利 v 西汉姆联 (4pm)
- 9 Sky Sports (Main Event) 直播
-
10 亚贾克斯 v Heavinessen (3.45)
-
1 Heart's v Interneck (7.15pm)
- 2 Wilemanian v Partick (2pm)
- 3 流浪者 v 圣米伦 (4pm)
- 4 Premier Sports 直播
- 5 Stenshornehrn v 瑟瑟威尔 (2pm)
友谊赛
- 1 利物浦 v 科莫 (4pm)
- 2 纽卡斯尔 v Stivakos (4pm)
- 3 诺丁汉森林 v 布里斯托尔 (2pm)
- 4 托特纳姆 v Wythambe (2pm)
- 5 普利茅斯 联赛
- 6 Baring Eastlands v 比利亚雷亚尔 (4pm)
- 7 E. Epstein v 林肯 (4pm)
- 8 Celia Vigo v 科克 (8.30)
THI / PANEL
- 9 FORTGIGER LIGA NOS
- 10 Fawcetton v Martham (8.30)
- 11 Nacional v 埃斯托里尔 (3.30)
- 12 布鲁日 v St. Vincent (8.30)
- 13 The FA v Solihull (8.30)
MON / PANEL
[...OMITTED...]
- 14 荷兰联赛
- 15 特温特 v FC 兹沃勒 (2.30)
- 16 费耶诺德 v 圣戈德史密斯 (1.30)
- 17 比利时联赛
- 18 贝阿特丽斯 v 罗瑟勒姆 (12.30)
- 19 拉卢维耶 v 根特
- 20 拉蒙特 v 夏勒罗瓦 (8.30)
- 21 圣托马斯 v 圣约翰 (3.30)
澳大利亚联赛
- 22 哈特贝格 v 奥地利黑森 (4pm)
- 23 Wild-Trek v RB 索尔兹伯里 (4pm)
- 24 快速黑森 v 格鲁伯 (4pm)
102 每日邮报体育 / 足球
奥利弗·霍尔特 (OLIVER HOLT)
首席体育记者
明天下午，千禧体育场（Principality Stadium）的大幕将拉开，冠军球队将在社区盾杯开赛前走上舞台。
阿森纳的阵容不会有剧烈的变化。会有几个替补和一两个新星，但没有什么戏剧性的变动。他们不需要戏剧性，只需要稳步增长。
阿森纳不需要在夏季转会市场上大肆挥霍。重要的是他们在强势地位的基础上进一步增强实力，而他们通过从纽卡斯尔招募布鲁诺·吉马良斯（Bruno Guimaraes），冷静地开启了这一进程。在转会窗还剩两周的时间里，有人认为这是目前休赛期最成功的一次签约。
其他潜在的加盟者也在讨论中。冠军球队需要在防线进行补强，威廉·萨利巴（William Saliba）和尤里安·廷贝尔（Jurrien Timber）的长期伤病令人担忧，并导致他们此前追求阿斯顿维拉的埃兹里·孔萨（Ezri Konsa）未获成功。
据称，阿森纳对勒沃库森的贾雷尔·宽萨（Jarell Quansah）感兴趣。他们讨论过来自加拉塔萨雷的高产前锋维克托·奥斯梅恩（Victor Osimhen），并希望能够从马德里竞技签下胡利安·阿尔瓦雷斯（Julian Alvarez）。如果他们在接下来的两周内能增加更多高质量球员，以补充吉马良斯和希腊前锋克里斯托斯·佐利斯（Christos Tzolis）的签约，这可能足以让他们在未来一年再次甩开其他球队。
赛事速览...
阿森纳 v 曼城
社区盾杯，明天。 开球时间：下午 3 点，加的夫，千禧体育场。电视转播：TNT Sports 1 直播
在博彩公司看来，他们是卫冕冠军的大热门，上赛季他们以 7 分之差领先曼彻斯特城夺冠。他们看起来非常稳健，就像上赛季一样，正是这种稳健让他们最终成功夺冠。
他们成为热门是因为自身的优势，因为球队的深度和质量，而且现在他们已经结束了持续 20 年以上的冠军荒，上赛季下半场阻碍他们的许多压力将从肩上卸下。
但他们成为热门也是因为竞争对手被不确定性笼罩。他们成为热门是因为曼城失去了主教练佩普·瓜迪奥拉（Pep Guardiola），而其他球队则未能采取足够措施来缩小差距。
曼彻斯特联在上赛季末看起来像是即将崛起的俱乐部，但到目前为止，夏季转会市场上平庸的表现让许多人质疑，他们是否能实现必要的巨大飞跃以取代冠军？感觉他们的势头已经停滞。
在加的夫将与阿森纳对阵的曼城，曾将阿尔特塔（Arteta）的球队逼至
需要极其非凡的变数才能阻止阿森纳卫冕
枪手已然增强，而竞争对手则笼罩在不确定性之中，且未能采取足够措施来缩小差距
在上赛季末期表现接近，但自那时起，他们失去了瓜迪奥拉——英格兰足球史上最伟大的主教练之一，并且他们正艰难地试图留住许多人仍将其视为队内最佳球员的罗德里。
瓜迪奥拉的继任者恩佐·马雷斯卡（Enzo Maresca）能否承受接替瓜迪奥拉的压力，以及在像曼城这样习惯于获胜的俱乐部所面临的更高要求，仍有待观察。
马雷斯卡认为在 2024-25 赛季带领切尔西获得第四名是一项巨大的成就，以至于他大胆到告诉俱乐部的批评者“滚蛋”。如果在曼城只获得第四名，他可能会发现自己被踢到了曼彻斯特东区的街道上。
安多尼·伊拉奥拉（Andoni Iraola）被广泛认为是利物浦一次前卫的主教练任命，但他们在上赛季阿尔内·斯洛特（Arne Slot）带领下的卫冕表现如此令人失望，以至于期待他们能弥补与阿森纳之间的差距可能过于乐观。
他们一直与巴黎圣日耳曼的布拉德利·巴尔科拉（Bradley Barcola）联系在一起，但即便他们签下了他，这是否比穆罕默德·萨拉赫更强？
很大程度上取决于
足球 / 每日邮报体育 103
我们能否在本赛季看到真正的弗洛里安·维尔茨（Florian Wirtz）。
在这一片不确定性的火光中，阿森纳的运作方式是联赛中最接近“确定性”的。关于他们的一切都表明他们正在升级。莱安德罗·特罗萨德（Leandro Trossard）上赛季对他们来说是一名重要球员，加布里埃尔·马丁内利（Gabriel Martinelli）也进过球，但特罗萨德已经离开，而马丁内利的未来尚不确定。
在阿森纳试图攀登更高峰时，他们正在确定可以改进的领域，并以必要的冷酷采取行动。特罗利斯（Trolis）被视为特罗萨德和马丁内利的升级版，如果奥西姆亨（Osimhen）加盟，他将被视为维克托·约克雷斯（Viktor Gyokeres）的升级版。而吉马良斯（Guimaraes）无论被安置在中场的哪个位置，都是经过验证的高质量球员。
然后是马克斯·道曼（Max Dowman）。直到现在，道曼一直被视为一个天才少年，一个惊人出色且早熟的青少年，是一个诱人的好奇点而非冠军争夺战的改变者。道曼年仅 16 岁，但他如此优秀且令人兴奋，他的进步标志着阿森纳本赛季比去年更强大的另一个原因。许多人认为他拥有那种足以让他与巴塞罗那的拉明·亚马尔（Lamine Yamal）相提并论的天赋。他的成长意味着在接下来的几年里，阿森纳每赛季都将获得相当于一名新超级巨星加盟的战力。
博彩公司也一致认为...
ARSENAL / 6 / 4
Manchester City / 11 / 4 Liverpool / 11 / 2 Manchester United / 15 / 2 Chelsea / 17 / 2 Tottenham / 22 / 1 Aston Villa / 40 / 1
（赔率由 Sky Bet 提供）
其他球队仍有时间来削弱阿森纳所持有的优势，但这位冠军球队在夏季表现出的深思熟虑的成熟感，给其余球队带来了一种不祥的预感。
当加的夫的帷幕拉开时，他们领先其他球队的优势自上赛季结束以来并未减少。事实上，这种优势反而增加了。
马雷斯卡暗示曼城球员出走潮将继续
体育版
世界杯——昨日已回到俱乐部的训练基地进行季前测试。他于周四晚上乘坐瑞安航空（Ryanair）的航班返回曼彻斯特，并在几小时后与马雷斯卡会面。马雷斯卡承认，曼城在转会窗口仍有大量工作要做，蒂贾尼·赖因德斯（Tijjani Reijnders）正以 5200 万英镑m 的价格前往沙特阿拉伯的阿尔卡迪西亚俱乐部（Al Qadsiah）。
托特纳姆热刺正寻求完成对巴西边锋萨维尼奥（Savinho）的交易，而马雷斯卡暗示未来几周可能还会有更多球员离队。这位意大利人表示：“我们会看看后续情况，目前正处于一个变动期。我们正处于一个许多在这里待了多年的球员已经离开或可能离开的时刻，这意味着发生了变化。我们将尽最大努力。在转会窗口关闭时，我们需要足够高效地为球队找到解决方案。”
这位 46 岁的教练拒绝讨论任何潜在的签约目标。他说：“我认为其他俱乐部的相关人员谈论我们的球员是不妥的，”在整个夏天关于罗德里（Rodri）在西班牙引发讨论的背景下，这番话显得意味深长。
由于上赛季缺乏首发机会，赖因德斯决定寻求其他机会，马雷斯卡认为其他球员也处于同样的情况。他说：“他们每天都在努力工作，到了周末，他们都想参加比赛。”
“当他们不能上场时，他们很难理解，或者很难看到原因，我可以理解在经过一个赛季后，其中一些人希望能多踢一些比赛。当球员已经有了自己的想法时，很难说服他们。你需要改变他们的想法，这并不总是那么容易。”
“但当俱乐部、球员和教练都认为对一名球员最好的决定是离开时，你就必须离开。”
与此同时，据报道，切尔西的共同所有者马克·沃尔特（Mark Walter）表达了出售其在该英超俱乐部少数股权的意向。沃尔特持有拥有切尔西的财团 BlueCo 12.8 per cent 的少数股权，据报道他遇到了财务问题，导致他以创纪录的 £90 亿加元 出售了洛杉矶湖人队。
据《华尔街日报》报道，美国司法部正在调查向与沃尔特或其企业集团 TWG Global 相关的公司提供的数十亿加元贷款。报告称：“一名熟悉此事的人士表示，除了湖人队，沃尔特还表达了出售其在英超俱乐部切尔西少数股权的意向。”
TWG Global 在给《金融时报》的一份声明中表示，公司“已知晓并正在配合”调查。
枪手计划引进宽萨
阿森纳有意引进英格兰后卫贾雷尔·宽萨（Jarell Quansah）。
这家英超冠军俱乐部已与这位 23 岁球员的代表取得了联系。
宽萨效力于德国球队勒沃库森，对方不想出售他，但阿森纳知道他会对转会持开放态度。
枪手还在继续就埃兹里·孔萨（Ezri Konsa）进行谈判，但阿斯顿维拉 £8000 万 的估价使其望而却步。
作为利物浦青训学院的毕业生，宽萨去年从其童年俱乐部加盟勒沃库森。红军在今年夏天拥有一项回购条款，但该条款现已过期。
宽萨可以出任中后卫或右后卫，他在世界杯上出场三次，包括在阿兹特克体育场对阵墨西哥的那场标志性的 16 强赛，他在那场比赛中被红牌罚下。
作者：西蒙·琼斯（SIMON JONES）
由于威廉·巴利巴（William Baliba）现在面临长期的伤停，枪手正在寻求后防线的补强。
宽萨在 2023-24, 赛季进入利物浦一线队，但在 2024-25 赛季阿尔内·斯洛特（Arne Slot）率队夺冠的赛季中，他在英超联赛仅出场四次。
他是去年 7 月被前曼联主帅埃里克·滕哈赫（Erik ten Hag）带到勒沃库森的，转会费为 3500 万英镑m。
在德国的首个赛季中，宽萨出场 44 次并打入五球，勒沃库森在联赛中排名第六。
英超巨型赛程壁挂图
周末杂志
贝佐斯及其公司斥资 16亿英镑
收购利物浦股份
亚马逊创始人
财团收购安菲尔德球会 三分之一股份
作者：LEWIS STEELE
利物浦的所有者芬威体育集团（Fenway Sports Group）已将俱乐部约三分之一的股份出售给一个由亿万富翁组成的财团，其中包括亚马逊创始人杰夫·贝佐斯（Jeff Bezos）。
这是一笔巨额交易，总部位于波士顿的 FSG（同时拥有红袜队棒球队）预计将获得 £16.5 亿美元 的款项。
该财团由前女王公园巡游者队主管阿米特·巴蒂亚（Amit Bhatia）领导，贝佐斯也参与其中——不过这位世界第三富豪将不会在董事会中拥有席位。巴蒂亚将出任俱乐部的副主席。
财团成员还包括技术先驱布莱恩·鲍姆（Bryan Baum）和伊莱恩·萨弗林（Elaine Saverin），后者是 Facebook 联合创始人爱德华（Eduardo）的妻子，爱德华曾是马克·扎克伯格的同学和商业伙伴。
FSG 主席迈克·戈登（Mike Gordon）表示：“利物浦的建设始终基于超越单一赛季的思考，并以俱乐部的长期利益为出发点做出决定。”
“这种方法继续吸引着全球受人尊敬的投资者和商业领袖的关注。很明显，阿米特和该财团与我们拥有共同的长期哲学，并且认同利物浦的特别之处。他们的经验和视角将补充现有的坚实基础，我们期待共同合作。”
此举不会影响利物浦的日常运营。FSG 依然掌握着俱乐部的控制权并拥有决策权，不过在重大决定上将咨询巴蒂亚及其 1892 Holdings 公司。
巴蒂亚表示：“我们非常自豪能投资利物浦。能作为合作伙伴加入这样一家地位崇高的俱乐部是巨大的荣幸。我们深信利物浦及其领导层，并期待在未来几年支持俱乐部继续取得成功。”
切尔西坚称
1.2 亿英镑m 的恩佐 不会离队
作者：JACK GAUGHAN 和 KIERAN GILL
切尔西预计恩佐·费尔南德斯（Enzo Fernandez）将在本赛季全部时间留队，因为触发其以 £1.2 亿 离队的截止日期已于昨晚截止。
曼城和其他感兴趣的方在下午 5 点的截止时间前未对这位阿根廷中场提交报价，蓝军坚称离队的可能性现在几乎已经结束。
费尔南德斯希望在伊蒂哈德球场与前主教练恩佐·马雷斯卡（Enzo Maresca）再次合作，切尔西在 5 月曾告知其代表，如果达到 1.2 亿英镑m 的金额，他们将促成转会。
这些条款现已被移除，但这并不意味着交易已死。曼城在罗德里（Rodri）的未来确定之前一直不太可能提交报价——巴塞罗那有信心签下这位西班牙队长，而曼城要求的价格超过 6000 万英镑m。
如果这位 30 岁球员离队，曼城可能会再次争取费尔南德斯，尽管他们不太可能达到切尔西 1.2 亿英镑m 的估值。罗德里在接受背部手术后——
请翻至第 103, 页，第 4 栏
阿尔特塔对巨额转会费感到惊讶
米克尔·阿尔特塔（MIKEL ARTETA）承认，英超俱乐部在这个夏天挥霍的巨额转会费让他感到震惊。切尔西以俱乐部纪录的 £1.17 亿 买入摩根·罗杰斯（Morgan Rogers），而曼城也以 1.16 亿英镑m 的价格签下埃利奥特·安德森（Elliot Anderson），打破了自身的纪录。阿森纳主帅阿尔特塔在布鲁诺·吉马良斯（Bruno Guimaraes）身上花费了 7500 万英镑m，但
作者：ISAAN KHAN
枪手仍在评估其进攻选项，加拉塔萨雷的维克托·奥斯梅恩（Victor Osimhen）和胡利安·阿尔瓦雷斯（Julian Alvarez）被提及。在明天对阵曼城的社区盾杯赛前，阿尔特塔被问及这种规模的支出是否令人惊讶，他回答道：“是的，确实如此，但这就是市场。”
“有些俱乐部乐于投资，或者他们认可这些球员的估值。这很公平。价值取决于有人愿意为你支付多少，而他们确实这么做了。”阿尔特塔还暗示伊森·恩瓦内里（Ethan Nwaneri）可能会离开，他说：“我希望他留在俱乐部，但有些事情是中长期的——这对球员来说也是最好的选择。”
今日快速填字游戏在第 88 页
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周六邮报谜题
隐喻线索（CRYPTIC CLUES）
横向
- 12 抓取隐藏的困难，伴随恐怖洪水的源头，遗憾地 (5,4,2) - 13 工作方式，在优秀课程的一部分中带有学习者 (6) - 14 阻碍野餐准备的物品？ (6) - 16 将亚当之子置于观众之中 (4) - 17 恰当的旅行，青少年在十一月前后重新排列 (9) - 18 儿子处于不活跃状态，得以潜行 (5) - 19 在此人的观点中，厚书？ (4) - 20 可能来自意大利的礼仪要求 (9) - 22 电影，植物的新部分 (5) - 23 平凡的帽子被寻求工作的紧张之人取代 (9) - 27 那些在专家舰队前召回速度的人，关于海洋？ (4-3) - 30 拳击手，例如，在时尚的最后食物项之后 (3,3) - 31 赞成的瞬间迹象 (4) - 32 单身汉匆忙获取美容工具 (5) - 35 即兴音乐形式？柏林的“是”与最后两个字符相关 (4) - 36 苍白的体格，为破旧的电影院设计，也许 (7) - 38 标准豆
或骨髓？不完全是 (4) - 39 迪基在凌乱状态下遇到朋克 (7) - 42 产种草本植物似乎在区域周围变化 (6) - 45 日本漫画书由德国游戏玩家持有 (5) - 46 返回后解锁学校？那是基本理念 (7) - 47 沉闷的噪音以这种方式被导演限制 (4) - 48 软矿物放入装饰容器中 (4) - 50 废弃的路线，现在离开西班牙并改变 (7) - 52 塞浦路斯没有直线的高级露营车？ (5) - 54 带有猖狂暴徒的数字是零 (6) - 56 欧洲诡计被劣质设备俘获 (7) - 57 分裂在局外人离开后相当随意 (4) - 59 假期中的赞成符号 (4,3) - 61 法国和英国公司的财务责任 (4) - 64 娱乐区激发访客的最后一人 (5) - 66 网络中持久谜题的一部分 (4) - 67 克利奥和迪在工作中很容易管理 (6) - 69 延长监禁期 (7) - 72
重复次数过多，亨利写给日期的便条 (2,2,5) - 73 美国大学中书籍显示的范围 (5) - 74 非常严厉的工程师休息在环保人士身边 (9) - 79 带着大目标旅行 (4) - 81 一周伴随流感变体则很糟糕 (5) - 82 彼得崩溃的成本仅少数人知晓 (3-6) - 83 错过起点后的赛车活动中的朋友 (4) - 85 九在舞蹈中覆盖大部分领先的赞美诗 (6) - 86 混淆一个俱乐部制服消失为整体 (2,4) - 87 宠爱模型冷酷地处置 (1)
巨型纵横字谜
请选择“隐喻型”或“快速型”，答案相同。 周一公布答案
想要获得赢取 £500 的机会：解开字谜以揭示阴影方格纵向排列的单词。如何参与：致电 0901 293 6235 并留下六个字母的答案及详细信息，或发送短信至 65700，内容包含单词 XWORD、您的答案和姓名。短信和电话费用为 £1 另加标准网络费用。将从今天（周六）00.01 至明天（周日）23.59 之间收到的所有正确条目中选出一名获胜者。仅限 18 岁及以上的英国居民，M excluded。适用完整条款，请参阅第 42 页。需要提示？发送短信 HINT 至 65700 获取六个答案，或致电 0901 293 6235。短信和电话费用为 £1 另加标准网络费用。今日提示在周六 00.01 至周日 23.30 期间提供。
纵向
- 1 一些参加拉丁节日的人 (4)
- 2 第二好的人引起哄堂大笑 (6)
- 3 丈夫进入被设计为私人礼拜场所的地方 (6)
- 4 县界内的蜿蜒小径具有易于理解的方面 (7)
- 5 年度测试提供的显著元素 (5)
- 6 强悍的罗马人虐待了乐器 (5,5)
- 7 取消太阳离去时的球拍运动 (5)
- 8 看到兴奋的小伙子获得商业心态 (9)
- 9 同伴被错误地放入档案，首先是年份 (7)
- 10 去掉一些皮的部分 (4)
- 11 美国关于最终目的地的表达方式 (8)
- 15 度假地区的炎热地面中的系统？ (6)
- 21 出现在家庭游戏中的希腊字母 (5)
-
24 河流中的局部特征？ (7)
-
25 与代金券有关的神来之笔 (6)
- 26 我们听闻在建筑分区中讲述的事情 (6)
- 28 缺乏配料的意大利广场？ (5)
- 29 小说形式中长耳朵的人物 (3)
- 33 为许可证而设计的 PR 时间 (7)
- 34 在冲突中限制一个学习技巧的人？ (6)
- 37 教练首先去掉压力 (5)
- 40 小袋子中疼痛的针的第一个迹象 (5)
- 41 只有焦虑的 GP 关于奇特形状的起源 (7)
- 43 避开围绕一个部门的第一任女性 (5)
- 44 在 Yves 的本质上产生感情 (6)
- 46 橄榄球的特征中的快感？ (5)
- 49 这里的医生在公司岛上告别 (7)
- 51 关于厨师的夸大 (6)
- 53 用啤酒款待男人（简写） (6)
-
55 关于荷兰大学的法语冠词是不合理的 (5)
-
58 为赎罪行为准备的培养基调 (10)
- 60 处于健康状态且有吸引力的战士 (3)
- 62 毕业生必须检查早餐食物 (5)
- 63 我怀疑昂贵的礼物让人欣喜 (9)
- 65 提出一个领取薪水且有一定重量的人 (8)
- 68 营地的原始自由精神过于敏感 (6)
- 70 不担心巡访美国机场的记者 (7)
- 71 这里小时消失后的无产出类清单 (7)
- 75 对外交艺术的完整描述？ (6)
- 76 将药物防御为分解 (6)
- 77 耳朵的一个好部分具有圆润形状 (5)
- 78 在年底之后用美国人吸引圆圈的人 (5)
- 80 观察面孔 (4)
- 84 伦敦剧院中一批领导者的轻快节奏 (4)
快速线索
- 横向 - 12 理解 (5,4,2) - 13 课程单位 (6) - 14 阻碍 (6) - 16 粘贴 (4) - 17 恰当的 (9) - 18 潜行 (5) - 19 厚书 (4) - 20 礼仪要求 (9) - 22 电影 (5) - 23 求职者 (9) - 27 海洋的 (4-3) - 30 卷心香肠 (3,3) - 31 瞬间 (4) - 32 修容工具 (5) - 35 即兴音乐形式 (4) - 36 破旧的公共场所 (7) - 38 标准 (4) - 39 凌乱的 (7) - 42 产种草本植物 (6) - 45 日本漫画书 (5) - 46 核心事实 (7) - 47 沉闷的声音 (4) - 48 软矿物 (4) - 50 过时的 (7) - 52 有弯曲的 (5) - 54 零 (6) - 56 诡计 (7) - 57 分裂 (4) - 59 批准 (4,3) - 61 财务责任 (4) - 64 火花 (5) - 66 网络 (4) - 67 易于管理的 (6) - 69 延伸 (7) - 72 过多重复 (2,2,5) - 73 范围 (5) - 74 非常严重的 (9) - 79 目标 (4) - 81 可怕的 (5) - 82 机密的 (3-6) - 83 朋友 (4) - 85 吟唱 (6) - 86 整体上 (2,4) - 87 娇惯 (1) - 纵向 - 1 节日 (4) - 2 尖叫 (6) - 3 私人礼拜场所 (6) - 4 易于理解的方面 (7) - 5 显著元素 (5) - 6 口琴 (5,5) - 7 取消 (5) - 8 心理状态 (9) - 9 主要地 (7) - 10 省略 (4) - 11 最终目的地 (8) - 15 系统 (6) - 21 希腊字母 (5) - 24 时下的 (7) - 25 代金券 (6) - 28 地板 (6) - 28 咸味意大利菜 (5) - 29 精灵 (3) - 33 许可 (7) - 34 战时禁闭 (6) - 37 教练 (5) - 40 小袋子 (5) - 41 多面形状 (7) - 43 避免 (5) - 44 发展 (6) - 46 刺激 (5) - 49 再见 (7) - 51 做得过火 (6) - 53 招待 (6) - 55 过度的 (5) - 58 赎罪行为 (10) - 60 健康状态 (3) - 62 包装餐 (5) - 63 高兴的 (9) - 65 提出 (8) - 66 过分敏感的 (6) - 70 无忧无虑的 (7) - 71 无产出的 (7) - 73 未受损的 (6) - 76 哨兵 (6) - 77 球体 (5) - 78 球 (5) - 80 外貌 (4) - 84 节奏 (4)
数独
在网格中填入所有方格，使每行、每列以及每个 3x3 方格都包含 1 到 9 的所有数字。
周一公布答案
SAKURO
在网格中放置 1 到 9，使每个白色圆圈中的数字等于周围四个方格之和，且相同颜色的方格之和等于下方相应圆圈中的数字。
周一公布答案
SUGURU
一个单元格的轮廓块包含数字 1；两个单元格的块包含 1 和 2；三个单元格的块包含 1, 2 和 3；以此类推。相同的数字不得出现在相邻单元格中——即使是对角线也不行！
周末更多谜题
1 哪个至今仍在播出的时事电视节目于 November 11, 1953 首次播出？ 2 panatella 是一种什么？
3 谁因其 1816 年发明的矿工安全灯而被授予皇家学会的朗福德奖章？
4 理查德·多伊利·卡特（Richard D'Oyly Carte）与谁的轻歌剧有关联？
酒馆问答
5 哪个非洲国家紧邻直布罗陀海峡以南？
6 太阳系的八颗行星中有多少颗没有卫星？
7 哪个乐队在 1900 年代后期凭借《Build Me Up Buttercup》走红？
8 童谣《This Little Piggy》中出现了多少只“小猪”？ 9 哪位演员主演了《齐瓦哥医生》和《搞笑女》？ 10 在斯诺克中，黑球值多少分？
答案在下方
密码字
网格中的每个数字代表一个字母。
今天，8 代表 1，因此每当 8 出现时，请填入 1。控制网格中给出了两个字母作为开始。将它们填入主网格中的正确方格，然后利用你的词汇知识推断缺失方格中应填入哪些字母。周一公布答案
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
昨天的答案：
完成填字游戏（Codeword）以揭晓阴影方格中的单词。
参与方式：请致电 0901 293 6232
留下您的答案和详细信息。或者发送短信至 65700，内容包含单词 CODE、您的答案以及您的姓名。短信和电话费用为 El 加上您的标准网络资费。每周将从所有在周一 00.01 至周六 23.59 之间收到的正确条目中选出一名获胜者。答案每天 00.01. 更新。仅限 18 岁及以上的英国居民，不包括北爱尔兰。适用完整条款，详见第 42 页。
需要提示？发送短信 CODEWORD 至 65700 以获取四个提示，或致电 0901 293 6200。短信和电话费用为 El 加上您的标准网络资费。今日提示仅在今日 00.01 至 23.30 之间提供。
快速填字游戏
第 10,494 期
横向
1 在计划的时间（2,8）
6 单向的（3-3）
7 浪漫的花朵（5）
9 船队（6）
10 高大的落叶树（3）
11 哭泣（4）
14 末端部分（4）
15 男性家长（3）
16 算盘（6）
17 素描（5）
18 悬垂的覆盖物（6）
20 犹豫不决或摇摆不定（5-5）
纵向
1 拥有（3）
2 地下排水管（6）
3 首要的（6）
4 皮肤的（6）
5 内华达州的一个城市（3,5）
6 党派的（3-5）
8 使便捷（6）
9 东南阿拉伯的酋长国（3,5）
12 某种颜色的淡雅色调（6）
13 陈旧或酸的（6）
14 地下通道（6）
19 窥探（3）
周一公布答案
周五答案 — (第 10,493 期) 横向 1 Adamant. 7 Hourse. 8 Robbery. 9 Even. 10 Bump. 12 Fitness. 14 Twofold. 16 Lava. 18 Club. 20 Treason. 21 Goalie. 22 Rematch. 纵向: 1 Acrobat. 2 Album. 3 Area. 4 Thyroid. 5 Maternal. 6 Assess. 11 Puffball. 12 Flatter. 13 Staunch. 15 Wallop. 17 Asset. 19 Helm.
CAPPHIELD
如需订购由 Jim Davis 编写的《Garfield Home Cooker》，价格为 £12.59，请访问 mailshop.co.uk / books 或致电 020 3176 2937。订单满 £25 英国境内免运费。
FOOD STIRKS
致电 Shrek 咨询关于“Driving For Quantity”的内容，售价 £3.00。请发送邮件至 Emakindro@newytimes.com 购买。
FLAVOR & COOL
如需订购由 Gray Jolliffe 编写的《Chloe & Co. into Arsone Seen My Love Unit》，价格为 £14.39，请访问 mailshop.co.uk / books 或致电 020 3176 2937。订单满 £25 英国境内免运费。
FIRE & BASKET
如需订购由 Alex Graham 编写的《Fred Basset Yearbook 2026》，价格为 £9.99，请访问 mailshop.co.uk / books 或致电 020 3176 2937。订单满 £25 英国境内免运费。
《每日邮报》为读者提供重新建立与失联亲友联系的机会。每周，MONICA PORTER
会分享一个试图寻找失踪挚爱的人的故事——以及一个人们重逢的故事。
前公务员 Christine Regas 写道：“我的故事始于 1945 年 7 月，当时我的母亲在肯特郡的布罗姆利小屋医院（Bromley Cottage Hospital）里，在隔壁病床遇到了一位年轻的孕妇。她就是 Barbara Backhouse，两位女士成为了朋友。Barbara 的孩子 Patricia Ann Theresa 出生于 1945 年 12 月，当时我们——我的母亲、我那来自塞浦路斯的希腊裔父亲和我——正在塞浦路斯探望我的祖父母。直到 1947 年，Backhouse 一家才来到布罗姆利拜访我们。那时，Pat 已经有一个妹妹 Barbara Jean。在接下来的 20 年里，我们的家庭关系变得非常亲密，尽管他们搬到了北方，先是曼彻斯特，然后是其他城市。
寻找...
“我的母亲在 1964 年因癌症去世，享年 57 岁。我给 Backhouse 一家写了信，他们回信了。但接下来的圣诞节，当我给那几个女孩寄包裹时，包裹被退回了，上面标注着‘已搬迁’。一年后，我收到他们寄来的一张圣诞卡，邮戳显示在诺福克（Norfolk）某地，但没有地址。从那以后我就无法找到他们了。我想知道那些女孩现在怎么样了。她们无疑已经结婚并改了姓，现在可能已经是祖母了。但如果她们还在世，能再次收到她们的消息就太好了。我今年 89 岁，住在布罗姆利（Bromley）的一家养老院里。”
芭芭拉和帕特
20 世纪 90 年代的卡斯帕·富兰克林（Caspar Franklin）
... 找到了
我们最近关于业余民谣团体 Folk 'n' Rollers 乐队三位成员——蒂姆·布斯（Tim Boothe）、亚德里安·道利什（Adrian Dawlish）和乔纳森·舒尔策（Jonathan Schultzer）重聚的故事，促成了另一次联系。读者卡斯帕·富兰克林（Caspar Franklin）与我们联系并告知，早在 20 世纪 90 年代，他与亚德里安作为伦敦北部西汉普斯特（West Hampstead）家附近一家俱乐部的成员，曾多次一起下国际象棋。“他通常能赢我，”卡斯帕承认。他们在大约 2001 年失去了联系；卡斯帕结婚并搬到了伦敦其他地方。现在，他们重新联系上了。国际象棋盘拿出来了吗？
■ 如果有您想要寻找的人，请发送电子邮件至 monica.porter@dailymail.co.uk，并附上您的电话号码。或者写信至：Missing and Found, Letters Department, Daily Mail, 9 Derry Street, London W8 5HY。所有来信将尽快予以回复。
不等式数独 (FUTOSHIKI)
填充空白方格，使每行和每列仅包含 1 到 5 的数字各一次。方格之间的符号表示该数字比相邻数字大 (◇) 或小 (◇)。
周一公布答案
酒馆问答答案：
1 Panorama
2 Cigar
3 Humphry Davy
4 Gilbert and Sullivan
5 Morocco
6 Two (Venus and Mercury)
7 The Foundations
8 Five
9 Omar Sharif
10 Seven.
制度与权力批判深度研判：Daily Mail (2026-08-15)
▌ 本日全报思想与文化深思雷达 (Intellectual & Cultural Significance Radar)
在系统通盘梳理本期报纸所涉及的报道后，以下 3 个具体事件在制度伦理与地缘政治层面具有较高的分析价值：
-
【医疗专业伦理的脆弱性与非正式权力渗透】
[F1_8, F1_11]- 事件简述：一名53岁的NHS顾问医生因与被定罪的连环杀手露西·莱特比（Lucy Letby）交换关于企图谋杀婴儿的私密信息而被解雇，随后在被解雇后的第二天被发现瘫倒在车内，并于九天后去世
[F1_8, F1_9, F1_10]。 - 思想文化深思切入点：该事件揭示了高度制度化的医疗权力体系在面对非正式情感纽带（如“男友”关系
[F1_6 🔍]）时的脆弱性。一个资深专业人士如何因私人信息交换而导致职业底线崩塌，触及了“专业身份”与“私人操纵”之间的张力。
- 事件简述：一名53岁的NHS顾问医生因与被定罪的连环杀手露西·莱特比（Lucy Letby）交换关于企图谋杀婴儿的私密信息而被解雇，随后在被解雇后的第二天被发现瘫倒在车内，并于九天后去世
-
【地缘政治中的“拟像”预警与认知战争】
[F2_36 🔍]- 事件简述：立陶宛国防部长警告俄罗斯可能利用乌克兰无人机伪造袭击波罗的海基础设施的“假旗”行动
[F2_36 🔍]。 - 思想文化深思切入点：这触及了当代地缘政治中“真实”的消亡。在混合战争时代，权力通过制造“拟像（Simulacra）”来重构敌我关系，使真相在预警与反预警的循环中被解构。
- 事件简述：立陶宛国防部长警告俄罗斯可能利用乌克兰无人机伪造袭击波罗的海基础设施的“假旗”行动
-
【专业身份的社会性死亡与生理坍塌】
[F1_10, F1_11]- 事件简述：该医生在因发送不当短信被传唤至纪律听证会
[F1_11 🔍]且被解雇后，迅速陷入生理危机并死亡[F1_9, F1_10]。 - 思想文化深思切入点：探讨个体在失去核心职业身份（Professional Identity）后的心理与生理崩溃，分析制度性审判如何通过剥夺社会坐标导致个体的彻底瓦解。
- 事件简述：该医生在因发送不当短信被传唤至纪律听证会
▌ 精选核心专题深度思想论证 (In-Depth Dialectical Monograph)
专题一：专业主义的幽灵与非正式权力的寄生——从A医生的悲剧看制度性盲区
在NHS这一强调程序正义的医疗体系中，该顾问医生的陨落 [F1_9 🔍] 并非简单的个人道德失范，而是一场关于专业身份崩塌的悲剧。一个关键的矛盾在于：一名53岁的资深顾问医生在专业知识与制度权威的加持下，竟然因与一名护士（莱特比）交换关于企图谋杀婴儿的私密信息 [F1_8 🔍] 而被解雇。这证明了非正式的情感纽带（报道中提及的“男友”关系 [F1_6 🔍]）能够轻易地在制度的缝隙中建立一套平行的权力逻辑。
从话语策略来看，《每日邮报》通过披露该医生在被解雇后迅速死亡的细节 [F1_9, F1_10]，在客观上构建了一种“违规者”与“受害者”共存的叙事。这里涉及一个深刻的权力运作机制：莱特比利用了医疗体系内部的等级差异与情感空隙，将专业信息的交换转化为一种亲密关系的证明，从而使该医生在潜意识中将对制度的背叛（违反保密协议）等同于对私人关系的忠诚。
引入福柯关于“微观权力”的视角，医疗机构本应是最高标准的规范化空间，但本案证明，当私人领域的情感操纵进入专业空间，它会形成一种寄生权力。这种权力不依赖于职级，而依赖于对个体心理弱点的捕捉。该医生在被传唤至纪律听证会 [F1_11 🔍] 后的猝死 [F1_10 🔍]，可以被视为一种“社会性死亡”后的生理坍塌——当他意识到自己的专业身份被彻底解构，且无法在制度审判中重建自我时，其生命维持系统在心理压力下发生了崩溃。
专题二：认知战争时代的“真实”解构——从波罗的海“假旗”预警谈起
立陶宛国防部长关于俄罗斯可能伪造“假旗”袭击的警告 [F2_36 🔍]，揭示了当代主权防御中一个极具挑战性的认识论困境：当国家权力开始预演“被伪造的真实”时，事实的判定标准发生了转移。
在传统的战争逻辑中，证据（Evidence）是判定攻击者的核心；但在认知战争（Cognitive Warfare）中，证据本身成为了可被操纵的“拟像”。俄罗斯可能利用乌克兰无人机 [F2_36 🔍] 制造袭击，其目的不在于物理破坏，而在于通过制造一个“伪造的现场”来诱导对方做出错误的战略反应。
这种治理范式的转移意味着，主权国家在定义安全边界时，不再仅仅依赖于物理防御，而必须依赖于一种“元认知”的防御——即在证据出现之前，先对证据的“真实性”进行概率性预判。这种状态导致了一个悖论：为了防御“假旗”行动，国家必须在公众心中预先植入“任何证据都可能是伪造的”这一认知。这种认知虽然增强了防御韧性，但客观上加速了社会对客观真相的信任崩塌，使地缘政治进入了一个由预警、反预警构成的循环迷宫。
▌ 面向学者的开放性思想追问与研究路标 (Open Horizons for Scholarly Inquiry)
- 【关于专业身份与心理操纵的制度研究】：在高度专业化的组织中，非正式的情感操纵如何通过数字化沟通渠道绕过制度监管？我们是否需要建立一套针对“专业身份被操纵”的心理防御机制，而非仅仅将其视为个人道德失范？
- 【关于认知战争中的“拟像”治理】：在“假旗”袭击
[F2_36 🔍]等案例中，当国家权力开始预演“被伪造的真实”时，国际法中的“证据”与“事实”概念如何被重构？ - 【关于职业身份丧失与生理危机的相关性研究】：分析高阶专业人士在遭遇制度性剥夺（如被解雇、吊销执照）后，其生理健康崩溃的心理机制，探讨职业身份在现代个体生命维持中的本体论地位。
🎓 认识论审核报告 (Epistemic Audit Report)
审核结论： 候选分析在“专题一”中表现出极高的证据保真度，但在“专题二”和“专题三”中出现了严重的“证据幻觉” (Evidence Hallucination)。
具体缺陷：
1. 虚构引用： 候选分析大量引用了 [F3_xx], [F4_xx], [F5_xx] 等索引。然而，提供的【证据清单 (Evidence Manifest)】仅包含 [F1_1 🔍] 至 [F2_39 🔍]。所有关于“工党电动车政策”、“非法移民安置成本”以及 A 医生事件的深度细节（如 GMC 报告、具体罚款金额 1.5 万英镑、ZEV 目标比例等）在提供的证据清单中完全不存在。
2. 过度外推： 分析将一个单一的医疗个案（A 医生）上升为“当代专业主义体系的异化”，在缺乏系统性样本支撑的情况下，这种社会学定论超出了认识论边界。
3. 逻辑断层： 分析试图通过不存在的证据来构建一个复杂的“Logos vs Pathos”辩证模型，导致整个学术论证建立在虚构的基石之上。
修正策略： 严格剔除所有未在 [F1_1 🔍] 至 [F2_39 🔍] 中出现的外部信息，仅基于现有证据（A 医生的死亡及其被解雇的原因）进行深度分析，并将其定位于“个案观察”而非“系统性结论”。
理性与情感辩证深度研判：Daily Mail (2026-08-15)
▌ 本日生活世界痛感与情感政治观察 (Lifeworld & Affective Significance Radar)
基于现有证据清单，本期报纸中唯一具有深层伦理探讨价值的事件为：
- 【顾问医生 A 的职业崩塌与猝死】
[F1_8, F1_9, F1_10, F1_11]- 事件简述：一名 53 岁的 NHS 顾问医生因与被定罪的连环杀手露西·莱特比（Lucy Letby）就其企图谋杀婴儿交换不当信息而被解雇。在解雇后的第二天，该医生被发现瘫倒在车内，随后在 ICU 治疗九天后去世
[F1_8, F1_9, F1_10]。 - 情感政治与伦理深思切入点：此事件呈现了“制度性惩戒”与“个体心理崩溃”的极端同步性。一个处于医疗权力高位的专业人士，在面对职业身份被迅速剥离（解雇）后，其肉身状态迅速恶化，揭示了专业身份作为个体生存核心支撑的脆弱性。
- 事件简述：一名 53 岁的 NHS 顾问医生因与被定罪的连环杀手露西·莱特比（Lucy Letby）就其企图谋杀婴儿交换不当信息而被解雇。在解雇后的第二天，该医生被发现瘫倒在车内，随后在 ICU 治疗九天后去世
▌ 精选核心专题理性与情感辩证论证 (The Dialectic of Logos and Pathos Monograph)
专题：专业身份的制度性剥离与肉身崩溃的因果链条——A 医生事件中的 Logos 与 Pathos 辩证
在 A 医生的悲剧中，我们观察到一种冷峻的制度理性（Institutional Logos）与剧烈的个体情感崩溃（Individual Pathos）之间的直接碰撞。
从 NHS 的治理逻辑（Logos）来看，其采取的是一种标准的“合规性清理”模型：一旦发现医护人员与一名被定罪的连环杀手存在“不当短信”往来 [F1_11 🔍]，且涉及极其敏感的“企图谋杀婴儿”之信息 [F1_8 🔍]，制度的唯一合法反应是迅速切断该个体与医疗系统的联系。在这种技术官僚的理性架构中，解雇是维护医疗体系纯洁性与公众信任的必要程序。
然而，生活世界的真实痛感（Pathos）在这一程序化处理之后迅速爆发。证据显示，该医生在被解雇后的第二天即被发现“瘫倒在自己的车内” [F1_9 🔍]。这种肉身状态的剧烈坍塌，在时间线上与“被解雇”这一制度行为高度重合。这表明，对于一名 53 岁的资深顾问医生而言，其职业身份（Professional Identity）并非简单的雇佣关系，而是其自我认知的核心支撑。
这种 Logos 与 Pathos 的摩擦在于：制度理性认为“解雇”是解决违规的终点，但对于个体而言，这可能是社会性死亡的起点。当制度以极快的速度剥离其社会身份时，个体在短时间内失去了所有支撑其生存意义的符号系统。A 医生在车内瘫倒的生理状态 [F1_9 🔍]，可以被视为其精神世界在面对制度冷漠与自我道德崩塌时的具象化投射。
这种个案诊断出专业主义体系的一种潜在风险：它能够高效地通过行政手段剔除“违规者”，但其制度设计中缺乏对被剔除者在身份坍塌后可能产生的心理危机之预判与干预机制。最终，制度的“正义”在客观结果上加速了个体的肉体消亡。
▌ 面向学者的伦理与社会心理开放性追问 (Open Horizons for Inquiry)
- 【关于专业身份与生存意义的脆弱性研究】：探讨在高度制度化的专业领域，当个体遭遇突发性的“制度性抹除”（如因违规被迅速解雇）时，其社会身份的坍塌如何转化为生理性的崩溃？
- 【关于操纵性情感在权力结构中的运作机制】：分析一名资深顾问医生为何会与一名被定罪的杀手建立足以导致其职业毁灭的“不当信息交换”关系
[F1_8, F1_11]，探讨专业权力等级在面对特定心理操纵时的失效机制。
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'BOYFRIEND' OF
LETBY DIED DAYS AFTER SACKING
Doctor found collapsed in his car following hospital's decision to fire him over messages to nurse about baby she tried to kill
EXCLUSIVE
By Liz Hull
LUCY Letby's 'boyfriend' died after being sacked for exchanging messages with the convicted serial killer about a baby she tried to murder, the Daily Mail can reveal.
The 53-year-old consultant doctor was found collapsed in his car the day after he was dismissed from the NHS hospital where he worked.
He was admitted to intensive care but died nine days later, on July 3. An inquest is due to open into his death at a date yet to be fixed.
The doctor – who cannot be named for legal reasons – was hauled before a disciplinary hearing in June over a series of inappropriate texts he sent the former neo-natal nurse while they worked
Dani Dyer's back with the Strictly gang after last year's dramatic exit
SEE PAGE THREE
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Page 2
Daily Mail, Saturday, August 15, 2026
Summary: Cloudy, sunny
UK TODAY: Morning begins mostly cloudy, becoming sunny with intervals by afternoon. Temperature rise to warm levels, cooling to mild by evening. Northerly winds remain moderate throughout the day. Max 26c.
Today's weather
| 9am | 12noon | 3pm | 6pm | 9pm | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | 9.2°C | 9.25°C | 9.27°C | 9.27°C | 9.28°C |
| Plymouth | 9.20°C | 9.24°C | 9.25°C | 9.23°C | 9.19°C |
| Cardiff | 9.19°C | 9.22°C | 9.24°C | 9.24°C | 9.20°C |
| B'ham | 9.18°C | 9.21°C | 9.22°C | 9.21°C | 9.18°C |
| M'chester | 9.17°C | 9.20°C | 9.21°C | 9.20°C | 9.17°C |
| Newcastle | 9.16°C | 9.20°C | 9.21°C | 9.19°C | 9.17°C |
| Glasgow | 9.15°C | 9.17°C | 9.17°C | 9.17°C | 9.14°C |
| Aberdeen | 9.16°C | 9.18°C | 9.19°C | 9.17°C | 9.16°C |
| Belfast | 9.14°C | 9.16°C | 9.18°C | 9.17°C | 9.15°C |
5 day forecast
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | 9.27°C | 9.27°C | 9.28°C | 9.24°C | 9.23°C |
| Plymouth | 9.24°C | 9.24°C | 9.24°C | 9.22°C | 9.22°C |
| Cardiff | 9.24°C | 9.24°C | 9.23°C | 9.22°C | 9.22°C |
| B'ham | 9.23°C | 9.24°C | 9.23°C | 9.21°C | 9.20°C |
| M'chester | 9.21°C | 9.21°C | 9.20°C | 9.19°C | 9.18°C |
| Newcastle | 9.19°C | 9.19°C | 9.21°C | 9.19°C | 9.18°C |
| Glasgow | 9.17°C | 9.17°C | 9.17°C | 9.16°C | 9.17°C |
| Aberdeen | 9.18°C | 9.17°C | 9.19°C | 9.18°C | 9.17°C |
| Belfast | 9.18°C | 9.18°C | 9.18°C | 9.18°C | 9.17°C |
Europe forecast
| India | 7 | Jennings | 7 | Latvia | 7 | Lithuania | 7 | Jamaica | 7 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam | 7pm | 36 | 70 | Cloudy | 22 | 72 | Madrid | 30 | 70 | 36 |
| Brussels | 7pm | 30 | 85 | Year | 24 | 75 | Paris | 30 | 85 | 30 |
| Frankfurt | 7pm | 37 | 90 | Year | 30 | 85 | Rome | 30 | 85 | 34 |
Around the world yesterday
| weather | 7 | J | weather | 7 | J | weather | 7 | J | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appern | Sunny | 33 | 70 | Florence | Sunny | 27 | 69 | New Delhi | Shivam |
| Amsterdam | Sunny | 32 | 70 | Geneva | Shivam | 24 | 70 | New York | Fair |
| Alben | Sunny | 29 | 70 | Edinburgh | Sunny | 25 | 71 | Wales | Sunny |
| Auckland | Cloudy | 19 | 70 | Germany | Sunny | 23 | 72 | Oslo | Cloudy |
| Baltimore | Sunny | 44 | 70 | Helsinki | Fair | 19 | 74 | Malaya | Sunny |
| Barcelona | Sunny | 32 | 70 | Hong Kong | Fair | 27 | 75 | Paris | Sunny |
| Buenos Aires | Sunny | 47 | 70 | Montreal | Sunny | 29 | 76 | Paris | Sunny |
| Beijing | Sunny | 31 | 70 | Montreal | Fair | 26 | 77 | Prague | Sunny |
| Beirut | Thunder | 30 | 70 | Jersey | Sunny | 24 | 78 | Windsor | Sunny |
| Bolivia | Cloudy | 18 | 64 | Lebanon | Fair | 34 | 79 | Riga | Sunny |
| Belgium | Sunny | 30 | 70 | Las Palmas | Sunny | 27 | 80 | Rome | Sunny |
| Berlin | Sunny | 30 | 70 | Lisbon | Sunny | 27 | 81 | Singapore | Fair |
| Brentford | Cloudy | 27 | 70 | London | Sunny | 32 | 82 | Stockholm | Cloudy |
| Bridgestone | Sunny | 27 | 70 | Los Angeles | Cloudy | 24 | 83 | Strasbourg | Sunny |
| Brussels | Sunny | 24 | 70 | Seoul | Sunny | 40 | 84 | Sydney | Sunny |
| Buckland | Sunny | 26 | 70 | Madrid | Fair | 30 | 85 | Sangam | Sunny |
| Budapest | Sunny | 29 | 70 | Moldova | Sunny | 31 | 86 | Toronto | Shivam |
| Cairo | Sunny | 30 | 70 | Malaya | Sunny | 33 | 87 | Toronto | Fair |
| Cape Town | Cloudy | 19 | 70 | Melbourne | Cloudy | 29 | 88 | Tokyo | Thunder |
| Casablanca | Sunny | 27 | 70 | Monaco City | Sunny | 34 | 89 | Toronto | Sunny |
| Copenhagen | Sunny | 23 | 71 | Miami | Sunny | 33 | 90 | Toronto | Sunny |
| Cork | Sunny | 30 | 70 | Miami | Sunny | 33 | 91 | Vancouver | Sunny |
| Dubai | Sunny | 44 | 70 | Montreal | Cloudy | 24 | 92 | Venice | Sunny |
| Dublin | Cloudy | 27 | 70 | Monaco | Fair | 29 | 93 | Toronto | Sunny |
| Debrecen | Sunny | 32 | 70 | Montreal | Thunder | 31 | 94 | Warsaw | Sunny |
| Paris | Sunny | 27 | 70 | Norwich | Sunny | 23 | 95 | Washington | Fair |
Moon and Sun
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Continued from Page One
together at the Countess of Chester Hospital, the Mail has learned.
The messages, understood to have breached patient confidentiality, involved details of the care of a premature baby boy with haemophilia, known only as Baby N, who Letby, 36, was convicted of trying to kill the day after he was born in June 2016.
It is understood the doctor also faced other serious allegations - including that he inappropriately accessed medical records and risked patient safety - which cannot be revealed for legal reasons.
At her trial, Letby was forced to deny she and the medic, referred to as 'Dr A', were having a romantic affair, claiming they were just 'best friends.'
But she broke down in tears and tried to leave the dock when he entered the courtroom at Manchester Crown Court to give evidence. She called him 'sweeter' in texts and referred to him as 'love' in notes scrawled with his name and love hearts that police discovered during searches at her home.
Letby is serving 15 whole life terms after being found guilty of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven more - one of whom she attacked twice - at the Countess of Chester Hospital between June 2013 and June 2016.
Sources told the Mail that Dr A attended a three-day disciplinary hearing in early June and was fired for gross misconduct a fortnight later, on June 23.
The following day relatives reported him missing and he was found in his car at a retail park, around 20 miles from
Whole life sentences: Lucy Letby
Letby and a very close friendship
PAGES 10-11
his Cheshire home. He never regained consciousness and died on July 3 at Whiston Hospital, Merseyside.
The cause of his death is not yet known, but has been referred to the Cheshire coroner, who confirmed 'preliminary' inquiries' had begun.
His NHS bosses would have been duty bound to report his dismissal to the doctors' regulatory body, the General Medical Council, potentially threatening his professional registration and
ability to work as a medic again. Dr A told the Thirlwall Inquiry - the public inquiry investigating Letby's crimes - in October 2024 that the Band 5 nurse 'misled and maybe manipulated' him into giving her information about babies she had attacked.
The then-junior doctor swapped 1,355 Facebook messages with Letby, discussing babies who collapsed when they were on shift together, between June and September 2016.
The pair also exchanged more flirty messages about their private lives, sometimes late at night, met up for walks and meals and went on day trips to London together in their free time.
In one message Letby asked Dr A about the condition of Baby N and queried whether she had done anything wrong concerning his care.
Dr A replied: 'Oh Lucy, poor little thing. I am sure he has had the best care possible and you will have done everything you could for him.' Asked during the inquiry whether such a message was appropriate, Dr A said: 'In hindsight, no. Looking at the content of the messages here, I've shared too much.'
In her evidence to the inquiry, which was overseen by High Court Judge Lady Justice Thirlwall and is set to report later this year, Baby N's mother accused Dr A of 'blatantly' breaching her son's patient confidentiality. She also revealed she had lodged a formal complaint with the hospital where he went on to work about his conduct.
Letby, formerly of Hereford, was convicted in August 2023. She has always maintained she did not kill or harm any babies in her care.
By David Churchill
LABOUR announced plans to water down its Net Zero targets on electric cars yesterday - admitting they risk pushing up costs and won't be achieved.
Ministers said they were looking to loosen rules on sales as they weren't 'fit for purpose' amid 'slower than anticipated' uptake. It means half of all new cars sold at the end of the decade may still have fossil fuel engines. Under the present law, by 2030 only 20 per cent of new cars sold will be able to use petrol or diesel.
The target, known as the zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate, is 33 per cent this year and increases annually until 2030. But only one in four new cars being sold are electric as a lack of public chargers, higher prices and anxieties around running out of charge dampen demand.
Most sales are driven by businesses de-carbonising their fleets rather than private motorists. Car-makers face fines of up to £15,000 for every new vehicle sold above their quota of fossil fuel cars, which ultimately get passed on to consumers.
Transport Secretary Heidi
Labour in reverse as it loosens Net Zero targets on electric vehicles
Alexander said: 'It's right we keep targets under review to ensure they're practical and back British industry. The end goal hasn't changed, but we need to take business
'The end goal hasn't changed'
with us on the journey. That's exactly what we're doing today, by making sure industry has the chance to shape how we get there.'
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said the move
was about 'listening to industry', which has been warning for months that the targets were unrealistic.
The consultation said: 'Slower than anticipated ZEV demand sits alongside wider factors affecting the UK automotive sector, including comparatively high energy and labour costs, tariffs and trade barriers.'
The review will consider whether to lower the 2030 mandate to 70, 60 or even 50 per cent from the current 80.
It will also look at bringing in more flexibility for manufacturers who fail to meet
targets. A separate 2030 ban on all new pure combustion engine cars will remain, with hybrids - which sometimes use petrol and diesel - being allowed until 2035.
Mike Hawes, of The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, said: 'We welcome the consultation. Industry remains fully committed to a zero-emission future. The regulations was conceived in very different conditions - cheaper energy, rapidly declining production costs and more optimistic global demand expectations.'
This year, petrol cars are most popular, with 42.8 per cent of registrations. 'Tory transport spokesman Richard Holden said: 'Labour's Net Zero obsession is piling costs on hardworking families and taxpayers. Rather than just launch a consultation, Andy Burnham should take concrete action now to ease the pressure.'
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Page 3
Polish up the glitterball, here come the new season's Strictly stars (whether you know them or not)
Line-up: Melanie Walters, Lacey Turner and Shaun Wright-Phillips
FOR two decades it was the jewel in the BBC's crown - the ultimate primetime show that celebrities begged their agents to get them on.
But those days are over for Strictly Come Dancing, if this trail of little-known 'stars' is anything to go by.
They have been spotted arriving at a dance studio in London for their first day of rehearsals ahead of the launch of the 24th series next month.
They include the ex-Love Island contestant Dani Dyer, Australian singer and former Neighbours star Delta Goodrem, footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips, actress Jamie Winstone and EastEnders star Lacey Turner.
The list has led to claims that this year's line-up is the 'worst ever', with perhaps the best-known contestant being 64-year-old Melanie Walters, who played Gwen in popular BBC sitcom Gavin And Stacey.
Ms Dyer, 30, is considered a 'recycled signing' by fans because she is returning after being forced to leave last year's series with a fractured ankle.
The rest of this year's line-up includes Big Brother host Will
Senior Showbusiness Reporter
Best, House Of The Dragon's Bethany Antonia, presenter Graeme 'The Dogfather' Hall, Emmerdale's Lawrence Robb, Olympian Tabby Stoecker, Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey, Love Island star Cach Mercer and YouTuber John Nellis.
Strictly's professional dancers are considered by some viewers to be better known than the celebrity contestants.
It comes after a tough three years for the BBC's flagship Saturday night dance show, during
'Series of scandals'
which it has been hit by a series of scandals. There have been 'bullying' accusations towards professional Giovanni Pernice, Zara McDermott's partner Graziano Di Prima kicked her during rehearsals and Wynne Evans was axed for inappropriate behaviour towards his co-stars.
But programme bosses are not believed to be concerned by the lack of star power this year, instead booking personalities based on their social media
Return: Dani Dyer at rehearsals yesterday
following. The 15 contestants boast 47.2million followers between them.
Earlier this year Karen Hauer, Strictly's longest-serving female professional dancer, was dropped in brutal cuts along with colleagues Nadiya Bychkova, Michelle Tsiakkas, Luba Mushtuk and Gorka Marquez in favour of
Smile: Ex-Neighbours star Delta Goodrem
five new and younger 'TikTok friendly' dancers.
Emma Willis, former professional dancer Johannes Radebe and comedian Josh Widdicombe will host the new series, replacing the long-serving Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman who stepped down last year.
Minor format changes are
expected, while spin-off show It Takes Two is being overhauled into a video-podcast format. As part of the changes, Janette Manrara and Fleur East stepped down from their hosting roles.
Their replacements are expected to be announced today during Ms Willis's BBC Radio 2 afternoon programme.
Is judge Shirley ready to waltz off to show's US version?
SHE has held one of the most sought-after roles in television as head judge on Strictly Come Dancing for nine years.
But Shirley Ballas has hinted her time in the BBC ballroom might be coming to an end - and she is readying herself to foxtrot off to the US version.
The 65-year-old, pictured, who is coming to the end of a three-year contract, has admitted she would like to join Dancing With The Stars (DWTS).
During an appearance on American tele-
By James Desborough and Alex Doyle
vision to promote her DWTS spin-off, The Next Pro, Ms Ballas said: 'That would be a dream. And Len [Goodman, the late Strictly head judge] did it, who was my teacher and my dear good friend. He used to travel across the waters there.
'And if I ever got that
opportunity, I would absolutely be [up for it] ... meeting the American public, making sure that I could give quality [advice] ... really help people on their journey through Dancing With The Stars.'
It appears the feeling is mutual. Network chiefs at ABC are believed to have been eyeing-up Ms Ballas as a judge for some time, having seen her tough approach on the UK
version. Dubbed the Queen of Latin Ballroom, Ms Ballas brought up her son Mark in Houston, Texas, with her ex-husband Corky, to whom she was married for 22 years, before moving to London to set up a dance school.
Mark, a 40-year-old dancer, lives with his wife and two-year-old son in Los Angeles and Ms Ballas shared her hopes of joining them. She said: 'I just like being in America and close to my family.'
The BBC was contacted for comment.
Page 4
THE CLACTON CIRCUS
Farage: This win
Count at the count: Clacton candidates, from left, Woke Trump Carrzee (Independent, 8 votes), Nick Pelas (Ind, 202), Glenn Cummings (Ind, 7), Kai Stephens (British Count Binface (Count Binface Party, 9,455), Amy Morris (Ind, 46), Marcus White (Everyone is God Party, 10), Marc Wilkinson (Ind, 11), Michael O'Keeffe (Ind, 19), Robin
By Martin Beckford Policy Editor
NIGEL Farage's by-election gamble was branded a 'pointless farce' last night as the probe into his finances started up again just hours after his victory.
Reform UK's leader was re-elected MP for Clacton yesterday morning with 22,239 votes, more than he won at the 2024 General Election but with a smaller than predicted share of ballots cast (63.3 per cent).
He failed to turn up at the declaration at the Essex town's leisure centre, and cancelled a planned victory speech, with his party claiming there was a 'credible threat' against him - although police denied they had advised him to stay away.
It sparked suspicions that he wanted to avoid the ignominy of being photographed alongside joke candidates led by Count Binface, who came second with 9,455 votes, on the record-breaking 34-strong ballot.
Mr Farage declared the result vindicated his decision to resign as an MP last month as questions mounted over his finances.
He said: 'The verdict is now in, and it is a convincing, overwhelming win with more votes than we got in the General Election of 2024. Today, the voters in Clacton have stuck up two fingers to the entire political establishment.'
However in an interview he appeared to admit, for the first time, that he may have broken Commons rules by not declaring the £5 million 'gift' he received before the 2024 election from crypto-tyoon Christopher Harborne.
Mr Farage told GB News at an all-night 'Farage Fest' event for supporters: 'Do you know if I've made one sin? I haven't filled in a piece of paper.'
He went on: 'I've broken no law. I've broken no tax law. I've taken no public money. I don't even own
But watchdog immediately restarts £5m gift probe as Tories call by-election a pointless farce
Confident: Nigel Farage speaks at Reform rally ahead of Clacton election result
Binface: I'm 1,000 times more popular
COUNT Binface celebrated becoming 1,000 times more popular yesterday than at the last by-election he stood in.
The candidate, the alter ego of comedian Jon Harvey, won 9,455 votes, or 26.9 per cent of the vote in Clacton - thought to be the most secured by a novelty candidate in a parliamentary by-election. It is also the
first time he has been able to keep his £500 deposit.
Just two months ago he got just 95 votes when he stood against Andy Burnham in the Makerfield by-election.
After the declaration in Essex he said: 'In Makerfield, eight weeks ago, I got 95 votes.
'So against Nigel Farage compared to Andy Burnham, I am
1,000 times more popular.' However, one of the other 32 candidates in Clacton complained that the 'intergalactic space warrior' had hogged all the attention. Independent candidate Marc Wilkinson, who received 11 votes, said other contenders had received 'literally zero exposure' and had been 'essentially ignored'.
a motorhome. And, you know, maybe I haven't filled in a piece of paper. I'm confident I'm right. We'll see where we go.'
Mr Farage will be sworn in for a second time as Clacton's MP when Parliament returns on September 1. But within hours of the 6am declaration, Commons sleaze watchdog the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards restarted
its inquiry into him after it was paused during the campaign.
It stated that Mr Farage is once more under investigation for an alleged 'Failure to register an interest' and he is expected to be interviewed within weeks. He could then face another by-election, contested by mainstream parties after they boycotted Thursday's contest. This would
require the watchdog to conclude he broke the code of conduct, the committee to recommend a lengthy suspension and 10 per cent of his constituents to back a fresh poll in a recall petition.
His allies said there was no point in this happening.
Reform chairman and MP Lee Anderson told the BBC: 'As far as I'm concerned and Reform UK
are concerned, the slate is wiped clean now in Clacton.'
Last night a Conservative source told the Mail: 'This entire process was a pointless farce. Within hours of the by-election result, the standards probe recommenced. Farage hoped his stunt would distract from his fishy £5 million donation. But it has done nothing of the sort.'
Labour chairman Bridget Phillipson said: 'This is no victory for Nigel Farage. The mountain of sleaze and scandal he and Reform are now engulfed in has grown and grown while he's been trying to distract the public by fighting a by-election against a bit.'
Britain's leading pollster also warned that although turnout of 44 per cent in Clacton was 'quite healthy', Reform is now struggling in the polls nationally.
Professor Sir John Curtice said the party is suffering from the 'Burnham bounce', a revived Tory party and the threat to its Right from Restore Britain. He said:
Page 5
is my vindication
Democrats, 132), Adham Alkhatip (The Forward Party, 49), Green (Ind, 59) and Pamela Walford (Ind, 371)
Don't write off Nigel Farage... there's life in the political pirate yet Littlejohn
'Reform's once seemingly bright chances of fulfilling Farage's dream of replacing the Conservatives as the principal party of the Right in Britain now seem to be much diminished.'
Bookies also cut their odds on Mr Farage being the next leader to be replaced while saying his chances of being the next PM were in 'free fall'.
It came after the declaration of the result in Clacton was overshadowed by a row over why Mr Farage stayed away.
He announced in the early hours that he would not attend, becoming the first by-election winner since IRA prisoner Bobby Sands in 1981 to miss his own declaration.
'I'm sad to say that after 33 years of being a candidate in
active politics, I've been advised tonight by Essex Police that there is an organised campaign to disrupt and degrade the result that will take place in a few hours' time,' Mr Farage said.
However Essex Police denied advising any candidate not to attend the count. It said: 'Our aim was to ensure the people of Clacton were able to go about their daily business, that people were able to cast their vote safely and that the count took place without issue.
'We are pleased to say all of these things happened and there were no incidents or issues.
'The decision of candidates to attend or not attend the election count is a decision for individuals and their security teams.'
Comment - Page 16
ON AUGUST 14 1967, the hugely popular pirate ship Radio Caroline, anchored off Clacton, was forced to leave British territorial waters by the Labour government's Marine Offences Act, passed to preserve the BBC's stifling monopoly of the airwaves.
On August 14 2026, Nigel Farage struck a blow for populism, winning the Clacton by-election against a political Establishment trying desperately to preserve their own monopoly and force him to sail off into the sunset.
Caroline continued pumping out wall-to-wall pop music from outside the 12-mile limit.
The government pulled out all the stops to shut it down, including jamming its broadcast frequency.
There are parallels today with the Establishment's determination to crush Farage. Within minutes of the result, the Parliamentary Standards Committee re-opened an inquiry into a £3million gift he received from a crypto billionaire before he returned to the political fray. They were always going to.
Farage maintains his only mistake was not filling in a declaration required of all MPs and covering the 12 months prior to election. He says his lawyers advised him it wasn't necessary.
Rather than submit to an Establishment kangaroo court, the Reform leader decided to let the people of Clacton pass judgment. On Friday, they delivered him an increased share of the vote. The Establishment's reaction: 'The people have spoken, the
bastards. They dismissed the by-election as a farce, because Farage only faced 33 joke candidates - including the ludicrous Count Binface, lauded by the Left-wing media as a serious challenger.
If what Farage calls the 'Uniparty' believe in democracy, they should have stood candidates against him. Instead they were, in the words of Margaret Thatcher, 'frit'. They knew he'd beat them convincingly.
Let them answer this: if Clacton was a farce, what does that say about the Makerfield by-election? That was called cynically to smooth Andy Burnham's passage back to Westminster.
It was unnecessary as it already had a sitting MP - whom we are reliably informed is to be elevated to the Lords and rewarded with a six-figure job in government for standing down in favour of Burnham.
Why the hell isn't there a Parliamentary Standards inquiry into this disgraceful abuse of power?
Andy Pandy only polled a couple of thousand votes more than Farage, but he is hailed as the Messiah and ushered in unopposed as Prime Minister, without any mandate or facing a general election.
BUT Farage is treated almost uniquely as a pariah, by the Establishment, Left-wing broadcast media and, increasingly, the Boys In The Bubble.
When news of the £3million donation broke, I wrote that he had questions to answer.
Yes, it's an enormous sum, but it was a private gift to spend as he chooses.
Farage says it will pay for his security for the rest of his life. No
politician has faced more threats, nor been more courageous.
Yet despite his party winning four million votes at the last election, the State has consistently denied him protection.
So he has to pay for it himself. I've had a few proper lunches with him over the years and I know how much the Range Rover and the three big buggers from the Special Forces at the next table cost. Over the years, five mill won't go all that far.
A 8 for failing to attend the count, he tells me that at 10pm on Thursday night, Essex Police told his security team there was a credible threat and they advised him to stay away.
I've known him for 25 years and I believe him, whatever Essex Plod say officially.
Why take the risk when anti-terror police have reopened an investigation into a firebomb attempt at his home, especially in the wake of the murder of Reform's Ann Widdecombe?
This isn't over yet. The Establishment will continue their efforts to destroy Farage, just as they eventually forced Radio Caroline off air.
Don't be surprised if the Parliamentary Standards Committee has already reached its verdict of Guilty.
After the onslaught against him in recent weeks, his ratings have fallen nationally but Reform still commands the support of a quarter of the electorate.
If there's a second by-election triggered by the parliamentary verdict, he'll win that, too.
There's plenty of life in this political pirate yet.
ANDREW NEIL Page 23
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Page 6
THE CLACTON CIRCUS
by Fred Kelly
HE triggered the by-election. He won it. And then Nigel Farage disappeared.
At 2.50am on Friday, votes were still being counted in Clacton, but with his victory assured, the Reform UK leader made an unprecedented intervention.
Taking to a private stage in front of a group of trusted allies 12 miles from the election hall, Farage announced he would not attend the declaration. This would make him the first parliamentary candidate to be declared victor in absentia since imprisoned Irish Republican Bobby Sands in 1981.
'I'm damned if I'm going to stand on a stage, having won a resounding victory... and be demeaned and humiliated by nobodies,' Farage told the crowd, referencing the 33 outlandish candidates standing against him.
At 3.30am a spokesman for Reform UK clarified Farage had been advised not to attend by Essex Police due to an 'organised campaign to disrupt and degrade the result'.
Bizarrely, Essex Police denied issuing such an instruction. An hour later journalists were informed a planned 'major speech' from Farage slated for 11am had been cancelled.
Where on earth was Nigel Farage, and why was he running from his own coronation?
Shortly after 6am, acting returning officer Ian Davidson took to the podium in the Clacton Leisure Centre. He confirmed that Farage had retained the seat he forfeited just one month ago with a sizeable 22,239 votes, reflecting 63 per cent of ballots cast. That's more than double the number his closest rival, Count Binface, received (9,455).
The pronouncement was met with near silence by the line of forlorn candidates. These included three members of the Official Monster Raving Looney Party, an asylum seeker who believes global warming is a hoax, a 19-year-old TikTok influencer and of course Count Binface, who identifies as an 'intergalactic space warrior'.
As the candidates filtered out of the election hall, one couldn't help but feel that the Clacton jamboree had not only been one of the most unusual in a generation, but a humiliation for British democracy.
SO how did we get here, what does it all mean and - crucially - could we find ourselves back in the Clacton Leisure Centre for yet another by-election before the year is out?
On July 7, Farage announced he was standing down as MP for Clacton, triggering a by-election in which he would also stand. He made the decision after objecting to an inquiry by the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner into whether the he had broken rules by failing to declare a £5million gift from Thailand-based crypto billionaire Christopher Barborne ahead of the 2024 General Election, as well as gifts from convicted fraudster and party aide George Cottrell.
Farage believed that winning the subsequent by-election - held at a cost of £350,000 - would clear his name of any wrongdoing.
In his eyes then, the victory wipes clean the slate of sleaze.
Hidden: Farage with Reform allies in the early hours of Friday, before the result came in
My bizarre (and very long) night with Howling Laud Hope, Baron Von Thundercap ...but sadly not No-Show Nigel
But is that really the case? For a start, the parliamentary investigation into alleged financial impropriety resumed yesterday morning, but we'll return to that later.
And did the other candidates really offer anything more than token competition? Remember, not one of the major political parties chose to stand a candidate in what Tory leader Kemi Badenoch called a 'fake by-election'.
On polling day, 35,401 constituents cast their votes, reflecting a
44.37 per cent turnout. At 10pm on Thursday, polls closed and the first ballot box arrived to the count 15 minutes later. The Official Monster Raving Loony Party unspooled themselves from a people-carrier just after 11.45pm.
Among the three candidates standing for the satirical group was 84-year-old leader Alan Hope who goes by the name Howling Laud Hope and who in 1999 was elected co-leader of the party alongside his pet cat.
After 'Catmando' was run over,
Hope assumed sole leadership of the Loonies whose 'manicifesto' includes turning the Channel Tunnel into a car wash and painting grey squirrels red. He won 18 votes.
The other Loonies fared similarly poorly, with Nick The Incredible Flying Brick and Baron Von Thundercap receiving 28 and 15 votes respectively.
The list of candidates was so long - the ballot paper itself was 3ft long - that many appeared to forget that the high-profile, hard-
Right actor-turned-activist Laurence Fox was also standing.
Fox won 347 votes, placing him sixth of 34, though still well short of the 5 per cent vote share required for a candidate to get their £500 deposit back.
And then, of course, there was comedian Jonathan Harvey who arrived to the election hall around midnight before popping into the leisure centre toilet to put a bin over his head and emerge as alter-ego Count Binface.
Standing in his eighth election, Binface was the only realistic challenger to Farage, having been polling at 20 per cent according to pollsters Survation, behind Farage on 73 per cent. Confirming the two-horse race, at 1.20am on Friday, the acting returning officer announced that the ballot papers would be split into three piles to make counting easier: Farage, Binface and all others.
Despite the excitement surrounding Count Binface and his mildly amusing policies - including 'to build at least one affordable house' and capping the price of a 99 Flake at 99p - this was never really a contest. As early as half past midnight, with the count only just under way, Farage announced - from that encampment outside Clacton - that he had won 'fairly convincingly'.
BUT then shock news came through at 2.50am when Farage streamed a speech online.
'Today, voters in Clacton have stuck two fingers up to the Establishment,' he announced. But then the Reform leader revealed he would not be attending his coronation.
Back-channel communications from Reform late on Friday told journalists not to look for Farage because he was taking 'a well-earned break.'
Well-earned or otherwise, it was certainly a resounding victory. Of the 33 other candidates, only Count Binface won more than 5 per cent of the vote. Perhaps the result was never in doubt.
This is, in the words of Tim Bale, politics professor at Queen May University of London: 'Classic Farage country.' In 2016 more than 70 per cent of Clacton voters chose to leave the EU, while around 95 per cent of its residents were born in Britain.
'We'll go where Nigel wants us,' Reform campaigner Kat Brenton told the Daily Mail on polling day. 'We want our country back and we'll do whatever it takes to make Nigel PM.'
'The best thing that can happen is Nigel gets the keys to No.10,' said 62-year-old Samuel. 'This country is finished,' he added.
Farage fans may have got what they wished and voted for, but of course this bizarre story has a sting in the tail. For as of yesterday morning the investigation into Farage's alleged financial impropriety resumed.
If serious fault is found, in all likelihood yet another by-election will be called.
Alternatively, if Farage is suspended from the Commons for a period of ten days or more, then with the backing of 10 per cent of the Clacton electorate a recall petition could prompt another by-election without the intervention of Parliament.
In other words, another vote is not impossible. And following this week's farcical by-election, it stretches credulity to imagine anyone in Clacton wants that.
TINDERBOX BRITAIN
Page 7
Second train jumps off rail tracks in 24 hours
But bosses say railways are still safe in the extreme heat
By Andy Jehring
A SECOND train derailed yesterday – hours after rail bosses insisted the lines were safe in hot weather.
The Greater Anglia service crashed off the tracks in Essex less than 24 hours after a Southern Rail train's carriages flipped over in Sussex.
There were no reported injuries in Wickford yesterday and pictures showed the train remained upright, with just the front coach derailed.
But it has sparked fears record-breaking temperatures are causing the tracks to buckle following the crash in Lewes on Thursday afternoon.
Two passengers were taken to major trauma centres with 'severe' injuries following that derailment. Another 18 were treated in hospital after three carriages flipped on their side.
Lewes MP James MacCleary revealed he had raised concerns with rail bosses days earlier over the line getting 'bumpier' due to the heat. It has also emerged a safety inspection took place on the section of track where the train derailed just 24 hours before the crash.
British tracks are designed for average summer temperatures of 27C (80F), but they have been topping 37C (99F) in parts of the South-East this week.
John Whitehurst, chief executive of Greater Thameslink Railway, yesterday reassured travellers that derailment is 'incredibly rare' and 'the railway is safe' in hot weather.
He told Radio 4's Today programme: 'We have control processes in place that involve inspection, temporary speed restrictions or even suspending services if that's required.'
But hours later, the second train came off the tracks just south of Wickford station at 2.12pm.
Air ambulances scrambled and stretchers were seen on standby as police and firefighters were also dispatched.
There were around 45 people on board the service from Southend to London Liverpool Street. Footage from on board showed smoke billowing outside the windows.
Aaron Poyser, who lives next to the railway line, was in the garden when he heard an 'almighty crunching sound'. He told the BBC: 'It's almost like someone was shovelling stones. I saw this plume of dust and smoke. You
Lucky escape: There were no reported injuries after yesterday's derailment in Essex, with the train remaining upright
could see the train had come off the tracks. It was quite scary.'
Rail staff, police and members of the Rail Accident Investigation Bureau were seen inspecting the tracks yesterday with investigations to establish the cause under way.
Martin Frobisher, a director at Network Rail, said: 'We would ask people to avoid speculating on the cause of any incidents until further information is available.'
He said investigations 'will look
'Bumpier in recent months'
at all possible causes and factors' as he admitted the hot weather has 'presented exceptional challenges to the railway'.
The derailment adds to growing fears that Britain's infrastructure cannot deal with the heat.
Mr MacCleary told Times Radio: 'I had a meeting last week with GTR [Greater Thameslink Railway], who are the parent company of Southern Rail, and we did discuss the track and the fact that
it has been a bit bumpier in recent months, which is possibly a result of the incredibly hot weather we've had recently.'
He said he cannot 'speculate' but added 'rail companies have been reporting that the extreme dry conditions have been affecting embankments and track conditions'.
He added: 'We've had a lot of speed restrictions in the area recently, which is directly related to the heat... there have been concerns about the condition of the track recently, definitely.'
On Thursday, a temperature of 38.1C (100.6F) was recorded at Kew Gardens in west London, making it officially the hottest day of the year.
This week's high temperatures also mark the fifth heatwave this summer, which has seen transport infrastructure struggling to cope across England and Wales.
British tracks have a stress-free temperature of 27C (80F), meaning when it is hotter than this there is a risk rain can buckle.
In countries that regularly experience higher temperatures engineers use solid concrete slabs
Crash: The site in Sussex, where three carriages flipped over
to prevent this, but the UK does not, as it costs roughly four times as much as standard track.
There is also an issue that such lines could be problematic in winter. Instead, when it is hot trains travel at lower speeds to reduce the heat on the line.
Travellers have been warned the line between Lewes and Haywards
Heath, as well as the one between Wickford and Southend, will remain closed for the foreseeable future. Of the 20 people taken to hospital over the Lewes crash, 18 were discharged yesterday.
The Department for Transport said: 'While incidents like this are extremely rare, when they do occur, they are taken very seriously.'
Page 8
TINDERBOX BRITAIN
Ban on barbecues as Burnham fights fire with Forces
By Sam Greenhill Chief Reporter
ANDY Burnham called in the military to battle Britain's wildfires yesterday as he warned the crisis is 'far from over'.
The Prime Minister banned disposable barbecues in 'tinderbox Britain' amid fears school-leavers celebrating their A-level results may have accidentally sparked a number of blazes.
With some 37 fires still raging across the nation last night – four of them declared major incidents – residents are counting the cost after whole streets went up in flames on the hottest day of the year on Thursday.
Investigators are looking at whether an inferno around Quarry Park Road and Brunswick Gate, a millionaire's row in the market town of Stourbridge where 19 homes were 'destroyed', was caused by a barbecue.
Stunned residents were yesterday surveying the charred remains of their £1million homes.
Elsewhere in the West Midlands, two people were arrested on suspicion of arson after fire swept through four houses in Stoke-on-Trent.
With towns across Britain at increasing risk of 'firewaves' – simultaneous multiple blazes in urban areas – Mr Burnham urged: 'These problems are far from over. We are going into a difficult weekend. Please just think about the situation we are in. Britain is a tinderbox right now. Setting a fire in any outdoor setting, of any kind, is a risk to other people's homes, to other people's lives. Please don't do it.'
Fire chiefs are investigating whether the chaos is linked to a craze by students celebrating A-levels. Some youngsters have filmed themselves burning old notebooks and coursework.
West Midlands Fire Service acknowledged the rumours but said it had found
'These problems are far from over'
no direct evidence. A spokesman said: 'We would not want to blame young people or any particular groups of people but our investigations are at an early stage.'
Visiting the devastation in Stourbridge, the Prime Minister told the BBC: 'It's quite an eerie sight to walk past a home that was a family hub yesterday and is now completely gutted, smouldering. You can't begin to imagine what that feels like.'
Mr Burnham said 100 military personnel had been deployed to a blaze in South Wales and announced plans to commission firefighting planes, as used to douse flames in Europe and the US, to help combat the spread of wildfires.
He also said the recent Cobra emergency meeting in Whitehall had been warned the UK could face a wet autumn and winter, 'so after fire could come floods'.
The PM said retailers had been told to stop selling disposable barbecues as they were a 'risk to the public', adding: 'I can't say all of [the fires] are down to disposable barbecues, but it's probable some of them have been caused in that way.'
In the West Midlands, a Labour MP said up to 30 properties had been destroyed after blazes spread through dry grass and woodland next to housing. West Midlands Fire Service's chief fire officer, Simon Tuhill, said 19 houses had been destroyed and 18 damaged. Drone
Visit: The PM in Stourbridge yesterday, where wildfires destroyed homes
Phone warning alarms millions
AN EMERGENCY alert warning of the 'very high risk' of wildfires was sent to phones across Britain last night.
The notification from the Government was accompanied by a loud buzzing sound from millions of phones.
The public was told not to light fires in open spaces, including disposable barbecues, fire pits and fireworks. Noise filled train stations across England and Wales as the alarm sounded on commuters' phones at 7pm. It even interrupted BBC One's The One Show.
footage from smoke-filled skies over Stourbridge showed how the blaze had threatened to engulf even more properties. Mr Burnham said: 'It could have been so much worse. The emergency services have done an incredibly impressive job in difficult circumstances.' He also promised fire services more funding.
Around 100 firefighters tackled an inferno near Stourbridge Golf Course that scorched 40 acres of land. Golfers fled in their carts and residents described ash 'raining down'.
Stourbridge Golf Club chairman Simon Markey said: 'What was alarming was how the wind kept changing direction. It was like Armageddon.'
Some 54 people were injured and 19 taken to hospital as a result of the West Midlands fires.
In Stourbridge, flames leapt from house to house as residents fled. Jane Baxter
told how she could 'see the flames from our bedroom window' before police told her to 'grab what you need and get out'. Neighbours said they fought in vain to beat back 125 flames sweeping through their gardens and swallowing homes. Homeowner Mark Bebbington recalled: 'It literally went up in seconds.'
Retired builder Richard Jones, 60, helped an elderly neighbour flee on her walking frame.
About 20 miles away in Highter's Heath, Birmingham, Andrew Reynolds, 42, told how he watched his childhood home burn down, leaving his mother Kim Matthews 'a wreck'.
He said: 'My mum's lost everything. It's all gone, including 100 years' worth of
'My mum's lost everything'
photos from the family.' In Staffordshire, police arrested a 23-year-old man and a woman, 24, both from Stoke-on-Trent, on suspicion of arson following a fire in Goldenhill that damaged four homes.
'Firewaves' have become more common in recent years. In the record-breaking 40c heat seen in July 2022, London Fire Brigade experienced its busiest day since the Second World War as fires broke out across the capital, including a devastating blaze in east London that destroyed 37 buildings.
Emma Howard Boyd, former chairman of the Environment Agency and current chairman of the Independent National Heat Risk Commission, said: 'The images of the last 24 hours, the stories we're hearing, take me right back to the 40-degree heatwave in 2022 – and I do think the public could rightly ask whether we've seen much progress since then.'
She told the BBC: 'I'm really hoping that we're going to hear from central Government how it's going to take a grip. This needs central coordination.'
By Jack Hardy IN STOURBRIDGE
JUST a few nights ago, Paul McVeigh was lounging on his garden deckchair, gazing at the sky above his Stourbridge home, hoping to glimpse the solar eclipse.
Now, the charred frame of his chair stands eerily over his lawn, covering the only section of grass not blackened by wildfire.
At 1.30pm on Thursday, the retired telecoms engineer, 57, watched in horror as a massive blaze swept across the golf course that borders his property and towards his home.
The inferno whipped across this well-heeled corner of the West Midlands in minutes, destroying 19 properties and more than 500 acres of land – but luckily Mr McVeigh's large family home on Melrose Avenue was spared.
Fuelled by straw-like grass and tinder-dry woodland on the hottest day of the year, which saw temperatures reach 38C, the fire appeared to have started in a nearby farmer's field.
The flames travelled east across Ounty John Lane, where homes were engulfed, and surged north from the farmer's field and crossed historic Stourbridge Golf Club, before reaching the gardens of the houses on Melrose Avenue.
It can also be revealed that a relative of the landowner where the fire originated believes it was started deliberately in three different places.
Emergency services received thousands of 999 calls, resulting in 68 people being treated by paramedics and 25 taken to hospital, including a child and six firefighters. Scores of residents were forced to flee their homes.
Firefighting efforts continued yesterday as pockets of Stourbridge Golf Course were still smouldering, emitting noxious smoke. Alarmingly, the fire service predicts the operation could run on for weeks to ensure the ground is properly dampened to prevent a recurrence.
'The flames were way above the house,' Mr McVeigh told the Daily Mail: 'It was like an apocalypse movie. But I think we have been incredibly lucky.'
For the other side of the golf course is a scene of devastation. Fire crews were unable to stop the blaze from sweeping across the farmers' fields, allowing the fire to gut several large homes on Ounty John Lane.
Now all that remains are the jagged structures of those luxury properties, which sell for up to £1.4million, and the charred bodies of flash cars, including Ferraris to BMWs.
Across the road, the fire was fed by flames once it reached the trees on the edge of the golf course, allowing them to leap higher than each house backing on to it.
SEVERAL Melrose Avenue residents told the Daily Mail that these trees have been a source of longstanding tension with the golf club and they have complained on several occasions about them not being cut back.
Standing on his lawn yesterday morning, its grass turned to ash, Mr McVeigh described how he ventured out to the golf course after seeing smoke on Thursday afternoon.
'It had come halfway across the golf course in an hour,' he said. 'As I went back, there was quite a large copse on my right-hand side that had caught fire and you could see a deer running towards our fence line.'
It was like somebody had poured flammable liquid onto the floor. It was going in every direction, like the speed of a slow walk. What was brown was becoming black and a ring of fire was creeping all the way up.
Police advised Mr McVeigh, pictured, to evacuate and he fled with his family at about 3.30pm. He led me to the fence line where the back of his shed has been reduced to charred splinters. We looked through the gap, where the fence once was, on to the golf course. The ground was sludgy due to the vast amounts of water sprayed on it by fire crews.
Thick strips of burnt grass scarred the rest of the course and smoke continued rising ominously from a nearby thicket of woodland.
A firefighter continued to douse the ground nearby. On the horizon, most of the fields on the surrounding hills were mere soot.
Mr McVeigh's neighbour, 65-year-old retiree Stella Layton, told the Daily Mail: 'I thought we'd lost the house. You could see the flames
Page 9
As flames ripped through homes and residents fled – was Stourbridge blaze an accident waiting to happen?
coming over the top of the building. We just ran'.
She pointed to the black husk that was once her fence: 'It just stopped right on the border and took the fence. You could hear the roar and the crackle of it – then you could hear the explosions from the houses,' she added.
'People said that it was fireworks, I said, 'That's not fireworks'.'
Ms Layton rushed out to douse her garden with water when she first saw a plume of smoke above the golf course. This
moment of quick-thinking seems to have spared her property from serious damage.
After police advised her and her husband Mick to leave they jumped into the car with their two dogs and retreated to a local pub. 'When we walked out the door, I didn't think we'd come back to our house,' she says.
Ms Layton says that she had even remarked a couple of months ago to Mick that they 'could be in trouble' if wildfires ever reached them.
'You can see the ground is as dry as
tinder,' she explained. On the edge of the affluent street, police were expanding their cordon, warning residents that if they left, they would not be allowed back for some time.
'A lot of residents are feeling quite upset,' said gas engineer Paul Crane. 'Even though it's a conservation area, the trees on the golf course are on residents' land. And there's no management of them.
'The golf club don't want to take any responsibility. Somebody has to be accountable.
'The problem is in this woodland, there's so much grass and branches and dead matter,
Scene of devastation: The burnt-out shells of homes after fire tore over a golf course, destroying more than 500 acres
it's just an accident waiting to happen.'
Stourbridge Golf Club said in a statement: 'We always take requests from our neighbours seriously, investigating and making assessment following any communication we receive.'
Several farmers were also involved in the effort to try to halt the inferno, with footage obtained by the Daily Mail showing them driving their tractors close to the advancing flames to try to create a firebreak by spraying the earth with water. Their heroic efforts were not enough – by this stage the blaze was simply too intense.
Farmer Brian Pardoe, 69, said it had started on his cousin's land. It was the second fire in a matter of weeks, he added.
'That was actually a spark off the combine,' he said of the previous fire. 'This one seems a bit more deliberate, doesn't it?'
'It was started in three places. It
was burning in three different places at one stage, so an accident looks unlikely to me.'
Indeed, yesterday West Midlands Fire Service did not rule out the possibility that A-level pupils celebrating their results might have been responsible. But a spokesman for the West Midlands Fire Service added: 'At this early stage, we would not want to blame young people or any particular groups of people'.
Back at Iverly Park Farm, Mr Pardoe told me how he immediately leapt into action when he heard of the fire, with his son, Daniel, among those driving tractors to battle the flames.
As fires continue spreading across Britain questions remain over whether nature – such as those trees on the golf club – should be left to itself.
Try telling that to the residents who lost their homes in Stourbridge.
Page 10
JUNE 24 is a date of morbid significance in the timeline of convicted baby killer Lucy Letby's crimes.
It was on that day, in 2016, that the former neonatal nurse was found to have murdered the last of her victims.
The second brother of premature triplets – she killed two of the siblings by injecting air into their tiny bodies – known as Baby P, was the seventh infant to die at her hands.
Exactly ten years on, that anniversary has become even more loaded for Letby.
For it will now also mark the day that her 'boyfriend' – a married doctor with whom, her trial heard, she was so infatuated that she deliberately killed and harmed babies to get his attention – was found mysteriously collapsed in his car by police officers.
An ambulance was called on June 24 this year to where his unconscious body lay, in a nondescript retail park in the north-west of England. The medic, who had been reported missing by relatives, was then transported to hospital.
Sadly the 53-year-old, who was granted anonymity at Letby's trial and cannot be named for legal reasons, never recovered. He died just over a week later in an intensive care unit at a hospital in Merseyside on July 3.
Now questions are being asked about the cause of the doctor's sudden death and, more than this, whether his links to Letby could be in any way to blame. Certainly, it's true that the man found himself enmeshed in a highly stressful situation when Letby was convicted of the
Is doctor's sudden death linked to the Letby case?
murders of seven babies and attempted murders of seven more, crimes for which she is now serving a record 15 whole life terms. (There were two attempts on one of the victims).
No doubt any questions surrounding his demise will form the basis of any inquest. A spokesman for Cheshire coroner's court has confirmed 'preliminary inquiries' are ongoing and a date for a hearing is yet to be fixed.
However, I've been told the consultant, referred to as Dr A at trial, was discovered collapsed just one day after being sacked from the hospital where he worked.
Part of the reason for his dismissal was a series of messages he exchanged with Letby, now 36, about a baby she was convicted of trying to murder while they worked together at the Countess of Chester Hospital in June 2016.
He left the Countess in September that year and, at the time of his death, was working as a consultant at a different NHS trust. Yet this June it seems he was hauled before an internal disciplinary hearing by his current bosses over the historic Facebook messages to Letby. These centred on the care of a premature baby boy with haemophilia, known as Baby N.
Letby was convicted of trying to kill the infant the day after he was born, on June 3, 2016. His mother was furious when the messages, which included the baby's surname and details about his medical condition, emerged during Letby's trial and lodged a formal complaint against Dr A, who she accused of 'blatantly' breaching her son's patient confidentiality.
An investigation was launched and, following the three-day disciplinary hearing, Dr A was fired for gross misconduct on June 23.
On top of those inappropriate messages, it is understood he faced other serious allegations, including claims he inappropriately accessed medical records and risked patient safety. The full details of these allegations cannot be disclosed for legal reasons.
In line with procedure, his NHS employers would have been duty bound to report his dismissal to the doctors' professional regulator, the General Medical Council,
A trip to London, shopping, lunches – and dozens of late-night messages The very intimate friendship between Letby and her married doctor 'boyfriend'
SPECIAL REPORT by Liz Hull
threatening his chances of ever working as a doctor again.
So can it be a coincidence that Dr A – who reportedly suffered ill health prior to his death – collapsed a day after being sacked and on the anniversary of the murder of Letby's final victim?
Whatever the cause of his death, it's clear that by June 24 his career and reputation lay in tatters.
Indirectly, then, the medic has become another casualty of Britain's most notorious prisoner, as one of his friends told me.
'People make mistakes and bad choices but, whatever he did, this is a terrible tragedy for Dr A and his family,' the friend said. 'He is yet another victim of Lucy Letby.' Indeed, the medic confessed to
having 'regrets' and feeling 'misled and maybe manipulated' by Letby when he gave evidence to the public inquiry set up to investigate her crimes.
For her part, at her trial, Letby insisted she and Dr A, who was 17 years her senior, were not involved in a romantic love affair and were 'just best friends'.
But for someone who displayed very little emotion over the course of the ten-month case, it was notable that when he first entered the courtroom to give evidence against her in February 2023, Letby broke down in tears at the perceived betrayal and tried to leave the dock.
According to an insider at HMP Bronzefield, where Letby is
serving her terms, she was told about Dr A's sudden death by a prison official soon after the news broke in the media last weekend.
The source who spoke to me this week said: 'There were no big histrionics. There were possibly some tears but she went into her cell and remained there for a few hours.'
During her trial it emerged that the pair had gone on a day trip to London together, had met up for walks and meals in their free time, and he'd visited her home, where she lived alone.
On notes found by police at the suburban semi, Letby had also written his name repeatedly next to doodles of love hearts and other phrases, including: 'My best friend... LOVE... I loved you and I think you knew that... I wanted you to stand by me but you didn't.'
Officers also discovered she had made multiple searches on Facebook for his wife of almost 28 years. In total, the pair swapped more than 1,350 messages over Facebook over a period of just three months, between June and September 2016, often late into
the night and early hours. Dr A's close friendship with Letby developed in early June 2016 when the medic messaged the nurse via Facebook to ask for a 'favour'.
It prompted Letby to WhatsApp one of her close nursing friends while she was working a night shift that same evening – just hours before she attacked and tried to kill Baby N.
Letby wrote: 'Had strange message from [Dr A] earlier.'
Her friend replied jokingly: 'Did u? Saying what? Go commando?'
Letby said: 'Asking when I was working next week as wants to talk to me about something, has a favour to ask...?' Her friend added: 'Think he likes u too. Hmm did u not ask what it was?'
Letby said: 'No just said when I was working and he said wants my opinion on something. Hmm... Do you think he's being odd?'
Her friend replied: 'Thought as flirty as u.'
Letby said: 'Shut up! I don't flirt with him! Certainly, don't fancy him ha ha just nice guy.'
She later claimed in court that
Page 11
PERSUING LUCY LETBY/COMINION PRESS/CONTEST OF CHESTER HOSPITAL
she didn't know what 'go commando', a phrase used to refer to wearing no underwear, meant.
In other messages sent on another shift 12 days later, Letby and Dr A discussed her upcoming annual leave and holidays in Cockington, Devon. She described him as a 'sweetie' when he bought her chocolate to cheer her up.
He also offered her his car so she didn't have to walk home from work after the stressful shift during which Baby N almost died and had to be transferred to a specialist hospital. Letby was later charged with attacking Baby N twice during that shift, but the jury failed to reach a verdict on either attempted murder charge.
However, in messages sent to Dr A soon after Baby N had been moved, Letby talked about the child's condition and queried whether she had done anything wrong in his care, before adding: 'Sat having a quiet moment and
want to cry.' He replied: 'Oh Lucy, poor little thing and you... Are you ok? Have a cry, you'll feel better for it I'm sure. You're welcome to take my car home if you're too tired to walk. I'll sort out picking it up in the morning. So sorry you've had a rubbish day.'
Dr A was asked about those messages when he was called to
'Shut up! I don't flirt with him!'
give evidence at the public inquiry in October 2024.
He admitted the texts, which breached patient confidentiality, were inappropriate and would
have been upsetting for Baby N's parents had they known their son was being discussed in such a way.
'Looking at the content of the messages here, I've shared too much,' he said. 'It's common to give updates on how patients are without naming them, without giving lots of clinical detail to help the recipient understand where that patient is up to.'
'I gave details that I thought were helpful but I see now that that probably wasn't the case.'
'I fully accept that that's not the way that the information should have been managed, but there was no malice intended in it. It was done to share information, nothing more.'
Dr A was also on duty on June 23 2016, but conducting a clinic elsewhere in the hospital, when Letby murdered the first of two triplet brothers, Baby O, on her first shift back after a week-long holiday in Ibiza. Prosecutor Nick Johnson
Serving 15 whole life terms: Serial baby killer Lucy Letby and, above, with infant patient at the Countess of Chester Hospital
KC suggested that by then - 12 months into her killing spree - she was attacking babies to create 'crisis' situations so Dr A, whom the barrister repeatedly referred to as her boyfriend, would be crash-bleeped to help.
Text messages revealed the pair messaging each other early in the day, with Letby telling Dr A that it was 'rubbish' he was stuck in his clinic before she injected Baby O with air, prompting the medic's emergency arrival on her ward.
Both were involved in Baby O's failed resuscitation and their messages resumed following his death after they went off duty. The texts continued well into the night until they said goodnight in the early hours of the following day.
When Letby and Dr A returned to work several hours later an almost identical situation developed in relation to Baby O's brother, Baby P.
Letby, who was his designated nurse, again was found to have sabotaged his care by injecting him with air, prompting Dr A to be called for help.
Sadly, he too could not be saved. Letby was asked by Mr Johnson whether she 'enjoyed being in these crisis situations' with Dr A.
'Did it give you something to talk to him about and message him about?' Mr Johnson said. 'Something in common you could share?'
'No, he was a friend,' she insisted. Unlike his colleagues, who eventually blew the whistle on Letby, Dr A was not suspicious of her involvement in the triplets' deaths and even forwarded her a confidential email from Dr Stephen Brearey, the neonatal unit's most senior medic, which indicated they would likely be investigated at inquests.
Again, Dr A admitted to the public inquiry that it had been an 'error' to send the email but claimed he was simply trying to be 'supportive' because 'she [Letby] gave me the impression she was very upset.'
Nevertheless, he remained loyal to Letby when she was moved off frontline duties a few days later, telling her she had done her job 'perfectly'. 'You are one of a few nurses across the region (I've worked pretty much everywhere)
that I would trust with my own children,' he wrote in a message.
He also supported her throughout 2017 while she was fighting a grievance claim against the Countess for being moved onto desk duties and was one of only three clinical colleagues whom managers allowed her to contact after she found out she was being accused of causing the babies' deaths.
Letby and Dr A continued to spend time together, meeting up five times in May and June 2017,
'I would trust you with my own children'
when they visited Hartford, a village 16 miles outside Chester, and the Cheshire Oaks shopping centre in nearby Ellesmere Port. They also went for a meal together at Hickory's, an American-themed restaurant in Chester, before taking a trip to London together.
Letby insisted they never stayed overnight together in the capital and a second trip, planned for September 2017, was cancelled.
Eventually, even Dr A turned his back on her after being questioned by police in early 2018 as part of their inquiry into the murders.
In Letby's words, the friendship 'fixiled' out.
Whatever the truth about their relationship, there is little doubt his closeness to Letby during that time had weighed heavily on his mind ever since. 'It's something that I've considered on a daily basis for the last six to eight years,' he told Lady Justice Thirlwall, the judge overseeing the public inquiry. 'The amount of reflection that I've done over this is significant.'
'I provided support [to Letby] by being misled and maybe manipulated, and for that I'm really sorry.'
'I have a lot of regrets over how that period of time took place.'
Regrets, no doubt the families of the babies killed at Letby's hands would say, that came too little, too late.
Page 12
Now one million insist PC's killers must stay behind bars
By Joshua Haining
A PETITION to keep PC Andrew Harper's killers in jail passed one million signatures yesterday.
The Thames Valley officer, 28, was killed after responding to reports of a quaddike theft seven years ago today.
He was dragged along a country road for more than a mile after his ankle became caught in a strap attached to the back of a getaway car.
Driver Henry Long was jailed for 16 years, and passengers Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole were sentenced to 13
BORIS READ HIS COLUMN ON PAGE 19
years for manslaughter in 2020. Bowers and Cole are eligible for an early release as part of the Government's effort to cut prison overcrowding, sparking the petition organised by the Thames Valley Police Federation. It comes as Prime Minister Andy Burnham is under increasing pres-
sure to make sure the pair are not released when the early release scheme begins in October.
PC Harper's mother Debbie Adlam has spoken of being 'absolutely drained' by the indecision from Downing Street over whether the pair will remain behind bars.
She told the Daily Mail's Trial podcast that if Mr Burnham went back on his pledge to block it: 'This would have been all for nothing. I would just be absolutely furious because Andrew's life was ended in such a horrific way. I really don't know how I would get by if that was to happen.'
Tragedy: PC Andrew Harper with his wife Lissie
Thousands of jail cells empty while awaiting fire safety repairs
THOUSANDS of prison cells are lying empty even though the Government is releasing criminals early to tackle overcrowding.
Up to 1,800 places behind bars cannot be filled because of a pledge to install fire safety systems known as Automatic Fire Detection.
Hundreds more remain unusable, including large Victorian wings of HMP Birmingham, after construction firm ISG and sister firm ESS collapsed in 2024 while carrying out repairs.
An entire jail – HMP Dartmoor – also remains mothballed with 640 cells empty after unsafe levels of the natural gas radon were found
'It is simply unacceptable'
in 2024. There is currently no timeline for it to reopen but taxpayers are still paying millions to lease the site from the Duchy of Cornwall.
Latest official figures show 4,024 places are currently unavailable across jails in England and Wales because they are 'damaged' or 'affected by building works', although the Ministry of Justice insists extra space can be found by doubling up cells.
Critics claim that if these cells were brought back into use then ministers would not have to free up space by releasing 5,000 inmates after serving just a third of their sentences.
Andy Burnham has already intervened to stop rapists being allowed to walk free early and is now
EXCLUSIVE By Sam Merriman and Martin Beckford
considering radical measures such as putting men in women's jails.
Mark Fairhurst, national chairman of the Prison Officers' Association, said the number of unavailable places is a 'damning indictment of the state of the prison estate'.
'At a time when the Government is relying on early release to manage overcrowding, having thousands of cells sitting empty because of damage, maintenance and construction delays is simply unacceptable,' he said.
'What is particularly frustrating for prison officers is that those at the frontline are expected to deal with the consequences of these failures, while I have little confidence that anyone at senior level will be held accountable.'
'Despite repeated evidence of incompetence and poor decision-making, it is difficult to see any heads rolling at the senior levels responsible.'
Tory justice spokesman Nick Timothy accused Labour of being 'consistently dishonest about the number of prison cells that are in fact available for use'.
A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: 'We are fixing this crisis by delivering 14,000 additional places, with more than 3,200 places already delivered.'
Sources said the figure for unavailable uncrowded jail places did not mean there was space for another 4,024 prisoners in the estate, and that operational capacity is calculated separately taking into account cells that can be shared.
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11
Page 13
What a carry-on! Dua Lipa jets off in style
Is Callum in there? Ms Lipa at JFK with her £6,170 Chanel tote bag
IF YOU'VE ever argued with airport check-in staff about the size of your carry-on bag, look away now.
Judging by the impressive size of her Chanel cabin bag, it appears that the normal rules may not apply to Dua Lipa.
The 30-year-old singer was able to take the over-sized £6,170 red, white and blue striped raffia tote as her hand luggage at JFK Airport in New
By Codie Bullen
Senior Showbusiness Reporter
York on Thursday. Ms Lipa, who often prefers a Hermès Birkin as her travel companion, paired it with a Breton striped pullover, frayed low-rise jeans, and black pointed-toe heels.
Ms Lipa was in the Big Apple for the film premiere of One Night Only, which stars her husband, Callum Turner, 36. The
couple wed in May then honey-mooned in Europe before heading to the US so Turner could promote the movie.
In fact, thanks to work commitments, the newlyweds, who live in London, have spent most of their time in New York since their wedding. Ms Lipa is thought to be recording new songs there, having been seen leaving Electric Lady Studios in Greenwich Village.
Ex-professor Jason Arday of Cambridge is found dead
By Sam Greenhill, Rebecca Camber and Eleanor Harding
THE high-flying academic at the centre of a Cambridge University plagiarism row has been found dead.
Former professor Jason Arday was found unresponsive at a London address shortly after 3pm yesterday.
It comes after a tumultuous few weeks in which fellow dons had questioned if the 41-year-old academic's work was original. It also prompted an examination of his previous academic posts.
And as questions mounted from academics, journalists and broadcasters, Mr Arday resigned his prestigious role.
He had been Cambridge University's youngest ever black professor; having been appointed a professor of sociology of education in March 2023.
But after a succession of questions about his past achievements, he quit on August 5.
Cambridge University announced it had begun an investigation following new information about Mr Arday's academic qualifications and honorary appointments. Jesus College, where he was a fellow, also began an investigation.
Mr Arday resigned from his professorship and his fellowship. He said that this should not be 'mistaken for an acceptance of the narratives that have surrounded me'. He cited the 'personal cost' of the furore which he said had been 'too great'.
He also cancelled events to promote his memoir, Great And Unfortunate Things, which was released in the US this week.
The Metropolitan Police said in a statement yesterday: 'Police were called by the London Ambulance Service at 3.12pm on Friday, August 14, following a report
Resigned: Jason Arday
that a man had been found unresponsive inside a property.
'Sadly, a 41-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene. His next-of-kin have been informed and are being supported by officers.
'At this time his death is being treated as unexpected, but is not believed to be suspicious.'
The statement added: 'The case is being investigated by officers from the Met's Central South Command Unit. A file will
'Profound sadness'
be prepared for the coroner.' Mr Arday, a father of two, seemingly had the world at his feet in 2023 when his appointment by Cambridge was celebrated by the world's media in which he was the subject of glowing profiles.
His rise was meteoric, given the childhood he had described.
Diagnosed with autism and global developmental delay, Mr Arday said he could not speak until he was 11 and could not read or write until he was 18.
In recent weeks, doubts were cast on his claims but the then-professor denied the accu-
sations against him and disputed claims made about his past. Many of the claims were connected to his charity work during which said he had raised £5million through long-distance running, including running 30 marathons in 35 days.
When he quit, Mr Arday said it was 'with profound sadness'. He said his appointment had been 'without question, the greatest professional privilege of my life', adding: 'To become the youngest Black professor in the University's history was something I could scarcely have imagined as a child growing up with a diagnosis of autism, unable to speak until I was 11 years old.'
After days of questions, he said: 'There comes a point when the personal cost becomes too great. I have a family. I want to be present for them. I want to reclaim some peace, some privacy and some semblance of an ordinary life. I no longer wish to feel as though I am living under a constant spotlight, where every aspect of my life is subject to public examination and judgment.'
'For my own wellbeing, for my family, and for those who have stood by me throughout this difficult period, I have concluded that the only way to bring this chapter to an end is to step away.'
He added: 'This decision should not be interpreted as a loss of faith in scholarship or in the values that first brought me to Cambridge.
'Nor should it be mistaken for an acceptance of the narratives that have surrounded me.'
'It is simply the decision of someone who has reached the limits of what any person should reasonably be expected to endure.'
This week Cambridge's vice-chancellor Professor Deborah Prentice said in a letter to staff that she understood the concerns raised by his appointment and shared them too.
Page 14
Mocking border security, the 'VIP migrants' who sailed up to White Cliffs
A POWERFUL boat carrying VIP migrants from France made a mockery of Britain's border defences when it nearly reached the White Cliffs of Dover.
The 15 passengers in expensive caps and jackets were spotted by fishermen as they headed towards the entrance of Kent's Dover Harbour at breakfast time last weekend.
They had dodged the French navy and Britain's Border Force in the brand new white inflatable with a 20-horse-power 12,000 Suzuki outboard motor, which our exclusive photos show still had the purchase instructions on it.
Our revelation is the latest embarrassment for the Government, which is reeling from the arrival of a super-boat with 230 migrants on Monday this week, the biggest traffickers' vessel ever to cross the Channel.
It is thought the VIP passengers on the white boat will have paid a fee of at least £4,000 each for the crossing if it was organised by traffickers.
A fisherman, who with colleagues took other photos and a video of the boat as its occupants neared Kent, said: 'The alternative is that the passengers, two sporting leather jackets, might have bought the boat and engine themselves.'
'The inflatable is top range, obviously from a proper yachting shop. They may have made their own way to Britain.'
The fishermen told the Daily Mail that they first spotted the VIP boat three miles out from Dover at 7.54am last Saturday morning. It is the first time a migrants' boat has been spotted slipping in across the channel to the Kent coast in recent years.
The boat's driver signalled to passing vessels that the Suzuki engine had stopped and shouted to the fishermen that they should alert the British Coastguard to send a Border Force vessel to pick them up.
The fishermen started a rescue, but realised the alarm was a ruse when the driver became impatient and easily re-started the engine.
The pilot of the VIP boat motored on towards Dover and later stopped again, then asked for the Coastguard before firing
Easy ride: Migrants on brand new boat nearing Kent coast
up the Suzuki outboard a second time.
'We think he was playing the system. We followed the boat, worth about £1,500, to the Kent coast. It was within a mile of getting there when a Border Force vessel came out to stop it entering Dover on its own steam,' our sources added.
The instructions sticker for new purchasers on the boat's outboard motor gave details of how to put oil into the engine before starting a journey.
'It, and the boat, were clearly spanking new. I believe that the driver was a trafficker, as he understood the ropes about how to get the Coastguard's attention by pretending he had broken down,' added one of the fishermen.
'Under maritime laws if a boat engine stops, the passengers must be rescued by passing vessels or by a rescue team sent out by the Coastguard.'
The migrants are likely to have wanted to be picked up by Border Force officials so they could enter Britain's asylum system.
This will grant them free accommodation and healthcare - and the top prize of a chance of settling in the UK.
This is the first travel-to-order boat carrying well-to-do foreign passengers, suspected
to be either Indian or Iranian, ever seen on the Channel crossing from France.
The Suzuki engine is capable of speeds of up to 20mph if powering a medium-size inflatable. This means, despite the stops and calls for the Coastguard, the boat's journey from France may have taken just a few hours coast-to-coast.
'None of the passengers appeared to have life jackets, indicating they didn't feel any danger on a quick run over,' our sources said. 'They were dressed as though they were on a day out shopping.'
'We don't know who they are, but they were intent on reaching Britain.'
The episode demonstrates that, while the trend is for people traffickers to cram ever, more Channel migrants onto giant dinghies, those with money are now buying a first-class crossing.
The Home Office said: 'We are making progress with the number of small boat crossings down this year and the lowest number recorded for the month of July since 2020.'
'But we must go further, which is why we have signed a payment-by-results deal with the French to put 40 per cent more boots on the ground.'
THE TINY baby is manhandled aboard a Channel small boat, roughly held aloft by its right arm. Expressionless, defenceless, dressed in a white romper and wearing a bib, the child is surrounded by men clad in lifejackets and dirty clothing.
But there is no life preserver to protect this little infant photographed last Sunday at a beach in northern France on a people traffickers' dinghy bound for Britain.
Aged around six months, give or take. An innocent life. It is not clear whether it's a boy or a girl, but let's call the child Dylan, a name which means 'son of the sea' - although in modern times it has become unisex.
As Dylan is dragged aboard the inflatable, someone standing in the water - the child's father or mother, perhaps - throws a baby bottle full of milk up into the vessel.
Is this the baby's first trip to the seaside, I wonder as I look at the pictures. A trip where its life is put in peril aboard a death-trap dinghy? A boat over-laden with strange men and no doubt with petrol and filth sloshing around in the hull?
Only the coldest of hearts could have failed to have been moved by Dylan's tragic plight. But another understandable reaction is anger that this blameless child was being put in such danger for no reason - France, after all, is a safe country where Dylan's parents could have claimed asylum.
Some, 34 children have died trying to reach Britain from continental Europe since the Channel crisis began in 2018, according to the International Organisation for Migration.
The total includes six youngsters who perished in a single capsize incident off Cape Gris-Nez, near Boulogne, in September 2024.
And in October 2020 a Kurdish-Iranian family - Rasoul Iran-Nejad, wife Shiva Mohammed Panahi, both 35, daughter Anita, nine, and sons Armin, six, and Artin, just 15 months - all drowned when their dinghy went down. It is too awful to think of the
'The odds appear stacked against this youngster'
terror those poor children must have endured in their final moments. Baby Dylan, thankfully, appears to have survived the journey.
But what happens to him or her now is also a concern, given that British taxpayers are still footing a multi-billion pound annual bill as the small-boats crisis continues into its ninth year with no sign of a solution.
There is no proper data on how much Dylan's life here in the UK may cost the public purse.
Nor can we begin to prejudice the path it will follow. Dylan could become an academic and economic success story, for all we know, and contribute greatly to society. It is to be hoped that does indeed come to pass.
But the odds appear stacked against it happening. The available data indicates that those who arrive as asylum seekers make a significantly lower contribution to the economy, when compared with the rest of the population.
Last December, a report from the government's official advisers on immigration policy, the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), said people entering the UK through asylum and refugee routes make an 'unambiguously negative' contribution to public funds.
The committee cited research in the Netherlands which put the 'lifetime net fiscal impact' of each asylum seeker at minus £390,000, and a similar study in Australia which estimated a figure of minus £198,000.
MAC chairman Professor Brian Bell said at the time: 'I would be very surprised if Australia and the Netherlands were not good comparators for us in
by David Barrett
HOME AFFAIRS EDITOR
terms of general labour markets (and) in terms of the types of people who are coming on asylum.
'I don't want to put a figure on it, but I think those sort of headline numbers that come from those countries, it wouldn't surprise me if a similar order of magnitude was true in the UK.'
The MAC report said: 'We expect the lifetime net fiscal impact of those entering through asylum and refugee routes to be unambiguously negative.'
'This is largely due to their low employment rates and wages, high rates of economic inactivity and their exemption from the 'no recourse to public funds' rule. For example, analysis by (Oxford University's) Migration Observatory suggested that 56 per cent of those who reported initially arriving in the UK to claim asylum and were of working age were in employment, compared to 75 per cent of the UK-born population.'
'When in employment, their median annual salary was £20,000 for men and £18,000 for women, compared to £11,000 and £22,000 respectively for the UK-born.'
It added: 'Note that many of those who enter through the asylum route will also have incurred substantial additional costs (to the public purse) from being housed in asylum.'
'High probability their earnings will be below average'
accommodation.' Further similar evidence comes from the government's own data on 'refugee integration outcomes'.
Home Office analysis, published last September, said: 'Compared with the working-age population of England and Wales - where in 2021, 57 per cent was in employment and 3 per cent were unemployed - we are much smaller percentages of... refugees in employment, and larger percentages being unemployed.'
Just over 37 per cent of refugees who arrived by the asylum route were in work. And 12.6 per cent were unem-
VI
Page 15
Defenceless: An infant is pulled on to a dinghy off the coast of France. Unlike the migrants on board, the child has no life preserver
Britain has taken in the blameless baby recklessly hauled on to a small boat this week. So how much will our compassion cost us in the decades to come?
ployed, it said. All of which suggests Baby Dylan will at the very least cost taxpayers something between that Dutch research figure of £390,000 and the Australian one of £198,000.
But the true figure could be significantly more. It starts with the cost of processing an asylum applica-
tion. Dylan's parents, assuming they are here too, are likely to make a joint claim on the baby's behalf.
Each application hits the taxpayer with an average bill of £18,700, the Home Office disclosed last month, including the price of providing accommodation and living costs, as well as sums spent on
processing and legal appeals. But the bill for an asylum-seeking family whose claim is rejected – yet cannot be deported – is far above average, and the Home Office has said that costs an average of £158,000 annually.
Once here, only five per cent of small-boat migrants are removed,
so Dylan and family are most likely here for good. After the cost of supporting them while an asylum claim is processed there will be further taxpayer expenditure.
The average NHS cost per capita in England is £3,492 a year, and although infants require less care in some respects there will be neo-
natal follow-up costs. Then there is the cost of education. Average funding is £6,771 per pupil annually according to the Department for Education.
So, assuming 12 years of full-time education, that's a total of just over £81,000 at current rates, not including any extra sums for English language support, for example.
If the worst case scenario came to pass – and, again, let us hope this does not happen – Dylan would be dependent on the welfare state for the rest of his or her life.
At current rates the annual benefits cap is £14,753 for a single person living outside London and £16,967 in the capital.
In a rudimentary calculation, 50 years on benefits from 18 to retirement age would amount to between £737,650 and £848,350.
It would be followed by additional pension costs – perhaps running for 11 years for a male and 15 for a female, according to average life expectancy. At £9,614 a year for the basic state pension that's between £105,754 and £144,210, at current rates.
All in all, the State's total outlay – in the worst case scenario – could be well over £1 million on Baby Dylan, at a very crude estimate. Importantly, if the child makes a
'Failing parents could prove to be a deterrent'
success of themselves a large chunk of that outlay would be unnecessary. And if as an adult Dylan were to generate significant tax revenue for the Treasury, at least part of the earlier costs would be recouped.
The as-yet-unknown direction of Dylan's life makes it impossible to calculate any meaningful figure for how much the taxpayer will shell out.
But as we have seen there is a high probability, according to official data, that Dylan's eventual earnings will be below average, if he or she secures a job at all.
As the Channel crisis continues to rage – a record 230 crossed on a single 'mega dinghy' a few days ago – last Sunday's scenes on Ecault Beach will be repeated and more children forced to board boats.
If a parent took a youngster on a dangerous inflatable in this country, knowing there was a significant risk of death, they would be prosecuted for neglect and would find social workers knocking at the door. Perhaps the child would even be taken away and placed in care.
Successive home secretaries have been unable to explain to me why the same standards are not applied to migrant parents who risk the lives of babies like Dylan in order to illegally cross the Channel.
If these reckless parents were sent to jail that could prove to be a deterrent. And I believe that reasonable, decent taxpayers, aghast at children's lives being put in danger, would gladly see their money spent on any fostering costs that arose, particularly if it led to a fall in Channel crossings.
As things stand, the bleakest truth is that the boats will continue and more babies will die entirely needless deaths.
Page 16
Daily Mail
COMMENT
Right-wing can
learn important lessons from Clacton
UNDENIABLE, the Clacton by-election was largely a waste of public money.
Reform UK's leader Nigel Farage is left dissafraintaged by the whole event, which he triggered in the misguided hope it would become a great 'people versus the establishment' tournament.
In fact, it descended into farcical territory, made worse by Mr Farage's decision not to turn up to the election count.
Even so, this Essex seaside poll was not a dead loss. It served to illuminate several broader issues within British politics, and proffers lessons from which all Right-wing parties must learn.
Most prominently, there was the liberal media's willing embrace of runner-up Count Binface. The comedian behind the mask brought some smiles along the way.
But, tellingly, some media outlets were far more comfortable giving space to Binface than they were to Mr Farage, a reticence most likely explained by Reform's stance on immigration. This demonstrates the hurdles the Conservatives, Reform and Restore must overcome if they are to communicate their policies to the electorate in a detailed, rounded and sensible manner.
Mr Farage's marginally increased majority also shows considerable public support for candidates who offer something other than political orthodoxy.
That said, it is clear that by instigating the by-election the Reform leader dropped a political danger by failing to recognise the high probability that Labour, the Conservatives and other major parties would decide not to contest the seat.
The then Tory shadow home secretary David Davis tried a comparable trick in 2008 and was similarly left flapping in the wind. Did Mr Farage not realise the same would happen to him? If not, such a simple strategic error makes it harder to see him as a potential future prime minister.
By comparison, Tory leader Kemi Badenock is growing in political stature day by day, and her party is stronger than it has been in years.
Another important lesson from Clacton is how Right-wing parties need to put aside their differences, and unite against the threats Labour poses to this country's economic power and social cohesion.
The Daily Mail has noted many times that there is significant common ground among them. This should become a source of collaboration rather than antagonism in the months and years ahead.
As to Mr Farage's future, that largely hangs upon the now-resumed investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards into the £3million gift from cryptocurrency tycoon Christopher Harborne.
No-one should prejudice the conclusions that inquiry may reach.
For now, Labour is enjoying an inevitable bounce in the polls after its change of leader, but that will not last long.
Andy Burnham, let's remember, has yet to face any proper scrutiny. His insufferably chummy social media videos will be of no help when he is being rigorously cross- examined by Mrs Badenock at Prime Minister's Questions in a few weeks' time.
In the wake of its internal coup, Labour's positions on some of the most important policy areas - taxation, public borrowing and defence, to name but three - remain a complete enigma.
Indeed, the Prime Minister has revealed so little of his real plans he may as well be wearing a bin over his head.
LIE BURGER THE
BLOOD is seeping from the dead man's skull. He lies face down on the baking runway, and it pools around him like a halo.
The mobile-phone camera, clutched by someone sprinting across the Tarmac, captures another corpse. This man's left knee has exploded into a mass of scarlet gristle. His right leg has been smashed; its foot is missing.
Finally I see a third man lying on his back. A man is tying a rag around his broken head to try to hold it together.
The footage was filmed on August 16, 2021. These desperate men had all fallen to their deaths after trying to cling to the wings and undercarriages of American planes fleeing Kabul Airport.
The previous day, the Taliban (the word means 'students' in Pashto, one of the two official languages), had seized the Afghan capital. The images captured that day became an indelible stain on the West.
The last man I saw in that footage was Khalid Hotak. Despite the help he received on the runway, he died from his injuries that day. Now I am sitting in a restaurant with his brother Zabihullah. 'Khalid had a 'secret' job,' he tells me. 'That is why he was so desperate to escape.'
I suspect that means he worked with the Americans - and in doing so, he was far from alone. The US, along with Britain, Canada and other allies, invaded Afghani- stan on October 7, 2001, less than a month after 9/11.
Over the following 20 years, Washington poured tens of thousands of men, $2 trillion and uncountable weapons into the country. According to America's Brown University, more than $500 million every single day was spent on the conflict - for two decades.
THE US built, or thought it had, a national army. It erected ministries and embassies. It fortified Kabul. Then, five years ago this summer, the Afghan Republic govern- ment, on which the Western coalition had spent so much propping up, collapsed.
Provincial capitals fell. Sol- diers abandoned their posts. Then the Taliban fighters marseled through cities and towns, killing security forces and government officials while requisitioning more than one million weapons and other pieces of military hardware.
On August 15 - five years ago to the day - the Taliban reached Kabul. President Ashraf Ghani fled to the United Arab Emirates, where he remained until reportedly relocating to Lebanon earlier this year.
The Talib fighters smashed their way into the president- tial palace and strutted beneath its chandeliers.
The 'shock and awe' of 2001's Operation Enduring Freedom had scattered the mulpiters to the mountains and villages - but now they were back.
What kind of state is the Islamic Emirate of Afghani-
Frontline: David Patrikarakos, centre, with Taliban fighters in Kabul
stan today? I have come to find out.
In Kabul, the scent of bak- ing bread mingles with the stench of open sewers. Armed Taliban walk the streets; chil- dren beg; and the 'virtue and vice' police patrol, scouting for the improperly attired or the sound of music - now banned along with concerts, TV dramas and films. Five times per day, without fail, the call to prayer sounds through the growl of traffic.
The city has been inverted. Once the Taliban attacked Kabul, now they control it.
The armoured compounds fortified by the Americans are now maintained by the men they were built to repel. The US Embassy, which reportedly cost $800 million, lies aban- doned, a monument to hubris.
Official signs of the Talib- an's victory against the West are everywhere.
In Public Health Square, state-sanctioned graffiti makes the point unambiguous: 'Our
Islamic system has been achieved at the cost of the blood of martyrs,' reads one. 'Our commitment is in place to bring and implement the divine Sharia law,' runs another.
On my first evening, I visit a large hill overlooking the city, with a public park and a mosque dedicated to Mullah Omar, who founded the Tali- ban in 1994 and who died from tuberculosis in 2013.
As we snake up the road to the top, I see few women, but dozens of Talib fighters: walk- ing, leaning from armoured trucks; casually holding auto- matic weapons in saloon cars.
OLD, middle-aged, some practically boys - and every one a member or supporter of the regime, rec- ognisable by the black turban that identifies him as a life- long 'student'.
We reach the summit. By a makeshift checkpoint is a
small wooden building, and through its open window I see a wall bristling with automatic weapons. Fighters are check- ing in their AK-47s like coats.
Inside the park, the diving platform of the 'Russian swimming pool', built by the Soviets during their occupa- tion of the country in the 1980s, comes into view.
Pumping water up the hill proved difficult, so the pool was rarely filled. Ever innova- tive, the Taliban would hurl their prisoners from the 10-metre-high platform on to the concrete below.
Survival was taken as evi- dence of innocence, death as evidence of guilt.
This is a totalitarian regime, but after securing the rele- vant permissions, I am free to travel without an official minder and to speak to any- one I want.
I ask a young man with a scruffy beard what he thinks of Taliban rule. 'They are building many roads and
Page 17
TALIBAN'S PONEST
Photo by JEWAN SANDAR, DAILY TIMES/DA
SATURDAY DISPATCH from David Patrikarakos
IN KABUL
improving the infrastructure,' he replies. 'We are happy with things,' his friend chips in. I believe them: they clearly support the regime.
The call to prayer sounds, and men start flocking to the huge mosque, built in imitation of the 7th-century Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, the world's oldest surviving Islamic building.
Near it, flying high, is an enormous Taliban flag: 131ft wide and 85ft high, it was raised in March 2022. While, it features towering black Arabic calligraphy spelling out the Muslim 'shahada' or declaration of faith: 'There is no god
but God; Muhammad is the Messenger of God.'
In the Ministry of Information and Culture, I meet the 'Deputy Minister for Publications,' Mithajer Farahi. In one corner of the silent waiting room are towers of English-language books: Farahi's job is to oversee their vetting to decide whether they can be published.
He sits in his office barefoot, alongside two other Taliban, one of whom carries an automatic rifle. I ask Farahi what criteria he uses to decide whether books can be published. 'Islamic law,
national interest and our culture,' he replies softly and deliberately.
For him and the rest of the Taliban the war with the West is not over, it has merely changed form.
The enemy might have left the battlefield, but the regime remains under attack through ideas spread via the internet, television, newspapers and literature. This is why Farahi believes his job as a censor is so important.
The Americans had the weapons and the money, he argues, but the Taliban had two more powerful things: faith and the people. 'The civilian population was with us.
They provided us with everything,' he says. To him, the fall of Kabul in 2021 was a holy vindication.
Five years on, he remains just as sure of his cause. '[George W.] Bush commanded us to surrender, and God commanded us to succeed,' he says. Then he smiles: 'We have seen who was correct.'
Later that day, I meet Dr Sharafat Zaman Amar, spokesman for the Ministry of Health. He speaks excellent English and is keen to stress that if the Afghan people are suffering, it is only because of Western sanctions. 'For the past three decades, the health system has been dependent on international aid,' he says. 'We need more time. And we must separate politics from health services.'
ACCORDING to the British charity Afghanaid, 12.6million people here - out of a total population of some 50million - face 'acute food insecurity'. Around 3.5million are children under the age of five.
When I put this to Dr Amar, he insists that the number of sites treating malnutrition has increased from roughly 800 under the American-sustained Republic to 3,200 under the Taliban, with around 1,000 additional staff.
As I listen to him seamlessly dodging questions, taking refuge in statistics and blaming the previous government for today's failings, I watch him and it hits me: subtract the AK-47-toting armed guard, the bare feet and the fact we're sitting on the carpet, and I could be talking to Wes Streeting.
The following afternoon, as I am walking around Kabul, I get chatting with a baker. 'There are fewer jobs, but it's peaceful,' he tells me. 'In the past, you couldn't leave the house after 7pm: it wasn't safe. Now you can go out.'
My photographer Adnan, who has worked in Afghanistan for years, agrees. 'In 2021, Islamic State attacked the city and I saw a Taliban fighter rifling through a black bin bag of body parts collected at the scene to find his friend's ID,' he tells me.
'Things were much more dangerous back then.'
Now order prevails. But at the cost of fear.
That evening, after dinner, I am accosted by a gaggle of children. They tug at my sleeve and waist, demanding money, until one spots a security vehicle by the side of the road. 'Taliban, Taliban!' the boy squeals - and they disappear into the night.
Another local is far more candid with me. 'The economy is very bad,' he says. 'A lot of people have lost their jobs and aren't able to find work.'
The UN estimates that 28 million people, about half the country, are living in poverty, with chronic drought and plummeting international aid.
'We cannot speak freely,' says the same local. 'Several times the
morality police have pulled my car over and asked if we were playing music. We say no, and then we turn it on again after we drive off.'
On my fourth day, I wander through Kabul's main market, passing one shop displaying two severed goats' heads on a platter buzzing with flies. Hawkers hang unrefrigerated chicken carcasses in the blazing heat.
I stop off at a 'bone doctor' who cracks various parts of men's bodies. Some of the most common injuries he treats, he tells me, are from Talib fighters with shoulder pains from lugging their automatic rifles everywhere.
Later, I travel the potholed roads to Maidanshah, a city about 20 miles south west of Kabul, to meet deputy police chief and ex-fighter Samiullah Fateh.
Something of a local legend, he took part in perhaps 14 ambushes against the Americans. He thinks he is about 33 but he's not sure.
Like many Taliban, Fateh wears his hair long in imitation of the Prophet. He is a Taliban fighter to his core. A few years ago he was shot in the chest fighting local resistance and proudly shows me a photo of the wound.
'One ambush was against three American tanks,' he says. 'They would always send Afghans first to scout the area out.'
'We let them pass and when the US tanks appeared, we fired rockets filled with gasoline at them. We destroyed the first two tanks. The third retreated. We took the American weapons.'
What were the West like as fighters, I ask him? 'You retreated a lot and screamed when you were injured,' he says calmly.
He echoes what another fighter told us: 'If you ever try and invade again, we will defeat you again.'
FOLLOWING our interview, I go on patrol with Fateh, sitting in the back of his Ford truck - abandoned by the Americans - with a couple of armed Taliban. There is little crime now, I am told, though they still have the odd murder and drug-trafficking case. For all that the Taliban are violently anti-drugs, the problem remains impossible to stamp out.
One morning I drive to the '1,000 Beds Drug Rehabilitation Clinic' in north-east Kabul. The Priory this is not. As I arrive, I am greeted by the sight of shaven-headed men dressed in identical green prison-style outfits.
After Taliban Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada banned narcotics in 2022, the regime destroyed poppy fields and slashed cultivation by 95 per cent in a single year.
The crackdown destroyed the livelihoods of farmers dependent on opium, but synthetic drugs such as methamphetamine remain a serious problem.
I walk through the facility's dank,
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narrow corridors and arrive at the 'detox centre'.
The men here are in withdrawal and are agitated. Obaidullah, 49, is a meth addict. He used to cart a wheelbarrow through the market, transporting goods for customers there, and he is openly furious with the regime.
'There is no Taliban – only mafia,' he snaps at me. 'They came and took me from my house at night and brought me here. What kind of police do that?'
I ask him why he needs drugs. 'I need it for my sexual power,' he claims.
'You don't need detox,' jokes our guide. 'We should cut your penis off.'
Since 2021, UN investigators have documented extensive torture of Taliban detainees, including suffocation, suspension from the ceiling and electric shocks. Amnesty International further cites 'tooth and nail extraction' and waterboarding.
In March, UN human rights experts reported that at least 1,110 people had been publicly flogged in the country last year alone – that is nearly double 2024's figure.
And if the regime has cleaned up the streets, that is nothing compared to the transformation it has wrought in the lives of Afghanistan's women.
I meet Amira (not her real name) in one of the few restaurants that allows women to enter without their husband or a male relative. This area is not well-patrolled, and my photographer Adnan overhears Afghans speaking Pashto with British accents.
The dining room is behind a steel door, giving time to warn customers if the Taliban arrive.
She cannot forget 2021. 'The Taliban
came down from the mountains,' she says. 'They were dirty and bedraggled. Kabul was like a zombie city. Everyone had run away.'
The erasure of female freedom began with the children. In September 2021, girls were excluded from secondary education – a move made permanent the following March.
From December 2021, all women were required to have a 'mahram' (male relative) with them for any long-distance travel. Amira's mahram is her brother.
'He wants to leave the country,' Amira tells me in Pashto. 'I'm afraid of what will happen to me if he does. I will have even less freedom.'
In May 2022 the Taliban ordered that women cover themselves from head to toe in the full burqa, without even allowing a slit for their eyes to show (the niqab). Preferably, however, they would simply remain at home.
That November, women were excluded from parks, gyms and other public recreational spaces, and a month later the regime formally 'suspended' university education for all women.
What is it like to be a woman in Afghanistan today, I ask Amira? 'It's like being permanently in quarantine,' she replies. I ask her if the Taliban can ever be defeated. She doesn't need to think. 'The Taliban are mostly Pashtun: the largest ethnic group here. I don't see any other group capable of overpowering them.'
Five years of life under the Taliban have made one thing irretrievably clear to her, as this trip has to me: they aren't going anywhere. For now at least, their victory seems complete.
UK is 'Islamic Republic' says Israel's leader
BENJAMIN Netanyahu has dubbed the UK the 'Islamic Republic of Britain' in an explosive interview.
The Israeli prime minister made the comments as he discussed meeting Winston Churchill's grandson, also called Winston, who he described as a 'lover of Israel'.
Mr Netanyahu told Avi Harush, a former military officer whose son died fighting Hamas in Gaza, that the younger Winston was a 'nice man' who viewed the Six-Day War – the 1967 conflict that saw the country capture and occupy the West Bank and Gaza Strip – as a 'positive'.
Mr Netanyahu, pictured, told Mr Harush's podcast: 'Just try to find that kind of attitude in Britain now – or in what's known as 'The Islamic Republic of Britain'. You won't find it.'
The Israeli leader also made reference to his nation's goal of stopping Iran from getting nuclear weapons, while making a joke at the UK's expense.
He said: 'Someone said that the first Islamic republic with nuclear weapons will be the
By Perkin Amalaraj
Islamic Republic of Britain. So, we're making sure there won't be another one like that in Iran.'
The UK and Israel's relationship has become strained over the past year, due to the war in Gaza and Britain's recognition of Palestine as a state.
At the time, Mr Netanyahu accused then-prime minister Keir Starmer of appeasing Hamas. Sir Keir's successor, meanwhile, has in recent weeks accused Mr Netanyahu of trying to make a two-state solution impossible.
Andy Burnham has signalled a shift in the UK's approach to the Middle East, apologising for the Labour Party's response to Israel's actions in Gaza over the last few years.
He admitted Labour's position alienated a large portion of its voters and caused 'huge hurt'.
It comes as US President Donald Trump's son-in-law and negotiator, Jared Kushner, is set to travel to the Middle East next week to advance plans to end the conflict in Gaza.
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Page 19
WHEN I met Lissie Harper in No 10 Downing Street in November 2021, we didn't discuss the way in which her husband lost his life at the hands of three teenage thieves exactly seven years ago today.
We didn't go into the details - because they were just too horrific.
Lissie had come to see me, as PM, to discuss her proposals for Harper's Law - how to ensure that in future we properly punish criminals who kill members of the emergency services.
The widow of PC Andrew Harper was dignified, brave and determined. There was no need during the course of our conversation to ask her to retire the cruelty of her husband's suffering. But it is important for readers to recall the essentials.
PC Harper lost his life late that August evening in 2019, in a narrow rural lane in Berkshire, after heroically trying to stop three members of the 'travelling community' from stealing a quad bike.
He tried to grab one of them, who dived through the rear window of the getaway Seat Toledo, shouting to his accomplices to 'Drive, drive!'. As Henry Long, then 18, floored the accelerator, the 28-year-old police officer was tragically entangled in the towrope used to steal the quad.
For just over a mile, they dragged him behind the car, furiously weaving from side to side in an effort to shake him off. By the time they finally stopped, he was unrecognisable.
Another driver mistook the police officer's body for the bloodied carcass of a deer.
Of course, the criminals later claimed that they did not realise they were dragging a 14st human being behind their car; and, even if you think their denials implausible, that point was hard to establish in court - at least beyond a reasonable doubt.
BUT whatever exactly they knew or believed, it seemed to Lissie Harper, and it seemed to me as I listened to her, that they were still morally culpable for his death.
They were habitual criminals who had set out to commit a serious and dangerous crime, with crowbars and other equipment in the boot. They had disabled the rear lights of the Toledo to avoid pursuit.
They had discussed what to do if the police nabbed them, and the importance of fleeing the scene at top speed.
Even if - which I seriously doubt - they were initially unaware of what they were doing, they were guilty of killing a police officer in the course of criminal activity. That is, in my view, a particularly heinous crime.
A police officer - or a firefighter or a paramedic - is unlike the rest of us in that they have no choice
I've met Lissie Harper and, unlike the PM, I feel the rage of millions who want her husband's killers kept behind bars
but to go towards danger. They must deliberately put their own lives at risk - as Andrew Harper did - to protect the rest of us, the public.
That is why the law has always tried to give special protection to the police, in recognition of the risks they run every day. Indeed, it remained a capital offence - a crime that can be punished by death - to kill a police officer until 1965, years after the death penalty was generally abolished.
So, I agreed with Lissie and the family of PC Harper, and his many supporters, that the sentences for his killers who were found guilty of manslaughter in July 2020 were too soft, only 16 years for the driver, Henry Long, and only 13 years for the two passengers, Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole. It did not seem enough, either as a punishment
or a deterrent, and the killers seemed to know that they had got off lightly.
That picture of them leaving the court smirking and laughing has become shockingly familiar to us all.
Five months later we passed Harper's Law, so that anyone who engages in a dangerous and criminal act and kills a police officer or other member of the emergency services would get a life sentence. I know that Lissie and her family took pride and comfort in their achievement - for the benefit of all families of police officers, and other emergency workers, who may lose their lives to criminals.
But of course Harper's Law is not retrospective. We could not change the way the court had interpreted the law as it previously existed; and for years
Andrew Harper's relatives have had to face the sickening fact that his killers would be out relatively soon.
It was infuriating but unavoidable. Nothing, however, can have prepared the Harper family for the farce that is unfolding now.
Never in our wildest dreams did we imagine that a Labour Government would come in and change the law - as Starmer did - to allow the release of such offenders after serving only half of their sentences.
And it seems utterly incredible that this early-release scheme could apply to people like the killers of PC Harper. But that is what Labour has done.
The new PM, Andy Burnham, was specifically given the option of keeping prisoners with longer sentences in jail. He was told explicitly that this was the way to
avoid releasing the killers of PC Harper.
He rejected that option. He knew exactly what that decision entailed - that Bowers and Cole would be among the thousands of serious offenders who would be prematurely disgorged on to the streets of this country, where about 25 per cent of them are statistically bound to reoffend within the first year.
He knew what he was doing, and yet he went ahead. It is only in the face of public outcry that he has backed down.
Having taken the decision to release them, he now says, with equal glibness, that he could not live with his conscience if they were released. My message to Burnham is that the voters may be able to forgive your open-toed sandals - but they simply can't stomach the flip-flops.
He vamoosed for a holiday to somewhere foreign and instructed his hapless Justice Secretary to 'find a solution'.
FIND a solution? How can Alex Norris find a solution? The Prime Minister's view of the early-release scheme is completely unintelligible. How is Norris supposed to find a solution when Burnham seems to be simultaneously in favour of the early-release scheme - and against it?
It's Burnham who is PM, not Norris - a man who is probably not even a household name in his own household. When you get problems like this, with officialdom saying you have no alternative, it is only the Prime Minister who can break the logjam.
As Kemi Badenoch has said, there are, in fact, plenty of solutions. Burnham could make space in our prisons for thousands more UK criminals if he got rid of the Human Rights Act, and deported foreign offenders.
Labour could overcome their Lefty squeamishness and revive our plans to rent prison places abroad. Or they could get a grip and build pop-up prisons.
The truth is that Labour is actually indifferent to the strength of public feeling on this issue - as of yesterday, one million people had signed a petition to keep PC Harper's killers in jail - because in their hearts they don't care.
Burnham has specifically rejected Blair and Blairism, and it is clear that in rejecting a tough penal policy we are back to the worst of soggy old Labour - soft on crime and soft on the causes of crime.
The PM is failing his first big test. He should scrap the early-release scheme fast and, if he wants to show he cares and understands, he should make time to meet Lissie Harper.
Voters may forgive Burnham's open-toed sandals - but they just can't stomach the flip-flops
Page 20
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Page 21
Platell's People
Sacrificed your career to marry Cruise? Who are you kidding, Nic!
IN HER most revealing interview ever, Nicole Kidman tells British Vogue that when she married Tom Cruise aged 22, friends told her to forget her career because it would soon be over.
If she wed one of the most famous actors in the world, they insisted, she would become nothing but Cruise's wife.
Nic recalls: 'I'm like, 'I don't care. I'm in love. I want to be married.' And then I was his 'wife' and they were like, 'See, we told you.' I'm like, 'So what? I wasn't meant to marry the man I love? Of course I'll throw my career away. I don't care.'
Forgetting to add that, before she met Cruise in 1990 on the set of action flick Days Of Thunder and pretty much instantly married him, she was mostly a minor actress in Australia whose films including teen movie BMX Bandits and the drama Bush Christmas in which she saves an outback Aussie sheep farm.
As for putting her career on hold, she starred in 13 movies while married to Cruise, not least in the incredibly not sexy 'erotic'
Drop the dead dog
ANNE Hathaway is right to call for movies in which a dog dies to be given an R rating, as it is too upsetting. There is a website called doesthe dogdie.com which warns you if a pooch gets it in a movie.
In Old Yeller, the faithful-to-the-end hero dies from rabies; in Marley & Me, he succumbs to a twisted stomach.
Why can't more films have happy doggy endings, like 1963's The Incredible Journey when Bodger, who we thought had died, limps home to reunite with his family?
■ JONATHAN Ross says that since the 2024 drama series One Day, actor Leo Woodall has developed a tendency to mumble his dialogue. A bit rich, Wossy, coming from you - a presenter who's made a career out of comically not being able to say your Rs.
thriller Eyes Wide Shut with her husband and in Batman Forever. And as soon as their ten-year marriage was over, she starred in Baz Luhrmann's hit movie Moulin Rouge! She was by now an international superstar. Not in spite of being Mrs Cruise, some might say, but because she was Mrs Cruise.
It is bewildering that after so long - she and Cruise divorced 25 years ago - Nic feels the need to rake over her time with the Mission Impossible star. Unless it's because of his mega-celebrity.
Her poor-little-me tale of falling in love with a superstar at 22 and sacrificing all for him does not bear scrutiny - she did very well out of being Mrs Cruise and she's still milking his name!
Crikey, who does Nic think she's kidding?
Amy sprinting to popularity title
HAVING won 100m and 200m golds in the European Championships, sprinter Amy Hunt, 24, is on a fast-track to become Britain's most loved female athlete.
The Cambridge University graduate with a huge YouTube following, who trains five hours a day and listens to Mamma Mia! before races, has sponsors lining up to sign her for her likeability factor. Move over Emma Raducanu. Here's an athlete we girls can look up to - and who actually wins!
■ GOOD to hear that before appearing in HBO's adaptation of JK Rowling's Harry Potter books, actress Bel Powley refuses to trash the author in the way ex stars Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson did.
Bel says: 'I strongly disagree with JK Rowling's views on gender,' adding: 'I love Harry Potter, I grew up with the books, I love the magic.' See, you can disagree on gender and still love JK.
Picture: BARTORREUX
■ THERE'S much po-faced speculation as to whether Brad Pitt is back on the booze big time, having once claimed he could 'drink a Russian under the table with his own vodka'. He's revealed that after seven years sober he now occasionally has a glass of wine or two with his girlfriend of four years Ines de Ramon. It's always black and white with the killjoys. Drink a little more than recommended and suddenly you're Paul Gascoigne.
Mossy memories
THE sight of Kate Moss and her daughter Lila frolicking in the Med brought back happy memories of Mum and me splashing around in the ocean on family holidays wearing matching flowered bathing caps, while
Dad and my brothers were off doing boys' stuff. Mum didn't look like Kate, nor me Lila, yet there is a special bond between mothers and daughters and together in the water we both felt like mermaids.
WHAT joy it was to witness my first eclipse of the sun. The only other chance I've had was in Ox in 1964 when I was seven. Having painstakingly made my pinhole projector from a Coco Pops box, it was ruined by the feral Dorazio brothers.
Despite warnings not to leave the classroom nor look at the sun, they rushed outside, smashing our boxes on the way, only for the teachers to drag them back in and tie them to their chairs. It may have taken 62 years, but seeing the eclipse was worth the wait.
++Westminster wars++
WHAT staggers me most about Andy Burnham is how, despite his ambition to get into No 10, his policies are so vacuous. Here's what we've learnt from his 'listening exercise'.
■ HE plans to reduce vape shops, is considering banning disposable barbecues as the UK burns, and hopes to find a way not to free PC Andrew Harper's killers.
■ GREGGS has renamed its 'sausage'.
AS Rod Stewart welcomes his sixth grandchild he has to cancel the last dates of his tour in Mexico and the US for an operation to put a stent in his heart. This, after he had to pause during a previous show and use an oxygen mask before continuing. Rod, 81, may not want to talk about it, but his worried fans do - and many are asking if it's time he replaced his rock act with a rocking chair.
bean and cheese melt the 'sausage, bean and cheese thing' as Andy can't remember the name despite claiming to be a fan.
■ AND he's determined to house more asylum seekers in middle-class areas 'as a point of principle'. Why not put them in the constituencies of his party's 405 MPs - and hear the Labour benches squeal, knowing they'd lose their seats?
■ KIDS in one of our most deprived areas achieved 70 per cent As and A*s at A-level, at Michaela Community school. It's run by 'Britain's strictest teacher' Katharine Birbalsingh. Isn't it time Education Secretary Lucy Powell apologised to Mrs Birbalsingh, after claiming prioritising academic learning let down disadvantaged students?
Megs never hugs a mogle
COOKIE Queens, a film about fundraising girl scouts making biscuits - co-produced by the Sussexies - was beaten at the US Box Office by a compilation of cat videos featuring skate-
boarding felines. Just revenge says my mogle Ted - as the Sussexies clearly don't like cats. 'When have you ever seen Meghan hug one,' he asks? The answer's never.
Follow me on X@amanda@platell Email: amanda.platell@dailymail.co.uk
Page 22
Prisoners charged over the attempted murder of tragic Sara's killer father
By Elizabeth Haigh and Rory Tingle
TWO inmates have been charged with the attempted murder of Sara Sharif's jailed father after he was attacked with a 'tuna can lid'.
Urfan Sharif was ambushed at HMP Belmarsh, where he is serving life for the abuse and murder of his daughter.
Steven Sansom, 47, and Adam Watson, 39, are accused of trying to kill him at the high-security prison in south-east London on New Year's Day last year.
Sharif, 43, was set upon in his cell and left in a critical condition, but survived. It came weeks after he was sentenced to a minimum 40 years for the killing of his ten-year-old daughter. Sansom is serving a
Accused: Steven Sansom and Adam Watson. Above, Urfan Sharif and his tragic daughter Sara
whole-life term for murder. He killed Sarah Mayhew, 38, in 2024 and disposed of her remains in locations around London while he was out on licence after murdering a taxi driver in 1998.
Watson was jailed for 21 years in 2024 for murdering mother-of-two Samantha Holden, 56, at her home in Farnborough, Hampshire. A prison source said at the time
of the attack on Sharif: 'He was sliced in the neck and face, and is still in healthcare in a very bad way. He was lucky to survive.'
They have been charged with attempted murder and assault, and will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on August 26. Sharif's trial heard Sara suffered 'unimaginable pain' in more than two years of abuse and
was tortured to death by Sharif and stepmother Beinash Batool, 30.
She was battered with a cricket bat, metal pole and a rolling pin, strangled until her neck broke, burnt with an iron and bitten.
The last inspection by Belmarsh's monitoring Board found there were 226 prisoner-on-prisoner assaults in the year to June 2025, 11 per cent up on 2024.
I don't believe it! Pensioners cheerier than youngsters
By Olivia Allhusen
THANKS to grumpy Victor Meldrew in sitcom One Foot In The Grave, pensioners have a reputation for being surly lot.
But new data suggests they are more cheerful than younger generations and far less likely to complain about poor service.
An analysis of more than one million customer interactions found both sexes become steadily more satisfied with their experiences as they age.
HappyOrNot, which operates customer feedback terminals in shops, airports and other venues, found 91.5 per cent of people aged 65 and over gave positive feedback.
That compared with 82.3 per cent of those aged between 15 and 24.
HappyOrNot suggested younger people's greater dissatisfaction could partly be explained by their expectations from online shopping, where purchases can be made quickly without queues or unavailable stock.
Page 23
ANDREW BONE
NIGEL Farage beat a bin on Thursday to return to the House of Commons as Reform UK MP for Clacton in an unnecessary by-election of his own making.
His victory resolves none of the matters that have been afflicting him this year and which have dragged down the poll ratings of him and his party.
The scale of his win was convincing. He took 63 per cent of the vote, up 17 points on the 2024 general election. He won 1,000 more votes than two years ago, even on a reduced turnout (which at 43 per cent was nevertheless impressive for a by-election).
The other big parties refused to participate in a bid to minimise its importance, a move that paid off handsomely. The by-election became something of a farce, with 33 'jobs' candidates filling the void.
Sometimes we are too cavalier, too careless in our treatment of the precious gift that is democracy – and some folks are clearly at a loss what to do of a summer, even when the sun is shining.
Count Binface, anointed Farage's main challenger by the Reform-hating media and chattering classes, became the beneficiary of the anti-Reform forces, winning almost 9,500 votes. It
Irritated and irascible on money matters
still baffles me that Reform didn't see the boycott coming, given it was exactly what happened when Tory MP David Davis indulged in the same surprise by-election stunt in 2008 for reasons nobody can now remember.
For a party with aspirations to run the country, Reform can still exude a curious mixture of ignorance and naïvety.
If Reform was hoping Clacton would help it regain momentum after getting bogged down in a series of sticky patches, it's likely to be quickly disappointed. All Clacton demonstrates is that Farage is as popular in his backyard as Andy Burnham is in his. I think we knew that already.
Nothing undermining Farage and his party before Clacton has been relieved by Thursday's victory. The parliamentary inquiry, halted during the Clacton campaign, into why a Thai-based crypto-billionaire 'gifted' Farage £5million in the run up to the 2024 election will soon resume.
Given the contradictory reasons Farage has already given for being in receipt of such a large sum (to cover security costs, as a reward for Brexit, because the donor admires him), there's a good chance this inquiry will not go well for Farage.
Then there's the financial support he's received from convicted fraudster and crypto gambler 'Posh George' Cottrell that was used to fund Farage's office and security. The Metropolitan Police have been investigating £500,000 in donations from Cottrell's mother to Reform for more than a year. These and other accusa-
It's time for the Tories and Reform to stop knocking lumps out of each other, bury their egos and do what's best for Britain
tions swirling around Farage and his party have taken their toll, not just on Reform's poll ratings but on Farage himself.
He has become increasingly irritated and irascible when pushed on money matters, morphing from the happy warrior with the trademark chickle in the face of hostility into a dismal Jimmy who isn't paranoid – he knows for sure everybody has it in for him.
There is more in play than the fate of Farage. British politics could be at yet another turning point. If 2025 was the year of the insurgents, with the rise of Reform on the Right and the Greens on the Left at the expense of Labour and the Tories, 2026 has been the year the insurgency wasn't just halted but beaten back.
Not many months ago Reform was riding high in the polls, always in the lead and at one stage breaking the 30 per cent barrier, allowing it to think that an overall majority come the next election was not out of the question.
Labour, already losing votes on its Right flank to Reform, was panicking that it was haemorrhaging even more on its Left to the Greens, who were breathing down Labour's neck in the polls. The Tories were below 20 per cent and struggling not to fall further.
Now look at the state of play. The latest YouGov poll has Labour in the lead at 24 per cent, for the first time in 18 months overtaking Reform on 22 per cent, its worst poll rating since March 2025. The Tories are up two points and are now just behind Reform on 21 per cent.
The Greens have slid back to 12 per cent, going nowhere fast under the weird Zack Polanski, who's been rumbled as much as Farage in recent months.
The Liberal Democrats are back on the brink of irrelevance with a dismal 11 per cent under the lacklustre leadership of Ed 'Dismal' Davey (surely the Lib Dem) have to confront the Davey problem at their annual conference
next month). It has been Farage's misfortune to find himself floundering in a sea of woes at a time when Burnham has given Labour a new flicker of life and Kemi Badenoch has come into her own as Tory leader.
As a result, Reform, its clear and consistent lead vanished, now sits alongside Labour and Tories within polling's statistical plus-or-minus 3 per cent margin of error of each other. It means all three have all to play for. The Greens and the Lib Dems increasingly look like also rans.
Of course, we live in a febrile political age in which no sooner is a trend identified than it's reversed. Burnham, who has still to make a full transition from TikTok influencer to Prime Minister, has yet to be tested.
Badenoch's personal popularity – some 38 per cent now think she's doing a good job as Tory leader versus only 23 per cent almost a year ago – will not necessarily rub off to the advantage of
the tarnished brand she leads. So the revival of what we used to regard as the country's two dominant parties could be short-lived.
Burnham has the bigger challenge. The mega-dinghy which crossed the Channel this week has put illegal migration firmly back on the agenda. That plays to Reform's agenda. So does the dispersal of illegal migrants to leafy towns and villages. Burnham has little to say about either issue – and he's been all over the place on the early release of prisoners in jail for violent crimes.
Above all, we have yet to see the shape of a Burnham economic policy. All will no doubt be revealed come the Budget on October 28.
It might not be a pretty sight: given we're already borrowed to the hilt, it's hard to see Burnham can do any of the costly stuff he talks about – social care, nationalisation, devolution, more public investment – without yet another huge increase in taxes.
But Farage has post-Clacton problems of his own. Not just that Commons inquiry but the need to rediscover his mojo at a time when his party risks being squeezed between a reviving Tory party and Rupert Lowe's Restore
We have yet to see Burnham's economic policy
Party. The problem with a one-man band is that, when that one man plays the wrong notes – as Farage has been doing – the whole ensemble is out of tune.
Reform has failed in its strategic goal to replace the Tories as the main party of the Right. If Burnham turns out to be more formidable as PM than he has so far indicated, you could see Labour climb further in the polls towards that magical 30 per cent, while Reform and the Tories slog it out in the lower 20s.
Labour strategists are now daring to think that they might, after all, win the next election – or at least emerge as the biggest party.
With Reform and the Tories knocking lumps out of each other, it's perfectly possible. It's too soon to talk about a pact. Reform and Tory minds will only be concentrated if and when Labour starts to pull ahead in the polls.
But neither party on the Right should say or do anything that makes a future accommodation impossible or harder. Reform needs to grow up, the Tories to realise that returning to power on their own is well nigh impossible, at least in this decade.
The policy differences between Reform and the Tories have narrowed – and can narrow further. Let Lowe's Restore be the repository of the reactionary Right.
A second five-year Labour term would condemn Britain to perpetual high-tax, high-spend, high-regulation socialist stagnation. Time for all those on the mainstream Right to bury their egos and do what's best for Britain.
Labour strategists are now daring to think that they might, after all, win the next election
Page 24
VI
Inside Snowdon's
by Richard Kay
SENIOR EDITOR AT LARGE
DEEP in the English countryside, but barely ten miles as the crow flies from Gatwick Airport, down a secluded lane and through fields of Friesian cows, Old House stands in chocolate box splendour.
It is a house of secrets and fun, of romance and infatuation, of illicit affairs and brazen seductions, adultery and scandal. If its ancient walls could speak what a story they would tell.
For 40 years it was the country retreat of the Earl of Snowdon, society photographer and libidinous husband of Princess Margaret, and where he entertained his lovers and mistresses in what he believed was the blissful ignorance of his wife, the late Queen Elizabeth's sister.
It was where he held open house for his glamorous circle of actors, models, artists and the fashionable beau monde, stocking the scullery with food, wine and champagne he had helped himself to from the cellars and kitchens of Kensington Palace - and is being publicly offered for sale.
The lucky - and wealthy - buyer willing to part with just under £4million will be purchasing a tantalising slice of modern royal history.
Almost every inch of its fabric carries some echo of bygone days. The bohemian interiors lit by oil lamps which Margaret loathed - there was no central heating in her day and the 'sink' in the downstairs cloakroom was a pudding basin with the waste drain drilled out by Snowdon's dentist - have been replaced with contemporary and luxury comforts.
Old House has never previously been put on the open market. Short of money, Snowdon sold the property privately in 2003 and the current owners acquired it under the radar two years later in 2005.
Traces of the creativity, imagination and playfulness of Lord Snowdon, who died in 2017, aged 86, remain. His former photographic darkroom is now a library, while hidden in the grounds is a folly incorporating a balcony he salvaged from the Royal Box at Ascot racecourse during refurbishment work in the 1960s.
ROYAL connections abound. The stepping stones installed to cross the shallowest part of the estate's lake were formally 'opened' by his mother-in-law, the Queen Mother, during a whimsical ceremony in which she wielded a pair of garden shears to cut a ribbon and which was presided over by the bishop of nearby Horsham.
Perhaps the most startling feature can be found in an upstairs bathroom where the walls are lined with a collage of original newspaper cuttings chronicling royal gossip, including eye-catching headlines of the abdication crisis, the greatest royal scandal of them all, along with historic events from the early 20th century.
There are no cuttings, however, relating to his own indiscretions. But then, they would require a room of their own.
Despite the property dating back to the 13th century, it is its more
recent pedigree that will excite potential buyers.
Famous names slept beneath the solid oak beams, film stars like Peter Sellers and John Mills, the ballerina Margot Fonteyn and theatre critic Kenneth Tynan - the first person to deliberately use the four-letter word beginning with F on television - and Edna O'Brien, the flamboyant Irish novelist and femme fatale.
The estate agents' blurb described Old House as a hideaway during their marriage for both Lord Snowdon and Margaret. But it was no sanctuary for the princess. During their tempestuous life together it was not their infidelity that caused the greatest trouble - both were unfaithful - it was the house.
Finding a bolthole after their 1960 wedding had preoccupied them for some time. They were Hollywood-style celebrities in the 1960s and the most photographed and in demand members of the Royal Family.
Snowdon found Royal Lodge, the Queen Mother's home in Windsor Great Park - later to pass to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor - where they spent most weekends, too constraining. He wanted his own space, with a workshop and studio. At Royal Lodge the main amusement was eating supper off a tray while watching television.
Snowdon was determined it would be Old House, his childhood refuge on his grandfather's magical Nymans estate in West Sussex, which he was given in 1958 as an early wedding present.
Retreat: The home and gardens. Left, news cuttings lining a wall
she had to back down. She did so, but detested the place, and her visits were few and unhappy.
Snowdon, on the other hand, would vanish there at every opportunity, pausing only to raid the Kensington Palace larder for lobster, cheese, wine and other delicacies, which provoked another row between the two.
'Why should I be expected to feed all your friends?' she demanded.
'Can I not take food from my own home?' he'd shout back.
She was furious that her husband presented Old House as a fait accompli and she was never consulted about any of the alterations. She thought that, at two hours drive from London, it was too far away, plus the house had few creature comforts.
Even after sanitation had been connected, there was still no heating and in winter it was freezing cold. She found it claustrophobic, but then she had been born in the vast Glamis Castle in Scotland and had lived her life in palaces so of course she found it poky. It was also on a right of way and she hated that walkers would stop to peer in at her royal presence.
Nor was there a single live-in servant. Margaret, who as one friend once told me had never even had to draw a pair of curtains, did not know how to cook, clean or iron and was simply at a loss.
She also thought the place was haunted, once claiming to see a man dressed in breeches and cravat arrive. On telling Tony that
one of his friends must have dropped by on horseback, Snowdon said no one had come.
Strangely one of her bodyguards saw the same apparition and received the same reaction from Snowdon. Ghost or not, Tony put his wife off even more by buying food that required complicated cooking. He would then watch her fall comprehensively in the small ill-equipped kitchen.
TO try to minimise her discomfort, Margaret would choose to stay at the infinitely more relaxed home of their nearest neighbour, the Marquess and Marchioness of Reading. It may have offered a cosy solution for the princess but, unknown to her, there was another drama at play.
Two of the Readings' four children were friends of Tony, their film producer middle son Lord Antony and their daughter Lady Jacqueline Rufus-Isaacs - known as Jackie. From 1968 Snowdon and the glamorous model embarked on a full-blown affair, and one fraught with scandalous danger. She had known Tony since she was 14 when he had first started to use Old House and was 16 years his junior.
'He was like a firework exploding into our lives,' one of the family later said.
At first, they managed to keep it under wraps, but there was one near calamity. On her way back to London from a weekend with
It was ramshackle and primitive with no running water or electricity, but he adored it.
The Queen offered the couple a parcel of land near Sunninghill, Berkshire. Despite the opportunity of creating a home from scratch, Snowdon - Tony to the family - insisted on Old House. Margaret demanded Sunninghill and they quarrelled furiously over it.
So intense and public were their rows on the subject that staff who witnessed them would return home exhausted - and appalled. They were shouting and screaming at each other up the stairs, in front of the butler, an outraged courtier observed to Anne de Courcy, Snowdon's biographer.
What the princess did not know was that Tony had brought in a builder and was already hard at work modifying Old House, and
Page 25
royal love nest...
Picture: BEN WROEGER, JOHN GINZER, BAKES / GETTY BAKES
Nestled in the Sussex countryside, it's where he seduced his lovers behind Princess Margaret's back. As Old House goes on the open market for the first time, how its rooms are literally wallpapered with society scandal
friends, Margaret decided to drop in. Her wily chauffeur, John Larkin, who knew of Snowdon's bedroom activities, worried frantically about the confrontation and the consequent hurt for the princess. There were, of course, no mobile phones back then, so all he could do was repeatedly flash the headlights of the royal limousine on the track leading to Old House and hope Tony picked up the signal.
When they arrived, a smiling Snowdon was at the door to meet them and after greeting Margaret affectionately, turned to Larkin with a knowing look and asked him to fill up his own car with petrol. 'You'll find some in the village,' he told him. Larkin duly drove the car into Staplefield where he opened the boot of Snowdon's blue Aston Martin DB5 to find Lady Jackie
Big rows: Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon in 1966
curled up inside. From the village she could walk back to her parents' house openly and innocently. The affair continued, not just in Sussex but in London. Snowdon would ring the Yves St Laurent boutique in Bond Street where she worked and, using the pseudonym 'Dr Ricketts', ask for Lady Jacqueline. If the coast was clear he would roar up on his motorcycle and Jackie would slip on to
the pillion. They would head for San Lorenzo, the Knightsbridge restaurant where years later Princess Diana would discreetly meet her close friends. When he went into hospital for a minor operation staff noted it was Jackie, not his wife, who sat at his bedside. The dam would surely burst and in early 1971 it duly did. American newspapers claimed the Snowdon marriage was falling apart and
linked Tony with Jackie. The affair came to a shuddering halt, and although for public consumption he and Margaret appeared to be reconciled, the truth was somewhat different.
He could be viciously cruel to his wife, leaving notes that ridiculed her, and which he knew she would find, in her bedside cabinet, her books and in her bathroom.
A little under two years later he met the woman who would become his second wife, Lucy, who was recently divorced from film director Michael Lindsay-Hogg. And another affair began with Old House at the centre of it all. Lucy loved the house's simplicity but also modernised the place, putting in much-needed central heating and installing a heated outdoor swimming pool.
Older and wiser, Margaret knew what was going on, though was no less hurt. She would dismissively and cattily refer to Lucy as 'the thing', and when explaining Snowdon's absence to friends she said that he was 'working', which she emphasised was a euphemism.
Relations between the royal couple were by now glacial. Margaret, who had conducted at least two affairs of her own, met the man whose presence was to finally bring the curtain down on the marriage, Roddy Llewellyn. When news of their affair broke, public sympathy was with Snowdon.
They parted, and within six months of divorcing he and Lucy were married.
BUT this was by no means the end of his connections with the Royal Family. It was Tony who Prince Charles chose to take his engagement pictures with Diana, while his relationship with the Queen Mother remained strong; she blamed her daughter for the catastrophe of their marriage.
One other thing didn't change: his insatiable sex drive. He had for many years been having an on-off affair with troubled journalist Ann Hills. In late December 1996 she killed herself with a cocktail of drugs and champagne.
On holiday in India, Lucy discovered from newspaper reports that her husband had had a mistress for the whole of their married life and before. It was a bombshell, but worse was to come.
While contributing to an edition of Country Life, Tony met baronet's daughter Melanie Cable-Alexander. They began an affair, conducted largely at Old House, and she became pregnant. Lucy and Snowdon separated, and a couple of years after the birth of a son the relationship between Tony and Melanie also fizzled out.
Other women came and went, including brigadier's daughter Emily Hirst and the writer and mental health campaigner Marjorie Wallace, but with Tony increasingly lame from his childhood polio and now occasionally using a wheelchair, Old House was becoming less a love pad and more a millstone.
Its part in royal and cultural history was, however, so deep-rooted it later inspired an entire episode of the Netflix series The Crown. Now as the memory of Snowdon's imagination and mischief fades, it awaits a new owner.
Page 26
Six-year sentence: Courtney Gartshore
Mother, 28, killed her newborn by burning her with a hairdryer
A MOTHER who killed her three-month-old daughter by blasting her with a hairdryer has been jailed for six years. Courtney Gartshore subjected Dahlia-Rose to 'significant and
By James Mulholland
sustained heat' of 50-80C from the device, causing her to die in September 2023. The baby was left with 18 per cent
of her body covered in burns, which experts believed were survivable. But the prolonged exposure from the dryer probably caused her to die of hyperthermia – dangerous increase of normal body temperature – and heatstroke.
She suffered extensive burns to the right side of her body, including her arm, chest, armpit, shoulder, face, scalp and brain at home in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire.
Gartshore, 28, had denied culpably and recklessly killing Dahlia-Rose during a trial but was found guilty of culpable homicide by a jury at the High Court in Aberdeen.
Before the baby's death, Gartshore had been socialising with friends and neighbours with her baby in tow, consumed a signifi-
'Gross breach of a parent's duty'
icant amount of alcohol, and arrived home around 4am.
She made a 999 call claiming she had woken up that morning to find her daughter dead in their home. Gartshore told the operator: 'I just woke up and her head is all purple.' The operator asked if Dahlia-Rose was 'beyond help', to which Gartshore replied: 'Yeah.'
She claimed the baby had been 'perfectly fine' the day before but her skin was now 'peeling off'.
Paramedic Shona Helm described finding the baby as 'distressing'. Material containing Dahlia-Rose's DNA was found on the nozzle of a hairdryer.
Murray Macara KC, defending, told the court nobody knew why
Extensive burns: Dahlia-Rose
his client used the hairdryer on the child. He said: 'I can only speculate as to the reasons why the hairdryer was used. Perhaps it was recklessly used to provide a source of heat.'
Calling it a 'truly tragic and distressing' case, he said Gartshore had a mental health condition known as emotionally unstable personality disorder.
Yesterday, Gartshore wept as she observed proceedings at the High Court in Edinburgh by video link from prison.
Judge Simon Collins KC said the case was particularly harrowing as the baby had 'complete dependence' on her mother, adding: 'The offence involved a gross breach of the most basic duty of a parent – to protect their child and keep them safe from harm.'
He said: 'It is tragic as well as terrible. And that is because the evidence suggested that the accused loved Dahlia-Rose, yet will have to live the rest of her life with the knowledge that she was responsible for her death.'
Amazon van thief's 100mph police chase
A THIEF who stole an Amazon delivery van led police on a 100mph chase for 40 minutes.
Police received a 999 call at 6.30pm on Wednesday to report the van carrying £1,000 worth of parcels had been stolen.
Officers located the van in Wigan, Greater Manchester, and attempted to stop the vehicle but the driver raced off.
Police pursued the driver through Bolton and into Chorley in Lancashire. They said over the course of the 40-minute chase, the van reached 100mph.
The driver eventually crashed into pedestrian barriers and a vehicle stopped at traffic lights.
A 25-year-old suspect was arrested at the scene of the crash on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle, dangerous driving, failing to stop, driving under the influence of a controlled substance and possession of Class A and C drugs.
He has been bailed pending further inquiries.
Plane window smashed by engine debris
THE shattered window through which a passenger was partially sucked out of during a Ryanair flight was caused by broken engine parts, investigators said.
A fan blade in the Boeing 737-800's right engine is said to have broke loose shortly after take-off in Greece on July 10, sending shards spewing out at high speed.
Ljubisa Karovic was then partially sucked through the window hole some 15,000ft in the air 20 minutes into the flight from Thessaloniki and had to be pulled back by fellow passengers. The Serbian national, 61, suffered neck and shoulder injuries, and friction burns.
Greece turned the investigation over to the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), who released the preliminary report, as the jet was assembled in America.
Blades in the right engine were inspected in May 2026 and November 2025, with no damage found. But flight crews reported four suspected bird strikes over the previous year.
Investigators will likely examine how the inspections were conducted and whether the suspected bird strikes inflicted any damage.
Source: AAFI, 2023, 2024. Photo credit: Photo credit: Photo credit: Photo credit: Photo credit: Photo credit: Photo credit: Photo credit: Photo credit: Photo credit: Photo credit: Photo credit: Photo credit: Photo credit: Photo credit: Photo credit: Photo credit: Photo credit: Photo credit: Photo credit: Photo credit: Photo credit: Photo credit: Photo credit: Photo credit: Photo credit: Photo credit: Photo credit: Photo credit: Photo credit: Photo credit: Photo credit: Photo credit: Photo
Page 27
Robbie: I'm autistic... it explains so much
By Bethan Edwards and Laura Fox
KNOWN for being something of a lad, Robbie Williams has been diagnosed with 'a little bit of autism' – which he uses as a 'get-out-of-jail-free card' when his behaviour gets out of hand.
The former Take That singer already had a diagnosis of ADHD and has learned to 'train his brain to be creative' to block out things that could make him 'panic or be scared'.
Williams, 52, said: 'I have ADHD and I just found out I have a bit of autism as well, which I actually f*** love because it explains so much.
'It is my get-out-of-jail-free card now, and all the weird s*** that I do I just say, 'Sorry, I'm autistic'.'
The father of four added: 'With the ADHD you can completely and utterly concentrate on something 1,000 per cent, but with absolutely everything else, you just cannot do it. Ask my kids.
'What I'm completely and utterly obsessed with is creating images and making funny things.
'If I'm creating images and funny things, I'm not thinking about me, because my brain is incredibly creative, and it can be creative about everything in the world that you panic or are scared about.
'For example – this is how crazy I am – recently, I was sitting on a plane and I thought, 'What if I can have telekinesis and my intrusive thoughts tell the plane to crash itself?'
'So that's the kind of level of insanity that I'm dealing with. It's best to train my brain to do
Diagnoses leap 50% in one year
AUTISM diagnoses have leapt by more than 50 per cent in a year.
Some 23,345 people found they had the disorder in the past year, up 52 per cent from the 15,340 in the 12 months to June 2025, NHS England said, taking the total to more than 700,000.
Another 300,000 are awaiting an assessment for suspected autism – four times the number in 2021.
The record figures, many of which relate to children, come after autism research pioneer Professor Dame Uta Frith warned the criteria for diagnoses had become 'too broad' and made it 'completely meaningless'.
She said 'anyone' could have autism now, and it had become a 'catch-all' for other psychological issues.
something better than worrying about having supernatural powers and crashing a plane.'
Autism was once characterised as a serious developmental
'It's my get-out-of-jail-free card'
disorder characterised by intellectual disability and the struggle to learn or understand language, but in recent years experts have loosened the definition. The
symptoms include repetitive speaking or behaviour, struggling to vary routines and finding social situations difficult.
Williams, who has won a record 18 Brit Awards, said he had been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) three times because he kept forgetting he had the condition.
Speaking at the launch of the autumn-winter range of his clothing brand Hopeium at the store Flannels in Oxford Street, central London, on Thursday, he explained: 'So the first one was
around 2006, where I saw these things – ADHD – on the internet. I'm like, 'All of those things are me – wow'. And then I started to hear you could get medicine that behaved a bit like speed.
'There was a relief that I'd got it officially diagnosed, but also there was more of a relief that I was getting 200 of these tablets.
'I thought the tablets might fix me because you're always looking for the cure for the disease inside your head. So I quickly went from taking the pills to crushing and snorting them.'
'Frankenstein cat' breeding must be halted, says RSPCA
THE rise in designer 'Frankenstein cats' – bred with extreme or unnatural features – is leading animals to 'suffer unnecessarily', charities have warned.
Social media and celebrity trends have created huge demand for pets with folded ears, shortened limbs and missing tails or hair.
But these breeds often have lifelong debilitating health issues.
Experts warn cats could soon bear little resemblance to the 'traditional moggy' unless urgent action is taken on 'cruel breeding practices'. The RSPCA and Cats Protection say Scottish folds,
By Wiliam Hunter
such as those owned by pop star Taylor Swift, now make up 2 per cent of the UK's cat population.
But the same gene which causes 'cute' folded ears affects cartilage, leading to abnormal bone development and chronic pain.
Alice Potter, of the RSPCA, says: 'Cats must not be forced to suffer unnecessarily because of physical traits some humans find desirable.'
From 2016 to 2025, the RSPCA saw a 200 per cent rise in the number of British shorthairs and a 180
per cent rise in Persians – both bred to suffer from an extreme skull deformity in order to have a very flat face.
Also on the rise is the 'XL Bully' cat, which is a cross breed of sphynx and munchkin cats, and has no whiskers and suffers from limb deformities.
Madison Rogers, of Cats Protection, said: 'Cats' body shapes have remained broadly similar for hundreds of years, but this has dramatically changed. If action is not taken quickly, we are likely to see more alarming examples of what we are calling Frankenstein cats.'
Trendy: Taylor Swift with pet
Krays' gang rival Eddie Richardson dies age 90
Notorious: Eddie
By Jamie Boys
FORMER gangland boss and Krays rival Eddie Richardson has died aged 90.
Richardson, who led the 'Torture Gang' in 1960s London – terrorising the capital with his brother Charlie, died in hospital yesterday after being admitted with pneumonia. Charlie died in 2012 aged 78.
Their sister Elaine said: 'We are all very sad. He had his 90th birthday in January. Eddie was a family man and he had a lot of friends. He was very loyal to his friends. We know he was 90 but we are all going to miss him.'
When asked if he had remained involved in criminal activity in his old age, a source said: 'He was such a staunch old fella that he could have been up to something but you'd never have known.'
The south London-based Richardson mob feuded with the east London Kray twins, Ronnie and Reggie, more than 60 years ago.
The Richardsons were most feared because of their 'enforcer' 'Mad' Frankie Fraser, who tortured anyone who crossed them.
He pulled out teeth with pliers and nailed people to the floor using six-inch spikes. His speciality was torture by electrocution of the genitals.
Richardson served a total of 23 years in jail.
Builders find £7.5m gold haul in wall
WORKMEN renovating a cellar found a trove of gold worth an estimated £7.5million hidden within the walls.
The stash of gold bars, nuggets and a large number of coins was discovered by a student worker as he and a colleague were laying sewage piping in a former brewhouse in Belgium.
The 18-year-old worker said he originally believed the coins were just ordinary 'i euro pieces before he 'realised it was something bigger' – 9million euros worth of treasure.
Many of the gold bars appear to have been stamped around 1957 and 1961. Some reports say the stash was discovered hidden in a chest, while others say it was wrapped in plastic.
The trove has since been moved to a high-security vault with police chief Patrick Feys telling locals who descended on the site 'everything is guaranteed to be gone'.
Page 28
28
by Barbara Davies
OUT and about in the Shropshire town of Bridgnorth, Louise Elkes cuts an unassuming figure. If her face was once recognisable the world over then those who pass the 48-year-old in the street today would be unlikely to recognise her as convicted child killer Louise Woodward.
Back in 1997 Woodward was an 18-year-old au pair working in the US when she was accused of shaking to death the baby boy in her care.
Found guilty of second degree murder before her conviction was overruled by a judge and reduced to involuntary manslaughter, she was released after her sentence was commuted to time served on remand. Returning to the UK she studied law, married and had a daughter.
Determined to shed her 'Killer Nanny' label she has spent the past 29 years carving out a simple life for herself away from the limelight. But nearly three decades on, the devoted mother-of-one's past is set to be dredged up once again thanks to a new five-part drama series being made in the US.
Commissioned by streaming service HBO to coincide with the 30th anniversary of one of the most sensational trials in British and US legal history, the series will air next year starring glamorous 36-year-old White Lotus actress Meghann Fahy as a teenage Louise.
While filming is due to start this month, however, the script is unlikely to take in the latest twist in Woodward's life. For, despite finding her longed for happy-ever-after as a wife and a mother living quietly in the English shires, the Daily Mail has been told that her marriage is over.
Her 47-year-old estranged husband Antony – the owner of a forklift truck company in Bridgnorth – is now, according to his Facebook page, in a relationship with a 30-year-old woman from the Isle of Man. He's believed to have met her while rally driving on the island and, according to sources close to the pair, has since left the £260,000 four-bedroom marital home where Louise still lives with their 12-year-old daughter.
More, later, of her relationship with the man she met in a Chester nightclub in 2006, telling the Daily Mail not long after that 'it was the nearest I've ever come to the lightning bolt' and that meeting him was the 'best thing that has ever happened to me'.
For having hoped to put her tumultuous past behind her, news that TV network HBO is now dramatising her life will no doubt have come as yet another bitter blow. The Trial of Louise Woodward will revisit the controversial events which took place in Woodward's late teens while working as an au pair for the Eappen family in Newton, near Boston, Massachusetts.
What was meant to be a post A-level gap year adventure ended in tragedy when eight-month-old Matthew, the son of high-flying doctors Deborah and Sunil Eappen, died from severe head trauma and brain swelling three months after the British teen started working for the family.
New heartache for Britain's most infamous killer nanny
Historic court hearing: Louise Woodward after her arrest in 1997, and baby Matthew Eappen, who died aged eight months
As an au pair, Louise Woodward was convicted of killing a baby in a trial that divided the world. Thirty years on, a TV series is set to re-examine her story – and here the Mail reveals how her family life in Shropshire has been upended by the collapse of her marriage
Woodward, who grew up in the sleepy village of Eiton in Cheshire, has always claimed she didn't hurt the Eappens' baby and has no idea how he received the injuries which killed him in February 1997.
But the charges against her and her three-week trial at Middlesex Superior Court in Cambridge, Massachusetts turned her, overnight, into a household name. It was the first time in history that a British person had been tried for murder on live television.
With public opinion divided on both sides of the Atlantic, millions were glued to their screens by the sight of then 19-year-old Woodward in court, looking younger
than her years thanks to the Alice band she often wore, sitting just metres away from baby Eappen's devastated parents.
The final nail-biting instalment – the verdict – saw friends and neighbours of the Woodward family pasted into their local pub. The Rigger, which became the makeshift headquarters for the 'Free Louise' campaign.
Convinced of Woodward's innocence, they gasped, wept and screamed in disbelief when the jury announced they'd found Louise 'guilty'. Woodward herself collapsed in tears and cried out: 'I didn't do anything. I didn't hurt Matty, I didn't.' While her devastated par-
ents, Gary, a joiner, and clerical worker Sue, looked on helplessly.
Their daughter had travelled to the US in the summer of 1996 shortly after sitting her A-levels at Helsby High School in Cheshire and signing up with international agency EF Au Pair.
In November that year Woodward started working for Sunil and Deborah Eappen at their home in Newton, caring for their young sons, two-year-old Brendan and Matthew who was just six months old when she was taken on.
On February 4, 1997, Matthew was found unresponsive in his cot and was rushed to hospital with severe brain injuries after a pan-
ic-stricken Woodward called an ambulance. She claimed she had discovered him gasping and turning blue, had tried to revive him and called for help. He died five days later on February 9.
A post mortem revealed a skull fracture, brain haemorrhage, bleeding in the eyes and a wrist fracture, but with no forensic evidence or any witnesses, right from the start there was no clear agreement on how he received those injuries.
Prosecutors, who portrayed Woodward as a 'party girl' who stayed out late and had trouble getting up in the mornings, alleged she had violently shaken Matthew and slammed his head
Page 29
Pictures: SPLASH NEWS/BACKGRID; REUTERS; AP
Unassuming figure: Louise Woodward, pictured earlier this month in Bridgnorth
against a hard surface. The defence argued that at least some of his injuries pre-dated that day.
In the US, the case was seen as a real-life version of the 1992 horror movie, The Hand That Rocks The Cradle, a fictional story about a murderous nanny. Back in the UK, however, it raised serious concerns about the US justice system.
It touched a nerve not only with parents who entrusted their young children to the care of others but to those waving off teenagers on gap year adventures. Questions were also asked about why the wealthy Eappens had hired an unqualified teenager instead of a professional nanny to look after such a young baby.
To this day doubts remain about her manslaughter conviction. Many medical and legal experts believe it is unsafe and that she should not have a criminal record at all. Doubts were raised, not least by one of the prosecution's key medical witnesses.
In court, paediatric neurologist Dr Patrick Barnes said that Matthew's injuries indicated a 'classic model' of shaken baby syndrome (SBS). He pointed to the presence of a 'triad' of injuries regarded by many experts at the time as evidence of SBS – bleeding on the brain, retinal bleeding and brain swelling.
Four years ago, however, he said he would no longer be able to 'give testimony that would convict Louise beyond a reasonable doubt' and he 'shouldn't have done that'.
He said that having never questioned the SBS 'triad' theory he learnt in training, later research and advances in scanning technology showed that other medical conditions could mimic symptoms of SBS, which medics now prefer to call 'abusive head trauma'.
Woodward's case demonstrated just how much could rest on competing interpretations of medical evidence in unexplained infant deaths. It was swiftly followed in the UK by the high-profile prosecutions of three mothers whose babies died suddenly.
All three were prosecuted on the basis of medical evidence, since discredited, which was presented by Professor Sir Roy Meadow, then Britain's most eminent paediatrician and a hugely influential figure. He famously, and wrongly, claimed in court that the chances of two cot deaths in the same family was 73 million to 1 – a claim which was immediately shot down by the Royal Statistical Society.
Sally Clark was convicted in 1999 of killing her two infant sons. Angela Canning was convicted in 2002 of murdering her two baby boys. Trupti Patel was prosecuted for killing three of her children in 2003 but acquitted.
Later that year, Clark and Canning saw their convictions overturned on appeal amid growing scrutiny of the reliability and limits of medical evidence in infant deaths. After the Court of Appeal criticised Meadow's evidence as 'manifestly wrong' and 'grossly misleading', the GMC found him guilty of serious professional misconduct and struck him off. In 2006 the High Court overturned that finding.
Although the UK cases centred on sudden infant death syndrome rather than SBS they became part of a wider crisis of confidence over the use of expert medical evidence in alleged child abuse cases. No such doubts exist, however, for Deborah and Sunil who went on to have two more children after the tragic death of their beloved little boy 'Matty'.
The Matty Eappen Foundation, set up in his memory, campaigns to improve the safety and welfare of children by educating the public about the dangers of shaking a child.
The foundation's website states unequivocally that 'Matty Eappen died at the age of eight months as a result of being violently shaken by a
caregiver', adding 'it was beyond us to comprehend that our Matty was dying because someone we trusted had hurt him'.
Deborah Eappen, an ophthalmologist, is the foundation's president. Sunil, a hospital anaesthetist, sits on the board. So too does the couple's eldest son, Harvard-educated 32-year-old Brendan who was also cared for by Louise and is now a resident doctor at a hospital in Boston.
Two years after Matthew's death, the couple had another son, Kevin, now aged 28, also studied at Harvard University and is now studying medicine. Their youngest child, daughter Elisabeth, who is 24, works as a care adviser for the elderly.
Had he lived, Matthew Eappen would have turned 30 in May this year. Speaking in a 2003 interview, Louise described him as a 'sweet' and 'smiley' baby and said: 'I never ever forget, in all this, that a little boy died. I genuinely feel really sorry about that. The whole thing has been such a trauma and I certainly haven't forgotten about him.'
After returning to the UK, she studied law at London South Bank University and after graduating in 2002 was offered a training contract by Oldham law firm North Ainley Halliwell.
After falling in love with dance instructor Richard Colley, she left the profession a year later to become a
'The case raised profound questions'
ballroom and Latin dance teacher in Chester. They parted amicably before she met Antony Elkes in November 2006. In the joint interview they gave to the Daily Mail the following year Louise said she was terrified her new boyfriend would reject her when she told him about her past.
Antony insisted: 'I couldn't care less what has happened because I know Louise is not capable of harming a soul. My friends and family adore her. When we saw each other, it hit us instantly. Neither of us go to nightclubs often and we believe we were fated to meet.'
The pair married in May 2013 and welcomed their daughter the following January. During the years that followed Louise devoted hours to fund-raisers for her daughter's primary school while teaching dance classes in a local village hall.
This week Louise and her relatives declined to comment on the new HBO series or the break-up of her marriage. Antony Elkes also refused to comment. There was no response either from the Eappen family.
HBO, which is responsible for such successes as The Sopranos and Game of Thrones, did not respond to questions about whether they had consulted either Louise or the Eappens about the controversial new series.
According to the show's Welsh screenwriter Matthew Barry, who has previously written for EastEnders and Casualty: 'The trial of Louise Woodward raised profound questions about childcare, working mothers, class and the role of an emerging 24/7 media. Thirty years later, those questions feel more urgent and relevant than ever.'
In reality, of course, it is hard to imagine how any TV series could come close to the real-life drama which played out back in 1997. It is one which, nearly three decades on, Louise Elkes no doubt wishes she could put behind her once and for all.
Page 30
By Jessica Green
PRINCESS Beatrice was her family's sole representative at the funeral yesterday of her mother's former lover Paddy McNally.
Sarah Ferguson, who was reportedly left 'an allowance' by the former Formula One hospitality mogul, was nowhere to be seen.
Mr McNally, who was buried at St James' Church in Sevenhampton, Wiltshire, and Ms Ferguson had a three-year affair that ended in 1985. But the 88-year-old tycoon supported the former Duchess of York - who was 22 years his junior - for decades afterwards.
Ms Ferguson, 66, was last seen in public at a luxury ski resort in the Austrian Alps in April, having been forced into hiding after revelations about her friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
After their romance ended, Mr McNally and Ms Ferguson remained close friends, with the businessman reportedly
'He taught me so much about life'
lending her and her daughters properties from his glitzy European portfolio.
Earlier this week, the Mail's Senior Editor at Large Richard Kay revealed Ms Ferguson has been staying at Mr McNally's 'luxuriously appointed' villa in Switzerland. 'I understand that Sarah has been spending time at Paddy's place in Verbier over the summer,' he told the Mail's Palace Confidential.
'That makes sense because these places have a completely different vibe during the summer.
'They're not packed with Brits out there for skiing. You get a few middle-aged people who like walking in the hills, but it's much more laid-back and low-key. A perfect place to hide up.'
Mr McNally died peacefully on July 22 following a long illness - just two months after the sudden death of his son Sean, one of his two boys
Sombre: Paddy McNally's coffin yesterday
Close: Sarah Ferguson and McNally
Where was Fergie? Beatrice is only family member at the funeral of her mother's ex-lover
Tribute: Yesterday's order of service for the funeral
with his late wife, Anne. 'He was in a bad way for a while so this comes as good news,' an old friend told the Daily Mail's Richard Eden after his death. He leaves an
estimated £600million fortune, built on the sale of his hospitality business All-sport Management for £262million in 2006.
Among his three chalets in Verbier, helping to enhance its reputation as 'Sloane Square on the slopes', was one £25million home which became known as 'Cocaine Castle' for its debauchery.
He met Ms Ferguson after she was recruited as a nanny to look after Sean and his brother Rollo, following Anne's death in 1980.
At the time Mr McNally amassed his fortune thanks to his work alongside Bernie Ecclestone in setting up the Formula One Paddock Club, which revolutionised corporate entertainment within the sport. The business
made him the 238th richest man in Britain at one point. His wealth allowed him to entertain his friends with all manner of adult entertainment - much to Ms Ferguson's delight.
But their three-year affair ended in 1985 and a year later she was engaged to the then Prince Andrew.
Ms Ferguson was said to be 'devastated' by the death of the man she described as a 'father figure' and 'mentor'. She told one interviewer: 'He taught me so much about life. When I wanted advice I turned to him. He seemed to have seen and done everything.' But, despite her loss, the duty of representing her family was left to 38-year-old elder daughter Beatrice yesterday.
Solemn: Princess Beatrice at the church
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Page 31
Why 4 in 10 men think they could be Olympians
ATHLETES who compete in the Olympics have usually spent most of their lives preparing for the event.
But nearly four in ten British men believe they could qualify for the next Games if they started training now, according to a poll.
A survey of 2,000 adults found that 26 per cent of Britons overall reckon they could make it to Los Angeles 2028 in a sport of their choice. That figure rises to 38 per cent
By Xantha Leatham Executive Science Editor
among men, with the same proportion saying they would feel confident trying out for the Games if they had professional coaching and followed a strict training regime.
'With more than a quarter of Brits believing they could qualify for the LA2028 Olympic Games given enough time, it's clear that we're a nation
with considerable sporting ambition,' said Eurig Druce, at Vauxhall, which commissioned the research to mark its partnership with Team GB.
'It's inspiring to see the confidence people have in their own potential - even if it may be blind faith.'
Analysis revealed football was the sport people felt most confident about taking up competitively, followed by tennis and swimming. Britons also feel positive about their cycling prowess, hoping to emulate Team GB's Sir Jason Kenny, inset,
whose seven Olympic golds are a British record. Six per cent believe they could compete seriously in the sport.
However, there was considerably less confidence when it came to gymnastics, with 45 per cent admitting it would be the toughest Olympic sport to master. Diving came next at 33 per cent, followed by judo at 23 per cent.
Overall, a third of those questioned by OnePoll.com said confidence was more important than natural talent in achieving sporting success.
Mangione posed as $58bn investor to trick healthcare firm... then shot dead its boss with 3D-printed gun
By James Tozer
LUIGI Mangione yesterday dramatically admitted shooting a wealthy private healthcare executive dead outside a New York hotel. Just weeks ahead of his eagerly-awaited murder trial, the 28-year-old confessed to killing Brian Thompson, claiming he was motivated by long-standing back pain.
The son of a prominent Maryland family, he was alleged by prosecutors to have resented what he called America's 'parasitic' health insurance companies, which critics accuse of racking up vast profits while rejecting claims.
'I shot Mr Thompson and he died,' he told a packed New York courtroom yesterday as he admitted federal stalking charges. 'I understood that my actions would place him in fear of death of bodily injury. I knew what I was doing was illegal.'
However, his confession sparked speculation that it was a ruse masterminded by his legal team.
They immediately called for a separate murder trial due to start next month to be halted, saying Mangione had now accepted 'full responsibility' for the killing.
US legal experts suggest their strategy is to secure their client a shorter sentence or have him sent to a cashier prison.
Crucially, a judge has already blocked attempts by prosecutors for Mangione to face the death penalty if convicted of murder.
Mr Thompson, the 50-year-old chief executive of UnitedHealthcare, a US medical insurance firm, was shot dead in Manhattan as he walked to an investor con-
In court: Paulette Thompson yesterday. Her husband Brian, above left. Luigi Mangione in handcuffs at an earlier hearing
ference on December 4, 2024. CCTV video of the killing showed a masked gunman firing at him from behind. Mangione told the court he used a 3D printer to make the gun.
Following a five-day manhunt, former surfer Mangione was arrested at a McDonald's in
'These parasites had it coming'
Pennsylvania, allegedly with a gun, bullets, multiple fake IDs and cash.
He also had a handwritten document that police said expressed 'ill will' towards corporate America, reportedly including the statement: 'Frankly, these para-
sites had it coming.' According to investigators, the words 'Deny,' 'Defend' and 'Depose' were written on shell casings found at the scene of the murder - allegedly referring to the tactics US health firms are said to use to reject claims from patients.
Mangione has attracted a large fan base - mainly of women - while more than 1 million has been pledged towards his defence by supporters.
His admission yesterday came during a federal hearing concerned with two charges of stalking resulting in death. He faces federal charges because he crossed state lines ahead of the killing.
He is also due to be tried in a New York state court on September 8 for second-degree murder. Yesterday's hearing was the
first time that Mr Thompson's family - including his widow Paulette - came face to face with Mangione. They watched as he answered a series of questions from Judge Margaret Garnett about his state of mind and began to cry as he confessed.
Dressed in a beige prison uniform, Mangione said that 'after years of enduring pain from a broken back' he learned about the UnitedHealthcare investor conference in New York.
Posing as an investor managing $58billion, he emailed the firm and received a quick reply that he said was 'unlike previous interactions with insurance'.
After his confession, Mr Thompson's family said: 'We are grateful that the federal justice system has held the person responsible
for this heinous act accountable.' While federal and state governments can prosecute the same alleged crimes, under New York's double jeopardy laws a state case may have to be halted if federal proceedings are resolved first.
After the hearing, Mangione's lawyer Karen Friedman Agnifilo said the state murder charges 'must now be dismissed'. She said he had endured 'years of debilitating pain while struggling to navigate healthcare and insurance systems' and believed these had destroyed his life.
But US District Attorney Jamie McDonald condemned Mangione for having tried 'to send a public message through violence'.
Mangione faces life in jail when he is tried for the federal stalking charges in December.
Page 32
THE view from above is extraordinary. While there are scorched gardens and tinder-dry fields as far as the eye can see, Stuart Grindle's lawn, in this little corner of Yorkshire, remains lush and lovely. And so dazzlingly green — as if God has been messing with the filter.
'I'll be getting hate mail if you use an aerial shot,' jokes the 83-year-old retired joiner. 'It happened before. I think it was when ITV sent a drone up. My lawn was emerald green when everyone else's was brown. I had letters saying, 'Why are you watering your lawn when there's a drought?''
'Good question: why is he? 'For starters, we don't have a hosepipe ban here at the moment,' Stuart points out. 'And people want to look a bit closer at the pictures. You'll see I have four water butts. I'm very water conscious. To be honest, I don't even like putting tap water on the lawn, the grass doesn't like it.'
'And when I do put the sprinkler on — I have a 360 degree one — I only have it on for ten or 15 minutes. Gardens don't want more. Grass wants to be damp, not wet. Where people get it wrong is that they put the sprinkler on and then go and watch Coronation Street. Your grass won't thank you for it.'
Besides, Stuart pays £1,200 a year for his water: he's on a fixed rate. He had words with someone from Yorkshire Water over this last year, when there WAS a hosepipe ban. 'I said 'if I buy a three piece suite — a sofa and two chairs — from John Lewis, they won't send them to me and say 'you can't sit in the chairs'.'
Why am I here, on one of the hottest days of the year, sitting in Stuart's little oasis of a garden in Tickhill, Doncaster, doing little more than watching the grass grow (to be fair, it's mesmerising. And a little addictive)?
Because when it comes to working out how to maintain England's green and pleasant land, Stuart is your man. It is now nine years since Stuart won a competition to find Britain's best lawn. In 2017, his garden — his life's work — became a national talking point, an object both of lust and fascination.
The man who confessed to spending up to 16 hours a day, and tens of thousands of pounds over the years, tending his lawn, who'd been known to get down on his knees with kitchen scissors to perfect the edges, became an overnight sensation.
Gardener's World sent a camera crew ('my wife, Anne, was hoping for Monty Don, but she didn't get him') and a German newspaper sent a reporter to test the springiness underfoot.
We arrived and said 'I've brought you a present, Mr Grindle', but it was a garden gnome. I said, 'I'll find somewhere for it'.
You're not a garden gnome man, then? 'I am not,' he says.
The German reporter proudly showed him photographs of his lawn. Stuart was not impressed. 'It wanted digging up. It wanted a cultivator. I asked how often he cut it and he said 'quite regularly, at least once every two weeks'. I was cutting mine twice a day at that point.'
HAVING agreed to open his lawn to the public, all proceeds to charity, Stuart (and the long-suffering Anne, who called herself a lawn-widow) found himself inundated with visitors.
Then there were the weddings. One bride asked what it would cost her to have her wedding pictures taken on his lawn. He said 'it will cost you now, lass', and along came the wedding party. 'I did tell her she'd have to take her shoes off because I can't have stiletto on my lawn,' he recalls. Happily for him (and the grass), she was happy to go barefoot.
Of course, we all love looking at other people's lawns, particularly when our own have shrivelled up and died. Today we chat about singer Rod Stewart's lawn in Essex, which has been in the papers looking strikingly vivid. Stuart would like to know what grass seed Rod uses (his own favourite is 'Bent', which is the
by Jenny Johnston
stuff they use on golf greens, and is so fine you can't use it if there is any wind at all.
He tells me, however, that his mowing days are over. What wasn't reported at the time of his lawn-fame is that he'd already had a double hip-replacement, after a lifelong battle with arthritis. He was diagnosed at the age of 28 and had his first hip replacement at 36.
He's now had six new hips ('they call them 'revisions' after the first set). He also has two new shoulders, and he walks with a stick. Even getting to the end of the garden is a struggle.
Pushing a lawn-mower, even his beloved machine which cuts to 5mm? He hasn't done it for years. He can no longer get down on his knees for forensic examination, either. So how on earth is this gar-
den still looking so splendid? This is partly down to his son Jonathan, who now lives with him, and who knows his way around a pair of pruning shears, but mostly because of his friend Dan, who tends the greens of a local golf course.
'He comes and does my garden for me. No charge,' Stuart says. 'He does it because he's marvelous and because he knows what it means to me. I'm the luckiest man in the world.'
Dan pops in most days. He's doing the edging at the moment, down on his knees, refusing tea. 'I direct operations,' says Stuart.
Glen, the photographer who hung out of the upstairs bedroom window years ago, has come back to take the pictures today, and shows Stuart the old images on his phone. He assesses them with the most critical eye on the planet.
'It was in better shape then,' he says of his grass, 'but it's not too bad now in comparison. But because we've had this drought. We're in maintenance mode. It's just a case of keeping it alive.'
One of the most striking images from before is of Stuart and Anne standing proudly in the middle of their garden, arms outstretched. He takes the phone and gives the image a little kiss. Anne died in December. This has been the first summer without her. It has been a long one.
'Dementia,' he says. 'She had it for about three years. It was awful towards the end. She got quite violent. She didn't know what she was doing. We had to lock the doors. She stopped eating in about September. I mean just stopped, wouldn't have more than a spoonful of yoghurt. She was in hospital eventually, then a nursing home at the end.'
He had Dan plant a little memorial garden for Anne halfway down, behind a tree called a Lace Lady which sweeps elegantly over the lawn. There is now a little
bench there, which we meander down to (I'm only allowed on the grass because I have trainers on). The dwarf conifers are coming on nicely in this shaded spot.
'I just sit and think about her. Little Annie. We rarely had a cross word, you know. We met at 17, married at 21. She was the only one for me.'
How did you know she was the one? 'The nurse's uniform,' he deadpans. They met at a youth club and married in 1964, living with his mother at first then buying their first home (complete with postage stamp sized garden) in Maltby.
IN 1969 they moved to a new development in Worksop and in 1973 Jonathan was born. There was a golf course nearby, however, and Stuart found himself gazing at the green and becoming 'a little obsessed'.
His next door neighbour's father was a green keeper and they got chatting about grass seed. It
Heartwarming story of the man whose heatwave lawn will leave you green with envy
He's just lost his wife of 50 years and has had six new hips — but even the drought hasn't stopped Stuart creating perfection. So how DOES he do it?
Page 33
wasn't until they moved to this house, in 1976, that they had a sizeable garden to work with.
It was scrubland before Stuart got to grips with it, and even then he let friends use it as an allotment before his passion really took over. 'I sowed the seed myself,' he recalls. 'No turf here. And then I watched it grow...'
Half a century on, he's still watching. He has a keen eye. 'I don't like gardens that go up and down, that's why there are no straight lines in mine. The eye has to be drawn. You go 'oh, that's interesting, what's over there?'
How much has he spent on this garden over the years? 'I'd say about £60,000'. That's not including the man hours.
When he was working Stuart would get up at 6am to 'swish' (basically brush the lawn), then come home from work and immediately get to mowing. After retire-
ment, he could spend entire days on his grass. He never let Jonathan kick a football on the lawn. They couldn't go on extended holidays because the garden couldn't handle the neglect.
Dare we ask if he will ever leave his garden, or worse, let nature take over? He's already let a couple of sections go, 'but no. I'd find that very hard. It's my life's work, this is 50 years of my life, of Anne. I'll leave it when they carry me out.'
Will he care about what happens after he is no longer here, then? He says Jonathan is unlikely to keep the garden. 'Nope. He'll sell up, and maybe some young couple will come in, with two little snappers, and rip it all up.'
What if they put down - the horror! - artificial grass, and have an entire family of garden gnomes? 'I won't be here,' he says. 'They can do what they like. That's the thing about a garden. It's personal.
Memorial: Stuart is tending his grass for a first summer without Anne, who died in December
IS YOUR LAWN GREENER? EMAIL: GREENLAWNS@DAILYMAIL.CO.UK
Page 34
How Depp helped Kelly smile again
JOHNNY Depp has helped put a smile back on Kelly Osbourne's face.
She watched the Hollywood star pay tribute to her father, Ozzy Osbourne, who died last year aged 76.
Depp was performing with his band the Hollywood Vampires, featuring Alice Cooper, at the 02
Arena in London. Kelly, 41, has faced scrutiny over her dramatic weight loss and split from Sid Wilson, 49, keyboard player with heavy metal band Slipknot, with whom she has a three-year-old son, Sidney. Kelly, right, says: 'I have not laughed so hard with my friends in well over a year.'
Eden
Exposed: Club owner Lineker's role with OnlyFans women
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OBLIGED to leave the BBC in 2025 after re-posting a video which juxtaposed an image of a rat with the headline 'Zionism explained in less than 2 mins', Gary Lineker has breezed ahead with barely a backwards glance.
Indeed, the podcast company in which he owns at least a 25 per cent share pulled in revenues of £37.9 million last year alone.
But the former England striker is not the only Lineker successfully getting to grips with the world of new media.
I can disclose that his younger brother, Wayne, 64, a restless entrepreneur best known for ownership of O Beach Ibiza, the liveliest club on the party island, has been inserting his fingers into the pie.
Rather than settling himself in front of the microphone, Wayne has been lending a helping hand in what might be described as the pictorial end of the market, taking a particular interest in OnlyFans.
That's the online service which allows subscribers to see photographs and videos - including, in the latter category, those that are 'live streamed' - provided by specific people, known as 'content creators'. These include actors and actresses, musicians and fitness trainers.
But the most lucrative sector is what is known, rather coyly, as 'adult content', which can be provided by anyone willing to strip off in front of paying viewers and entertain them by indulging in intimate acts which leave nothing to the imagination.
Wayne's role has been to encourage attractive women to sign up with an 'agency' specialising in representing OnlyFans 'content
Entrepreneur: Wayne Lineker
creators'. His spokesman refuses to name the 'agency' and claims he approached only women who were already on OnlyFans.
It's not difficult to see why management agencies concentrate on 'adult content'.
Lottie Moss, 28, half-sister of supermodel Kate, consistently made £30,000 a month during her time as a 'content creator'. But that's little more than pocket money compared with the superstars, who earn millions a year.
On the face of it, it would seem a natural fit for Wayne.
Aside from fathering three sons and a daughter, now adults, without publicly naming all their mothers, he is, as his older brother once put it, 'good at business'.
Added twice-married Gary, 65, who is now happily reconciled with Wayne after a protracted estrangement: 'He has always been able to turn a penny into tuppence.'
But not, I'm assured, on this occasion. 'No payment was ever received by Wayne,' his representative insists. The spokesman adds the arrangement has now ended.
Who knows, perhaps it's an example of how charity begins at home - in this case at O Beach?
The smart set's talking about... Harry pal's ex storms Fringe
THE Duchess of Sussex may have turned her back on Britain, but another glamorous American with royal connections is finding herself right at home on this side of the pond.
Former model Alessandra Ford, the ex-fiancée of Prince Harry's close friend Arthur Landon, is making her Edinburgh Fringe debut with her one-woman comedy - 30 And F***ed - and has sold out every performance so far. The 36-year-old daughter of
Chiltern Firehouse owner Andre Balazs and Ford Models founder Katie Ford says: 'I couldn't have asked for a better start.'
Alessandra, left, launched her comedy career just over a year ago, and for her new show mines her real-life misfortunes, including how she found herself back in her childhood bedroom at 30 following her split from
filmmaker Arthur, 44 - experiencing the 'absurd humiliation of starting over'.
Page 35
Confidential
Follow me on X @richardaeden and on Instagram @edenconfidential richard.eden@dailymail.co.uk
What to believe? Dara, left, and, above, with her B necklace and 'engagement' ring photo
Engaging mystery as Dara Huang flashes sparkler
DARA Huang is a dreadful tease. The ex-fiancee of Princess Beatrice's husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi has posted photographs online suggesting she's engaged.
US-born Dara, 43, shared a picture of her hand entwined with that of a man. On her ring finger was a huge sparkler. 'Kinda chic to still
believe in love,' she wrote. Dara, who declines to comment, also posted a picture of her wearing a necklace with a pendant in the shape of a B. Could it be B for Brett?
In May, I disclosed she was enjoying a blossoming friendship with film director Brett Ratner, 57. Yet he tells me it's 'not true' they're engaged.
(Very) modern manners
SIR David Beckham's at it. As for Lily James, well, she's mad for it.
So will the Princess of Wales soon be at it, too? I refer, of course, to the game of padel, dreamt up in Mexico in the late 1960s but now taking the world by storm - even, it transpires. Hurlingham, the £1,400-a-year club set in 42 perfectly manicured south-west London acres to which Catherine
takes her children for tennis lessons. I can disclose that it's seeking permission to tear up one of its hallowed tennis courts, and a mini tennis court, and replace them with two padel courts, which are enclosed by glass and wire-mesh. Rach will have eight 20ft floodlights - enough, perhaps, to put Catherine off?
Hirst's old flame on art of living
DAMIEN Hirst's ex-girlfriend Roxie Nafousi, who is 25 years his junior, admits she didn't always date men for the right reasons.
The former party girl, 36, was in a relationship with the artist, whose fortune is estimated to be more than £315million, for three years until 2015. She relied on powerful men for validation. 'In the past, I was always as good as the men I dated,' Roxie explains. 'So if I could date someone that was successful, that had money, that was famous, then I was, like, "Oh, maybe that means that I'm good enough."'
After her split from Damien, Roxie, right, wrote Manifest - the best-selling self-help book on how to turn their dream lives into reality - and says she no longer needs a high-status man to feel confident.
She adds: 'Now I'm successful in my own right, I have my own financial independence, I don't need to look for someone with those things to prove anything to me.'
Callum's fans prove a distraction for Monica
MONICA Barbaro found it difficult to keep her mind on the job while filming her steamy new romance with Callum Turner, dashing husband of pop star Dua Lipa.
The Hollywood actress, 36, appears opposite the British actor, 36, in One Night Only, about single people in New York who are allowed to have sex only one night of the year.
But shooting in the city caused problems.
'I have ADHD, so I would just get really distracted,' Monica admits. 'The paparazzi shoot so many sets, so you can be like, would you mind moving out of my eyeline? And they know what you're talking about, and they stay out of it.'
She adds: 'Also, crowds gather. We'd be mid-scene and someone would be, like, "Is that Callum Turner?" I'm, like, "I'm sorry, I lost my place in the scene."'
'Callum would be able to just
Romcom: Monica and Turner on the set of One Night Only
keep going, and he's very patient with me, but I would just be like, "What? Where are we?"'
'Fun and flirty' star sought to play the young Camilla
DO YOU bear a resemblance to the Queen? The search has begun for a 'fun and flirty' actress to play Camilla Parker Bowles in an 'explosive' film about her younger days.
'It's time we gave audiences a chance to look at this through Camilla's eyes,' American producer Brent Roske tells me.
The film, called Camilla, will be a
prequel to his 2023 drama, Diana In Love, which explored the Princess of Wales's romance with Dodi Fayed.
'I'm looking for an incredible talent who can capture Camilla's wit, laugh, and effortless charm,' Roske says. 'She was often the life of the party, fiercely independent, and utterly magnetic. It's time audiences see that side of the story.'
■ FRANK Skinner is dismayed that his Hollywood-style Walk of Fame star in his native Birmingham has been ripped up without warning.
The comedian, 69, visited the city's Broad Street recently to show his son Buzz, 14, the tribute he was awarded in 2009 alongside fellow local heroes including rock star Ozzy Osbourne.
'I took my son to see my star. But now that they've got the trams, they had to change all the pavements, and it's gone. It's been torn off,' Frank says. 'It was very disappointing.
'Apparently they're in some underground storage, somewhere. Ozzy's star was in the exhibition at the museum. It's all horrible breeze blocks.'
Page 36
SPEAKING of his return to Ireland, Daniel Kinahan described how, along with the people and their sense of humour, it was the food he was looking forward to.
'Get back home and have a little bit of batch bread and a packet of King crisps or Tayto,' he said, listing the local 'delicacies' he had missed the most.
For a man who has spent the past decade living high on the hog in Dubai, the 49-year-old Dubliner apparently still retains a taste for the more simple things in life.
Which is just as well, given his new surroundings. Since being extradited from the United Arab Emirates on Sunday, Kinahan has been locked up in Portlaoise Prison, Ire-
Daily Mail Reporter
land's highest security jail. Built in the 19th century, some of the country's most notorious paramilitaries have served time behind its crenellated walls.
Such was the risk they posed that, until recently, it was guarded by its own dedicated platoon of soldiers with orders to shoot to kill anyone attempting to escape.
Today Portlaoise's 200-odd inmates include those convicted or awaiting trial for crimes such as rape, murder, terrorism and
drug-dealing. Of its three blocks, A Block, made up of five landings of eight cells each, is dedicated to those unable to mix with other prisoners - either because of the risk they pose, gang affiliations or because they are part of organised crime groups.
And it's there, on A4, that Kinahan is being held as he awaits trial later this year.
The alleged leader of the Kinahan organised crime group - Daniel's nickname is Chess because of his intelligence and cunning - he is accused of presiding over a t'billion cartel said to control about a third of Europe's cocaine supply, along with criminal sidelines in firearms and racketeering.
While he insists he is a legitimate businessman - rather than one of the world's most powerful mob bosses - the authorities are clearly taking no risks.
Of course, given the resources at his disposal, the potential for an escape cannot be ruled out.
But sources say the over-riding concern is to prevent Kinahan from being 'got at' behind bars by one of his enemies.
The charges Kinahan faces date back to the bloody turf war with the rival Hutch Gang in Dublin more than a decade ago. The conflict resulted in up to 20 murders and many more beatings, stabbings, shootings and bomb attacks.
But while they are long-time enemies, some say Kinahan will not be losing any sleep about reprisals from that quarter.
'The [Kinahan] cartel basically control much of the prison system in Ireland so any threat to Daniel when he comes off segregation will be negligible,' a source with links to the Kinahans told the Daily Mail.
'I do know the cartel are not worried in the slightest about anything the Hutch camp might be thinking about. They are seen as done now.'
But others may not be and Kinahan has himself voiced fears that he could be targeted.
While being held in Dubai's notorious Al Awir Central Prison - dubbed the Dubai Alcatraz, conditions have been criticised by former inmates and human rights groups - he was able to call a podcaster to discuss his imminent return to Ireland.
Subjects covered ranged from his favourite snacks to cryptic comments about the threats he faced. 'If I happen to fall and hang my head when I have handcuffs on me, I didn't fall,' he said.
'If I end up hanging myself, killing myself, poisoning myself, it didn't happen. I'm not suicidal.'
As Chris Dalby, a director of World Of Crime, a think-tank researching
$5million reward for information leading to Kinahan's capture and may seek to interview him after his Irish trial.
Intelligence sources say he possesses detailed information about the export of Iranian and Russian crude oil using so-called shadow fleet vessels to China and India, as well as secret financial networks allegedly used by Iran to fund Hezbollah and Hamas.
'A lot of people might be nervous about what he could reveal,' said Mr Dalby. 'So I would not be surprised if the Irish Government made a risk assessment and thought 'a lot of people are going to benefit from this person being dead'.
By placing him on A Block in Portlaoise, a 'prison within a prison', the authorities hope to have control of every second of every day.
As is standard protocol, Kinahan was placed on suicide watch on arrival and will be checked in on every 15 minutes during the first two weeks of his incarceration.
He will be allowed to wear his own clothes - delivered by relatives and friends and then carefully checked over by prison staff.
The vast majority of his time will be spent in his cell. Prison officers
'Nervous about what he could reveal'
will deliver breakfast at 8am, lunch at 12.30pm and dinner at 4.30pm.
His diet will be as bland and repetitive as it is for any prisoner - cereal for breakfast and 'meat and two veg' for lunch rounded off by a dinner of sausages and baked beans.
Additional snacks such as crisps or confectionery can be purchased from the prison tuck shop.
Entertainment in his cell is likely to include books from the prison library, a television and some access to streaming services.
For exercise, Kinahan will be escorted to a small gym equipped with free weights and a treadmill.
Outdoor exercise areas on the block are covered with wire netting to prevent contraband being dropped in by drones.
Interactions with in-person visitors, such as members of his legal team, will be conducted through a glass screen.
'Portlaoise is about as controlled as environment as the Irish authorities can provide and that is precisely why he is there,' a prison service source told the Daily Mail.
'The danger inside a prison is that you do not necessarily need one of the senior figures from a rival gang to get close to him.'
'You could have another prisoner with a grievance, an allegiance or an association who is prepared to carry out an attack.'
'That means the prison service has to be extremely careful about who is housed near him, who he exercises with, who he associates with and who he can encounter when he is being moved around his jail.'
'He may not necessarily be held in complete isolation every minute of the day but anybody he is allowed to associate with is likely to have been considered from a security perspective.'
Those on A Block include Andy Cash, who murdered his younger siblings, 18-year-old Liza Cash and eight-year-old twins Christy and Chelsea Cawley, in Dublin in 2022.
Also there is Nathan McDonnell who was jailed for his part in a plot
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Page 37
Inside landing A4 in Ireland's toughest prison where guards are desperate to stop alleged drug kingpin Daniel Kinahan being reached by his friends – or his enemies
Date with justice: Car thought to contain Kinahan arrives at court
that saw him store £27million-worth of crystal meth at his garden centre for an Irish gang with links to the Mexican Sinaloa cartel, one of the largest and most dangerous drug organisations in the world.
McDonnell, who had no previous convictions and was jailed for 12 years, was dubbed the 'Breaking Bad businessman', after the hit television series about a respectable chemistry teacher turned drug manufacturer.
The prison is already home to Kinahan's senior lieutenant Sean McGovern, 40, whose nickname is Knife. He was extradited from Dubai last year and, in June, was jailed for 24 years for directing the activities of a criminal organisation – the same charge his former boss is facing. The two will be kept apart, initially at least.
Another concern facing the prison authorities is Kinahan's ability to continue to exert his influence even from behind bars.
As Mr Dalby observes: 'Nothing in his personality suggests that he's going to, you know, retire in prison. There is an organisation left, obviously, for someone to run.'
In custody: Daniel Kinahan is charged with directing the activities of a criminal organisation
Pictures: REUTERS/PA ARCHIVE
Despite the anti-drone netting, it was reported last year that prisoners still managed to find ways around the measures.
Inmates on C Block set fire to a small amount of paper, with the smoke triggering the jail's ventilation system to activate. A drone laden with contraband was then flown in to the prison through an external, open vent.
Shocked prison sources likened it to Deliveroo – but for drugs, weapons and mobile phones. Another potential route for illicit items to be smuggled into the
prison is via corrupt staff. It is understood prison guards will work on rotation as a security precaution to minimise the risk of cartel associates targeting them or their families.
'Someone of Kinahan's alleged standing in organised crime could potentially continue to exercise influence from inside prison, so the authorities will also be paying very close attention to his communications,' the source said.
'Phone calls, visits, correspondence and contacts with other prisoners will inevitably attract a
considerable degree of scrutiny.' As for Kinahan's family, Daniel yet may find himself joined by his father Christy, 69, and brother Christy Jnr, 45.
They must also fear arrest, especially Christy Snr, the family's patriarch who is known as the Dapper Don and whose Dubai residency visa expired in April, making him vulnerable to deportation and seizure in other countries where he is wanted for further offences.
In the late 1990s, Christy was jailed for four years after cashing
Highest security: Portlaoise Prison where he is being held
£16,000 of stolen travellers' cheques which were taken in an armed robbery.
He served the sentence in Portlaoise, using his time behind bars to study for a degree and learn Spanish and Dutch.
Appearing at court last weekend, Daniel Kinahan was charged with directing the activities of a criminal organisation between 2015 and 2017 and accepted that he wasn't going anywhere soon.
He was told he could only apply for bail through the High Court. He replied to presiding judge Mr Justice Patrick McGrath: 'I think we know I won't be getting bail but thank you so much for explaining that.'
In his earlier prison podcast chat he went further still, telling his interviewer he was being 'scapegoated' and adding: 'I think I have already got life in prison.'
If his prediction comes true then, in the coming decades, Portlaoise's new arrival will become all too familiar with the jail's routine – and an endless round of bangers and beans.
And, of course, the ever-present threat of a violent attack.
Page 38
How to live to 110? Good food, fresh air and the Mail of course!
By Andy Dolan
BORN four years after the sinking of the Titanic, 110-year-old Catherine Hedges puts her longevity down to good food, plenty of fresh air – and her everyday fix of the Daily Mail.
The long-retired local government worker has read the Mail since moving to England from Ireland in 1944, when Britain was still at war.
Mrs Hedges marked her latest milestone – which makes her a 'supercentenarian' as one of an estimated 300 people aged 110 or more in the world – with a garden party at her Hampshire care home last month.
She was treated to a visit from the mayor, a performance by a singer – and a fourth birthday card from the King.
That day, as on most afternoons, Mrs Hedges also found time to peruse her favourite newspaper. The widow said reading the Mail not only helps her to stay in touch with national and global affairs, but also keeps her brain active.
She said: 'I have been reading the Daily Mail since I moved to the UK at the age of 28. I have only ever read the Daily Mail. I enjoy reading
Supercentenarian: Catherine Hedges has read the Daily Mail every day since 1944
the paper as it keeps me up to date with what is going on in the world, the good and the bad, and I like the sports pages – especially the horse racing.'
Born on July 8, 1916 in County Limerick, Ireland, Mrs Hedges moved to Reading in 1944 'to see a bit of the world' and liked it so much she decided to stay.
There she met her husband, Leslie William Hedges, a freight
transport manager. She was a bookkeeper in a finance department before switching to local government.
Mrs Hedges, who has no children, lost her husband 16 years ago. She moved to Hampshire to be closer to her niece, and has been at Challoner House care home in Chandler's Ford for 16 months.
Mrs Hedges usually enjoys a leisurely morning before reading her
Daily Mail 'sitting in the sunshine'. She said she enjoys 'good, home-cooked' food, adding: 'I've always been active and love being outdoors in the fresh air.'
Care home manager Sarah Hayman said: 'It is a delight to see Catherine sitting in her favourite spot in our beautiful garden reading her newspaper.' The world's oldest person is Ethel Caterham, 116, who lives in Surrey.
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Solution on page 88
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Page 39
Trophy: Dolores celebrates her son winning the Italian title
Ronaldo's mother wasn't invited to his secret wedding
SHE worked two jobs so her son could buy proper football boots, and has remained a constant presence throughout his career.
But Cristiano Ronaldo's mother was a notable absentee this week when he married long-term partner Georgina Rodriguez.
None of the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star's family were invited to the celebrations, fuelling speculation of a rift.
To add insult to injury, Ronaldo, 41, apparently told them just '30 seconds' before the ceremony.
The couple tied the knot at their new £30million mansion near Lisbon in front of only four witnesses and their children on Tuesday.
Ronaldo's mother Dolores Aveiro, 71, and his three siblings Hugo, Elma and Katia, were not present at the civil ceremony.
His family found out when he was marrying his 32-year-old Argentine girlfriend just moments before the event took place, a local report has claimed.
Jornal de Noticias published a
By Gerard Couzens
copy of the couple's marriage certificate late on Thursday. It said the only witnesses were Georgina's sister Ivana, Ronaldo's long-time friend Miguel Paixao and a Spanish couple.
Portuguese television presenter Cristina Ferreira, host of morning talk show Dois at 10, said: 'It will
'Mum was pillar of the family'
cause a lot of problems because the family wasn't present.
'And they shouldn't even have known. Or if they did know, it was 30 seconds beforehand.'
Dolores, who has had to deny claims over the years of a bad relationship with her daughter-in-law, gave her blessing to the union. Shortly after the couple announced they were married, she posted a heart emoji on Ronaldo's official social media
Just married: Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodriguez
alongside a picture of their rings. Ronaldo's sister Katia, who is based in Brazil but travelled to her native Madeira at the weekend, did the same.
The footballer, whose father died in 2005 after a struggle with alcoholism, has often spoken of the sacrifices his mother made to allow him to move to Lisbon from Madeira at the age of 12 to pursue his footballing dreams.
In 2019 he told Piers Morgan: 'My mum has been the pillar of the family, what I have today is a
bigger part of her.' He also said of his then girlfriend: 'We'll be [married] one day, for sure. It's my mum's dream as well.'
Ronaldo's team had confirmed this week the footballer and his partner married on August 11 in an 'intimate' ceremony in Cascais. It followed speculation that they were due to marry at Funchal Cathedral in Ronaldo's native island of Madeira on Saturday.
The couple are back in Saudi Arabia, with his Al-Nassr side's first game of the season tonight.
Bear jailed after taunts to UK police from Brazil
Daily Mail Reporter
DISGRACED reality TV star Stephen Bear has been jailed again for breaching his requirements as a sex offender – and taunting police from Brazil, saying they 'can't catch him'.
Bear, 36, Celebrity Big Brother winner in 2018, was sentenced to 24 weeks in jail yesterday after admitting five counts of failing to comply with the sex offenders' register notification requirements.
He was placed on the register when he was jailed in 2023 for sharing a private sex tape of his
Trip: Stephen Bear
ex-girlfriend, TV personality Georgia Harrison, on his Only-Fans website.
The unauthorised trip last year was discovered when Bear made a series of social media posts from a beach in Brazil. He had not informed police about the journey and then failed to tell officers within three days that he had returned to the UK.
He was already serving a 16-month jail sentence after last week admitting breaching a restraining order that banned him from posting online about Ms Harrison.
Wife killer must remain behind bars
A MAN who murdered his estranged wife and hid her body will stay in prison after a judge said he remained a danger to the public.
Glyn Razzell, 66, was jailed for life with a minimum of almost 35 years in 2003 for murdering his Linda Razzell, whose body has never been found.
He was due to be released on licence but London's High Court yesterday reversed the Parole Board's decision to free him.
Mrs Razeli's daughter Catherine said that she was relieved her father will remain in prison.
Mother-of-four Linda Razzell disappeared on her way to work at Swindon College, Wiltshire, in March 2002.
The Parole Board ruled three times from 2019 that Razzell should remain behind bars, but in April decided he could be released on licence.
In a ruling yesterday, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb said she was not persuaded that the risk has diminished to such a level that 'the public is safe if the defendant is released'.
By Xantha Leatham Science Editor
FORGET couples' therapy or grand romantic gestures – scientists say the secret to a successful marriage could be working out together.
Researchers found that exercising with your spouse is linked to better communication, stronger conflict resolution as well as lower levels of marital stress.
They analysed survey data from nearly 1,700 young married couples, comparing the effects that both individual and joint exercise had on their relationship.
The results revealed that, while both forms of exercise were linked to healthier marriages, couples who worked out together had more positive partnerships.
Jeremy Yorgason, a professor in the School of Family Life at Brigham Young University in Utah in the US, said: 'Our findings suggest conjoint exercise facilitates, in a small but significant way, the ability to resolve conflict peacefully.'
People reported more positive outcomes in communication and conflict resolution when they
We can work it out... couples 'strengthen their relationship by exercising together'
exercised together.' The study, published in the journal Family Relations, revealed that only a small number of couples actually exercise as a team.
Some 60 per cent of husbands and wives said that they exercised regularly, but only about a third did so together.
Doing on a hike was found to be the best exercise to do together, as it created the most
opportunity for conversation. And walking was actually the most commonly reported type of shared exercise among couples in the study – suggesting that they don't need expensive gym memberships or elaborate weight racks in the garage to reap the potential relationship benefits.
The study also found that married couples who exercised together reported better listen-
ing skills, along with greater feelings of being heard and supported by their spouse.
Co-author Ashlyn Hiatt Mildenhall said: 'Out of all three outcomes, exercise had the biggest impact on communication.'
She added: 'That's why it was interesting that walking was the number one reported exercise. It naturally provides opportunities to communicate.'
Page 40
THERE was something terribly sad and – in its own heart-breaking way – uplifting about the brief video actress Lucy Davis posted on Instagram this week. Petite, blonde and so familiar to television viewers as the woman who won hearts on and off screen as receptionist Dawn Tinsley in The Office, there Lucy stood, in the reception area of a hospital ward, ringing the bell that has become the traditional signifier of the end of cancer treatment.
So many lines learned in a career spanning more than 30 years, but how hard it must have been to read the brief words printed on the card in her hand.
'Ring this bell three times well. It's a toll to clearly say my treatments are done, the course is run, and I am on my way.' After a
by Beth Hale and Caroline Graham in LA
single chime of the bell and a mock grimace at the resounding clang, to whoops and applause from the unseen medical staff watching, she smiled and raised her own hands in applause back to them.
It was a moment that was typical of a very down-to-earth star, who has long maintained that, like her father, the comedian Jasper Carrott, she doesn't 'like to make a drama out of a crisis.'
For as anyone who viewed that post will
know Lucy, 53, was not walking away from the ward cancer-free. While the clanging of the bell is traditionally associated with patients completing their treatment with a positive outcome, that is not always the case.
As she revealed to her 633,000 followers on Instagram (a number that has shot up this week), Lucy has 'incurable' stage four breast cancer that has spread to her bones; her spine, her hip and ribs.
It was, she said, too late for chemotherapy. Her personal – and deeply private – struggle has been going on secretly for the past 18 months. As one friend who has known the Birmingham-born actress for more than a decade told the Daily Mail: 'The news hit everyone like a bombshell. Everyone is in a state of shock.'
'She kept this quiet from all her friends. People who have seen her within the past few months had no idea she was going through this health
crisis. Everyone loves Lucy. You won't find a single person who has anything negative to say about her.
'She's the sweetest person with such a good heart. She loves a good time and is hysterically funny. When you go out with her you never stop laughing.'
'This was echoed by a senior executive at Disney Studios, who told us: 'The sense of shock this week is palpable. No one had any idea she was sick, let alone that she was so seriously ill. There are not many people in Hollywood that everyone loves – it's rare, as you can imagine. But she's one of them.'
That character shone through the haunting words of her post, as she wrote: 'As of now, I'm trying to live out whatever might be left of my life in as fun a way as I possibly can. I always like to find the teachable moments in anything negative that happens. And cancer has not disappointed in that regard – there's a lot I have learned from it, and I'm grateful for that.'
'I'm not scared of whatever comes next. I'm at peace with it. I'll see my Gracie (her beloved cocker spaniel who died in 2024) sooner than expected, and for me, leaving my physical body just means going home. Any and all grieving is for my family – it's far harder for them than for me.'
MEANWHILE, the actress, who has faced health crises before, not least the kidney transplant she needed nearly 30 years ago, insisted she was not going to stop her endeavours to help animal rights, nor was she going to stop acting, 'one of the biggest joys in my life.'
Honest, heartfelt and just a little bit defiant, her words shocked fans and triggered an immediate outpouring of affection and support.
She has been loved for decades: As Hayley Tucker in Radio 4's The Archers, for melting the hearts of millions with that happy ending in The Office, and also captivating viewers in the Netflix hit Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina.
She has, the Daily Mail has learned, been sending comforting messages to those who have contacted her. As the pal says: 'She's sending friends sweet messages about how much they mean to her. She's such a good friend to all of us, always the first one there in a crisis, so everyone is upset that she's been going through this ordeal privately.'
Were any evidence required to show just how endearingly thoughtful Lucy has been, one need only look at her personal responses to those messaging her on Instagram. To the woman with metastatic breast
cancer, spread to her lungs, who is raising money for a cancer charity: 'Amazing what you are doing and your strong spirit! Love to you.'
To the anxious young woman waiting for her first appointment after finding a lump: 'Thinking of you. Hope everything turns out well my friend.'
To the man who recalls how scared he was when diagnosed with bladder
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Page 41
As The Office star Lucy Davis reveals she has incurable cancer, friends and colleagues tell the Mail they had no idea she was ill – and how SHE'S now the one offering comfort to wellwishers...
PHOTOS BY: JOHN FRIED, RICHARD WINTERMAN, INC.
Special strength: Lucy Davis on the red carpet, above as Dawn in The Office and, right, ringing the bell in the cancer ward
“There aren’t many in Hollywood who everyone loves, but Lucy’s one of them”
cancer: ‘I am so sorry you went thru [sic] that. I understand you being scared. Love to you.’
On and on it goes, hundreds of replies and not just to those with experiences of cancer. One well-wisher notes he is ‘not one of your famous followers’, he’s just ‘a regular bloke’. ‘Famous or not famous, we’re all the same and in it together! Thanku [sic] for your kind words,’ comes the response.
She has been exploring all options, she says, since finding the, ‘not a lump as such, rather a kind of hard spot’.
As she explained to one follower: ‘I have already been down the road of alternative treatment, but in short, they didn’t work. I’m at the point now of looking at quality
of life rather than quantity, and making the most of each day.’
As Lucy herself acknowledged, it must all be terribly hard for her family back home in England.
She moved to Los Angeles more than 20 years ago, and lives in an affluent residential enclave that’s also home to A-list stars such as Nicolas Cage, Cameron Diaz and Ben Stiller.
Dad Jasper made his own statement this week, speaking of his pride and of his hopes for his daughter’s future being ‘what she wants it to be’. He said: ‘The way she has conducted herself through many traumatic health issues is a lesson to us all.’
For Lucy, the eldest of four children, growing up on the
outskirts of Birmingham with dad Jasper (real name Robert Davis) and mum Hazel, has been through the mill before.
She was just 20, in 1993, when a routine medical in preparation for her role as Maria Lucas, in the BBC’s production of Pride And Prejudice, flagged that there was a problem with her kidneys.
She was told – in her words – that she would ‘need a transplant, be on medication for the rest of my life and that the kidney probably wouldn’t last much longer than about seven years’.
Her response? ‘I made up my mind to get on with my life.’
She was on the waiting list for a donor transplant when her health worsened and her mother stepped
in as a living donor four years later – a gift that Lucy called ‘the most beautiful thing’. But then, while recovering from the transplant she developed diabetes. Again, Lucy’s attitude was much as it is now.
She’s a supporter of Diabetes UK and told the charity: ‘I’ve known people who allow their difficulties in life to define them. They say, “Why me?” But I have to say to myself, “Why not me?”’
‘Many people deal with difficult challenges every day of their lives, and we are lucky that we have medicines and technology available to us that others didn’t many years ago.’
She has had further health difficulties, a rush to hospital in 2005 following another kidney problem.
Then there was her battle with bulimia – which, again, she was very frank about, describing how she would binge and purge, dieting for a week, then eating ‘all the food I hadn’t eaten in the previous seven days in a single day’.
She would later say: ‘I came to realise that all eating disorders aren’t essentially about what you look like.’
The relentless toll peaked in around 2011, as her five-year marriage to fellow actor Owain Yeoman came to an end.
Welshman Yeoman, who found fame in US TV drama The Mentalist, and Lucy met in an LA bar, and married in St Paul’s Cathedral in 2006 (thanks to her dad’s OBE) after a whirlwind romance. But the romance fizzled out and they divorced in 2011, citing irreconcilable differences.
She’s never commented publicly on the reasons for the split. ‘It just didn’t work, but there you go!’ was her ever-upbeat response.
When asked if she would ever get married again, she said: ‘How could I not want to fall in love again? That will happen one day.’
SHE’S also very close to her siblings – sisters Hannah, a former policewoman and trauma therapist, and Jenny, who has worked as a shamanic practitioner, and brother Jake, a personal trainer who for many years lived just four blocks away in LA.
By 2017, Lucy was on the big screen as Etta Candy, in Wonder Woman, swiftly followed by four seasons of Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina. And yet, the thread to home remains strong. This time last year (post-diagnosis) she enjoyed a ‘magical’ two-week holiday in Mexico with her sister Jenny and her husband Iain.
Hannah spoke of her pride in her sister on LinkedIn and Instagram this week. ‘As a family, we have known this heartbreaking news for a while,’ she wrote. ‘But she wanted to keep it private for as long as possible, and of course we have respected her wishes over the last 18 months.’
‘It is Lucy’s wish that we carry on as normal as far as possible and to have fun and happy times together whenever we can.’
‘Lucy absolutely knows how to have a laugh, be silly, take the p***, and be incredibly brave in the face of the toughest challenges. As a family, we have had to do this before and we will do it again. She inspires everyone that she comes into contact with and I’m so proud that she’s my sister.’
As for Lucy, she describes her condition very deliberately as incurable not terminal. ‘I could be boring you all for years to come!’ she quips.
On Thursday, she was back on Instagram, thanking everyone for their support and lightening the mood with a video of her howling with laughter while having a skateboarding lesson.
‘To the couple of people who slightly misread the news and commented B.I.P., you’ll be delighted to know I am still alive – hurrah!’ she quipped.
She has been applauded far and wide – by grief counsellors, by cancer charity leaders, by fans – for her openness this week.
As she once said: ‘Many things come along in everyone’s lives to test us. What makes us stand out from the crowd is how we deal with them.’
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DEAR BEL,
MY GIRLFRIEND would probably laugh if she knew I was writing this letter to you.
We've been together nearly nine years. We met when we were students and bought a house outside Leeds five years ago. We've both got decent jobs, can just about afford a holiday each year if nothing breaks down, and our families all get on. We've got a good life.
Lately, though, everyone seems to have decided it's time for the next step. Every family get-together ends with someone asking when we're going to have a baby and even the lads at work have started saying that I'll be the next one pushing a pram round the park.
I always thought I'd look forward to it. I've never been one of those blokes who says kids aren't for him. My older sister has two daughters and I love spending time with them. When I see my mate's little boy running across the park shouting 'Daddy!', I crack a soppy smile.
So why do I feel sick every time someone asks when it's our turn?
We're fine, don't row - we're too good at getting on with life. We both work hard, come home tired, eat in front of the telly and start the whole routine again the next day.
Weekends disappear in supermarket trips, cutting the grass, visiting family
and friends. But somewhere along the way we've stopped being excited to see each other. I don't even know when it happened.
A few weeks ago, we were walking through a shopping centre and she stopped outside a baby shop. She pointed at a pushchair and started talking about how we'd need a bigger car. She looked happy.
When I left her with a friend and got back to my van, I just sat staring through the windscreen for ten minutes.
The truth is, I don't know whether I'm frightened of becoming a dad or frightened our rut will get deeper. Is she the right person?
That sounds mean because she's done absolutely nothing wrong. She's kind, loyal and would make a brilliant mum. The problem must be me.
We're comfortable - but once you've got a child, there isn't an easy way back if you've ignored your doubts.
She deserves honesty and not to have nine years of her life turned upside down because I've suddenly started questioning everything about our life.
Are these ordinary nerves before a huge life change, or the sort of doubts people regret ignoring years later?
DARREN
I'M not sure I would attach the adjective 'ordinary' to any heartfelt human emotions. Even if the dictionary tells us the word means 'Not different or unexpected in any way; usual', I reckon even common human feelings are experienced uniquely, often with devastating consequences for the person who lies awake at night, wondering what to do.
This echoes the famous opening line from Leo Tolstoy's 1878 novel Anna Karenina: 'All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.'
Would it surprise you to learn that I approached my own first pregnancy with fear and gloom?
At 26, I didn't want my hedonistic freedom to disappear, as I knew it must. Two sisters-in-law had had babies, so I felt stuck on some conveyor-belt to tedious respectability.
Then... I fell in love with the mewling bundle and never looked back. Push-chairs and nappies became fascinating in a way I could never have predicted. Yes, it was tiring - but above all thrilling.
I share that story to reassure you that countless men and women alike have shared your fears. So please don't say 'the
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MOONEY
WWW.BELMOONEY.CO.UK
The first day after a death, the new absence Is always the same; we should be careful Of each other, we should be kind While there is still time.
From The Mower, by Philip Larkin (English poet, 1922-1985)
Is my fear of becoming a dad ordinary nerves or a wake-up call?
problem must be me', because it's not you. You feel perfectly normal human trepidation at the thought of change. Getting cold feet is a part of the human condition. But your way of dealing with it will be special to you and your love.
Seriously, Darren, does anybody expect to be 'excited' at the thought of seeing their partner after nine years? I suggest that if one of you went away for a fortnight, the reunion would be
marvellous – check the closing sequence of the movie Love Actually. It would be exhausting to be excited by every normal day. And I warn you, when bored married people start affairs, it's the excitement that draws – then consumes – them. Not to be advised.
Read today's other letter from 'Rosemary' (below) and make a vow not to get into even more of a rut than the one you describe. You're still in your 30s, for heav-
en's sake! This is the time when you should be having fun as well as working and running a home.
Try to remember a time when you were both stupidly frivolous and surprise her by trying to revisit it. Maybe skip one family get-together and do something romantic instead. Re-learn how to talk to each other.
Tell you what – one unusual, exciting thing to do would be sneak off to the Register Office
with two besties and tie the knot. That would surprise everybody, wouldn't it?
Next time your two mothers go on about babies, ask them if they'll be ready to help with childcare. Say it with a big grin that puts you in charge. Because you are in charge. You've created a good life with a good woman, but we all change – and I hope that, in your own time, a sweet baby will be the icing on your cake.
Illustrations: NEIL WEBB
Our new start has turned into stalemate
DEAR BEL,
WE have been married a long time, with two grown-up children. Tom worked as a lorry driver then a taxi driver, spending a good deal of time away. I got used to being independent and practically bringing up the children single-handedly.
To be fair, when Tom was at home he was a good husband and father.
When our kids left home, we moved to another area because a son by Tom's first marriage came on the scene and we didn't get on. Tom didn't want to move but said that if we did, there had to be 'something in it' for him.
So he took up golf and goes to the club at least three times a week. We are together one day a week (shopping) and most Saturdays. That
leaves two 'free' days for house maintenance and perhaps a day out.
My marriage has gone stale. This retirement was for him – not for us. It seems I didn't really know him until we moved. He will occasionally help in the house and has bought me presents. But presents aren't everything.
My old friends are where we used to live and our children are far away. I've tried talking to him but it usually results in an argument. We don't share a bedroom and there's little companionship. I feel I'm being punished for my attitude to his son. I have much to be thankful for but there should be more to my life than having meals ready and tackling housework on a Monday.
ROSEMARY
YOUR letter will resonate with many married women. Most couples tend to become stale, whatever spark that once flared between them extinguished by washing-up water and tears.
I don't want to sound cynical, but in Anglo-Saxon literature we find a poem called 'The Wife's Lament, and great works – such as War And Peace and Middlemarch to name but two – have at their core truths about marriage.
'Time's passage can bring disappointment and sadness, but it's still worth considering what can be done.
So let's look at two sentences in your letter: 'This retirement was for him – not for us' and 'I feel I'm being punished for my attitude to his son'.
In between those lines lies a suggestion of misunderstanding and resentment.
The house move was entirely for you, because you didn't get on with your stepson – so much so that you were prepared to uproot to get away from him. That's serious – when your husband didn't want to move.
So if the retirement was 'for him' (it's not clear what exactly that means) the house move was for you. You say you 'didn't really know him until we moved',
but you must have asked yourself whether your extreme hostility towards his son had everything to do with that.
It seems there's probably a deeper story there, which you're glossing over. You left family and friends, for what? No hated stepson but a set of golf clubs instead.
I totally sympathise with your longing for 'more'. At the same time, you express thanks for all the good in your life.
So now you must capitalise on that positivity to change the rest.
For a start, when you try to talk to Tom be sure you don't start any sentence with an accusatory 'You' (as in, 'You never seem to understand...') but always use 'I' or 'We' (as in, 'I get a bit tired, Tom...', or, 'We deserve a change – so let's...'). This helps turn complains into suggestions.
Tom found his golfing life, so it's vital that you find something else as well. You need to get out of the house and meet people. What about volunteering? Don't say you don't have time because you do.
Is there a local WI group? It's a marvelous organisation which can change women's lives and I strongly recommend it. Might you put up a notice at the golf club suggesting a tea for 'golf widows'? There might be welcome smiles.
You have to create the life you want and take Tom along with you. Next week, leave that Monday housework and go get your hair done.
AND FINALLY
The peace of accepting 'it is what it is'
THESE days many people write self-help books, full of homespun wisdom.
They often express the blindingly obvious in sweet and sonorous words – so much sagacity swilling about the shelves and the internet you'd think we'd all be as shrewd as King Solomon by now.
There's nothing wrong with it – I'm all for anything helpful, which is why I write this column.
Still, you can become tired of faux-wise cliches.
My daughter and my husband often use a popular one: 'It is what it is.' That verbal shrug says you have to accept what you can't change.
Is it sad passivity or muscular realism? Take your pick.
But I found myself rather irritated by what I identified as easy, modern, laconic cool.
Wrong! I've discovered the phraseology isn't modern at all. In my book on the history of embroidery (The Subversive Stitch, by Rozsika Parker), I learn that the 14th-century English king Edward III used as a motto, 'Sy hyj' (or as hyj' hyj').
At a famous jousting tournament held in Constable in 1342, he wore the phrase embroidered with pearls and jewels on his finery, and he even slept with the words glittering at him from his green and gold bed hangings.
You can probably read the Middle English phrase as: 'So it be as it is.' In other words, accept things as they are.
What's more, the idea is even older than the Middle Ages. About 2,200 years ago the concept of Tathata emerged as a formal Buddhist philosophy. Loosely translated, it means 'thusness' or 'suciness'.
Recalling expressions like, 'such is life' (usually said with a deep sigh) and 'there you go' (helpless shrug), you get the idea.
When it's truly impossible to change things, what choice is there?
Christian prayers end with 'amen' – meaning 'so be it'.
■ BEL answers readers' questions on emotional and relationship problems each week: Write to Bel Mooney, Daily Mail, 9 Derry Street, London W8 5HY, or email bel.mooney@dailymail.co.uk. Names are changed to protect identities. Bel reads all letters but regrets she cannot enter into personal correspondence.
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VI
WHY I BELIEVE THIS CHARMING ARCTIC ISLAND IS WHERE PUTIN COULD START WWII
ON Spitsbergen there are so many polar bears that it's against the law to leave town without carrying a gun.
The only inhabited island in the Svalbard archipelago, Spitsbergen is Norwegian territory.
But 30 miles from its capital, Longyearbyen (population 2,000), lies the town of Barentsburg, which is home to a community of Russian miners.
There the Moscow-owned Arktikugol company oversees a desultory coal-mining operation. The coal it produces is poor quality, and the cost of extracting it high, but the mine provides an invaluable excuse for the Kremlin to maintain a unique toehold within a Western sovereign territory.
And in the months and years to come I predict that this obscure Arctic outcrop, 800 miles south of the North Pole, will play a key role in Russia's plan to destabilise the Nato alliance.
Spitsbergen may be a burgeoning tourist destination – it has its own annual music festival – but it could also serve as the flashpoint that sparks World War III.
Steady on General, I hear you say. But we only have to look back at the recent history of Russian aggression to see how such a disaster could play out.
Before the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the invasion of Ukraine eight years later, Vladimir Putin staged attacks by mercenaries and special forces against Russians living in those regions. He then declared that, to protect these people, he had no option but to order military intervention.
This is just the sort of justification he will use for seizing Spitsbergen.
by General Sir Richard Shirreff
Who predicted Russia's invasion of Ukraine
bergen. He will claim Russian miners are under attack by their Norwegian neighbours and need protection.
To make the lie more credible, and to give his armies of social media trolls some material to help give credibility to their fake reports, he will make sure the miners really do come under attack.
And on a frontier Arctic island where everyone has a gun, some will probably be killed.
A small, well-rehearsed, Russian airborne operation, involving special and maritime forces will take control of Spitsbergen within a few hours and martial law will be imposed immediately.
The question then is – what does Nato do?
The simmering conflict between Nato and Russia is now at its most volatile for decades. Last week, after a drone laden with Semtex explosives was discovered close to a cargo plane at Germany's Leipzig airport, Western surveillance sources warned that Russia is planning a series of attacks to test Nato's resolve.
This echoes warnings from the American intelligence network to their counterparts in Britain's
security services earlier this month that the Baltic states are under threat.
Putin is not bluffing. With his back to the wall after more than four years of war in Ukraine, and with domestic discontent growing, he is desperate for ways to cling to power.
Full-on war with Europe will help him in two ways – by undermining our determination to support Ukraine and by uniting the
It will be a serious test of Nato's resolve
Russian people against a common enemy, Nato.
The Baltic countries, which share a 600-mile border with Russia and its vassal state Belarus, are understandably nervous.
Lithuanian defence minister Robertas Kaunas warned this week that Moscow is planning
'false flag' attacks, to make it appear as though Ukraine is committing terrorist acts in Europe.
'We have data that Russia is considering conducting unconventional kinetic attacks on critical infrastructure in the Baltic region,' he says. 'It is likely that Russia could use Ukrainian-made drones for this purpose.'
That tallies with the incident at Leipzig airport on August 4: the drone armed with high explosives appeared to be Ukrainian, but it was almost certainly planted by Russia.
An Antonov cargo plane packed with ammunition bound for Kyiv was parked nearby and only a faulty detonator in the sabotage drone prevented a huge explosion that could have caused a devastating loss of life.
Meanwhile, two men believed to be in the pay of Russia – Ukrainian national Roman Lavrynovych 22, and Ukrainian-born Romanian national Stanislav Carpiuc, 27 – were jailed in June for arson attacks on a house and a car linked to Sir Keir Starmer, while he was Prime Minister.
Last month, during a bombardment of Ukrainian targets, a Russian cruise missile overshot the border and crashed into a field 56 miles inside Poland.
All this evidence of Putin's intention to provoke war with Nato is backed up by satellite images released in June that show a Russian military build-up at five strategic points along its borders with the West.
Tracts of forest are being razed for a base at Petsjenga, high above the Arctic Circle, 110 miles northwest of the strategically important port of Murmansk and just seven miles from the Norwegian border.
Around 4,000 Russian troops are
Icy threats: Spitsbergen, top, where
already based there, but new barracks are under construction that could accommodate 10,000.
About 375 miles to the south, at Kandalakshna on the border with Finland, a base is being built to house an artillery brigade. The chief of Finland's defence intelligence service, Major General Pekka Turunen, has warned that since his country joined Nato in 2023, Russia has increased its military presence along the border.
The same is true in Kaliningrad, the Russian enclave on the Baltic coast between Lithuania and Poland, and on the border with Estonia.
When I wrote my novel 2017: War
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vast quantities of munitions in its disastrous war on Iran that there is no hope that the US will supply Patriots to Kyiv. It simply has none to spare.
Ukraine's only hope in the short term is for other Nato nations with Patriots to give what they can while Trump grants it a licence to manufacture them.
But, as we have seen, this prospect is looking more unlikely than ever.
We cannot count on his support against a Russian incursion in the Arctic either.
Nor can we be sure that every other Nato country would stand shoulder to shoulder with Norway. Hungary's commitment to the alliance is untested since Peter Magyar ousted long-time president Viktor Orban – a friend of Putin – earlier this year.
Portugal, Spain and Italy are all struggling with a surge of illegal migration that leaves little room
Putin's aim is to provoke a chaotic war
to deal with other crises.
All those countries, our long-term allies, would be justified in accusing the UK of lacking visible commitment too.
Since Andy Burnham became Prime Minister a month ago, he has said next to nothing about defence.
Labour's most prominent advocate of re-arming, former Defence Secretary John Healey, is now the Chancellor of the Exchequer – an appointment that has had the effect, incidental or not, of making it much harder for him to argue that Britain urgently needs to increase its defence spending. He's now the man who has to balance the books.
I am utterly certain that, if Russia does invade Spitsbergen – or stage any other land grab – Britain will be at the forefront of the Nato response.
Norway is a valued friend of Britain and our Commando forces train constantly with their Norwegian counterparts, and our Arctic warfare units are among the best in the world.
But I'm also deeply concerned that, in a shooting war with Russia, we will suffer badly.
We do not have the air defences, the naval forces, the ammunition, the military reserves or anything else needed to ward off attack.
At least one Russian warship is now constantly stationed off the British coast. Russian drones, probably launched from trawlers, have buzzed our RAF bases, photographing every inch of them.
We are desperately vulnerable. Britain will never slirk its duty to support its Nato allies.
But we have relinquished much of our ability to defend our own cities and our own people.
Putin is looking for an excuse to start a war with us and is making no secret of it.
If he succeeds in his aim of provoking Nato into a chaotic, ill-coordinated war, the destruction and loss of life we have seen in Ukraine could well be inflicted on Britain too.
General Sir Richard Shirreff is former Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe, Nato
Russian military aggression, right, now provides a graver menace than the local polar bears, left
With Russia a decade ago, I believed the most likely trigger point was in the Baltic states.
It was all too plausible that Russia would engineer a series of 'false flag' attacks, blaming Nato forces for atrocities they themselves carried out, such as the killing of Russian-speaking demonstrators in Latvia by szipers.
Putin will be counting on dissent and panic among the Western allies in response to whatever incursion he finally settles on.
It will be a serious test of Nato's resolve and one he expects us to fail. And he will be right, at least in part.
It seems highly unlikely that the
United States will honour its obligation under Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, a promise it made in 1949 to treat any attack on one Nato country as an attack on all member countries.
I predict that President Donald Trump will refuse to send troops to assist in any military operation to rescue Spitsbergen. He might well crow about it and claim that Russia would never have dared act if Greenland had been ceded to the US, as he demanded last year. Europe refused to give up territory then, and now – he is likely to say – Europe must pay the price.
He is already badly letting down
the Ukrainian cause. This week there was an intriguing development in Russo-US relations when a former US Marine called Robert Gilman, who had been arrested while travelling through southwestern Russia by train a month before the invasion of Ukraine, was returned to the US.
He has spent the last four and a half years in a Russian jail after being charged with drunkenness and assaulting a police officer and his family say he was in poor health due to the cruel treatment he was subjected to by his captors.
Trump framed his release as a
diplomatic masterstroke, saying: 'Russia asked for no one in return – no exchange took place.'
To which the only logical response has to be: pull the other one Donald.
So what was Russia's price? One rumoured possibility is that the Kremlin extracted a promise from Washington that it would turn down Ukraine's request to allow it to manufacture Patriot missiles, its best hope of bolstering its air defences against ballistic missile attacks.
Kyiv has never been in more dire need of interceptor missiles. With its stocks now virtually entirely depleted, the citizens of Ukraine's capital are living in terror of nightly attacks.
Trump will refuse to send troops'
I have many friends there, and one of them told me last week she is more frightened than at any time since Putin's demented war began.
Russia is firing ballistic missiles at both Kyiv and Zaporizhzhia, 350 miles to the southeast, targeting civilian buildings with psychotic ruthlessness in a bid to destroy Ukrainian morale.
These supersonic rockets fall from outside the Earth's atmosphere and can be travelling at more than 5,000mph by the time they make impact.
Such is their speed – one commentator described them as arriving in the time it takes to deliver a pizza – that the residents of these cities often have just five minutes' warning, at best.
Sometimes the first they know of an attack is when a missile explodes. The carnage they cause is colossal.
But America has used up such
Page 46
The foods I just
THIS is frankly a book of prejudices, 'thunders P. Morton Shand in the preface to his 1927 classic A Book Of Food, 'for all food is a question of likes and dislikes. One may be tolerant about religion, politics, and a hundred and one other things, but not about the food one eats.' Amen to that.
Because there is nothing more personal and subjective than what you put into your mouth. One man's honey is another man's tripe, and your choice of food is an insight into your very soul.
'Tell me what you eat,' declared Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin, French lawyer, politician and committed trencherman, 'and I'll tell you what you are.'
You could turn celibate, dodge taxes, even take up Morris dancing. But you'll always have to eat.
Tastes change as we age, and ingredients that were once the very definition of disgust - soot-like oysters, say, or olives, with their resolutely savoury sneer - gradually become much adored adult staples.
I'll eat pretty much anything (save British Airways food), but I just don't get goat's cheese. I want to love it, to frolic among the Dorstones and Bucherons, but to me it will always taste like licking the farmyard floor, all musty feral filth.
I have one friend who hates mushrooms, another who can't stand tomatoes (although he loves ketchup) and one more who won't touch lamb. There really is no accounting for taste.
Which is why the list below is an attempt to cut a swathe through the thickets of marketing hyperbole and come to some form of palatable truth.
I hate sanctimony and finger-wagging as much as the next man, and am as happy eating a McDonald's cheeseburger as I am the most glided Michelin-star creation. No one likes a food snob. But there are some things I won't touch for reasons ethical and moral. As well as a few things I just can't bear.
FOIE GRAS
GAVAGE is the force-feeding of corn or maize to ducks and geese via a metal tube shoved down their throats. The aim is to swell their livers up to ten times the usual size. Hence foie gras, or 'fatty liver'.
In many cases, the birds are crammed in tiny cages, unable even to stretch their wings. It's pretty difficult to defend.
I did used to eat it, and have heard tales of happy Gascon birds actually following their horny-handed farmer around, desperate for their next hit of grain. But that seems to be the exception rather than the rule.
There are also companies that claim to produce an 'ethical' version. But no delicacy is worth that amount of suffering, and so I give foie gras a very firm miss.
MACKEREL
ONE of my favourite fish, all gleaming iridescent skin and
As a veteran restaurant reviewer, you'd think TOM PARKER BOWLES would eat anything. But in this joyously irreverent confession, he reveals the things that will never pass his lips. So do you love them or loathe them?
sweet, rich flesh. But although not officially endangered, stocks in the north-east Atlantic are plummeting. Waitrose, in an admirable move, has stopped stocking it, replacing it with the ever undervalued herring. For an alternative, try Cornish sardines.
FAKE MEAT
THERE was a time a few years back when the catchily named 'vegan plant-based meat alternatives' were set to conquer the earth, putting an end to meat-eating once and for all.
The usual venture capital firms all piled in to the likes of Beyond Burger. This Isn't Bacon Rashers, La Vie and I Am Nut OK. And by 2022, sales reached a staggering $1 billion.
But then the hype wore off, the decline set in and everyone realised quite how vile these 'foods' were. My issue is not with veganism itself, rather these nefarious atrocities which have all the culinary appeal of burnt rubber.
And it's not as if they are the healthy alternative to meat. In fact, most are every bit as fake and processed as any Pot Noodle or cheap hotdog.
The average ingredient list
includes the likes of 'textured pea protein' and 'pea protein isolate', the 'thickeners' that include methylcellulose, konjac, carrageenan and xanthan gum, 'natural flavouring', 'dextrose', 'colour (beetroot red)' and casings made from 'sodium alginate'.
My favourite pork chipolata from HG Walter, on the other hand, is made from 90 per cent free-range British pork, bread-crumbs, salt, herbs, and spices. I know which one I'd prefer.
INTENSIVELY FARMED MEAT
THE horrors of factory farming are all too clear. Broiler chickens (farmed for meat) bred to grow unnaturally fast and slaughtered at six weeks old, having been confined to cramped, stinking sheds devoid of natural light, the air polluted with irritant ammonia and barely the space to flap their wings.
They spend much of their time on the floor, not moving, as their legs are barely strong enough to
support their heavy body. This unnatural growth also puts strain on their hearts and lungs, and millions of chickens die of heart attacks every year.
It's the same with pigs, crammed into sheds with salted concrete floors, often without even hay for bedding and rooting. Again, there's no natural light, and no access to outdoor space.
Highly intelligent, social beasts, these pigs become bored and frustrated, fighting and biting each other. Which means that most piglets have their teeth cut and tails docked.
If the label doesn't say 'free-range' or 'organic' you can bet your bottom dollar the wretched beast has been raised in less than happy conditions.
Good quality, ethically produced meat will always cost more. I know it's all very well as an overprivileged food writer telling you to eat a £20 chicken, but one superior bird doesn't just give you dinner, but sandwiches and stock, too.
I do believe we should eat less meat, and better quality. Trust
your butcher, who should be only too happy to tell you exactly where your meat comes from.
And don't just go for chicken breasts and sirloin steaks. Chicken thighs have more flavour than breast, while skin of beef and oxtail, classic slow-cooking cuts, make for magnificent eating and are cheaper, too.
Again, ask your butcher for their advice. Happy, outdoor-bred pigs and chickens will always make for much better eating. For more information on the horrors of factory farming, go to ciw.org.uk.
'LOW-FAT' ANYTHING
I LOVE fat. Fat is flavour. Fat is life. So no, I don't want my yoghurt or cheese anything other than full strength. As for skimmed milk - get thee away, you lily-livered Satan.
HOT HONEY
OK, enough now. I like honey, I love chilli, and when it first came out I sort of understood its appeal. But now it's bloody everywhere, like a family sticky virus, drizzled (urgh) over pizzas, burgers, fried chicken, ice cream. You've had your moment in the sun - it's time to retire to the back of the cupboard of food fads long past.
MARGARINE
THERE is never, ever any excuse to choose margarine over butter. If I had my way, I'd take it out to the back of the house, offer it one last cigarette, then shoot it in the back of the head. Good riddance to a hateful spread.
TASTING MENUS
AH, the tyranny of the tasting menu. Once the very pinnacle of the heady haute cuisine experience, with up to 40 courses of post-modern culinary trickiness, they are now my idea of hell. It is
Page 47
CAN'T stomach
Food, inglorious food: Vegan sausage, far left, farmed salmon (on top of wild salmon), above left, and Tom tries a ready meal
not that the artistry is lacking (and places like The Ritz and The Ledbury still dazzle), rather the thought of being pinned to one's chair for over three hours as dish after dish is gushingly explained at great length as if it were some rare and wonderful piece of art.
Yes, The Fat Duck, Noma and El Bulli were all huge fun, often bonkersly brilliant. Although with a glass of wine with each course, I was usually so sozzled by the end
that I could barely manage speech, let alone remember the previous 20 courses. Anyway, give me three old-fashioned courses and I'm a happy man.
TOO MUCH INFORMATION
IN ANY decent restaurant, one assumes all the meat will be ethically raised. If you're particularly taken by a certain cut or joint, you
can ask your waiter for more information. What I don't need to read on the menu is their life history, including the field it comes from, its star sign and favourite member of One Direction.
FAKE 'ALLERGIES' AND INTOLERANCES
GENUINE food allergies should be treated with the utmost respect, as they can be a matter of life or
death. The same goes for those with Coeliac disease. What is not to be taken seriously is people who claim gluten 'intolerance' because they think bread makes them fat. Or claim they're allergic to celery, say, when it turns out they just don't like it. It's needy, fussy and annoying for chefs and those actually afflicted by genuine allergies.
TRUFFLE OIL
AN age-old bugbear, this base and
Chilli reception: Hot honey gets the cold shoulder
horrible unguent has all the subtlety and elegance of a wet haddock slapped across one's face. Noxious and predominantly artificially flavoured, truffle oil ruins everything it touches. It's not big, it's not sophisticated and it sure ain't clever.
Genuine truffles are truly blessed tubers. The black Perigord truffle is all about flavour and the Alba white intoxicates with its heady scent. Truffle oil, on the other hand, is a dumb, aggressive brute with all the culinary sophistication of a battered saveloy.
DILL
I KNOW, I know, dill is the much-loved star of many of the great cuisines of the world. But I can't stand the stuff, and can taste even the tiniest hidden frond. It's not so much a herb as a great, swaggering green-tressed thug.
SMALL PLATES
YES, I have heard of your cutting-edge new concept. The Spanish have been at it for years, as has much of the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East. The clue is in the name, and, yes, I do know they're for sharing.
FARMED SALMON
I WROTE at length on the subject a few weeks back and still avoid the stuff like the plague. Too many fish crammed into too little water, fed on fundamentally unsustainable pellets while being plagued by sea lice that can literally eat them alive.
To control sea lice, chemicals that can devastate the local seabed are needed. Farmed fish also escape and breed with the increasingly rare wild salmon stock, diluting its genetic resistance.
Mortality rates can be staggeringly high, and pollution from the farms, thick and stinking, ends up coating the sea floor. The end result (flabby, fatty and dull) is, on the whole, a sorry shadow of its wild cousin.
That said, I did receive an invitation from Tavish Scott, chief executive of Salmon Scotland, inviting me to come and see the farms for myself. I will report back.
Page 48
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VI
Page 49
Escape
THE TUSCAN BREAK THAT'S CHEAPER THAN CENTER PARCS PAGE 50
PARADISE FROM
JUST £1.62 A DAY (including flights!)
The Maldives is one of the world's dream holiday destinations - but it doesn't have to cost a fortune. Here's how to enjoy the tropical islands for less...
IT'S one of the most desirable holiday destinations, yet many believe it's simply too expensive as it's so far away.
Not so. Yes, you may require a 5,300-mile flight, yet prices can be remarkably enticing - from as little as £1,207pp for a week, or £1,621pp for ten days. The latter works out at a mere £162 a day... flights included.
And now that services through the Middle East hubs of Dubai, Abu
by TOM
CHESSHYRE
Dhabi and Qatar are back on, there's a glut of availability for last-minute getaways to the Maldives.
Of its 1,192 islands, around 160 are adapted to tourism and I've visited around a fifth of them, plus many local islands without resorts. So
here's our guide to some of the best getaways that won't break the bank.
ADVENTURE ON ADDU
VISIT the most southerly spot in the Maldives, south of the Equator on Addu Atoll, and stay at the Equator Village Maldives hotel on the tiny, peaceful island of Gan. Parts of this hotel comprise lodgings that were connected to an RAF base which closed in 1978. There's still the former
TURN TO NEXT PAGE
No need to shell out: Turtles in Maldives, top
Page 50
Escape:
FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
officers' snooker table in a sideroom beside the bar. Unlike on many resort islands, Gan is connected to other islands on the Addu archipelago by a bridge so you can explore local villages and not feel you are in a 'tourist bubble'. There's good nearby diving including a chance to visit a sunken British ship from the Second World War.
BOOK IT: From £1,625pp B&B for ten days including Manchester flights (fut.co.uk), or £1,449 for a week. PRICE PER DAY: £162.
SURFERS' PARADISE
JUST north-east of Male, the Maldivian capital, on North Male Atoll, Adaaran Select. Hudhuran Rushi Maldives is one of the best spots on the archipelago for surfing. There's also diving, snorkelling and paddleboarding. Expect a good spa and a selection of beach or overwater villas.
Excursions can be arranged to local islands including day trips to Male. Sunset and dolphin-watching cruises can be organised, too. There are also fishing trips during which your catch will be prepared and cooked for the freshest of meals on board.
BOOK IT: From £1,689pp all-inclusive for a week including Heathrow flights (tropicalsky.co.uk).
PRICE PER DAY: £241pp.
OLDEST HOTEL
NIVA Kurumba Maldives was the first hotel on a private island to open in the Maldives, back on October 3, 1972 (now the country's National Tourism Day). It's a charming, oval-shaped island close to Male, with an interior of palm trees with hammocks, two tennis courts, a gym and yoga zone. There's also a spa with massage treatments featuring Aromatherapy Associates oils. The dining options include a Thai restaurant, plus Indian and Japanese. Snorkelling is possible on a sheltered house reef, protected by sea break barriers.
BOOK IT: From £1,249pp B&B for a week including return flights (trailfinders.com).
PRICE PER DAY: £178pp.
OVERWATER VILLA
BOOK into an overwater villa at Sun Siyam Olhuveli on South Male Atoll. It comprises three islands, linked by walkways. You can take your pick of seven bars (including swim-up cocktail bars) and dine at Asian, Italian, Indian and Thai restaurants as well as burger joints and pizzerias. Sun Siyam Olhuveli is home to the longest pool in the Maldives and has gyms, spas and dive centres on each island. There are adults-only sections but also a kids' club, plus Moonlight Cinema.
BOOK IT: From £1,929pp full-board for a week including return flights (trailfinders.com).
PRICE PER DAY: £275pp.
ALL-INCLUSIVE BARGAIN
SITUATED in Raa Atoll, 90 miles north of Male, Adaaran Select Meed-hupparu is a popular all-inclusive resort. Beach villas are dotted amid lush tropical vegetation, creating a feeling of living in a jungle, although there are over-water villas.
Watersports lovers can indulge in parasailing, snorkelling, diving, paddleboarding, windsurfing and jet skiing. It's also possible to try flyboarding (boards with waterjets that propel you up to 20 metres in the air). Enjoy a sundowner at the beach bar or tuck into a choice of 101 cocktails at the Albino Bar.
BOOK IT: From £2,189pp all-inclusive for a week including flights (tropicalsky.co.uk).
PRICE PER DAY: £312pp.
Idyllic: Seaplane, pool area and
EXPERT TIPS TO
■ IF you have the chance, visit Male, the capital – and go to the National Museum, the main mosque and bustling fish market.
■ FOR a bite to eat on Male, try the brilliant Seahouse Maldives restaurant by the ferry terminal.
■ PEAK season is December to April, when prices are highest as the weather is best – but it's warm all year round.
■ IF A trip to a smaller 'inhabited' island is possible from your 'resort' island, grab the chance to see traditional life away from mass tourism.
■ LEARN a few words of Dhivehi, the local language; for example,
We OK.
WHEN YOU'RE
WITH
THE
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*Equivalent daily price calculated from £5.49 a month. 10% of new AA customers paid £5.49 a month for vehicle breakdown cover bought through theAA.com from 1 April 2026 to 30 June 2026. Introductory price for new customers only. Renewal prices are likely to be higher. Cover subject to policy terms, conditions and exclusions. See policy terms. More attended breakdowns: Based on published annual breakdown attendance figures. For more detail, see theAA.com/why New customers only. Ts&C's apply. All information correct at time of print August 2026.
Page 51
Cover story
beach at LUX* South Ari Atoll and, above right, accommodation at the chic Kandima resort
MAKE THE MOST OF A MALDIVES ESCAPE...
- 'thank you' is 'shukuriyya' and 'please' is 'adhes kohla'.
- DO not take duty-free alcohol as it will be confiscated on arrival as this is a Muslim country, though alcohol is available on 'resort' islands.
- IF you enjoy surfing, certain islands have much better breakers than others (see stokedsurfadventures.com).
- EMBRACE 'barefoot luxury' - many visitors do not bother with footwear from the moment they arrive on island.
-
SPEEDBOAT transfers are fine to islands close to the airport, but seaplane transfers to
-
further islands are wonderful - and all part of the experience.
- BE aware that all-inclusive breaks can offer the traveller much better value.
- TRY garudhiya, a Maldivian dish of tuna in a spicy broth ... it's lovely.
- PADEL tennis is a great way to mix with other guests if you want to be social.
- CONSIDER buying a waterproof underwater camera to capture the many colourful fish.
-
BEACH villas can offer better value for money than overwater villas, though it's thrilling staying in the latter.
-
BUY sunscreen ahead of arrival ... it's expensive when you're there.
- SIGN up for a cookery class and learn how to make brilliant curries and even how to roll sushi.
- TWIN-CENTRE trips staying on two islands over a fortnight are a great way of structuring a longer getaway (try trailfinders.com).
- IF YOU'RE an independent traveller and feeling adventurous, take public ferries to explore the archipelago and stay at cheap guest houses (atolltransfer.com).
CHIC AND CHEAP
WITH a Tripadvisor rating of 4.7 out of 5, Kandima Maldives is another popular choice. It has a chic, hip feel with DJs and cocktail bars, plus a brilliant sports complex with tennis courts and a five-aside pitch. There's even a 500-metre racing circuit for electric carts. The Beach Club has a cool pool with cabanas plus a pair of jetties leading to circular decks with seating for sundowners. Accommodation is in a mix of over-water and beach villas.
BOOK IT: From £1,721pp B&B for a week including flights (tui.co.uk). PRICE PER DAY: £245pp.
GREAT ALL-ROUNDER
IT'S a mere ten-minute speedboat transfer from the airport to Bandos Maldives private island. Expect tennis courts, a good quality spa, gym, diving centre (where you can learn to dive and gain a PADI qualification) and all sorts of other watersports including paddleboarding, jet skiing and snorkelling. Night fishing boat trips can be organised as well as whale shark spotting expeditions, dolphin cruises and visits to the local island of Huras to see a traditional Maldivian settlement. There's a mix of plain beach villas and over-water villas.
BOOK IT: From £1,539pp half-board for a week including flights (tui.co.uk).
PRICE PER DAY: £219pp.
FEELING SPORTY?
THERE'S a six-hole golf course on Kuredu. You can also play tennis and padel, join boot camp classes, pilates instruction and
sunset yoga sessions. There's a dive centre, too, plus all the main watersports including paddleboarding and kayaking, as well as a large spa with endless treatments. Kuredu is an upbeat, sporty choice of Maldivian island. Expect two main restaurants and no fewer than eight bars. Live music is played most nights.
BOOK IT: From £1,207pp half-board for a week including seaplane transfer (travelrepublic.co.uk). PRICE PER DAY: £172pp.
UNDERWATER DINING
WATCH colourful tropical fish swim by while eating at the largest underwater restaurant in the Maldives at Obiu Xperience Allafushi, close to Male and an easy speedboat transfer from the airport. This all-inclusive resort has free in-room minibars with beers and soft drinks, while every evening, alongside complimentary beers, wines and spirits, there are free cocktails at the lively X360 Bar. Decor in the villas is bright with splashes of modern art.
BOOK IT: From £1,846pp all-inclusive for a week with flights (travelrepublic.co.uk).
PRICE PER DAY: £263pp.
GOOD-VALUE FUN
ON BEAUTIFUL Meeru Maldives Resort Island guests have a choice of six restaurants including Aslan, Italian and Maldivian culinary offerings - with excellent seafood. There are five bars, two of which are adult-only beside infinity pools. Villas are smart and either tucked away amid palm trees or on over-water platforms. The resort holds regular 'experiences' with themed events on certain days such as 'world chess day', 'cheesecake day' and 'tequila day' - as well as nights with DJ sets.
BOOK IT: From £1,639pp full-board for a week with flights (tui.co.uk). PRICE PER DAY: £234pp.
ROMANCE FOR LESS
WITHIN the North Ari Atoll, Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon is great for romantic getaways, featuring a Lover's Deck for dining at the end of a jetty, plus picnics on a sandbank. Balinese massages are available at the Chavana Spa. Trips on offer include sunset fishing, visits to local islands and dolphin-watching cruises. There are over-water and beachside villas, all decorated in a slick, minimalist style.
BOOK IT: From £1,419pp all-inclusive for a week with flights (tropicalsky.co.uk).
PRICE PER DAY: £202pp.
WHALE OF A TIME
YOU are almost guaranteed to see whale sharks when staying at LUX* South Ari Atoll, as the waters are famous for being a year-round congregation spot for the graceful (and perfectly safe) enormous creatures. The resort organises trips to their favourite spots led by marine biologists.
The retreat itself is stylish with recently refurbished villas, infinity pools, a sushi restaurant, a fantastic lagoon-side beach bar serving cocktails and a beach club dishing up grilled seafood.
BOOK IT: From £1,295pp B&B for a week with flights (awayholidays.co.uk); add £870pp to make it all-inclusive.
PRICE PER DAY: £185pp.
■ PRICES correct as we went to press.
■ TOM Chesshyre is author of Gatecrashing Paradise: Misadventures In The Real Maldives
Page 52
Escape: UK breaks
Back in the Premier League after 25 years - and this unsung city is worth a visit
Coventry's back on top
by YORK
MEMBERY
COVENTRY'S New Cathedral has long been a testament to the city's ability to bounce back from wartime adversity.
And while it suffered further knocks in the 1980s with factory closures and high unemployment, there is a new spring in residents' steps after Coventry City's recent promotion to the Premier League.
The team's first game after a 25-year absence is against Arsenal next Friday and local pride is visible in banners proclaiming 'We're back!' So what better time to visit England's most central city in the West Midlands, just over an hour's train ride from London?
Its number one tourist attractions rightly remain the old and new cathedrals. Standing in the ruined shell of the old medieval cathedral, which was destroyed by the Luftwaffe in 1940, is a moving experience and its Blitz Museum puts the bombing in context.
The Basil Spence-designed New Cathedral next to it opened in 1962 and is not just a cherished place of worship, but a global symbol of peace and reconciliation. Its
Historic: Pretty Spon Street. Above: Coventry City celebrate
city centre, tells the story of these acts and you can even sit in the car which appeared in The Specials' Ghost Town video.
All in all, if you scratch beneath the surface of Coventry, there is plenty to discover - even if you're not a football fan.
TRAVEL FACTS
DOUBLES at the Indigo Hotel from £110 (coventry.hotelindigo.com); Euston-Coventry advance returns from £21 (avantivest coast.co.uk).
monumental Baptistery window has nearly 200 stained glass panes.
Close by is the restored St Mary's Guildhall, dating from the 14th to 15th centuries. Mary, Queen of Scots was held here against her will in 1569 and many other monarchs have dropped by. A guide tells me: 'Charles hasn't visited since becoming King, but we're hoping he'll come soon.'
In nearby Broadgate is another landmark: A bronze statue of
Lady Godiva on horseback. Legend has it she rode naked through Coventry, covered only by her long hair, to pressurise her husband Leofric, the Earl of Mercia, to lower taxes.
I go for a pleasant lunchtime drink in the warren of rooms at the Old Windmill, Coventry's oldest pub, built in 1451.
Next up is the Coventry Transport Museum, home to the world's biggest collection of British-built
cars, many of which were made locally. The museum is also home to a magnificent 1937 Daimler used in the coronation of George VI and ThrustSSC, which holds the current world land speed record of 763mph.
The city was also the birthplace of the 2-Tone music movement, which saw bands including The Specials find fame in the 1970s and 80s. The fascinating Coventry Music Museum, just outside the
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Escape: Short haul
VI
Page 53
This family break in Tuscany is cheaper than its UK rival – and, our writer says, it's...
by CHARLOTTE REATHER
LET'S face it, many of us are looking for champagne holidays on lager money. And I was seeking a destination with culture and beauty as well as outdoor adventure and facilities comparable to Center Parcs.
I wanted Tuscany for me (and husband Ed) and water slides for Tallulah, 11, and Matilda, nine. So when I discovered one of Eurocamp's cheapest destinations was Hu Norcenni Girasole, a campsite/holiday park deep in Chianti country, 30 minutes from Florence in the Tuscan hills, I could hardly believe my luck.
With prices from £289 in a tent or £380 in a Classic holiday home for seven nights in May half-term – while a four-night break at Center Parcs was from £1,499 for a family of four – it was looking promising.
Arriving into Florence Airport we collected a hire car and drove to Hu Norcenni Girasole. As someone who associates family holiday parks with wristbands, queueing and mediocre buffets, I arrived with some trepidation. But as soon as we tasted the handmade pizzas, we knew it was going to be more than all right – the food was fantastic.
The next morning we awoke in our two-bedroom Premium holiday home, sleeping up to six, to the sound of bird-song. Outside, cypress trees punctuated the sun-bathed landscape and beyond were rolling green hills.
The accommodation was decent, with a deck, a covered allresco dining area, a gas barbecue and a small kitchen. Our first mission was to hit the Co-op in Figline Valdarno to stock up. But this was not like any UK Co-op, featuring locally made buffalo mozzarella, the juicest tomatoes and the delicious focaccia.
Hunting and gathering out of the way, we were free to play. All of us. Middle-age was suspended as we bombed down water-slides with the children, who declared this 'the best holiday ever'.
Center Parcs has first-rate swimming facilities, but here there were eight pools and six waterslides and we enjoyed drifting between the lagoon complex and a larger lap pool. Under cloudless skies the thought of retreating indoors to a tropical dome back in Britain felt distinctly unappealing.
So would the activities measure up to a British Center Parcs? The answer was yes, absolutely. Both girls were too old for the kids' club. Instead, Tallulah joined morning football sessions while her sister perused the mocktail menu from a sun lounger.
There was tennis, volleyball, mini golf, a gym and spa, as well as 'bolt-on' activities such as treetop zip wires, horse-riding, e-bike tours, cookery classes and wine
Winner: The resort. Left: Charlotte and family
tastings. We explored Greve in Chianti and the medieval town of San Giovanni Valdarno. And one non-negotiable trip was, of course, Florence. Taking the train from Figline Valdarno, the easiest way to go, we marched the children around Renaissance masterpieces, and explored the Boboli Gardens and the historic centre, where the Duomo, Santa Croce and Michelangelo's David all made the cut. The highlight, however, was lunch at Mercato Centrale where wild boar ragu and truffle ravioli at The Pasta by Famiglia Michelis were devoured by all.
On another day, the girls happily roamed the site and we took a shuttle to La Palagina, a nearby vineyard/farm operated by the campsite's owners where we experienced a complimentary bee-keeping and honey-tasting experience.
One final discovery was dinner at Tenuta Il Palagio, the estate owned by Sting. Unaware of its famous proprietor when booking, we had been lured by the prospect of its breathtaking setting and live music, which it more than delivered on.
Yes, there is great convenience to a UK Center Parcs holiday: No flights, no airport queues, no hire cars. But Italy comes out cheaper – even with transport. Plus you get sunshine, culture, remarkable food, incredible scenery and friendly locals.
Center Parcs versus Eurocamp's Hu Norcenni Girasole? Tuscany's the clear winner.
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WINE COUNTRY v WHINFELL FOREST
- ■ A week in a Comfort holiday home, sleeping four, at Hu Norcenni Girasole in July/August 2027 (eurocamp.co.uk): From £864.
- ■ Heathrow-Florence return flights for four: £584 (BA via booking.com).
- ■ Week's car rental (Locauto via book-
ing.com): From £333. Total: £1,781.
- ■ Seven nights in a woodland lodge sleeping four at Center Parcs Whinfell Forest site in Cumbria next summer (centerparcs.co.uk): From £1,928.
TOTAL TUSCAN SAVING: £147
Page 54
Escape: Comment
by JOANNA TWEEDY
REMEMBER when what constituted a good hotel was a comfy bed, a decent break- fast and an amiable host (who didn't stomp around like Basil Fawlty)?
Budget always played its part, of course. Decor and facilities would be grander if you could afford it, but from Torremolinos to Torquay, the bottom line was you got a roof over your head in your desired destination.
Increasingly though, where you stay is the be all and end all. Travel has entered an 'experiential' era that seems to be spinning out of control.
According to Host Unusual, a UK-based global travel directory which offers UFO-inspired glamping pods, converted cranes and cave dwellings, there's been a huge leap in interest in quirkier places to stay in recent years.
So what's firing this trend for wild and wacky places? The answer, say hoteliers, is pure escapism.
Who has time to angst over office politics or school run logistics when staying in a room kitted out like the Apollo II space- ship and pretending you're an astronaut (in New Zealand) or waking up in the world's only potato-shaped hotel (Idaho)?
Then there are the bragging rights of these razzle-dazzle abodes. If your holiday snaps look exuberant on Facebook or Instagram, it's a reflection of your own magnetic personality, right? At least, that's the idea.
Accommodation theming has
Why have hotels
gone BONKERS?
Personal space: Spodnic UFO in Pembrokeshire is a novel place to stay
become so lucrative that hotel owners big and small have worked out that hospitality – with a side-portion of Hollywood – can often grab them a bigger slice of the tourism pie.
What's telling, though, is that
not many of the world's most exclusive hotel brands go in for it. Truly classy establishments know that outstanding service and understated elegance is much more likely to engender loyalty. High-octane, technicolour hotels
are the travel equivalent of a one-hit wonder, often leaving you feeling more than a little hollow when the initial bump of dopamine has ebbed.
Once you've bedded down in a former sewage pipe – possible in
Austria, Germany and the Netherlands – you probably won't be back next year. One obvious caveat is if kids are in the mix, because novelty hits their holiday jackpot every time.
And I was dubious when I checked into The Liberty in Boston a few years ago, the site of Massachusetts' former Charles Street Jail, where inmates have included Malcolm X and Frank 'Catch Me if you Can' Abagnale Jr. But somehow it worked, walking the tightrope of good taste with its room cards that looked like prison keys and restau- rant named Clink.
In a world of identikit hotels, booking a faux UFO, a fairy grotto or an ex-Routemas- ter with beds is, admittedly, a way of injecting a little colour into the everyday grey.
That said, if you enter a well- run top-class hotel, you know it straight away – and many come with 'stories' too, of past guests and glamorous days gone by. No moon boots needed.
SAVE £200 per person applies to our Top 20 Tours 2026 & 2027. Quote TOUR'200. Sale ends 17th August. Applies to adults on new bookings only. *From prices applied to departures on Grand Tour of Sri Lanka. ©CBCIT. Grand Tour of North India. ©CBCIT. A visa is required for both Sri Lanka and India. Please note availability is limited for our lead-in. From prices. All offers are subject to availability and can be withdrawn without notice. Price shown includes return flights, accommodation, music meals, all internal travel, entry fees and English-speaking guides. Prices based on flights out of London, regional departures may be available at a supplement. Terms and conditions apply, for further details and detailed itineraries please visit www.mercuryholidays.co.uk.
Page 55
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| ECONOMY | BUSINESS | |
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Escape to the adults-only 5* Secrets Cap Cana Resort & Spa for an elegant and stylish experience, with gourmet dining,
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Enjoying a great sport on Grenada's famous Pire Gln beach, 5* Sandals Grenada is an award winning exotic hideaway.
Enjoy luxury island living at its best with everything from 10 dining options to scuba diving.
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Tucked away on the shores of Rodney Bay along one of Saint Lucia's best beaches, 5* The Landings Resort & Spa exudes
a sense of luxury and timeless elegance, with luxury villa suites boasting butler service.
Flights & hotel - 7 nts fr £3,679pp
Page 56
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Paradise Awaits in the Maldives
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Find your own slice of paradise on this idyllic island. Set within 12 acres of lush palm trees, this resort offers pristine beaches, superb scuba diving and snorkelling, plus easy access to the capital, Molé. Relax on the resort's idyllic white sands and admire panoramic views of the crystal-clear Indian Ocean.
What's Included
✓ Return flights from London. Flights from a choice of 9 regional airports available ✓ 1 Week in a Standard Room ✓ All meals daily plus selected alcoholic and soft drinks ✓ Transfers via speedboat ✓ 40% Booking Discount on your hotel stay
Added Value
✓ FREE sunset cruise, paddleboarding, canoeing, and windsurfing
Wash Value 2024/27 Rannals
| All-Inclusive | 1 Week | 10 Nights | 2 Weeks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 2026 | % | £1,619 | £1,889 | £3,329 |
| September 2026 | % | £1,549 | £2,149 | £3,285 |
| October 2026 | % | £1,659 | £1,989 | £2,015 |
| November 2026 | % | £1,759 | £2,149 | FULL |
| December 2026 | % | £1,795 | £3,025 | £3,655 |
| Jan/Feb 2027 | % | £2,028 | £2,519 | £3,359 |
| March 2027 | % | £1,979 | £2,499 | £3,835 |
| April 2027 | % | £1,595 | £1,985 | £3,355 |
| May 2027 | % | £1,935 | £1,949 | £3,315 |
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8 DAYS WAS FROM £1,949 NOW FROM £1,749
Holiday includes: Return flights · 4-star hotel · 15 meals · Expert Holiday Director & Specialist Local Guide · Ostuni, olive oil tasting & Cisternino · Alberobello & Martina Franca visits · Locorotondo & lunch at an authentic Puglian Masseria · Discover Matera's Sassi dwellings
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Page 57
TRAILFINDERS
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Call to talk through your plans and order your TRAILFINDER magazine filled with offers
ATOL LICENCE: 1458
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FIND YOUR LUXURY BEACH ESCAPE...
Coco Badu Hithi, Maldives 7 nights from £2,349( ^{1} )
Flights, 5★ all inclusive beach resort and speedboat transfers
- Enjoy an excellent house reel renowned for Hawksbill turtle spotting • Relax in the large beachfront infinity pool
SPECIAL OFFER Room discount
& FREE upgrade to all inclusive
- saving over £4,050 per couple
Maritim Resort & Spa Mauritius
7 nights from £2,549( ^{1} )
Plus EUR 21pp payable locally
Flights, 5★ all inclusive beach resort and private transfers
- This recently renovated resort enjoys an idyllic setting overlooking breathtaking Turtle Bay
SPECIAL OFFER 20% room discount
- saving over £350 per couple
Gaya Island Resort, Borneo, Malaysia
7 nights from £1,699( ^{1} )
Plus MYR 70pp payable locally
Flights, 5★ beach resort, breakfast and private transfers
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TF'S TOP PICK
12 Nights Luxury Thailand City & Beach for £1,599
FIND YOUR HOLIDAY INSPIRATION...
California Cruising, USA
14 nights from £1,199-
Plus USD 349pp payable locally
Direct flights, 3 nights 4★ San Francisco hotel incl breakfast, 11 nights motorhome hire sleeping up to 5 incl 1,500 mileage pack and Alcatraz & San Francisco 2 Day Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour
- Follow iconic Highway 1 down the California coast
SPECIAL OFFER 50% off Mileage Pack
- saving over £250 per couple
Australia & New Zealand Voyage
32 nights from £9,999( ^{†} )
Flights, 2 nights 4★+ Hong Kong hotel, 16 nights 3★+ to 4★+ Australia hotels, Rottnest Island Adventure, 3 days car hire in Perth, 3 days on board the Indian Pacific in a Gold twin cabin incl off-Train Experiences and selected meals/drinks, Uluru Morning Guided Base Walk, Kings Canyon from Uluru and 12 night Celebrity cruise incl full board, Classic Drinks Package & wi-fi
Great Value Garden Route & Safari, South Africa
12 nights from £2,199( ^{1} )
Plus. EUR 670pp payable locally
Flights, 3★+ to 4★ hotels, 9 days car hire, 2 Day Cape Town Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour, Franschhoek Wine Tram, Congo Caves Tour, Meerkat Safari, 2 Half Day Pumba Safari Experiences, 10 meals and private arrival transfer
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Western Canada Family Adventure
13 nights from £2,549*
Plus CAD 135pp payable locally
Direct flights, hotels, 11 days car hire, Vancouver Hop-on Hop-off Bus City Tour, FlyOver Canada; Summer Alpine Experience, Zipline Tour, Bear Viewing Tour, Ultimate Rockies Explorer Ticket and Cowboy Cookout incl lunch
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FIND YOUR TOURING ADVENTURE...
Essential Vietnam & Cambodia
17 nights from £2,499-
Flights, 1 night pre-tour hotel and 17 day guided small group adventure tour incl 14 nights hotels, 1 night junk boat, 1 night sleeper train, shared transport, tour leader, activities/excursions & 20 meals
SPECIAL OFFER Tour discount
- saving over £150 per person
Japan: Osaka, Kyoto, Mount Fuji & Tokyo
7 nights from £3,299( ^{2} )
Flights, 1 night pre-tour 4★+ hotel and 7 day guided small group adventure tour incl 6 nights hotels, shared transport, tour leader, activities/ excursions & 2 meals
- Wonder through Gion, Kyoto's most famous geisha district • Walk under the thousands of iconic taxi gates of the Fushimi Inari shrine
Premium Sri Lanka in Depth
14 nights from £4,399( ^{2} )
Flights, 1 night pre-tour hotel and 14 day guided small group adventure tour incl 13 nights hotels, shared transport, tour leader, activities/excursions & 21 meals
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Learn about the country's fascinating history in the Cultural Triangle
-
Experience a cooking class in Galle TF EXCLUSIVE Tour discount
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saving over £200 per person
Classic Costa Rica
12 nights from £3,599-
Flights and 13 day private tour incl 10 nights hotels & 2 nights lodge, private & shared transport & guides, activities/excursions & 17 meals
- Take in Costa Rica's stunning biodiversity • Saviour amazing views of Anenal Valcano • Walk through the mystical Monteverde Cloud Forest
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More Flight Offers & Information
| Economy | Business | |
|---|---|---|
| Bangkok | £450- | £1,995( ^{1} ) |
| Sri Lanka | £534( ^{1} ) | £1,999( ^{1} ) |
| Maldives | £572( ^{2} ) | £2,399( ^{1} ) |
| Los Angeles | £591( ^{4} ) | £3,176( ^{1} ) |
| Mauritius | £643- | £1,968( ^{4} ) |
| Cape Town | £688- | £2,499( ^{1} ) |
| Melbourne | £699- | £3,099- |
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Prices are per person based on twin share including flights from London (call for details), are subject to availability & valid for selected departures in the next 6 weeks except #19 Sep - 31 Oct - 1 Nov - 15 Dec 26 17 Jan - 31 Mar 27 11 Apr - 30 Jun 27 8 Aug 27. *Price based on 2 adults & 3 children under 12 travelling. Hotel, cruise, tour and flight prices are dynamic. Purchasing in mail time according to consumer demand and the season of travel. Prices exclude any applicable local taxes and fees. All information correct at time of going to print on 14 Aug 26.
Page 58
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AMAZING CRUISE HOLIDAY
Celebrity X Cruises®
CANARY ISLANDS, SPAIN & MOROCCO
14 NIGHTS HOLIDAY - 12 NIGHTS CELEBRITY INFINITY
WHAT'S INCLUDED:
Flights UK to Barcelona
Hand & hold luggage
2nts Barcelona stay
12nts Full board cruise
(61nts packages available)
Flights Barcelona to UK
ITINERARY
- Barcelona
- Malaga
- Casablanca
- Gran Canaria
- Tenerife
- Lanzarote
- Gibraltar
- Barcelona.
REF: 13687
flightsandpackages.com™
FLIGHTS HOLIDAYS HOTELS CRUISES
DEPARTURE Nov 2026 - Mar 2027
CALL NOW: 0208 176 4952
Travel Insurance Medical conditions? No problem!
We do medical screening differently. You could get a better price!
Call free:
0808 196 1430
totaltravelprotection.com
Authorised & Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority No 471641. Terms & Conditions apply. *Discount applies to base premium only, not to any medical screening premiums, optional extras or admin fee. Discount valid until 31/12/2026.
Annual & single trip
Cover for all types of conditions
Trustpilot Excellent
© 2025. All Rights Reserved. All rights reserved. All rights reserved. All information contained herein is subject to change without notice. All information contained herein is subject to change without notice. All information contained herein is subject to change without notice. All information contained herein is subject to change without notice.
Page 59
THE SOVEREIGN
CRUISE CLUB
The Luxury Cruise Experts since 1998
FLASH SALE! A FURTHER UP TO 10% OFF FOR CUNARD PAST PASSENGERS! ON MANY 2027 & 2028 CRUISES! CALL FOR DETAILS. 7 NIGHTS NORWEGIAN FJORDS £675 & 82 NIGHTS SOUTH AMERICAN DISCOVERY £740!
THE 5★ NORWAY & THE NORTH CAPE
13 October 2026, 12 Nights, Queen Anne
Southampton > Alesund > Tromso (overnight) > Narvik (overnight) > Stavanger > Southampton (H626)
IC Inside £1061
Oceanview WATLISTED
CB Balcony £2335
Q2 Grill Suite £8971
Limited Space Including Balcony & above onboard spend of up to $470
THE 5★ HAMBURG & ZEEBRUGGE
18 October 2026, 5 Nights, RMS Queen Mary 2
Southampton > Hamburg > Zeebrugge (Bruges) > Southampton (M62&D)
IC Inside £676
Oceanview WATLISTED
DC Balcony £820
Grill Suite WATLISTED
Limited Space
THE 5★ CANARIES & MADEIRA
4 December 2026, 12 Nights, Queen Victoria
Southampton > Madeira > La Palma > Tenerife > Lanzarote > Lisbon > Southampton (V623)
Inside £918
Oceanview £1014
BF Balcony £1207
Grill Suite £3712
Limited Space Including Grill Suite onboard spend of up to $340
THE 5★ CHRISTMAS CANARIES
20 December 2026, 14 Nights, Queen Anne
Southampton > Madeira > Lanzarote > Fuerteventura > Tenerife > La Palma > Lisbon (overnight) > Southampton (H7101)
ID Inside £26422
Oceanview WATLISTED
CC Balcony £2829
Grill Suite £5009
Limited Space Including Grill Suite onboard spend of up to $390
THE 5★ SPAIN & FRANCE
28 March 2027, 7 Nights, Queen Elizabeth
Southampton > La Coruna > Gijon > Santander > Cherbourg > Southampton (Q709N)
IE Inside £675
Oceanview £772
BF Balcony £917
P1 Grill Suite £2210
Including Grill Suite onboard spend of up to $400
THE 5★ NORWEGIAN FJORDS
4 April 2027, 7 Nights, Queen Elizabeth
Southampton > Stavanger > Skjolden > Alesund > Haugesund > Southampton (Q709P)
ID Inside £830
Oceanview £897
BE Balcony £1283
Grill Suite £2301
It's time to upgrade to Sovereign! If your luxury agent doesn't answer 95% of all calls within three rings, with no automated phone answering and offer you the finest service, renowned expertise, guaranteed best prices & full ABTA/ATOL protection. Call us today!
THE 5★ AZORES, PORTUGAL & SPAIN
1 November 2026, 12 Nights, Queen Anne
Southampton > Ponta Delgada (overnight) > Madeira > Lisbon > Vigo > Southampton (H628)
Inside £946
Oceanview WATLISTED
BE Balcony £1641
Grill Suite £3793
Limited Space Including Balcony & above onboard spend of up to $340
THE 5★ SPAIN, MOROCCO & PORTUGAL
11 November 2026, 16 Nights, Queen Victoria
Southampton > Madeira > Tenerife > Lanzarote > Agadir > Casablanca > Tanger > Lisbon > Southampton (V623)
Inside £1497
Oceanview £1574
BF Balcony £2095
Grill Suite £6905
Limited Space Including Grill Suite onboard spend of up to $450
THE 5★ NETHERLANDS
25 November 2026, 4 Nights, Queen Anne
Southampton > Rotterdam (overnight) > Southampton (H630)
IC Inside £348
Oceanview WATLISTED
CB Balcony £522
P1 Grill Suite £1586
Limited Space
THE 5★ SOUTH AMERICAN DISCOVERY
19 January 2027, 82 Nights, Queen Anne
Southampton > 7 Days at Sea > Hamilton, Bermuda > Port Canaveral > Fort Lauderdale > Grand Turk > Barbados > Fortaleza > Salvador > Buzios > Rio de Janeiro (overnight) > Santos (tours to Sao Paulo) > Montevideo > Buenos Aires (overnight) > Puerto Madryn > Ushuaia > Cape Horn (Sail By) > Punta Arenas > Amalia Glacier (scenic cruising) > PIO X Glacier (scenic cruising) > Puerto Montt > San Antonio (overnight - tours to Santiago) > Coquimbo > Arica > Callao (overnight - tours to Lima) > Puerto Amador (overnight - tours to Panama City) > Transit the Panama Canal > Aruba > Fort Lauderdale > Port Canaveral (overnight) > 7 Days at Sea > Praia da Vitoria > Southampton (H7038)
Inside £7401
EC Oceanview £10,335
BB Balcony £11,020
Grill Suite £24,885
DEALS OF THE WEEK 6 Including Grill Suite onboard spend of up to $3700
THE 5★ CANARIES & MOROCCO
19 January 2027, 16 Nights, Queen Elizabeth
Southampton > Lanzarote > Tenerife > Gran Canaria > Agadir > Casablanca > Tanger > Lisbon > Southampton (Q703N)
ID Inside £1787
Oceanview £1816
BB Balcony £2867
Grill Suite £13,345
Limited Space Including Grill Suite onboard spend of up to $860
THE 5★ MEDITERRANEAN
7 April 2027, 14 Nights, Queen Anne
Southampton > Vigo > Barcelona > Alghero > Cagliari > Malaga > Gibraltar > Southampton (H730)
IE Inside £1188
EC Oceanview £1506
Balcony £1641
Grill Suite £3638
Including Grill Suite onboard spend of up to $600
THE 5★ NORWEGIAN FJORDS
20 June 2027, 7 Nights, Queen Anne
Southampton > Olden > Skjolden > Haugesund > Southampton (H717)
Inside £675
EC Oceanview £887
CB Balcony £1158
Grill Suite £2301
DEALS OF THE WEEK 6 Including Grill Suite onboard spend of up to $400
THE 5★ NORWEGIAN FJORDS
15 July 2027, 7 Nights, Queen Anne
Southampton > Stavanger > Olden > Alesund > Haugesund > Southampton (H720)
Inside £772
EE Oceanview £907
Balcony £965
Grill Suite £1933
P&O CRUISES
Sovereign Flash Sale! Up to 10% off All P&O Cruises!
16 Nights Christmas Canaries £1643 & 18 Nights Spain, Portugal & Cape Verde £1046
The Norwegian Fjords PC Inside £741
22 Aug, 5, 12, 19, 26 Sep 2026 Seaview WATLISTED
7 Nights | Iona
Southampton > Stavanger > Olden > Haugesund > Krishansund > Southampton EF Deluxe Balcony £1,263
— | Faras & Eftnerary based on 26 Sept 26 & vary by date | —
The Canaries & Madeira Inside £1,236
16 October 2026 | 14 Nights | Britannia JE Balcony £1,569
Southampton > Madeira > La Palma > Tenerife > Gran Canaria > Lanzarote > Cadiz > Lisbon > HF Balcony £1,616
— Gran Canaria > Lanzarote > Cadiz > Lisbon — Southampton (B625) Deluxe Balcony £2,376
Southampton (B625)
Limited Space
The Canaries & Madeira Free upgrade
17 November 2026 | 12 Nights | Ventura Seaview £856
Southampton > Madeira > Tenerife > Gran Canaria > Lanzarote > Lisbon > HE Balcony £1,217
— Gran Canaria > Lanzarote > Cadiz > Lisbon — Southampton (N631) Deluxe Balcony £2,376
Southampton (N631)
Limited Space
Spain, Portugal & Cape Verde Inside £1,046
3 December 2026 | 18 Nights | Ventura Seaview £1,188
Southampton > Madeira > Proia > St. Vincent > Lancarote > Gran Canaria > Cadiz > Lisbon > Balcony £1,331
— Southampton (N633N) Deluxe Balcony WATLISTED
DEALS OF THE WEEK
The Christmas Canaries & Madeira PC Inside £1,643
19 December 2026 | 16 Nights | Iona Free upgrade
Southampton > Madeira > Tenerife > Fuerteventura LC Seaview to GF Balcony
— Gran Canaria > Lanzarote > Cadiz > Lisbon GF Balcony £2,120 — La Coruña > Southampton (G640) Coquimbo > V623
DEALS OF THE WEEK
The New Year Caribbean PE Inside £1,587
1 January 2027 | 14 Nights | Arvia Seaview £2,073
Fly UK Bridgetown (overnight) > Martinique > GF Balcony £2,136
— St. Kitts & Fieve > Tortola > St. Maarten CY Coopervalery > Mini Suite £2,811
Bridgetown/Fly UK (K701)
Including Flights & Transfers
Spain, Portugal & Canary Islands Inside £859
25 January 2027 | 14 Nights | Ventura Seaview £949
Southampton > Madeira (overnight) > La Palma > Balcony £1,264
— Gran Canaria > Arrecife de Lanzarote > Cadiz > Lisbon > Southampton (N701Q) Deluxe Balcony £1,579
Lobon > Southampton (N701Q)
Belgium, France & Netherlands Inside £389
8 February 2027 | 5 Nights | Iona Seaview £434
Southampton > Zeebrugge (Bruges) GF Balcony £452
— Rotterdam > Cherbourg > Southampton (G702) CY Coopervalery > Mini Suite £632
Southampton (G702)
The Grand Mediterranean Inside £1,447
26 February 2027 | 21 Nights | Ventura Seaview £1,627
Southampton > Cartagena > La Saudele > Valletta Balcony £1,987
— Piraeus (Athens) > Naples > Civitavecchia (Rome) Balcony £1,987
— Barcelona > Alicante > Cadiz > Lisbon > Southampton (N704) DD Deluxe Balcony £2,527
Portugal & The Canary Islands Inside £859
19 March 2027 | 12 Nights | Ventura Seaview £949
Southampton > Madeira > Tenerife > HF Balcony £1,174
— Gran Canaria > Arrecife de Lanzarote > Lisbon > Southampton (N705) Deluxe Balcony £1,417
Lisbon > Southampton (N705)
The Norwegian Fjords Inside £631
21 May 2027 | 7 Nights | Britannia JC Balcony £856
Southampton > Haugesund > Olden > Alesund >
Stavanger > Southampton (B712) HF Balcony £901
— St. Vincent > Lancarote > Cadiz > Lisbon > Deluxe Balcony £1,333
The Norwegian Fjords Inside £807
28 May 2027 | 7 Nights | Britannia JE Balcony £1,073
Southampton > Stavanger > Skjolden > Alesund >
Southampton (B713) HF Balcony £1,140
— St. Vincent > Lancarote > Cadiz > Lisbon > Deluxe Balcony WATLISTED
0808 304 1872
LOCAL RATE TELEPHONE NUMBER
OVER 11,350 LUXURY OFFERS AVAILABLE ONLINE
sovereigncruise.co.uk
THE HOME OF LUXURY CRUISING
Rated Excellent
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★★★★★
ABTA
ABTA No L4182
OPEN · MON · SAT 9AM TO 6PM & SUN 10AM TO 6PM. Please see our website for terms and conditions.
Page 60
29 NIGHT, FLY, STAY & CRUISE HOLIDAY
EXTENDED VOYAGE: CARIBBEAN SHORES TO MEDITERRANEAN DELIGHTS
INCLUDING OVER £2175 BONUS VALUE
EXCLUSIVE TO
Flights from the UK to Miami, returning from Barcelona
BONUS 1 Night Hotel Stay to explore Miami
28 Night immersive voyage onboard MSC Seashore from Miami to Barcelona
BONUS Premium Extra Drinks Package: Sip on all your favourite drinks with unlimited beverages on select cocktails, spirits, beer, wines, soft drinks, juices, coffee and tea, and bottled water.
Onboard prepaid gratuities
Onboard dining across a range of complimentary venues
Onboard entertainment including live music & performances
Onboard all port taxes & charges
Manchester-Birmingham-Glasgow-Edinburgh Prices based on Heathrow departures
FROM £3990* INTERIOR STATEROOM PER PERSON | TWIN SHARE
DATE 18 MARCH 2028 | DEAL CODE CC-41223
OCEANVIEW, BALCONY, AUREA & YACHT CLUB CALL FOR DETAILS
cruiseclubuk.com | FREE PHONE 0808 253 5602
★★★★★ leefo
SPEAK TO AN EXPERT OPEN 7 DAYS
Mon - Fri: 9am - 6pm | Sat & Sun 9am - 5pm
Visa required: Cruise Club UK is a subsidiary of Travelworld International MCR. Cruise Club UK acts as ATOL holder/agent for financial protection. Please note that local city, tourist or accommodation taxes may apply to hotel stays and, unless otherwise stated, must be paid directly to the hotel by guests. *Prices are based on twin-share per person and subject to availability and currency fluctuations. Prices subject to change without notice, until reservation is confirmed. ABTA NUMBER: 55095 | ATOL NUMBER: 5675. For full terms and conditions: cruiseclubuk.com/terms-conditions.phtml
Page 61
BOOK WITH THE TOP PARTNER FOR
OCEANIA
CRUISES
EXCLUSIVE FARES WILL INCREASE 8PM 23RD AUGUST 2026
TRUSTED FOR OVER 30 YEARS
THE ADULTS-ONLY 5★ NO-FLY
Vibrant Baltic Capitals
SAVE UP TO 30%*
FREE
GRATUITIES, WI-FI & SPECIALITY DINING**
FREE
HOUSE DRINKS PACKAGE**
SHORE
EXCURSION CREDIT
OF UP TO $800**
FREE
CAR PARKING**
FOR ALL BOOKINGS
5★ ADULTS-ONLY CRUISING
Intimate and luxurious, Oceania Marina hosts no more than 1,250 guests, creating an atmosphere that feels effortlessly refined and personal. This boutique scale allows for generous space, attentive service, and a relaxed rhythm that larger ships simply cannot replicate.
Open seating dining and uncrowded teak decks, and ocean-view lounges foster a sense of calm sophistication. The Finest Cuisine at Sea® defines the Oceania Cruises experience. Their culinary program celebrates the ingredients, techniques, and traditions of the world's great culinary regions - reflecting the destinations they visit. From sourcing premium artisanal ingredients from around the world, to the spacious state-of-the-art galleys and their distinguished chefs who are continually inspired by their Executive Culinary Directors and Master Chefs of France, Alexis Quaretti and Eric Barale.
14 NIGHTS DEPARTING 8TH JUNE 2027
JUNE 2027
Tue 8 Embark the elegant 5★ Oceania Marina and depart Southampton for your adults-only voyage
Thu 10 Skagen, Denmark
Fri 11 Copenhagen, Denmark
Sun 13 Stockholm, Sweden
★Recommended Excursion*: Highlights of Stockholm & Vasa Museum
Enjoy an orientation drive through Sweden's watery, wonderful capital city, passing sights like the Royal Palace, the Royal Opera House and the Swedish Parliament Building. Then, tour the Vasa Museum, where the world's oldest complete ship sits reassembled after 333 years under water
Mon 14 Helsinki, Finland
Tue 15 Tallinn, Estonia (depart early pm)
Wed 16 Riga, Latvia
Thu 17 Visby, Sweden (depart early pm)
Fri 18 Berlin (from Warnemünde), Germany
Sat 19 Aarhus, Denmark
Tue 22 Arrive in Southampton
Dates not mentioned are spent relaxing at sea
YOUR EXCLUSIVE ROL CRUISE FARES
| STATIONING SUITE | GRADE* | FULL FARE (PP) | ROL CRUISE FARE (PP) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inside | F | £5,829 | £3,899 |
| Deluxe Ocean View | C | - SOLD OUT - | |
| Veranda | B4 | £7,319 | £5,059 |
| Concierge Veranda | A4 | £7,649 | £5,299 |
| Penthouse Suite | PH3 | £9,249 | £6,559 |
JUST A DEPOSIT REQUIRED TO BOOK
WHAT'S INCLUDED
IN YOUR ROL CRUISE SALE
EXCLUSIVE SAVINGS OF UP TO 30%*
FARES WILL INCREASE 8PM 23RD AUGUST 2026
FREE CAR PARKING FOR ALL BOOKINGS**
✓ 5★ adults-only luxury cruising on board the elegant Oceania Marina, including**:
- FREE House Drinks Package – including Champagne, wine & beer during meal times
OR
-
FREE up to $800 shore excursion credit
-
FREE gratuities & Wi-Fi for all bookings
- FREE speciality dining for all bookings
- Experience 'The Finest Cuisine at Sea' with multiple open-seating speciality dining venues at no additional charge
- FREE soft drinks, bottled water and speciality coffees
- FREE room service 24-hours a day
- FREE shuttles from the pier to city centre in most ports of call
EARN EXCLUSIVE CRUISE MILES*
worth up to £131 off your next booking**
rolcruise.co.uk/dailymail
TRAVEL WITH CONFIDENCE
ABTA
CALL ONE OF OUR
CRUISE SPECIALISTS
FREE ON
0808 239 1915
QUOTE OFFER REF 644728
WE ARE OPEN 7
DAYS A WEEK
FROM 8:30AM – 8PM
Trustpilot
FedEx FedEx FedEx FedEx
Pricing and availability correct at time of sign off (14/08/2026). zSavings & fares may increase or be withdrawn at any time. Offer applies to new bookings only. Recommended excursions are at a charge and subject to change and availability. Suite is on a guaranteed basis. Subject to the cruise line's T&Cs. ††Cruise Miles T&Cs apply. Agent to ABTA Holder Oceania (14951). Oceania Cruises T&Cs apply. E&OE.
Page 62
5★LUXURY For Less!
Up to £1,500pp off As part of the new Explorer Fare!
Offer mail and 31st August 2026*
Exclusive
OCEANIA CRUISES
NAUTICA
COLLECTION 2027
Adults only 5★ cruises from Southampton
Exclusively brought to you by
cruise.co.uk
No Fly Norwegian Fjords & Nordic Light
7 nights
16 August 2027
from 1899pp
1699pp
Your Exclusive sanctuary at sea includes:
FREE House drinks package FREE unlimited Wi-Fi ALL onboard gratuities
Plus:
■ Adult only guests ■ includes soft drinks, speciality coffees & teas, Vero water, juices, smoothies & gourmet ice cream
■ Experience the Finest Cuisine At Sea across multiple onboard dining venues
Your Itinerary:
DAY 1 - Embark Oceania Nautica in Southampton, UK Your luxury voyage starts today. Travel to Southampton and board Oceania Nautica for an unbelievable 7-night cruise across the spell-binding Norwegian Fjords.
DAY 2 - Day At Sea Enjoy a day at sea onboard the luxurious Oceania Nautica. Taste the Finest Cuisine At Sea or sip on a glass of wine as part of your House Drinks package, included onboard your voyage (drinks available at select times across all bars and lounges).
DAY 3 - Stavanger, Norway Immerse yourself in the rich culture and natural beauty of Stavanger, home to charming streets, historic landmarks, and breathtaking viewpoints.
DAY 4 - Maloy, Norway Discover the coastal charm of Maloy, a Norwegian town where majestic fjords and the North Sea converge.
DAY 5 - Rosendal, Norway Experience the magic of Rosendal, a charming Norwegian village where nature and culture coexist in perfect harmony.
DAY 6 - Haugesund, Norway Explore Haugesund, Norway's gateway to its iconic, world-famous fjords and magical natural landscapes.
DAY 7 - Day At Sea Relax and unwind on your final day onboard Oceania Nautica, indulging in gastronomic delights, unlimited onboard Wi-Fi and drinks, part of your included House Drinks package.
DAY 8 - Disembark Oceania Nautica in Southampton, UK It's time to head home. After disembarking Oceania Nautica in Southampton, you will make your own way home.
LIMITED-TIME PRICES - DO NOT MISS OUT! BOOK BY 31ST AUGUST 2026
| CASH FROM EDD | GREE | WAS | NOW |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inside | G | 1899 | 1699 |
| Inside | F | 1999 | 1749 |
| Outside | D | 2099 | 1999 |
| Outside | C2 | 2199 | 1899 |
| Outside | C1 | 2299 | 1899 |
| Veranda | B2 | 2449 | 2249 |
| Veranda | B1 | 2549 | 2399 |
| Concierge | A3 | 2699 | 2499 |
| Concierge | A2 | 2799 | 2549 |
| Concierge | A1 | 2949 | 2599 |
| Penthouse | PH3 | 3599 | 3239 |
| Penthouse | PH2 | 3799 | 3349 |
| Penthouse | PH1 | 3999 | 3699 |
| Vista Suite | VS | 7199 | 6499 |
| Owners Suite | OS | 8699 | 7499 |
*All prices based on two people sharing.
Secure
Fully protected
ABTA & ATOL bonded
Established
We are the Real Cruise People -
Cruise experts for over 40 years
Personal
Deal with a dedicated cruise.co.uk
expert cruise consultant
cruise.co.uk
THE REAL CRUISE PEOPLE
TALK TO ONE OF OUR FRIENDLY CRUISE CONSULTANTS TODAY
0800 073 9273
TO GET THIS OFFER QUOTE CODE
MAIL-OCEANIA
Opening Hours: Monday - Saturday: 9am - 9pm | Sunday: 10am - 8pm
SCAN TO SEE
THE FULL
COLLECTION
All fees are per person and based on two adults sharing. All flights are based from London airports, regional airports may be available at a supplement. *Less Deposit & Internet-Free Payments is applicable to selected 2026, 2027 & 2028 ceilings only, excluding World Cruises. Your monthly payment schedule will be advised by your Cruise Consultant. If you make any changes to your booking your monthly payments may increase. If you cancel your booking you will still be liable to pay the remainder of the full deposit amount. The full standard deposit amount is the minimum cancellation charge please see Cruise.co.uk for full terms & conditions. Some of our packages include elements that are natural occurrences, such as wildlife roaming, however, your roaming of both elements cannot be guaranteed and is subject to change based on weather conditions, climate change, and Wildlife sightings. Please see Cruise.co.uk for full terms and conditions. Calls are recorded for marketing & Training purposes. $1,500 per person saving based on 27th July 2027 Oceania Nautica cruise Owner's Suite spoke, other amounts on alternative cabin grades and ceilings included on 25th July 2027, 27th July 2027, 8th August 2027 and 18th August 2027 only. Offer not available on 23rd August 2027 and 17th July 2027 Oceania Nautica cruises, buy one part one free Oceania cruises, UK Oceania cruises, or any other cruise.co.uk promotion. Luxury For Less offer ends on 31 August 2026. Heavy off is available as part of Explorer Fare, and as part of this fare offer Cruise.co.uk can choose the customer's cabin numbers on booking. Cruise.co.uk reserves the right to amend or change the terms of this promotion without prior notice or announcement. Please see cruise.co.uk for full terms and conditions. Calls are recorded for marketing and training purposes. $&DE.
Page 63
EXPLORATIONS
BY NON-MEDIAN
Exploration From
The UK to South Africa
Southampton to Cape Town 2026
INCLUDING OVER £3260 BONUS VALUE
25 Night Fly & Exploration Cruise
Sail from Southampton on an unforgettable voyage to the edge of Africa, discovering coastal gems including Lisbon, Agadir, Lanzarote, Dakar and Banjul before arriving in spectacular Cape Town and flying back to the UK.
Sail from Southampton and fly back to the UK from Cape Town
24 Night Cruise onboard Regatta from Southampton to Cape Town
All-inclusive onboard freestyle dining
BONUS All-inclusive onboard beverage package - worth £755( ^{PP} )
BONUS Onboard Specialty Dining & WIFI package - worth £620
BONUS USD $50 Onshore Exploration credit per port ( ^{+} ) - worth £375
BONUS Onboard prepaid gratuities- worth £380( ^{PP} )
Still & Sparkling Water replenished daily in your stateroom
Onboard entertainment including live music and performances
Why not extend your holiday - Add on a 2 night post cruise premium hotel stay with daily breakfast in Cape Town for only £99( ^{PP} )
Fly to your regional airport - Please contact for details
Gatwick - Manchester - Birmingham - Edinburgh - Newcastle - Glasgow Prices based on Heathrow departures
FROM
£2999*
INTERIOR STATEROOM
PER PERSON | TWIN SHARE
DATE 31 OCTOBER 2026 | DEAL CODE CC-34615
VIEW PACKAGE
OCEANVIEW, BALCONY AND PENTHOUSE SUITE
CALL FOR DETAILS
Cruise club UK
ABTA & ATOL PROTECTED | ESTABLISHED IN 1864
cruiseclubuk.com | FREE PHONE 0808 253 4375
★★★★★ feefo( ^{TM} )
©
ABTA
The Cabin View Required. Cruise Club UK is a subsidiary of Travelworld International MCR. Cruise Club UK acts as ATOL holder/agent for financial protection. Prices are based on two-shore per person and subject to availability and currency fluctuations. Prices subject to change without notice, until reservation is confirmed. ABTA NUMBER: 39093 | ATOL NUMBER: 3673. For full terms and conditions, cruiseclubuk.com/terms-conditions.phtml
Page 64
IMAGINE CRUISING®
SALE
SAVE UP TO
£1,000
PER COUPLE*
OFFER ENDS 31.08.26
TIMELESS
Luxury
FULL-BOARD CRUISE • LUXURY RAIL
TRAVEL ON BOARD THE ICONIC VENICE SIMPLON-ORIENT-EXPRESS
BOOK A GRILL SUITE & RECEIVE A SUITE UPGRADE ON BOARD THE VENICE SIMPLON-ORIENT-EXPRESS
Book with Confidence
ABTA
Trustpilot
✓ Trusted Worldwide
✓ Financial Protection
✓ 15 Years of Experience
LUXURY CUNARD MEDITERRANEAN VOYAGE WITH LAKE GARDA & VENICE SIMPLON-ORIENT-EXPRESS
Inside from
£5,999 pp
13 Nights | 10 June 2027
Your Holiday Includes
Seven night full-board cruise on board Queen Elizabeth
Book a Grill Suite and receive a complimentary Suite upgrade on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
Two day all-inclusive luxury Venice Simplon-Orient-Express journey from Verona to Paris in a Historic Cabin
One night four-star stay in
Barcelona at the Leonardo Royal Hotel Barcelona Forum
One night four-star stay in Florence at the Hoxton Florence
Complimentary three night four- star hotel stay in Lake Garda at the Hotel Villa Garuti
All flights (London departure - regional flights available) and transfers
INSIDE
£5,999 pp
OCEANVIEW
£6,499 pp
BALCONY
£6,999 pp
GRILL SUITE
£10,499 pp
HOLIDAY CODE: EUR2292
Holiday duration includes overnight flights when applicable and is subject to change. *Prices shown include discount and savings based on two passengers sharing, booking directly with Imagine Cruising.
Scan the QR code for more
IMAGINE CRUISING®
Call us on
01793 575 239
Mon - Sun: 9am - 8pm
Visit us online
imaginecruising.co.uk
For full terms and conditions please visit www.imaginecruising.co.uk. Imagine Cruising are fully ABTA and ATOL bonded. Prices are correct at the time of print and are subject to change. Prices are per person based on two adults sharing a cruise cabin or suite and include flights to London (regional flights available at a supplement).
Page 65
ASIA TROPICAL TRILOGY
BALI RETREAT, SINGAPORE SLING & ANCIENT THAILAND
cruise.co.uk
THE RANK OF THE COURSE
EXCLUSIVE TO
cruise.co.uk
FREE STAYS
in Bali & Singapore
12-NIGHT
Cruise Onboard Diamond Princess
INCLUDED
Return Flights
& Overseas Transfers
YOUR 20-NIGHT INCREDIBLE ITINERARY
DAY 1: FLY OVERNIGHT FROM UK TO BALI, INDONESIA
Regional Departure Airports Available*
Today, you will fly overnight from the UK to Bali.
DAY 2: ARRIVE IN BALI, INDONESIA
Touch down in Bali and transfer to your hotel for an indulgent five-night stay. Spend your first evening relaxing by the pool or enjoying a traditional Balinese dinner as the sun sets over the Indian Ocean.
DAY 3-6: BALI, INDONESIA
Soak up the sun in Seminyak or Canggu. Wander along the volcanic sand beaches, watch world-class surfers tackle the breaks, and enjoy a cocktail at a beachfront lounge as the sun dips below the Indian Ocean.
DAY 7: FLY FROM BALI, INDONESIA TO SINGAPORE
After a final tropical breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Singapore. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel for a one-night stay in this ultra-modern metropolis, where futuristic architecture meets lush botanical gardens.
DAY 8: EMBARK DIAMOND PRINCESS IN SINGAPORE
After a morning at leisure, transfer to the cruise terminal to board the elegant Diamond Princess for your 12-night cruise. Settle into your stateroom and explore the ship's unique features, including the authentic Izumi Japanese bath, as you prepare to sail.
DAY 9: PORT KLANG, MALAYSIA
Port Klang, the largest port in Malaysia, is a gateway to Kuala Lumpur's vibrant city life. Experience the bustling atmosphere and immense yourself in the local culture in this fascinating port.
DAY 10: LANGKAWI, MALAYSIA
Known for its crystal blue waters, sandy beaches and tropical rainforests, Langkawi is an archipelago of 99 islands located off the coast of Malaysia that is a paradise for nature lovers.
DAY 11: GEORGE TOWN, MALAYSIA
Explore the vibrant streets of George Town, Penang, where colonial charm meets bustling markets and mouthwatering cuisine, creating an unforgettable tapestry of culture and flavour.
DAY 12: PHUKET, THAILAND
Escape to Thailand's largest island Phuket to see a magical, spellbinding paradise which is famous for its pristine beaches, turquoise waters, and lively nightlife.
DAY 16: KO SAMUI, THAILAND
Escape to the tropical paradise of Ko Samui located in the Gulf of Thailand. Its pristine beaches, crystal-clear waters, and lush forests are ideal for beach lovers and adventure seekers alike.
WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THIS TRIP OF A LIFETIME?
- 5-night 4★ hotel stay in Bali
- 1-night 4★ hotel stay in Singapore
- 12-night cruise onboard Diamond Princess
-
All flights & overseas transfers
-
Embrace Balinese culture and traditions & bask in the natural beauty of Bali
- Dedicated Cruise.co.uk expert cruise consultant
- Fully protected - your holiday is safe with us as we are fully ABTA & ATOL bonded
We are the experts! For over 40 years we have been creating industry leading cruise & stay itineraries
DAY 17: LAEM CHABANG (BANGKOK), THAILAND Escape to Thailand's largest island Phuket to see a magical, spellbinding paradise which is famous for its pristine beaches, turquoise waters, and lively nightlife.
DAY 20: DISEMBARK IN SINGAPORE & FLY TO UK Regional Arrival Airports Available*
Return to port to disembark and transfer to the airport for your overnight flight back to the UK.
DAY 21: ARRIVE IN UK
Based on 7 Jan 2027. Other itineraries may vary
AVAILABLE DATES
No Deposit And Interest-Free Monthly Payments
| Date / App | Inside | Ocean View | Balcony |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Jan 2027 | 2299 | 2599 | 3199 |
Also Available
| Date / App | Inside | Ocean View | Balcony |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 Dec 2026 | 2439 | 2699 | 2899 |
| 29 Jan 2027 | 2899 | 3099 | 3599 |
| 06 Feb 2027 | 2499 | 2799 | 3499 |
| 12 Jan 2028 | 2799 | 2955 | 3655 |
PRINCESS
Scan Me To View All Dates
TALK TO ONE OF OUR FRIENDLY CRUISE CONSULTANTS TODAY
BARBARA
EVA
EVA
0800 073 9271
Opening Hours: Monday - Saturday: 9am - 9pm | Sunday 10am - 8pm
BARTA
TRIPLE
TO GET THIS OFFER QUOTE CODE
MAIL-ASIA
If You are an active band on two adults, taking the brand & intend the credits present is based on an almost two credits present, cover which is based on a current CD. The house was created from four friends in advance of taking, given your to see a number in order to be on your 12-months supplement. Please speak to your consultant for more details. Take a call to receive the right to answer or charge the terms of this promotion without prior notice of announcement. Send of an additional back-interest that we cannot supplement, such as these names and additional ways. However, you already of that interest cannot be guaranteed and is subject to change based on weather conditions, climate change, and Wildlife sightings. Please see Cruise.co.uk for full terms and conditions. Calls are accepted by the holding & Training Purposes, GUB.
Page 66
cruise.co.uk
THE REAL CRUISE PEOPLE
ESCORTED CAVES & FAIRY CHIMNEYS OF CAPPADOCIA
WITH TURKEY & GREEK ISLES CRUISING
No Deposit & Interest-Free Monthly Payments
ESCORTED TOUR
Of Cappadocia - A UNESCO
World Heritage Site
4★ STAY
in a Unique Cave Hotel
in Cappadocia, Turkey
SUNRISE
Breakfast in Cappadocia
12-NIGHT
Mediterranean Cruise Onboard
Enchanted Princess
YOUR 17-NIGHT INCREDIBLE ITINERARY
DAY 1: FLY UK TO ATHENS, GREECE
Your adventure begins today! You will fly from the UK to Athens and, after touching down you will be transferred to your 4★ hotel for a 1-night stay.
DAY 2: EMBARK ENCHANTED
PRINCESS IN ATHENS, GREECE
This morning you will be transferred to Piraeus cruise port where you will embark on Enchanted Princess for your 12-night cruise.
DAY 3: KUSADASI, TURKEY
DAY 4: RHODES, GREECE
DAY 5: CRETE, GREECE
DAY 6: KATAKOLON, GREECE
DAY 8: VALLETTA, MALTA
DAY 9: MESSINA, ITALY
DAY 10: SALERNO, ITALY
DAY 12: KOTOR, MONTENEGRO
DAY 13: ZADAR, CROATIA
DAY 14: DISEMBARK IN RAVENNA
& FLY TO CAPPADOCIA, TURKEY
This morning you will disembark your ship, meet your dedicated guide and transfer to the airport for your short flight to Cappadocia. After touching down in Cappadocia, you will be transferred to your cave hotel for a 4-night stay.
YOUR ESCORTED TOUR BEGINS
Your Hotel
FRESCO CAVE SUITES
Fresco Cave Suites is nestled in the heart of Cappadocia's old city centre. With a blend of historical ambience and modern comfort, this hidden gem offers a unique experience. Indulge at the Kalin Cave Spa's Turkish bath, experience authentic Anatolian culture, and taste traditional cuisine in the hotel's Tandoor restaurant.
DAY 15: CAPPADOCIA, TURKEY
Included Escorted Tour: North Cappadocia
Your guided tour kicks off today with a visit to Uçhisar Castle, the highest vantage point in Cappadocia, Göreme Open Air Museum, and Çavuşin. After lunch, you'll enjoy a pottery workshop, a handwoven carpets workshop, visit Pişabağı, and explore Bevrent Valley, home to natural rock formations that resemble animals. The tour wraps up at the Three Beauties, a stunning trio of fairy chimneys. Breakfast & Lunch Included
DAY 16: CAPPADOCIA, TURKEY
Included Escorted Tour: Sunrise Breakfast Today, you'll get up early and head to a stunning nearby viewpoint to enjoy a delightful breakfast as you watch the hot air balloons gracefully ascend above Cappadocia's remarkable rock formations.
Included With Your
ESCORTED TAILOR MADE EXPERIENCE...
- 4-night 4★ cave hotel stay, including modern over hot bath, traditional charm, offering an immersive unique experience.
- 1-night stay in Athens
- 4-night escorted tour of Cappadocia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Saturn flights & overseas transfers
- Visit Valletta, Crete & Rhodes holiday port views
- 4-night 4 cave selected Enchanted Princess
- Visit Göreme Open Air Museum, Piraeus Valley and Piraeus Valley
- Regional airports available!
- Dedicated cruise co-uk expert consultant
- Fifty enclosed - your holiday is safe with us as we are fully ASTA & ASTA Review
- We do the summer 12-DAY 24 years we have been creating friendly looking cruise & key itineraries
After breakfast, your guide will take you back to your hotel, where you can spend the day discovering the historical treasures of Cappadocia at your leisure. Breakfast included
DAY 17: CAPPADOCIA, TURKEY
Included Escorted Tour: South Cappadocia Today, you'll venture on an exciting full-day trek through Iriara Valley. You'll explore stunning churches adorned with beautiful frescoes, covering a walking distance of approximately 4 km. After lunch, you'll visit Selime Cathedral and the remarkable Ozkorski Underground City. On the way back to the hotel, you'll see Pigeon Valley. Breakfast & Lunch Included
DAY 18: FLY CAPPADOCIA, TURKEY TO UK
Regional Arrival Airports Available*
Your cruise and stay adventure has, sadly, come to an end. After checking out of your hotel, you will transfer to the airport for your flight home. If you're not ready to say goodbye just yet, think about extending your stay to explore more of beautiful Istanbul!
Price & Itinerary Based On 13 Oct 2027. Other dates and itineraries vary.
AVAILABLE DATES
| 13 Oct 2027 | £pp |
|---|---|
| Inside | 2799 |
| Ocean View | 2899 |
| Balcony | 2899 |
| Suite | 3299 |
| Single | 4199 |
Price Includes In-Resort Fees & Taxes
Similar Itineraries Available With Canard, MSC & Princess
| Date/£pp | Inside | Ocean View | Balcony |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 May 2027 | 2599 | 2699 | 2999 |
| 21 May 2027 | 3599 | 3799 | 3799 |
| 15 Jun 2027 | 2799 | 2899 | 2999 |
| 03 Oct 2027 | 2749 | 2799 | 2899 |
| 03 Oct 2027 (All Rights) | 3799 | 3999 | 4199 |
| 23 Apr 2028 | 3299 | 3599 | 3599 |
| 30 Apr 2028 | 3199 | 3499 | 3499 |
| 06 Oct 2028 | 3505 | 3705 | 3705 |
| 12 Oct 2028 | 3399 | 3499 | 3499 |
Scan me to view all available dates
TALK TO ONE OF OUR FRIENDLY CRUISE CONSULTANTS TODAY
BARBARA
CIVIL
ETICA
0800 073 9272
BARTS FESTS
TO GET THIS OFFER QUOTE CODE MAIL-CAVES
All fees are per person based on two adults' stamps. No deposit is intended. One monthly payments is based on an interest free monthly payments scheme which is applied to a selected ACT 2026 cruise when booked more than 5 months. A advance of calling, please speak to your consultant to confirm the date of your ID's monthly assignment. Please check to your consultant for more details. I have made payment the right to amend an license for terms of this promotion without prior notice or announcement. Some of our products include commercials plus material accessories, use our flower process and wildlife coverage. However, your coverage of such elements cannot be guaranteed and is subject to change based on another conditions, climate change, and Wildlife sightings. Please see Icica.co.uk for full terms and conditions. Calls are recorded for Marketing & Training Purposes. Mail
Page 67
[LOGO]
Luxury Transit SERVICES
✓ THE UK'S NO.1 INDEPENDENT CRUISE SPECIALIST
✓ ABTA & ATOL PROTECTED ✓ UNBEATABLE VALUE
ROL CRUISE
30
TRUSTED FOR OVER 30 YEARS
THE EXCLUSIVE 2027
Vietnam & Cambodia
EXCLUSIVE RIVER CRUISE SALE
EXCLUSIVE
SAVINGS
OF UP TO
50%*
14 nights departing 16th & 30th January, 27th February and 27th March 2027
Other dates are available – please call for details
Day 1 Fly overnight from London to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Day 2 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Upon arrival, transfer to the Sheraton Saigon Grand Opera Hotel – Grand Opera Tower for your two night stay Signature Experience: VIP Fast Track Service Start your holiday as soon as possible when you receive Fast Track Service for a seamless arrival in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Be whisked through immigration and customs
Day 3 Co Chi Tunnels – Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Visit the Co Chi tunnels by the Vietnamese resistance fighters during the Vietnam War Signature Experience: Co Chi Tunnels Visit, Furnace On Tushing & Dinner and Vietnam House
Day 4 Ho Chi Minh City – My Thai Vietnam Embark Mekong Serenity for your seven night Mekong Cruise. Choose from a City Visiting Tour, Marorbide Ride, Cooking Class, Ho Chi Minh City Shopping Adventure or History of Saigon tour. In the evening, enjoy a special Welcome Dinner on board
Day 5 Cai Be – So Dec – Tan Chau, Vietnam Distribute to see the Cai Be Church, the tallest church in the Mekong Delta, and visit manufacturers of rice paper and coconut candy
Day 6 Tan Chau – Cambodia Border Crossing – Phnom Penh
Transfer to a small boat for a journey along the tiny tributaries that snake around Tan Chau. Disembark for a rickshaw tour and visit a local rattan weaving workshop. After lunch, take a small boat to discover authentic rural life on Evergreen Island
Day 7 Phnom Penh, Cambodia Today, choose from a visit to Killing Fields and Genocide Museum, Cyclo Ride, the National Museum or Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda
Day 8 Phnom Penh – Oudong – Koh Chan, Cambodia Signature Experience: Buddhist blessing ceremony
Day 9 Phnom Penh – Oknhu Tey – Angkor Ban, Cambodia Day 10 Angkor Ban – Koh Pen – Kampong Cham, Cambodia
Take a guided walk of Angkor Ban, a village awash with a scene of Cambodia's cultural history, and one of the few traditional villages that survived the Khmer Rouge regime. Signature Experience: Tuk Tuk Tour of Koh Pen
Day 11 Kampong Cham – Siem Reap, Cambodia Disembark, flip ship and transfer to the Safitel Angkor Phokmetha Golf & Spa Resort* for your three night stay
Day 12 Siem Reap, Cambodia Signature Experience: Sunrise at Angkor Wat
Day 13 Siem Reap, Cambodia Choose from Tuk Tuk Ride to Senteure d'Angkor, Quad Bike Adventure, APCPO HerakATS Tour and Landmine Museum, Horse and Cort Ride, Khmer Cooking Class, Siem Reap Shopping Adventure or Khmer Massage Signature Experience: Gallery Visit with Khmer Dinner and Apsara Performance
Signature Experience: Gallery Visit with Khmer Dinner and Apsara Performance
Day 14 Siem Reap, Cambodia Transfer to airport for overnight flight to London
Day 15 Arrive in London (Primary is based on 30th January 2027 and other dates may operate in reverse
Your Highlights
Sunrise at Angkor Wat
Khmer Dinner & Apsara Performance
Tuk Tuk Tour of Koh Pen
Buddhist Blessing Ceremony
STATEROOMS
SELLING FAST
SIGHTSEEING EXCURSIONS
INCLUDED
DRINKS, GRATUITIES & WI-FI
INCLUDED**
EXCLUSIVE
PROMOTION ENDS 8PM
17th AUGUST 2026
What's Included
- INCLUDED hotel stays in Ho Chi Minh City and Siem Reap
-
SEVEN NIGHT river cruise on board Mekong Serenity including**:
-
28 quality meals: enjoy 11 breakfasts, 8 lunches and 9 dinners
- FREE house wine, local beer and soft drinks served with lunch and dinner on board
- Sightseeing, shore excursions and on board entertainment included
- Unique Insider Experiences: Enjoy a range of included special and unique excursions and events
- All overseas transfers, port charges and topping
- Services of a Cruise Director and local guides
Optional four day Halong Bay extension available – please call for details
- Return scheduled flights from London (regional flights may be available on request*) and overseas transfers
- PLUS, book a Deluxe Twin (B) or above by 8pm 17th August 2026 to receive an extra discount of up to £75*
EARN EXCLUSIVE CRUISE MILES* -
SAVE EVERY TIME YOU BOOK
worth £££s off your next booking**
| STATEROOM SUITE | GRADE | FULL FARE (PF) | ROL CRUISE FARE (PF) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deluxe Twin | EE | £7,595 | £3,699 |
| Deluxe Twin | B | £7,890 | £4,299 |
| Bayon Suite | - | £8,589 | £4,789 |
Solo fares are available on request
Fares and availability are based on the 30th January 2027 departure
SECURE THESE FARES WITH A DEPOSIT
rolcruise.co.uk/dailymail
TRAVEL WITH COORDENCE
[LOGO]
CALL ONE OF OUR
CRUISE SPECIALISTS
FREE ON
0808 239 2330
QUOTE OFFER REF 844725
WE ARE OPEN 7
DAYS A WEEK
FROM 8:30AM – 8PM
Trustpilot
[QR CODE]
Erasmus Trusted Service Social
Things are available in current and current age. Reference: Offer applications for accessing only 10 sites and exemptions per person based on the above charting may increase or be withdrawn at any time. Digital may be ordered. A high supplement may be required. Signature will incur supplementary costs and may require an additional overnight stay. 5% the named hotels are unavailable a suitable alternative will be provided. Subject to the cruise limit T&Cs. Tours are subject to change and may not be suitable for guests with mobility restrictions. †(Cruise Mikes' T&Cs apply. APT T&Cs apply. Agent to ATOL Holder – APT (4781), G&OE.
Page 68
ALL INCLUSIVE
50% OFF
GO ALL INCLUSIVE
From £129
Get:
✓ Premium ✓ Wi-Fi Drinks Package ✓ Speciality ✓ Excursions Dining Credit**
BOOK BY 20 AUG 2026
flightsandpackages.com™
Call Now:
0208 176 4951
FLIGHTS AND PACKAGES LIMITED IS OF OR WHILE ACTING BY OR AGREE OR SUBJECT TO THE TRADE/COUNTRY AND/OR THE PROPOSED INFORMATION, AND/OR CONSENT OF THOSE WHO WERE PROHIBITED AND/OR NOTIFIED AND/OR AGREED, AGREE FOR FUTURE INFORMATION OR FOR AGENCY, OWNER, AGENCY AND/OR AGENCY AND/OR AGENCY.
THE TOP PARTNER FOR
Fred.Olsen Cruise Lines
EXCLUSIVE PROMOTION ENDS 8PM 21ST AUGUST 2026
TRUSTED FOR OVER 30 YEARS
14 NIGHTS DEPARTING 22ND DECEMBER 2027
Embark the adults-only Borealis and depart Southampton - ★Spend Christmas Eve & Christmas Day at sea★ - Arrecife, Lanzarote - Las Palmas, Gran Canaria - Santa Cruz, Tenerife - San Sebastian, La Gomera - Funchal, Madeira ★New Year's Eve★ - Lisbon, Portugal - Arrive in Southampton
ROL CRUISE FARES FROM (PP)
INTERIOR OCEAN VIEW TERRACE SUITE
£2,369 £2,659 £3,719 £4,549
Solo fares available from £4,499
JUST A DEPOSIT REQUIRED THEN NOTHING TO PAY UNTIL 2027
MONEY-BACK SATISFACTION GUARANTEE**
Fred. Olsen are so confident you'll love cruising with them, if within 48 hours of boarding you feel it isn't right for you, they'll fly you home from the next available port at their expense, and your cruise fare will be refunded in full.
DRINKS & GRATUITIES INCLUDED**
INCREDIBLE FARES ONLY WITH ROL CRUISE
ADULTS-ONLY CRUISING
-
No-fly cruising on board the adults-only Borealis including**:
-
INCLUDED DRINKS with lunch & dinner, including house beer, wine and draught soft drinks
-
INCLUDED GRATUITIES
-
A wide choice of restaurants, lounges and bars, plus classic two-tiered theatre
-
All meals throughout your cruise, from five course à la carte dining to casual breakfast and lunch buffets and late-night snacks, plus Christmas gala dinner with all the trimmings
-
OCEANS MEMBERS SAVE 5%*
-
On board currency is pound sterling
-
Festive events on board
-
PLUS, book an Ocean View or above by 8pm 21st August 2026 to receive an EXCLUSIVE FREE Betty's Gift*
EARN EXCLUSIVE CRUISE MILES worth £££s towards your next cruise with ROL Cruise*
rolcruise.co.uk/dailymail
TRAVEL WITH CONFIDENCE
ABTA
CALL ONE OF OUR
CRUISE SPECIALISTS FREE ON
0808 239 0548
QUOTE OFFER REF 644748
WE ARE OPEN 7
DAYS A WEEK
FROM 8:30AM - 8PM
Trustpilot
Fulham Trustpilot Service Award
Fares are based on two adults sharing and may increase or be withdrawn at any time. Offer applies to new bookings only. Pricing and availability correct at time of sign off 14/08/2026. eCreams members discount will be applied at the time of booking and T&Cs apply. •Gift is based on one per booking. for UK mainland addresses only. **Subject to the cruise line's T&Cs. Fred. Olsen Satisfaction Guarantee T&Cs apply. ††Cruise Miles' T&Cs apply. Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines T&Cs apply. £8/26
Page 69
IMAGINE CRUISING®
LIMITED
TIME OFFER
SAVE UP TO
£2,000
PER COUPLE*
OFFER EXTENDED 31.08.26
ISLAND
Harmony
CRUISE • HOTEL STAY • FLIGHTS
COMPLIMENTARY HOTEL STAY IN BARBADOS
Book with Confidence
ABTA
Trustpilot
✓ Trusted Worldwide
✓ Financial Protection
✓ 15 Years of Experience
ALL-INCLUSIVE AZAMARA
EASTERN CARIBBEAN VOYAGE & BARBADOS RETREAT
18 - 20 Nights | Nov & Dec 2026
Your Holiday Includes
14 night all-inclusive cruise on board Azamara Journey®
Includes alcoholic and non- alcoholic beverages, house spirits, wine and international beers
Pre-paid gratuities and AzAmazing Evenings® event
Concierge services for personal guidance and reservations
INTERIOR*
£3,199.00
VERANDA*
£4,199.00
OCEANVIEW*
£3,499.00
VERANDA PLUS*
£5,999.00
HOLIDAY CODE: AME8278
Prices, duration, and itinerary shown are based on 11 November 2026 departure. Prices shown include discount and savings based on two passengers sharing, booking directly with Imagine Cruising.
Scan the QR code for more
IMAGINE CRUISING®
Call us on
01793 575 239
Mon - Sun: 9am - 8pm
Visit us online
imaginecruising.co.uk
For full terms and conditions please visit www.imaginecruising.co.uk. Imagine Cruising are fully ABTA and ATOL bonded. Prices are correct at the time of print and are subject to change. Prices are per person based on two adults sharing a cruise cabin and include flights from London (regional flights available at a supplement). Holiday duration includes overnight flights when applicable and is subject to change.
Page 70
Chums MEN'S LADIES HOME
SHOP AT HOME WITH Chums
GREAT VALUE WITH FREE DELIVERY AND FREE RETURNS!
Stylish Ladies Open Toe Slip-on Sandal
PERFECT FOR SUMMER AND AT A GREAT PRICE!
These ladies Open Toe Slip-On Sandals are stylish, attractive and versatile. They look great when worn with almost any outfit, from trousers or jeans to a skirt or dress.
Shaped with the punch pattern down the sides and delicate flower detail on the fronts, these sandals are the height of summer fashion. Wonderfully lightweight, and breathable they have cushioned insoles and flexible soles for added comfort and thanks to their slip on design, they can be put on and taken off with minimal effort.
Giving you great value for your money, at just £20 per pair, we know you will love these stylish slip-ons and as they are available in 4 great colours, Black, Navy, Pewter or White, you can be sure to find the shade that best suits your preference and style.
Uppers/Lining/Sock/Sole: Man-Made. Standard Fit - Order LJ435
ORDER ONLINE NOW – IT'S FAST, SAFE & EASY!
www.chums.co.uk/offers
and enter source code: 33DM26
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Calls cost 15p per minute, plus your network access charge. Send cheques/POs or Mastercard/Visa cards details to Chums Ltd., (Dept. 33DM26), P.O. Box 94, St. Helens, Merseyside WA10 1FG
Chums offer you FREE RETURNS and complete
satisfaction if you want an exchange or
your money back.
Goods usually dispatched within
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Personal shoppers welcome at our showroom,
Open Mon – Weeb, 10am – 4pm,
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Unity Grove, Knowsley Business Park, Liverpool, L34 9AR.
SHOP AT HOME – FREE DELIVERY
TO YOUR DOOR – FREE RETURNS
ORDER TODAY!
Send completed coupon to: Chums Ltd., (Dept. 33DM26),
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Page 71
Less worry
more living
Discover less hassle and more freedom with a Pegasus Home. Enjoy a stylish, low-maintenance home in a vibrant community, with an added incentive to ease the cost of living, with your service charge and main bills covered for up to two years.*
Downsize without compromise and free up more time and money to do the things you enjoy, with the people you love. But don't take our word for it:
"Moving has changed our life for the better, we love it here!"
Cynthia and Richard, Pegasus Homes residents
Reserve your new Pegasus home by 31st August 2026 and enjoy an incentive worth up to £45,000** to assist with the cost of living.
Service charge contribution*
Council tax contribution*
Utilities contribution*
Discover joyful later living at Pegasus homes across the country Buy from £250,000 | Rent from £1,650 pcm
0207 980 8715 | sales@pegasushomes.co.uk
www.pegasushomes.co.uk/moreliving
This incentive is only valid on new reservations made between 1st May 2026 and 31st August, when this incentive ends. Only selected properties purchased from Pegasus Homes are eligible for this incentive. The incentive will contribute up to two years' worth of bills, capped at a maximum amount based on the value of the property being purchased. The incentive would be paid upon completion as a financial contribution deducted from the completion statement. Pegasus Homes reserves the right to extend, amend or withdraw this promotion at any time and without notice. For full terms, visit www.pegasushomes.co.uk/termsandconditions
Page 72
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SOOTHES PAIN HELPS STRAIGHTEN BONES HELPS TO REPAIR JOINTS
Anti-osteoarthritis gloves act on arthritis of the hand by reducing inflammation, blockages and pain.
- Prevent wear and tear on cartilage and joints
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Multi-actions = ultra-efficiency: continuous massage of the area, adapted compression points, warming and protection of your hands, diffusion of magnetic energy which stimulates healing.
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Stimulated by anti-arthrosis gloves, the circulation restores, and contributes to the reconstruction of cartilage: the bones find their place, without contact with each other, making blockages disappear.
Magneto-Repair Stimulation Points
The gloves have magnetic pressure points placed exactly where the joints are affected by Osteoarthritis. These are magneto-repairing stimulation points which immediately relieve the areas of pain. They act like magnets which stimulate healing and ease pain.
MEDICAL-REPAIR FIBRE
The gloves are made from a very special textile composed of medico-repair fibres. They exercise ideal compression to prevent swelling fingers. They also provide therapy by the heat which warms the hand and restores good blood circulation to treat inflammation.
TRADITIONAL MEDICINE
HAS NEVER SHOWN SUCH RESULTS!
The results prove it...
We noted: cartilage repair, bones less deformed, relief of inflammation, more mobile and more flexible joints.
Call Our Order Hotline:
0203 455 7889
Or Order Online Today:
www.MagnoGloves.co.uk
Or post completed coupon to: Wellform Ltd, Wallbrook West, Queenborough Road, Minster on Sea, Sheerness, ME12 3XT.
WELLFORM LIMITED, Dept H15DMAG, Wallbrook West, Queenborough Road, Minster on Sea, Sheerness, ME12 3XT.
SCAN ME
PayPal
G Pay
Pay
PRIORITY POSTAL ORDER FORM
Please post to: WELLFORM LIMITED, Dept H15DMAG, Wallbrook West, Queenborough Road, Minster on Sea, Sheerness, ME12 3XT. Delivery to mainland UK as standard. Delivery to N. Ireland, Highlands, Scottish and Channel Islands, Isle of Man costs £10.99
| PRODUCT | DESCRIPTION | QTY | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
| H66195 | 1 PAIR ARTHRO GLOVES | £14.99 | |
| Z2H66195 | 2 PAIRS ARTHRO GLOVES SAVE £5.00 | £24.98 | |
| Mainland UK (3-5 working days) | £4.99 | ||
| Express Delivery (available for Mainland UK only, 1-2 working days) | £7.99 | ||
| N. Ireland, Highlands, Scottish and Channel Islands, Isle of Man (6 working days) | £10.99 |
| ☐ I enclose a cheque/PO-made payable to WELLFORM LIMITED for £ | Order Total £ | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ☐ Or charge my credit / debit card | |||||
| We accept Visa, Mastercard & American Express Card No. ### | |||||
| Start Date | Exp Date | Security Code | |||
| Name | |||||
| Address |
| Postcode | |
|---|---|
| Tel | |
| Wellform | Our standard delivery to UK mainland costs just £4.99. Orders are normally despatched within 48 hours. Pension please allow up to 24 days from receipt of order for delivery. Delivery to Northern Ireland, Channel Islands, Highlands and Scottish islands and Isle of Man costs £10.99. Under the Distance Selling Regulations you may cancel your order within 7 working days of ordering or 7 working days of receipt of your goods. If you wish to be kept up to date with news on office or deals, please turn the item. Our privacy policy is available on our website. For any questions or queries regarding placed orders call telephone 0203 455 7783. |
Page 73
"Mr. F writes.. I WON'T BUY EAR BUDS AGAIN - I CAN HEAR MY BREATHING, MY FOOTSTEPS AND ALL THE WRONG SOUNDS AMPLIFIED. THEN I SPOTTED THIS ADVERTISEMENT FOR BONE CONDUCTOR AMPLIFIERS - LESS THAN HALF THE PRICE OF MANY BUDS AND A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE."
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BY POST Complete the coupon and post today to:
Pressplay Ltd. (Dept BC3206) 8 Whittle End, Great Notley, Braintree, Essex CM77 7BA.
100% GUARANTEE If you are not totally satisfied with your purchase, return goods within
14 days of receipt for a full refund.
BEFORE
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Instead of blocking your ears, it uses bone conductor technology to send sound through your cheek bones straight to your inner ear. The result is Crystal Clear sound and total awareness of what's happening around you.
NO ECHO OR MUFFLED VOICES HEAR YOURSELF
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SHORT REF CODE NC 3 0016
READY TO USE
TO BOOST HEARING STRAIGHT FROM THE BOX
EASY TO CONNECT VIA BLUETOOTH TO HEAR CLEARLY WHEN TALKING ON YOUR PHONE
BONE CONDUCTION TECHNOLOGY SENDS SOUNDS THROUGH YOUR CHEEK BONES STRAIGHT TO YOUR INNER EAR THE RESULT IS CRYSTAL CLEAR SOUND
Simply Switch between Indoor and Outdoor Modes
HEAR THE TV CLEARLY UNDER NORMAL VOLUME
PRIORITY ORDER COUPON
To: Pressplay Ltd, (Dept BC3206), 8 Whittle End, Great Notley, Braintree, Essex CM77 7BA.
Please send me:
| Item | Price | Qty | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| BONE CONDUCTION SOUND AMPLIFIER | £79.99 | ||
| 2 x BONE CONDUCTION SOUND AMPLIFIERS SAVE £10 | £149.98 |
Please add £5.95 postage and packing to entire order or £7.95 for priority despatch (order before 2pm weekday)
£5.95/£7.95
I enclose Cheque/PO. (made payable to Pressplay Ltd, please write your name & address on reverse) for £ ____ or charge my MasterCard/Visa/Maestro Account.
Grand TOTAL:
£
Page 74
MOTORING
by Rob Hull Motoring Editor
DOES anyone else do this when they own an uncommon car?
Twenty years ago, I had an Alfa Romeo GT. It was one of my more regrettable purchases but whenever I spotted another one on the road, I'd instinctively acknowledge its driver with a nod or wave in the hope they're return the gesture.
And I've found myself doing exactly the same thing this week - but this time in an Astra, the fifth most common car on our driveways. But Vauxhall's latest eighth-generation version is barely adding to the numbers. It's such an unusual sight that spotting another owner feels like meeting a long-lost initiative.
The reason is simple: Britain has fallen out of love with family hatchbacks. In 2005, the Astra was Britain's second best-selling car, with almost 108,500 registrations, and by 2007 annual sales had climbed beyond 123,000.
Last year? Just 3,467 found homes - a collapse of 97 per cent in two decades.
Today, it sits in the shadows of Vauxhall's line-up. The Corsa, Molda and Grandland all outwell it comfortably. In the family hatch hierarchy, VW delivers roughly ten Golfs for every Astra.
And that's a shame, because there's still a lot to like about it.
Why have we
fallen out of love with the Astra?
Following a recent facelift, the Astra line-up includes hatchback and estate body styles plus petrol, mild-hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric powertrains.
The cheapest is the 1.2-litre petrol starting from £27,495, while there's price parity for the hybrids and EVs starting at £29,995. The hatch and estate are price-matched, too.
The version tested here is the plug-in hybrid, which combines plenty of power with an electricity range of 52 miles.
Visually, the updates are subtle. A more angular front grille and fresh wheel designs sharpen the look, though the new glowing griffin emblem is a touch tacky.
Inside, Vauxhall has made sensible improvements. Heated front seats and steering wheel are
standard, while piano-black trim has been replaced by a more durable satin-finish centre console. The 10in infotainment screen is clear and responsive and the voice controls work well.
YET the cabin is incredibly drab. Everything is functional and logically laid out, but the black and grey trim is gloomy. Some of the plastics feel like they've been taken off a 1990's Cavalier.
Space is also a mixed bag. Front-seat occupants will have no complaints, but rear passengers get less room than they would in a Skoda Octavia.
And, because the plug-in hybrid's battery sits beneath the
boot floor, luggage capacity falls from 422 litres to 352 litres.
Fortunately, the Astra redeems itself on the move. The steering is nicely weighted, body control is excellent and there's genuine point through corners.
The suspension strikes a decent balance between comfort and control. You'll notice potholes more than you would in a Nissan Qashqai or Kia Sportage, but the reward is a more engaging drive.
The plug-in hybrid is brisk, too. It pulls strongly away from junctions, feels eager in everyday driving and can deliver excellent fuel economy, if regularly charged.
Vauxhall has also refined its driver-assistance systems - toning down the endless speed limiter warning bongs.
Good mover: The new Astra performs well on the road
VERDICT
THE Astra's biggest problem is convincing buyers to look beyond SUVs such as the Sportage and Qashqai. In many ways, this is a better car to drive than the cross-overs it now competes with.
It's economical and still makes a compelling family companion. Yet trials offer more impressive interiors and greater practicality. Undercutting the opposition on price has always been the Astra's trump car. But it's no longer the bargain hero it once was. The Golf, for instance, is now only £1,500 more expensive.
It's a pity, because beneath the sales figures is a car that deserves more attention. Britan's market may be shifting, but the Astra proves there's still life in the traditional family hatchback.
Page 75
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Page 76
"I only wish I'd bought my Stannah stairlift sooner"
With a stairlift from Stannah you can travel smoothly from one floor to another and continue to do all the things you want to do.
Getting a stairlift means gaining even more freedom and ease in your home. At Stannah, we're committed to helping you live life to the fullest in the place you love. A stairlift is a symbol of enhanced independence, comfort, and happiness, empowering you to enjoy every moment.
Customers often tell us they wish they had their Stannah stairlift installed sooner when they realise what a big difference it has made to their life. Give us a call to find out how our stairlifts can make life easier for you too.
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Page 77
motionciser
Beat the heat – stay indoors and exercise with the Motionciser from Dr. Ho!
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3-in-1 treatment
The MotionCiser from Dr Ho is a clever 3-in-1 device that takes the effort out of exercise by combining gentle movement, soothing vibration and comforting warmth — and all you have to do is sit back and relax!
Fits easily into your day
In just 30 minutes a day you can feel the difference. Warmth helps melt away that 'icy' feeling in the feet; vibration adds a comforting massage-like effect; and the motion
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Mrs L, 85, told us: "It's easy to use and my legs feel lighter afterwards. Even my feet are warmer already."
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How movement, massage and heat rejuvenate your legs and feet!
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Call Free: 0808 168 0902
Or Online: DrHoPrint.co.uk
Please post to: FREEPOST RSGG-EKYT-UUTK Vitadora, 1 Balloo Court, Bangor, BT19 7AT
OFFER CODE ML1508M
Please complete the order form below:
| PRODUCT DESCRIPTION | QTY | PRICE |
|---|---|---|
| MotionCiser x 1 • FREE Exercise Bands worth £19.99 | £199.98 | |
| 2 Year Extended Warranty (Was £24.99 - SAVE £5) | £19.99 | |
| Standard Nationwide Delivery | — | FREE! |
| Upgrade to Priority Shipping & Delivery | £6.99 |
Order Total £
☐ enclose cheque / PO made
payable to VITADORA UK Limited for
☐ Or charge my credit/obit card ☐ Free
☐ Mastercard
☐ American Express
☐ American Express
Start Date:
Exp Date:
Security Code
American Express No.4095
Name
Address
Postcode
Tel
We have you hereby name of the stated products and selection of the day post from other to place retailers, checkers, freeing, travel, FM, County, duty companies, if you would prefer not to receive the best you will, please find this box. ☐ To learn more about our trading partner and then we can you help, we can protect policy at www.vitadora.co.uk. Goods usually dispatched within 1/16-5-veering days.
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Page 78
MailFinance
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If you love where you live but wish it worked better for you, equity release could help make it happen. From a modern kitchen to a stylish new bathroom or even a full extension you could unlock the tax-free cash tied up in your home to fund the improvements you've always wanted.
Many UK homeowners aged 55+ are surprised by how much they could access – and how flexible today's plans have become. Every plan we recommend meets the Equity Release Council's standards, including their No Negative Equity Guarantee, which ensures you'll never owe more than your home's value.
This is a Lifetime Mortgage which will reduce the value of your estate and could affect your entitlement to means-tested benefits. To understand the features and risks, ask for a Personalised Illustration.
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ORDER YOUR FREE
Daily Mail
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WRITTEN BY MONEY EDITOR AT LARGE JEFF PRESTRIDGE
Associated Newspapers Limited, trading as Mail Finance, is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Royal London Equity Release Advisers. Royal London Equity Release Advisers is a trading style of Responsible Life Limited, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Royal London Group. Responsible Life Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and is entered on the Financial Services Register under reference 610205. Registered in England and Wales under company number 07162252. Registered office: Princess Court, 23 Princess Street, Plymouth PL1 2EX.
Page 79
SHOP AT HOME WITH Chums GREAT VALUE WITH FREE DELIVERY & FREE RETURNS!
CHOOSE 2 set LOVOT, GREY, BLACK or NAVY
WAIST SIZES 32" TO 52"
INSIDE LEG 27" TO 33"
NOW
UP TO HALF PRICE! TWO PAIRS FOR JUST £35
Yes!
THAT'S JUST £17.50 PER PAIR with offer
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- COMFORT STYLING
- 4 CLASSIC COLOURS
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FREE DELIVERY!
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1" wide with smart buckle & neat edge stitching Waist Size: 32/34, 36/38, 40/42, 44/46, 48/50, 52/54 Order AA007
CREASE RESISTANT
COMFORT TROUSERS
We know that you will
love the supreme comfort offered by this superbly tailored trouser
Team with your favourite jacket or blazer these terrific trousers will add style and comfort whatever the occasion. At our ridiculous home shopping price, they are the perfect formal everyday trouser around the house and garden, relaxing watching television, driving the car, visiting friends or out for a stroll. The flexible polyester cloth allows you to bend and stoop or sit in comfort, while the Chums auto expand rear waistband provides valuable breathing room. Tailored with two side and one back pocket, hook and bar fastening and zip fly in sizes to fit virtually every man. Machine washable.
| SAVE £35 | ONLY £17.50 per pair with offer | |
|---|---|---|
| WAIST SIZE | CATALOGUE PRICE FOR TWO PAIRS | NEWSPAPER SPECIAL OFFER |
| 32,34,36 | £43 | £35 |
| 38,40,42 | £62 | £35 |
| 44, 46, 48, 50, 52 | £70 | £35 |
| INSIDE LEG 27" 29" 31" 33" ORDER MT100 |
SHOP AT HOME - FREE DELIVERY - FREE RETURNS
Chums Ltd., (Dept. MD3326), P.O. Box 94, St Helens, Merseyside WA10 1FG
Please send me item(s) indicated PLEASE USE BLOCK LETTERS
| ITEM NUMBER | COLOUR | WAIST | LEG | QTY | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Order MT100 Terrific Trouser. | Sub Total | ||||
| Order AA007 Leather Belt. | UK mainland P&P | FREE | |||
| I enclose Cheque / POS made payable to Chums for £____ Please write your address (inc. post code) on reverse of cheque or charge my MasterCard/Visa Account No. | Highlands & Islands P&P | FREE | |||
| TOTAL | |||||
| Cheque No | |||||
| ☑ | ☐ | ### | (PLEASE TICK) DEBIT MY A.T. NUMBER AS SHOWN BELOW | ||
| EXPIRY DATE: MONTH/YEAR | / | CAD: Last 1 digit length of unit |
|---|---|---|
| Title: Forename: Surname: | ||
| Address: Post Code: |
| Title: Forename: Surname: |
|---|
| Address: Post Code: |
| Mobile/Telephone: | |
|---|---|
| Email: | |
| We don't use it every time of the family products and selected offers by post themselves to post whether, therefore, financial responsibility and ability are available. Please would prefer not to receive these beyond consent of the family. To have more about our financial partners and take up your own data, we are already using an www.chums.co.uk/officials or add for a copy, when you call it. Their names and/or chums is not to be used as an account, and figures are not to be used as an account, and figures are not to be used as an account, and figures are not to be used as an account, and figures are not to be used as an account, and figures are not to be used as an account, and figures are not to be used as an account, and figures are not to be used as an account, and figures are not to be used as an account, and figures are not to be used as an account, and |
ORDER ONLINE NOW - IT'S FAST, SAFE & EASY
www.chums.co.uk/offers and enter source code: MD3326
IMPORTANT! YOU MUST ENTER SOURCE CODE ON OUR WEBSITE TO BENEFIT FROM THIS PROMOTIONAL OFFER
Please put 2 pairs in your basket online for promotion to apply
Send to: Chums Ltd., (Dept. MD3326), P.O. Box 94, St Helens, Merseyside WA10 1FG
Personal Shoppers welcome at our showroom. Open Mon – Weds 10am – 4pm.
M57 Junction 4, off School Lane, Unity Grove, Knowsley Business Park, Liverpool L34 9AR
Chums offer you FREE RETURNS and complete satisfaction if you want an exchange or your money back. Goods usually dispatched within 3 to 5 working days.
Chums Ltd. Co Reg No. 1382479
Page 80
CLAIM THIS AMAZING OFFER NOW... USE CODE DMAJA19
JOLLIMAN'S BEST SELLER
Fully Elasticated Waist CHINO
Was £25 NOW ONLY
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Includes FREE DELIVERY
*Worth £5.99
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Great quality for the price. Large range of sizes!
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✓ Looks like a proper trouser. A real zip fly, button and belt loops give you the smart look of a traditional chino trouser, with pull-on ease.
✓ Room to relax. Designed with a comfort fit and flat front for effortless, all-day comfort and style.
✓ Everything in its place. Two slant pockets and two buttoned back pockets.
✓ Wash, wear, repeat. Easy-care 65% polyester, 35% cotton fabric is machine washable and easy to iron.
✓ Your size, your choice. Choose from a range of waist sizes, three leg lengths and two colours.
BUTTER WAIST 60"
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PLEASE QUOTE THE OFFER CODE WHEN ORDERING VIA PHONE
OR WEBSITE. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. See Full Terms & Conditions Online at www.jolliman.co.uk/terms
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Page 81
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Page 82
How to get your garden ready for the autumn
Make a plan for your plot as you enjoy the sunshine
AUGUST can seem like a hiatus in the garden. Many flowers have gone over early, rain-starved lawns have turned a weary shade of dun, while foliage has turned crisp and brown at the edges.
It is too dry to plant anything – for that we must wait until cooler days return – but there is plenty we can do this month to prepare the garden for autumn.
This is the ideal time to slow down and identify where the gaps are, whether there are plants that have failed this year and need to be moved to a different place or if they are beyond saving.
Take a notebook out into the garden with you and write down your plans – and sketch ideas for what you would like to see there instead.
It is best to wait until next month to put in new plants, but you can draw up a shopping list now. Do you need more evergreens for structure? If so, what will suit the aspect and soil type? Would a bright yellow rudbeckia be just the thing against an existing purple salvia? Do you have too many spire-like plants and not enough daisy shapes or broad-headed umbellifers?
This is a great time to order bulbs, as popular varieties sell out quickly. Depending on your soil type, tulips can need replacing every year, although these shouldn't go in the ground or pots until November. Narcisci, crocuses, cyclamen, snowdrops, alliums, fritillaries can be planted in September or October, so use this month to work out a plan for what to plant where. In the
Clean sweep: Late summer is the perfect time to repair sheds and tidy up
vegetable garden there is still time to make late sowings of winter vegetables such as spinach, kale, chard, spring cabbage and salad crops. Sow these directly into well-prepared ground now and keep them watered. Plant late potatoes and carrots in large containers that you can bring inside if there's frost.
On cooler days, cut back any dead or dying plant material. Don't be too
harsh, as this could put plants under stress while the weather is still warm.
Late summer is a great time to make repairs to sheds and outbuildings, as is having a general clear out. Tidy and sweep sheds and greenhouses, and wash pots which will dry quickly in the sun. Before we know it, September will be here, so use this fallow time to shape your garden just the way you want it.
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Page 83
THE HEADLINER EVERY GARDEN NEEDS - SAVE OVER 50%
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Specially bred for a naturally compact habit, Buddleja 'Little Rockstar Red' combines brilliant red blooms with an exceptionally long flowering season.
Forget oversized butterfly bushes, this space-saving variety packs weeks of vibrant colour into pots, patios, balconies and smaller borders without sacrificing impact.
Its nectar-rich flowers are irresistible to bees and butterflies, filling your garden with colour and pollinator activity from summer well into autumn. Heat tolerant and easy to grow, it needs just a light trim in early spring rather than the hard pruning associated with traditional buddlejas. Perfect for modern, low-maintenance gardens, 'Little Rockstar Red' delivers bold colour, compact growth and outstanding wildlife appeal in even the smallest of spaces.
Supplied as 9cm potted plants August onwards.
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1 x 9cm Potted Plant £14.99 NOW £9.99
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| Code | Item Description | Price | Qty | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KJ0127 | Buddleja 'Little Rockstars Red' 1 x 9cm potted plant £12.99 | £9.99 | ||
| KJ0128 | Buddleja 'Little Rockstars Red' 3 x 9cm potted plants SAVE OVER 50% £38.97 | £18.99 | ||
| KJ3202 | Antirrhinum majus 'Shiryu Kiss' 1 x 9cm potted plant £14.99 | £9.99 | ||
| KJ3203 | Antirrhinum majus 'Shiryu Kiss' 3 x 9cm potted plants £44.97 | £16.99 | ||
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Page 84
ACTION PLAN
CIAR BYRNE'S ESSENTIAL JOBS FOR YOUR GARDEN THIS WEEK
Make new shrubs for free
IN LATE summer, increase your stock of plants for free by taking semi-ripe cuttings from plant material that is just beginning to turn from fresh green to mature brown.
This method is suitable for climbers such as star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides), the Passionflower (Passiflora caerulea) and the Chilean potato tree (Solanum crispum).
It also works for shrubs, including evergreen viburnums, veronicas and lavender, and deciduous buddleia,
mock oranges, forsythia and weigelas.
First thing in the morning, go out with sharp clean secateurs and a plastic bag to gather your material. Trim shoots to 4-6in long, cutting just below a leaf node at the bottom, removing the lower leaves and halving larger leaves. Then insert your cuttings into a tray or large pot filled with peat-free cutting compost, water, cover with a clear plastic bag and place somewhere warm and bright, but out of direct sunlight.
Within a few weeks, your cuttings should make roots, ready to be repotted in individual containers and grown on until they are big enough to plant in the garden.
LET GRAPES SEE THE SUN
GRAPES need to be exposed to the sun in order to develop. At this time of
year, vines will benefit from the judicious removal of leaves. You can also shorten stems, leaving one or two bunches on each, and cutting just below these to encourage plumper fruit.
TEND TO TOMATOES
TO KEEP tomatoes coming, feed and water your plant regularly. Use
a seaweed-based fertiliser once a week, and water daily—but avoid doing so in the middle of the day. Continue to tie in long stems to support, especially if growing outside, to protect them from the wind.
READER'S QUESTION
MY NEW shrub is brown and withered. Will it recover?
Mr P. Kramer, Sale, Greater Manchester.
IF you planted your shrub this year and have kept it watered, it is possible it has suffered stress because of the hot, dry weather. But all hope is not lost.
Give it a good mulch with well-rotered organic material, continue to water, and it is possible that it will regenerate over the winter months.
However, if it turns out next year that you have lost it, and you want to plant a similar shrub again, choose a different spot or improve the soil and moisture levels in the planting bed.
Plant of the week
DAHLIA 'Black Narcissus' is a striking semi-cactus dahlia. It features spidery petals in a dark red so deep they look almost black. It can grow to around 4ft
high and makes a dazzling impression in a mixed border. Prefers full sun and a moist but well-drained soil in a sheltered position.
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Page 85
"A Trailing Pansy That's Fragrant AND Flowers for 10 Months of the Year... Yes Really!"
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Nobody had managed it before. A full-sized trailing pansy with genuine sweet fragrance, flowering from autumn right the way through to the following summer. Ten months of cascading colour, weathering everything a British winter throws at it! Pansy 'Top Wave' is a world exclusive and quite simply the most exciting pansy introduction in a generation.
And the flowers themselves? Up to 25% bigger than the already popular Pansy 'Cool Wave', spilling over the edges of hanging baskets, troughs and raised beds in great waves of colour. BUY 10 GET 10 FREE - Each order contains 20 garden-ready plants, supplied as 2 x 10 plant packs, ready to create an instant trailing display.
Pansy 'Top Wave' ITEM: 410233
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Wallflower 'Sunset Tutti Frutti'
Offer £9.99 For 20 Plants
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YOUR ORDER DETAILS
| Item | Description | Price | Qty | Subtotal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100185 | Bleaming Fast Superior Soluble Fertiliser 100g (TFE) with every order ORDERED £4.99! | FREE | ||
| 410233 | Pansy 'Top Wave' Exclusive to YouGarden! BUY 10, GET 10 FREE! SAVE £14.99! Supplied as 2 x 10 Garden Ready Plants | £14.99 | ||
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Orders despatched into August. Offer subject to availability and in the event that the offer is oversubscribed, we reserve the right to send suitable substitutes. Delivery to be only and a £2.00 surcharge will apply to the following products at par. All 2258-1-GY, HS, IM, NJ, JE, KA27-28, KM, PA25-80, PK19-50, TR21-25 & 25. Following these items are a number of changes that prevent or from trading in NJ Ireland. For further details please visit www.yougarden.com for full terms & conditions.
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YOU MUST USE OFFER CODE DM951 TO GET THESE EXCLUSIVE PRICES!
Page 86
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HSL at LIVHOME Aintree L9 5AN
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Page 91
City & Finance
City Editor Alex Brummer
www.thisisnowey.co.uk
Business Editor Hugo Duncan
Horseracing must power up
HERE is something that I never expected to write. Britain's 'Sport of Kings', horseracing, could need private equity treatment.
Otherwise, like its American counterpart, the sport may be on track for terminal decline.
It is unhelpful that Labour's woke obsession means that it is driving another nail into the coffin of the sport in a country that loves a wager.
Horseracing has been part of my life since I was a small boy. My late father Michael was a lifelong aficionado.
As a child I was encouraged to crawl under the gate into the Tattersalls enclosure when accompanying him to race-courses all over the South of England.
Even in his 90s, my dad was to be seen perched on a stool at Ladbrokes, on Church Road in Hove, with a pile of £1 coins ready for cautious bets. Labour once
Alex Brummer
CITY EDITOR
saw gambling as part of Britain's leisure industry. But Rachel Reeves, when she was Chancellor, and Andy Burnham, now Prime Minister, seem determined to smother a global services business built on sports betting. Coral owner Entain warns that a jump in remote gaming duty, from 21pc to 40pc, imposed by Reeves will have a 'massive impact'.
Bizarrely, Burnham has bracketed bet-
ting shops with vaping outlets as High Street destroyers. Yet vaping stores are notorious for distributing counterfeit products, cheap cigarettes and even Class A drugs. Like it or not, Britain has been a pioneer of online sports betting.
Horseracing sits at the core of Britain's gambling culture and needs a facelift to prosper. As part of the summer social season, Royal Ascot, Epsom and Goodwood are glamour events that thrive and attract sponsorship.
THE Grand National and Cheltenham Festival are loved by millions of people despite efforts by animal rights groups to destroy the spectacle. Britain still supports 59 racecourses.
Yet, unless the organisers and owners get their act together, they could go the same way as in America, where 40 venues have been shuttered.
Private equity sports pioneer CVC demonstrated what can be done with fad-
ing sports enterprises. It bought the F1 organisation from Bernie Ecclestone for around £1bn. It expanded the franchise into the US, monetised the brand and sold it on to Liberty Media for about $8bn. F1 has captured new audiences across the globe and is valued at $25bn.
The key at F1 was dismantling tired, quarrelsome management and replacing it with professionalism.
The dominant horseracing organisations – the British Horseracing Authority, Jockey Club and Racecourse Association – have embraced Middle Eastern cash but failed to exploit opportunities.
The TV rights, streaming possibilities, merchandising and new audience potential are immense. The US F1 Grand Prix in Texas has gone from a standing start to a near week-long event that attracts 300,000 visitors to Austin.
There is no reason why, with the right financial skills, horseracing, with its deep roots in Britain, the US, Australia, Hong Kong and France, could not recover its mojo.
Stop Budget
kite-flying,
Healey urged
By Patrick Tooher
THE boss of Aviva has urged Labour not to 'fly kites' ahead of the Budget and rule out a tax raid on pensions to ease savers' fears instead.
The insurer's chief executive Amanda Blanc said previous speculation that the tax-free pension lump sum would be slashed had caused many to take cash from their retirement pots needlessly.
In the run-up to last year's Budget, persistent rumours that the valuable pensions perk would be targeted led to 'significant' withdrawals by anxious savers – decisions that could not be reversed, Blanc said.
Rachel Reeves, Chancellor at the time, eventually left the limit on how much could be taken from a pension pot tax-free at £268,275.
'Customers would have been better to wait and see what the Government was going to do,' Blanc (pictured) said.
'What we don't want is for customers to make decisions that in the long run they regret and
SUBSIDENCE CLAIMS SURGE
BRITAIN'S biggest home insurer plans to top up its pot to cover an expected surge in subsidence claims as the country endures its sixth heatwave of the summer.
'We will definitely have to look at [our] reserves,' Aviva boss Amanda Blanc said yesterday, without saying how much extra might be needed.
But the move follows a big jump in claims and payouts
when policies are not changed.' The Government should be 'encouraging people to save into their pension' and not 'double-taxing people', she added.
Aviva also unveiled a 24pc increase in first-half operating profit to £1.3bn, beating analysts' forecasts.
Blanc hailed the results as 'very strong' and said the integration of home and car insurer Direct Line, bought for £3.7bn last year, was 'making very good progress'. Aviva has already signalled that up to 2,300 jobs
linked to the long, hot summer. Insurers paid out £72m in domestic subsidence claims between April and June as the heatwave took hold, with the average payout hitting a record £20,000.
Subsidence is commonly caused by soil losing moisture and shrinking, often in a prolonged heatwave. Trees can also contribute by drawing water from the ground.
could be cut as part of its cost-cutting plans. The insurer also raised the interim dividend to shareholders by 7pc to 14p per share.
The Treasury said Chancellor John Healey would set out his decisions 'at fiscal events, rather than routinely commenting on rumour, speculation or proposals'.
BLANCHAILS MAIL AFTER US
PREDATOR TARGETS ELDERLY
THE Daily Mail has been praised for highlighting a US predator's efforts to buy Aviva shares on the cheap from its private investors.
This paper revealed last month that investment firm Litani had written to 100,000 of the insurer's small share owners seeking to buy their shares for £5.30, well below yesterday's closing price of £7.26.
Aviva has already urged the retail investors not to accept the offer. Chief executive
Amanda Blanc yesterday praised the Daily Mail for its campaign. 'We really appreciate it,' she added.
She said 'a lot' of the shareholders Litani had targeted were elderly. But she also revealed that so far only a few had been persuaded to sell.
Former pensions minister Baroness Altmann has previously slammed the offer as 'a cynical attempt to exploit the vulnerable shareholders'.
Campaign group ShareSoc has also urged Aviva investors not to fall into a 'trap'.
Page 92
MENTION gilts and people tend to look either bored or afraid. Many investors think these bonds issued by the Government lack the thrill factor. Others fear that gilt prices are imperilled by the potential for more state spending, at a time when national debt already stands at £3 trillion, equivalent to 95pc of national output.
But some hedge fund managers are currently taking a much more upbeat view, and maybe it should change yours.
These professionals tell us the bad news is priced into gilts, and that these bonds offer an alternative as concerns mount over US tech giants' lavish expenditure on AI.
The hedges – who aim to make money whatever is happening in markets – like the cast-iron money-back pledge when gilts mature. This promise has been kept since gilts were introduced in the 17th century.
But another major plus is the above-inflation returns that gilt yields currently provide. The yields on gilts rise when their prices come under pressure from higher inflation, interest rates, political upheaval, or the superior desirability of shares.
You may be surprised by the hedge funds' insouciance. After all, before entering No 10 Andy Burnham (pictured) said Britain should 'get beyond this thing of being in hock to the bond markets'.
The remark caused five-year yields to spike above 5pc. The 10-year gilt yield went up to 5.04pc.
The Budget on October 28 may provoke another yield surge if the Chancellor John Healey – in his first Budget – unveils jaw-dropping spending proposals.
YET it is not just hedge funds who are keen on gilts at present. Ben Yearsley of Fairview Investing says: 'I think gilts are a great idea for a portion of your wealth right now, whatever you may think about Burnham's plans.'
He continues: 'Why wouldn't you when you can get 4.5pc on a five-year gilt, giving you a real return after inflation, and more than 5pc on a ten-year one. There are also the tax breaks.'
Richard Carter, head of fixed interest research at wealth manager Quilter Cheviot, suggests that it's wise to be wary of hedge fund managers' pronouncements.
He says: 'Hedge funds are selling AI stocks to de-risk their holdings, but they are also famously opaque and secretive about their strategies, suggesting they may not see gilts as a long-term opportunity.'
'For retail investors, however, short-term gilts with upcoming maturities continue to look attractive, given the yields and the tax-free income.'
Against this background, you may now be thinking that gilts are neither tedious nor fraught
Defend your savings with a gilt trip
with jeopardy, so here's our guide to getting some bond action.
WHY GILTS HAVE SHONE AGAIN
THE change of heart on gilts is the result of a shift in sentiment which could mean that gilt yields fall slightly this year.
In the markets, the new global focus of anxiety is interest rate policy in Japan and the US.
In the UK, rises in interest rates now seem less likely than before. The jobs market is weak and inflation has not been pushed up as far as feared by steeper oil prices arising from the Middle East conflict.
Meanwhile, the anxiety over tech 'titans' willingness to splash out billions on AI is accompanied by worries that a slowdown in this spree would cause growth to slacken everywhere.
Aaron Hussein, global market strategist at JPMorgan Asset Management,
suggests that 'government bonds are the best hedge or protection against such an eventuality.'
The S&P 500 US index may be up 13pc this year and the FTSE 100 8pc higher. But Hussein says investors should still be
aware that 'the ground beneath them tends to be less solid than it appears.'
THE MONEY-BACK PROMISE OF GILTS
GILTS come in different maturities. 'Short-dated' gilts run from 6 to seven years; 'medium-dated' from seven to 15 years and 'long-dated' from 15 to 50 years.
UK Treasury gilts pay a taxable fixed rate of interest or 'coupon' and offer repayment at maturity at the par value of £100 per unit, whether you have paid less or more than this. No government has ever defaulted on this obligation.
The same money promise applies to UK Treasury Bills (UK T-Bills), which are known as 'zero-coupon bonds', as there is no interest. The whole of the return comes at maturity.
Broker Interactive Investor cites the example of a six-month T-Bill issued at £97.50. The return would be the percentage gain between £97.50 and £100: 2.65pc. On an annualised basis, this equates to a 5.12pc yield.
The possibility of tax increases in the Budget makes the gilt tax breaks even more alluring. The interest on gilts is taxable unless they have been stashed into an Individual Savings Account (Isa). But if you buy a gilt and hold it until maturity, any gain is free of capital gains tax.
As Sarah Coles of investment platform AJ Bell points out, this highlights the appeal of very low coupon gilts issued during the pandemic when interest rates were close to zero, such as the Treasury 01.25pc January 31 2028.
The current price of this gilt, issued in June 2020, is £94.48. The 'running' or current yield may be an insignificant 0.12pc, but you will receive back £100 per unit on January 31 2028.
This means that the 'yield to maturity' – based on holding the gilt until that date – is 4.05pc. This represents a more than decent tax-free profit.
NatWest's digital arm First Active offers 4.5pc. After savings tax this is worth 3.6pc, 2.7pc and 2.5pc respectively to a basic rate, higher rate and additional rate taxpayer. Savings tax rates will be increased by 2pc next April.
HOW YOU CAN TAKE A GILT TRIP
YOU can buy through the Debt Management Office (DMO), the Treasury agency that issues gilts.
But using a platform – AJ Bell, Bestinvest, Hargreaves Lansdown or Interactive Investor –
allows you to scroll through the 90 or so issues available, comparing prices, coupons and yields.
Caution is required. You may be intrigued by the 5.7pc yield on the Treasury 5.375% 31/10/2056 Gilt. Yet much can happen in 30 years. An exchange traded fund (ETF) like the iShares Core UK Gilts or the Vanguard UK Gilt is an uncomplicated route into the sector.
Other options giving exposure to different time periods include the iShares UK Gilts 0-5 Year or Invesco UK GILT 15+ Year.
But in a fund you do not benefit from the capital gains tax exemption.
BUILD YOURSELF A GILT-EDGED LADDER
MANY gilt fans, particularly those who are retired, use a ladder principle.
This involves constructing a selection of low or zero-coupon gilts which trade below £100 and whose maturity dates match your future requirements. Like the rungs on a ladder, in fact.
You can budget for paying off a mortgage, or a special holiday. About 90pc of your regular inflows could be tax-free.
A level of administration is involved, of course, and you are also foregoing the chance for a slice of your portfolio to possibly appreciate in a soaraway share.
But diversification tends to come at some cost and in return you will be enjoying those generous yields and that money-back commitment.
Daily Mail, Saturday, August 5, 2026
Page 93
BP looks to Venezuela after quitting North Sea
BP has secured a drilling licence off the coast of Venezuela, just two weeks after abandoning the North Sea.
The oil giant signed a deal with the Latin American country to get it to explore and develop the Loran gas field in the Atlantic.
The deal gives BP access to some four trillion cubic feet of gas and comes a fortnight after it put its North Sea business up for sale.
The decision to abandon UK waters after 60 years - and focus instead on areas such as Venezuela - fuelled fears that the crippling windfall has no oil and gas producers is crushing the industry.
BP chief executive Meg O'Neill has warned that the North Sea is no longer 'competitive' and urged Andy Burnham to scrap the windfall tax.
Conservative shadow energy minister Andrew Bowie said it was 'not surprising' that BP was looking elsewhere 'because you've got a
By Hugh Duncan
government that is completely anti flare core business.'
The North Sea basin is now one of the most fiscally insecure basins in the world, he said.
'It's incredibly disadvantageous and puts off investors.
They have no idea what's coming down the tracks when it comes to taxation policy, and there is not a feeling of being welcomed here in the United Kingdom.
'It's not surprising that BP are looking around the world at places to expand their business when they have got no hope of doing so in the UK because you've got a Government that is completely anti their core business.'
The BP deal, signed in Caracas and broadcast on state TV, comes as international oil giants expand into Venezuela following the arrest of former president Nicolas Maduro by US forces in January. BP will
drill the second phase of the Loran gas field with United Arab Emirates firm XRO and Qatari conglomerate UCC Holding.
O'Neill, who signed the deal, said: 'The award of the Loran Phase 2 licence is an important step forward. It builds on the strong collaboration we have established with the government of Venezuela and our partners and reflects the progress we have made together. BP has a long-standing presence in the region and deep experience in developing major gas resources.'
Together, these agreements provide a strong foundation to progress Venezuela's offshore gas potential and unlock the next phase of development.
Richard Tice, Reform UK's energy spokesman, said: 'What a tragedy that BP is having to do drilling deals with authoritarian dictatorships instead of in the North Sea.
'This highlights the absolute absurdity of Labour's refusal to open up the North Sea.'
CHHORT SHARES LEAF AFTER UBMARINE CONFRAC
SHARES in defence group Cohort jumped after it won a £120m contract to supply sonar systems to Poland's new submarine fleet.
The Reading-based firm said its German subsidiary will work with Swedish defence giant Saab on the Polish Orka Submarine Programme.
Cohort shares rose 6.lpc, taking gains for the year to 60.lpc. Boss Andy Thomis said: 'We are pleased to have established this important collaboration. We will work together closely to ensure that these advanced vessels are provided with cutting-edge active and passive sonar systems, creating a world-class underwater capability that will make a major contribution to security in the Baltic Sea region.
Reading FC bidder banned by FCA over £170m portfolio lie
A FINANCIER who once worked for the property tycoon Tchengrub brothers has been banned by the City watchdog after he 'lied and lied' while trying to buy Reading FC and a small UK bank.
Paul Taylor, a former bricklayer turned dealmaker, forged documents to show he owned a £170m
bond portfolio during both sets of negotiations, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said.
The regulator said Taylor 'seted dishonestly and with a lack of integrity' in making the 'false and misleading statements' as he tried to get the deals over the line between December 2023 and
October 2024. The FCA fined Taylor - who was chief executive of Blue Horizon Asset Management at the time - £489.00 and banned him from working in financial services.
Blue Horizon's then managing director Esmeralda Toni was also fined £121,200 for 'serious mis-
conduct' and banned by the FCA. FCA executive director Therese Chambers said: 'True in financial services relies on those working in it to be honest.
'Mr Taylor and Ms Toni fell woefully short of even this minimum expectation. They lied and lied again. They have no place in our
industry.' Taylor's career included a stint with Robert and Vincent Tchenguitz and an attempted takeover of Chelsea in 2002 before the club was bought by Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich.
He also led the Qatarix unsuccessfully £10.6bn bid for Sainsbury's in 2007.
| 12 week | High | Low | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avropoet & Dofkin | |||
| Aslan Martin | 34 | 4 | 80 |
| AKC Systems | 2259 | 1/2 | 1210 |
| Chemistry Sp. | 63542 | 4/8 | 638 |
| GHAC | 63542 | 4/8 | 2711 |
| Rally-Royce | 54742 | 4/8 | 1570 |
| Servis | 553 | 1/2 | 310 |
| Bank | |||
| Beirut-Sanitani | 1028 | 4/8 | 1028 |
| Barclays | 520 | 4/8 | 1530 |
| HSBC Hldgs | 1027 | 4/8 | 1530 |
| Link Finance | 1025 | 4/8 | 1530 |
| Crude Banking | 1074 | 4/8 | 1571 |
| Brass Bank | 1081 | 4/8 | 1601 |
| NetMood Group | 1074 | 4/8 | 1571 |
| Star-Chartered | 1074 | 4/8 | 1571 |
| TBC Bank | 4023 | 4/8 | 1598 |
| Adelroys | |||
| Bank Bk | 664 | 4/8 | 710 |
| Canadian HBC | 1080 | 4/8 | 1570 |
| DeLuxe | 1184 | 4/8 | 2123 |
| Chennai | |||
| Crude Retail | 2018 | 2/7 | 2022 |
| Danmarks | 1024 | 4/8 | 1671 |
| Griffiths Sp. | 1048 | 4/8 | 1548 |
| Islands | 1061 | 4/8 | 1542 |
| Keller Group | 1058 | 4/8 | 1548 |
| Kier Group | 2014 | 4/8 | 2014 |
| Walton | 675 | 4/8 | 710 |
| Electricity | |||
| InterSp | 732 | 6 | 918 |
| ISIS | 1425 | 4/8 | 2971 |
| Electronic & Electrical | |||
| Hanna | 2005 | 4/8 | 4078 |
| Marquis-Marshall | 320 | 4/8 | 320 |
| Oxford Instruments | 2015 | 4/8 | 2022 |
| Navalise | 1175 | 4/8 | 1400 |
| Equity Investment Instruments | |||
| In Introduction | 820 | 4/8 | 1800 |
| Alanferdt Serv Cos | 1752 | 4/8 | 1736 |
| ALGMA | 818 | 4/8 | 1645 |
| Alliance Wires | 1087 | 4/8 | 1598 |
| Allied Tech | 792 | 6 | 728 |
| Arbitrac India | 2061 | 4/8 | 2061 |
| All-Delta Trust | 2044 | 4/8 | 2071 |
| Baillar 2D Japan | 1088 | 4/8 | 1580 |
| Baillar 2D US | 320 | 4/8 | 2061 |
| Behrens Int'l | 1024 | 4/8 | 1540 |
| BH Bank | 420 | 4/8 | 1621 |
| 12 week | High | Low | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caprianna Credit | 724 | 4/8 | 744 |
| Canadian Union | 2804 | 4/8 | 2644 |
| BNTAMR&Wing | 800 | 4/8 | 1548 |
| BH Group | 617 | 4/8 | 1533 |
| Buenos | 1008 | 4/8 | 1572 |
| Canadian Inv. | 1001 | 4/8 | 1423 |
| City of London IT | 1014 | 4/8 | 1587 |
| Call for Trust | 800 | 4/8 | 801 |
| Call Wealth | 280 | 4/8 | 2401 |
| East SWCC | 2404 | 4/8 | 2461 |
| FBC Int'l Sdn | 2444 | 4/8 | 2611 |
| Fidelity China | 2001 | 4/8 | 2021 |
| Fidelity Eng. | 1074 | 4/8 | 1562 |
| Fidelity Eur. | 440 | 4/8 | 444 |
| Fidelity Bank | 474 | 4/8 | 473 |
| Fidelity Bank Ltd. | 474 | 4/8 | 473 |
| Freighty S&T Tel. | 818 | 4/8 | 913 |
| ForeignR Com. | 894 | 4/8 | 816 |
| GCP India Inv. | 1024 | 4/8 | 1624 |
| Global Smaller | 1074 | 4/8 | 1571 |
| Greenland UK | 1104 | 4/8 | 1514 |
| HRW Australia | 2000 | 4/8 | 2020 |
| Henderson | 2001 | 4/8 | 2021 |
| Hendri Int'l Sdn | 2070 | 4/8 | 2020 |
| HQ Capital Trust | 427 | 4/8 | 1530 |
| HCL Int'l | 1084 | 4/8 | 1504 |
| ICQ Enterprise | 1400 | 4/8 | 1608 |
| Invasco Asia | 480 | 4/8 | 518 |
| JPM American | 1200 | 4/8 | 1204 |
| JPM Emerging Markets | 1044 | 4/8 | 1604 |
| JPM EuroTech | 800 | 4/8 | 1600 |
| JPM Japan IT | 800 | 4/8 | 1600 |
| Jujube Fund | 1024 | 4/8 | 1611 |
| Law Debenture | 1000 | 4/8 | 1578 |
| MBO | 2001 | 4/8 | 2044 |
| Manpower IT | 280 | 4/8 | 2081 |
| Merchants Trust | 1074 | 4/8 | 1585 |
| Mobile Ventures | 1071 | 4/8 | 1611 |
| Mobile Int'l | 1024 | 4/8 | 1608 |
| Moody's Global | 1078 | 4/8 | 1520 |
| Moody Int'l Tr. | 1024 | 4/8 | 1520 |
| Moody Int'l Tr. | 1024 | 4/8 | 1520 |
| Moody Int'l Tr. | 1024 | 4/8 | 1520 |
| Moody's Financial | 1024 | 4/8 | 1520 |
| New Energy Solar | 4064 | 4/8 | 744 |
| Novus One | 2784 | 4/8 | 2004 |
| Oakley Capital Inv. | 530 | 4/8 | 578 |
| Pacific Horizon | 1072 | 4/8 | 1522 |
| Partners Intra | 1124 | 4/8 | 1516 |
| Partners Net | 480 | 4/8 | 421 |
| Partners Group | 1024 | 4/8 | 1542 |
| Paris Private | 800 | 4/8 | 1542 |
| Paris Private | 1024 | 4/8 | 1542 |
| PepsiCo Square | 1024 | 4/8 | 1542 |
| PepsiCo Square | 1024 | 4/8 | 1542 |
| PepsiCo Square | 1024 | 4/8 | 1542 |
| PepsiCo Square | 1024 | 4/8 | 1542 |
| PepsiCo Square | 1024 | 4/8 | 1542 |
| PepsiCo Square | 1024 | 4/8 | 1 |
4
Daily Mail (SORT)
RACING
MARKET RAZEN
5.33 MAIDEN HURDLE (4) £30,000 added (£5,446) 7.2m @ 12mps./100
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MARKET RAZEN
5.33 MAIDEN HURDLE (4) £30,000 added (£5,446) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100
5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100
5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100
5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100
5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100
5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100
5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOW (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOW (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOW (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100
5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOWN (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOW (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOW (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOW (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOW (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOW (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.33 MAIDEN TOW (4) 7.2m @ 12mps./100
LINOFIELD
5.43 HANDICAP (5) £7,200 added (£3,760) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.43 HANDICAP (5) £7,200 added (£3,760) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.43 HANDICAP (5) £7,200 added (£3,760) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.43 HANDICAP (5) £7,200 added (£3,760) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.43 HANDICAP (5) £7,200 added (£3,760) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.43 HANDICAP (5) £7,200 added (£3,760) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.43 HANDICAP (5) £7,200 added (£3,760) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.43 HANDICAP (5) £7,200 added (£3,760) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.43 HANDICAP (5) £7,200 added (£3,760) 7.2m @ 12mps./100
5.43 HANDICAP (5) £7,200 added (£3,760) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.43 HANDICAP (5) £7,200 added (£3,760) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.43 HANDICAP (5) £7,200 added (£3,760) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.43 HANDICAP (5) £7,200 added (£3,760) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.43 HANDICAP (5) £7,200 added (£3,760) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.43 HANDICAP (5) £7,200 added (£3,760) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.43 HANDICAP (5) £7,200 added (£3,760) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.43 HANDICAP (5) £7,200 added (£3,760) 7.2m @ 12mps./100
5.43 HANDICAP (5) £7,200 added (£3,760) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.43 HANDICAP (5) £7,200 added (£3,760) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.43 HANDICAP (5) £7,200 added (£3,760) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.43 HANDICAP (5) £7,200 added (£3,760) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.43 HANDICAP (5) £7,200 added (£3,760) 7.2m @ 12mps./100
5.43 HANDICAP (5) £7,200 added (£3,760) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.43 HANDICAP (5) £7,200 added (£3,760) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.43 HANDICAP (5) £7,200 added (£3,760) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.43 HANDICAP (5) £7,200 added (£3,760) 7.2m @ 12mps./100
5.43 HANDICAP (5) £7,200 added (£3,760) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.43 HANDICAP (5) £7,200 added (£3,760) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.43 HANDICAP (5) £7,200 added (£3,760) 7.2m @ 12mps./100
5.43 HANDICAP (5) £7,200 added (£3,760) 7.2m @ 12mps./100 5.43 HANDICAP (5) £7,200 added (£3,760) 7.2m @ 12mps./100
Daily Mail Racing SERVICES
UKURISH COMMUNITY AND RESULTS
09016 09 29 39
THE NAGENT THE CALL 09016 09 53 39
The call is for the 2nd day of the 2nd week. The call is for the 2nd day of the 2nd week. The call is for the 2nd day of the 2nd week.
ROBIN GOODFELLOW
5.13 Buggarners 5.43 Lincoln Frank 5.35 London to Blue 5.38 Lilly Blue 5.38 Lilly Blue 5.38 Lilly Blue 5.38 Lilly Blue 5.38 Lilly Blue 5.38 Lilly Blue 5.38 Lilly Blue 5.38 Lilly Blue 5.38 Lilly Blue 5.38 Lilly Blue 5.38 Lilly Blue 5.38 Lilly Blue 5.38 Lilly Blue 5.38 Lilly Blue 5.38 Lilly Blue 5.38 Lilly Blue
95
RIPON
| 1.4.5 MONDAY'S OF BESTSELLER NOVEL STAKES (23 (2-1-0) 430,000 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2.4.6 MONDAY'S (40) 5m (50) | ||
| 3 | 10 | 1 |
| 4 | 10 | 1 |
| 5 | 10 | 1 |
| 6 | 10 | 1 |
| 7 | 10 | 1 |
| 8 | 10 | 1 |
| 9 | 10 | 1 |
| 10 | 10 | 1 |
| 11 | 10 | 1 |
| 12 | 10 | 1 |
| 13 | 10 | 1 |
| 14 | 10 | 1 |
| 15 | 10 | 1 |
| 16 | 10 | 1 |
| 17 | 10 | 1 |
| 18 | 10 | 1 |
| 19 | 10 | 1 |
| 20 | 10 | 1 |
| 21 | 10 | 1 |
| 22 | 10 | 1 |
| 23 | 10 | 1 |
| 24 | 10 | 1 |
| 25 | 10 | 1 |
| 26 | 10 | 1 |
| 27 | 10 | 1 |
| 28 | 10 | 1 |
| 29 | 10 | 1 |
| 30 | 10 | 1 |
| 31 | 10 | 1 |
| 32 | 10 | 1 |
| 33 | 10 | 1 |
| 34 | 10 | 1 |
| 35 | 10 | 1 |
| 36 | 10 | 1 |
| 37 | 10 | 1 |
| 38 | 10 | 1 |
| 39 | 10 | 1 |
| 40 | 10 | 1 |
| 41 | 10 | 1 |
| 42 | 10 | 1 |
| 43 | 10 | 1 |
| 44 | 10 | 1 |
| 45 | 10 | 1 |
| 46 | 10 | 1 |
| 47 | 10 | 1 |
| 48 | 10 | 1 |
| 49 | 10 | 1 |
| 50 | 10 | 1 |
| 51 | 10 | 1 |
| 52 | 10 | 1 |
| 53 | 10 | 1 |
| 54 | 10 | 1 |
| 55 | 10 | 1 |
| 56 | 10 | 1 |
| 57 | 10 | 1 |
| 58 | 10 | 1 |
| 59 | 10 | 1 |
| 60 | 10 | 1 |
| 61 | 10 | 1 |
| 62 | 10 | 1 |
| 63 | 10 | 1 |
| 64 | 10 | 1 |
| 65 | 10 | 1 |
| 66 | 10 | 1 |
| 67 | 10 | 1 |
| 68 | 10 | 1 |
| 69 | 10 | 1 |
| 70 | 10 | 1 |
| 71 | 10 | 1 |
| 72 | 10 | 1 |
| 73 | 10 | 1 |
| 74 | 10 | 1 |
| 75 | 10 | 1 |
| 76 | 10 | 1 |
| 77 | 10 | 1 |
| 78 | 10 | 1 |
| 79 | 10 | 1 |
| 80 | 10 | 1 |
| 81 | 10 | 1 |
| 82 | 10 | 1 |
| 83 | 10 | 1 |
| 84 | 10 | 1 |
| 85 | 10 | 1 |
| 86 | 10 | 1 |
| 87 | 10 | 1 |
| 88 | 10 | 1 |
| 89 | 10 | 1 |
| 90 | 10 | 1 |
| 91 | 10 | 1 |
| 92 | 10 | 1 |
| 93 | 10 | 1 |
| 94 | 10 | 1 |
| 95 | 10 | 1 |
| 96 | 10 | 1 |
| 97 | 10 | 1 |
| 98 | 10 | 1 |
| 99 | 10 | 1 |
| 100 | 10 | 1 |
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2.2.0 WILLIAM HILL WIREBING WIND SEVER CUP HANDICAP (4) (23,000 added (62,000) 64 (30)
| 3 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | |
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| 4 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | |
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96 Daily Mail Sport ATHLETICS: EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
'Gladiator' Hunt determined to finish the job with relay double
By RIATH AL-SAMARRAI
Chief Sports Feature Writer in Birmingham
THE fingers told the story of Amy Hunt's incomplete mission in Birmingham on Thursday. First, she showed two for the gold medals she has collected so far in her domination of European sprinting and then she held up four to signify a job half done.
Even in this city of bovine obsessions, there presumably is not a bull stubborn enough to wager against that target being met over the weekend.
Today, she will team up with Dina Asher-Smith in the 4x100m, for which the British quartet are favourites, and they will go again in the mixed relay tomorrow.
Given the male talent pool includes Romell Olave and Jeremiah Azu, Hunt's chances of delivering on her astonishing projections are more than strong.
By now, folk are aware enough of her remarkable talents, both for the winning of races over short distances and her willingness to accompany the golds with spoken nuggets. In an era when too many of her contemporaries hide their personalities behind thick shields, Hunt, 24, is the open book athletics needed, a Cambridge graduate who isn't afraid to share idiosyncratic declarations of self-confidence and one who has backed up big talk with big performances.
On Thursday, with the 200m title added to the 100m gold won on Monday, she was channelling Russell Crowe's Gladiator with the cry: 'Are you not entertained?'
It was later followed by a charming explanation that her father is so obsessed by the film that his parting words to her, prior to each race, include another Maximus classic: 'Strength and honour.'
Added to the 200m world silver medal Hunt won in Tokyo last year and the honours are adding up. So, too, is the strength of conviction that Olympic prizes
and Asher-Smith's British records could be under threat.
But there are a couple of caveats at play — by timings, the best of Asher-Smith, 30, remains some way ahead of what we have seen so far from Hunt, and more pertinent, the places on an Olympic podium are further clear again.
Asher-Smith, a world-class athlete at her best and an expert at managing the rounds at a championship, is no soft target. Hunt will need to maintain her trajectory to even get close to breaking her national
records. The other conversation involves catching the elite and perspective is needed — in 2026, when we have seen the best of Hunt in the 100m, she only ties 25th in the global list, more than 0.3sec off the top, and her standard for the 200m places her 10th, more than half a second off Julien Alfred.
The purpose of mentioning these deficits is not to dilute any hype, but an accurate scaling of where she stands when non-European bibs are in the race might be
TRAGIC DEATH OF YOUNG BRITISH CYCLIST FINLAY
BRITISH cyclist Finlay Tarling has died following an accident at the Volta a Portugal. The 19-year-old was taking part in the eighth stage when the accident occurred. The race was immediately suspended. A statement from his NSN team said: 'We are heartbroken. Fin was a much loved member of our team, but most importantly he was a son, a brother and a friend to so many. He will be deeply missed.'
necessary. The long stride of a 5ft 11ins runner has a certain ring of Usain Bolt about it. The trade-off is slower starts in the 100m, but there are those around UK Athletics who believe she can match the top-end speeds of the best women in the world.
The latter was demonstrated in how she ran down the field in the shorter distance on Monday and again when she passed Asher-Smith on the straight on Thursday.
Those strengths offer fascinating possibilities, as does her comfort in the unique challenge of a championship, where the pressure is greatest and fatigue accumulates between rounds.
By next year's world championships more time will have been afforded to understanding Hunt's peculiar issue with low blood pressure. She revealed it in the wake of winning the 200m, with the consequence that she felt close to fainting during a race in London this year.
But Hunt has overcome all manner of problems to get this far. She spent years tormented by injuries. A ruptured quadriceps while at university left her in such a state that she needed help from her mother to get out of the shower. These days, she might require assistance carrying the medals and little else.
WOMEN'S 4x100m RELAY FINAL
TV: LIVE 9:48pm on BBC One RADIO: LIVE on BBC 5 LIVE
KJT well off the pace in bid for heptathlon medal
A DRONE crash was the least of Katarina Johnson-Thompson's concerns as she made an underwhelming start to her challenge for a European Championship medal in Birmingham yesterday. After three disciplines, the 33-year-old was in 15th, offering little indication she has fully recovered sharpness from the calf nigger that ruled her out of the Commonwealth Games. Serving as a portent of the hiccups that lay ahead, Johnson-Thompson's first event, the 100m hurdles, was delayed
By RIATH AL-SAMARRAI
during surreal scenes when a drone fly-be went hilariously wrong. In attempting to pass underneath the barriers, the driver lost his bearings and crashed into one of the hurdles. When the gun finally set the field loose, Johnson-Thompson clocked 14sec — her worst time in 14 years of competing in major championships. She did regain some ground by clearing 1.83m in the high jump, allowing the twice world champion to climb to 10th,
before tumbling four spots with 12.79m in the shot put, 165cm short of her best. Pole Adrianna Sulek-Schubert led the way after three events from Ireland's Kate O'Connor. Meanwhile, World Athletics president Lord Sebastian Coe played down rumours that low crowds in Birmingham could harm London's bid to host the 2029 World Championships. The Alexander Stadium, with a capacity of 23,000, was almost half-empty during some sessions earlier this week, sparking awkward questions at
a time when UK Athletics is bidding against Rome, Nairobi and Munich for 2029. Asked if pictures of empty seats in Birmingham might influence panel members looking at London's presentation, Lord Coe said: 'Look, it's horses for courses. We had London (Olympics) in 2012, London (World Championships) in 2017, London will point to having sold out Diamond League five months before the event. So I think it was a challenge. It's always a challenge starting on a Monday morning.'
Struggling: KJT yesterday PA
RUGBY UNION | Daily Mail Sport 97
By ALEX BYWATER
HENRY POLLOCK wants to have a crack at playing sevens at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.
Transferring to rugby's shorter format will not be easy, especially in the wake of Eddie Hearn's demands for Pollock to be paid £1million-a-year by Northampton Saints. But it is not impossible.
'Should Henry want to get involved and do a bit of sevens preparation this year or next, that offer remains open,' Barney Pascal, the managing director of a new sevens tournament aiming to shake up the rugby market, tells Daily Mail Sport.
'It's a great story that high-profile players in the sport want to play sevens. If Eddie wants to call, I'll be ready.'
Pascal is heading up Ultimate Sevens, a competition which will be held next month in Madrid, Cardiff, Biarritz and London across four consecutive weeks.
Tickets for the London event at Brentford's Gtech Community Stadium start at £30.
Rugby's conservative ecosystem has been ripe for a new arrival for some time.
R360, the proposed 15-a-side rebel league, failed to get off the ground amid rejection from the game's existing authorities. But Ultimate Sevens wants to work alongside them, having spotted what Pascal sees as a gap in the market.
'This is about elevating rugby sevens,' he says. 'We've been incredibly focused on being complementary to the ecosystem and there's a reason for that — it's because we can be.'
The funding needed to create Ultimate Sevens has not been insignificant — 'tens of millions' have been invested. Its backers are BIA Sports Group, whose portfolio includes Premier League side Sunderland.
Former England sevens captain Tom Mitchell is on board as sport and innovation director.
The competition is aiming to capitalise on the growing popularity of sevens — which has hit a new level since France's 15-a-side superstar Antoine Dupont won sevens gold at the 2024 Paris Games — and will also attract a new audience who may not be familiar with the sport.
In an attempt to do so, Ultimate Sevens has adopted a marketing slogan of 'don't call it rugby' in a move similar to the one the
Star power: Henry Pollock is keen to follow Antoine Dupont, right in playing Olympic sevens GEITH MARZENKO
THE HUNDRED... BUT FOR RUGBY!
Ultimate Sevens wants to shake up the game, just like English cricket's most controversial format
England & Wales Cricket Board made when it created the Hundred. Like the Hundred, Ultimate Sevens has created new teams. Like the Hundred — which generally remains unpopular with cricket traditionalists — they want to broaden rugby's appeal.
'They plan to one day follow in the cricket competition's footsteps by selling teams to private investors.
'It was an opportunity for us to
be a bit punchy and challenge existing perceptions of rugby,' Pascal says.
'It was a bit playful too. People who know sevens call it exactly that. If you're not in the rugby ecosystem, the slogan asks the question: 'Well, if it's not rugby, what is it then?'. That creates a level of interest.
'I find it a compliment to even be in the same breath as the Hundred because they have tried
and I think succeeded in bringing new audiences to cricket.
'We're absolutely clear we want the integrity of the sport to remain at the heart of what we're doing.
'Sevens is a very credible sport. It's existed since 1883. We want to add to that.'
Like the Hundred, Ultimate Sevens' six sides — Albion Athletic, Atlantic Novas, Clan Taran, Foudre Bleue, Pacific
Current and Sol Feroz — have men's and women's teams.
In time, Pascal wants to attract rugby's biggest names, such as Pollock. But season one will see the teams dominated by experienced sevens players. Each of the four tournaments will see the six men's and women's sides play in a straight knockout format.
All the action will be completed in one day. Matches will be ten minutes long, with teams given the option of a 90-second tactical timeout.
One innovation is around conversions. Tries scored under the posts will be worth seven points. If a try is scored wider out, teams can opt to take their conversion from different, more challenging positions in a bid to earn more points. The range available is one, two or four points, depending on the kick's difficulty.
'This isn't about a one-season wonder,' says Pascal. 'This is a long-term play. This is about being around for many years to come. Younger and female audiences are increasingly introduced to rugby through sevens. That's a powerful tool.'
For too long, rugby has badly needed investment as, outside the international 15-a-side game, the sport continues to experience financial difficulties. Fresh financing into PREM Rugby has been welcomed and so too should BIA's arrival.
Rugby as a whole will benefit if Ultimate Sevens can become a regular part of its landscape.
'People ask me what success will look like,' Pascal says. 'I want people, in time, to know these players. If we get to that point, I think we'll have done something really special.
'I absolutely believe this investment in the sport is going to be a positive energy for rugby, for Great Britain's Olympic hopes, and for other countries around the world.'
Azam leaves field in pain just days before first Test
PAKISTAN captain Babar Azam gave the tourists an injury scare ahead of the first Test against England in Leeds after taking a blow on his right hand.
Babar was struck by Hampshire's teenage seamer Manny Lumsden while batting at Beckenham, where the Pakistanis are taking on a county select XI ahead of the three-Test series.
The 31-year-old, who had five runs to his name, removed his glove immediately and left the field after wringing his hand in
CRICKET
By RICHARD GIBSON
pain. Following advice from Pakistan's medical team, he will take no further part in the three-day contest, although his removal was being viewed as precautionary and he is expected to be able to net when preparations for Wednesday's series opener begin at Headingley on Monday. Elsewhere, former England captain Ben Stokes is just two
wins away from silverware with Durham after Lancashire were put to the sword in a Metro Bank Cup quarter-final at Old Trafford. Stokes contributed just 11 runs, a catch and a wicket to the 162-run win, which was teed up by a fine century from South Africa's David Bedingham and 76 off 57 balls from Ollie Robinson.
A young Lancashire team never threatened their 350-run target, but 17-year-old Joe Moores — nephew of Nottinghamshire coach Peter Moores — entertained with
four sixes in 51 from No 6, Rocky Flintoff, another of Lancashire's teen brigade, became one of Afghanistan-born spinner Shafiullah Ghaffari's career-best haul of four for 36, as Durham booked a semi-final with Middlesex.
Yorkshire's England Under-19 batsman Will Sennison also registered a personal high with 91, before Nottinghamshire hit back to win a seesaw tie in York. The visitors recovered from losing three wickets in the first three overs at the start of a
pursuit of 274, courtesy of another South African century, this one by Kyle Verreynne, and 116 not out from Jack Haynes.
After Nottinghamshire fell to 1-3, Verreynne stabilised things and then carved out a fifth-wicket stand of 154 with Haynes, who shrugged off the loss of three wickets to Ben Coad in six balls — and the inability of Lyndon James to bat due to a side injury — to strike 38 from his final 15 deliveries and seal an East Midlands derby with Leicestershire tomorrow.
98 Daily Mail Sport FOOTBALL
REVENGE WINDOW
Rashford and Mainoo's awkward reunion with the man who dumped them in United's bomb squad
By NATHAN SALT
IT was inside the tight-knit press room at Craven Cottage after a 1-0 win over Fulham where then Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim completely took Marcus Rashford apart.
This was January 2025 and by this point Rashford had not been in a Premier League matchday squad for nearly two months since being dropped by Amorim ahead of the Manchester derby.
Tensions at management level had been brewing over the Rashford issue for some time. There are those who, still, point fingers at others for being the driving force behind forcing him out. Others still pin a lot of the blame on Amorim's man-management skills.
But that night in west London, Amorim went nuclear on United's greatest academy player since Sir Alex Ferguson departed. In that moment, it totally changed the path for the two of them.
'It's always the same reason: the training, the way I see a footballer should do in life,' Amorim said that night. 'It's every day, every detail. It things don't change, I will not change.'
'You can see on the bench we miss a bit of pace on the bench. But I would put [United goalkeeper coach Jorge] Vital before a player who doesn't give the maximum every day.'
'That last line was the kicker. Amorim was claiming he would rather play a 45-year-old with a limp, over a £325,000-a-week international footballer. It looked then like Rashford's United story was done for good.
Sources speaking to Daily Mail
Sport later questioned whether Amorim's handling of the situation called into question his ability to manage elite players.
Past forward to December 2025 and following a 1-1 draw with West Ham, it was Kobbie Mainoo, yet to start a league match at that point last season, who was to be hung out to dry by the Portuguese. Rashford was on loan at Barcelona by this point. No doubt he could empathise better than most as to how it felt.
'I understand what you are saying,' Amorim said in a spiky press conference centred around his lack of trust in Mainoo, another academy shining light.
'You love Kobbie, he starts for England. But that doesn't mean I
need to put Kobbie [in] when I feel that I shouldn't, so it's my decision.'
Now, remarkably, we are here, heading to Poland for United's final pre-season friendly in which Amorim is managing the opposition, AC Milan, and both Rashford and Mainoo are primed to line up against the man who kicked them to the curb.
There are sources close to both players who are eager to draw a line under the episode and that is understandable. Amorim is gone, they have not. In theory, they won. But there are staff members at United in backroom roles that spoke freely after the penalty shootout win over Leeds about just how much determination is
inside the group to get one over Amorim, more so than Milan. That, too, is understandable.
Particularly on Rashford, there has been a real push at United not to make this weekend a side-show. Amorim put Rashford into a 'bomb squad' last summer and news that seven AC Milan players have been told they are surplus to requirements will not come as any surprise inside a highly-motivated United dressing room.
Rashford doesn't want a side-show, neither does his current boss Michael Carrick, and after a pre-season in which he hasn't won a single game it is unlikely to be top of Amorim's wishlist either. It is, however, inescapable just how much has changed since that
staggering undressing of Rashford at Fulham last year.
Days later he was at Aston Villa on loan, and a secondary loan to Barcelona then came following his 'bomb squad' treatment, where he went on to win La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup, all while Amorim unravelled at Old Trafford and was kicked out at the start of the year.
Rashford's return to the group, which didn't always seem likely, has been extremely well received by players. To many, he is far removed from the arrogant and lazy figure he was painted to be.
'He was great,' new signing Youri Tielemans, who worked with Rashford at Villa, said. 'There had been so much talk about him and bringing pressure and the media around him, but I thought he was just so good. Very humble, hard working, and from the first training you could tell his touch, his acceleration was just amazing.'
'In some ways, it feels a fresh start, with new players coming into the building, new challenges, new things to try and win, it's quite exciting,' Carrick said when asked about Rashford's mindset.
What happens now with Rashford remains up in the air. Carrick was non-committal when asked if the 28-year-old would be here following the transfer deadline, while figures upstairs, eager to trim the wage bill, have long been open to a move, with a handful of Premier League rivals watching.
But nobody expected us to be here, with Amorim in the opposing dugout and Rashford, along with Mainoo, ready to be front and centre once more. With an arm around the shoulder from Carrick, both players are ready and there's no better story than going up against the man who wrote you off as not good enough to play for your boyhood team.
Yes, both players are keen to draw a line under the whole thing, but revenge is sweet. No wonder some staff members at United are desperate to win today.
HAMMERS CLOSE ON RECORD DEAL FOR ENGELS
■ WEST HAM have agreed a Championship record transfer fee worth £22million for CELTIC midfielder Arne Engels. The Belgium international underwent a medical in London yesterday with the Hammers looking to register the 22-year-old today. The previous record transfer fee is £17.5m, paid by IPSWICH to Nordsjælland for Sindre Walle Egeli.
■ EVERTON are not pursuing a move for MANCHESTER CITY'S
WINDOW WATCH
By SIMON JONES
Jack Grealish as it stands. The winger, 31, is back in training after fracturing his foot and has interest from other clubs.
■ HULL CITY risk missing out on Everton's Tim Iroegbunam, having stepped back from a £15m deal after the midfielder picked up a hamstring injury. Ipswich and COVENTRY, plus two Italian sides, have also made contact with Everton, who are closing on a deal for MANCHESTER UNITED striker Ethan Wheatley. Hull have
made an enquiry for St Etienne forward Lucas Stassin. The 21-year-old Belgian has scored 23 goals in 59 games.
■ BAYERN MUNICH have told ASTON VILLA their move for Jaoa Palhinha is off as they do not want to send him out on another loan. Villa are continuing talks for West Ham right back Aaron Wan-Bissaka and have sent winger Sam Iling Jr to BOLTON on a season long loan.
■ COMO have registered interest in CHELSEA forward Liam Delap. The Italians want him on loan, while Chelsea value the 23-year-old at £55m. The Blues are also in talks to sell Omari Kellyman, 20, to Strasbourg and have sent
forward Dastan Satpayev to BURNLEY on a season's loan. He signed a six-year deal with an option for a further season at Chelsea on his 18th birthday after moving from Kazakhstan.
■ BURNLEY have confirmed the signing of Manchester City defender Max Alleyne on loan.
■ MIDFIELDER Will Smallbone, 26, has emerged as a target for WEST BROMWICH ALBION after they sold Alex Mowatt to DERBY. The Republic of Ireland international is a free agent after leaving SOUTHAMPTON at the end of last season.
■ MARSEILLE are continuing talks for LEEDS goalkeeper Lucas Perri. The Brazilian, who joined from Lyon, had been lined up for a loan to Torino, but
Marseille have been pushing for him after selling Geronimo Rulli to Manchester City. Marseille have also enquired about
ARSENAL forward Reiss Nelson. The 26-year-old has been discussing a £3m move to West Ham but, after loan spells at Hoffenheim, Feyenoord, Fulham and Brentford, is unsure about dropping to the Championship.
■ LIVERPOOL left back Calum Scanlon is expected to finalise his loan move to CARDIFF CITY today.
■ WREXHAM are hoping to close a deal for LEICESTER defender Harry Souttar this weekend. The Welsh side have offered around £7.5m and hope to edge out rivals SHEFFIELD UNITED.
JIMMY RIMMER 1948-2026 | Daily Mail Sport 99
by Ian Herbert
TO the very end, Jimmy Rimmer was a picture of self-effacement and always disinclined to locate himself at the centre of a football story.
He was happy in his own company, content to enjoy a beer without others present in the corner of a pub in Swansea, the city he came to call home, and it amused to think that some of the regulars would observe of him: 'That quiet fella in the corner used to be famous.'
He was one of the outstanding goalkeepers of his era, named by Gordon Banks as the 20th best in the world — a judgment he took as a compliment, rather than wonder how the England legend managed to put so many others ahead of him — and had fate not conspired to thwart him, his football fame would actually have been far greater than it was.
Rimmer, who has died at the age of 78, has the dubious distinction of being the only English player to win the European Cup with two different clubs without being on the pitch when either final finished. The first came early, when a role in Manchester United's Youth Cup-winning team of 1964 earned him a place
He sat in the Villa dressing room and wept as Spink ran on in his place
among the substitutes in the 1968 European Cup final at Wembley. Though the 20-year-old looked on as Sir Matt Busby's side swept away Benfica, with Alex Stepney nowhere near being dislodged, Rimmer would reflect on the privilege of being around George Best, Bobby Charlton, Denis Law and others.
It was always enough for him that he had the memory of a United first-team debut, a few months before the final, when Stepney was injured for an Easter Monday match against Fulham at Old Trafford.
But after his football journey had taken him on loan to Swansea and then to Bertie Mee's Arsenal, where he was a mainstay in the mid-1970s, European Cup glory beckoned once more, after his Aston Villa side reached the 1982 final against Bayern Munich.
The game was five days away when he collided with Swansea's Bob Latchford in a league game, crashing down onto his neck and finding himself in agony.
The physics did what they could for him and generous quantities of cortisone were applied to his shoulder and neck on the night of the final, but nine minutes into the game, he knew it was a lost cause and signalled that he would
Outstanding: Jimmy Rimmer in action for Arsenal and with Nigel Spink and the European Cup after his final ended in tears due to injury
SMITHBROOK
about his arrival as an unsophisticate at Arsenal in 1974. After his debut in a 1-0 win at Liverpool, he thought he was on the receiving end of a wind-up when offered prawn cocktail or smoked salmon on the bus home.
He said: 'At United, the bus driver would get fish and chips, and now there's two fellas asking me what starter I'd like, whether I want red or white wine? Nothing but the best, and I'd come from Man United!'
He'd make occasional mistakes, though it was perhaps the nature of the man that he tended to internalize them more than most.
'I'd go into my own world when I made a mistake,' he reflected. 'I used to hold them in and think about them for too long. Harry Gregg would say, 'Oh, you're the only one who ever made a mistake, are you?' But you can't go around telling people about all the great saves you made.'
For all that, he was an adventurer, spending three years coaching goalkeepers in China after finishing his playing days at Swansea, who he managed twice as caretaker. He lived rent-free in a suite of the Shangri-La in Beijing and had only planned to go for three months but loved the culture and respected it, which he always said was why he lasted there so long. Rimmer being Rimmer, he didn't put it down to his technical capabilities.
After suffering a heart attack which left him in a coma for 11 days, 18 years ago, while living in Vancouver, he returned to South Wales to be closer to his son David, one of his three children.
He followed Swansea City, was an occasional speaker in their matchday lounges and when extending a hand of friendship would apologise for no longer possessing a firm grip, explaining that several artificial joints were the penalty for his career between the posts.
Rimmer would not have had the game's slings and arrows any other way. He always liked to reflect that he had played for the biggest clubs in North West England, London, the Midlands and Wales.
'People call me a legend, but I don't see it like that,' he said in later years. 'I played with legends though — that's for sure.'
One of the outstanding goalkeepers of his era, self-effacing Rimmer walked with legends
be unable to play on. He sat in the Villa dressing room and wept, as Nigel Spink ran on in his place for what would be a career-defining role. Rimmer had previously missed just one match in five years for Villa.
The many sports journalists who ventured to ask Rimmer if he regretted his decision to depart the scene were always cut short by him. 'You can't do that,' he'd always say. 'We got to the final as a team.'
'I couldn't be the Jimmy Rimmer people would expect me to be.'
'I h a t 'J i m m y R i m m e r'
was a quite exceptional player, a graduate of United's Busby school who took every word the old man instilled in him to heart.
'He treated you like a man,' Rimmer said of Sir Matt in later life. 'You knew not to do silly things because if you did that with him, you were going upstairs for a chat in the office.'
But it was Harry Gregg, the former United keeper and reluctant hero of the Munich disaster who, as a goalkeeping coach, had imbued him with the wisdom that served him best. 'Catch
the ball. Get some shape in your hands. Cover your near post. They're not so good at the near post these days.'
It was also Gregg who talked a 23-year-old Rimmer into a loan move to Fourth Division Swansea, then told Arsenal scout Gordon Clark to sign him in April 1974.
Rimmer proved a fine successor to Bob Wilson, who retired at the end of that season and, once elevated to No 1, missed only three games in three years — a period in which he secured his solitary England cap, against Raly in 1976.
Rimmer had Ray Clemence and Peter Sutton ahead of him, more evidence of an absence of serendipity in his long football career.
In a wonderful interview with Daily Mail Sport's Matt Barlow two years ago, Rimmer (pictured left for the interview), delighted in telling against himself a story
100 Daily Mail Sport FOOTBALL
BAY RIATH AL-SAMARRAI
Chief Sports
Feature Writer
TONDA ECKERT enjoys a book metaphor. That much became apparent last Thursday, when this most unsightly of managers was presented to around 100 Southampton fans at St Mary's Stadium.
It was a supporters' forum, so there was the usual array of questions on season tickets and the like, but a single topic dominated the hour-long session.
There was no surprise in that, because you cannot talk about Southampton's forthcoming season in the Championship without discussing how the previous campaign ended — Spygate will not be forgotten in a hurry.
For Eckert, the 33-year-old German at the heart of a scandal, the espionage drama that saw his side expelled in disgrace from the play-offs three months ago and deducted four points from the upcoming campaign is one he
WATCHING BRIEF...
WATFORD v SOUTHAMPTON
Kick-off: 1.30pm tomorrow, Vicarage Road
TV: LIVE on Sky Sports Main Event.
cannot outrun. It cannot be disguised by an Eastleigh track suit or parked behind an intern in the trees. Indeed, his job might still be lost in the coming weeks amid the ongoing aftershocks of a remarkable story broken by Daily Mail Sport in May.
But last week, in front of those supporters, Eckert sought refuge in the promises of a brighter future. That is where the metaphors came into it.
I understand that it feels like there's a page that's been ripped out of the book,' he said. 'I do believe there are many chapters of memories and as much as we want them all to be positive, I think it's one of the toughest that the football club has had.
'But it's not written to the last page yet. There's much more to come. I hope I will be sitting here in 12 months talking about the Premier League.'
WORTHY
WORTHING
Southampton are defiant ahead of the big kick-off, but dark cloud of Spygate lingers and aimts boss. Tonda Eckert could STILL pay with his job
Southampton are a club desperate to move on, starting with their Championship opener at Watford tomorrow. Even factoring in the burden of starting on minus four points, Eckert's squad is sufficiently strong for a run at promotion. They are ranked fifth or sixth with most bookmakers to go up.
But they are also trapped in limbo, because Eckert remains the subject of a serious FA misconduct charge over his role in the deployment of analysts to spy on Middlesbrough, Ipswich and Oxford United last season.
Having admitted his complicity
in the Middlesbrough and Oxford capers to the EFL enquiries, he exists on perilous terrain.
Daily Mail Sport understands a verdict is highly unlikely to be issued immisently and sources at Southampton believe it could be as far off as next month.
But the key point would be the length of any sanction and whether the club's owner, Serbian billionaire media mogul Dragan Solak, can maintain his robust backing of Eckert in the event he is hit with a huge suspension.
In June, Solak accepted that his loyalty to a talented, tainted manager does have limits, telling
the Southern Daily Echo. 'If they ban him, we will appeal. If we lose the appeal, and it's such a long ban, we'll have to take a new manager. We can't leave the club unmanaged.'
For Eckert, there is little comfort to be found in the precedents for this kind of scenario — FIFA handed a one-year ban to the former coach of Canada women, Bev Priestman, after a drone was flown over a New Zealand training session at the 2024 Olympics.
We might add here that Eckert apologised earlier in the summer, albeit belatedly. There is also some merit in Southampton's
view that they have been severely punished already by the EFL.
But the flipside to any leniency was graphically spelled out within the EFL's written reasonings. Piecing together the accounts of witnesses, they painted a deplorable picture of the pressure placed on Eckert's analysts to perform nefarious tasks.
Eckert, for his part, has alluded to hitherto undisclosed contexts, which presumably go beyond the thin excuse that spying is common on the continent. On Thursday, he spoke of 'an image created that I think is very far away from the truth', but only
Spence seals Inter deal
DJED SPENCE last night
completed his £30million move to Inter Milan on a five-year contract. The former Tottenham full back had travelled to Italy on Thursday before spending yesterday
morning in medical tests at the CONI Sports Medicine Institute. The 26-year-old England
international is due to link up with his new team-mates, including former Manchester City star John Stones, as they prepare to face Real Betis in a friendly today. Spurs, who retain a 10 per cent sell-on clause, have begun to assess potential replacements with Crystal Palace's Daniel Munoz one name under consideration.
They can also count on further funds from the sale of Cristian
Romero, who completed his medical yesterday ahead of joining Atletico Madrid. Spurs will receive £34.6m for the Argentine centre back plus add-ons and inserted a 15 per cent sell-on clause.
The Londoners remain eager to sign Liverpool's Cody Gakpo. Though the Merseyside giants have yet to receive a formal offer they are aware of Spurs' interest and would want a considerable fee to contemplate his sale.
Tottenham also remain in talks for Manchester City's Savinho, who missed training yesterday with a slight illness.
Spurs host Hoffenheim in their last friendly today, before they kick off their league campaign at Brentford next Saturday.
SPORT IN BRIEF
CRICKET
THE HUNDRED Women's Eliminator: the Kia Oval — Southern Brave 1H-7 (100 balls); Sunflowers Leeds 1K-5 (99 balls); I E C M Wintig 2 (83). Sunflowers Leeds win by 5 wickets.
One-Day Cup — Quarter-Finals — Old Stafford, Durham 3/4-4 (343) 6-4-6; D G Bellingham 6/4, D G Robinson 7/6, Lancashire 6/7 (30) 2-6-8; JH A Munoz 7/8, Stonington Gvalon 4-8/9, Durham win by 362 runs. York, Yorkshire (73-9) 192-2-6-8; W J Burnham 8/10, D Pennington 4-8/9; V Nottinghamshire (77-7) 48-4-6-8; J A Hunter 8/10, A Hennessey 8/10, D C Leach 5/11. Nottinghamshire win by 2 wickets.
GOLF
UP WORLD TOUR DANISH GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP, 2nd Flt — (3/2) & 1st series (Killed) Par 72: 133 — A Roamer (7): 69, 64; C Adam 70: 63; 134 — E Ferguson 69: 65; 135 — M Jordan 68: 67; R Langhouse (7): 69, 66; B Stone (54): 66, 68; J Parton (Ret) 69: 66; C Surratt (55): 69, 66; 136 — B Watson (55): 69, 66; T Zhou (Div) 69: 67; 137 — F Sirtori (53): 67, 70; R Hoogward (Ret) 70: 67; T Clements 69: 68; F Call (R)
67: 70; 138 — A Del Rey (Sp) 70: 68; M Siam (G) 70: 68; M Armitage 70: 68; D Lasker (Ret) 67: 70; S Barnslow (2) 66; J Wimmer (Ret) 71: 67; J Senior 70: 66; G Goweta (Ret) 69: 68; M Heiligstorp (Ret) 70: 68; F Lansgren (Ret) 71: 67; 139 — B Missburger (Aut) 68: 71; J Guerrier (F) 69: 70; D Bradbury 68: 70; M Eps (Ret) 71: 66; A Kwon (Sp) 69: 70; J Skov Deren (Ret) 70: 69; F Lepette (R) 67: 72; J Dean 68: 71; D Jorany 68: 71; D Goftermundegee (F) 70: 69; F More (F) 69: 70; R Rader (R) 72: 67; J Lombard (54): 70: 68; Y Paul (G) 71: 68; 140 — E Lopez-Chacarra (Sp) 73: 67; J Gumberg (R) 73: 67; N von DeBinghausen (Sp) 75: 70; M Moneysers (R) 74: 68; J Gombach (Ret) 72: 66; M Wang (Ret) 67: 71; S Schreiner (A) 70: 70; S Jamieson 70: 70; J Buchanan (34) 68: 72; J Yale 69: 71; L Bierregaard (Ret) 66: 74.
SMOKER
CINDA OPIN (Tanyuan City) — Quarter-Finals: T Zhou (Dec) 1st D Gilbert (Eng) 6-5; N Sainaghham (The) 1st S Murphy (Eng) 6-4; M Selby (Eng) 1st N Robertson (A) 9-5; S Bingham (Eng) 1st A Zhang (Dec) 6-5.
TENNIS
CINCINNATI OPIN — Men's 1st rtd: A Vallejo (Pro) 1st K Jacquet (F) 6-2; 6-4; D Hays (F) 1st V Kogman (C) 7-4 (F) 5-4; G Mcmaher (G) 1st L Mung (Eng) 3-6; 6-5; 6-4; S Tobin (F) 6-4; K Koper (F) 7-6 (7-4); 7-5; S Boaz (Eng) 1st G Dendron (Aut) 4-6; 6-4; 6-3; Y Hardmann (G) 1st L Van Assche (F) 6-2; 6-4; M Bernadette (R) 1st T Denguel (F) 3-4; 6-4; 6-3; P Curness (Ret) 6-2; 6-3; T Marlow (C) 6-3; 6-2; Women's 1st rtd: A Buehler (GB) 1st K Williams (G) 7-5; 6-4; 6-4; D Singer (UK) 1st V Starodobinski (UK) 6-4; 6-3; L Stetson (R) 1st E Cacciaretto (A) 5-3; 6-2; P Stearns (US) 1st H Dart (GB) 6-1; 7-4; 8-5; E Grange (US) 1st V Williams (US) 6-3; 7-3.
WTA National Bank Open (Toronto) — Final: J Swinton (Pol) 1st L Rybakova (A) 6-2; 6-3.
ATP National Bank Open (Montreal) — Final: B Shelton (US) 1st B Nakashima (US) 6-2 (4-7-4).
TODAY'S ACTION
CRICKET — Fifth QB: Ireland v Afghanistan (Belfast, St. Mary), First Test Match (day 1 of 3): Sri Lanka v
India (Gala, 5.30am).
RIGBY LEAGUE — Betfred Super League: Bradford v Wigan (8.30), Toulouse v Huddersfield (8.8), Wakefield v St Helens (5.30).
Betfred Women's Super League (12.0): Barrow v Featherstone (2.0), Leigh v Huddersfield Giants (1.0), St Helens v Leeds Rhinos, Wigan Warriors v York.
RIGBY UNION — International Match: Australia v Japan (6am).
TOMORROW
CECKET — The Hundred finals (Lond's): Trent Rockets Women v Sunflowers Leeds Women (2.5). One-Day Cup Semi-finals: Leicestershire v Nottinghamshire (Grace Road, Barn), Middlesex v Durham (Rudhitt, Barn).
RIGBY LEAGUE — Betfred Championship (3.0): Balloy v Keighley, Doncaster v Midlands Hurricanes, Halifax v Willows, Oldham v London Broncos, Sheffield v Hunslet, Swinton v North Wales Crusaders (1.0), Whitehaven v Dewsbury, Workington v Rochdale (4.0).
RIGBY UNION — International Match: USA v Argentina (12.30am).
FOOTBALL | Daily Mail Sport 101
time will tell if his version of reality offers a convincing mitigation to the FA.
Either way, Eckert is preparing for a period away from the technical area. When Southampton played Preussen-Munster in a friendly earlier this month, Eckert watched from the stands and trialled the feasibility of transmitting instructions to the bench.
As a solution, it might suffice for a handful of games, but surely not the bulk of a 46-match league season with the riches of the Premier League at stake.
Ostensibly, there is less concern around the health of Eckert's
squad, to which Manchester City striker Divin Mubama was added on loan on Tuesday.
Despite the loss of last season's joint-top scorer Ross Stewart to Swansea and the 55million sale of midfielder Shea Charles to Fulham, Southampton have the nucleus of the group that finished fourth last season with a 21-game unbeaten run, including the two play-off ties with Middlesbrough. They also knocked Arsenal out of the FA Cup.
An unknown is whether any internal resentment will hang over from how the campaign ended, because in those initial
Peeping Ton: Eckert admitted sending intern William Salt to spy on Middlesbrough (far left) and (above) Saints fans make light of the scandal PA/GETTY BAGES
days, post-expulsion, the dressing room anger was real. There was a consideration of legal action from some players towards their club over lost bonuses, but Daily Mail Sport understands that never materialised into action.
Contrary to a rumour among some agents, multiple figures around the first team also insisted to us there was never a sweetener offered by the club to settle the bonuses that would have been paid for promotion. Some players would have been due as much as £250,000 had they reached the Premier League.
It is unclear whether any enhanced compensation will be worked into this season's bonus structure — Daily Mail Sport has been told elements of those conversations with the club have been deferred until next month — but all public noises from the squad claim there is no ill-feeling towards the manager.
Captain Jack Stephens said this month they are 'fully behind' Eckert, but several sources insisted it is a work in progress. One indicated as many as four first-teamers were willing to leave at the height of the tension, with the fury gradually softening.
The robustness of these alliances will be tested in due course, as will the party line repeated by many club sources that the squad has been galvanised through the turmoil. It is plausible, of course. They wouldn't be the first outfit to benefit from a siege mentality, which seemed to be the message
of club CEO Phil Parsons when speaking at the same forum as Eckert. His soundbite: 'We seem to be that club everybody hates this year and I don't really care.'
The sentiment among supporters in the coming months will be fascinating. Much like the club, they want to forget a damaging, costly episode, but many have learnt into the circumstances.
When Eckert's side played Colchester in the Carabao Cup first round last weekend, there were chants of: 'We are Southampton, we'll spy when we want.' The test of humour will come if results settle into a negative trend.
'I think we're all coming to terms with what happened now and ready to move on,' says Martin Starke, host of the Total Saints Podcast. 'I thought the manager would go and, at the time, I thought he should have.'
'I was very angry about it, like a lot of people — we had tickets for Wembley and it was taken from underneath us. But I've mellowed a bit over the summer. We have to draw a line under it.'
'I still don't think the punishment fitted the crime, but moving forward we're in a good situation — we're going into the season with a manager and a squad that has been together for a bit of time and proven they can win games in this league. There are plenty of reasons to be positive.'
Eckert's immediate future stands as a caveat to some of those points. Even if he survives, the pressure is considerable — the 2026-27 season is Southampton's last under the comfort of parachute payments. 'Now or never,' as Starke put it.
Those financial imperatives were illuminated by reported cuts to the women's team this summer, though an academy job has been offered to William Salt, the 23-year-old intern pressured into spying at the start of a scandal.
The image of him beside a tree, aiming his phone at a Middlesbrough training session, was the most surreal point of an extraordinary plot.
Whatever Eckert delivers for his unwritten pages, it seems unlikely he can muster an ending as wild as what has gone before.
Assuming he gets the chance.
Benayoun's role in Solomon move to Hammers
MANOR SOLOMON has revealed former Israel team-mate Yossi Benayoun encouraged him to join West Ham.
The 27-year-old is set to make his debut at Burnley tomorrow after a £5million move from London rivals Tottenham. Solomon made sure to speak to his 'idol' before choosing his next club after it became clear his future lay away from Spurs. 'We trained together,' said Solomon. 'It was really amazing to share the dressing room with him. He's really a hero. 'Him and Eyal Berkovic — they are the best footballers we've
By JAMES SHARPE
ever had in Israeli football. He was my idol. First of all, he's Israeli. He made it to England. He played in the Premier League. He played for Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, West Ham, the biggest clubs in England. 'Back then I was really little and I was looking up to him. If he made his dream come true, coming from Chelsea, a small city in Israel, playing in the Premier League for the biggest clubs, maybe one day I can. He added: 'I really love this
game. He was a winger, a No 10, similar to me. Different, but similar. I looked up to him and said: 'If Yossi did it, maybe in the future I will be able to get closer to him.'
Benayoun had two spells with the Hammers, helping the club to the FA Cup final in 2006, before returning on loan from Chelsea in 2012.
Solomon added: 'I had a few options. I asked him what he thought was the best option. Obviously, he's played for West Ham and he told me that he sees me in English football. For him, I'm really suitable and I
really fit English football. West Ham can be a really, really good place for me.' Solomon revealed he was not aware of the rivalry between Spurs and West Ham.
'I didn't know it,' he laughs. 'I know everyone in London hates each other, especially the big clubs. Tottenham, Arsenal, Chelsea, West Ham — they all hate each other, but I didn't know how big this is.'
'It doesn't matter where I came from. I think if I came from Spurs, I came from Liverpool, I came from Fiorentina, it doesn't matter. I'll try to give my best.'
THIS WEEKEND'S FIXTURES
(Open-sphere stated)
TODAY
SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP
- 1 Bolton v Poudon (32.30)
- 2 Bristol City v Millwall
- 3 Charlton v Berlin
- 4 Middlesbrough v Lincoln City
- 5 Norwich v West Brom
- 6 Portsmouth v QPR
- 7 Stoke v Swansea
- 8 Skott Utd v Birmingham (5.30)
- 9 Live on Sky Sports (Main Event)
SKY BET LEAGUE ONE
- 10 Barnsley v Braddon
- 11 Blackpool v Weymouth
- 12 Bradford City v Peterborough
- 13 Burton v St. Thomas
- 14 Cambridge Utd v Wiggin
- 15 Huddersfield v AFL Wimbledon
- 16 Leyton Orient v South West
- 17 Mansfield v Doncaster
- 18 North County v Leicester (32.30)
- 19 Live on Sky Sports (Main Event)
- 20 Oxford Utd v Mt. Dunc (32.30)
- 21 Plymouth v Stockton County
- 22 Reading v Eaton (32.30)
SKY BET LEAGUE TWO
- 23 Accrington Stanley v Colchester
- 24 Barnet v Salford City
- 25 Cheltenham v Botherham
- 26 Chesterfield v Northwood
- 27 Crawley for a Crown
- 28 Gillingham v Wistall
- 29 Grimsby v Exeter
- 30 Newport City v Rochdale (32.30)
- 31 Northampton v Yarmouth
- 32 Oldham v Port Vale (32.30)
- 33 Tranmere v St. Pancras
- 34 York v Bristol Bawes
- 35 Live on Sky Sports (Football)
PREMIER SPORTS CUP SECOND ROUND
- 1 Aberdeen v London
- 2 Dundee Utd v Celtic (5.45pm)
- 3 Live on Premier Sports
- 4 Buttermillers v Rock County
-
WILLIAM HILL SCOTTON LEAGUE ONE
-
5 Alton v Montrose
- 6 East Kilbride v Clow Rangers
- 7 Hamilton v Airdriecombe
- 8 Peterhead v East Fife
WILLIAM HILL SCOTTON LEAGUE TWO
- 9 Anson Athletic v Clyde
- 10 Dumbarton v Edinburgh City
- 11 Elgin v Wally Heavitt
- 12 Forfar v Stirling
- 13 Stranham v Spedham
SNOEBERG NATIONAL LEAGUE
- 1 Aldershot v Hartlepool
- 2 Barrow v Northchurch
- 3 FC Halifax v Burnham Wood
- 4 Caledonian v Woking
- 5 Ackermanshire v Eadleigh
- 6 Solihull Maury v Boston Utd
- 7 Southend v Southbridge
- 8 Sutton v Altrincham
- 9 Tamworth v AFL Fythe
- 10 Westphane v Newcastle Te
- 11 Worthing v Hovey Green
- 12 Yeomil v Carlisle
FRIENDLY MATCHES
- 13 8 M'Gladbach v Aston Villa (2.30)
- 14 Brentford v Eintracht Frankfurt
- 15 Brighton v Kelligan
- 16 Chelsea v Hull Sociedad (2pm)
- 17 Everton v Lille
- 18 Freiburg v Crystal Palace (2pm)
- 19 Fulham v Stuttgart (4pm)
- 20 Half v Wex
- 21 Leeds v Augsburg (2pm)
- 22 Madax v AFL Bournemouth (2.30)
- 23 Manchester Utd v AC Milan (3.45)
- 24 Newcastle v Royal Liverpool
- 25 Sunderland v Stockton
- 26 Tottenham Hotspur v Woffenhoven
- 27 Union Berlin v Ipswich (2.30)
SPANISH LEAGUE
- 28 Alberts v Duluth (8.30)
- 29 Sevilla v Royal Hurricanes (8.30)
- 30 PORTUGUESE LIGA NOS
- 31 Alberta v Earnest (3.30)
- 32 Viton v East Lincs (4pm)
- 33 Rio Ave v FC Porto (8.30)
DUTCH LEAGUE
- 34 Utrecht v AJ (5.45pm)
- 35 Excelsior v PSV (2pm)
- 36 Southend v Cumbria (4pm)
- 37 Wilton St v NE (3.30pm)
- 38 BELGIAN LEAGUE
- 39 Uttam & Dorset (4pm)
- 40 Sunk v Western (7.45)
- 41 Corryab v Ashworth (8.30)
- 42 OH Leaven v Club Brugge (7.45)
AUSTRALIA LEAGUE
- 43 Austria Lawrence v Pöhlingstrup v EC (4pm)
- 44 TURKISH LEAGUE
- 45 Kuzingasa v Tinkhanger (2pm)
- 46 Konyaspur v Rizespur (2pm)
- 47 Gesslerheftig v Ferenheims (7.30pm)
TOMORROW
FA COMMUNITY SHIELD
- 1 Arsenal v Merseyside City
- 2 Live on THI Sports
SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP
- 6 Watford v Southampton (1.30pm)
- 7 Live on Sky Sports (Main Event)
- 8 Burnley v West Ham (4pm)
- 9 Live on Sky Sports (Main Event)
-
10 Ajax v Heavinessen (3.45)
-
1 Heart's v Interneck (7.15pm)
- 2 Wilemanian v Partick (2pm)
- 3 Rangers v St Mirren (4pm)
- 4 Live on Premier Sports
- 5 Stenshornehrn v Motherwell (2pm)
FRIENDLY MATCHES
- 1 Liverpool v Como (4pm)
- 2 Newcastle v Stivakos (4pm)
- 3 Nottingham Forest v Bristol (2pm)
- 4 Tottenham v Wythambe (2pm)
- 5 Plymouth LEAGUE
- 6 Baring Eastlands v Villarreal (4pm)
- 7 E. Epstein v Lincoln (4pm)
- 8 Celia Vigo v Cork (8.30)
THI/PANEL
- 9 FORTGIGER LIGA NOS
- 10 Fawcetton v Martham (8.30)
- 11 Nacional v Estoril (3.30)
- 12 Bruges v St. Vincent (8.30)
- 13 The FA v Solihull (8.30)
MON/PANEL
- 14 DUTCH LEAGUE
- 15 Twente v FC Zwolle (2.30)
- 16 Feyenoord v St. Goldsmiths (1.30)
- 17 BELGIAN LEAGUE
- 18 Beatrice v Rotherham (12.30)
- 19 La Louvière v Gent
- 20 Larmont v Charleroi (8.30)
- 21 St. Thomas v St. John's (3.30)
AUSTRALIA LEAGUE
- 22 Hartberg v Austria Hesse (4pm)
- 23 Wild-Trek v RB Salisbury (4pm)
- 24 Rapid Hesse v Gruber (4pm)
102 Daily Mail Sport | FOOTBALL
OLIVER HOLT
Chief Sports Writer
THE curtain will rise at the Principality Stadium tomorrow afternoon and the champions will walk out on to the stage ahead of the Community Shield.
Arsenal's cast will not look radically different. There will be a few extras and one or two new stars, but nothing dramatic. There has been no need for drama, just steady growth.
Arsenal did not need to have a spectacular summer in the transfer market. It was important that they strengthened from a position of strength and they have started that process calmly by recruiting Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle. With two weeks of the window remaining, there is an argument that it is the best signing of the close season so far.
Other arrivals are being discussed. The champions need reinforcements in defence, where long-term injuries to William Saliba and Jurrien Timber are a concern and have led to an as-yet fruitless pursuit of Aston Villa's Ezri Konsa.
Arsenal are said to be interested in Jarell Quansah, of Bayer Leverkusen. They have spoken about prolific striker Victor Osimhen from Galatasaray and hope they can hire Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid. If they add
WATCHING BRIEF...
ARSENAL v MAN CITY
Community Shield, tomorrow. Kick-off: 3pm, Principality Stadium, Cardiff. TV: LIVE TNT Sports 1
more quality in the next fortnight to supplement the signings of Guimaraes and Greece forward Christos Tzolis, it will probably be enough to put them out of reach of the rest for another year.
They are strong favourites with the bookmakers to retain the title they won by seven points from Manchester City last season. They have a solid look, just as they did last season, when solidity got them over the line.
They are the favourites because of their own virtues, because of the depth and the quality of their squad and because, now they have ended a title drought that lasted for more than 20 years, much of the pressure that impeded them in the second half of last season will have fallen from their shoulders.
But they are also favourites because uncertainty shrouds their rivals. They are favourites because City have lost manager Pep Guardiola and the rest have not done enough to close the gap.
Manchester United looked like the coming club at the end of last season, but an underwhelming summer in the transfer market so far has led many to question whether they can take the great leap forward they would need to unseat the champions? It feels as if their momentum has stalled.
City, Arsenal's opponents in Cardiff, pushed Arteta's side
It will take something EXTRAORDINARY to stop Arsenal from retaining the title
Gunners have strengthened but rivals are shrouded in uncertainty and haven't done enough to close gap
close last season, but since then they have lost Guardiola, one of the greatest managers English football has ever seen, and they are struggling to keep hold of the man many still see as their best player, Rodri.
It remains to be seen whether Guardiola's replacement, Enzo
Maresca, can handle the pressure of following Guardiola and the increased demands he will face at a club like City that are used to winning.
Maresca considered it such a great achievement finishing fourth with Chelsea in 2024-25 that he was emboldened enough
to tell the club's critics to 'F Off'. Finish fourth with City and he may find himself booted out on to the east Manchester pavement.
Andoni Iraola is widely seen as a progressive managerial appointment for Liverpool, but their defence of their title under Arne Slot last season was so
disappointing that it may be too much to expect them to bridge the gap to Arsenal.
They have been linked consistently with Paris Saint-Germain's Bradley Barcola but even if they sign him, is that an improvement on Mohamed Salah?
Much will depend on whether
FOOTBALL | Daily Mail Sport 103
we see the real Florian Wirtz during this campaign.
Amid that blaze of uncertainty, Arsenal are operating with the closest thing to certainty in the league. Everything about them says they are trading up. Leandro Trossard was an important player for them last season and Gabriel Martinelli scored goals, too, but Trossard has gone and Martinelli's future is uncertain.
As Arsenal try to reach higher, they are identifying areas where they can improve and acting with requisite ruthlessness. Trolis is seen as an upgrade on Trossard
and Martinelli and if Osimhen arrives, he will be seen as an upgrade on Viktor Gyokeres. Guimaraes, wherever he fits into midfield, is proven quality.
Then there is Max Dowman. Until now, Dowman has been seen as a wonderkid, a startlingly brilliant and precocious teenager, a tantalising curiosity rather than a title game-changer. Dowman is still only 16, but he is so good and exciting that his progress signifies another reason why Arsenal should be stronger this season than they were last year. Many believe he has the kind of
AND THE BOOKIES AGREE...
| ARSENAL | 6/4 |
|---|---|
| Manchester City | 11/4 |
| Liverpool | 11/2 |
| Manchester United | 15/2 |
| Chelsea | 17/2 |
| Tottenham | 22/1 |
| Aston Villa | 40/1 |
(Odds supplied by Sky Bet)
talent that justifies him being mentioned in the same bracket as Barcelona's Lamine Yamal. His development means Arsenal will get the equivalent of a new superstar signing every season for the next couple of years.
There is still time for others to make inroads into the advantages Arsenal hold over them, but there has been a studied maturity about the champions' summer that carries a sense of foreboding for the rest.
When the curtain rises in Cardiff, their lead over the rest will not have diminished since the end of last season. In fact, it will have grown.
Maresca hints City exodus will continue
From Back Page
the World Cup — returned to the club's training ground for pre-season testing yesterday. He travelled back to Manchester on a Ryanair flight on Thursday evening and met Maresca hours later. Maresca admitted that City still have a significant amount of work to do in the transfer window, with Tijjani Reijnders on his way to Al Qadsiah in Saudi Arabia for £52m.
Tottenham are looking to wrap up a deal for Brazilian winger Savinho and Maresca has suggested there could be further outgoings in the coming weeks. 'We'll see what happens with some more, there is a change in this moment,' the Italian said. 'We are in a moment where players that were here many years have already left or probably can leave and that means there is a change. We're going to do our best. At the moment the transfer window closes, we need to be good enough to find as soon as possible solutions for the team.'
The 46-year-old refused to discuss any potential signings. 'I don't think it's good when people from other clubs speak about our players,' he said, a pointed comment amid a summer of discussion around Rodri in Spain.
Reijnders decided to pursue other opportunities after a lack of starts last season and Maresca believes there are others in the same boat. 'They
all work every day and at the end of the week they all want to play a game,' he said.
'When they don't play, they struggle to understand or they struggle to see the reason why and I can understand that after one season some of them would like to play a little bit more. It's difficult to convince players when they are already convinced. You need to change their thoughts, that is not always easy.
'But when the club, the player, the manager all think that the best decision for a player is to go, you have to go.'
Meanwhile, Chelsea co-owner Mark Walter has expressed an interest in selling his minority stake in the Premier League club, according to reports. Walter, who has a 12.8 per cent minority stake in BlueCo, the consortium which owns Chelsea, has reportedly hit financial issues which have led to him selling the LA Lakers for a record £9billion.
The US Attorney's Office is investigating billions of dollars in loans extended to companies tied to Walter or his conglomerate, TWG Global, according to the Wall Street Journal. 'Beyond the Lakers, Walter has also expressed an interest in selling his minority stake in the English Premier League club Chelsea, a person familiar with the matter said,' the report states.
In a statement, TWG Global told the Financial Times it is 'aware of and cooperating with' the investigation.
Gunners line up Quansah move
ARSENAL are interested in a move for England defender Jarell Quansah.
The Premier League champions have made contact with the 23-year-old's representatives.
Quansah plays for German side Bayer Leverkusen and they do not want to sell him, but Arsenal know he would be open to a move.
The Gunners are also continuing talks for Ezri Konsa, but Aston Villa's £80million valuation has been prohibitive.
A Liverpool academy graduate, Quansah joined Leverkusen from his boyhood club last year. The Reds had a buyback clause this summer, which has now expired.
Quansah, who can play at centre back or right back, made three appearances at the World Cup, including in the iconic last
By SIMON JONES
16 tie against Mexico at the Azteca that saw him sent off.
With William Baliba now facing a lengthy injury absence, the Gunners are chasing reinforcements at the back.
Quansah broke into Liverpool's first team in 2023-24, but was limited to just four appearances in the Premier League in their title-winning campaign under Arne Slot in 2024-25.
He was brought to Leverkusen by former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag last July, signing for £35m.
In his debut season in Germany, Quansah made 44 appearances and scored five goals as Leverkusen finished sixth in the league.
Giant Premier League fixtures wallchart
WEEKEND MAGAZINE
BEZOS & CO'S £1.6bn
LIVERPOOL STAKE
Amazon founder's
group buys a third of Anfield club
By LEWIS STEELE
LIVERPOOL owners Fenway Sports Group have sold around a third of the club to a consortium of billionaires, including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
It is a mega-money deal with Boston-based FSG, who also own baseball's Red Sox, set for a £1.65billion payout.
The consortium is led by former Queens Park Rangers supremo Amit Bhatia, with Bezos also involved — although the third-richest man in the world will not have a seat on the board. Bhatia will become the club's vice-chairman.
Also on the consortium is technology pioneer Bryan Baum and Elaine Saverin, the wife of Facebook co-founder Eduardo who was Mark Zuckerberg's class-mate and business partner.
Mike Gordon, FSG president, said: 'Liverpool has always been built by thinking beyond one season and making decisions with the club's long-term interests in mind.'
'That approach continues to attract interest from respected investors and business leaders around the world. It became clear that Amit and the consortium shared our long-term philosophy and appreciation for what makes Liverpool special. Their experience and perspective will complement the strong foundation already in place and we look forward to working together.'
The move will not impact day-to-day running of Liverpool. FSG maintain the keys to the club and will call the shots, though Bhatia and his 1892 Holdings will be consulted on big decisions.
Bhatia said: 'We are incredibly proud to be investing in Liverpool. To be welcomed as a partner in a club of this stature is a huge privilege. We believe deeply in Liverpool and its leadership and we look forward to supporting the club's continued success for years to come.'
Chelsea insist
£120m Enzo is going nowhere
By JACK GAUGHAN and KIERAN GILL
CHELSEA expect Enzo Fernandez to stay for the entirety of this season after a deadline to trigger his exit for £120million passed yesterday evening.
Manchester City and other interested parties did not lodge a bid for the Argentina midfielder ahead of the 5pm cut-off, with the Blues insisting the chances of a departure are now all but over.
Fernandez wanted to link back up with former manager Enzo Maresca at the Etihad Stadium and Chelsea told his representatives in May they would facilitate a transfer if the £120m figure was met.
Those terms have now been removed, but that may not mean a deal is dead. City were always unlikely to lodge a bid before Rodri's future was settled — Barcelona are confident of signing the Spain captain and City are demanding in excess of £60m.
If the 30-year-old leaves, City may make another play for Fernandez, although they are unlikely to reach Chelsea's £120m valuation. Rodri — who underwent back surgery after
TURN TO PAGE 103, COL 4
Arteta surprised by huge transfer fees
MIKEL ARTETA has admitted he has been shocked by the huge transfer fees Premier League clubs have splashed out this summer. Chelsea paid a club record £117million for Morgan Rogers, while Manchester City also smashed their record with a £116m Elliot Anderson move. Arsenal boss Arteta has spent £75m on Bruno Guimaraes, but
By ISAAN KHAN
the Gunners are still assessing their attacking options, with Galatasaray's Victor Osimhen and Julian Alvarez linked. Ahead of tomorrow's Community Shield against City, Arteta was asked if the scale of the spending had been a surprise and replied: 'Yes, it has, but that's the market.'
'There are clubs that are happy to invest, or they believe the valuations of those players. 'That's fair. The value is what somebody can pay for you and they've done it.' Arteta also hinted that Ethan Nwaneri could leave, saying: 'I want him to be at the club but something is the medium-long term — what is best for the player as well.'
TODAY'S QUICK CROSSWORD IS ON PAGE 88
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Page 87
SATURDAY Mail Puzzles
CRYPTIC CLUES
ACROSS
- 12 Grasp hidden difficulty with source of horrific flood, sadly (5,4,2)
- 13 Way of working with learner in outstanding part of a course (6)
- 14 Obstruct thing packed for a picnic? (6)
- 16 Stick Adam's son in audience (4)
- 17 Apt trip teen arranged around November (9)
- 18 Son being inactive gets to walk stealthily (5)
- 19 Heavy book in this person's opinion? (4)
- 20 Requirement of etiquette from Italy possibly (9)
- 22 Film new part of a plant (5)
- 23 Plain cap replaced by tense person seeking a job (9)
- 27 Recall rapidity by those fronting expert armada regarding oceans? (4-3)
- 30 Boxer, say, goes after fashionable last food item (3,3)
- 31 Instant sign of approval (4)
- 32 Bachelor has hurry to get grooming implement (5)
- 35 Improvisational form of music? Yes in Berlin linked to two last characters (4)
- 36 Pale fit devised for run-down cinema, maybe (7)
- 38 Standard bean or marrow? Not entirely (4)
- 39 Dicky met punk in a dishevelled state (7)
- 42 Seed-producing herb seems to vary around area (6)
- 45 Japanese comic books kept by German gamer (5)
- 46 It unlocks school after return? That's fundamental idea (7)
- 47 Dull noise is in this way restricted by director (4)
- 48 Soft mineral put in ornamental container (4)
- 50 Obsolete route to leave Spain now changed (7)
- 52 Posh camper van in Cyprus without straight lines? (5)
- 54 Number with rampaging thug is zero (6)
- 56 Trick European captivated by shoddy device (7)
- 57 Split is quite arbitrary with outsiders gone (4)
- 59 Approve symbol on holiday (4,3)
- 61 Financial liability of French and British company (4)
- 64 Excite last of visitors by recreational area (5)
- 66 Part of enduring riddle in network (4)
- 67 Cleo and Di at work are easily managed (6)
- 69 Extend period behind bars (7)
- 72 Repeat too often note scribbled to date by Henry (2,2,5)
- 73 Scope shown by book in a U.S. university (5)
- 74 Very severe engineer resting beside conservationists (9)
- 79 Travel with a large objective (4)
- 81 A week with variant of flu is terrible (5)
- 82 Cost Peter broke down is known only to a few (3-6)
- 83 Friend in motoring event after missing start (4)
- 85 Nine dancing to cover most of leading chant (6)
- 86 Mix up one club uniform disappearing as a whole (2,4)
- 87 Pamper model coldly disposed (1)
GIANT CROSSWORD
CHOOSE cryptic or quick, answers are the same. SOLUTIONS ON MONDAY
FOR A CHANCE TO WIN £500: Solve crossword to reveal the word reading down the shaded boxes. HOW TO ENTER: Call 0901 293 6235 and leave six-letter answer and details, or TEXT 65700 with the word XWORD, your answer and name. Texts and calls cost £1 plus standard network charges. One winner chosen from all correct entries received between 00.01 today (Saturday) and 23.59 tomorrow (Sunday). UK residents aged 18+, excl M. Full terms apply, see Page 42. NEED A CLUE? Text HINT to 65700 for six answers, or call 0901 293 6235. Texts and calls cost £1 plus standard network charges. Today's clues available from 00.01 Saturday to 23.30 on Sunday.
DOWN
- 1 Some attending a Latin festival (4)
- 2 Second best person causing hilarity (6)
- 3 Husband enter place designed as private place of worship (6)
- 4 Winding trail in county's borders has easily understood aspect (7)
- 5 Noticeable element provided in support of annual test (5)
- 6 Tough Roman mistreated instrument (5,5)
- 7 Cancel racket sport with sun departing (5)
- 8 See chap excited to acquire commercial mindset (9)
- 9 Companion put on file wrongly over year at first (7)
- 10 Leave out some bits with skins removed (4)
- 11 Expression in America for final destination (8)
- 15 System in hot ground in holiday region? (6)
- 21 Greek character appearing in home game (5)
-
24 Topical feature in a river? (7)
-
25 Masterstroke to do with voucher (6)
- 26 Something recounted, we hear, in division of a building (6)
- 28 Italian square lacking a food with topping? (5)
- 29 Figure with pointed ears in novel form (3)
- 33 Time PR's devised for licences (7)
- 34 Confine in conflict one learning the ropes? (6)
- 37 Pressure first off for coach (5)
- 40 First sign of pin that hurts in small bag (5)
- 41 GP only agitated about origin of odd shape (7)
- 43 Avoid first woman around a department (5)
- 44 Develop affection over Yves, essentially (6)
- 46 Thrills in features of rugby? (5)
- 49 Doctor here on island in company gives goodbye (7)
- 51 Exaggerate about cook (6)
- 53 Entertain man shortly with beer (6)
-
55 French article about Dutch university is not warranted (5)
-
58 Cultivated tone primed for act of atonement (10)
- 60 Fighter with appeal in healthy condition (3)
- 62 Graduate has to examine food for breakfast (5)
- 63 Dear gift I suspect making one delighted (9)
- 65 Put forward one getting a salary with some weight (8)
- 68 Camp's original free spirit is oversensitive (6)
- 70 Not worried about journalist touring U.S. airport (7)
- 71 Unproductive sort of list here with hour gone (7)
- 75 Complete description of a diplomati's art? (6)
- 76 Defends drug as broken down (6)
- 77 Good part of an ear has rounded shape (5)
- 78 One luring circle with Yankee after last part of year (5)
- 80 View face (4)
- 84 Jaunty rhythm from leaders of lot in London theatre (4)
QUICK CLUES
- ACROSS
- 12 Grasp (5,4,2)
- 13 Course unit (6)
- 14 Obstruct (6)
- 16 Stick (4)
- 17 Apposite (9)
- 18 Walk stealthily (5)
- 19 Heavy book (4)
- 20 Requirement of etiquette (9)
- 22 Film (5)
- 23 One seeking a job (9)
- 27 Oceanic (4-3)
- 30 Roll with a sausage (3,3)
- 31 Instant (4)
- 32 Grooming implement (5)
- 35 Improvisational form of music (4)
- 36 Run-down public place (7)
- 38 Standard (4)
- 39 Dishevelled (7)
- 42 Seed-producing herb (6)
- 45 Japanese comic books (5)
- 46 Central fact (7)
- 47 Dull noise (4)
- 48 Soft mineral (4)
- 50 Obsolete (7)
- 52 Having bends (5)
- 54 Zero (6)
- 56 Trick (7)
- 57 Split (4)
- 59 Approve (4,3)
- 61 Financial liability (4)
- 64 Particle of fire (5)
- 66 Network (4)
- 67 Easily managed (6)
- 69 Extend (7)
- 72 Repeat too often (2,2,5)
- 73 Scope (5)
- 74 Very severe (9)
- 79 Objective (4)
- 81 Terrible (5)
- 82 Classified (3-6)
- 83 Friend (4)
- 85 Chant (6)
- 86 As a whole (2,4)
- 87 Pamper (1)
- DOWN
- 1 Festival (4)
- 2 Piercing cry (6)
- 3 Private place of worship (6)
- 4 Easily understood aspect (7)
- 5 Noticeable element (5)
- 6 Harmonica (5,5)
- 7 Cancel (5)
- 8 Mental state (9)
- 9 Principally (7)
- 10 Leave out (4)
- 11 Final destination (8)
- 15 System (6)
- 21 Greek letter (5)
- 24 Topical (7)
- 25 Voucher (6)
- 28 Floor (6)
- 28 Savoury Italian dish (5)
- 29 Fairy (3)
- 33 Licences (7)
- 34 Confine in wartime (6)
- 37 Coach (5)
- 40 Small bag (5)
- 41 Many-sided shape (7)
- 43 Avoid (5)
- 44 Develop (6)
- 46 Thrills (5)
- 49 Goodbye (7)
- 51 Carry too far (6)
- 53 Entertain (6)
- 55 Excessive (5)
- 58 Act of atonement (10)
- 60 In healthy condition (3)
- 62 Pkg's meal (5)
- 63 Delighted (9)
- 65 Put forward (8)
- 66 Oversensitive (6)
- 70 Free from worry (7)
- 71 Unproductive (7)
- 73 Unscalhed (6)
- 76 Sentries (6)
- 77 Sphere (5)
- 78 Ball (5)
- 80 Appearance (4)
- 84 Cadence (4)
SUDOKU
FILL in all squares in the grid so each row, column and each of the 3x3 squares contains all the digits from 1 to 9.
SOLUTION ON MONDAY
SAKURO
PLACE 1 to 9 in the grid so the number in each white circle is equal to the sum of the four surrounding tiles, and tiles of the same colour add up to the number in the corresponding circle below.
SOLUTION ON MONDAY
SUGURU
A ONE-CELL outlined block contains the digit 1; a two-cell block contains 1 and 2; a three-cell block contains 1, 2 and 3; and so on. The same digit must not appear in neighbouring cells — NOT EVEN DIAGONALLY!
SOLUTION ON MONDAY
Page 88
MORE PUZZLES IN WEEKEND
1 Which current affairs TV programme, still running today, was first broadcast on November 11, 1953? 2 What is a panatella a type of?
3 Who was awarded the Royal Society's Rumford medal for his miner's safety lamp in 1816?
4 With whose comic operas is Richard D'Oyly Carte associated?
PUB QUIZ
5 Which African country lies immediately to the south of the Strait of Gibraltar?
6 How many of the eight planets of our solar system have no moons?
7 Which band had a hit in the late 1900s with Build Me Up Buttercup?
8 How many 'little piggies' feature in the nursery rhyme This Little Piggy? 9 Which actor starred in Doctor Zhivago and Funny Girl? 10 How many points is the black ball worth in snooker?
ANSWERS BELOW
CODEWORD
EACH number in the grid represents a letter.
Today, 8 represents 1, so fill in 1 every time 8 appears. Two letters are given in the control grid to start you off. Enter them in the correct squares in the main grid, then use your knowledge of words to work out which letters should go in the missing squares. SOLUTION ON MONDAY
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
Yesterday's solution:
COMPLETE Codeword to reveal the word in the shaded boxes.
HOW TO ENTER: Call 0901 293 6232
and leave your answer and your details. Or TEXT 65700 with the word CODE, your answer and then your name. Texts and calls cost El plus
your standard network charges. One weekly winner chosen from all correct entries received between 00.01 Monday and 23.59 Saturday. Answers change daily at 00.01. UK residents aged 18+, excl NI. Full terms apply, see Page 42.
NEED A CLUE? Text the word CODEWORD to 65700 to receive four clues or call 0901 293 6200. Texts and calls cost El plus your standard network charges. Today's clues available between 00.01 today and 23.30 only.
QUICK CROSSWORD
No 10,494
ACROSS
1 At the planned time (2,8)
6 Unidirectional (3-3)
7 Romantic flowers (5)
9 Fleet of ships (6)
10 Tall deciduous tree (3)
11 Weeps (4)
14 End part (4)
15 Male parent (3)
16 Counting frame (6)
17 Sketch (5)
18 Overhanging cover (6)
20 Loltier or vacillate (5-5)
DOWN
1 Have as one's possession (3)
2 Underground drains (6)
3 Prime (6)
4 Of the skin (6)
5 City in Nevada (3,5)
6 Partisan (3-5)
8 Make easy (6)
9 Sheikhdom of
SE Arabia (3,5)
12 Pale delicate shade of a colour (6)
13 Stale or sour (6)
14 Underground
passage (6)
19 Snoop (3)
SOLUTION ON MONDAY
FRIDAY'S SOLUTION — (No 10,493) ACROSS 1 Adamant. 7 Hourse. 8 Robbery. 9 Even. 10 Bump. 12 Fitness. 14 Twofold. 16 Lava. 18 Club. 20 Treason. 21 Goalie. 22 Rematch. DOWN: 1 Acrobat. 2 Album. 3 Area. 4 Thyroid. 5 Maternal. 6 Assess. 11 Puffball. 12 Flatter. 13 Staunch. 15 Wallop. 17 Asset. 19 Helm.
CAPPHIELD
To order Garfield Home Cooker by Jim Davis for £12.59, go to mailshop.co.uk/books or call 020 3176 2937. Free UK delivery on orders over £25.
FOOD STIRKS
Call Shrek 'Driving For Quantity' about, available for £3.00. Emakindro@newytimes.com to purchase.
FLAVOR & COOL
To order Chloe & Co. into Arsone Seen My Love Unit by Gray Jolliffe for £14.39, go to mailshop.co.uk/books or call 020 3176 2937. Free UK delivery on orders over £25.
FIRE & BASKET
To order the Fred Basset Yearbook 2026 by Alex Graham for £9.99, go to mailshop.co.uk/books or call 020 3176 2937. Free UK delivery on orders over £25.
THE DAILY MAIL offers readers the chance to re-establish contact with long-lost relatives and friends. Each week, MONICA PORTER
features the story of someone who is trying to find a missing loved one — and a tale of people reunited.
FORMER civil servant Christine Regas writes: 'My story begins in July 1945, when my mother met a young pregnant wife in the bed next to hers in Bromley Cottage Hospital, Kent. This was Barbara Backhouse, and the two ladies became friends. Barbara's baby, Patricia Ann Theresa, was born in December 1945, when we — my mother, my Greek Cypriot father and I — were visiting my grandparents in Cyprus. It wasn't until 1947 that the Backhouse family came to visit us in Bromley. By then, Pat had a baby sister, Barbara Jean. Over the next 20 years, our families grew close, even though they moved up north, to Manchester and then other cities.
MISSING...
'My mum died of cancer in 1964, aged 57. I wrote to the Backhouse family and they replied. But the following Christmas, when I sent the girls a parcel, it was returned, marked "gone away". A year later, I received a Christmas card from them, postmarked somewhere in Norfolk, but with no address. I've been unable to locate them since. 'I wonder about the girls. They no doubt married and have different surnames, and are probably grandmothers. But if they're still with us, it would be lovely to hear from them again. I'm now 89 and live in a care home in Bromley.'
Barbara and Pat
Caspar Franklin in the 1990s
... AND FOUND
OUR recent story about the reunion of three members of amateur folk group the Folk 'n' Rollers — Tim Boothe, Adrian Dawlish and Jonathan Schultzer — has resulted in a further reconnection. Reader Caspar Franklin got in touch to tell us that back in the 1990s, he and Adrian played
chess together many times as members of a club near their homes in West Hampstead, north London. 'He usually beat me,' admits Caspar. 'They lost touch circa 2001; Caspar got married and moved elsewhere in London. Now, they're back together. Has the chess board come out yet?
■ IF THERE is someone you'd like to trace, send an email to monica.porter@dailymail.co.uk, including your phone number. Alternatively, write
to Missing and Found, Letters Department, Daily Mail, 9 Derry Street, London W8 5HY. All communications answered as soon as possible.
FUTOSHIKI
FILL blank squares so every row and column contains 1 to 5 once only. Symbols between squares indicate if a number is larger (◇) or smaller (◇) than the number next to it.
SOLUTION ON MONDAY
PUB QUIZ ANSWERS:
1 Panorama
2 Cigar
3 Humphry Davy
4 Gilbert and
Sullivan
5 Morocco
6 Two (Venus and
Mercury)
7 The Foundations
8 Five
9 Omar Sharif
10 Seven.