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Volkswagen Unveils Its Most Efficient EV Yet, but It Won’t Be Sold to Consumers

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Volkswagen has revealed a radical electric vehicle it says is the world’s most efficient EV — though motorists will not be able to purchase it.

Known as the Mission Efficiency, the futuristic prototype uses Volkswagen’s MEB+ architecture, the same platform beneath the recently reviewed ID.Polo.

The new electric supermini starts at £23,395 in the UK and manages a combined maximum of 5.4 miles per kWh. Yet the Mission Efficiency significantly improves on that figure, helped by its exceptionally slippery aerodynamic shape and an array of energy-saving systems.

By Volkswagen’s calculations, the concept is close to twice as efficient.

On a journey of almost 800 miles between Volkswagen’s Wolfsburg development headquarters and Vienna, the EV returned an average of 8.27 miles per kWh.

The company’s engineers said the result climbed to a remarkable 9.02 miles per kWh once charging losses were removed from the calculation.

Volkswagen also says the car can travel as far as 500 miles on a charge, despite relying on a comparatively compact battery pack designed to support rapid charging.

There is a major limitation for drivers looking for an exceptionally economical EV, however. Volkswagen has no plans to sell the Mission Efficiency, describing it instead as a technology demonstrator intended to show the “potential efficiency we can add to the latest generation of electric cars”.

Volkswagen has unveiled what it claims is the 'world's most efficient electric car'. But there's a catch... you won't be able to buy one

Volkswagen says its Mission Efficiency prototype is the world’s most efficient electric car — but the groundbreaking EV will not go on sale.

The 794-mile run involved stretches of autobahn driving at up to 86mph, although the vehicle recorded an average speed of 42mph across the full route.

Volkswagen confirmed there was just one charging stop during the journey.

Based on its real-world consumption figures, the car achieved a range of 406 miles using the same 52kWh battery fitted to the flagship ID.Polo.

Engineers say that, under more favourable conditions and at lower average speeds, the vehicle could go for more than 500 miles on a full charge.

Power comes from the 114hp electric motor used in the entry-level ID.Polo. In the production car, this motor is paired exclusively with the smaller 37kWh battery and drives the front wheels.

The Mission Efficiency also uses the ID.Polo’s largest battery pack with 52kWh.

However, engineers unlocked an additional 2kWh of usable capacity by removing the safety buffer retained in the showroom model, increasing total usable energy to 54kWh.

During a near-800-mile journey from Volkswagen's development centre in Wolfsburg to Vienna, the car achieved an average efficiency of 8.27 miles per kWh

During a near-800-mile journey from Volkswagen’s development centre in Wolfsburg to Vienna, the car achieved an average efficiency of 8.27 miles per kWh

The Mission Efficiency is VW's 'production-ready' futuristic EV that's built on the same MEB+ platform that underpins the new ID.Polo

The Mission Efficiency is VW’s ‘production-ready’ futuristic EV that’s built on the same MEB+ platform that underpins the new ID.Polo

Solar panels integrated into the roof and boot lid can add up to 18 miles of extra driving range per day, VW says

Solar panels integrated into the roof and boot lid can add up to 18 miles of extra driving range per day, VW says

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Should groundbreaking green tech be kept off the market just to show off, or should companies make it available to everyone?

The MEB+ platform, which will also underpin models including the Volkswagen ID.Cross, Cupra Raval and Skoda Epiq, has been heavily modified and reshaped into an almost teardrop profile.

The rear axle is around 17cm narrower than that of the standard platform, allowing for a longer, lower body that tapers dramatically towards the rear.

Solar panels integrated into the roof and boot lid provide a combined output of 370 watts, feeding additional energy into the battery. 

Volkswagen claims they can add up to 18 miles of extra driving range per day during optimal summer conditions.

It’s no featherweight, though.

Its larger dimensions and photovoltaic panels on the roof have it tipping the scale at 1.6 tonnes – around just 50kg heavier than the ID.Polo.

It also has seating for four (though we imagine the headroom in the back is limited at best) and a plush-looking cabin, though with some weight-saving features, including thin seats featuring cobweb-like headrests.

And it’s pretty practical, too, with a large 481-litre boot. There’s also side panniers enclosed into the bodywork with drawers for everyday items, including its charging cable.

There's seating for four inside, though two rearmost seats look to only be suitable for small children. The thin chairs with cobweb-like headrests help to keep the weight low

There’s seating for four inside, though two rearmost seats look to only be suitable for small children. The thin chairs with cobweb-like headrests help to keep the weight low

Despite only being a concept, the Mission Efficiency is pretty practical

It has a massive 481-litre boot - that's 100 litre more than a VW Golf

Despite only being a concept, the Mission Efficiency is pretty practical. It has a massive 481-litre boot – that’s 100 litre more than a VW Golf

There are hidden paniers in the bodywork with drawers to keep everyday items - and the charging cable

There are hidden paniers in the bodywork with drawers to keep everyday items – and the charging cable

The big talking point, though, is the exterior design. 

With a compact frontal area with active cooling flaps, a completely flat underbody, patented aerodynamic wheel deflectors and partially enclosed rear wheels, the Mission Efficiency achieves a drag coefficient of just 0.158Cd.

Volkswagen says this is the lowest drag figure ever recorded for a vehicle that could realistically be mass-produced.

That comfortably beats the company’s similarly slipper-shaped XL1 diesel hypermiler, which had a drag coefficient of 0.199Cd.

Although the XL1 entered production in 2015, only 250 examples were built, each costing around £100,000.

The Mission Efficiency also surpasses the current production-car benchmark held by the Lucid Air, which has a drag coefficient of 0.197 and costs from just over $70,000 in the US.

Thomas Schäfer, Volkswagen’s chief executive, said the vehicle is ‘the ideal way to demonstrate what distinguishes Volkswagen in the electric age’ and proves the company remains focused on ‘technology for the masses, not just for the few’.

He added that the car has achieved three efficiency world records using ‘affordable production technology’ already deployed in the ID.Polo and upcoming ID.Cross.

‘This shows how much potential efficiency we can add to the latest generation of our electric cars.’

Power comes from the 114hp electric motor used in the entry-level ID.Polo. The 54kWh battery is the same as the range-topping pack in the ID.Polo but with 2kWh of energy unlocked

Power comes from the 114hp electric motor used in the entry-level ID.Polo. The 54kWh battery is the same as the range-topping pack in the ID.Polo but with 2kWh of energy unlocked

Volkswagen has even patented the aerodynamic wheel deflectors used by the Mission Efficiency, suggesting they could be used on a production model at a later date

Volkswagen has even patented the aerodynamic wheel deflectors used by the Mission Efficiency, suggesting they could be used on a production model at a later date 

Thomas Schäfer, Volkswagen CEO, said the concept is not for production but to 'demonstrate what distinguishes Volkswagen in the electric age'

Thomas Schäfer, Volkswagen CEO, said the concept is not for production but to ‘demonstrate what distinguishes Volkswagen in the electric age’

The Mission Efficiency has been unveiled less than a fortnight since the board of Volkswagen has agreed to cut a total of 100,000 jobs by 2030 as it struggles in its transition to EVs.

A sweeping restructuring programme over the next three years aims to counter a slower-than-expected shift to electric cars as well as the impact of tariffs and intensifying competition from Chinese rivals.

The German group, which includes Audi, Porsche, Skoda and the VW brand, said the overhaul would be ‘the most extensive transformation programme’ in its 89-year history.

The planned cuts include the 50,000 jobs already agreed, taking the total reduction to 100,000 positions by the end of the decade.

Volkswagen also outlined plans to halve its vehicle line-up by 2030, prioritising its ‘most compelling vehicles’ and increasing production volumes of each model to help lower costs.

The move could trigger up to four factory closures in Germany and may result in 76-year-old brand Seat being axed entirely.

‘A fundamental adjustment of the global workforce capability is necessary’ to preserve the company’s competitiveness, Volkswagen said.

Trinity Rodman Tears Up During Ben Shelton’s US Open Speech

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Trinity Rodman experienced an emotional whirlwind after racing from her Washington Spirit match to the U.S. Open men’s final in New York to support boyfriend Ben Shelton.

Shelton’s breakthrough Grand Slam run ended Sunday at Arthur Ashe Stadium, where top-seeded Alexander Zverev claimed a 6-3, 7-6 (2), 5-7, 6-2 victory. The pressure of the moment was evident as the young American addressed the crowd following the biggest match of his career.

Wearing a shirt featuring Shelton, Rodman was seen wiping away tears while seated beside his mother during his trophy-ceremony speech.

Rodman missed most of the four-set U.S. Open final because she had a 1 p.m. match with the Washington Spirit against Boston Legacy in Washington, D.C.

The men’s championship match began an hour later, at 2 p.m.

The Spirit had confirmed earlier in the week that Rodman would be available for the game, ending speculation that she might sit out to attend Shelton’s career-defining tennis match. After the Spirit’s 3-0 defeat, she hurried to Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Zverev also acknowledged Rodman in his post-match victory speech after securing the second Grand Slam title of his career.

“Trinity, I thought you had a game today, no? Well done to you as well. You’re the lucky charm,” he said. “Not today, but usually.”

Throughout the tennis calendar, Rodman has balanced her NWSL responsibilities with supporting Shelton. The two have been together publicly since March 2025.

During his post-match press conference, Shelton was asked about Rodman’s late arrival and support in his career.

“It means everything. I knew she was coming,” he said. “I knew it was going to be pretty close to impossible to get here, but even just making the effort and trying is insane. She kind of showed up as I was losing, which for her probably sucked.

“We’ve made a lot of sacrifices for each other. We traveled the world to try to support each other when we can. It means a lot, same with my family and friends. So many people have showed up for me and that’s what this is all about. Being able to share these moments, share these two weeks with my best friends, my family, people I love. That’s why I’m out here doing this. That’s why I enjoy it so much and that’s who I want to get over the line for. Super grateful for all the people I have around me.”

The 23-year-old had the chance to be the first American man to win a Grand Slam since Andy Roddick’s 2003 U.S. Open title.

Shelton and Rodman have shared fun moments during the hard court slam, including when she did Shelton’s signature “dialed in” phone celebration after he defeated Carlos Alacaraz in a thrilling five-set quarterfinal match.

She also looked jokingly annoyed when Shelton joked about his best friend and sister getting the work day off as they were set to start their routine day in three hours. Rodman could be seen saying “What about me?”

The USWNT star even brought an action figure of Shelton doing the phone celebration as seemingly a good luck charm for the quarterfinal match.

Jayne Mansfield’s Tragic Death: Impact on Mariska Hargitay

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On June 29, 1967, Jayne Mansfield’s children—Mickey Jr., Zoltan and Mariska—were seated in the back of a Buick Electra alongside their mother. Also in the car were Mansfield’s boyfriend, attorney Sam Brody, and the vehicle’s driver, Ronnie Harrison.

The group was traveling west on U.S. Route 90 from Biloxi, Mississippi, where Mansfield had recently appeared in a nightclub performance, to New Orleans. At roughly 2 a.m., after crossing into Louisiana, the Buick slammed into the rear of a trailer truck that was spraying mosquito repellent. Police said at the time that fog from the insecticide had apparently limited Harrison’s visibility.

Mansfield’s three children survived the devastating collision, suffering cuts and bruises; Mickey Jr. also sustained a broken arm. Mansfield, Brody and Harrison were all killed.

Photographs from the crash scene, including images of a blonde wig on the roadway, helped fuel a gruesome rumor that Jayne Mansfield had been decapitated. The false claim persisted for decades, along with another allegation that her head had been buried separately at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

An eyewitness said neither story was true.

Newlywed’s Husband Found Dead in Wooded Area: What We Know

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A newlywed in upstate New York is mourning an unimaginable loss after her husband was found dead in the woods nearly a week after he disappeared from their home.

Dominick Bianchi, 35, was last seen at his East Greenbush property, roughly five miles south of Albany, at about 10am last Tuesday.

After several days of searching, police said Sunday evening that Bianchi’s body had been located in a wooded area.

Authorities have not said precisely where Bianchi was found, and no suspected cause of death has been released.

His wife, Julianna Zyra, had previously said that Bianchi was experiencing mental health struggles before he went missing.

Bianchi also lived with type 1 diabetes, and relatives feared he had been in the woods without access to the insulin he needed.

The East Greenbush Police Department extended its “deepest condolences” to Bianchi’s family and friends following what it described as a tragic loss.

“Our thoughts are with them as they navigate this incredibly difficult time,” Detective Sergeant Michael Guadagnino said in a statement obtained by the Daily Mail.

“At this time, we respectfully ask that the privacy of Dominick’s family and loved ones be honored as they grieve and begin to process this tremendous loss.”

Dominick Bianchi , 35, was found dead in a wooded area after he disappeared from his home in East Greenbush, New York last week

Dominick Bianchi, 35, was found dead in a wooded area after vanishing from his East Greenbush, New York, home last week.

His new wife, Julianna Zyra, issued a plea for her husband to come home just days before police found his body

His new wife, Julianna Zyra, issued a plea for her husband to come home just days before police found his body

After his disappearance, his wife of just a few months, Zyra, 33, issued a plea for her husband to come home.

‘Whatever it is that’s going on, there are so many people who care about you and want you to be OK,’ Zyra said to Bianchi through an interview with WTEN last week.

‘I know you feel really alone, but there are people who want to help you. If you’re seeing this, please, come home.’

She told the local news station that Bianchi had been ‘struggling mentally for quite some time, and nobody really knows about it.’

‘It’s not fair. And I really wish people would stay off the internet, hypothesizing things that happened; he’s very sick, and he is not in the right headspace,’ she added. 

Bianchi’s father-in-law Joseph Zyra issued a statement to WTEN on Sunday after learning of his passing.

Joseph shared how four months ago they welcomed Bianchi into their lives and are now faced with the ‘intense pain of his loss.’

‘Dom was a husband, a son, a brother, a nephew, and a friend. He will be so missed by so many people. But even in this darkness, there is light,’ Joseph wrote. 

'Whatever it is that's going on, there are so many people who care about you and want you to be OK,' Zyra said to Bianchi last week

‘Whatever it is that’s going on, there are so many people who care about you and want you to be OK,’ Zyra said to Bianchi last week

Bianchi is pictured with his mother in 2014. He is understood have been struggling mentally

Bianchi is pictured with his mother in 2014. He is understood have been struggling mentally

‘Although we were new to this community, we were treated as though we were lifelong residents. Thank you all for the notes you left at our door; the food; the coffee; and the words of encouragement. Thank you for allowing us to put posters in your places of business. Thank you to the young boys who searched the trail every night on their bikes. 

‘Kindness reverberates; anything hateful or insensitive directed at Dom’s family and friends who are deeply grieving this loss is not how he would have wanted his memory to be preserved.’

He went on to thank the lead detectives on Bianchi’s case and all the other law enforcement officers who aided them.

Joseph also urged anyone else who is struggling with mental health to know help is available and that ‘you are never alone.’

He said there is ‘always a reason to go on’ and ‘sometimes we just need someone to remind us of those reasons.’

‘Please know that you matter,’ he concluded.

  • If you or someone you know is in crisis, you can call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 for 24-hour, confidential support.

Bride’s Strict Wedding Entry Rule Sparks Guest Backlash

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A bride-to-be has prompted a fierce online discussion after asking everyone attending her wedding to follow one clear condition: arrive completely fragrance-free.

The woman said perfume is her most serious migraine trigger, with reactions so intense that they can produce stroke-like symptoms. In preparation for the celebration, she alerted guests that scented products would not be permitted.

Many people felt going without perfume for a single day was a considerate and manageable wedding guest request. But the conversation became more divisive when some commenters proposed stricter measures, including checking guests for scents at the door, avoiding fragranced washing products and purchasing entirely new outfits.

One person backing the bride even argued that guests who ignored the fragrance-free rule should be refused entry.

The contentious wedding etiquette debate has re-emerged on Reddit, where users expressed disbelief at the lengths some suggested taking to ensure the event remained free of fragrance.

The bride initially outlined the request on both her wedding website and her invitations, hoping friends and family would understand the seriousness of her medical condition.

‘Fragrance is my biggest migraine trigger. [I] also get symptoms that mimic a stroke. Hope people take this seriously!’ she wrote.

A bride-to-be has sparked huge debate after asking guests to follow one strict rule at her wedding and ditch all fragrance

A bride-to-be has ignited major debate after telling wedding guests to avoid all fragrances for her big day.

A note included with the wedding details stressed that the policy was medically necessary and would apply not only to the ceremony and reception, but also to a Monday morning brunch after the wedding.

‘The bride and members of the bridal party have severe fragrance allergies that will trigger significant health reactions,’ the notice read.

‘Thank you for your understanding and support in helping us create a safe & joyful celebration on our special day.’

While the initial request appeared reasonable to many, the conversation soon took a more extreme turn as people began suggesting additional precautions the couple could introduce.

One person enthusiastically backed the rule but argued the bride should make the consequences for ignoring it crystal clear.

‘This is awesome. Personally, I would also add: “Any guest found in violation of this policy will be denied entry to the events”,’ they wrote.

Another suggested perfume and body lotion were only part of the problem and that guests should also be warned about scented laundry products.

‘I love the idea, but I think you should consider adding laundry detergent to the list,’ they said.

While many agreed that skipping perfume for one day was a reasonable request, things quickly escalated when others suggested guests should be sniffed on arrival

While many agreed that skipping perfume for one day was a reasonable request, things quickly escalated when others suggested guests should be sniffed on arrival

One supporter of the rules went as far as suggesting anyone caught breaking the rule should be turned away

One supporter of the rules went as far as suggesting anyone caught breaking the rule should be turned away

They then suggested appointing a ‘trusted sniffer’ to enforce the rule, claiming they had previously heard of a wedding where a bridesmaid deliberately smelled guests as they arrived.

According to the commenter, anyone who failed the sniff test was directed somewhere they could wash off their perfume before joining the celebration.

The discussion became even more bizarre when one person admitted they would happily put up with body odour if the alternative was fragrance.

‘I’d rather smell cat urine and faeces!’ the bride replied.

‘At least that doesn’t give me horrible migraine attacks and stick to my hair and clothes! Disgusting.’

Others shared their own experiences of fragrance-free events and suggested the bride might need to introduce even more extensive rules if she wanted to completely eliminate scents.

One commenter claimed their cousin had issued a much longer list of instructions for her own wedding, including asking guests to schedule salon visits well in advance.

‘If you’re getting your hair done at a salon, or colouring your hair, make sure it is at least a week before the wedding,’ they recalled of one of the rules.

A card accompanying the wedding information explained that the request was being made for medical reasons and applied to both the wedding and a post-wedding brunch

A card accompanying the wedding information explained that the request was being made for medical reasons and applied to both the wedding and a post-wedding brunch 

The discussion became even more bizarre when one person admitted they would happily put up with body odour if the alternative was fragrance

The discussion became even more bizarre when one person admitted they would happily put up with body odour if the alternative was fragrance

They said guests had also been warned about laundry products and advised not to use scented products for at least a week beforehand.

Even previously worn coats and jumpers could pose a problem if they still carried traces of fragrance, they claimed.

But perhaps the most extreme proposal was for guests to purchase completely new outfits specifically for the occasion.

‘Clothes that have been worn wearing fragrances in the past are still going to stink,’ one person wrote.

‘Make it a casual celebration and ask attendees to buy some cheap clothes to wear. Then donate the clothes afterwards.’

That suggestion proved a step too far for many Reddit users after screenshots of the conversation were shared, and while some sympathised with the bride’s sensitivity to fragrance, others couldn’t resist poking fun at the increasingly elaborate measures being proposed.

‘I like the idea of the wedding having a bouncer but it’s actually a 90 lb bridesmaid that will sniff each guest before allowing entry,’ one joked.

Another commenter said they were also sensitive to perfume, explaining that strong fragrances made them feel sick and gave them headaches too.

Most suggestions proved a step too far for many Reddit users after screenshots of the conversation were shared (stock photo)

Most suggestions proved a step too far for many Reddit users after screenshots of the conversation were shared (stock photo)

They recalled walking into a Dairy Queen with their seven-year-old when their child suddenly noticed the scent of the person ahead of them.

‘She immediately turned around and yelled across the crowded restaurant, “stay back daddy, this guy stinks!” as she pointed at the guy in front of her in line,’ they wrote.

‘I would rather skip the wedding than be subjected to anyone sniffing me or my body,’ one person declared.

‘I just saw the last one about suggesting fragrance-free casual clothes to change everyone into. THAT IS ABSURD,’ one wrote.

‘Honestly they should just provide hospital gowns,’ another joked.

‘Yes, cheap, disposable clothes: famously chemical-free,’ someone else sarcastically added.

Another was left wondering exactly how the proposed post-wedding clothing donation would work in practice.

‘Do they get naked and hand their clothes to the clothing donation bin to leave?’ they asked.

Alaska Moose Hunter Survives Bear Attack After Blacking Out

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An Alaska moose hunter has described his remarkable survival after a brown bear attack, saying he was “glad” he blacked out during the animal’s violent rampage.

Gavin Haakenson escaped the Sept. 2 encounter with a bruised shoulder and a torn coat, but suffered no broken bones.

Haakenson and fellow hunter Ethan Yeager were returning to their truck after an unsuccessful moose hunt near Soldotna when the bear suddenly ambushed him, he told Outdoor Life.

Moose hunter Gavin Haakenson was attacked by a bear on Sept. 2. cindy_haakenson_real_estate/Instagram

“I heard a noise to my right and looked over and there was a brown bear charging at me at full speed,” Haakenson told Outdoor Life.

“It was super close, maybe 10 feet, when I saw it. It was growling extremely loud, a terrifying noise.

“I saw its face. Its teeth were out. It hit me in the shoulder and knocked me down.”

Haakenson tried to reach his rifle and fire a shot in an effort to frighten off the bear.

“That’s when my blackout started,” he said. “I’m glad I blacked out and I don’t remember the bear being on top of me.”

A man's arm shows a red, circular abrasion from a bear attack.

Haakenson was left with a scratch on the back of his arm. cindy_haakenson_real_estate/Instagram

Yeager ultimately drove off the brown bear by firing two shots and yelling, “Hey bear.”

“The whole thing happened in 10 seconds,” Haakenson said.

Haakenson didn’t need any stitches but had a number of stitches, and has been told he will need six weeks of physical therapy.

The sleeve of his KUIU hiking jacket was shredded, but the brand told him it will supply him with new hiking gear.

US Fish and Wildlife officials combed the area after the pair reported the bear attack – but didn’t manage to find it.

Alaska is home to around 30,000 brown bears.

Unions Urge Burnham to Act on £72m Reform ‘Super-Donations’

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Trade unions have called on Andy Burnham to respond to Reform’s reported £72million windfall in donations, while defending the unions’ own financial support for Labour.

Paul Nowak, the TUC’s general secretary, said the contributions from cryptocurrency billionaires Christopher Harborne and Ben Delo highlighted the political clout wielded by the “super-rich”.

His comments followed Angela Rayner’s warning on Wednesday that planned measures targeting foreign political donations, though still progressing through Parliament, would be applied retrospectively.

The Communities Secretary said expatriates who donated from the end of March onwards — even if they later returned to Britain — would face an annual political donation cap of £100,000.

Reform’s deputy leader Richard Tice hit back on Thursday, accusing Labour of “hyperventilating hypocrisy”. The party says it is “100 per cent confident” the donations are lawful and will not need to be returned.

Former prime minister Boris Johnson also condemned calls for tighter restrictions as “absolutely pathetic”, arguing that Labour had spent years “troughing” on union funding.

TUC general secretary Paul Nowak (pictured addressing the annual conference in Brighton today) said the gifts from crypto billionaires Christopher Harborne and Ben Delo showed the influence of the 'super-rich'

TUC general secretary Paul Nowak, pictured speaking at the annual conference in Brighton on Thursday, said donations from crypto billionaires Christopher Harborne and Ben Delo illustrated the influence of the “super-rich”.

Reform deputy leader Richard Tice accused Labour of 'hyperventilating hypocrisy' this morning

Reform deputy leader Richard Tice accused Labour of “hyperventilating hypocrisy” on Thursday morning.

Appearing on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme before his planned address to the TUC conference in Brighton, Mr Nowak was asked whether he believed the donations should be stopped retrospectively.

“I’m not quite sure what the detail of the law would look like, but I am quite sure about this,” he said.

‘Nobody can be comfortable about the prospect of the super-rich effectively buying and selling British politics…

‘This is the Americafication of our politics and I don’t say that in a good way.’

Mr Nowak dismissed the idea that union funding was comparable to the Reform donations.  

‘Everybody knows what we’re after because we are open democratic organisations that represent millions of working people up and down this country,’ he said.

‘I am concerned about the impact of these huge donations. As far as I’m concerned trade union money is the cleanest most transparent money in British politics.’

However, Labour former Cabinet minister Lord Blunkett said he believed union donations should be covered by a limit.

‘Obviously, we’ve been talking about overseas donations. I think there should be a cap on donations internally as well for domestic reasons,’ he told Times Radio.

‘And I think we should reach an agreement that respects that both business, trade unions, and wealthy individuals, as well as the poor devils who sustain the Labour Party over the many years I’ve been in it, which is giving £20 here and £50 there. 

‘All of us deserve a system that protects our freedom, protects our democracy and allows us to argue the case without distorting that case.’

Mr Johnson waded in to condemn Labour’s hypocrisy on funding. 

‘Just because some people want to support one party very generously, Labour kicks up a huge fuss and says they’re going to cap donations,’ he told GB News.

‘They’ve got huge amounts of money – troughing it from the trade unions. It’s absolutely ridiculous Labour are trying to cap donations.

‘I think the next election is going to be fought on the shape of the British economy and on British society and the government that has the most credible [plan] and I think it’s the Conservatives…

‘Kemi Badenoch, I think, has the most credible plan for cutting the grotesque expansion in welfare spending, in spending more on defence, as some of your correspondents have just been saying.

‘That is where the argument is going to be.’

Under the Representation of the People Bill, which will be debated in the Lords today, a ‘minimum residency period’ could prevent expats returning to Britain from breaching the limit for a calendar year after they come home.

Asked in interviews yesterday whether the law could spell problems for two recent £36million donations to Reform from cryptocurrency billionaires living abroad, Ms Rayner replied: ‘It will be backdated.’

She said the rules would apply to ‘overseas donators’ and those who have ‘recently returned to the UK’, affecting all donations received since March 25, when the Government published a review of foreign influence on politics by former mandarin Philip Rycroft.

She added: ‘Look, we’re saying that if you don’t pay taxes, if you don’t live here, you can’t buy your way into our democracy.’

Asked if Reform might have to return the sums, she said she didn’t know their ‘individual circumstances’. But she added: ‘With the retrospective action, anyone that’s received donations that don’t comply with what was in the Rycroft review, what legislation is currently going through Parliament, would have 60 days to return that money.’

Mr Tice told ITV’s Good Morning Britain today: ‘These donations are made in accordance with the rules and the regulations, and you’ve now got a hyperventilating hypocrisy from the socialists ruining this country, who are trying to change the rules retrospectively, which is it’s not the fair way, it’s not the British way, and I think most people will say ”does that just mean that Labour are terrified of the progress of Reform and they’re trying to create an unlevel playing field?”

‘What these two donations are trying to do is to actually level the playing field. We’re relatively new, we haven’t had the vast donations over the last five to 10 years that Labour and the Tories have had, so we need to employ campaign managers up and down the country, we need to employ brilliant policy people, the best minds, in order to ensure that we have the best policies.’

The intervention came after Angela Rayner warned yesterday that although rules to crack down on overseas political funding are still going through Parliament, they will be backdated

The intervention came after Angela Rayner warned yesterday that although rules to crack down on overseas political funding are still going through Parliament, they will be backdated

He said the donors would have ‘absolutely zero’ influence on Reform’s policy platform.

‘They haven’t made any asks, they haven’t made demands and nothing would be given in return, we’ve made that crystal clear,’ he said.

It is thought that Mr Delo, who lived in Hong Kong, and Mr Harborne, who was based in Thailand, both moved back to Britain before the March cut-off date.

Speedboat Killer Jack Shepherd Sentenced Over Girlfriend Attack

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Speedboat killer Jack Shepherd has been handed a further 20-month jail term after attacking his girlfriend with barbecue tongs that were burning hot.

The 39-year-old appeared at court by video link from prison, where he was warned that he posed a danger to society, particularly to women.

Shepherd voiced remorse and said he would tackle his alcohol problem, but Judge Martin Edmunds KC rejected his claims. ‘I place no faith or value in such expressions of responsibility and remorse,’ the judge told him.

The self-described Casanova gained notoriety after fleeing following the death of his 24-year-old date, Charlotte Brown, when he capsized his speedboat while drunk.

Rather than stand trial at the Old Bailey on a manslaughter charge, Shepherd absconded while on bail in 2018. He remained at large in Georgia for 10 months before the Daily Mail located him at his hideaway in January 2019.

After being returned to London, Shepherd received a 10-year prison sentence: six years for the London speedboat manslaughter and a further four years for violently ‘glassing’ a barman at a Devon hotel after being refused a drink.

Neighbours of speedboat killer Jack Shepherd, pictured in 2019, have revealed how they were forced to listen to his new girlfriend's 'disturbing' screams as he terrorised her

Neighbours of speedboat killer Jack Shepherd, pictured in 2019, have described being forced to hear the ‘disturbing’ screams of his new girlfriend as he terrorised her.

A court artist sketch of Shepherd who pleaded guilty via video link to two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and damaging property

A court artist’s sketch of Shepherd, who pleaded guilty by video link to two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and criminal damage.

He was released on licence in January 2024 after serving half of the 10-year term. But instead of using the opportunity to rebuild his life, he returned to alcohol abuse and violence against women.

After moving into a shared house in Southall, west London, Shepherd struck up a friendship with another resident, a woman in her 50s. The pair played badminton together and, by August 2024, they were in a relationship.

But in 2025, Shepherd began calling her an ‘old lady hag’ and a ‘rat’, and belittling her with jibes about her weight and age and accusing her of flirting with other men.

Then in February last year, Shepherd became angry when she threatened to speak to his probation officer about him. Pinning his girlfriend down, he punched her repeatedly, causing bruising to her arm and the top of her leg, Isleworth Crown Court heard.

In a second incident, in June 2025, Shepherd was cooking a barbecue for them, and she made a comment he had burnt a pizza, said prosecutor Katherine Lloyd. 

 The threat you pose is particularly to any new girlfriend

Judge Martin Edmunds KC 

‘The defendant had some sharply-pointed barbecue tongs, and he turned and stabbed the tongs into the victim’s left breast,’ she said. It broke her skin and started bleeding, and she ran to the bathroom. Shepherd followed her, said it had only happened because he was drunk. She is left with a permanent scar.  

After she reported him to the police, Shepherd tried to blame her. He was recalled to prison a year ago, in September. He pleaded guilty at a hearing this July and was sentenced today at Isleworth Crown Court in west London.

Charlotte Brown was killed when Shepherd took her on a high speed ride past the Houses of Parliament in his defective speedboat

Charlotte Brown was killed when Shepherd took her on a high speed ride past the Houses of Parliament in his defective speedboat

Shepherd had previously been jailed for the manslaughter of Charlotte Brown, 24, who died when Shepherd's speedboat crashed while they were on a date in 2015

Shepherd had previously been jailed for the manslaughter of Charlotte Brown, 24, who died when Shepherd’s speedboat crashed while they were on a date in 2015

Shepherd followed proceedings from a room at category B prison HMP Swaleside in Kent. He spoke clearly to confirm his name and date of birth, and put his hand up to say he wanted to ‘correct’ a claim made by the prosecutor that he had been driving the speedboat.

The judge, who is the Recorder of Kensington and Chelsea, dismissed the point, saying Shepherd had been drunk in charge of the speedboat.

He applied the ‘dangerousness test’ to sentencing Shepherd, which allowed him to extend the period of licence for Shepherd even after his jail sentence ends in 2029.

The judge said: ‘It is patent from the commission of these offences on licence and from your prior history that you pose a significant risk of causing serious harm to members of the public by the commission of further specified offences. 

‘The threat you pose is particularly to any new girlfriend and will be aggravated if you cannot control your drinking – and your track record so far is that you cannot.’

The judge explained that he was not allowed by law to add the new 20 months to the end of Shepherd’s current 10-year sentence, which ends in January 2029. The 20 months will be served ‘concurrently’, in other words alongside his sentence for killing Miss Brown and glassing the barman.

But once he is freed, he will remain ‘on licence’ for a further three years and four months, or May 2032.

The judge said: ‘The offences are seriously aggravated by your previous convictions.’

The court also revealed a previously unknown conviction, from 2010, when Shepherd had driven a motor vehicle whilst drunk. Although this was a long time ago, and a ‘spent’ conviction, the judge said it was relevant because of his abuse of alcohol.

The judge said: ‘You have expressed acceptance of responsibility and remorse but I place no faith or value in such expressions of acceptance or remorse from you. Your pattern is to commit offences and afterwards apologise, and produce excuses… to shift blame anywhere but yourself.’

When he went on the run in Georgia, Shepherd had tried to make a new life for himself in the former Soviet republic, but caused public outrage by launching an appeal against his manslaughter conviction from his sunshine hideaway. To add insult to injury, British taxpayers were funding his appeal via legal aid, despite him having dodged his trial.

With the backing of Miss Brown’s devastated family, the Daily Mail ran a campaign to hunt him down, and in January 2019 we succeeded in flushing out Shepherd who gave himself up in the capital Tbilisi as the net closed in.

Inside the converted property in Southall, west London, where Shepherd admitted he carried out two violent assaults on his new girlfriend

Inside the converted property in Southall, west London, where Shepherd admitted he carried out two violent assaults on his new girlfriend

Shepherd, pictured in 2019 at a court in Georgia, admitted assaulting his new girlfriend

Shepherd, pictured in 2019 at a court in Georgia, admitted assaulting his new girlfriend

Extradited back to Britain in April 2019 and put before an Old Bailey judge, Shepherd was asked by a court clerk to admit he had breached bail and absconded from justice, and he replied: ‘Er, yes.’

He begged to be given credit for handing himself in to police in Georgia, but Judge Richard Marks said he had only given himself up because of the Daily Mail, telling him: ‘It was only a matter of time before the net closed in on you.’

Fact Check: Hayden Panettiere Is Alive; Fentanyl Death Claim Is False

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Hayden Panettiere allegedly took a pill containing fentanyl on the day of her death, according to a new report.

The much-loved actress died last month in Greenville, South Carolina, at the age of 36.

Sources told TMZ that Panettiere allegedly took oxycodone laced with fentanyl. The potent opioid is 50 times stronger than heroin, and even a few grains can trigger a fatal overdose.

The outlet reported that the mother-of-one had purchased several prescription medications on the black market, including oxycodone, from a longtime drug dealer in Los Angeles.

Panettiere and her on-again, off-again boyfriend, real estate agent Brian Hickerson, had traveled from Los Angeles to South Carolina — his home state — one day before she died.

Panettiere is seen on May 19, 2026 in New York City, promoting her new book. The tragic news comes just months after her memoir, This is Me, became a New York Times bestseller. The actress had become candid about her struggles dealing with fame, especially as a child star, in the months before her passing

Panettiere is pictured in New York City on May 19, 2026, while promoting her new book. The devastating news comes only months after her memoir, This is Me, became a New York Times bestseller. In the months before her death, the actress had spoken candidly about the pressures of fame, particularly her experiences as a child star.

Beloved actress Hayden Panettiere died at the age of 36. She leaves behind her daughter, who is 11. Panettiere is pictured here attending the Met Gala in 2014

Beloved actress Hayden Panettiere died at 36, leaving behind her 11-year-old daughter. She is pictured attending the Met Gala in 2014.

TMZ reported that the actress took several of the drugs she bought in Los Angeles during the flight. Authorities allegedly believe the pill she took on the morning of her death had been laced.

After finding Panettiere unresponsive, Hickerson administered Narcan, a medication used to rapidly reverse an opioid overdose.

According to sources who spoke with the outlet, police are now working to trace the allegedly fatal pill to the person who sold it to her.

At this time, no one has been arrested in connection with Panettiere’s death. 

Hickerson reportedly met with investigators from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) last week as they continued their probe into her death.

The DEA’s involvement aligns with paramedics reporting a suspected overdose over dispatch calls. First responders located Narcan, a nasal spray used to reverse the effects of opioid overdose, inside the apartment where Panettiere was found dead.

Panettiere died at the end of a long struggle with alcohol and opiates, spending eight months in rehab in 2020 after contracting jaundice and being informed by her doctor that ‘if I didn’t stop drinking, I’d be dead within five years,’ as she wrote in her memoir.

Hickerson was on the scene along with his brother Zachary when she was pronounced dead, according to a police report.

Brian and Panettiere pictured in LA in December of 2018

Brian and Panettiere pictured in LA in December of 2018 

Panettiere started out as a child star, with her first acting gig at just 11 months old

Panettiere started out as a child star, with her first acting gig at just 11 months old

The Hollywood star is pictured here at a gala in Hollywood in 2022

The Hollywood star is pictured here at a gala in Hollywood in 2022 

Over the course of their turbulent relationship, Hickerson faced multiple domestic violence charges, and in 2021 he served 13 days in custody for injuring her.

After she was declared dead, Hickerson is said to have handed the authorities a ‘bag of medication’ she had been taking, per the police report.

Detectives confirmed to the Daily Mail that they responded to an apartment block in Greenville after they received a 911 call from an ‘acquaintance’ of Panettiere, describing her as ‘unresponsive.’

In the dispatch audio of the call made at 1.51pm, a female dispatcher described Panettiere as suffering a ‘cardiac arrest.’ A few moments later a male dispatcher could be heard saying that Panettiere had suffered a suspected overdose at the home.

Greenville County Sheriff’s Office said that Panettiere’s autopsy had been completed and that no signs of trauma were found on the star’s body. 

The former child star was known for her roles on the hit NBC series Heroes and musical drama Nashville. 

The Hollywood star earned multiple award nominations across her career, most notably while playing cheerleader Claire Bennet on Heroes and Juliette Barnes on Nashville.

The actress's younger brother, Jansen Panettiere, passed away in February 2023 from 'an enlarged heart'. They are seen together here in 2011

The actress’s younger brother, Jansen Panettiere, passed away in February 2023 from ‘an enlarged heart’. They are seen together here in 2011

Panettiere also appeared in the Scream franchise as Kirby Reed, and lent her voice to the video games Until Dawn and Kingdom Hearts. 

She is predeceased by her brother, Jansen, who passed away in February 2023 from ‘an enlarged heart’ at the age of 28.

Panettiere said that she felt like she ‘lost half of her soul’ following his death, and revealed that the stress of his loss resulted in her body ‘ballooning out,’ which left her in a ‘really bad’ and ‘destructive’ place.

The tragic news of her death comes just months after her memoir, This is Me: A Reckoning, became a New York Times bestseller.  In the book, Panettiere described how she contended with fame and handled the difficulties in her life.  

She had suffered from drug addiction, beginning when she was just 15 years old. At the time, she claimed she started taking ‘happy pills’ in an effort to make her seem more ‘peppy’ during interviews.

Her addiction then became worse while she was battling postpartum depression following the birth of her daughter Kaya in 2014. 

This is a breaking news story. 

Joanna Gaines Explains Why She and Chip Left ‘Fixer Upper’ at Its Peak

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Joanna Gaines built a career by embracing opportunity at every turn — until she realized it was time to stop opening the door.

At the peak of “Fixer Upper,” Gaines and her husband, Chip Gaines, chose to step away from the relentless pace of their success, even as representatives encouraged them to continue capitalizing on the moment.

Looking back years later, Joanna said she had reached a state of what she described as “soul weariness.”

“When you start realizing you’re living on a thing that’s now… the intentionality is gone, and you’re just showing up… that doesn’t feel fulfilling,” she said on the “Joy 101 with Hoda Kotb” podcast. “It actually feels as though we’re part of this machine that is like, ‘What’s the life here?’”

She said the decision marked their first real pause to assess what their success was costing them. “We’re doing all this and seeing great reward … this is wonderful,” she said, but added that it could not come “at the expense of … our like livelihood, our happiness, our souls.”

For Joanna Gaines, that choice became a lasting framework for approaching ambition, balance and burnout.

“Stopping in that moment was basically us saying … ‘What’s worth it is, like are we healthy? Are we good? Is our family good?’ That’s the most important thing. So that was really a very pivotal moment for us.”

“Fixer Upper” made Chip and Joanna Gaines household names, yet the couple recognized that even a wildly successful HGTV run could not sustain an always-on lifestyle indefinitely.

The Gaineses first appeared on television when the “Fixer Upper” pilot debuted in 2013. The series tracked the husband-and-wife team as they renovated neglected homes in Waco, Texas, turning them into refined residences for clients while expanding their fast-growing Magnolia brand.

The renovation series rapidly developed a devoted audience, transforming Joanna and Chip Gaines into recognizable stars well beyond the home-design world.

In September 2017, the couple announced they would end “Fixer Upper” after its fifth season, choosing to step away while the series was still riding high.

Joanna said she and Chip have spent almost 25 years building their business. But about three years ago, she said, they stopped seeing where they were headed.

“We stopped seeing vision. We stopped remembering, ‘Like why are we doing this?’”

The couple decided to take the summer off.

However, the decision wasn’t consequence-free. 

Joanna acknowledged that stepping away meant putting pressure on their team.

“Which meant disappointing our team, disappointing a lot of things … So it cost us something. It cost people something.”

“But that three months was time for us to go, ‘We need a break. We need clarity. Why are we building this? What are we doing this for?’”

Joanna remembered the moment she felt the burnout was impossible to ignore.

“When you start dreading your days, like ‘I don’t want to do that.’”

For Gaines, that sense of dread eventually became so pronounced that she found herself looking for almost any excuse to hit pause — even an unexpected illness.

“You start like wishing for a stomach bug or … ‘Okay, maybe back surgery this year would be great.’ Like how do I force myself?” she laughed.

Physical exhaustion, Joanna explained, is something she knows how to push through.

But the deeper exhaustion is different, she argued.

“So there’s that part, but also just … where your soul just feels weary.”

She described the “soul” as the deeper part of a person — the place that can run dry even when the body is still capable of performing.

“From a physical standpoint, I can work till I can … I can push past the weariness the physical, but then you get to that layer of like the soul weariness and that’s dangerous.”

Joanna said that was the warning she is now determined not to ignore, describing the feeling as a “holy fear.”

For the entrepreneur and television personality who built an empire by constantly creating, the hardest lesson may have been learning that she cannot simply outwork exhaustion.

The Magnolia Network stars tied the knot in 2003. Joanna and Chip are parents to five children — Ella, Drake, Crew, Emmie and Duke.

As the Gaines’s planted their roots in Waco, Texas, their Magnolia businesses took off.

After five seasons of “Fixer Upper,” the original series ended in 2018. Magnolia Network programming later debuted on Discovery+ in 2021 before the linear Magnolia Network replaced DIY Network in January 2022.

The couple’s Magnolia Market at the Silos in Waco includes Magnolia Market, the Shops at the Silos, Silos Baking Co. and Magnolia Press Coffee Co. They also operate Magnolia Table elsewhere in Waco.

The design duo additionally publish “Magnolia Journal” and have written a series of lifestyle books. They have a Magnolia Home furniture and accessories collection, and Joanna created the Hearth & Hand with Magnolia collection for Target.

Chip and Joanna also opened the 33-room Hotel 1928 in Waco in 2023 after renovating a historic building in partnership with AJ Capital. The couple also offers Magnolia vacation rentals in Waco.