Australia

The 28-year-old was on a six-week trip when she was involved in an accident in the motorhome she had hired

A Brit’s dream holiday turned into a nightmare after a horror motorhome crash left her unable to walk. Emma Blood, 28, was travelling in Western Australia when the collision left her trapped, seriously injured and facing a year-long recovery.

The hospitality worker from Milton Keynes had travelled to Australia on March 19, 2026, with plans to spend six weeks exploring. Inspired by stories from other travellers, she teamed up with three women she had met through a travel group and hired a motorhome to travel around and live in while exploring the region.

Just nine days into the trip, on March 29, Emma and the three women were travelling towards Margaret River when she lost control of the motorhome, due to slipping on the Western Australia mud roads, and crashed into a tree. Two passengers suffered minor injuries, but Emma was trapped from the waist down in the wreckage and had to be cut free by firefighters.

She was then airlifted to Perth Trauma Hospital, where she spent 10 days before flying back to the UK to continue her recovery. She said: “There are still a lot of blank spaces in my memory, I’m not sure whether I lost consciousness or whether it’s just a trauma response.

“I recall the moment of impact, when the vehicle struck a tree on the driver’s side where I was sitting. The force of the crash pushed everything forward, and I ended up trapped from the waist down.”

While the other passengers escaped with relatively minor injuries, Emma suffered devastating damage to her leg. One passenger required stitches to her face, and another was left with a bruised finger, but Emma faced a far more serious outcome.

Emergency services were alerted after her phone automatically contacted them following the collision. Upon arrival, a fire crew had to cut Emma free before she was airlifted to Perth Trauma Hospital.

Doctors discovered she had broken her femur in three places. She underwent emergency surgery lasting around six hours, during which surgeons inserted an intramedullary nail – a metal rod fixed inside the bone with six screws to stabilise the fractures.

Emma said: “I remember being in and out of consciousness, having scans and being moved around the hospital. It felt like something out of 24 Hours in A&E or Casualty, being rushed about.

“One of the most difficult moments was definitely standing for the first time after surgery. It was terrifying because I had no control over my leg, at first they thought there could be spinal injuries but it turned out to be okay.”

Complications continued when doctors discovered her haemoglobin levels had dropped dangerously low, resulting in a blood transfusion several days later. Emma spent 10 days in the hospital in Australia before her father flew out to help bring her home.

She said: “I couldn’t have travelled back on my own, I needed someone with me the whole way. If my dad hadn’t come to pick me up, I would have had someone to take me who I didn’t know.”

After arriving back in the UK on April 8, she was admitted to Milton Keynes Hospital for around another week before continuing her recovery at home.

In the early stages of recovery, Emma could not move her injured leg without using a strap around her foot and required assistance with everyday tasks, including showering.

She said: “It felt like I had lost all independence. I have been told a full recovery could take up to a year, but I am making great progress.

“My older brother is helping me, he’s a sports physiotherapist and thanks to him I progressed from a walking frame to two crutches, and now I only rely on one.”

She spends time in the gym every day, rebuilding strength and mobility and recently celebrated a major milestone by getting back behind the wheel of a car.

She said: “Driving again was huge for me, both physically and mentally. Although the accident cut short my dream trip, I will go back to finish it.

“There is still a lot of trauma attached to what happened, but for now, I am going to focus on getting back to my full health and independence.”

Women’s T20 World Cup, Group 1, Headingley

Bangladesh 77-8 (20 overs): Molineux 2-14, Perry 2-14, Garth 2-18

Australia 78-1 (9.3 overs): Voll 45* (32)

Australia won by nine wickets

Scorecard; Tables

Australia and India continued their dominance at the Women’s T20 World Cup as they thrashed Bangladesh and the Netherlands respectively.

Australia, who hammered 2024 runners-up South Africa in their opening match, overpowered Bangladesh with bat and ball at Headingley, racing to their target of 78 with 10.3 overs to spare.

Fast bowler Kim Garth set the early tone, removing both openers as Bangladesh slumped to 27-5.

They barely recovered from that, eventually limping to 77-8 with Sophie Molineux and Ellyse Perry also taking two wickets each.

Australia, who were missing injured opening batter Phoebe Litchfield and all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner, raced to their target in style as Georgia Voll hammered 45 not out off 32 balls, including one glorious straight six.

The six-time winners face the Netherlands at Southampton on Saturday and Pakistan at Headingley on Tuesday.

Litchfield is expected to miss both matches, but Australia hope she will be fit for their final group game against India on 28 June.

Gardner missed the Bangladesh game with an ankle sprain and no timeline has been set for her return.

Governments across the world have welcomed the tentative deal between the US and Iran to end the war, calling it a major diplomatic breakthrough. But Israeli politicians have been quick to criticise it, claiming it would undermine Israel’s security.

Oliver Tree, a genre-defying singer-songwriter and Santa Cruz native, was one of six people killed when two helicopters collided Sunday morning in Brazil, according to the Associated Press. He was 32.

Tree, a quirky artist known for his highly theatrical music videos and crisp bowl cut, had been traveling through South America as a part of his world tour. CNN Brazil reported Argentinian YouTuber Gaspar Prim, also known as Gaspi, was among those killed in the crash.

The mid-air collision occurred in Rio de Janeiro, with one of the helicopters landing in the parking lot of a car dealership, the AP reports. Local authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash.

Tree, born Oliver Tree Nickell, broke out in the electronic music world first performing as, simply, Tree. He released an e.p., “Demons,” in 2013, which included a cover of Radiohead’s “Karma Police.” He later attended CalArts north of Los Angeles, and signed to Atlantic Records for his major-label debut e.p. “Alien Boy” in 2018.

To find his distinct look, he told the Santa Cruz Sentinel that “I was making a statement with it. Everybody’s trying to look so beautiful and sexy nowadays. It was my way of rebelling against that. So, I tried to make myself look as silly and ridiculous as possible.”

Tree was an instant hit on the festival circuit for his outlandish stage productions and outsider charisma, performing at Lollapalooza, Coachella and Outside Lands. He collaborated with Skrillex, David Guetta and Zeds Dead, and was fiercely protective of his meticulously weird visual identity and video concepts, telling Rolling Stone that “That’s kind of my signature. The people who do f- with me know me because of my videos..Music is my day job but my real dream is to be making feature films.

He released his major label debut LP, “Ugly Is Beautiful,” in 2020. His hit song “Life Goes On” and collaboration “Miss You” with German DJ Robin Schulz earned him international recognition and climbed onto the Billboard Hot 100. He released four full length albums as Oliver Tree, most recently April’s independent LP “Love You Madly Hate You Badly.”

Tree had performed in Buenos Aires on June 4.

From July to October, he had shows scheduled throughout Europe, Australia and China. This year, he performed at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival this year as a special guest of electronic producer Subtronics. In one of his last social media posts, he made a point to spotlight an upcoming show on Aug. 9 in his hometown at the Quarry Amphitheater at UC Santa Cruz.

“I can’t believe Oliver is gone,” Schulz posted on Instagram. “You were such a lovely soul and a one of a kind character. Working with you on ‘Miss You’ was an honor. My deepest condolences to his family, friends and everyone who loved him.”

June 13 (UPI) — A woman is in critical condition after a shark attack at a popular Sydney beach Saturday, and she was saved by a nearby lifeguard.

The 35-year-old woman hasn’t been identified. She had serious bite injuries on a leg and an arm from the morning attack at Coogee Beach, a police statement said. She and two friends were swimming about 100 feet from the shore, when she was bitten, ambulance official Michael Corlis said. Lifeguard Tony Waller said the shark was about 11 feet long.

Lifeguard Charlie Verco told The Sunday Telegraph in Sydney that he saw the shark while he was on his paddleboard.

“I saw the shark come out of the water and just the size of it shocked me,” Verco said. “I kept paddling towards her and the shark took her underwater and I was going, ‘What do I do now?’ A couple of seconds later, she popped up again.”

Verco said the victim was too weak to get onto the paddleboard, so he grabbed her arm and pulled her toward the beach. Other people helped them get to shore.

Ian Ferguson, an off-duty doctor at the beach with his family, said there was a “big cloud of blood in the water.”

Ferguson and other bystanders applied tourniquets and gave first aid to the woman on the beach. Her leg bite was about a foot wide, and her bone was exposed, he told The Telegraph. The wound on her arm was similar.

They got her to a nearby rugby field where she was flown by helicopter to a hospital.

This is the fourth shark attack in Australia in the past five weeks. Three men have been killed by sharks while spearfishing.

On June 6, a man, 35, died after he was bitten while spearfishing near Michaelmas Island on the western coast. A 38-year-old man died after he was bitten by a 13-foot shark on May 16, then a 39-year-old man was killed in Queensland, in the northeast part of the country, on May 24.

In January, a 12-year-old boy died in the hospital after being attacked by a bull shark in Sydney Harbor.

Since 1791, when records began, there have been nearly 1,300 shark attacks in Australia, with 260 of them fatal. Australia has averaged two to three fatal shark attacks per year since 2000, according to the Australian Shark Incident Database. There were five last year.

Shark attacks have become more common as water sports like surfing and scuba diving have become more popular.

Foketi, 31, was born in New Zealand before his family moved to Australia.

He played for Australia Under-20s and made his Super Rugby debut for Melbourne Rebels in 2014 before leaving to play for French side Bayonne later that year.

Foketi returned to New Zealand where he played a couple of seasons for Bay of Plenty in the Mitre 10 Cup competition before linking up with the NSW Waratahs from 2018 until 2025.

Foketi was given his first Australia cap as a replacement in the 29-28 defeat against Wales in Cardiff in November 2021, before appearing three times in the 2023 World Cup in France.

Foketi played for the First Nations and Pasifika XV against the British and Irish Lions on the 2025 summer tour of Australia before leaving Waratahs later that year.

He joined Hamilton-based Chiefs for the 2026 campaign and will be involved in the Super Rugby final next weekend.

Foketi was instrumental in the semi-final win against Crusaders with three try assists, the joint most of any centre in a Super Rugby game since 2020.

“This is another great bit of news for the club and our supporters,” said Ospreys head coach Mark Jones.

“Lalakai is an experienced international who can immediately make a real contribution for us on and off the field.

“He’s a real all-rounder at centre with what he can offer on the ball and in defence, and we feel he will add even further quality to our already talented group of centres.

“He’s got a few points of difference that will bring a new dimension to our attack, and we’re excited to utilise that.”

Israel continues to expand settlements in the occupied territory, which are illegal under international law.

The Israeli government has allocated a first tranche of an expected $388m in new funds for the construction of settlements in the occupied West Bank.

The anti-settlement group Peace Now reported on Thursday that the government had allocated 152 million shekels ($51m) to prepare construction plans for 69 illegal settlements and outposts in the occupied West Bank.

The cabinet later reportedly postponed a decision about a 1-billion-shekel ($338m) allocation. That proposal, if passed, would mark one of the largest expansions of illegal Israeli settlements in decades.

“The government decided to postpone the decision [on the 1-billion-shekel allocation] and refer it to the Security Cabinet which is expected to convene on Sunday,” Peace Now wrote.

Under the yet-to-be-approved plan, construction for the settlements, including infrastructure and public buildings, would begin despite necessary planning protocols not having been carried out in accord with Israeli law.

Peace Now accused the government of intending to bypass planning and construction regulations.

“October 7 proved that the right-wing approach has failed: the conflict cannot be ‘managed,’ and the Palestinians cannot be ‘defeated’,” the group said in a statement.

“Israel must reach a political solution and diplomatic agreement, but instead the government is only sinking us deeper into the mire and condemning us to many more years of bloody conflict.”

Israel has come under growing condemnation for expanding settlements in the occupied West Bank, which are illegal under international law.

On Tuesday, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, France and Norway imposed sanctions on networks involved in financing, enabling and carrying out settler violence against Palestinians.

According to Peace Now, the current Israeli government has approved 103 settlements since it took office in December 2022. From that figure, 51 are entirely new settlements.

On Wednesday, Amnesty International published a report accusing the Israeli government of playing a central role in what it describes as the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. The report described the government’s actions as “integral”.

At least 117 villages in the West Bank have been subject to either complete or partial displacement due to settler attacks, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Amnesty also condemned the upcoming “Great Israeli Real Estate Event”, which is due to take place in London on Sunday.

The event, which has also been held in the United States and Canada, promotes the sale of properties in the occupied West Bank, which campaigners say is in violation of international law.

The Birmingham-born content creator said that while she loves her life in Australia, there is one thing from the UK she simply cannot replace

A content creator has opened up about her decision to leave Australia behind and return to the UK. Ellie McClean, from Birmingham, moved to Australia two-and-a-half years ago, spending time in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.

While she says she feels “a lot safer” in Australia compared to the UK, the 28-year-old insists nothing can replace being near to family and friends.

“I am excited to leave Australia, I feel like it’s so not normalised for people to want to leave,” she shared on her TikTok page.

“When you tell people that you’re wanting to leave, they’re like, ‘Why?’. You either have to pick the lifestyle and the weather or your friends and family and I just think there’s no competition for me.”

When Ellie initially relocated to Australia, she was convinced she’d remain there permanently. Yet after more than two years living abroad, she began yearning for the familiar comforts of home in Birmingham.

“After two and a half years of living here, what I’ve realised since being here is that what means most to me is the little things.

“I’ve missed three years of birthdays, little celebrations, dog walks, cups of tea, Sunday roasts, you miss so much that you take for granted when you’re at home.

“And you have to move away sometimes to realise what you’ve got.” Discussing what she’s most eagerly anticipating upon her return home, Ellie added: “I’m ready for England, I’m ready for the cold weather, I’m ready for the percy pigs, I’m ready for real fish and chips, actual chippy chips , English tele, to hear English accents.”

Yet, despite her enthusiasm about coming back to the UK following redundancy from her role as an influencer marketer, Ellie acknowledges it will be tough to say goodbye to numerous elements of life Down Under.

Australia continues to rank among the top choices for British expats, drawing thousands annually with its balmy climate, spectacular coastline, lively cities, robust healthcare infrastructure and employment prospects.

For Ellie, one of the hardest things to leave behind will be living just moments from the beach.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do with my free time because I feel like I spend so much at it at the beach,” she revealed.

“And life in general, kangaroos, palm trees, Chemist (Australia’s largest pharmacy retailer Chemist Warehouse), food courts in supermarket, Yo-Chi, coffee in Australia is [also] a million times better than in the UK.”

Might she consider relocating to Australia again down the line? Ellie told us: “I’m travelling for six months before heading home indefinitely. I’ve got no plans to move back but I would 100 per cent recommend others to live there and try it out. It’s been such an amazing experience living here but there’s no place like home.”

The man was fishing when he was bitten by a shark, police say.

A man has died after he was bitten by a shark off the south coast of Michaelmas Island in Western Australia.

The 35-year-old was attacked while spearfishing with his family close to the town of Albany, police said.

The man was treated by paramedics but died of his wounds.

Police said a 4.5metre (15ft) shark of an unknown species was spotted by a witness near Michaelmas Island, which does not receive many visitors.

The state’s Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development urged people to take “additional caution” in the area and to stay abreast of shark sightings.

This is the fourth shark killing this year in Australia.

Last month, a man died after being attacked by a great white off Rottnest Island near the city of Perth, and another man died in a shark attack off the coast of Queensland in northeast Australia.

In January, a 12-year-old boy was killed by a shark in Sydney Harbour.

Australian scientists believe increasingly crowded waters and rising ocean temperatures are shifting sharks’ migratory patterns, which may be contributing to a rise in attacks.

The majority of shark attacks occur along Australia’s east and southeast coasts, with an average of about 20 incidents recorded each year, according to the Institute of Health and Welfare.

Suggestions that criticism of the State of Israel is anti-Semitic in Australia risk hardwiring a dangerous confusion. Questioning the behaviour of a foreign state is not the same as denigrating or attacking a people who may have links with that state. The State of Israel is represented by its embassy in Canberra, not by the Jewish community in our cities and suburbs.

But the knee-jerk reaction to the attack on a Jewish celebration in Sydney is solidifying that confusion. On December 14, 2025, as Jewish families gathered near Sydney’s Bondi Beach to celebrate Hanukkah, two gunmen opened fire, killing 15 people and injuring many others in one of the worst attacks in Australia’s history. In response, the federal government set up a Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, led by former High Court justice Virginia Bell. On April 30, 2026, the commission delivered its interim report, raising serious concerns about how we define anti-Semitism.

The commission has adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of anti-Semitism. The IHRA offers examples that include criticism of Israel as evidence of anti-Semitism. But such a broad definition collapses critical commentary on Israel’s policy in Gaza, its treatment of Palestinians in the West Bank and Israeli officials’ dehumanising comments about Palestinians into a racist attack on Australia’s Jews. How does that make sense to anyone?

This is not an abstract question. The blurring of these categories acts as a brake on public debate. It narrows the range of permissible language used to describe Israel’s conduct in Gaza, where Australians have watched entire neighbourhoods destroyed and tens of thousands of civilians killed.

The official line from governments in relation to Israel is that Israel has a “right to exist” and an obligation to defend its citizens, which appears to give Israel carte blanche to decimate the entire Gaza Strip and kill tens of thousands of Palestinians. But no other state enjoys this exceptional treatment. No other state can do what it wishes simply because it has a “right to exist”. Australia has that right, but that right has never shielded governments in Canberra from fierce criticism, whether over First Nations dispossession, offshore detention or climate inaction. When Prime Minister Kevin Rudd apologised to the Stolen Generations in 2008 for the wrongs past governments had done to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, Australia’s legitimacy as a state was not under threat. Rudd was reflecting the public mood by distancing his government from the policies of the past. It was not seen as challenging Australia’s right to exist.

Yet in debates about Israel, the invocation of the “right to exist” and anti-Semitism operates as a conversation stopper. It closes the door to a frank discussion about the State of Israel and its behaviour. We cannot talk about occupation, apartheid and war crimes because that is anti-Semitic. This is a troubling precedent that insulates Israel from moral and political accountability.

The commission was established in response to a real and deeply upsetting surge in anti-Semitic violence. But its framework could cast suspicion on genuine inquiry into the behaviour of Israel. It entrenches a form of exceptionalism that actually weakens Australia’s democratic norms.

A liberal society must be able to draw a clear line: hatred, discrimination or violence against Jews is anti-Semitic and unacceptable; criticism of a foreign government is not.

There is also a cost to Jewish Australians when that line is blurred. Public debate routinely treats “the Jewish community” as a single, pro-Israel bloc, represented by a handful of bodies. This is simply not true. Many Australian Jews are alarmed to see the destruction of Gaza in their name. Some have mobilised against Israel’s actions.

To assume unanimous Jewish support for Israeli actions is to deny Jewish Australians their agency. Worse, it risks casting Jewish dissenters as inauthentic. If the policy settings shaped by this commission casts such voices as anti-Semitic, they will be erased twice over: excluded from the definition of the community and penalised for speakingup. This is silencing dissent, masquerading as protection.

If public institutions reinforce the idea that criticism of Israel is criticism of Jews, they risk feeding anti-Semitism.

Images of Gaza’s destruction on the news have galvanised global public opinion. Many young Australians have marched for an end to Israeli policies and freedom for Palestine. The message that such protests against Israel are anti-Semitic could not be any more counter-productive and harmful for Australian democracy. That will only breed resentment against the Australian political system for ignoring what everyone sees on their TV screens, and, dangerously, feed the very anti-Semitic narratives the commission should be challenging. Those who already hold anti-Semitic views will feel confirmed in their belief that Jews act collectively through Israel. The commission cannot afford to fall into this trap.

To the credit of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS), they have avoided the conflation of Israel and Jewish people and have not adopted the IHRA definition. The interim commission report has not embraced the most heavy-handed proposals in circulation; there is no rush to ban protest slogans or criminalise political expression. There is room for optimism that the commission can still address the issue in its final report.

Here are the standards it needs to uphold to protect social cohesion in Australia:

First, an unambiguous distinction between anti-Semitism and criticism of Israel. Second, a recognition of the diversity of Jewish opinion, including among those who oppose Israel’s actions, and the inclusion of those voices in efforts to combat anti-Semitism. Third, a defence of political space for Palestinians and their allies to describe their experiences of occupation, dispossession and siege in their own terms, while  rejecting any dehumanising or racist language about Jewish people.

Anti-Semitism in Australia is a threat to the Jewish community (regardless of political views) and the very foundation of our social cohesion. But seeking to address the scourge of anti-Semitism by conflating critical views of the State of Israel with hatred of Jews will only make matters worse. Such approach will suppress debate, limit freedom of speech and inquiry that has already led to self-censorship at our universities and entrench the very confusion that sustains anti-Semitism.

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera’s editorial stance.

China’s decision to send a largely academic delegation instead of senior defence leadership to the Shangri La Dialogue in Singapore has been described by Australia as a missed opportunity for strategic engagement at a time of rising regional tensions.

Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles said the Asia Pacific region needs greater strategic reassurance from Beijing, particularly given China’s ongoing military expansion and its growing influence across the Indo Pacific.

The Shangri La Dialogue is the region’s most prominent defence and security forum, bringing together senior ministers, military leaders, and policymakers from across the world to discuss security challenges and regional stability.

For the second consecutive year, China’s Defence Minister Dong Jun did not attend the meeting, with Beijing instead sending a delegation made up mainly of academics and military experts.

Why It Matters

The absence of senior Chinese defence officials comes at a sensitive moment for regional security dynamics.

Australia and its allies have repeatedly raised concerns about China’s rapid military buildup, which is widely regarded as the largest conventional expansion since the Second World War. Regional governments argue that this military growth has not been matched by sufficient transparency or reassurance about China’s long term intentions.

The lack of direct high level engagement at forums such as the Shangri La Dialogue limits opportunities to reduce misunderstandings, build trust, and manage rising tensions through dialogue.

For countries in the Indo Pacific, especially smaller states, the absence of senior Chinese representation can increase uncertainty about regional security and long term strategic balance.

Key Stakeholders

China

China’s approach reflects a more controlled engagement strategy in defence diplomacy, relying on lower profile participation while continuing to expand military capabilities and regional influence.

Australia

Australia views sustained dialogue as essential for regional stability, while simultaneously strengthening its alliance with the United States and deepening defence cooperation across the Indo Pacific.

United States

The United States remains a central security partner in the region and continues to position itself as a counterbalance to China’s military rise through alliances and defence agreements.

Regional Partners

Countries such as Japan, the Philippines, Malaysia, and others attending the forum are closely watching China’s engagement level as they navigate their own security concerns in a shifting regional order.

Future Outlook

If China continues limiting senior level participation in regional defence forums, diplomatic channels for managing tensions in the Indo Pacific may become more constrained. This could increase reliance on bilateral alliances and military deterrence rather than multilateral dialogue.

At the same time, ongoing military expansion by China will likely keep regional security concerns elevated, particularly among Southeast Asian and Pacific nations.

However, if future editions of the Shangri La Dialogue see higher level Chinese participation, it could open pathways for improved communication and reduced strategic mistrust.

For now, the gap between China’s military rise and its diplomatic engagement remains a key concern for regional powers seeking stability in an increasingly competitive Indo Pacific environment.

With information from Reuters.

Erin Patterson was found guilty of killing three family members as she served them a lunch laced with poisonous fungi.

An Australian court has confirmed that an appeal hearing for Erin Patterson, commonly referred to as the “mushroom murderer,” will be held in August.

The Supreme Court of Victoria announced on Friday that the hearing will take place on August 19 and 20. Patterson’s lawyers formally applied to appeal her life sentence in November, arguing that there had been a “substantial miscarriage of justice” during her trial.

Patterson was sentenced to life in prison in September after being found guilty of murdering three of her estranged husband’s relatives by serving them a lunch laced with poisonous fungi.

During the two-day hearing, the court will also consider an appeal from prosecutors, who argue that her sentence, which allows her to be considered for parole after 33 years, is “manifestly inadequate”.

Prosecutors unsuccessfully argued during the trial that her sentence should have been life imprisonment without parole.

In July, a jury found Patterson guilty of killing her estranged husband’s parents after serving them a lunch of beef Wellington laced with toxic mushrooms.

The case attracted worldwide attention, with more than 250 journalists registering for updates from the court, and the judge deciding to broadcast the sentencing live.

Both Gail Patterson and Donald Patterson died in August 2023. Patterson was also found guilty of murdering Gail’s sister, Heather Wilkinson, who died that same month, and of attempting to kill Wilkinson’s husband, Ian. He spent seven weeks in hospital following the poisoning and received a liver transplant.

Patterson is appealing her conviction on seven grounds, including what her lawyers described as a “fundamental irregularity” relating to the sequestration of the jury, who stayed in the same hotel as key figures in the case, including a police witness and two prosecutors.

Patterson’s lawyers also argue that several pieces of evidence presented during the trial were either irrelevant or unfairly prejudicial, and that the prosecution’s cross-examination of her was “unfair and oppressive”.

Patterson maintains her innocence, arguing that the poisoning was accidental.

Australian Federal Police have not made any arrests but say inquiries are ongoing.

A group of 19 women and children with alleged links to ISIL (ISIS) has returned to Australia, with the government warning that anyone found to have engaged in criminal activity will be prosecuted.

The six women and 13 children arrived from a Syrian refugee camp on Tuesday, with one group landing in Sydney and the other in Melbourne.

It is the second cohort of Australian women and children to return from Syria this month. Responding to criticism over their arrival, the Australian government said it had not assisted them in any capacity.

“These are people who have made the horrific choice to join a dangerous terrorist organisation and to place their children in an unspeakable situation,” Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke said.

Australian women began travelling to Syria to marry members of ISIL in 2012, with some allegedly taken against their will.

At the height of its power in 2015, ISIL controlled territory across Syria and Iraq roughly equivalent in size to the United Kingdom.

Australian Federal Police did not arrest any members of the group upon their arrival but said that investigations were ongoing.

The group’s return has sparked anger in some sections of Australian society.

According to local media, a large police presence was deployed at Melbourne airport, where a scuffle reportedly broke out as the group of women and children was escorted out through a side entrance.

Australia is one of several Western countries that have shown reluctance to repatriate citizens who travelled to the Middle East to join ISIL about a decade ago.

Both France and the UK have expressed opposition to allowing former ISIL members to return.

In 2022, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child said that France’s failure to repatriate children born to French nationals in Syria violated their right to life and exposed them to inhumane treatment.

Meanwhile, the UK stripped British national Shamima Begum of her citizenship in 2019 on national security grounds.

In February, the Australian government issued a temporary exclusion order against a woman in Syria, preventing her from returning home.

Her child, who was not barred from returning, chose to stay with her.

The order prevents the woman from returning to Australia until February 2028, and her family is currently challenging the decision.

Afzal Ashraf, a visiting fellow at Loughborough University specialising in international relations and security, said the risk posed by people returning from countries including Syria needs to be viewed proportionately.

“There will be some security challenges, because people like this are likely to suffer from issues such as PTSD,” Ashraf told Al Jazeera.

“The fact of the matter is that there are security challenges in Australia and other countries, but statistically speaking, the return of these nationals doesn’t increase that risk very much, while the threat to life from terrorism is far lower than the threat posed by road accidents, for example.”

“That said, these threats can be reduced by providing comprehensive mental health support for returnees and ensuring they are reintegrated into society in a positive way, with follow-up programmes to address any dangerous ideas they may have adopted,” Ashraf said.

“It’s worth remembering that ISIL has killed far more Muslims than Westerners.”

Earlier this month, four women and 13 children arrived in Australia from Syria. Three of the women were arrested upon arrival.

Bryn Edwards left Kidwelly in Wales around a decade ago to start a new life in Sydney, Australia, and says there are two major reasons he would not consider moving back

A Welsh man has revealed two key reasons why he has no plans to return to his former home in Kidwelly after moving to Australia a decade ago. Bryn Edwards was keen to experience life on the other side of the globe after the Global Financial Crisis left the UK feeling “quite depressing”.

He originally travelled on a working holiday visa, but ultimately chose not to return home after establishing his own company, Edwards Carpentry Renovations, and settling down with his young family in Sydney.

Speaking about what drew him to Australia specifically, Bryn explained: “Initially, when I left, it was only meant to be for a year. I found the UK quite depressing after the Global Financial Crisis and the weather was getting to me, so thought a year in sunny Australia would be great.”

Two advantages of Australia

Bryn was far from let down when he touched down in Oz and has since discovered two major benefits, the first being the climate.

He says the balmy weather enables him to embrace an “outdoor lifestyle” and indulge his love of sport throughout the year, even signing up to the Tech Waratah Rugby Club after playing frequently in Wales.

Australia is renowned for its year-round sunshine, with temperatures exceeding 20C during most months.

While he favours the sought-after sun-drenched Australian way of life, which draws thousands of British expats, his hectic schedule means he believes his work-life balance was marginally superior in Wales. He said: “I would say that I used to have a better work-life balance, but now I have my own business I probably work a little too much.”

And this is where the second advantage becomes apparent. Bryn notes “pay over here for trades is a lot better, with more disposable income compared to the UK, where I felt it was barely covering my bills”.

Never returning

When questioned whether he’d contemplate returning to Wales, the father-of-two confessed that the freezing winters and living costs in the UK would discourage him.

He disclosed: “I don’t think I would [move back]. I have a family over here, nice house, and a business. I also don’t think I could deal with the winters anymore.”

Nevertheless, he still “misses his family and friends from back home”, and occasionally experiences nostalgia for “the cold nights, but not very often”.

Bryn also wishes he’d seized the chance to travel more while residing in the UK, as Australia is isolated from other nations by vast stretches of ocean, rendering overseas holidays far more lengthy.

Describing the “distance” as the main drawback to living in Oz, Bryn remarked: “The [downside] is the distance to the UK, also the distance to everywhere else. I wish I had travelled around Europe more when I lived in the UK – it was very accessible.”

Australian activists from the Gaza-bound aid flotilla have arrived back in Sydney, reuniting with loved ones as they describe beatings, sexual assault and torture at the hands of Israeli forces who intercepted their boats in international waters.

The man was rushed to ⁠shore after being bitten on Sunday near ​Kennedy Shoal, but died shortly afterwards.

A man has died after a shark attack off the coast of Queensland in northeast Australia, police say.

The man was rushed to ⁠shore after being bitten on Sunday near Kennedy Shoal, a shallow reef about 45km (28 miles) off the coast, a Queensland Police Service spokesperson said.

The man was met by an ambulance but died shortly afterwards, the spokesperson said without identifying him.

According to local media, beaches in the area have been closed while police assess safety conditions.

The incident is the second fatal shark encounter in Australia in a little more than a week.

On May 16, a 38-year-old man died after being bitten by a shark near Perth off the west coast.

The majority of shark attacks occur along Australia’s east and southeast coasts with an average of about 20 incidents recorded each year, according to the Institute of Health and Welfare.

UK couple Mike Lucas and Emily Gillingham have been travelling around New Zealand and Australia for the past four years

A British couple have revealed how they slashed £20,000 from hotel costs while travelling.

Mike Lucas, 33, and his partner Emily Gillingham, 32, have spent the last four years discovering New Zealand and Australia, barely spending anything on accommodation. To achieve this, the resourceful pair house-sat for people – occasionally for months on end – which meant they avoided paying for hotels and Airbnbs.

They utilised the platform Trusted House Sitters, a site where property and pet owners seek individuals to care for their homes and animals while they’re away. The duo, originally from Edinburgh in Scotland and Southwell, Nottinghamshire, resided in 13 properties across both nations during their initial 18-month journey and still rely on the service for weekend getaways.

Mike said: “It was a game-changer for us because when we first arrived in New Zealand, we didn’t know how long we were going to stay. It allowed us to maximise our budget and made our travels more fruitful, fun and sustainable.

“We have looked after all kinds of pets, including dogs, cats and chickens. It also made the country feel more accessible and slowed down the pace of travel. You see and do things you wouldn’t if you were to stay in a hotel.”

The pair have been house-sitting since November 2022, when they first touched down in New Zealand after leaving their well-paid positions as a client accountant and research director. They discovered the website Trusted House Sitters through Emily’s parents, who rely on the service to ensure their dog, Monty, is well cared for whenever they head away.

Mike said: “We had a strict budget and were looking at ways to save money so we could make it last as long as possible and extend our stay.”

Mike explained that they got in touch with a dog owner on the website and, as luck would have it, the couple agreed to let them stay in their two-bed detached house in Waikanae, north of Wellington, for three weeks over the Christmas period – provided they looked after their two-year-old Boxer-cross.

The keen traveller said: “How it works is you have to send a cover letter, almost like a job application saying why you would be a good fit for the house and giving a little bit of detail about yourself. The owner will then read it and reach out to you if they are interested.

“For this particular house, they asked if we could jump on a video call so they could meet us. Then the day before they left for America, we stayed over at the house with them, and they talked us through the dogs’ routine and if there was anything we needed to know about the property. And that was it, they gave us the keys, and we were left with this lovely house.”

From there, the pair ventured across the country, taking in Auckland and Tauranga — spending a remarkable three months in the beach suburb of Sumner, in Christchurch. Throughout the journey, the couple enjoyed free accommodation for 328 days and, according to Mike, this saved them roughly £20,000 compared to what they would have spent on one-bed Airbnbs over the same period.

They continue house-sitting to this day, having since relocated to Melbourne, Australia, where they rent a flat, yet still take on pet-sitting arrangements to explore the country during weekend getaways. The couple also revealed the experience helped them identify what their “ideal” home would look like, drawing small touches of inspiration from every property they stayed in.

They also make use of house-sitting when heading back to the UK to see family. Though Mike stresses that living in somebody else’s home is nothing like a hotel or Airbnb — you must treat it with “respect”.

He said: “It isn’t the same as a hotel, as it is someone’s personal living space. I have heard some horror stories from previous people we have stayed with, as I guess some people forget that boundary.

“They are putting a lot of trust in you to look after their pet and home. Luckily nothing has ever gone wrong in the houses we have stayed in – the worst we have done is break a glass, but we just told them and made sure to replace it. In the days before we leave, we always give the house a deep clean, leaving it spotless for the owner.”

When they couldn’t find a new property to move into once their stay had come to an end, Mike explained they would crash in Airbnbs, camp, or bunk down in hostels until they secured a new sit that fitted their schedule. Mike acknowledged that landing stays can be tough at times, noting that you’re up against at least three other applicants, with even stiffer competition depending on the location or the appeal of the property.

He said: “A key part is balancing timing and detail. The earlier you are to apply, the higher the chance you’ll have of securing the sit.

“However, tailoring the application to the individual is equally as important to stand out from the crowd. I couldn’t recommend it enough.

“At some of the houses we stayed at for over a month we felt we became part of the community and got to know people. We have also stayed friends with a number of the people we house-sat for and they now come to us and ask if we can come back to sit again, which is really nice.”

Looking ahead, the couple say they hope to travel around Europe, America and beyond using the platform.

Married at First Sight Australia star Alissa opened up about the ‘mean girl treatment’ she faced from fellow brides during Season 13

A Married At First Sight Australia bride has revealed she “couldn’t get out of bed” after enduring “mean girl treatment” from fellow cast members.

The thirteenth series of the popular social experiment has finally wrapped up, but not without the couples facing one last interrogation from the relationship experts.

During Thursday’s (May 14) finale, Alissa was given the opportunity to speak out about the text message controversy involving co-stars Gia and Bec.

Fans will recall that the pair were exposed sharing vicious messages about Alissa and her husband David in a private group chat. One message suggested the couple’s relationship was fake, while another branded Alissa a “rat b****”.

In a final bid to defend herself, Alissa confronted Bec and Gia, the only two members from the group chat who attended the reunion, reports OK!.

“What did I do to you? What did I actually do to you? Mean girls, just mean girls,” she said.

When questioned about how their remarks impacted her, Alissa emotionally confessed: “I couldn’t get out of bed. If it wasn’t for him [David]. He was with me, he stood by me.”

She continued: “And he was like ‘You’re strong, you got this.’ I remember that second dinner party, I sat there and I was shaking under the table.

“My arms were shaking and that was one of the hardest days of my life. And I didn’t shed one tear, and I sat there and I called out a bully.”

The heartfelt admission left the entire cast visibly moved, with even Bec appearing distressed. Despite clashing throughout the E4 experiment, the two female contestants have since buried the hatchet.

Both Gia and Bec offered sincere apologies during the reunion episode.

Bec was first to speak up, saying: “The way I treated you was disgusting. And I vow to you and promise you that I will never, ever, ever, ever treat you or another woman without speaking to them about it [first],” before adding: “That was just unfair and I’m sincerely sorry.”

Gia then responded: “Obviously we’re leaving the experiment so you’ve no way to judge if my behaviour’s going to change, but all I can say is I’m really truly sorry for anything I’ve ever said.”

Married at First Sight Australia is streaming now on Channel 4 online

Australia captain Sophie Molineux has been passed fit and named in Australia’s squad for the T20 World Cup.

The 28-year-old all-rounder will lead a 15-strong squad for the tournament in England, with assistance from vice-captains Ash Gardner and Tahlia McGrath.

Fast bowler Lucy Hamilton has been selected for her first international tournament as the six-time champions look to regain the World Cup title after losing in the semi-finals in 2024.

All-rounders Annabel Sutherland and Grace Harris return to the squad having been rested and dropped respectively for the tour of the West Indies in March.

Molineux was appointed to the Australia captaincy in January, replacing the retired Alyssa Healy, and was considered a surprise pick following a career blighted by injury.

She injured her back prior to the tour of the Caribbean, her first away series as captain, where she played exclusively as a batter.

Australia national selector Shawn Flegler had previously confirmed, external that Molineux would not have been considered for a non-bowling role at the World Cup.

“Sophie has already made her mark as captain and built a strong connection with the group over the last couple of tours, so we’re looking forward to seeing what this side can achieve under her leadership,” Flegler said upon the squad’s announcement.

“Darcie Brown was unlucky to miss out but the decision was based on the conditions we’re expecting and the make-up of the side.

“With at least six right-arm pace options in the mix and raw pace expected to be less effective, we opted to go with Lucy Hamilton who offers something different as a left-arm quick.”

Molineux’s side will play warm-up fixtures against South Africa, England and the West Indies before opening their tournament against South Africa on 13 June at Old Trafford.