Over the last week, a secret delivery of American weapons and a cross-river raid have injected much-needed energy into Ukraine's largely stalled counteroffensive.

A retired British miner who suffocated his terminally ill wife in Cyprus after she “begged him to” has been released after spending nearly two years behind bars. David Hunter, 76, admitted killing Janice Hunter, 74, his spouse of 52 years, at their home near the coastal resort town of Paphos in December 2021. Ms Hunter had been suffering from blood cancer and the court was told she had “begged” her husband to end her life. Hunter was handed a two-year prison sentence on Monday but was released shortly after the sentencing, having already spent 19 months in a Cypriot prison. Speaking outside Paphos District Court after walking free, a visibly emotional Hunter told reporters: "I can’t describe it. I’m sorry. I wish I could, I wish I could find words to describe it but I can’t. “When you’re under pressure for two years, not knowing which way it’s going to go.” His daughter, Lesley Cawthorne, said she feels her “heart has been put back together” since his release, adding: “Today is the start of us being able to rebuild our lives.” Paphos District Court earlier heard that his motive was to “liberate his wife from all that she was going through due to her health conditions”. During the year-long trial, the court heard it was Ms Hunter’s “wish” to die and that her husband “had only feelings of love for her”. Hunter, from Ashington, Northumberland, told the court that his wife had “cried and begged” him to end her life. He broke down in tears as he said he would “never in a million years” have taken his wife’s life unless she had asked him to. He showed the court how he held his hands over his wife’s mouth and nose, and said he eventually decided to grant her wish after she became “hysterical”. The court heard how he then tried to kill himself by taking an overdose, but medics arrived in time to save him. Following his release, Ms Cawthorne said the last 19 months had been a “living nightmare” for their family. She said: “Today is the start of us being able to rebuild our lives. Dad’s release also means we can finally grieve for my mum, and I hope everyone can respect our privacy whilst we take the time to come to terms with her loss.” She added: “So many people have worked hard and supported our efforts to bring my dad home, too many to mention, but you know who you are and you know you have our deepest gratitude. “The kindness and love of friends and strangers has been the thing that has kept us going, and we can never thank you all enough.” After talking to her father on the phone, Ms Cawthorne added: “Speaking to my daddy was the most amazing thing. I feel like my heart has been put back together.” Giving evidence during his trial, Hunter spoke of a “perfect” 52-year marriage to his wife and broke down in tears as he described the moment he killed her. “For five or six weeks before she died she was asking me to help her. She was asking me more every day,” he said. “In the last week she was crying and begging me. Every day she asked me a bit more intensely to do it.” The court heard from Ms Hunter’s doctor, who said she had a rare blood cancer, while Hunter said she had become progressively more unwell and had no quality of life. Asked by defence lawyer Ritsa Pekri how the last days were, Hunter said: “She was crying, crying, crying, begging, begging, begging. “She wasn’t taking any care of herself. For the last two or three weeks she could not move her arms and had trouble with her legs, she couldn’t balance. “She was only eating soup, she couldn’t hold anything down. She lost a lot of weight. She lost so much weight that there was no flesh to put her injections in.” The Hunters visited Cyprus on holidays and bought a property there in 1999 before retiring there permanently two years later. Ms Hunter is buried a short distance away from the couple’s former home in Tremithousa – a quiet village about three miles from Paphos. In a statement issued after the sentencing, the director of Justice Abroad, Michael Polak, said his client was “very pleased” with the outcome. “The result of today’s hearing, and the court’s previous decision finding Mr Hunter not guilty of murder, is what we have been fighting for in this case, and David is very pleased with the outcome today,” he said. He added: “This has been a tragic case and difficult for all of those involved with it, but today’s decision was the right one and allows David and his family to grieve together.” Additional reporting by agencies Read More Man cleared of murdering wife in Cyprus ‘not getting hopes up’ ahead of sentence Retired miner killed wife to ‘liberate’ her from suffering, Cypriot court hears British man to be sentenced in Cyprus for manslaughter of terminally ill wife

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug 17, 2023--

Nobels season is resuming with the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm awarding the prize in physics

Former president Donald Trump mocked Ron DeSantis, his chief rival in the race for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, by posting a video of the Florida governor wiping his nose with his hand while greeting people. Mr Trump posted the video on his Truth Social site, which featured the children’s song “One of These Things is Not Like the Other” with Mr DeSantis talking with supporters while holding a beer. The video was created on the right-wing video site Rumble by the pro-Trump Dilley Meme Team. The end of the video shows Mr DeSantis wiping his nose with his hand while speaking with people with a voice saying “ew.” The Florida governor has received negative media attention for his supposed social awkwardness, most notably a story in The Daily Beast where he reportedly ate pudding with his fingers. Mr Trump has regularly pilloried Mr DeSantis, accusing the Florida governor of being disloyal after Mr Trump endorsed him in the Republican primary for governor in 2018, and has dubbed him “Ron DeSanctimonious.” During a rally in Erie, Pennsylvania, he mocked the fact that Mr DeSantis’s campaign is shedding money and staff, according to multiple news reports. He also said Mr DeSantis ruined his chances to run for president in 2028. “A lot of people say just saying this is dropping out of the race,” Mr Trump said. “I don't know that that's true, but I wouldn't be surprised. He should. Because I think he's absolutely killed himself for [2028].” Mr DeSantis recently laid off multiple members of his staff after raising only $20m and burning through a large part of his campaign cash despite the fact he has only been a candidate for two months. A New York Times/Siena College showed that 54 per cent of Republicans support Mr Trump, with only 17 per cent supporting Mr DeSantis. Read More Georgia DA says Trump 2020 election probe is ‘ready to go’ in strongest hint yet of looming indictment Trump rehearses defence over possible election lies charges at Pennsylvania rally Trump news – live: Georgia DA says Trump 2020 case is ‘ready to go’ as Mar-a-Lago worker heads to court

A former sheriff’s deputy has been sentenced to at least 35 years in prison for murdering of his married girlfriend after she insulted his penis size. Jason Cunningham, 48, fatally shot 37 -year-old Nicole Harrington in the back of the head in a parking garage elevator in downtown Augusta in June 2020, authorities say. Augusta District Attorney Jared Williams said in a statement that Cunningham had become incensed after Harrington insulted “the size of his manhood”. Cunningham was then involved in an eight-hour stand-off with Columbia County deputies at a boat ramp at Clarks Hill Lake before being taken into custody. On Monday, Cunningham was sentenced to 30 years after pleading guilty to murder, and a further five years for possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. According to an affidavit obtained by WRDW, Cunningham claimed he had gone to meet Harrington to end their affair. He told investigators the pair started to argue, and he shot her in the head as she entered an elevator. “This was an extramarital affair in which the defendant was living a double life,” District Attorney Williams said. Cunningham resigned from the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office in 2018 when he tested positive for an illegal substance after he was involved in an accident while on duty, WFXG reported. Harrington, from Florida, was survived by three children. Cunningham also worked as a marketing manager for Forces United, a veterans support organisation in Georgia. Read More Family of Colorado man killed by police during mental health crisis gets $19 million settlement New video from Uvalde massacre shows police officers vomiting and sobbing after discovering victims From Donald Trump to Mike Tyson: The powerful men finally being held to account by sexual assault accusers

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer settled down after a shaky start to win his debut for the AL West-leading Texas Rangers, striking out nine over six innings and getting help from his new teammates as they beat the Chicago White Sox 5-3 on Thursday.

'We’re not just hiring a face. It’s about more than what’s in front of the camera,' DC Films chief Hamada told Xolo Mariduena

The one thing that wrecks a perfect day by the pool is the aftermath — that moment when you get out and try to comb through your hair. With your ends sticky and tangled, you're mentally kicking yourself for dipping your head underwater. Chlorine in the pool and salt in the ocean can coat hair, making each strand feel brittle and dehydrated, but the worst thing you can do is haphazardly throw your hair up in a topknot and ignore it. Instead, take the time to get those chemicals out the right way, with the help of chlorine-removing shampoos.

Manuel Akanji has his sights firmly set on the treble after Manchester City took a huge stride towards becoming only the second English side to achieve that feat. City ruthlessly swept aside 14-time European kings Real Madrid 4-0 on Wednesday to power into next month’s Champions League final. With the team also on the brink of securing their fifth Premier League title in six seasons and through to the FA Cup final, a glorious end to the season is on the cards. Claiming all three trophies would see them emulate the achievement of rivals Manchester United – coincidentally their FA Cup opponents at Wembley – in 1999. City defender Akanji, who joined the club from Borussia Dortmund in September, said: “First we have got to win the Premier League. That’s what we can do on the weekend and I hope we are going to do it. “Then it’s two finals and we want to win both of them. “It would be unbelievable. It is my first season here. It is the best team I have ever played in and we have been really confident in the second part of the season. “I think we’ve done a really good job but we’ve got to keep it up until the end.” Victory over Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday would see City clinch the Premier League with two games to spare. Manager Pep Guardiola would then have the luxury of being able to rest or rotate players ahead of their finals, against United on June 3 and Inter Milan in Istanbul a week later. Their stunning performance against Real, when they trampled all over the most successful club in European competition history to complete a 5-1 aggregate win, puts them at short odds to complete all three. “It’s a great feeling,” said Switzerland defender Akanji, who was responsible for City’s third goal after his glancing header was deflected in by Eder Militao. “From the first minute we stepped on the court we were confident. “I think at home, in all the knockout games, we have had pretty impressive wins. It shows how good we are here and now we have got to do this at the weekend as well to bring home the Premier League and then two other titles too.” Bernardo Silva set up City’s victory with two first-half goals and Julian Alvarez completed the rout late on. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Domingo Miotti given the nod to start at 10 for Glasgow in showdown with Toulon Sam Hain at peace with his game and keen to get wins for Warwickshire Ben Kavanagh hoping for hometown glory with Halifax when Saints come marching in

Tori Roloff has replied to rumors that she and her husband Zach Roloff are expecting their fourth child

Katie Sue Hurst has been reported missing on October 13