Russell Brand pleads not guilty to historic sex offences
British comedian and actor Russell Brand has pleaded not guilty to historic sex offences in a London court.

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Sky News AU
3 hours ago
- Sky News AU
Royal bride Lady Frederick Windsor says her wedding hair was 'disgusting' and dress picked out by her mother-in-law made her look 'barking' in candid new tell-all
Sophie Winkleman has shared an unfiltered take on her royal wedding, admitting her hairstyle was "so disgusting" it still upsets her husband, Lord Frederick Windsor, all these years later. The British actress, 44, married into the royal family in 2009 when she wed Lord Frederick Windsor, 46, the only son of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent. The pair met on New Year's Eve in 2006 after sharing a taxi from a party in Soho, where Frederick recognised her from her breakout role as Big Suze in the hit series Peep Show. Their wedding took place at Hampton Court Palace in front of around 400 guests, including Princess Eugenie, the Duke and Duchess of Kent, Lady Annabel Goldsmith, actress Jane Asher, Lady Helen Taylor, and musician Bryan Adams. But despite the grandeur, Winkleman admits she doesn't look back on the day with much fondness- largely due to her hair and the gown, which was selected by her mother-in-law, Princess Michael of Kent. "My hair was so disgusting and Freddy still gets upset about it," she told The Telegraph. "It was just disgusting. And my mother-in-law chose my dress, which was very sweet and puffy, but I looked barking." The gown, a silk design with lace sleeves and a three-metre train, was made by Anna Bystrova of Roza Couture, a designer favoured by Princess Michael, who reportedly took the reins on many aspects of the ceremony. "She sort of took it all over and I actually didn't mind at all," Winkleman added. "I thought, 'Great, do everything'. I was concentrating on this acting job and saying goodbye to my darling granny who wasn't very well and just doing other stuff. But now I look back on it and think I should have worn a simpler dress and I should have got my hair blow dried by someone who'd done it before." Adding to the whirlwind, Sophie and Freddie packed up and moved to Los Angeles the very next day to pursue work opportunities. "We got married on Saturday and moved everything, our whole lives out to America the day after," she recalled. Frederick transferred with JP Morgan, while Winkleman went on to star in Two and a Half Men opposite Ashton Kutcher, and wrote screenplays for stars like Salma Hayek and Penélope Cruz. "We thought we shouldn't just huddle in England but be brave, do something different, so we did," she told HELLO! last year, calling the experience "very interesting and freeing". The couple eventually returned to the UK after welcoming their eldest daughter, Maud. They now live in South London with their two daughters, Maud, 11, and Isabella, nine, while Frederick works as an executive director at JP Morgan. Winkleman says she's remained close with her royal in-laws. "Family isn't always brilliant but this lot are very sweet. I love all of them," she told The Telegraph. Back in 2020, she also told The Times that she hadn't had "a single negative experience" with the royals. "I was incredibly welcomed with open arms," she said at the time. "The Queen's been wonderful, Prince Charles (now King Charles) has been wonderful, Prince William's been heaven. "They'd never tell me off at all if I wanted to play some role. Everyone's looked after me. Oh God, please don't make me sound too gushing." Her comments contrast sharply with those of fellow actress-turned-royal Meghan Markle, 43, who, along with Prince Harry, 40, stepped back from official royal duties in 2020 and moved to California. Unfortunately, Meghan and Harry remain estranged from the royal family.


The Advertiser
8 hours ago
- The Advertiser
UK bans disposable vapes to stop litter, children's use
A ban on disposable vapes has come into force across the UK as the British government aims to stem their use by children, reduce litter and prevent the leaking of harmful chemicals into the environment. The ban makes it illegal for any retailer — online or in-store — to sell vapes, whether they contain nicotine or not as of Sunday. They will still be able to sell reusable vapes. The crackdown follows the soaring use of disposable vapes in schools and a rising tide of trash as users dispose of the vapes. It is estimated that as many as five million disposable vapes are thrown in bins or littered every week across the UK, rather than being recycled. A number of countries are seeking to regulate the vape market, which has grown exponentially over the past decade or so. Australia outlawed the sale of vapes outside pharmacies last year in some of the world's toughest restrictions on electronic cigarettes, while Belgium became the first European Country to ban the use of disposable vapes at the start of this year. California has been at the forefront of bringing in new regulations in the US The UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said usage among young people remained too high, and the ban would "put an end to their alarming rise in school playgrounds and the avalanche of rubbish flooding the nation's streets." Also known as single-use vapes, disposable vapes are non-refillable and unable to be recharged, and are typically thrown away with general waste or just thrown on the street. Even when they are recycled, they need to be taken apart by hand, while their batteries are a fire risk to recycling facilities and can leak harmful chemicals into the environment and potentially harming wildlife. Businesses were given six months to prepare for the change by selling any existing stock. Rogue traders who continue to sell them risk a fine of 200 pounds ($A419) in the first instance, followed by an unlimited fine or jail time for repeat offending. The UK Vaping Industry Association said its members had moved quickly to comply with the June 1 deadline, but warned of "serious unintended consequences" emanating from too much regulation. "We are concerned that this ban will encourage former smokers who have already transitioned from cigarettes, which kill 220 people every day in the UK, to return to combustible tobacco or opt for unregulated vapes," said its director general, John Dunne. Separately, the British government is legislating to potentially restrict the packaging, marketing and flavours of e-cigarettes. A ban on disposable vapes has come into force across the UK as the British government aims to stem their use by children, reduce litter and prevent the leaking of harmful chemicals into the environment. The ban makes it illegal for any retailer — online or in-store — to sell vapes, whether they contain nicotine or not as of Sunday. They will still be able to sell reusable vapes. The crackdown follows the soaring use of disposable vapes in schools and a rising tide of trash as users dispose of the vapes. It is estimated that as many as five million disposable vapes are thrown in bins or littered every week across the UK, rather than being recycled. A number of countries are seeking to regulate the vape market, which has grown exponentially over the past decade or so. Australia outlawed the sale of vapes outside pharmacies last year in some of the world's toughest restrictions on electronic cigarettes, while Belgium became the first European Country to ban the use of disposable vapes at the start of this year. California has been at the forefront of bringing in new regulations in the US The UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said usage among young people remained too high, and the ban would "put an end to their alarming rise in school playgrounds and the avalanche of rubbish flooding the nation's streets." Also known as single-use vapes, disposable vapes are non-refillable and unable to be recharged, and are typically thrown away with general waste or just thrown on the street. Even when they are recycled, they need to be taken apart by hand, while their batteries are a fire risk to recycling facilities and can leak harmful chemicals into the environment and potentially harming wildlife. Businesses were given six months to prepare for the change by selling any existing stock. Rogue traders who continue to sell them risk a fine of 200 pounds ($A419) in the first instance, followed by an unlimited fine or jail time for repeat offending. The UK Vaping Industry Association said its members had moved quickly to comply with the June 1 deadline, but warned of "serious unintended consequences" emanating from too much regulation. "We are concerned that this ban will encourage former smokers who have already transitioned from cigarettes, which kill 220 people every day in the UK, to return to combustible tobacco or opt for unregulated vapes," said its director general, John Dunne. Separately, the British government is legislating to potentially restrict the packaging, marketing and flavours of e-cigarettes. A ban on disposable vapes has come into force across the UK as the British government aims to stem their use by children, reduce litter and prevent the leaking of harmful chemicals into the environment. The ban makes it illegal for any retailer — online or in-store — to sell vapes, whether they contain nicotine or not as of Sunday. They will still be able to sell reusable vapes. The crackdown follows the soaring use of disposable vapes in schools and a rising tide of trash as users dispose of the vapes. It is estimated that as many as five million disposable vapes are thrown in bins or littered every week across the UK, rather than being recycled. A number of countries are seeking to regulate the vape market, which has grown exponentially over the past decade or so. Australia outlawed the sale of vapes outside pharmacies last year in some of the world's toughest restrictions on electronic cigarettes, while Belgium became the first European Country to ban the use of disposable vapes at the start of this year. California has been at the forefront of bringing in new regulations in the US The UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said usage among young people remained too high, and the ban would "put an end to their alarming rise in school playgrounds and the avalanche of rubbish flooding the nation's streets." Also known as single-use vapes, disposable vapes are non-refillable and unable to be recharged, and are typically thrown away with general waste or just thrown on the street. Even when they are recycled, they need to be taken apart by hand, while their batteries are a fire risk to recycling facilities and can leak harmful chemicals into the environment and potentially harming wildlife. Businesses were given six months to prepare for the change by selling any existing stock. Rogue traders who continue to sell them risk a fine of 200 pounds ($A419) in the first instance, followed by an unlimited fine or jail time for repeat offending. The UK Vaping Industry Association said its members had moved quickly to comply with the June 1 deadline, but warned of "serious unintended consequences" emanating from too much regulation. "We are concerned that this ban will encourage former smokers who have already transitioned from cigarettes, which kill 220 people every day in the UK, to return to combustible tobacco or opt for unregulated vapes," said its director general, John Dunne. Separately, the British government is legislating to potentially restrict the packaging, marketing and flavours of e-cigarettes. A ban on disposable vapes has come into force across the UK as the British government aims to stem their use by children, reduce litter and prevent the leaking of harmful chemicals into the environment. The ban makes it illegal for any retailer — online or in-store — to sell vapes, whether they contain nicotine or not as of Sunday. They will still be able to sell reusable vapes. The crackdown follows the soaring use of disposable vapes in schools and a rising tide of trash as users dispose of the vapes. It is estimated that as many as five million disposable vapes are thrown in bins or littered every week across the UK, rather than being recycled. A number of countries are seeking to regulate the vape market, which has grown exponentially over the past decade or so. Australia outlawed the sale of vapes outside pharmacies last year in some of the world's toughest restrictions on electronic cigarettes, while Belgium became the first European Country to ban the use of disposable vapes at the start of this year. California has been at the forefront of bringing in new regulations in the US The UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said usage among young people remained too high, and the ban would "put an end to their alarming rise in school playgrounds and the avalanche of rubbish flooding the nation's streets." Also known as single-use vapes, disposable vapes are non-refillable and unable to be recharged, and are typically thrown away with general waste or just thrown on the street. Even when they are recycled, they need to be taken apart by hand, while their batteries are a fire risk to recycling facilities and can leak harmful chemicals into the environment and potentially harming wildlife. Businesses were given six months to prepare for the change by selling any existing stock. Rogue traders who continue to sell them risk a fine of 200 pounds ($A419) in the first instance, followed by an unlimited fine or jail time for repeat offending. The UK Vaping Industry Association said its members had moved quickly to comply with the June 1 deadline, but warned of "serious unintended consequences" emanating from too much regulation. "We are concerned that this ban will encourage former smokers who have already transitioned from cigarettes, which kill 220 people every day in the UK, to return to combustible tobacco or opt for unregulated vapes," said its director general, John Dunne. Separately, the British government is legislating to potentially restrict the packaging, marketing and flavours of e-cigarettes.


Perth Now
8 hours ago
- Perth Now
Robert Irwin gushes over getting the chance to work with Prince William: 'He's a great guy...'
Robert Irwin loved getting the chance to work with Prince William. The 21-year-old conservationist - who is the is the son of late 'Crocodile Hunter' star Steve Irwin - recently teamed up with the heir to the British throne after he was was named a Global Ambassador for the Prince of Wales' Earthshot Prize and thinks that is a " great privilege" to be given such a "fantastic platform" to spread his message. He told UsWeekly: "I think Prince William has been such an amazing person to work with, and there is such an incredible synergy between what he does and who he is and who we are. "It's all about conservation. "'I think it's wonderful that someone so influential — that has such a fantastic platform — is using that to really better our environment. He is a true environmental hero, and so working with him has been a great privilege." The 'Crikey! It's The Irwins' star insisted that everyone in the world needs to "prioritize" the environment as he insisted that William , 42, is "at the forefront" of that movement. He said: "We've definitely compared a lot of notes in the conservation space. "It doesn't matter where you're from — whether internationally in Australia, here in America, wherever you are — we need to prioritize taking care of our natural world. And he's really at the forefront of that. "And plus, he's just a great guy. When you have a conversation with him, he's the most lovely, intelligent person to talk to and is just so easygoing, so much fun. And I love working with him. He's a really, really, really good guy.' The 'Dancing with the Stars' contestant had previously participated in The Earthshot Prize ceremony in Singapore, and at the time, he gushed about how the initiative was so important when it comes to having "hope" for the environment. He said: "The Earthshot Prize is a beacon of hope for all of us who care about the environment and about our ability to ensure a livable future for ourselves and future generations. "Healthy oceans, ecosystems, and species equal a healthy planet, and The Earthshot Prize recognizes the importance of investing in and helping grow solutions that protect these critical resources.'."