Groundbreaking technology to help police tackle violence against women
New police technology has been unveiled as part of efforts to tackle violence against women and girls.
The devices, known as Project Archway, allow officers to better assess victims’ injuries, particularly on darker skin, by making it easier to photograph and visualise bruising.
Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan was shown the new technology on Monday and spoke with Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley and officers who are piloting the devices.
The handheld device is the first of its kind to be developed and uses a technique called cross-polarisation to make injuries clearer that may not appear to the naked eye.
Of 33 uses during a pilot in south London, 45 per cent have resulted in charges, with several others under investigation, the Met Police said.
The device has undergone ethical scrutiny and wide consultation, including input from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), Black Police Association, and the Met Ethics Board. Officers are specially trained prior to use and can only use the device with full consent from victims.
Alongside the force’s V100 programme, which targets the most dangerous offenders and has already resulted in 129 convictions and 154 serious charges, the technology is part of efforts to tackle violence against women and girls, following the publication of its three-year progress report on Tuesday.
Sir Sadiq said that police were responding to the concerns of victims of colour.
He said: “I completely understand why ethnic minority and women Londoners have had less confidence in the police service and one of the missions of the police service with my support – and challenge – is to make sure we address the concerns that those Londoners have.
“I think what today shows is just how much the police has changed, and is responding to a legitimate concern raised by victims and survivors, particularly ethnic minority victims and survivors.”
“It’s really important to acknowledge the progress made.”
Sir Sadiq said that while impressive, the new technology and work to help victims of colour did not mean there was not more work to be done.
Sir Sadiq said: “It’s not mission accomplished. Neither myself nor the commissioner are complacent about the need for further reform, about the need for further work, about the need to win over those Londoners who still aren’t sure about the Met Police Service.”
He called for work to tackle misogyny to begin in schools and for it to be classed as a hate crime by Parliament.
“We need to recognise that ending the violence against women and girls, ending misogyny, can’t start and stop with the police. It needs a whole society approach. It’s really important that employers understand the concerns the female staff have, but also pubs, bars, music venues, music festivals need to be safe for women and girls. There’s a responsibility for us as men to provide allyship to women and girls.
“There is a role for the criminal justice system to do far better. It can’t be right in 2025 in one of the most progressive countries in the world, if you’re a woman or a girl, you’re scared to go out.”
Sir Mark said the force was improving its response to victims of violence against women and girls.
He said: “This new technology is just one example of how we’re day by day improving our response to victims of violence against women and girls.
“A very basic requirement is to be able to get great evidence of an assault, that might be a bruise or a scratch.
“It’s not always easy to photograph it. It depends on the light, it depends on a whole range of factors. It also sometimes depends on the colour of skin – darker skin sometimes shows bruising less readily.
“Recognising this problem, our forensic experts have designed this special lighting technology.”
He said the tests had resulted in more prosecutions and that he wanted it to be expanded to the rest of London and in future, the country.
Man, 92, found guilty of murder in ‘UK’s oldest cold case’
A 92-year-old man has been found guilty of the rape and murder of an elderly widow in what is thought to be the UK’s longest-running cold case ever to be solved.
Ryland Headley, then aged 34, forced entry into the home of 75-year-old Louisa Dunne in Bristol in June 1967 before attacking her.
The mother-of-two’s body was found by neighbours inside her terraced home on Britannia Road in the Easton area of the city on the morning of 28 June.
A woman was heard screaming hours before Dunne, who had been twice widowed and lived alone, was discovered dead.
Dunne, who was using the front room as a bedroom, was found lying on a pile of old clothes, and police found no evidence of any violent struggle in the house.
The case remained unsolved for over 50 years until Avon and Somerset detectives sent off items from the original investigation for DNA testing.
Those results provided a DNA match to Headley, who since the murder had moved to Suffolk, and had served a prison sentence for raping two elderly women in 1977.
Headley, of Clarence Road, Ipswich, denied both charges but was found guilty by the jury at Bristol Crown Court on Monday afternoon, following nine hours and 53 minutes of deliberations. He did not give evidence.
Mr Justice Sweeting told the jury of eight men and four women that he would sentence Headley for the two offences on Tuesday morning.
He told them: “This was a case that has been in the public eye.
“It involved many details which are no doubt distressing. If you are summoned again in the next 10 years for jury service, you are entitled to refuse.”
The trial heard a pathologist conclude that Dunne died from asphyxia due to strangulation from a scarf and pressure on her mouth, with a hand forcibly held over it.
Swabs were taken from her body, which tested positive for semen, but scientific examinations at that time were limited.
Police also recovered a left-hand palm print from an upstairs window at her home, which was compared to 19,000 men and boys in 1967, but none matched the suspect.
Headley, then a railway worker, was living with his wife in Picton Street – around a mile and a half from Dunne, but crucially just outside the geographic area in which men and boys were asked to give prints.
He uprooted his family to London a short time later, then moved to Ipswich, with his palm print never taken in Bristol.
Eventually, police gathered up the material from their investigation – including clothing worn by Dunne when her body was found – and sealed it away for further work in the future.
All the evidence, including Dunne’s clothing and other forensic evidence, was boxed up and kept by Avon and Somerset detectives to await advances in science.
In 2023, the case was re-examined, and Dunne’s blue skirt was sent away for forensic testing in May last year.
DNA recovered from the skirt matched Headley to a ratio that meant it was one billion times more likely to be his DNA than that of someone else.
His DNA had been taken by police and uploaded to the national database following an unrelated offence in 2012, which did not result in a charge.
When Headley was arrested at his home in November last year on suspicion of murdering Dunne, he told detectives: “I don’t know what you are talking about. Very strange, very strange.”
During previous arrests, Headley had provided his fingerprints but had not given palm prints. On the 2012 form, it noted “arthritis in both wrists, palms not flexible”.
This time, Headley’s palm prints were taken, and a fingerprint expert found more than 25 characteristics that matched the 1967 print.
The trial heard Headley had been jailed for the rape of two elderly women in 1977 whose homes he had broken into – threatening them with violence if they did not comply.
He also asked for a further 10 offences of overnight burglaries previously to be taken into account when he was sentenced.
During the 2025 case, Headley used a hearing loop and was assisted by an intermediary. Jurors were told the court would sit for shorter days to enable Headley to maintain concentration.
Jeremy Benson KC, representing Headley, said his client had “no recollection” of having visited Dunne or having sexual intercourse with her.
“He certainly didn’t rape her and he didn’t kill her,” Mr Benson told the jury in his closing speech.
Speaking after the verdicts, detective inspector Dave Marchant, of Avon and Somerset Police, said forces across the country were now examining whether Headley could be linked to other unsolved crimes.
“Ryland Headley has now been convicted of three rapes of elderly women within their own addresses, and in the case of Louisa Dunne, her murder as well,” he told the PA news agency.
“In 1978, when he was sentenced, he admitted to a number of other burglary offences.
“I think there’s every possibility that there are other offences out there – over the 60s, 70s, however long a time period – which Mr Headley could be culpable for.
“We are working with colleagues across the country and other police forces and the National Crime Agency to try to understand and identify those potential further offences, and if possible, can we match them through any forensic techniques etc and if we are able, hopefully then get him before a court to face justice over those matters too.”
Kyiv claims Moscow has lost 1 million troops after Putin launches largest air attack
The Ukrainian military says it has begun pushing back Russian troops in the northeastern Sumy region, where it is preparing a counteroffensive following advances by Moscow.
Fighting has intensified despite a return to direct negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv in recent months. Russian forces have carved out a 200 square kilometre (77.22 square miles) chunk of Ukraine’s Sumy region and first entered the Dnipropetrovsk region last month.
“Our troops maintain defenses along the designated border, conduct preparation and counter-offensive measures to repel the enemy,” the Ukrainian military’s General Staff said on Facebook.
“Yes, as a result of the successful actions of Ukrainian soldiers, the settlement of Andriyivka was liberated. In addition, our units advanced in the area of Oleksíivka, pushing the opponent away from Sumy.”
The General Staff also claimed on Monday that Russia has lost more than one million troops during its invasion of Ukraine after losing more than 1,000 in the past day alone.
The figures from Kyiv have not been verified by independent sources – but the Center for Strategic & International Studies reported earlier this month that up to 250,000 soldiers have been killed with up to 950,000 casualties.
All we know about the Ukraine F-16 pilot Maksym Ustymenko
Ukraine has confirmed it lost an F-16 fighter pilot named Maksym Ustymenko, who died in a crash overnight on Sunday while repelling a Russian air attack that involved hundreds of drones, cruise and ballistic missiles.
The pilot flew the damaged jet away from a settlement but had no time to eject before it crashed, the Ukrainian Air Force said.
“The pilot used all of his onboard weapons and shot down seven air targets. While shooting down the last one, his aircraft was damaged and began to lose altitude,” the Air Force said on Telegram.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking in his nightly video address, said Ustymenko had been flying missions since the time of a campaign that began in 2014 against Russian-financed separatists who had seized parts of eastern Ukraine.
“He mastered four types of aircraft and had important results to his name in defending Ukraine,” he said. “It is painful to lose such people.”
Nato defence spending increase could lead to its collapse, says Lavrov
Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said that a decision by Nato members to increase defence spending was catastrophic for the alliance and could ultimately lead to its collapse, state news agency Tass reported on Monday.
Nato “needs to be guided by common sense”, Lavrov said.
Allies within the alliance last week agreed to raise their collective spending goal to 5 per cent of gross domestic product over the next decade.
Asked about remarks by Polish foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski, who was reported to have said that an arms race between Russia and the West could trigger the fall of president Vladimir Putin, Lavrov said he thought Nato could collapse.
“Since he is such a predictor, he probably foresees that a catastrophic increase in the budget of Nato countries, according to my estimates, will also lead to the collapse of this organisation,” Lavrov said.
Russia seizes first village in central Dnipropetrovsk region, says Moscow
Russian state media is now reporting that Russia has seized the first village in the east-central Ukrainian region of Dnipropetrovsk.
The past two months has seen Russian forces take control of 950 square kilometres of territory.
Fighting has intensified despite a return to direct negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv in the past few months. Russian forces have carved out a 200 square kilometre (77.22 square miles) chunk of Ukraine’s Sumy region and first entered the Dnipropetrovsk region last month.
The authoritative Ukrainian Deep State map shows that Russia now controls 113,588 square kms of Ukrainian territory, up 943 square km over the two months to June 28, Reuters news agency reports.
Moscow currently controls significant parts of four different eastern regions in Ukraine, as well as the entirety of Crimea.
The eastern areas include more than 99 per cent of the Luhansk region and over 70 per cent of the Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions – along with fragments of the Kharkiv, Sumy and Dnipropetrovsk regions.
Explosions heard as bridge in occupied Crimea comes under Ukrainian attack – reports
A bridge in the Russian-occupied region of Crimea came under a drone attack overnight on Monday, according to a number of Telegram channels
The Crimean bridge was temporarily closed after explosions were heard as
“Explosions heard in Kerch, Russian air defense is firing, and the lighting on the Crimean Bridge has been turned off,” the Crimean Wind channel on Telegram said, according to The Kyiv Independent.
Traffic on the bridge was completely suspended during the attacks, the channels reported.
The Crimean Bridge has been repeatedly targeted by Ukrainian forces since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
Pictured: Kyiv under an air raid alert amid a Russian attack
How is Russia able to fire record-breaking numbers of drones at Ukraine?
The five largest Russian drone attacks on Ukraine have all come in the past month, with yesterday’s air bombardment the biggest yet.
But how is Russia able to keep boosting the number of drones it uses?
Iran began supplying Russian forces with Shahed drones in 2022 – but experts believe Tehran’s importance as a supplier has declined as Russia has localised production.
The Institute for the Study of War reported that Russia is seeking to reduce its reliance on Iran-made drones.
“The increases in Russia’s strike packages in recent weeks are largely due to Russia’s efforts to scale up its defense industrial production, particularly of Shahed and decoy drones and ballistic missiles,” the ISW said.
Huge strike packages aim to “overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses and enable subsequent cruise and ballistic missile strikes”, it added.
Citing Ukrainian electronic and radio warfare expert Serhiy Beskrestnov, the ISW said Russia is preparing to build a new Shahed production facility, and warned that Russia strike packages could soon incorporate up to 800 drones.
This Ukrainian woman beat cancer. But her fight to free her captive husband isn’t over
“You have no moral right to die.”
That’s what Olha Kurtmalaieva told herself as she lay in intensive care, her body shutting down after emergency chemotherapy. Her cancer had progressed to Stage 4, meaning it had spread to other parts of her body and was now incurable. The pain was unbearable. The doctors weren’t sure she’d make it through the night.
She was facing death alone in the Ukrainian capital, while her soldier husband was in Russian captivity in the more than three-year war.
Against the odds, she learned she was in remission last year. But even after multiple prisoner exchanges, including one that freed over 1,000 people, her husband, a Ukrainian marine, remains a captive.
Read more here:
She beat stage 4 cancer. Now Ukrainian woman is fighting to free her captive husband
Ukraine withdraws from convention banning anti-personnel mines
Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky has signed a decree ordering the country’s withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention, which bans the production and use of anti-personnel mines, the presidential website said on Sunday.Ukraine ratified the convention in 2005.
“Support the proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine to withdraw Ukraine from the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction of September 18, 1997,” the decree, published on Zelensky’s website, stated.
A senior Ukrainian lawmaker, Roman Kostenko, said that parliamentary approval is still needed to withdraw from the treaty.
“This is a step that the reality of war has long demanded. Russia is not a party to this Convention and is massively using mines against our military and civilians,” Kostenko, secretary of the Ukrainian parliament’s committee on national security, defence and intelligence, said on his Facebook page.
“We cannot remain tied down in an environment where the enemy has no restrictions,” he added, saying that the legislative decision must definitively restore Ukraine’s right to effectively defend its territory.
It remains unclear whether this will be debated in parliament.
Pace of peace talks depends on US and Ukraine, says Kremlin
The pace of talks to resolve the war in Ukraine depends on Kyiv’s position, the effectiveness of US mediation, and the situation on the ground, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in remarks televised on Sunday.
There is no clear end to the war Russia launched in February 2022 against its smaller neighbour, despite his 2024 campaign vow to end it in one day.
Mr Trump, who has pushed both sides towards ceasefire talks since his January inauguration, said on Friday he thinks “something will happen” about a settlement of the war.
“A lot depends, naturally, on the position of the Kyiv regime,” Mr Peskov told Belarus 1 TV, the main state television channel in Russia’s neighbour.
“It depends on how effectively Washington’s mediating efforts continue,” he said, adding that the situation on the ground was another factor that could not be ignored.
Mr Peskov did not elaborate on what Moscow expects from Washington or Kyiv. Moscow has been demanding that Ukraine cede more land and abandon Western military support, conditions Kyiv calls unacceptable.
Russia’s air defence destroys 16 drones, says Moscow
Russia’s air defence systems destroyed 16 Ukrainian drones overnight, the defence ministry said on Monday.
Ten of the aerial weapons were downed over the Kursk region bordering Ukraine and five over the Sea of Azov that bounds Russia to its east, the ministry said on Telegram.
There were no immediate reports of damage. The Russian defence ministry reports only drones destroyed by its forces, not the number launched by Ukraine.
Royal train to be decommissioned following decades of service
King Charles has approved decommissioning the royal train following decades of service.
The nine-carriage train, a favourite of Queen Elizabeth II and the late Duke of Edinburgh, will stop running ahead of a maintenance contract ending in early 2027, according to the annual royal accounts.
Reasons behind the move include the cost of storing and maintaining the train against its level of use, the significant investment needed to keep the train in use, and that two new helicopters were reliable alternatives for members of the royal family.
James Chalmers, Keeper of the Privy Purse, described the move as an example of the royal household applying “fiscal discipline” in its drive to deliver “value for money”.
The King is said to have fond memories of the train, which features a carriage created for Charles in the mid-1980s, which he still uses now that he is King.
The Prince of Wales is said to be aware and supports the decommissioning decision.
“The royal train, of course, has been part of national life for many decades, loved and cared for by all those involved,” Mr Chalmers said.
“But in moving forward, we must not be bound by the past.
“Just as so many parts of the royal household’s work have been modernised and adapted to reflect the world of today, so too, the time has come to bid the fondest of farewells, as we seek to be disciplined and forward in our allocation of funding.
“With His Majesty’s support, it has therefore been decided that the process to decommission the royal train will commence next year.”
The annual accounts showed the Sovereign Grant, which supports the official duties of the royal family, will remain for a fourth consecutive year at £86.3 million, while royal travel increased by £500,000 to £4.7 million and payroll costs were up £2 million to £29.9 million.
The rundown of royal finances – from April 1 2024, to March 31 2025 – covers the months following the King and the Princess of Wales’s double cancer diagnosis and the majority of 2024 – the year described by the Prince of Wales as “brutal”.
Charles made a rapid return to public-facing duties in April, while Kate made a more gradual one after revealing in September she had finished her chemotherapy treatment, and later confirmed at the start of 2025 that she was cancer-free.
Mr Chalmers said that after returning to public-facing duties in April 2024, the King “… demonstrated remarkable resilience by undertaking a wide programme of public and state duties at home and overseas while continuing to receive treatment, demonstrating not only His Majesty’s personal commitment to duty but also the adaptability and resilience of the royal household in ensuring continuity of service, no matter the personal circumstances”.
The royal train was decorated and furnished to meet the needs of senior royals.
In 2020, William and Kate made a 1,250-mile train journey over three days to thank key and frontline workers and communities for their efforts during the pandemic.
Mr Chalmers said: “Before it finally goes out of service, it is our hope that the train will make further visits to parts of the UK, while discussions will begin on finding a long-term home where some particularly historic elements might go on public display.”
Is cheese good for your gut? Here’s what the science says
For years, cheese has been the dietary scapegoat. Too fatty. Too salty. Too indulgent. The sort of food you sheepishly enjoy in dim lighting with the fridge door ajar. But increasingly, this beloved dairy product is undergoing a quiet redemption arc – one fuelled not by fad diets or viral trends, but by something far more persuasive: gut science.
“Cheese has been unfairly demonised for decades, mainly because of its saturated fat content. But that narrative is outdated,” says Professor Tim Spector, epidemiologist, author and co-founder of the ZOE health study.
“Recent science shows that saturated fats in whole foods like cheese don’t behave the same way as those in heavily processed foods. In fact, moderate cheese consumption doesn’t raise cholesterol in the way we once feared, and according to large epidemiology studies, appears pretty good for us, actually reducing heart disease risk.”
What’s more, cheese isn’t just harmless – it might be actively helpful. “Cheese is a fermented food, and many varieties contain live healthy bacteria – or what we now refer to as probiotics – which play a really important role in our gut health,” Spector explains. “So no, the old reputation isn’t deserved anymore. We should rethink cheese as a gut-friendly food when it’s the right kind, and part of a diverse, whole-food-rich diet.”
That caveat – “the right kind” – is crucial. Because not all cheeses are created equal. Some deliver microbial benefits that rival kefir or sauerkraut. Others are little more than creamy imposters, offering all the indulgence with none of the gut payoff. So, which cheeses deserve a regular spot on your cheeseboard – and which ones are better left in the supermarket plastic tray?
The gut-friendly hall of fame
The best cheeses for gut health tend to be those that are raw, unpasteurised, traditionally aged or made using live cultures. They’re often made with minimal processing and are rich in microbial diversity. Think farmhouse classics rather than shrink-wrapped singles.
“Not all cheeses are created equal. If you’re looking for potential gut health benefits, artisan cheeses – especially those that are raw or unpasteurised, or traditionally aged – tend to contain more diverse microbes. Most real cheeses contain some live microbes,” says Spector.
Blue cheeses, like Roquefort or Stilton, are prime examples. “You get a greater diversity in those like roquefort or stilton that have blue moulds injected,” he says. “Or aged dry cheeses like cheddars, Mrs Kirkham’s Lancashire or aged goudas, and some alpine-style cheeses like Comté or goat’s cheeses. In soft cheeses of high quality, you can virtually see the microbes growing and spreading at room temperature (like bries, and epoisses).”
UK cheese lovers are already on the right track. Brits consume around 12kg of cheese per person per year, and while Cheddar accounts for over half of household cheese sales, there’s growing interest in artisan, goat and even blue cheeses. (Stilton, incidentally, now has Protected Designation of Origin status, making it both patriotic and probiotic.)
Easy on the gut: what about lactose?
One of the most common concerns around cheese and digestion is lactose. While milk and some soft dairy products can cause bloating or discomfort in people with lactose intolerance, many cheeses – especially aged ones – are naturally low in lactose.
During the ageing process, bacteria break down much of the lactose in the cheese. Hard cheeses like cheddar, parmesan, comté and aged gouda typically contain only trace amounts, making them far more tolerable for those who struggle with dairy. Goat’s and sheep’s milk cheeses are also often easier to digest due to their slightly different fat and protein structure.
So if milk doesn’t sit well with you, don’t write off cheese altogether. Choosing the right variety could mean enjoying its flavour – and its gut benefits – without the digestive fallout.
How to eat cheese for your gut
There’s more to gut-friendly cheese than just buying the right block. What you eat with it matters too. The magic happens when you pair cheese with fibre-rich, plant-based foods that help feed the microbes you’re introducing.
Try teaming a wedge of mature cheddar with slices of apple or pear, layering goat’s cheese onto lentil or beetroot salads, or adding aged gruyère to a slice of wholegrain sourdough with a spoonful of sauerkraut. Even a ploughman’s lunch can be microbiome-supportive if you pile on the pickled onions and raw veg.
The goal? Synergy. You’re combining live cultures or postbiotic-rich cheese with the prebiotic fibre that nourishes your existing gut bacteria. And no, this doesn’t mean you can’t have a gooey baked camembert – just maybe serve it with roasted chicory or leeks instead of a family-sized baguette.
The ones that don’t count (sorry, pizza lovers)
As with many things in nutrition, processing is the problem. The more refined and stabilised a cheese is, the less it offers in terms of microbial value.
“Don’t expect any live microbes on cheap pizza cheeses, or those that have been frozen or in spray cans,” says Spector. That includes many shredded supermarket blends, pre-sliced sandwich fillers and processed cheese spreads – though he concedes that some of the latter “contain at least two to three species of microbes, so have some benefits”.
Still, if gut health is your goal, it’s worth prioritising quality over convenience. Fortunately, UK consumption of processed cheese is on the decline, hovering at just 0.8-1kg per person per year. A small slice, you might say, of the total dairy picture.
So what’s the science?
If you’re imagining a battalion of probiotic bacteria marching through your gut after a bite of brie, you wouldn’t be entirely wrong. But there’s more to the story than just live cultures.
“It’s not just about live probiotics,” Spector explains. “While some cheeses do contain beneficial live microbes, what’s exciting is that even dead bacteria and bacterial fragments – recently called postbiotics (I like zombie microbes) – support gut health. These can interact with our immune system or feed existing gut microbes, stimulating diversity or beneficial activity indirectly.”
Cheese also contains bioactive compounds produced during fermentation, such as peptides, short-chain fatty acids and lipids, which may influence the immune system and overall gut function. In other words, the benefits of cheese don’t die with the microbes.
Where cheese fits in
Should you swap your kefir for camembert? Not quite. While good cheese can certainly contribute to gut health, its impact depends on variety, quality and quantity.
“Cheese can be an excellent contributor to a gut-friendly diet, especially if it’s a raw or traditionally made variety that can house over 20 species,” says Spector. “But if we’re honest, the average budget cheeses’ impact on gut microbial diversity is probably modest compared to powerhouse fermented foods like kefir, kimchi, kombucha and sauerkraut, which are teeming with a wider range of live microbes.”
So think of cheese not as a probiotic powerhouse, but as a valuable team player. As Spector puts it: “Rather than thinking of cheese as a silver bullet, think of it as one part of a broader, diverse dietary approach that includes many minimally processed whole foods. And yes, that includes enjoying good cheese ideally with some fruits or sauerkraut – in moderation of course.”
The 7 best outdoor adventures in Sydney and New South Wales
Whether you’re lacing up your hiking boots, throwing on a wetsuit to catch some waves, or hitting the wide-open roads of New South Wales (NSW) by campervan, this Australian state is home to some of the country’s most exciting outdoor adventures – all easily accessible thanks to Qantas’ extensive domestic network.
Flying into Sydney with Qantas is the ideal way to experience a slice of Australia before you’ve even landed. And with onboard wellbeing perks, plus the option to book more discounted domestic legs using Qantas Explorer, it really is the savvy traveller’s best way to explore Australia.
Here are seven next-level outdoor adventures in NSW, and the best way to get there.
Nature in the heart of the Sydney
Sydney might be a modern metropolis, but it’s also home to an extraordinary natural playground, the star attraction of which is Sydney Harbour National Park. This protected area weaves through the city’s coastline, offering walking trails, secluded beaches, and panoramic views that blend wild bushland with iconic urban landmarks. Away from the National Park, you can paddle a kayak at dawn beneath the Sydney Harbour Bridge, go on a cycle tour and sunset cruise around Manly and North Heads coastal cliffs, or follow the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk for sweeping ocean views and refreshing swim spots.
Hike through the Blue Mountains
Just a 90-minute trip from Sydney by road, the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains is an endless landscape of towering eucalyptus forests and striking sandstone cliffs as far as the eye can see. There are few places quite as grand as this so close to a city. Don your hiking boots and traverse spectacular scenery to Wentworth Falls or take on the Grand Canyon Track – a 6km loop of dramatic cliffs, fern-fringed valleys and thundering waterfalls with lookouts to match. If you’re an early riser, watch the sunrise at Echo Point, where the Three Sisters rock formation is lit up by the glow of first light.
Spot whales and dolphins in Port Macquarie
Wildlife lovers need to head north to Port Macquarie for some of the best marine encounters on the east coast. Humpback whales are almost guaranteed from May to November, and dolphins can be spotted all year round. For front-row views, jump on a whale-watching cruise, or pitch up with a picnic on a headland and watch the breaching giants from afar.
Cycle the lush hinterland of Coffs Harbour
Swap the sandy beaches for subtropical rainforest in Coffs Harbour’s hinterland in Dorrigo National Park, where winding roads serpentine through flourishing banana plantations, dense palm-filled forest and endless rolling hills. The region’s cycling trails range from casual loops to more challenging rides with jaw-to-the-floor sea views.
Ride the waves in Byron Bay
Aussies love their surfing, and Byron Bay is the epitome of surf culture Down Under, with beaches to suit all skill levels; from the gentle swell at The Pass to barrel-laden breaks at Tallows. If you’ve got any stamina left, soak up the view from Cape Byron Lighthouse post-surf – the easternmost point of mainland Australia.
Explore the remote Lord Howe Island
With over 8,000 islands to its name, Australia offers the ultimate in island adventures. Lord Howe is one of them, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed pristine island, where only 400 visitors are allowed at any one time. You’ll find rare birds, kaleidoscopic coral reefs, and Mount Gower, offering one of the best day hikes in the country, with epic coastline views and dizzying drops.
Paddle the coastline of Merimbula
For those who need more than a beach stroll to get the heart pumping, grab a kayak and explore the Sapphire Coast from the water in Merimbula. Glide over crystal-clear waters, past secluded coves, pristine beaches, and the untouched beauty of surrounding national parks. Keep an eye out for dolphins and other marine life as you paddle. Once back on shore, refuel with the region’s famous fresh oysters and enjoy a refreshing dip at Bar Beach.
Book your flight to Sydney today at qantas.com and start your Australian adventure.
The sound of silence for Liz Kendall is a big problem for Starmer
Sometimes a hushed Commons chamber greets a statement of great significance – the death of a national figure, a resignation statement by a senior minister, war or a tragedy.
But this was not the case for Liz Kendall whose statement to the House on last minute changes to her much criticised welfare bill was met with a prickly uncomfortable silence and barely an audible sound of approval from the Labour benches behind her.
The work and pensions secretary had in essence been forced to come to the Commons a day early to outline her changes to the welfare bill made in desperation because more than 130 Labour MPs had signed an amendment which would kill it.
In fairness to Ms Kendall she was in a much more ameliorant mood than she was when she first announced reforms to the benefits system back in March.
The work and pensions secretary is leaning much more heavily on positive “Labour measures” about supporting those unable to work or who need help getting back into work.
It is a much better approach than her “we need to save £5bn of savings” attempt when she first announced the reforms in March.
Since then the threat of a massive rebellion has forced the government to change its tone.
But the silence behind Ms Kendall on the Labour benches seems to suggest that she still has work to do to persuade her reluctant colleagues to support the reforms.
The minister has been described by one colleague as “the equivalent of putting the grim reaper in charge of a home for the elderly” in her role as the cabinet minister responsible for benefits.
And her task was not helped at all by the government’s own impact assessment, published just an hour before she got to her feet, that 150,000 people are likely to be plunged into poverty as a result of her plans.
Admittedly this is not as bad as the 250,000 (including 50,000 children) who would have been hit under the unamended plans but it was not news that was ever going to quell a rebellion.
Labour work and pensions committee chair Debbie Abrahams had signalled that the rebellion was still on in an interview on ITV News ahead of the statement.
Things did not get better as Labour MP after Labour MP demanded that she postpone the legislation tomorrow.
On the hottest day of the year it was clear that despite halving the much needed savings from £5bn to £2.5bn Ms Kendall and prime minister Sir Keir Starmer will have to continue to sweat tonight over what they may face in the voting lobby tomorrow.
More than that though the whole episode in the chamber was symbolic of a Labour parliamentary party that appears to have run out of patience with its leader and being asked to support tough decisions many just think are plain cruel. Chopping disability benefits, creating a two tier welfare system, and taking away winter fuel payments are not reasons people become Labour MPs.
Withdrawing the welfare bill or postponing the vote could prove to be a humiliation too far for the prime minister but a rebellion of 50 or more MPs will be extremely damaging too.
The debate is set to continue on Tuesday with the second reading of the bill but Sir Keir will be hoping that the disgruntled silence gives way to cheers from Labour MPs soon if he wants to repair his tattered authority.
Bryan Kohberger set to take plea deal: report
Bryan Kohberger is expected to plead guilty to the brutal stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students just weeks before his highly-anticipated trial was expected to begin.
Sources told NewsNation’s Brian Entin on Monday the prosecution had proposed dropping the death penalty in exchange for Kohberger pleading guilty to the four murders and burglary. The deal would allow Kohberger to instead spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The 30-year-old will be sentenced to four consecutive life sentences and is expected to waive all right to appeal, ABC News reported.
A family member for one of the victims told the Idaho Statesman they received a letter confirming the plea deal. A hearing for Kohberger’s change of plea is expected to be held this Wednesday, July 2.
Kohberger is accused of killing Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen, and Kaylee Goncalves on November 13, 2022. They were found stabbed to death at an off-campus home in Moscow, Idaho.
A little over a month later, Kohberger was arrested in Pennsylvania after police linked him to the crime scene using DNA recovered from a knife sheath, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Investigators said Kohberger’s location was traced using his cell phone and surveillance video that was obtained showing a car appearing to be the same make and model as his driving away from the scene of the murders.
The long-awaited trial was scheduled to begin on August 18 after Judge Steven Hippler issued a written ruling denying the defense’s motion asking to delay the trial.
On Monday evening, the family of one of the victims, Kaylee Goncalves, slammed the reported plea deal in a statement on Facebook.
“It’s true! We are beyond furious at the State of Idaho. They have failed us. Please give us some time. This was very unexpected. We appreciate all your love and support.”
In Pennsylvania, a judge earlier Monday ordered that three people whose testimony has been requested by defense attorneys would have to travel to Idaho to testify at the trial.
The defense subpoenas were granted regarding a boxing trainer who knew Kohberger as a teenager, a childhood acquaintance of Kohberger’s and a third man whose significance was not explained.
The slayings shocked the rural Idaho community of Moscow and neighboring Pullman, Washington, where Kohberger was a graduate student studying criminology at Washington State University.