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This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 8 Two weeks into the double murder trial of South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh, prosecutors haven't presented any direct evidence that he killed his wife and son at their home in June 2021. There is no confession, no surveillance camera footage, no recording of the victims' final moments. If found guilty of murdering his wife, Maggie, 52, and their son, Paul, 22, Murdaugh faces 30 years to life in prison without parole. The disgraced lawyer, who also faces about 100 other charges ranging from stealing money from clients to insurance fraud, has adamantly denied fatally shooting his wife and son. Murdaugh's lawyers said he was visiting his ailing mother on the night of the murders and police wrongly focused on him from the start, ignoring the possibility that anyone else killed them. HOW ARE PROSECUTORS MAKING THEIR CASE? Prosecutors are trying to … [Read more...] about How the cases in Alex Murdaugh’s murder trial are shaping up

WASHINGTON - President Biden and former president Donald Trump may have each drawn a record number of votes in 2020, but at this early stage in the 2024 election cycle, Americans show little enthusiasm for a rematch between the two well-known yet unpopular leaders, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll. Neither Biden nor Trump generate broad excitement within their own party, and most Americans overall say they would feel dissatisfied or angry if either wins the general election. Biden, who has said he intends to seek reelection, has no current opposition for the Democratic nomination. Trump is likely to face at least several challengers in his bid to lead his party for a third consecutive election. Among Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents, the Post-ABC poll finds 58 percent say they would prefer someone other than Biden as their nominee in 2024 - almost double the 31 percent who support Biden. That is statistically unchanged since last September. Among … [Read more...] about Few Americans are excited about a Biden-Trump rematch, Post-ABC poll finds

Sign up to our free sport newsletter for all the latest news on everything from cycling to boxing Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news Captain Jamie Ritchie insists Scotland’s latest Calcutta Cup triumph must be a springboard to further successes and not another false dawn. Gregor Townsend ’s men toppled rivals England in their opening fixture of the Guinness Six Nations for the third successive year thanks to Saturday evening’s rousing 29-23 Twickenham victory . The Scots were brought crashing back to earth by subsequent losses to Wales on the previous two occasions and ended fourth in the final championship table each time. While Ritchie was eager to savour a further famous success over the Auld Enemy, he is determined to eradicate the frustrating inconsistency which has prevented his country pushing on to mount title challenges. “It’s just the start,” said the Edinburgh flanker, ahead of another round-two showdown with … [Read more...] about Jamie Ritchie calls on Scotland to back up Six Nations victory in England

Sign up to our free sport newsletter for all the latest news on everything from cycling to boxing Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news Hugo Keenan believes a fearless approach paved the way for Ireland to emphatically launch their Guinness Six Nations title charge with a devastating win which wrecked Warren Gatland’s return as Wales boss. Full-back Keenan played a starring role on Saturday as the world’s top-ranked team subdued the Cardiff crowd by brushing aside the stunned hosts during a blistering start. Tries from Caelan Doris, James Ryan and James Lowe helped build a commanding 27-3 half-time lead before Josh Van Der Flier crossed late on to crush Welsh resistance and secure a bonus point. Ireland had previously not won a championship match at the Principality Stadium for a decade but stylishly snapped the losing streak as opposition optimism for the start of the second Gatland era was swiftly snuffed out. “We’re … [Read more...] about Hugo Keenan feels fearless approach set platform for Ireland’s winning start

Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Chloe Madeley has revealed that she went back to work as a personal trainer just eight weeks after giving birth because she “needs the money”. The trainer, who welcomed her daughter Bodhi with former rugby union player James Haskell in August, said while he has a “great income”, they do not share a joint account and her “pride” moved her to return to work. However, she said that if she were to have another baby, she would “swallow my pride” and go on a longer maternity leave . Speaking to The Mirror , Madeley, 35, said: “James obviously makes a great income and he’s my partner and that’s fantastic, but we don’t have a joint account. “We’ve always had separate accounts and I think that’s a bit of a pride thing with me. Next time, if I get pregnant again, I’m … [Read more...] about Chloe Madeley says she returned to work 8 weeks post-partum because she ‘needs the money’

Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter As criticism mounts against the portrayal of obesity in the new film The Whale , one man has defended it against its detractors. In the movie, Brendan Fraser plays the reclusive English teacher named Charlie who is affected by obesity. He begins the film in a downward spiral both physically and emotionally as he attempts to reconnect with his estranged daughter. One man, named Sean Crawford, has defended the film, as he found parallels between the film’s plot and his own life. The father of one told the BBC that he cried when he saw the film’s trailer. Crawford, who is from East Lothian, Scotland, explained that he rapidly gained weight after a close friend of his died. He now weighs 30 stone (190kg). Recommended Molly-Mae shares emotional moment … [Read more...] about The Whale: Man defends Brendan Fraser film after describing weight gain experience

Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter A woman has been fined $18,500 (125,000 CNY) after she posted a video of herself illegally buying, preparing, and eating a great white shark . The food blogger , who goes by the online name Tizi, was identified by officials as Jin Moumou. According to a statement from officials in Nanchong, in the southwestern province of Sichuan, Jin reportedly purchased the great white shark in April 2022 and posted a video of herself preparing and eating the wild animal in July that year. The video was in violation of the “Wild Animal Protection Law of the People’s Republic of China,” the statement said. Illegal possession of a white shark can also lead to a prison term of between five to 10 years. In the clip, which was posted to social media sites Douyin and Kuaishou, Tizi … [Read more...] about Chinese food blogger fined $18,500 after cooking and eating great white shark

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Three days ago, a delightful thing happened: a woman gave birth to identical twin girls. The delivery was said to be uncomplicated; mother and babies are doing well and the father is cock-a-hoop. How lovely for them all. Except that the sanctimonious paragons of parenthood have already been tut-tutting, since the mother in question is Marissa Mayer, the chief executive of the tech company Yahoo! who, prior to the birth, said she would be taking minimal maternity leave. Commentators and campaigners, among them senior figures from New York’s Family and Work Institute, and Family Values @ Work, were quick to voice their disappointment, casually lobbing around phrases such as “role model” and “wrong message”. Recommended Read more Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer is pregnant with twins It’s worth noting that this is … [Read more...] about Mother does know best. Leave Marissa Mayer alone and let her get on with it

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email On Tuesday evening, Donald Trump held up a baby in front of the crowd in Aston, Pennsylvania. He had just announced his plans on paid leave and childcare, standing beside his eldest daughter Ivanka Trump. Recommended Read more Hillary Clinton releases new health information to quell pneumonia row The real estate developer turned apparent champion of working mothers wants to offer six weeks of paid maternity leave for women – that is, if their company does not already offer any form of paid leave. “I take tremendous pride in [the plan],” Ivanka Trump told Fox & Friends, adding that the proposal was “long overdue … He understands the needs and the challenges of a broken childcare system.” Trump described this “Family First” plan as his daughter’s “baby”. It is the first time that Ivanka has given … [Read more...] about What Donald Trump thinks is a progressive plan on maternity leave and childcare is ridiculously inadequate

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email As “working mother” role models go, the example from the boss of Yahoo!, Marissa Mayer, is about as welcome as those tiresome celebrities who publicly prance about in skinny jeans two days after giving birth. Mayer – who, let’s not forget, is expecting twins – has announced she is going to take only two weeks’ maternity leave. The message from the trim and coiffed is that spending time with your newborn baby is for wimps – even if there are two to cope with. Real moms get their feet back under the desk almost before they stop all that unpleasant postpartum bleeding. Recommended I just became a dad, so I know how vital proper paternity leave is Sign the Independent's petition to welcome refugees Her announcement caused both wailing from the Families and Work Institute in New York, but it’s too simple … [Read more...] about Forget Marissa Mayer. We should let mothers take their children in to work