WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is to request leave from prison to attend the funeral of his friend Dame Vivienne Westwood, according to his wife.
Dame Vivienne, known as the Godmother of Punk, died aged 81 on Thursday surrounded by her family in south London, prompting Mr Assange to search for a way to say goodbye, despite being behind bars in London’s Belmarsh prison as he fights extradition to the US.
His wife Stella Assange told Australia’s Nine Media of the funeral: “Julian’s going to put in a request to be able to attend.”
Mr Assange and Dame Vivienne had been friends for more than a decade, with the designer a vocal supporter throughout his time in the Ecuadorian embassy and prison.
Image: Vivienne Westwood outside the Old Bailey, ahead of Julian Assange’s court battle against extradition to the US. Pic: AP
She even dressed as a canary and suspended herself inside a giant birdcage outside The Old Bailey in July 2020 to protest his potential extradition.
The designer’s death prompted the WikiLeaks founder to issue his first statement since being imprisoned in 2019.
Released by Mrs Assange, it said: “Vivienne was a Dame and a pillar of the anti-establishment. Bold, creative, thoughtful and a good friend. The best of Britain. She will be missed terribly by me and many others.”
Mrs Assange wore a dress designed by Dame Vivienne and her husband Andreas Kronthaler when she married the 51-year-old at the prison in a small ceremony in March.
Image: Stella Assange before her wedding to Julian, in March this year
Mrs Assange said following the death: “Vivienne was a rebel at heart. Julian and I loved her company.
“Her gift to us took our wedding to the next level, so there was a lot of attention, and she just had this incredible talent for visuals and for messaging.”
She added: “Our wonderful friend Vivienne Westwood has left us. A fierce campaigner and a true altruist, she fought to #FreeAssange and for humanity’s future.
“Vivienne, you remain an inspiration. Your greatness will live on.”
Eccentric creations
Dame Vivienne, who was born in Cheshire in 1941, is largely accepted as being responsible for bringing punk and new wave fashion into the mainstream with her eccentric creations.
Her designs were regularly worn by high-profile individuals including Dita Von Teese, who wore a purple Westwood wedding gown to marry Marilyn Manson, and Princess Eugenie, who wore three Westwood designs for various elements of the wedding of the then Prince William and Kate Middleton.
Misusing nitrous oxide can lead to life-threatening risks, a leading neurologist has warned, as Britain gears up to celebrate the new year.
The party drug, commonly known as laughing gas, is second to cannabis as the most commonly misused substance among 16 to 24-year-olds in England.
“I think it’s wrong to call it laughing gas because that makes it seem like it’s a joke,” Dr David Nicholl, clinical lead for neurology at Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, told Sky News.
“It is a drug that is used as an anaesthetic, but that’s with 50% oxygen in a supervised environment with health professionals who understand doses.”
Image: Pic: Associated Press
Acute exposure to the gas can lead to anaemia and nerve damage, and it has also been linked to fertility issues.
Dr Nicholl said misuse of the substance is currently the most common cause for emergency admissions to the neurology ward.
“People come into hospital off their legs, difficulty walking, presenting with tingling in the hands and feet, slurred speech and more rarely seizures.
“I’ve even spoken to one ophthalmologist colleague who has seen a patient who went blind, but that was secondary to hypoxia caused by inhaling nitrous oxide,” he warned.
Image: Dr David Nicholl with some of the newer, larger nitrous oxide canisters popular with addicts
He said he had seen some users take canisters that are up to 3.9kgs in weight.
“If you took this in one sitting, it would kill you,” he said.
Read more: Laughing gas sparks ‘epidemic’ of youngsters being hospitalised Possession could become a criminal offence following ‘concerning’ rise in use
Image: Liam Cullen
Football coach Liam Cullen, 33, says he was addicted to nitrous oxide when he was in his 20s.
“I could go from anywhere between 12 and 18 hours a day, constantly doing balloons,” he told Sky News.
“It changed my personality – I would be very snappy. I’m usually outgoing and a person that people like to be around. But when I was using nitrous oxide, I wasn’t a nice person to be around.”
‘I couldn’t feel my legs’
Liam would get through 600 canisters a day and says it left him in and out of hospital seeking medical help.
“I would have days that I had pins and needles and I just couldn’t go into work, it was that painful. I couldn’t feel my legs, couldn’t feel the toes on my feet.”
New data from N2O Know The Risks, a research project led by Queen Mary University, showed that while 91% of people had seen nitrous oxide canisters before, only 41% knew what they were.
And, 97% of those surveyed said they did not know inhaling nitrous oxide could damage the spinal cord.
More than two dozen pregnant sheep have died after “possibly the worst livestock attack we have ever had”, police in Kent say.
The 27 ewes, some of which were pregnant with twins or triplets, were attacked between Christmas Eve and 1pm on Boxing Day.
A Kent Police spokesman said they believe the attack was carried out by one dog but “cannot rule out” that more dogs may have been involved.
PC Marc Pennicott of the Kent Police rural task force said: “This is a distressing incident which is possibly the worst livestock attack we have ever had.
“The farmer has not only suffered a financial loss due to this incident but animals have needlessly lost their lives.
“These dogs would have been covered in mud and returned home exhausted and we are committed to identifying their owners.
“The remaining livestock have also been left vulnerable to a further attack, so it is extremely important that we find who is responsible for these dogs as quickly as possible.”
The attack happened in a field in Teynham, near Sittingbourne and barking was heard in the area between 4pm and 5pm on Christmas Day, police say.
Nearly 2,000 offenders have been made to wear tags that detect if they have drunk alcohol this Christmas.
New statistics have revealed about 1,800 offenders have been made to wear sobriety tags over the Christmas and New Year period to tackle alcohol-related crime.
The tags, introduced in 2020, monitor the alcohol content in an individual’s sweat and can indicate whether offenders banned from alcohol are breaching their no-alcohol orders, which could mean returning to court for further punishment, including prison.
They are accurate enough to distinguish between foods that contain low levels of alcohol, such as brandy butter and Christmas pudding, and alcoholic drinks.
This Christmas there have been more than double the number of offenders wearing the alcohol tags than last year, when about 800 had them.
The Ministry of Justice said those banned from drinking alcohol by the courts have managed to stay sober on 97% of the days they were tagged.
But the festive period is particularly important as 39% of all violent crimes in the UK involve alcohol, including domestic abuse, which can rise over Christmas and New Year.
Read more: Sobriety tags launched for offenders committing alcohol-related crimes
About 20% of those supervised by probation are classed as having an alcohol problem, with drink-fuelled crime estimated to cost the UK £21bn a year.
The tags monitor offenders on community sentences who are banned from drinking and can also be used as a licence condition for those leaving prison.
Prisons and Probation Minister Damian Hinds said: “Alcohol-fuelled crime such as domestic abuse is known to spike over the festive period, but our new alcohol tags can help stop that – protecting victims and tackling the causes of offending.
“We’re investing £183 million in electronic monitoring and the increased use of sobriety tags is already helping to keep our communities safer.”
The government has said it is investing £183m over the next three years into tagging technology to tackle crime.
Tony Blair wanted Vladimir Putin to have a seat at the international “top table” during his time as prime minister, according to newly released official files.
The Labour PM from 1997 to 2007 believed the Russian president was at heart a “Russian patriot” and it was important to encourage him to adopt Western values, the papers released to the National Archives show.
However, officials voiced their fears he represented a return to Cold War attitudes and questioned whether he could be trusted.
In 2001, about a year after KGB lieutenant officer Mr Putin became president, an internal No 10 briefing note entitled “Putin’s progress” raised the concerns, including a resurgence in Russian espionage activities.
“Despite the warmth of Putin’s rhetoric about the close links between Russia and the UK, the Russian intelligence effort against British targets remains at a high level,” it said.
“The Russian intelligence presence in the UK is at Cold War levels, and they continue to try to post active and hostile officers to work against British interests worldwide.”
The document gives a list of assurances from Mr Putin to Mr Blair during their meetings at international summits, which turned out to be false.
They included backing for the West’s tough line on dealing with Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein and pledges that Moscow would stop supplying Iran’s nuclear programme.
The papers said Mr Putin had thanked Mr Blair for offering assistance after the sinking of the Russian submarine Kursk, with all 118 crew lost, but said Russian officials obstructed the offer while spreading false rumours it sunk due to colliding with a British submarine.
In a memorandum that is very relevant now, given Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Mr Putin also told Mr Blair he did not want to be considered to be “anti-NATO” but his defence minister then warned NATO any further enlargement would be “a major political error” requiring Moscow to take “appropriate steps”.
Image: Russian President Vladimir Putin
The note is part of a series of briefing notes for Mr Blair’s foreign policy adviser John Sawers ahead of meeting senior officials in the new George Bush administration before the prime minister’s first meeting with the new US president.
Mr Blair compared Mr Putin to French wartime president Charles de Gaulle during talks with then-vice-president Dick Cheney at Camp David.
“The prime minister described him as a Russian patriot, acutely aware that Russia had lost its respect in the world. To describe him as a Russian de Gaulle would be misleading, but he had a similar mindset,” the note of the meeting said.
“He (Mr Blair) understood that Putin had a low approval rating in the US. But he thought it was better to allow Putin a position on the top table and encourage Putin to reach for Western attitudes as well as the Western economic model.”
And despite tensions with the Russian president, the files show how diplomacy ruled, with a No 10 official informing Mr Blair on his trip to Moscow in 2001 that he had to give the president a set of newly released silver No 10 cufflinks for his birthday.
Mandela intervention ‘not helpful’
Image: Nelson Mandela is applauded by Tony Blair and John Prescott (left) at a Labour Party Conference.
The files also reveal tensions between Mr Blair and Nelson Mandela, as well as with his cabinet, notably his chancellor Gordon Brown.
Files showed officials in No 10 feared former South African president Mr Mandela’s efforts to act as an intermediary between the Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi over the Lockerbie bombing were “unlikely to be helpful”.
Mr Mandela, as president, helped broker the agreement that eventually led to two Libyan intelligence agents standing trial before a Scottish court for the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over the Scottish village of Lockerbie, killing 270.
But after his presidency ended and one of the accused was found guilty in 2001, Mr Mandela tried to intercede as Gaddafi pushed for international sanctions on Libya to be lifted.
Anna Wechsberg in the No 10 private office noted: “Mandela evidently sees himself acting as mediator between the prime minister and Gaddafi. This is unlikely to be helpful.”
Away days ‘pretty ghastly’
On friction with Mr Blair’s cabinet, notes reveal not one senior minister enjoyed the annual “away days” held at the PM’s country home of Chequers.
Image: Gordon Brown and Tony Blair at the despatch box in 2007
David Milliband, then a No 10 special adviser, complained that no company would run them in such a haphazard fashion.
“The tradition of a TB/GB (Tony Blair/Gordon Brown) introduction and then one disjointed comment from each cabinet member is pretty ghastly – and not very useful,” he said in a memo.
The files show Mr Blair’s chief of staff suggested Mr Brown led the 1998 gathering on the economy, writing: “You said you did not like this, but I don’t see how you can avoid it.”
Mr Blair replied: “No, we should start with a general political discussion which I should lead, then in (the) afternoon economy.”
A GP surgery in Doncaster accidentally texted patients that they had “aggressive lung cancer” – instead of wishing them a merry Christmas.
Askern Medical Practice reportedly made the unfortunate error on the afternoon of Friday 23 December, telling patients they had metastatic cancer.
About 20 minutes later a follow-up message conveyed the surgery’s “sincere apologies” for the previous text and said they had meant to wish everyone happy holidays.
“At first I thought is this some kind of sick joke?” Carl, 42, told Sky News.
He was one of a number of people believed to have received the worrying message.
“And then I am like well I do smoke so do they know something I don’t?
“I kind of sat there and worried about it for a while, it really stressed me out,” he added.
The first message also referred to a DS1500 form, which is issued to people believed to be suffering from a potentially terminal illness.
“I thought what the hell, have I got cancer? Have I got terminal lung cancer?”
When his mother told him that she had received the same message, it became clear that it was not a genuine diagnosis.
“That’s enough to destroy someone,” Carl said.
Carl, from Doncaster, said the second text which apologised for the diagnosis message was “absolutely disgusting”.
He said it felt like the surgery was trying to “nonchalantly” sweep the issue aside.
Carl says he has been registered at the surgery for 30 years but is now switching following this incident.
Sky News has approached Askern Medical Practice for comment.
Legendary British fashion designer Dame Vivienne Westwood has died at the age of 81.
She died today in Clapham, surrounded by her family, a statement said.
Dame Vivienne found fame in the 1970s when she brought punk fashions into the mainstream, running a boutique on London’s King’s Road alongside Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren.
She went on to establish a global fashion brand which today has stores in the UK, France, Italy, America and Asia.
“Vivienne Westwood died today, peacefully and surrounded by her family, in Clapham, South London. The world needs people like Vivienne to make a change for the better,” her fashion house tweeted.
Her husband and creative partner Andreas Kronthaler said: “I will continue with Vivienne in my heart.
“We have been working until the end and she has given me plenty of things to get on with. Thank you darling.”
The Cheshire-born designer was also well known for campaigning on issues such as pollution and climate change, and supporting WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
She once dressed up as Margaret Thatcher for a magazine cover, and drove a white tank near the home of former prime minister David Cameron to protest against fracking.
Dame Vivienne also showed her rebellious nature when receiving an OBE from the Queen in 1992.
She turned up without underwear – a fact she proved with a twirl of her skirt for photographers.
“The only reason I am in fashion is to destroy the word ‘conformity’,” she said in her biography.
“Nothing is interesting to me unless it’s got that element.”
People heading to Cornwall to celebrate New Year have been urged to pack their own first aid supplies as health services struggle under “extreme pressure”.
Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, which has urged people to only call 999 or visit A&E for life-threatening illnesses and injuries, advised people to pack pain relief, flu and cold remedy and rehydration powders, as well as any prescription medicines.
The trust tweeted the advice: “Heading to #Cornwall this #NewYear? Just in case, be wise and bring these three self-care kings! Pain relief, flu and cold remedy and rehydration powders. And don’t forget to pack any prescription medicines, too. #HelpUsHelpYou.”
The trust attached an image detailing what people should have in a first aid kit, including bandages, dressings, tweezers, scissors, antiseptic and medical tape.
South Western Ambulance Service, which covers the region, has declared a critical incident due to being under “extreme pressure”.
On Wednesday morning, it said there were 482 patients waiting for ambulances, with 106 patients awaiting handover at hospitals across the region.
Adrian Harris, chief medical officer of Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, described how emergency departments were under “incredible pressure”.
“I’m asking all of the public to think very carefully before attending, to think about using 111 either online or on a telephone, to think about going to their pharmacy, and when necessary contacting their general practitioner,” he said.
“We are very, very busy so please don’t attend unless absolutely necessary. If you’re in doubt and you think you need help, please come and see us. We’re open but we are very, very busy.”
Other trusts to declare a critical incident include Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, which said there was “significant ongoing pressure on local NHS services”.
The trust has seen “record numbers” of people attending accident and emergency departments, calling 111, accessing GP services and calling 999, it said.
There are also “ongoing challenges in discharging patients who are well enough to leave hospital”, as well as an increase in staff sickness.
North East Ambulance Service declared a critical incident on 27 December, describing “unprecedented pressure across the health system”.
It said there were “significant delays” for more than 100 patients waiting for an ambulance, together with a reduction in ambulance crew availability to respond due to delays handing over patients at hospitals.
A third person has been arrested in connection with the murder of Elle Edwards, who was shot dead outside a pub in Merseyside on Christmas Eve.
A 31-year-old man is being questioned over the killing, Merseyside Police have said.
Ms Edwards, 26, was not the intended target when shots were fired outside the Lighthouse Inn in Wallasey Village in the Wirral at around 11:50pm.
A man aged 30 from Tranmere has previously been arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder, and a woman aged 19 from Rock Ferry has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder.
Both arrests took place on Boxing Day.
Police said on Wednesday they have had “some tremendous intelligence” but are still searching for the gun that killed Ms Edwards.
Forensic officers remained outside the pub on Wednesday and a cordon was still in place outside.
Deputy Chief Constable Ian Critchley said officers “will not rest” until they get justice for Ms Edwards’ family.
“I am still appealing for information in relation to anybody who knows who the person was responsible for pulling that trigger in the most indiscriminate, most appalling way,” he told reporters.
“Anybody who knows where the weapon is, anybody who has harboured or has any information at all, we still want to hear from them.”
Chief Constable Serena Kennedy had previously pledged a “relentless” search for those responsible for the “callous and cold-blooded murder” of Ms Edwards.
Merseyside police renewed their appeal for anyone with information or dashcam, CCTV or mobile phone footage to come forward on Wednesday.
Ms Edwards’ family has been left “devastated” and “inconsolable” by her death, police said in their appeal to the public for information.
Friends told Sky News they were dancing and enjoying a night out when “in a split second” everything changed.
Meg and Jess, who did not give their surnames, told Sky News they thought the gunshots they heard were fireworks until they saw their friend lying on the floor.
“We went to go get a drink and we were at the bar and we just heard bangs,” Jess said.
“The second I heard Elle, I was like, ‘It’s not, it’s not, it’s not’.
“I could see her on the floor, people around her trying to help her.
“You just feel hopeless, you can’t help, you can’t do anything.”
Read more: Elle Edwards shooting leaves Wirral ‘united in grief’ Friends describe moment ‘gorgeous’ Elle Edwards was shot dead
Ms Edwards’ sister, who lives in Dubai, had left the venue sometime earlier.
“It plays on your mind, knowing whether she should have gone home,” Meg said, adding: “We had been dancing and singing and now she’s on the floor.”
Members of the Wirral community have also been paying emotional tributes to Ms Edwards.
Wirral Borough Council leader Jeanette Williams said the “most heart-breaking aspect” was that she was not the intended target of the attack.
