US payrolls growth slows in May, unemployment rate steady
Trump’s Attempt to Send Deportees to South Sudan
On May 20th, a flight with eight deportees left Texas headed to South Sudan, a country on the brink of civil war. But mid-flight, a judicial battle began to unfold that forced the flight to land in Djibouti. Katrin Bennhold, speaks with Hamed Aleaziz, New York Times reporter covering Homeland Security and Immigration, to understand what’s going on and how it fits into President Trump’s larger immigration plan.
The Evolution of the Elon Musk-Donald Trump Partnership: From ‘First Buddy’ to a $34 Billion Net Worth Decline
- Support for Musk among Americans quickly soured in the initial weeks of the Trump administration as he fed USAID “to the woodchipper”, helped strip cancer research that helps kids and threatened every federal worker with termination. But it was his role in Wisconsin’s state supreme court race that ultimately marked the beginning of the end of this marriage of convenience.
It was perhaps the most widely predicted break-up in American political history. The bromance between Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest man, and President Donald Trump, the world’s most powerful, appears to have run its course.
On Tuesday, only some 100 hours after officially leaving the employ of the White House, Musk admitted he could no longer swallow his disgust at what the Tesla CEO called an “abomination” of a tax bill—stopping short of naming Trump directly, however.
Many online users were mildly astonished that it took this long before the two finally broke up.
After all, they had not been on the best of terms in the past.
In July 2022, they famously exchanged barbs with Trump calling Musk just “another bullsh*t artist”, while the Tesla CEO shot back it was time for him to “sail into the sunset”.
It didn’t end there either. The then ex-president mocked Musk over his “driverless cars that crash” and “rocketships to nowhere”, branding the entrepreneur a corporate welfare queen always in need of more subsidies.
“I could have said ‘drop to your knees and beg’, and he would have done it,” Trump claimed.
Furious at the Biden administration, however, Musk ultimately decided to bankroll Trump’s campaign in support of his campaign claim for safe cities, strong borders, prudent spending and an anti-‘woke’ agenda.
After his sweeping victory and triumphant return to the White House, a jubilant Musk later confesses days later to loving Trump “as much as a straight man can love another man“.
This timeline charts the series of scandals and blunders that saw Musk’s star fall as he went from being a powerful ally and “First Buddy” to a political liability whose approval ratings proved radioactive for the Trump administration.
July 13, 2024
Musk endorses Trump for the first time after the assassination attempt in Butler, Pa. Later the entrepreneur would describe his campaigning as an “all-in” bet on Trump. It was a dramatic turnaround for Musk, who told his fans in March in no uncertain terms that he would not be making any political donations of any kind to either of the nominees.
November 5
After spending roughly $290 million of his own money—including controversial giveaways to spur voter registration—Musk helps Trump sweep all seven battleground states. Convinced the Tesla CEO now has the might of the White House behind him, investors bid up its shares for weeks with the stock rallying 75% until it finally peaked in mid-December at over $480/share. By then, it had become worth as much as the rest of the global car industry combined.
November 12
Trump officially taps Musk to run the unofficial Department of Government Efficiency, initially with a goal of delivering $2 trillion in budget cuts by the country’s 250th independence day celebrations next July. “Republican politicians have dreamed about the objectives of ‘DOGE’ for a very long time,” Trump writes, likening it to the Manhattan Project. Musk would soon predict mass headcount reductions in the civil service.
December 28
Trump needs to spend political capital to bail the Tesla CEO out when the entrepreneur attacks his MAGA coalition over the issue of H-1b visas. “I will go to war on this issue the likes of which you cannot possibly comprehend,” Musk posts. The president is forced to step in, demonstrably taking the billionaire’s side against his own voters.
January 20, 2025
At Trump’s inauguration bash, a fist-pumping Tesla CEO takes the stage to express his thanks to the president’s supporters that “the future of civilization has been assured”. In the process, he thrusts out a stiff right arm not once but twice in what many observers deemed to be a fascist salute to the MAGA faithful. The images go around the world, eliciting a storm of controversy.
Angela Weiss—AFP/Getty Images
February 3
Musk celebrates a weekend spent feeding the United States Agency for International Development “into the wood chipper”. The Atlantic’s Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Anne Applebaum later sums it up as “the world’s richest man takes food and medicine from the world’s poorest children.”
February 10
The Washington Post breaks the story that one senior DOGE advisor to the State Department is none other than a 19-year-old programmer Musk hired. Edward Coristine, who calls himself “Big Balls” online, is later lampooned in a March 1 Saturday Night Live skit as a symbol of Musk’s questionable judgment.
February 21
Boasting he will take a chainsaw to the federal bureaucracy, Musk brandishes a power tool gifted to him by Argentine president Javier Milei on stage at a CPAC conference. One of the defining images of Musk’s brief political career, it rankles Trump and even Tesla bulls criticize the PR blunder, saying he inspires people as a builder, not a demolished.
Saul Loeb—AFP via Getty Images
February 22
Musk sends an email to the entire federal bureaucracy demanding employees list five things they accomplished that week. “Failure to respond will be taken as a resignation,” he warns. Soon reports reveal senior Trump officials take offense at the advisor overstepping his boundaries by threatening their staff with layoffs.
February 26
At the first official cabinet meeting, Trump once more comes to the aid of Musk. With a simple question “Is anyone unhappy with Elon?” the president aims to silence reports of growing frustration with Musk and paper over cracks emerging between Musk and several key members of his government.
February 28
On the Joe Rogan podcast, Musk calls Social Security “the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time”. Already blamed for helping strip $190 million to fund research combating cancer in children, Democrats ramp up attacks, now claiming the entrepreneur aims to dismantle the widely popular government-run entitlement program.
March 11
The third time Trump rides to the rescue of Musk. After weeks of protests and images of burning Teslas and vandalized dealerships, Trump turns the South Lawn of the White House into an impromptu car showroom and openly urges his supporters to buy Tesla cars. He also warns anyone destroying or defacing Tesla property will be treated as a terrorist by federal law enforcement.
Andrew Harnik—Getty Images
April 1
The date marks the beginning of the end of Musk’s political career. Wisconsin voters elect Susan Crawford to the state Supreme Court despite the Tesla CEO personally spending millions and campaigning to sway the outcome in favor of Republican Brad Schimel. Democrats succeeded in turning the vote into a referendum on Musk and DOGE, making him a liability for the Trump administration. The next day the first stories leak that he would soon be returning to Tesla, forcing the White House to issue a non-denial denial.
April 10
At a cabinet meeting, Musk slashed his estimate for DOGE savings from $1 trillion, already half of what he originally promised, down to just $150 billion. Even that figure is disputed, with the only cuts both tangible and permanent codified in a $9.4 billion rescissions package currently in front of Congress. Independent polls show a majority of Americans do not approve of the job he’s doing
April 23
After a demonstrative attempt to show presence during an unscheduled Tesla all-hands fails to soothe frayed investor nerves, Musk signals during the company’s Q1 earnings call that he will only spend one to two days a week in Washington. Despite net profit plummeting 71% in the period, far worse than expected, the stock rebounds sharply on the news he’s dialing back his DC commitments.
May 20
At the Qatar Economic Forum, Musk states he’s done, for now at least, bankrolling the Republican party. “I think I’ve done enough,” he says, adding that he no longer sees a reason. Just three weeks earlier he had still praised Trump in a cabinet meeting marking the first 100 days, predicting: “I think this could be the greatest administration since the founding of the country.”
May 27
In an interview with CBS News, Musk voices open criticism of Trump’s spending bill, which the Congressional Budget Office estimates will raise deficits by $3.8 trillion. Describing it as disappointing, he argues that the generous tax cuts are undermining the efforts of his DOGE team. The following day, he announces his time as a special government employee in the service of the Trump administration is effectively over, and he leaves Washington with a literal black eye on Friday.
June 3
Now, officially looking outside, Musk turns on Trump. “I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand it anymore. This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination,” he posts. What repercussions will ensue is unclear but already over the weekend Trump withdrew the nomination of Musk’s preferred pick as head of NASA.
June 5
After Trump punches back during a press briefing with the German chancellor, Musk goes scorched earth on his former ally. In a matter of hours, he claims Trump is directly implicated in the Epstein files, argues the ingrateful president is only in power because the Tesla CEO put him there, and backs a call for his removal with Vice President J.D. Vance taking his place in the Oval Office. Trump responds by threatening to terminate all of his government contracts and subsidies. Tesla shareholders once more find themselves collateral damage as a record $150 billion-plus is wiped off the company’s market cap, costing Musk personally $34 billion. It is the second-largest daily loss ever in the history of the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, according to the media giant.
This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Iranian Fans Protest During Iran vs England World Cup Match
FIFA has tried to forge on with the World Cup even as it deals with the barrage of criticism.
On Monday, seven European countries ditched plans to wear a rainbow armband signaling anti-discrimination and inclusion after FIFA threatened to punish them for it, including handing them automatic yellow cards.
The captains of England, Wales, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland had planned to wear OneLove rainbow armbands during their matches. But their respective soccer associations later said in a joint statement they were “unable” to do so anymore because of FIFA’s threats.
“We were prepared to pay fines that would normally apply to breaches of kit regulations and had a strong commitment to wearing the armband,” the associations said. “However, we cannot put our players in the situation where they might be booked or even forced to leave the field of play.”
On the eve of Sunday’s opening match, FIFA President Gianni Infantino hit back at critics in an outrageous speech in which he claimed to understand discrimination against marginalized groups because, as a child, he was bullied for having red hair and freckles.
“Today, I feel Qatari. Today, I feel Arab. Today, I feel African. Today, I feel gay. Today, I feel disabled. Today, I feel a migrant worker,” Infantino said. “Of course, I am not Qatari, I am not an Arab, I am not African, I am not gay, I am not disabled. But I feel like it, because I know what it means to be discriminated, to be bullied.”
The Hello Group and Sony Music collaborate to launch THG India, a new artist management joint venture
Sony Music is once again expanding its presence in the booming Indian music market, with Sony Music India forming a joint venture with Los Angeles-headquartered The Hello Group.
The new THG India aims to fill what Sony calls a “critical gap” in sophisticated talent management and live touring infrastructure in India.
The JV will leverage Sony Music India’s network and expertise in the South Asian market with THG’s expertise in live touring and artist management.
Founded in 2016 by A&R executive Taylor Jones, who serves as CEO, The Hello Group in an entertainment industry holding company that operates 16 businesses.
Among those businesses are Hello Management, label services company Hello Music, and THG Publishing, which launched in 2018 with administration by Sony Music Publishing, and is known for a catalog that includes songs from prominent K-pop bands like BTS, NCT 127, ITZY, IVE, Tomorrow X Together, ENHYPHEN and TWICE, as well as artists such as Steve Aoki and The Chainsmokers.
The company’s booking agency has booked shows and tours for artists including Jeff Satur, Mark Ambor, I.M (of MONSTA X), Matt Steffanina, Sunkis, Greyson Chance, EMEI, C-Kan, Kang Daniel, and others.
Vinit Thakkar, Managing Director, Sony Music India, described the new joint venture as a “great moment” for the Indian music industry.
“THG India marks our first international collaboration of this scale right here in India, and it serves as a critical bridge,” he said.
“By combining THG’s strength in global live touring and their international network with our deep local expertise, we are strategically empowering Indian artists with the resources, seasoned management, and global network essential to truly accelerate their careers and resonate on the international stage.”
“We are strategically empowering Indian artists with the resources, seasoned management, and global network essential to truly accelerate their careers and resonate on the international stage.”
Vinit Thakkar, Sony Music India
THG’s Jones added: “The Indian music scene boasts an incredible wealth of talent, and its global influence is undeniable. THG India reinforces our deep commitment to building a robust platform for these artists, underpinned by our extensive experience in live touring, artist development and publishing.
“With our dedicated team in Mumbai and our proven track record of orchestrating worldwide tours for top-tier artists, we are uniquely poised to amplify India’s voices like never before.”
For Sony Music, THG India represents the latest in a series of partnerships that have helped cement the company’s position in India’s music market, which is expected to see significant growth despite a decline in digital music revenues in 2024.
Earlier this year, Sony announced it had formed Tiger Baby Records, a joint venture with film production company Tiger Baby. That followed last year’s partnership with Mumbai-based film and web series production company Maddock Films, to produce film soundtracks, pop singles, and other music projects.
“With our dedicated team in Mumbai and our proven track record of orchestrating worldwide tours for top-tier artists, we are uniquely poised to amplify India’s voices like never before.”
Taylor Jones, The Hello Group
In 2022, Sony Music Entertainment and Sony Pictures Entertainment launched a JV called ‘Sony Entertainment Talent Ventures India’ (SETVI), focused on creating “ventures for media talent in India.”
Sony Music Publishing has also struck partnerships with India-based companies, notably one with Tips Music in 2023, which sees SMP administer and promote Tips’ catalog globally. The partnership was renewed earlier this year. SMP signed a similar deal with Indian label Big Bang Music in 2023.Music Business Worldwide
Historical Comparison of Thunder and Pacers
When the Oklahoma City Thunder square off against the Indiana Pacers in the NBA Finals, it will be a matchup of elite offense versus historically elite defense.
Over the course of the Pacers’ run through the Eastern Conference, Tyrese Haliburton has led his team to offensive heights rarely seen. Over in the Western Conference, the Thunder have done the same with their defense.
Ask the Memphis Grizzlies, Denver Nuggets and the Minnesota Timberwolves and they’ll tell you just how suffocating Oklahoma City’s defense can be. Talk to the Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks and they’ll probably marvel at how great the Indiana offense is.
But just how elite are we talking?
Pacers Stack Up Favorably Offensively
Looking back on the last 10 NBA champions, only the 2017 Golden State Warriors and 2023 Denver Nuggets have posted better offensive ratings than the Pacers.
One is an all-time great team in the Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant led Warriors. The other is led by one of the greatest offensive engines in basketball history in Nikola Jokic.
The Boston Celtics looked mighty impressive during their title run a year ago but even they fall short of Indiana’s lofty heights.
How much of this has to do with the way offensive efficiency has improved over the years? A fair chunk.
That’s where it’s worth keeping in mind the Pacers are still six percentage points better than the average offensive rating this postseason. Four of the former champions have been better relative to their competition.
Only the Cavs have a better offensive rating than the Pacers this postseason and that comes down to the way they mauled the Miami Heat. The Thunder are 4.4 percentage points better relative to their competition this season.
Don’t underestimate what this Indiana team could accomplish going up against the Oklahoma City defense.
Thunder Defense Is Historically Elite
On the defensive side of the ball, the Thunder’s defense lags only behind the 2015 and 2018 Warriors, as well as the 2019 Raptors.
What should be a concern for the Pacers is they rank last by a long shot compared to these former champions. The only solace is the Nuggets are second to last and they did go on to win the title.
No former champion from the past decade has outperformed the average defensive rating more than the Thunder. They allow 8.46 percentage points than the 2025 postseason average. The next best are the 2021 Milwaukee Bucks, allowing 7.66 percentage points fewer than average.
Indiana, relative to its opposition this season, is just above average as a defensive unit.
So, which side of the ball are you favoring in these Finals?
Exploring Digital Twins: Crucial Examples from Various Industries
We live in an era where the boundaries between the digital and physical worlds are increasingly blurred. Technologies like augmented reality have already demonstrated their potential in sectors such as construction and water management, but one of the most transformative innovations in this space is digital twins. This technology is becoming an everyday tool in the renewable energy sector, providing deeper insights into real-world processes and, in some cases, enabling direct intervention. Read on to learn more about digital twins and explore their real-world applications.
In this article you will learn:
What are digital twins?
A digital twin is a virtual replica of a physical object, system, or process that continuously updates with real-world data. Unlike static models, digital twins evolve over time, offering an accurate, dynamic representation of reality.
For instance, MIT’s Tree-D Fusion technology creates a digital twin of a city’s tree population, updating as trees grow or die. This principle extends across industries, from wind farms to entire cities, with almost limitless accuracy.
Key characteristics of digital twins include:
- Real-time data integration: Sensors collect data from physical assets, transmitting it wirelessly to the cloud for analysis.
- Simulation and predictive modelling: Digital twins can forecast wear and tear on machinery or vehicles, allowing for proactive maintenance.
- Machine learning-driven feedback loops: AI refines models over time, optimising configurations by analysing multiple scenarios.
How do digital twins work?
Digital twins combine multiple technologies to achieve these results. Primarily, they require sensors to link them to the real world, but also AI software and 3D rendering among others.
- Internet of Things (IoT): These sensors capture information from physical systems, measuring variables such as temperature, humidity, movement, and spatial positioning.
- 3D Modelling and Simulation: Advanced software generates detailed visual representations that facilitate analysis and forecasting.
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: AI-driven predictive models provide insights into how systems will behave under different conditions.
- Cloud Computing: Storing and processing vast amounts of data remotely enables real-time access from multiple locations.
- 5G Connectivity: High-speed, low-latency networks facilitate near-instantaneous data transmission and real-time diagnostics.
Key benefits
Companies across industries are already leveraging digital twins to drive efficiency and innovation. Some of the main benefits include:
- Enhanced efficiency: Identifying bottlenecks and optimising operations.
- Predictive maintenance: Anticipating failures before they occur, improving safety and reliability.
- Cost reduction: Maximising resource efficiency and minimising waste.
- Data-driven decision-making: Providing actionable insights based on real-time information.
- Sustainability improvements: Reducing energy consumption and minimising environmental impact.
Examples of how digital twins are transforming industries
Digital twins are already reshaping various sectors. Here are some notable applications:
- Renewable Energy: Used in wind farms to monitor performance, predict maintenance needs, and optimise energy output based on demand fluctuations.
- Water Management: Companies like ACCIONA have been pioneering digital twins in water treatment. By creating virtual replicas of treatment or desalination plants, they can detect faults and identify efficiency improvements.
- Smart Cities: Virtual city replicas help manage traffic, energy consumption, weather events, and infrastructure maintenance. Singapore is a leading example of a city using digital twins for urban planning.
- Architecture: Digital twins support smart building design and maintenance, improving energy efficiency and lifecycle management.
- Aerospace and Automotive: NASA and car manufacturers use digital twins to conduct integrity and endurance tests under extreme conditions before real-world deployment.
- Healthcare: Digital replicas of patients’ bodies are being used to simulate surgeries and test medical procedures without risk.
What is the future of digital twins?
Digital twins are no longer a futuristic concept—they are actively shaping industries such as healthcare, energy, and urban development. Their ability to optimise processes, reduce costs, and enhance data-driven decision-making makes them indispensable for operational efficiency.
As artificial intelligence, IoT, and cloud computing continue to advance, digital twins will become even more sophisticated, evolving towards autonomous, self-learning models that adapt in real time.
In the coming years, their adoption will expand into sectors like agriculture, retail, and logistics, further improving resource efficiency and reducing environmental impact. In an increasingly digitised world, digital twins will not just be a competitive advantage—they will be a cornerstone of a more efficient and sustainable future.
Sources:
Israel launches air strikes on outskirts of Beirut ahead of Eid festival
Israeli air attacks hit buildings in neighbourhoods across southern Beirut on Thursday.
Labour emerges victorious in crucial Scottish by-election against SNP and Reform party
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Scottish Labour defied predictions to defeat the ruling Scottish National party in a key Scottish by-election that saw Reform UK finish in third place, providing a much-needed boost to Sir Keir Starmer.
Davy Russell took the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse seat for Labour with 8,559 votes, beating the SNP’s Katy Loudon by 602 votes on a turnout of 44 per cent.
Labour secured a vote share of 31.6 per cent, with the SNP on 29.4 per cent and Reform on 26.1 per cent. The Conservatives received 6 per cent.
The contest comes less than a year before the next elections to the Scottish parliament, when the SNP will seek to extend what will by then be a 19-year stay in power.
The result will come as a huge relief to Labour, which has been battling falling ratings in UK opinion polls, and a series of damaging electoral defeats, including across local elections in England last month.
Nigel Farage’s Reform — which has overtaken Labour in UK polls — fared worse than hoped by party insiders, who privately expected to come second to the SNP.
The Hamilton campaign was overshadowed by a racism row sparked by a Reform advert that incorrectly claimed the Labour leader, who is of Pakistani heritage, had pledged to “prioritise” that community.
Farage doubled down on the attack, claiming that Sarwar wanted the South Asian community to “take over the world”.
Reform — which just hours before the result was announced saw its Muslim chair, Zia Yusuf, resign after one of its MPs called for a ban on the burka — described the by-election as an “historic” three-way result.
Reform’s deputy leader Richard Tice tried to downplay the result saying the party had “way outperformed everyone’s expectations”. The fact that there were just 1,500 votes between the three parties marked a “seismic moment in Scottish politics”, he wrote on X.
The by-election, triggered by the death of sitting SNP MSP Christina McKelvie, was dominated by the rise of Reform, which has been garnering increasing support in council by-elections in Scotland, albeit at lower levels than in England and Wales.
John Swinney, Scotland’s first minister, had described the contest as a “two-horse” race between the SNP and Reform, calling for voters to back his party to prevent Reform leader Farage getting the party’s first representative in the Scottish parliament in Edinburgh.
Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, said the outcome demonstrated the depth of feeling against the SNP, which faces discontent over the state of public services.
“If you want to get rid of the SNP, the only party that can do that is Labour,” Sarwar told the BBC, saying he expected to become the next first minister after the 2026 elections.
The result — in a central-belt constituency vital for any national victory — injects much-needed momentum into Sarwar’s bid to lead Labour into power in Holyrood next year.
His strong ratings after Labour’s UK general election victory last year have come under pressure.
“Labour’s win is a major boost for a party which was written off as the main challenger in this seat by the SNP and much of the commentariat,” said James Mitchell of Edinburgh university. “It is more a blow to John Swinney than Nigel Farage.”
While opinion polls have indicated that the SNP has lost support since the last Holyrood election in 2021, Reform’s surge tends to take more votes from the Conservatives and Labour.
A national Norstat poll placed the SNP on 33 per cent, with Labour and Reform UK on 19 per cent and 18 per cent, respectively.
Support for independence is at 54 per cent, rising to 58 per cent if Farage were to become Britain’s prime minister.
Swinney, responding to the result, said the SNP still had “work to do”.
Cook for the lunch service claims that the trial meal was “extraordinary”
An Australian woman accused of intentionally cooking a fatal mushroom lunch has told her trial she had wanted the beef Wellington meal to be “special”.
Erin Patterson has pleaded not guilty to murdering three people and attempting to kill another at her home in regional Victoria in July 2023.
The 50-year-old says it was a tragic accident, and that she never intended to hurt family members she loved. But prosecutors argue Ms Patterson put poisonous fungi into their food in a carefully crafted plot to kill them.
On Friday, the court heard it was “unusual” for Ms Patterson to host such an event at her house, and she was quizzed about her relationships with her guests.
Ms Patterson’s in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, both 70, along with Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson, 66, all fell ill and died days after the lunch.
Heather’s husband, local pastor Ian Wilkinson, was also hospitalised but recovered after coming out of a weeks-long induced coma. Simon Patterson, the accused’s estranged spouse, had been invited too, but pulled out the day before.
More than 50 prosecution witnesses have given evidence at the trial, which began six weeks ago, but Ms Patterson became the first for the defence when she took to the stand on Monday.
On her second day of cross-examination on Friday, Ms Patterson told the court she accepted that invites to her house were rare, but said she’d arranged the occasion to discuss a health issue and wanted to make a nice meal for her relatives to thank them for their support.
“I wanted it to be special,” Ms Patterson said.
She has previously admitted she misled her guests into believing she may need cancer treatment, telling the jury she did so as a cover for weight-loss surgery she was planning to have but was too embarrassed to disclose.
Prosecutor Nanette Rogers, however, put to her that there was no health issue to discuss, and that she had invited Simon and his relatives over to kill them. She had even prepared a spare toxic meal in case Mr Patterson changed his mind and came over, Dr Rogers suggested.
Over and over this week, Ms Patterson has denied these allegations, often becoming emotional as she told the court she loved the lunch guests like her own family.
She has also repeatedly told the court that she realised, in the days after the lunch, that the beef Wellington may have accidentally included dried mushrooms she had foraged, which were kept in a container with store-bought ones.
Lies to the police and health authorities about the source of the mushrooms and her decision to dispose of a food dehydrator were both because she was scared of being blamed for the guests’ dire illnesses, she said.
“Surely if you had loved them, then you would have immediately notified the medical authorities?” Dr Rogers asked.
Ms Patterson said she didn’t tell doctors about the possibility that wild mushrooms had been unintentionally included because the lunch guests were already getting treatment for death cap mushroom poisoning.
“Even after you were discharged from hospital you did not tell a single person that there may have been foraged mushroom used in the meal,” Dr Rogers said.
“Instead you got up, you drove your children to school… and drove home. And then you got rid of the dehydrator.”
“Correct,” Ms Patterson said.
The court heard there’d been conflict between Ms Patterson and her husband, and Dr Rogers suggested the accused was still angry at her in-laws for taking their son’s side.
“You had two faces,” Dr Rogers said, after making Ms Patterson read aloud messages in which she is critical of both Simon Patterson and his parents.
There was her “public face” of appearing to have a good relationship with Don and Gail, Dr Rogers said, and a “private face” which she showed in the messages.
“How you truly felt about Don and Gail was how you expressed it [there],” she said.
“And that is how you really felt about Simon Patterson… you did not regard him as being a decent human being at his core, correct or incorrect?”
That was “incorrect”, Ms Patterson replied, her head shaking and voice faltering.
Ms Patterson’s use of the iNaturalist website – which listed locations of death cap mushrooms in areas close to her home – was also scrutinised, with the accused repeatedly saying she couldn’t clearly recall ever using the site.
She will resume being cross examined next week. The trial, initially expected to take six weeks, is now expected to run for at least another fortnight, the judge has told the court.