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Max Verstappen’s decision on future won’t be affected by Lambiase departure, says Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies

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Max Verstappen and race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase in conversation at the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix

Red Bull have had a difficult start to the season and Verstappen, who missed out on last year’s title to McLaren’s Lando Norris by two points, is ninth in the championship after three races with a best result of sixth.

Red Bull are introducing a major upgrade to their car for Miami, when the season restarts after a break enforced by the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix.

This was tested by Verstappen at Silverstone last Wednesday and Mekies said it would address “a fair chunk” of their shortcomings

“One thing is sure, we haven’t solved everything,” Mekies said. “But there is no doubt that progress has been made into giving something more consistent to our drivers.

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“How does that make you fit in the classifications? It’s impossible to know. But in terms of us alone on the track, in terms of giving a more consistent product to our drivers, I’m confident we have made some progress. Do we know if we cracked everything? No, we know we didn’t crack everything yet.”

Stella – whose world champions have had a more successful start to the season, including a second-place finish for Oscar Piastri at the last race in Japan – said: “There was always the idea to deliver sort of a completely new car, especially from an aerodynamic upgrades point of view for the North American races.

“I would like to stress that this is what I would expect of most of our competitors so not necessarily is going to be a shift in the pecking order.

“It will be effectively just a check who has been able to add more performance within the same timeframe, and we also have some performance to recover if we look at Mercedes and to some extent Ferrari as well.”

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Mekies said he believed about 0.3secs of the Red Bull’s one-second-a-lap deficit to front-runners Mercedes was accounted for by the new in-house Red Bull engine.

“Unfortunately, the first few races confirmed that we have a lot of work to do,” he said. “It’s 360. But certainly on the PU side as well, we can see that competition has a clear advantage. So we see them clearly ahead of us.

“It doesn’t remove anything to the amazing job that the guys have done. But it’s just confirmed that we have been evaluating ever since we put the car on the ground in Barcelona and in Bahrain. So fantastic starting point, unbelievable starting point. But it’s a competitive business.

“We are quite a few 10ths of a (second per) lap behind them in terms of performance. Even more so in terms of chassis performance, to be clear. And so we know we have a lot of work to do ahead of us.”

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Police officer handed final warning after trying to show body worn video in pub

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Cambridgeshire Live

A hearing found that the officer committed gross misconduct

A police officer has been given a final written warning after a misconduct hearing. The officer, referred to as PC A, faced three allegations and was found to have committed gross misconduct by a misconduct panel.

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On June 13, 2024, the officer is alleged to have recorded body worn footage onto their phone, showed it to a witness, and tried to show the video while in a pub.

Between January 1, 2024, and March 1, 2024, the officer allegedly gave information and details about an investigation involving a child. Both of these allegations were found to be proven at the misconduct hearing.

It was also alleged that between February 1, 2024 and October 18, 2024, the officer recorded body worn video onto their phone and showed the footage to a witness. The panel was not satisfied with the evidence and found this allegation was not proven.

The panel determined that the officer acted contrary to orders and instructions, processed and/or disclosed information otherwise than in accordance with a proper policing purpose, and acted in a manner likely to bring discredit upon the police service.

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The officer’s hearing concluded that they be given a final written warning to last three years. This decision was made considering the seriousness of the conduct, the circumstances that gave rise to the misconduct, the public interest, and the mitigation offered by the officer including previous record of conduct.

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Monte Coleman dead: NFL legend dies at 68 | News US

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Monte Coleman dead: NFL legend dies at 68 | News US
Smiling at a press event after retirement, Coleman reflects on years at the heart of Washington’s defence (Picture: Getty Images)

NFL legend Monte Coleman has died at the age of 68, two of his former teams have confirmed.

Tributes began to emerge on Sunday, with both Washington and Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions leading the way with the kind words. No cause of death has been announced as yet.

Coleman was a central figure in Washington’s most successful ever era, playing his part in three Super Bowl-winning teams. Across 16 seasons, the 6’2″ player became one of the most dependable names on any NFL team sheet.

His back door route into the NFL didn’t quite hint at what was coming for the man. Washington selected him in the 11th round of the 1979 Draft with the 289th overall pick.

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Players taken that late don’t usually hang around in the sport for long, let alone go on to define an era. Coleman did both. He stayed with Washington for his entire 16 year career and became a mainstay in their defence. His consistency helped underpin those three title-winning sides.

Monte Coleman in Washington colours during his playing days having built a reputation as one of the NFL’s most reliable linebackers (Picture: Getty Images)

Coleman made more than 200 appearances for Washington during that spell. giving the team a level of stability that stretched across more than a decade.

Recognition followed long after he stepped away. In 2015, Coleman was inducted into Washington’s Ring of Fame. It cemented his place among the franchise’s most important ever figures.

The Commanders (who were – rather controversially – known as the ‘Redskins’ during Coleman’s playing career) paid tribute shortly after news broke. ‘We mourn the loss of one of the greatest to ever suit up in the Burgundy & Gold, Monte Coleman,’ the team posted on X. ‘Our heartfelt condolences are with his loved ones’.

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A typically committed tackle as Coleman brings down a Raiders runner during his time in Washington (Picture: Getty Images)

Managing partner Josh Harris expanded on that message, chipping in personally to pay his respects, saying: ‘Monte Coleman was one of the greatest players in Washington history. He was one of the pillars of our championship defenses having played for all three Super Bowl winning teams. His durability and leadership set the standard for what it meant to suit up for the Burgundy & Gold.’

‘Monte played all 16 seasons in Washington and ranks second in games played and fourth in sacks all-time earning him a place in the Washington Ring of Fame. Named the Washingtonian of the Year in 1996, Monte made a major impact in our community with his philanthropic work and community service.’

Harris finished his tribute with something of a personal note: ‘Monte will be sorely missed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Coleman family, his friends and all who knew him. May his memory be a blessing.’

Leaping into action during a game, Coleman shows the athleticism that defined his illustrious career (Picture: Getty Images)

Before joining the National Football League, Coleman had already made his mark locally. He stood out at Pine Bluff High School before moving on to the University of Central Arkansas. By the time he reached the draft, he’d built a strong foundation to launch a career in the sport.

He stepped away from playing in 1994. Football didn’t stay away from him for long though, even if there was a gap before his almost inevitable return. In 2003, he re-joined his hometown side Arkansas-Pine Bluff as a linebackers coach.

Within three years, he was promoted to defensive coordinator. His influence within the programme grew quickly.

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In 2008, Coleman became head coach. He remained in the role for a decade and led the team to the Southwestern Athletic Conference title in 2012. It was the standout achievement of his coaching career.

Taking a breather on the sidelines, Coleman pauses after yet another bruising outing in a long Washington career (Picture: Getty Images)

Arkansas-Pine Bluff also confirmed his death in a statement on Sunday. The university described him as a ‘revered leader whose impact on the game of football and countless lives will be felt for generations.’

The statement also reflected on his wider contribution to their setup. Coleman was called a ‘cornerstone of excellence both on and off the field’ who ‘leaves behind a legacy defined by perseverance, leadership, and championship success.’

‘Beyond wins and accolades, Coleman was a mentor, father figure, and role model to his student-athletes, instilling values that extended far beyond the game,’ the statement went on. ‘His influence helped shape the lives of countless young men who wore the Golden Lion uniform.’

Ball in hand, Coleman charges forward in a rare attacking moment during his time in the NFL (Picture: Getty Images)

The football legend’s old university side also ended their message with support for Monte’s grieving relative: ‘The UAPB family extends its deepest condolences to the Coleman family, former players, colleagues, and all who were impacted by his extraordinary life and career.’

Funeral details have not yet been confirmed. The school said information on memorial arrangements will be shared at a later date.

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Former players have also been sharing their memories of the man. Gabe McDonald, who played under Coleman, posted photos of them together on X. His tribute focused on the opportunity he was given…

‘Only coach that believed in me and gave me the chance to live out my dream of playing D1 ball, an opportunity I’m forever grateful for,’ he wrote. ‘Fly high, Coach Coleman. You’ll be truly missed’.

The NFL icon won the Super Bowl a full three times in his long and storied career in the sport (Picture: Getty Images)

Chris Robinson, UAPB’s Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics, highlighted the same theme. ‘Coach Coleman represented everything we strive for at UAPB excellence, integrity, and a relentless commitment to developing our student-athletes,’ he said.

‘His legacy is not only written in championships and honours, but in the lives he changed every single day.’

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Toad-in-the-hole with leeks and cheese recipe

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Toad-in-the-hole with leeks and cheese recipe

My kids tell me this is the BEST toad in the hole ever. They preferred it with cheddar sprinkled over the top rather than Stilton, but you could use either, or indeed any similar cheese (just not Parmesan types, that’s too hard).

You can make this in a roasting tin or ovenproof pan, and serve at the table straight from the vessel. Choose good-quality sausages for the best result.

Requires at least 30 minutes of resting time

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JD Sports looks set to relocate Middlesbrough store

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JD Sports looks set to relocate Middlesbrough store

The fashion firm is currently based in the Cleveland Centre but has appeared on plans for the neighbouring Hillstreet Shopping Centre. 

Floor plans show the JD logo placed on a 15,714 square foot unit next door to Boots and opposite Primark – with the shopping centre website also naming it as an “anchor retailer”.

JD Sports declined to comment when contacted by The Northern Echo about the potential relocation.

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If it goes ahead, this would mark the second retailer to move from the Cleveland Centre to the Hillstreet Centre in recent months, following the footsteps of Boots. 

Boots launched its new site in February, having previously been closed at the Cleveland Centre for several months.



The firm said the new location would provide an “elevated shopping experience and an extended range of health, wellness and beauty essentials”.

Discount retailer B&M also recently returned to Middlesbrough town centre in the form of a new store at the Hillstreet Centre in February. 

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JD Sports continues to operate a number of other sites in the North East including at the Cornmill Shopping Centre in Darlington, Bishop Auckland Retail Park, and Cleveland Retail Park.

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First tear-jerking trailer for Ted Lasso season 4 is giving us chills

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First tear-jerking trailer for Ted Lasso season 4 is giving us chills

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Ted Lasso has unveiled the first teaser for its season four return, after two years away from our Apple TV screens.

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The schmaltzy football dramedy returns this August, with Jason Sudeikis and his handlebar moustache back as the eponymous Ted, who returns to Blighty to coach the Greyhound women’s team.

The teaser is the first look at what this upheaval in the show’s premise will look like, with the Richmond FC locker-room of men, including fan favourites like Jamie Tartt, swapped out for a new cast of women players.

The teaser is set to the folksy tune of Marcus Mumford’s vocals, which is no surprise given the Mumford and Sons frontman croons over the show’s title sequence. 

Given it’s a teaser rather than a fully-fledged trailer, the one-minute clip is mostly vibes-based, but shows that the faces of the first three seasons of Ted Lasso are likely in store for more of the show’s earnest brand of good feeling.

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All the main cast is there: Hannah Waddingham as club owner Rebecca, Brett Goldstein as the gruffly-spoken Roy Kent, Juno Temple as his maybe other half Keeley and Jeremy Swift as the inimitable Leslie. 

Jason Sudeikis and his handlebar moustache are back as Ted Lasso (Picture: Apple TV)
Ted Lasso season 4 trailer (Picture: Apple TV)
The schmaltzy football dramedy returns this August (Picture: Apple TV)

The trio of Richmond’s pint-sinking number one fans give a round of applause at a maybe-press conference. 

The women’s team lines up and runs for a series on drills on the pitch, with newcomer Tanya Reynolds on board as a coach alongside Ted and Coach Beard (Brendan Hunt). Rebecca and Ted’s (recast) son Henry cheer on Richmond from the heavily merchandised stands.

Having returned from the US, we see Ted walking from the quaint streets of Richmond, where he’s approached by a fan (wearing his Richmond scarf, which seems to be locally mandated attire in those parts).

‘Welcome back coach,’ says the fan. ‘Too bad you’re coaching a bunch of girls.’ Oof! Looks like we’re tackling sexism this season. The eternal optimist Ted doesn’t look fazed. 

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Ted Lasso season 4 trailer (Picture: Apple TV)
It’s the incredibly charming Dutch boat guy! Good for you, Rebecca! (Picture: Apple TV)
Ted Lasso season 4 trailer (Picture: Apple TV)
In one scene from the teaser, Ted and Coach Beard attend what looks like some postdramatic theatre (Picture: Apple TV)

How will this season follow on from season 3?

Senior TV Reporter Rebecca Cook shares her take…

Ted Lasso purists won’t want to hear this, but the last time this show was on the air, it was dreadful.

The season finale, which for a time looked like it would be the series conclusion, was like a strange CGI-looking fever dream I’ve been trying to forget ever since.

Remember Coach Beard’s wedding? No? Good for you.

I, like many, found Ted Lasso in the midst of a manic pandemic state. It was like discovering a sweet, better place I could leave my house to travel to.

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But by the third season, it was bloated with too many storylines, preachy with its need to tell us all how to live our lives and did a huge disservice to favs like Keeley.

The show had outstayed its wholesome welcome and seemed to know it. Ted was sent packing back to the US like he needed a time-out.

But now this jewel in the Apple TV mantle returns with what seems to be renewed focus and, better yet, new ideas.

Ted has been freed from the US (I can’t imagine his brand of niceness fits in over there anymore) and returns to Richmond to take on what has been touted as his ‘biggest challenge yet’: coaching a second division women’s football team.

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(The men’s team weren’t easy to turn into a winning side, but okay.)

The official synopsis reads: ‘Ted and the team learn to leap before they look, taking chances they never thought they would.’

We haven’t got a load to go on with just a teaser, but a huge shake-up of the cast and focus is encouraging.

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This is huge news: Rebecca is seen kissing the incredibly charming Dutch boat guy, who she spent a magical evening with while the team played away in Amsterdam. Hurrah! 

Roy, sat next to Keeley in an SUV, smashes through the skylight window with a (checks notes) black stiletto. Okay… Ted laughs with a maybe-love interest. Rebecca has herself a drink. Ted and Coach Beard attend what looks like some postdramatic theatre. The score swells.

And last of all, Ted sits in Rebecca’s office with Leslie and Keeley (can’t see any biscuits in sight) and delivers a string of acronyms, while still managing to say ‘pretty please’. 

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As for the nitty-gritty of how all of this folds together, we’ll have to wait for a full trailer.

Ted Lasso season 4 will be available to stream on Apple TV from August 5.

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If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

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Bere Grove care Home opens a dementia-friendly hair salon to the local community

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Bere Grove care Home opens a dementia-friendly hair salon to the local community

The salon has been created to provide a familiar and relaxing experience, helping to reduce anxiety and promote comfort, confidence and wellbeing. With a gentle approach and dementia-friendly surroundings, the event aims to offer not only practical support, but also a chance for guests to enjoy a little pampering in a safe and supportive setting.

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Multiple men ‘drugged and raped’ at Epstein’s secretive New Mexico ranch

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Multiple men ‘drugged and raped’ at Epstein’s secretive New Mexico ranch

Multiple young men were drugged and raped at Jeffrey Epstein’s remote New Mexico ranch, it has been claimed, as local authorities continue to investigate historic allegations of abuse.

Democrat congresswoman for New Mexico Melanie Stansbury, fighting for justice for survivors, says one alleged victim claimed he had been invited to a party at the late pedophile’s 7,500-acre Zorro Ranch, where he said he was plied with drugs and raped.

In the recently released 60 Minutes Australia episode, Stansbury says the unnamed man described “multiple young men… raped at the ranch in front of him after he was drugged”.

“Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell were serial abusers; they really were super predators, and it was just how they lived their lives,” she added.

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Jeffrey Epstein’s Zorro Ranch in Santa Fe, New Mexico
Jeffrey Epstein’s Zorro Ranch in Santa Fe, New Mexico (Getty)

Harrowing testimonies heard in Sunday’s documentary aired as state authorities pressed on with their reopened probe into allegations of abuse at the compound.

Authorities in New Mexico are now trying to determine how many local women and girls were abused at the ranch, after a number of residents came forward with fresh allegations. To date, only one resident was known to be from the state.

But state representative Marianna Anaya, who co-sponsored the state’s Truth Commission probe into Epstein, said Monday that the group has been in contact with a number of locals who now say they were also abused at the ranch.

“I can confirm that we have been reached out to by local alleged victims,” she told Reuters. It marked the first time the commission has acknowledged contact with locals who say they were abused at the ranch during the quarter-century Epstein owned the property.

The Truth Commission is working with the New Mexico Department of Justice to help survivors who may have viable criminal cases bring charges against Epstein’s co-conspirators, Anaya added.

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Chauntae Davies said she was abused by Epstein between 2001 and 2005
Chauntae Davies said she was abused by Epstein between 2001 and 2005 (60 Minutes Australia)

Horrific claims of abuse have come into focus since New Mexico reopened its investigation into allegations of child sex trafficking at the ranch in February, citing the U.S. Justice Department’s release of millions of files on Epstein, including allegations that he buried the bodies of two girls in hills outside the property.

That tip off, claimed to have been written by a former ranch staffer, alleged that “two foreign girls” had been buried near the ranch, having died “by strangulation during rough fetish sex”.

The note sent to the FBI was seemingly never investigated, and the state of New Mexico shelved its probe into the ranch in 2019, following a request from federal prosecutors in New York.

Chauntae Davies, who has previously spoken out about her alleged abuse at the ranch, detailed her experiences to 60 Minutes Australia.

“Zorro Ranch was probably the most eerie, just giant and quiet, and literally in the middle of nowhere, and miles and miles of just mountains and dirt for miles,” she said.

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She went on to describe hearing of other victims “waking up in a dark room with a female doctor standing over them, feeling like maybe there is some kind of procedure that had happened.”

Davies, who says she was abused by Epstein between 2001 and 2005, remained haunted by her time at the isolated ranch, where she said no matter how loudly you screamed, nobody could hear you.

Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein in one of many images shared by the Department of Justice in Washington
Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein in one of many images shared by the Department of Justice in Washington (U.S. Justice Department)

The sprawling property includes a 21,000 sq-ft mansion, a log cabin, a guest house, a pool and an airstrip on part-private, part-public land. State officials told CBS in 2019 that Epstein was so secretive about it that they had very little access or knowledge about what was happening there.

Davies said she spent a lot of time in her room “like a mouse in a trap, waiting for a knock on the door and for someone to say, ‘Jeffrey is ready for his massage now’”. She said that would mean rape.

She said she remembered overhearing conversations about “trying to create the perfect baby” and “a ‘hunt’, if you will, for the perfect gene pool”.

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She told CBS News in 2019 that she often saw “random young women, some models, other women” at the ranch, but was unsure whether they were sexually abused.

Maria Jose Rodriguez Cadiz, who heads Solace Sexual Assault Services in Santa Fe, the only such support centre in the region, said in 2019 that around 45 people had approached the centre to seek information, therapy and other services in relation to alleged sexual abuse at the ranch.

She estimated that between a quarter and a half of those contacts were from women who said they had been abused at the ranch, although she added that the centre did not keep detailed records.

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Police hunt 89-year-old gunman after several wounded in Athens shooting

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Police hunt 89-year-old gunman after several wounded in Athens shooting

A manhunt has been launched for an 89-year-old man accused of opening fire on people in government buildings with a shotgun in central Athens, wounding at least four people.

The attacker opened fire at a social security agency in Petralona this morning before travelling to a nearby courthouse and injuring several more people, police said.

An employee of the agency wounded during the rampage was hospitalised after being treated at the scene by police as the suspect made his escape.

At least three female court employees were slightly wounded by ricocheting shotgun pellets at the courthouse, while media reports said a fourth employee was taken to hospital without physical injuries.

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A policeman speaks with a woman outside a courthouse after a gunman opened fire, leaving several people wounded in Athens, on Tuesday, 28 April 2026
A policeman speaks with a woman outside a courthouse after a gunman opened fire, leaving several people wounded in Athens, on Tuesday, 28 April 2026 (AP)

Television footage showed ambulance crews transporting at least three people from the courthouse to waiting ambulances.

A motive for the attack remained unclear as police established a heavy presence at the scene. State broadcaster ERT reported that the gunman had reportedly left envelopes with documents at the courthouse after the shooting, claiming the motive was linked.

The outlet identified the suspect as an 89-year-old, saying he disappeared after abandoning his firearm in a photocopier. Authorities later found the gun, police said.

Alexandros Varveris, head of the National Social Security Fund, known by its Greek acronym EFKA, said the gunman had gone to the fourth floor of the social security fund’s offices in the Kerameikos area of central Athens and opened fire after calling out to an employee to duck.

His shot hit another employee, who was wounded in the leg, Varveris said, adding that the gunman had been wearing a trenchcoat under which he had hidden the shotgun.”

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“He went in, went up to the fourth floor, raised his shotgun, told an employee to duck, and hit another one,” Varveris told ERT radio. He said the gunman didn’t appear to specifically target the employee he hit.

The wounded employee was transported to hospital after police applied a tourniquet to his leg at the scene. Gun violence is relatively rare in Greece, where firearm ownership is allowed but tightly regulated.

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I made ‘serious mistake’ advising Keir Starmer to appoint Mandelson

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I made 'serious mistake' advising Keir Starmer to appoint Mandelson

Earlier, Sir Philip Barton, the top civil servant at the Foreign Office at the time, told the committee Downing Street had been “uninterested” in the vetting process and the focus was on making sure Lord Mandelson was able to start his job by the time of Donald Trump’s inauguration.

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an astoundingly skilled painter returned to her rightful place in the spotlight

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an astoundingly skilled painter returned to her rightful place in the spotlight

The first modern mention of the Flemish painter Michaelina Wautier (1614–1689) introduces an artist who defies expectation. Referring to her monumental Triumph of Bacchus (1655–59), Gustav Glück, the first art historian to serve as curator of Vienna’s Kunsthistorisches Museum, wrote in 1903 that “even in an age of female emancipation, one would hardly wish to ascribe this picture, which shows a highly vigorous, almost coarse conception, to a woman’s hand”.

And thereby hangs the achievement of Wautier: she may have been able to paint “like a man”, but in most of her works, she does not feel the need to do so. Instead, Michaelina Wautier emerges as an artist with a distinctive style of her own.

The Royal Academy of Arts (RA) in London is currently host to the most complete representation of her work to date. It is a landmark exhibition that reintroduces an artist who in her day was highly successful and championed by the court and elite in Brussels; but, who subsequently almost disappeared from public and scholarly notice for close on 300 years.

Restoring Wautier to a place in the artistic canon through an exhibition in the Royal Academy of Arts seems especially apt for an artist who defies expectation. The RA was the first institution to provide professional training for artists in Britain. Wautier’s work and the RA’s presentation of it shows clear evidence of the sort of training that was at the time the exclusive prerogative of male artists.

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The point on her training is made straight away through the image that opens the show, a graceful and confident Study of the Medici Ganymede Bust (1654). The drawing depicts the famous ancient Roman sculpture, which was at the time in Rome. Drawing competently was a much valued skill and the Ganymede suggests not only a meticulously trained artist, but one whose work is up-to-date and reflects contemporary trends.

Self-Portrait by Michaelina Wautier (1650)
Wikimedia

Many will be questioning where she sits in relation to the titan of Baroque painting and her contemporary, Artemisia Gentileschi (1593–1654) – the favourite subject of feminist art history. Both women disappear from view after the 1650s, both worked with close relatives (Wautier with her brother, Gentileschi with her father), both were championed by high-ranking patrons. But this is where the similarities end.

Gentileschi’s violent personal history has often overshadowed the discussion of her consummate skill and mastery of her craft. For instance, works like the Beheading of Holofernes (1612) are frequently interpreted as responses to her experience of sexual violence.

In Wautier’s case, however, there just isn’t much known about her life beyond bare facts such as who her parents were, that she shared a studio with her brother in Brussels and that she never married. This lack of information is partially due to the artist’s will going up in the flames of the French bombardment of Brussels in 1695.

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So where for Gentileschi it feels as if we can’t separate the art from the biography; in Wautier’s case, there is nothing but the art. And, what wonderful art it is too.

A boy holding a rotten egg and his nose.
Smell from The Five Senses Series, 1650.
Rose-Marie and Eijk Van Otterloo Collection/Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Wautier excelled in portraiture, with her elegant palette and her mastery of textures – be it hair or textiles. In her portraits, especially in the depiction of children, she is vivacious and lively and so observant of quirks and foibles. You can see this in her Five Senses (1650) series. For instance, Smell features a little blond boy clutching a rotten egg in one hand and pinching his nose shut with the other, recoiling from the egg’s stench.

Despite their brilliance, however, she never signed her portraits. She did, however, sign two large-scale religious paintings, a Mystic Marriage of Saint Catherine of Alexandria and an intriguing and unusual panel depicting the Education of the Virgin. Both panels centre around educated, confident, elegant female protagonists, defined by their actions.

These paintings defy contemporary ideas that women artists excelled at imitation but lacked the capacity to imagine and create a subject from scratch. Wautier signs these paintings “invenit et fecit”, which translates as “invented and executed”. Here she is staking her claim to possessing the imagination to execute significant work at large scale. She attests to be a master of her craft, and this is nowhere more apparent than in the centrepiece of the Royal Academy’s exhibition, her immense Triumph of Bacchus.

Here, Wautier tackles the epitome of artistic mastery: a large-scale mythological subject that featured in the work of her most significant contemporaries, such as Andrea Mantegna, Titian and of course the artist who dominated the market in Flanders and the Netherlands, Peter Paul Rubens.

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Wautier’s Triumph of Bacchus is larger than that of her male competitors, and she combines in her image the fleshiness of the central male nude with the grace and the elegance of Titian. She presents the viewer with a powerful image of a flabby Bacchus reclining in a wheelbarrow, surrounded by his followers. Wautier’s skill in painting a variety of male nudes in a range of poses looks effortlessly competent, with the Bacchus becoming the work that firmly places her within art history, a masterpiece designed to defy the challenge that a woman can not paint like a man.

This one can, but she takes the challenge up a notch with the intriguing inclusion of a self portrait. Wautier depicts herself as an elegant, bare-breasted Bacchante, a female follower of Bacchus, clad in a striking robe of salmon-pink, looking out at the viewer, the only person to do so in the array of figures depicted. Wautier’s Bacchante stands tall and proud, inviting the viewer to look at her. But it’s Wautier who controls this gaze; in the painting, a sallow-skinned faun attempts to grab the Amazonian, composed woman. She shrugs off his leering, and ignores him grabbing her hair. She is in charge.

Michaelina Wautier is on at The Royal Academy in London until June 21, 2026

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