Former England captain David Beckham captured the attention of tennis fans as he attended the first day of Wimbledon with his mother on Monday

Aryna Sabalenka wasted no time in acknowledging David Beckham after progressing to the second round of Wimbledon. Following her 6-2 6-3 victory over Serbian teenager Teodora Kostovic on Centre Court, she made a point of recognising that Sir David was among the spectators in the Royal Box.

Beckham was in the crowd, while his son Romeo watched from another section of Centre Court, as the former footballer opted to bring his mum to Wimbledon’s opening day. Both applauded as the three-time semi-finalist swept aside her youthful opponent.

Sabalenka expressed her gratitude to the crowd for their support, before pausing and turning towards Beckham. She said: “Sir David, thank you for being here.”

Sabalenka also offered generous praise for her opponent, who is widely regarded as a future star of the sport. The world No.1 said: “She brought a really good fight. She stepped in a little more in the second set.

“She pushed me a bit more. I’m happy I was able to close it in straight sets. I totally get it. Playing for the first time on Centre Court, it’s a lot of pressure. But I’m pretty sure she’ll deal with that much better next time.

“I think we all get nervous. It’s just part of our lives. You kind of block that part of your brain and kind of try to focus on yourself. I think with experience I learned how to deal with nerves and expectations a bit better.

“I have to say for the first match I felt pretty good. I’ll rate myself… let’s say 8 out of 10?”

Beckham shared the Royal Box with a host of well-known faces, including Mary Berry, Ronan Keating and Katherine Jenkins, the latter of whom the footballer previously spoke about in a leaked email. The Welsh singer was at the centre of controversial comments made by Beckham, which surfaced nine years ago.

Following Jenkins being awarded an OBE in the 2014 New Year’s Honours for her contributions to music and charitable work, while Beckham himself was passed over for a Knighthood, the former England captain vented his frustration in a leaked email to his advisor.

“Katherine Jenkins OBE for what?” the email read. “Singing at the rugby and going to see the troops plus taking coke. F***ing joke.”

In 2018, Jenkins admitted feeling hurt by Beckham’s comments and said the former Manchester United star had not reached out to apologise.

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Mary Berry’s quick and easy pasta dish is perfect for midweek dinners

Mary Berry has unveiled numerous pasta recipes over the years, including lasagne and bolognese bake. However, when temperatures rise, her 15-minute pasta dish is perfect as it’s incredibly simple to prepare.

The recipe notes said: “This is my standby pasta supper as it is so delicious, so quick, and everyone loves it. Great for everyday use or casual supper parties, too.

“Its base is a creme fraiche pasta sauce, and it’s topped with crispy Parma ham, which gives tons of flavour and great texture.”

This recipe feeds six people and can be easily halved or doubled if you’d like leftovers.

Ingredients:

• 350g penne pasta
• Two 80g packs of Parma ham, snipped into small pieces
• 250g small brown chestnut mushrooms, halved or quartered
• 200g full-fat creme fraiche
• 100g Parmesan, grated
• Two tablespoons of chopped fresh parsley

To serve:

If you prefer to use reduced crème fraîche, simply stir it through at the conclusion of cooking; otherwise, it may split.

For special occasions, Mary suggests adding a pack of asparagus tips to the pasta four minutes before the pasta finishes cooking, then draining the pasta alongside the asparagus tips.

Method:

Cook the pasta in a pan of boiling salted water following the packet instructions. Drain and set aside.

Heat a frying pan until hot, then add the Parma ham and fry until crisp.

Transfer half the ham onto a plate and set aside. Next, add the mushrooms to the pan and fry for two minutes.

Add the crème fraîche and bring to the boil. Then, add the pasta, Parmesan and parsley, tossing everything together over the heat. Season generously with salt and pepper.

Mary suggests serving the 15-minute pasta dish with some salad and crunchy bread.

Students pursuing graduate degrees in nursing, physical therapy and several other fields will be eligible for higher student loan limits — at least for now — after a federal judge blocked part of a Trump administration rule that held them to lower caps.

The U.S. Education Department issued a revised rule on Monday designed to follow the judge’s order from last week, officials told The Associated Press. Agency officials called it a temporary change while they fight in court to keep the original rule, which defined medicine, law and other fields as “professional programs” but excluded nursing and others.

“While we disagree with the Court’s analysis regarding the Department’s definition of professional degree programs for purposes of determining eligibility for higher loan limits, the Department is complying with the order,” undersecretary Nicholas Kent said in a statement.

The change represents a short-term win for groups that sued to stop the rule. Eight groups challenged the department’s definition in court, representing nurse practitioners, therapists, speech language pathologists and more.

But in strictly applying the judge’s order, the department is now striking some degrees from the list of professional programs, meaning those programs will face lower loan limits. Theology studies programs are among the biggest to shift from professional to non-professional degrees in the shuffle.

The new rule, which takes effect Wednesday, comes from a student loan overhaul passed in President Donald Trump‘s tax bill last year. Programs designated as professional degrees face federal loan caps of $200,000, while other graduate programs are capped at $100,000.

Previously, graduate students had been able to borrow loans up to the full cost of their degree. Trump officials pushed for new loan caps to rein in student debt and lower tuition prices that they said had grown out of control.

The groups that brought the lawsuit said the rule would require students to forgo their studies or take out riskier private loans. Although many graduate nursing degrees fall within the lower loan limits, some can cost more than $100,000, including in high-demand fields like nurse anesthesia.

In a notification to universities on Monday, the Education Department said it’s confident the Trump administration’s initial rule will ultimately be upheld in court. The amended rule is expected to remain in effect during the judge’s preliminary stay, but the department warned that it “may change as litigation in the case proceeds.”

The original rule included about a dozen programs that were deemed professional, which Trump officials had said was not a judgment on their importance but part of a technical definition dating to the 1960s. Along with law and medicine, that list also included theology, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, clinical psychology and more.

The temporary rule expands that list to 29 specific degree programs, including master of science in nursing, doctor of nursing practice, and doctor of nurse anesthesia practice. Others newly added to the professional list include degrees for physical therapy, athletic training, speech-language pathology, physician associates and anesthesiologist assistants.

The department’s communication listed about 25 programs that are now considered non-professional degrees. Along with theology, that list now includes applied psychology, pharmaceutical sciences and others. (The doctor of pharmacy degree remains professional.)

Last week’s court ruling blocked parts of the Education Department’s definition that were added in a federal rulemaking process. U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell in Washington called it a “misguided” interpretation that strayed from a longstanding definition created by Congress.

The department’s definition laid out several criteria used to weigh if degrees count as professional programs. It said those degrees generally take six years to complete and require licenses to begin practicing, among other requirements.

It also said professional degrees cannot lead to employment that must be “be supervised by another professional” with “more education, training, and qualifications.”

A separate lawsuit filed by a coalition of Democratic-led states challenging the loan caps is still pending.

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Associated Press Writer Heather Hollingsworth contributed to this report from Kansas City.

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The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

Maddie, an elderly terrier-type dog, was rescued from the Leeds and Liverpool Canal in Clitheroe Road last August after being tied in a black bin liner and thrown into the water.

But despite initially surviving, the charity said her condition worsened in the days that followed, and she was euthanised by a vet to prevent further suffering.

Terrence and Sadie Boyd (Image: Social Media)

Terrence Boyd, 34, and Sadie Boyd, 32, of Walter Street, Brierfield, were sentenced at Burnley Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (June 24) after admitting two offences under the Animal Welfare Act.

As previously reported by the Lancashire Telegraph, the pair were each given eight weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, and banned from keeping animals for 10 years.

Images released by the RSPCA show Maddie following her rescue, as well as some of the kittens found at the couple’s home.

The court heard a dog walker saw the pair throw a bin liner into the canal on August 27 last year and was told it contained clothes.

Maddie was rescued from the canal but sadly later died (Image: RSPCA)

However, the bag began to move before Maddie’s head emerged, prompting a member of the public to enter the water in an attempt to save her.

Emergency services were called, and she was pulled from the canal by Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service before being taken to a veterinary practice.

In evidence presented to the court, the vet who treated Maddie said she was hypothermic, with a temperature of 33.2°C, and was “severely malnourished” with significant muscle loss.

She was also found to have severe dental disease and multiple puncture wounds to her neck.

One of the seven kittens that was rescued from the Boyd’s home (Image: RSPCA)

Her condition failed to improve and, two days later, she began to struggle to walk and developed neurological symptoms. A decision was made to put her to sleep on welfare grounds.

The RSPCA investigation also uncovered poor conditions at the couple’s home.

Seven kittens were removed from the property, all of which were underweight, with some described as urine-soaked. Four were hypothermic and required warming.

One kitten, weighing just 735 grams, was in such a poor condition it had to be euthanised.

Magistrates heard the house was unsanitary, with large amounts of animal faeces and mice present in the kitchen.

CCTV gathered by the RSPCA showed the pair carrying a black bag along Walter Street at around 9.05am before heading towards the canal. Footage later showed them leaving the area and running away.

Maddie was tied up in a plastic bag and thrown into the canal in Brierfield (Image: RSPCA)

In interview, both defendants largely gave no comment, with Sadie Boyd denying being at the canal that morning.

Speaking after the case, RSPCA Chief Inspector Kelly Nix said: “What happened to Maddie was horrifying, and this incident was understandably the cause of great distress to people who were at the scene, the emergency services and the wider local community.

“It was heartbreaking that Maddie’s condition deteriorated and she ultimately could not be saved.”

A corn snake found at the address, which had been kept without heating or suitable lighting, was taken into specialist care. The surviving kittens have since been rehomed.

The Fleadh will be from Sunday August 2 to Sunday August 9

The MAC Belfast will be the Irish language hub for the Belfast Fleadh this year.

Notes published from the Belfast City Council language working group state the Metropolitan Arts Centre in the Cathedral Quarter will serve as the main Irish language hub during the week of the Fleadh.

Belfast for the first time will host Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, the world’s biggest celebration of Irish music and culture, from Sunday August 2 to Sunday August 9. Qualifying competitors from all over the world will showcase the best of traditional music, song, dance and language in All-Ireland competitions.

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With a minimum of 800,000 visitors from across the world, it is anticipated to be the biggest cultural event ever held in Belfast. Tourism NI estimates the 2026 Fleadh will bring £60 million into the Northern Ireland economy. Belfast will host the Fleadh again next year.

Belfast City Council is co-hosting the Fleadh in partnership with the main event organizers, Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, and the local Ards CCÉ branch.

Council officers have worked to develop a programme of Irish language events in the MAC, supported by an external curator. The programme of events for the MAC will include contributions from local Irish language groups and national Irish language organisations.

Events will include, cupan agus comhrá, a daily coffee and meet-up opportunity for Irish speakers, lectures by the Irish department at the Queen’s University of Belfast and by Gael Linn on the history of Irish language filmmaking, and a song and story event by the Belfast rhymers.

There will be market stalls from local Irish language small businesses, a family yoga class in Irish, family singing classes as well as a sean-nós singing workshop, film screenings, and a workshop by Ulster University focusing on the shared history of the Irish language.

The council working group notes add: “In addition to these planned events, a sub committee of the Irish Language Stakeholders Forum has been convened to discuss potential additional programming in the MAC and the wider Fleadh. Officers will be on site at the MAC across the week to help with the delivery of this programme of events. Footfall through the MAC will be measured across the week.”

Earlier this month a swathe of late night and outdoor licences have been granted for gigs in streets, vacant buildings, alleys and car parks during the Belfast Fleadh.

Elected representatives at the Belfast City Council Licensing Committee approved seven applications for entertainments licences in and around the city centre. They will provide music during the festival in a host of spaces, from a vacant warehouse and a car park in the Cathedral Quarter to a campsite in the Titanic Quarter.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

Andrew Mountbatten Windsor won’t accept his new status months into exile from royal family.

Disgraced Andrew Mountbatten Windsor is refusing to accept his ‘humiliating’ status as a prince-turned-commoner after being exilted moths ago.

Now living in a bog-ridden cottage world’s away from his old 30-room mansion of Royal Lodge, and without his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson to keep him company, the shamed ex-duke is said to be taking his frustrations out on his staff, reports the Mirror.

Sources suggest that Andrew is still demanding that his three remaining employees continue to use his birthright titles, despite being stripped of them by his beleaguered older brother, King Charles.

It’s claimed that the former prince gave a jaw-dropping speech to staff, insisting that they will ‘damn well’ call him by his ‘correct titles’ in his own home – until they ‘send a vampire to suck out every drop of royal blood in my veins’.

Seven months on from his royal titles being taken away, Andrew still insists on being addressed by his staff as ‘Sir’ and referred to as ‘The Duke,’ according to the Daily Mail.

The royal author and historian, Andrew Lownie, who spent years researching the inner world of the Yorks, believes he knows exactly who encouraged the former prince’s alleged rant behind closed doors.

Speaking to the Mirror, the author says that according to his source, Andrew is likely “doing that to big himself up in front of the Middle Eastern guys, who are saying, ‘Don’t be such a wimp. You’re a prince and nothing can take that away from you.’

“He’s still doing business in the Middle East,” Lownie claims. “He has no sense of his own status except through this, but I think that it’s the Middle Eastern rulers who stiffen the sinews a bit.”

On whether the ex-duke is looking for revenge or a way back, Lownie says: “It would certainly fit with his character. I think he feels that he’s been thrown to the wolves.

“He’s always been very loyal to the institution, but he didn’t like Camilla. He was rude about Kate. Anyone who’s rumbled him, he doesn’t like. I think his only two allies at the moment are Edward and Anne.”

Far from being humbled by his reduced status, the former duke reportedly retains an extraordinary level of entitlement. He lost the majority of his staff after being booted out of Royal Lodge – and was said to have been insulted when the King offered him use of a Sandringham cleaner, groundsman and cook on an ad hoc basis – with a source saying at the time: “It hasn’t gone down well”.

In Entitled, Lownie’s explosive biography on the Yorks, a source is quoted as saying: “Remember, the most difficult thing for the Duke of York was not the allegations of sexual misconduct. It was being stripped of his royal titles and losing his key role with the Royal Family. He’s never gotten over this.”

Andrew was also said to be appalled that ‘poky’ Marsh Farm only has five bedrooms; in contrast, Royal Lodge has seven bedrooms within the main mansion. “He really didn’t want Marsh Farm,” a source told the Mail. “He won’t have lived anywhere that small since he left his apartment at Buckingham Palace.”

In reality, many of Andrew’s former staff were likely happy to move on from his employ. For years, he has been dogged by rumours about his reputation behind closed doors, described by sources as being both arrogant and entitled, with allegations he would bully and humiliate staff. He is also alleged to have made bizarre requests of royal employees, and would reportedly ‘scream and shout’ if they were not followed through.

In his biography, Lownie quotes one former equerry for the Queen Mother describing Andrew as a “rude, ignorant sod”. The book also claims that Andrew insisted maids in his home climb four floors of stairs just to open his curtains for him in the morning – whilst he lay right beside them.

A source is quoted as saying: “His bedtime habits as a single man left a lot to be desired, and a collection of scrunched-up, soiled tissues usually lay scattered around the bed each morning for staff to collect after they had made his bed.”

On one further occasion, Andrew is said to have brought a television technical worker to his royal home in the middle of the night, insisting the technician explain how the remote worked.

The disgraced ex-duke reportedly jetted off on an all-expenses-paid trip to France recently, courtesy of a billionaire pal from the UAE.

It’s claimed that Andrew was invited by horse breeding tycoon Mohammed A Baker to stay at his acclaimed stud farm set in a rural location close to St Malo in north-west France at the end of May.

The former prince is said to have travelled to Dinard Airport from Norwich International by private jet, paid for by Mr Baker on Saturday May 30, spending three days at the remote stable complex, before returning on the evening of Monday June 1.

During his ‘relaxing’ trip abroad, Andrew reportedly rode horses on a French beach, played boules in an historic courtyard and was lavishly entertained with meals prepared by a private chef.

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Good evening, and welcome to live coverage of the opening round at Wimbledon, with Novak Djokovic beginning his campaign on Centre Court against China’s Wu Yibing. The Serbian’s 21st tournament in SW19 marks the latest chapter in his hunt for a 25th major, with the record triumph proving elusive since he equalled Margaret Court’s tally of 24 by winning the US Open in 2023.

Djokovic has reached two grand slam tournament finals in that time, but was beaten by Carlos Alcaraz on both occasions, at Wimbledon in 2024 and at the Australian Open earlier this year. Indeed, Alcaraz has proved a significant obstacle in Djokovic’s quest for the record, winning five of the 10 majors since the Serbian’s 24th, but the world No 2 will be absent from Wimbledon this summer because of a wrist injury, certainly boosting Djokovic’s chances of an eighth title at the All England Club.

The other major obstacle has been Jannik Sinner, who has won four of the other five majors during the aforementioned period. Despite wilting in the heat in Paris last month – in the absence of rival Alcaraz – and needing five sets to come through his opening-round match this afternoon, the Italian remains the heavy favourite and Djokovic’s main threat over the next two weeks.

With Sinner’s early exit and Alcaraz’s absence from Roland Garros, Djokovic’s defeat in the third round felt like a big missed opportunity, but the 39-year-old believes he is better prepared for the third grand slam tournament of the season. “Roland Garros was physically very draining, demanding,” he said. “Three matches, all of them went almost four hours. But I’m proud of the effort.”

He added: “Anyway, I was planning to peak at Wimbledon. I knew not having any matches, official matches on the tour, going pretty much straight into Roland Garros, was going to be quite difficult. Maybe too big of a challenge for me at the moment. That’s what happened. But I knew that’s going to give me a bit more time to get myself prepared for Wimbledon. So hopefully I’ll have a good tournament here.”

The official cause of death has been given for The Ring star Daveigh Chase, who died just two weeks ago at the age of 35

The official cause of death for actress Daveigh Chase has now been confirmed. It has been revealed that she passed away as a result of AIDS.

Chase, who rose to prominence playing the sinister Samara in the horror classic The Ring, died just a fortnight ago at the age of 35. In a heartbreaking announcement, her boyfriend shed light on her secret health struggles, including a serious blood infection, reports the Daily Star.

It has now been officially confirmed that she died on June 16 as a result of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

According to the LA County Medical Examiner, Chase lost her battle with the disease following a prolonged illness. AIDS is the advanced stage of HIV, a condition that severely weakens the body’s immune system, leaving sufferers far more susceptible to further illness.

It was also determined that chronic substance abuse − involving the repeated use of multiple drugs over a period of time − was a significant contributing factor in her death. This follows her partner Roy Hernandez’s efforts to appeal to her fans to help raise funds for her care via a GoFundMe page.

Roy ultimately confirmed Chase’s passing, revealing she had been fighting an agonising health battle, contending with a number of additional conditions, including the potentially life-threatening illnesses meningitis, sepsis, and a separate blood infection.

Appealing to fans to contribute to her care, Roy wrote: “Daveigh Chase, my girlfriend, has always been a light in my life. But behind the scenes, she’s faced more than her share of hardship.

“After a difficult childhood and a painful falling out with her family, Daveigh was bullied and struggled to find safety and happiness in downtown LA,” he added. “When we met, I promised to protect her and give her the love and comfort she deserved.”

He subsequently posted: “Daveigh was diagnosed with meningitis and several serious blood infections. Her condition has become critical, and the doctors have told me she may not have much time left. All she ever wanted was a place where we could live together, feel safe, and be happy.”

Chase first rose to prominence in 2002 when she portrayed the terrifying character Samara in The Ring. She went on to appear in numerous other acclaimed productions, including cult classic Donnie Darko and the beloved Disney film Lilo and Stitch.

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Outgoing Manchester United midfielder Casemiro was hammered for his first-half display in Brazil’s clash with Japan, before things changed in the second period

Roy Keane and Lee Dixon both slammed outgoing Manchester United midfielder Casemiro for his first-half performance for Brazil, before Carlo Ancelotti’s side came from behind to defeat Japan. Kaishu Sano had given Japan the lead just before the half-time interval with a brilliant long-range effort, while the Selecao struggled to get to grips with the game in midfield.

Casemiro started the game alongside Newcastle United star Bruno Guimaraes and former West Ham United man Lucas Paqueta. Japan were good value for their lead at half-time, with Dixon calling Casemiro a shadow of his former self based on his first half performance.

On ITV co-commentary, Dixon said: “I’d be amazed if Casemiro comes out for the second half. He’s a shadow of his former self wandering around in that midfield.

“He’s just getting bypassed every time the Japanese players get the ball. He’s given the ball away three or four times, not under pressure. He’s run into two of his own players. He just seems all out of sorts.”

It was a sentiment that Keane echoed at the half-time interval in the ITV studio, taking aim at the Brazilian midfield. He said: “Yeah, it’s been a huge worry throughout the competition. I saw them in the first game against Morocco, and it cost them.

“They made a mistake earlier in the game with their midfielders getting out of position. Casemiro is already on a yellow card, and it certainly affects the decision-making in terms of closing the goal scorer down.

“Obviously, they give the ball away cheaply, but there’s still a long way to go. This is the bit that frustrates me, you see Casemiro here, and his first movement is to come out.

“He has to be backtracking and protecting the goal. He’s got to be slowing the player down because he’s an experienced player.

“It’s no good having all that experience if you’re not going to use it. Credit to the attacking midfielder Sano, very, very good [finish]. Casemiro has almost guided him to go past him.

“His first movement has got to be backtracking to slow him up and protect the middle of the goal. Well deserved, very good strike, but from Brazil’s midfield point of view, nowhere near good enough. I’ll be surprised if he comes out for the second half.”

However, Ancelotti stuck with the former Manchester United man and they reaped their rewards. The 34-year-old, who is set to join Inter Miami this summer, powered a brilliant header in at the far post, latching onto a delightful cross from Gabriel.

The match looked destined for extra time following a tense closing period, but Martinelli, introduced by Ancelotti on 66 minutes, completed the comeback after being set up by Guimaraes.

It was a cruel blow for a resilient Japan, who had been on course for their first World Cup knockout victory at the midway point of the match, but Brazil ended strongly following a sluggish first-half showing.

Japan remained disciplined throughout, sitting deep and permitting Brazil to dominate possession early on.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is now audio recording all face-to-face and telephone health assessments for PIP, Universal Credit Work Capability Assessments, ESA and IIDB as standard

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The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced that all disability and sickness benefit claimants will have their assessments recorded as standard, unless they choose to opt out. The move is designed to address widespread concerns over a lack of trust in the system.

The DWP confirmed that all face-to-face and telephone health assessments for such benefits will be audio recorded by default from Monday (June 29), in an effort to improve transparency. The change will affect those being assessed for Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Work Capability Assessments (WCA) within Universal Credit and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), and Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB).

Previously, claimants were required to opt in to having their assessments recorded, a process taken up by fewer than 3 per cent of people, according to the department. While the DWP confirmed that written reports will continue to form part of the decision-making process, it noted that audio recordings would provide a more accurate account of proceedings when required. Those who do not wish to have their assessment recorded will retain the option to opt out, reports the Daily Record.

Disability and social security minister Sir Stephen Timms said: “Improving transparency and trust in the benefits system is one of this Government’s key aims, which is why we’re making this important change. Audio recording health assessments as standard will mean we are available to make improvements and increase assessment quality, resulting in a better experience for claimants.”

Sir Stephen is heading the Timms Review, which is collecting opinions on PIP and its operation. The DWP has pledged that any modifications to the benefit, which assists more than four million people throughout England and Wales, will not take effect until the review concludes this autumn. The DWP stated the review will ensure PIP is “fit and fair for the future”.

It should be noted that any proposed legislative changes would require parliamentary debate, making it improbable that claimants will witness any reforms this year. An interim report is expected to be published before Parliament rises for summer recess on July 16.

Charles Gillies, from the MS Society, said: “Too often, a flawed PIP process leaves disabled people feeling unseen, unheard and demoralised. Many – including those with MS – find assessments stressful and lacking in transparency. So, automatically recording assessments is a positive step that should help rebuild trust.

“We need to see even more changes to improve transparency, like including clearer information in forms and award letters. The Timms review is our chance to make this happen and create a system based on fairness, dignity and respect.”