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At least four dead after Mexico City World Cup celebrations turn to chaos

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At least four people died on Wednesday during massive celebrations in Mexico City

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At least four people have died after massive World Cup celebrations held in Mexico City on Wednesday descended into chaos. 

Over a million people gathered in crowds to celebrate the country’s national team advancing to the next round at the World Cup after their victory against Ecuador on Tuesday in the city’s Azteca Stadium – sending them through to play against England on Sunday, in the same stadium. 

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Three people suffocated to death at the heart of the huge crowds, including a 19-year-old woman, a 44-year-old man and a 48-year-old woman, city health authorities said. 

A 30-year-old man also died in an epileptic crisis, officials said. 

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed ‘our solidarity and support’ for the victims’ families. 

The celebrations came after Mexico beat Ecuador to record their first World Cup knockout win since 1986, sending the co-hosts into the round of 16.

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Crowds gathered in the streets of Mexico City, mainly around the Angel of Independence monument, according to estimates by the city government.

After the final whistle, celebrations erupted alongside the city’s Reforma avenue, where thousands of Mexicans gathered for the festivities.

At least four people died on Wednesday during massive celebrations in Mexico City

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Mexican football fans react during the Round of 32 match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup between Mexico and Ecuador in Mexico City

Mexican football fans react during the Round of 32 match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup between Mexico and Ecuador in Mexico City

The health ministry said three people suffocated to death at the heart of massive crowds and a 30-year-old man also died in an epileptic crisis

The health ministry said three people suffocated to death at the heart of massive crowds and a 30-year-old man also died in an epileptic crisis

An aerial view of Mexican fans gathered along Reforma Avenue to watch the round of 32 match between Mexico and Ecuador on large screens, in Mexico City, Mexico on June 30, 2026

An aerial view of Mexican fans gathered along Reforma Avenue to watch the round of 32 match between Mexico and Ecuador on large screens, in Mexico City, Mexico on June 30, 2026

Families and groups of friends erupted in cheers, while some fans tossed others into the air amidst the roar of the crowd. 

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The scene played out across dozens of neighbourhoods, bars, and parking lots transformed into fan zones to honour an undefeated national team. 

Footage showed thousands of people gathering in the streets of Mexico’s capital, cheering, jumping and waving their country’s flag as fireworks illuminated the sky. 

Tuesday’s victory comes as a massive win for Mexico, which has lost seven consecutive times at the same stage from 1994 to 2018 and didn’t advance past the group stage in 2022.

Mexico will play another home match on Sunday against the winner of Wednesday’s match between England and Congo.

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Playing at the iconic Azteca Stadium, the Mexican squad boasts an undefeated record across 10 World Cup matches. Mexico has just two official losses at the venue – the last being a World Cup qualifying defeat to Honduras on September 6, 2013.

With the win, Mexico extended its unbeaten run to 12 games, dating back to a friendly loss against Paraguay in November.

Mexico also became the first CONCACAF side to eliminate a team from CONMEBOL in a World Cup knockout match. Teams from South America won the previous five meetings.

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Schools should teach children more about how money works

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Schools should teach children more about how money works

I recently volunteered to teach some lessons in finance to pupils at a primary school. Over six sessions, I spoke to a group of ten and eleven-year-olds about things like value, savings, cost and risk.

The talks were not meant to turn the children into investors, or to teach them to price derivatives or read corporate accounts. They were simply designed to start discussions about everyday financial choices – what it means to spend and borrow money, to compare prices and plan ahead.

I told them that money involves choices and consequences. That if we spend today, we may have less tomorrow. That if we borrow money, there are rules about paying it back. Or that if prices rise, the same amount of money buys less stuff.

These are not advanced financial concepts. They are everyday occurrences.

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The children were curious and often more financially alert than I expected them to be. They asked practical questions and responded especially strongly to examples involving everyday choices, such as saving for something they wanted or comparing prices when costs rise.

And the experience left me asking whether children should be being taught more about financial literacy at school as a vital life skill.

After all, rent, mortgages, loans, tax, pensions, savings, inflation, insurance and debt shape the lives of almost every household. A better understanding of how it all works can only be a good thing.

The issue is not that schools do nothing. Financial education already appears in parts of the curriculum in many countries, particularly through mathematics and citizenship lessons. But is this enough?

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And there is plenty of evidence to suggest that improving financial literacy should be part of any education system which hopes to prepare young people for life and work in a changing society.

A study in Brazil for example, shows that school-based financial education can improve economic proficiency. And an experiment in Peru suggests that mandatory school-based financial education is highly effective.

By contrast, if financial literacy is left mainly to families, there is evidence that inequality gets passed on. This concern is consistent with “financial socialisation theory”, which shows that children usually get their financial attitudes and habits from their parents.

Financial fix

Of course, financially literate children do not always become financially secure adults. They may still suffer from low wages, high housing costs, insecure work or regional inequality.

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But financial literacy can reduce vulnerability. Evidence from US high school education policies links exposure to personal finance education with better economic results for young adults, including fewer debt defaults and higher credit scores.

What’s it worth?
New Africa/Shutterstock

So a focus on financial education makes sense. It can help young people understand credit, compare prices, question online financial advice, recognise scams, plan savings and make more informed decisions when they start work.

Technology adds another dimension. The financial world that young people encounter is no longer limited to a bank branch or a family conversation at the kitchen table. It is embedded in platforms, apps and algorithms.

Children may be using online banking, contactless payments, subscriptions, buy-now-pay-later products and AI-generated content before they fully understand financial risk.

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Teaching young pupils about finance and accounting reminded me that children are often more capable than adults assume. They may not know the terminology, but they understand fairness, choices, value and consequence. These are the foundations of financial reasoning.

If we want more financially resilient societies, we should not wait until young people are opening their first bank account, signing their first rental contract or taking on student debt to give them a decent grounding in understanding the financial world.

It should start much earlier, and governments should be ambitious enough to make financial literacy a core part of every child’s education.

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One of the ‘world’s healthiest vegetables’ lowers cholesterol and only costs 85p from Aldi

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Daily Mirror

Different vegetables contain their own unique set of vitamins that nourish the body, warding off everything from high blood pressure to the risk of cancer

Vegetables are extraordinarily good for you, supplying the essential nutrients our bodies require to remain healthy throughout our lives. Each vegetable boasts its own distinctive range of vitamins that nourish the body, helping to protect against everything from high blood pressure to the risk of cancer.

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Certain vegetables are regarded as superfoods, meaning they are packed with compounds considered beneficial to health, such as antioxidants, fibre, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals. According to a ranking of the world’s healthiest foods, the top-placed vegetable is Swiss chard, coming in seventh overall.

Also featuring prominently on the list is green beans. Green beans are a popular side dish accompanying many meals across the UK, from pies to meat and fish.

The BBC list notes that green beans, also known as string, snap or French beans, “are rich in saponins, thought to reduce cholesterol levels,” reports Surrey Live.

Awarded a nutritional score of 54 out of 100, green beans come in at number 73 on the list.

According to WebMD, green beans are also packed with fibre, which may help boost heart health by reducing your LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) levels.

They are additionally loaded with antioxidants, including vitamin C, flavonols, quercetin, and kaempferol.

Furthermore, a single cup of fresh green beans contains approximately 25% of your recommended daily intake of vitamin C, around 15% of your recommended daily intake of vitamin A, as well as 33% of your recommended daily intake of folate.

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Shoppers can pick up a bag of green beans from Tesco or Aldi for just 85p.

The BBC’s list also features three different species of fish in its top 10.

The highest-ranking fish, coming in third place overall, is the ocean perch, a deep-water species sometimes referred to as rockfish, which is rich in protein and low in saturated fats.

The second healthiest fish on the list is flat fish.

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Royal Mail major UK-wide change to letter delivery system

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Royal Mail major UK-wide change to letter delivery system

Royal Mail will introduce the new delivery model nationwide by December, following a review of its Universal Service Obligation (USO) by communications regulator Ofcom.

A Royal Mail spokesman said: “Royal Mail plays a vital role in connecting the nation through its one-price-goes-anywhere service.

“For many years, the Universal Service Obligation has required us to collect and deliver letters to every UK address six days a week.

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“Following an extensive consultation process involving many stakeholders, Ofcom announced reforms to the Universal Service in July 2025.

“Letters remain an important means of keeping us connected but fewer are being sent these days.

“These changes to the Universal Service will help us deliver a more reliable and sustainable service for you in the future.”

Under the revised USO, second-class and non-priority letters will be delivered on alternate weekdays, Monday to Friday, with a new target of delivery within three weekdays.

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Royal Mail has started distributing leaflets to households explaining the changes, which are expected to apply to all 1,200 delivery units by the end of the year.

First-class mail will continue to be delivered six days a week, Monday through Saturday.

Regulatory targets have also been lowered.

Royal Mail will now aim to deliver 90 percent of first-class letters the next day, down from 93 percent previously.

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For second-class mail, the target drops to 95 percent delivered within three days, down from 98.5 percent.

Ofcom’s July 2025 report described the changes as essential, stating that “urgent reform is needed for the universal service to survive.”

The regulator noted that since the introduction of the six-day delivery obligation in 2011, annual letter volumes have more than halved, making the service increasingly costly to maintain.

Royal Mail has seen revenue from letters drop from £6.9 billion in 2008 to £3.7 billion.

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The company estimates the new delivery model could save between £250 million and £425 million per year.

Natalie Black, Ofcom’s group director for networks and communications, said: “These changes are in the best interests of consumers and businesses, as urgent reform of the postal service is necessary to give it the best chance of survival.

“But changing Royal Mail’s obligations alone won’t guarantee a better service and the company now has to play its part and implement this effectively.

“We’ll be making sure Royal Mail is clear with its customers about what’s happening, and passes the benefits of these changes on to them.”

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Ofcom has also launched a review into the affordability of stamp prices and plans to hold a public consultation next year.

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Coronation Street fans lash out at ‘blunder’: ‘Get your act together!’ | Soaps

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Coronation Street fans lash out at 'blunder': 'Get your act together!' | Soaps
Adam Barlow has caused quiet the stir among Corrie fans as he steps into new role (Picture: Danielle Baguley/Shutterstock)

Coronation Street fans have been left scratching their heads after spotting what they believe is a major mistake during Megan Walsh’s (Beth Nixon) upcoming trial, with many questioning how Adam Barlow (Sam Robertson) has suddenly become a barrister.

The ITV soap is gearing up for the next chapter in Megan’s dramatic storyline, which sees her finally face court following the shocking events involving Will.

Over recent weeks, viewers have watched Megan’s behaviour become increasingly disturbing, with her actions towards Will prompting many fans to brand the character ‘vile’ and even call for her to be sent to prison.

Now, with her day in court arriving, another talking point has stolen the spotlight.

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Rather than focusing solely on the outcome of the trial, viewers have instead become fixated on Adam’s role in the courtroom, with many insisting there’s one major problem.

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Adam has long been established as Weatherfield’s resident solicitor, but in the latest scenes he’s seen representing Megan in court in what appears to be the role of a barrister.

Will stands in court
The trial has got underway this week with Will taking to the stand (Picture: ITV)

The apparent switch hasn’t gone unnoticed.

One confused viewer wrote: ‘I didn’t know Adam Barlow was a barrister!’

Another quickly replied: ‘He’s not!’

Others questioned whether they’d somehow missed an important development in Adam’s career.

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‘Since when did Adam become a barrister?!!’ one fan asked, while another echoed: ‘Have I missed a chapter here, since when was Adam a barrister?’

A fourth simply pointed out: ‘Adam isn’t a barrister, he’s a solicitor.’

One viewer, who claimed to have worked in the legal profession, suggested there could be an explanation but felt it hadn’t been properly addressed on screen.

‘They are struggling through it the best they can, no Adam is not a Barrister but a solicitor who all of a sudden has become solicitor advocate,’ they wrote.

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‘When I worked in a big law firm in London we instructed Barristers, solicitors never stood in as Barristers despite the fees they charged which were eye watering.’

Shona and Adam speaking in the precinct
Viewers will be hooked as they await the verdict of the trial but it seems Adam is the current talking point (Picture: ITV/Shutterstock)

Another fan was even more critical, arguing the entire courtroom storyline lacked realism.

‘Such an unrealistic storyline. No way in the real world would a barrister be allowed to represent someone he knows, let alone go into the local boozer where the prosecutor’s family run the pub! Come on script writers, get your act together & write true to life court drama!’

While fans have labelled it a blunder, there may be more to the situation than first appears.

In England and Wales, solicitors can gain additional rights of audience and become solicitor advocates, allowing them to represent clients in higher courts. There’s also the separate route of transferring to the Bar, enabling a qualified solicitor to become a practising barrister.

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However, if either of those routes applies to Adam, Coronation Street has yet to mention it on screen, leaving many viewers confused about exactly what qualifications the character now holds.

However, a spokesperson for ITV has confirmed that Adam’s role does allow him to make representations in court. They told Metro: ‘Adam is in fact a solicitor advocate who can defend in court like a barrister. This is the same as Imran and Dee-Dee previously. Adam has the same advocate qualifications.’

They also went on to advise that ‘Solicitors in England and Wales were granted extended rights to appear as advocates in the higher courts (such as the Crown Court, High Court, and Court of Appeal) when the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 came into effect in 1994. This legislation broke the historic advocacy monopoly held by barristers.’

Ben is questioned by the prosecution at Megan's trial in Corrie
‘Have I missed a chapter here? Since when was Adam a barrister?’ (Picture: ITV)

That said, it does seem unusual for a neighbour and regular of the local pub that is ran by the prosecution to suddenly be representing someone in such a life-changing trial. It’s easy to see why viewers have been left questioning it. Of course, soaps often take a few creative liberties for the sake of the drama, so we do need to take things with a pinch of salt sometimes.

The legal debate comes as emotions continue to run high over Megan’s storyline itself.

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Viewers have become increasingly vocal in recent weeks, with many insisting Megan deserves to be jailed following her treatment of Will. Her actions have sparked fierce discussion online, with fans branding her behaviour ‘vile’ and arguing she should face the full consequences if found guilty.

As her trial unfolds, the verdict is set to have huge repercussions for everyone involved.

But for many fans, it’s Adam’s unexpected courtroom role that’s proving to be the biggest talking point of all, with viewers hoping the soap will soon clarify exactly how Weatherfield’s familiar solicitor ended up leading the defence.

Whether the show addresses the apparent career change remains to be seen, but until then, fans are convinced something doesn’t quite add up.

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Bodycare store will reopen in Bury – but not in Bolton

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Bodycare store will reopen in Bury - but not in Bolton

The shop disappeared from Britain’s high streets after administrators announced the closure of its 56 shops in September last year.

The high street beauty retailer collapsed into administration earlier in September and had not been able to secure a buyer for its chain of stores in the UK.

Administrators at advisory firm Interpath said this meant it had made the difficult decision to close them down.

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Bury’s store, at the Mill Gate Shopping Centre, had been left off previous closure lists but shut in September 2025, with Bolton’s store, in Market Place, already closed.

Savers, another health and beauty retailer, returned to the Mill Gate in March this year and saw crowds of hundreds of shoppers turn up for its opening.

Bodycare’s previous Market Place store in Bolton remains unoccupied.

Bodycare was founded in 1970 in Lancashire and sold beauty products, fragrances and other bathroom items.

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Its stores were based in shopping centres and high streets in towns and cities across the UK.

Now Bodycare has announced it will reopen in 17 locations, with 15 to open within the space of one year.

Bury’s Mill Gate is on the list, along with Blackburn and Warrington, but not Bolton.

The full list is as follows:

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–          Sheffield

–          Leicester

–          Derby

–          Brierley Hill

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–          Bradford

–          Blackburn

–          Leeds

–          Bury

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–          Livingston

–          Sunderland

–          Cwmbran

–          Gateshead

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–          Glasgow

–          Luton

–          Warrington

–          Northampton

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–          Wakefield

The retail company’s website states each store will have “its own in-store content creator studio” complete with good lighting that will be completely free to use.

The site states it is “a space to film, create, experiment, and finally make the content you’ve been dreaming about.”

Bodycare also promises it will continue to stock health and beauty essentials, along with K-beauty, fine fragrance and piercing studios.

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The remarkable moment DR Congo’s manager left stunned as press officer announces the death of his father in a press conference after England defeat

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DR Congo head coach Sebastien Desabre appeared stunned after a press officer announced the death of his father in a post-match press conference

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DR Congo head coach Sebastien Desabre has been praised for his ‘dignity and devotion’ to the national team after the death of his father was announced following their World Cup last-32 defeat by England.

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Desabre’s side had threatened to produce one of the biggest shocks of the tournament after taking an early 1-0 lead through Brian Cipenga.

England required a late Harry Kane brace to send them through to the last-16 at DR Congo’s expense.

Desabre had praised his team’s efforts in the match and during their World Cup campaign in his post-match press conference.

The press conference ended in unexpected fashion, as after confirming there were no further questions for Desabre, the DR Congo press officer then revealed the loss of his father.

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‘Thank you but we are announcing that the coach has lost his father,’ the press officer announced in French. ‘So sincere condolences.’

DR Congo head coach Sebastien Desabre appeared stunned after a press officer announced the death of his father in a post-match press conference

Desabre had reportedly been informed prior to DR Congo's last-32 tie against England, which ended in a 2-1 defeat

Desabre had reportedly been informed prior to DR Congo’s last-32 tie against England, which ended in a 2-1 defeat

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The public announcement to the media appeared to surprise Desabre, who looked towards the press officer in apparent astonishment.

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Desabre ended the press conference by thanking the journalists, before glancing again to the press officer as they stood up to leave.

Congolese journalist Stanis Bujakera Tshiamala reported following the press conference that Desabre had been informed of the loss of a ‘very close family member’ prior to the match.

Desabre was reportedly determined to lead the team in the last-32 tie, with the Frenchman being praised for his ‘devotion to Congo’.

Didier Budimbu Ntubuanga, DR Congo’s Minister of Sport, offered his condolences on social media to Desabre and praised his dignity during the World Cup.

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‘Deeply touched by the grief that strikes our coach Sébastien Desabre,’ he wrote.

‘Even in the ordeal, his dignity and professional demeanor throughout the competition command the admiration of the entire Nation. 

‘I extend my most heartfelt condolences to him and his loved ones. Much courage, coach.’

Desabre was thanked for his devotion to DR Congo after he was reportedly determined to lead the team in the match despite the loss of his father

Desabre was thanked for his devotion to DR Congo after he was reportedly determined to lead the team in the match despite the loss of his father

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Desabre had focused on the performance of his team during his press conference and praised their display against England, who he described as ‘one of the best teams in the world’.

‘We’re disappointed because we believed in it,’ Desabre said. 

‘Perhaps we lacked a bit of experience towards the end, but that’s football. We learn, we continue to progress, and we continue on our path calmly. 

‘We fought like the Congolese people. We played good football today against one of the best teams in the world. That’s what we’ll remember. 

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‘In Congo, there are good players who play with an impeccable attitude, and that’s important.’

How much is David Beckham set to pocket from his World Cup brand deals? Take on our quiz in our newsletter HERE 

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Kate welcomes the real heroes of Wimbledon: Princess of Wales surprises fans in the infamous queue who waited for hours overnight to gain entry to SW19

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The Princess of Wales helps out in the ticket office on day four of the Championships

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The Princess of Wales has wowed the Wimbledon crowds as she arrived at the Championships for the first time this year. 

Catherine, 44, smiled as she chatted to members of the public who had joined the queue for Wimbledon tickets in the early hours of this morning. 

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She also helped out as she handed out grounds passes to tennis fans, some of whom had camped overnight in Wimbledon Park. 

During her time at Wimbledon today, Kate is expected watch a match on one of the outer courts, alongside Tim Henman.

They will also be joined by chair of the All England Club Deborah Jevans. 

Kate will also meet children from Shine Camera Club, a creative photography programme which supports children from disadvantaged backgrounds. 

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As a royal patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club since 2016, Kate is a regular fixture at the prestigious tournament.

She has attended most years since 2011, missing only 2013, when she was pregnant with Prince George, and 2020, when the tournament was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Princess of Wales helps out in the ticket office on day four of the Championships

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The Princess of Wales has wowed the Wimbledon crowd as she appeared at the Championships for the first time this year

The Princess of Wales has wowed the Wimbledon crowd as she appeared at the Championships for the first time this year

As a royal patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club since 2016, Kate is a regular fixture at the prestigious tournament

As a royal patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club since 2016, Kate is a regular fixture at the prestigious tournament

Kate speaks to the crowds during her visit to the Championships today

Kate speaks to the crowds during her visit to the Championships today 

It is unclear whether she will sit in the Royal Box on Centre Court today where third seed Iga Swiatek is due to take on Karolina Pliskova in the second round of the ladies singles. 

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This will be followed by young French star Arthur Fils, 20, who is taking on Italian player Matteo Berrettini

Two-time Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina will close out play on the show court with her match against American Caty McNally. 

Kate’s appearance at the Championships today comes just days after she completed the gruelling Three Peaks Challenge on Saturday night.

She did the endurance event solo and was supported on the route by Mountain Rescue, with her family meeting her at the last stop at the base of Snowdon in Wales. 

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Kate was last at Wimbledon for the men’s final last year when she handed Jannik Sinner the Wimbledon trophy following an enthralling four-set final. 

She was joined in the Royal Box today by her husband Prince William, eldest son Prince George and Princess Charlotte but Louis stayed at home.

The Princess donned her ‘Wimbledon bow’ – a brooch featuring the tournament’s iconic colours – which it’s believed she has worn every time she has visited Wimbledon.

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Five hidden pitfalls of fitness tracking

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Five hidden pitfalls of fitness tracking

Many people in the UK now use apps, smartwatches or wearable devices to track their physical activity. Fitness trackers promise to help users become fitter, happier and healthier versions of themselves. For many people, they can be useful: a nudge to move more, a way to notice patterns, or a reminder that activity does not have to happen in a gym.

But self-tracking devices do more than record behaviour. Through prompts, defaults, streaks, badges and automated feedback, they also shape it. There is good evidence that tracking can help some people become more active. But there are also growing reports of anxiety, shame and disordered eating among people who track closely.

This raises questions about how common these harms are and why they happen, which is what I have spent the past decade researching. Here are five reasons tracking can become harmful.

1. The fixation on steps

The 10,000-step target comes from a marketing slogan for a 1960s Japanese pedometer, and has no firm scientific basis as a universal target. Researchers continue to debate the ideal number, with some pointing to around 7,000 as a more realistic and beneficial target for many adults. Yet 10,000 steps remains widely treated as a badge of good health.

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The trouble is that a single target cannot fit everyone. It can also distort what people think activity is worth. A tracker may misread wrist movement, or fail to capture cycling, swimming or strength training properly because these do not look like stepping.

This means trackers often privilege what they can easily count. Steps are visible, while strength work, mobility, Pilates, rehabilitation and recovery can appear less important, even though they may be exactly what someone needs. This can give users a skewed sense of what counts as worthwhile movement.

2. Movement loses its joy

The hardest part of becoming active is making it a habit that lasts. Chasing a target can work against that if it turns movement into a chore rather than something enjoyable. The point becomes closing a ring instead of noticing what your body can do.

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Research suggests that repeatedly failing to meet goals can lead people to abandon both the device and the habits they were trying to build. Enjoyment helps habits stick, while external metrics can erode the internal motivation to move.

So the next time you head out, try leaving the numbers alone. Take a friend, put on a podcast, or call your mum. When you feel satisfied, go home. The activity still counts, and over time it may help you reach your goals without making the numbers the only measure of success.

3. The more-is-more approach

Many devices still make “more” feel like the default measure of success. The prompts are persistent, the summaries often feel like gentle reproaches, and the clearest currency is usually steps.

What this often misses is ability, skill and context. Do you know how much exercise you need? What kind of movement might cause injury? Can you interpret your own VO2 max data? These competencies are often taken for granted, but many people have never had the chance to build them.

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Our research shows that people are most vulnerable to harm when they are left to manage with assumptions already made for them. They may hand their judgement over to the device and accept whatever it tells them. Yet the device may not know enough about whether you are recovering from illness, short on sleep, injured, newly active or pregnant to interpret today’s data safely.

4. The default user does not exist

Much of the design and marketing of these devices is aimed at a standard, average consumer. But research repeatedly shows that this person does not exist. We differ in our bodies, histories, goals and circumstances, so asking everyone to squeeze into the same mould is poor design.

The problem is the body imagined by the device: often able-bodied, non-pregnant, already confident with exercise and free to prioritise activity every day. Some defaults also follow narrow social norms, often built around male bodies, and amplify questionable ideas about health and beauty.

Think of BMI, which can penalise muscular bodies and treat perfectly healthy women’s bodies as problems to be solved. Similar assumptions can be baked into self-trackers when they nudge users towards weight loss by default or reinforce dated ideals about size and ability. At their worst, they can push some people towards over-exercising or under-eating, with real damage to body and mind.

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5. It blames you when things go wrong

Sedentary living is a society-wide problem. Yet trackers often frame inactivity as a matter of individual willpower. That can draw attention away from the conditions that shape how much people move: safe streets, time, money, caring responsibilities, disability, local facilities and access to green space.

Many people report feeling pressure from the device. When life gets in the way of their targets, they may feel shame, failure, or give up altogether.

Research shows that people use these devices for a wide range of reasons and goals. That means support and personalisation are essential to making tracking safer. Devices should account for individual goals, experience and context rather than loading all responsibility onto the user, a familiar and unfair pattern across health and social care.

Some would call these harms unintended side effects. But they are also the predictable result of design choices that reward more, simplify health into scores and treat missed targets as personal failure.

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For users, the first shift is to treat tracking as information rather than instruction. A watch can tell you what it has measured. It cannot tell you what your body needs today.

The bigger responsibility sits with developers. Trackers could place less emphasis on fixed step targets, make strength and non-step activity more visible, build in rest and recovery without guilt, and offer safer defaults for people with different bodies, abilities, health histories and goals.

None of this means abandoning the technology – it means refusing to let a made-up number decide whether movement has counted.

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Inside Erling Haaland vs Gabriel as bitter rivals take seismic spat to 2026 World Cup

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Daily Mirror

IT promises to be the biggest scrap in New York since Anthony Joshua was flattened in Madison Square Garden.

Or the titanic tussle between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier in the ‘fight of the century’ back in 1971. And the fight to see who can land the knockout blow, will captivate football fans around the world.

Erling Haaland will be in the Norwegian corner. Looking to take down his hated rival from Brazil, in the shape of Gabriel in the yellow one.

Let’s hope no punches will be thrown this time, like the ones Andy Ruiz landed on Joshua to produce one of the biggest upsets in boxing history. But the verbal ones that have been exchanged between footballing heavyweights Haaland and Gabriel in recent times, have been damaging enough. It’s safe to say there is no love lost between these two.

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The feud started in the 2024/25 season, when Haaland scored a late equaliser for Manchester City against Arsenal, then three the ball at the back of Gabriel’s head.

“What happens on the football pitch stays there,” said Haaland. “That’s just how it is. It’s a battle, a war, so it’s normal to have provocative acts in football. It’s part of the game.”

The Arsenal man was furious however and Gabriel said he would be ‘waiting” for Haaland in the return fixture at the Emirates. He then celebrated like a mad man in Haaland’s face when Arsenal thumped Pep Guardiola’s side 5-1.

“I did it (the celebration) because he threw the ball at my head, to provoke him the way he provoked me. The moment we scored, he was right next to me, so I went straight to shouting in his ear.”

A seismic spat had been spawned.

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Haaland continued it last season, singing “oh sometimes, I get a good feeling’ into the TV cameras after City had secured a huge 2-1 win over Arsenal at the Etihad. During the game, Gabriel had attempted to headbutt the City striker as things reached boiling point between the pair. He escaped a sending off when referee Anthony Taylor booked the pair instead and Haaland believed that his reaction saved his rival.

“I think it’s a red card,” he said post-match. “I think most agree with me. If I go down like any other guy, it’s a red card. It’s not something I would do. My father taught me to stay on your feet.

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“That’s the reality. Should I have gone down? Maybe. Then it would’ve been easier. But I didn’t.”

Ultimately, Gabriel waited until the end of the campaign before responding.

And he hit hard, posting a video of himself lifting the Premier League trophy to background music of the same Flo Rida song Haaland had sung a few months ago.

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The intense rivalry had now migrated from the pitch to social media. And now the footballing gods have decided to bring them back together again. This time face-to-face in New York, when the winner will book a place in the World Cup quarter finals – and the loser will go home.

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The script is one Steven Spielberg himself might be proud of. A sporting blockbuster, being played out in the Big Apple instead of Hollywood.

Haaland heads into the contest in prime shape. He has scored five goals in three games, and is hot on the heels of Lionel Messi in the race to win the Golden Boot.

Haaland has also found the back of the net in his last 13 competitive games, scoring 25 in total.

But Gabriel remains the rock around which Brazil’s defence is built. He might have missed the penalty which cost Arsenal the Champions League title in Budapest last month, but he has showed no signs of bringing a hangover to North America.

Whether Haaland likes it or not, Gabriel is one of the best centre backs on the planet. But then again, Haaland is one of the best strikers. If not THE best.

So buckle up to witness the collision between the irresistible force and immovable object. Something will have to give.

And the chances are that whoever blinks first, will get to hear about it from the person who made him do it.

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Pilot’s diary revealed intent before Beijing tower crash

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Pilot's diary revealed intent before Beijing tower crash

BEIJING (AP) — The pilot who flew a small plane into Beijing’s tallest building last week wrote in his diary about “ending his life,” Chinese authorities said Thursday.

Their investigation concluded that the cause of last Friday’s crash was “personal reasons,” according to a statement posted on social media by Beijing’s Chaoyang district government.

The pilot, a 66-year-old man, died and 13 other people were injured. None of the injuries are life-threatening and one of the injured has been discharged, the government statement said.

The crash, which happened in a downtown skyscraper district as people were leaving work around 6 p.m., raised questions about security in the Chinese capital. It left a hole in the glass facade of the 108-story CITIC tower, nicknamed the “Zun” building because it mimics the shape of an ancient wine vessel of that name.

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The pilot, identified only by the surname Liu, first flew with someone else in the two-seat training plane, then took off on a solo flight from a general aviation airport in the outskirts of Beijing, the Chaoyang statement said. He deviated from the planned flight path and contact with him was lost, it said.

Liu had no fixed job, was divorced and lived alone, according to the statement. He had insomnia and anxiety and his diary had multiple references to ending his life, it said.

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