A Tibetan protester filmed himself as he fatally set himself on fire outside the United Nations building in New York City on Thursday.
Palden Lobsang, 52, shared the video, capturing him dressed in full monastic garb as he walked to the corner of 42nd Street and First Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, carrying a Tibetan flag and casually self-immolating, sources told the Daily Mail.
Advertisement
He then stood in the middle of the intersection, throwing flyers that read ‘China out of Tibet’ and ‘Free Tibet’ before cars passed him by.
After about a minute, Lobsang could be seen collapsing to the ground still on fire, and soon two security officers could be seen rushing to the intersection to extinguish the fire.
Meanwhile, a woman who stumbled onto the scene appeared to have called 911.
Officers from the 17th Precinct arrived about five minutes after the video began, with a fire truck arriving roughly two minutes later.
Advertisement
The first responders found Lobsang badly burned and attempted life saving measures before rushing him to Bellevue Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 7.04pm, sources said.
The video ended with officers taking the device he was filming on into custody.
But the Tibetan flag he had planted into the ground remained there for about an hour as officers investigated the scene, the New York Post reports.
Advertisement
Palden Lobsang, 52, filmed himself as he set himself on fire outside the United Nations building in New York City on Thursday
Lobsang, who has lived in the United States for about 20 years, had earlier shared pictures of himself sitting outside the Cipriani event venue carrying New York City tourism bags
Lobsang, an Uber driver has lived in the United States for about 20 years, had earlier shared pictures of himself sitting outside the Cipriani event venue carrying New York City tourism bags.
He also shared online the flyers he would later throw into the busy intersection.
Advertisement
A fellow Uber driver said he knew Lobsang from gatherings in New York City’s Tibetan community, and noted that his friend was enraged by the restrictions the Chinese government placed on his people.
‘They have to speak the Mandarin language; they must learn Chinese. They must read that literature; they cannot learn anything else,’ the friend told AMNY. ‘That’s the main thing he was worried about.
‘I am emotionally so sad,’ he added. ‘He should not have done that.’
The ‘Free Tibet’ movement challenges China’s sovereignty over the region.
Advertisement
Tibet had functioned with de facto autonomy and maintained its own distinct administration prior to the Chinese Community Party’s rise to power.
But when the People’s Liberation Army moved into the region, China took control of the region under the Seventeen Point Agreement in May 1951 – an accord that sought to establish a peaceful transition.
Lobsang threw flyers reading ‘Free Tibet’ while he was on fire
The ‘Free Tibet’ movement challenges China’s sovereignty over the region
Advertisement
The ‘Free Tibet’ movement’s goal is now to recapture sovereignty for the Tibet Autonomous Region, marked by the restoration of power to the Dalai Lama, the highest spiritual leader in Tibetan Buddhism.
‘Many of the protesters have shouted slogans while on fire, including calling for the Dalai Lama’s long life and his return to Tibet, for the Panchen Lama to be freed and for human rights and freedom in Tibet,’ the movement’s official website notes.
‘Severe punishments are handed out to those accused of assisting or encouraging the protesters or sharing information abroad.’
Yet the movement gained international visibility in the 1990s through the Tibetan Freedom Concerts in the US, which featured prominent bands like U2, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Rage Against the Machine.
Advertisement
Share or comment on this article:
Terrifying moment Tibetan protester sets himself on FIRE outside United Nations building in NYC
World Cup Breakfast: Cristiano Ronaldo makes more history in dramatic Croatia clash, Hollywood power couple enjoy Spain win, match highlights – and what to look out for
Hello and welcome to Daily Mail Sport’s World Cup Breakfast from day 22 at the tournament – your one-stop shop for everything you’ve missed overnight in North America.
For all the latest news, viral moments and what to look out for, stay right here.
OVERNIGHT ACTION
Switzerland 2-0 Algeria
Switzerland won their first World Cup knockout game for a staggering 88 years.
Advertisement
The 20-year-old Johan Manzambi again lit up a match in this tournament, with the Newcastle-linked rising star producing a sensational run to tee up Breel Embolo’s opening goal just 10 minutes in.
They then landed the killer blow on Algeria 48 seconds after half-time when Nottingham Foreststar Dan Ndoye took advantage of dreadful defending to slot home. Vladimir Petkovic then held their opponents at a distance to see out a thoroughly professional win.
Switzerland will remain in Vancouver for the third successive game and face a winnable tie against either Colombia or Ghana in the last 16.
Advertisement
Your browser does not support iframes.
The 20-year-old Swiss star Johan Manzambi (right) again impressed for his country
Advertisement
Portugal 2-1 Croatia
A forgettable first half was followed by a second 45 full of chaos, drama and heartbreak as Portugal progressed to the last 16.
Ivan Perisic put Croatia in front shortly after the restart before Cristiano Ronaldo – who was later substituted – finally scored his first World Cup knockout goal from the penalty spot following a VAR intervention.
It was far from the last involvement from the VAR, however. Goncalo Ramos netted a superb header in stoppage time but Croatia thought they had forced another 30 minutes as the clock struck 103 when Josko Gvardiol steered home at the back post, only for the referee to be sent to the monitor because of a possible offside.
Advertisement
Espen Eskas then confirmed Luka Modric and Co’s worst nightmare. Mario Pasalic was adjudged to have got a touch on the ball by the new ‘Snicko’ technology while in an offside position before Gvardiol’s finish and the goal was ruled out, breaking their hearts and sending Ronaldo’s men through to a crunch last-16 clash with Spain.
The Snickometer, more commonly used in sports like cricket, detects any motion or impact to judge contact on the Adidas Trionda ball which has a microchip that feeds information back to the VAR booth. FIFA have been using it since 2022.
The Snickometer in the ball was used to detect the faintest of touches by the Croatia player, meaning his team-mate was in an offside position so the late goal was ruled out by VAR
VIEW FROM THE GROUND
Advertisement
The World Cup will be overtaken by celebrations for America’s 250th birthday this weekend. Here in Dallas, the FIFA flags on the Main Street lampposts are now dwarfed by those promoting a 250th anniversary Block Party, crash barriers for which are also already in place.
The World Cup does not suddenly become an irrelevance, though. Its timing is propitious at a time when the columnists and commentators are reflecting on exactly what the US is celebrating on this anniversary. Last Sunday’s New York Times opinion section cover story posed that very question – ‘What are we celebrating?’ – and the main piece, by Thomas L Friedman, argued that ‘brotherhood’ has been, or at least should be, the ultimate ambition of these United States. Bigger than wealth or cities or production or wealth.
It’s been so hard to discern that ambition under a Trump administration which has divided so many and sowed such discord among people and nations. It would be naive to make too many claims on a football competition, whose sustaining benefits can be short-lived, but this World Cup of many nations, continents, colours and people has brought the same spirit of unity and humanity that it always does. ‘With brotherhood, everything is possible. Without it, nothing good is sustainable,’ Friedman wrote. For these few brief weeks, the World Cup has reminded us of that.
By Ian Herbert
Advertisement
The World Cup will be overtaken by celebrations for America’s 250th birthday this weekend
Hollywood superstars Penelope Cruz and her husband Javier Bardem would have been delighted with what they saw as they took in Spain’s victory over Austria in Los Angeles.
Cruz, 52, and Bardem, 57, were both born in Spain and were spotted looking rather happy with their nation’s performance while sitting in the VIP section of the SoFi Stadium.
The Oscar-winning duo, who married in 2010, may yet be smiling on July 19 with Spain among the favourites to lift the trophy – although they are on formidable France’s side of the draw.
PS: Did you know Bardem played for the Spanish national rugby team at a junior level throughout his youth.
Advertisement
Hollywood couple Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem watched as Spain beat Austria in LA
VIRAL MOMENT OF THE DAY
Drake curse, what Drake curse?
The 39-year-old Canadian musician and mogul was in the stands supporting Portugal in his home city of Toronto.
The teams Drake supports, has bet on or publicly backed have an uncanny knack of losing, no matter which sport he leans into.
Advertisement
And with his flag planted firmly in the Cristiano Ronaldo corner, surrounded by friends in Portugal shirts, Roberto Martinez’s men would have been forgiven for feeling slightly uneasy.
But they need not have been worried, Drake was seen celebrating Ronaldo’s goal with his signature ‘where she at’ gesture in footage that went viral online after he was shown on the big screen and the Portuguese are safely through.
Drake was seen celebrating Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal for Portugal against Croatia
PICTURE OF THE DAY
Advertisement
Portugal boss Roberto Martinez finally heeded the cries and urges from fans by substituting Cristiano Ronaldo. Safe to say the 41-year-old star wasn’t exactly happy about the decision.
Cristiano Ronaldo reacts to being taken off 10 minutes from time in Portugal’s win over Croatia
STAT OF THE DAY
Cristiano Ronaldo is no stranger to making history. The 41-year-old Portuguese superstar is already the all-time leading men’s international goalscorer, and became the first player to find the net at six World Cups during the tournament in north America.
Advertisement
Ronaldo is now also the oldest to ever feature and score in the World Cup knockout stages, at 41 years and 147 days, after starting the match against Croatia and finding the net from the spot.
According to his sister, Katia Aveiro, the Al-Nassr star is set to retire from international football after the tournament. He still has a chance to go out in style after Portugal’s dramatic win over Croatia.
Cristiano Ronaldo became the oldest player to feature in a World Cup knockout match
THREE THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR TODAY
Advertisement
1. Will Egypt’s talisman Mo Salah be fit to face Australia?
Fans back in Egypt would have grimaced at the sight of the former Liverpool star being forced off with a hamstring injury in the draw with Iran.
Salah did not look comfortable as he sat with an ice pack on the bench and has been assessed in recent days. Reports in Egypt suggest he will start against Australia but his exact condition remains to be seen.
Egypt’s supporters, both at home and those who have travelled to north America, will be desperately hoping to see Salah line up for the anthems before kick-off. Without him, beating the plucky Aussies will be a whole lot harder.
Advertisement
Egypt are sweating on the fitness of star man Mo Salah, who went off injured against Iran
2. The Cape Verde fairytale continues
Few stories have been as heartwarming as African minnows Cape Verde reaching the knockout stages against all the odds.
Cape Verde progressed from a group including European champions Spain and South American giants Uruguay but the tests don’t come tougher than Lionel Messi’s Argentina.
Advertisement
Bookies have priced Cape Verde as long as 16/1 to cause what would be one of the greatest World Cup upsets in history and continue their fairytale story. Unlikely, of course, but the reigning world champions should not take them lightly.
3. Messi mania in Miami
Hordes of fans follow Lionel Messi everywhere he goes but fewer places in the world can claim to love the Argentinian star as much as Miami.
Messi returns to the city where he plays his club football for the last-32 clash with Cape Verde, with Inter Miami owner David Beckham set to be among those in the stands to watch the 39-year-old.
Advertisement
Security has been beefed up and extra police laid on in anticipation of chaos in the city as people aim to get a glimpse of one of the greatest ever.
Miami is braced for Lionel Messi mania as the Argentinian star returns to the city where he plays his club football
TODAY’S GAMES
Australia vs Egypt (Dallas, BBC One, 7pm)
Advertisement
Both sides head into the match in Dallas targeting a first victory in the knockout stage of a World Cup.
The Socceroos have lacked an attacking threat in their performances so far, relying on defensive solidity and counter-attacks in finishing second in Group D.
Egypt went unbeaten in reaching the last 32 and will be confident of carrying on their historic run, even if Australia sit just two places below them in the FIFA world rankings. An intriguing contest awaits.
Prediction: Egypt win
Advertisement
Argentina vs Cape Verde (Miami, ITV, 11pm)
The World Cup holders are huge favourites to progress but Cape Verde proved in the group stage that they can be a tough nut to crack.
Messi will not only be hoping to take his country a step closer to retaining their crown but he also has his eye on the Golden Boot – a prize, remarkably, that he has never won.
The Argentinian hero has six goals so far and sits joint-top of the standings with Kylian Mbappe, whose superb double in France’s win over Sweden moved him level with Messi, with Erling Haaland and Harry Kane one back on five.
Advertisement
Prediction: Argentina win
Colombia vs Ghana (Kansas City, ITV, 2:30am)
Hasn’t the first knockout round flown by? The final tie is another interesting encounter, pitting the South Americans – who topped their group ahead of Portugal – against the side that troubled England last week.
Colombia have grown into the tournament and will fancy their chances of reaching the last 16, with Switzerland lying in wait.
Advertisement
Ghana showed their resilience and fortitude in holding England to a draw and could frustrate Colombia, who will expect to remain on course for a tasty quarter-final with Argentina by beating the African side in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Three men have today been cleared of the murder of Lyra McKee.
Paul McIntyre, 58, Peter Cavanagh, 38 and Jordan Gareth Devine, 25, have been found not guilty in a non-jury trial at Belfast Crown Court.
As the verdict was delivered, the sister of Miss McKee, 29, who was shot and killed while watching riots in Londonderry in April 2019, said the justice system had ‘completely failed’ her family.
Advertisement
Three men have today been cleared of the murder of Lyra McKee
Paul McIntyre, 58, Peter Cavanagh, 38 and Jordan Gareth Devine, 25, (left to right) have been found not guilty in a non-jury trial at Belfast Crown Court
Lyra McKee (circled) within the crowd watching a protest in Londonderry just before she was shot
The gun that police recovered in Northern Ireland, which was used to kill journalist Lyra
Advertisement
Ms McKee died after being hit by a bullet as she stood close to police vehicles while observing disturbances in the Creggan area of the city.
Several petrol bombs had been directed at police and a car was set on fire during chaotic scenes which culminated in four shots being fired towards officers.
The New IRA claimed responsibility for the death of Ms McKee.
Speaking outside Belfast Crown Court, her sister Nichola Corner said: ‘Today has come as a complete and utter shock to us as a family.’
Advertisement
She added: ‘The system has completely failed Lyra and has failed our family, and has failed Northern Ireland, to be perfectly honest.’
Ms Corner said: ‘There is also a situation which is ongoing in our country and has been for many years, and that people are afraid to speak out, they are afraid to tell the truth, they are afraid to share information that they have
‘Over 150 people witnessed this event on the 18th of April 2019.
‘Not one of those 150 people came forward with evidence.
Advertisement
‘That culture of silence needs to stop in Northern Ireland, it is unfair to victims.’
Ms McKee died during what the prosecution termed a ‘culmination of orchestrated violence’ on a suburban street in Londonderry.
She had been among a number of people watching the disorder on Fanad Drive on the evening of April 18 in 2019 that followed petrol bombs being thrown at a passing police car in the area of the Creggan shops on April 16.
The rioting is said to have been a response by dissident republicans to police activity in which homes were searched.
Advertisement
It was during the Easter period when all shades of Irish republicanism mark the anniversary of the 1916 Rising: the Dublin uprising credited as a key step in the south of Ireland gaining independence from the UK.
A television crew, including British presenter Reggie Yates, had been filming in the area with the republican organisation Saoradh for a documentary for MTV.
After filming around several Londonderry locations in the morning, they left the area before the shooting happened.
The trial of three men who were found not guilty of Ms McKee’s murder by intentionally encouraging or assisting the gunman on a joint enterprise basis, heard that the shots were fired by a masked man standing at the corner of Fanad Drive and the southern part of Central Drive.
Advertisement
Following the fourth shot, screaming began.
As the gunman was seen retreating down Central Drive, Ms McKee was rushed to hospital in a police Land Rover, but was confirmed dead just after she arrived.
Her death sparked widespread outrage and led to pressure being exerted on politicians to break an impasse and start talks to restore the then suspended power-sharing institutions at Stormont.
Former Irish president Michael D Higgins, then prime minister Theresa May and former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar were among the mourners who attended her funeral.
Advertisement
Originally from Belfast, Ms McKee had only recently moved to Londonderry before she was killed, to live with her partner Sara Canning.
She had tweeted about the ‘absolute madness’ in Londonderry in the hours before she was shot dead.
Ms McKee rose to prominence in 2014 after a blog post called ‘Letter to my 14-year-old self’ in which she spoke about the struggle of growing up gay in Belfast.
CCTV video released by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) in 2019 shows a suspect (circled) wanted in connection with the death of Belfast journalist Lyra McKee
Advertisement
Specialist officers collect evidence at the scene
In subsequent years, her letter was turned into a short film, she became a published author and she had signed a two-book deal with Faber & Faber, as well as appearing in domestic and international publications.
Named as one of the ’30 under 30 in media’ by Forbes Magazine in 2016, Ms McKee was cited for her passion of ‘digging into topics that others don’t care about’.
She was killed just weeks before her book, Angels With Blue Faces, was due to be published.
Advertisement
The non-fiction book was about the Troubles-era cold case murder of South Belfast MP Rev Robert Bradford.
She had also been an editor for California-based news site Mediagazer, a trade publication covering the media industry.
The National Union of Journalists described Ms McKee as one of the most promising journalists in Northern Ireland.
She was also regarded as a hero to many in the LGBT community in Northern Ireland.
Advertisement
Public outrage over her death placed immense pressure on politicians to break a two-year political deadlock at Stormont, at a time when the devolved powersharing institutions were suspended.
Lyra McKee was shot at a protest where guns were fired and petrol bombs were thrown
The reaction to her killing helped kickstart political talks in 2019 as part of a bid to break the stalemate.
Paying tribute at Ms McKee’s funeral, her sister Nichola Corner said: ‘We have the power to create the kind of society that Lyra envisioned.
Advertisement
‘One where labels are meaningless.
‘One where every single person is valued.
‘One where every single child gets the chance to grow up and to make their dreams come true.’
She added: ‘In the words of Lyra herself, we must change our own world one piece at a time, now let’s get to work.’
Weight-loss drug semaglutide could be prescribed to people with a serious form of fatty liver disease under new guidance announced today.
The medication – sold for weight loss under the brand name Wegovy – has been approved by the MHRA to treat metabolic-associated steatohepatitis, or MASH.
MASH develops when excess fat builds up in the liver, triggering inflammation and scarring. It is more common in people who are obese, have type 2 diabetes or have high levels of fat in the blood.
Under the new guidance, semaglutide can be prescribed to adults with MASH who have moderate to advanced liver fibrosis – scarring of the liver caused by the condition.
Advertisement
Julian Beach, Executive Director of Healthcare Quality and Access at the MHRA, said: ‘The available evidence indicates that semaglutide is a safe and effective treatment option for patients with MASH.
‘As with all GLP-1 receptor agonists, this is a prescription-only medication and should only be taken in consultation with a doctor.’
However, patients with MASH cannot currently get semaglutide on the NHS specifically to treat the condition.
NICE is still assessing whether the drug is clinically effective and cost-effective enough to be offered routinely as a treatment for MASH. Until that decision is made, it will not be available on the NHS for this use.
Advertisement
Fatty liver disease is now one of the fastest-growing health problems globally
The approval is also conditional, meaning regulators want more evidence before granting full marketing authorisation. Further results are expected from an ongoing study in adults with MASH and moderate to advanced liver scarring.
Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist and is prescribed alongside diet and exercise. It works by mimicking a hormone released after eating, helping people feel fuller for longer, reducing cravings and supporting weight loss.
Advertisement
Semaglutide is already authorised for weight management in adults and adolescents, and for reducing the risk of cardiovascular events in adults.
Treatment usually starts at a low dose of 0.25mg once a week, before gradually increasing to 0.5mg, 1mg and 1.7mg, with patients spending around four weeks on each dose. The usual maintenance dose is 2.4mg once weekly.
For patients with obesity, defined as a BMI over 30, the dose may be increased to 7.2mg once weekly after at least four weeks on the 2.4mg dose.
The MHRA said it will review new information on semaglutide at least once a year, and update the product information if needed.
Advertisement
As with all medicines, the regulator will continue to monitor the drug’s safety and effectiveness. The most common side effects are gastrointestinal problems, including nausea, diarrhoea, constipation and vomiting.
Anyone who thinks they may be experiencing side effects is advised to speak to a doctor, pharmacist or nurse, and report them through the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.
Liver disease is one of the fastest-growing causes of death in the UK, and often develops silently, leaving many unaware until serious and sometimes irreversible damage has already occurred.
Incidents of the disease have soared in recent decades, with deaths increasing more than fourfold since the 1970s – even as outcomes for many other major illnesses have improved.
Advertisement
While it is often linked to alcohol, experts warn growing numbers of cases are being driven by obesity, diabetes and poor diet – meaning millions of non-drinkers could also be at risk.
Advertisement
One of the biggest challenges is that symptoms can take years to appear. By the time the condition is diagnosed, patients may already have significant scarring of the liver, known as cirrhosis, or even liver failure or cancer.
The announcement comes shortly after a tablet form of the medication became available in the UK.
Today Superdrug announced it would be selling the pill for a little as £79 per month.
Around 2.5million adults in the UK are thought to be using fat-busting jabs such as Wegovy and Mounjaro, but the arrival of the new pill has opened the door for millions more.
Advertisement
On average, the lowest dose of the once-weekly injection – 0.25mg – costs between £80 and £140 per month in the UK.
Trial results of the new pill, which is taken daily, found that patients lost around 17 per cent of their body weight after 64 weeks on the highest dose, 25mg.
This means it is slightly less effective than the jabs, which tend to trigger up to a 20.7 per cent reduction.
Superdrug is currently stocking the pill at doses of 1.5mg and 4mg, with higher doses at 9mg and 25mg coming soon.
Advertisement
What is fatty liver disease?
MASLD, NAFLD and fatty liver disease are different names for the same condition.
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a long-lasting liver condition caused by having too much fat in the liver.
It is closely linked with being overweight as well as conditions such as type 2 diabetes and heart and circulatory disease.
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH, previously called NASH) is a more serious stage of MASLD.
Advertisement
In a small number of people it can lead to liver cancer or liver failure.
The main treatment is eating a well-balanced diet, being physically active and (if needed) losing weight.
Research shows these can reduce liver fat and in some cases reverse MASLD.
Wales are set to take on Fiji in front of a crowd of around 16,000 at Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday.
The game is a designated Fiji home match and will be played at the capital city’s football ground instead of the Principality Stadium.
Just under 16,000 tickets are believed to have been sold so far at the venue, which has a capacity of 33,280. There could yet be a strong walk-up crowd on the day but, as things stand, the stadium’s upper Ninian Stand, which holds 5,338 fans, will not even be open.
Fiji are playing all of their Nations Championship “home” fixtures in the UK this summer, with further Test matches against England at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium and Scotland at Murrayfield. The Principality Stadium was not chosen by Fiji for the match, with summer concerts at the venue also a factor.
The stadium is used by the Wales football team for home matches, often selling out for big matches, although low crowds have been seen for friendlies. A crowd of just 11,806 attended last month’s fixture against Ghana.
Fiji have brought a star-studded squad to Cardiff with the likes of Semi Radradra, Josua Tuisova, Jiuta Wainiqolo and Salesi Rayasi in their ranks.
Advertisement
The stadium is set to be “transformed” to mark the fact this is a home match for Fiji, with a number of cultural activities designed to showcase the traditions, heritage and hospitality of the nation to supporters.
Outside the stadium, the official Fan Zone will feature an authentic Fijian Village, complete with traditional bures, the iconic thatched houses found throughout the islands.
Tickets for the match are on sale for between £25 and £65 for adults, and £10 for under-17s.
The new biennial Nations Championship will see the top 12 teams in the world play each other for the chance of coming out on top at the end of the year.
Advertisement
At the conclusion of Saturday’s opener against Fiji, Steve Tandy’s side will face Argentina in Santa Fe and world champions South Africa in Durban.
Then, in the autumn, they take on Japan, Australia and New Zealand at the Principality Stadium.
There will then be a finals day at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, the following weekend.
LONDON (AP) — Three men were acquitted of murder Friday in the killing of Belfast journalist Lyra McKee, who was shot by a member of a dissident Irish Republican Army splinter group while covering a 2019 riot in Northern Ireland.
Justice Patricia Smyth issued not guilty verdicts after a nonjury trial in Belfast Crown Court that was held intermittently over the past two years.
McKee, 29, was shot while standing near law enforcement officers observing an anti-police riot in Londonderry, also known as Derry, on April 18, 2019. Protesters had tossed fire bombs at police and torched a car before four shots rang out and a bullet fired by a masked gunman struck McKee.
The New IRA, a small paramilitary group that opposes Northern Ireland’s peace process, said its members accidentally shot the reporter while aiming at police.
Advertisement
McKee wrote about the challenges faced by the generation of “cease-fire babies” raised after the 1998 Good Friday peace accord ended three decades of sectarian violence. She was becoming an influential voice chronicling the legacy of the years of paramilitary violence carried out by Irish nationalists and supporters of remaining part of the U.K.
The prime ministers of Britain and Ireland and political leaders from Northern Ireland’s Protestant and Catholic communities were among the hundreds who attended her funeral and her death helped feuding politicians revive Northern Ireland’s power-sharing government, which had collapsed in 2017.
No one was ever charged with pulling the trigger in her killing but three other men, Paul McIntyre, 58, Peter Cavanagh, 37, and Jordan Gareth Devine, 25, were charged with murder as accomplices for encouraging or assisting the shooter.
Defense lawyers said the circumstantial evidence in the case was not sufficient to convict the men.
Shortly before 7am, officers were called after reports that a man had been approached by two males whilst sitting in his vehicle on Derby Street.
The men have now been named as Jordan O’Reilly, 20, of Stand Lane, Radcliffe, who was charged with robbery, dangerous driving, disqualified driving, driving without insurance, two counts of assault by beating an emergency worker, and two counts of common assault on an emergency worker.
The second suspect, Koby Boateng, 30, of Market Street, Whitworth, has been charged with robbery and possession of cannabis.
It is alleged that the victim was assaulted before two men stole his car and made off from the scene, police say.
Advertisement
The pair were later spotted on Ringley Road, Bury (Image: Google Maps)
A stolen vehicle was subsequently detected by ANPR cameras on Ringley Road, Bury, at 7.50am and was later spotted by officers from Greater Manchester Police Special Operations Patrols Unit at 8.08am.
At approximately 8.11am, the vehicle collided with another vehicle, causing damage to both cars.
Officers believe that multiple vehicles may have been damaged by the offending vehicle during the incident and subsequent pursuit.
The pair were due for a first hearing at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, July 2.
Wetherspoon, Greene King and Fullers have confirmed which of their pubs will be open until 5am on Monday morning as the country braces for England’s massive World Cup match in Mexico
Sir Keir Starmer handed pubs, bars and football fans a major last-minute boost on Thursday when he announced that licensing hours will be extended until 5am for England’s World Cup knockout match against Mexico.
Advertisement
The outgoing Prime Minister cut through local bureaucratic red tape by completely removing the requirement for individual venues to apply for special council permissions or Temporary Event Notices. That gave the green-light for hundereds of boozers to open into the small hours.
The nation won’t get much shut-eye as they soak in the high-stakes last 16 match at the iconic Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, with the game kicking off at 1am UK time. But thousands of pubs are expected to remain closed – and Three Lions fans must plan ahead if they want to catch the action on a big screen.
As police chiefs prepare for trouble as they scramble to respond to the Government’s last-minute announcement, football fans are plotting where to watch the game as Thomas Tuchel’s side bid to make the quarter-finals with their toughest assignment yet against the so-far flawless Mexicans.
Advertisement
Only five of Wetherspoon’s 800 pubs are throwing open their doors, but 600 of Greene King’s 2,600 venues will welcome punters. A range of independent pubs have said they will stay open, though, alongside selected venues from chains including Boxpark, Young’s and Fuller, Smith & Turner.
Here are all of the pubs across the UK so-far confirmed to be open for the England vs Mexico game on Monday morning:
The aim is to sign up more than 100,000 people, with daily stats recorded digitally.
If the target is hit, Sir Brendan says it would count as the biggest marathon in history.
He hopes streak culture, the habit forming behaviour as seen on Snapchat and Duolingo, will help people stick with the challenge.
The health benefits, and potential NHS savings, will also be significant.
Advertisement
“If someone walks 30 minutes five times a week, they could gain up to four extra years of healthy life,” he says.
Sonia Pombo, head of research and impact at Action on Salt & Sugar, says: “Encouraging people to build regular movement into their daily lives can support better health, and making it simple, achievable and rewarding may help more people get started.
“But we cannot rely on individual behaviour change alone. If the government is serious about improving the nation’s health, particularly for children, it must pair initiatives like this with stronger prevention measures.”
Full details of the voucher scheme will be released in the coming months, along with information on how to sign up.
Sultani Bakatash, 29, denied raping both 14-year-old girls after taking them to his flat at Georgina Court in Middle Hulton in December last year.
At a trial before Bolton Crown Court, he claimed that no sexual contact had taken place between him and them.
Giving evidence through a Dari interpreter earlier in the trial, Bakatash described meeting the first of the two girls outside McDonald’s on Knowsley Street.
This was around three months before the rapes took place.
Advertisement
He said: “She said she was 19 but the lady who was with her uttered something along the lines of 15 or 16 and that’s why I refused.”
The trial took place at Bolton Crown Court (Image: Phil Taylor)
Bakatash told the court he had worked for the UK military for seven years in Afghanistan before coming to the UK in 2022.
He then eventually settled in Bolton.
Bakatash said: “The reason for coming here was the coming of the Taleban.
Advertisement
“In their presence I could not live there so I came here.”
But evidence given to the jury by the two girls described how he had met them in a churchyard near Bolton Station on that day in December.
He then took them via an Uber taxi to buy alcohol before taking them back to his flat.
This, prosecutor Charlotte Rimmer said, was when he “seized the opportunity to rape and abuse them.”
Advertisement
Both girls gave evidence from behind a screen as Bakatash looked on earlier in the trial.
One of the girls was asked by Umar Shazhad, defending if she had lied about the sexual assault claimed because she had been out after her curfew and had been reported missing.
She said: “Why would I make it up?”
She added: “Just because I’m missing doesn’t mean I’m going to make something up about sexual assault.”
Advertisement
After just two hours of deliberation, the jury of six men and six women found Bakatash, of Georgina Court, Middle Hulton, guilty of two counts of rape of a girl under 16.
They also convicted him of one count of sexual assault and two counts of assault by penetration.
Judge Kenderick Horne ordered that he be brought back before the court to be sentenced on September 9 this year.
Speaking after the hearing, Jo Service, for the Crown Prosecution Service said: “In this deeply concerning case, Sultani Bakatash subjected two teenage girls to a frightening sexual ordeal.
Advertisement
“He plied the girls with alcohol before raping and sexually assaulting them when they were too intoxicated to resist.
“In pursuit of his own sexual gratification, he gave no thought to the lifelong harm the abuse could have on his victims.
“I would like to thank the victims for supporting the prosecution and I hope they can find comfort in knowing that because of their support, we have been able to bring Bakatash to justice.”
Police have criticised the timing of the government’s decision to let pubs stay open until 05:00 BST on Monday for England’s World Cup match against Mexico.
The National Police Chiefs’ Council said the “late announcement” meant officers would have to be taken away from other duties and work longer hours, even though the team’s likely route through the tournament “has been known for a considerable time”.
It asked fans to be “considerate” and “drink within sensible limits” while watching the crucial last-16 match in which the losing team will be eliminated.
The government has said a previous relaxing of licensing laws for the tournament had not covered the eventuality of England playing so late.
Advertisement
A Downing Street spokeswoman said that after England’s progression was confirmed on Wednesday evening, the government “announced plans as quickly as possible following this”.
The spokeswoman added: “And more broadly, we have engaged with policing partners throughout preparations for the World Cup and we are grateful for their flexibility and professionalism throughout.”
Kick-off for the knock-out game is not until 01:00 in the UK and the match is not expected to end until at least 03:00. It could finish even later if it goes to penalties.
Knock-out games in previous tournaments have led to an increase in violent incidents and domestic abuse, the policing body said.
Advertisement
“This is directly linked to alcohol consumption,” the NPCC’s football and alcohol policing leads said in a joint statement.
“We will continue to work with partners and venues to support a safe and enjoyable evening for everyone.”
Licensing hours had already been extended for the international football tournament and the government had initially said it would not relax the laws further.
But late on Thursday, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said pubs could remain open until the end of the game.
Advertisement
Local Government Secretary Steve Reed told broadcasters the previous measures “hadn’t covered the eventuality of England playing so late in the night”, adding it was “one of the fastest changes in the law that we’ve seen”.
England was not guaranteed to play in Monday’s match, only earning a place in the round of 16 after beating DR Congo 2-1 on Wednesday.
The hospitality sector welcomed the government’s decision. Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, said: “We all know the best place to watch the match is down the local.”
Michael Kill, chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association, said it was “fantastic news” that would be “hugely welcomed by operators”.
Advertisement
Pub chain Greene King has said more than 600 pubs across England will be staying open late to show the match, while Marston’s has said more than 400 of its pubs will also be open.
Priyesh Bathia, who runs the Elephant and Barrel pub in Stockwell, south London, and said he is “so thankful” for the late licensing on Monday.
“I’m really excited,” he added, and said so far they have had between 100-150 people book tables for the game.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login