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Cambridgeshire residents warned of fake parking fine scam

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Cambridgeshire Live

A warning was issued by a council on Friday, July 3

Officials at a Cambridgeshire council have warned residents about text messages which falsely claim that people have been issued with a parking fine. Huntingdonshire District Council shared a warning on Friday, July 3, stating they are aware of residents being targeted by “fraudsters” who are claiming people had been issued with a parking fine or a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN).

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The local authority has assured it would not contact residents by text message about parking fines. The council has asked anyone who has received one of these messages to not click any links or share any personal or financial details.

A spokesperson for Huntingdonshire District Council said: “We are aware of fraudsters targeting residents with text messages claiming that a parking fine needs to be paid.

“Please be aware that HDC would not contact you by text message about a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN), as we do not hold residents’ mobile phone numbers for this purpose.

“If you receive a text message about an unpaid parking fine, do not click any links or provide any personal or financial information. If you’re ever unsure whether a communication is genuinely from us, please get in touch and we’ll be happy to help: https://orlo.uk/Sruq8.”

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British Transport Police vehicle involved in crash while taking man into custody

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Manchester Evening News

No-one was seriously injured in the crash

A British Transport Police vehicle collided with another car in Harpurhey yesterday evening (July 3) while taking a man into custody for assault, the force has said.

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Photos from the scene showed a large cordon in place at the junctions of Queens Road and Rochdale Road in Harpurhey, with vehicles from the North West Ambulance Service and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service in attendance.

A blue Kia Picanto and a police van appear to have been badly damaged in the collision, with the former wrapped around a lamp-post, and the latter appearing to have collided with railings in the middle of the road, its front bumper completely hanging off.

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Now, the British Transport Police have confided that it was one of their vehicles damaged in the incident and that they had been taking a 28-year-old man to custody after had had been arrested on suspicion of assault.

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The M.E.N understands that he was later charged with two counts of assaulting an emergency worker and one count of assault, and had since been bailed.

A spokesperson said: “A BTP vehicle was involved in a collision with another car on Rochdale Road in Harpurhey, Greater Manchester, at around 8.45pm on Friday 3 July.

“It occurred while officers were transporting a 28-year-old man to custody who had been arrested on suspicion of assaulting three people.

“Emergency services attended and the occupants of the car and BTP vehicle were treated at the scene – no one suffered serious injuries.”

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said, “At around 8:50pm this evening (Friday, 3rd July), firefighters were called to the scene of a collision between two vehicles on Queens Road in Manchester.

“One fire engine from Manchester Central fire station, along with the technical rescue unit from Leigh fire station quickly arrived at the scene. All seven occupants of the vehicles had self-rescued before the arrival of the fire service and were given care at the roadside by colleagues from the North West Ambulance Service.

“Crews handed the scene over to Greater Manchester Police before leaving around half an hour later.”

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Man, 43, is arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder after crash killed elderly pet shop owner and seriously injured a teenage girl

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Barbara Mullaney (pictured), a local pet shop owner in her 70s, died at the scene of the crash

A 43-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder after a crash killed an elderly pet shop owner and seriously injured a teenage girl.

Police were called to the fatal collision between an orange Peugeot 107 and a black Vauxhall Astra on the B4696 near Royal Wootton Bassett in Wiltshire on Tuesday at 6pm.

The driver of the Peugeot, a woman in her 70s, was declared dead at the scene. She has since been named locally as beloved local pet shop owner and grandmother, Barbara Mullaney. 

A teenage girl, who was riding as a passenger in the Vauxhall, suffered serious injuries in the collision and was taken to hospital, where she remains. 

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The driver of the Vauxhall, a man aged 43, was taken to hospital for treatment following the collision and was arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder. He has now been taken into custody for questioning. 

Wiltshire Police referred themselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) after it emerged they had received numerous calls of concern about the suspect’s behaviour – hours before the deadly crash. 

A spokesperson for the force said: ‘We received a number of calls from the public relating to the subject prior to the collision throughout the day which are forming part of the investigation.

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Barbara Mullaney (pictured), a local pet shop owner in her 70s, died at the scene of the crash

The fatal collision happened on June 30 on the B4696 (pictured), near Royal Wootton Bassett in Wiltshire

The fatal collision happened on June 30 on the B4696 (pictured), near Royal Wootton Bassett in Wiltshire

‘On that basis, we have referred ourselves to the IOPC.’ 

Tributes have since poured in for Ms Mullaney, who ran Animal Fayre on Cricklade High Street. 

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Her granddaughter, Molly, said she and her mother Jeanette were keeping the shop open this week in her honour. 

She said: ‘I would like to share our gratitude as a family for all the lovely comments, stories, flowers and tributes we have received for my beloved Granny, Barbara.

‘If you are a customer that needs a delivery, please do get in contact. We want to make sure everyone and their furry friends are sorted for the week, as Granny would’ve wanted.’ 

Locals on social media described Ms Mullaney as a ‘community figure who was loved by everyone she met’. 

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A local dog walking group said: ‘Her shop windows were always beautiful – without doubt the best display on Cricklade High Street.

‘Just like her shop, Barbara herself was always impeccably turned out, elegant, warm and full of pride in everything she did. 

‘She has touched the lives of so many people over the years, including countless pet-owners and local businesses, and I know I won’t be the only one who wishes I’d popped in just one more time.’

Detective Chief Inspector Phil Walker, who is leading the investigation, said: ‘Following initial enquiries, I can confirm this collision is now being treated as a murder investigation and the suspect has been re-arrested on suspicion of murder.

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‘My thoughts continue to be with the victim’s family and all that knew her. Her next of kin have been informed of this latest development in the investigation and they continue to be supported by specially trained officers.

‘I appreciate this update may increase community concern, however please be reassured that there is no risk to the wider public and we are working to piece together the events which led to this tragic incident.

‘We remain keen to hear from any witnesses or anyone who might have dash cam footage from the area of the collision at the time.

‘In addition, any witnesses who have dash cam footage of a black Vauxhall Astra from Cricklade High Street, Purton High Street, and surrounding areas on Tuesday June 30th.’

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Anyone with information is being asked to contact the Serious Collision Investigation Team on 01225 694597 quoting log number 318 of June 30, or email the team at SCIT@wiltshire.police.uk. 

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Nancy Pelosi’s husband Paul, 86, is CHARGED after alleged hit-and-run crash

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Nancy Pelosi's husband, Paul, was charged with a misdemeanor for an alleged crash in California on Thursday. The two are pictured above at the 2026 Vanity Fair Oscar Party in March

Representative Nancy Pelosi‘s husband, Paul, has been charged with a misdemeanor after an alleged hit-and-run near the spot where he got a DUI four years ago. 

Paul, 86, has been accused of crashing into an unoccupied parked car on the shoulder of a roadway just after 2.30pm in Yountville, a small town in the Wine Country of California, on Thursday. 

He was driving close to the palatial vineyard estate he shares with Speaker Emeritus Nancy in upscale St Helena when he smashed into a parked car.

Cops say, rather than stopping, Paul continued to drive his brown convertible until it shuddered to a halt and blocked an intersection – the exact spot he previously got a DUI in 2022. 

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In a police interview, Paul said he knew he had hit something but didn’t know what, so he continued driving until his car puttered out. 

‘He drove until his car became disabled and was no longer able to continue driving,’ the Napa Valley Police Department said. 

Napa Valley police sources told the Daily Mail that his car sustained severe damage to the front right, while the empty car he hit was left needing serious repairs to the back. 

Authorities identified the vehicle’s license plate as Pelosi‘s. He is now facing a single charge of hit-and-run on a parked car and will have his driving license referred to the DMV for re-evaluation due to his age, which is common for elderly drivers.   

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Paul was not arrested, just charged with a misdemeanor. 

Nancy Pelosi’s husband, Paul, was charged with a misdemeanor for an alleged crash in California on Thursday. The two are pictured above at the 2026 Vanity Fair Oscar Party in March 

The sheriff's department said Paul Pelosi's brown colored convertible crashed into a parked car on a roadway in Yountville, California

The sheriff’s department said Paul Pelosi’s brown colored convertible crashed into a parked car on a roadway in Yountville, California 

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The latest incident marks the second time Pelosi has been busted by cops in Yountville, having previously been arrested for a DUI in 2022.

On that occasion, he was hauled off to jail after crashing his 2021 Porsche on the way home from a dinner party in nearby Oakville.

The smash, which saw him collide with a vehicle driven by a man called Jesus Lopez, left him unharmed but did see him booked on charges of being over the legal limit.

He later pleaded guilty and was handed three years’ probation by a Napa County judge.

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Pelosi’s checkered history of crashing cars also includes a more serious wreck when he was a teenager that killed his brother David, then 19.

Pelosi was just 16 and a high school sophomore when his sports car flipped over in February 1957.

A newspaper report at the time said Paul would be cited for misdemeanor manslaughter. In the end, there was no court case, and he was exonerated by a coroner’s jury.

His brother had urged him to drive slower before the fatal smash, according to a patrolman quoted by the San Francisco Examiner.

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Police said that Paul was driving a brown convertible and smashed into an unoccupied vehicle in Napa Valley

Police said that Paul was driving a brown convertible and smashed into an unoccupied vehicle in Napa Valley 

Pelosi is pictured in 2022 when he was arrested for the DUI. He was not arrest on Saturday, but he was charged with a misdemeanor. He has also been recommended for his license to be re-evaluated due to his age, which is common for elderly drivers

Pelosi is pictured in 2022 when he was arrested for the DUI. He was not arrest on Saturday, but he was charged with a misdemeanor. He has also been recommended for his license to be re-evaluated due to his age, which is common for elderly drivers

Pelosi with his 2021 Porsche, which was damaged in the crash. The other driver was in a 2014 Jeep, which sustained 'major collision damage'

Pelosi with his 2021 Porsche, which was damaged in the crash. The other driver was in a 2014 Jeep, which sustained ‘major collision damage’

‘This is a bad stretch – better slow down,’ David is said to have told his younger brother as he approached a tight curve near the Crystal Springs Dam on the Skyline Highway – now California State Route 35.

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Pelosi told Patrolman Thomas Ganley he tried to slow by shifting gears in the stick shift car, but lost control.

‘The car veered across the road, bounced back from a small embankment, climbed 20 feet up another, spun around and somersaulted simultaneously and ended upside down on the shoulder with both youths underneath,’ reported the Examiner.

Tragically, David was declared dead on arrival in hospital in San Mateo, with the coroner later finding his death was due to him being strangled by the neck brace he was wearing.

Despite the early tragedy, Pelosi went on to become a successful businessman – making his Democrat wife Nancy one of the richest members of Congress.

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Along with the lavish $25 million St Helena estate, the Pelosis also own a huge townhouse in San Francisco, as well as two commercial buildings, which each rake in an income of between $100,000 and $1 million per year in rental income.

On top of that, the couple own a share in the $2,205-a-night Auberge du Solel – a five-star Napa Valley hotel, which is known for hosting famous guests, among them Sting, Bob Dylan and late greats Olivia Newton-John, and Robert Redford.

In total, the couple are believed to be worth between $114 million and $400 million – mostly driven by high performing property investments made by Paul and stocks in businesses ranging from Google parent company Alphabet to American Express.

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Harry Styles wraps up record-breaking residency at Wembley Stadium

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Harry Styles wraps up record-breaking residency at Wembley Stadium

Posting ahead of the final show, Wembley Stadium’s official social media accounts shared: “From the first night to the twelfth. Tonight marks the final show of Harry Styles’ Together, Together tour at Wembley Stadium. A record-breaking run. 12 nights we’ll never forget. Let’s make the final night one to remember.”

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Emotional Harry Styles ends his record-breaking 12-night Wembley residency with tribute to One Direction as Liam Payne’s parents watch on

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Harry Styles paid an emotional tribute to One Direction as he brought his record-breaking 12-night Wembley Stadium residency to a close on Saturday

Harry Styles paid an emotional tribute to One Direction as he brought his record-breaking 12-night Wembley Stadium residency to a close on Saturday – with Liam Payne‘s parents watching proudly from the crowd.

The singer first found fame as a member of One Direction after the band was formed on The X Factor in 2010, where they finished in third place.

The group went on to become one of the biggest pop acts in history, selling more than 70 million records worldwide and embarking on sold-out stadium tours before announcing an indefinite hiatus in 2016.

Tragically, Liam died in October 2024 at the age of 31 after falling from the third-floor balcony of his room at the CasaSur Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

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During Harry’s final Wembley show, fans were moved to spot Liam’s parents, Geoff and Karen Payne, alongside his sister Ruth, and his young nephew in the audience.

As the concert drew to a close, the singer took a moment to thank the band that launched his career.

Harry Styles paid an emotional tribute to One Direction as he brought his record-breaking 12-night Wembley Stadium residency to a close on Saturday

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The singer first found fame as a member of One Direction after the band was formed on The X Factor in 2010, where they finished in third place

The singer first found fame as a member of One Direction after the band was formed on The X Factor in 2010, where they finished in third place

Speaking to the sold-out crowd, he said: ‘I wouldn’t be here tonight without four friends of mine. I want to thank Niall, Louis, Zayn, and my dear friend, Liam!’

Also during the night, Harry’s sister Gemma came on stage for a sweet congratulatory speech.

‘I’m proud of who you are, and who you allow other people to be,’ she gushed.  

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Harry has been celebrating the release of his fourth studio album, Kiss All the Time, Disco Occasionally, with a huge world tour.

His 12-night run in London made history as the longest-ever Wembley residency by a solo artist.

Throughout the entire residency, Harry was joined by country music legend Shania Twain, who served as the support act.

Fans were treated to a setlist packed with hits including Golden, Adore You and Music for a Sushi Restaurant, alongside new tracks such as Dance No More, Aperture and Are You Listening Yet?

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The residency has been met with rave reviews from Harry’s loyal fans and critics, with the Daily Mail’s Adrian Thrills writing about the ‘triumphant’ first night.

‘It was an emotional night, one that showed just how far Styles, Britain’s only truly global pop sensation, has come since he sprang to prominence with boy-band One Direction in 2010,’ Thrills declared in his four star review.

Harry announced a seven-city global residency, called Together, Together, at the start of the year.

Tragically, Liam died in October 2024 at the age of 31 after falling from the third-floor balcony of his room at the CasaSur Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Tragically, Liam died in October 2024 at the age of 31 after falling from the third-floor balcony of his room at the CasaSur Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina

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During Harry's final Wembley show, fans were moved to spot Liam's parents, Geoff and Karen Payne, alongside his sister Ruth, and his young nephew in the audience

During Harry’s final Wembley show, fans were moved to spot Liam’s parents, Geoff and Karen Payne, alongside his sister Ruth, and his young nephew in the audience 

He will be making 50 stops in Amsterdam, London, São Paulo, Mexico City, New York City – including 30 nights alone at Madison Square Garden – Melbourne and Sydney from May through December in 2026. 

It comes after Harry appeared to pay a sweet tribute to his ex-girlfriend Taylor Swift on Friday. 

The singer performed the penultimate date of his London Wembley residency on July 3, the same day his ex was getting married to Travis Kelce thousands of miles away in New York. 

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Yet despite the distance, Harry still seemed to have Taylor, 36, on his mind as he made a switch up to his setlist. 

Fans were left shocked when Harry belted out his 2017 single Two Ghosts – which is widely believed to be about Taylor – despite having not performed it on any other date in his residency. 

It was previously reported that Taylor had extended an invite to Harry for her wedding but he was forced to decline because it clashed with his tour. 

Harry’s fiancée Zoe Kravitz attended without him. 

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Yet taking to X/Twitter during the show, excited fans insisted this was Harry’s way of making up for his absence. 

They shared: ‘HARRY STYLES JUST SANG TWO GHOSTS ON TAYLOR SWIFTS WEDDING DAY WHAT IS HAPPENING #harrystyles #taylorswift’;

‘I think it’s iconic how on the day of Taylor Swift wedding we have Harry Styles breaking Wembley record for most shows in a single year while singing a line from Two Ghosts. Oh how beautiful it is. July 3rd. What a day.’; 

‘The concept of Harry Styles being invited to Taylor Swift’s wedding but not being able to go because he has a show, and at that show he goes in a suit and sings Two Ghosts’.

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Taylor and Harry dated for just a few months in 2012, however the high-profile romance is said to have inspired songs by them both. 

Two Ghosts is widely considered to be about Taylor, with lyrics such as ‘Same lips red, same eyes blue/ Same white shirt, couple more tattoos/But it’s not you, and it’s not me/Tastes so sweet, looks so real.

The lyrics continued: ‘Sounds like something that I used to feel/But I can’t touch what I see/We’re not who we used to be/We’re not who we used to be/We’re just two ghosts standing in…’

Fans theorised the red lips referred to Taylor’s signature lipstick look, while Harry added fuel to the fire by confirming that he’d been inspired to write music by some of his past relationships. 

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Harry also fanned the flames when he was quizzed about the single by his pal Nick Grimshaw during an appearance on the Radio 1 Breakfast Show.

During the interview, Nick appeared to drop Harry in it when he described Two Ghosts as ‘the one about Taylor Swift’ before playing it on the show.

Harry then appeared to confirm that the track was indeed about his ex-girlfriend, shouting ‘Ahhhhh no!’ in response to Grimmy’s cheeky comment.

When asked directly if the song was about Taylor, Harry said: ‘I think it’s pretty self-explanatory,’ before turning to his publicist and yelling ‘Help me, Jeffrey!’

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As for Taylor, it’s widely reported her 2014 hits Out of the Woods and Style were inspired by the British heartthrob.

It comes after Harry's fans spotted a sweet tribute to ex Taylor Swift as he performed his penultimate Wembley gig on Friday, the same day Taylor married Travis Kelce in New York

It comes after Harry’s fans spotted a sweet tribute to ex Taylor Swift as he performed his penultimate Wembley gig on Friday, the same day Taylor married Travis Kelce in New York

Fans were left shocked when Harry belted out his 2017 single Two Ghosts - which is widely believed to be about Taylor - whom he split from in January 2013

Fans were left shocked when Harry belted out his 2017 single Two Ghosts – which is widely believed to be about Taylor – whom he split from in January 2013

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It was reported that Taylor extended an invite to Harry for her wedding but he was forced to decline because it clashed with his tour, with fans thinking this was his way of saying sorry

It was reported that Taylor extended an invite to Harry for her wedding but he was forced to decline because it clashed with his tour, with fans thinking this was his way of saying sorry

While Harry couldn't make it, his fiancee Zoe Kravitz was in attendance at Taylor's wedding on Friday, and looked incredible in a gold dress

While Harry couldn’t make it, his fiancee Zoe Kravitz was in attendance at Taylor’s wedding on Friday, and looked incredible in a gold dress

While it’s safe to say that Taylor and Harry have officially moved on from each other, they have a link through The Batman star Zoe. 

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Harry and Zoe reportedly got engaged in April after around eight months of dating, and Zoe is a close friend of Taylor’s. 

Zoe – who shares a songwriting credit on the singer’s hit Lavender Haze – was in attendance at the star’s wedding on Friday, and looked incredible in a gold dress. 

After months of teases, rumors and conflicting reports, Taylor and Travis finally married in front of 1,000 of their closest friends – and the world’s biggest stars – in a colossal blowout.

They kept fans guessing until the very end, refusing to confirm when exactly they would say ‘I Do’, or indeed, if they already had.

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But at exactly 7.30pm, the couple shared the news in blockbuster style, lighting up the iconic music venue with video ads which read ‘JUST&T MARRIED!’, in a romantic nod to their shared initials.

Both the bride and groom were dressed in Christian Dior, her publicist later announced.

Guests have since gushed over the ‘epic, great and life changing’ ceremony, with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos joking: ‘Who knew Madison Square Garden could be so intimate?’

Adam Sandler was the officiant, and delighted the crowd with a ‘funny’ and ‘touching’ service.

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‘It was very funny, quite a long speech. I think everyone had a good time,’ he said afterwards.

There were no bridesmaids, instead, Taylor’s brother Austin acted as her ‘man of honor’, and Travis’s brother Jason was the best man.

Jason’s daughters were the flower girls, tossing petals at Taylor’s feet as she made her way down the aisle with a string quartet playing one of her own songs as she made her entrance.

After months of teases, rumors and conflicting reports, Taylor and Travis finally married in front of 1,000 of their closest friends - and the world's biggest stars - in a colossal blowout

After months of teases, rumors and conflicting reports, Taylor and Travis finally married in front of 1,000 of their closest friends – and the world’s biggest stars – in a colossal blowout

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The theme inside Madison Square Gardens was an old-fashioned fairground, with guests given a turn on mechanical slot and pinball machines.

Each of the 1,000 – including A list actress Julia Roberts – was given a ticket during the celebrations, one of which was selected to win a major prize.

After the ceremony came an elegant dinner – before an Alice in Wonderland meets Wizard of Oz themed party on the lower level of the venue.

During the reception, Paul McCartney was the surprise highlight, as the former Beatle stunned the crowd when he came onto the stage and sang I Wanna Hold Your Hand.

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Sir Paul’s presence and performance had been kept a complete secret and in having McCartney, hailed as one of the key geniuses behind the birth of modern pop music, as her wedding singer, Swift has pulled off an astonishing coup.

A guest at the wedding said that the festivities were spectacular and at an unprecedented scale.

At one point, American football star Travis even had a try at joining in the singing himself.

There were a number of performers aside from the Beatles star, who has had a home in the Hamptons for decades.

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As well as a dinner there were food stations around the venue so that guests could top up on food, with one saying that there was some ‘chaos’ around them.

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Why Michael Olise chose to play for France over England | Football

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Why Michael Olise chose to play for France over England | Football

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In The Mixer’s World Cup special

Everything you need to know about the World Cup – England updates, the games to watch and stories you missed – in five minutes, at 1pm, every day.

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France vs Paraguay – World Cup last 16 LIVE: Underdogs look to claim ANOTHER major scalp after sending Germany home as Europeans bid to secure quarter final clash with Morocco

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France vs Paraguay - World Cup last 16 LIVE: Underdogs look to claim ANOTHER major scalp after sending Germany home as Europeans bid to secure quarter final clash with Morocco

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Follow Daily Mail Sport’s live coverage of the latest updates as France take on Paraguay in the last 16 of the World Cup in Philadelphia.

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Paraguay vs France LIVE: World Cup 2026 latest score, match stream, goal updates and fan reaction

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Paraguay vs France LIVE: World Cup 2026 latest score, match stream, goal updates and fan reaction

There is a festival atmosphere in Philadelphia today, as the birthplace of the United States hosts Paraguay vs France in the last-16 of the World Cup on Independence Day. Les Bleus have cruised to this stage of the competition with a machine-like inevitability, swatting Senegal, Iraq and Norway to one side in the groups before easing to a 3-0 defeat of Sweden in the last-32. Their unparalleled attack is dominating the scoring charts, with Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise already racking up 19 goal involvements between them with four matches played.

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Bolton trading standards honoured for major operations

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Bolton trading standards honoured for major operations

The trading standards team at Bolton Council were handed the Anti-Counterfiting Group award after high-profile operations, including seizing £2M worth of illegal goods earlier in June.

The team also succeeded in seizing more than 200,000 illegal vapes in March this year and in August 2025 seized several potentially dangerous fake Labubu dolls.

Council cabinet member for the environment and regulatory services Cllr Robert Morrisey said: “Bolton Council continues to prioritise enforcement and proactive work to safeguard communities, working closely with partners to tackle illegal trading and protect public safety.

“This latest achievement demonstrates the council’s ongoing commitment to high standards of consumer protection and reinforces its reputation for excellence in trading standards.”

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Goods were seized after a despite between a landlord and a tenant (Image: GMP)

The award was handed to the trading standards team to recognise its work tackling intellectual property and product safety crime.

Back in August last year, the Labubu dolls were seized from a shop in Bolton after they were found to have loose parts that could pose a choking hazard to young children.

The stitching was also found to be loose, exposing the filling which could be another choking hazard.

Some of the vapes seized in Halliwell (Image: Bolton Council)

This was followed by another high-profile operation in March when trading standards officers seized 30 pallets containing 211,606 illegal single-use vapes from a warehouse in Halliwell.

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The single-use vapes, which have been banned from sale in the UK since June 2025, were estimated to have had a street value of £1M.

The June raid came about after concerns were raised during a landlord and tenant dispute which led to the authorities looking closer at goods they had found on site.

Trading standards officers then discovered a range of suspected illicit items, including perfumes, clothing, cosmetics, chemicals, vape liquids and fragrance products.

The three 40-tonne lorry loads of products are believed to have had a street value of more than £2M.

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The award, a national rather than regional one, celebrates outstanding efforts across the whole of the UK trading standards service, placing Bolton’s team among the very best in the country.

The recognition highlights the team’s significant contribution over the past year in protecting residents and businesses from counterfeit goods and unsafe products.

It also honours them for disrupting criminal activity linked to IP and safety offences.

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Sophie Willan on police warning over baby photos online

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Sewing Bee confirms return date after fan confusion

Since giving birth, Bolton-born Sophie, who will this month be hosting the prime time BBC programme Sewing Bee, has been, like many mums, showing adorable pictures of Elijah and illustrating her new role as a mum.

Now she has said she will be sharing no more baby pics alongside news footage explaining the terrifying dangers of posting pictures of youngsters.

Parents were this week warned over posting images of their children online as they could be used to create AI-generated sexual abuse material, the National Crime Agency (NCA) has said.

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Posting on Instagram stories, Sophie, the star Alma’s Not Normal, said: “So no more baby pics from me. This is terrifying.”

New guidance on protecting children against the rise of AI child abuse imagery has been issued by the NCA and the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) as part of a new campaign aimed at parents and carers, the NCA said.

It comes after a UK school was targeted by criminal gangs who used publicly available pictures of pupils to create sexual images of the children using AI technology, then threatening to release the images unless a payment was made, according to the IWF.

The organisations have also raised the alarm over a sharp rise in the use of AI tools to create child sexual abuse imagery, with 3,440 AI-generated videos found by IWF analysts in 2025 compared to just 13 in 2024.

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The new campaign aims to help parents and carers make informed decisions about their children’s images, consider image consent, and discuss the dangers of AI and “deepfake” sexual images with children, the NCA said.

“The threat is disturbing,” Kerry Smith, chief executive of the IWF, said.

“If someone’s imagery is online, they could be easy pickings for criminals and anyone, especially children, could find themselves being targeted.

“We don’t want to say don’t share your children’s images with the people you love and trust, but we want everyone to be aware of the potential risks and make an informed decision with the full facts at their disposal.

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“These are not hypothetical threats, they are real,” Ms Smith added.

“The impact of this imagery can be devastating.

“The harms are very real. And the potential for lasting damage is something which I think every parent would do anything they can to prevent.

“We want to give them back that power, and start a public conversation about whether we should be sharing imagery online as a default.”

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Criminals who previously blackmailed a UK school created more than a hundred sexual images of its pupils using images from a school website, the IWF warned.

Though the IWF managed to stop the images from being uploaded, the fear remains that more schools could be targeted in the future.

AI-generated child sexual abuse images are becoming more widespread and realistic as technology improves, the IWF and NCA have also warned.

AI is also used to create more violent content, with 65% of the 3,443 AI-generated child sexual abuse videos identified in 2025 classified as Category A – the most severe legal category under UK law, which encompasses offences such as rape and sexual torture.

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By comparison, 43% of non-AI criminal child abuse videos seen by the IWF in 2025 were Category A.

The IWF also identified 8,029 AI-generated images and videos of realistic child sexual abuse in 2025 – a 14% increase in criminal AI content on the previous year.

The new guidance suggests creating a “close friends” group for parents and carers who still want to share images of their children online, or adjust privacy settings on social media posts so that only a selected number of people can see them.

It also contains advice on speaking to children and young people about AI and image consent, and what to do if they are targeted or imagery of them is made or shared online.

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Parents have also been encouraged to inform children and young people that nude or semi-nude images of under-18s can be reported and removed online – including those created or altered using AI.

The Report Remove service, which is run by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) and the IWF, also offers mental health support for young people.

Tim Wright from the National Crime Agency said: “Artificial intelligence tools are becoming more powerful, more widely available and easier to use, and we are seeing offenders exploit them to target children in new ways.

“Images shared online, even everyday family photos, can be stolen and manipulated to create sexualised content without a child or parent’s knowledge.

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“While we and policing colleagues tackle offenders, prevention remains vital.

“We encourage parents and carers to take a few simple steps today: review the privacy settings on social media accounts; think carefully about who can access images of their children; and talk openly with family, friends, schools and clubs about image sharing and consent.

“Most importantly, if something does go wrong, stay calm, reassure your child that they are not to blame, and report concerns to the police or CEOP so action can be taken as quickly as possible”

Images and videos of child sexual abuse are illegal in the UK, whether they have been made or altered using AI or not.

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The IWF has also urged tech companies to evaluate and safeguard their AI models before releasing them to make it harder for criminals to use generative AI to create child abuse material.

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