Things took an emotional turn during the first episode of The Joy of Pets as Gaby Roslin spoke to a couple who are fostering a blind dog
TV veteran Gaby Roslin was on hand to provide emotional support to a dog owner who appeared on ITV’s, The Joy of Pets.
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The brand-new series, which kicked off on Sunday (August 23), saw Gaby and her co-star, Dr Bolu Eso, celebrate the nation’s love of animals. In the first episode, Gaby and Dr Bolu were in Horsham, West Sussex, where they met a number of furry animals, including dogs, rabbits and even a rat.
During the first episode, Gaby was joined by dog owners Paul and Anna, who are currently fostering a blind husky named Cookie.
Talking to owners Anna and Paul, Gaby discovered that the couple had already lost a dog over a year ago. Paul admitted that he was reluctant to care for a dog “full time” but was keen to foster.
After telling the RSPCA their story, the charity was happy to allow the dog-loving pair to foster Cookie, who became blind in both eyes as a young pup.
Talking about Cookie, Anna said: “We just fell in love with her straight away and she actually does look like our old dog as well. So when she came out, he was a husky dog, same colouring, so it was a bit like ‘ok,’ but in a nice way.”
Paul added: “It was spooky!”
Later in their chat, as the couple continued to share their story, Gaby highlighted how brave they were after losing their first pup, whom they had had for 13 years.
Seeing Paul become increasingly emotional, Gaby hugged him and said: “Everyone understands this, Paul. Losing a pet is heartbreaking; you can’t deny it.
“And you’ve found another pet that has created you a whole new life together, I think it’s wonderful. But I can see what she means to you.”
Gaby, who came up with the concept for The Joy of Pets, has expressed her love for all animals and has shared her highlights from the series. But despite her admiration for animals, she currently has none of her own.
She said in a statement: “My husband is allergic to dogs and cats, so I spent a lot of time taking my friends’ dogs for a walk. I grew up in a house full of animals.
“When I was born, there was already a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, there was a cat that was mainly outside, there was a tortoise, two rabbits and we used to always take the guinea pigs home from school to look after them in the holidays. My mother was obsessed with animals, so that’s definitely where I got it from.”
I couldn’t wait to try out this classic tourist activity for the first time
Punting is a longstanding tradition in Cambridge and is one of the things the city is most famous for, alongside the university. Although I work in Cambridge and live in the county, I have never actually been punting.
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While on a visit to Cambridge to see a friend, I decided it was finally time to get on a punt and explore the sights from the water. Not wanting to risk this sunny Saturday in August being fully booked, I paid £39 to pre-book a time slot online.
At 1.30pm, we made our way down to the water and got onto the punt. As I sat down, it was a little unnerved at how close the water was to me. However, my nerves soon eased as we began our trip. Our guide told us she was going to give us a little bit of a history lesson on the sights as we passed them.
One building that particularly stood out to me was part of St John’s College. There was a wall almost completely covered in ivy, and the guide claimed this was a special type of ivy that couldn’t be cut by students. She said that it was so precious that if it covered the windows, it had to be left due to its rarity.
One thing that made my friend and I laugh was some of the accommodation on offer to students at the university. The buildings being pointed out as accommodation seemed more like castles or grand mansions. They are worlds away from the tiny flats I lived in at Nottingham Trent when I was a student.
Although it was a bit more overcast on this day than it had been all week, I was actually quite glad. Being on the punt with no shade from the sun wouldn’t have been as enjoyable.
One of the best sights of the journey was seeing the Backs. I’d seen so many photos of the Backs, with King’s College Chapel in the background and beautiful greenery in front. It was just as beautiful in real life, and I’m so pleased I got to see it. As we went further down the river, we were joined by families of ducks and the odd swan swimming amongst the boats.
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I felt so immersed in Cambridge tradition, and the quiet of the water made it such a relaxing tour. Coupled with a little tipple, it was a really lovely way to spend an afternoon in Cambridge.
Iran‘s president defended a memorandum of understanding with the United States as the best way out of a stalled war.
Meanwhile, the new head of the Islamic Republic’s top security body warned, in a more forceful tone, of retaliation if neighboring countries support U.S. threats to further sanction Tehran.
Pakistan’s army chief planned to travel to Tehran on Monday, Iranian media reported.
A Palestinian man was beaten by an Israeli settler outside his home, and Israel’s military said they were pursuing a stabbing suspect in a separate attack, the latest violence in the occupied West Bank. An Israeli airstrike in Gaza killed a child, according to a local hospital.
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Here’s a look at the latest developments in the Iran war and the wider Middle East on Sunday. Full coverage can be found here.
Iran seeks to get past this stalled phase
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian defended a recent memorandum of understanding as the best way for the country to move beyond what he described as a situation of “neither war nor peace.”
“There is not a single provision in this agreement that amounts to capitulation,” Pezeshkian said in a speech published by state-run IRNA early on Sunday. “The supreme leader sets the policies, and we will follow that path.”
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The deal known as the Memorandum of Understanding that U.S. President Donald Trump signed in June set a 60-day deadline for ending the war with Iran and reaching an accord on its nuclear program. That period ended last week, but no signs of compromise have emerged, especially on the crucial issue of reopening the Strait of Hormuz, vital to global shipping.
Pezeshkian also linked the agreement to Iran’s economic prospects, saying the country couldn’t attract investment in this stalled phase.
Nearly six months into the war with the United States and Israel, Iran’s economy is suffering under sanctions and a naval blockade.
Iran’s security chief warns neighbors not to join any sanctions
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Meanwhile, the hard-line new leader of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council warned Tehran’s neighbors against joining the new U.S. effort to hurt Iran’s economy.
“If (Trump) wants to do something, we will retaliate in a seismic manner,” Mohsen Rezaei said in an interview with the state broadcaster that aired Saturday.
Rezaei was named this month as part of senior appointments widely seen as hardening Tehran’s political and military stance. His interview with IRIB is his most extensive public statement since then.
Rezaei said Iran would target oil-shipping routes out of the Persian Gulf — alternatives to the Strait of Hormuz — if neighbors join what he described as the economic war against Iran.
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Pakistan’s army chief will visit Tehran
Pakistani Field Marshal Asim Munir will lead an official delegation traveling to Tehran on Monday, Iranian state television reported, citing Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmail Baghaei.
Two regional officials said that the visit was part of Islamabad’s ongoing efforts to de-escalate tensions between the United States and Iran, and urge both countries to return to the negotiating table. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.
— By Munir Ahmed in Islamabad.
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Iran executes man arrested during January’s protests
The judiciary’s Mizan news agency reported on Sunday the latest execution connected to the protests, identifying the man as Majid Adineh and saying he was arrested Jan. 9 in Mohammadshahr, near Karaj, west of Tehran. Authorities said that he was carrying a handgun with 30 rounds of ammunition, two stun guns, two cans of tear gas and a battery-powered chain saw.
The judiciary said that forensic examinations indicated the handgun had been fired on Jan. 8 and 9. Mizan said Adineh had joined the unrest following calls by groups opposed to Iran’s government and alleged that he had received training from groups outside the country.
A Revolutionary Court in Karaj later convicted Adineh under Iran’s law imposing harsher penalties for espionage and cooperation with hostile states. Mizan said that the verdict accused him of carrying out operations on behalf of Israel, the United States and other groups Iran considers hostile.
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Israeli settler teen arrested in beating of Palestinian amputee
Police arrested a 16-year-old boy from the Israeli settlement of Avigayil in the beating of a 61-year-old Palestinian man. Saeed Muhammad Ibrahim Rabah was struck with a pipe outside his home in the occupied West Bank, leaving him with bruises and pain, a year after he lost a leg after being shot by a settler.
Rabah told The Associated Press that two settlers arrived with a tractor at his home in Khirbet al-Rakeez in the southern West Bank on Saturday afternoon. One of them began moving stones the family had placed at the property entrance and tried to enter.
One settler struck him on his back with a pipe when he approached them to find out what they were doing, Rabah said. He said the violence is an effort to make families like his leave.
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“We will remain, no matter what happens,” he said after going to the police on Sunday to file a report. “This is our land and this is our homeland, and we must protect it.”
Police said they also took in for questioning a 17-year-old from Jerusalem, who allegedly stood nearby and filmed the assault with a phone.
Rabah said in April 2025, he confronted settlers on his land while his son filmed and one of them shot him in the leg, which was amputated at a hospital.
Separately, Israel’s military said Sunday they were pursuing the suspect in a stabbing attack that injured a 24-year-old Israeli man in the area of al-Auja, in the eastern West Bank. Israel’s emergency services said the victim was taken to a hospital in moderate condition.
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Airstrike in Gaza kills a 4-year-old child
Four-year-old Mohammed Taha died after an Israeli airstrike hit a house in central Gaza on Sunday, hospital authorities said. The strike in the town of Zawaida also wounded at least five other people, including a child, according to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital, which received the casualties.
The strike came minutes after residents said they received a warning from the Israeli military to evacuate the area where the house is located. Israel’s military didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
In a statement released on Sunday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said he instructed the military to “act immediately and forcefully” to prevent the launches of balloons, kites or drones from Gaza toward Israeli communities bordering it.
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“We view every launch as an act of war in every respect,” he said.
Before the Oct. 7, 2023 attack by Hamas-led militants on Israel — when 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage — burning kites and balloons were sent from Gaza into southern Israel, causing fires and other damage.
While the heaviest fighting has subsided since a fragile ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war took hold in October, Israeli forces have carried out repeated airstrikes, killing more than 1,280 Palestinians, according to health officials in Gaza.
The overall war death toll in Gaza has passed 73,400 Palestinians, Gaza’s Health Ministry said. The ministry, which is part of the Hamas-led government, maintains detailed casualty records that are seen as generally reliable by U.N. agencies and independent experts. But it doesn’t give a breakdown of civilians and militants.
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Militants have carried out shooting attacks on troops, and Israel says its strikes are in response to that and other violations. Five Israeli soldiers have been killed since the ceasefire.
Despite facing their individual challenges, the duo have collectively banked more than $10m in tour earnings this year.
McIlroy kicked off his campaign in spectacular fashion, claiming victory at Augusta National and successfully defending the green jacket he memorably secured in 2025, cementing his legacy as a grand slam champion.
However, since that triumphant April showing, the Holywood native has found consistency elusive, with only a T-7th placing at both the PGA Championship and Scottish Open suggesting he might challenge for another trophy.
Nevertheless, he enters Sunday’s final round of the BMW Championship in the last group, though trailing leader Wyndham Clark by five strokes, reports the Irish Mirror.
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While the six-time major champion hasn’t been quite as active or successful in terms of tournament wins this season, his earnings remain substantial.
His Augusta triumph in April added $4.5m to his coffers, while a T-2nd finish at the Genesis just weeks prior brought in $1.8m.
All told, McIlroy has accumulated just over $8.5m from his PGA Tour performances in 2026, a figure that could rise considerably over the coming fortnight as he targets success at the BMW Championship and next week’s Tour Championship finale at East Lake.
For Lowry, the PGA Tour experience this year has been rather more turbulent. A promising opening saw him firmly in the mix at the Cognizant Classic, only to surrender a commanding position in the closing stages.
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The County Offaly golfer began his final round at the Masters trailing McIlroy by just two shots, but struggled on the concluding day to finish tied for 30th.
Overall, it has been a campaign to forget for Lowry, who placed 62nd in the FedEx Cup season standings and consequently bowed out of the playoffs at the opening stage.
Despite these setbacks, Lowry still concludes his PGA Tour season having banked an impressive $2.45m.
He will be back in action at the Irish Open next month, eager to end the year on a positive note.
Alejandro Balde wants to leave Barcelona before the transfer window closes and he’s been linked with joining Manchester United amid their search for a left-back
Manchester United target Alejandro Balde has been left out of Barcelona’s squad for their La Liga opener against Elche. Balde, 22, is on the Camp Nou chopping block and wants to secure a move away ahead of the transfer window closing on September 1.
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The Spaniard is an option for United, who are scouring the market for a left-back. Talks have reportedly been held with Balde’s agent, Jorge Mendes, with the Red Devils preparing a bid of €40million (£33m).
On Sunday, Barcelona announced their 25-man travelling squad to face Elche and Balde wasn’t included. Marc Casado and Hector Fort were also left out, with all three players up for sale.
Both Balde and Fort’s chances of game time took a hit this week when Barca welcomed back Joao Cancelo, who can play on the left and right-hand side of defence. Cancelo’s arrival on loan in January led to a reduction in minutes for Balde, whose 2025-26 campaign was also blighted by hamstring injuries.
Barca boss Hansi Flick hailed the 22-year-old in his pre-match press conference but isn’t sure whether he can compete with Cancelo. “He’s a player of immense quality, and it’s important to know if he’s confident he can compete in his position,” Flick said.
“That’s what I want to see from all my players. Every day I observe what they do, their level, whether they demonstrate that they’re at the level to play.”
Flick’s comments come after Michael Carrick was quizzed on United’s left-back search before they started the Premier League season with a limp 2-0 loss away to newly promoted Hull. “I just think we’re looking to strengthen the squad,” Carrick replied.
Should Manchester United sign Alejandro Balde? Have your say in the comments section.
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“We’re certainly working towards that, making the most of the situation that we have and trying to improve things and trying to move forward. You know, I said the same thing to you last time.
“So, yeah, certainly trying to make the most of the opportunities to finish the window stronger than we went into it. And I think we’re a good way to doing that, so far.”
Lewis Hall of Newcastle was United’s top left-back target earlier in the window, but he’s seen as unattainable this summer for a variety of reasons. Newcastle don’t need to sell and have already lost three key players, while United have spent most of their budget on midfielders.
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Countdown to Kickoff: The Essential 26/27 Sky Sports Bundle
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Sky’s Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle includes at least 215 live Premier League clashes across the 2026/27 season, with more than 1,500 games from the EFL and beyond, plus F1, golf and darts.
This introductory offer saves £384 compared to the standard price, with every package also providing 100 regular channels alongside free Netflix and discovery+ subscriptions.
The stalwarts Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson have both moved on, while the likes of Victor Munoz and Ronald Araujo have both joined up.
As such, several debuts are expected at St James’ Park, with Jeremy Jacquet hoping to pip the more experienced Aruajo to serve as Virgil van Dijk’s partner in the centre of defence.
It has been another typically chaotic summer for Newcastle, too. Eddie Howe left the club in July, leaving new boss Matthias Jaissle to take over barely three weeks before the start of the new campaign.
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He inherits a somewhat fractured squad, which this summer has lost two of its most important players in Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes, who have joined Tottenham and Arsenal, respectively.
Jaissle faces a tricky first test, but will know his side will be capable of turning over a Liverpool team yet to find its feet under its new manager.
How to watch Newcastle vs Liverpool
TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on Sky Sports Premier League and Main Event, with coverage starting immediately after that of the 2pm kick-offs. The match itself will get underway at 4.30pm BST.
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Live stream: Sky Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the Sky Go app and website.
Live blog: You can follow all the action on matchday via Standard Sport’s live blog!
At no point was there a risk to the wider energy system (Picture: AP/Getty)
Cyber hackers linked to Iran shut down a UK power plant for four days.
The incident, which occurred in July, involved an unidentified small-scale energy generator, according to The Telegraph.
Hackers unlikely had civilian harm in mind when targeting the power plant, though it is reportedly the first time Iran-linked crooks knocked one offline.
The National Cyber Security Centre, part of the spy agency GCHQ which investigates attacks on infrastructure, declined to comment as it does not routinely acknowledge individual incidents.
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The power grid was never at risk and the incident had no impact on energy production, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero told Metro.
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Department officials briefed energy bosses and wrote to companies with advice, direction and next steps following the shutdown.
Most small-scale power plants only kick in for a few hours a week to top up energy supplies, such as when it’s not that windy (Picture: Getty Images)
A government spokesperson added: ‘The UK has a highly resilient energy system.
‘We work closely with the energy sector to protect infrastructure and ensure the highest security standards.
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Could hackers target anything else in the UK?
Security experts have long warned that a cyber attack by a foreign country during a time of war isn’t just the stuff of cheap Hollywood films.
Factories are easy targets for cyber attacks, Steffan Roxrud Thorvaldse, CEO of Qbee, a device management platform, told Metro.
‘Modern factories now operate as “smart” environments where everything is connected, from sensors and cameras to robotics and control systems,’ he said.
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Which power plant was breached is unclear (Picture: Getty Images Europe)
‘That means more ways in for attackers.’
Attackers can gain entry by slipping into security holes in online systems, such as a CCTV camera that uses out-of-date software.
‘From there, attackers can move through networks and potentially interfere with systems that control real-world operations, like factory machinery and production lines,’ Thorvaldse added.
Some experts worry that ‘Iranian hacktivists’, groups which either have ties to or are sympathetic to the regime, could strike.
Richard Ford, CTO of the cybersecurity specialist Integrity360, said: ‘It’s impossible to say what companies could be next and whether any will be in the UK, but the chances of it will depend on the UK’s perceived involvement in the war.
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‘Although, as with the war, it is not just the US and Israel being targeted but also their partners and allies.’
No major hacks from Iran-backed groups have happened (Picture: AFP)
Other experts worry that hacking groups could also be posing as Tehran-affiliated to stir up tensions.
Or they are using the Iran war to pursue their own agendas, such as what a pro-Russian group did by prying open CCTV footage of an Ipswich go-kart track in March.
‘#TimeOfRetribution,’ the group said in a Telegram post at the time, seen by Metro.
One common – and cheap – hack offered is a distributed denial of service (DDoS), which brought down a massive chunk of the web last November.
Computer vandals jam a website with so many requests that it buckles under the load and becomes unresponsive.
Despite these concerns, experts who specialise in tracking Iranian hacking groups have seen little activity.
Hackers targeted Marks and Spencer’s last year (Picture: Getty Images/iStock Unreleased)
This was to be expected. The Intelligence and Security Committee, which oversees spy agencies, said last year that while Iran spends millions of dollars on hacking groups, it’s ‘unlikely’ they’d break into British facilities.
Still, Ford says it’s vital the government is prepared for cyber attacks, which officials routinely stress that they are.
‘The worst case, which is less trivial to launch and successfully orchestrate, would be a breach of Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) such as electricity, water supply, health services and food supply, and that could have a myriad of effects and be the highest impact felt by Britons,’ Ford said.
‘M&S is a very good example of a cyber attack,’ he added of the Easter breach last year, ‘particularly in terms of severity and impact where shelves were left bare and customers unable to place orders.’
Gordon Ramsay’s new TV show was due to start filming next month but production has permanently halted after his former rival Marcus Wearing told producers he no longer wants to take part
12:07, 23 Aug 2026Updated 12:08, 23 Aug 2026
Gordon Ramsay’s latest TV venture has reportedly been left in jeopardy after his former rival and fellow chef Marcus Wearing allegedly quit the show just a few weeks before filming.
Under his TV production company Studio Ramsay, Gordon, 59, was launching a new show on BBC alongside Marcus, 56, who previously graced our screens on MasterChef.
But it looks as though the cinders of their 16 year feud may still be burning despite their recent reconciliation as Marcus reportedly told production he did not want to be part of the show anymore.
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A source claimed: “Sadly, the format has already fallen apart. Last week, Marcus told the producers he didn’t want to do it anymore, leading to the show being halted.”
“It’s a shame as there was so much excitement about the reunion. It all feels pretty final, but the BBC could try to rescue it in another way,” they added to the Sun on Sunday.
Back in 2008, the TV chefs fall out became one of the major talking points within the industry. Marcus had been working at one of Gordon’s restaurants as head chef but quit to launch his own restaurant.
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This caused a major rift among the pair which led to years of silence, but they reconciled a few months ago which led to them agreeing to work together.
Speaking about the upcoming series, the Kitchen Nightmares star previously said: “Marcus and I go back a long way. And I’m delighted we’re coming together to bring this special series to BBC Daytime.”
In June, Marcus added: “This is a fantastic opportunity to work alongside Gordon again. It’s been many years since we last shared a kitchen. I can’t wait to get started.”
Last year, he took part in a school talk to discuss his journey from a budding chef to a Michelin starred TV star. But one pupil was only concerned with whether he knew the Hell’s Kitchen favourite.
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When asked, he responded: “I know him very, very well. I worked with him. I was business partners with him. He was the best man at my wedding and then I fell out with him.”
The pair had opened a restaurant together back in 1999 called Pétrus. However, Marcus had plans on going solo, taking over the lease, which resulted in a bitter fall out and a legal battle
Following the legal fall out, Gordon maintained ownership of the Pétrus name and his pal moved on to open Waering at The Berkeley Hotel.
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The Mirror has contacted reps for Gordon and Marcus for a comment. A BBC spokesman declined to comment.
Erling Haaland has shocked fans by debuting a new hairstyle.
The Manchester City striker has abandoned his trademark Viking-style long locks and opted for a buzz cut.
He teased the new trim in a short Instagram video on Sunday morning and fans will get to see it in all its glory as City take on Bournemouth in their Premier League opener.
Haaland has varied his hairstyle down the years, sometimes adopting a ponytail and other times letting his plumage fall freely, but this is a new aesthetic for the 26-year-old.
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‘No way,’ former City boss Pep Guardiola said in reaction to Haaland’s new look on his YouTube channel. ‘You are lucky you have hair!’
Former Barcelona and Inter Milan star Zlatan Ibrahimovic – who once told Haaland his power comes from his long hair – asked if he shaved it all off ‘for a bet’, while Jack Grealish admitted ‘I can’t stop looking at the top of your head.’
Erling Haaland has ditched his iconic long locks for a buzz cut, as he revealed on Instagram
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Former City boss Pep Guardiola was stunned by his old striker’s new look
The forward has enjoyed a free-spirited summer holiday since reaching the World Cup quarter-finals with Norway.
He spent time hanging out with Pretty Little Thing founder Umar Kamani on a yacht in the French Riviera and also went on a boat trip around Sicily.
Haaland also had the chance to meet basketball legend Michael Jordan, a link-up brokered by one of Kamani’s friends, as exclusively revealed by Daily Mail Sport.
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He and Kamani were merrymaking at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, a stunning coastal resort in Antibes where suites break the bank at up to £7,058 per night.
Then again, that’s merely a drop in the ocean for Haaland, who nets close to £1million per week, and Kamani, whose net worth is estimated to be around $1billion (£797m).
Haaland recently claimed on Snapchat that his brain is ‘fried’ after playing in 67 games for club and country last season, so a break was needed.
You could say he has been letting his hair down – but that won’t be possible with this new chop.
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The Norwegian has garnered plenty of popularity for his hair in the past. Former Manchester City ace Kevin De Bruyne revealed that his children were inspired by his look.
‘Erling is a superstar. All three children have long hair. I see that with the kids at [my son’s] school too. They all have hair like that. It’s funny,’ he said in 2023.
For the Community Shield last week, Haaland sported a ponytail and proved to be ineffective.
He sported a ponytail for last week’s Community Shield match with Arsenal but was ineffective
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Manchester City lost 3-0 to Arsenal, submitting a languid and toothless performance which saw new manager Enzo Maresca come under fire.
Replacing Pep Guardiola after his trophy-laden decade was always going to be an uphill task.
Haaland was limited to 13 touches and had zero shots on target before being hooked against the champions.
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New season, new hairstyle for Haaland! Man City star Erling chops off iconic long hair and shows off new look ahead of Premier League campaign
In a touching gesture in memory of her brother, Margaret presented the RNLI with Bobby’s old Sunday School Bible, which she asked to be kept on board the lifeboat.
A new Shannon class lifeboat has been officially named Bobby Cameron during a special naming ceremony and service of dedication at Kilkeel Lifeboat Station in Co Down on Saturday, 22nd August.
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The lifeboat, which went on service in June of this year, has been largely funded by the donor Margaret Cameron and was named in memory of her beloved brother Bobby. Margaret and her brother were brought up, along with two older brothers, on a farm at Gracehill in Ballymena during the Second World War, and came from an Ulster-Scots background.
Bobby followed a career in joinery and construction and became a skilled City and Guilds craftsman in the construction industry. He also held a teaching post at the College of Technology, Belfast, and subsequently worked in the Department of Economic Development, setting up and organising training for apprentices and unskilled workers.
Bobby was happily married to Betty for 20 years and was devastated when she died in 1998. He remained a widower for the next 26 years until his death two years ago, aged 90 years. Neither Bobby nor Margaret had any connection with the RNLI other than a shared admiration for the lifesaving work they perform.
At the start of the ceremony, Margaret Cameron handed the lifeboat into the care of the RNLI through Peter Sparkes, the charity’s Chief Executive. John Fisher, Kilkeel Lifeboat Operations Manager, then accepted the lifeboat on behalf of the station.
Speaking during the ceremony, John said: ‘Today is a very special occasion for us. It marks 40 years since Robert Grimason, a local businessman, started the RNLI in Kilkeel. During those 40 years, we’ve answered 598 calls, aided over 400 people and saved 43 lives. The commitment, courage and dedication of our people is what the RNLI is all about. Today is another milestone in our history. I cannot thank the Cameron family enough for making this possible. Their generosity has provided us with an exceptional lifeboat that will help us to continue our mission of saving lives for many years to come.’
The Rev Rodney Cameron, nephew of Margaret and Bobby Cameron, led the Service of Dedication that followed. Then, before the gathered crowd of well-wishers, including family and friends of the station, Margaret Cameron named the lifeboat in memory of her brother, while the lifeboat crew poured a bottle of champagne over the side of the boat before it was launched.
Speaking as she named the lifeboat, Margaret Cameron said: “Today is the fulfilment of all my dreams. I am so glad that I was able to do this for Bobby. I miss him very much, and this lifeboat is really a tribute to his memory, as a brother and an uncle.’
In a touching gesture in memory of her brother, Margaret presented John Fisher with Bobby’s old Sunday School Bible, which she asked to be kept on board the lifeboat.
The Shannon is the latest class of all-weather lifeboat to join the RNLI fleet. She’s the first modern all-weather lifeboat to be propelled by waterjets instead of traditional propellers, making her our most agile and manoeuvrable all-weather lifeboat yet.
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The lifeboat was also partly funded by generous bequests from Edna Joyce Burgess and Hazel Mills, lifelong supporters of the RNLI. The vessel is also a legacy lifeboat and carries the names of generous supporters who appear within the letters and numbers that make up the lifeboat’s identifying number.
The pair, aged 22 and 23, were detained in connection with the death of Liam Potts, whose body was discovered in the river on August 18, and have now been released on police bail.
Liam had been reported missing on August 15, after a night out with friends.
Specialist officers from Northumbria Police’s Marine Unit made the discovery in the river close to Wylam Bridge on August 18.
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Prior to Liam’s disappearance, officers received a report of a disturbance at The Boathouse and a subsequent collision on Wylam Bridge involving a vehicle and a group of pedestrians.
A man and woman in their 20s suffered serious injuries in the crash.
The woman has since been discharged from hospital, while the man is still receiving treatment.
Liam was not in the car and was not hit by it. He was last seen leaving the bridge on foot towards Wylam.
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At first, officers did not think there was any third-party involvement in his disappearance.
But further investigations are now trying to find out if the disturbance and crash on Wylam Bridge directly led to Liam entering the water.
Northumbria Police’s Major Investigation Team is leading the investigation.
After the latest arrests, Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Inspector Rachael Rutherford, said: “The facts remain the same that Liam was on the bridge at the time of the collision, but he was not an occupant of the vehicle and was not struck by the vehicle.
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“Enquiries have revealed that Liam, for reasons yet to be established, entered the water within minutes of the collision.
“We have therefore made the further re-arrests as we are looking to establish whether there is any link between the collision and Liam entering the water.”
Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances of Liam’s death.
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