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‘I’m a professional dog trainer – there’s a fascinating reason dogs tilt their heads’

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Daily Mirror

A canine behaviourist has shared the science behind dogs tilting their heads, branding it “fascinating” while also explaining its close link to the bonds between a dog and their owner

Many dog owners will have spotted their pet tilting their heads when speaking to them and, while it’s commonly regarded as a cute and endearing habit, there’s a “fascinating” reason behind it. A professional dog trainer has shared how it could even offer insight into the depth of a bond between owners and their dogs.

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There’s lots of popular choices when it comes to pets, from cats, rabbits and guinea pigs to ferrets, snakes and even birds. But dogs are arguable one of the most beloved options, with millions of proud owners across the globe choosing them as the perfect addition to the family.

With a huge variety of breeds and sizes available, dogs are universally celebrated for their loyalty, affection and unwavering companionship.

Many owners are eager to better understand their furry companions, delving into the reasons behind certain quirks and behaviours. Social media has become a go-to resource for guidance and advice, with fellow owners, vets and industry experts all sharing their knowledge online.

Canine behaviourist Will Atherton has built up a devoted following across social media, regularly posting videos that draw on his extensive experience and expertise working with dogs.

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In a clip posted to TikTok, Will detailed the reason behind the common behaviour of head tilting.

Will began: “The reason your dog tilts their head when you talk to them is way more fascinating than most people realise.”

He then gestured towards his much-loved dog Sully, as the footage cut to scenes of Will alongside his dogs.

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The trainer went on: “Take young Sully here. He does it constantly, and every single time someone sees it, they go absolutely mad for it.

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“‘Oh, isn’t that adorable? Isn’t he clever?’ And yes, he is adorable, but there is real science behind what is happening in that moment – and understanding it will actually make you a better dog owner.”

Will then went on to explain what a dog might be attempting to communicate when they tilt their head.

He said: “When your dog hears your voice, they are doing two things simultaneously.

“They are trying to locate the precise source of the sound, and they are trying to read your facial expressions and lip movements to gather as much information about what it is you’re trying to communicate.

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“The tilt physically adjusts the position of their ears to improve directional hearing, and it also moves the muzzle out of their line of sight so they can see your face more clearly.”

What else does it mean when a dog tilts their head?

Will went on: “Now, here is the part that really matters. Dogs that have a stronger bond with their owner tilt their heads more frequently.

“It’s not a random quirk. It is a sign that your dog is genuinely engaged with you and that they are trying to understand you, and that they see you as a source of meaningful information.”

Will added: “Sully’s got a beautiful soul, and that head tilt of his tells me everything that I need to know about where we are in our relationship.

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“So the next time your dog does it, do not just melt and move on – recognise it for what it is: your dog working hard to connect with you.

“Lean into that, work with it more, engage with them more and build that relationship through it more. It is the foundation of everything.”

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ICE’s hiring spree draws fresh scrutiny after Maine shooting

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ICE's hiring spree draws fresh scrutiny after Maine shooting

WASHINGTON (AP) — Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been rapidly expanding its workforce, hiring thousands of new officers as part of the Trump administration’s attempt to ramp up immigration arrests and deportations.

The supersizing of ICE — fueled by an infusion of billions of dollars granted by Congress — has raised concerns about the agency’s hiring practices and whether officers being brought on are receiving proper vetting. Those concerns have been rejected by the Department of Homeland Security.

Relatives of the ICE officer who shot a Colombian man in Maine this week told The Associated Press he struggled with serious mental health issues since early childhood and never should have been given a badge and gun to patrol American streets.

The precise circumstances surrounding the officer’s hiring were not immediately clear. But the revelations about the man, David Brouillette, shine a new spotlight on ICE’s hiring spree and the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.

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Here is a look at the agency’s hiring and training practices:

A surge in new hires at ICE

In January, Homeland Security said it had hired 12,000 new officers and agents since the hiring surge began and said thousands of those new officers were already out on the streets assisting with investigations. The number includes both deportation officers and agents for Homeland Security Investigations, a separate agency that falls under ICE.

ICE has said the majority of new hires are police and military veterans. But evidence has been mounting that applicants with questionable histories were either not fully vetted before they were brought on or were hired in spite of their past, an investigation by The Associated Press earlier this year found.

At the time, Homeland Security, ICE’s parent agency, would not answer questions about specific hiring decisions. It did say some applicants received “tentative selection letters” and offers to begin working on a temporary status before they had been subjected to full background checks.

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It defended its hiring practices, saying it does rigorous vetting.

ICE’s former acting director, Todd Lyons, said during a congressional hearing in February that he was proud of the hiring campaign, which drew more than 220,000 applications.

“This expansion of a well-trained and well-vetted workforce will help further ICE’s ability to execute the president’s and secretary’s bold agenda,” he said.

The vetting process includes reviewing applicants’ criminal histories and credit scores and conducting background investigations that include interviewing prior employers and other associates, which can take weeks. ICE also promised signing bonuses of up to $50,000, advertised that college degrees were not required and lowered the age of new recruits to 18.

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An internal memo, first reported by Reuters in February, told ICE supervisors that if they receive “derogatory information about a newly hired employee’s conduct” they should refer the allegations to an internal affairs unit for investigation. Such information could include the employees’ termination or forced resignations, the memo said.

The DHS inspector general last August announced plans to audit ICE’s hiring and training processes, but no findings have been released.

Applicants have to get a security clearance

Recent job advertisements for deportation officers spell out the current qualifications, including that the person must be a U.S. citizen to apply and will have to pass a background investigation and a drug test.

New deportation officers also have to take a physical fitness test and be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance. Once hired, new deportation officers may have to serve a one-year probationary period.

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According to the job advertisement, deportation officers are required to carry a firearm, which means anyone convicted of domestic violence is ruled out.

Applicants undergo a medical exam and should be prepared to possibly be polygraphed. The application cautions that any false statements on the application can translate into the job offer being pulled or, if the person has already started work, they can lose their job or go to prison.

The background investigation can include a credit check, reviews of any financial problems like failure to pay child support or taxes and a look at the person’s criminal and drug history.

Claire Trickler-McNulty, a former ICE official under the Obama, first Trump and Biden administrations, said hiring a new deportation officer is similar to any other federal hiring.

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Generally, applications are reviewed by a hiring manager who decides which candidates to advance. Once someone gets a tentative offer, the agency conducts a background check.

When people are applying for jobs that involve getting a security clearance, Trickler-McNulty said, they have to disclose on their application any drug use, interactions with police, groups they’re affiliated with, mental health concerns, prior addresses and job history.

Depending on the clearance level, they’ll also ask for references that a background investigator will contact. If there’s red flag such as a DUI or a history of debt, that can trigger a deeper investigation.

“You want to make sure the person is appropriate for a public trust position,” she said.

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Concerns over changes to ICE training schedule

Generally, new candidates for deportation officer positions have to go through a 50-day immigration law enforcement training program, according to the job advertisement.

Ryan Schwank, a former lawyer at ICE who was responsible for training new deportation officers, told The Associated Press that the agency reduced the overall amount of training new recruits received and reduced the testing needed to pass before graduating. Homeland Security has denied that it has removed any training requirements or lessened requirements for officers.

Trickler-McNulty said she has concerns over reports the agency shortened training as it was aiming to hire thousands of new officers. ICE officials revamped the training as part of efforts to swiftly hire and train an additional 10,000 deportation officers with an infusion of billions of dollars last summer from Congress.

At the time, the agency had about 6,500 deportation officers. That led to allegations that the department was cutting corners in an effort to get more officers in the field, which Homeland Security and ICE repeatedly denied.

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In June, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said the agency would be increasing the amount of training for new officers starting this month. In a statement Thursday, the Department of Homeland Security said all new academy training classes beginning July 1 will last for 71 days and officers who graduated under the previous curriculum would get more training under a separate field officer program.

The department also said it was adding new training in crowd control measures, high-risk vehicle stops, live-fire exercises and medical training, in response to what they called coordinated attacks against their officers and ICE facilities.

__

Associated Press reporter Jonathan J. Cooper contributed to this report from Phoenix.

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Kaleb Cooper shares never seen before clips of wedding day featuring Clarkson’s Farm star

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Clarkson’s Farm star Kaleb Cooper married his long-term partner Taya Wilkinson earlier this month but he has now shared some behind the scenes clips of the big day

Kaleb Cooper has shared some behind the scenes clips from his wedding day – and fans can’t get enough.

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The Clarkson’s Farm star and his wife, Taya Wilkinson, finally married one another in a stunning ceremony in the Cotswolds, not far from Diddly Squat Farm. Kaleb got down on one knee on Christmas Day 2022, and the couple have three children together.

Moments before the ceremony, Kaleb, 27, who once vowed he’d have a “feral farm wedding,” was spotted departing a local pub with his ushers before making a show-stopping arrival at his nuptials. Kaleb turned up in a £250,000 McLaren supercar with his son alongside him.

Jeremy Clarkson and girlfriend Lisa Hogan were among the guests seen celebrating the couple’s big day. They were joined by other cast members of the hit Amazon Prime show at a Cotswolds service, held just minutes from Diddly Squat Farm.

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Boss Jeremy played a key and very generous role at the reception by providing an unlimited supply of his Hawkstone booze. Kaleb previously said his guests would be able to “sit underneath the keg” instead of filling up their glasses.

Also among the attendees were Gymshark founder Ben Francis and his wife Robin Francis. The billionaire entrepreneur, who famously went from delivering pizzas for Pizza Hut to building Gymshark into a sportswear empire worth nearly £1 billion, was one of Kaleb’s ushers.

The wedding day was a moment for the Clarkson Farm stars to celebrate after a difficult few months. Kaleb was seen reacting with shock after Jeremy announced his ‘aggressive’ prostate cancer diagnosis with him in scenes that aired on their hit show.

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Speaking to the Mirror last month, Kaleb admitted it was difficult to witness his friend going through such a challenging time.

“Yeah, I mean, it’s only just come out – 100%. I think anything that’s emotional is just about how you take it, you know? You sit there and you be supportive, or do you go out there and, I would say, mope about it and lock yourself away? And at that time you’ve got to be supportive.”

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Yesterday Kaleb took to Instagram to share a never seen before video from his wedding day showing him dancing with Clarkson’s Farm star Charlie R Ireland. He captioned the video: “Lots of funny wedding videos which I think some deserve to be shared with the world more?”

Fans took to the comments to share their thoughts, one wrote: “That’s so funny cheerful Charlie has got the moves,” another wrote: “This is pure gold. Is this how we are opening Season 6?!”

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For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.

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America’s worst mother let husband rape daughter, 11, and get her pregnant… then forced youngster to give birth at home without medical care

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Cherie Walker, 34, could spend life behind bars after she failed to stop her husband from raping and impregnating her 11-year-old daughter

An Oklahoma mother could spend life behind bars after she failed to stop her husband from raping and impregnating her 11-year-old daughter.

Cherie Walker, 34, knew that her husband, Dustin Walker, was sexually abusing her daughter at their Muskogee home, but failed to protect her, prosecutors said.

The 11-year-old gave birth to a full-term child inside the couple’s home in August last year. She never received any kind of prenatal care or medical assistance during the birthing process, the court heard.

The girl went to a local hospital shortly after giving birth to her stepfather’s baby. That was when cops arrested Cherie and Dustin Walker, 35, and charged them with neglect.

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DNA testing later revealed that Dustin was, with ’99 percent certainty,’ the baby’s father, KJRH reported.

Cherie Walker was convicted of six counts of child neglect and one count of enabling child sexual abuse last Friday.

The verdict came after four days of grueling testimony from police, first responders, medical professionals, Department of Human Services employees, church members and other family members.

The jury has recommended a sentence of life in prison on each count. Walker will be formally sentenced by a judge at a later date.

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Cherie Walker, 34, could spend life behind bars after she failed to stop her husband from raping and impregnating her 11-year-old daughter

Prosecutors say Walker knew that her husband, Dustin Walker, was sexually abusing her daughter at their family's Muskogee, Oklahoma home, but failed to intervene

Prosecutors say Walker knew that her husband, Dustin Walker, was sexually abusing her daughter at their family’s Muskogee, Oklahoma home, but failed to intervene

An investigation revealed that Dustin Walker had abused the ‘rather petite’ child on numerous occasions, resulting in the pregnancy. 

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Adults in the home, including her mother, stepfather, and maternal grandmother, Michelle Justus, were found to have failed to provide the child with basic care, supervision or medical attention. 

She was said to have not visited the doctor in over a year. 

The girl was also pulled out of school while pregnant, leaving little room for teachers or medical professionals to intervene, Hutson added.

But both Cherie Walker and Justus denied any knowledge of the pregnancy.

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Justus previously told KJRH: ‘I just want people to know, we did not know this was happening. None of us. They’ve made my daughter and my son-in-law a monster. They are not. They love those children. They love them.’

The grandmother is charged with child neglect and is scheduled to stand trial on Thursday. She previously accused a local 12-year-old boy of raping the young girl. 

Walker, seen in court, was convicted of six counts of child neglect and one count of enabling child sexual abuse. The jury has recommended a sentence of life in prison on each count

Walker, seen in court, was convicted of six counts of child neglect and one count of enabling child sexual abuse. The jury has recommended a sentence of life in prison on each count

Adults in the home, including Walker, Dustin, and maternal grandmother, Michelle Justus, were also found to have failed to provide the child with basic care, supervision or medical attention

Adults in the home, including Walker, Dustin, and maternal grandmother, Michelle Justus, were also found to have failed to provide the child with basic care, supervision or medical attention

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Dustin Walker was sentenced last month to 42 years behind bars and a life sentence for abuse and neglect of a child.

He entered a ‘blind’ guilty plea to six counts of child neglect and one count of sexual abuse of a child under 12 in March. A blind plea occurs when there was no plea deal made, and the sentence length was left to the discretion of the judge.

Walker stood in front of the court twice and apologized for his horrific actions. Upon his sentencing, he was barred from contacting the victims.

Cherie and Dustin had five other children shared between them, ages two, four, six, seven and nine.

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The children were removed from the home last year after investigators found them living in ‘deplorable conditions,’ prosecutors said.

The children were found to be living in dog feces and had no clothing on.

Photos of the home shared by prosecutors showed urine everywhere, as well as no air conditioning or running water.

Dustin Walker was sentenced last month to 42 years behind bars and a life sentence for abuse and neglect of a child. He entered a 'blind' guilty plea to six counts of child neglect and one count of sexual abuse of a child under 12 in March

Dustin Walker was sentenced last month to 42 years behind bars and a life sentence for abuse and neglect of a child. He entered a ‘blind’ guilty plea to six counts of child neglect and one count of sexual abuse of a child under 12 in March

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Justus is charged with child neglect and is scheduled to stand trial on Thursday. She previously denied having any knowledge of the girl's pregnancy and even accused a local 12-year-old boy of raping her granddaughter

Justus is charged with child neglect and is scheduled to stand trial on Thursday. She previously denied having any knowledge of the girl’s pregnancy and even accused a local 12-year-old boy of raping her granddaughter

Join the discussion

How should society prevent horrific child abuse cases from slipping through the cracks at home and school?

‘It’s very emotional to realize that a child at the age of 10 and 11 was having sex with their stepfather, that she became pregnant and no one took her to the doctor and she gave birth at home,’ Assistant District Attorney Janet Hutson said after the couple were arrested in August 2025.

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‘When you complicate that with the severe deplorable, uninhabitable conditions of that home, to know that’s where she gave birth, where those children lived, without even the ability to get a drink of water in the middle of the night.

‘It affected everyone in law enforcement. It affected the investigators, it affected everyone who touched this case. It certainly affected me.’

The prosecutor added that the case was ‘one of the most, if not the most, serious child sexual abuse and neglect cases I have ever prosecuted.’

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Maisie Williams says drama with Lena Headey will explore vulnerability of acting

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Maisie Williams says drama with Lena Headey will explore vulnerability of acting

The 29-year-old, who is best known for starring as Arya Stark in Game Of Thrones alongside Headey who played Cersei Lannister, will appear with her once again in the eight-part drama Intimacy on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds, where she plays the character Bunny, who is also an actor.

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Games Inbox: Which is better out of Cyberpunk 2077 and The Witcher 3?

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Games Inbox: Which is better out of Cyberpunk 2077 and The Witcher 3?
Cyberpunk 2077 – better than The Witcher 3? (CD Projekt)

The Wednesday letters page argues that digital games can be cheaper than physical, as readers applaud Count Binface’s stance on Shenmue 4.

Games Inbox is a collection of our readers’ letters, comments, and opinions. To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@metro.co.uk

Sci-fi vs. fantasy
Like everything else in gaming, it seems a very slow crawl towards a new Witcher game. I was hoping the new DLC would be this year but I suppose 2027 will have to do. I’ll be surprised if The Witcher 4 is out before 2029 though, if they’re not even thinking of showing it till next year.

I shouldn’t complain though as at least you can be sure they’re not rushing it. Cyberpunk 2077 has been such a big hit in the end that they can afford to take their time, which I’m glad of. Although personally I could never get on with Cyberpunk. I much prefer fantasy to sci-fi and so I had a hard time comparing the two.

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Curious to know what other readers think but my opinion is that The Witcher 3 is significant better in terms of the story and characters. I just couldn’t get on with everyone being awful in Cyberpunk. I will admit the combat is not great in The Witcher 3 but I’m not sure it’s all that much better in Cyberpunk, even though it’s first person. Perhaps the new The Witcher 3 DLC will settle the issue for good.
Rostie

Old rivals
I’ve been playing the Mega Drive version of Sonic 2 the last couple of days, via my Nintendo Switch Online subscription and being a massive 16-bit gaming fan naturally I was comparing it to Super Mario World on the SNES (their UK release dates were only around six months apart).

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I can see why a five minute blast could have convinced many image conscious kids back in the day to purchase a Mega Drive, due to the exhilarating speed and high tempo music of the games featuring the trendy blue hedgehog, but it unquestionably lacks the depth, longevity, and wonderful playability of Super Mario World.

Still, two excellent games, which have both aged brilliantly.
Arteta26Legend

A world of its own
Counter-Strike skin economy is genuinely insane; it impresses me that if you’re not playing Counter-Strike, you won’t know about it. The total market cap of skins is in the billions; there are even tens of businesses that thrive solely on people trading skins.

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The skinradar.gg website shows 43 marketplaces that provide players with a platform to trade and a good chunk of them see millions of people visit monthly! What other game has such a pull? Counter-Strike is such a unicorn of gaming; it is literally the Pokémon of in-game skin collecting.
Rimvydas

GC: It is crazy. Especially as the skins always seem so unremarkable.

Email your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.uk

Damp squid
So I see another big divide between US and UK reviewers over Splatoon Raiders. IGN gave it a 9 and The Guardian was as low as 2 out of 5. Obviously I haven’t played the game but it’s very hard to understand how it can get that high a mark if it’s all just stuff we’ve seen before. If these linear levels you describe really are like the one from the mainline games I already know they’re a waste of time.

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Making a single-player Splatoon is a bit weird just as a concept but to make it with no story and basically no new ideas seems like such a waste of time. To be honest, Splatoon 3 was already a bit of a con, given how little it did that was new. That’s very unlike Nintendo and I feel the direction of the franchise is worrying, given how original it was when it first came out.

I’m assuming it’s going to be at least two or three years before we get Splatoon 4, which is going to mean something like a seven year gap since Splatoon 3, which was itself a bit of a minimum effort. I feel the idea that Nintendo is playing 4D chess with its release schedules just doesn’t hold up. They’re just blundering along making weird decisions, exactly how it looks.
Misko

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Put a ring on it
I hate to agree with that Valve developer but he’s right about people being much too late to start complaining about digital games now. The vast majority of people made their choice years ago and it sure wasn’t physical copies. I’m still shocked we collectively allowed second-hand sales on the high street to stop being a thing and looking back that was probably the death of physical right there.

Even if Sony hadn’t made their annoucement this year it was blindingly obvious that the PlayStation 6 was never going to have a disc drive, so what was everyone going to do then? By that point digital sales would be at least 90% so was everyone going to suddenly start complaining as if they didn’t know which way the wind was blowing?

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I’m not saying this is a good thing, I wish physical media was still a thing, but we’ve sleepwalked into this future and have no one to blame but ourselves.
Zeiss

Wasted chance
What a lovely surprise to see England’s finest MP-to-be demand a Shenmue 4. Even if it is just a cameo, the Shenmue fans are nothing if not creative in their desire for the series to continue; just thinking of the Times Square advert a couple of years ago and being awarded the most influential game of all time by BAFTA, for example.

Man, I wish Sega would throw Yu Suzuki a bone and allow him to continue the series; heck I’d gladly back a Kickstarter again if needs be.

The Binface video put a big smile of my face and given the state of the gaming industry at the moment, that’s always a good thing.
-bcdcdude

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GC: It would have helped if Suzuki hadn’t made Shenmue 3 such a baffling waste of time. It’s one of the biggest squandered opportunities in all gaming.

Striking while the iron is cold
Count Binface can have my vote if they get Shenmue 4 released but in other news, there’s a physical release of Shenmue 3 enhanced available for order on Argos, Amazon, and other sites on Switch 2, Xbox, and PlayStation 5.

It’s disappointing story-wise but nice to see it getting another release.
Mark Matthews

GC: We mentioned this in our story on Count Binface; Shenmue 3 Enhanced doesn’t have a release date but it’s meant to be out this autumn.

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Counter deal
RE: matc7884 and £240 to buy a collection of Assassin’s Creed games on PSN. Using this price tracker I make it £120.19 to buy all those games on PSN, when they have been on sale. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey has been on sale for between £8.24 and £16.49 32 times since January 2023.

You can access all of them with DLC plus loads more games on Ubisoft+ Premium for £15 a month. With regular sales, sub services, and game sharing accessing games cheap with digital downloads is no problem.

Don’t get me wrong, the concerns about less competition from physical for the PSN store are real. I think competition from other competing platforms and market conditions will keep prices in check but understand why others don’t. Will the sales and deals dry up?

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I also think the loss of resale values needs to be better compensated for on PSN. Maybe a Steam-like refund policy or try before you buy demos for all games.

But now, and historically since digital took over, there’s only been one operator on the market whose games you can’t access anywhere near as cheaply as the others and that’s Nintendo first party games, which are primarily bought physical.

Nintendo have, with the Switch 2, started selling games cheaper digitally. But that’s upset people who feel Nintendo is forcing people on to digital rather than just passing on the savings to the customer from the removal of the retailers cut. Stores took the decision to match the £41.99 digital price of Star Fox.
Simundo

GC: Actually, the percentage of digital sales on Nintendo hardware is 67.2%. That’s lower than PlayStation and Xbox but on the increase.

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Inbox also-rans
We’re getting close to August now and there’s no sign of any more information on Zelda: Ocarina Of Time. I think it’s pretty obvious this is going to be a late autumn release, but we’ve seen even less of it than GTA 6. Nintendo might be weird but they like pre-order money as much as anyone. When are we going to get a dedicated Direct?
Duke

GC: It’s Nintendo. It could happen tomorrow or in two months’ time.

Just found out that Darkest Dungeon is 10 years old, that’s wild. Anyway, they’ve released some new DLC for it which I’ll try and check out – love that game.
Morrie

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New Inbox updates appear every weekday morning, with special Hot Topic Inboxes at the weekend. Readers’ letters are used on merit and may be edited for length and content.

You can also submit your own 500 to 600-word Reader’s Feature at any time via email or our Submit Stuff page, which if used will be shown in the next available weekend slot.

You can also leave your comments below and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.

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Can YOU guess Burnham’s new Cabinet based on childhood photos?

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Can YOU guess Burnham's new Cabinet based on childhood photos?

From buck teeth and fancy dress to cricket whites and bedtime snaps, Andy Burnham has given followers a hilarious glimpse into the childhoods of the politicians now running Britain.

Just a day after unveiling his new Cabinet, the Prime Minister shared a tongue-in-cheek ‘then v now’ Instagram post showing his senior ministers long before they swapped school uniforms for suits and the red dispatch box.

But can YOU guess who each one is? 

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The young boy in his cricket whites is our new PM Andy Burnham

The young boy in his cricket whites is our new PM Andy Burnham 

Andy Burnham, 56, leads the nostalgic line-up with a picture of himself beaming in cricket whites with his arms folded, presumably from around the time when the sports-mad PM was a fast bowler for the Lancashire schoolboys cricket team.

Born in Aintree in 1970, Burnham was inspired by the miners’ strike to join the Labour Party in his teens and first became an MP in 2001. 

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The former health secretary had twice failed to become party leader – losing to Ed Miliband in 2010 and Jeremy Corbyn in 2015 – and after leaving Parliament, served as Greater Manchester mayor. 

Before his triumphal return winning the backing of 379 of Labour’s 403 MPs to replace Sir Keir Starmer. 

The young toddler laughing is the new Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey

The young toddler laughing is the new Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey 

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New Chancellor John Healey appears as a giggling toddler in a black and white snap from the 1960s.

Born in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, Healey studied social and political sciences at Christ’s College, Cambridge, before working for the Trades Union Congress and the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce. 

First elected as MP for Wentworth in 1997, he has held several ministerial roles during his parliamentary career and is now entrusted with overseeing the nation’s finances. 

His appointment as Chancellor marks his return to the cabinet less than two months after quitting as defence secretary.

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A former Treasury minister, Healey recently attacked what he called a ‘Treasury orthodoxy that’s a dead hand on dynamic government’ that viewed defence as ‘a drain rather than a driver of growth’.

Senior figures in government say he shares Burnham’s ambitions for reindustrialisation and devolution.

The boy with the big grin is new Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband

The boy with the big grin is new Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband

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But perhaps the biggest transformation belongs to the new Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, whose school photograph shows him flashing a nervous smile complete with an unforgettable pair of prominent buck teeth.

He has moved on from the energy and net zero brief he held since Labour returned to power, taking on a new role in Andy Burnham’s reshuffled Cabinet.

The former Labour leader had previously been tipped as a potential Chancellor, with supporters highlighting his experience at the Treasury and his time as a senior figure within the party.

However, his economic credentials have also faced scrutiny, with some critics questioning his approach, particularly over his policies on energy.

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Mr Miliband has represented Doncaster North in Parliament since 2005 and remains one of Labour’s longest-serving MPs.

Louise Haigh is the little girl dressed up as an angel

Louise Haigh is the little girl dressed up as an angel 

While First Secretary Louise Haigh looks every inch the little angel in a childhood fancy dress costume. 

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That seems worlds away from the woman who will now oversee the department responsible for supporting the Prime Minister and helping co-ordinate the Government’s priorities across Whitehall.

The Sheffield Heeley MP first entered Parliament in 2015 and quickly made a name for herself as one of Westminster’s most energetic new arrivals. 

Within a year, she was named the hardest-working new MP after making a high number of Commons speeches and asking hundreds of parliamentary questions.

Former Commons Speaker John Bercow praised her ‘terrier-like intensity’ in the chamber, a reference to her persistent style of holding ministers to account.

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Before entering politics, Ms Haigh worked as a special constable and was also a Unite union shop steward.

Her rise through Labour’s ranks was hit by controversy in 2025 when she became the first member of Sir Keir Starmer’s Cabinet to resign after it emerged she had admitted a fraud offence dating back to 2013 while serving as transport secretary.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is the little girl in the nightdress alongside a young boy who is presumably one of her brothers

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is the little girl in the nightdress alongside a young boy who is presumably one of her brothers

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Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is all smiles in a nightdress as she poses beside a young boy in a family snap. 

She has kept her place at the top of Government, remaining as Home Secretary after taking on the role in September 2025.

The Birmingham Ladywood MP is responsible for some of the most politically sensitive areas of Whitehall, including immigration, national security and policing across England and Wales.

Ms Mahmood has built a reputation among Labour colleagues as taking a tough stance on immigration. Shortly after becoming Home Secretary, she unveiled major reforms to the asylum system, claiming the previous approach had become ‘out of control’.

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A long-serving Labour figure, Ms Mahmood entered Parliament in 2010 after winning Birmingham Ladywood. 

She has said she was the first female Muslim MP elected, arguing her declaration was the first completed on election night, although Yasmin Qureshi and Rushanara Ali were also elected that year.

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Stretford park taped off as police investigate reports of sex assault on teen girl

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Manchester Evening News

The youngster is being supported by police following reports of an attack in Victoria Park, Stretford

Parts of Victoria Park in Stretford were cordoned off tonight as police investigate reports that a teenage girl was sexually assaulted.

Police swooped on the park at around 6pm following reports that a teenage girl was sexually assaulted inside the park. Pictures from the scene showed police at the park, with a walkway and one area of woodland taped off.

Tonight Greater Manchester Police confirmed that an investigation was underway and that the alleged victim ‘is being supported’ by officers. No arrests have yet been made.

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A statement from GMP said: “Greater Manchester Police is investigating a report of sexual assault that occurred shortly before 6pm today (21/07/2026) in Victoria Park, Stretford.

“No arrests have been made at this time. However, the victim is being supported and detectives are following up multiple lines of enquiry to piece together the full circumstances.”

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The much-loved park is maintained by the Friends of Victoria Park which was set up in 2003 to revive it.

GMP has stressed how victims of sex crimes can access support services.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of rape or sexual assault, peopled are encouraged not to suffer in silence and report it to the police by calling 101 or 999 in an emergency. You can also report information and crimes on via www.gmp.police.uk.

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Alternatively, people can report information anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

There are also other organisations and support agencies available across Greater Manchester and nationally.

– Saint Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Manchester provides a response to men, women and children who live or have been sexually assaulted within Greater Manchester. They offer forensic medical examinations, practical and emotional support as well as a counselling service for all ages. Services are available on a 24-hour basis and can be accessed by calling 0161 276 6515.

– Greater Manchester Rape Crisis is a confidential information, support and counselling service run by women for women over 18 who have been raped or sexually abused at any time in their lives. Call on 0161 273 4500 or email help@manchesterrapecrisis.co.uk

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– We are Survivors provides specialist trauma informed support to male victims in Greater Manchester who have experienced sexual abuse, rape, or sexual exploitation. Call 0161 236 2182.

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OpenAI says its AI models hacked another company on their own

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OpenAI film, dropped by Amazon, is acquired by Neon

ChatGPT maker OpenAI said Tuesday that its artificial intelligence system hacked into another AI company on its own in what the company called an “unprecedented cyber incident.”

“We had a significant security incident during evaluation of our models,” OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said in a statement posted on social media.

AI startup Hugging Face said last week that it had detected an intrusion into its data processing systems that it suspected was caused by an AI agent autonomously acting on its own.

“We suspected last week’s cyberattack might have come from a frontier lab, given the sophistication of the agent,” Hugging Face co-founder and CEO Clément Delangue said in a statement. “Turns out it did!”

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The disclosure comes amid heightened concerns about the cybersecurity capabilities of powerful models that led President Donald Trump in June to sign an executive order creating a framework for the federal government to vet the national security risks of the most advanced AI systems for up to a month before their public release.

“AI is accelerating the discovery and exploitation of vulnerabilities,” OpenAI said in its statement Tuesday. “The primary lesson from this incident is that model security and safety must keep pace with rapidly advancing capabilities.”

Delangue said he spent the past 24 hours working with OpenAI, “and we strongly believe there was no malicious intent on their part. It’s quite mind-blowing that all of this happened autonomously!”

Delangue added that it “might be the first incident of its kind.”

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OpenAI said the intrusion was caused by a combination of its AI models, including its newly released GPT‑5.6 Sol and an “even more capable” model that is still being tested internally.

OpenAI said its AI used stolen credentials and discovered a previously unknown vulnerability to access Hugging Face servers.

It went to “extreme lengths to achieve a rather narrow testing goal” and “found ways to gain access to secret information that it could use to cheat the evaluation,” the company said.

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Boy, 15, is charged with rape and sexual assaults of eight girls aged as young as ten

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A 15-year-old boy charged with raping and sexually assaulting eight victims appeared at Wellingborough Youth Court (pictured) on Tuesday

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A 15-year-old boy has been charged with raping and sexually assaulting eight girls aged as young as ten.

The teenager, who cannot be named because of his age, was accompanied by his mother for a hearing at Wellingborough Youth Court on Tuesday. 

He is accused of 22 offences relating to incidents between 2023 and 2025 against victims aged between 10 and 15 at the time. 

The boy was not asked to enter any pleas during the 20-minute hearing, did not stand in the dock and instead took a seat at the back of the court room.  

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He has been charged with 12 counts of sexually assaulting a female, three counts of assaulting a girl under 13 by touching, and one count of raping a girl under 13.

He is also charged with one count of assaulting a female aged 13 and over by penetration with a part of the body or thing, one count of raping a girl aged 13-15, and two counts of making an indecent photograph or pseudo-photograph of a child.

He faces a further charge of possessing a prohibited image of a child and another of possessing an extreme pornographic image or images.

District Judge Amar Mehta told the boy: ‘Your case is too serious to be tried in this court. Therefore it’s going to be tried at the crown court at Northampton.

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A 15-year-old boy charged with raping and sexually assaulting eight victims appeared at Wellingborough Youth Court (pictured) on Tuesday

‘I’m going to send your case to Northampton Crown Court for another hearing similar to this one.’

The teenager was told to appear at that court on August 18.

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He was granted conditional bail instructing him not to contact the alleged victims, to have no unsupervised contact with females under 16, and to engage with the Northamptonshire Youth Justice Service.

The boy spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address, and to ask the judge what the Youth Justice Service was.

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Daily horoscope July 22, 2026: Predictions for your star sign

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Daily horoscope July 22, 2026: Predictions for your star sign
Here’s what the stars have in store for your day (Picture: Metro.co.uk)

Today, the Sun enters Leo for a month, and Jupiter enhances a sense of play. The day before you will be filled with lightness.

Aries, Taurus and Gemini, enjoy the way Jupiter lights up your social circles. Exciting new bonds could be formed, so take the day as it comes.

Enjoy the relaxed atomsphere this cosmic placement affords. Let your energy ebb and flow freely.

Ahead, you’ll find all star signs’ horoscopes for today: Wednesday July 22, 2026.

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Aries

March 21 to April 20

The Sun enters Leo for a month. This can enhance your leisure activities and boost your contentment. With Jupiter adding extra bounce, you’ll be ready to expand your horizons through romance, creativity, hobbies and culture. Get ready, as your energy levels will increase, and so will your zest for life. It’s an opportunity to gain maximum enjoyment.

Head here for everything you need to know about being an Aries

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Today’s celestial guidance for Aries

Taurus

April 21 to May 21

Home and family activities are well-starred, with the coming weeks boosting family plans and goals. You’ll be looking for ideas that can take your domestic experience into a new league, and with the Sun entering this zone and Jupiter already acting as an expansive influence, you’ll embrace plans and projects that enhance your life and give it greater meaning.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Taurus

Today’s planetary forecast for Taurus

Gemini

May 22 to June 21

The way you communicate will have a touch of theatre about it, inspiring dramatic statements, the sharing of brilliant and daring thoughts, and a desire to take the lead in major discussions. The Sun’s presence in Leo from today encourages you to speak from the heart and to take the plunge regarding an idea whose time has definitely come.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Gemini

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How the stars aligned for Gemini today

Cancer

June 22 to July 23

Your focus turns to money, talents and self-worth. If you’ve been underrating yourself, it’s time to realise your true worth and charge accordingly. However, you may also be tempted to spend, hoping the money will be replenished without you having to do too much. Want to enhance your resources and income? You’ll accomplish this, as long as you act with wisdom.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Cancer

Celestial energies for Cancer today

Leo

July 24 to August 23

As the Sun arrives in your sign, it’s the start of a new personal year. And with Jupiter here too, you may require a bigger stage to perform on. You’ll expect great things of yourself, and others may see you as a dynamic, charismatic figure with bold ideas and leadership abilities. You’ll also be in the spotlight for a month, so dare to showcase your best talents.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Leo

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Your daily zodiac insight for Leo

Virgo

August 24 to September 23

Other people may be racing around exploring ways to meet their goals, but as the Sun enters a private zone for a four-week stay, you’ll sense that quiet reflection and intuitive awareness can save you time and energy. The results are likely to be much more impressive too. Try to pay more attention to dreams, coincidences and any gentle nudges from deep within.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Virgo

Cosmic messages for Cosmic messages for Virgo today

Libra

September 24 to October 23

As the Sun joins Jupiter in your social zone, invitations and group connections sparkle with new possibilities. Networking, teamwork and long-term dreams also benefit from a major boost. The weeks ahead encourage you to shine by revealing to others all that is unique about you. Opportunities arrive through encounters, so a casual conversation could prove to be gold.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Libra

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Your daily stellar guidance for Libra

Scorpio

October 24 to November 22

You’re entering a very promising time for career matters, ambitions and your public reputation. The radiant Sun enters Leo for a month and joins lucky Jupiter. People will notice your talent, determination and hard work. You’ll be ready to aim for opportunities that you might never have dared to pursue before. You’ll also be more eager to bask in the spotlight.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Scorpio

Star alignments for Scorpio today

Sagittarius

November 23 to December 21

You’re not one to think small, but from today the cosmos wants you to think even bigger. Travel adventures and fresh opportunities will call out to you, and, more than ever, you’ll want to visit new places, expand your knowledge and take on bolder challenges. The Sun’s entrance into Leo boosts your confidence, while Jupiter’s presence amplifies daring opportunities.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Sagittarius

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Today’s astral messages for Sagittarius

Capricorn

December 22 to January 21

You’re invited to explore beneath the surface, where the real treasures are hidden. The Sun’s move into an intense zone, where it joins Jupiter, inspires you to focus on transformation, shared assets and emotional bonds. You’re learning to trust yourself as well as others. A light is shining on issues that have been developing behind the scenes, allowing for major healing.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Capricorn

Your zodiac forecast for Capricorn today

Aquarius

January 22 to February 19

Partnerships and relationships of all kinds are overflowing with possibilities and benefits. The Sun enters lively Leo, highlighting the potential for growth, opportunity and understanding. This is not the time to go it alone, as this expansive influence encourages you to collaborate and work with others. The right alliance can open doors that might otherwise remain firmly shut.

Head here for everything you need to know about being an Aquarius

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Daily cosmic update for Aquarius

Pisces

February 20 to March 20

A healthier routine, a more efficient schedule or a fresh work opportunity could set positive developments in motion. As the Sun roars into your lifestyle zone and joins Jupiter, this is a wonderful chance to invest in yourself, your skills and your wellbeing. Your brightest dreams need a reliable daily routine to help them come true, and the possibilities are truly endless.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Pisces

Your cosmic energy update for Pisces

Your daily Metro.co.uk horoscope is here every morning, seven days a week (yes, including weekends!). To check your forecast, head to our dedicated horoscopes page.

Head here for this week’s tarot horoscope reading, and see what the cards have in store for you!

Check out the tarot horoscope reading for the month of July here.

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