The 43-year-old Spaniard, who has signed a two-year deal at Anfield, became Liverpool’s first choice after they decided he met their demand for a manager who played a more attacking, high-tempo and aggressive style of play.
Liverpool were attracted by the former Bournemouth manager’s ability to overachieve relative to resources and to improve players, while they were looking for a head coach with a proven track record in the Premier League and a clear footballing identity.
Andoni Iraola has been officially confirmed as Liverpool’s new boss (PA Wire)
Slot was dismissed on Saturday and Liverpool soon alighted on Iraola as their preferred candidate. They began in-person talks on Tuesday, reaching a verbal agreement later that day. The Basque has only agreed a deal until 2028, but it is in keeping with the contracts he signed at his previous clubs.
“I’m really excited, really excited,” Iraola told Liverpool’s official website. “Because obviously you know about Liverpool, you know that it’s a big club, a massive club, one of the biggest in the world.
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“But feeling inside and understanding a little bit more of this club, I always thought it’s a special club. You don’t need a lot of things to get attracted by Liverpool. Liverpool is Liverpool.
“But obviously the atmosphere, the supporters, the club, the players, the chance for me to coach top-level players, the chance to fight for titles. I think it cannot be more attractive than this. It’s difficult to find it. So, really excited to start.”
Iraola had become one of the most in-demand managers in the summer market and Liverpool saw off interest from AC Milan, Bayer Leverkusen and Crystal Palace, realising when they spoke him that his first and only choice was to go to Anfield.
Liverpool had also considered Sebastian Hoeness of VfB Stuttgart and Pierre Sage of Lens but soon concluded that Iraola was the stand-out candidate. He was the only manager Liverpool interviewed.
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Iraola was the only candidate Liverpool interviewed as he fit their vision (Reuters)
Iraola was taken to Bournemouth by Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes in 2023 after three seasons in charge of Rayo Vallecano.
However, Liverpool’s interest in him predated Hughes’ arrival. They had once tried to sign him as a player and had followed his coaching career for more than a decade.
He led Bournemouth to finishes of 12th, ninth and then sixth, earning them a place in Europe for the first time in their history and only finishing one place behind his new club.
Liverpool noted that Iraola’s achievements in Dorset came with one of the smallest budgets in the division and when Bournemouth sold players for around £250m in the last two transfer windows.
Iraola found huge success at Bournemouth and was a popular manager (Reuters)
Liverpool had struggled for goals this season, scoring 23 fewer than in their title-winning campaign of 2024-25, despite spending heavily on Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, and were attracted by Iraola’s record with attacking players, both in terms of helping them get better and to become more potent.
Under Iraola, Antoine Semenyo went on to become one of the leading scorers in the Premier League and to earn a £64m move to Manchester City while young players such as Rayan and Eli Junior Kroupi developed dramatically. While Liverpool have spent heavily, they do not want to rely on expensive recruitment and were attracted by Iraola’s record of improving footballers he inherited.
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While Slot’s football came to seem too slow and while Liverpool were outrun in the vast majority of their league games last season, Iraola’s belief in high pressing and energetic football offered similarities with Jurgen Klopp’s approach, meaning the Merseyside club felt he was both a continuity candidate and a coach who will evolve the current side.
Slot was a newcomer to the Premier League who excelled in his debut season but struggled in the second and Liverpool believed that Iraola, with three years in the division already, represented a low-risk choice in that respect. Iraola has never managed a club of Liverpool’s size but they are confident he has the personality and leadership to cope.
They are yet to finalise Iraola’s backroom staff, though he is expected to bring some of his coaching team from Bournemouth.
Damn you, sexy Mehmet! Mehmet Fatih Çiçekli has been urged to cover up with a fig leaf at least by opposing politicians (Picture: Instagram)
Is he too sexy for his shorts? A lycra-clad politician has been sacked after going viral for wearing too tight cycling gear.
Mehmet Fatih Cicekli, the governor of Ardahan province in eastern Turkey, was removed from his post by a presidential decree signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The cycling mad politician rode headfirst into an unexpected political maelstrom after photos of him in snug cycling shorts went viral.
He has since also become the centre of a campaign pressing for his return to office amid an outpouring of affection.
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While no reason was given for his dismissal, it came after some Turkish politicians criticised him for wearing cycling tights during a public event promoting the sport and for posting the photos on social media.
Inan Akgun Alp, a member of the main opposition Republican People’s Party, accused Cicekli of allegedly prioritising social media over official duties, adding the tight attire was inappropriate for a governor.
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‘He goes around in tights, spends all day cycling, with bodyguards in front of him, cycling in tights until the evening,’ the T-24 news website quoted Alp as saying during a parliamentary debate last week. ‘A governor cannot wander around the city centre like this.’
Showing a picture to a crowd at a rally, Alp continued: ‘Such governors are unacceptable. Either remove these governors or at least send them fig leaves to wear.’
Samil Tayyar, a former legislator from Erdogan’s ruling party, which has roots in Turkey’s Islamic movement, said the attire was contrary to cultural norms, especially in a conservative, traditional province like Ardahan. He argued that other politicians wore sweatpants while cycling.
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‘People can wear whatever they want in their private lives, but a governor cannot visit the public in tights while on duty; it does not align with the seriousness of the state. In a traditional social setting like Ardahan, it is completely unacceptable,’ Tayyar wrote on X.
Cicekli, who was appointed governor in January by Erdogan, defended himself by arguing that what he wore was normal cycling attire.
‘(We will) keep pedaling. I am an athlete who practices sailing, rowing and cycling. The clothes I’m wearing are sportswear,’ T-24 quoted him as saying.
A petition campaign to try and get him reinstated has gathered more than 10,000 signatures, with supporters arguing that the governor was engaged in important work in Ardahan, promoting sports, youth activities and bicycle tourism, the opposition-leaning Halk TV reported.
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In an emotional farewell to his supporters in Ardahan on Wednesday, Cicekli said: ‘I believe that I have not let down those who vouched for me and stood by me throughout my journey until now. I believe that this is the greatest honor of all.’
Nacho Sánchez Amor, a member of the European Parliament from Spain who serves as the rapporteur on Turkey, expressed support for Cicekli and suggested Alp was promoting the ruling party’s ‘Islamist conservative agenda.’
Downing Street say the new Prime Minister will spend time there each week and that other cabinet ministers will work there on a ‘regular basis’
Andy Burnham says ‘the days of Whitehall resisting devolution are over’ as he prepares to spend his first day working at No 10 North.
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The Prime Minister will ‘throw open the doors’ to the newly-formed branch of Downing Street, to be based in Manchester, tomorrow (Friday, July 24) his office said.
He is to spend the end of his first working week in office at the new hub where he will chair the first meeting of the revived National Economic Council.
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Currently operating from Heron House, facing Albert Square in Manchester city centre, Downing Street says No 10 North will ‘he levers of local economic growth and devolution together under one roof for the first time’ and act as a ‘new situation room for growth.’
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Mr Burnham will spend time there each week, it is said, with other ministers to work from there ‘on a regular basis.’
According to the BBC, the Education Secretary Lucy Powell, Housing Secretary Angela Rayner, and Louise Haigh, who is overseeing No 10 North in her role as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, are planning to work there.
They claim at least seven former Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) employees, including four senior managers, have been recruited by Mr Burnham and already moving into the offices.
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Civil servants in Whitehall have also reportedly been offered incentives to move from London to work there.
Downing Street said the new hub means ‘decisions about the country’s economic future will no longer exclusively be made in Westminster.’
Mr Burnham said: “For 40 years, power and resources have been sucked into the centre, and too many communities have felt forgotten, without the attention and investment they deserve.
“No 10 North will change that by putting more power into every postcode across the entire country.
“It will be the situation room for making Britain better – the place we use to get power out of Westminster, into the hands of people at a local level, so that they can turn things around. The days of Whitehall resisting devolution are over, for good.”
Speaking earlier at The Hare pub in Harlow, Essex, Mr Burnham said: “Tomorrow, we’ll be meeting in Manchester in No 10 North. And whole purpose of No 10 North is to put more power into every postcode in the land, including the postcodes of Harlow.”
Ms Haigh said: “Today marks a fundamental re-balancing of where power sits in our country. No10 North has been set up to drive economic growth in every postcode and put power in the hands of every community.
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“Through this department, this Government will ensure that the places overlooked by Westminster for decades are given a real voice. No.10 North is open for business.”
The meeting comes off the back of a series of interventions made to ease the cost of living and back local high streets, setting the tone for the PM’s cost-of-living government.”
The National Economic Council, which brings together senior ministers and regional mayors, was first established during the economic crash of 2008.
Its revival, Downing Street said, ‘reflects the Prime Minister’s belief that delivering economic growth now requires the same level of urgency, focus and collective action, bringing together other government departments and local leaders.’
Officers then trawled through CCTV footage to trace the movements of the suspects before and after the attack, and established that Mr Nzita fired the shotgun, Anthony Da Sousa drove the car used in the attack and his brother Christopher Da Sousa played a key role in finding the victim, giving directions and assisting with preparations beforehand.
Coronation Street actress Tracy Shaw fought back tears as she revealed her breast cancer is currently inoperable until her tumours shrink in size.
The former soap star, 52, who has been candidly sharing an insight into her journey since diagnosis, posted the devastating update to Instagram on Thursday.
Tracy shared the video after going for an ultrasound to check on her current condition, sharing her hopes that chemotherapy would have shrunk the lumps.
However, during the teary clip, Tracy explained that while the lumps have changed shape from round to oval, they haven’t got any smaller.
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Speaking to the camera, she said: ‘Good morning, everyone. So as I told you all, I had my ultrasounds today to find out if the lesions had shrunk.
‘I also needed to check a lump that I’d found on the other breast, which is on the right breast.
Coronation Street actress Tracy Shaw fought back tears as she revealed her breast cancer is currently inoperable until her tumours shrink in size
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Tracy is best known for playing Coronation Street character Maxine Peacock
‘The good news is that the lump, well there’s actually quite a lot, are all cysts, so that’s good news and the lesions on my left breast… erm…’
Tracy continued: ‘Well, my expectations were that judging by what personally I’ve gone through and what the chemo does…
‘I thought they’d shrunk but basically they’ve gone from being circular to oval but not really shrunk in size. I don’t know what I was expecting.
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‘I think I’m just expecting some results of what I’ve felt, some results of what the body has had to go through to!’
In May, Tracy broke down in tears in an emotional video as she revealed to her followers she was set to begin chemotherapy for breast cancer.
Tracy was diagnosed with the disease the month before and shared in her video that she would be starting chemotherapy the following week.
In a video posted on Instagram, Tracy shared the toll her cancer diagnosis has had on her, admitting ‘I can’t go through this anymore.’
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She previously played Maxine Peacock on Corrie from 1995 to 2003, before she was sensationally murdered by serial killer Richard Hillman.
In the video, Tracy said: ‘I’m just going to be me, and my truth is… by the way, I’ve not shaved my hair off, I’ve just put a scarf on just because I’ve not done anything with it and I’m going to hospital.
‘Each morning I wake up and know that I have to go into hospital and receive more news, which has been going on for a long time, that unknown… I just think, “I can’t go through with this anymore,” but I’ve not even started my journey.
In May, Tracy broke down in tears in an emotional video as she revealed to her followers she was set to begin chemotherapy for breast cancer
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‘I’ve had a good cry. I’ll go in later today and I’ll meet some other ladies who will start the treatment with me – chemo.
‘And I’ll find out the date. 50 per cent of me wants to get going. I want to know that it’s being shrunk and the cancer is being dealt with.
‘When I wake up and I’ve got really bad headaches or I can feel another twinge in my other boob, I just think, “Oh, it’s moving!”
‘All forms of cancer are awful, most of the time, I get on with life but then I think that’s probably what we do.
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‘But the fact is when you wake up in the morning and you think, “It hasn’t gone away.” It isn’t like the addictions that I’ve recovered from by the grace of God. There appears to be a long road ahead, or a mountain.’
In the caption of her post, Tracy revealed she’d been told she would start her chemotherapy ‘next week’.
She wrote: ‘Moments happen. After filming this, I spent the morning in the chemo ward having tests.
‘Thank you for all NHS staff. No other women, mostly men, cancer doesn’t discriminate gender.
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‘We will start our chemo journeys at the same time. Next week. Love & peace to everyone on their cancer journey.’
The actress was diagnosed with the disease in April and shared in her video that she would be starting chemotherapy the following week
Days after posting the clip, Tracy revealed she’d had much of her hair cut off to prepare herself for one of chemotherapy’s most common side effects, hair loss
Days after posting the clip, Tracy revealed she’d had much of her hair cut off to prepare herself for one of chemotherapy’s most common side effects, hair loss.
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Tracy revealed last month she’d been diagnosed with breast cancer, telling her followers: ‘My diagnosis of breast cancer. So the journey begins…
‘Love to everyone who is also going through this journey, looking forward to hearing from you all, especially you amazing survivors.’
She shared at the time that doctors told her she would need chemotherapy after tests revealed she has HER2 in her cells.
HER2 is a protein that promotes cancer cell growth and is found in more aggressive types of the disease.
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The actress added that after a course of chemotherapy, she hoped to have surgery to remove lumps and lymph glands, so more tests can be done, which could lead to further surgery before radiotherapy.
In the video, Tracy told her fans she is on the 12-step programme, a programme aimed to help support recovery, having ‘recovered from many addictions’. She continued: ‘Anorexia, bulimia, alcoholism, drug addiction, codependency, love addiction, you name it, I have been addicted to it and I have recovered from it.’
Tracy also thanked fans for sending concerned messages after she took a step back from social media for Lent.
She said: ‘Thank you for messaging me to check how I am because I haven’t been present on Instagram. That was due to during Lent I came off scrolling, I came off social media and put my phone down.
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‘I spent some time away from technology which has helped with dealing with this news.’
Her fans wrote: ‘Sending love to you Tracy,’ ‘What a brave and brilliant post. Sending positive vibes and love to you’ and ‘Thinking of you, I went through breast cancer two years ago. Sending best wishes x.’
The star finished the video with: ‘I thank you all and I thank the Royal Berkshire Hospital and everyone who has helped get to this point. I will keep you posted on this journey.’
Tracy played her character Maxine from 1995 as the friend of Fiona Middleton, played by Angela Griffin.
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Her character went on to betray her friend by having a one-night stand with Fiona’s boyfriend, Steve McDonald.
Tracy was awarded the Rear of Year title a year after making her debut on the show.
Maxine married butcher Ashley Peacock, played by Steven Arnold.
She also had a child with the local doctor, despite being married to Ashley.
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Maxine died when she was viciously murdered by Richard. She was hit by a crowbar after she returned home from the pub.
Tracy also launched a pop career in 1998 and released two singles: Ridin’ High and a cover of Lonnie Gordon’s Happenin’ All Over Again.
After she left the soap, she played smaller roles in ITV dramas. She has spent most of her time in the theatre.
Leaders in Madison, Wisconsin, have identified Corey Ruiz as the man killed yesterday in a fatal police shooting that has sparked waves of protests and anger in the community.
“It does not matter who you are or what your past is, you should not lose your life as a result of an encounter with law enforcement,” Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway said at a press conference on Thursday, which was later taken over by protesters criticizing the city and its police department.
Before the protesters stormed the stage, Common Council President Sabrina Madison said she was seeking “justice for Corey” and called on community members to demand police reform and a swift investigation by the state officials probing the shooting.
“If the protocol is to go that quickly to shoot this gentleman in the head three times, and that is an option, I don’t know how that is an option,” she said. “My brain has not been able to put that together as an option. Because I didn’t see anything that warranted it.”
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Critics argued video of the incident shared widely online showed that police “executed” Ruiz in the middle of a busy street in broad daylight.
A fatal police shooting in Madison, Wisconsin, has fueled anger as harrowing footage shows the moment an officer killed Corey Ruiz at point-blank range in the middle of the street (Michael Doubek)
Here is everything we know about the case:
What happened?
Footage shows four cops on Wednesday working to subdue Ruiz, who police said was armed with a knife. The officers surround the man as he struggles to break free. While they have him by the arms and on the ground, one cop pulls out his gun and shoots the victim dead before reholstering his weapon and an officer puts the victim’s limp arms behind his body to handcuff him.
“This was an execution, and it never should have happened,” Fran Hong, a Democratic state representative running for governor, said of the shooting.
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However, police stressed the incident remains under investigation and have begged the community not to jump to conclusions based on the video.
The violence unfolded Wednesday afternoon at the busy intersection of Madison’s South Baldwin and Williamson Streets around 1:34 p.m., an area surrounded by homes, bars, restaurants and shops.
A “physical struggle” ensued as Ruiz managed to briefly stand up while in the grip of the officers, before one of them yelled, “Taser, Taser Taser” and pointed the stun gun at him. The Taser failed to discharge, police said.
Officers wrestled Ruiz back down to the ground while one of them appeared to step on his leg to keep him on the floor. Less than a second later, one of the officers pulled out his gun, pointed it at the victim, and fired three shots.
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Bystanders have shared disturbing footage of the shooting that took place Wednesday at the busy intersection of Madison’s South Baldwin and Williamson Streets around 1:34 p.m. (Michael Doubek)
Madison Police Department shared a photograph of the knife they said Corey Ruiz injured an officer with. The officer then fired his weapon (Madison Police Department)
Ruiz was slumped on the ground and did not appear to move again.
A bystander’s screams were then heard nearby, as a woman yelled, “I saw everything, we watched it all.”
With the victim limp and face down on the ground, blood pouring from his head, the officer who shot him reholstered his weapon and then his placed the man’s hands behind his back as if to restrain him. Another officer removed the knife, throwing it to the side.
Two other officers were seen standing around the scene, before police put on gloves and appeared to administer first aid.
Ruiz was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
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With the victim face down on the ground as blood poured from his head, the officer then placed the man’s hands behind his back. Another officer removed the knife (Michael Doubek)
What police say happened
On Wednesday, Madison Police Chief John Patterson appealed for calm at a press conference in the aftermath, recounting the official narrative and pointing out that video of the shooting seen online only offered one side of the story.
Patterson also explained that Madison police officers do not wear body cameras, so there is no bodycam footage of the shooting.
In a statement, the department said officers were responding to a report alleging that someone had been seen attempting to break into parked cars in the city’s Marquette neighborhood.
Madison Police Chief Patterson appealed for calm at a press conference in the aftermath, recounting the official narrative and pointing out that video of the shooting seen online only offered one side of the story (Michael Doubek)
The officers pursued Ruiz, who was on a bicycle. “The man either fell or was pulled off the bicycle, this is still being determined, and a struggle ensued with officers in the middle of the intersection,” the statement said.
“During the struggle, the man pulled out a fix-blade knife and injured an officer. Officers continued to try to get the man into custody and a less lethal device, a taser, was used but it was unsuccessful.”
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“The officer injured by the knife is the one who fired his weapon,” the statement continued. “Officers at the scene provided life-saving measures.”
Chief Patterson added on Thursday that he was unsure why the Taser did not function during the encounter, one of many factors state officials will investigate as they scrutinize the shooting.
A second officer was injured in the incident but police have not said how, only that they do not believe his wound was caused by the knife.
The four officers involved have since been placed on administrative leave according to procedure and the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation has commenced an independent probe.
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What do we know about the victim?
Protesters march after a police officer shot and killed a man Wednesday in Madison, Wisconsin (AP)
Police have said Ruiz was in his 30s.
His race has not been disclosed by officials, but Black advocacy groups in Madison said they believed he was Black, as they denounced the violence.
“Another Black man is dead on a Madison street, and our community watched him die before we even knew his name,” said Brandi Grayson, the head of the Madison-based Black community advocacy group Urban Triage. “That is the cruelty of state violence.”
Ruiz’s death comes after the fatal shooting of Tony Robinson, who was biracial, at the hands of a white police officer on the same street in 2015. Large protests followed, but the district attorney did not file charges against police, determining the officer was justified.
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Who was the officer who shot the victim?
The name of the officer who shot the victim has not been released by Madison police.
In a statement, the department described him as “a veteran officer” and confirmed he has been placed on administrative leave, along with the other officers involved.
How has the community reacted?
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Protesters gather at a candlelight vigil for the victim Wednesday evening (AP)
Tensions remained high in Madison on Thursday as information trickled out about the shooting.
A group of activists temporarily seized the stage from the Madison mayor and police chief on Thursday, demanding that the “pigs” who shot Ruiz be put in jail, while denouncing claims from officials about pursuing justice as a “clown show.”
The takeover inspired some in the crowd to shout down the activists, and a man in the audience almost came to blows with a demonstrator who grabbed the microphone.
“I know this is tough,” Patterson said once he resume his remarks.
“Everyone in this room can feel the thinness of trust in this city right now,” he added.
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Protesters temporarily took over a press conference on Thursday about the shooting, demanding that the officers involved in the arrest and killing of Corey Ruiz be put in prison (Reuters)
The chief said that police operate based on a “sacred public trust,” which frays the more that force is used. He stressed that the department immediately sought an independent investigation and will fully cooperate with the Wisconsin Department of Justice.
“We will not hide from any aspect of this investigation,” he said.
The demonstration on Thursday came after hundreds of people took to the streets Wednesday evening to protest the killing and to hold a candlelight vigil in memory of Ruiz.
Some stayed overnight. “I don’t plan to leave anytime soon because it’s important to hold this space,” said Ben Weger, a pastor of Stoughton United Methodist Church about 20 miles away.
Sabrina Thompson, of Madison, was crying at the memorial site. “It’s really unbearable,” she said through tears. “You can’t describe it.”
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Hundreds of people took to the streets Wednesday evening to protest the killing and to hold a candlelight vigil in memory of Corey Ruiz (AP)
Hong, a Democratic primary candidates in Wisconsin’s governor’s race, also attended the vigil and spoke to demonstrators through a megaphone.
“This state sanctioned violence was an execution,” she told a crowd.
Incumbent Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers called for “transparency and accountability” on X, expressing his sympathies for the victim’s family and saying that any protest should be conducted “peacefully and respectfully.”
“Each incident reopens deep wounds, raises difficult questions, and reminds us of the urgent work that remains to build trust, transparency, and accountability in our systems,” said Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, who is also running for governor.
“There are questions that must be answered,” added Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway. “It’s understandable that people want answers now.”
Adam Ramsay-Peaty has debuted his new name on his swimming cap at the Commonwealth Games as he hopes his new moniker will bring him luck in Glasgow.
The three-time Olympic swimming champion is using his full name for the first time to compete at a major championship after marrying TV chef Gordon Ramsay’s daughter Holly last December.
And it seems his pregnant wife Holly approves as she shared a snap to her Instagram Stories of Adam in the new swimming cap and wrote: ‘So Special.’
He married Holly on December 27, 2025, in a lavish ceremony at the historic Bath Abbey and they announced her pregnancy in June.
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Sadly his parents did not attend the wedding and are assumed to not be attending the Commonwealth Games amid a falling out and Adam remains estranged from them.
Adam won his first of four Commonwealth titles in Glasgow 12 years ago and he is looking to add to that tally this weekend in a major staging post before the LA 2028 Olympics.
Adam Ramsay-Peaty has debuted his new name on his swimming cap at the Commonwealth Games as he hopes his new moniker will bring him luck in Glasgow
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The three-time Olympic champion is using his full name for the first time to compete at a major championship after marrying TV chef Gordon Ramsay’s daughter Holly last December
Since competing professionally, the British star has four golds and three silvers from his previous three Commonwealth appearances.
In Glasgow, Adam could become the first Team England swimmer to win four consecutive gold medals – he will go in the 50m and 100m breaststroke races.
It comes after the athlete gave an insight into married life with pregnant Holly in a new interview with BBC Breakfast on Tuesday.
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Talking about the Commonwealth Games, the Olympic champion said that becoming a father for a second time has made him ‘grow up’.
He said: ‘Our wedding was one of the best days of my life, watching Holly walk down the aisle, it’s a view that I will never forget.
‘It’s like I’ve got a snapshot in my brain, the music and the church was just incredible. Having Gordon (Ramsay) as my father-in-law is an incredible blessing.
‘I’m also expecting a baby little girl. While I’m incredibly excited, that role of being a father has been just incredible and to have another human in this world that loves and cherishes you is a blessing.’
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He continued: ‘My love isn’t going to be judged by a medal.
‘With Holly going through pregnancy, all I can pray for is her happiness and the health of her and the baby and for me, that does push me even more to grow up.’
Adam is father to a son George-Anderson, five, from his previous relationship with artist Eirianedd Munro.
An accompanying video which aired on BBC Breakfast featured Holly, Gordon and his son George but failed to mention his parents who dedicated their lives to his swimming career.
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Join the discussion
What do you think of Adam Peaty’s new competition name?
And it seems his pregnant wife Holly approves as she shared a snap to her Instagram Stories of Adam in the new swimming cap and wrote: ‘So Special’
Sadly his parents did not attend the wedding and are assumed to not be attending the Commonwealth Games amid a falling out and Adam remains estranged from them
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Adam was seen during a training session on day zero of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games at Tollcross International Swimming Centre
The athlete was seen preparing to warm up for training
While Adam will be returning to the Commonwealth Games as one of the oldest members of the team, he admits he still has more he wants to achieve.
But his journey as a world record holder has come at a price and Adam admitted the sport had previously broken him.
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He said: ‘Not a lot of people know this, but around March time in 2023, I did three lengths of breaststroke as part of my warm up and on the last length, my goggles filled up with tears, I lost the love for everything that I live for.
‘Sport is what I live and breathe, what I do every day and it’s helped me enormously, but when that same sport breaks you and breaks you down and it’s something you start to hate, it’s an unimaginable pain that you have to rebuild yourself.
‘But what I have put in there is balance, how can I do it for another, two, four, six years. For me, balance is going to be incredibly important.’
Adam’s coach, Lisa Bates, was asked to sum Adam up in three words and she said: ‘Always full on.’
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She continued: ‘It’s his mindset, he has an ability to go into predator mode, he is able to read a race, know exactly what he needs to do, where his mindset needs to go but in terms of projection, his body is just the vessel when it comes to the race and it’s his mindset that sets him apart.’
Adam added: ‘I know I have a finite amount of sport left. This sport will break you if you do it for as long as I have. And I have been broken.’
A cheap drug touted by longevity enthusiasts could help to reverse the symptoms of autism, a study has claimed.
Rapamycin is an antibiotic approved by the FDA in 1999 to prevent organ transplant rejection. In recent years, however, biohackers have also latched onto the drug amid claims it could slow down aging.
Some studies showed it could extend the lifespan of mice by 14 percent, but others in humans have highlighted drawbacks, including blunting the effects of exercise.
Now, researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles say they have found that administering just one dose of the drug may temporarily reverse symptoms of autism.
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Administering the drug to adult mice with autism, they found that the rodents’ symptoms disappeared in just two hours.
Dr Harley Kornblum, a neuroscientist who led the research, said: ‘The level of functional normalization achieved over this short time suggests new mechanisms by which possible treatments may act.
‘It suggests adult brains may be more adaptable than we assumed, even when the underlying structural changes from early development are still there.’
Autism was once rigidly defined as a serious developmental disorder characterized by intellectual disability and the struggle to learn or understand language.
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Scientists have found that rapamycin can ease autism symptoms in adult mice
But in recent years, experts have loosened the definition. Symptoms include repetitive words or behaviors, struggling to vary routine and difficulties in social situations.
An estimated five million American adults, or one in 20, suffer from the condition, now called autism spectrum disorder, while one in 31 children also have it.
Doctors typically treat patients using speech and language therapy to help them understand and manage atypical behaviors.
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Many are also prescribed medications, such as those used for anxiety and depression, which scientists say can help to ease social difficulties.
There is no cure for the condition.
In the study, published in Nature Communications, scientists injected autistic adult mice with a solution containing five milligrams of rapamycin.
Within two hours, they found the mice displayed fewer repetitive behaviors, such as persistently grooming or running in a circle in an open space.
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This reduction lasted about 72 hours, they said, before the mice reverted to their previous behavior.
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After five weeks of injecting the mice with 5mg of rapamycin daily, the researchers also found that the effect of the drug subsided.
Because the response was so quick, researchers said rapamycin had not rewired the brain. Instead, they suggested it had likely calmed dysfunctional or misfiring neurons which can drive autism.
Tests showed mice that took rapamycin had less abnormal brain activity.
The study was not carried out in humans, meaning it is not clear what impact the drug may have in people with autism.
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Researchers said further tests were needed before it could be recommended as a treatment for autism.
But they suggested that the results opened the door to potential new treatments for the condition.
The researchers added in the release: ‘The study did not identify rapamycin as a viable treatment for [autism] symptoms in humans given its temporary effects and potential for toxicity from repeated doses.
‘Instead, researchers said the drug’s effects revealed new therapeutic targets for the development of future treatments.’
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Rapamycin, found in the 1970s, is an antibiotic prescribed to prevent organ transplant rejection
Dr Janel Le Belle, a neurologist also involved in the study, added: ‘These results reframe how autism-associated symptoms might be treated.
‘If the adult brain remains capable of functional normalization, then some features of autism may be successfully addressed without needing to correct underlying structural differences.’
Researchers warned that taking rapamycin raises the risk of numerous side effects.
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Common side effects of the medication include high blood pressure, kidney injury, infections and unusual bruising or swelling on the ankles, hands or feet.
In serious cases, it has also been linked to blood clotting problems, lung problems and slow wound healing.
Biohacker Bryan Johnson, 48, stopped using the drug last year, after five years of taking the medication in an attempt to expand his lifespan.
He said the risks outweighed the benefits, adding it had likely caused him to suffer from skin infections, a higher resting heart rate and reduced blood sugar sensitivity.
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There is no cure for autism, but researchers are researching numerous drugs that they believe may help to ease the condition.
Scientists are also testing leucovorin, a form of vitamin B, as a potential treatment after it was touted by Donald Trump and Robert F Kennedy Junior.
Most commonly used to counteract the toxic effects of certain chemotherapies, some experts say it may treat some forms of autism that have been linked to low folate levels, a type of vitamin B needed for healthy cell growth and function.
A study published in May this year warned that use of the vitamin had surged amid the publication of high-profile cases suggesting it could benefit autism.
But there is something different about the Gypsy King’s latest bout.
The 37-year-old is back in the square circle after a long hiatus, having taken a year and a half ‘retirement’ following his second straight defeat to Oleksandr Usyk back in December 2024.
He came out of that retirement in April this year to beat Arslanbek Makhmudov at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium by unanimous decision, and now, he is eyeing a heavyweight super-fight against compatriot Anthony Joshua, who himself fights for the first time this calendar year on Saturday, taking on Kristian Prenga.
Fury’s fight on Friday takes a slightly different approach to those that have come before. It is taking place in Prattaya, Thailand, in a venue that houses 1,500 people, and there will be no live television broadcast of the event.
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Face off: Tyson Fury and Mariusz Wach
Getty
Why is Fury vs Wach in Thailand?
The Gypsy King has based his training camp in the Asian country for the past few months, and he has insisted that all the proceeds made from ticket sales will go to “local starving and homeless children”.
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Fury, 37, insisted that he was doing what other big sports stars would not in hosting an event in such a small arena.
“Which other world champion on my level – a high level athlete on earth – would do a performance in front of 1,500 in Pattaya?” he asked rhetorically.
“Do you think David Beckham would play professional football here, or someone famous like that? No way. They’re just not going to do it.
“A lot of these big celebrities and sports stars think they’re bigger than they actually are.”
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In an unusual turn of events, the fight will also not be available to watch live.
Instead, it will be aired in Fury’s Netflix documentary ‘At Home with the Furys’, which is into its third season.
We hope you love the products we recommend! All of them were independently selected by our editors. Just so you know, HuffPost UK may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page if you decide to shop from them. Oh, and FYI — prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication.
If there’s one thing I can say proudly, it’s that I know how to spend money. As a shopping writer, I receive about five packages a day, and I make it my literal business to figure out what is worth forking out your hard-earned salary on.
While there are lots of things I try and receive that I think ‘I’d never spend that on this’, many things cross my desk that pleasantly surprise me.
So when I saw everyone and their mother on Instagram sharing expensive things that are worth it, I had thoughts.
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If you’re wondering what I’d buy with my own money if it disappeared from my house tomorrow, here’s a comprehensive list.
Not everything is ridiculously expensive but, as they say, it’s all relative – and the things I’ve included are on the pricier end for each category.
Expensive things that are worth the money
Robot vacuum
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I might pay the price when the robot revolution arrives, but at least I will have had a long and plentiful life since getting my robot vacuum.
Okay, that’s dramatic, but seriously: if you think about how many hours I will have saved not having to vacuum my flat, it’s truly worth it.
I have this one from Shark, which not only vacuums on demand – or to a schedule you set via its app. It also mops (I know) usingUV to detect stains you can’t even see with your own eyes.
Not to mention it’s self-emptying, and you only have to clean its tank out every couple of months.
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Admittedly, it doesn’t get into all the corners and skirting boards, but it does a good enough job that you only have to do a deep clean once a month rather than every week.
Vuori active wear
One thing about me is I’m not going to exercise if I’m not comfortable, and I’ve really struggled to find clothes that make me want to go to exercise classes.
Since trying Vuori, I’ve not looked back. These are the softest and most lightweight leggings I’ve ever worn – and they’re so flattering that my flatmate can’t stop bringing up how good they look on.
I have a matching top and it’s my go-to gym outfit; I’m genuinely sad when it’s in the wash.
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Silk eye mask
Add this to the list of things I didn’t know I needed – I always thought I slept fine without an eye mask.
That is, until my girlfriend forced me to try a silk one on, and it’s really changed the game for my sleep habits during the summer.
Admittedly, I tried a few before settling on this one from Longevity. Although it’s not quite as silky smooth as others I’ve tried, I kept finding that my eyes got all blurry with other ones that don’t have eye holes.
This one does, though, and I don’t have the same problem. It also wraps all the way around your head to reduce the likelihood of it slipping off in the middle of the night, and it won’t mess up your hair (important if, like me, you have a fringe).
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Fancy pants
Let me stress: this is not an every day thing. But I love having a sexy pair of undies I can call on for a special occasion, whether that’s a date night with my girlfriend (or myself!) or for an event I’m feeling a bit nervy about.
Whatever it is, it’s fun to have a little secret with yourself that you’re wearing a scandalous set beneath your clothes.
My go to for this is Bluebella. Not only is it relatively affordable for a basic pants and bra set, but it has its own dainty custom lace that you can’t get anywhere else.
I genuinely wear this maroon bra all the time, even not with the rest of the set, because it’s the perfect shape. And most importantly, it’s comfortable!
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If you’re after something a little more luxe, Agent Provocateur and Coco de Mer are both classics.
Cotton undies
We’ve finally accepted that our scalps require just as much attention as the skin on our face – so can we please extend that same energy to our vulvas?
It needs to breathe, people, and while I’ve just waxed lyrical about sexy panties, cotton undies are an absolute essential for every day.
I hate to be that person, but I always stock up on mine when I go to France because Monoprix is simply the best.
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I do, however, have a couple of pairs of these ones from Stripe and Stare and I love the sweet shop assortment of colours and shapes they come in. Let’s not ignore the fact they’re half price right now, either. In fact, I’m going to buy some right now. And you should too!
If you’re after other options, I’ve also been eyeing this pointelle pair from Cou Cou Intimates.
LELO sex toys
Seeing as we’re in the area, I will always hype up the sex toys from Swedish brand LELO. Even though they’re pricier than you might expect to pay for a pleasure product, I can assure you they’re worth it.
My favourite one is the SONA, which uses sound waves to create a sucking sensation, but honestly, they’re all good.
From unboxing to your climax, it’s truly a luxurious experience, not least because the brand works hard to innovate new technology to load its toys with, so you’ll always have a different experience to any other kind of sex toy.
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Lube!
Try stop me talking about sex. Never gonna happen. Everyone acts as though lube is the most expensive, extravagant thing they could ever buy.
But what if you just had a good time? If you ask me, lube isn’t something that’s a ‘nice to have’, it’s a must. Whether you’re dripping wet or completely dry down there, lube just adds a little something *extra*.
This one from Ples’Jour is obviously extremely luxurious. I love it mostly because of the fancy schmancy bottle it comes in, but also because it’s a silicone lube you can use with sex toys – which is rare.
If you’re not willing to dish out £70, though, there are plenty of incredible ones for much less, like this Smile Makers Collection one for just £8.
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Case with location tracking
I’m not ashamed to admit I am paranoid as hell about losing my case on holiday.
It’s happened to me before, and even though I thankfully managed to get it back, those were not 72 hours I want to relive.
This case from July comes with location tracking, and I’m also obsessed with how sleek it looks and feels as you drag it along.
LED face mask
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While there are plenty of skincare devices that don’t work, red light therapy is a research-backed way to reduce inflammation and reduce visible signs of ageing – and my skin loves it.
I recently tested the best LED face masks, and I’ve stuck with the Lustre one. It’s app-controlled, so you can customise which areas of the skin you want to use blue and red light therapy on (I like to mix and match).
It’s also the most flush with my face and comfortable to wear; I’ll use it forever so it’s worth the cost.
Ziip Halo
Back at it with another skincare device rec: this might be spenny, but any time my face needs a little snatching, I turn to the Ziip Halo.
It uses microcurrent to tone your face, and as a gua sha girly this is the final boss of lymphatic facial drainage.
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I’ve never looked more chiselled than I have since using it, and it’s great to have something that will perk your skinon days where you have to show face.
Good olive oil
There is literally nothing more extravagant than having a fancy olive oil to play with.
Plus, it’s super high in polyphenols so it’s good for your health.
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Vieve primer
You spend so much money on your makeup and skincare, you might as well make sure it lasts the whole day.
It’s expensive, but I’m currently obsessed with this primer from Vieve. It adds just the right amount of glow, and my makeup sticks to it like nothing else.
Olaplex shampoo and conditioner
Oof, £60 is a lot to spend on shampoo and conditioner, but when it genuinely makes your hair feel stronger and healthier, it’s probably worth it.
Our audience editor, Hannah, has been using this Olaplex duo for a while, and comes with high praise for what it’s done for her hair health.
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Dyson Air Wrap
Another way to up your haircare routine is a Dyson Air Wrap. Again, our audience editor Hannah raves about it – and she loved it so much she even wrote a whole review about it transforming her haircare routine.
Broadmoor high-security psychiatric hospital has held Peter Sutcliffe, the Yorkshire Ripper and Charles Bronson. (Picture: Neil Hall/Shutterstock)
Southport killer Axel Rudakubana has been deemed unable to be managed safely in Belmarsh prison and has been transferred to Broadmoor psychiatric hospital.
The killer who hunted down and killed three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class will serve the rest of his 52-year sentence at the notorious hospital, which has held Peter Sutcliffe, the Yorkshire Ripper and Charles Bronson.
The move to Broadmoor high security hospital from the category A prison Belmarsh will cost £300,000 a year compared to £60,000 amid fearsRudakubana was ‘playing the system’ so he could move to a more comfortable environment.
Offenders who present an increased risk, and cannot be managed safely in a prison environment because of mental disorders, can be moved to secure psychiatric units.
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People in these units are treated as patients rather than prisoners.
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(left to right) Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, who died after the mass stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class at the Hart Space on Monday July 29 in Southport (Picture: Merseyside Police/PA Wire)
The MOJ spokesperson said: ‘The families of those murdered and injured in Southport will be in this country’s heart forever and our thoughts remain with them.
‘Any decision to transfer an offender is made following an independent, clinical assessment, under the Mental Health Act. Following rigorous security checks, the offender has been transferred to a high-security psychiatric unit, where he will remain until assessed fit to return to prison.
‘Officials have approved this transfer, on behalf of Ministers. This transfer does not change his sentence – which remains at 52 years – and of which he will serve every single day.’
Police officers and forensic personnel stand behind a cordon on Hart Street in Southport after the attack (Picture: AFP via Getty)
Rudakubana, now 19, was given a life sentence for the murders of Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine; Bebe King, six; and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and the attempted murder of eight other children and two adults.
In May last year, while at HMP Belmarsh, Rudakubana allegedly attacked a prison officer with boiling water using a kettle in his cell.
Jonty Bravery, the man who threw a six-year-old boy off a balcony in the Tate Modern, has attacked nurses in Broadmoor (Picture: Metropolitan Police/PA Wire)
Broadmoor, in Berkshire, is the oldest of the UK’s three high-security hospitals and has held some of the UK’s most high-profile criminals, including Ronnie Kray and serial killer Peter Sutcliffe, also known as the Yorkshire Ripper.
Under the Mental Health Act, officials acting for the Justice Secretary have no choice but to accept the advice of clinical professionals to transfer prisoners to a secure facility.
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Mark Fairhurst, of the POA union which represents prison and psychiatric hospital workers, told The Guardian: ‘[Rudakubana] is not mentally unwell. He is playing the system and is nothing more than evil. He should spend his entire sentence in solitary confinement staring at four walls.
‘It is appalling to think that he will now enjoy all the freedoms a secure hospital is forced to give him and even more unjustified is the taxpayer actually paying him benefits because he is now classed as mentally unwell.
‘It is POA members who will now have to carry out the wishes of those who think he can be cured. This is a sickening development and my thoughts are with the families of the victims and all those who have been affected by his atrocious crime.’
Charles Bronson has been held at Rampton, Broadmoor and Ashworth high-security psychiatric hospitals. (Picture: Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
An offender in a secure hospital will be compelled to engage with treatment and to undertake therapies before any return to prison or release into the community.
Where offenders no longer require treatment in hospital, the Act allows a swift return to prison.
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