Entertainment will be in front of Kelly’s Cellars, at the cathedral car parks, and off Castle Street

Further Belfast Fleadh outdoor entertainment has been formally approved at a special meeting at City Hall.

A special summer meeting of the Belfast City Council Licensing Committee has approved entertainment for Bank Square, the car parks at St Anne’s Cathedral, and the Fountain area including Castle Street.

Belfast for the first time will host Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, the world’s biggest celebration of Irish music and culture, from Sunday August 2 to Sunday August 9. Qualifying competitors from all over the world will showcase the best of traditional music, song, dance and language in All-Ireland competitions.

READ MORE: Irish signs to be put up in unionist parts of Belfast streets after U-turn

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With a minimum of 800,000 visitors from across the world, it is anticipated to be the biggest cultural event ever held in Belfast. Tourism NI estimates the 2026 Fleadh will bring £60 million into the Northern Ireland economy. Belfast will host the Fleadh again next year.

Last month, a swathe of late night and outdoor licences were granted for gigs in streets, vacant buildings, alleys and car parks for the Fleadh.

At a special Licensing Committee in July, councillors recently green-lighted five entertainment applications that related to the Fleadh.

First, permission was granted to provide outdoor musical entertainment beyond 11pm at Bank Square, just off Royal Avenue, in front of Kelly’s Cellars. The application from Mr Henry Downey is for all eight nights, until 1am.

Bank Square already has a seven day annual outdoor entertainments licence and a seven day annual indoor entertainments licence for a marquee, both of which have been used to hold events in the past. The licence is held by the Department of Communities and will be transferred to Henry Downey for the duration of the Fleadh.

Secondly, a 14 day occasional outdoor entertainments licence was granted for St Anne’s Cathedral south car park, which runs along Talbot Street. The applicant was Stephen Magorrian of Wandsworth Pubs Ltd, and the licence will cover entertainment from 11.30am to midnight each day.

A similar licence was granted for St Anne’s Cathedral north car park, which runs along Academy Street and Exchange Street West. The applicant is Keith Forster of Belfast City Council. This area will be the location of the Fleadh Cheoil food and drink market.

Permission was also granted for a 14 day occasional outdoor entertainments licence until 11pm for the Fleadh at land bounded by 1-7 Fountain Street and 22-40 Castle Street. The applicant is Ciaran Smyth, of Phoenix Wine and Spirits Limited.

The council report on the application states: “The premises will be a temporary outdoor events space formed on land now available following the demolition of a number of buildings on Fountain Street and Castle Street. The site will be bounded by Fountain Street, the existing Voodoo premises, which is owned by the applicant, and the temporary events space operated by TG4 for the period of the Fleadh Cheoil.”

A similar licence was granted for the former Norwich Union House site, 24-40 Castle Street, with outdoor entertainment beyond 11.00pm, and indoor musical entertainment beyond 11.00pm within a marquee. The applicant is David Power, of Power Pictures Ltd, Galway, and the site will be the base for the Irish language television channel, TG4. The entertainment will be Thursday 6th, Friday 7th, Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th, 11.30am to 11.30pm.

The council report states: “There will be minimal amplification of music in the outdoor area for the benefit of a small crowd attending. This will be intermittent as the bulk of the performances take place within the marquee and the priority with sound is that which is broadcast.”

During the meeting, an application to provide outdoor musical entertainment beyond 11pm at Custom House Square was removed from the agenda.

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BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The man convicted of murdering four University of Idaho students is asking a court to let him withdraw his guilty plea and go to trial, saying his attorneys manipulated him into making the deal by promising him better prison conditions and scaring him about the quality of life on death row.

Bryan Kohberger, 31, filed the hand-written petition on Monday from the Idaho Maximum Security Penitentiary where he is serving four consecutive life sentences for the murders of Kaylee Goncalves, Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle and Madison Mogen in a rental home near campus in 2022. It’s been just over one year since he pleaded guilty to the stabbing deaths that scarred the close-knit community of Moscow, Idaho.

In his request, Kohberger said his attorneys didn’t adequately represent him and that his guilty plea wasn’t knowingly or voluntarily entered because it “was induced by unkept promises” and threats.

He offered only a few details in elaboration, saying they failed to disclose or review evidence that might have helped his case during plea discussions, like an “unknown hair in Chapin’s hand.”

He also wrote that the attorneys insisted that his plea “need not be truthful, despite petitioner’s vehement denial of actual guilt,” that they promised life in prison would come with “immediate contact visits, freedom of movement, employment” and that they told him “elaborate lies of DR (death row) life.”

That’s the opposite of what Kohberger told 4th District Judge Steven Hippler on July 2, 2025, when he confirmed that he was pleading guilty “freely and voluntarily” because he was, in fact, guilty, and not because he had some other incentive. As part of that process, he had to agree to waive his rights to appeal, confirm that he understood the punishments on the table for the crimes and assure the court that he wasn’t coerced by his attorneys or anyone else to make the plea.

Those and other questions were posed to Kohberger more than once — first in a nine-page legal document that Kohberger filled out, initialed and signed, and later in direct questioning by the judge — all in an effort to ensure that his plea would hold up.

In exchange for his plea, prosecutors agreed they would not seek the death penalty, and instead would recommend that he be sentenced to four back-to-back life sentences without the possibility of parole, plus an additional 10 years.

For Kohberger’s team of four court-appointed attorneys, the plea deal was a way to save his life. Over two years of hearings, they tried multiple times to get capital punishment off the table. They challenged the legitimacy of DNA evidence, argued that Kohberger’s autism diagnosis made him less culpable, suggested there might be another unknown suspect to be found, and said the death penalty violates international standards of decency.

But none of the arguments worked, and Kohberger’s trial was just a month away when he reached the plea agreement.

The lead defense attorney on the case, Anne Taylor, is one of the most highly regarded capital defenders in the state, with nearly three decades of experience, more than half of it as a death-penalty-qualified defender. A person who answered the phone at her office on Monday immediately said “no comment” and hung up before she could be asked if it was Kohberger’s case or another matter on which she was declining to comment.

As the Moon moves through Capricorn, the day can be afforded a sense of importance. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself, but be intentional.

Cancer, Leo and Virgo, all you need to do today is be yourself. Stay focused on your own actions and remain in your lane.

Emotions may run high today, but be euthentic and all will be well. Big things are on the cards.

Ahead, you’ll find all star signs’ horoscopes for today: Tuesday July 28, 2026.

Like checking your horoscope every morning? You can now sign up to our free daily newsletter to get a personalised reading for your star sign delivered straight to your inbox.

To order your unique personal horoscope based on your time, date and place of birth, visit patrickarundell.com.

Aries

March 21 to April 20

Your desire to crack on and get things done needs a little care today. Whilst your energy is a great asset, sometimes situations benefit from subtlety, and today is one of those times. Push too hard, be impatient, or focus overly on the things that seem imperfect, and it could go awry. Show passion in supporting colleagues or tackling practicalities, and progress is possible.

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

Taurus

April 21 to May 21

When the Moon moves through Capricorn, as it currently does, it gives you a nudge of anticipation and excitement. This can be especially so if you are looking to change things up in a bold way. But just ask yourself, is an old issue or experience impacting how you are feeling now? It is possible this is so, with Mars testing Venus’s charm and diplomacy today.

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

Gemini

May 22 to June 21

Mars in Gemini has given you added impetus over the last month, along with the confidence to be more direct about the things you want. Where he shines is where you can initiate and be at the heart of things. However, there is an earthy dynamic now that asks you to be as mindful of the outcome of what you are working towards as you are of the buzz of being creative.

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

Cancer

June 22 to July 23

The Moon and Venus give you a great chance to express yourself well. Yet there is an edginess that may be hard to really pinpoint, which could see you rush a conversation rather uncharacteristically. This may be because Mars is stirring your psyche in a way that is not always easy for us to be aware of, and his tangle with Venus could see you trying a bit too hard.

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

Leo

July 24 to August 23

Jupiter in your sign for the next year encourages you to go big and go bold, but today the practical locations of the Moon and Venus in earth signs apply a celestial handbrake. As much as surging forwards with renewed confidence and verve is entirely possible, look to consolidate what you have been working on of late. As soon as tomorrow, you can skyrocket.

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

Virgo

August 24 to September 23

Venus in your sign has likely seen you refresh your wardrobe or your look in recent weeks and given you extra confidence in the process. This extra pizzazz can be perfect for any professional strands today, where not only can you feel stylish, but you can also showcase your ideas with confidence. Don’t hold back. It’s a day to use your personality power to the full.

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

Libra

September 24 to October 23

You’ve felt a greater need for a change of scene, but that doesn’t necessarily require you to hop on a jet and head somewhere exotic. Today is a case in point. Getting out into nature, pottering in your garden, or enjoying some peaceful solitude can resonate just as much as doing something livelier or more energetic. Connecting with family members can also appeal.

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

Scorpio

October 24 to November 22

Just because a conversation flows easily doesn’t mean it doesn’t have a deeper meaning and today can see this happen. However, beneath the veneer of pleasant chatter may be a spark of attraction or the chance to turn a promising business idea into a constructive collaboration. All this can flow from the grounded energies, which can be subtle but potent all the same.

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

Sagittarius

November 23 to December 21

The Sagittarius mind is so fertile, but you can be direct and to the point when the mood takes you, and today it may. Be it work, business, or everyday finances, you’ll want to cut to the chase. This makes it easier for others because they’ll soon know where you are coming from. Just be careful not to become frustrated if they don’t respond in kind, though, Archer.

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

Capricorn

December 22 to January 21

The Moon completes its journey through your sign today and has empowered you over the last two days to speak up for what you need. Socially, her link to Venus is a bright one, but with Mars industrious, you may feel pushed towards more mundane strands. If anyone can clear away the chores speedily, it’s you, leaving you free to focus on the lighter stuff.

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

Aquarius

January 22 to February 19

You may have found yourself happier in the background over the last couple of days, but that’s fine for you, because as much as you can be friendly and outgoing, that quieter part of you needs attention too from time to time. If you’ve found yourself thinking about one person a lot, you may also be wondering how you could make a connection. Bide your time for now.

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

Pisces

February 20 to March 20

Meeting up with a friend can appeal. And whether this is a swift coffee and a catch-up or going out out, as the saying goes, it can be just the tonic. Speaking of which, you can discuss booking a spa day or some other form of therapy. The appeal of anything that creates a feel-good factor can be very strong for you from now and throughout the year ahead, Pisces.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a 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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A trove of secretive audio tapes showcasing former President Joe Biden‘s ‘poor memory’ and ‘diminished faculties’ have been released. 

The recordings were made by the ghostwriter who assisted in the publication Biden’s 2017 book Promise Me, Dad. They were shared by Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee, who began publishing the audio files for the first time Monday evening.

The conversations, and Biden’s recall issues at the time, were on stark display. 

In one of the sit-downs, Biden struggled to speak at all for several minutes, and only after he was prompted by the ghostwriter, Marc Zwonitzer. 

‘It strikes me that there were three big things going on,’ he told Biden, after several painful moments passed. ‘I think Iraq, Central America, and Ukraine seemed to be the things that were chewing up a lot of a lot of your time.’

Biden, in response, muttered quietly and struggled to string together complete or decipherable sentences. His first audible response detailed a discussion with Kevin McCarthy, who ‘it looked like was going to be speaker, or … the number two guy.’ 

Biden then launched into a lengthy diatribe about energy infrastructure, while Zwonitzer listened on – at times, chiming in with specific dates or details to ostensibly aid the struggling lawmaker.

In another portion, Biden, prompted by Zwonitzer about a previous subject they discussed, struggled to remember any of the details or subjects discussed in the earlier sit-down. 

Former Special Counsel Robert Hur stirred controversy around Biden when he questioned the ex-president’s diminished mental acuity

The Justice Department obtained the audio files during its probe into Biden’s handling of classified documents from 2023 to 2024

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‘It’s confusing me,’ he said, before an assistant steered the conversation back on track. 

The audio comes as Republicans in Congress had pushed to make the tapes public after the Justice Department obtained them during a high-profile probe into Biden’s mishandling of classified documents when he served as Vice President and in the US Senate. The transcripts of the discussions were published in 2024, but audio had never before been shared in full.

The 2024 report, authored by former Special Counsel Robert Hur, stirred controversy around Biden when he questioned the ex-president’s diminished mental acuity and forgetfulness, leaving many to wonder what the attorney found in the tapes.

Hur decided against bringing charges against Biden for mishandling sensitive documents, in part, because he was a ‘sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory.’ 

He also noted the former president’s ‘diminished faculties in advancing age.’

Hur said the evidence included a recorded conversation between Biden and his ghostwriter in which the former president stated that he had just ‘found all the classified stuff downstairs.’

Biden’s push to keep the tapes hidden ultimately failed in court due to ‘substantial’ public interest in the documents. 

The interviews were recorded at Biden’s home in 2016 and 2017 with author Marc Zwonitzer. 

They took place when Biden was vice president and before his 2020 campaign, and were meant to remain private, the former president’s legal team has argued.

Zwonitzer admitted to deleting the audio files during Hur’s investigation, claiming he was afraid of getting hacked. 

The conservative Heritage Foundation began a public disclosure legal battle with the Department of Justice to release the files in 2024 shortly after Hur’s report was published. 

Last week, Judge Florence Pan, a Biden-appointed judge, argued that the former president has shown ‘substantial’ interest in keeping the files private. 

‘The conversations at issue took place in Biden’s home, and the recordings of them were obtained by the government in the course of a criminal investigation that did not lead to an indictment,’ Judge Florence Pan wrote in her dissent. 

Judge Gregory Katsas, a Trump appointee, and Sri Srinivasan, an Obama appointee, ruled against the motion to keep the files hidden. 

This picture was taken in December 2022 in Biden’s garage, with other household items, as part of Hur’s investigation

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Hur’s report was crammed with pictures of documents recovered from Biden’s home or an office he used when he was Vice President

Biden announced an upcoming memoir titled Promise Me, America last week 

The recordings took place in 2016 and 2017 when Biden was vice president. Above, at a Democratic presidential debate in 2020 

Biden’s recordings were shared with a ghostwriter for his 2017 book Promise Me, Dad

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The panel stayed an opinion until August 3, allowing further time for Biden’s legal team to appeal.

Biden announced earlier this month that he would be releasing another memoir titled Promise Me, America. It is expected to be published later this year.

York Outer Labour MP Luke Charters has been made a Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

In an announcement made today, it was revealed that he is set to join fellow northern MPs Olivia Blake (Sheffield Hallam) and Kirith Entwistle (Bolton North East), who are set to serve under former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner.

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As reported by The Press in May, Luke was previously a PPS for Business Secretary Peter Kyle until he resigned from the position in the lead-up to Andy Burnham’s bid to become an MP – calling for the Labour Party to be ‘bolder with our ideas and more confident in our approach’.

On his appointment, Luke said: “I’m really pleased to be taking on the role of Parliamentary Private Secretary at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

“It’s a great opportunity to work with Angela Rayner and the team. Over the past week or so, there’s been a real sense of optimism around some of the changes being announced, from building more council homes to taking action on rough sleeping.

“Hopefully it’s the start of showing people that government can make a positive difference to everyday life.

“For me, though, of course, York Outer comes first. It’s where I was born, where I grew up and where I’m now raising my family.

“At the end of the day, that’s who I work for. I’ll keep getting out across the constituency, listening to people, helping where I can, and making sure York Outer has a strong voice in Government.”

A PPS is the first kind of job on the ministerial ladder an MP is likely to get and are bound by the collective responsibility principle to support the government’s agenda in public.

They serve as the ‘eyes and ears’ of the department – helping to advise Minsters, aid communication between the Minster and backbench MPs (who do not hold a role), and help promote their department’s policies.

They do not get a ministerial salary on top of their Parliamentary pay.

According to a letter sent to Labour MPs by Anneliese Midgley, the Government Chief Whip, new Prime Minister Burnham is seeking to “strengthen and elevate” the role as part of a ‘wider culture change’ that they hope to create.

PPSs could soon be able to make more media appearances and carry out more work in Parliament on behalf of the Government.

In her letter, Ms Midgley said: “Serving as a PPS is one of the most important roles for parliamentarians and they are vitally important to the functioning of effective Government.

“The Prime Minister and I have therefore reviewed how we can strengthen and elevate the role so that it better reflects the way we want the Government to operate.

“We want to better recognise the contributions PPSs make to their departments. To the Parliamentary Labour Party, and to the success of the Government as a whole.”

Burke’s arraignment is scheduled for 31 August. The trial is to start within 90 days of that date.

Prosecutors have alleged Burke stabbed the teen before dismembering her body after years of alleged sexual abuse.

They allege he killed her because the teen had threatened to reveal his relationship with a minor and destroy his multi-million dollar music career.

Evidence read in court on Monday showed threats Celeste made to Burke on 22 April 2025, stemming from arguments about his friendship with another girl.

“I swear to GOD I will kill u”, one expletive-laden text said, followed by a threat to strangle him and tell her dad lies about him. “i will end ur career and ur life I will damage anything”, one text said.

The following day, Hernandez went to Burke’s Hollywood home in an Uber he had sent to pick her up.

Prosecutors alleged that Burke stabbed her once she arrived.

By CLAIRE ELLICOTT WHITEHALL EDITOR

Published: 22:00 BST, 27 July 2026 | Updated: 23:52 BST, 27 July 2026

NEW YORK (AP) — In a deal that ends a criminal investigation, a prestigious New York City medical institution agreed to boost its sexual abuse prevention program after one of its star doctors was convicted of abusing patients during a decade-long span and was sentenced to life behind bars, authorities said Monday.

Weill Cornell Medicine, whose faculty treats patients at several New York-area hospitals, reached a voluntary compliance agreement with the federal government that calls for it to spend $30 million to create the Institute for Safe Patient Care and Patient Empowerment.

Weill Cornell Medicine had previously agreed to pay victims over $1 billion to settle civil claims.

The deal comes after Darius Paduch, 59, was sentenced in 2024 to life in prison for sexually abusing patients from at least 2009 to 2019, including boys as young as 13. His victims, authorities said, suffered from certain genetic conditions, along with sexual and erectile dysfunction.

The doctor had claimed some of his methods of touching patients were medically necessary, though the indictment said they were intended for his own sexual gratification. The sentencing judge said his crimes were so horrific that it was the first time she’d ever sentenced someone to life in prison when it was not required.

In a statement, Weill Cornell Medicine called the institute “the first-of-its kind” for the early identification and prevention of sexual misconduct.

“This resolution is a significant step forward for us in addressing our former faculty member’s misconduct. Today, Weill Cornell Medicine is a safer organization,” it said. “Under new executive leadership, we have enacted significant reforms in patient safety and reporting protocols to ensure we provide the very best care to all those who place their trust in us.”

It added: “There is no place in our community — or in any medical institution — for the type of misconduct that occurred.”

In a release, Criminal Division Chief Amanda Houle from the Southern District of New York prosecutor’s office said Weill Cornell Medicine under the agreement will maintain an industry-leading sexual-abuse prevention program and will self-report future federal crimes involving sexual misconduct.

U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said the agreement sends a “strong, clear message to all healthcare institutions” that patients should never be sexually abused and that they must devote the necessary resources to build and maintain programs that detect, report and prevent sexual abuse.

Adam Ramsay-Peaty dunked his head under the water, looked up at the scoreboard and smiled. His time, 26.94 seconds, was only enough for bronze but he did not beat himself up about it.

Throughout his career, Ramsay-Peaty has swum with the spirit of the giant lion tattooed on his bulging bicep. These Glaswegian waters will duly confess that age can tame the most vicious of animals.

‘My superpower looks very different now,’ said the 31-year-old, who was slow off the blocks and needed every dose of muscle memory to pull his way back into third.

‘Juggling babies with milk and having a toddler around is a different superpower. As a professional athlete, yeah, I’m still committed. I’ve been that person that wins all the time and it costs you pretty much everything. I wouldn’t say it’s worth it now.’

The killer instinct has been replaced by parenthood.

Peaty remains Britain’s best breaststroker but he does not fill international opponents with fear like he used to. The sands of time catch up with everyone.

Most swimmers peak in their early 20s. Even the great Michael Phelps, with his 6ft7in wingspan and size 14 feet, did not win another Olympic medal after the age of 31.

His wife Holly was seen watching on as Ramsay-Peaty secured his second medal of the Games

Ramsay-Peaty, pictured with wife Holly, had earlier labelled sport ‘cruel’ in an emotional statement

Ariane Titmus won four Olympic golds and here, aged 25, she is standing poolside with a microphone, carrying out post-race interviews for Australia’s national broadcaster.

Ramsay-Peaty’s finish time was almost a whole second off his world record. He accepted his bronze medal with grace, waving to his adoring Glaswegian audience, and he was more interested in taking home the cuddly unicorn for his son.

‘For me, that period of time when I was undefeated for eight years, or whatever it was, it was athlete first and then human,’ he said. ‘Now it’s human first and then athlete. That’s a good gamble. We don’t really know what the outcome’s going to be. We obviously need to switch up what we’re doing in training to a certain extent. I’ve been in my new training base 12 weeks so let’s keep it in perspective.’

Two lanes to his right, Scoland’s Archie Goodburn was swimming with terminal cancer. Doctors found three inoperable brain tumours two years ago and his presence offered a dose of perspective for the man whose life has turned into a swimming pool soap opera.

There is nothing glamourous about competing in Glasgow. Events finish late and start early in what feels like a tarted-up leisure centre. Sleep is a luxury. Ramsay-Peaty has been catching the double decker bus to Tollcross with his fellow swimmers. Single fares on the local First Bus service normally cost £2.45. No VIP shuttles here. With no road closures, the traffic tends to bottleneck at the turning off Wellcross Road, allowing plenty of thinking time

After missing out on gold over 100m on Saturday night, Ramsey-Peaty questioned the sacrifices required for this life. “What’s the point of all the 5.30ams? What’s the point of all the metres every day? What’s the point of feeling exhausted all the time? What’s the point of saying, “No” to all the family events because of training?” Time will tell how strong his appetite remains for mouthfuls of chlorine.

Ramsay-Peaty spoke of the importance of fatherhood as he and Holly expect their first child

The legendary British swimmer took to social media with a lengthy statement on Monday

The 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, at least, offer a more glamorous proposition. The swimming meets will be staged at the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, which most recently hosted the World Cup quarter-final between Spain and Belgium. The 100,000-square-foot NFL field will be transformed into the largest swimming venue in Olympic history. Perhaps the idea of a family trip to the West Coast to watch dad’s final race will make it all worthwhile.

‘There’s been a lot of learning this week,’ he said. ‘

‘I said it in Birmingham but this is absolutely my last Commonwealths. I just went out there and enjoyed it – really enjoyed it – but we just weren’t fast enough, weren’t good enough. We have to look at why, because the data this season has been tracking on an upward trend.

‘I can’t really put my finger on it, where I just lost that power to the stroke. Something’s not kicking but I’ve got to learn from it. To get two bronzes, with a relay to go, I’d say that’s success. I’m not going to be too hard on myself, not anymore.’

Earlier, on TNT Sports, he admitted: ‘I don’t even know what tomorrow looks like really, there’s a lot of learning. I’ve felt ‘off’ this week and I don’t know why. We are trying new things.’

This is not the fastest pool on the swimming circuit. Most modern elite Olympic swimming pools are three metres deep but the waves in this shallower, two-metre basin can add a few tenths of a second to finish times.

Ramsay-Peaty’s comments after his 100m race on Saturday night raised eyebrows among some of his peers. He claimed he deserved more. He felt his input – physical and mental – warranted more than a third-place finish. Several athletes accused him of arrogance and entitlement. They wake up just as early and train just as hard, but last night it felt like he had been away for a reality check.

When the adrenaline is still pumping through his body after races, Ramsay-Peaty sometimes says things he regrets. He can be unfiltered. His post on Instagram before the race was perhaps more measured. ‘I know this story won’t be filled with glory, victory and gold,’ he wrote. ‘However I’ll keep fighting, learning, adapting and striving for excellence until I can no longer give anymore. Sport isn’t a fairytale if your happiness and self-worth are only validated by medals. But it can be, if you find value in the hardship, the struggle and the tough times which might ultimately lead you to what you seek.’

He spent Sunday morning scribbling notes in his hotel room in Glasgow. ‘Am I good enough? Am I not good enough?’ asked the monkey in the back of his mind. He is now chasing the pack – as well as his younger self – yet he remains one of sport’s greatest showman. When the Chinese, American, Dutch join him in the pool, the chase will not get any easier.

The vehicle has been lying in the river for years

The Green Party has stated the lack of action by a council regarding a dumped car in the River Lagan is “unacceptable.”

The party said Lisburn and Castlereagh Council “must stop passing the buck” on the dumped car, which lies in a part of the River Lagan covered by that council. It lies just minutes from the Lisburn and Castlereagh Council building, and has been there for a number of years.

The environmental impact of abandoned cars in waterways is significant, and lasts as long as the vehicle is in the water, causing a slow poison to the surrounding ecosystem. Just one litre of leaked motor oil can contaminate up to one million litres of water, creating films that cut off oxygen for fish and plants.

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Long after the internal fluid of the car has gone, iron, copper, and zinc from the frame and brakes continue to slowly dissolve into the water, disrupting the natural chemistry of the riverbed. Rubber tires, dashboard plastics, and interior fabrics slowly degrade into microplastics and release dangerous organic compounds into the current.

The physical bulk of the vehicle can alter water flow, cause localized erosion, and trap other organic debris.

Local group Lagan Valley Greens are running a petition calling for its removal. Richard Gill of Lagan Valley Greens said the case “shows how historic neglect is allowed to become normal.”

He said: “It’s appalling to see the Lagan treated like this. If the Council and Stormont can’t deal with an obvious long-term pollution problem, how can people trust them to protect the river from bigger environmental threats?”

“We are calling for the car to be removed, responsibility to be agreed, and a proper clean-up plan for the Lagan.”

Belfast Councillor Anthony Flynn said the response so far has been “unacceptable.”

“This is a test of whether local agencies and Lisburn and Castlereagh Council will take responsibility for long-standing pollution in plain sight.

“This car has been left in the river for years, right in the heart of the community, and the public deserves better than excuses and buck-passing. If something like this can be ignored for so long, what message does that send about other fly-tipping sites?”

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