SAN DIEGO (AP) — Two teenage shooters opened fire at a San Diego mosque on Monday and killed three men — then killed themselves a few blocks away — in an attack police are investigating as a hate crime.
There was no specific threat made against the Islamic Center of San Diego but authorities found evidence that the suspects engaged in “generalized hate rhetoric,” San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said. He declined to give more details, but said the “circumstances that led up to this” would come out in the days ahead.
Before the attack, officers were already looking for one of the teenagers since his mother called police concerned that her son was suicidal and had run away, Wahl said. There were weapons missing from the home and the mother’s vehicle was gone, he added.
The search took on even more urgency as police learned that he was dressed in camouflage and with an acquaintance — details that were unexpected for someone about to die by suicide, he said.
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Police began using whatever technology they could to find the 17- and 18-year-old, including automated license plate readers. The department dispatched authorities to a mall near where the car had been tracked by police, and officers alerted a school where at least one of the suspects had been a student, Wahl said.
As officers continued interviewing the mother about places the teens might be, they got reports of a shooting at the mosque.
Among those killed was a mosque security guard, who police believe “played a pivotal role” in keeping the attack from being “much worse,” Wahl said.
“It’s fair to say his actions were heroic,” the chief said at a later news conference. “Undoubtedly he saved lives today.”
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A family friend identified the guard as Amin Abdullah, a well-known face at the mosque who had been working there for more than a decade.
“He wanted to defend the innocent so he decided to become a security guard,” said Shaykh Uthman Ibn Farooq, who had spoken with Abdullah’s son. The family could not immediately be reached for comment.
The center is the largest mosque in San Diego County and includes the Al Rashid School, which offers courses in Arabic language, Islamic studies and the Quran for students ages 5 and up, according to its website.
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A body is covered with a tarp at the scene of a shooting outside the Islamic Center of San Diego Monday, May 18, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
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A body is covered with a tarp at the scene of a shooting outside the Islamic Center of San Diego Monday, May 18, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
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Police responded within four minutes of being called, Wahl said. As they arrived, gunshots rang out a few blocks away where a landscaper was shot at but uninjured. The shooters were found dead in a vehicle stopped in the middle of a road nearby, he said.
Aerial TV footage showed more than a dozen children holding hands and being walked out of the parking lot of the center as it was surrounded by scores of police vehicles. The mosque is in a neighborhood of homes, apartments and strip malls with Middle Eastern restaurants and markets.
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Parents were directed to a nearby area to retrieve their children.
The mosque’s director, Imam Taha Hassane, called it “extremely outrageous to target a place of worship.”
“All the places of worship in our beautiful city should always be protected,” he said.
He added that the center focused on interfaith relations and community building, and that a group of non-Muslims had been touring the mosque earlier Monday to learn about Islam.
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The Islamic Center’s website says its mission is to not only serve the Muslim population but also to “work with the larger community to serve the less fortunate, to educate, and to better our nation.” Five daily prayers are held there, and the mosque works with other organizations and people of all faiths on social causes.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, one of the largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy groups in the U.S., condemned the shooting.
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People stand behind police tape at the scene of a shooting outside the Islamic Center of San Diego Monday, May 18, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
People stand behind police tape at the scene of a shooting outside the Islamic Center of San Diego Monday, May 18, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
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“No one should ever fear for their safety while attending prayers or studying at an elementary school,” said CAIR-San Diego Executive Director Tazheen Nizam in a statement. “We are working to learn more about this incident and we encourage everyone to keep this community in your prayers.”
President Donald Trump called the shooting a “terrible situation.”
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Johnson reported from Seattle. Associated Press writers Jaimie Ding in Los Angeles and Hannah Schoenbaum in Salt Lake City contributed to this report.
Ivory Coast international Elye Wahi has been denied entry to Canada for his country’s World Cup group game against Germany on Saturday.
The Nice forward was reportedly, external arrested last month before the World Cup over alleged involvement in spot-fixing in Ligue 1.
Wahi, 23 – who started Sunday’s World Cup win over Ecuador – has been accused of deliberately earning a yellow card while playing for Nice against Metz in May.
Spot-fixing is the practice of deliberately affecting match incidents in a way that allows people to profit through betting markets.
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A statement to the Athletic from the public prosecutor’s office in Marseille confirmed a 23-year-old football player, competing in France’s Ligue 1, was arrested, without naming Wahi.
On Wednesday, Ligue de Football (LFP) confirmed they had been alerted to “an unusually high volume of bets placed on a warning involving the player Elye Wahi”.
The Ivory Coast’s football federation (FIF) say they had not been told of any “judicial or administrative proceedings” against Wahi, but confirmed he had not been able to obtain authorisation to enter Canada.
“The Ivorian Football Federation has taken note of the various articles and information published on this Wednesday, June 17, 2026, concerning the Ivorian international Elye Wahi,” it said in a statement.
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“To date, the FIF has not been officially notified of any judicial or administrative proceedings involving him.
“In this particularly delicate period, the FIF extends all its support to the player and reaffirms its confidence in him. Elye Wahi remains an important element of the Ivory Coast national team.
“The FIF also informs that the player will not be able to join the delegation’s trip to Canada. Indeed, the necessary administrative authorisations for his entry into Canadian territory could not be obtained at this stage.
“Elye Wahi will therefore remain in the United States pending the team’s return.”
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After facing Germany in Toronto, the Ivory Coast then play Curacao in Philadelphia next Thursday.
The statement from the Marseille public prosecutor’s office said the arrest was made “as part of an investigation opened by the Marseille public prosecutor’s office into allegations of organised fraud, organised sports corruption, handling of proceeds of crime and money laundering”.
The player was released after being interviewed in police custody and the investigations remain ongoing, officials added.
Wahi’s booking in the game was his fifth in the league so earned him a suspension for the first leg of Nice’s relegation play-off against Saint-Etienne on 26 May.
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That game ended in a 0-0 draw but Wahi returned for the second leg in which he scored twice in a 4-1 victory to help Nice keep their place in the top flight.
BBC Sport has contacted Wahi’s representatives and Fifa for comment.
The LFP said: “At this stage, and given the ongoing investigation and the confidentiality requirements imposed by the police authorities, the LFP will not make any further comments and has not initiated disciplinary proceedings. However, it reserves the right to do so depending on the progress of the investigation.
“The LFP reiterates that it remains fully committed to ensuring the integrity of its competitions and that it will act with the utmost firmness against any behaviour that could compromise it.”
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Wahi is the second World Cup player to be denied entry to Canada after Ghana’s Thomas Partey was refused a visa because of ongoing criminal proceedings in the UK.
Former Arsenal midfielder Partey pleaded not guilty to seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault relating to allegations by four different women between 2020 and 2022 and is scheduled to stand trial next year.
The Ghanaian government sought permission for him to enter the country briefly to take part in the game but that appeal was rejected at a federal court in Ottawa.
Jamie Varley, 37, a former head of year at a high school, and his partner, ex-public schoolboy and sales manager John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, sexually assaulted and physically abused Preston Davey after adopting him aged nine months, before his murder following a sex assault by Varley four months later at their Blackpool home.
Varley’s sentence means he will never be released from prison, while McGowan-Fazakerley was also jailed for 25 years for allowing Preston’s death.
Both men were convicted by a jury on Monday, June 15, following an eight-week trial at Preston Crown Court, following Preston’s death on April 27, 2023.
Jamie Varley will never be released from prison (Image: Lancashire Police)
Passing sentence, Mr Justice Turner said Preston had faced “unremitting abuse” and neglect before being killed by Varley during a sex attack.
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Turning to Varley, he said: “It was you who did this. You murdered him.
“A whole life order is a sentence of last resort for cases of the most extreme gravity.
“This is a case of the most extreme gravity. You must stay in prison for the rest of your life. You will never be eligible for parole.”
Varley, wearing a purple V-neck T-shirt, looked gaunt and sat with his hands folded on his lap, looking straight ahead and made no reaction when his sentence was read out.
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Preston had been taken from his mother, Sarah Davey, now 42, by an emergency care order by Oldham Council and placed into foster care at five days old.
Preston Davey was murdered by Jamie Varley (Image: Police)
Ms Davey was herself jailed for murdering a frail pensioner when she was a 14-year-old, and has been in and out of prison since then.
In a victim impact statement, Ms Davey described the day Preston was taken from her as one of the worst of her life.
She said: “I had no choice in that decision.
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“I tried to take some comfort in believing he would be safe, loved, and protected, and he was with his foster parents, Sandra and Paul (Cooper).
“I trusted them, they and the system trusted you, that trust was completely and unforgivably broken.
“I will never forgive you for what you did to my son and what you stopped him from becoming and achieving in his life.
“Every single day, I live with the unimaginable pain of wondering what he went through. Those thoughts do not leave me.
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“They are with me when I wake up, and they haunt me when I try to sleep. The reality of how he suffered is something I will carry for the rest of my life.”
In his victim impact statement, Preston’s biological father, Gary Nolan, told of his grief at hearing the news of his son’s death.
“Hysterical and crying”, Mr Nolan was admitted to hospital for his own safety and still takes medication to help manage his anxiety and depression.
He said: “Preston was my first and only son. The fact that he has been taken away from me has stopped me from having a father-son relationship.
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“I was looking forward to doing the simple things with him, playing football, teaching him how to ride a bike, having him ask me for help, seeing him learn to drive and of course celebrating his birthdays.
“This has deprived my three daughters and me of ever having these opportunities.”
Mr and Mrs Cooper, Preston’s foster parents, said his murder was the reason they decided not to retire from fostering as “we felt we had a duty to other children and could not sit back and enjoy ourselves knowing that other children were being abused, mistreated and could die”.
They said they had lost trust in the system and cannot express the pain they feel at Preston’s killing.
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The trial heard Preston had been taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital three times in the months before his death and was seen by a “battery of professionals” during his life, including multiple social workers, health visitors and medics, and a social services investigation is underway.
York Jobcentre is organising the jobs fair on Tuesday July 14 from 10.30am to 1.30pm at Temple Hall, York St John University.
The jobcentre says the free event offers those looking for a job, apprentice options, or a change of career, a valuable chance to engage directly with a wide range of local employers and training providers.
Attendees will be able to speak face-to-face with recruiters, learn about current vacancies, and gain insight into the skills and qualifications employers are looking for. Professional advisors will also be available throughout the event to provide free, impartial information, advice, and guidance.
The jobcentre is inviting employers to take part and still has exhibition space for them to take part.
Sarah Lyus, Recruitment Consultant, York Job Centre, said: “We have seen previous success with York Job Fairs in partnership with York Learning and look forward to this new venue where we can connect jobseekers with local employers, offer support for career advice and provide learning opportunities to further enhance career prospects for our Job seekers.”
Will Harris, Learning and Skills Development Manager & Digital Skills Curriculum Manager – York Learning, said: “It’s great to be working again with York Job Centre for another York Job Fair.
“At York Learning, our mission is to inspire people to learn, explore and achieve. We encourage everyone to come and visit us on the day — we’ll be happy to discuss your skills, offer employability support, and share information on the wide range of courses available and much more.”
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The event comes as the latest claimant count figures for the region show and overall rise in the claimant count for 18-24s especially.
The latest claimant count figures (Image: Pic supplied)
In May, York had a claimant count of 2,535, which is a decrease of 35 or 1%. However, the number aged 18-24 was 565, an increase of 85 or 17% on a year ago.
Ryedale has a claimant count of 660, an increase of 85 or 15% on a year ago. Those aged 18-25 made up 90 of this, an increase of 25 or 38%.
However, in Selby, the claimant count for May was 1,150, an increase of ten or 1%. Those aged 18-24 made up 295 of this, a decrease of 58 or 2%.
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Nationally, the overall UK unemployment rate fell unexpectedly from 5% to 4.9% in the three months to April.
How do you feel about these figures, especially how they are affecting the young? What can the government do to help? How much might it be to blame? And how do you feel about the widder economy? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.
Turkey’s Arda Guler has taken the most shots at the tournament so far, although the fact that his eight attempts amounted to just 0.26 xG in total shows how optimistic his shooting was against Australia.
While the Real Madrid youngster is obviously far more talented than the average player, the quality of shots he took means that historically a player would score once every 31 attempts.
South Korea’s Son Heung-min was the worst finisher in the opening round based on expected goals as he failed to score from six chances totalling 1.0 xG – a surprising fact given that the former Tottenham man was one of most ruthless finishers during his time in the Premier League.
24 players have a 100% shot conversion rate so far but only two have taken more than one shot – Sweden’s Yasin Ayari and New Zealand’s Elijah Just, who have both scored twice.
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Seven players created five chances in their opening game but only Germany’s Joshua Kimmich saw his teammates take advantage as he claimed two assists in the 7-1 win against Curaçao.
With a theme exploring identity and unity, the charity Students Rebuild is showing young people how creativity can connect classrooms to communities around the world
A global arts programme has turned the creativity of young people into a million dollars (£790,000) of funding for organisations working to build connection, empathy and unity around the world.
Students Rebuild invites young people aged five to 25 to respond to an annual theme through art, with each creative submission helping unlock funding for organisations working on the issue being explored. The programme is powered by Creative Visions, a nonprofit that supports artists, storytellers and creative activists using media and the arts to drive social change.
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This year’s theme is Unique & United, which asks students to explore identity, difference and what it means to live in a more connected world. The theme has prompted young people around the world to make visual art, performances, games, quilts, films and school-wide events about culture, belonging and community.
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One of the partner organisations receiving funding through this year’s theme is Choose Love, the UK-based charity that supports refugees and displaced people through emergency aid, advocacy and work with local organisations.
Its connection to Students Rebuild was marked in London on the 12th of June, when Counterpoints Arts, Choose Love and the Southbank Centre hosted an event to launch Refugee Week London 2026, including a preview of a new public artwork by Palestinian artist Malak Matar.
The artwork, commissioned as part of Students Rebuild’s Unique & United theme, is due to be unveiled later this month. It has been shaped through conversations with young people in Greece and Ukraine about what it means to be both unique and united.
Through the Students Rebuild grant, Choose Love is also expanding work with partners including Dobrodiy Club in Ukraine, Refocus Media Labs in Greece and Free Movement Skateboarding in Greece, supporting displaced and conflict-affected young people to learn, process what they have been through and create art in safer spaces.
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Dancers took to the stage during the event. Image: Justin L Stewart
The wider idea behind Students Rebuild is simple. Young people learn about a global issue, create a piece of work in response, then submit it online. For every piece of art submitted, or every young person engaged, Creative Visions donates $5 to selected partner organisations, up to an annual cap of $1m.
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According to Students Rebuild, young people taking part in Unique & United have unlocked the full $1m after 114,445 participants submitted or helped create 90,720 pieces of creative work. Children simply participating in the programme triggers the funding, giving students a clear way to see that their ideas and creative work can have an effect beyond the classroom.
“Kids come to the Students Rebuild website, and they form teams that are usually led by an educator or an adult,” says Sarah Fanslau, Creative Visions’ director of programme impact and evaluation. “And then they go out and do what we call creative expression, which is really just a form of art. But that can be visual art, it can be STEM, it could be performance and dance. It can be whatever they care about in relation to the arts, as an expression of their thoughts or ideas or work through what they’ve learned about that theme.”
Previous Students Rebuild challenges have seen young people make life-sized board games that teach immigration history, create interactive quilts that tell personal stories when touched, assemble an orchestra of 80 young people in Nairobi, Kenya, to celebrate unity after a fractured year, and host school-wide culture nights sharing recipes, stories and traditions.
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For Creative Visions, the programme is not only about where the money goes, but what participation does for young people themselves. Fanslau says the team measures “creative agency or creative self-efficacy”, meaning the belief that art and creativity can help make a difference.
“We’re also measuring those civic or collective self-efficacy and social responsibility,” she says. “Do young people think they can make a difference in the world? Does this programme help them realise their own efficacy or agency in changing the things that are going on around them?”
The programme also looks at social awareness and global issue awareness, asking whether participants come to see that the issues affecting them may also be affecting young people elsewhere. For educators, that can be one of the strongest arguments for taking part: it gives students a way to connect personal experience with a wider world, without reducing complex problems to a textbook exercise.
“We’re really hoping young people are gaining some of those key 21st century skills that we all know folks need for the workplace, including things like collaboration and communication skills,” says Fanslau.
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114,445 participants submitted or helped create 90,720 pieces of creative work
Each team has an online dashboard showing how much funding their participation has generated, how many young people have taken part and how many creative works have been submitted. Teachers can share that with families, schools and communities, making the impact visible at a time when arts education is often squeezed.
“The reality is that teachers know the importance of the arts. And so that is why teachers are really our primary audience. And we see such an interest in this programme from educators because of the reduction in time and money towards arts education.”
In that sense, Students Rebuild is making two arguments at once. One is that art can help fund meaningful work in the world. The other is that young people need to believe their voices, ideas and imagination have somewhere to go.
Main image: Justin L Stewart
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Rupert Lowe campaigns for Restore Britain in Makerfield
Restore Britain leader Rupert Lowe has been speaking to voters in Makerfield during today’s by-election.
The party are hoping to offer an alternative to Reform UK, but have been seen by many to be splitting the right-wing vote in the area.
Britain’s leader of Restore Britain Rupert Lowe speaks to a member of the public (AP)
Leader of Restore Britain, Rupert Lowe, speaks to media opposite Labour campaign HQ (Getty)
Nicole Wootton-Cane18 June 2026 12:41
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‘Degrading’ comments and conspiracies: The unearthed posts from Reform’s Makerfield candidate
Reform UK’s candidate in the Makerfield by-election has faced backlash in recent weeks after a number of offensive comments made on social media were unearthed.
Robert Kenyon, a plumber and local councillor who stood as Reform’s candidate in the constituency at the 2024 general election, is taking on Labour’s Andy Burnham in Thursday’s by-election in the Greater Manchester seat.
A series of now-deleted social media posts and comments made on rugby league forums by accounts linked to Mr Kenyon have seen him dubbed “not fit to be an MP” and accused of sharing transphobic slurs, Covid misinformation and objectifying women.
However, Nigel Farage has said Reform UK is “unapologetic” about its candidate, telling a press conference earlier this month that the comments were “a few laddish things”.
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Nicole Wootton-Cane18 June 2026 12:20
Rayner appears at camp Burnham ahead of crucial vote
Angela Rayner has been spotted at Andy Burnham’s campaign hub as voting continues in Makerfield.
The former deputy prime minister has thrown her weight behind Mr Burnham at the polls. While she has not publicly backed him in any potential leadership challenge, many have suggested her allegiances would lie with her Greater Manchester contemporary over Sir Keir Starmer, despite her stint as deputy prime minister under him.
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Ms Rayner has also previously been floated as a contender for the leadership herself, but this looks considerably less likely now Mr Burnham could be in the picture.
Angela Rayner attends the Labour campaign HQ at Stubshaw Cross Community and Sports Club (Getty)
Nicole Wootton-Cane18 June 2026 12:11
In pictures: Labour MPs arrive to campaign in Makerfield
Labour MPs have been spotted in Makerfield today as voters go to the polls.
Deputy Leader of the Labour Party Lucy Powell (Reuters)
Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Darren Jones (Reuters)
Former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner supporting Labour candidate Andy Burnham at the Stubshaw Cross Community and Sports Club (PA)
Nicole Wootton-Cane18 June 2026 12:00
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Former House Speaker John Bercow spotted campaigning for Burnham
The former speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow has been spotted in Makerfield this morning campaigning for Labour’s Andy Burnham.
Once a Tory MP, Mr Bercow joined the Labour Party in June 2021. He was later suspended from the party in 2022.
John Bercow in Makerfield (PA)
Nicole Wootton-Cane18 June 2026 11:44
What time is the Makerfield by-election result announced and is there an exit poll?
You can read everything you need to know about the high-stakes vote that could determine the UK’s next prime minister below:
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Nicole Wootton-Cane18 June 2026 11:40
Farage attacks ‘open borders Burnham’ as he urges voters to support Reform
Nigel Farage has criticised Andy Burnham over immigration as he urged voters to get out and vote for Reform UK in Makerfield.
In a post on X, he wrote: “The only way to beat Open Borders Burnham today is by voting for Reform”.
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Nicole Wootton-Cane18 June 2026 11:20
Nigel Farage joins candidate Rob Kenyon at the polls
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has joined the party’s candidate Rob Kenyon at the polls this morning.
Plumber Mr Kenyon, wearing an England football shirt, drove to the venue in his white van, with Mr Farage in the passenger seat.
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About 20 members of the press were outside the polling station to capture photos and footage of their arrival.
Mr Farage joked “it’s not a rugby game” as photographers shouted for his attention.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage reacts next to Reform UK by-election candidate Rob Kenyon as they arrive during the Makerfield by-election (Reuters)
Rob Kenyon is running for Reform UK (AP)
Nicole Wootton-Cane18 June 2026 11:04
‘Let’s forever associate this area with having brought a change to British politics’ Burnham says in final campaign update
Andy Burnham has called on Makerfield voters to make the area “forever associated with having brought a chance to British politics” in his final campaign update.
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The Labour mayor said his team is out and about and will be knocking on doors – but promised it would be for the “last time”.
“It’s polling day everyone, as you know,” he said in a video. “It’s just a great thing that the power is now where it should be, it’s in your hands. It’s in the hands of the people of this area.”
In a nod to the potential of a future leadership contest he added: “It’s up to you what you decide today. But of course I would say let’s vote for positive change that this country needs.
“Let’s forever associate this area, this constituency, with having brought a change to British politics that it’s long needed.”
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Nicole Wootton-Cane18 June 2026 11:00
Celebrity endorsements can help politicians woo voters – but can also backfire
The Independent’s Whitehall editor Kate Devlin reports:
Andy Burnham’s decision to bring Hugh Grant to a pub in Wigan brought some Hollywood glamour to the Makerfield by-election.
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But the Labour mayor will also be mindful that British political history is littered with celebrity endorsements that have backfired.
In 1983 Margaret Thatcher was forced to watch as the comedian Kenny Everett, at that stage one of TV’s biggest names, appeared at a Young Conservatives youth rally, wearing a pair of giant foam hands, and yelling “let’s bomb Russia!”.
In 1997 Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher had drinks with the then PM Tony Blair in Downing Street, at the height of what was dubbed ‘Cool Britannia’.
But two years later he suggested he had misjudged Blair’s politics, adding “You live and learn don’t you?”.
An inquest has opened into the death of a man who crashed into a house earlier this year
An inquest has opened into the death of a 40-year-old man who crashed into a house in Cambridgeshire earlier this year. Richard Woollard, the driver of a blue Ford Mondeo, died after his car crashed into a house on Paston Ridings at around 6pm on May 17, 2026.
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Richard died on May 23 at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, days after the crash. In a tribute, his family said: “We are deeply saddened by the loss of our son, Richard. He will be profoundly missed by his family and friends. Please respect our privacy during this difficult time.”
The inquest into his death opened on Thursday, June 18, at Vantage House in Huntingdon by area coroner Caroline Jones. The hearing heard that Richard had been driving at “excess speed” when he “lost control” before crashing into the house.
Cambridgeshire Police confirmed a woman in her 70s, who was in the house at the time, also suffered serious injuries.
The deceased was formally identified as Richard at the mortuary on May 28, 2026. His provisional cause of death has been given as a hypoxic-ischemic injury caused by cardiac arrest.
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The inquest has been adjourned until December 3, 2026, to be continued by senior coroner David Heming. Coroner Jones offered her condolences to the family and friends of Richard.
Wales take on the Barbarians at Allianz Stadium Twickenham next Saturday ahead of the Nations Championship.
Steve Tandy is expected to be without 15 of his squad because the game falls outside of World Rugby’s designated international window.
But even so the Wales coach should still be able to select a strong side. This is the matchday squad he is likely to select.
15. Blair Murray
Louis Rees-Zammit is unavailable for the Barbarians game so Tandy will have to look at alternative options, particularly with the Bristol man declaring he wants to remain a winger going forward.
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Blair Murray was Tandy’s full-back during the autumn, although concerns surrounded his aerial ability.
Tom Rogers and Ellis Mee are other potential options but Tandy is likely to go with Murray’s attacking threat.
14. Mason Grady
The Cardiff wing is currently recovering from a fractured thumb but is expected to be fit by the time Wales face the Barbarians.
Grady is a very effective runner when put into space; his size, explosive power and space are potentially big assets to this Wales side.
Many experts believe James’s best position is inside centre.
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That might be the case in the long-run but Tandy might want to go for continuity this summer.
James is a very powerful ball carrier capable of making significant post-contact metres.
12. Joe Hawkins
Hawkins’ partnership with James improved as the Six Nations wore on. While Tandy could look at Bryn Bradley at some point, the Harlequins centre is unavailable against the Barbarians.
The Scarlets centre is a talented footballer with a physical presence, and his distribution is generally very good.
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11. Josh Adams
The 31-year-old finished the season strongly for Cardiff and his experience will be important for Wales moving towards the Rugby World Cup.
Adams is strong both under the high-ball and in defence, while he is also a potent finisher.
10. Dan Edwards
The Ospreys outside-half finished the Six Nations with an outstanding individual performance in the victory over Italy at the Principality Stadium.
Edwards will relish the challenge the Barbarians will present and his attacking instincts should come to the fore.
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9. Kieran Hardy
This is a good opportunity for the 30-year-old with Tomos Williams unavailable.
Tandy also has the option of Reuben Morgan-Williams and Ellis Bevan but based on recent selections Hardy is higher up the pecking order.
8. Aaron Wainwright
The 28-year-old was Wales’ best player during the Six Nations and elevated his game to a whole new level.
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Wainwright is a dynamic ball carrier who is extremely physical and is also effective when put into space where his skillset comes to the fore.
7. Jac Morgan
Tandy will be delighted to see Morgan fit again after the 26-year-old missed the Six Nations due to dislocating his shoulder against Argentina last autumn.
Morgan is a world class player and one of the first names on Tandy’s team sheet.
His return creates intense competition for the number six shirt given how well certain players performed in his absence.
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6. James Botham
Wales have some strong options at blindside flanker but Botham had a fine Six Nations campaign.
The 28-year-old has a huge engine and gets through a mountain of unseen work in defence while he also offers himself as a carrier.
5. Teddy Williams
The 25-year-old has not played since dislocating his foot against Connacht last October.
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But he is expected to be fit by the time the Barbarians game comes around and this is the perfect opportunity for Tandy to give the Cardiff lock a run out.
Wales are also without Dafydd Jenkins, Freddie Thomas and potentially Adam Beard, as the Top 14 final is the same day as the Barbarians fixture.
4. Ben Carter
The Dragons lock stepped into Adam Beard’s shoes in Wales’ narrow defeat against Scotland and impressed.
Carter called the lineout during the Six Nations and is a workhorse who puts his body on the line.
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It will be interesting to see how he kicks on this summer.
3. Dillon Lewis
The 30-year-old has not played for Wales since March 2024, so he will undoubtedly be chomping at the bit to represent his country again.
Lewis will arguably be Wales’ most important player this summer given the injuries at tighthead with Tomas Francis, Archie Griffin and Keiron Assiratti all unavailable.
2. Dewi Lake (Captain)
The Gloucester-bound hooker missed the latter part of the Ospreys’ season after undergoing shoulder surgery, but he is expected to be fit this summer.
Lake was outstanding towards the back end of the Six Nations as Wales’ lineout improved dramatically while he also carried well.
1. Gareth Thomas
With Rhys Carré and Nicky Smith unavailable the Barbarians fixture could prove a good opportunity for Thomas.
The experienced Ospreys prop was a Wales regular up until recently and will want his shirt back.
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Replacements
16. Evan Lloyd
If this were a Test match Ryan Elias would be on the bench but Tandy might want to use his bench to look at certain players.
Lloyd could thrive when the game is looser in the second-half.
17. Rhys Barratt
The 24-year-old has enjoyed a fine season with Cardiff and thoroughly deserves his place in the Wales squad.
Barratt offers a huge amount around the park.
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18. Ben Warren
Wales have been hit by a plethora of injuries at tighthead but this could be the uncapped Warren’s breakthrough campaign.
19. Ryan Woodman
Wales are without three front-line locks against the Barbarians so Woodman may have to cover the second-row.
The former Wales U20s captain is a fine prospect who has gone well for the Dragons this season.
20. Taine Plumtree
The Scarlets man has his critics but when at his best he can be very effective.
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Plumtree would thrive in a looser game against the Barbarians.
21. Reuben Morgan-Williams
The Ospreys scrum-half has had to bide his time with Wales and will be eager to make an impact.
22. Sam Costelow
The Scarlets playmaker has not played since injuring his shoulder against Scotland.
But at his best Costelow can be very effective and his battle with Dan Edwards for the number 10 shirt can only be a good thing moving forward.
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23. Ellis Mee
The Scarlets man is strong under the high ball and a decent broken field runner who can cover wing and full-back.
Ben Shephard delivered an update, which he described as ‘shocking’, during ITV’s This Morning, as he spoke openly about the death of a famous tree
12:46, 18 Jun 2026Updated 12:48, 18 Jun 2026
This Morning: Ben announces that the Robin Hood tree has died
This Morning host Ben Shephard shared some “sad news” on Thursday’s show.
On Thursday’s ITV show, Ben and his co-host Cat Deeley were back at the helm to deliver another jam-packed programme. During the show, the presenters spoke to resident gardener David.
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This is when the death of the 1,200-year-old oak tree was mentioned. He said to David via video link: “Just before you go, because there has been some sad news here today, which is the ancient oak tree that has been linked to the Robin Hood legend, it has been featured in all sorts of films, has sadly died.
“It’s really shocking to see it looking how it is now!”
Located in Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire, the ancient oak was considered the oldest and largest tree in Europe. After enduring several years of unusually hot and dry summers, it failed to produce leaves this spring, signalling the end of its life.
According to local folklore, the tree once served as a hiding place for Robin Hood, the legendary outlaw who stole from the wealthy to help the poor.
It is said he sought shelter beneath its branches while evading the Sheriff of Nottingham. In 2010, snowfall on the trunk even created a striking image that many believed resembled Friar Tuck.
For more than two centuries, the Major Oak has attracted visitors eager to see the iconic tree and its connection to the Robin Hood story.
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However, the constant stream of tourists has compacted the surrounding ground over time, making it harder for rainwater to reach the tree’s roots and contributing to its decline.
Although previous reports suggesting the Major Oak had died proved inaccurate, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) confirmed on Thursday that the historic tree has failed to regenerate, despite conservation efforts launched in 2023 to preserve it.
The famous oak earned its name after being featured in a 1790 publication about oak trees by Major Hayman Rooke, sparking widespread interest and drawing visitors to Sherwood Forest.
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While experts cannot pinpoint a single cause of the tree’s death, a combination of factors is believed to have contributed. Heavy foot traffic from millions of visitors over the years compacted the surrounding soil, while measures taken to support its enormous branches with cables and props may also have affected its health.
Arborists examining the oak discovered that its root system had become severely deprived of both space and nutrients, leaving it weakened and unable to survive.
Robert Brackley, an outdoor educator who has proudly shown the Major oak to thousands, told The Guardian: “The stories it has given us are the legacy. It’s the most famous tree in the world.”
Repeated and mindless vandalism at Norton’s toilets in Church Street is causing significant damage and disruption for residents and visitors alike
Cllr Keane Duncan has joined with North Yorkshire Council, North Yorkshire Police and Norton Town Council to discuss action to prevent further damage.
“We have seen repeated and mindless vandalism at Norton’s toilets, causing significant damage and disruption for residents and visitors alike,” he said.
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“I feel very strongly that we should not give in to a small minority by closing facilities that the wider community relies upon. Those responsible should face the consequences of their actions, not local people who need access to these important amenities.
“However, the vandalism is repeated and costly, which is why partners are working together to prevent further incidents.
“We discussed a range of measures including additional inspections, faster reporting, extra cameras, vandal-resistant fixtures and improvements to the surrounding area. We are also open to suggestions from the community.
“We are determined to do everything we can to protect these facilities and stop further damage occurring in the future.
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Cllr Di Keal, Mayor of Norton on Derwent said: “Norton Town council believes that providing public toilets is an essential part of what a town provides for our residents and as Mayor I have spoken out again recently after the toilets were vandalised for the third time in the last few months. They are now thankfully open again.
“Our county councillor has assured us that the toilets are not under threat of closure for the time being, but the costs involved in repairs after repeated bouts of vandalism are huge, which is why we are appealing to local people to help us identify those who are determined to do this damage and deprive others of these important facilities.
“If anyone notices any suspicious behaviour around the public toilets they should report it to the police immediately on 101.
“The town council will fight to retain our toilets, which is why we have invested in CCTV to monitor the area, but I am appealing again for public support to help us. We are working with North Yorkshire Council and the police on the issue and hope that the culprits who are repeatedly ruining these facilities will be identified and prosecuted.”
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