There has been a sharp increase in closures in the age range

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Criminals are still shifting dirty money through money mule accounts despite hundreds of thousands of suspect accounts having been shut down in recent years, the City regulator has said. A review by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) found that firms have been closing an increasing number of suspected mule accounts.

Money mules help to move or disguise funds created from criminal activities. Reported offboarding, where firms closed suspected money mule accounts, rose over a three-year period to reach 238,396 in 2025, but slowed in the final year.

The total is up from 184,935 in 2023 and 233,269 in 2024. The accounts were registered to personal customers, businesses and others.

Most of them were held with retail banks and building societies. There were also signs that a growing number of account closures were linked to customers aged in their 40s.

Some 37,274 account closures in 2025 were linked to customers aged 40 to 49, up from 25,760 account closures among customers in this age group in 2024. The review document said: “Personal accounts represented around 92% of account closures for suspected money mule activity between 2023 and 2025.

“Account closures were highest among customers aged 26 to 39, while the sharpest increase was among customers aged 40 to 49. Customers aged 21 and under also represented a significant proportion of closures.

“Suspected mule account closures were more concentrated among younger customers at challenger banks, while retail banks reported a more even distribution across age groups.”

Where firms recorded gender, around two-thirds of suspected mules were men – a proportion which has been broadly stable over the three-year period – the review said. The FCA cautioned that the data has limitations because some firms did not collect data and some customers did not disclose it.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) estimates more than £100 billion is laundered through the UK or UK corporate structures each year – and money mule activity is one way criminals move these funds, by using people’s bank accounts to receive or transfer money on their behalf.

Often, the money mule may not be fully aware what is happening and they may have been enticed by an offer of some of the cash. But the consequences of laundering stolen cash can be significant, and people could end up finding it difficult to access a bank account or credit in future, as well as facing the possibility of a criminal record.

Some money mules may be recruited in what appears to be a “job offer” with the promise of quick and easy money. Or someone may ask for money to be moved on their behalf as a favour, giving excuses for why they cannot use their own bank account to transfer money.

The FCA said criminals will sometimes move fraudulent funds through a long chain of multiple accounts. Fraud proceeds were often cashed out after moving through two to five mule accounts. By this stage, payments may be harder to detect and trace, underlining the importance of disrupting activity as early on as possible.

When cashing out, card payments were used to make lots of low-value transactions in some cases. Cryptocurrency cash-outs tended to be lower in volume but higher in value, the review said.

Some accounts had been used repeatedly for mule activity before firms shut them down and had also been used for fraud, pointing to an established criminal infrastructure rather than opportunistic, isolated incidents, the FCA said. Firms should make sure they understand how criminals move funds between accounts, both within their own institution and externally, the regulator added.

The review said: “Timely intelligence-sharing between firms can help identify linked accounts, recurring cash-out routes and laundering methods, so they can detect and disrupt mule activity earlier.”

Steve Smart, executive director of enforcement and market oversight at the FCA, said: “Money muling is a crime and it’s not victimless. It makes it harder to recover stolen cash and helps criminals move and hide the proceeds of serious offending.

“People should be wary of contact out of the blue, including via online channels, asking them to funnel money through their account as they could face prosecution. It’s good that financial firms are taking action on mules, but banks, law enforcement, technology companies and consumers all have a role to play in stopping people being drawn into criminal activity.”

The FCA said people should never give sensitive financial details to someone they do not know and trust. It added that it will continue to monitor firms’ approaches through supervisory work, to ensure they are responding to evolving money mule threats.

Andy Burnham is reviewing Labour‘s Chagos deal after incurring Donald Trump‘s wrath during their first meeting last night.

The Prime Minister was forced to look on stony-faced as the US President rounded on the ‘terrible deal’ to hand sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius.

Asked about Mr Trump’s comments later, Mr Burnham said he had ‘inherited the situation and we need a resolution’, adding: ‘It’s critical to safeguard the future of the base, and that matters to us for security reasons, but also clearly to the United States as well.’

The PM risked a further backlash from Washington by opening the door to fighting the next election on a pledge to rejoin the European Union.

Mr Burnham also suggested that the 2016 referendum result had been manipulated by ‘outside forces’. 

In the past, President Trump has described himself as ‘Mr Brexit‘ and has singled out the EU for tougher trade tariffs.

Government sources voiced relief that Mr Burnham’s first face-to-face meeting with his volatile counterpart, at the UN General Assembly in New York, had not descended into the kind of slanging match seen with other world leaders.

But the PM was forced to sit and watch as Mr Trump savaged the deal to hand the Chagos Islands to China ally Mauritius – and pay £35billion for the privilege.

Donald Trump on Tuesday launched a fresh attack on Labour’s ‘terrible deal’ to surrender the Chagos Islands in his first meeting with Mr Burnham

Speaking to reporters en route to New York, Mr Burnham had said he was ‘determined’ to see through the deal, adding it was critical to the long-term operation of the UK-US base on Diego Garcia, the largest island in the Indian Ocean archipelago. 

He said he would ‘work towards a resolution’ with the President, whose agreement is needed.

But Mr Trump said the PM had failed to change his mind, saying: ‘I don’t support it. I think it’s terrible. It was a terrible deal. 

‘They [Mauritius] all of a sudden say they have ownership. Somebody has ownership that never showed up before after decades and centuries. I think it’s ridiculous.

‘No, we were talking about that, and [the islands are] strategically very important. Very important. You know, we had to send our B2 bombers… back home to Missouri [after a bombing raid on Iran], as opposed to flying for a short period of time.

‘It’s amazing how strategic it is, and I think the Prime Minister is going to be looking at it.’

Mr Burnham nodded in agreement and replied: ‘Yeah.’

Senior Tory MP Alex Burghart told the Daily Mail: ‘Keir Starmer did huge damage to Britain and Andy Burnham is picking up where he left off.

‘In the space of 24 hours, he has backed giving away the Chagos Islands and opened the door to rejoining the EU. Apparently, he can find money for Mauritius and Brussels, but not for our Armed Forces. 

‘This is a double surrender by Continuity Keir. He just wants to keep fighting old battles.’

Reform UK’s Nigel Farage said: ‘Burnham has no fresh ideas in his head, it is a continuation of the Starmer double surrender. 

‘If Burnham won’t start putting British interests first, a Reform government will.’

Under the terms of Labour’s deal with Mauritius, Britain would hand the Chagos Islands to Mauritius and then pay to lease back the UK-US military base on Diego Garcia 

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Mr Burnham tried to frame the meeting as a positive one, insisting of Mr Trump: ‘I can certainly work with him. It was a very encouraging meeting.

‘We’ve established a good connection in the discussions we’ve had, and that very much came through today: a lot of common ground on the cost of living, we agreed around the conflict in the Middle East and the importance of bringing an end to it, getting the Strait [of Hormuz] open, and obviously making sure that Iran doesn’t end up a nuclear power. So lots of agreement there.’ 

Mr Burnham also sparked fears that he may fight the next election on a pledge to rejoin the EU – abandoning the ‘red lines’ set out in Sir Keir’s 2024 manifesto.

Asked by reporters if he was considering the prospect, he replied: ‘Our focus at the moment is on a UK-EU summit which we hope will take place later this year.

‘And as I said, my immediate priority is to build on the good work that Keir did in rebuilding bridges. Because those bridges were broken in the early part of this decade. And Keir did a good job in re-establishing that relationship.’

Ahead of talks last night with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, Mr Burnham said a new deal with Brussels would ‘further boost the British economy’.

He also suggested voters had been misled into voting to Leave in 2016, saying: ‘I’m reflecting on that last decade. 

‘What we’ve experienced is when that turbulence comes when outside actors seek to manipulate, to distort facts, influence the British democratic process.’

Mr Burnham’s first foray onto the international stage seemed fraught with danger, with Britain at odds with the US on issues ranging from Palestine to AI.

But Mr Trump said the so-called Special Relationship was ‘more up’ following the departure of Sir Keir, with whom he fell out spectacularly over the Iran war.

The President said: ‘I think you’re up. Well, they’re more now than they were with your last Prime Minister, let me put it that way. I think right now, based on my relationship with your Prime Minister, Andy, I think we’re doing very well.’

He also seemed to feign ignorance about Labour’s sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, rather than putting Mr Burnham in a tight spot. The PM, who once described Mr Trump as ‘poisonous’, told him it had been ‘great to be with you’.

Earlier this week, Mr Burnham told his counterpart from Mauritius, Navin Ramgoolam, that he would do ‘everything possible’ to make the Chagos handover happen. 

Downing Street said: ‘The Prime Minister underlined his commitment to working with Mauritius and the United States on a way forward that secures the operation of the base and protects UK national security.’

But the Mauritian government went far further, saying: ‘The British PM reiterated his commitment to continue doing everything possible, together with the US, to achieve ratification of the treaty.’

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch asked: ‘Why can’t Andy Burnham do ‘everything possible’ to bring down the cost of welfare, or do ‘everything possible’ to fund defence properly? 

‘Why is giving away this territory such a priority for Labour that they are willing to give away billions when there’s little money for anything else?’

On the Falkland Islands, Mr Burnham said the UK ‘will stand firm in the face of any threats’ to their sovereignty after Argentina’s president Javier Milei escalated tensions over the archipelago. 

Former army tank driver Danny Mavor is aiming to raise £100,000 to help people like himself with severe paralysis known as Tetraplegia.

An army war veteran who is paralysed from the neck down has embarked on an incredible 79 mile charity challenge using a wheelchair controlled entirely by his chin.

Tetraplegic Danny Mavor will attempt to travel from Fort William to Inverness in just three days finishing up in the Highland capital on Friday

He served with the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards in Iraq as a tank driver and gunner, and was paralysed from the neck down following a motorcycle accident in 2019.

The Glaswegian will take on the world famous Great Glen Way tackling extremely rough Highland terrain in his specially adapted all-terrain wheelchair.

The challenge aimed to raise £100,000 for Regain, the charity which supports people living with tetraplegia.

Danny, who is based at the Erskine veterans care home complex in Bishopton, has a severe cervical spinal cord injury, is in constant pain and has extremely limited movement.

Tetraplegia, also known as quadriplegia, is the partial or total loss of use in all four limbs and the torso.

Danny says he wants to raise vital funds for other tetraplegics and demonstrate that their is still life after spinal injury.

He said:”My life changed in an instant when a motorcycle accident left me a tetraplegic, paralysed from the neck down.

“Since then, I have had to adapt to a completely different way of living

“Now, I am preparing to take on the biggest challenge of my life. I know it is going to be incredibly hard. It will test me physically and mentally in ways I cannot fully prepare for.

“Every donation, every share and every message of support will help Regain change lives. I want to raise funds to support other tetraplegics, people who are facing the same life-changing spinal injuries as me. I also want to show that life doesn’t end after a spinal injury..”

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Danny’s supporters will use a harness to help him some difficult sections of terrain but otherwise he will ride the whole journey on his wheelchair – completing 25 miles a day.

Anyone wishing to donate can do so at: https://www.justgiving.com/page/dannys-big-challenge-2026

What to buy when building emergency food stores

1) Tinned foods

2) Dried foods

3) Carbs

4) Snacks

5) Dairy

6) Extras

7) Water

What not to buy

1) Anything bulky

2) Anything fresh or perishable

What meals can I make with this food?

Ken Cooke’s Every Day is an Adventure is released on Saturday, September 26 with a signing by Ken in St Lawrence Parish Church in Lawrence Street.

Friends Amanda Stirk and Gillian MacDonald wrote the book and have both known the veteran of the D-Day Normandy landings since they were girls, as the women’s parents travelled in the same circles as Ken and his wife Joan.

Recommended reading:

York’s last surviving D-Day veteran set for top honour

York D-Day veteran lays wreath at memorial service to honour fallen comrades

‘The memory of York Normandy Veterans is never far away’

Ken Cooke recently had the Freedom of the City of York conferred upon him in an event at The Guildhall (Image: City of York Council)

Their work started from a conversation the two friends had with Ken whilst he was gardening at his home off Hull Road one day earlier this year.

Gillian said: “We were saying he had had such an interesting life that someone should write a book about it.

“It just evolved from there – initially it was going to be a small undertaking, but it grew and grew.”

She said her own mother and father, who have now both passed away, would spend long hours chatting to Ken and Joan after their retirement, adding that her father always said “what a lovely chap” he was.

Ken is well-known and admired for the contribution he has made to keeping the memory of York Normandy Veterans alive in and around the city he has lived in for most of his life.

He still attends and speaks at dozens of educational events each year to help ensure the sacrifices made during the Second World War are not forgotten.

Ken Cooke, 100, said it was a “pleasure” talk to the young people at Millthorpe School in November last year (Image: Newsquest)

Gillian said: “This is why he was so enthusiastic about the book.

“It’s another way of educating people about the war.

“He’s extremely grateful for the life he leads and loves giving talks to the young and the elderly and also enjoys all his duties as an ambassador for other organisations in York very much.

“Ken spoke about his life to us and we recorded it. 

“Amanda typed it up and the book is all Ken’s words, none added, not taken away.

“We regard him as our hero.”

Amanda said she lived opposite Ken when she was young and played with his son Stephen who is the same age as her.

She said she can remember Ken and his wife going to Christmas parties at their house where he was “the life and soul of the party.”

Gillian said she’s also known Ken through her husband Peter who worked at Rowntree’s in Haxby Road, where the two men worked together. 

The two friends said they think Ken’s secret is his zest for life and his interest in everything that is going on in the world.

Mrs MacDonald added: “He is also a very kind man.

“He rings up his late veteran friends’ widows for a chat which they really enjoy.

“We were surprised at Ken’s energy and enthusiasm for all things new.

“He is extremely humble and thankful for his good fortune in life – he just takes everything in his stride.”

At first, 50 copies of the book were set to be printed for friends and family but after a suggestion by Ken’s friend of 16 years – and secretary of the Normandy Veterans Association – Nick Beilby, that number increased tenfold, with all profits from sales of the book going to a veterans’ charity.

An audiobook is also being prepared.

Nick Beilby said: “Readers are going to find out about the real Ken Cooke, not just the veteran, and how deeply embedded he is with the life of the city.”

The book launch for Ken Cooke : Every day is an Adventure is from 10am to 1pm on Saturday, September 26 in St Lawrence Parish Church, Lawrence Street.

The new Prime Minister used his 21-minute speech to the UN in New York – seen by many as his first major international diplomacy test – to address a huge range of issues

Andy Burnham gave a wide-ranging first speech to the UN where he attacked Russia, called for Middle East peace, announced new policies, and promised world leaders they can ‘count on us’.

Burnham’s mission to the UN headquarters in New York was seen as his first major test in international diplomacy, only being named Prime Minister eight weeks ago. In his trip across the Atlantic, the PM has done marathon meet-and-greets, rubbing shoulders with global figures like Donald Trump, Ursula von der Leyen, and Anthony Albanese before taking to the general assembly stage.

His 21-minute-long speech saw the PM launch a blistering attack on Russia, announce a new security deal with the US on AI, repeat calls for a two-state solution in the Middle East, and launch two major domestic policies. These are the six things we learned from Andy Burnham ’s first speech to the UN.

Burnham slams Russia’s ‘insidious campaign’

It did not take long to see who the villain of his speech was going to be: Russia. He launched a scathing attack on Kremlin interference in British affairs as Putin’s delegation watched on.

The PM said: “Russian agencies have used every means at their disposal to spread lies and disinformation and prey on people’s fear. They’ve used bots and fake websites. Falsified newspaper articles. Forged the branding of 28 British organisations – including universities and the BBC.

“They’ve amplified far-right narratives. And we have evidence that they tried to interfere with the 2019 General Election.”

He added Putin’s government spends ‘£1.3 billion’ on ‘manipulating information’.

“We also know that they have tried to stoke tensions and unrest in the wake of horrific events,” Burnham continued. “The idea that anyone would try to use such things to their advantage is just repulsive – but it is what they do.”

Russia has previously been accused of using illicitly acquired documents about UK-US trade talks to try to influence the 2019 contest. Chillingly, the Russian delegation showed little emotion when Burnham put these charges to them.

New ‘National Centre for Information Defence’ planned

Burnham moved from his attack on Russia to announcing two policies to combat disinformation from Moscow. The ‘architecture’ for doing so is creating a new National Centre for Information Defence that will tackle online lies and deepfakes damaging British interests, he said.

The new unit is initially being led out of the Office for the Prime Minister and Cabinet, with the new centre working alongside intelligence agencies, government departments, the police and social media companies. After raising the ‘insidious campaign’ orchestrated by the Kremlin, Burnham said the new unit will be necessary as ‘AI will multiply the threat’ already posed by bad actors online.

Burnham to unveil ‘10 year plan for Britain’

The second anti-disinformation policy comes in the form of a new decade-long plan for the country set to be revealed later this year, Burnham added.

The plan will focus on getting more people into work — especially young people — and easing the cost-of-living crisis for most people, he said, but he did not announce any specific measures on-stage. It appears Burnham is selling this new plan as a response to insecurity.

He said ‘security starts in every home’, and he believes getting more people in work means they are less susceptible to falling foul of misinformation online. He said: “Part of the challenge is to lift our people up and create the opportunities they need. When inequalities grow too wide, our societies are at greater risk.

“So we will work to make life more affordable for people. That will be at the heart of a new 10 year plan for Britain that we will bring forward later in the year.”

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AI deal with US agreed as Burnham pitches UK as ‘honest broker’

Just hours after first meeting Donald Trump, Burnham announced a new national security deal with the US as part of a section of his address which touched on AI fears. He told delegates: “I am announcing today that we are developing a new AI defence partnership with the United States to protect our critical national infrastructure.”

Details of the deal have not been revealed. In a long section on AI, Burnham went on to say that ‘AI will also be a source of disruption to the way we live and work’, so he wants the UK to act as an ‘honest broker’ to draw up ‘a single set of global principles and standards’ for the development of frontier AI.

Two-state solution must stay ‘alive’ for Gaza

As his speech began to end, Burnham turned his attention to the Middle East, and renewed calls for a two-state solution in Gaza.

He condemned Hamas’ 2023 attack on Israel as ‘utterly horrific’, but then said of Israel’s response in the years since: “Far too many people have died, including so many children. Far too little aid is getting in, and it has gone on for far too long.”

That was why the UK ‘banned trading goods with illegal settlements, recognised the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territory is unlawful, and sanctioned those taking part in the construction of illegal settlements’ earlier this month, he said. But Burnham looked to the future and said the two-state solution must ‘stay alive’.

He added: “We want to see the suffering and death finally come to an end. We want to see Israeli and Palestinian people living side by side in peace and security. And we will do all we can to keep the hope of that possibility alive.”

‘Britain is back… count on us’

Burnham’s opening gambit was to tell the world ‘Britain is back’ — and after 20 minutes, he clarified what that meant. World leaders can ‘count on’ the UK in the years to come, he said.

He concluded his speech by saying: “You can count on us to stand up for those long standing British values of fairness and justice.

“Count on us to fight racism, discrimination and the abuse of power wherever we see it. Count on us to bring people together.

“Count on us to meet fear and division with unity and hope.”

The young boy’s family held a vigil at the scene as police and a team of divers desperately searched for him, with the child later recovered in the early hours of this morning

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A little boy who vanished down a drainpipe while swimming in Australia has tragically been found dead.

Police divers found the body of the boy, aged nine, at about 1.45 am on Wednesday (September 23), about eight hours after he was reported as entering the drainpipe earlier that day in the Northern Territory (NT).

The boy was swimming at a weir at the Katherine Low Level nature reserve, south of Katherine, at about 5.15 pm on Tuesday when he vanished into the drain.

The weir, found just south of the regional town of Katherine, is popular with locals and families alike. The frequently-used Outback swimming hole is about 1025 miles north of Uluru, the nation’s red centre.

The young boy’s family held a vigil at the scene as police and a team of divers desperately searched for him, with the child later recovered in the early hours of this morning.

NT Police Commander Neil Hayes said the incident was “an incredibly tragic incident, and we are providing welfare to the attending members”.

“Our thoughts are with the boy’s family,” he added.

NT Police have launched an investigation into the incident and a report will be prepared for the coroner.

This is not the first time someone has entered the water at Katherine Low Level and has not returned.

In fact, the Daily Mail Australia reports that it has uncovered multiple reports of locals dying and multiple near-drownings at the weir over recent decades.

One man, who was swimming in the weir in 1972, said he “came so close” to drowning after he swam at what he called the ‘topside’ of the dam wall.

“I tried swimming out (and) screaming, “Help!” to my two buddies standing on the bridge. I kept going forward then being pulled back and under,” he said.

“I was exhausted and I remember thinking this is the last time I can survive being pulled under again.

“Somehow my legs came up to the top of the water and I got out of the undertow – I was so damned lucky that day.”

Another local added that he had lost an “old school friend” at the same weir back in 1990.

“He went home to Katherine for the school holidays from boarding school and never came back,” he said.

“From what I understand, he drowned at the Low Level.”

Another person said a young man drowned there in the early 1960s due to a fault in the weir, but that was later fixed.

Some such tragedies have been documented at the Katherine Museum, an eclectic collection of local histories that include artefacts, photographs, maps, and pioneer memorabilia housed in a former World War II regional air terminal.

An entry at the museum regarding the weir at Low Level Bridge states that the place that has “brought a lot of sadness” to local families throughout recent decades.

“The river looks so inviting, but sometimes nature’s force has other ideas, and it is not safe to swim at the weir, especially while in flood,” reads a text written on previous drowning tragedies at the nature reserve

“Local families have lost loved ones while swimming near and at this bridge. Many people have swam at this bridge not knowing that the current at the weir has a capacity to hold you with force against the concrete wall.”

The passage ends with: “The river looks so inviting, but sometimes nature’s force has other ideas, and it is not safe to swim at the weir, especially while in flood.”

It is not known what depth the weir was at when the young boy was sucked into the drainpipe and drowned, but it is impassable during the majority of the NT’s wet season, which spans from December to April. During the tropical storm season, water levels are understood to rise to about 40 feet.

First Lady Melania Trump appeared on the world stage with President Donald Trump at the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York City on Tuesday. 

The first lady arrived with Trump wearing a tailored black suit and stood and smiled slightly as he spoke to the press and berated CNN‘s Kaitlan Collins for being present despite his decision to ban the ‘fake news’ outlet from the press pool.

‘Melania arrived here showing what real first lady star status and elegance look like. Fiercely power-dressed in a tailored black suit with exaggerated shoulder padding and a cinched-in waist to create a dramatic outline, her white shirt with matching cravat neckline,’ body language expert Judi James told the Daily Mail.

The first lady led the way up the escalator while President Trump followed.

While she held onto the rail, Trump did not despite last year’s mishap where it stopped suddenly.

James noted that the first lady’s serious expression during the president’s big UN speech demonstrated her loyalty.

When the president gave the first lady a shoutout in his speech for her efforts to help children, she smiled broadly.

‘Melania listened as he tried to fund her in the room but she was clearly quietly purring behind the modest looking wave,’ James noted. ‘Her cheeks were rounded and her smile of delight and pride slowly spread across her face,’ James said. 

Melania and Secretary of State Marco Rubio appeared with President Trump at the United Nations for his speech

Trump and Melania arrived together at the United Nations on Tuesday morning

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Later the first lady hosted 57 spouses of world leaders on Tuesday at an event promoting her signature initiative, Fostering the Future Together.

The event was held at the St. Regis hotel in New York City. 

Representatives from the United Kingdom of Great Britain, Northern Ireland, South Korea, the Philippines, Poland, Ukraine, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Panama, Canada, and other nations appeared at the event.

‘Together, we are a beautiful range of cultures, languages, histories, and traditions. And yet, we stand unified around one everlasting truth: the future of our world will be determined by what we do for our children today,’ Melania said.

The first lady urged all spouses of world leaders to act to empower the world’s youth, using technology, artificial intelligence, and education.

‘When nations speak with one voice, the world listens. Our collective influence is profound. Together, we can open doors, move markets, shape policy. And most importantly, we can change lives for the better,’ she said.

The program focuses on empowering children through education and technology, and partners with private companies around the world to provide resources to young people. 

The first lady welcomed spouses of world leaders to join her in her effort to support children 

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Melania announced the expansion of her Fostering the Future Together program 

Melania listening to her husband Trump delivering remarks at the UN

Trump announced Monday that the effort had secured seven new technology-sector partnerships to benefit children including Adobe, Amazon, Intel, Starlink, Google, and Zoom. 

Apple executive chairman Tim Cook was present at the event as well as Enrique Lores, CEO of PayPal. 

The event is part of a full scale of events for the first lady surrounding the United Nations General Assembly.

On Wednesday, Trump will ring the Opening Bell at the New York Stock Exchange and launch the IMPERIA initiative for female CEOs and C-Suit members.

AI has picked the Premier League team of the season so far, and you might be surprised by some of the names that have named in the starting line-up

It’s been a blistering start to the 2026/27 Premier League campaign with Enzo Maresca’s Manchester City leading the way heading into the first international break of the season. The Italian is undefeated since returning to the Etihad Stadium and City look set to rival Arsenal in the title race once again.

Mikel Arteta’s side lost their 100 per cent win record last time out, when they were well beaten by Brighton & Hove Albion, but the Gunners are still second in the table. Arsenal made a bright start to the season but find themselves three points behind City.

The Seagulls are in third following that impressive win over the Gunners, while Brentford occupy the final spot in the top-four. The latter two clubs were in contention for European football last season and have picked up where they left off.

We asked Google Gemini to construct the Premier League Team of the Season so far, and players from the aforementioned four teams are featured in the starting XI. Using underlying statistics, metrics, and media coverage from the opening five gameweeks of the 2026/27 season, it named the 11 best players so far, and you might be surprised by some of those involved.

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Goalkeeper

Lukas Hornicek (Newcastle United): Despite Newcastle’s mixed start, Hornicek leads the Premier League in saves (16), consistently keeping his team in matches with crucial shot-stopping.

The Czech shot stopper only signed for the Magpies in the summer transfer window in a £25.7m deal from Braga but has already had a major say in their early season results.

Defenders

Right-Back: Jack Hinshelwood (Brighton & Hove Albion): The England youth international is excelling in Brighton’s fluid system. Hinshelwood has already contributed two goals this season while remaining incredibly solid in possession.

Centre-Back: Dan Ballard (Sunderland): The Sunderland defender has shown no sign of second season syndrome and has been a physical force at the back. He leads the league in aerial duels won (20) and is ranking near the top for total duels won (33).

Centre-Back: Lewis Dunk (Brighton & Hove Albion): Dunk is statistically the best ball-playing defender in the league so far this season. He has completed 360 passes so far and heavily dictates the tempo of Brighton’s dominant possession game.

Left-Back: Joško Gvardiol (Manchester City): A staple in early Team of the Season selections, Gvardiol has successfully balanced defensive solidity with significant attacking output and high ball-recovery numbers.

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Midfielders

Central Midfield: Vitaly Janelt (Brentford): The Brentford midfielder currently boasts the highest average statistical rating in the league (7.71). Janelt leads all players in interceptions (16) and anchors Brentford’s midfield brilliantly.

Central Midfield: Pascal Groß (Brighton & Hove Albion): The creative engine of the league so far, Groß sits firmly at the top of the charts for both chances created (13) and key passes (13).

Central Midfield: Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United): Although United continues to rebuild, Fernandes is once again a standout individual, registering three goals, leading the league in total shots (16), and consistently driving the attack forward.

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Forwards

Right Winger: Bukayo Saka (Arsenal): The England international has three goals to his name and 14 fouls won. While some have questioned his recent form, the stats show Saka has been a positive outlet on the right flank, generating a massive 3.06 expected goals (xG).

Striker: Erling Haaland (Manchester City): Unsurprisingly, leading Erling Haaland leads the line. He tops the Golden Boot race with five goals, boasting the league’s highest xG (3.21) and most shots on target (9).

Left Winger: Joao Pedro (Chelsea): Joao Pedro has been arguably the most complete attacker in the opening weeks, racking up three goals and three assists while winning 34 ground duels.

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