Knife in hand, Paul Parker bursts into a garage and is confronted by two men. He stabs them, but one manages to draw a gun and shoot him, inflicting a fatal wound.

The 52-year-old’s death last month was sudden and violent. Given he was a veteran of Liverpool’s vicious gang scene, that is hardly surprising. 

More unexpected, however, was where he met his end: an industrial estate in Heerhugowaard, a Dutch commuter town 25 miles north of Amsterdam.

Detectives will want to know what Parker was doing in Heerhugowaard. But his death also shines a light on something rarely discussed outside law enforcement: the deep ties between the British and Dutch underworlds.

Parker, 52, was no stranger to the Netherlands. At the time of his death, he was wanted over the 2017 murder of Dutchman Pieter Hoovers and his 32-year-old Thai wife, Tae Kawepanya.

A photo shows Parker sitting next to Hoovers on a boat, suggesting they were once on friendly terms. Yet within a few years, Hoovers had been gunned down alongside his wife in an Amsterdam apartment.

Local police reportedly identified Paul Parker as the prime suspect, implying that he could have been working as a hitman for an organised crime group.

A Dutch source told the Daily Mail that Parker (who went by the name ‘Tommy’ in the Netherlands) was in Heerhugowaard to enforce a debt, which adds further weight to the theory he was working as hired muscle for a gang.

According to the source, he had been living on the Continent for at least two decades and was recently based in Portugal before entering the Netherlands on a fake passport.

The police investigation focused on an unknown man who appeared on camera footage three times around the time of their murders in Amsterdam

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Mr Hoovers, who has a background in martial arts, founded record label Outland Records before selling the business and relocating to Thailand in the mid-1990s

This comes as no surprise to long-time observers. While Spain’s Costa del Sol has long had a reputation as the leading European hub for British criminals, the importance of the Netherlands has been largely overlooked. 

Unlike in southern Spain, where gangsters flaunt their wealth and engage in bloody turf wars, their Netherlands-based counterparts tend to stay under the radar.

In the land of tulips and windmills, multi-million-pound deals are struck in backstreet cafes or via text messages on encrypted apps, while disputes are resolved behind closed doors.

British traffickers began arriving in the Netherlands in the 1980s, when it emerged as a key European meeting point for international drug gangs.

‘The Netherlands – and Amsterdam in particular – became the stock exchange of the drug world – it was the place to go to do deals,’ explains Peter Walsh, author of Drug War: The Secret History.

‘The Dutch have strong trading connections with countries in South America and the Caribbean.

‘Drug possession is tolerated, and Amsterdam has bars, brothels and cannabis cafes – which are all things people connected with the drug trade enjoy.’

The 1990s saw the arrival of Liverpool kingpin Curtis Warren, who earned an estimated £200million fortune – and a place in The Sunday Times Rich List – by forging direct supply lines with South American cartels.

His unlikely Dutch base was an isolated farmhouse, where he kept a stash of automatic weapons and hand grenades hidden in guest bedrooms. In 1996, it was raided by armed police, who found £125million worth of cocaine and MDMA.

Today, much of Europe’s cocaine still makes landfall at ports such as Rotterdam – the continent’s largest container hub.

Café De Ketel, a cafe that was run exclusively for gangsters in the port of Rotterdam

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Curtis ‘Cocky’ Warren (pictured February 2020) operated in the Netherlands in the 1990s

One British gang smuggled £7billion worth of heroin, cocaine and cannabis inside cargoes of onion, garlic and ginger – a failed attempt to distract sniffer dogs 

Ringleader Paul Green, from Widnes in Cheshire, was jailed for 32 years in 2024

The sheer volume of trade means only a fraction of cargo can be inspected, while corruption serves as a vital lubricant.

One British network, led by Paul Green from Widnes in Cheshire, smuggled £7billion worth of heroin, cocaine and cannabis inside cargoes of onion, garlic and ginger.

The operation – thought to be the largest drug smuggling conspiracy ever detected in the UK – continued for a two-and-a-half-year period until Green was caught and jailed for 32 years in 2024.

Organised crime in the Netherlands is dominated by the Mocro Maffia, a network of criminal groups recruiting from the Dutch Moroccan community.

Under the leadership of crime boss Ridouan Taghi, it gained a reputation for savage violence. In one raid, police found a makeshift torture chamber inside a shipping container containing a dentist’s chair alongside pliers, hammers and a hedge trimmer.

Taghi himself has been linked to at least ten murders, including the 2019 assassination of Derk Wiersum – a lawyer who was representing a key witness against his gang – and the killing of celebrity crime reporter Peter R. de Vries two years later.

Since Taghi’s arrest in 2019, the Mocro Maffia has moved away from high-profile displays of violence and reinvented itself as a middleman for other drug gangs, including those supplying the UK.

‘They secure cocaine shipments from South American cartels before meeting up with British gangsters in the Netherlands and selling it on wholesale,’ says Chris Dalby, who runs the consultancy World of Crime.

‘It’s become an integrated ecosystem. British dealers are often based in or passing through the Netherlands. The groups have almost become sister organisations.

‘Surprisingly, you don’t hear too much about violence by British drug dealers in the Netherlands like you do in Spain.

‘I think it’s about competition. If you look at southern Spain there is a higher degree of drug violence because it’s a far more contested market with drug dealers from lots of different nationalities. But you don’t have that in the Netherlands.’

Ridouan Taghi, leader of the Mocro Maffia, a network of criminal groups recruiting from the Dutch Moroccan community

A makeshift torture chamber, discovered by Dutch police in 2020 in the village of Wouwse Plantage. Mercifully, it was never used 

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One example of this discreet cooperation was the Café De Ketel in Rotterdam, which became a known meeting point for traffickers from across Europe.

Open for 18 hours a day, it looked like an ordinary café on the surface, but a buzzer system ensured only recognised criminals could enter. The organised crime entrepôt finally shut up shop after being raided by the National Crime Agency in 2013.

In Amsterdam, the British presence has become so entrenched that gangsters have built their own routines and meeting places.

One of them was a branch of M&S, which became popular with criminals from Liverpool.

‘We would all pile into Marks for a cooked chicken and some sticky buns,’ one man who spent time out there says.

‘You might bump into faces from back home and have a chat about the game and that. All the scallywags could jump on a budget flight from Liverpool to Amsterdam or even get the ferry from Hull.’

The branch closed in 2016, forcing traffickers to go elsewhere for their home comforts.

One notorious gangster to ply his trade in the Netherlands was Francis Coggins, one of the brothers behind the Huyton Firm, one of Liverpool’s most feared gangs.

The 60-year-old had been living in the coastal town of Zandvoort, where he bought cocaine and heroin before shipping it to the UK via the UPS network.

He remained at large after his younger brother Vincent – who focused on the gang’s UK operations – was arrested and jailed in 2020.

Francis Coggins had managed to evade the authorities for five years before he was arrested by Dutch police for being drunk and disorderly. He had rarely been pictured before this mugshot 

Coggins sent drugs from mainland Europe to North Wales by putting them into parcels with UPS waybills attached

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But like many Brits before him, Francis overindulged in Dutch hospitality and was found ‘collapsed’ in the street outside a house after an alcohol-fuelled bender. He was promptly arrested and flown back to Britain, where he was jailed for 18 years in 2025. 

If British drug peddlers appear relatively unlikely to resort to public violence in the Netherlands, the reason is hardly comforting.

‘What causes violence is a missed payment, protecting turf or a betrayal,’ says Chris Dalby. 

‘But there’s now so much cocaine around – and so much demand from the UK – that there are fewer reasons for friction. That’s what makes Parker’s death relatively unusual.’

In other words, Britain’s insatiable appetite for illegal drugs means there is more than enough business to go round.

And peace, after all, is profitable. 

She was once on of Hollywood’s most sought after actresses, starring as Mera in the DC Extended Universe. 

Yet in recent years Amber Heard has stepped back from the spotlight, swapping the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles for the calmer streets of Madrid, where she is raising her three children. 

Amber is focused on solo parenting, having welcomed daughter Oonagh, five, and twins Ocean and Agnes, 13 months, ‘by myself and on my own terms’. 

She is believed to be single, with her last public relationship coming to an end in 2021 when she split from girlfriend Bianca Butti after a year. 

Yet this week, Amber’s love life made it back into the headlines, when model Cara Delevingne revealed that she was ‘entangled’ with Amber when the actress first started dating Elon Musk in 2016, after meeting on the set of their thriller, London Fields. 

Now, however, Amber has swapped her little black book for children’s books as she presses pause on working and dating while raising her children. 

Amber Heard shot to fame in 2006 and went on to become a global star. But fast-forward two decades and her life now couldn’t be more different (above, with her children on Tuesday)

Amber’s love life made it back into the headlines, when model Cara Delevingne revealed that she was ‘entangled’ with Amber when the actress first started dating Elon Musk in 2016

In April 2021, Amber surprised her fans when she announced the arrival of daughter Oonagh, having kept the news she was expecting private. 

A source close to the actress claimed that she welcomed the child via surrogate after being told that she would never being able to carry her own baby.

Announcing the news, she shared: ‘Four years ago, I decided I wanted to have a child. I wanted to do it on my own terms.

‘I now appreciate how radical it is for us as women to think about one of the most fundamental parts of our destinies in this way. 

‘I hope we arrive at a point in which it’s normalised to not want a ring in order to have a crib.’

The following year she settled a $50million defamation lawsuit with Pirates of the Caribbean star and ex-husband Johnny Depp. 

After her ‘career-ending’ courtroom defeat to Johnny, Amber sought refuge in Mallorca.

She rented a property under the name of Martha Jane Cannary, the real name of legendary Wild West cowgirl Calamity Jane.

Amber then settled in Madrid with her baby daughter, Oonagh.

It was calculated move abroad, with Amber said to be keen on distancing herself – quite literally – from the fallout of the defamation trial.

Without fuss and courting little publicity, the actress quietly gave up her fast-paced life in Southern California and started her new life in Spain. 

‘The trial was beyond stressful, and she wanted to start fresh,’ a source told People magazine, adding she now ‘has new energy and is focused on things that she loves.’

The Texas native has not worked as an actress since, with the two films already shot that came out in 2023 being badly received.

Some Hollywood insiders claim she was ‘blacklisted’ following the widely televised trial.

In 2024, it was reported that Amber had become ‘well and truly integrated’ into the Spanish capital’s elite after buying a €1.5million home in the trendy northern district of Chamartin.

Following her defamation trial with Johnny Depp, Amber rented a property in Mallorca under the name of Martha Jane Cannary, the real name of legendary Wild West cowgirl Calamity Jane (pictured in Madrid) 

The five-bed property, featuring a garden and three bathrooms, counts millionaires, footballers and politicians as neighbours – who all enjoy being just a short drive from the heart of the city centre.

Amber’s pad was first built in the 1960s but reportedly underwent renovations shortly before being sold to the actress.

Speaking on her move, a neighbour in El Viso told the Daily Mail at the time: ‘She lives here and I often see her walking her daughter to school in the mornings.

‘She wears a cap and sunglasses and normal clothes and keeps a low profile.

‘She lives here in peace, this is a neighbourhood filled with famous people, including football players, but no one bothers each other, I think that’s why she likes it – she has completely integrated into the community.’

Amber’s neighbour added: ‘When Amber first arrived there were lots of photographers parked outside the home but now there are none.

‘No one here really knows who she is, they don’t recognise her in the street like they would in America.

‘When I saw all the commotion around her I had to ask my friend who she was and she explained she was Johnny Depp’s ex.’

Pointing to another house, she added: ‘An Atletico Madrid player lives there and no one even knows it, everyone keeps to themselves.’

So committed is she to embracing local culture that Amber has even learned the language, with her impressive command of Spanish evident in a previous TikTok video.

It was reported that Amber’s daughter Oonagh attends a private Catholic school for children aged one to six that teaches in both English and Spanish.

A local newspaper report from 2017 said the fees were around €600 per month, or €7,200 per year, although they are likely to have increased since then.

After picking up her daughter from school in the afternoons, the pair are often seen visiting an American supermarket called Taste of America.

An employee told the Daily Mail: ‘She comes here a lot in the afternoon with her little girl, my colleague has served them many times.

‘I assume she likes to buy things that remind her of home, we have all kinds of stuff from the USA here.’

The store sells Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, Betty Crocker baking products, pumpkin pies and an array of American candy.

Amber herself admitted relief at putting the ordeal behind her and moving on with her life, telling Savannah Guthrie of the US morning show the Today Show: ‘I get to be a mom full-time, where I’m not having to juggle calls with lawyers.’

It was reported that Amber’s daughter Oonagh attends a private Catholic school for children aged one to six that teaches in both English and Spanish 

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Amber welcomed twins, whom she carried, and announced the news in a Mother’s Day post in May 2025. She brought Ocean and Agnes out in public for the first time as she celebrated Halloween in Madrid that year

When she is not blending in with her local community, Amber likes to go running in the famous El Retiro park in the centre of the capital.

She was swamped by paparazzi there following the announcement that she is expecting a second child.

As the photographers congratulated her she responded in Spanish: ‘Thank you very much. It is my private life and I ask for respect.’

When asked if she plans on staying in the country, she replies in perfect Spanish: ‘Yes, I hope so. Yes, I love living here. I hope you are well, ciao. And thank you, nice to meet you.’

Last year, Amber welcomed twins, whom she carried, and announced the news in a Mother’s Day post in May. 

‘Mother’s Day 2025 will be one I’ll never forget,’ she said. ‘This year I am elated beyond words to celebrate the completion of the family I’ve strived to build for years.

‘Today I officially share the news that I welcomed twins into the Heard gang. My daughter Agnes and my son Ocean are keeping my hands (and my heart) full. 

The Drive Angry actress continued: ‘When I had my first baby girl Oonagh four years ago, my world changed forever. 

‘I thought I couldn’t possibly burst with more joy. Well, now I am bursting times three!!!’

On a more sombre note, Amber said ‘becoming a mother by myself and on my own terms despite my own fertility challenges has been the most humbling experience of my life.’

She added: ‘I am eternally grateful that I was able to choose this responsibly and thoughtfully. 

‘To all the moms, wherever you are today and however you got here, my dream family and I are celebrating with you.’

She concluded her post, ‘Mama and babies are enjoying every minute. And Oonagh is happily running the show.’

Earlier this month, Amber shared another rare insight into her life in Spain, as she shared Instagram snaps with her daughter after completing the KLM Norte Sur 10k race

The following month, Amber returned to acting after two years, when she had last starred in the movie Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.

Although her performance was not for a mass audience, she made her stage debut as part of the world premiere production of playwright Jeremy O. Harris’ (Slave Play) new project, Spirit of the People, via Variety.

She performed in the play at the Williamstown Theatre Festival through August. 

Amber then brought her twins, Ocean and Agnes, out in public for the first time as she celebrated Halloween in Madrid that year.

She took to Instagram with multiple photos of her outing trick-or-treating with the kids, as she was dressed as a witch in a black dress with a pointed hat.

‘Halloweening with my minnies,’ Amber captioned an accompanying post.

In November of that year, Amber gave a rare insight into her family life as she shared an array of unseen photos from Thanksgiving celebrations over the years. 

The actress took to Instagram to share an array of snaps from her years of family dinners, as well as a rare picture of Oonagh when she was younger. 

The first snap showed Amber posing behind a huge spread, which included sweet potato casserole, turkey and a massive bowl of mashed potatoes. 

In a picture from a different Thanksgiving year, Amber was seen cooking up a storm as she fried chicken in a pan, while in another throwback, she was seen prepping vegetables with her father, David. 

She was also seen serving up food at the table as her daughter Oonagh sat in a high chair when she was still a toddler. 

Amber captioned the snaps: ‘Thanksgiving cheers over the years. A look back at all the full hearts and plates I’ve shared.

‘Hoping you are well topped up on both this year.’ 

Earlier this month, Amber shared another rare insight into her life in Spain, as she shared Instagram snaps with her daughter after completing the KLM Norte Sur 10k race.

While it’s clear Amber has fully moved on with her life since the trial, she made a rare remark on how the 2022 defamation trial has impacted her life years later.

The actress opened up about the topic in the new documentary Silenced, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January.

‘This is not about me. I have lost my ability to speak. I am not here to tell my story,’ Amber said in a confessional for the documentary, per Variety. 

‘In fact, I don’t want to use my voice anymore. That’s the problem,’ she further told the director of the film, Selina Miles.

Amber and Johnny first met in 2009 when they were cast in the Hunter S Thompson adaptation of The Rum Diary (pictured at the film’s premiere in 2011) 

Amber and Johnny first met in 2009 when they were cast in the Hunter S Thompson adaptation of The Rum Diary.

They started dating in 2012 and tied the knot in a civil ceremony in 2016, though the marriage only lasted a year.

Amber filed for divorce and a restraining order against Johnny in May 2016, accusing the actor of being abusive throughout their relationship.

At the time, she said in an interview with Associated Press: ‘I am very happy that I have moved on with my life and keep moving on with my life. I just keep wanting to do with my life that which makes it better for other people and myself.’ 

She continued: ‘And doing the right thing and moving forward and dedicating yourself to justice, truth, to doing what’s right and helping others when you can – that’s everything to me. That’s all I’m interested in.’ 

Following their divorce, Johnny filed a 2019 lawsuit against Amber for defamation over her December 2018 op-ed in The Washington Post, in which she wrote about alleged abuse.

While she had not mentioned Johnny by name, his legal team argued there was ‘a clear implication that Johnny is a domestic abuser.’

After a six-week televised battle, Johnny was ultimately awarded $10million in compensatory damages and $5million in punitive damages.

Amber counter-sued and was awarded $2million in damages, and while both parties appealed, they settled the case in December 2022.

After they settled, Amber said: ‘After a great deal of deliberation I have made a very difficult decision to settle the defamation case brought against me by my ex-husband in Virginia,

‘It’s important for me to say that I never chose this. I defended my truth and in doing so my life as I knew it was destroyed.’

Amber added: ‘The vilification I have faced on social media is an amplified version of the ways in which women are re-victimized when they come forward.’

She concluded with, ‘Now I finally have an opportunity to emancipate myself from something I attempted to leave over six years ago and on terms I can agree to.

‘I have made no admission. This is not an act of concession. There are no restrictions or gags with respect to my voice moving forward.’

The outcome would be the catalyst for geographical change as Amber became the subject of death threats and humiliating memes.

• Boat intercepted off the Far North Queensland coast
• Group of Chinese asylum seekers believed to be on board 
• See more Daily Mail on Google – save us as a Preferred Source

By KYLIE STEVENS, SENIOR BREAKING NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA

Published: 00:19 BST, 1 July 2026 | Updated: 00:28 BST, 1 July 2026

A boat carrying a dozen people, believed to be Chinese asylum seekers, has been intercepted by authorities off the coast of Far North Queensland.

Australian Border Force (ABF) stopped the vessel near Weipa, the largest town on the Cape York Peninsula, with the assistance of Queensland Police.

It is understood the group of Chinese nationals was taken into custody. 

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Few details are available, with an ABF spokesman telling the Daily Mail they do not comment on or confirm operational matters.

But news of the suspected people smuggling operation prompted renewed calls to strengthen Australia’s border protection. 

‘All over the news tonight, a boatload of a dozen illegal Chinese immigrants intercepted at Weipa in my electorate,’ Cook MP David Kempton said on Tuesday.

‘I have for months been advocating [that] the Federal government take seriously our porous northern borders after dozens of illegal Indonesian fishing vessels were captured in the Torres Strait.

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‘That such a large vessel was able to venture so far into Australian waters before being detected proves there is much to be done.

A boat carrying a dozen people, believed to be Chinese asylum seekers, has been intercepted off Far North Queensland (Pictured, asylum seekers arrive at Christmas Island in 2013)

Australian Border Force stopped the boat near Weipa on the Cape York Peninsula

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It is understood the group of Chinese nationals was taken into custody (Pictured, a beach at Nanum Weipa) 

‘We need to act now before this escalates out of control.’

At least a dozen asylum seeker boats carrying a combined 80 passengers arrived on Australia’s shores in recent months, according to the Refugee Council of Australia.

Anyone who attempts an unauthorised boat voyage to Australia will be turned back to their point of departure, returned to their home country, or transferred to a third country for processing, according to the Home Affairs department.

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‘Since 2013, Australia has intercepted every boat attempting to enter illegally,’ a statement on the government website says. 

‘Every vessel is closely watched. There is zero chance of illegal migration to Australia.’

By JACQUES PETERSON, US SENIOR ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER

Published: 18:33 BST, 30 June 2026 | Updated: 23:40 BST, 30 June 2026

John Cena is forging ahead with his hair transplant journey after wrestling fans bullied him over his thinning mane. 

The actor and WWE star, 49, shaved his head this week for the next phase of his follicular unit extraction procedure. 

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Cena showed off his bald head while posing alongside Dr. Ken Anderson in a photo shared to social media on Monday.

‘Round 2 of FUE treatment and this time I went all in for best possible results,’ he captioned the image.

‘Thank you @KenAndersonMD and the staff at Anderson Center for Hair for accompanying me on this journey!’

Dr. Anderson responded to the post, writing, ‘Always great seeing you, my friend.’

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John Cena showed off his bald head with Dr. Ken Anderson after starting the second round of his hair transplant surgery this week

The former WWE champion was inspired to undergo a hair transplant after wrestling fans bullied him over a growing bald patch. (Pictured in 2023)

He continued, ‘Your commitment to the process and long-term hair health has made all the difference. I’m grateful for the trust you’ve placed in me and my team, and honored to continue being part of your journey.’   

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Cena underwent his first hair transplant in November, 2024, after wrestling fans held up cruel signs mocking his hair loss.   

Speaking to People magazine about the ordeal last year, Cena admitted that he had desperately tried to hide his balding head from fans, only to be ridiculed in return.

In an interview with The Pat McAfee Show last April, the 17-time WWE world champion compared the experience to ‘bullying’.

‘You chant, and you make me feel small, and you embarrass me… Y’all don’t know what that’s like,’ he said.

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‘That is straight-up bullying. That’s just not cool. I don’t like it,’ he continued.

‘So, thank you for bullying me into getting surgical hair replacement. That’s how far y’all push me.’

He also referred to his hair loss as ‘a genetic condition I can’t control’. 

The 49-year-old is pictured shortly before undergoing his first round of treatment

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The wrestler and actor is currently starring in Little Brother with Eric Andre, which is the No. 1 movie on Netflix right now

Join the discussion

What’s your view on cosmetic procedures like hair transplants?

Cena currently has the No. 1 movie on Netflix with his new comedy Little Brother. 

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The film, which also stars comedian Eric André, follows a famous real estate agent whose perfect life is disrupted when an eccentric friend from school reappears.

Cena has a number of new movies in the pipeline, including Coyote vs. Acme, Matchbox: The Movie, and One Attempt Remaining.

The WWE legend recently retired from professional wrestling after having his final match against Gunther at WWE’s Saturday Night’s Main Event.

Despite retiring from in-ring performance, Cena still works with the WWE as a host.

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However, he did hint in an interview with Us Weekly that he could potentially return to the ring for the right price. 

‘I hate speaking in absolutes … “Never” is a strong word,’ he said.

‘It would be financial suicide for someone to court me in a position where I would have another match, and I truly mean that. So if you’re in the business of torching currency, that’s the only way to get me back in the ring.’ 

More than a dozen cars are believed to have come free from the tracks with hazmat teams racing to the scene

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Residents in Bucks County are being told to shelter with their doors and windows closed after more than a dozen cars transporting hazardous substances came off the train tracks.

The freight train is believed to have come free from the tracks at around 2pm today in the Pennsylvania county, with around 13 cars estimated to have come free in the horrifying incident.

Local news reports the crash occurred as it travelled on the East Bristol Road and Grove Avenue near the Neshaminy Falls Train Station in Bensalem, reports The Mirror.

Paramedics as well as a a hazmat team are on the scene amid a flurry of other first responders. Bucks County Emergency Management reported the derailment as a hazardous materials incident.

Officials have yet to confirm what material the train was carrying. Residents are urged to shelter in place indefinitely, keep windows, doors, and vents closed, and turn off their air conditioning.

Officials warn residents that potential exposure could cause respiratory conditions, loss of coordination, and burning in the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs.

At least 13 cars derailed, according to reporting from NBC 10 Philadelphia. Bensalem Public Safety Director William McVey said no injuries have been reported yet.

Due to the emergency, Bristol Road is closed between Brownsville Road and Old Lincoln Highway.

SEPTA has suspended service on the West Trenton Line, which is close to but separate from the CSX-operated freight line.

There is no information yet as to why the derailment occurred.

Pennsylvania Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick issued a statement on Facebook in response to the incident, stating that the derailment did not occur on commuter rail lines and a one mile shelter-in-place is in effect.

The statement is in full below:

“My office is working directly with local officials and first responders, as well as the Department of Transportation, following the freight train derailment in Bensalem near Street Road and the Neshaminy Falls Train Station. This was a freight derailment and did not occur on commuter rail lines.”

“Local officials have reported several cars involved, which may contain hazardous materials. At this time, no injuries have been reported. We will not have further confirmed information until the Hazmat Team is on scene and able to assess the rail cars.”

“A one-mile shelter-in-place order is currently in effect. Anyone within that area should remain indoors, bring pets and other animals inside, close windows, doors, and vents, and turn off heating and air conditioning systems until further notice.”

“Those outside the shelter-in-place area should avoid the scene, keep surrounding roads clear, and allow police, fire, EMS, and Hazmat personnel to respond safely. We will remain closely engaged with federal and local officials and will continue to provide updates as the situation develops and more information becomes available.

“We are incredibly grateful for every first responder and emergency personnel on the scene, and we ask you to join us in praying for their safety.”

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Emmanuel Macron has been spotted with a glamorous political ‘nepo baby‘ tipped to become her country’s next president, in an arc that mirrors Ivanka Trump. 

The French president donned a pair of aviator shades as he greeted Saida Mirziyoyeva, the eldest daughter of Uzbekistan’s leader Shavkat Mirziyoyev. 

The mother of three, who counts more than 2.5 million followers on Instagram, met Macron at the Elysee Palace in Paris on Tuesday to discuss expanding France-Uzbekistan relations.

The 41-year-old serves as the head of the Presidential Administration of Uzbekistan, a former USSR country in Central Asia.

‘I am grateful to President of France Emmanuel Macron for the warm welcome and kind reception,’ Mirziyoyeva wrote on Telegram. ‘I conveyed the warmest wishes from the President of Uzbekistan.’ 

She added: ‘Our countries are bound by a long-standing partnership across key strategic areas. I am confident that many more joint projects and initiatives beneficial to both nations lie ahead.’ 

Mirziyoyeva met Ivanka in person at the 2020 Global Women’s Forum in Dubai, sitting alongside the then-US first daughter and IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva. 

A law graduate turned government communications operator, she joined her father’s administration in 2019 and ascended the ranks quickly, landing the second-most powerful job in Uzbekistan by 2023 and the top administrative post in June last year. 

The nepo baby, who counts more than 2.5 million followers on Instagram, met Macron at the Elysee Palace in Paris to discuss expanding France-Uzbekistan relations

She is married to entrepreneur Oybek Tursunov, whose father is a senior figure in Uzbekistan’s State Security Service.

She trades on a polished online image, posting about gender equality, women’s rights, and family life to her millions of followers.

Analysts have named her a likely successor to her 68-year-old father, who can stay in power until 2037 under reworked term limits, a managed father-to-daughter handover of the kind seen elsewhere in Central Asia. 

Macron was infamously slapped by his wife Brigitte in May last year while the pair were getting off a plane in Vietnam. 

At the time, Macron insisted the incident was ‘nothing’, and said he was just ‘bickering, or rather joking, with my wife’.

But a French journalist earlier this year published a book which claimed Brigitte was furious after seeing a message on his phone from an Iranian actress.

Florian Tardif told RTL radio: ”What happened is that she [Brigitte Macron], saw a message from a well-known figure. An Iranian actress.’

He claims that Macron maintained a ‘platonic’ relationship with the acclaimed star ‘for a few months’, but sent her ‘messages that went quite far’, such as: ‘I find you very pretty.’ 

Russian prime minister Mikhail Mishustin, left, and Mirziyoyeva, head of the Uzbek Presidential Administration, pose at the Kuksaroy Presidential Palace in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on June 16

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‘That’s what I’ve been told by those close to him, and that’s what I’m saying this morning,’ Tardif said, insisting he has ‘verified’ the story and that everything in his book is based on ‘facts’. 

Brigitte Macron’s representatives denied the slap was linked to the Iranian actress and further emphasized that the First Lady would never check her husband’s phone.

‘Brigitte Macron categorically denied this account directly to the author on March 5, specifying that she never looks at her husband’s mobile phone,’ the president’s entourage said, adding that this detail had not been published by the author. 

The world’s most beautiful cities have been revealed, ranging from well-known European gems to further-flung destinations with magnificent scenery.

New research by Time Out, which questioned 24,000 people, has revealed the places the majority of locals would describe as ‘beautiful’.

The result is a definitive ranking of some of the top spots – many of which boast stunning seaside views, vibrant city centres and an overwhelmingly picturesque landscape.

Here’s a full rundown of the list for you to peruse, and perhaps inspire your next holiday… 

1. Cape Town, South Africa

With expansive white sand beaches, acres of lush vineyards and a vibrant coastal ambience, Cape Town takes the top spot as the world’s most beautiful city.

There’s plenty to do here in terms of art and culture, too, from Zeitz MOCAA and the Norval Foundation, to institutions such as the Baxter and Artscape and the Labia, a home for independent cinema.

Events such as the Investec Cape Town Art Fair and First Thursdays draw global attention, and the city’s creative energy is palpable here.

2. Edinburgh, UK

In second place, taking the silver medal, is Edinburgh, Scotland

Edinburgh was voted the second prettiest city in the world – the highest-ranking UK and European destination. 

Its beauty is down to a combination of its old town and imposing viewpoints. Check out Edinburgh Castle, Arthur’s Seat and Calton Hill for unparalleled scenery.

Residents rave about the destination – the study showed a total of 84 per cent of its locals called it ‘beautiful’. 

3. Sydney, Australia

Taking the bronze medal in the full list is Sydney, Australia

With a score of 78 per cent, beach hotspot Sydney takes third place in the ranking, known for its excellent lifestyle and laid-back feel.

From the shores of Bondi beach to the downtown city district, Sydney has a clean, upmarket feel to it, all sunshine and fresh air.

Visitors rave about the sights, which range from the Sydney Opera House to the beaches, Harbour Bridge and the many food markets and eateries spread across the city. 

4. Chicago, US

Chicago is the fourth city to make the list, known for its modern high-rise buildings

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Chicago may be best known as the Windy City, but it’s also one of the most beautiful.

It’s a particularly green spot given its city status, with plenty of parks and greenery to explore alongside views of Lake Michigan.

The city is also the highest ranking US spot on the list, beating popular destinations such as Los Angeles, New York City and winter hotspot Aspen. 

5. Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, scoops up the fifth place award

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If Lisbon had a colour, it would be orange – for its bright rooftops. 

Lisbon’s cultural reputation has long been unrivalled – with world-renowned museums, art galleries and markets, as well as a restaurant scene that is constantly on the up.

The Castelo de São Jorge, Belém Tower and Jerónimos Monastery are historic sights worth visiting, while modern attractions include the Gulbenkian art museum and LX Factory.

6. Paris, France

Next up is Paris, the city of love – and a popular European beauty spot

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As far back as one can trace, Paris has been one of the best places to go for a mooch amid picturesque streets.

It’s home to painting, photography, architecture and fashion, with major exhibitions and galleries including the Louvre, the Grand Palais and the Musée des Arts Décoratifs.

A walk through Le Marais still offers a kaleidoscopic dive into global contemporary art and food while the Montmartre area looks like something out of a postcard.

7. Stockholm, Sweden

Stockholm is the next city to join the list, known for its buzzing vibe and culture

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If colourful buildings, art nouveau architecture, cobblestone streets and water everywhere you look appeal to you, Stockholm is the place to be.

Widely considered one of the world’s most beautiful spots, the ‘Venice of the North’, as it is often dubbed, boasts a well-preserved medieval city with plenty of historic attractions.

Standout destinations include its Royal Palace, City Hall and the many Gothic churches spread around the centre.

8. Porto, Portugal

Porto in Portugal comes in eighth place on the ranking

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It’s not the first Portuguese city to make the cut, but Porto is often hailed for its excellent food, waterside location and, of course, its beauty. 

Porto’s Livraria Lello & Irmão, commonly known in English as the Lello Bookshop, was also ranked as one of the most beautiful in the world. 

Other city highlights include the UNESCO-listed Ribeira district, Porto Cathedral and nearby Port production destinations.

9. Medellin, Colombia

In ninth place in the full list is the city of Medellin

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Medellin in Colombia might not be the first place that springs to mind when considering the most beautiful places around the world – but it should be up there.

In fact, it even ranked as the top place people are often uneasy about visiting but shouldn’t be.

This is a far cry from its past links to drug cartels and professional hitmen associations it built up between the 70s and 90s. It was once even home to the famous drug lord, Pablo Escobar.

Crime hasn’t completely disappeared in the city, but it is a more welcoming place for tourists and visitors can enjoy admiring the impressive graffiti, local artists and the cuisine. 

10. Riga, Latvia

Rounding out the top 10 in the list is Riga, Latvia

Latvia, one of Europe’s least populous countries, is more often associated with cheap stag dos and budget beer than a glamorous getaway – but that’s a mistake.

Riga is one of the world’s most beautiful cities, with all the cobbled streets and historic buildings you could desire. 

With an art and culture scene to rival many other capitals (it has previously been dubbed the ‘Paris of the North’), it is worth the reasonably priced flights, from £50 each way.

Comfortable temperatures and great attractions – such as the House of the Black Heads, Riga Art Nouveau Centre and the central market – make for a great weekend away.

11. San Diego, US

The 11th most beautiful city in the world was found to be San Diego

With a 61 per cent score, San Diego is next up on the list, known for its metropolitan flair and surrounding scenery and coastline.

On the one hand, you can check out the architecture, but it’s also worth paying attention to scenery, from Balboa Park to La Jolla Cove and Sunset Cliffs Natural Park.

Even getting there is aesthetic – San Diego International Airport was even voted one of the world’s most beautiful airports.

12. Panama City, Panama

Taking position number 12 in the travel list is Panama City

Arguably Central America’s most cosmopolitan city, those in the market for Latino fun might fancy Panama City.

This vibrant metropolis has become a new home for thousands of expats from around the globe thanks to the commerce – and its use of the US dollar – that exists within its sprawling skyline.

Add in tropical beaches and luxury apartments with a city panorama for around £1,800 a month, and it’s an easy, breezy way to tap into the high life.

13. Cambridge, UK

Cambridge, full of picturesque waterways, boats and cobbled streets, is up next

The university city of Cambridge is certainly one of the UK’s prettiest, with historic buildings, Venice-like waterways and greenery to explore.

Enjoy punting down the River Cam followed by a stroll through the city centre, passing all the university colleges, each with their own glamorous style and ambience.

Highlights include King’s College, a key example of Gothic architecture, and St John’s College, often hailed as one of the most stunning in the area.

14. Florence, Italy

Florence in Italy – an arty centre – takes position 14

Synonymous with Renaissance art and architecture, Florence offers an unparalleled concentration of historic treasures across its galleries, churches and streets.

Alongside the city’s cultural heritage, in the summer months, open-air opera, jazz and cinema animate Florence’s piazzas and gardens.

According to a previous Time Out survey, museums and art galleries define Florence’s cultural appeal, with 72 per cent of Florentines rating its arts scene positively and the same proportion highlighting its affordability.

15. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Rio de Janeiro has become a chic travel destination in recent years

Rio de Janeiro is a bucket-list item for many jet-setters, for its long coastline, mountainous scenery and bustling city centre.

Points from which to see the city at its best are, of course, Sugarloaf Mountain and Corcovado, where you’ll find the Christ the Redeemer statue.

The highlight of the Rio de Janeiro calendar is, of course, Carnival – all samba music, extravagant costumes and a multi-day party vibe.  

16. Bath, UK

The final UK destination to make the full list is Bath

Another UK city to make the cut, Bath is most famous for its Roman baths – a must-see for any culture vultures heading to this part of the country.

One review read: ‘Visiting the Roman Baths in Bath, England was one of the highlights of our trip and an experience I would highly recommend. 

‘The atmosphere is also beautiful, especially around the main bath where the architecture, lighting, and steam from the water create a very memorable setting.’

17. Bengaluru, India

Bengaluru in India takes 17th place in the complete ranking (pictured, Vidhana Soudha)

Bengaluru, the capital of the southern Karnataka state in India, is a tech hub – but there’s much more to it than that.

Don’t miss the impressive sights, most notably Bangalore Palace, modelled after England’s Windsor Castle, and Vidhana Soudha.

It’s one of India’s most progressive cities, with a vibrant culinary scene and many craft beer spots to seek out.

18. Vienna, Austria

The city centre of Vienna is known for its imposing buildings and statues

Vienna, Austria’s capital, was crowned the world’s most liveable city in 2024, and is also one of the world’s best to navigate while walking – not to mention it is also exceptionally beautiful.

Highlights include Schönbrunn Palace, Belvedere Palace, St. Stephen’s Cathedral and the State Opera building, one of the best in the world.

It won’t break the bank either – with return flights from London costing just £55. 

19. Brasilia, Brazil

Finishing off the list is Brasilia, the capital of Brazil (pictured, Itamaraty Palace)

While many opt for Rio de Janeiro for a holiday, Brasilia, the country’s capital, is one of the most beautiful – and distinctive – cities in the world.

Known for a unique white modern architectural style, sights such as the Congresso Nacional, Catedral Metropolitana Nossa Senhora Aparecida and Itamaraty Palace are gorgeous highlights well worth your time.

‘Impressive and emblematic building, with very distinctive features in columns and surrounding water. The internal spaces are massive and the staircase presents a unique design. I strongly recommend a visit when in Brasilia,’ one visitor wrote of Itamaraty Palace.

Hello and welcome to coverage from Wimbledon for a match which didn’t look likely one month ago.

Serena Williams will shortly be walking onto Centre Court for her first grand slam singles match in nearly four years when she plays Australia’s Maya Joint for a place in the second round.

The All England Club handed the 23-time grand slam winner a wild card into the singles and doubles, where she will play with sister Venus.

The last time Williams played at Wimbledon, she lost in the first round to Harmony Tan in 2022, also as a wild card, and last won a singles match at Wimbledon in 2019 when she was runner-up to Simona Halep.

“In general, my expectations are definitely different for the first time in my career,” she told reporters on Sunday. “I feel like my feelings are just — not that I never enjoyed it before, or else I wouldn’t ‌be here today — ‌but I feel like I’m ⁠really going to enjoy being out there.”

Despite her long absence from the sport, Williams will have cause for belief against 20-year-old Joint, who has had a dismal year on the WTA Tour, losing 15 of the 18 singles matches she has played in 2026.

She only has two doubles matches under her belt since announcing her comeback last month, winning one at Queen’s Club and losing the other in Berlin, but has enjoyed plenty of time on the practice courts in SW19.

“I can’t say I had a lot of emotions, only because I think I was in Queen’s earlier and I was in London and I was on the grass,” she said.

“So for here, it was more like, OK, I’ve been doing this for a couple of weeks. It was kind of like riding a bike. I didn’t feel a ton of stuff yet. Obviously when I play, I might have a lot of things come up.”

He was found unresponsive at his Sandringham Road home in Norwich nine days ago on Sunday, June 21, before later dying at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital.

An inquest into his death was opened at Norfolk Coroner’s Court on Monday (June 29).

Coroner Yvonne Blake said further enquiries would be required before the circumstances surrounding his death could be fully established.

The brief hearing was adjourned until Friday, October 23, while evidence continues to be gathered.

Mr Flack, an artist and graphic designer, is survived by his partner and two children.

This story was originally broken by the Eastern Daily Press, where Caroline and Paul’s mum, Christine, worked for many years.

She is remembered as a much-loved and highly regarded colleague by many members of the newsroom.

The life and career of Caroline Flack

Caroline Flack was well-known as a TV presenter, having covered shows such as The Xtra Factor, I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! NOW! and the main version of The X Factor.

She was also a presenter on Love Island between 2015 and 2019.

In February 2020, she was found dead in her flat in London, with it being ruled a suicide by the coroner.

Following Caroline’s death, Mr Flack posted a childhood photograph of his beloved sister on Instagram.

He wrote: “This will be my last post here.

“May those who know feel shame for eternity.

“Love you Caroline.”

The tribute remains his final post on his Instagram account.

After Caroline’s death, the Flack family spoke publicly about the devastating impact of losing her and became determined to challenge what they believed were the circumstances surrounding her final months.

Mr Flack appeared alongside his mother and sister in the 2021 documentary Caroline Flack: Her Life and Death, which explored the presenter’s life, mental health struggles and the events leading up to her death.

In the documentary, the family described Caroline as warm, funny and deeply loved, while also detailing the immense grief they experienced following her death.

If you have been affected by this story, you can contact the Samaritans free of charge, 24 hours a day, on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, or visit samaritans.org for confidential support.