Zack Polanski was campaigning to replace Keir Starmer in the north London seat (Picture: ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock) Green Party leader Zack Polanski has failed in his bid to become an MP, with a narrow loss in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election. Voters in the seat, which was held by ex-PM Sir Keir Starmer before his resignation last month, instead decided to stick with Labour. Victorious candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali, the leader of Camden Council since May, secured 12,292 votes to Polanski’s 8,928. The by-election was seen as a major test of new prime minister Andy Burnham’s appeal in London, where Labour’s support collapsed under Starmer. In May’s local elections, the party lost control of 10 councils in the capital – though it stayed in control of Camden, which closely matches the area where Thursday’s election took place. Long before the former PM announced his intention to step down from the House of Commons, Polanski singled out Holborn and St Pancras as a seat he had his eye on. It was seen as the kind of diverse, urban constituency that his party could pinch from Labour amid the boost in polling and membership that followed Polanski’s election in October last year. But the Green leader has faced mounting pressure in recent weeks over falling poll numbers for his party and the decision by members to oppose two amendments he supported in a controversial vote to oppose an Israeli state. New Holborn and St Pancras MP Sagal Abdi-Wali (Picture: ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock) His loss in the north London seat may prompt his opponents in the party to question whether a new direction is needed. The Green Party conceded the by-election at around 2.30am. After the defeat was confirmed, a spokesman said the party is ‘here to stay and just getting started’. He added: ‘Achieving a huge swing in one of Labour’s safest seats – an increase of 22% in vote share since the General Election – is an incredible result for the Green Party, and during a honeymoon period for the new PM. ## Latest London news * 'Heart' of London community destroyed after fire rips through 800-year-old market * The 'genius' commuter habit that train station staff are disposing of * Kitten found outside Tube station needs new home after being rescued by commuter _**To get the latest news from the capital, visit Metro's** London news hub._ ‘We are disappointed to miss out tonight but any ideas of a return to the cosy two-party system is just wishful thinking on the part of the establishment.’ Polanski succeeded in significantly cutting back Labour’s lead in the seat – though turnout was just 39%, considerably lower than the two recent by-elections in Clacton and Makerfield. Starmer won Holborn and St Pancras, a seat he had held since the 2015 election, with a majority of more than 11,000 votes in 2024. ******Get in touch with our news team by emailing us atwebnews@metro.co.uk.****** **For more stories like this,** check our news page. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source

The Friday letters page pits Onimusha: The Way Of The Sword against Nioh 3, as readers try to understand the motives of GTA 6 nemesis Cyberleek.

GameCentral goes hands-on with one of the most anticipated action games of the year, which combines kung fu inspirations with epic Dark Souls-level bosses.

As the Moon makes her way through Libra, connections are pulled into the spotlight.

'People need to understand that there are serious consequences for these types of things.'

'That "Hail Satan" is not welcome here.'

This shock early departure could, inadvertently, have more of an impact than anticipated.

Ronnie's got some explaining to do

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page A mysterious vessel has been spotted speeding on the River Thames under the cover of darkness. The unidentified object was spotted by Emanuele Biasiol, 31, as he was having a cigarette on his balcony in the Isle of Dogs on Tuesday night. Footage appears to show an unlit vessel travelling at high speed and creating wash, as it travels southbound towards Greenwich on the River Thames. Emanuele said: ‘I was sat on my balcony having a cigarette and I noticed a boat was going by really quickly compared to usual, just out of the corner of my eye. ‘I’m used to seeing that sometimes with military exercise boats or police boats, so I looked up briefly, because I was expecting to see one go by – and then I didn’t see any lights on. ‘That’s when it caught my attention, I found that really strange. A mysterious high-speed vessel thought to be a type of autonomous ship has been spotted travelling on the River Thames under the cover of darkness (Picture: Emanuele Biasiol/SWNS) Footage appears to show an unlit vessel travelling at high speed and creating wash, as it travels southbound towards Greenwich on the River Thames (Picture: Emanuele Biasiol / SWNS) ‘I initially thought it was a private boat used recklessly, so I looked over. ‘But when it went past I realised it was too small to be a boat, there was no-one on it, there were no lights – that’s when I got my phone out to film it. ‘It was very quiet – I could hear the sound of the water splashing as it went by, but I couldn’t hear a loud engine noise as I would expect if it was a jet ski or a small boat.’ Emanuele said he phoned police to report what he saw, but a call handler told him to report it as suspicious activity using a form online. His suspicions were further aroused when he heard a military helicopter overhead minutes later. ## Latest London news * 'Heart' of London community destroyed after fire rips through 800-year-old market * The 'genius' commuter habit that train station staff are disposing of * Kitten found outside Tube station needs new home after being rescued by commuter _**To get the latest news from the capital, visit Metro's** London news hub._ Emanuele reported the vessel to the police (Picture: Emanuele Biasiol / SWNS) Data from aircraft tracking website ADS-B Exchange shows that an RAF Chinook helicopter flew over the area at an altitude of around 1,350 ft just five minutes later before following the course of the Thames west to Putney. It has not been confirmed if the appearance of the helicopter is related to the mystery ship. Around 10 minutes after seeing the vessel, Emanuele posted the footage on Reddit, with users saying the object looked similar to the autonomous Kraken K3 Scout vessel – an unmanned surface vehicle designed for military use. However, Emanuele said he is not convinced that what he saw is the K3 Scout – as he thinks the vessel looked much smaller than its advertised 8.4-metre (27.5 ft) length. He said: ‘When I looked over while it was directly underneath my balcony, just before I started filming, I thought it was dark grey, or matt grey – that’s what looked recognisable to me. ‘The way it’s moving, I’ve seen videos of the company on their website, and it looks like it’s moving in the same way. ‘But someone pointed out that those vehicles are like nine metres long, and it was definitely not nine metres long. ‘It looks exactly like one of those [K3 Scouts], but the dimensions seem off.’ Emanuele has now been contacted by the Met’s terrorism squad asking for more information on what he saw. The Metropolitan Police has been contacted for comment. ******Get in touch with our news team by emailing us atwebnews@metro.co.uk.****** **For more stories like this,** check our news page. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source

The 14-year-old boy had become obsessed with the girl, who was 13 at the time of the attack in March (Picture: Gloucestershire Police/SWNS) The mother of a girl stabbed 10 times by a boy for spurning his advances says it is ‘disgraceful’ he was not jailed over the attack. Detectives likened the crime to harrowing TV drama Adolescence, after the boy, 14, attacked the girl, 13, in a shop in Cirencester. The boy had become obsessed with the girl and when she rejected his advances, he began using fake social media accounts to send her messages. After following her into a shop on March 15, he pulled out a 6in kitchen knife. CCTV from inside showed her running for her life as he walked after her coldly, cornered her and struck. A hero shopkeeper who intervened was also hurt. ## Sign up for all of the latest stories Start your day informed with Metro's **News Updates** newsletter or get **Breaking News** alerts the moment it happens. The girl was lucky to escape with cuts to her neck, hands and face, and bruises on her back. Speaking to the BBC, her mother said: ‘If it hadn’t been for the shopkeeper and her [daughter’s] quick reactions, she would have been dead.’ CCTV from inside showed her running for her life as he walked after her coldly, cornered her and struck (Picture: SWNS) The boy was lucky to escape a prison sentence and was instead given a 12-month referral order and three-year restraining order. The mum said she feels ‘angry’ and ‘incredibly let down’ by the sentence. ‘If you’re big enough to commit an adult crime, you should have the punishment, regardless of your age. It was not a petty crime – it wasn’t petty theft,’ she said. ‘It’s disgusting. It’s absolutely disgraceful after watching [footage of the attack] that someone can say the guidelines are “first offence and the injuries weren’t life-threatening”.’ She added: ‘I want some justice for my child – I want some protection.’ Speaking after the sentencing, Det Supt Ian Fletcher said the case resembled award-winning Netflix show Adolescence, starring Stephen Graham as the father of a boy, 13, who stabs a girl classmate to death for rejecting his advances. ‘There was a brief period they were dating,’ he said. ‘That stopped, she no longer wanted a boyfriend and obsessive behaviour built. It’s not something we normally see in children.’ And he warned: ‘It doesn’t get classified as domestic abuse currently in law because they were both under the age of 16.’ The girl said in her victim impact statement: ‘I’m scared and nervous anywhere I go. If someone puts their hand up next to me I flinch as I don’t know what they’re about to do to me. ‘I know this is as a result of the incident – I wasn’t like this before.’ The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted wounding, grievous bodily harm and knife charges in March. Judge Ian Lawrie told Bristol crown court the attack, in Cirencester, was a ‘very troubling event’ but added: ‘He’s still young. And he is capable of learning.’ ******Get in touch with our news team by emailing us atwebnews@metro.co.uk.****** **For more stories like this,** check our news page. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source

A fresh start.

Jamaal Howard (right) with his spiritual advisor Dr Jeff Hood (Picture: Courtesy of Rev Dr Jeff Hood) Executioners delivering a lethal injection to the first death row inmate to be killed since Christa Pike survived hers breathed a ‘sigh of relief’ as the drugs worked. Jamaal Howard, 46, died yesterday in Texas after being handed the death sentence in 2001. He is the next person to be executed in the **US** after Pike, 50, was left on a ventilator after **two failed lethal injection attempts.** Miraculously, according to Pike’s lawyer, **she is now ‘conscious, speaking and continues to receive medical care’**. Jamaal’s spiritual advisor Dr Jeff Hood said the room was ‘clearly nervous’, and they were ‘expecting something to go wrong’. He told Metro: ‘I have attended 14 executions, and I could definitely sense this time they were being extra careful and extra cautious, leaning in all the time. Christa Pike was part of the conversation throughout Jamaal Howard is set to be executed at midnight (Picture: Texas Department of Criminal Justice) Jamaal’s family, who insist he does not have capacity to understand his crimes or his death sentence (Picture: Courtesy of Rev Dr Jeff Hood) ‘Jamaal started snoring and snorting, but around 20 minutes later he had died. The room breathed a sigh of relief after he died. ‘But imagine that – feeling relieved that someone had died.’ Jamaal was found guilty of murdering **petrol** station worker Vicky Swartout in May 2000. Aged 20, he had stolen his granddad’s gun before firing at Vicky. Police say he was remorseless, and stole a carton of cigarettes and less than £100 as Vicky lay dying beneath him. He was put on Death Row in April 2001. Jamaal had an IQ of 65, less than the 70 needed to be declared intellectually disabled. But prosecutors pushed for him to be sentenced to death. At 17, he was shot in the head. Up until he died, he referred to his traumatic brain injury as just ‘holes in his head’. Death row inmate Christa Pike, who is on a ventilator after two failed execution attempts(Picture: Reuters) Dr Jeff said: ‘It’s a horror show for everyone involved. It is evil and it is disturbing. ‘They had to medicate him for his brain injury, just to kill him.’ It is not known what caused Pike’s lethal injections to fail. Her arms were left burned and blistered after the executioner struggled to find a vein. Tennessee authorities have not confirmed whether they will try and execute her again. She is walking around in her room ins a ‘foggy state’, one of her lawyers, Stephen Farrell, told BBC Radio 4 today. He said: ‘She is up and walking for the first time today, but just around the room, not very far. ‘Mentally, it’s kind of good and bad – good that she’s fairly with it, but she’s also somewhat foggy and she can forget her train of thought.’ He added that Pike is not ‘mentally completely recovered.’ Pike was reportedly previously handcuffed to her bed, but her lawyer did not say whether she has been unlocked. While Pike is able to communicate in a ‘basic way,’ she has no memory of the execution, her representatives said previously. A member of Pike’s legal team, Randy Spivey, says that when Pike woke up on Tuesday, her first question was: ‘Where am I and who are you?’ ‘She is very aware of what they did to her’, Mr Spivey said. ‘But there is still some cognitive impairment.’ She has also asked a number of questions, including about the family of Colleen Slemmer, the woman she murdered three decades ago. ******Get in touch with our news team by emailing us atwebnews@metro.co.uk.****** **For more stories like this,** check our news page. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page Riot police clashed with protesters as they took over the Bastille Square in Paris. Officers charged the thousands of schoolchildren with batons and unleashed water cannons as they moved in to try and clear out the square. Jean-Luc Mélenchon, a candidate for La France insoumise for the 2027 Presidential election said: ‘The Bastille has been retaken. ‘Powerful demonstration by the youth who carry their demands in the most beautiful way possible. Immense pride. See you on Tuesday, October 13, at the call of the youth unions and workers.’ Students scuffle with riot police during a protest against under-resourced schools in Paris. (Picture: AP Photo/Teresa Suarez) The Storming of the Bastille took place on 14 July 1789 in Paris and is one of the key events of the French Revolution. ## Sign up for all of the latest stories Start your day informed with Metro's **News Updates** newsletter or get **Breaking News** alerts the moment it happens. The Bastille was a medieval fortress and prison that had become a symbol of the absolute power of King Louis XVI. Anouk said violent protest is a ‘small percentage’ of what’s happening in France (Picture: Reuters) One schoolboy warned that it was ‘normal’ if violent outbursts occurred, if students’ demands were ‘not be heard’. ‘All the revolutions in history have served a purpose, he told EuroNews. ‘In 1789, there were a lot of deaths. We don’t want to have deaths, but we could revert to violence as a means of expression. The goal is not to perpetrate violence to hurt people, but it’s to use violence to change the system that harms us’. Anouk Vandecasteele, an English teacher at a school in Lille, is one of the many educators to have joined the growing student protests. ‘There is definitely a form of police brutality which has been previously unseen because it has not been directed towards young people before,’ she told **Metro**. ‘The fact that today they are injuring kids is unacceptable. That’s one of the reasons why we are there.’ Earlier this week, at a 250-strong protest in nearby Lens, a 15-year-old reportedly had his hand ‘blown off’ when a stun grenade thrown by riot police detonated after he picked it up. Anouk has also heard reports of students losing eyes and of a 14-year-old who lost teeth after their jaw was broken. She said: ‘Of course during the gilets jaunes and other strikes many activists have been wounded, but injuring kids is unheard of. It’s a bit scary. ‘People who are currently demonstrating and people who are blocking the schools are just kids. They are unarmed; they just want to be heard. It is time for the government to listen to them.’ She told **Metro:** ‘I’m ready for anything to make sure that my students have the same opportunities that I had. I feel outraged and at the same time I feel like I’m never going to give up and I think that’s how the students feel too. Above all I feel proud.’ Underfunding poses a serious threat to social mobility in France; a child born and schooled in a deprived neighbourhood there has less chance of escaping their socioeconomic background than in most other developed nations, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source

'It's like climbing Ben Nevis'.

The moment we've awaited!

Utterly brutal.

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page Prince Harry has opened up about not being able to cry for decades after Princess Diana’s death in a revealing interview with a therapist. The Duke of Sussex spoke of the ‘adrenaline crash’ he felt after Megxit and escaping a ‘stressful environment’ and then suffering depression. Harry and Meghan recently returned to the UK from California, six years after stepping back from royal duties. Harry revealed he did not cry for almost 20 years after his mother’s death and thinks of her ‘pretty much every night and then most mornings’. Opening up on his mother’s death, he said: ‘You would think I had the best help in the world. I’m a prince, for God’s sake, but I was still grieving and didn’t have any place to put those feelings,’ he said, describing emotions he bottled up for ’15 or 20 years’. ## Sign up for all of the latest stories Start your day informed with Metro's **News Updates** newsletter or get **Breaking News** alerts the moment it happens. Harry said he finally found happiness with his wife before ‘slipping into depression’ after the couple stepped back from Royal duties under the glare of the media. Prince Harry opens up about grief and depression (Picture: Masterclass) ‘We moved to Canada to get some space away from everything and simply think,’ he said. ‘Within two or three days of leaving that stressful environment, I experienced an adrenaline crash unlike anything I’d ever felt before. ‘It was as though I needed stress for my brain to function. I became useless around the house. I slipped into depression for about two weeks and felt like I couldn’t function without adrenaline.’ Prince Harry spoke candidly of the mental anguish he has gone through since Princes Diana’s death (Picture: Masterclass) The duke also addressed his grief for his mother, saying for many years he felt like he had to be sad to prove he missed her. ‘The reality is, what I discovered was actually she just wanted me to be happy,’ he said. Prince Harry feared forgetting his mother’s laugh (Picture: Martin Keene/PA Wire) After fears he would forget his mother’s laugh, a therapist recommended spraying her perfume to allow vivid memories of Diana to resurface. ‘It was like being transported to another time,’ Harry said. ‘It unlocked everything that had been locked away. ‘Spraying my mother’s scent was almost like knocking certain bricks through so that I could see through and certain memories and experiences could start seeping back.’ Harry also said: ‘Everything I do, everything I put my energy towards, I hope that my mother will be proud of. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, recently returned to the UK (Picture: Paul Davey/SWNS) ‘Trying to continue and protect her legacy, what I didn’t realise was that the work I was drawn to was so similar to the work she was doing.’ Diana’s brother Earl Spencer has spoken of how the treatment of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle has ‘echoes’ of what happened to his sister. ‘I think it would be really beholden on people to learn from Diana’s example,’ he told the BBC. ‘I’m not here to speak for Harry and Meghan, but for anyone who’s being destroyed in this way daily, it must be such a cancerous influence in their life.’ Earl Spencer said he had seen Diana’s ‘tears of despair’ over the extensive coverage of her personal life and described her as ‘very, very sensitive to criticism’. Diana, who married King Charles – then the heir to the throne – in 1981, was subjected to intense public scrutiny throughout her public life. Earl Spencer said she was ‘really brought low by all that criticism’, adding that it was a ‘pity’ to see ‘echoes of that now’ in the treatment of his nephew and his wife. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source

Matt Kenyon and his wife and business partner Imogen Royall appeared on Dragons’ Den (Picture: BBC) From homeless contestants to future entrepreneurs having to remortgage their properties to build their businesses, Dragons’ Den is no stranger to a rags-to-riches story. However, for Matt Kenyon, who presented his business on the BBC series with his wife and business partner Imogen Royall, his journey certainly feels unique. After leaving school at 16 and spending a decade working in construction, Matt’s British spelt pasta company, Northern Pasta Co., now turns over a whopping £1million a year. Speaking to **Metro** about his joint £50,000 investment from Peter Jones and Deborah Meaden on the show, Matt said that going into the Den was absolutely ‘nerve-wracking’. ‘We did a little bit of work beforehand, just things like breathing and calming exercises. That definitely helped,’ he tells me. ‘Obviously going in, you’re thinking, “Well, this could go one of two ways,” and it could potentially be a really bad thing for the business. Matt and Imogen presented their British spelt pasta company, Northern Pasta Co., to the Dragons (Picture: BBC) ‘There was that nervousness around not knowing how it was going to be received, or how you were going to be received.’ However, for Matt, the most surprisingly element was ‘honeslty how positive it all was’. Since his episode of Dragons’ Den aired, the Northern Pasta Co. says its average daily sales have jumped by more than 675%. Asked about his £1million turnover target for 2026, Matt adds: ‘Yeah, we are on track for that. ‘With all the opportunities that are arising, we’re very confident that we can meet next year’s target as well.’ The rapid growth comes as Northern Pasta Co moved into a new 12,000 sq ft factory in Carnforth, Lancashire. The new site has allowed the company to dramatically increase production, with capacity rising from around 2.25 tonnes of pasta a week to 13.5 tonnes. With his decade of experience in construction, Matt put those trade skills to good use and was personally responsible for overseeing the build of the company’s new factory. The couple secured a joint £50,000 investment from Peter Jones and Deborah Meaden on the show (Picture: BBC/Drgaon’s Den) ‘The main thing is probably the move,’ he says. ‘We’ve moved into a 12,000 sq ft space, which is much bigger than where we were before, and it’s just given us that flexibility to grow.’ The Dragons’ investment has also helped the company buy new equipment, including a packing line and extrusion line. But the sudden growth has meant the team has had to work hard to keep up with demand. ‘It has been manic,’ Matt says. ‘We’ve just had to really go for it. ‘We were hoping to make a little bit less initially, just to get used to the machine, but we had to jump in at the deep end.’ Despite the success, Matt admits the scale of the transformation hasn’t always sunk in. The Northern Pasta Co. says its average daily sales have jumped by more than 675% (Picture: BBC) ‘It’s happened quickly,’ he tells me. ‘It didn’t always feel it, but definitely in hindsight it’s really happening quickly. ‘We can be super proud of what we’ve done and where we’re going.’ However, despite the huge amount of attention that Dragons’ Den has brought the business, Matt says he and Imogen aren’t interested in simply copying other successful food brands. ‘We don’t necessarily try to emulate others,’ he said. ‘We just do what we feel is right and obviously take advice from people. We’re just trying to make our own path.’ _Dragons’ Den is available to watch on BBC One on Thursdays from 8pm. _ :: Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source

A bundle of Hollow Knight cosmetics for Fortnite is only available for a week and is being mocked by fans as ‘the type of greed they talk about in the Bible.’

Mia Shay St Hilaire died as a result of anaphylaxis due to a hazelnut allergy (Picture: Central News/Web collect) A 12-year-old girl died after drinking a milkshake contaminated with hazelnut residue from a previous drink, an inquest has concluded. Mia Shay St Hilaire suffered a severe allergic reaction after drinking a Twix milkshake at the Pop Inn Cafe in Southwark Park Road, south London, in August 2023. Staff made the youngster’s drink, who has a hazelnut allergy, in a blender previously used for a Kinder Bueno milkshake and did not clean it. CCTV showed cafe operator Baris Yucel preparing Mia’s drink without washing the blender first. Assistant coroner Briony Ballard said Mia, who is from Sydenham, had consumed some of the milkshake before developing rapidly progressing anaphylaxis. She then later collapsed at her aunt’s home. Despite extensive emergency treatment and getting transferred to intensive care at Evelina London Children’s Hospital, Mia died as a result of anaphylaxis. The 12-year-old died after drinking a milkshake contaminated with hazelnut residue from a previous drink (Picture: Family handout/PA Wire) Her parents said their daughter ‘will never be forgotten’ (Picture: Central News/Web collect) Her parents, Adrian and Chanel, said their daughter ‘was, and is, deeply loved and she will never be forgotten’. They thanked the coroner for investigating Mia’s death and said they wanted to see major changes to the way food allergies are managed. The couple called for a separate, clearly displayed rating for allergy management, similar to existing food hygiene ratings. ‘For families living with food allergies, eating out should not mean they are at risk,’ they said. ‘We hope that lessons will be learned from Mia’s death and that changes will be made to prevent other families enduring the devastation that we now have to live with.’ ## Latest London news * 'Heart' of London community destroyed after fire rips through 800-year-old market * The 'genius' commuter habit that train station staff are disposing of * Kitten found outside Tube station needs new home after being rescued by commuter _**To get the latest news from the capital, visit Metro's** London news hub._ They added: ‘We want to make sure that change is Mia’s legacy so that we can help to save lives in the future.’ Mia was taken to the Evelina Children’s Hospital and kept on life support so her family had time to say goodbye to her, but died of anaphylaxis (Picture: Central News/Lola Cook) The cafe operator Baris Yucel pleaded guilty to six offences in January 2025 (Picture: Google) Southwark Council brought a case against the cafe, with cafe operator Yucel pleading guilty to six offences in January 2025. They included failing to make allergen information available to customers, failing to prevent allergen contamination during food preparation and serving food containing an allergen that should not have been present. Yucel was fined £18,000 and given a 100-hour community order. Michelle Victor, a lawyer representing Mia’s parents, said the inquest had highlighted ‘serious concerns’ about how food allergies are understood and managed within the food service industry. She called on the Food Standards Agency and other authorities to review the current system and consider further reforms. Tanya Ednan-Laperouse, whose daughter Natasha died aged 15 after eating a baguette containing sesame, also said more needed to be done. She said: ‘Food allergies are not a preference or a choice, they are a serious, unpredictable medical condition which for some, like Mia, can be fatal.’ She added that current systems for monitoring food allergens were ‘inadequate’. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source

Haaland has called for calm and unity at the Etihad (Picture: James Gill – Danehouse) Erling Haaland has urged Manchester City supporters to ‘stick together’ in his first statement since the club’s guilty verdict. City were found guilty on all 115 charges relating to financial breaches of Premier League rules, lodging their appeal against the decision last week. City have denied all charges and have continued to plead their innocence but could face huge sanctions ranging from points deductions, expulsion from the Premier League and being stripped of the titles they won during the period from 2009-10 to 2017-18. Haaland was among the City players to return to the club’s training ground on Thursday ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash away to Liverpool where they will be expected to get a brutal reception from the Anfield crowd. ## Get personalised updates on your favourite club Sign up to our daily football newsletter, pick your team and get the latest news sent directly to your inbox every morning. Ahead of that trip, Haaland has called for unity at the club and focus on winning on the pitch. ‘We have to stick together, we have to stay with each other and we have to stay positive.’ The Norway international, who joined City from Borussia Dortmund for £51.2million in June 2022, added in an interview with Sky Sports: ‘And no matter what happens in life, we always have to have a smile. Haaland and City head for Anfield on Sunday (Picture: Michael Steele/Getty Images) ‘So we have to stay positive, look ahead and then try to win football games and then try to enjoy the situation and the game. ‘We have to stick together and we have to spread the love to each other. So, stick together and enjoy the ride and smile.’ City are top of the Premier League after five games, two clear of second place Arsenal. Head coach Enzo Maresca was all smiles as he arrived for training on Thursday, pictured grinning and giving a thumbs-up as the City squad reunited after the extended international break. Maresca will address the media on Friday morning for the first time since the verdict. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source

Mere hours are another GTA 6 gameplay leak, Rockstar has coincidentally shared new details on the game’s radio stations and is offering samples of what sort of music they’ll play.

This is 'peak British culture'

A pilgrimage to football’s spiritual homes stirs emotion and memory for Ben Ransom

The arrests took place at around 2am this morning (Picture: Getty Images) Two men have been arrested on suspicion of trespass offences at an RAF base in Cambridgeshire. Officers from the Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) carrying out security patrols near the perimeter of RAF Molesworth in the early hours of October 8, when they spotted an abandoned vehicle. Officers from Cambridgeshire Constabulary also attended the scene and carried out further searches. The perimeter fence was found to have a small breach. At around 2am, two Latvian nationals – aged 36 and 32 – were arrested. ## Sign up for all of the latest stories Start your day informed with Metro's **News Updates** newsletter or get **Breaking News** alerts the moment it happens. Both currently live in the UK. Commander Helen Flanagan, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing London – which is leading the investigation – said: ‘We’re very aware of the recent heightened interest and concern around military sites, but at this stage there is nothing to suggest this incident is connected to the events at RAF Fairford last week. ‘Our investigation into this incident is at its very early stages. A big part of this is looking at any potential motivation as to why the men were present at the site, but I must stress we are keeping an open mind at this stage and enquiries are very much ongoing. ‘As ever, I would ask the public to remain vigilant and if you see anything of concern, then to contact police.’ Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source

Plus the £2 moisturiser I rate higher than body creams five times the price.

Mr Freedom of Speech now wants to sue the reporters behind the investigation.

Today’s fruit and vegetables pack less nutritional punch than previous generations ate. Discover eight straightforward dietary tweaks.

‘Do you remember our conversation?'

The grant was issued to a US university working with an organisation linked to the lab (Picture: Reuters) Robert F. Kennedy Jr. allegedly sent almost $1,000,000 of taxpayer money to a research project linked to the Siberian Plague Lab. The National Institutes of Health, which Kennedy oversees, granted $800,000 to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2025 and 2026. The university was conducting a partnership with Russia’s Institute of Cytology and Genetics, which has also worked with the Siberian facility where a lab worker died of the plague. The funding has come into question after it was revealed by White Coat Waste. The project itself was not linked to the plague; rather, social behaviour of foxes which had been raised in a Siberian facility. The outbreak happened at the Irkutsk Antiplague Research Institute (Picture: AFP) ## Sign up for all of the latest stories Start your day informed with Metro's **News Updates** newsletter or get **Breaking News** alerts the moment it happens. On October 2, lab worker Darya Shipilova died after becoming ill with suspected pneumonic plague. She had been employed at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute of Siberia, which has since come under fire for the alleged leak of the disease. The 28-year-old scientist was taken to the hospital in Shelekhov, where she passed away. Russia’s health watchdog has insisted that testing of her body discovered no ‘micro-organisms’ in her that were linked to her work, while the Kremlin dismissed allegations about the disease or anti-plague measures. In since deleted posts, local officials claimed the scientist died of a plague infection. Daria Shipilova died after being ‘exposed’ to the pathogen (Picture: e2w) But Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov labelled the reports as ‘false information.’ Independent news outlet People of Baikal reported that Shipilova broke a test tube, though inspections found none of the pathogens clinicians are working with in her body. Telegram outlet Baza said Shipilova fell ill returning from Buryatia, where an outbreak erupted among squirrels, but local officials deny this. What we know for sure is that parts of Shelekhov Hospital, where Shipilova was treated for two days, were quarantined. Nearly 200 people who came into contact with Shipilova have been placed under medical observation, according to Russia’s REN TV. None have shown signs of illness. ******Get in touch with our news team by emailing us atwebnews@metro.co.uk.****** **For more stories like this,** check our news page. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source

Saturday’s Old Trafford meeting is ‘massive’ for Manchester United and Spurs, says Alan Shearer (Picture: PA) Alan Shearer has predicted the points will be shared between Manchester United and Tottenham in what he describes as ‘the biggest game’ of the weekend’s Premier League action. It has proven an immensely disappointing start to the season for both clubs heading into Saturday’s crunch match at Old Trafford, with Michael Carrick and Roberto De Zerbi already under intense scrutiny at this embryonic stage of the campaign. There had been a renewed sense of optimism amongst United’s fanbase after Carrick picked up the pieces from Ruben Amorim to steer his side to an impressive third-placed finish – and Champions League qualification – last term. However, results and performances have dipped dramatically since Carrick was appointed on a full-time basis in the summer, leaving the Red Devils languishing down in 12th with just five points to their name. ## Get personalised updates on your favourite club Sign up to our daily football newsletter, pick your team and get the latest news sent directly to your inbox every morning. Spurs have endured an even tougher time after clinging onto their Premier League status last season and sit rock-bottom of the table, still looking for their first victory after picking up two draws and three losses while managing only two goals. De Zerbi’s men may take encouragement from their late fightback against Aston Villa before the international break, but it was ultimately in vain, and another defeat will signal alarm bells in north London. Previewing the high-stakes contest, ex-England and Newcastle striker Shearer told Betfair: ‘I know you’ve got Liverpool versus Manchester City, which everyone’s going to have eyes on for obvious reasons, but I think in terms of the size of the result, this is the biggest one of the weekend. Carrick’s side sit 12th ahead of the crunch match (Picture: Getty) Tottenham sit rock-bottom of the Premier League table after a dismal start (Picture: Getty) ‘If either club were to lose in whatever fashion they were to lose, then it could determine someone’s job. Unfortunately, I think it’s that big a game in that matter. ‘It is a difficult question to answer on who this game means more to, I guess there’s an argument for both clubs because of what Spurs have spent, because of what Man United didn’t spend, and could have spent. ‘So, there’s an argument to say it’s huge game for both football clubs and for both managers because you can imagine the pressure that will be ramped up if, in whatever way, either team were to lose the game.’ De Zerbi helped Spurs stave off relegation last season (Picture: Reuters) According to Shearer, the Premier League’s all-time top goalscorer, Spurs simply ‘can’t afford’ to stumble again at this early stage of the campaign, especially given how much the club spent in the summer transfer window. The north Londoners have only managed two goals in the English top flight this season, both of which came in defeat last time out at the hands of Aston Villa. ‘Spurs can’t afford to slip up again. I think being at bottom of the league and they spent a fortune and they’re not playing good football,’ he added. ‘They brought players in to try and change what happened last year and the year before and they’re in a worse position at the minute. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page ‘De Zerbi would have been chomping at the bit to have a game but also it would have got him to work with a few more of his players, albeit there would be a lot away on international duty. So, it’s a massive game for Spurs and for Man United. ‘De Zerbi did a great job, didn’t he, last year, in keeping them up in the style that he did and clearly, as part of that, he got the contract he wanted and he got them spending a fortune on players that he wanted and demanded because he had huge power and in a huge position of strength, but he needs to get results now. ‘I guess he’ll be the first to tell you that he’ll need to get results and he needs to get them quickly.’ Spurs have managed a total of just two goals this season (Picture: Getty) Shearer has seen some ‘glimpses of improvement’ in Tottenham’s recent performances but believes results must come above all else when looking at the situation from De Zerbi’s perspective. ‘It really depends on the manner of the results as to what action the Spurs board might potentially take in the near future, as at the moment it’s not okay,’ he continued. ‘No one wants to lose games, but I guess it’s the manner and how you lose them or your manner how you don’t win them, which is the standout. ‘There have been little glimpses of improvement and we will have to see what reaction they get at the weekend, but he’ll know and everyone else knows that he needs a result. He can’t afford to play Man United and be beaten 2 or 3-0, that’s for sure.’ Shearer predicts the points will be shared at the Theatre of Dreams (Picture: Getty) Pushed for a score prediction, Shearer went on: ‘You can imagine the noise at Old Trafford around Carrick if United lose on Saturday. He did a great job last year in terms of getting them into Champions League football, he did a great job in just calming the situation down. ‘Then they stuck with him, didn’t really back him as much as they could have and should have in the summer, and again, you just imagine the noise after three weeks, after the start to the season they’ve had, and if Spurs beat them, who haven’t won a game all season. ‘They’ve got Atletico Madrid on Tuesday evening as well. So, they’ve got two massive games and games that they need to get something out of and win. Whether they’ve got enough to do that, we’ll have to wait and see but it is a huge game for both clubs. You can’t underestimate it. ‘I think it’ll probably be a score draw. I think it could be 1-1 or 2-2, which I guess is a better result for the away team than it is for the home team.’ To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page There have been flashes of the old Marcus Rashford across United’s rocky start to the season, with the forward recalled to Thomas Tuchel’s England squad – before withdrawing again through injury last month. ‘I think he’s done alright. He’s not blown the league away, has he? I didn’t really expect him to; he’s just done okay,’ Shearer said of Rashford’s start following the attacker’s return from a season-long loan spell with Barcelona. ‘I think there’s nothing to shout or scream about, is there? ‘It is like a revolving door with Marcus. There comes a time where you say, I’ve got to do it myself. You can’t rely on, well, I have to leave Man United. He has to go and prove he can do it. He has to do it now rather than think, well, if it doesn’t work out, I’m leaving. It could be make or break for Rashford at United this season (Picture: Getty) ‘He chose to go back there for whatever reason. Barcelona didn’t want him. They wanted Anthony Gordon at the price that they were willing to pay and Anthony Gordon’s doing really well there at Barcelona. ‘It’s up to Marcus whether he does it or not now. I don’t know whether he can, whether he wants to, whether he will do but he gets an awful lot of time in terms of media time for someone who hasn’t performed that well. ‘He needs to get that first goal**.** I guess he’ll need to get that one and then get going again and get playing but we all know there’s the talent in there. It’s just whether we see it enough or not.’ United came away 2-0 winners from the same game last season, with Bryan Mbeumo and Bruno Fernandes getting on the scoresheet at the Theatre of Dreams. The points were shared in the reverse fixture at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, meanwhile, as Richarlison netted in stoppage time, only for Matthijs de Ligt to head home a last-gasp equaliser. POLL Poll ### What will the result be at Old Trafford? * Manchester United winCheck * DrawCheck * Tottenham winCheck **For more stories like this, check our sport page**. **Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on**Facebook,** Twitter and Instagram**. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source

Hear’Say and Liberty X are reuniting for a mammoth tour (Picture: Samir Hussein/WireImage for ABA) All five members of Liberty X are back together and joining forces with Hear’Say for a joint tour in the ultimate 00s collaboration. The bands are set to embark on a 13-date arena tour, 25 years after they battled it out on ITV’s Popstars. Liberty X’s Michelle Heaton, Kelli Young, Jessica Taylor, Kevin Simm and Tony Lundon have all signed on, while Suzanne Shaw, Noel Sullivan, Kym Marsh, and Danny Foster are back for Hear’Say. Reportedly, Myleene Klass has rejected the offer so far, having moved into presenting after a solo classical career. All nine have been sworn to secrecy while in planning mode, travelling separately to stop people from realising the reunion was on the way. Tony told The Sun they had spent a lot of time on Zoom, discussing how this plan would come together. The full Liberty X line up (Tony Lundon, Jessica Taylor, Michelle Heaton, Kelli Young and Kevin Simm) are back (Picture: Tim Roney/Getty Images) It’s been 25 years since they were formed on Popstars(Picture: ITV/Shutterstock) ‘We only got together to shoot the promo a few weeks ago,’ he said. ‘That was the first time we were kind of on set together again, just in each other’s company. It’s been amazing.’ They did admit they’re not as young as they once were, with Kym saying the dance routines might not be as ‘energetic’ as when they were fresh from Popstars. ‘Introducing… Popstars: The originals!’ they posted on Instagram. ‘We’re all coming together for the first time ever. ‘Hear’Say and Liberty X joining forces with our joint arena tour. We’re so excited for this.’ The tour starts at Dublin’s 3Arena on April 17, with shows in Birmingham, Nottingham, Leeds, Glasgow, and Manchester, wrapping up in Liverpool on May 9. Danny shared: ‘We are the originals. So many other shows came along, like Pop Idol and The X Factor, Popstars gets a little bit forgotten. They’ve got 13 arena shows next year (Picture: Samir Hussein/WireImage for ABA) Danny Foster, Suzanne Shaw,Kym Marsh and Noel Sullivan are back (Picture: Samir Hussein/WireImage for ABA) ‘But that’s the beauty of this project — it was nine kids with a dream, and we’ve just come full circle to be back together.’ Over the years, various members have discussed their experiences on Popstars – but not all had a great time. In 2016, Kym revealed how comments about her weight made by Nigel Lythgoe, her former Hear’Say manager, had impacted her. ‘You need to lose some weight,’ Nigel was filmed telling her as she auditioned. ‘Christmas is over and the goose has gotten fat.’ ‘I’d always been quite body confident until that moment but when he said that it really affected me, I couldn’t even look at myself in the mirror,’ Kym revealed to the Daily Mail. Myleene Klass is not returning to Hear’Say (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock) ‘I started to look at myself differently and question whether I was overweight,’ she continued. ‘I started becoming far too critical of myself. My body had changed an awful lot after having children, and I simply didn’t have time to exercise.’ Kym ditched Hear’Say in 2002 after rumours of a feud with bandmates Myleene and Noel. The group officially split on October 1, 2002, citing ‘abuse from the public’ as a major reason, with their popularity eclipsed by Liberty X. ## Hear'Say Liberty X tour dates **APRIL 2027** **Saturday 17** – 3 Arena – Dublin **Sunday 18** – SSE Arena – Belfast **Tuesday 20** – Bournemouth International Centre – Bournemouth **Wednesday 21** – Motorpoint Arena – Nottingham **Sunday 25** – Brighton Centre – Brighton **Wednesday 28** – Utilita Arena – Cardiff **MAY 2027** **Saturday 1** – BP Pulse Live – Birmingham **Sunday 2** – First Direct Bank Arena – Leeds **Tuesday 4** – Utilita Arena – Newcastle **Wednesday 5** – OVO Hydro – Glasgow **Friday 7** – The O2 – London **Saturday 8** – AO Arena – Manchester **Sunday 9** – M&S Bank Arena – Liverpool Meanwhile, Liberty X, who initially signed to Richard Branson’s V2 label, continued to see chart success until their split in 2007. ‘All of us have separate projects we’re working on and are excited about,’ the announcement said. ‘We’re still the best of friends and we’ll still be doing all the dates on the current club tour. ‘Also, we still intend to come together sometimes as Liberty X, for one-off events.’ They did join together for a Pride event the following year and came back for 2012’s Big Reunion with a few concerts following. In 2013 they called it quits again, with Kevin appearing on The Voice and making it clear he felt the group were over. Four years later, Michelle, Kelli, and Jessica started touring as a three-piece, then in 2023 they headlined Mighty Hoola and other festivals. Between them, Hear’Say and Liberty X have 12 Top 10 singles and three UK number ones. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source

A dying man's family were horrified when a rock was hurled through his window during the final hours of his life.

Sunderland striker Brian Brobbey (Picture: Getty) Sunderland striker Brian Brobbey will miss this weekend’s Premier League clash with Brighton after injuring himself on international duty. Brobbey scored his first league goals of the season before the international break, netting a hat-trick in Sunderland’s 5-3 defeat to Manchester City. But the Dutch striker is now set for a period on the sidelines after picking up a hamstring injury during the Netherlands’ 1-1 draw with Germany. ‘With Brian, it’s going to be short-term,’ Regis Le Bris told reporters in Thursday’s pre-match press conference. ## Get personalised updates on your favourite club Sign up to our daily football newsletter, pick your team and get the latest news sent directly to your inbox every morning. ‘It’s really positive; we were a bit worried when we saw the video but Brian, just after the game, wasn’t too worried because he experienced different injuries in the past. ‘This one, he was adamant that it wasn’t too serious, but we won’t take risks.’ Elsewhere, the Black Cats will also be without Dan Ballard after he picked up a hamstring injury while playing for Northern Ireland against Georgia. Brobbey injured himself against Germany (Picture: EPA) ‘It’s a shame for Ballard because he was in a good place and will be sidelined for a few weeks,’ Le Bris added. ‘It’s a medium-term injury and we’ll keep you updated.’ Sunderland currently sit 14th in the table, having picked up only one win from their opening five league games. Saturday’s opponents, Brighton, meanwhile, sit in third and full of momentum after thumping defending champions Arsenal 3-0 prior to the international break. **For more stories like this, check our sport page**. **Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on**Facebook,** Twitter and Instagram**. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source

Spain manager Luis de la Fuente (Picture: Getty) Spain manager Luis de la Fuente said it was an ‘honour’ to coach Mikel Merino as he labelled the Arsenal midfielder ‘one of the best in the world’. Merino continued his remarkable goalscoring record for Spain, coming off the bench to net twice as the World Cup winners came from behind to win 2-1 against Croatia. The 30-year-old, who also scored off the bench in Spain’s 3-1 win over Czechia last weekend, has five goals in his last eight appearances for La Roja, which have all come as a substitute. And De La Fuente is keen to see the Arsenal midfielder get more appreciation from Spanish fans for his consistent knack of winning games off the bench. ## Get personalised updates on your favourite club Sign up to our daily football newsletter, pick your team and get the latest news sent directly to your inbox every morning. ‘It’s an honour to coach a player like that,’ De la Fuente said of Merino. ‘He has made it absolutely clear why I would have carried him in my arms to the World Cup. ‘In another country he would be more appreciated — I hope that changes. Mikel Merino scored both goals as Spain beat Croatia (Picture: AFP) ‘I hope more will be done. Merino is one of the best in the world in his position. ‘He has the class to play in any team and can always play, obviously. He knows how to understand these moments of the match. ‘He has that gift that is the sense of the goal, for important goals, too.’ Speaking after his match-winning brace, Merino admitted to getting frustrated by his lack of starts for the national team. ‘I’m very happy to be able to help the team, another game in which it was my turn to score from the bench,’ Merino told TVE. > Merino ist maximal underrated #nationsleague #daznmoment pic.twitter.com/KKQdB2Dizd > > — DAZN DE (@DAZN_DE) October 6, 2026 ‘I’ll go out there with the best possible attitude even while frustrated about not being able to play more… but this team is a family and that always shows.’ Merino will hope that his goalscoring form over the international break can help force his way into Mikel Arteta’s starting lineup in the coming weeks. The 30-year-old is yet to start a league match for the Gunners this season, but did score when starting in the 4-2 Carabao Cup win over Ipswich Town. And with Kai Havertz a doubt after injuring his hamstring with Germany, former Premier League striker Darren Bent thinks Arteta might consider starting Merino rather than Viktor Gyokeres against Leeds United on Saturday. ‘Both Merino and Havertz are so much better than Merino with their back to goal; they link better with Odegaard and Saka, so that’s the problem that you’ve got,’ he told talkSPORT. ‘Gyokeres wants to run in behind and use your attributes – your pace and power – to get in behind and on the end of things and Arsenal just don’t play that way. ‘So it’s no given that he starts up top this weekend because Merino could as well.’ **For more stories like this, check our sport page**. **Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on**Facebook,** Twitter and Instagram**. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page Jeffrey Epstein’s autopsy files show his death was more consistent with a struggle and not suicide, a respected forensic pathologist told Metro after reviewing the evidence. Dr Michael Freeman, fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists in London, will publish an independent report about the late financier’s death after he was given the complete medical examiner’s file by Epstein’s brother, Mark. Ahead of a bombshell talk revealing his findings next month, Freeman told Metro the suicide determination was ‘problematic’. He pointed to evidence such as fingernail marks which allegedly showed Epstein tried to get the ligature off in a ‘potential struggle’ or assault. Dr Freeman, who previously served as chair of forensic and legal medicine with the Royal College of Physicians, told **Metro** : ‘There are lots of things that are not explained by a suicidal hanging, but are consistent with potentially a struggle. A picture of evidence collected as part of the investigation into Epstein’s death (Picture: DOJ) ‘He had injuries that could not possibly have been caused by a ligature.’ The pathologist will be releasing the complete medical file, including portions not public, after his talk at a University College London law-faculty event next month. Epstein was found unresponsive in the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan on August 10, 2019, while he was awaiting trial. A guard said they discovered him hanging with an orange-coloured strip of material around his neck in a near-seated position. New York chief medical examiner’s office ruled his death a suicide, which was later backed up by a review from the Department of Justice in 2023 and FBI findings. Dr Freeman says he is the first person trained in forensic pathology who has reviewed all the evidence, including the entire autopsy files, since the suicide determination. The top pathologist told **Metro** that Epstein’s ‘death was completely unique in the annals of suicidal hanging descriptions’. Dr Freeman says the suicide determination is ‘problematic’ (Picture: Kelly James) He claimed: ‘We had no picture of him suspended. There was no picture of him after he was taken down from the suspension.’ Dr Freeman believes the guard’s description of the position where he found Epstein was ‘credible’, so he said his focus was: ‘Could all of the [Epstein’s] injuries have been caused by the hanging scenario in which he was found?’ He has concluded there are ‘some very notable inconsistencies and areas where there is not adequate explanation of what the medical examiner found.’ The expert said Epstein had a number of injuries aside from the ligature marks, including on his left shoulder and behind his neck. He added: ‘He had injuries that could not possibly have been caused by a ligature, and he had facial injuries that were clearly not caused by resuscitation efforts. ## Need support? For emotional support, you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on **116 123** , email jo@samaritans.org, visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website. PAPYRUS offers specialised suicide prevention support for young people. Their HOPELINE247 is open every day of the year, 24 hours a day. You can call 0800 068 4141, text 88247 or email: pat@papyrus-uk.org. ‘He had been dead for hours by the time they tried to resuscitate him.’ Dr Freeman, who worked with a team of researchers, said there was evidence that aligned ‘potentially with a struggle, an assault.’ He claimed: ‘One of the things that I will point out during my lecture will be the presence of what appear to be fingernail marks above the ligature mark. ‘That would be consistent with his own fingernail marks, trying to get the ligature off.’ Dr Freeman said this information was not even ‘the good stuff’, which will come out during the talk next month. How Jeffrey Epstein’s cell was left after his death (Picture: Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, City of New York) The pathologist acknowledged that ‘there’ll be people who are going to disagree’ with him, but he was releasing the autopsy files publicly to let the world judge for themselves. He explained: ‘Medical examiners don’t want to have their their work looked at again. ‘Meanwhile, that leaves everybody without recourse to go back and say, “Can we have a second look at this?” ‘Science is what you can prove, what is replicable, what’s reproducible. That is what I’m focused on. ‘So the fact it is Jeffrey Epstein is actually more of a nuisance factor because there’s so much interest in it.’ Dr Freeman said he has ‘no opinions’ about the debate and conspiracies surrounding Epstein’s death. Brother Mark Epstein said the pathologists have studied the evidence for months (Picture: Owen Hoffmann/PMC) The New York Medical Examiner told Metro their ‘office stands by the determination’ of suicide after they were asked about Dr Freeman’s criticisms. Epstein’s brother Mark Epstein previously told Metro the report will be ‘game-changing’. He said the independent group have been ‘properly studying the autopsy results for months’, comparing the evidence against autopsies of suicides and murders. The younger brother – who gave the panel Jeffrey’s autopsy reports – added: ‘They are not doing this on my behalf. I am not paying for this.’ ******Get in touch with our news team by emailing us atwebnews@metro.co.uk.****** **For more stories like this,** check our news page. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page More than 700 people were arrested and hundreds of suspected stolen mobile **phone** s seized in one month by officers from Britain’s biggest police force. The Metropolitan Police carried out operations including the arrest of a 21-year-old suspect who fled on an e-bike and jumped into a pond. Shocking footage showed the man tossing the stolen phones as he fled. Officers waded into the pond to find the phones wrapped in foil – which is a tactic used to block location tracking. Last month, hundreds of suspects were arrested for phone theft, robbery and handling stolen goods, and investigators seized drugs, knives, guns, cash and more than 110 illegal e-bikes. Earlier this year, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley pushed phone companies to make stolen handsets ‘unusable bricks’. It comes after the force revealed it had seen adverts on Snapchat offering children as much as £380 to steal a single iPhone, with a bonus of £100 for stealing 10. Police were using drone control rooms to help track thefts (Picture: PA) The international trade in stolen phones is worth millions of dollars, with a device stolen in London worth more in countries like China because it has none of the government restrictions put in place by authorities there. On Thursday, the Met said that 3,963 phone thefts and robbery offences were recorded in August this year, compared with 3,311 in August 2022. The intervening months saw totals of 4,542 in August 2023, 5,597 in August 2024 and 5,099 in August 2025, the force said. Criminals are increasingly using social engineering to get into phones, the force warned, by posing as known businesses and contacting victims on other devices in a bid to get passwords and account details. The force said that phone theft and robbery fell from 81,439 offences in 2024 to 71,867 in 2025, and that between January and August this year, there were 39,793 offences, down from 49,136 in the same period last year. ## Latest London news * 'Heart' of London community destroyed after fire rips through 800-year-old market * The 'genius' commuter habit that train station staff are disposing of * Kitten found outside Tube station needs new home after being rescued by commuter _**To get the latest news from the capital, visit Metro's** London news hub._ Figures released under Freedom of Information legislation show only a fraction of devices taken in London are returned to their owners. Between 2017 and February 27 2024, a total 587,498 phones were stolen in London excluding the City, 13,998 of which were recovered, and 573,500 were not. According to figures for the year to the end of December 2025, the force also solved one of the smallest proportions of these offences compared with others in England and Wales. In that year, 6.9% of personal robbery cases ended with a suspect being identified and dealt with, while the rate was 0.9% for theft from the person. ******Get in touch with our news team by emailing us atwebnews@metro.co.uk.****** **For more stories like this,** check our news page. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source

Neil Robertson is unfazed by opinions on his game and career (Picture: Getty Images) Neil Robertson is past caring about sporting debates and online hot takes, feeling ‘immune’ to opinions on him that come from a place of ignorance. The Thunder from Down Under is closing in on veteran status, if he has not already taken hold of it, having first turned professional in 1998 and his next birthday being his 45th. The former world champion has seen and heard it all over his brilliant career, which has seen him win 26 ranking titles. Just six players in snooker history have claimed more. That success has not made left him free from criticism, though, and his name has cropped up lately as being undeserving to be in the battle for the world number one spot. Australia’s greatest ever player is currently fourth in the world rankings and good results could see him return to the pinnacle for the first time since 2015. However, Judd Trump claimed that Robertson’s Saudi Arabia Masters win last season – and the £500,000 that came with it – was doing too much heavy lifting for him. ## Are you snooker loopy? You're in the right place. I'm Phil Haigh, and I cover the game we all love for **Metro**. In my newsletter, The Table, I analyse the biggest talking points, pull back the curtain on the sport and crown the biggest winners and losers every week. Sign up here. Phil has been reporting on snooker for over a decade ‘I think Neil, for example, I don’t really know what he’s done to be so close, apart from win Saudi, he hasn’t really done anything else,’ Trump told **Metro** last month. Robertson is ranked number four in the world (Picture: Getty Images) ‘It’s hard to pick individual players out, nothing against Neil but he’s not been consistent enough to be the number one, in my eyes. Trump wasn’t quite on the money with that assessment, with Robertson winning the World Grand Prix last year and the English Open in 2024, while semi-finals of big events like the UK Championship and Tour Championship have boosted his ranking. The Aussie had a word with the Ace about his comments, telling **Metro** : ‘I spoke to Judd and said, “What are you doing?” He was just like, “Oh God, that just came out all wrong.” ‘Before winning Saudi I was still ranked eight. It’s not like I just won Saudi. You only have to look at the actual points, take Saudi off and I’m still really high up anyway. ‘When I won Saudi, that was my third ranking event win in the space of 10-11 months and since Saudi, it’s been littered with quarters and semi-finals.’ Robertson beat Ronnie O’Sullivan in an epic Saudi final (Picture: Getty Images) Robertson was happy to take up the matter with Trump, but has lost interest in online chatter about him, his game, or anything sports-related for that matter. ‘I don’t really take too much notice,’ he said. ‘I used to a few years ago, but I see certain topics being discussed…I don’t know, say Hendry or Ronnie or Messi or Ronaldo, the Jordan-Lebron debate or Tom Brady and all that. ‘You see some of the comments and people have got no idea. It’s actually a big relief to see that because it’s other sports where this exists too, where you just get completely clueless opinions from people that have absolutely no idea. ‘I’m completely immune to it all now. People are going to have their opinions. That’s just sort of how it goes, you know?’ It’s not just online that the two-time Masters champion is surprised by opinions he encounters, but realises he has been misjudged when he chats to people face-to-face. ‘It happens a lot around golf,’ he said. ‘I’ll be at the driving range and I could be talking to a complete stranger for 10 minutes and they’re like, “Wow, you’re actually really nice person. Whenever I’ve seen you on TV, I thought you were arrogant!” ‘People are judging a personality based on when you’re in a really competitive environment. We’re just normal people. I think you get judged too much on how you are in the arena. If you were to judge every heavyweight boxer on how they are in the ring, you probably wouldn’t like too many of them.’ Robertson has long been a very popular player on the circuit (Picture: Getty Images) Sport in general has become more professional and Robertson thinks some fans are still expecting a slightly more jovial approach from snooker players that has not existed for some time. ‘I think that a lot of people still hang on to that love of how things were in the 80s where, let’s be real, things weren’t anywhere near as professional as they are now,’ he said. ‘I think Dennis [Taylor] and Terry [Griffiths] said that that was their way of getting work. They were advertising themselves on TV to get exhibitions. So they kind of had to do that, so I totally respect it and understand it from that point of view.’ An opinion Robertson certainly does have a lot of time for is that of Mark Selby, a rival on the table but friend off it for many years. Mark Selby opts for brass over titanium ferrules (Picture: Xinhua/Shutterstock) The Thunder has experimented with a change to his equipment over the last 18 months, playing with a titanium ferrule and winning two big tournaments with it. He is switching back to brass, though, after becoming frustrated with his range of shots and thanks to Selby weighing in with some advice on the situation. ‘With the titanium ferrule, it makes you have to play a bit more simplified version of the game, I suppose,’ said Robertson. ‘A lot less creative in terms of using side spin and throwing the cue ball around. Especially controlling the cue ball in the balls as well. ‘Selby left me a really long voice note, actually. He thought I didn’t look half the player with titanium that I did with brass. He said: “You’re good enough to win Saudi or any tournament with anything, but that shouldn’t really be your deciding factor.” ‘I leaned on Saudi a little bit too much, because I was having issues in the second half of last season, things just weren’t quite right. I was speaking to Mark about going back [to brass] and he was like, “Mate, that’s an absolute no-brainer.” ‘I think he tried it for a tournament and thought there’s no way. Whereas I was probably a little bit more stubborn because I’d won Hong Kong and the Saudi. It’s like a football club having an interim manager, they go on a winning run and it’s hard to sack them. That’s how I felt after Saudi, but I had my doubts going into this season.’ Robertson was back to brass at the recent Shenzhen Open and looked good in wins over Liu Hongyu and Lei Peifan before defeat to an impressive Chris Wakelin. ‘I’m really happy with it. It’s like riding a bike again or putting on an old pair of slippers,’ he said. ‘There were a couple of things against Chris on a couple of shots, errors I probably wouldn’t make again next week, That’s just the readjustment process. But I thought Chris played ever so well. ‘The signs are looking good. I’m excited for the season to start now. It’s disappointing I felt as though I didn’t really have much of a chance in the first four or five events with the ferrule I was using. But I’m excited for the rest of the season ahead now, for sure.’ Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page **The truth of what really happened in the Cornell University rape case ‘lies in the cloud’, a digital forensics expert has said.** A woman, referred to only by the generic pseudonym Jane Doe, claims she was assaulted by seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity at their campus residence in October 2024. She initially went to police around three weeks later, saying she was ‘100% confident I was raped’, but no criminal charges were brought. Doe has now filed a civil lawsuit against the Ivy League university, accusing the institution of failing to protect her or to adequately punish the men accused. There are a number of inconsistencies in the case and the men deny any wrongdoing Heather Barnhart, Senior Digital Forensics Expert at Cellebrite, said digital evidence ‘is a silent witness to your life’ and will be central to the investigation. She helped track down Osama Bin Laden and has worked on major crime investigations including the Idaho Four murders by Bryan Kohberger and the killing of Gabby Petito. Speaking exclusively to Metro about the Cornell case, she said crucial material may still be available – despite the passage of time and the opportunity for any potentially incriminating messages, photos or videos relating to that night to be deleted. ## **The cloud – deleting something doesn’t mean it’s gone forever** That possibility will vary depending on whether those involved used Android or an iPhone, and the specific settings on each device. But she told us: ‘Something that law enforcement may not be thinking about is Cloud backups, whether it’s iCloud or Google, will store historical messages that no longer exist on that device. ‘So, accessing those messages could be huge and crucial to this investigation. ‘Most people have backups because we keep getting new devices and they restore. ‘So, the stuff that’s out of sight out of mind will really help investigators here.’ A sticker with ‘Hello my name is Jane Doe’ placed on the rail over one of the gorge bridges at Cornell University (Picture: ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock) Snapchat has featured heavily in the case, with vulgar messages on the fraternity’s group of more than 50 members advertising ‘free p***y’ on the night of the alleged attack. Heather warned: ‘If people are saving a message or a video to their device, it’s stored differently than how Snapchat wants to remove it. ‘So even though it’s supposed to be self-destructing or delete, it’s the user behaviour that determines how long it stays. ‘If you’re one of the suspects, you have no idea if someone walked into a room, took a picture, and then saved it. ‘That could live on their device forever, but it will also live in the Cloud.’ ## **Digital evidence ‘paints a picture of the truth’** Digital evidence is a ‘silent witness to your life’ that ‘knows everything – good or bad,’ Heather said. ‘Physical evidence leads to a suspect, often if they’re unknown. Digital evidence paints a picture of the truth, and that’s what will happen here.’ She said that, were she investigating, she would be looking for ‘text-based admissions’ in Snapchat and other messages as well as any photos or videos that might still exist. ‘There could even be health data that could be involved here if watches or devices were worn,’ Heather continued. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page Cornell University administration is under scrutiny over an alleged 2024 gang rape at a fraternity house (Picture: ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock) She said health data could last for years, depending on the phone operating system, and could even help ‘show the frequency of access to that room’ in the frat house. ‘On Android, there are multiple files that track differently on your health data. ‘And on iPhone, it wants to track everything. If I leave and run out to my kitchen, my phone knows how many steps I took and how long it took me. ‘So, it can also show speed – are you walking slowly? Are you rushing to something? All of that comes into play.’ Heather said: ‘There’s no doubt in my mind that all the phones should have been collected from the potential suspects. ‘All of that evidence matters, but that opportunity was lost.’ ## **Disturbing fraternity Snapchat messages and recorded phone calls** Doe’s lawsuit alleges she was pressured into taking ketamine before multiple men took turns sexually assaulting her over the course of nearly seven hours. It contains an image of messages purported to be from the fraternity’s Snapchat group, titled Chi Phi Actives, advertising ‘free p***y’ upstairs and asking ‘shop still open?’. Additional images have reportedly emerged showing members boasting, ‘like you can walk I and whip it out’. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page Doe says three of the men apologised to her in the days after, while reports in the US claim text messages, phone calls and other records suggest some of the accused frat brothers tried to contain the allegations, fearing the impact on their reputations and campus futures. She recorded calls with some of the men, one of whom tells her: ‘I’m so sorry about all, like, the backlash you’re getting from this. I feel so bad for you, dude. ‘Right afterwards they told me not to message you because they thought you were going through a lot, so I constructed this like letter to send to you.’ Doe replies saying she was ‘completely and totally intoxicated and then given multiple sedatives’, adding: ‘And then I was surrounded by upwards of eight to 10 men… this is classified as a gang rape.’ Some of the Cornell University students taking part in a seven-hour sit-in protest representing the seven hours that Jane Doe alleges she was assaulted (Picture: Reuters) The man’s tone then changes, and he asks Doe the ‘purpose’ of her calling. ## **Jane Doe ‘misled’ about criminal investigation** Doe’s lawyer, Thomas Giuffra, claimed yesterday that she was ‘misled’ about the status of the criminal investigation in the weeks after she went to police. Local prosecutor Matthew Van Houten decided not to go forward with a criminal case within days of the woman giving her first substantial interviews to police. He has said he asked Cornell’s police department to inform Doe but never spoke personally to her or her lawyer. Giuffra claims the woman was told that the criminal investigation was ongoing. ‘I think she was misled. She was told it was still — they weren’t going to prosecute, but they were still investigating,’ Giuffra told the Associated Press. ‘I was involved with this case early on. I thought they were still investigating. It was news to me that they weren’t doing anything.’ Giuffra said that while they have both received death threats, he has been heartened by the outpouring of support for Doe. Rallies and protests have been held on the Cornell campus, and Giuffra said more than 1,000 women have emailed him to share anger, frustration, solidarity and stories of their own assaults. ******Get in touch with our news team by emailing us atwebnews@metro.co.uk.****** **For more stories like this,** check our news page. 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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta took a big risk on his first day in the job (Picture: Getty Images) Mikel Arteta feared his managerial career could have been over after one day as Arsenal manager after taking a bold step with his new squad. The Gunners boss stepped into his role in December 2019, taking on a huge job as his first in management. The Spaniard had cut his coaching teeth under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City and had a strong link with Arsenal having played for them from 2011-16, but it was still a big splash into the deep end. Arteta wanted to make an instant impact with the Arsenal players, after a terrible start to the season had seen Unai Emery dismissed and the new boss step in after Freddie Ljungberg had a stint as caretaker manager. ## Get personalised updates on your favourite club Sign up to our daily football newsletter, pick your team and get the latest news sent directly to your inbox every morning. He chose to do so in a theatrical way, which he feels could have gone horribly wrong if he had not got the reaction he was looking for. Arteta went to the biggest room at Arsenal’s training base and told The Athletic what happened next: ‘I just destroyed the office and put everything on the floor — the computers, the laptops, the cables. Then bring everybody in. ‘I said, “Listen, this is what I heard. I don’t know if it’s true. But from a lot of different people, the sentiment is that this is how they feel about working in the organisation. I’m here to help you enjoy your profession and your life and the passion that we all share. If you want me to help you to do that, you have two minutes to put this in order and at least to be ready to work together”. And I left. Arteta was a rookie boss when he arrived in 2019 (Picture: Getty Images) ‘That could have been my managerial career because if that would have stayed the same way, I had no job anymore! ‘I came back two minutes later and it was immaculate. Everyone was silent and had their eyes open and they were ready to listen. I said, “This is just the start. It’s something that we have to be in daily. Whatever we want to accomplish, we’re going to have to do it together. I cannot do it by myself. The issue that we have is much deeper than that, but the opportunity is infinite”.’ His rallying cry did not immediately produce results, but it certainly has over time, with Arsenal now the reigning Premier League champions and narrowly missing out on a first Champions League success in last season’s final. Arteta’s squad in 2026 is almost entirely different from the one he took over at the end of 2019, although the young Bukayo Saka he inherited has blossomed into a key man for club and country. Arteta has committed to the club until 2030 (Picture: Getty) After landing a first Premier League title as Arsenal boss, Arteta seemingly intends to create a dynasty after signing a new contract that runs until 2030. ‘It’s a privilege to commit my future to the club and to continue to work with exceptional people who want the best for Arsenal,’ Arteta said. ‘This club is unique, its character and the way it makes you feel, and I have a great sense of privilege that our journey together will continue. ‘We have already built a special bond and created memories that will last a lifetime, and what is so exciting is that this is only the beginning of what we can achieve together.’ Arteta will look to add more Premier League titles to his CV with Arsenal (Picture: Getty Images) Arsenal co-chairs Stan and Josh Kroenke said in a joint-statement: ‘It has been an incredible journey so far and we are excited for what lies ahead in this special relationship,’ they said. ‘Last season was an incredible moment in Arsenal’s history, a moment in which we created memories that will last a lifetime. We’re determined to create many more in the years ahead. ‘We share a special bond with Mikel. We are so proud of everything we have achieved since he returned to the club in 2019. ‘He has a deep understanding of Arsenal’s values and carries them in his heart. He knows what this club means to everyone connected to it and is committed to building on everything we have achieved together.’ Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source

Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso (Picture: Getty) Glen Johnson believes Alex Scott could be the ‘real deal’ but warned Chelsea about moving too quickly to sign the talented England midfielder. Scott arrived at Bournemouth from Bristol City back in 2023 and has gone on to establish himself as one of the most sought-after central midfielders in the Premier League over the last three years. The Guernsey-born 23-year-old narrowly missed out on Thomas Tuchel’s squad for the World Cup, but made his England debut against Czechia in Prague last week. Scott was the subject of intense speculation over the summer, with Arsenal and Chelsea both seeing approaches for the midfielder rejected by Bournemouth. ## Get personalised updates on your favourite club Sign up to our daily football newsletter, pick your team and get the latest news sent directly to your inbox every morning. The Cherries maintain that they will not entertain any bids for Scott in January, and have slapped an £80million valuation on the young midfielder, who Liverpool are also said to be keeping tabs on. But former Blues defender Johnson believes Chelsea shouldn’t be itching to sign Scott, and should instead let him develop further before trying to lure him to Stamford Bridge. ‘When I’ve seen him play, he looks likely to be the real deal,’ Johnson told football.london. Alex Scott impressed for England against Czechia and Croatia (Picture: Getty) ‘Obviously, there’s still a lot of question marks. ‘You know, we’ve seen loads and loads of players have a flash in the pan and then fall away, which I hope isn’t the case for him. ‘But there’s definitely a lot more to prove and a lot more to show than saying, ‘he’s our man, go get him already’.’ Chelsea failed to replace Enzo Fernandez this summer (Picture: Getty) But while Johnson believes Chelsea shouldn’t be in a rush to sign Scott, former Blues midfielder Gus Poyet is clear that the club’s current options in the middle of the park are a real problem for Xabi Alonso. ‘The biggest problem of Chelsea is their two central midfielders.’ Poyet told **Metro** via _betting sites._ ‘When you start the season thinking that you’re too holding midfielders ar going to be £100m Caicedo and £100m Enzo Fernandez, and then all of a sudden one is injured and the other one is gone, then you have a problem. ‘And I think that those two central midfielder positions is the balance between the team attacking well and defending well, and it’s been struggling there. ‘It’s been Reece James who’s been playing there, Lavia and Barco who’s been playing there, but you don’t have those two proper Keane or Vieira type. ‘So there is a situation that you need that kind of unity, and Chelsea without those main key players has been very difficult.’ **For more stories like this, check our sport page**. **Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on**Facebook,** Twitter and Instagram**. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source

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