Month: June 2025

Five UN food aid workers killed in Sudan ambush as hunger crisis deepens | Sudan war News

Deadly attack on United Nations convoy in Sudan disrupts aid to hunger-stricken families in the war-torn country.

An ambush on a United Nations food aid convoy in Sudan has killed at least five people, blocking urgently needed supplies from reaching civilians facing starvation in the war-torn Darfur city of el-Fasher.

Aid agencies confirmed on Tuesday that the 15-truck convoy was transporting critical humanitarian supplies from Port Sudan to North Darfur when it was attacked overnight.

“Five members of the convoy were killed and several more people were injured. Multiple trucks were burned, and critical humanitarian supplies were damaged,” the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Food Programme (WFP) said in a joint statement.

The agencies did not identify the perpetrators and called for an urgent investigation, describing the incident as a violation of international humanitarian law. The route had been shared in advance with both warring parties.

The convoy was nearing al-Koma, a town under the control of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), when it came under fire. The area had witnessed a drone attack earlier in the week that killed civilians, according to local activists.

Fighting between the RSF and the Sudanese army has raged for over two years, displacing millions and plunging more than half of Sudan’s population into acute hunger. El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, remains one of the most vulnerable regions.

“Hundreds of thousands of people in el-Fasher are at high risk of malnutrition and starvation,” the UN statement warned.

Both sides blamed each other for the attack. The RSF accused the army of launching an air attack on the convoy, while the army claimed RSF fighters torched the trucks. Neither account could be independently verified.

The attack is the latest in a string of assaults on humanitarian operations.

In recent weeks, RSF shelling targeted WFP facilities in el-Fasher, and an attack on El Obeid Hospital in North Kordofan killed several medical staff. Aid delivery has become increasingly perilous as access routes are blocked or come under fire.

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Will Sheikh Hasina face justice in Bangladesh? | Crimes Against Humanity

Former prime minister is charged with crimes against humanity but fled to India in 2024.

Fugitive and former Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina has officially been charged with crimes against humanity.

Prosecutors in Dhaka accuse the 77-year-old of orchestrating a “systematic attack” on demonstrators during protests last year that ended her 15-year rule.

Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus has promised to ensure that Hasina and other key figures face justice.

But his caretaker government is facing discord over when it will hold elections.

So will Sheikh Hasina face punishment, and will Bangladeshis forgive Muhammad Yunus if she does not?

Presenter: Mohammed Jamjoom

Guests:

Rumeen Farhana – Assistant secretary for international affairs of the Central Executive Committee, and former Bangladesh Nationalist Party MP

Sreeradha Datta – Professor at OP Jindal Global University

Abbas Faiz – Independent South Asia researcher with a focus on Bangladesh

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EastEnders confirms return for ‘missing’ character – but it’s not good news

EastEnders fans are over the moon as spoilers reveal a ‘return’ for one missing Walford resident next week

Patrick and Yolande
EastEnders confirm ‘return’ for Patrick Trueman(Image: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

Spoilers for next week’s EastEnders tease plenty of drama to come including a return for one ‘missing’ resident. There’s trouble in paradise for a number of couples next week, as Kat and Alfie face wedding day drama. But will the day go ahead?

The BBC soap have also confirmed a rocky patch for George and Elaine as Elaine learns where her husband really was on Christmas night. The final couple confirmed to be having trouble are Patrick and Yolande Trueman (Angela Wynter). Although fans are gutted the two are having marriage troubles, they’re also overjoyed that Patrick will be making his return.

Patrick Trueman (Rudolph Walker) has been notably absent from the soap lately, although his partner Yolande has been seen in a number of storylines. She’s been a big support to Nigel Bates who has been suffering from dementia.

Patrick and Yolande
There’s trouble in paradise for Patrick and Yolande(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

However, next week, the soap has confirmed Patrick will be back onscreen, but it’s not good news for him or Yolande, as she confides in Denise about their struggles. It all starts off next week with Patrick refusing to give Yolande a massage – but things quickly escalate when she raises her concerns with Denise.

She opens up about the state of her relationship with Patrick, as she fears things will never be the same between them – but will they be able to get on track?

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter upon seeing the spoilers, one fan wrote: “Patrick and Yolande are back next week I prayed for their return!”

Patrick and Yolande
The couple tied the knot in 2004(Image: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

Patrick and Yolande tied the knot in 2004, however, things came crashing down five years later when they got divorced. The pair rekindled once again in 2023 after Yolande returned to Walford from Birmingham.

The couple recently won a British Soap Award for Best On-Screen Partnership. The soap scooped up eight awards on the night, including Best British Soap, Best Single Episode and Scene of the Year for Angie Watts’ surprise return.

On the night, fans claimed there was an apparent mixed reaction to Rudolph and Angela’s win. However, fellow star Colin Salmon has now had his say on the incident.

Colin, who plays the role of George Knight in the long-running soap, voiced his opinion on X/ Twitter. Trying to explain exactly what had happened, he said: “Just want to clarify; No one was booing Rudi and Angela at the@SoapAwards we were singing RUUUDI , RUUUDI , RUUUDI. “

He added the interaction had “obviously confused some people”. “Appreciate some were concerned, as we should be, but it’s all good,” he added before signing off: “‘#NoDrama#WeLovePatrickandYolande @bbceastenders.”

EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

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Newark mayor sues New Jersey’s top federal prosecutor after arrest at immigration detention site

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka sued New Jersey’s top federal prosecutor on Tuesday over his arrest on a trespassing charge at a federal immigration detention facility, saying the Trump-appointed attorney had pursued the case out of political spite.

Baraka, who leads New Jersey’s biggest city, is a candidate in a crowded primary field for the Democratic nomination for governor next Tuesday. The lawsuit against interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Alina Habba coincided with the day early in-person voting began.

The lawsuit seeks damages for “false arrest and malicious prosecution,” and also accuses Habba of defamation for comments she made about his case, which was later dropped.

Citing a post on X in which Habba said Baraka “committed trespass,” the lawsuit says Habba issued a “defamatory statement” and authorized his “false arrest” despite “clear evidence that Mayor Baraka had not committed the petty offense of ‘defiant trespass.’” The suit also names Ricky Patel, the Homeland Security Investigations agent in charge in Newark. Baraka’s attorney, Nancy Erika Smith, said they also expect to sue President Trump’s administration but are required to wait six months.

“This is not about revenge,” Baraka said during a news conference. “Ultimately, I think this is about them taking accountability for what has happened to me.”

Emails seeking comment were left Tuesday with Habba’s office and the Homeland Security Department, where Patel works.

Videos capture chaos outside the detention center

The episode outside the Delaney Hall federal immigration detention center has had dramatic fallout. It began on May 9 when Baraka tried to join three Democratic members of Congress — Rob Menendez, LaMonica McIver and Bonnie Watson Coleman — who went to the facility for an oversight tour, something authorized under federal law. Baraka, an outspoken critic of Trump’s immigration crackdown and the detention center, was denied entry.

Video from the event showed him walking from the facility side of the fence to the street side, where other people had been protesting. Uniformed officials then came to arrest him. As they did, people could be heard urging the group to protect the mayor. The video shows a crowd forming and pushing as officials led off a handcuffed Baraka.

He was initially charged with trespass, but Habba dropped that charge last month and charged McIver with two counts of assaulting officers stemming from her role in the skirmish at the facility’s gate.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Andre Espinosa rebuked Habba’s office after moving to dismiss the charges. “The hasty arrest of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, followed swiftly by the dismissal of these trespassing charges a mere 13 days later, suggests a worrisome misstep by your Office,” he wrote.

McIver decried the charges and signaled she plans to fight them. A preliminary hearing is scheduled later this month.

Baraka said the aftermath of the withdrawn charge meant he had to explain it in the media and argue his case when he had done nothing wrong.

“I want somebody to apologize, write a letter, say this was wrong, come out and say, ‘We shouldn’t have done this,’” he said.

New Jersey targeted over its so-called sanctuary policies

Delaney Hall, a 1,000-bed facility, opened earlier this year as a federal immigration detention facility. Florida-based Geo Group Inc., which owns and operates the property, was awarded a 15-year contract valued at $1 billion in February. The announcement was part of the president’s plans to sharply increase detention beds nationwide from a budget of about 41,000 beds this year.

Baraka sued Geo soon after that deal was announced.

Then, on May 23, the Trump Justice Department filed a suit against Newark and three other New Jersey cities over their so-called sanctuary policies. There is no legal definition for sanctuary city policies, but they generally limit cooperation by local law enforcement with federal immigration officers.

New Jersey’s attorney general has a statewide directive in place prohibiting local police from collaborating in federal civil immigration matters. The policies are aimed at barring cooperation on civil enforcement matters, not at blocking cooperation on criminal matters. They specifically carve out exceptions for when Immigration and Customs Enforcement supplies police with a judicial criminal warrant. The Justice Department said, though, the cities won’t notify ICE when they’ve made criminal arrests, according to the suit.

It’s unclear whether Baraka’s role in these fights with the White House is affecting his campaign for governor. He’s one of six candidates seeking the Democratic nomination in the June 10 election to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy.

On Tuesday, Baraka explained the timing of the suit as an effort to get the case before the court before it was too late. He described the arrest and fallout as a distraction during the campaign.

“But I also think that us not responding is consent,” he said.

In a video ad in the election’s final weeks, Baraka has embraced a theme his rivals are also pushing: affordability. He says he’ll cut taxes. While some of the images show him standing in front of what appears to be Delaney Hall, he doesn’t mention immigration or the arrest specifically, saying: “I’ll keep Trump out of your homes and out of your lives.”

Trump has endorsed Jack Ciattarelli, one of several Republicans running in the gubernatorial primary. Ciattarelli has said if he’s elected, his first executive order would be to end any sanctuary policies for immigrants in the country illegally.

Catalini writes for the Associated Press. AP writer Alanna Durkin Richer in Washington contributed to this report.

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Freddie Freeman appreciated gesture from slain Baldwin Park officer

Tears flowed from Freddie Freeman as he sat in a Dodger Stadium interview room Aug. 5 and described the arduous recovery his 3-year-old son Max was making from a rare neurological condition in which the body’s immune system attacks the nerves.

Max had returned home from a five-night stay at Children’s Hospital Orange County, and Freeman was back in the Dodgers lineup after missing eight games to be with his family during the ordeal.

Two months later, the Dodgers were playing host to the New York Mets in the National League Championship Series. A police officer approached Freeman’s wife, Chelsea, to ask how Max was doing.

A man wears a police officer uniform and badge, sitting beside an American flag

A photograph of Officer Samuel Riveros provided by the Baldwin Police Department.

(Baldwin Police Department.)

The officer, Samuel Riveros of the Baldwin Park Police Dept., smiled and handed her a police patch to give to Max.

Riveros was killed Saturday in Baldwin Park when a gunman fatally shot him in the head while Riveros was rushing to the aid of a fellow officer who also had been shot, a law enforcement source with knowledge of the investigation told The Times.

Chelsea Freeman related meeting Riveros on her Instagram Stories and offered her family’s condolences.

“Our hearts are heavy hearing of his passing this week,” she posted. “We met during the Dodgers/Mets playoffs. He came up to me, asked how my son Max was doing and handed me his police patch to give to him.

“A small gesture that meant so much.”

Freddie Freeman was a World Series hero for the Dodgers in 2024, hitting a walk-off grand slam to win Game 1 against the New York Yankees. He is off to a hot start in 2025, currently leading the NL with a .368 batting average.

Riveros had been a Baldwin Park officer since 2016, joined the agency’s SWAT team in 2019, and had recently become a field training officer, which in a statement the agency called a “testament to his leadership and mentorship.”

Riveros was known for his devotion to the Dodgers, even traveling to the stadiums of opposing teams to watch them play, according to Baldwin Park Police Chief Robert A. López.

“Officer Riveros gave his life in service to others, a profound testament to his unwavering dedication to duty and selfless courage,” the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Dept. wrote in a statement. “His loss is profoundly felt — not only by his family and colleagues, but by the entire Baldwin Park community and law enforcement family.”

Eduardo Roberto Medina-Berumen, 22, was arrested on suspicion of murder and is being held in lieu of $4 million bail, according to the Sheriff’s Department. He lives with his mother at the Baldwin Park address on Filhurst Avenue, where gunfire erupted Saturday night, a source said.

“This tragic shooting is a sobering reminder of the danger our first responders face when they answer the call,” Dist. Atty. Nathan Hochman said in a statement.



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Lee Jae-myung on track to win South Korean presidential election in a landslide

Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung celebrated at a campaign event in Seoul early Wednesday morning as he was on track to win the South Korean presidency in a landslide. Photo by Jeon Heon-kyun/EPA-EFE

SEOUL, June 4 (UPI) — Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung was on track to win the South Korean presidential election by a landslide after almost all votes had been counted early Wednesday morning, bringing an end to months of political turmoil spurred by the botched martial law decree and impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol.

Lee was leading his main opponent, Kim Moon-soo of the conservative People Power Party, by 48.44% to 42.59% with 90% of votes counted, according to the National Election Commission. By late Tuesday evening, local broadcasters KBS, MBC and SBS had projected a certain win for Lee in the snap election triggered by the ouster of Yoon.

In a speech near the National Assembly delivered at 1:15 a.m., Lee thanked his supporters and promised to accept the responsibility the voters have given him.

“I will not forget for a moment the mission you have expected and entrusted to me, and I will definitely fulfill it without fail,” he told a raucous crowd the Democratic Party estimated at 5,000 people.

Kim Moon-soo conceded shortly afterward at PPP headquarters in western Seoul.

Humbly accepting the results of the 21st presidential election, Kim said, “Nothing can take precedence over the will of the people.”

Some 35.24 million voters cast a ballot, representing a turnout of 79.4% — the highest mark since an 80.7% turnout in 1997. Excitement around the snap election was high, as many voters appeared eager to send a message of repudiation to the former Yoon regime and his People Power Party.

After voting ended at 8 p.m., ballot boxes from 14,295 polling stations nationwide were transferred to 254 counting stations. Some 70,000 poll workers will be counting throughout the night before officially certifying the result.

Lee’s inauguration will be held on Wednesday, without the typical two-month transition period due to Yoon’s removal from office in April.

He will face a host of challenges almost immediately, including an economic downturn and tariff negotiations with U.S. President Donald Trump, who last week announced plans to double tariffs on steel and aluminum to 50%. The presidential vacuum over the past several months has made it difficult for South Korea, an export-driven country, to craft a trade package ahead of the July deadline for Trump’s 90-day pause on so-called “reciprocal” tariffs.

Geopolitical concerns, including an increasingly dangerous North Korea, and a looming demographic crisis caused by the world’s lowest birth rate are key issues facing South Korea.

On this election day, however, the mood for Lee’s supporters was a mix of jubilation and relief. Many described casting their votes as a part of an existential battle for South Korean democracy in the wake of Yoon’s shocking Dec. 3 martial law attempt.

Exactly six months after that attempt, Lee said his first duty was to “restore democracy.”

“The first mission you have entrusted to me is to overcome the insurrection and prevent another military coup that threatens the people with the guns and swords entrusted to them by the people,” Lee said in his speech.

He also pledged to revive the economy and work toward peace on the Korean Peninsula before ending with a call for unity after the deepest political turmoil the country has seen in decades.

“The responsibility of the president is to unite the people,” Lee said. “This temporary difficulty that we are experiencing can be overcome by the combined strength of our great citizens. Will you join hands with your neighbors with hope and confidence? Now is the time to do it.”

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‘I remember him as he was – not lying in a bed’: Michael Schumacher’s F1 boss gives tragic insight into star’s health

MICHAEL Schumacher’s former boss has given rare insight into the F1 legend’s condition – 12 years after the skiing accident that changed his life.

While the German seven-time world champion, now 56, hasn’t been seen in public since 2013, his Benetton manager says he speaks often with Schumacher’s family.

Michael Schumacher and Flavio Briatore holding Formula 1 World Championship awards.

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Flavio Briatore (right) has revealed insight into the health of F1 icon Michael Schumacher (left)Credit: Press Association
Michael Schumacher, the first German Formula 1 world champion, being celebrated by his team.

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Schumacher pictured on the shoulders of Briatore and race director Tom Walkinshaw after his 1994 World Championship victory has not been seen since 2013Credit: Alamy
Michael Schumacher and his wife Corinna skiing in the mountains.

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His wife Corinna gave an update on his health in a rare 2021 documentaryCredit: Alamy

Flavio Briatore, 75, led the Benetton F1 team during Schumacher’s breakthrough years, playing a key role in his first two world championships.

Briatore appeared to confirm to an Italian newspaper that Schumacher is bed-bound, amid scarce details of his condition due to the family’s commitment to privacy.

“If I close my eyes,” he told Corriere della Sera, “I see him smiling after a victory.

“I prefer to remember him like that rather than him just lying on a bed. Corinna and I talk often, though.”

Briatore’s update follows a claim by his ex-wife Elisabetta Gregoraci, who said: “Michael doesn’t speak, he communicates with his eyes.

“Only three people can visit him and I know who they are.”

Claims that Schumacher can no longer speak were echoed by his son Mick in a 2021 Netflix documentary about his father’s life.

The 26-year-old driver said: “I think dad and me, we would understand each other now in a different way now.”

In the 2021 documentary, Corinna gave a rare update, revealing Schumacher is still undergoing rehabilitation and is “different, but here” following his life-changing injuries.

In April, Schumacher signed a charity helmet with help from Corinna.

What do we know about Schumacher since his accident?

MICHAEL Schumacher’s life changed forever on December 29, 2013, when a skiing accident left the seven-time F1 champion with a severe brain injury.

Since then, his family has protected his privacy, with only a select few remaining in contact with the racing legend.

December 29, 2013 – The skiing accident: Schumacher suffers a life-threatening head injury while skiing off-piste in Méribel, France. He falls and hits his head on a rock, causing severe brain trauma despite wearing a helmet. He is airlifted to a hospital in Grenoble, where he undergoes two emergency surgeries. Doctors place him in a medically induced coma to reduce swelling in his brain.

January 2014 – Schumacher fights for his life: Schumacher remains in a coma. Doctors describe his condition as “critical but stable”. His family, led by wife Corinna, remains at his bedside. The world’s F1 community rallies behind him, with fans holding vigils outside the hospital.

June 2014 – Schumacher brought out of his coma: After nearly six months, Schumacher is brought out of his coma. His family confirms he is no longer in a coma but gives no further health details. He is transferred from Grenoble to a rehabilitation facility in Lausanne, Switzerland.

September 2014 – Back home: Schumacher is moved to his family home near Lake Geneva. Corinna announces he will continue his recovery at home, with a dedicated medical team.

2015–2018 – Mystery surrounding his health: Reports suggest Schumacher is receiving round-the-clock medical care at home, costing £50,000 per week. Jean Todt reveals he still visits Schumacher and that they watch F1 races together.

May 2017 – German magazine sued by Schumacher’s family: The magazine Bunte has to pay Michael Schumacher €50,000 (£42,000) in damages after claiming in 2015 that Schumacher would walk again. The Hamburg regional court determined that the statement was false and infringed upon Schumacher’s right to privacy.

September 2019 – Schumacher secretly transferred to Paris: French media reports that Schumacher is taken to Paris for stem cell therapy at the Georges-Pompidou Hospital. The procedure is led by renowned surgeon Dr. Philippe Menasché. Details of the treatment remain undisclosed.

December 2019 – Manager issues rare statement: Schumacher’s longtime manager Sabine Kehm says his condition will remain private. She dismisses speculation and false reports about his health.

September 2021 – Netflix documentary “Schumacher” released: A new Netflix documentary, Schumacher, provides rare insights into his life. Corinna speaks publicly about his condition for the first time, saying: “Michael is here. Different, but he’s here, and that gives us strength.”

December 2023 – 10 years since the accident: Schumacher turns 55. The anniversary of his accident is marked by tributes from the F1 world. Jean Todt confirms he still sees Schumacher regularly and describes his visits as “full of affection”.

September 2024 – Daughter Gina’s wedding: Gina Schumacher, 27, marries longtime boyfriend Iain Bethke at the family’s £27million Majorca villa. Reports claim Schumacher attends the wedding, but close friend Johnny Herbert later calls it “A1 fake news”. Guests are reportedly required to hand over their phones to prevent leaks.

December 2024 – Schumacher to become a grandfather: Gina announces she is pregnant, three months after her wedding. She shares the news on Instagram, writing: “Impatiently awaiting the arrival of our little girl.”

Signed racing helmet on a blue race car.

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Schumacher’s initials ‘M.S’ can be seen signed on the bottom part of the helmet belonging to fellow F1 icon Sir Jackie StewartCredit: Matt Wardle and Bell Racing
Emotional moment Michael Schumacher’s son and Sebastian Vettel pay tribute to stricken F1 legend

The helmet will be auctioned to raise money for Stewart’s charity Race Against Dementia.

Johnny Herbert, Schumacher’s teammate at Benetton between 1994 to 1995, described the signature as an “emotional” moment.

He told FastSlots: “It’s wonderful news that Michael Schumacher signed Jackie Stewart‘s helmet. It was a wonderful moment.

“We haven’t seen something emotional like this in years, and hopefully, it’s a sign. 

“Hopefully, Michael is on the mend. It’s been a long, horrible journey for the family, and maybe we’ll hopefully see him in the F1 paddock soon.”

Schumacher is one of the most successful F1 drivers of all time, winning world titles in 1994, 1995 and five consecutive years from 2000 to 2004.

He also racked up 71 fastest laps and 155 podiums during his racing career.

When asked who the greatest driver of all time is, Briatore told Corriere de Sera: “I don’t know who the greatest is, because we’ve had Schumacher, Senna, Alonso.

“Now, the number one is definitely (Max) Verstappen. I have two cars at Alpine, so I would like to have two Verstappens.”

Michael Schumacher kissing his former team manager Flavio Briatore.

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Schumacher kisses Briatore in 2000Credit: Reuters

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EastEnders line up shock return for Elaine – a year after star’s dramatic soap exit

EASTENDERS actor Paul Clayton is set to return to the soap after more than a year as he reprises the role of Drew Peacock.

Drew was revealed as the ex lover of the husband of Queen Vic landlady Elaine Peacock (Harriet Thorpe).

Scene from EastEnders episode 7134, featuring Drew and Elaine Knight in a bar.

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Actor Paul Clayton is returning as Drew – and it spells heartbreak for ElaineCredit: BBC
Photo of a man and woman standing outside at night.

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Harriet Thorpe who plays Elaine on EastEnders, with fellow actor Paul ClaytonCredit: Instagram / hatdorable
Man in suit standing by Albert Square street sign.

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Junior Knight also returns to stir up trouble between Elaine and GeorgeCredit: BBC

The character made their debut last year when they arrived as the drag artist hired by the Carter’s to perform at Elaine’s hen-do.

Things soon took a dramatic turn when Elaine recognised him and ordered him to leave.

The landlady was then forced to reveal to her daughter Linda (Kellie Bright) that Drew was the mystery person that her father had an affair with all those years ago.

And while Elaine and Drew managed to talk things over and put the past behind them it looks as though more drama is on the way as Drew makes a shock return in upcoming episodes. 

The character is featured on the cast list for next week’s episodes meaning that his return isn’t far away.

The guide hints that it is a huge week for the character of Elaine as she makes a shock discovery before making a decision about her marriage to George Knight (Colin Salmon).

She starts to suspect husband George is cheating on her.

Things go from bad to worse when Junior Knight turns up and reveals George kissed his mum Sabrina on Christmas day.

It’s another blow to their marriage after the drama with Cindy Beale, after George helped her relaunch The Albert.

Actor Paul, who played Sophie’s dad in Peep Show, sparked rumours of a potential return after posing for a photo with Harriet, shared to the actress’s Instagram, back in March. 

Watch the moment EastEnders’ George Knight calls off wedding to Elaine Peacock after deceit is exposed

Elaine hasn’t had an easy time since arriving in Walford.

The character permanently moved to Walford with George in 2023, taking over the iconic Queen Vic pub with her daughter Linda Carter.

She recently discovered Cindy’s shock affair with her stepson Junior.

The pub at the heart of Albert Square then suffered a devastating explosion that rocked Walford.

The Knight family were forced to move out until renovations were complete after they received the good news that the insurance would be paying out.

Now it seems the pub could be changing hands – after EastEnders accidentally leaked a massive spoiler.

Elaine Peacock and George Knight in a pub scene.

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Is the Queen Vic getting new landlords?Credit: BBC

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US factory orders slump in April as spending on tariff anticipation fades | Business and Economy

Orders tumble by 3.7 percent after a rise in March when businesses increased purchases in anticipation of tariffs.

Orders from United States factories have tumbled in April after a surge in March when businesses had front-loaded purchases in anticipation of tariffs.

New orders for US manufactured goods dropped by 3.7 percent on a monthly basis, worse than economists had expected, according to Census Bureau data released on Tuesday.

Economists polled by the Reuters news agency expected a 3.1 percent drop. Dow Jones forecast a 3.3 percent drop. On an annual basis, however, factory orders rose by 2 percent.

 

April’s report is in sharp contrast to the 3.4 percent increase in March, which topped five straight months of increases.

Manufacturing, which accounts for 10.2 percent of the US economy, has been put under pressure by President Donald Trump’s aggressive tariffs. Trump sees the tariffs as a tool to raise revenue to offset his promised extension of tax cuts and to revive a long-declining industrial base, a feat that economists argued was impossible in the short term because of labour shortages and other structural issues.

Hardest hit sectors

Orders in the transportation sector fell 17.1 percent, led by a sharp drop in the commercial aircraft sector. Aircraft orders fell by 51.5 percent in April. Orders for motor vehicles, parts and trailers dropped 0.7 percent.

Electrical equipment, appliances and component manufacturing fell by 0.3 percent. But manufacturing for computers and other electronic products actually grew by 1 percent.

Machinery orders also rose 0.6 percent. Excluding transportation, which led the surge in March orders, orders fell 0.5 percent, matching March’s decline of non-transportation goods.

The government also reported that orders for nondefence capital goods excluding aircraft, a measure of business spending plans on equipment, decreased 1.5 percent in April rather than 1.3 percent as estimated last month.

Shipments of these so-called core capital goods fell by an unrevised 0.1 percent, or $1.8bn.

An Institute for Supply Management survey showed manufacturing contracted for a third straight month in May and suppliers took the longest time in nearly three years to deliver inputs to factories.

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Judge rules federal prisons must continue providing hormone therapy to transgender inmates

The federal Bureau of Prisons must continue providing hormone therapy and social accommodations to hundreds of transgender inmates following an executive order signed by President Trump that led to a disruption in medical treatment, a federal judge ruled Tuesday.

U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth said a federal law prohibits prison officials from arbitrarily depriving inmates of medications and other lifestyle accommodations that its own medical staff has deemed to be appropriate.

The judge said the transgender inmates who sued to block Trump’s executive order are trying to lessen the personal anguish caused by their gender dysphoria, which is the distress that a person feels because their assigned gender and gender identity don’t match.

“In light of the plaintiffs’ largely personal motives for undergoing gender-affirming care, neither the BOP nor the Executive Order provides any serious explanation as to why the treatment modalities covered by the Executive Order or implementing memoranda should be handled differently than any other mental health intervention,” he wrote.

The Bureau of Prisons is providing hormone therapy to more than 600 inmates diagnosed with gender dysphoria. The bureau doesn’t dispute that gender dysphoria can cause severe side effects, including depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts, the judge said.

The Republican president’s executive order required the bureau to revise its medical care policies so that federal funds aren’t spent “for the purpose of conforming an inmate’s appearance to that of the opposite sex.”

Lamberth’s ruling isn’t limited to the plaintiffs named in the lawsuit. He agreed to certify a class of plaintiffs consisting of anyone who is or will be incarcerated in federal prisons.

Trump’s order also directed the federal Bureau of Prisons to ensure that “males are not detained in women’s prisons.” In February, however, Lamberth agreed to temporarily block prison officials from transferring three incarcerated transgender women to men’s facilities and terminating their access to hormone therapy.

The plaintiffs are represented by attorneys from the Transgender Law Center and the American Civil Liberties Union.

Lamberth, a senior judge, was nominated to the bench by President Ronald Reagan in 1987.

Kunzelman writes for the Associated Press.

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Maddy Cusack: Sheffield United players felt ‘unable to raise concerns’, says FA report

A Football Association report into the circumstances surrounding the death of former Sheffield United player Maddy Cusack found several players “did not feel supported and felt unable to raise concerns” at the club.

The FA commissioned the report in early 2024, following the midfielder’s death, aged 27, in September 2023, and it has not yet been published.

A hearing on Tuesday at Chesterfield Coroners’ Court was told the copy of the report that had been shared with the family and others was “provisional”, and would only be finalised at the conclusion of the inquest.

However, Dean Armstrong KC – representing the Cusack family – quoted excerpts from it, including that “most [players] particularly did not feel supported and felt unable to raise complaints against their manager and others”.

He also read another part of the report that stated “the investigation has shed light on the resourcing issues particularly acute in the women’s game and the related welfare and safeguarding issues that might arise”.

Nottingham-born Cusack was the first player to reach 100 appearances for Sheffield United, having started her career at Aston Villa and had spells at Birmingham and Leicester City.

Ex-Blades manager Jonathan Morgan, who was appearing via video link, accused Cusack’s family of “manipulating information” and fuelling a “narrative” in the 18 months since she died.

He said witnesses put forward by the family were “very one-sided” and there was “no-one to challenge the credibility of those individuals”.

Morgan added people who did not “echo” the views of the family had been “cast aside”, and requested that he be permitted to put forward witnesses.

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Bureau: Number of U.S. job openings little changed in April

June 3 (UPI) — At 7.4 million, the number of job openings was little changed in April, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Tuesday.

During the month, both hires and what the bureau called “total separations” were little changed at 5.6 million and 5.3 million, respectively, experts said.

Also, within separations, quits (at 3.2 million) and layoffs and discharges (at 1.8 million), recorded little change, bureau experts said.

The bureau’s update included estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires and separations for the total nonfarm sector. Job openings include all the positions that are open on the last business day of the month.

Hires and separations include all changes to the payroll during the entire month, as well.

In their Tuesday release on the numbers, bureau officials said the April statistics and rate of job openings were little changed at 7.4 million and 4.4 percent.

Experts noted that the number of job openings decreased in accommodation and food services (-135,000) and in state and local government, education (-51,000). Meanwhile, the number of job openings increased in arts, entertainment, and recreation (+43,000) and in mining and logging (+10,000), they said.

Additionally, the number of hires was little changed in all industries in April, they said.

The number of total separations in April was little changed at 5.3 million while the total separations rate remained unchanged at 3.3 percent. Total separations increased in federal government (+9,000).

In April, the number and rate of quits were little changed at 3.2 million and 2.0 percent, respectively. The number of quits was down by 220,000 over the year, bureau officials said. In April, the number and rate of layoffs and discharges were little changed at 1.8 million and 1.1 percent, respectively.

According to April numbers, layoffs and discharges increased in health care and social assistance (+52,000) but decreased in state and local government, excluding education (-14,000) and in federal government (-4,000).

May’s numbers are scheduled for release next month, the bureau said.

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Inzaghi leaves Inter Milan amid Saudi Pro League interest | Football News

Inter Milan and Simone Inzaghi part ways after the Italian football club’s defeat by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final.

Simone Inzaghi has announced that he will leave Inter Milan following the Italian club’s defeat in the Champions League final, and amid heavy interest in his services from the Saudi Pro League.

The 5-0 rout by Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the final of European football’s premier club competition on Saturday was Inzaghi’s final game in charge of the Serie A runners-up.

“The time has come for me to say goodbye to this club after a run of four years during which I gave everything,” Inzaghi wrote in a letter to Inter fans on the club’s website on Tuesday.

The loss to PSG on Saturday marked the most lopsided defeat in the 70-year history of major European finals.

Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal is reportedly trying to lure Inzaghi with an offer of more than 20 million euros ($23m) per season.

Inzaghi coached Inter to the Serie A title last year, and was also in charge when the Nerazzurri lost the 2023 Champions League title to Manchester City.

He was at Inter for exactly four years and had one more season remaining on his contract.

It’s unclear now who will coach Inter at the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States starting June 14.

Inter opens against Monterrey on June 17 — a day before Al-Hilal opens against Real Madrid.

There has been speculation that Inter would go after Cesc Fabregas, who coached Como to a 10th-place finish in Serie A.

Inter finished second in the Italian league last month, one point behind champion Napoli.

The Milan-based football club was in the running for a treble until it lost to city rival AC Milan in the Italian Cup semifinals in April. Having also been beaten by Milan in the Italian Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia in January, the Nerazzurri didn’t win a trophy this season.

The coaching change at Inter is just one of many managerial moves among the top Italian teams this off season, with Milan, Roma, Atalanta and others making changes.

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Fortune Feimster, Jax Smith are getting a divorce

Fortune Feimster and her wife of five years, Jacquelyn “Jax” Smith, are divorcing, the former couple posted Monday on social media.

“Together, we have made the difficult decision to end our marriage,” they wrote in a statement posted on their Instagram accounts. “We’ve been separated for a little bit, both of us dealing with tough health situations in our families, so it wasn’t something we were ready to talk about.”

They continued, “While we are sad to see this chapter of our lives come to a close, we wish each other nothing but the best as we move forward. We’ve had 10 years together, and there’s so much to celebrate about that and so much we will look back on fondly.”

“The Mindy Project” actor, a Groundlings veteran, requested privacy in the wake of the news.

Smith was a kindergarten teacher and later joined Feimster’s creative team, executive producing three of her comedy specials, “Sweet & Salty” in 2020, “Good Fortune” in 2022 and “Crushing It” in 2024. The two met at a 2015 Pride event in Chicago, dated long distance for a few years, got engaged in 2018 and married in a small ceremony during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The women’s families attended the wedding via Zoom.

“I want people to know me and Jax are like everybody else,” the 44-year-old comedian told People in October 2022. “We happen to be gay but our story is not much different from other people’s. … You don’t have to be gay to relate to an engagement story.”

Divorce? Definitely — albeit unfortunately — relatable.

Feimster credits Chelsea Handler with launching her career as a writer-performer-standup comedian. She is credited as a writer on almost 600 episodes of “Chelsea Lately” between 2011 and 2014.

“She was putting people on TV that no one else was putting on TV,” Feimster told The Times in 2023, “and not really caring if you fit the mold of who should be on TV. … She was the first person who gave me the ‘yes’ when everyone was telling me ‘no.’”



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Republican push for proof of citizenship to vote proves a tough sell in the states

President Trump and congressional Republicans have made it a priority this year to require people to prove citizenship before they can register to vote. Turning that aspiration into reality has proved difficult.

Trump’s executive order directing a documentary, proof-of-citizenship requirement for federal elections has been blocked by a judge, while federal legislation to accomplish it doesn’t appear to have the votes to pass in the Senate. At the same time, state-level efforts have found little success, even in places where Republicans control the legislature and governor’s office.

The most recent state effort to falter is in Texas, where a Senate bill failed to gain full legislative approval before lawmakers adjourned on Monday. The Texas bill was one of the nation’s most sweeping proof-of-citizenship proposals because it would have applied not only to new registrants but also to the state’s roughly 18.6 million registered voters.

“The bill authors failed spectacularly to explain how this bill would be implemented and how it would be able to be implemented without inconveniencing a ton of voters,” said Anthony Gutierrez, director of the voting rights group Common Cause Texas.

Voting by noncitizens is already illegal and punishable as a felony, potentially leading to deportation, but Trump and his allies have pressed for a proof-of-citizenship mandate by arguing it would improve public confidence in elections.

Before his win last year, Trump falsely claimed noncitizens might vote in large enough numbers to sway the outcome. Although noncitizen voting does occur, research and reviews of state cases has shown it to be rare and more often a mistake.

Voting rights groups say the various proposals seeking to require proof of citizenship are overly burdensome and threaten to disenfranchise millions of Americans. Many do not have easy access to their birth certificates, have not gotten a U.S. passport or have a name that no longer matches the one on their birth certificate — such as women who changed their last name when they married.

The number of states considering bills related to proof of citizenship for voting tripled from 2023 to this year, said Liz Avore, senior policy advisor with the Voting Rights Lab, an advocacy group that tracks election legislation in the states.

That hasn’t resulted in many new laws, at least so far. Republicans in Wyoming passed their own proof-of-citizenship legislation, but similar measures have stalled or failed in multiple GOP-led states, including Florida, Missouri, Texas and Utah. A proposal remains active in Ohio, although Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, has said he doesn’t want to sign any more bills that make it harder to vote.

In Texas, the legislation swiftly passed the state Senate after it was introduced in March but never made it to a floor vote in the House. It was unclear why legislation that was such a priority for Senate Republicans — every one of them co-authored the bill — ended up faltering.

“I just think people realized, as flawed as this playbook has been in other states, Texas didn’t need to make this mistake,” said Rep. John Bucy, a Democrat who serves as vice chair of the House elections committee.

Bucy pointed to specific concerns about married women who changed their last name. This surfaced in local elections earlier this year in New Hampshire, which passed a proof-of-citizenship requirement last year.

Other states that previously sought to add such a requirement have faced lawsuits and complications when trying to implement it.

In Arizona, a state audit found that problems with the way data were handled had affected the tracking and verification of residents’ citizenship status. It came after officials had identified some 200,000 voters who were thought to have provided proof of their citizenship but had not.

A proof-of-citizenship requirement was in effect for three years in Kansas before it was overturned by federal courts. The state’s own expert estimated that almost all of the roughly 30,000 people who were prevented from registering to vote while it was in effect were U.S. citizens who otherwise had been eligible.

In Missouri, legislation seeking to add a proof-of-citizenship requirement cleared a Senate committee but never came to a vote in the Republican-led chamber.

Republican state Sen. Ben Brown had promoted the legislation as a follow-up to a constitutional amendment stating that only U.S. citizens can vote, which Missouri voters overwhelmingly approved last November. He said there were several factors that led to the bill not advancing this year. Due to the session’s limited schedule, he chose to prioritize another elections bill banning foreign contributions in state ballot measure campaigns.

“Our legislative session ending mid-May means a lot of things die at the finish line because you simply run out of time,” Brown said, noting he also took time to research concerns raised by local election officials and plans to reintroduce the proof-of-citizenship bill next year.

The Republican-controlled Legislature in Utah also prioritized other election changes, adding voter ID requirements and requiring people to opt in to receive their ballots in the mail. Before Gov. Spencer Cox signed the bill into law, Utah was the only Republican-controlled state that allowed all elections to be conducted by mail without a need to opt in.

Under the Florida bill that has failed to advance, voter registration applications wouldn’t be considered valid until state officials had verified citizenship, either by confirming a previous voting history, checking the applicant’s status in state and federal databases, or verifying documents they provided.

The bill would have required voters to prove their citizenship even when updating their registration to change their address or party affiliation.

Its sponsor, Republican state Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka, said it was meant to follow through on Trump’s executive order: “This bill fully answers the president’s call,” she said.

Cassidy and Lathan write for the Associated Press. Cassidy reported from Atlanta. AP writers Mead Gruver in Cheyenne, Wyo.; David A. Lieb in Jefferson City, Mo.; Kate Payne in Tallahassee, Fla.; Hannah Schoenbaum in Salt Lake City; Julie Carr Smyth in Columbus, Ohio; and Isabella Volmert in Lansing, Mich., contributed to this report.

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Angel City’s Christen Press focusing on Alyssa Thompson’s development

It doesn’t seem that long ago that Christen Press was helping the national team to consecutive World Cup titles. She was unstoppable then, a key cog in the greatest women’s soccer team in history.

Yet she played her 155th and final match for the U.S. in the Tokyo Olympics.

It doesn’t seem that long ago that Press, just 18 days removed from those Olympics, became the first player signed by expansion club Angel City. She was bringing the NWSL to her hometown and was being rewarded with what was then the richest contract in league history.

Yet she’s started just 10 games since then, losing most of the last three seasons to a stubborn anterior cruciate ligament injury that took four surgeries to repair.

Press eventually will be inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame, but she isn’t ready for that trip just yet. If her body isn’t always willing, her mind and her heart are still keen on the sport, so Press makes her most valuable contributions now in the quiet of the locker room.

At 36, she has completed the transition from wunderkind to elder stateswoman. And on a Angel City team with 13 players under the age of 25, her presence is being felt.

“It’s a different role. I wasn’t that type of person,” said Press, who admits she has grown into the job.

“When I was 20 I didn’t have a relationship with a senior player like they have with me. I’m enjoying the presence that I have with these young players.”

Press has paid special attention to Alyssa Thompson, the 20-year-old Angel City player whose early career may be most reminiscent of her own, taking the locker next to Thompson in the team’s spacious dressing room.

Both are Southern California natives who played soccer and ran track in high school, led their teams to CIF titles and won national player of the year awards. Both committed to play for Stanford — Press went, Thompson didn’t.

Angel City forward Alyssa Thompson controls the ball during a match against Seattle in October.

Angel City forward Alyssa Thompson controls the ball during a match against Seattle in October.

(Lindsey Wasson / Associated Press)

But Thompson’s career is just starting while Press is winding hers down. So the most valuable thing she can offer now is advice.

“The thing that I’m good at is scoring goals. It is an art and I love it,” Press said. “I’m now kind of showing Alyssa how I trained to become a goal scorer. How you can think about goal-scoring in a very nuanced and methodical way.

“I’m learning as I teach her. I’m seeing the ways that she approaches it differently. It’s just kind of a spirit of collaboration I see as a win-win for everybody.”

Thompson agrees, saying she appreciates the chance to learn from a master.

“She’s definitely my mentor,” Thompson said. “She’s entering a new era of her career and she still wants to continue to play and stuff like that. But when she’s not playing, she’s able to [offer] her guidance and support.”

Goalkeeper Angelina Anderson, the team’s vice captain and, at 24, a key member of Angel City’s youth movement, isn’t sure Press fully appreciates the impact she’s having. The extra work Press puts in with Thompson, for example, has also made Anderson better.

“After training she’ll pull me aside and say ‘Hey, Ang, can you stay? I’m going to play a few balls through for Alyssa.’ That alone, dealing with such an elite finisher, is making me better obviously,” said Anderson, who was recently called up to the national team for the first time.

“She’s probably had to change a lot; just her mindset and mentality going through her injury and being older. I think she’s embraced her role and she seems like she’s in a really healthy spot.”

Listen to Press for a moment and the depth of her wisdom, experience and intelligence is obvious. But that doesn’t exactly make her rare in the Angel City locker room. Ali Riley, Press’ former Stanford teammate, and Scottish international Claire Emslie also have played on multiple continents and in multiple international championships and have become mentors to the team’s younger players.

“I enjoy that,” Emslie said. “I definitely find myself saying things to the younger players that I remember getting told and I think it’s important to pass on that information and have those relationships.

“I want to help them as much as I can because they’re going to go on and have even better and more successful careers. If I can help them along the way, it’s rewarding.”

That approach seems to be working. Angel City (4-4-2) is in playoff position through 10 games despite starting six players younger than 25.

“It’s important to have experienced players like Christen around. Especially when you’ve got so many players that are so young and exciting and dynamic,” interim manager Sam Laity said.

How long Press continues to do that in person is uncertain. The one-year contract extension she signed in January ends when the season does and she has a budding business empire to manage, one that includes a wildly entertaining podcast and a social entrepreneurship company founded with former USWNT teammates Megan Rapinoe, Meghan Klingenberg and Tobin Heath.

But if her playing days are indeed numbered, she’s enjoying those she has left. And that may be the most important lesson Professor Press passes on to her young students.

“There’s only one thing I haven’t done in soccer and that’s enjoy it,” she said. “All of my peers retired and I’m still here. I’m still given this gift of being able to appreciate it, play with gratitude, be a role model. And when I think about Angel City and my legacy, I think about ‘wow, what an opportunity to show the next generation that this can — and should be — fun and rewarding and it’s a gift that we get to chase greatness.

“The truth is the other things that I’m doing, from a career standpoint, are more lucrative than playing for Angel City this season. [But] there’s no better job in the world. We get so wrapped up in winning and greatness and titles and trophies that sometimes we don’t just get to be there. Like, I run around for my job. And I’m grateful that I have the opportunity to do so.”

You have read the latest installment of On Soccer with Kevin Baxter. The weekly column takes you behind the scenes and shines a spotlight on unique stories. Listen to Baxter on this week’s episode of the “Corner of the Galaxy” podcast.

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Arsenal transfer news LIVE: Huge ‘Williams blow’, Barcelona in Partey talks EXCLUSIVE, ‘green light’ for Gyokeres deal

Zubimendi’s move to Gunners in doubt?

It had been recently reported that Arsenal had met Martin Zubimendi’s release clause of £50.5m, and a deal seemed all but confirmed, subject to a medical.

The midfielder revealed in a recent interview with Radio Nacional de Espana, that his future is still undecided.

Zubimendi said: “Of course there are options, but it’s true that it seems like it’s going to be a different, long summer, and I don’t know how it will end.

“I don’t think thinking about it right now is my priority. I’m here with the national team, which I think is already quite demanding, and if I have to say something, then I will.”

SAN SEBASTIAN, SPAIN - MAY 13: Martin Zubimendi of Real Sociedad looks on during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Sociedad and RC Celta de Vigo at Reale Arena on May 13, 2025, in San Sebastian, Spain. (Photo By Ricardo Larreina/Europa Press via Getty Images)
Credit: GETTY

Raya: ‘That’s where I hit rock bottom’

David Raya has opened up on the lowest point of his Arsenal career in an honest interview with former England goalkeeper Ben Foster.

Raya, 29, has been one of the Premier League’s top shot-stoppers since his move to North London, winning consecutive Golden Glove awards in between the sticks at the Emirates Stadium.

But the Spaniard revealed that it hasn’t always been easy, explaining that a poor game against Luton Town last season made him hit “rock bottom”.

Even though Arsenal won the game 4-3, thanks to a late Declan Rice header, Raya was left feeling that his performance was the worst of his career – shipping three goals against the newly promoted outfit.

He told Fozcast: “It was a turning point against Luton. That game was one of the worst games I ever played and that’s where I hit rock bottom.

“From there, the only way was up with changing my habits and trying to change my mindset.

“From that game, I said, ‘Listen, this is not me.’ I think there’s been a massive change from there.”

Gyökeres withdraws from Sweden squad

Viktor Gyökeres has withdrawn from the Sweden squad due to a ‘minor injury’

He will therefore miss the friendly matches against Hungary and Algeria.

The rumour mill continues to swirl around Gyökeres, with Arsenal and Atlético Madrid circling.

SOLNA, SWEDEN - NOVEMBER 16: Viktor Gyokeres during the UEFA Nations League 2024/25 League C Group C1 match between Sweden and Slovakia at Strawberry Arena on November 16, 2024 in Solna, Sweden. (Photo by Michael Campanella/Getty Images)

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