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A former television presenter opened up about the ups and downs of her showbiz career during an interview on ITV’s This Morning

During Tuesday’s (16 September) episode of This Morning, presenters Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard welcomed former telly star Sarah Cawood onto the sofa.

Sarah, 53, is most famous for presenting the BBC children’s programme Live and Kicking during the 90s. Viewers will also remember her from hosting Top of the Pops and MTV’s Singled Out. She additionally appeared on Loose Women and Richard and Judy.

She stepped away from television work after becoming a mother, welcoming a son in 2012 and a daughter with her husband in 2013.

Sarah joined This Morning following a social media post where she confessed to feeling “lost” and had been battling emotions of “jealousy” upon witnessing others in the entertainment world thriving, reports Wales Online.

Ben questioned Sarah regarding the worry and “self-doubt” she faced whilst working as a television presenter, leading her to make a heartbreaking confession.

Sarah confessed, “I had the worst imposter syndrome, but I don’t think that’s unusual. Most people that I’ve spoken to, in fact, I bet you two felt the same, ‘Should I really be here? Am I good enough to be?’

“But, I think that was amplified when all the jobs sort of fell away in the mid-noughties. I was like, ‘Oh, maybe I was just rubbish all along. ‘ It was really hard to deal with.”

She continued by disclosing that her television career “fading away” left her devastated, though she has discovered reasons to feel thankful for its conclusion.

“I always say that the fading away of my TV career was worse than any heartbreak I ever had from any boy. Telly broke my heart worse,” Sarah added.

“But, I have had time with my children, and I am super grateful for that. And, you find other stuff to do! You just find a way through. I can’t lie, though, it is nice to be here.”

Sarah revealed how she’d been overwhelmed with messages of support following her candid Instagram post, where she’d confessed to feeling “left out” whilst watching her colleagues reach fresh career heights.

She shared with Ben and Cat how countless people had reached out to say they felt exactly the same, and she’d been kept busy chatting with social media followers going through identical emotions.

This Morning airs on weekdays at 10am on ITV1

NBA commissioner Adam Silver on Wednesday pulled back the reins as allegations swirled about the Clippers circumventing the salary cap by orchestrating an endorsement deal for star forward Kawhi Leonard.

Silver, speaking to the media after a previously scheduled meeting of all 30 team owners in New York, said an NBA investigation would need to uncover clear evidence that the Clippers violated rules for owner Steve Ballmer to be punished.

“The burden is on the league if we are going to discipline a team, an owner, a player or any constituent members of the league,” Silver said. “I think, as with any process that requires a fundamental sense of fairness, the burden should be on the party that is, in essence, bringing those charges. …

“I think as a matter of fundamental fairness, I would be reluctant to act if there was sort of a mere appearance of impropriety.”

The Clippers and Ballmer are under league investigation after it was alleged last week on the podcast of Pablo Torre that Leonard was paid $28 million for a do-nothing endorsement role by Aspiration, a sustainability firm that had agreed to a $330-million sponsorship deal with the Clippers and had offered $1 billion for naming rights to the arena that instead became the Intuit Dome.

Aspiration turned out to be a fraudulent company, and co-founder Joseph Sanberg has agreed to plead guilty to defrauding multiple investors and lenders.

Silver said he would hesitate to take action against the Clippers if even a shred of doubt about the situation remains following the investigation, which will be conducted by a law firm experienced in probing wrongdoing by sports franchises, Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen and Katz.

“Bringing in a firm that specializes in internal investigations adds a level of expertise and creates separation between the league and the investigation of a team,” said Michael McCann, a sports law expert and a visiting professor at Harvard. “The investigators have a background in prosecutorial work, insight into what documents to request and questions to ask.”

McCann and other legal experts said the investigation would center on whether Ballmer’s $50-million investment into Aspiration was a quid pro quo for the firm to turn around and give Leonard $28 million in cash and $20 million in Aspiration stock to essentially do nothing.

Ballmer is embarrassed by the allegations and about his apparent infatuation with Aspiration — which entered into a $330-million sponsorship arrangement with the Clippers and was nearly awarded naming rights to what became the Intuit Dome, only to be revealed as a fraudulent company run by scam artists.

McCann said the investigation would need to uncover concrete evidence that Ballmer or someone else representing the Clippers directed Aspiration to make the deal with Leonard. The only evidence presented on Torre’s podcast was hearsay — an audio clip of an anonymous former Aspiration employee saying that someone else in the company told them the endorsement deal “was to circumvent the salary cap, LOL. There was lots of LOL when things were shared.”

LOL typically is used in written communication, so if the allegation was made in an email or text, the next step for investigators would be to interview the person who wrote it and determine whether Ballmer was involved.

The investigation presumably will examine all of this. Silver tends to be methodical when conducting a probe and is expected to act on what can be proved, not on the perception of wrongdoing. But he also is charged with protecting and growing franchise values. Anything that could damage the integrity of the league would be a huge concern to him and team owners.

“Silver has quite a few very interesting relationships to protect and to nurture: other owners, his corporate sponsors, the media networks that are distributing the content,” said David Carter, a USC professor of sports business and principal of the Sports Business Group. “Everybody attached to the league is interested in getting to the bottom of this. So he has to balance different stakeholder interests and he is very good at doing that.

“So I have a feeling he will — working with the law firm — get to the bottom of it and then decide to what extent if any punishment is warranted. He’ll do that with the intent of making sure he’s protecting the interests of the other owners.”

Leonard joined the Clippers in July 2019 on a three-year, $103-million contract after leading the Toronto Raptors to the NBA title. The 6-foot-7 forward from Moreno Valley signed a four-year, $176.3-million extension in 2021, when Aspiration made its sponsorship deal with the Clippers and Ballmer invested and became a minority owner in the company.

After signing a three-year, $153-million extension a year ago, Leonard will have been paid or is under contract for $375 million in career salary over 14 years with three teams.

The NBA looked into allegations that the Clippers paid Leonard or his representative and uncle, Dennis Robertson, a side deal when he first joined the team in 2019. No wrongdoing was found, although this week the Toronto Star reported that Robertson made demands of the Raptors in 2019 “that line up almost perfectly with what Leonard reportedly got from Aspiration.”

The Star reported that Robertson demanded $10 million a year in sponsorship income but that Leonard didn’t want to do anything for the money. The Raptors rejected the demand, and Leonard signed with the Clippers.

Should the Clippers be found guilty of circumventing the salary cap, they could be forced to forfeit draft picks and be fined heavily. Ballmer and other team executives could be suspended, and perhaps Leonard’s contract could be voided.

Silver will proceed carefully.

“The goal of a full investigation is to find out if there really was impropriety,” he said. “In a public-facing sport, the public at times reaches conclusions that later turn out to be completely false. I’d want anyone else in the situation Mr. Ballmer is in now, or Kawhi Leonard for that matter, to be treated the same way I would want to be treated if people were making allegations against me.”

Millom, nestled among Cumbrian mountains, might not be one of the country’s best-known towns, but it certainly left a lasting impression and very much shaped me as a person

Walking around the UK coastal town on the edge of the Lake District where he spent his childhood, a wave of nostalgia and sadness washed over Andrew Papworth.

The assistant editor of The Express was revisiting Millom, a small town nestled among Cumbrian mountains. It may not be well-known across the country, but it certainly left an indelible mark on Andrew.

He said: “As I retraced my steps from our family home in Seathwaite Close to the bottom of Lowther Road, I came across the infant school that gave me the very best start in life.

“Turning down St George’s Road, I passed Millom Park and the children’s play area, where I spent many hours as a boy. In the thriving town centre, I remembered my mum dragging me round the shops. Further along the road, close to the railway station, was The Bridge Cafe, where I used to pop in for sweets on my walk home from Black Combe Junior School.

“Millom was – and is – only a small town, but as a child it felt like my entire universe. In many ways it was, because like any quintessentially English town, it had everything you needed on your doorstep.”

Established around its ironworks in the 1800s before their closure in the 1960s, Millom boasted a strong sense of pride and community. Everyone seemed to know everyone, and there was a palpable sense of camaraderie, reports the Express.

Andrew said: “It looked exactly the same as when I left in 1995, aged nine, and when I last visited in 2005. And while that brought back many nostalgic memories, it also broke my heart.

“It appears that little investment has been made in Millom since then, whether in new homes, shops or community facilities.

“All I noticed was that the old Safeway is now a Tesco, and many of the shops that had such a strong presence seem to have long gone.”

Chatting to locals, one of their first comments is often about the lack of financial input into their area.

Andrew said: “It’s a great sadness. By contrast, Canary Wharf in east London, where I now work, didn’t even exist when I was born but has been steadily transformed from barren wasteland into the bustling heart of London’s financial district.

“Of course it’s not really an even comparison, but it feels desperately unfair that some areas of the country have had millions and billions of pounds of investment while a town with such a rich and vibrant history has barely been given a thought.”

There are other potential factors at play. The historic shipyard in nearby Barrow-in-Furness was a significant employer for Millom workers.

The loss of 10,000 jobs in the 1990s must have had a profound effect.

Cumbria didn’t have a university until 2007 and for years, many saw the shipyard and Sellafield nuclear power station, now being decommissioned, as the only major career paths. Many dreaming of different lives must have surely packed up and left.

Millom’s location on the north-west coast also makes the town more challenging to access.

But if we can channel investment into even the most disadvantaged corners of this nation, surely we can achieve it in a town blessed with such incredible natural beauty.

Where Millom has undeniably thrived is in its community spirit, which burns as brightly as ever.

During Andrew’s visit on a glorious Monday afternoon, he chatted to Nicola Armstrong, proprietor of The Bloom Room on St George’s Terrace since 2012. Hers is an extraordinary story of triumph – a completely self-taught florist who’s scooped national accolades and showcased at London exhibitions.

“From a tiny little town, I’ve gone to a lot of places,” she says – but she never overlooks one of the major factors behind her achievements.

“I wouldn’t have got where I am without this community,” she reveals. “They’re my biggest cheerleaders.”

Throughout his stay, Andrew also encountered Coordination Group Publishing (CGP), whose vibrant and amusing study guides he relied upon during his GCSEs and A levels. It remains one of Britain’s premier educational publishers.

Whilst shops have shuttered, one that has persevered is Ferguson’s, which has been a reliable fixture in Millom for 70 years. Proprietor Arthur Ferguson celebrated his 100th birthday this year and is thought to be Britain’s eldest shopkeeper.

Andrew said: “While I was in Cumbria, I also visited Barrow to see its dramatic transformation as it builds the next generation of nuclear submarines and becomes the beating heart of Britain’s defence.

“I only hope some of the £220million of government funding going into that regeneration for the national endeavour will benefit Millom, even if only indirectly, because this small town and its people deserve only the best.

“Whatever happens in the future, I know that if I come back in another 30 years, Millom’s soul will remain as strong as ever.”

THIS is the terrifying moment a petrol station is engulfed in flames after a devastating fireball blast.

Four people died after a gas cylinder is believed to have caught on fire with footage showing a horror inferno as locals ran for their lives.

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Footage from Dagestan, Russia, shows the gas station up in flames with black clouds of smoke billowing through the air.

As the initial fireball raged on, a second, far more devastating blast erupted as the remaining gas cylinders and pumps all exploded.

Video filmed by a terrified local shows much of the village of Sulevkent in the Khasavyurt district attacked by a bright orange flash as the second blast hits.

The deafening sound of the inferno was met with the sight of debris flying through the air.

Residents who had left their homes to watch the initial explosion were quickly sent running for their lives as the second blast rang out.

The apocalyptic scenes were said to have been visible from several kilometers away, locals said.

Emergency services rushed to the scene to extinguish multiple fires which continued to burn for some time.

Four people were found and rushed to a nearby hospital with severe burns.

They all tragically died from their injuries.

Officials determined the initial explosion was caused by the depressurisation of a gas cylinder during refuelling operations, according to preliminary reports.

The gas station was left decimated alongside the adjacent service station and food vendors.

The Dagestan prosecutor’s office is now conducting an investigation into the incident.

It comes less than a year after another petrol station explosion killed 13 people and injured 23 just outside the Dagistani capital of Makhachkala.

Two children were among the casualties, authorities confirmed.

Horrifying video showed the enormous explosion – which then hurled a fuel tank 1,000ft towards a high rise block.

Locals claimed the blast was so strong that the ground shook like in an earthquake.

In August 2023, a third massive blast at a gas station in Dagestan killed 35 people and injured 115 more.

The fire started at a car repair shop before engulfing the nearby Nafta 24 filling station – sending it up in flames before triggering a giant explosion.

It took firefighters more than three and a half hours to put out the blaze as it spread to an area of 600 square metres, TASS reports.

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Europe’s top human rights court has ruled that Russia violated international law in Ukraine, marking the first time an international court has found Moscow responsible for human rights abuses since the full-scale invasion in 2022.

Judges at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg are ruling on four cases brought by Ukraine and the Netherlands against Russia, encompassing a wide range of alleged human rights violations since the start of the conflict, including the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 and the kidnapping of Ukrainian children.

Any decision will be largely symbolic. The complaints were brought before the court’s governing body expelled Russia in 2022, following the country’s invasion of Ukraine.

Families of the victims of the MH17 disaster see the decision as an important milestone in their 11-year quest for justice.

The Boeing 777 flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was shot down on July 17, 2014, using a Russian-made Buk missile fired from territory in eastern Ukraine controlled by separatist rebels. All 298 passengers and crew were killed, including 196 Dutch citizens.

More to come…

President Trump broke the law when he mobilized thousands of members of the California National Guard to the streets of Los Angeles amid protests over immigration raids, and must return control of the troops to Gov. Gavin Newsom, a federal judge ruled Thursday.

U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer of San Francisco granted the state of California’s request for a temporary restraining order Thursday evening, but also delayed enforcement of the order until noon Friday, giving the Trump administration time to file an appeal with the U.S. 9th Circuit.

In a 36-page decision, Breyer wrote that Trump’s actions “were illegal — both exceeding the scope of his statutory authority and violating the 10th Amendment to the United States Constitution.” Breyer added that he was “troubled by the implication” inherent in the Trump administration’s argument that “protest against the federal government, a core civil liberty protected by the First Amendment, can justify a finding of rebellion.”

Newsom, who filed the lawsuit along with the state of California, called the ruling “a win for all Americans.”

“Today was really about the test of democracy, and today we passed the test,” Newsom told reporters in a building that houses the California Supreme Court in San Francisco.

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The ruling, California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta told reporters, is “a critical early indication that upon quick review of the facts of our case, the court sees the merits of our argument.”

“We aren’t in the throes of a rebellion,” Bonta said. “We are not under threat of an invasion. Nothing is preventing the federal government from enforcing federal law. The situation in Los Angeles last weekend didn’t warrant the deployment of military troops, and their arrival only inflamed the situation.”

The Trump administration filed a notice of appeal in the case late Thursday, and is seeking to delay Breyer’s order until the 9th Circuit decides on the case. If the 9th Circuit granted the request for a stay, control of the National Guard would not revert back to Newsom on Friday, Bonta said.

If the 9th Circuit does not grant the stay, Breyer’s order will take effect Friday afternoon, sending the National Guard back to Newsom’s control. Newsom said troops would go back to working on counter drug enforcement, border security and forest management.

During a hearing Thursday, Breyer seemed skeptical of the Justice Department’s argument that courts could not question the president’s judgment on key legal issues, including whether the protests and unrest in Los Angeles constituted either “a rebellion or danger of a rebellion.”

“We’re talking about the president exercising his authority, and of course, the president is limited in his authority,” Breyer said. “That’s the difference between the president and King George.”

Trump and the White House have argued that the military mobilization is legal under Section 12406 of Title 10 of the U.S. Code on Armed Forces, which gives the president the authority to federalize the National Guard if there is “a rebellion or danger of a rebellion against the authority of the government of the United States.”

“The protests in Los Angeles fall far short of ‘rebellion,’” Breyer wrote. There were instances of violence, he said, but the Trump administration did not identify “a violent, armed, organized, open and avowed uprising against the government as a whole.”

“The evidence is overwhelming that protesters gathered to protest a single issue—the immigration raids,” Breyer wrote.

Title 10 of the U.S. Code also requires that orders from the president “be issued through the governors of the States.”

As governor, Newsom is the commander in chief of the California National Guard. Last Saturday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sent a memo to the head of the California Guard to mobilize nearly 2,000 members, who then sent the memo to Newsom’s office, the state’s complaint said. Neither Newsom nor his office consented to the mobilization, the lawsuit said.

Newsom wrote to Hegseth on Sunday, asking him to rescind the troop deployment. The letter said the mobilization was “a serious breach of state sovereignty that seems intentionally designed to inflame the situation, while simultaneously depriving the state from deploying these personnel and resources where they are truly required.”

“I’m trying to figure out how something is ‘through’ somebody, if in fact you didn’t send it to him,” Breyer asked. “As long as he gets a copy of it at some point, it’s going through?”

Breyer was less willing, however, to engage in the legality of Trump’s deployment of U.S. Marines to Los Angeles. Attorneys for California noted that 140 Marines were scheduled to relieve and replace Guardsmen over the next 24 hours.

Protests emerged across Los Angeles on Friday in response to a series of flash raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents across the county. A handful of agitators among the protesters committed violence and vandalism, prompting Trump to quickly deploy the California National Guard to respond. He added active-duty Marines to the operation Monday. Protests, and some sporadic violent rioting, have continued since the deployments.

Trump has said that the mobilization was necessary to “deal with the violent, instigated riots,” and that without the National Guard, “Los Angeles would have been completely obliterated.”

Breyer said that the Trump administration had identified “some stray violent incidents relating to the protests,” and from there, he said, “boldly claim that state and local officials were ‘unable to bring rioters under control.’”

“It is not the federal government’s place in our constitutional system to take over a state’s police power whenever it is dissatisfied with how vigorously or quickly the state is enforcing its own laws,” Breyer wrote.

The attorneys general from 18 other states, as well as Los Angeles City Atty. Hydee Feldstein-Soto, supported California’s position in the case.

Wilner reported from Washington, D.C., Wong from San Francisco and Nelson from Los Angeles.

George was promoted from the academy team to the first team on 19 December, six months after he and defender Josh Acheampong signed new deals in June 2024.

That decision to sign a three-year contract, plus an optional fourth year, raised eyebrows among multiple academy sources at Chelsea.

Internal talk was that he might get lost among £1bn of talent – including another summer influx of talented young forwards – signed since the change of ownership in 2022.

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca gave George a chance in pre-season and sources say the Italian’s backing helped keep him at Stamford Bridge.

George was first spotted by Chelsea playing for TFA Totteridge FC in Whetstone.

He signed up through their development centre programme before becoming a fully fledged academy player at the age of eight – taking a picture with then-first team breakthrough stars Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Lewis Baker on his signing day.

However, a source told BBC Sport that in those early years, George was a ‘middling’ player in his age group until around the age of 10.

It was at that point George’s dad hired a goalkeeper as well as a personal coach, David ‘Guru’ Sobers, to raise his game alongside his work at Chelsea.

In midweek, George would train with Chelsea and then from the age of 13 on Fridays, he would play against men in nine-a-side matches at either Vauxhall or Nine Elms Power League in South London.

On Saturdays, he would train again and go through post-match analysis with Sobers from his Power League matches the evening before, before going back to Chelsea on Sunday to play.

“I used to spend hours travelling on public transport to do two-hour sessions, or longer, with Tyrique as I thought I could help him,” Sobers told BBC Sport.

“We would spend hours doing one-versus-one, technical work, shooting drills, and I enjoyed the fact that he would push himself so much. I’d be a ‘bad’ referee when he played against 18 year olds, so he would get kicked – but have to get up and win the ball back.

“We did tactics on his Friday session during these matches. I think it helped our young players, we also had guys now at Manchester City, West Ham and Reading, become fearless, especially when coming back to their own age group.”

George also trained for several years with Unique FA, an elite academy, but under the proviso that he would play with players a few years older than himself.

Sobers still works with George and added: “Ty became unfazed by anything but it was on him how relentless he was at repetition and doing the fundamentals.

“He was non-stop and we pushed him but he always wanted to work hard and we didn’t force him, it was all him wanting to be exceptional while staying humble.

“He already showed he had the mentality by facing men even when small for his age group. A late growth spurt was the missing piece of the puzzle.”

At least 500 Palestinian children have been killed by sustained Israeli air attacks and bombardments in Gaza since Israel broke the ceasefire with Hamas last month, said Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson of the Gaza Civil Defence, while a UN official described the war-torn territory as a “post-apocalyptic” killing zone.

Meanwhile, Israeli air raids in Gaza on Saturday killed at least six people, including a child, bringing the death toll in the last 24 hours to more than 20. More than 1,500 people have been killed since Israel resumed its bombardment of Gaza on March 18, according to figures from the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

In the latest Israeli attacks on Saturday, two people were reported killed, and two children were injured in Gaza’s Tuffah neighbourhood, while two others were killed in al-Atatra district of Beit Lahiya, in the northern part of Gaza.

Another Palestinian was killed in an Israeli drone attack in the Qizan an-Najjar area, south of Khan Younis.

Several casualties were also reported following Israeli air raids on the tent shelters of civilians in the al-Mawasi area, west of Khan Younis, which Israel had designated a so-called “safe zone”.

Al Jazeera’s Hind Khoudary, reporting outside Al-Ahli Hospital in Deir el-Balah, central Gaza, reported that a newborn named Sham was severely injured after the child’s family was hit in an attack.

“She was in very critical condition where her arm was amputated and she died a couple of hours later, because her injury was very critical and doctors were unable to help her situation,” she said. The death brings to six the number of deaths early on Saturday.

Khoudary also reported that two forced evacuation orders were issued on Saturday in Shujayea and Khan Younis.

“Palestinians do not know where to go.”

“We are here in Al-Aqsa Hospital and we observe the ambulances that come every single day and most of those who are targeted, injured or killed, are women and children.

“Due to the lack of medical supplies, most of these Palestinian children and women are witnessing a very deteriorating situation,” she added.

On Friday, Ravina Shamdasani, spokeswoman for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, reported that 36 of the 224 documented Israeli strikes in Gaza, between March 18 and April 9, involved deaths that were only women and children.

In a statement, the Palestinian rights group Al-Haq said the findings by the UN further confirmed a pattern it previously identified.

“Such a calculated effort to exterminate women, boys, girls & even infants, has not been witnessed in any other modern conflict,” Al-Haq said in a post on social media.

In an interview with Al Jazeera’s Upfront, UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) chief Philippe Lazzarini described the situation in Gaza as a “post-apocalyptic” killing zone.

Speaking at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkiye on Friday, Lazzarini also reiterated that Israel has been preventing the entry of food, fuel, medicine and other vital humanitarian supplies into Gaza, contravening international law.

In a separate post on X on Saturday, UNRWA Director of Communications Juliette Touma warned that all basic supplies “are running out” in Gaza.

“It means babies, children are going to bed hungry.”

Israel has pledged to press on with its military offensive, with officials in recent days outlining plans to seize new swaths of territory in southern Gaza and issuing a series of forced evacuation orders.

UNRWA said about 400,000 Palestinians have been forcibly displaced across Gaza since the ceasefire ended on March 18. Israel forcibly displaced about 90 percent of Gaza’s 2.3 population since it launched war on October 7, 2023. More than 50,000 Palestinians have been killed and 115,981 wounded drawing condemnation from rights groups.

THINK you know who broke the vase?

The scene below appears to show a mum and four children, gathered around the broken china.

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It’s not immediately clear who smashed it – but your first instinct could reveal a lot about your character.

Take your time choosing the culprit, then scroll to find what your choice says about you.

If you chose Child A

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The boy in blue might appear guilty because he is stood so close to the vase.

He is also fixated on the broken chinaware, while children B, C, and D look on.

But are the other kids passing the blame?

If you chose this child you are said to be careful with everyone around you.

You are responsible, reliable, and detail-oriented. You take your decisions after thinking carefully about everything.

You will not rush into anything. You are highly observant and take notice of everyone’s body language and behaviour.

You are also meticulous, systematic, analytical, attentive to details and you may be a forward-thinking and assertive kind of person.

You may not take decisions based entirely on emotions and you look for meaning and significance in life.

You have a need to care, encourage, and contribute to your surroundings and relations.

But you are also a natural visionary, non-conformist, and problem-solver kind of individual.

If you chose Child B

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Child B looks like the eldest child, appearing to look at child A with understanding and concern.

She does not appear angry or upset, nor does she appear to be passing any judgement.

If you chose this child, you are said to be good at understanding people and not leaving their side during hard times.

You probably don’t judge people right away because you will try to get to know them first.

You are a very conscientious person. You understand that people are not perfect and mistakes can happen to anyone.

You also value integrity and unity in relationships and are a natural romantic and nurturer.

You enjoy connections that encourage expressions and acceptance.

And you may be one of those extremely helpful individuals who give more importance to relationships than other aspects of life.

But, you are likely to make decisions based on emotions and you want to be understood and appreciated.

If you chose Child C

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Child C looks mischievous, stood with his hands in his pockets while wearing a cheeky grin.

If you chose this child, you might possess confidence and leadership skills.

You can recognise problems and solutions. You may also be skilled in turning around situations and opportunities to your advantage.

However, under negative circumstances, you can also be pretentious, snobbish, and arrogant.

You love living in the present and enjoy every moment to the fullest.

You love spontaneity in your work and love creating new ideas but you have a strong independent streak.

You may be highly ambitious and like to be the centre of attention.

You may also be highly competitive and may have learned to keep a good grip on your emotions.

If you chose Child D

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Child D seems to be scared and almost in tears and seems overwhelmed by her emotions.

She may be worried that being the youngest, she might be pinned with the blame.

If you chose this child, you may trust others easily and may be sensitive and emotional.

You want to be understood and appreciated and always try to be a better person.

You prefer to lead by a ‘head over heart’ approach and are easy to talk to and a good listener.

However, you become uneasy if you feel controlled too much by your emotions.

You like to work on yourself and your goals to achieve success and you love to learn new things and concepts.

You abide by high morals while working also. In your adult life also, you may find yourself on a quest to discover yourself.

You may seek outer validation a lot to feel good about yourself but you need to be reminded about your uniqueness and abilities.

If you enjoyed this picture personality test, there are plenty more optical illusions and brain teasers to try.

This one features a gnarled tree but only those with high IQ can spot a sleepy cat hiding on it.

You can also have a go at spotting the hidden broom amongst the clothes in less than five seconds.

Or, try figuring out the hidden message in this band’s cover art that has confused fans for years.

You’ll have to peel your eyes to find the butterfly disguised among these spring flowers.

And lastly, puzzle fanatics have been left scratching their heads trying to find the lost feather in just 12 seconds.

A ROYAL Navy nuclear-armed submarine has smashed the world record for the longest patrol — after spending 204 days at sea.

Sir Keir Starmer and Defence Secretary John Healey yesterday met the crew of HMS Vanguard and their families as the boat returned to the UK.

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The PM thanked them “for their months of silent service deep under water”.

He is the first PM to join a so-called Day Zero since 2013.

No10 said several sailors’ families had “significant life milestones while their loved ones were on deployment, including four submariners who returned home to newborn children”.

HMS Vengeance held the previous record of 201 days, set last year.

The subs provide Britain’s nuclear deterrent and one is always at sea.

They were only designed to carry out 80-day missions but only two of the four subs are seaworthy, forcing them so spend longer at sea.

Sir Keir will today visit Barrow-in-Furness to lay the keel to the first of the next generation nuclear armed submarines, known as the Dreadnought class.

He will also announce King Charles has agreed to confer the “Royal” title to the Port of Barrow in Cumbria in recognition of the town’s “unique and critical contribution to national security as home of nuclear submarine building in the UK”.

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Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme – Sun Club.

FORMER Strictly star Ben Cohen’s ex-wife Abby has spoken about his split from pro dancer Kristina Rihanoff saying: “What goes around comes around.”

Photographer Abby Cohen was left heartbroken when the Curse of Strictly struck and Ben left her for Kristina after his 2013 stint on the show.

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Abby, 47, said: “How they met is not, in my opinion, a solid enough foundation because it was all about lust and was a physical thing. It wasn’t an organic way to meet.’’

At the time of the split, Abby said she was furious Ben had left her for “a f***ing Russian dancer”.

But now she has said: “I’m sad that their relationship has ended. I do feel sorry for him.

“Our marriage broke down and now it’s happening all over again to him.

“He’s got another child and he’s got to start again from nothing in his late 40s, from being so successful as a rugby player to now reading of his business failures.

“I’m hoping this will bring some closure now. It reminds me of all the hurt I went through back then, my break-up. What goes around comes around.”

Abby is still unable to watch Strictly Come Dancing and thinks her experience with Ben gave her post-traumatic stress disorder.

She said: “I’d never watched Strictly before, I’ve never watched it since. It was a big part of my sadness.

“When I hear the music, it gives me PTSD. It seems to be the curse show, they might as well change the name of it.

“It’s not about dancing any more. It’s about who’s gonna go off with who this year.

“And I just think that’s really sad as the people involved have allowed it to become that way.

“It’s about the gossip, and the end of my marriage was a result of that. I’m amazed people still find it interesting.

“If I do see that someone on the show has been having an affair, it just makes me feel really sad, because behind it is someone who is hurt like me. I was broken.

“I don’t get angry any more because there’s no point. I don’t have much memory of the time because it was so traumatic.

“I was in a mess. I didn’t want to be here any more. I was really poorly. I sought help and support. I was really sad for a long time.”

Abby was first flung into the spotlight in 2013 when Rugby World Cup winner Ben, now 46, was partnered with Kristina, 47, on Strictly Come Dancing.

Ben and Abby had been married since 2002 and had twin daughters in 2008. But Ben eventually left her for his Russian pro partner.

Kristina and Ben had a child themselves in 2016 and got engaged three years ago. But Abby was not surprised to hear that the relationship had broken down.

She said: “I think a successful relationship is always built on a strong foundation, and maybe because of the nature of how it began, theirs wasn’t.

“I just feel for him because it affects my girls, you know, that they’re having to go through another split.

“They’ve already done it once. They were too young to remember, but they’re older and a bit more resilient now, but they’ve still got to go through more change.”

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Abby admits she no longer feels angry towards Kristina, but is pleased she will not be doing any more interviews about her relationship with her ex.

She said: “I don’t know what her next step is. It gives me peace that every time Kristina wants to do an interview, she’s not going to talk about this again, it’s done.

“So I feel quite relieved about that. It was like a constant reminder of everything I went through.

“I hope she finds what she’s looking for and everyone can learn from it. She’s a mum now so I hope she is happy.

“When it first happened, I was dealing with massive emotion. I went to therapy and learned about the grief curve. I was feeling really angry, I was cross.

“You go through anger, hurt and I had all sorts of emotions that I’d never experienced before.

“But I feel so at ease now dealing with everyday tasks.”

Despite both living in Northampton, Abby has not seen Kristina since the 2013 series.

And she is grateful that their paths have never crossed.

She said: “I haven’t seen Kristina since the show. It’s really weird and bizarre, we live in the same town. I can’t believe that.

“I think the universe kept us apart to protect my emotions. I used to worry about bumping into her.”

Ben and Abby started dating aged 16. And after they had the twins, Ben was “a big family man”.

Abby said: “Ben was just a home boy. He just did his job well in sport and he came home and mowed the grass.

Me and Kristina are very different. We like different things.

Abby Cohen

“We were probably quite boring to be honest, quite down to earth.”

His decision to take part in Strictly seemed like a great career move at the time.

Abby said: “Strictly was the most popular reality show on TV, that’s why it was a good idea for Ben to do it at that point — he appealed to everyone. The family man. I was the girl next door. He was a good candidate for it.

“When Strictly filmed all the behind-the-scenes footage and it was all about Ben and his girls, he lived for us.

“Throughout our whole relationship, Ben was my hero.

“He worshipped the ground I walked on. He just got partnered with the wrong one.”

At the time Kristina was partnered with Ben, she had just split from boxer boyfriend Joe Calzaghe. They had got together after being paired on Strictly four years earlier.

But Abby has questioned if bosses should have let her take part. She said: “Looking back, I don’t know if it was the right time for her to do that show, given her own relationship had just broken down.

“I don’t know if she was in a bad place at the time because she had just split with Joe Calzaghe.”

Country girl Abby also marvels at how different she and Kristina are. She said: “I’m a family girl. I make soups and Sunday roasts, but I don’t know if Kristina does that. I don’t actually know what she does. Me and Kristina are very different. We like different things.

“She doesn’t have any wellies, put it that way. She doesn’t pick up dog poo or muck out her horses every day like I have to. We’re completely different.”

Two years ago, Abby was successfully treated for bowel cancer and views life differently now. She has found happiness with her partner David and enjoys earning her own money for her daughters.

‘Ben wouldn’t know me now’

She said: “For me, now I can say I’m actually pleased that it happened. I’m actually really happy now. I’ve built an amazing life photography career and I’m not following him around as a wife watching him play rugby.

“I’ve found me and become an independent, strong woman, who’s fought cancer, who’s managed to bring up the girls the best I can.

“It makes me feel emotional. Ben wouldn’t know me now. I’ve got a lovely home. I’ve got a huge circle of friends that are all amazing.

“I’ve got two gorgeous girls, who are about to start their lives.”

During her cancer fight, Abby raised awareness of the disease and the symptoms, appearing on ITV’s Lorraine, and she has been inundated with messages of support from other women.

She said: “If I can take a positive from my whole 12-year experience of this trauma that I’ve been through, it’s the fact that I’m able to raise awareness and that’s a nice thing that’s come from something that’s really sad.

“People approach me in the street to say that hearing about my experience has made them go to the doctors.

“What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I feel really resilient now.”

Four couples hit by Strictly curse

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Pro Brendan Cole split with his girlfriend in 2004 amid claims he and Natasha Kaplinsky grew close.

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DANCER Flavia Cacace dumped Vincent Simone in 2007 and hooked up with partner Matt Di Angelo.

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COMEDIAN Seann Walsh’s relationship ended in 2018 after he was seen kissing pro partner Katya Jones.

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STACEY Dooley was on in 2018, split from her partner and now has a kid with dancer Kevin Clifton.

SIPPING a cocktail in a lively bar on her hols in Turkey, Lisa Dudley locks eyes with the handsome barman who makes a beeline for her.

He sits down next to her and holds up the drinks menu — not to take her order, but to hide their faces as they kiss.

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After being single for ten years, Lisa had found the spark she’d been searching for, and it was like they’d known each other for ever.

But this clinch in Icmeler, Marmaris, was not the start of a fairytale. It was the beginning of a nightmare that would destroy her trust in men, trigger terrifying anxiety and leave her buried under a mountain of debt.

Lisa is a victim of holiday romance fraud, a crime that has risen by nearly 60 per cent since 2020.

In the past year, more than £70million has been taken from victims, with data from Lloyds Bank revealing those aged 65 to 74 lose the most money.

‘Just my type’

Lisa’s story shines a light on the dangers of holiday romances. Her ordeal began when she travelled to Turkey in June last year to celebrate her cousin’s 60th birthday.

On a night out, soon after they had arrived in the country, a young barman came to take their orders . . . and Lisa drank him in.

The personal assistant, who had failed to find love on dating apps such as Bumble and Hinge, says: “He was gorgeous and just my type, so I was excited when he started chatting me up.

“We even shared a secret kiss.”

The barman introduced himself as Sam, aged 34, and at the end of the night he and Lisa swapped numbers.

The following day, she went back to see Sam and the pair headed to Sam’s flat, which he rented by the night.

Lisa says: “The sex was great, making emotional connection even stronger. It does sound crazy but it felt like love at first sight.”

A few days later, Sam messaged saying he could not afford his rent.

He asked Lisa for £3,000 so he could get a place big enough for the two of them, so she could stay whenever she visited.

She says: “I trusted him to pay me back, so I transferred £3,000 of my savings. I was slightly nervous. I’d read about romance scams before but it wasn’t like there was a big age gap between us or that he was out of my league. I was convinced what we had was real.”

Two days later, Lisa’s ten-day trip came to an end.

She says: “Sam kissed me goodbye and told me he loved me. I was surprised he’d said it so soon, but on the plane home, I couldn’t stop crying. This was no holiday fling. I’d fallen for him.”

Back in the UK, Lisa and Sam stayed in touch via WhatsApp.

She says: “We spoke every day and after a few days of being back I told him I loved him too.”

Even when Mum said, ‘He’s conning you’,
I refused to believe it.

Lisa Dudley

In July, three weeks after her first visit, Lisa went back to Turkey with her cousin and was reunited with Sam.

She says: “I went to see him at the bar and he kissed me on both cheeks. But over the coming days he was standoffish and preoccupied on his phone.

“I was disappointed and really confused. I wondered what I had done and what had changed.”

While Lisa stayed in an apartment with her cousin, Sam showed her the flat he was supposedly set to buy.

“I was shocked at how awful it was,” she says. “But I trusted him and during the trip we did sleep together again.”

Five days later, Sam had a request. Lisa says: “He told me he’d always wanted his own bar and had found one we could run together, as a partnership.

“I’d worked in a bar in Tenerife and loved it, so owning one with Sam would be a dream come true.

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“He said it would cost £15,000 and asked if I had the money. I didn’t, but said I could try to get a loan. He offered to show me the bar but we never got round to it, something I now regret.”

Back in the UK, Lisa struggled to secure the money. She says: “I managed to get a Nationwide loan, but the branch advisers quizzed me over where the money was going.

“I panicked and lied because I didn’t want them to refuse to make the payment.

“Sam had been pressuring me to get it done ASAP. I told them it was for me and a friend to buy a house in Turkey.

“But they refused to transfer the money to the account Sam had given me. Looking back, I wish I’d just told them the truth.”

It felt like love at first sight. I was convinced what we had was real.

Lisa Dudley

Eventually Lisa secured a £5,000 Tesco loan to cover the money she had already given Sam, and a Santander loan for £15,000 for the bar.

She then opened a Monzo account to transfer the money.

She says: “The account details were in the name of the man who owned the bar, but this only made it more real. If the money was going straight to Sam, I’d have been more wary.”

Meanwhile, Lisa and Sam spoke every day. “He was still telling me he loved me, but was messaging less, blaming it on not having wifi,” says Lisa, who had planned another trip to Turkey in October.

A couple of weeks later, Lisa’s parents saw her bank statements.

She says: “My mum told me, ‘We know what you’ve done’. She wasn’t angry, just upset for me.

“She and my dad had also found British women warning others about Sam on social media.

“My stomach momentarily dropped, but my feeling that Sam was being honest was stronger.

“Even when Mum said, ‘He’s conning you’, I refused to believe it.

“As far as I was concerned, Sam loved me and they had it all wrong.”

It was only in September, when her friends and parents showed Lisa further posts online about Sam being a serial con artist, that she began to accept the truth.

She says: “I even spoke to one woman Sam had been seeing at the same time as me. It hurt so much.”

Trust destroyed

Lisa confronted him about it on WhatsApp, but he branded the women liars, writing that they just “want to have sex with me every year when they come”.

Then suddenly Lisa could not contact him any more . . . he had changed his phone number.

She says: “He had messed with my mind, broken my heart and walked away with £18,000 of my money. I was crying all the time and could barely eat anything.”

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Lisa took advice from family and friends and hired a solicitor in October.

She says: “They are dealing with my fraud recovery claim and I will have to wait up to a year to find out if I’ll receive any compensation from Monzo.”

Lisa lives with her parents in Essex, paying them £650 a month.

She says: “I’m so grateful to my parents, who paid off the loans, avoiding the extra £10,000 I’d have had to pay in interest.

“Before meeting Sam, I’d planned to move out and get my own place, but now I can’t afford to.

“I’ve also been diagnosed with anxiety and depression and have been signed off work.”

When Lisa posted on social media to warn others about Sam, she was branded “naive” and a “fool”. She says: “Yes, I may have been stupid, but my feelings were genuine.”

Lisa says Sam has destroyed her trust in men, and adds: “If I meet someone, I’ll always be questioning them. I’m still grieving for my future with Sam and I still love him. Even knowing what I know, I wonder, did he love me?

“When thinking of a holiday romance scam you might picture young men tricking older or wealthier women to get money or a visa, but this was different.

“You just never think it’s going to happen to you.

“But I’m proof this kind of scam can happen to anyone.”

AN ICONIC car brand “on the brink of collapsing” could be rescued by a tech firm.

Nissan reportedly could go under within 12 months if it does not receive much-needed support, having planned to cut 9,000 jobs.

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The Japanese car manufacturer makes up a third of a strategic deal with Mitsubishi and Renault which sees the trio share financial backing and expand markets in Europe, Japan and the US.

It is an agreement that stretches back to 1999, but Renault is understood to be looking to reduce its financial stake.

The withdrawal of this key funding could leave Nissan needing support from the Japanese or US government within the next year to stay afloat.

Nissan had been locked in talks with Honda over a potential merger in recent weeks – potentially creating the world’s third-largest manufacturer.

But the talks have broken down over growing differences between the two firms.

The break down left Nissan staring down the barrel at a perilous year again.

But Taiwan-based tech company Foxconn is understood to be interested in working with the car firm.

The firm is one world’s largest contract electronics maker and manufactures Apples iPhones.

Foxconn is said to be seeking to expand its EV manufacturing and has approached Nissan – though a bid was rejected in December.

Foxconn’s EV business is led by former Nissan senior executive, Jun Seki, who was once seen as a contender to become the automaker’s CEO before the job went to its current boss Makoto Uchida.

Nissan and Honda spokespeople have declined to comment on the status of their talks.

But the two companies had earlier signed a memorandum of understanding to discuss an integration under a holding company.

The talks, though, have been complicated by growing differences.

Multiple sources have said talks hit a wall after Honda said it wanted to turn Nissan into a subsidiary.

A consensus was reached on Nissan’s side that the talks could not proceed under that proposal, a source familiar with the matter said.

Nissan is expected to formalise a decision to withdraw from the discussions at a board meeting next week.

Honda’s current stance, meanwhile, is that it would not accept an integration unless Nissan agrees to become a subsidiary

Honda is Japan’s second-largest carmaker behind Toyota , and Nissan is the third-largest.

The end to the discussions casts further fears over the future of Nissan, which is already in the midst of a turnaround plan.

Sources say it is difficult to see how the car giant can ride out the crisis without external help.

The tie-up talks have coincided with the disruption posed by potential tariffs from newly-elected US President Donald Trump.

Nissan has been hit harder than some other carmakers by the shift to EVs having never fully recovered after years of crisis sparked by the arrest and removal of former Chairman Carlos Ghosn in 2018.

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A CLASSIC hatchback that broke 21 speed records doing 135mph in a 24-hour race 35 years ago could be yours for just £16,000.

Dubbed the world’s fastest MG Metro, it was one of just two motors built by the British carmaker to contest land speed records.

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Now, for the first time in 20 years, the MG, which could reach speeds of 135mph, is up for sale.

The car had been created by a voluntary team of enthusiastic Rover Group engineers in 1989 who worked with company management to produce a modified version of the Metro.

The then-new fuel-injected motor was built with the intention of contesting records in Class F, a category for engines sized between 1,100cc and 1,300cc.

MG’s Metro GTI was developed from the earlier Turbo and Metro 1300 models but with an alignment towards modern fuel-injection systems that helped enhance performance and efficiency.

The team of engineers succeeded in increasing the power of the 1,396cc twin-cam, K-series engine from 95bhp to 140bhp.

Alongside a resilient fuel delivery system, specialist roll cage, and a number of other performance variations, the car was now capable of speeds of up to 135mph.

6,500 hours of work were spent on the project, and around 500 people were involved, to prepare the car for the required level.

While it was incredibly well executed and achieved all of its objectives, the project received only limited publicity, with the team’s success remaining relatively unknown.

Only now have their efforts risen to be noticed after they previously slipped under the radar.

Records were smashed by the team in a 24 hour event that took place at Millbrook Proving Ground, Bedfordshire, supervised by the RAC.

The June 1990 test saw the two cars continuing to lap the high speed bowl, despite heavy rain as darkness fell, until all 21 Class F records had been broken.

An official list of all the records broken can be found within the car’s history file, including the 2,911 miles and 1,727 yards it covered in exactly 24 hours, doing so at an average speed of 121.33mph.

The car is the only one to survive in its original format and condition following the event, as reported by Luxury Auto News.

Its listing reads: “It presents in excellent condition, having covered just 3,356 miles from new.

“Its state of preservation is commensurate with it being kept in a dehumidified garage for over 20 years and recently mechanically recommissioned using nearly £2,000 worth of consumable parts, including replacement of the four petrol pumps and the brake servo, as well as being freshly MOT’d.

“With the exception of a new stainless steel exhaust, no changes have been made to the car.”

Car Auctions: How To Nab A Bargain

Car auctions are a way to sell vehicles based on a bidding system with the highest offer securing the deal.

Auctions aren’t restricted to the rich and famous as thousands of cars are sold at motor auctions in the UK each week.

Here’s what you need to know before attending an auction:

1. Be prepared: Do your research on the car you would like to purchase beforehand.
2. Check the car: Cars will usually be lined up before the start, so make sure to arrive early to inspect the desired car thoroughly.
3. Have a back-up: Be ready for disappointment as your desired motor may be sold to someone else and select a few back-ups.
4. Be realistic: Realise that there won’t be a “perfect” car at an auction and adjust expectations accordingly.
5. Set a budget: It is easy to overspend in the heat of the moment during bidding. Ensure you have set a budget and do not go over it.

Key phrases to look out for:

• ‘No major mechanical faults’ – suggests that there shouldn’t be any issues with the car’s drivetrain, gearbox, suspension, or engine. 
• ‘Specified faults’ – the auctioneer will read out specific faults.
• ‘Sold as seen’ – the vehicle is sold with any problems it may have. The auction company will rarely entertain complaints regarding the mechanical or cosmetic condition of these vehicles after sale.
• ‘Sold with a warranted mileage’ – The car is being offered based on the report, which confirms the mileage through an independent check.

The classic car’s listing continues: “It starts easily and runs at tick-over once it is warmed up a little with the petrol pumps performing as they should.

“This is an outstanding opportunity to own a record breaking MG, a unique piece of motoring history with outstanding performance for a car of its size.

“A road-going, record breaking works car at today’s guide seems remarkable value.”

The historic motor will go on auction with Iconic Auctioneers on 22 February in Coventry.

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Promises made, promises kept, President Trump liked to crow during his first term, sometimes deservedly.

He’s only days into his second term and already he’s making that claim after a torrent of executive orders. In no case is his boast more justified, if shameful, than for his Day 1 blanket order pardoning 1,583 rioters who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, commuting the sentences of those most responsible — and violent — and dismissing all remaining cases.

Trump vowed at rallies throughout his 2024 campaign that once back in office he’d immediately free “the J-6 hostages.” Yet in keeping that promise, he broke a long-forgotten one on the same subject. He made it not at a political rally but in a videotaped recording at the White House, a day after the seven-hour insurrection was put down and as he faced bipartisan condemnation for his complicity.

Opinion Columnist

Jackie Calmes

Jackie Calmes brings a critical eye to the national political scene. She has decades of experience covering the White House and Congress.

The president who’d inspired the mob to try to keep him in power began that evening by calling Jan. 6 not a “day of love” among patriots, as he says these days, but a “heinous attack on the United States Capitol.” And then, still sounding like a normal president, Trump said this:

“Like all Americans, I am outraged by the violence, lawlessness and mayhem. I immediately deployed the National Guard and federal law enforcement to secure the building and expel the intruders. America is and must always be a nation of law and order. The demonstrators who infiltrated the Capitol have defiled the seat of American democracy. To those who engaged in the acts of violence and destruction, you do not represent our country. And to those who broke the law, you will pay.”

At the time, the only lies in that passage seemed to be Trump’s contention that he “immediately deployed” forces to quell the tumult that directly or indirectly caused the deaths of nine people, including five police officers. Now we know the whole thing was a lie: Trump wasn’t outraged. He didn’t really condemn the “demonstrators” — they were pro-Trump, after all, as shown by the banners on poles that were weaponized against police. He didn’t care that they were lawless or violent despite the carnage he witnessed watching hours of televised coverage alone in the White House, ignoring aides’ and family members’ pleas to intervene.

Most of all, Trump didn’t really believe his rioters should “pay.”

And now, just as Trump has paid no price for his role as the instigator of Jan. 6, he’s wiped the books clean for all the attackers, negating verdicts by scores of juries of their peers.

A couple of examples of his freed “hostages”: David Dempsey of Santa Ana, Calif., a man with a criminal history who pleaded guilty and got 20 years in prison, reflecting his cruelty against police. Read the prosecution report: Dempsey clambered over other rioters, using “his hands, feet, flag poles, crutches, pepper spray, broken pieces of furniture, and anything else he could get his hands on” to batter officers trying to protect the Capitol and those within, including Trump’s vice president.

And Daniel “DJ” Rodriguez of Fontana, Calif., who ran an online site for the so-called PATRIOTS45MAGA Gang that mobilized militants to come to the Capitol; once there, he pummeled police with a fire extinguisher, poles and a stun gun, which he repeatedly thrust into the neck of D.C. police Officer Michael Fanone, who suffered a heart attack among other injuries. “Tazzzzed the f— out of the blue,” Rodriguez posted afterward. Inside the Capitol, he vandalized offices, broke windows and stole items. He was sentenced to 12 years.

By Tuesday, two of the feds’ biggest gets — far-right militia leaders Enrique Tarrio of the Proud Boys (22 years) and Stewart Rhodes of the Oath Keepers (18 years) — likewise walked out of prisons. “The notion that Stewart Rhodes could be absolved of his actions is frightening and ought to be frightening to anyone who cares about democracy in this country,” U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta, who presided over his trial, said last month, anticipating Trump’s action.

So many such stories. And yet Trump’s order tells a grotesquely false one: “This proclamation ends a grave national injustice that has been perpetrated upon the American people over the last four years and begins a process of national reconciliation.”

Now-retired officer Fanone, who courageously testified to the House Jan. 6 committee and received death threats because of it, isn’t feeling reconciled. With all six of his identified attackers now free (and free to own guns), he posted on Instagram: “My family, my children and myself are less safe today because of Donald Trump and his supporters.”

The prevaricator in chief has also essentially made liars of those around him. Vice President JD Vance told Fox News Sunday a week before, “If you committed violence on that day, obviously you shouldn’t be pardoned.” Obviously? And Pam Bondi, Trump’s nominee for attorney general, testified days later at her Senate confirmation hearing that pardons would be decided “on a case-by-case basis. And I abhor violence to police officers.” If confirmed, she’ll now enforce Trump’s all-encompassing dictate, ensuring that jails and court dockets are cleared of those who beat hundreds of police officers.

What’s galling is that Republicans, rather than simply condemning Trump, are drawing a false equivalence between his action and former President’s Biden’s last-minute preemptive pardon of his siblings and their spouses. Biden deserves blame — lots — for giving Republicans that opening, despite Trump’s explicit threat of legal retribution against his family. Yet there’s no comparison between Biden’s simply objectionable pardons and Trump’s execrable blanket clemency for the traitorous.

Trump kept a campaign promise, a repugnant one, but in the process broke the earlier, fitting one — to make them pay. And with the Jan. 6 pardons, he made a mockery of the rule of law. On his first day as president.

@jackiekcalmes