Mark Jones, 59, the former Wales dual-code rugby player, passed away.
Jones was reportedly killed by a heart attack while working out in a Middle Eastern gym, according to Wales Rugby League.
Prior to joining Tredegar RFC, Jones moved to Neath in 1985, one of the dominant teams in Welsh rugby, where he started his senior rugby career in union with the local side Tredegar Ironsides.
While playing for Neath, the number eight quickly established himself as one of the “hard men” of the game, and throughout his career in both codes he frequently received punishment for violent conduct on the field.
Jones, however, did not suffer from his international success, and he spent 15 years playing rugby league for Wales before joining Hull.
At the age of 21, he scored a late try on debut in a 21-15 defeat to make his Wales bow in union against Scotland at Murrayfield in March 1987.
After switching codes to the league in October 1990 as part of a Welsh exodus, Jones injured a number of ankles, initially limiting his time playing for Hull.
In the 13-man game, Jones won 11 caps for Wales, including two during the renowned 1995 World Cup campaign, in which Wales advanced to the semi-finals. In February 1992, he also played one game for Great Britain against France.
After four seasons with Hull, Jones spent one season at Warrington before reuniting with Ebbw Vale.
His time with the Steelmen turned out to be the most notorious of his career, with Stuart Evans, a well-known Wales prop, being banned for four weeks with both of them.
Then, in the 1998-99 league season against Pontypridd, Jones struck a young Ian Gough, requiring eye surgery on his eye socket. Referee Derek Bevan sent him off with a third three-week ban.
In spite of his crimes, Jones won his 15th and final cap in June 1998 against Zimbabwe, just before he turned 33. He was then given a recall to Wales and was given a recall.
Before the end of his career, Jones worked as a lab technician for an international oil company in the Middle East for Pontypool and Aberavon.
Jones took rugby coaching during his time at the academy.
In his autobiography Fighting To Speak, Jones released a reflection on his turbulent career in 2023.
“Unyielding and a gentleman”
Lyn Jones, a former Wales flanker and Neath, was among those who paid tribute to his former teammate.
Mark was a gentleman, according to Lyn Jones, who spent six or seven seasons at the Gnoll with the help of the back row.
He was a very uncompromising player, Mark, and a real pleasure to play with, but unfortunately, many other people.
Lyn Jones claimed that Mark Jones’ autobiography was a genuine, objective appraisal of his life, which “helped him put his entire life out there and became his legacy, really.”
Jones, a former Ospreys coach, continued, “He was able to correct himself in many ways and overcome his speech impediment because of it. And, you know, getting to know him for the first time in two years after being away for a while was wonderful.
Jones was a giant in both codes, according to Clive Griffiths, who served as his coach for the Wales Rugby League for a while. His later selection for the Great Britain team speaks for his skill as a player.
He played rugby for Wales until the rugby union returned to the professional level in 1995. He was a constant member of the Welsh squad from 1991 to 1995.
Everyone admired him first and foremost as a man. His book is just so fascinating to read about his life, which I just read.
It’s like losing a member of my family, in my opinion. The team of 1995 has a very tight relationship with us, and we stay in touch. Right now, it’s difficult to explain how intensely that group of players feels.
Banana producer Chiquita has announced mass layoffs in Panama amid an ongoing strike.
The United States-owned banana giant said on Friday it was letting “all” daily labourers go for the “unjustified abandonment of work at our plantations”.
Workers have been on strike for more than a month, as part of nation-wide industrial action protesting new social security laws lowering pensions. The government has branded the strikes “illegal” and said the sackings are the result of workers ‘ “intransigence”.
Chiquita said in a statement that the strike had caused “irreversible damage..]and] at least $75 million in losses”, adding that those affected by the layoffs are required to collect severance payments.
The company did not elaborate on the number of people affected by the decision. However, the Reuters news agency reported that about 5, 000 workers out of 6, 500 have lost their jobs, referring to an unnamed source.
‘ De facto ‘ or ‘ indefinite ‘ strike
Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino defended Chiquita’s actions at a news conference on Thursday.
“The company will have to act accordingly, dismissing those necessary to save its operation in Bocas]a Caribbean province in Panama]. Believe me, it hurts me, but this intransigence is not good”, he said.
“The strike is illegal”, Mulino added. “The next step according to the Labour Code is dismissal with just cause because this is a de facto strike, not a legitimate strike”.
However, Francisco Smith, secretary-general of the Banana Industry Workers Union (Sitraibana), told the Panamanian television channel Telemetro on Thursday that the strike was legal because the “deputies who approved bill 462 harmed the banana sector”.
President Jose Raul Molino said the strike was illegal (Reuters)
Passed in March, Bill 462 introduced changes to the Social Security Fund that could lead to a possible reduction in pensions.
The introduction of the law led to significant anger, with unions, including banana workers, joining a national strike on April 23.
The government and Sitraibana held a preliminary meeting on Thursday to discuss amendments to the bill, which would include protections for banana farmers.
Still, Smith said, “the strike continues, we continue fighting in the streets… The strike is indefinite”.
The banana industry makes up the country’s economy in large part.
The Prince and Princess of Wales visited the new HMS Glasow for its official naming ceremony and also took part in a challenge with apprentices – but it didn’t quite go to plan for Kate
The Princess of Wales was left in fits of giggles after an awkward moment during a challenge with Prince William. The royal couple headed to Scotland for the official naming ceremony of HMS Glasgow, the first of eight Type 26 anti-submarine frigates to be built in the city.
Kate is the sponsor of the vessel and pressed a button to smash an exclusive bottle of whisky into the hull to cheers and applause. After the ceremony, the couple had a tour of the vessel, which is being fitted out, before meeting staff from BAE Systems, apprentices and members of HMS Glasgow’s company in a nearby training centre.
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William and Kate competed to complete a pipe puzzle connecting pieces of copper piping(Image: Andrew Parsons / Kensington Pala)
They then competed to complete a pipe puzzle connecting pieces of copper piping – a secondary school Stem activity – under the watchful eye of BAE apprentices.
The prince later complained he did not realise it was a competition, saying to laughter from Kate, “It’s a race? – that’s fine, then I’ll race”. However, William was left disappointed when it was Kate who was declared the winner.
But just as she looked to celebrate, one of the pipes on her structure fell down causing the princess to catch it – leaving her in floods of laughter.
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Kate was declared the winner but was left giggling as the top of her structure fell down (Image: Andrew Parsons / Kensington Pala)
Afterwards, apprentice Natalie Black guided Kate through the test and said afterwards: “We had a little discussion about what her kids get up to and I complimented her on how well she was doing up the bolts and she said it was just like playing with the kids’ toys.”
Kate was given another task – to complete a traditional ship’s clinometer, which measures the lean angle of a vessel – and tightened a wing nut on the simple tool which will go on display on HMS Glasgow’s bridge.
During the reception, the princess repeatedly spoke about how impressed she was by the sheer scale of the ship, the number of people involved in the build and the technology on board.
The Princess of Wales meets apprentices during a visit to BAE Systems in Glasgow and takes part in a challenge (Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Talking to the ship’s company and their families, she said: “It’s so exciting to see it all come together, all the technology is so impressive,” adding, “What’s really interesting as well is seeing the international interest.”
She admitted that she was still getting to grips with the naval language, telling one woman: “I’m still learning all my naval lingo. There are a lot of abbreviations that I don’t fully understand. I’ve got a lot to learn.”
Second Sea Lord Vice Admiral Sir Martin Connell thanked the royal couple for their support and all those involved in the Type 26 endeavour.
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He said: “From the first ever HMS Glasgow, sailing under the Royal Navy flag at the end of the 17th century to the ship we see here in the 21st century, HMS Glasgow has evolved and adapted to meet the warfighting and operational demands of its day.
“Each metamorphosis saw shipbuilders adapting materials and designs so that crews could operate each successive HMS Glasgow on operations and in conflict and war. The result of this being 11 battle honours – HMS Glasgow’s pedigree is awe-inspiring.”
“Game time is a challenge. It’s always been a little bit of a challenge for Northern Ireland squads”.
Since Michael O’Neill’s return as Northern Ireland manager in 2022, when he inherited a much younger squad than the one he had taken to Euro 2016 during his first stint, he has consistently stressed the need for his players to be playing as often as possible at as high a level as possible.
As such, the final weekend of the domestic seasons in England and Scotland could prove important for his international squad.
While the likes of Callum Marshall, Jamie Donley and Dale Taylor are on the books of Premier League teams, with that trio having spent the season on loan in League One, just two players in O’Neill’s 26-man squad for friendlies against Denmark and Iceland next month featured in England’s top tier this season.
Liverpool’s Conor Bradley picked up a Premier League winners ‘ medal, with Crystal Palace’s Justin Devenny doing likewise in the FA Cup.
However, citing the challenging experience of facing Alexander Isak in defeat by Sweden in March, O’Neill knows regular exposure to such talents would be hugely beneficial.
“In the past, we would have had more players playing their club football at a higher level”, he said.
“If you look back to the team that went to the Euros, there was probably maybe as many as six, seven, eight players playing at Premier League level and had played at that level for quite a number of years, most of their career, if not all of their career.
That could change for two of his panel on Saturday with key defenders Dan Ballard and Trai Hume involved in the Championship play-off for Sunderland against Sheffield United at Wembley.
Ballard came through the ranks at Arsenal but did not feature for the club before moving to the Stadium of Light in 2022, while Trai Hume took a different path to the Black Cats, playing more than 50 games in the Irish League.
O’Neill said he is” desperate “for Sunderland to achieve promotion, believing the pair are capable of playing Premier League football.
” I think sometimes we maybe underestimate our players in that situation. I do believe they are, “he said of their ability to step up a division.
” There would be a lot of clubs aware of how consistent they have been in the Championship, and we have seen other players step up from the Championship and do well in the Premier League, but it is a challenge.
“Sometimes, I believe, it’s preferable to join a team than to join a club. If you enter that position, as Sunderland might, you already have a strong club presence, and they are also considered first-choice players, which is crucial.
With Ethan Galbraith and Jamie Donley both on loan at Leyton Orient and competing in the League One play-off final on Sunday, O’Neill will also be monitoring that game.
Inpho
Paddy McNair, 30, and George Saville, 31, both from Millwall, are the two most experienced players in Northern Ireland’s squad for the upcoming month’s games.
O’Neill believes his players are at the same stage of their professional and professional careers as their younger counterparts, but one that is still in its early stages with Nations League promotion secured in November.
He said, “I do believe the squad is progressing in two ways: it can progress when it joins as a team and they can progress when they return to their clubs.”
“I believe this squad is still a long way from where it should be in terms of where the players will be in their professional roles as well as their international careers,” he said.
The Heart Radio DJ, 54, received three operations after receiving a diagnosis for aggressive laryngeal cancer last year.
Jamie Theakston spoke to Davina McCall about his diagnosis(Image: Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Jamie Theakston has opened up tearfully about his battle with laryngeal cancer in an emotional conversation with Davina McCall. The Heart Radio DJ, 54, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of the disease last September, after initially dismissing his symptoms as merely a sore throat.
Thankfully, Jamie is now cancer-free, having undergone multiple surgeries to remove a malignant lesion from his vocal cords. Yet, in a new episode of the Begin Again podcast, he emphasised just how shocking this ordeal was against the backdrop of exciting holiday plans with his family.
He said, looking for the right words: “So, when I got my cancer diagnosis, it came as such a huge shock to me because it was so surprising, like there was no… it just came as such a broadside because… so, I’d had this sore throat for a while, and we were about to go on holiday.
Jamie Theakston initially dismissed his symptoms as being merely just a sore throat(Image: PA)
We’re departing from Japan, and we’re going there. My wife advised us to go see someone before we depart for Japan, just to get some antibiotics to clear up our throat, which is exactly what I believe we were supposed to do that day. “
Jamie immediately went to a doctor who, despite being “lovely,” had the worst bedside manner of any doctor he’d ever met. He immediately identified his throat as being “probably cancer” and performed a number of tests and scans on Jamie.
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The radio DJ then planned a few hours of vacation while awaiting these exam results. He kept it a secret for two weeks, but he still felt he couldn’t tell his family what was actually happening.
He continued, “I didn’t tell anyone.” “… I pondered whether it might not be cancer at that time. There is no purpose to say that, in fact. “
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After receiving biopsy results, Jamie was informed that he did indeed have early-stage cancer. He left his wife Sophie Siegle’s expression of disbelief, who was also utterly devastated.
Jamie continued, “My mother had passed away from cancer about a year earlier,” with tears in his eyes. And so, when my youngest son, who had just learned my mother had passed away from cancer, was with me. And so I told him that everything would work out just fine and that there was nothing to worry about, which was the hardest part. “
At the Princess Grace Hospital in Central London, Jamie was diagnosed and given an operation. Initial evaluations indicated this was a successful procedure, but later confirmed that the cancer had not completely been removed.
Jamie finally returned to Heart Radio in January (Pictured hugging Davina McCall)(Image: PA)
The 54-year-old DJ had a second procedure, but his voice was hampered by scar tissue that had spread over his vocal cords. Jamie needed a third operation because of this, even though doctors claimed they were “dangerously close” to him never being able to speak again.
He stated, “We’re now dangerously close to you not being able to talk,” which is novel because it had now gone from being that I should be able to live with.
“I was like, wow, I hadn’t really factored that into the whole equation.” Fortunately, Jamie’s voice is still intact, and he made a triumphant return to Heart Radio Breakfast, which he hosts with Amanda Holden, in January.
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He declared to the audience: “Today is the four-month anniversary of my cancer diagnosis. So it’s been four months, and I’ve had enough hospital stays and operations. It’s lovely to be back and I’ve got some news.
In addition to being a victim of prostitution, Digby, 55, is currently facing a number of serious charges, including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and transportation to engage in prostitution.
Kid Cudi claims Porsche was “burnt by Molotov cocktail,” but the P Diddy trial is the biggest bombshell.
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ high-profile trial continued on Thursday with bombshell claims made by Scott Mescudi – better known as Kid Cudi. The Just What I Am rapper, who dated Cassie Ventura in 2011, took to the stand on May 22, with dramatic photos of his burned car being shown to the jury.
Disgraced music mogul Diddy, 55, is currently facing a number of serious charges, including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion and transportation to engage in prostitution. He was arrested in September and strongly denies all allegations made against him. He has been in prison since his arrest, and a number of bail requests have been rejected.
The defendants’ attorneys have been demonstrating their testimony ever since the trial started, including Diddy’s former assistant, David James, Homeland Security Investigations special agent Gerard Gannon, and Cassie Ventura’s mother, Regina Ventura. So far, among those who testified were Cassie’s former friends Kerry Morgan and Mylah Morales, a former Diddy and Cassie makeup artist.
Kid Cudi testified on the witness stand on Thursday(Image: AP)
The trial on Thursday continued after Homeland Security Investigations special agent Gerard Gannon returned to the stand on Wednesday to speak about the raid on the disgraced rapper’s home. During his testimony, Gannon said he was responsible for the overall planning of the raid on the rapper’s home in Miami, Florida, in March of last year.
On Thursday, the trial resumed with Diddy’s former assistant George Kaplan returning to the stand. Following that, Kid Cudi appeared on the witness stand.
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Here are the biggest bombshells from Thursday…
Kaplan “saw” Diddy abusing Cassie once.
He claimed he only witnessed Diddy being violent towards Cassie once during a trip to Las Vegas(Image: Getty Images)
George Kaplan claimed he was given a bag of cash, which he was told was worth $50, 000 (£37, 200), by the rapper’s security staff. He added that a Western Union office asked him to pick up thousands of dollars on numerous occasions.
He added that he only witnessed Diddy acting abusive toward Cassie once on his private plane in Las Vegas in 2015. He told the court he heard glass breaking behind him and turned to see Combs standing with a whiskey glass in his hand. Cassie allegedly screamed, “Isn’t anyone seeing this, anyone? ” after the glass crashed.
He claimed that neither he nor Bad Boy management or security personnel responded to Cassie’s request for assistance. When asked why he didn’t respond to Cassie’s plea, he said it was because he was 23 years old at the time and was working at his dream job.
He said, “I couldn’t believe my good fortune to work for such an icon.” He claimed that as Combs stood over Cassie at the back of the jet, he audibly heard more glass break. The rapper then allegedly told Cassie to stay in the back.
Kaplan claimed Cassie wasn’t seen by anyone on the plane during the check-in.
According to Kaplan, Diddy allegedly threw apples at his ex-girlfriend.
The former assistant claimed he witnessed the rapper throwing green apples at another girlfriend, Gina, when they had been together at his home in Florida.
He was very upset, the former assistant said. She used her arms to defend herself. He added: “I thought it might be normal, and this is what I might expect if I wanted to have a career in this industry. I was a young man trying all of that.”
After Diddy’s “Cassie attack,” Kaplan left.
Kaplan claimed he chose to quit the job after Diddy’s alleged attack on Cassie on the plane(Image: FilmMagic)
He claimed that after Diddy allegedly attacked Cassie on the plane, he made his decision to quit. He claimed he gave his two-month notice after seeing Cassie with a black eye in a bedroom. He claimed the rapper and producer sent him out to buy anti-inflammatory medicine to treat the injury.
Kaplan also explained to Diddy that his father had been diagnosed with prostate cancer when he made the decision to stop. He continued to give credit to Diddy for teaching him about work ethics.
He said: “I had been a fan of his since I was a child. I still learn from him today.
Kid Cudi claims that “Diddy broke into my home.”
Kid Cudi spoke about his relationship with Cassie Ventura (Image: AP)
Kid Cudi, who had dated Cassie in 2011, soon made the claim that Diddy broke into his home after learning about his romance with Cassie.
The Pursuit of Happiness rapper said he went to a West Hollywood hotel with Cassie to get her away from Diddy when Capricorn Clark, Diddy’s assistant, called him.
She allegedly told him that “Sean Combs and an affiliate were in my house and she was in a car and she was forced to go with them over there.”
Cudi recalled calling Diddy while driving to his house. Diddy allegedly calmly responded, “I want to talk to you,” when he inquired about his whereabouts at his home.
Once he got back home, Diddy was said to be gone, but he found his dog locked in a bathroom. He had unwrapped the presents he had given to close friends for Christmas. According to Cudi, he claims to have called Combs, who said he was headed his way. Cudi, confused, then called the police.
Cassie discussed Diddy’s “abuse” with Kid Cudi.
Cassie never disclosed sexual abuse to Cudi, who claimed to have informed him that she had been intimate with him. He added that Diddy never interrupted the time he spent with her.
Cassie first discussed her relationship with Diddy in 2010, according to Cudi during cross-examination.
Kid Cudi, the defense attorney, was questioned by Combs about how he felt about Cassie Ventura because he had fallen in love with her. Kid Cudi responded: “Yes”.
Car of Kid Cudi was allegedly stoked by a “Molotov cocktail.”
He said the car couldn’t be salvaged (Image: Department of Justice)
The jury was shown pictures of Kid Cudi’s Porsche, which he claimed was burned by a Molotov cocktail. His dog watcher called him in January 2012 to alert him that the car was on fire.
His friend sent him images of the car in the driveway while he was 45 minutes away at the time. Kid Cudi described the photo as “the damage of the Molotov cocktail in my Porsche”. The Molotov cocktail was placed in my Porsche after it appears to have cut open the top.
The rapper claimed that the car couldn’t be salvaged, and that the driver’s seat was discovered with a Molotov cocktail. Once he arrived home, “it was kind of just burnt up” on the ground near the vehicle.
Kid Cudi responded, “What the f**k? ” when asked what the incident was. After the fire, he claimed to have reached out to Diddy and “finally told him that we needed to meet up and talk,” Kid Cudi testified.
“He had been wanting to talk to me, so after the fire, I was like, this is getting out of hand, I need to talk to him”, Kid Cudi said.
He met with Combs, who was by himself, after the incident. According to him, “Combs was standing there staring out the window with his hands behind his back, like a Marvel supervillain.”
The two talked about Kid Cudi’s relationship with Cassie from start to finish, he testified. Combs denied any involvement when Kid Cudi inquired about the car’s damage, he said on the witness.
The pair ran into each other at a club in 2015. Combs allegedly pulled Kid Cudi aside to apologise, the musician testified. He claimed to have “found peace” with the circumstances afterward.
Makeup artist didn’t call the police after seeing injuries on Cassie.
Diddy and Cassie’s former makeup artist, Mylah Morales, took to the stand after Kid Cudi(Image: AP)
Mylah Morales, Diddy and Cassie’s former makeup artist, appeared on the camera following Kid Cudi. She claimed she witnessed Cassie at the 2010 Grammy Awards with injuries on her face.
After a party at Prince’s house, Morales and Cassie went to a hotel room. Morales testified that Diddy later entered the room and inquired about Cassie’s location. She claimed that Combs knocked on Cassie’s door and entered the room. Morales said she heard yelling and screaming.
Morales remarked, “I was just frantic and unsure of what to do.” Cassie was “distraught” when Combs stormed out, she continued. “She had a swollen eye and a busted lip and knots on her head”.
Cassie was taken to her home so that she could spend a few days recovering. She revealed that after the incident, a doctor friend checked Cassie. When they recommended she got to the hospital, Cassie refused and they did not call the police.
Morales claimed she feared Combs and feared for her life, so she avoided calling the police.
For confidential support, call the 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Freephone Helpline on 0808 2000 247 or visit womensaid.co.uk If you or your family have lost a friend or family member through fatal domestic abuse, AAFDA (Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse) can offer specialist and expert support and advocacy. For more info visit www.aafda.org.uk
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