TOM ASPINALL has broken his silence following his elevation to undisputed UFC heavyweight champion.

The Wigan warrior was bumped up from interim to undisputed king of the heavyweights early on Sunday morning following Jon Jones’ retirement from mixed martial arts.

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Tom Aspinall is the new UFC heavyweight champion[/caption]

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The Wigan warrior has been elevated from his interim position after Jon Jones’ retriement[/caption]

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Aspinall, 31, took to social media to break his silence on his elevation[/caption]

And it didn’t take long for the 31-year-old to react to the news of his new position, which he responded to by making a vow to fight fans around the world.

He wrote on Instagram: “For you fans, it’s time to get this heavyweight division going.

“An active undisputed champion.”

Dana White revealed Jones’ retirement to the world following the UFC Baku post-fight press conference.

He said: “Jon Jones called us last night and retired.

“Jon Jones is officially retired and Tom Aspinall is the heavyweight champion of the UFC.”

And moments later, Jones, who declined a multi-million-pound payday to unify the belts against Aspinall, took to X to confirm he has indeed brought the curtain down on his Hall-of-Fame, but controversial, career.

He wrote on X: “Today, I’m officially announcing my retirement from the UFC.

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“This decision comes after a lot of reflection, and I want to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for the journey I’ve experienced over the years.

“From the first time I stepped into the Octagon, my goal was to push the boundaries of what was possible in this sport.

“Becoming the youngest UFC champion in history, defending my title against some of the best fighters in the world, and sharing unforgettable moments with fans across the globe—these are memories I’ll cherish forever.

“I’ve faced incredible highs and some tough lows, but every challenge has taught me something valuable and made me stronger, both as a fighter and as a person.

“I want to thank the UFC, Dana, Hunter, Lorenzo, God, my family, coaches, teammates, and all the fans who have stood by me through every chapter.

“Your unwavering support and belief in me have been my foundation.

It’s time to get this heavyweight division going.

Tom Aspinall

“To my fellow fighters, thank you for bringing out the best in me and for the respect we’ve shared inside and outside the cage.

“As I close this chapter of my life, I look forward to new opportunities and challenges ahead.

“MMA will always be a part of who I am, and I’m excited to see how I can continue to contribute to the sport and inspire others in new ways.

“Thank you all for being part of this incredible journey with me. The best is yet to come.”

Gunmen shot a 48-year-old man behind the pavilion at Derrick Ferreira Stadium in Kariega, Eastern Cape, on Saturday, 21 June 2025.

MANILA, Philippines — The low-pressure area (LPA) being monitored outside the Philippine area of responsibility on Sunday afternoon has a “high” chance of developing into a tropical depression in the next 24 hours, according to the state weather bureau. In an advisory, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that LPA 6e

AN URGENT warning has been issued over a new mobile attack that allows hackers to hijack your bank accounts.

A dangerous new version of malware, or malicious software, allows criminals to see inside your banking apps and steal your money.

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A new version malware allows criminals to hack into your banking apps[/caption]

The new Android “Godfather” malware creates an isolated virtual environment on mobile devices, according to BleepingComputer.

Hackers can then steal your account data and transactions from legitimate banking apps.

Malicious apps are executed inside the controlled virtual environment enabling real-time spying, credential theft and transaction manipulation.

This can all happen when you’re none the wiser as it maintains perfect visual deception.

The tactic is similar to the FjordPhantom malware seen in 2023 but experts warn that the Godfather is much broader in scope.

It targets over 500 banking, cryptocurrency and e-commerce apps worldwide.

Zimperium, a world leader in mobile security, say that the level of deception is very high.

The user is able to see the real app but the Android protections don’t pick up the malicious operation underway.

Once active on the device, the malware checks for installed target apps and places them inside its virtual environment.

The malware tricks Android into thinking that a legitimate app is being run while actually intercepting and controlling it.

A victim will launch their banking app and see the real app interface but all of their sensitive data can easily be hijacked.

The Godfather malware can then record account credentials, passwords, PINS and capture responses from your bank.

This is because the malware tricks the victim by displaying a fake lock screen to trick them into entering their passwords and PIN numbers.

Once criminals have harvested that data, they can then trigger payments inside the real banking app.

The victim might see a fake “update” screen or a black screen to evade suspicion.

The Godfather malware was first discovered in March 2021 and has seen a significant evolution.

In December 2022, analysts found that it could target over 400 apps over 16 countries.

Although the campaign analysts spotted only targets a dozen Turkish banking apps, Godfather operators could opt to target over 500 apps worldwide.

To protect yourself it’s advised that you only download apps from Google Play or from app publishers you trust.

Android users should also ensure that Play Protect is active and pay attention to the requested permissions.

WITH their model looks and stunning figures the young women giggling around the swimming pool and partying with champagne looked like they were having the time of their lives.

But this reality TV hit was no Love Island.

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Air Force Amy was one of the stand out stars in the show[/caption]

Rex Features

The gloss and glamour of Cathouse, which aired from 2005 to 2014, hid a dark reality and the pink-painted paradise in the sunshine was actually a legalised brothel in Nevada called The Bunny Club Ranch. 

For girls like Dolly Hart, who grew up watching Cathouse, the intoxicating picture seved as a recruitment ad. 

“Around the time that I caught a glimpse of the show, I was probably 11, 12,” she says. “The girls looked like they were having fun.

“There was a camaraderie amongst them. It seemed like you could make friends there. I was thinking, when I grow up I’m going to go there.”

In the six-part documentary, Secrets of Bunny Ranch, former employees reveal the truth behind glossy image promoted by publicity hungry owner, Dennis Hof in the show, claiming bullying, humiliation and sexual assault were the norm and that they felt trapped.

“I saw the velvet couch, the pink Bunny House on TV and thought it was so cute,” says Dolly.

“I was having trouble making friends as a first generation little Mexican girl, getting bullied and being labelled the ugly duckling.

“I didn’t come from a privileged background and I saw these girls making money on the show and thought, ‘Let’s go for it.’

“The Cathouse made it seem like it was the Playboy mansion with bunny playmates playfully jumping on each other and tickle fighting. But it was nothing like that.

“Dennis is an intimidating predator who knew who he could coerce and manipulate. The last time he propositioned me for sex was at his birthday party.

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Hof claimed he treated the girls fairly and was no ‘pimp’[/caption]

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“He expected me to have a threesome with him and this other girl. I asked if I would be paid and he said no, it’s my birthday. I refused.”

Hof, born in Phoenix, Arizona in 1946, made good money selling time-shares before turning that business knowledge to buying and transforming The Bunny Ranch, taking prostitution out of the shadows and into the mainstream with his flair for publicity.

TV and radio interviews led to the reality series Cathouse where everything at the brothel appeared to be professional and fun with the women treated fairly and respectfully by Hof, who the girls called ‘Daddy.’

“I’m a businessman who supplies a place and an opportunity for ladies to work and we share the proceeds,” Hof liked to claim. “The last thing I am is a pimp.”

Easy prey

Crime+Investigation

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Shelly takes a cigarette break between clients[/caption]

Shelly Dushell, who began working there at the age of 30 after her house was destroyed by a tornado and she had divorced her husband, has a very different view.

“I saw the ugly side of Dennis but the world on Cathouse only saw the fun side of him because they didn’t know the real Dennis. He was all about being violent.”

After hearing Hof and one of his favourite girls at the ranch – known as Air Force Amy – talking about the brothel on TV, Shelly decided to apply.

“I sent an email with a picture of myself to the ranch and Dennis Hof himself called me back within two hours and said, ‘I want you out here.’

“I flew out and he picked me up at the airport and he told me that HBO was doing a show and he wanted me to be part of it. 

“He walked me in and there were cameramen filming there. Dennis took me out to the bungalow behind the building and wanted sex.

He didn’t want to wear a condom. I was absolutely horrified.

Shelly Dushell

“That was my first day at the ranch. I was afraid to tell Dennis no. No one cares if a prostitute gets raped.

“Dennis preyed upon the women that were the most easily victimised. I was afraid to not go along with what he wanted.

“It was hard for me to resist Dennis in the first couple of years that I was there. 

“He liked that power and control over the girls and he was very violent when he had sex. He liked to slap and choke. It was hard to get him to stop.”

Former Bunny Ranch cashier, Shonda, says: “Dennis had a very active sex life with the working girls.

“There were girls who would offer themselves to him and there were girls who didn’t want to sleep with him but felt they had to.

“He had a great presence on TV but behind closed doors, Dennis was a rattlesnake.”

‘Recruitment’ ad for young girls

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Air Force Amy looks through a box of tricks[/caption]

bridget bennett

Crime+Investigation

Crime+Investigation

A regular feature of the show saw the women happily running into the parlour whenever the bell rang, signifying a customer had arrived.

There they would line up while he chose who he wanted. But their smiles hid their humiliation. This ‘unscripted’ TV series was very much not that.

“It wasn’t a documentary. We were told what to do,” says Shelly, who claims she was paid $300 dollars for onscreen sex scenes and nothin for non sex scenes.

“The Cathouse show was set up. In the first scene I did they wanted the women to sit down with a bunch of clients, teaching them about good sex.

“But one of the men was not a client. I recognised him as Jesse Fillmer, a driver and bartender at the Ranch.”

Jesse confirms: “Everyone in the scene who was supposed to be a customer were actually friends of Dennis or people who worked at the Ranch.

“The Cathouse was just basically a promotional video for the Bunny Ranch.”

Shelly regrets being part of the fake image that encouraged young girls to be a part of the sex industry.

“HBO definitely wanted it to look like it was a fun place to be and so I can see where it can be tempting for a young girl to watch the Cathouse show and think it would be something fun,” she says.

“But they don’t understand the reality of it. They aren’t seeing what it is really like behind closed doors with Dennis.

“I didn’t know that young girls would come to work there who would never have thought of working there if they had not seen the show.

“So, looking back, I should never have agreed to do it. It’s just horrifying to think that girls so young would want to do that.”

Deep regrets

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Tom Hurwitz, Cathouse cinematographer, also came to regret his involvement.

“Over the weeks that I worked there I realised that HBO never really wanted to dip further than just below the first public relations level.

“Dennis groping people was a daily occurrence, and they pretended to like it,” he says.

“After the first season of Cathouse had been on the air, young women wanted to live in the glamorous image of it.

“And so the show began to attract younger women to the Bunny Ranch.

“It became clear to me that we were part of the recruiting system and I did not feel good about it.”

Another of these starry-eyed ‘wannabes’ was Alice Little. 

Crime+Investigation

“Seeing something that was on late at night that my parents didn’t really want me to watch… as a kid that only makes you more intrigued,” she recalls.

“They would go to bed and I would sneak out of my room, go downstairs and watch with the volume turned down low.

“I thought it was the coolest thing, being paid to be gorgeous. It sounded amazing. So I decided I was going to go the Bunny Ranch.” 

As Cathouse became a huge hit, Hof was raking the money in and bought up a string of brothels nearby, transforming them into the model of the Bunny Ranch.

But he was eager to tell interviewers that he offered women the chance to earn a good living themselves.

“This is an opportunity for you either to make a lot of money in four or five years, invest it properly and never work another day in your life or to make a good amount of money in a short period of time every month so you can be with your kids and work on your writing or acting career or your studies,” he said.

The brothel had a 50-50 split of profits with the women but they would had little left after being forced to pay for their accommodation along with laundry bills, clothes, make-up, condoms, lube and other subsidiaries.

If they went days without being chosen by a client, their debts grew so many were constantly trying to pay off their tabs, effectively keeping them trapped there, as they couldn’t walk away.

Wheel of doom

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Taina Bien-Aime was a former HBO Business Affairs Director before becoming an anti-sex trafficking activist.

“Cathouse was glamorising the sex trade and pimps,” she says. “It was not looking at the suffering of the women who are in these brothels.

“On screen there is free-flowing alcohol, they are having fun, everybody’s laughing, there’s a pool. It’s a beautiful marketing ploy to recruit young vulnerable women to try it out.

“It’s a myth that they can become millionaires. And the moment they leave prostitution they are in abject poverty and it’s very difficult for them to rebuild their lives without extensive medical, psychological and psychiatric assistance.”

Rape claims

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Bekah Charleston, who worked at the Bunny Ranch, adds: “There are many girls there who are falling into debt. And that’s a position you don’t want ever to be in at the brothel.

“Because that means that whenever a customer finally does pick them, they have to do whatever he wants. No matter if they want to or not.

“Dennis himself was notorious for ‘partying’, which meant having sex with whoever he wanted and not giving them any money. Whenever he was around in the parlour I would try to stay away from him.”

Bekah was there when Vince Neil, lead singer of the heavy metal band, Motley Crue, came to visit Dennis in 2003.

He was more angry than I had ever seen someone

Andrea Terry

Andrea Terry, a working girl at the Ranch, later filed a police report after an encounter with him.

In the report she says, “He tried to get me to touch his penis. I reminded him we had to pay before any sexual acts could take place.

“With such a rage in his eyes he grabbed me by the throat and pushed me against the window frame, holding me there, yelling at me, then yanked me down towards the bed. He was more angry than I had ever seen someone.”

Bekah was upset by Hof’s reaction to the violence.

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“Instead of Dennis Hof kicking Vince Neil out for assaulting one of his employees, he took him to the bar, bought him a drink and then paid for him to party with some other girl. I mean, they don’t protect you.

“In the end, the police actually charged Vince Neil and he pleaded no contest but if Dennis Hof had had his way, no one would have ever known.”

Hof died in 2018 of a heart attack. Before his death several women who had worked at the Bunny Ranch accused him of rape, including Theresa Lowe and Jennifer O’Kane.

He denied their allegations and never faced any charges, with authorities citing a lack of evidence.

Vince Neil, The Bunny Ranch and HBO did not respond to the producer’s request for comment.

Secrets of the Bunny Ranch, can be seen on Crime+Investigation on Wednesday, 25 June 

LOVE Island fan-favourite Shaughna Phillips has revealed she’s pregnant with her second child.

The ITV2 star made her reveal on Instagram, shortly after stripping to her underwear and opening up on her six stone weight loss.

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Love Island’s Shaughna Phillips has announced she is pregnant with baby number two[/caption]

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She captured her positive pregnancy test in a video posted to Instagram[/caption]

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Shaughna welcomed daughter Lucia in 2023[/caption]

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The baby reveal came after she stripped to her underwear to mark her six-stone weight loss[/caption]

The TV star, 31, featured in Love Island‘s sixth season.

She gave birth to her first child in 2023 and will now expand her brood, gushing her eldest will be the “best big sister.”

In addition to the Instagram reveal, which saw her pregnancy test show positive, she has dished the detail on her expanding family and her due date.

She told MirrorOnline: “We’re so happy to announce we are adding to our little family.

“Lucia is going to be the best big sister and is really excited to have a new baby brother or sister arrive later this year.”

THE middle child of Hollywood royalty cut a stylish figure as she attended the races at Ascot on the weekend.

Scout LaRue Willis, 33, is the musician daughter of action star Bruce Willis and Oscar nominated actress, Demi Moore.

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Scout LaRue Willis at the fifth day of Royal Ascot 2025 on Saturday[/caption]

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She attended the races with friend, Elizabeth Strachan[/caption]

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Scout wore a Nina Ricci dress for the occasion[/caption]

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Scout is the middle child of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore[/caption]

Bruce and Demi were married for 13 years until 2000 and share three daughters including Scout and her sisters, Rumer, 36, and Tallulah, 31. Bruce is also dad to daughters, Evelyn and Mabel, with his current wife, Emma Hemming.

Scout was staying in a London before heading to Royal Ascot where she joined thousands of other stylish dressed racegoers.

The musician donned a £1,165 draped Nina Ricci polka dot dress and wide brimmed slanted hat for her big day out.

Scout wore her hair in a long braid down her back and finished the hairstyle with an oversized, sheer black ribbon.

She completed the look with a thatched handbag as she took in the main races with friend and marketing strategist, Elizabeth Strachan.

Scout shared photos of their day at the races to her Instagram post, which she captioned with three horse racing emojis.

Celebrities and fans rushed to compliment Scout’s stylish look.

Illustrator Florence Given wrote: “Sensashhhh.”

One fan added: “Okay the braid train is everything.”

And a third person wrote: “I see two beautiful fashion forward ladies.”

Despite divorcing, Demi and Bruce have remained close for the sake of their daughters and the actress is standing by his side as he battles dementia.

His five daughters, along with Demi and Emma, released a joint statement in March 2022 sharing that Bruce had been diagnosed with aphasia and would retire from acting.

Aphasia is a medical condition resulting in the inability to understand words and communicate clearly, aphasia typically occurs after a stroke or head injury.

Then, 10 months later, another statement was shared which revealed that he received a more specific diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia (FTD).

FTD is “an umbrella term for a group of brain diseases that mainly affect the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain”, according to the Mayo Clinic.

The site states: “These areas of the brain are associated with personality, behavior, and language.”

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Scout with her dad following his aphasia diagnosis[/caption]

THERE were pros and cons for Dublin as they outlasted Cork last night at Croke Park.

But the Con they will need in order to mount an All-Ireland title challenge was sitting in the stand.

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Ben McShane/Sportsfile

Dubs boss Dessie Farrell will be thrilled that his side withstood a serious challenge from the Rebels to book their place in tomorrow morning’s draw.

However, the uncertainty surrounding Con O’Callaghan’s availability for next weekend’s quarter-final is a huge concern.

Having missed the defeat to Armagh, normal service seemed to resume for the Dublin captain as he kicked 0-5 from play in last weekend’s win over Derry.

His shock absence gave Cork a real shot in the arm before throw-in.

And just like the Dublin hurlers did in the curtain raiser, John Cleary’s men very nearly pulled off the upset.

Cork are a team I have seen plenty of this year. They are capable of blowing hot and cold. But you have to hand it to them for the way they took the game to Dublin.

Farrell’s team were under massive pressure and Brian Howard’s goal was a big turning point because the Dubs had played second fiddle to Cork for long periods.

Dublin are not the force they once were — that much is clear. With O’Callaghan in the team, they remain contenders nonetheless.

Without him, their attacking threat is diminished significantly.

Regardless of who they are paired with in the last eight, Dublin’s chances of advancing will lessen considerably if the three-time All-Star is not fit to play a part.

In Killarney, David Clifford demonstrated the importance of being able to call upon a top-class forward. He was on fire as Kerry bounced back from their defeat to Meath.

Clifford notched three goals and would have had a couple more, were it not Liam Brady between the Cavan posts. The two-time Footballer of the Year was a joy to watch, as he so often is.

The problem for Kerry as their attention turns to Croke Park is that they remain heavily dependent on Clifford for scores.

Seán O’Shea’s return was a boost. Jack O’Connor will also be delighted that Paudie Clifford was fit enough for a cameo off the bench. But his younger brother will need more help from his supporting cast if Kerry are to keep Sam Maguire in their sights.

A relatively comprehensive win for the Kingdom was the result we all expected.

Their start was impressive and the writing seemed to be on the wall for Cavan when the four-point deficit they faced early on was compounded by the black-carding of Niall Carolan.

To the Breffni’s credit, they made a game of it in the second half after Kerry looked set to pull away.

But Raymond Galligan’s team were also too reliant on Paddy Lynch, who was their only starting forward to score.

This was a game in which Kerry were on a hiding to nothing, so they will be pleased to have it out of the way.

Next weekend is when we will find out what they are truly made of.

Chiefs risk losing a key staff member to Wydad AC after they tabled a lucrative offer, with his pre-season absence fuelling exit rumours.

MANILA, Philippines — For the second consecutive year, East Zone water concessionaire Manila Water has earned a spot on the prestigious Fortune Southeast Asia 500 list—this time with an even stronger standing. In the 2025 edition, Manila Water climbed to 384th place, a notable improvement from its 435th rank in 2024, reflecting the Company’s continued