Donations of nearly £100,000 will help find a cure for brain tumours in memory of a 23-year-old woman who died less than two years after being diagnosed with a highly aggressive form of the disease.
Amani Liaquat, from Luton in Bedfordshire, was diagnosed with glioblastoma (GBM) on her 22nd birthday in April 2020.
She died in February this year, six weeks before Tom Parker, lead singer of band The Wanted, with whom she formed a close friendship because of their shared diagnosis.
The Masters student and first-class honours law graduate received her terminal brain tumour diagnosis – which has an average survival prognosis of just 12 to 18 months – after collapsing at home.
After standard of care failed to stop the growth of her tumour, Amani’s family decided to source life-prolonging treatment from Germany for which they, with the help of relatives, friends and strangers, raised more than £100,000 in 24 hours.
Sadly, Amani’s condition deteriorated markedly after being told at the end of last year that she had exhausted all of her treatment options.
After her death, Tom Parker posted a tribute on his official Instagram page, saying: “In the early hours of this morning Amani sadly passed away. My thoughts and love are with her family. She was an incredible young lady. Bright, smart, funny and I had the greatest pleasure to have met her.”
During her courageous 22-month battle with the disease, Amani became a passionate supporter of Brain Tumour Research and was an integral part of the charity’s #BrainTumourPetition and Stop the Devastation campaigns.
She also undertook numerous fundraising and campaigning activities for the charity, including setting up the Fight4Hope fundraising group and organising Luton’s first ever Walk of Hope. Her efforts, and that of friends and family she inspired to fundraise, have raised more than £54,000.
Amani’s parents, Yasmin Stannard and Khuram Liaquat, have also generously gifted £40,000 to Brain Tumour Research from the remaining crowdfunding donations not used for her treatment in the hope of helping others.
They will have the opportunity to tour the labs led by principal investigator Professor Silvia Marino and speak to scientists about their work to find a cure for brain tumours, before laying 33 tiles on the Wall of Hope, each of which represents the £2,740 it costs to fund a day of research at the centre.
Yasmin said: “Amani loved being involved in campaigning and raising awareness about the lack of research into brain cancer research. It brought purpose and focus to her darkest days and gave her something to focus on outside of herself and her own problems. Many times she could be heard saying 'it might be too late for me but I want to make a change for others'.
“We were overwhelmed to receive so many crowdfunding donations and will always be grateful for everyone’s kindness and generosity in helping us access treatment for Amani abroad. We hope that by gifting what is left to Brain Tumour Research will ensure others facing the same diagnosis will have a different outcome in the future.”
Khuram added: “We hope the money we’ve donated will help find a cure for this devastating disease. Amani was my hero and the most amazing ambassador for Brain Tumour Research and for that to be her legacy would have made her so incredibly proud.”
GBM Awareness Week takes place in the UK from today (Monday 18 July). According to Brain Tumour Research, GBM is the most commonly diagnosed high-grade brain tumour in adults. It is fast-growing and the average survival time is just 12 to 18 months. Treatment options are extremely limited and there is no cure.
Charlie Allsebrook, community development manager for Brain Tumour Research, said: “Amani’s death is a tragedy but the fact she did so much in her short life and had such a profound impact on the brain tumour community and beyond is a legacy she and her family can be immensely proud of.
“Amani won’t be forgotten and her legacy will live on in the Fight4Hope fundraising group she helped set up and in the many research days, she has helped fund. We’re indebted to her and her family for their incredible support and incredibly grateful to all who knew and loved Amani for their help in raising funds for our charity.
“Amani’s story is a stark reminder that Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer yet, historically, just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease. Brain Tumour Research is determined to change this but it is only by working together that we will find a cure.”
Brain Tumour Research funds sustainable research at dedicated centres in the UK. It also campaigns for the Government and the larger cancer charities to invest more in research into brain tumours in order to speed up new treatments for patients and, ultimately, to find a cure. The charity is the driving force behind the call for a national annual spend of £35 million in order to improve survival rates and patient outcomes in line with other cancers such as breast cancer and leukaemia and is also campaigning for greater repurposing of drugs.
Donald Trump Jr and Bettina Anderson were seen getting intimate at Teterboro Airport before heading to the FIFA Club World Cup final.
The couple matched in white shirts and embraced publicly while awaiting President Donald Trump and Melania Trump.
Anderson defended Don Jr online earlier this year after a New York Magazine article criticised him.
Trump Jr’s ex-fiancée Kimberly Guilfoyle was recently appointed US Ambassador to Greece, while ex-wife Vanessa is now dating Tiger Woods.
Donald Trump Jr and his girlfriend Bettina Anderson turned heads over the weekend with an unabashed public display of affection on the tarmac in Teterboro, New Jersey, just before President Trump and Melania Trump landed ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup final. The couple, who have been together since mid-2024, looked inseparable as they hugged, kissed, and held hands openly, seemingly unconcerned by the presence of others or nearby cameras.
All eyes on Donald Trump Jr and Bettina Anderson as their PDA grabs attention before Trump’s arrivalGetty Images
Pair step out in matching whites before heading to historic match
Wearing coordinated white button-downs, Don Jr and Bettina appeared relaxed and smitten as they waited to join Trump Sr at the MetLife Stadium. This year’s match was particularly significant as it marked the first time the United States hosted the tournament. The couple continued to cosy up at the stadium, where they watched the final together from the stands, adding another public outing to a growing list of appearances.
Donald Trump Jr and girlfriend Bettina Anderson steal the spotlight with PDA at New Jersey airportGetty Images
Relationship has been going strong since summer 2024
Their relationship became public in December 2024. A source close to the couple told Us Weekly at the time that Anderson offered something new for Trump Jr, a relationship "just about them" with no strings attached.
Since then, they’ve been spotted at multiple high-profile events, including the amfAR Gala in Cannes, the Super Bowl in New Orleans, and a Sublime concert during LIV Golf Miami. By January 2025, reports suggested the couple were already living together.
Donald Trump Jr. and Bettina Anderson depart the White House to attend the Military ParadeGetty Images
Bettina claps back at critics over Don Jr’s public image
When New York Magazine published a scathing piece on Trump Jr earlier this year, labelling him a “spoiled heir” and claiming he was the “most despised” member of the Trump family, Anderson didn’t stay quiet.
Posting to her Instagram Stories, she mocked the article’s “insider” claims and fired back with the quote: “Rumours are started by haters, spread by fools, and accepted by idiots.” She described her boyfriend as “the finest, loveliest, tenderest, and most beautiful and brilliant person.”
Bettina Anderson and Donald Trump Jr spotted in a candid moment Getty Images
Trump Jr’s past with Kimberly Guilfoyle and Vanessa Trump
Before Anderson, Trump Jr was engaged to former Fox News anchor Kimberly Guilfoyle. They ended their relationship in late 2024, just before the US election. Despite the split, Trump Jr later praised her after President Trump appointed Guilfoyle as Ambassador to Greece.
Donald Trump Jr. with Bettina Anderson ahead of US President Donald Trump's addressGetty Images
“Kimberly and I will never stop caring for each other and will always keep a special bond,” he said in a statement. “I could not be more proud of her.” His ex-wife, Vanessa Trump, has also moved on. She’s now reportedly in a serious relationship with golf legend Tiger Woods.
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Trump will become the first elected political leader in modern times to be hosted for two state visits by a British monarch. (Photo: Getty Images)
KING CHARLES will host US president Donald Trump in September for a second state visit to Britain, Buckingham Palace announced on Monday.
The visit is scheduled to take place from 17 to 19 September.
“His Majesty the King will host the President and Mrs Trump at Windsor Castle,” the palace said in a statement. Further details will be shared later.
Trump said last month that he had agreed to meet King Charles after UK prime minister Keir Starmer delivered a handwritten letter from the monarch to him at the Oval Office.
Trump will become the first elected political leader in modern times to be hosted for two state visits by a British monarch.
The late Queen Elizabeth hosted Trump for a three-day state visit in June 2019 during his first term. That visit included a private lunch with the Queen and tea with Charles, who was then the Prince of Wales.
Starmer and Trump are also expected to meet in Scotland later this month, a source told Reuters last week. The specific date of the meeting has not yet been confirmed.
The two leaders have built a close relationship in recent months. Last month, they signed a framework trade deal during the G7 summit that formally reduced some US tariffs on British imports.
In May, Canadian prime minister Mark Carney criticised the UK's invitation to Trump for a state visit. He said it undermined the government's efforts to show a united front against Trump's remarks about annexing Canada.
Trump’s earlier visits to Britain have seen large protests. His 2018 trip required the deployment of 10,000 police officers and cost more than 14 million pounds.
Most Britons view the US president unfavourably, according to opinion polls.
State visits typically include ceremonial events such as an open-top carriage procession through central London and a formal banquet at Buckingham Palace.
(With inputs from agencies)
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A plume of black smoke rises from an area near the runway after a small plane crash, as seen from inside a building at London Southend Airport on July 13, 2025. (Photo: Reuters)
LONDON Southend Airport in Essex has been closed until further notice after a small plane crashed at the airport on England’s south-east coast on Sunday, according to police.
In a post on X, London Southend Airport said all flights to and from the airport have been cancelled while emergency services, police, and air accident investigators are at the scene.
“We remain on the scene of a serious incident at Southend Airport,” Essex Police said. The police said they were called just before 4 pm to reports of a collision involving a 12-metre (39.4-foot) aircraft.
It is not yet known how many people were on board the plane.
Photos published by British newspaper websites showed a fireball above Southend Airport, which is located around 35 miles (56 km) east of London.
The East of England Ambulance Service said it had deployed four ambulances along with other response vehicles to the site.
The airport’s website showed that five international flights were cancelled after the crash.
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'This fund will give hundreds of thousands of children, young people and their families a better chance,' Reeves said in a statement. (Photo: Getty Images)
THE UK government on Sunday launched a £500 million Better Futures Fund aimed at supporting up to 200,000 vulnerable children over the next 10 years.
According to the government, the fund will focus on helping struggling families by improving children's access to education and ensuring a safe home environment.
The announcement comes as prime minister Keir Starmer and chancellor Rachel Reeves face calls from Labour Party lawmakers to expand support for low-income families.
Earlier this month, Starmer was forced to scale back key parts of his welfare reform plan to secure parliamentary approval.
"This fund will give hundreds of thousands of children, young people and their families a better chance," Reeves said in a statement. "Our 'Plan for Change' will break down barriers to opportunity and give them the best start in life."
The finance ministry also said it plans to raise another £500million through contributions from local government, social investors and philanthropists.
Mel Stride, finance spokesman for the opposition Conservative Party, welcomed the funding but criticised Labour's economic approach, saying it had harmed struggling families.
The government is also reviewing the two-child limit on welfare payments to parents as it considers changes to several unpopular policies following a drop in its poll ratings.
(With inputs from agencies)
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Following Thatcher’s third general election victory in 1987, Tebbit stepped back from frontline politics to care for his wife. (Photo: Getty Images)
LORD NORMAN TEBBIT, the former cabinet minister who introduced the controversial “cricket test” to question the loyalty of migrants, has died at the age of 94. The test, later known as the “Tebbit Test,” suggested that immigrants who supported cricket teams from their countries of origin instead of England were not fully integrated into British society. His death was confirmed on Monday by his son, William, who asked for privacy for the family.
Tebbit first spoke about the test in 1990 as a Conservative MP. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, he said, “A large proportion of Britain's Asian population fail to pass the cricket test. Which side do they cheer for? It’s an interesting test. Are you still harking back to where you came from or where you are?”
The comments drew criticism from migrant communities and the media. Tebbit later defended his stance in 2005 following the July 7 bombings in London, which involved suspects of Pakistani heritage. Speaking to the Today programme, he said, “We have generated home-grown bombers; a combination of the permissive society together with a minority population deeply rooted in its own moral code.” He added that better inner-city schooling could have helped integration.
In 2014, Tebbit said his views had changed. In an interview with the BBC, he praised British Asian players for energising cricket and said it helped them feel part of the nation. “Not only that, but it encourages the generations of British-born Asians to feel part of the nation – and those of long British ancestry to welcome them into our team,” he said.
He also suggested a new test for migrants based on whether their ancestors fought for the UK during World War II.
Tebbit served as MP for 22 years, held senior roles in government, and retired from the House of Lords in 2022. He was injured in the 1984 IRA bombing in Brighton, which paralysed his wife. Tributes were led by Rishi Sunak and Priti Patel, who described him as a “titan” and a “giant” of Conservative politics.