Analyst Report: Illinois Tool Works, Inc.
Game of Thrones star withdraws from Strictly Come Dancing
Ian Youngs
Culture reporter
BBCGame of Thrones actor Kristian Nairn has pulled out of this year’s Strictly Come Dancing, just days after the line-up was announced, saying he’s been struggling with “a high level of stress and a little bit of grief”.
Nairn, 49, is best known for playing Hodor – the guileless servant of House Stark – in HBO’s fantasy drama.
He told his Instagram followers that after the line-up announcement last week, his problems had “manifested physically” for the first time and had caused “a spike in my vitals as an area of concern”.
Actor Lewis Cope, best known for playing Nicky Milligan in ITV’s Emmerdale, will replace Nairn on this year’s show.
“I’m so excited to be swapping the Dales for the dance floor and joining this year’s Strictly Come Dancing. I’ve always been a fan of the show and cannot wait to get started!” Cope said in a statement.
Cope has also appeared in TV shows Vera, Mrs Sidhu Investigates and Hetty Feather.
He also played the lead role of Leonard Vole in the Olivier-nominated play, Agatha Christie’s Witness for the Prosecution.
Medical check
Announcing his withdrawal on Thursday in a video on Instagram, Nairn said: “I’ve been given a wonderful opportunity to be part of the Strictly Come Dancing family, as you may know.”
“Sadly, I’m having to withdraw from this year’s show. There’s been such a response, I definitely want to share why. Like so many people at the minute, I’ve been dealing with a high level of stress and a little bit of grief, if I’m going to be really real.
“I’ve always been my mother’s son and I’ve always powered through things like this in the past. I think I’ve got a pretty healthy attitude towards stuff like this. Well, I thought I did, at least.
“But for the first time it’s manifested physically and has caused a spike in my vitals as sort of an area of concern.”
Nairn is also known for playing Wee John Feeney in the US TV period comedy drama Our Flag Means Death, and is a house music DJ.
Last Friday, the 6ft 10in Northern Irishman became the 15th and final contestant to be unveiled for this year’s Strictly.
Speaking on Thursday, he continued: “I am a big guy, always have been, ever since I set foot on this Earth, so I take my health very seriously, and I do see my doctor all the time, and I was checked for the show two weeks before [the announcement] and everything was fine, so he was happy for me to take part.
“Please know I’m OK. I’m under treatment already, and my doctor isn’t concerned. After two, maybe three weeks, I’ll be pretty much back to normal, but sadly… it’s not going to be in time for all the training and everything like that.”
He added: “I’m gutted. I was really looking forward to taking part in this.”
‘Taking it easy’
Nairn went on to say he had been “100% supported” by producers and others on the show.
“I’m going to be taking it easy for now, and I’ll be able to return to work very shortly.”
He added: “We live in strange, crazy times at the moment. So without being preachy, please look after yourself. Don’t ignore what’s going on inside your head.
“This is something I haven’t dealt with before, so this has really come as a surprise for me. I always thought I had this.”
He asked people not to worry about him, saying: “I’ve totally got this.”
When his participation was announced last Friday, he said taking part in the dance contest would be “a huge challenge for me physically, but I’m ready to rise to it.”
In a statement from the BBC on Thursday, his withdrawal was put down to “unexpected medical reasons”.
The show’s executive producer Sarah James said: “We’ve absolutely loved getting to know Kristian in this short time, and he has all the makings of a brilliant Strictly Come Dancing contestant.
“We’re incredibly sorry to lose him from this year’s series and we all wish him a speedy recovery.”
The show, produced by BBC Studios, will return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer for its new series this September.
Vance bashes CBO report on Trump bill fueling inequality: ‘Very atrocious’
Vice President Vance bashed the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) on Thursday over a recent analysis that showed President Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” will make the poorest Americans even poorer, while benefiting the highest earners.
While speaking at an industrial refrigeration manufacturing facility in Peachtree City, Ga., about the policy package, Vance criticized the CBO assessment in his response to a question on how he justifies the impact on the poorest Americans.
“First of all, the Congressional Budget Office, sometimes they put out reports that are absolutely atrocious and I think this is a good example of a very atrocious report,” he said to applause from the crowd.
The CBO report, which was done at the request of Democrats, found that the top 10 percent of earners in the country will see an average boost of $13,600 per year over the next decade as a direct result of provisions in the law, while the bottom 10 percent will see an average annual decrease of $1,200.
Vance continued to tout the benefits of the law, including no tax on tips and on overtime.
“The most important thing for people who are living at the bottom of the income ladder is that they not pay taxes on their income sources,” the vice president said.
He added, “So, if you’re working hard and you’re working overtime, you’re going to get a big fat tax cut. If you’re working at a restaurant or some other business where you’re earning your wages primarily through tips, you’re going to get a big fat tax cut. And most importantly, the president’s economic policies are going to prevent your job from being shipped off to Asia or to Mexico. That is the very best thing for people at the bottom of the income ladder.”
During his remarks in Georgia, Vance also said “if you’re working hard the government ought to leave you alone.”
The CBO report challenges the Trump administration and congressional Republicans’ argument that the law will benefit workers at all levels of wealth and income. The administration has been referring to it recently as Trump’s “working families tax cuts” instead of the “big, beautiful bill.”
Man, 26, charged with murder of Wembley ice cream man
A man has been charged with murder after the death of an ice cream man in north-west London.
Zaher Zaarour, 26, of North Circular Road, Brent was charged with murder and possession of a bladed article on Thursday. He was remanded into custody and is set to appear at Willesden Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
Met Police officers were called to reports of a stabbing in Monks Park, Wembley, at 18:10 BST on Tuesday.
Shazad Khan, 41, was treated by London Ambulance Service but died at the scene.
A 31-year-old woman was arrested at the scene for conspiracy to murder but has since been bailed pending further enquiries.
Det Ch Insp Paul Waller said: “I would like to thank the community for their help and support during this investigation.
“Residents can expect to see an increase of officers in the local area over the next coming days as the investigation continues”.
HHS terminates California sex education grant over 'gender ideology content'
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on Thursday announced it had terminated California’s participation in a federal sex education grant program after the state refused to remove information about transgender people from its curricula.
The department’s Administration for Children and Families (ACF) asked California in March to submit all learning materials for its Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP), a teen pregnancy prevention and sexual health initiative established in 2010 under the Affordable Care Act, “for a medical accuracy review.”
On Thursday, the Health Department said it identified content in the state’s curricula outside of the scope of PREP’s authorizing statute.
“Specifically, ACF identified multiple examples of gender ideology content, including lessons teaching students that gender identity is distinct from biological sex and that boys can identify as girls and vice versa,” Acting Assistant Secretary Andrew Gradison wrote in a termination letter to officials at California’s Department of Public Health (CDPH).
In June, Gradison instructed the department to remove “all content concerning gender ideology” from its PREP curricula within 60 days.
According to Thursday’s termination letter, California’s health department said in its Aug. 19 response that it would “not make any such modifications,” arguing its program materials are relevant and medically accurate and ACF does not have authority to take an enforcement action.
PREP’s authorizing statute “includes no mention of gender ideology,” which “is not supported by the weight of science,” Gradison wrote to the department on Thursday, adding, “Termination of all California State PREP grants is now appropriate.”
The CDPH has 30 days to submit an appeal. A spokesperson for the department did not immediately return a request for comment.
In a statement, Gradison said the Trump administration “will not allow taxpayer dollars to be used to indoctrinate children.”
“Accountability is coming for every state that uses federal funds to teach children delusional gender ideology,” he said.
In an emailed statement, Elana Ross, a spokesperson for California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), said, “If it’s a day ending in y, President Trump is attacking kids’ safety, health, and access to education as part of his culture war.”
Earlier Thursday, Trump threatened to defund California schools that do not adhere to the administration’s policies on transgender students. Since returning to office in January, Trump has sought to bar transgender girls from participating in girls’ school sports and prohibit trans students from using restrooms and locker rooms that match their gender identity.
The Justice Department last month sued California’s Education Department and the state’s governing body for high school sports over what it said was a pattern of “illegal sex discrimination against female student athletes.” Both entities have refused to comply with the administration’s demands to ban trans athletes from girls’ competitions, citing a 2013 state law protecting the right of transgender students to compete in line with their gender identity.
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Kansas City Chiefs Coach Andy Reid Nearly Shot
Police Share Update After Dog the Bounty Hunter’s Stepson Accidentally Shot and Killed Son
Andy Reid had a dangerously close call at work.
The Kansas City Chiefs coach was just 15 feet away from a bullet that pierced through his office’s glass in May 2024, according to a new report from The Kansas City Star.
Reid—who has taken the Patrick Mahomes-led team to the Super Bowl for three consecutive wins since 2023—was working alone at midnight on May 4 in the team’s practice facility when a bullet was fired, according to the Kansas City Police Department incident report obtained by the outlet.
“When officers arrived, they were told by overnight security that someone in the building alerted them to hearing a noise and observed what appeared to be a bullet hole in a window,” KCPD spokesperson Capt. Jacob Becchina told E! News in a statement. “No one was struck, and there were no injuries associated with the incident.”
Every Day Mediterranean 30-Day Kick Start Plan for Beginners: 4-Week Menu Plan & Tracker
Price: $17.99 - $12.95
(as of Aug 21, 2025 17:34:04 UTC – Details)
This book is a 30-day kick start plan designed to help you learn how to follow the Mediterranean diet and achieve your personal healthy goals whether they are losing weight, lowering cholesterol, managing Type-2 diabetes or a healthy heart.
It’s a small portable “toolbox” that arms you with everything you need to know to follow the Mediterranean way to eat every day. And when you pair it up with healthy recipes from your favorite cookbooks and personal files, you will have everything you need to succeed.
So what’s inside?
• healthy eating overview of the Mediterranean diet fundamentals
• personalized SMART goals guide to build good habits that stick
• macronutrient target chart to personalize your plan
• 30 balanced daily menu plans for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks
• 30 journal tracker pages to follow your progress and help you stay on plan
• detailed nutritional information about core Mediterranean diet ingredients
• helpful reminders & handy tips
• complete list of core Mediterranean diet pantry ingredients
• personal favorite ingredients-at-a-glance tracking page
• extra journal tracker pages and weekly meal planner form
• BONUS Storage and Prep PDF
From start to finish, you’ll stay on track armed with all the tools you need to be successful, including a healthy eating overview of the diet, a personalized SMART goals guide to track your progress, 30 days of daily menu ideas and ingredient spotlights, helpful reminders, handy tips, and a tracking journal so that you can have the satisfaction of seeing change every day as you build some healthy habits for a lifetime.
You’ll be able to:
SEE how far you’ve come
Start your journal with a deep dive into your goals, why they’re important to you, and the action steps you’ll take to achieve them. At the end of your 30-day journey, you can look back and be proud of everything you’ve achieved!
LOG your daily progress
With space to record your food, exercise, and other key healthy habits, this book is your “buddy system” friend. Log everything from calories and nutrients to water intake, exercise and more!
PLAN your weekly routine
Be proud of your success as your daily tracker pages show plenty of proof of your commitment to make healthy changes in your life by following the healthiest way to eat every day. When you stay on track, you’re one step closer to your goals!
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Plan your weekly routine, then feel that sense of satisfaction as your daily tracker pages fill up with checkmarks in all those boxes. With every bit of exercise you do, you’re one step closer to your goals!
SUCCEED with ALL your healthy goals
It’s no surprise with all the information out there, it might seem overwhelming, but don’t worry. I’ve got your back and I hope this book provides the help and inspiration you’ve been looking for. We’re in this together! Thanks for joining me on this healthy journey to follow the Mediterranean way to eat every day.
From the Publisher
MEDITERRANEAN DIET BASICS
• Healthy eating overview of the Mediterranean diet fundamentals
• Space to plan your healthy future with SMART goal setting
• Macronutrient target chart to personalize your plan
• Healthy tips and guidelines to help you on the journey
30 DAILY MENUS & DAILY JOURNAL TRACKERS
• 30 Balanced menu plans for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks
• 30 Journal diary pages to track your progress and help you stay on plan
• 30 Ingredient spotlights featuring nutritional information about healthy core ingredients
• Extra journal diary pages when you are ready to take off the training wheels
MEDITERRANEAN KITCHEN GUIDE & FAVORITES
• Complete list of all the core Mediterranean diet pantry ingredients you’ll want to have on hand
• Space to keep track of your favorite ingredients at a glance
ASIN : B0D9YVCJK8
Publisher : Independently published
Publication date : July 19, 2024
Language : English
Print length : 118 pages
Item Weight : 5.9 ounces
Dimensions : 6 x 0.27 x 9 inches
Best Sellers Rank: #45,348 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #36 in Heart Healthy Cooking (Books) #56 in Mediterranean Cooking, Food & Wine #178 in Weight Loss Diets (Books)
Customer Reviews: 4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 172 ratings var dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction; P.when(‘A’, ‘ready’).execute(function(A) { if (dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction !== true) { dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction = true; A.declarative( ‘acrLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault”: true }, function (event) { if (window.ue) { ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } } ); } }); P.when(‘A’, ‘cf’).execute(function(A) { A.declarative(‘acrStarsLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault” : true }, function(event){ if(window.ue) { ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } }); });
Customers say
Customers find the Mediterranean diet plan realistic and effective for good health, with informative nutrition information. The guide is straightforward and well-written, with plenty of meal ideas and easy-to-prepare recipes. However, the recipes receive mixed feedback, with some customers noting they are not actual recipes.
UK’s third-largest steelworks collapses into government control
Simon Jack
Business editor, BBC News
BBC/Spencer StokesThe UK’s third-largest steelworks has been placed under government control, creating an uncertain future for nearly 1,500 workers in Rotherham and Sheffield.
Insolvency courts granted a compulsory winding up order sought by creditors owed hundreds of millions of pounds by Speciality Steels UK (SSUK) – part of the Liberty Steel metals empire of controversial tycoon Sanjeev Gupta.
The company, which uses scrap metal to manufacture steel, will now be placed in the hands of the official receiver – a government appointed liquidator – and special managers from consultancy firm Teneo.
The government has agreed to cover the ongoing wages and costs of the plant while a buyer for is sought.
Following the High Court decision, Liberty Steel’s chief transformation officer Jeffrey Kabel told the BBC he was “really disappointed” as he thought they had “presented a very good case”.
“We are by far the best company to run this business. We’ve run it for 10 years. Put a lot of blood, sweat and a huge amount of money into it,” he said.
In a separate statement, Mr Kabel said the move would “impose prolonged uncertainty and significant costs on UK taxpayers for settlements and related expenses, despite the availability of a commercial solution”.
Lawyers for Mr Gupta had applied for a four-week adjournment for time to place the company in a “pre-pack administration”, which allows an insolvent company to sell its assets to a bidder.
He wanted funding from investment giant BlackRock and Fidera, which invests in distressed companies, to buy back the business.
Winding up the company, his lawyers argued, could place the business in “free fall” and incur significant disruption, cost and risk to a nationally important steel company and its 1,500 workers.
The judge found the company was “hopelessly insolvent” with £600,000 in the bank, a monthly wage bill of £3.7m, supported by a parent group that has 15 entities in insolvency proceedings across nine jurisdictions.
PA MediaOne of the creditors, Ryan Perkins for Greensill Capital, argued UK steel-making would be better served if the company’s assets were sold off with assistance from independent special managers acting on behalf of the government after it is wound up, rather than allowing administrators appointed by Mr Gupta to conduct the process.
In a separate court hearing on Wednesday, Mr Perkins presented a letter from the Department for Business and Trade showing approaches made by third parties.
The court heard they had “expressed an interest in returning some or all of the sites to steel-making”, which was the “government’s desire”.
The letter added “an orderly compulsory liquidation may be one way of ensuring steel production restarts”.
Liberty Steel Group’s finances were upended when its main lender, Greensill Capital, collapsed owing billions to investors including UBS and Citibank. Those investors are part of the creditor group that applied for the winding up petition.
Mr Gupta’s plan to place SSUK in administration then immediately buy it out again would have allowed the company to largely shed those debts.
Mr Kabel said the company was still hopeful it could buy SSUK back due to “Blackrock, supporting us, and several others”.
In court, creditors highlighted how SSUK had not published financial statements since 2019 and its direct parent company, based in Singapore, was itself subject to insolvency proceedings.
The government will now be responsible for the operational and financial risks of the company, which has produced next to no steel for over a year.
The court decision comes after the government took over day to day running of British Steel’s Scunthorpe plant in April to prevent its Chinese owners from closing its steel furnaces.
The entire industry has struggled with high energy prices, cheaper products from overseas and the blow to exports to the US caused by 25% tariffs imposed by the Trump administration.
Following the High Court decision on Thursday, the GMB union said it was “another tragedy for UK steel”.
‘We just want to start producing steel again’
Chris WilliamsonChris Williamson has worked at the Rotherham site for more than 25 years and is a union rep for Community union.
He told the BBC special managers appointed to run the business have already arrived on site.
“We’ve not been told anything so far. It’s all a bit up in the air, and we’ll need to see some detail”, he said.
He said the court’s decision “puts a closure on things” but workers wanted “guarantees on pay and pensions”.
Mr Williamson said the Rotherham plant had not produced steel since July 2024, with most of the workers on a form of furlough, being paid 85% of their wages.
“We just want certainty and to start producing steel again”, he said.
With additional reporting from Pritti Mistry and Ollie Smith