Joe Biden has again been criticised for saying that his late son Beau “lost his life in Iraq” – a reference to the president’s long-held belief that toxic burn pits led to the younger Biden passing away from brain cancer at the age of 46. The president made his latest remarks to US troops stationed in Japan during his trip to the country, after making similar remarks at least twice last year. “My son was a major in the US Army. We lost him in Iraq,” said Mr Biden during an informal visit with troops at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni last Thursday in a video obtained by The New York Post. Right-wing media outlets have attempted to use Mr Biden’s comments on Beau’s death as a sign that the 80-year-old Democrat has memory issues ahead of the 2024 presidential election. Mr Biden’s son died of brain cancer in 2015 at the Walter Reed military hospital in Bethesda, Maryland. Last October Mr Biden made similar comments while speaking close to Vail, Colorado, as he designated Camp Hail as a national monument. The area, covering 436 square miles, was the training site of the 10th Mountain Division during the Second World War. Mr Biden spoke of the bravery of the division as they fought in Italy, before stating that he lost his son in Iraq. “Just imagine, I mean it sincerely, I say this as a father of a man who won the Bronze Star, the conspicuous service medal, and lost his life in Iraq. Imagine the courage, the daring, and the genuine sacrifice they all made,” the president said. A clip of the moment shared by the conservative Washington Examiner on Twitter has been viewed more than a million times. Beau Biden served in Iraq between 2008 and 2009 as a member of the Delaware Army National Guard. He was the Delaware Attorney General between 2007 and 2015. Just months after leaving the post, he passed away at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland on 30 May 2015. After his passing, he was given the Delaware Conspicuous Service Cross for “heroism, meritorious service and outstanding achievement”. “Beau Biden died of brain cancer in 2015, more than five years after he returned from a year serving in Iraq. Joe Biden has attributed the cancer to Beau Biden’s proximity to burn pits in Iraq, though sometimes conceded he isn’t sure,” CNN fact-checker Daniel Dale tweeted. In 2016, then-Vice President Biden said his son’s cancer could have been caused by the toxic burn pits that he was exposed to during his service in the Middle East. The New York Times reported that Mr Biden said he was “stunned” when he read a chapter concerning the death of his son in the book The Burn Pits: The Poisoning of America’s Soldiers by Joseph Hickman. “Guys, I’m going to be the biggest pain in your neck as long as I live, until we figure out about these burn pits,” he said in a conference room in the congressional complex. Burn pits were used to get rid of waste, such as plastics, rubber, and batteries, in both Afghanistan and Iraq. The smoke from the pits could be toxic, Newsweek noted. The Department of Defence has stated that almost 3.5 million service members could have been exposed to toxins at harmful levels because of the practice. “I’ve always believed that we have a sacred obligation to equip those we send to war, and care for those and their families when they come home,” Mr Biden said during his State of the Union speech earlier this year. “And they come home, many of the world’s fittest and best-trained warriors in the world, never the same. Headaches. Numbness. Dizziness. A cancer that would put them in a flag-draped coffin.” While Mr Biden said he couldn’t be entirely sure that his son’s cancer was caused by the burn pits, he said his administration would be “finding out everything we can”. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) states on its website that it “understands that many Veterans are especially concerned about exposure to the smoke and fumes generated by open burn pits”. “In Iraq, Afghanistan, and other areas of the Southwest Asia theater of military operations, open-air combustion of trash and other waste in burn pits was a common practice. The Department of Defense has now closed out most burn pits and is planning to close the remainder,” the agency adds. “Researchers, including experts at VA, are actively studying airborne hazards like burn pits and other military environmental exposures. Ongoing research will help us better understand potential long-term health effects and provide you with better care and services,” the site states. 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Germany has hired Julian Nagelsmann to lead the men’s national soccer team

Liverpool lost to Sevilla in the Europa League final on this day in 2016 as Jurgen Klopp’s hopes of a first trophy on Merseyside were ended. Daniel Sturridge fired Liverpool ahead on 35 minutes in Basle but the Spanish outfit rallied after the break to win 3-1 and secure a third successive triumph in the competition. Kevin Gameiro began the fightback just 17 seconds into the second half before a double from Coke completed the turnaround for Unai Emery’s team. Liverpool had strong claims for a penalty turned down in the first period after Daniel Carrico appeared to handle as Roberto Firmino attempted to take the ball past him. They went in front when Sturridge flicked a fine shot beyond David Soria with the outside of his left boot. Sevilla found a way back into the game from the restart after a ball into the box was cleared only as far as Mariano Ferreira and he squared for Gameiro to tap in. Liverpool never regained the momentum and Coke punished them when he steered in from the edge of the area on 64 minutes. Coke grabbed his side’s third just six minutes later, driving in from close range after the ball came to him via a deflection. Liverpool appealed for offside but to no avail. The result meant the Reds not only missed out on a return to the Champions League but failed to qualify for European football at all from Klopp’s first campaign in charge. Liverpool finished eighth in the Premier League that season, below Southampton and West Ham, and 21 points behind champions Leicester. Yet, having also reached the Carabao Cup final, there had been clear signs of progress under the German, who had succeeded Brendan Rodgers the previous October. They went on to finish fourth and qualify for the Champions League the following year. They then reached the final of Europe’s top competition in 2018 and won it in 2019 before claiming a first Premier League title the following season. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Man City crush holders to book Champions League final return Recent history not on Rory McIlroy’s side as he aims to win US PGA Championship Jordan Henderson ready for challenge of expected Liverpool midfield overhaul

George Clooney, Tyler Perry and other notable entertainment professionals met with SAG-AFTRA union leaders on Tuesday following a breakdown in contract negotiations between the guild and major studios last week.

ATHENS, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 25, 2023--

Here's a breakdown of the Gear Level progression system in V Rising.

Nothing says comfort food like a classic lasagne. It’s great for feeding a crowd, freezes well, and the leftovers will keep you happy for days. With rich ragu, tender pasta and a golden, bubbling cheese crust, it delivers on the three pillars of good Italian home cooking – and in just 90 minutes, to boot. Cut corners at your peril – making the ragu and the bechemel from scratch is worth the extra elbow grease. Classic lasagne A classic Italian dish – great for lunch or dinner. Recipe by: Aldi Serves: 4 Prep time: 20 minutes | Cooking time: 70 minutes Ingredients: 500g steak minced beef 1 large onion 1 stick celery 1 red pepper 2 cloves garlic 400g tin chopped tomatoes 2 tsp paprika 2 tsp pesto 1 tsp dried oregano 25g tomato puree 25ml olive oil 1 beef stock cube 6 sheets lasagne pasta 50g plain flour 60g butter 650ml semi skimmed milk 100g soft cheese 1 tsp English mustard 80g grated mature cheddar cheese Sea salt, white and black pepper Method: Peel, halve and finely chop the onion. Peel and mince the garlic. Wipe the celery and finely chop. Finely chop the red pepper, discarding any pith or seeds. Heat the oil in a large saucepan. Add the onions, garlic, pepper and the celery. Sauté for a few minutes, then add the mince and brown. Add the tinned tomatoes and crumble over the stock cube. Add the pesto, paprika, tomato purée, oregano and season with some salt and plenty of black pepper. Bring to the boil, then turn down to a simmer. Cook for 20 minutes, without a lid, stirring occasionally. Pre-heat the oven to 200C/400F/gas mark 6. Meanwhile, make the white sauce. In a medium saucepan melt the butter. Then add the flour and cook for a minute. Add the milk, white pepper and the mustard. Slowly bring to the boil, stirring as you cook. Turn down the heat and cook for a couple of minutes, then whisk in the soft cheese until you have a smooth, thick sauce. Put half the meat mixture in the bottom of the dish, then lay 3 slices of the pasta on top in a line. Pour over half the white sauce. Sprinkle over half the grated cheese. Then repeat with the remaining ingredients. Bake in the oven for 40 minutes until browned. For more recipe inspiration, visit www.aldi.co.uk/recipes Read More World Pasta Day: Nigella Lawson’s spaghetti with Marmite This speedy king prawn pasta has a supermarket secret weapon Midweek meals: Baked pasta Siciliana with meatballs Dear Pret, this is what a £7 sandwich should look like Jack Stein’s Cornish mussels with spinach and cider Pub grub: Three recipes from Tom Kerridge’s new cookbook

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Police in Tennessee have conducted a welfare check on suspended Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant and say “he is fine” after cryptic messages appeared on his Instagram account and were later deleted

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England are through to the quarter-finals of the Women’s World Cup – but they will be without Lauren James when they play either Colombia or Jamaica in the last eight. James was sent off for stamping on the back of Nigeria player Michelle Alozie during the Lionesses’ last-16 tie. The 21-year-old, who has been England’s player of the tournament, was initially shown a yellow card by the referee, but VAR recommended a review and the yellow card was upgraded to red after the act of petulance. After receiving a red card, James is automatically suspended for England’s next match, however her punishment will be reviewed by a Fifa disciplinary panel. If the forward is deemed to have committed a serious act of foul play, the panel have the power to apply further sanctions. A three-match ban would see James ruled out for the rest of the tournament. Two of the World Cup’s surprise packages, Colombia and Jamaica, meet in the last 16 on Tuesday, with the winner awaiting the Lionesses in the quarter-finals. That task will be harder for England without their creative heartbeat in James but if they can come through, then a potential semi-final against Australia, Denmark, France or Morocco would be the next task. The Women’s World Cup final will be played on Sunday August 20, with Japan appearing to be the strongest team in the top half of the draw currently. Read More Lauren James sent off for stamping on opponent during England’s World Cup clash Who and when do England play next? Lionesses route to the World Cup final Lauren James: England’s new superstar taking World Cup by storm