US President Donald Trump has said Iran are “welcome” to take part in this summer’s World Cup despite the countries being at war, according to Fifa president Gianni Infantino.

Posting on Instagram, Infantino said he met with Trump on Tuesday to discuss preparations for the tournament, which is being hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico and gets under way on 11 June.

Infantino said he and Trump “spoke about the current situation in Iran”.

Iran are scheduled to play three matches in the US, but their participation has been in doubt since the US and Israel launched strikes on the country this month, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iran responded by launching missiles and drones towards Israel and four Gulf Arab countries which host US military bases – Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

“During the discussions, President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States,” Infantino said.

“We all need an event like the Fifa World Cup to bring people together now more than ever, and I sincerely thank the president of the United States for his support, as it shows once again that football unites the world.”

Anthony Russell, 43, is due before magistrates charged with murdering the 52-year-old at HMP Frankland, in Durham.

Huntley was reportedly attacked with a metal bar in a workshop at the maximum security jail on February 26.

The ex-school caretaker was serving a life sentence for the 2002 murders of 10-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman.

He was taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle, where he died on Saturday morning.

Ian Huntley died on Saturday, March 7 (Image: Toby Melville/PA Wire)

Russell will appear before Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday afternoon via a videolink.

Christopher Atkinson of the Crown Prosecution Service said: “Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring the case to trial and that it is in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings.

“We have worked closely with Durham Constabulary as they carried out their investigation.”

The CPS said it was “vital” there was no “reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in anyway prejudice these proceedings”.

Meanwhile, Justice Minister Sarah Sackman denied that the state would be paying £3,000 towards the cost of Huntley’s funeral.

Speaking to LBC, she said: “It’s a basic funeral.

“And this man, Ian Huntley, doesn’t deserve anything more than the absolute bare minimum.

“We’re not spending £3,000.”

Huntley murdered Holly and Jessica after they left a family barbecue to buy sweets in Soham, Cambridgeshire, on August 4 2002. He dumped their bodies in a ditch 10 miles away.

They were not found for 13 days, despite a search involving hundreds of police officers.

At the time, Huntley lived with Maxine Carr who was a teaching assistant at Holly and Jessica’s primary school.

He denied murdering the girls but was convicted after a trial at the Old Bailey in 2003.

He was jailed for life with a minimum term of 40 years.

Carr gave Huntley a false alibi and was jailed for 21 months for perverting the course of justice.

She is now living under a new identity.

West End Girl tour rolls into Wales this March

Lily Allen’s latest tour in support of her West End Girl album is the hottest ticket in the UK at the moment and is coming to Wales next week.

The Cardiff date is on March 18 at the New Theatre and while it sold out months ago, there is still a way to get tickets for the first of two shows the Madeline singer is performing in Wales in 2026.

Allen, whose West End Girl album hit the top of the charts when it was released in October last year and was written following her split from husband, David Harbour, is also playing at the city’s Utilita Arena on Wednesday, June 24. From superstar gigs to cosy pubs, find out What’s On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here.

Tickets for the New Theatre show on March 18 sold out a while back but there are still options on resale sites like viagogo and Twickets.

So far there is a pair of tickets on sale at viagogo for £221 each. Twickets have none for sale at time of writing but it’s worth checking as the gig gets nearer.

There are cheaper tickets for resale for the Utilita Arena gig on June 24, though. Ticketmaster have them starting at £172 each, here.

Stubhub also have them on resale from £116, here.

Official retailers Ticketmaster and Seat Unique may still have tickets leftover for the UK tour as a whole, too. While the former sold out shortly after their release, the latter still has some VIP and hospitality tickets left over.

Here are the links:

TICKETMASTER – Buy Lily Allen tickets here.

SEAT UNIQUE – Buy Lily Allen tickets here.

One member of the Iranian women’s football team has decided to leave Australia, taking the number seeking asylum to six, amid fears they could be in danger after they did not sing Iran’s national anthem before a game.

They were in Australia for the Asian Cup when the Iran war began just over a week ago.

Two more women – a footballer and a member of staff – had decided to join five players who were granted humanitarian visas a day earlier and remain in Australia.

But one woman decided on Wednesday to return to Iran, taking the number seeking asylum in Australia from seven to six.

The change of heart highlights the difficult decision the footballers faced off the back of the Asian Cup competition in Queensland.

Australia’s home affairs minister Tony Burke told reporters that, after making security assessments, not everyone who applied for a visa was granted one.

“There is a reason why some people were not made a direct offer [to stay]. There were some people leaving Australia who I am glad are no longer in Australia,” he said, without giving further details.

The rest of the team departed from Sydney late on Tuesday to return to Iran.

The six team members remaining in Australia have received humanitarian visas for 12 months and can then begin the process to permanent residency.

Speaking after five people originally applied for visas, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said: “Australians have been moved by the plight of these brave women. They are safe here and they should feel at home here.”

The Australian government had been under pressure to protect the women after they were knocked out of the tournament.

The players were reportedly criticised on Iranian TV, with a commentator saying they had committed the “pinnacle of dishonour” for staying silent during the national anthem before their match on 2 March – two days after the US and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran.

“Traitors during wartime must be dealt with more severely,” presenter Mohammad Reza Shahbazi said, according to the Reuters news agency.

Some believed the team’s silence was an act of resistance, while others saw it as a show of mourning following the initial US-Israel attacks on their country.

The team has not made any specific comment on their stance.

They sang and saluted ahead of defeats to Australia on Thursday and the Philippines on Sunday, but there were concerns they had been ordered to do so.

The team failed to get past the group stage and players’ union FIFPRO said it was “really concerned” about their welfare and had been unable to contact them.

Dozens of people chanted “let them go” and “save our girls” as the team’s bus left the stadium on the Gold Coast after Sunday’s match.

Supporters said they could see at least three players making the international hand signal for help, according to CNN.

Before the rest of the squad left the country, some Iranian Australians held a protest at the team’s hotel and at the airport, seeking to prevent the women from leaving the country, citing fears for their safety in Iran.

Mr Trump posted on Truth Social about how some players felt they had to return “because they are worried about the safety of their families, including threats to those family members if they don’t return”.

‘Ongoing threat’

Exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi, who lives in the US, said he had been told that Fatemeh Pasandideh, Zahra Ghanbari, Zahra Sarbali, Atefeh Ramazanzadeh and Mona Hamoudi were now in a “safe location”.

He earlier said the team faced an “ongoing threat” after their “brave act” not to sing the national anthem.

“As a result of their brave act of civil disobedience in refusing to sing the current regime’s national anthem, they face dire consequences should they return to Iran,” he posted on social media.

The Australian Iranian Council had also urged the government to protect the players.

It launched an online petition asking authorities to “ensure that no member of Iran’s women’s national football team is to depart Australia while credible fears for their safety remain”.

Personal assistants play a vital role in helping people live independently.

Opportunities have been boosted for people needing tailored day-to-day support after students gave an enthusiastic reaction to learning about a little-known social care post.

A series of presentations at South Lanarkshire College explained the role of the personal assistant (PA) and the ways in which it can be a perfect fit for students.

Personal assistants play a vital role in helping people live independently and make everyday choices and, although the role remains unknown to many, it is in growing demand.

That momentum is being strengthened after social care students at the college showed strong interest in becoming personal assistants following the series of presentations about the role and the difference it makes to people needing this type of individualised support.

The sessions highlighted how PA roles can offer flexible, paid work alongside study, while supporting people to live full lives at home and in their communities.

The initiative reflects South Lanarkshire Council’s commitment to working closely with the college to support the development of the local social care workforce, including through its work within the South Lanarkshire University Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP).

Personal Assistants are paid carers who work directly for an individual who has been assessed as needing support. They work with people with a wide range of needs, including disabilities, mental health issues and learning disabilities, as well as with older people and families, providing support in the home or community.

The role is rooted in the Independent Living Movement, which champions disabled people’s right to choice, control and independence in everyday life.

The presentations were organised by Anne Broderick, fieldwork manager with the HSCP, who said demand for PAs continues to outstrip supply.

She said: “We’ve heard from many people who feel a PA would be the right option for them but who are struggling to recruit.

“By engaging directly with social care students, we can raise awareness of a role that works well for both the individual needing support and the PA.”

Anne was joined by Louise Docherty, from the Glasgow Centre for Inclusive Living (GCIL), which supports disabled people to develop person‑centred support arrangements.

Louise said: “The PA role offers flexibility in contract hours to suit both the supported person and PA, builds valuable experience that will help future job applications and provides both an extra source of income and a great sense of fulfilment.

“It was encouraging to see students recognising how rewarding this work can be and how it can fit alongside their studies. We’re passionate about promoting PA roles that offer purpose, job satisfaction and the chance to make a real difference in people’s lives.”

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South Lanarkshire College welcomed the opportunity for students to hear directly from partners working in social care.

Scott Gray, curriculum quality manager for health, social care and science, said: “Roles like personal assistants allow students to complement their studies with paid, real‑world experience, while helping employers access motivated, well‑prepared trained staff direct from college.”

Professor Soumen Sengupta, chief officer for health and social care in South Lanarkshire, said the work highlighted the importance of valuing and developing the PA workforce.

He said: “Personal Assistants play a hugely important role in supporting people to live independently and with dignity.

“Working with South Lanarkshire College helps raise awareness of the Personal Assistant role and the principles of self‑directed support, while giving students a clear understanding of the difference they can make. The enthusiasm shown by students is genuinely encouraging — they are the workforce of tomorrow.”

Becoming a social care Personal Assistant does not require formal qualifications, and anyone interested can find out more on the council’s website.

*Don’t miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.

And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own app? Download yours for free here.

READ MORE: Major improvements on way for road in Rutherglen from this weekend

The Met Office has issued a new yellow weather warning, as risks of snow and freezing weather hits the UK – with threats of travel disruption

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Strong winds and snow are expected to sweep across parts of the UK in the coming days, with forecasters warning that travel disruption is possible.

A yellow weather warning is currently in place for parts of Scotland as strengthening winds develop across the country. The Met Office alert covers northern and western Scotland on Wednesday, where gusts could reach up to 80mph (130km/h) in exposed locations.

The warning remains in force until 12pm GMT, with widespread gusts of 65-70mph (105-110km/h) expected across the affected areas. Forecasters say there is also a small chance that some locations could briefly see winds hitting the 80mph mark.

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The strongest winds are forecast to arrive first across the Outer and Inner Hebrides before spreading eastwards. Northern mainland Scotland and Orkney are also expected to experience the strongest gusts later in the day.

As the winds intensify, there is a risk of disruption to travel across the affected areas. The Met Office has warned that ferry services could be cancelled, flights may be delayed and bridges could impose restrictions on high-sided vehicles as the gusty conditions develop.

Despite the strong winds, much of the UK will see dry and bright weather on Wednesday. Scotland will see more unsettled conditions, with frequent showers moving through during the day.

By Thursday the worst of the winds across western Scotland are expected to ease, but blustery conditions will become more widespread across the rest of the UK.

Large parts of the country are likely to experience gusts between 40 and 50mph (65-80km/h). Winds could reach around 60mph (97km/h) along western coasts of England and Wales, while northern and western Scotland could still see gusts up to around 65mph (105km/h).

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The unsettled weather is being driven by a deepening area of low pressure positioned between Scotland and Iceland. The system is generating strong westerly winds, gales and occasionally severe gales as it moves across the region.

Forecasters are also monitoring conditions heading into the weekend as another deep area of low pressure is expected to pass to the south of Iceland. Strong winds on the southern flank of that system could once again bring blustery conditions to the UK.

From Friday, a northwesterly wind is expected to begin pulling colder air down from the Arctic region.

As a result, temperatures are forecast to fall to around three or four degrees below average. Combined with the strong winds, conditions could feel significantly colder across much of the country.

Fast-moving hail showers could develop in many areas, and brief flurries of wet snow are possible almost anywhere, including parts of southern England.

However, forecasters say snow in southern areas is unlikely to settle.

Any significant accumulation is expected to be confined mainly to the mountains and higher ground of Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England. Some snowfall could also occur on higher ground in Wales and south-west England.

Further wintry showers are also possible later in the weekend, with forecasters warning that conditions on Sunday could remain unsettled.

Princess Andre has admitted that comments surrounding Katie Price’s ongoing weight loss made her ‘feel sick,’ as she spoke candidly about her mother’s struggles

Katie Price is not happy with her appearance, according to her daughter Princess Andre. In a new episode of her ITV reality show, The Princess Diaries, the 18-year-old has opened up about her mum’s ongoing weight loss and appearance.

In recent months, Katie’s appearance has sparked concern among fans and her family, who have been having “honest” conversations with the former model. But her daughter, Princess, has now said that cruel comments about Katie’s frail appearance had left her feeling “sick”.

During one scene, Princess, who is carving a name out for herself, sat down with pal Heidi Katona, the daughter of Katie’s best friend, Kerry Katona. “I feel bad for mum as she is not the most happy with herself, people all slate her for how she looks,” Princess told Heidi.

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The teen went on to add: “I posted a vid of her out shopping the other day, and the comments made me feel sick. I’ve never seen anything like it. We’ve all told her she looks skinny, but why do other people have a right to comment on it? The amount of hate she got was awful.”

Katie herself has previously stated that she was concerned about her “gaunt” appearance and was seeking medical advice. Speaking on her podcast, The Katie Price Show, with her younger sister, the former glamour model commented: “I know I look gaunt, I look like I’m ill – hence why I’m going to the doctors tomorrow.

“I don’t know how many times I have to say to people, ‘Yes, I know I’ve lost weight,’ and there’s obviously a reason, I said it to the doctor. We all know that we’re trying to sort it all out, and as soon as I know, then I’ll let everyone know.”

She went on to say that she desperately wants to put on weight but was unable to. She explained: “I just wanna put on weight, I really do, but I’m just not. Everyone knows I eat – I eat anything that I want, I’ve never had a problem with what I eat.”

In October last year, it emerged that Katie had been hospitalised over her weight loss, and even medical staff were baffled by her ongoing problems. Speaking directly to fans, she said: “I’ve been up early at the doctors so she could do some bloods and because my veins are so s**t they had three attempts.

“They could only fill two tubes up, so I’ve got to go back in two weeks. And I’ve got to have my stitches out then because they looked at my little stab wound that I did… The reason I’m going to the doctors is because I keep losing weight and I don’t know why. So that’s that.”

But in December, the Mirror revealed that those close to Katie had been open about their concerns with the television personality. A source told us that Katie’s family have “honest” talks with her. Our source said: “They do share their concerns with Kate and have open, honest conversations with her about how she’s feeling – including her mental health and her weight loss.

“Those conversations come from a place of love, care and support, and they remain private within the family. What people too often forget is just how much Kate has been through and how much she has already overcome. Her well-being is, and always will be, the priority, and it’s something she is actively working on.”

Our source went on to slam “absolutely devastating” speculation about Katie’s appearance. They said: “It was quite frankly completely unnecessary. It was cruel, hurtful and deeply insensitive, and it reduced a very real, very personal journey into a sensationalised narrative. There was no consideration for the impact those words might have, not just on Kate, but on her family too.”

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.

Natalie Fry’s family weren’t sure she was going to wake up

A mum was left in a coma for three weeks after a fall on holiday – but the accident ended up saving her life as doctors found a life-changing brain tumour. Natalie Fry travelled to Jamaica to celebrate her 50th birthday, but while there, suffered a horrifying accident that left her family fearing the worst.

Her daughter, Chloe Bavin, 33, didn’t leave her mum’s hospital bedside in the hopes she would get to hear her voice at least one more time. “Sitting by mum’s bedside while she was in a coma was the most frightening time of my life,” said Chloe, from Weston-super-Mare.

“She was on a ventilator, surrounded by machines, and we were told there was a high chance she wouldn’t survive. I was in denial. My mum is such a strong, beautiful and confident woman. I had never seen her weak. Seeing her like that, with tubes and machines everywhere, broke me.

“We didn’t know if she would wake up, if she would be paralysed, or if she would even remember who we were. I kept thinking about the last conversation we’d had and wondering if I’d ever hear her voice again.

“Staying strong for her and my children while living with that uncertainty was incredibly hard.”

Natalie, a 999 call handler, suffered the ordeal in June 2023. She had fallen and hurt her knee, which left the mum feeling unwell. After arriving back on UK soil, she was referred for an MRI scan after an examination which showed the mass on her brain.

Chloe said: “It was awful. Mum went to the appointment with her husband Nick and he phoned me because mum was in shock and couldn’t say the words herself. Never in a million years did we think something like that could happen.

“Hearing the words ‘brain tumour’ completely turned our world upside down. “The doctors said that mum needed surgery or she wouldn’t survive. From that moment, everything changed.

“The fear, the uncertainty and the not knowing of what was coming next. It was overwhelming for all of us.”

The procedure didn’t come without its risks, though. These included loss of hearing, sight, mobility and even death. On 3 July 2025, however, the family decided that Natalie, now 52 to undergo the nine-hour surgery.

Luckily, it was successful and the majority of the schwannoma tumour had been removed; though a little part was left as it was too close to a nerve. Just a few hours later, though, Natalie started being sick after suffering a bleed on the brain that left her in the three-week coma.

Slowly, the ventilator support was reduced, a shunt was fitted to drain fluid from her brain and her body began making tiny movements. Against all odds, the mum pulled through and spent the next six months in hospital learning how to speak and walk again.

Now, she’s back at work despite dealing with ongoing challenges on the left side of her body, including paralysis in her face, loss of hearing, limited eyesight and no feeling. In December 2024, an MRI found another small growth which was luckily treated with radiotherapy.

It’s unclear if this has worked, though. To help raise funds for further research, Chloe is running the iconic TCS London Marathon in April, with all proceeds going to charity Brain Tumour Research.

Chloe added: “We didn’t realise the true impact of a brain tumour until we saw someone once so vibrant and independent become like a baby again. Unable to speak, breathe properly, swallow or sit up.

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“We have a new normal now. It’s hard because mum doesn’t look or sound the same and the trauma has affected us all. Running the London Marathon means everything to me.

“During the darkest days, running became my therapy – the only time my mind could switch off from the trauma. To now be running 26.2 miles for mum, and to still have her here cheering me on, is something I will never take for granted.

“This marathon is about hope. It’s about showing other families that they’re not alone and about raising vital funds so that one day no one has to go through what we have.”

Carol Robertson, National Events Manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Chloe for taking on the London Marathon in honour of her mum. Every step she runs will help us move closer to finding a cure for all types of brain tumours.

“Stories like Chloe’s highlight why our work is so vital. We urgently need increased awareness and investment in research to improve outcomes for patients and their families.

“We wish Chloe the very best of luck and will be cheering her on every step of the way.”

At least six people have been killed and three others taken to the hospital with severe injuries after a man ‘set himself on fire’ in a town west of the Swiss capital.

Police spokesperson Frederic Papaux said a ‘voluntary act’ could be the cause of the inferno on Tuesday evening in the town of Kerzers, about 15 miles west of Bern.

The regional transport bus is operated by PostBus, which is affiliated with the national postal service.

Images from the scene on Swiss media showed flames tearing through the bus.

An eyewitness told local media in Albanian: ‘A man set himself on fire inside. He poured gasoline and set himself on fire!’

‘After rushing to the scene, rescue teams noted that the vehicle was totally engulfed in flames,’ the regional government said in a statement.

Ambulance and helicopter teams ferried three injured people with severe injuries to the hospital, while two others were treated on site, police said.

Mr Papaux said an investigation was underway, and refused to say if the incident was terror-related.

The bus was travelling from Düdingen to Kerzers, and burst into flames before the final stop, according to local media.

Swiss President Guy Parmelin wrote on X: ‘It distresses and saddens me that yet more people in Switzerland have lost their lives in a serious fire.

‘The background is being clarified. To the relatives of the deceased from Kerzers, I extend my condolences. And I think of the injured and the emergency services.’

On New Year’s Eve, 41 people died in an inferno at the Constellation in the ski resort of Crans-Montana.

The bar owners are facing trial for ‘manslaughter by negligence, causing injury by negligence, and causing arson by negligence’ in relation to the 41 deaths, and the severe burning of 115 others.

Around 200 people, including minors, were inside the nightclub at the time, according to Swiss news outlet Blick.

Witnesses have claimed the fire occurred after a waitress put candles on top of champagne bottles, one of which was then held up to the ‘wooden’ ceiling.

Crans-Montana is a popular destination in the Alps, particularly among British skiers, known for its views of the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc.

Le Constellation, sometimes called the Constellation Bar, has been open since 2015. It can accommodate up to 300 people and a further 40 in its lounge.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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