Police uncovered the drugs farm during a raid this morning

A cannabis farm was uncovered in Rochdale this morning as part of a huge police crackdown in the town.

Raids were carried out earlier today (Thursday, March 12) as part of Operation Avro – Greater Manchester Police’s ‘monthly blitz on local crime’. Officers stormed a property on Reed Hill and uncovered the cannabis farm.

Pictures showed a large number of cannabis plants inside the property. A cordon was put in place across the street as police probed the scene for evidence.

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A spokesperson for GMP said: “As part of #OpAVRO, officers executed a warrant at a property in #Rochdale and uncovered a cannabis farm. Illegal cannabis farms are far from harmless.

“They are frequently linked to organised crime, dangerous electrical setups, and the exploitation of vulnerable people. If you suspect one in your area, please report it.”

Officers carried out a number of other ‘targeted raids’ across the town this morning as part of Operation Avro. One arrest was made after suspected class A drugs were found inside a property.

Assistant Chief Constable Steph Parker said: “So far this morning it’s been hugely successful, a huge cannabis farm has been found, multiple drugs have been seized. We move on this afternoon to our traffic operation and we look forward to engaging with the communities of Rochdale.”

Kim Jong Un has been photographed firing guns with his teenage daughter as part of a drive by the dictator to modernise North Korea’s military.

Pyongyang propaganda published on Thursday showed the tyrant and his child, Kim Ju Ae, testing a “new-type pistol” during an inspection of a light munitions factory.

He said the factory played “a very important role in increasing the combat efficiency” of North Korea’s army, and hailed the firearm as a “really excellent pistol”, a regime mouthpiece reported.

Mr Kim also called for the facility to expand its production and ordered a new production line be established.

In photos, both the dictator and his daughter could be seen in black leather jackets firing guns, with the girl doing so alongside senior military figures.

The visit comes amid a push to modernise North Korea’s conventional forces after years of focusing on nuclear weapons.

Last month, state media showed Kim Ju Ae testing a sniper rifle as her father presented the weapons to senior regime officials.

And on Tuesday, the duo watched the test launch of what Pyongyang said were nuclear-capable cruise missiles, fired from a naval destroyer.

Since her debut in November 2022, speculation has mounted that Kim Ju Ae is being groomed for future leadership.

South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) said it believes the girl, thought to be around 13 years old, is already providing input on policy matters.

The teenager has been increasingly visible over the last year, attending missile launches alongside her father and, in 2025, at China’s “Victory Day” parade, which marked her international debut.

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The agency concluded, therefore, that she “was in the stage of being internally appointed successor”.

She has also accompanied her father during a number of high-profile visits, including to his first summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in six years.

North Korea’s military muscle-flexing comes after Kim Yo Jong – Mr Kim’s sister and senior official – threatened a response to US-South Korean military drills that got under way this week.

It has been reported that she warned the drills reveal the US and South Korea’s “inveterate repugnancy toward” North Korea, and threatened Pyongyang will “convince the enemies of our war deterrence.”

The 11-day US-South Korean drill that began Monday is largely a computer-simulated command post exercise and will be accompanied by a field training programme.

It comes after Mr Kim said last month that North Korea could “initiate arbitrary action” and “completely destroy” South Korea if its security was threatened.

He added that South Korea’s “complete collapse cannot be ruled out”.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung responded at the time by saying the value his country needs to espouse is peace.

THE case of a Co Antrim man accused of the murder of Chloe Mitchell almost three years ago took a dramatic twist today (Thursday) when his legal team withdrew from it citing “professional compromise”.Brandon John Rainey (29), formerly of James Street, Ballymena, was due to be re-arraigned at Belfast Crown Court on a charge of murdering the 21-year-old and preventing the lawful burial of her remains on June 3, 2023.His senior counsel, Neil Connor KC, told the court two weeks ago that he had fresh instructions from Rainey, who would now plead not guilty to murder but guilty to “manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility”.Rainey was produced today (Thursday) from Maghaberry Prison to court for his scheduled re-arraignment hearing with the public gallery packed with the victim’s family, relatives and friends.Uniformed police officers were in attendance in the courtroom along with civilian security guards.As Rainey appeared in the dock escorted by a number of prison officers, Ms Mitchell’s distressed mum Georgina ran out of the court.Mr Connor said that at this moment in time he represents the defendant Brandon Rainey.“Unfortunately, I have an application to make to the court this morning and that application is to withdraw from the case,” he told Madam Justice McBride.He said not only was he withdrawing from the case, but so was his junior Neil Moore and their instructing solicitors James Ballentine & Sons.“There are two aspects to this: one is that we are professionally compromised and secondly the accused, during consultation at court this morning, indicated that he no longer wished us to represent him,” explained Mr Connor.“To that extent, the client lawyer relationship has broken down irretrievably in this case.“I appreciate it is disappointing at this late stage but I have to make this application on those two grounds. I don’t make this application lightly,” he added.Madam Justice McBride enquired of Mr Connor if the defendant had indicated that he had spoken to any other legal team.Mr Connor replied: “Yes, he has, My Lady. He has spoken to a firm of solicitors, and I can indicate that they have, within the past few minutes, been in contact with my learned junior Mr Moore.

“They have indicated they are not intending to take instructions in this case if the defendant approached them. Ultimately, that is a matter for the accused.“Mr Rainey had been in quite substantial contact with them over the last couple of days, which we were not aware of. So this has obviously been brewing for some period of time.“So it is on the basis of a breakdown, a complete breakdown, of the client lawyer relationship, and also there is an aspect of professional compromise in this case.”Said Madam Justice McBride: “This is a very unfortunate turn of events, but in light of what you have outlined to the court, because you are professionally embarrassed and the breakdown of the client-lawyer relationship, I will accede to your application.”The senior judge said the case had been expected to proceed and it was one of the cases that was granted an exemption due to the withdrawal of services by the Criminal Bar Association in Northern Ireland.Madam Justice McBride said she would list the matter for Monday, March 16, 2026, to allow the defendant time to secure a fresh legal team to represent him.“To assist in you in that, I am going to ensure and ask that the solicitors have all of the papers in a state of readiness to give it to any new solicitor that maybe instructed.”Mr Connor said his instructing solicitors had indicated that the papers will be boxed up and ready to go today (Thursday).Senior prosecutor David Russell KC said he understood the professional compromise by the defence and said Rainey should be produced in person in court next Monday along with any new legal team he has securedMadam Justice McBride told the defendant that he would be produced next Monday in person and she expected an update on his legal representation and if in the meantime he speaks to a new firm of solicitors who are willing to represent him they should also attend court on Monday on his behalf.As Rainey was being led out of court in handcuffs by prison officers, some members in the public gallery shouted at him “scum”, “scum b******d”, ”rat” and “cowardly b******d” before they were ushered out of court by police and civilian security guards.Chloe Mitchell’s remains were found days after she went missing.She was last seen alive on CCTV in Ballymena town centre in the early hours of June 3, 2023 and an extensive search operation was launched by the PSNI.Detectives investigating her disappearance later launched a murder inquiry after human remains were discovered in the Co Antrim town.This led officers to attend a flat in the James Street area of the town which prompted Rainey’s arrest.

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The building is being redeveloped to include student accommodation and restaurant space

Work to demolish a Cambridge restaurant and build new student accommodation with restaurant space has begun. The plans by Downing College will see a city centre site next to Parker’s Piece redeveloped into 26 student rooms with restaurant space.

Several buildings located at 19-35 Regent Street will be demolished to some extent. These include the former Cuba Libre restaurant and bar.

Downing College Developments Ltd submitted plans to redevelop the buildings on Regent Street. These were approved by Cambridge City Council in September 2024.

CMP Architects, who designed the project, said that the site was “occupied by poorly maintained buildings, which had been heavily and incoherently manipulated over the years”.

The planned layout will see a retail unit on the ground floor. The project seeks to introduce a restaurant space that serves both residents and visitors.

Student accommodation above the retail unit will include a total of 26 en-suites.

A council officer said the development would see a “modest reduction” in market housing but would provide more “much needed” student accommodation.

A spokesperson from Demcom Demolition, who are currently working on the site, said: “All of it is being demolished by hand, and all of the bricks are being kept because we are going to reuse them.”

He said that the team is doing ‘enabling’ work in the inside before scaffolding can be erected.

The inaugural Durham Jazz Festival will run from Friday, October 23 to Sunday, October 25 and will feature established and emerging artists from across the country as well as the North of England.

John Lyons, one of the festival’s founders along with Alan Patrickson and Richard Turner, said: “We are an emerging festival and have big ambitions to put Durham City on the map for showcasing the very best of talent from the national jazz scene.

Emma Fisk’s Hot Club Du Nord (Image: Supplied)

“At the same time, we also aim to provide performance opportunities for up and coming local and regional talent – working in partnership with education establishments, grassroots promoter networks and music-focused arts organisations to develop our programme.”

The festival will feature a diverse mix of events, from club-style gigs in intimate venues to headline concerts at the Gala Theatre and the historic Redhills Durham Miners’ Hall.

On Friday afternoon, Emma Fisk’s Hot Club du Nord will open the festival with a performance of vintage swing and Gypsy jazz in the Gala Studio, inspired by the sounds of Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli.

Marvin Muoneké (Image: Supplied)

Later that evening, Redhills will host the headline show: musicians from London’s world-famous Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club Present: The Ronnie Scott’s Soho Songbook.

The show promises big tunes, virtuoso solos and the unmistakable buzz of one of the world’s most iconic jazz venues.

Saturday and Sunday will include a packed schedule of concerts and collaborations.

Abbie Finn of the Abbie Finn Quintet, which will play at Durham Jazz Festival. (Image: Supplied)

Pianist Dean Stockdale will lead a tribute to Oscar Peterson with his quartet at Durham University Music School.

On Saturday night, jazz vocalist Marvin Muoneké – a 2026 nominee for JazzFM’s Vocalist of the Year – will perform with the North East’s own Strictly Smokin’ Big Band in the headline show at Durham Gala Theatre.

Alan Patrickson, co-founder and an experienced gig promoter, said: “This is one unique show that is not to be missed.

L-R John Lyons, Richard Turner and Alan Patrickson (Image: Supplied)

“The festival has been designed to bring together major artists with the best of the region’s thriving jazz scene.

“We are really excited about the programme we are curating for the 2026 festival – and many more artists are set to be announced.”

Other confirmed acts include the Abbie Finn Quintet, led by the dynamic UK drummer and known for their bold, contemporary jazz sound.

In addition to the main events, organisers are working with bars, restaurants and businesses around Durham to host pop-up performances, creating a city-wide jazz atmosphere throughout the weekend.

Richard Turner, a respected North East music promoter and curator of events at the Old Cinema Launderette in Gilesgate, said the aim is to make the Durham Jazz Festival a lasting fixture.

Mr Turner said: “The long-term ambition is to establish the event as an accessible annual festival for audiences across the region.

“Our focus is on creating a welcoming festival that appeals to a broad audience.

“We want to bring the joy of live music to people who might not otherwise experience jazz, while also exciting seasoned fans of the genre.”

Further programme announcements are expected in the coming weeks.

Full details and ticket information will be released soon through the official website.

For updates and bookings, visit durhamjazzfestival.co.uk.

“The law makes it clearer than ever that in Xi Jinping’s PRC non-Han peoples must do more to integrate themselves with the Han majority, and above all else be loyal to Beijing,” Allen Carlson, an associate professor of government at Cornell University said, referencing China by the initials of its official name.

Good news for Arsenal fans is that the most dominant team statistically – in terms of expected goal difference per game, excluding penalties – have won the Premier League in three of the past four seasons.

The exception came when Manchester City pipped the Gunners to the title two years ago.

With fifth place likely to lead to Champions League qualification again, just three points separate Manchester United, Aston Villa, Chelsea and Liverpool for a place in the top five, with one of those sides looking set to miss out.

Some would say Aston Villa have the easiest run-in of the quartet. After a tough trip to Old Trafford this weekend, they face four of the bottom six in their next six games, although whether playing sides fighting for survival is an advantage at this stage is debatable.

Liverpool are the team currently outside the top five. They have the chance to build momentum against a run of mid-table sides before tackling a daunting series of games in May when they play all three of their Champions League-chasing rivals in succession.

Two Strictly Come Dancing stars and their real-life partners were seen enjoying a double ‘date night’ amid reports that a shake-up is on the cards for the hit dance show.

There has been speculation of a professional dancer ‘cull’ on Strictly ahead of the 2026 series. No details have been officially confirmed by the BBC, with a statement reading: “Plans for Strictly Come Dancing 2026 will be confirmed in due course.”

However, one of the shake-ups viewers will see this year is to the hosting line-up after Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman stepped down at the end of the 2025 series. In October, Tess and Claudia confirmed their plans to step down from the popular programme at the end of the 2025 series, with the news coming as a shock to their co-stars and fans.

But away from the reports, the Strictly stars have been sharing updates as usual and this week, Kai Widdrington and Lauren Oakley were reunited for both dancing and personal purposes.

Fans will recall that Kai joined the popular programme back in 2021. The dancer was among those seen competing during the most recent run of Strictly at the end of last year, having been paired with reality star and presenter Vicky Pattison.

Meanwhile, Lauren has been part of the hit dance show since 2022 and those who follow the BBC One competition know that Lauren was recently seen participating in the show’s 2025 series with former footballer Jimmy Floyd Hasslebaink.

Amidst Strictly hitting the headlines, Kai and Lauren were reunited and alongside their partners, Chloe Wells and Maximiliano Omar Montes de Oca, as they headed to see Strictly 2025 contestant George Clarke on tour with his podcast, The Useless Hotline, which he co-hosts with Max Balegde.

Alongside a smiling snap of the foursome, which Kai posted to his Instagram Story, the 30-year-old star said: “Date night @theuselesshotlinepod.” Lauren reshared the post and then said: “Come on @georgeclarkeey [raising hands emoji].”

And fans were quick to share the update on other social media platforms. @clarkeyslesbian said: “kai and lauren at the useless hotline podcast show omg miss the strictly cast so much.” @ultimatesugg replied: “Ahhh love this. Wonder if they know what they’re in for?” @overthestreetss added: “No I actually smiled when I saw this it’s so cute.”

Steve Tandy has opted for cohesion against the Azzurri

The word “growth” has been used throughout the course of this Six Nations Championship by the Wales coaching team but Saturday’s clash with Italy should fall into the must-win category.

Having taken on the toughest job in world rugby, Steve Tandy has been reluctant to put too much pressure on his squad, at least externally, when it comes to winning games. Wales have been here before back in 2003 when former head coach Sir Steve Hansen emphasised the need to focus on the performance, rather than results.

It was misunderstood at the time with Wales at such a low ebb that they had to focus on getting the performance right and only then would the results come.

Wales are in a similar place under Tandy and are not in a position where they can expect to beat most sides given their lowly place in the world rankings.

It is a long-term plan and improvement was always going to be gradual before they can claim some much-needed victories.

Nobody gave Wales a cat’s chance in hell of beating Ireland in Dublin yet they took a huge step forward regarding performance.

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Despite the defeat the overriding mood afterwards was one of optimism because Wales’ pack had fronted up, the set-piece was good and defensively they were far tougher to break down.

But despite the obvious improvements a third successive Six Nations whitewash can never be deemed an acceptable result.

Yes, Italy are much improved and are currently a better side than Wales but finishing the Six Nations without a single victory would not be classed as progress in the eyes of many.

Nobody expects Wales to beat the likes of France or Ireland in their current state but there has to be at least one win to take into the summer.

By the time of the game it will have been three years – or 1,099 days – since Wales last won a Six Nations fixture. That has to change at the Principality Stadium on Saturday.

Tandy has wisely opted for consistency in his selection this week, although it is a blow not to have Sam Costelow available.

The Scarlets playmaker was outstanding in the narrow defeat to Scotland and it would have been a boost if the 25-year-old was available to take his place in the matchday 23.

But there is plenty to build on after two promising performances against Scotland and Ireland as Tandy continues to manufacture some cohesion in his side.

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Wales matched Ireland’s physicality for large parts of the game and they will have to do the same again if they are to get the better of the Azzurri.

The set-piece will also have to function as well as it did at the Aviva Stadium, while defensively they will have to be on their mettle.

Italy centre Tommaso Menoncello is a world-class player who proved to be the difference between winning and losing in Rome last Saturday.

His centre partnership with Ignacio Brex is one of the most proficient in world rugby.

If Wales cannot find a way to contain Menoncello and Brex, they will not emerge victorious.

The Wales centre partnership of Joe Hawkins and Eddie James has slowly improved from game to game, even if it has not fully fired in attack.

This is a fourth consecutive start for Hawkins and James which is important because the last time a Wales centre partnership started four games together was Nick Tompkins and George North back in 2022.

Wales have taken great strides forward up-front and they are also clinical in the opposition 22 but they will need to cut out the unforced errors while also firing more shots with ball in hand.

Italy are ahead of Wales but the challenge will be an emotional one after the high of a first-ever victory over England.

If Wales can combine the physical edge they showed in Dublin with greater accuracy and intent in attack, this is a game they are capable of winning.

The progress has been evident in recent weeks, but at some stage improvement has to translate into a result. After three years without a Six Nations victory, Saturday would be the ideal time to put an unwanted record to bed.

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