Defending champion Jeremiah Azu narrowly missed out on a medal in “one of the best 60m races of all time” at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Poland.

Twelve months after claiming the first global title of his career with world indoor gold in China, Azu missed out on a return to the podium by just 0.01 seconds as he clocked 6.46 seconds in Torun.

The 24-year-old always faced fierce competition as he sought to defend his title but displayed his medal credentials by improving his personal best to 6.45 in the semi-finals – a time which moved him to second on the British all-time list behind Dwain Chambers.

But American Jordan Anthony, who arrived at the championships as the fastest man this year, ran the joint-fourth fastest time in history as he improved to 6.41 to take gold ahead of Jamaica’s Olympic and world 100m medallist Kishane Thompson.

Thompson and American Trayvon Bromell both finished in 6.45 to complete the podium and deny Azu in a thrilling conclusion to the opening day of action.

“They didn’t let us down. These guys did what we expected them to do,” two-time world 110m hurdles champion Colin Jackson said on BBC TV.

“An electric performance – we’ve witnessed one of the best 60m races of all time so that’s a very special thing in itself, and Jeremiah Azu was in the mix.

“Azu got out very sharp – he’s one of the fastest starters in the world – but Anthony was out a little bit ahead and did what was necessary.”

Azu told BBC Sport: “It’s tough. I was very vocal about defending that World Athletics Indoor Championships 2026: Jeremiah Azu narrowly misses out on 60m medal and I fell short.

“It’s track and field – you win some you lose some. I’m still able to use this gift to try and inspire people. But it’s tough to take right now.”

Earlier on Friday, Olympic champion and indoor world record holder Keely Hodgkinson controlled her women’s 800m heat from start to finish to win in two minutes 00.32 seconds and reach the semi-finals, where she will be joined by team-mate Isabelle Boffey.

Ben Pattison, winner of world 800m bronze in 2023, won his heat in 1:47.48 to advance to the semi-finals of the men’s event, which also take place on Saturday morning.

Olympic and world medallist Georgia Hunter Bell secured her place in the women’s 1500m final by placing first in 4:12.09, but Jemma Reekie missed out after finishing fourth in her race.

Firefighters were able to stop the fire from spreading any further

Firefighters were called to a road in a Cambridgeshire village after receiving reports about a fire breaking out yesterday (Thursday, March 20). Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue were called at 3.34pm to a building fire on John Bends Way in Parson Drove.

Crews from Wisbech and March as well as the north roaming fire engine attended to the scene. Firefighters arrived to find a car on fire. It had already spread to nearby gardens and houses. Large clouds of black smoke could be seen in the village.

Crews used hose reels to stop the fire from spreading further and extinguished it. Crews had returned to their stations by 5.40pm. The cause of the fire has been confirmed to have been accidental.

A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue said: “At 3.43pm on Thursday (19) crews from Wisbech, March and the north roaming fire engine were called to a building fire on John Bends Way in Parson Drove.

“Firefighters arrived to find a car on fire that had spread to nearby gardens and houses. The crews worked hard using hose reels to stop the fire from spreading further and extinguish it.

“The crews returned to their stations by 5.40pm. The cause of the fire was accidental.”

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Harry Maguire picked up his first red card of the season after being sent off during the 2-2 draw with Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium

Harry Maguire’s red card for Manchester United against Bournemouth will see him miss only one match – the game against Leeds United after the international break. The defender was judged to have pushed Evanilson in the penalty area, prompting referee Stuart Attwell to award a penalty.

However, after analysing the decision, former United striker Andy Cole disagreed with the decision, saying on Sky Sports: “I think the difference he is denying a goal scoring, just cause of the momentum Harry puts his arm out.

“I think its harsh. It’s a great touch so I’m not going down but in today’s game, for me it is a penalty. When we were playing, no chance.

“It’s [a] very physical [challenge] in today’s game. We’ll see with the another penalty in a minute that Harry Maguire gets sent off for, if I’m in that position I’m not going down so I don’t think it is a penalty.”

Meanwhile, United captain Bruno Fernandes shared a different view to Cole, claiming that Maguire’s challenge was a foul but also believed that Amad going down the other end, should have been given as a penalty.

“I know it’s difficult for the referee to give two penalties to the same team in one game but I don’t understand why VAR doesn’t get involved in that situation or with Harry [Maguire] because either one is a penalty and so is the other or none of them are,” the Portuguese said after the game.

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“I think the other situation is a penalty but I also think the one on Amad is a penalty and that could’ve changed the game.”

Amad went down in the box under a challenge from Truffert, moments before Bournemouth equalised to make it 1-1.

The Premier League Match Centre’s explanation for the penalty and red card read on X: “The referee’s call of penalty and red card for Maguire for the denial of an obvious goal scoring opportunity (DOGSO) was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed to be a holding offence with no attempt to challenge for the ball.”

The 2-2 draw has kept United third in the table, with fourth‑placed Aston Villa four points behind them.

Maguire will serve just a one‑game suspension, with the Premier League deeming the incident as the denial of a goal scoring opportunity.

A three-game are given as a violent conduct or endangering an opponent.

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As a result, he will be available for the upcoming fixtures against Chelsea, Brentford and Liverpool.

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Sky shows at least 215 live Premier League games each season, an increase of up to 100, plus Formula 1, darts, golf and more.

Campaigners from Abolish the Guga Hunt scaled the side of the NatureScot offices in Inverness and chained themselves to the roof at around 4am on Friday.

Animal rights activists dressed as gannets have tucked in to spend the night on top of a Government building in the Highlands following a dramatic protest against Scotland’s controversial guga hunt.

Campaigners from Abolish the Guga Hunt scaled the side of the NatureScot offices in Inverness and chained themselves to the roof at around 4am on Friday. Earlier today the Record shared a video of two men climbing to the highest ridge above the building’s inclined glass roof as they unfurled a banner reading “Abolish the Guga Hunt”.

A model of a battered and bloodied baby gannet – known locally as a “guga” – was also placed beside them on the roof. The activists appeared to have locked themselves in place and said they intended to continue the protest for as long as possible, adding: “We will stay here for days if we have to.”

Those on the roof have now settled in for the night as they shared footage of them getting cosy on Friday night. In the latest clip, one of the activists said: “So we’re just settling in for our first night on the roof of NatureScot. We’ve been up here for 15 hours so far. As you can see we have our fairy lights set up, we’ve got an incredible view.”

He continued: “We will do a post in the morning. Have to say we have been treated really well, the police have been amazing. Everyone we’ve dealt with has been amazing. I think everyone knows what we are fighting here is absolutely horrendous and has to stop – and has to stop now. Thanks for everyone’s support.”

NatureScot said this afternoon that the building had been closed for the rest of the day for “staff safety”. Police Scotland also confirmed that officers were in attendance with fire crews assisting officers also bring a high reach vehicle to the scene. The protest is aimed at highlighting the annual hunting of young gannets on the remote island of Sula Sgeir, about 40 miles north of the Butt of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides.

Each year, a small group of men from the Ness area of the Isle of Lewis travel to the uninhabited North Atlantic island to harvest young gannets under a special licence granted by NatureScot. The centuries-old tradition is allowed despite the birds being otherwise protected under wildlife laws. Campaigners say they want the Scottish Government to end the exemption.

Campaigner Jamie Moyes said the protest aimed to raise public awareness of the tradition. He said: “We have taken this action to increase public awareness of the plight of the poor baby gannets who reside on Sula Sgeir and are mercilessly slaughtered annually by the men of Ness due to the licence that is issued by NatureScot.

“This licence circumvents the laws that protect these birds from every other human on the planet. The men of Ness say this is part of their cultural heritage and should be preserved in the name of tradition, but we say hiding behind such excuses should not be tolerated in 2026.”

Robbie Kernahan, NatureScot’s Director of Green Economy, said: “We are aware of the protestors at NatureScot’s Great Glen House office. The building has been closed for the day for staff safety. This and previous vandalism incidents are mainly affecting our staff as they try to do their everyday jobs. There’s also increasing cost to taxpayers for repairs and increased security. NatureScot continues to open to be conversation about our work. The actions of protesters today is not, unfortunately, open or fair discussion.”

Last November, a petition was lodged by wildlife photographer Rachel Bigsby with the Scottish Parliament calling for changes to Section 16 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to remove the power to grant licences allowing the hunt. The petition has closed to 50,000 signatures.

Activists claim the chicks are killed in front of their parent birds and have branded the practice “disgusting” and “morally wrong”. However, supporters say the hunt is a long-standing cultural tradition in the Hebrides and is carried out under strict limits.

Robbie Kernahan added: “We understand there are strong feelings about the guga hunt, and that some people will disagree with it taking place. The hunt is recognised in law under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, which makes specific provision for the granting of a licence for the purpose of providing food for human consumption in relation to the gannets on the Island of Sula Sgeir.”

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We were made aware of two men on the roof of a building in the Leachkin Road area of Inverness on Friday morning, 20 March, 2026. Officers are in attendance.”

A Scottish Fire and Rescue spokesperson said: “We were called to assist emergency service partners at an incident on Leachkin Road, Inverness at 10.12am on Friday, 20 March. Operations Control mobilised one appliance and a high reach vehicle to the scene, where crews remain in attendance.”

You can sign the gannet petition started by Protect the Wild here.

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National Highway are undertaking maintenance on the A64 between Welburn and the A168 Pickering interchange.

A spokesperson for National Highways said: “We are repairing damaged sections of the carriageway, removing trees affected by ash dieback and drainage works.

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“The A64 will be closed in both directions between A1237 (Hopgrove) and A169 (Pickering) overnight, 8pm-5am, from March 19-23.

“The Eastbound diversion will be via the A1237, A19, A170, A169 and A64, Westbound traffic follows the same route in reverse.

“This diversion is suitable for all vehicles, including HGVs. We’ll maintain access for residents and businesses throughout.

“Please allow extra time for your journey if travelling during these hours.

“Please remember that closures can change at short notice. You can check the latest information on our daily closures page or find live travel information on our Traffic England site. Our travel alerts give details of live incidents on our network.”

Around 700 dogs and cats have been rescued in a massive Los Angeles County animal welfare operation.

The Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control said it served a search warrant in Lake Hughes, California, Friday morning “for violation of animal welfare laws.”

An estimated 400 dogs and 300 cats were on the property and needed to be rescued, according to local officials. The Department of Animal Care and Control said it was the “largest number of dogs and cats” that it “has ever seized and may be the largest case ever in the United States.”

The animals were in the custody of Christine De Anda of Rock N Pawz Rescue, authorities said. It’s unclear whether any charges have been filed in connection with the rescue operation.

The Independent has reached out to Rock N Pawz for comment.

More than 70 animal care and control staff raced to rescue the animals with the help of spcaLA, Pasadena Humane and Kern County Animal Services.

“We’re working alongside DACC and partner agencies with a shared focus on getting these animals to safety and providing them with the care they need,” Pasadena Humane told The Independent. “As this ongoing effort unfolds, we are prepared to provide support in whatever way best serves the animals involved.”

Representatives from the Los Angeles County Departments of Public Works, Public Health and Regional Planning were also at the property for other alleged violations.

The Department of Animal Care and Control said in its press release posted on Facebook around 8 a.m. local time that the animals were being “triaged on site by veterinary medical staff.”

Animals in need of emergency care will be immediately taken to veterinary hospitals, and others will be taken to the department’s animal care centers, the press release said.

The department is experienced in these types of rescue operations.

In 2017, animal specialists rescued more than 100 venomous snakes and reptiles from an “animal hoarding situation,” the department said. In another operation that same year, the department rescued more than 7,000 birds during what it called the “largest illegal cockfighting raid in U.S. history.”

With the massive influx of dogs and cats from Friday’s operation, the department is working with rescue groups and other animal welfare agencies to transfer pets ready for adoption to make room for the rescued animals.

“We are urgently requesting the public’s help to support the rescue and rehabilitation of these dogs and cats,” said Marcia Mayeda, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control.

In a follow-up Facebook post, the department asked for help with the rescued animals’ medical care, housing and other support they may need, urging the public to donate to the LA County Animal Care Foundation.

Mary Black opened the show singing before she then talked about her journey through music and her daughter performed

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The Late Late show opened with honoured guest, Irish folk singer Mary Black performing Katie. The programme’s X account called it a “stunning performance”.

In a special episode, 70-year-old folk icon Mary Black was honoured for her contribution to Irish music, performing several of her hits, including Katie.

Mary then sat down with host Patrick Kielty and discussed her career including the evolution of women in music, working with her late friend Delores Keane who sadly passed away this week, and fond memories of her past.

The programme shot to comedian and actor Steve Martin, who in 2009 featured Mary on one track of his album, The Crow: New Songs for the 5-string banjo.

READ MORE: PSNI appeal for man last seen in Belfast five days agoREAD MORE: New childcare support will save defence families up to £4,700 a year in Northern Ireland

Steve said: “Her music was so important to me, it has made me love Irish music.”

The queen of Irish folk music was then joined on stage by her son and daughter, Corona’s frontman Danny O’Reilly and singer, Róisín O. Mary’s other son Connor, was watching his siblings on the show.

Roisin, who later took to the stage herself, said: “I remember being in the crowd and the kids were looking up really impressed. I thought that these kids really think my mum is cool, and I walked up on stage to hold her hand as if to say, this is my mum.”

Danny said: “People thought my mum was pushing me into music but she was asking me how the football was going?“When she was home, she was fully in mum mode. She would be cooking and dropping us off at school. We had the best of both worlds, we got to grow up and see her career, it was amazing.”

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The DWP has confirmed any changes to Personal Independence Payment will not be applied until after a comprehensive review has been completed this Autumn, with an interim report due before then

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) recently confirmed any changes to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) will not be applied until after a “comprehensive review” of the disability benefit has been completed this autumn. However, the DWP announced recently an interim report will be issued before that time.

The DWP also confirmed eligibility for the mobility part of PIP will be reviewed alongside the daily living element, as part of the UK Government’s welfare reforms. Minister for Social Security and Disability Sir Stephen Timms is co-producing the review with disabled groups and charities.

PIP claimants awarded the higher rate of the PIP mobility component can transfer some or all of the payment to lease a new car, wheelchair-accessible vehicle, scooter or powered wheelchair through the Motability Scheme.

The latest figures from Motability Operations – the company behind the life-changing Motability Scheme – show there are now 815,000 customers across the UK, including nearly 88,000 living in Scotland.

Recent data from DWP shows some 37 per cent of all 3.9 million claimants were in receipt of the enhanced rate of the daily living component and mobility component at the end of January, reports the Daily Record.

Five most-claimed PIP conditions

Below are the five most-claimed PIP conditions with the percentage of claimants receiving the enhanced rates of the daily living and mobility components.

Psychiatric disorder

• Daily living and mobility component – 42%
• Daily living component only – 69%
• Mobility component only – 46%

Musculoskeletal disease (general)

• Daily living and mobility component – 26%
• Daily living component only – 34%
• Mobility component only – 45%

Neurological disease

• Daily living and mobility component – 51%
• Daily living component only – 58%
• Mobility component only – 72%

Musculoskeletal disease (regional)

• Daily living and mobility component – 20%
• Daily living component only – 27%
• Mobility component only – 45%

Respiratory disease

• Daily living and mobility component – 31%
• Daily living component only – 37%
• Mobility component only – 57%

During a recent oral questions session in Parliament, the DWP was asked to “consider the benefits to which PIP is a gateway, such as Motability, disability premiums, Council Tax discounts and Blue Badges”.

Sir Stephen Timms was also urged to “promise at least that those entitlements could come down”.

He said: “We have made it clear that we will co-produce our review of the PIP assessment with disabled people and representatives of disability organisations.

“The review will cover the assessment for the mobility component, which leads on to the Motability scheme, and other entitlements to which PIP is a gateway.”

There are currently over three million Blue Badge permit holders across the UK, including over 235,700 in Scotland.

Other benefits which can be accessed with a PIP award

Whilst you may not be eligible for any or all of these benefits, it’s worth checking to ensure you are not missing out on additional support.

• Access to Work
• Blue Badge
• Carer’s Allowance / Carer Support Payment
• Carer’s Credit
• Christmas Bonus
• Council Tax Reduction
• Employment and Support Allowance – only if you get the PIP daily living component
• Housing Benefit
• Income Support‎
• Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Pension Credit – only if you get the PIP daily living component
• Universal Credit

You can read the full PIP guide on GOV.UK.

Manchester United were forced to settle for a point at Bournemouth – despite leading on two occasions – after Harry Maguire was shown a straight red for a foul in the area

Furious Michael Carrick branded the penalty decisions “mental” and “astonishing” after Harry Maguire was sent off as Manchester United were held at Bournemouth.

United boss Carrick was angry that his side were not given a penalty for Adrien Truffert’s challenge on Amad Diallo before Bournemouth raced up the other end to score.

Maguire also got his marching orders for a challenge on Evanilson which then gifted Junior Kroupi the chance to equalise from the spot as United twice blew the lead.

But Carrick was angry at what he saw as the inconsistencies of the penalty decisions by referee Stuart Attwell with Matheus Cunha getting an award after Alex Jimenez’s challenge.

READ MORE: Man Utd told why VAR allowed controversial Bournemouth goal after Amad penalty decisionREAD MORE: Man Utd held by Bournemouth as Harry Maguire goes from hero to villain – 5 talking points

Carrick fumed: “For him [Stuart Atwell] to give one penalty and not the other… I find it crazy. I cannot understand it. Mental. It’s astonishing. One of them must be wrong.

“A big opportunity to go 2-0 up and we get one penalty and not the other. It’s exactly the same thing really – a two-handed grab. He’s [referee] got one wrong so, I don’t know which one but he doesn’t give us the second one.

“I think they’re both penalties and it’s a massive moment in the game and it ended up chaos after that. Massive moment and I don’t understand how you can give one and not the other – it’s crazy.

“It’s as obvious as you can get – you’ve already given one so to not give the other one. It’s clear, if that’s what he believes is a penalty to start with then the second one has to be. I don’t understand how you can’t give that.

“And then the goal and after that it was chaos. I was really pleased when we went to 10 men we saw the game out and took a point that’s a real positive.

“In the end the way it went you can lose those games so to take a point int he end we’ll take that but disappointed not to take all three.”

Meanwhile, Carrick confirmed that United are hoping to agree new deals for Maguire and also Kobbie Mainoo who received England recalls for the friendlies with Uruguay and Japan.

Carrick added: “It’s contract negotiations with all players are ongoing. You hope whatever that is it gets done in the right way, they’ve both been great and back in the England squad.”

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UK forces have joined a military operation with the French navy in the Mediterranean to seize an oil tanker, alleged to be part of Russia’s shadow fleet.

British patrol boat HMS Cutlass monitored the Deyna, a Mozambique-flagged vessel, and supported the French operation on Friday by providing tracking information and imagery near the Strait of Gibraltar.

Defence Secretary John Healey said: “Disrupting, deterring and degrading Russia’s shadow fleet – and starving Putin’s war machine of funds – is a priority for this government.”

Russia’s so-called shadow fleet of vessels is used to carry oil and goods around the world to avoid sanctions on Moscow following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The Deyna is sanctioned by the UK and the European Union for its role in shipping Russian oil.

French President Emmanuel Macron said in a post on X: “These vessels, which evade international sanctions and violate the law of the sea, are profiteers of war.

“They line their pockets while helping finance Russia’s war effort. We will not allow it.”

A Western military source told Reuters that the tanker was carrying Russian crude oil, while the news agency also quoted local officials who said it was suspected of flying a false flag.

The vessel, which had sailed from the Russian ​port of Murmansk, was escorted to an anchorage point ​for further inspection, the French military said.

The maritime tracking website, vesselfinder.com, said it was heading towards Port Said, Egypt, and was intercepted off the coast of Algeria.

The shipping industry has accused shadow fleet vessels of being poorly maintained, ageing tankers with dubious insurance or safety certification cover.

Read more from Sky News:
Gas tanker adrift in Med poses threat
Analysis: Dark ships and shadow fleets
‘Russian shadow fleet’ tanker seized

Friday’s military operation is the latest sign of the UK’s co-operation with allies.

In January, British forces helped the US seize the oil tanker Marinera in the Atlantic, and France intercept another sanctioned ship, the Grinch, in the western Mediterranean.

While European sanctions remain in place, the US has temporarily eased sanctions on ⁠the sale of Russian oil as the Middle East war ⁠disrupts oil supplies and boosts prices.

Moscow has previously called the seizure of its tankers, or ‌vessels carrying its cargoes, an act of piracy.