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Government grant to reopen CO2 plant amid fears of Iran-linked shortages

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Government grant to reopen CO2 plant amid fears of Iran-linked shortages

A mothballed carbon dioxide plant is to be reopened with a Government grant of up to £100 million amid fears of shortages caused by the Iran war.

Business Secretary Peter Kyle signed off the grant to reopen the Ensus plant on Teesside, according to the Financial Times.

It is understood the grant will pay to get the plant up and running again for an initial three-month period.

The plant was mothballed last year after a trade deal with the US cut tariffs on bioethanol, its main product.

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It will be reopened due to its ability to produce CO2 as a by-product. The gas is vital for several sectors, including drinks and the nuclear industry, but supply has been disrupted thanks to soaring energy costs on other sources such as fertiliser factories.

The grant for the Ensus plant is the first major intervention by the UK Government aimed at tackling possible shortages caused by the Iran conflict.

But fears range much wider than CO2, with former BP executive Nick Butler telling Times Radio the UK could face oil and gas shortages in two to three weeks.

He said: “There will be shortages and I think the Government now should be seriously planning how they’re going to handle that and part of that is maximising supply.”

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On Tuesday, Shell chief executive Wael Sawan issued a similar warning at an industry conference.

Ministers continue to insist the supply of petrol remains reliable.

Energy minister Michael Shanks told MPs on Wednesday the Government was “absolutely not” planning for blackouts or petrol rationing, insisting the UK had a “strong and diverse range of supplies”.

The key question remains how long Iran’s effective blockade of the vital Strait of Hormuz will last.

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On Thursday, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will urge Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz as she travels to the G7 Foreign Ministers’ meeting in France.

She will make clear that the UK will help ensure safe passage for ships through the strait and provide an additional £2m in humanitarian aid to Lebanon.

Ms Cooper is expected to hold talks with counterparts, including US secretary of state Marco Rubio, France’s Jean-Noel Barrot, and Germany’s Johann Wadephul.

The strait remained closed on Wednesday evening, despite Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi claiming it was open to “non-hostile” shipping.

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The conflict continued with Washington saying it would hit Iran “harder” if Tehran refused to accept it had been “defeated militarily”.

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt insisted “productive” talks were continuing between Washington and Tehran.

But Mr Araghchi said in a message on his Telegram channel, translated from Farsi, that there had been “no negotiations or discussions with the American side” and suggested the US had effectively admitted defeat.

He said: “Didn’t they talk about ‘unconditional surrender’ before? What happened now that they are talking about negotiations and calling for them?

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“I will explain that there are no negotiations, but the fact that they are mobilising their highest officials to negotiate with the Islamic Republic indicates their acceptance of defeat.”

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Pope Leo XIV uses visit to Monaco to urge it to use its wealth for good

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Pope Leo XIV uses visit to Monaco to urge it to use its wealth for good

MONACO (AP) — Pope Leo XIV visited the cosmopolitan Mediterranean principality of Monaco on Saturday to encourage its people to use their Catholic faith and wealth for good.

As a cannon boomed, Prince Albert and Princess Charlene met Leo at the Monaco heliport, just down the coast from the marina that is home to the megayachts of the rich and famous.

A brilliant sun made the Mediterranean sparkle as Leo emerged from the Italian military helicopter that had ferried him from the Vatican for the nine-hour stay. It’s the first papal visit to Monaco since Pope Paul III came in 1538.

At the palace, members of the royal family stood in the courtyard, the women dressed in black and with lace head coverings, waiting for Leo to arrive.

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Leo is aiming to show how small states, such as the Holy See and Monaco, can punch above their weight on the global stage, especially in times of war, to uphold traditional Catholic values on the sanctity of all human life.

Monaco is one of the few European countries where Catholicism is the official state religion. And Prince Albert recently refused a proposal to legalize abortion, citing the important role Catholicism plays in Monaco society.

The decision was largely symbolic, since abortion is a constitutional right in France, which surrounds the coastal principality of 2.2 square kilometers (about 1 square mile).

But in refusing to allow it in Monaco, Albert joined other European Catholic royals who have taken a similar stand over the years to uphold Catholic doctrine on an increasingly secular continent. When Pope Francis visited Belgium in 2024, he announced he was putting the late King Baudouin on the path to possible sainthood because he abdicated for a day in 1990 rather than approve legislation to legalize abortion.

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The visit includes a private meeting with Albert and Princess Charlene at the palace, a meeting with Monaco’s Catholic community in the cathedral and Mass in the sports stadium.

A coastal playground for the rich and famous, Monaco is renowned as much for its tax-friendly incentives and Formula 1 Grand Prix as its glamorous royal family. The son of the late American actress Grace Kelly, Albert spoke in perfect, unaccented English when he greeted Leo at the heliport. Leo was heard noting that he landed three minutes late.

Monaco’s population of 38,000 is heavily Catholic and also multinational, with only a fifth of the population actually citizens of the principality.

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Winfield reported from Rome.

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Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

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Ethical non-monogamy? New comedy Splitsville is more about two flawed couples getting messy

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Ethical non-monogamy? New comedy Splitsville is more about two flawed couples getting messy

Is it by accident or design that Dakota Johnson has become the star for zeitgeisty sex and romance films? Johnson’s breakthrough role was as Anastasia Steele in the enormously popular Fifty Shades of Grey (2015). Adapted from the book series by E.L. James, it spawned a franchise that, for better or worse, has come to define BDSM in the mainstream cultural imagination.

In Celine Song’s recent film, The Materialists (2025), Johnson plays Lucy, a high-end matchmaker who enables wealthy individuals to bypass the random scrolling and swiping of dating apps and experience a hand-picked romantic match. Although in my review for The Conversation I suggest that the film is muddled in its message, The Materialists makes an effort to address the cynical business of marriage in our modern age – and the dangerous outcomes that can befall women when blind dating goes wrong.

Enter Splitsville, a new comedy film written by and starring Kyle Marvin and Michael Angelo Covino, with Covino also directing. This latest film is about open marriages.

While polyamory, ethical non-monogamy and private arrangements have existed for many years, these practises have recently come to the attention of the mainstream. This has happened alongside other identities, sexual orientations and practices that do not fit squarely into the rigid heterosexual monogamous norm.

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Open relationships frequently attract everything from morbid curiosity to disbelief and ridicule in the media. Rarely, however, are they taken seriously. The time is ripe, then, for a film that explores open relationships as a legitimate lifestyle and practice.

How to be polyamorous (and flawed)

In Splitsville, Carey (Marvin) is married to Ashley (Adria Arjona). Ashley is unhappy in their marriage and is especially dissatisfied by their sex life. After Ashley announces that she wants a divorce, heartbroken Carey consoles himself in the company of his friends Julie (Johnson) and Paul (Covino).

Julie and Paul reveal to Carey that they are in an open marriage. Carey, while shocked, is also curious and asks about the rules of their arrangements: can they sleep with anybody, even someone they both know? “Yes,” Julie says, “there are no rules.”

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Carey takes this proposition back to Ashley. Why go through the complications of a divorce when they could open up their relationship instead? The rest of the film follows the comedic fall-out of their sexual dalliances. But opening up their relationship doesn’t provide an easy solution to their problems.

Let’s return to our question. Does Splitsville take open relationships seriously? Well, no. The answer is easily found in Julie’s response to Carey’s question: there are no rules. Look at any guidance on open relationships and the best practice is clear: there must be agreed upon rules (or at least expectations), boundaries and communication between all parties.

The couples in Splitsville adhere to none of these things. Yes, this is not a didactic manual for how to be an ethnically non-monogamous couple. This is a fictionalised work about flawed couples whose bad practising of open relationships leads to trouble. But this is also another example of a film using a non-normative sexual practice as a metaphor for something else.

The aforementioned Fifty Shades of Grey isn’t really interested in BDSM. It uses BDSM (bondage, discipline, sadism, masochism) to symbolise Christian Grey’s childhood abuse and his warped sense of power – something practitioners of BDSM take issue with as it reinforces the idea that BDSM is a form of abuse. Similarly, Splitsville isn’t really about open marriages as it uses this as a plot device to allow the couples simply to get messy.

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So what is the film interested in? Men getting into scrapes, maybe? After Carey sleeps with Julie (yes, of course this happens), Paul rages (even though technically this hasn’t broken any of his and Julie’s non-rules). Carey and Paul start fighting, which turns into an extended set piece.

Although this got laughs in my screening, I found it indulgent. The men destroy Paul and Julie’s house, kill the pet goldfish and singe off Carey’s eyebrows. Later, Paul becomes involved in some dodgy dealings, including taking out loans in the name of his son, Russ (Simon Webster). This ends badly for Paul and his family. Even Russ gets in on the bad behaviour, stealing a jet ski and breaking another kid’s arm.

And what about the beleaguered wives? They have some fun. Ashley has a string of partners who provide some laughs. But the women certainly don’t behave as badly as the men. I doubt they’d get away with a destroying a home, stripping their marriage of assets, or committing fraud. Although perhaps the real loser in all this is ethical non-monogamy.

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Liverpool FC Legends vs Borussia Dortmund Legends: Kick-off time, who is playing, squads and how to watch today

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Liverpool FC Legends vs Borussia Dortmund Legends: Kick-off time, who is playing, squads and how to watch today

Confirmed Liverpool Legends Squad: Pepe Reina, Jerzy Dudek, Sander Westerveld, Sami Hyypia, Martin Skrtel, Ragnar Klavan, Martin Kelly, Fabio Aurelio, Gregory Vignal, Steven Gerrard, Thiago, Yossi Benayoun, Vladimir Smicer, Igor Biscan, Mark Gonzalez, Jay Spearing, Louise Schillgard, Peter Crouch, Dirk Kuyt, Ryan Babel, Jermaine Pennant, Albert Riera, Florent Sinama Pongolle, Natasha Dowie

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North East scheme aims to close ‘culture gap’ for children

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North East scheme aims to close 'culture gap' for children

A three-year programme called Culture Start is under way in Sunderland to build a “protective framework” around children in the most disadvantaged areas, aiming to close the UK’s entitlement gap around access to culture.

Nick Malyan, chief executive officer of Sunderland Culture, said: “More than 15,000 children and young people in Sunderland have lived experience of poverty.

Sir Nicholas Serota with Nick Malyan and students from Sunderland college (Image: Supplied)

“When heating, food, and housing are precarious, then cultural activities and experiences are often seen as a luxury.

“We know however that positive cultural experiences can be game changer.

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“It’s more than a ‘nice-to-have.’

“Cultural participation is proven to build life skills, foster a strong sense of identity and self-worth, and improve life chances and social mobility.

Sir Nicholas Serota with Nick Malyan and students from Sunderland college (Image: Supplied)

“We see culture as being part of the essential scaffolding that helps improve life outcomes for children.”

Now in its second year, the scheme is already making an impact.

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So far, it has reached 3,000 children and recorded more than 6,400 individual engagements in arts and cultural activities.

Culture Start is being delivered by Sunderland Culture on behalf of a partnership spanning culture, education, health, housing, youth services, and the community.

It focuses on year-round activities for 8,000 children in their own neighbourhoods, with free travel, food, and materials provided.

Professor Graham Thrower, head of the Institute for Economic and Social Inclusion at the University of Sunderland, said: “A key innovation of Culture Start is working collectively as a city to create a cultural eco-system for children and young people.

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“This has enabled a step change in the city and the hope is it will provide learning for other places facing similar challenges.”

The evaluation shows the programme is helping to build resilience, confidence, and aspiration among five to 18-year-olds.

Funding for Culture Start has come from a range of supporters, including a £1.2 million Place Partnership award from Arts Council England.

Sir Nicholas Serota, chair of Arts Council England, said: “Culture Start is an inspiring example of how sustained investment in creativity and culture can make a real difference to the lives of children and young people.

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“By placing culture at the heart of a wider partnership across education, health, and community services, Sunderland is helping to address barriers that too often limit access to excellent art and culture and the life choices and chances that can offer.”

The programme has also received backing from one of the city’s most famous cultural figures.

Singer Bryan Ferry, who grew up in a council house in Sunderland, said: “It’s important to have a cultural education.

“I was so lucky to have some great arts teachers and it opened up so many doors for me.

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“I wish Culture Start all the best.”

Cultural activities are delivered in schools, youth centres, and community hubs, with free transport, meals, and materials provided.

The scheme also provides ‘Ignite bursaries’ of up to £500 for young people experiencing hardship to develop their artistic practice.

Nearly £50,000 has been invested so far.

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Mr Malyan said: “Culture Start is about meaningful impact on those who need support the most, who might be impacted by poor health, poor housing or have educational and emotional challenges.

“This should not be lost.”

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Roy Hodgson’s worrying health scare, shock management return at 78 and wife’s honest opinion

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Daily Mirror

Roy Hodgson has stepped back into the pressure cooker of English football after making his return to management at 78 years old

English football has regained one of its greatest servants after Roy Hodgson made his coaching comeback this week. And the game is all the better for having one of the brightest managerial minds of the past 30 years back.

The former England, Liverpool and Inter Milan chief has signed on to lead Bristol City as interim boss for the rest of this season. And it will be his job to help salvage some success from the campaign after the Robins started this term in such bright fashion.

Hodgson has taken over the team as a short-term replacement for Gerhard Struber, who was fired on Friday. Bristol City sit 16th in the Championship with only a handful of games remaining, though the play-off places aren’t mathematically out of reach just yet.

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The development has come as a particular shock after Hodgson appeared to retire for good when he left Crystal Palace a little more than two years ago. However, Mirror Football takes a look at some of the signs suggesting he would struggle to keep his distance from football for long.

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Health scare

Hodgson’s last deployment at Selhurst Park came to an unfortunate end after he was taken ill during a training session in February 2024. He was accompanied to the hospital by Palace chairman Steve Parish in a move that prompted his replacement.

READ MORE: Roy Hodgson makes shock return to management at 78 after Championship club sack bossREAD MORE: England reveal two pre-World Cup opponents in Florida training camp

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“Following news that Roy Hodgson was taken ill during today’s ­training session, we can confirm that he is now stable and is currently undergoing tests in hospital,” read a Palace statement at the time. “Everybody at the club sends their best wishes to Roy for a speedy recovery.”

It wasn’t long before confirmation arrived that Hodgson was in a stable condition, though further details on the health scare were scant. Nonetheless, Hodgson soon stepped down from his role as manager and was replaced by Oliver Glasner, who was among those tipped to replace him at the time if he was fired anyway.

As a result, it was widely assumed Hodgson was retired from the job after such a frightening episode. That was until a certain Championship admirer with a lot still to play for this season came calling.

Managerial comeback

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Bristol City have demonstrated their taste by appointing Hodgson on a short-term deal until the end of the season. The Robins may be 12 points off the play-off spots with only seven games to play but it’s hardly mission impossible just yet.

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After two years out of the game, there are valid questions to be asked as to whether the ex-West Brom and Watford chief is still up to the task. However, the club clearly has faith in his ability to make an impact in numerous areas of the club during his short-term spell.

“Roy’s appointment is about more than the results of the next seven games,” said Bristol City’s chief executive officer, Charlie Boss, in a statement announcing Hodgson’s arrival. “Over the remainder of the season, he will help us set the standards and values at the club that we will need to be successful going forwards.

“Roy is a vastly experienced coach who has achieved and won at the highest level. He will support me, our players and our football staff as we build towards achieving our potential. We are in the process of appointing a sporting director who will have a direct input into the recruitment of a new permanent head coach.”

Wife’s honest take

Amid the chaos that comes with a return to coaching at 78, one who will be feeling its impact the most is Hodgson’s wife of more than 50 years, Sheila. However, it was actually his better half who helped convince him to return to the sport the first time he packed it in.

After a disappointing Euro 2016 campaign, Hodgson stepped down as England manager and went into hibernation for a year. He took over boyhood club Palace in 2017 and enjoyed a particularly bright spell in charge, which may never have come to fruition were it not for Sheila’s encouragement.

“We’ve been married 46 years,” said Hodgson in 2018 when discussing his wife and the move back into football. “There have been moments when we have discussed that together. There have been moments when we’ve thought, well, is this the moment now to do something else?

“Well, we tried that for a year. And she came to the conclusion that she better let me back in for a little bit longer.”

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Kimi Antonelli takes pole for Japanese Grand Prix ahead of George Russell

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Kimi Antonelli takes pole for Japanese Grand Prix ahead of George Russell

The F1 bandwagon has arrived in Suzuka for round three of the 2026 F1 World Championship. The first two weekends of the season have been dominated by Mercedes, with George Russell winning the opening race in Melbourne before his teammate Kimi Antonelli took his maiden grand prix victory in China last time out. Russell leads the way in the drivers’ standings, four points ahead of Antonelli whilst Mercedes are over 30 points ahead of Ferrari at the summit of the constructors’ standings.

The FIA have made a rule tweak to qualifying coming into this weekend, which will see the permitted energy recharge per lap reduced from nine megajoules to eight. This should see the amount of energy saving the drives are required to do around a lap reduced. There has also been some spotlight over the Mercedes front wing following the race in China. Championship leader Russell believes other teams are playing games to try and affect Mercedes’ dominance in these early stages of the season.

“That is just how sport goes on to be honest,” Russell said. “That has always been the case. We have worked so hard to get ourselves in this position, and the best team should come out on top. We have obviously had four years of struggle. There have been two other teams over four years who have dominated and won.

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“Just because we are sort of back on top, I do not think it is quite right, everybody is trying to slow us down, especially when you are two races in. It is a big old season, so things will change. We have already seen Red Bull is overweight and some things we saw in the press last week, McLaren have not brought an upgrade to the car. They are still running their Bahrain package. We should not forget these things. We do have an advantage right now, but I think we have just really hit the ground running and done a great job. We hope it continues.”

Defending constructors’ champions McLaren will be hoping for a better weekend than China a few weeks ago, where neither Lando Norris nor Oscar Piastri started the main race due to unrelated power unit-related issues on both cars. Piastri was fastest in second practice yesterday, with Norris fourth.

Max Verstappen has taken the last four pole positions and wins at the Japanese Grand Prix but it would be a major shock if that run continued this weekend, considering Red Bull’s struggles at the start of this season. The Dutchman was involved in some drama before the weekend has even got going, demanding a journalist “get out” of a press conference coming into this weekend.

With the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grand Prix weekends next month cancelled as a result of the war in the Middle East, this is the final race for five weeks until we reach Miami at the start of May. Conditions are set fair for qualifying so the session should be a dry one. Qualifying begins at 6am GMT.

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What time and TV channel is Zebre v Ulster on today in URC? Stream info, betting odds and more

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Belfast Live

Ulster are in a strong position in the race for the last eight of the URC, sitting in third position on 42 points

Ulster are back in action on Saturday in the United Rugby Championship, looking to bounce back from defeat on home soil last weekend.

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Richie Murphy’s side were beaten 26-19 by provincial rivals Connacht at the Affidea Stadium eight days ago. They have the chance to get right back to winning ways in Italy this weekend as they take on Zebre.

Ulster are in a strong position in the race for the last eight of the URC, sitting in third position on 42 points.

Zebre find themselves rooted to the bottom of the URC, with just 12 points after 13 games.

Here is everything you need to know about the game..

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When is the game?

The game is on Saturday, March 28th at 7.45pm

Where is the game?

The game takes place at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, in the city of Parma, Italy

Is the game on TV?

Yes the game is live on Premier Sports

Is the game being streamed?

Yes, the game can be streamed at Premier Sports or on URC.tv

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Team news

Ireland Triple Crown winning stars Stuart McCloskey and Nick Timoney return for Ulster, with James Humphreys set to make his first start.

Ulster: McIlroy; Kok, Hume, McCloskey, Z Ward; Humphreys, McKee; O’Sullivan, Herring, McAllister; Henderson, Hopes; McCann, B Ward, Timoney.

Replacements: James McCormick, Angus Bell, Scott Wilson, Matthew Dalton, Juarno Augustus, Nathan Doak, Ben Carson Ben Moxham

Betting odds

Zebre 2/1

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Ulster 4/11

Draw 50/1

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Japanese Grand Prix: Kimi Antonelli beats George Russell to Suzuka pole

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Kimi Antonelli is presented with his pole position award by Japanese sumo wrestler Kotozakura Masakatsu II

Antonelli became the youngest driver to take an F1 pole position in China and is emerging as a serious threat to Russell in the championship – they start the race separated by four points, less than the margin between first and second places in a grand prix.

Russell, who was complaining of a lack of rear grip throughout qualifying, was quicker than Antonelli in the difficult first sector of the lap but lost out over the rest.

“Really strange session,” the Briton said. “We were both very fast all weekend. We made some adjustments after final practice and in this qualifying we were nowhere so we have to try and understand.”

Piastri, meanwhile, was pleased with the obvious progress McLaren have made this weekend, during which they have for the first time been in the mix with Ferrari as the closest challengers to Mercedes.

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“We have looked good all weekend,” said the Australian, who is yet to start a grand prix this season after a crash on the reconnaissance lap in Australia and a battery failure in China before the start.

“We don’t have the pace to match Mercedes still but we are getting closer.”

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Country walk: Try the 7 stiles walk in Long Preston

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Country walk: Try the 7 stiles walk in Long Preston

THE ‘7 Stiles walk’ in Long Preston is a hidden gem. A beautiful stretch of riverside walking combine with some great views towards Pendle Hill and the Deeps.

Long Preston is my favourite venue for my Beginners Navigation Course.

The walk starts at the Maypole, however park at the train station and walk up and cross the road at the Maypole. Head east (away from the Maypole) up the lane until it reaches and passes the Primary School. Follow the lane as it bends right and head towards the (original) Norman church of St Marys. The entrance is to the right and the church is well worth visiting with its lovely stain glass windows. It is also worth exploring the large, well-kept graveyard.

Long Preston map

If you visit the church head (out of the small gate at its east end) along the lane for 250 m until it reaches a river (Long Preston Beck). Before arriving at the beck there are some stables on your right and with horses in the field. Just past the beck a stile (and a footpath sign) on your left leads to a lovely section of riverside walking.

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After nearly half a mile there is a stile and then a gate before the path opens out again. The circular wall above you is the Long Preston water supply, if you can see in, it always looks worryingly empty particularly during the summer months! The path continues along the riverside through open fields, before a ladder stile leads to a narrow path and then a meeting of two rivers. The river to the right comes from the moors and tumbles steeply down whilst the Beck itself carries on up towards Settle.

Cross both rivers via two footbridges and head for the diagonal path to your left skirting the slope to the west. This is the only climb of the walk. At the top of the path pass through a gate and take the second stile on the left. The first leads in to New Pasture Plantation.


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The stile is the first of eight stiles as you make your way back towards Long Preston village (however the walk is called seven stiles locally!). The initial section is over a flat field but after the second stile the path drops, steeply at times towards the village. The views over Long Preston and beyond to Pendle Hill and the Forest of Bowland are gorgeous, particularly in the low winter light in the morning or at sunset. The final stile leads to a quiet lane, turn left and stroll back to the Maypole.

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Long Preston Beck

It is possible to take an alternative route at New Pasture Plantation if you want to avoid the stiles by sticking to the farm lane and turning left at the tarmac road after half a mile and head downhill.

* Fact Box:

Distance: Roughly three miles

Height to Climb: 50m (165 feet)

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Start: SD 834582. Park down by the railway station and walk up to the green outside the Maypole or start with a coffee in the pub and use their car park.

Difficulty: Easy. A short half day, perfect for the winter months.

Refreshments: The Maypole is an excellent pub, the only one open in Long Preston at present.

The route description and sketch map only provide a guide to the walk. You must take out and be able to read a map (O/S Explorer 2) and in cloudy/misty conditions a compass (essential on this walk). You must also wear the correct clothing and footwear for the outdoors. Whilst every effort is made to provide accurate information, walkers head out at their own risk.

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* Jonathan runs Where2walk, a walking company based in the Yorkshire Dales:

He has written three books on walking in the Dales; ‘The Yorkshire 3 Peaks’, ‘The Dales 30’ mountains and the long distance path ‘The Bracken Way. Buy them direct from Where2walk

Jonathan runs Navigation Training Courses. The next Beginners Course of 2026 is on Saturday April 18 from Long Preston, near Settle. See photo!

You can now buy Dales 30 Guide Book, T-shirts and branded caps from the NEW Dales 30 website. Start the challenge today.

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Where2walk.co.uk features hundreds of walks with descriptions across Yorkshire and beyond, from easy strolls to harder climbs. Visit the website for details of all these walks, guiding days and navigation.

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Wales legend’s future now in doubt after cruel incident and English take over Cardiff

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Wales Online

The latest rugby news stories from Wales and beyond

Here are your rugby morning headlines for Saturday, March 28.

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Taulupe Faletau suffers cruel blow

Cardiff are sweating on the fitness of Wales legend Taulupe Faletau after he was forced off with an apparent shoulder injury in their defeat to the Sharks.

The No. 8 was making his first start since New Year’s Day, having endured an injury-hit campaign. A calf problem kept him out of the Six Nations, with a knee injury preventing him from playing in the autumn.

The 35-year-old was going well, only to be forced off after 45 minutes. You can see how all the players rated here.

He left the pitch in Durban using his jersey as a temporary sling for his arm – begging the question whether he will feature in Cardiff’s remaining matches this season. Faletau’s future at the Welsh region beyond this season is unclear and this could yet prove to be his last appearance for Cardiff if the worst is confirmed.

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The Wales legend has been beset by a series of cruel injuries in recent years, particularly arm issues. He suffered a broken arm in Wales’ World Cup victory against Georgia in October 2023, before fracturing his shoulder in his comeback match six months later.

The Blue and Blacks have five guaranteed matches left, plus whatever comes in the way of further knockout matches in the United Rugby Championship and Challenge Cup.

As well as Faletau, Cardiff lost second-row Josh McNally and prop Corey Domachowski in the first-half to injury.

“It was tough to lose those players early on and that put us under pressure,” said Cardiff coach Corniel Van Zyl. “There were two actions we probably could have dealt with better and they ended up scoring twice.

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“The pressure of those early changes meant we couldn’t bring fresh legs at the end, and that makes a difference in a tight game like that. It was close at the end, but we just came up short.”

Cardiff set for English invasion

Around 50,000 English rugby supporters are expected to take over Cardiff’s Principality Stadium today as Bristol Bears play Harlequins at the iconic rugby venue.

Bristol bring a top Gallagher Prem clash to the Wesh capital for the second year running after the success of last year’s first ‘Big Day Out’ occasion against Bath.

Louis Rees-Zammit starts for Bristol at full-back, with former Wales under-20s star Aidan Boshoff named on the wing.

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There is also strong Welsh interest in the Harlequins team, with Jarrod Evans starting at outside-half and rising young talent Bryn Bradley at 12. The match kicks off at 3.30pm at the Principality.

Bristol: Rees-Zammit; Ravouvou, Moroni, Williams, Boshoff; Jordan, Randall; Genge, Oghre, Kloska; Dun, Owen, Luatua, Harding (c), S. Grondona.

Replacements: Gwilliam, Woolmore, Chawatama, Taylor, B. Grondona, Marmion, Janse van Rensburg, Ibitoye.

Harlequins: Benson; Isgro, Murley, Bradley, David; Evans, Townsend; Kerrod, Walker, Jones; Treadwell, Williams, Petti Pagadizabal, Kenningham, Dombrant (c).

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Replacements: Riley, Hobson, Delgado, Green, Carr, Driscoll, Grant, Kerr.

International accused of jersey scam

A current Tonga international has been accused of scamming people out of money through the sale of match-worn jerseys.

Tau Koloamatangi, who has played for Waikato, Otago and Super Rugby outfit Moana Pasifika, has been accused of taking payment for the sale of jerseys before ceasing any contact with buyers. The former New Zealand U20s international has reportedly been listing jerseys for sale through social media and online marketplace websites.

He is then alleged to have blocked some buyers after receiving payment, as revealed by an investigation by the New Zealand Herald.

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The majority of the jerseys are understood to be from Tests he has played in. The paper also claim he has allegedly taken old listings and pretended they were his.

The Herald said they had spoken to multiple people who feel helpless after not receiving the jersey they paid for, leaving them thousands of NZ dollars out of pocket.

One person they interviewed had paid NZ$1650 – around £714 – for an All Blacks jersey they did not receive, while another said they had paid NZ$2250 – roughly £974 – for a 2023 World Cup Springbok jersey that did not arrive.

The Herald did say they had tried to reach Kolomatangi without any success, although he has reached out to alleged victims – providing at least one with a refund.

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Gloucester looking for final piece after Morgan and Lake signings

Gloucester head coach George Skivington admits a loosehead is the final position the Gallagher Prem club need to strengthen, having already signed Wales captains Dewi Lake and Jac Morgan for next season.

The Ospreys pair will head to the Kingsholm club later this year amid ongoing uncertainty in Welsh rugby. The Cherry and Whites are on the lookout for a prop, having missed out on Scotland international Jamie Bhatti.

The Glasgow loosehead will instead join Bath – with Skivington having to move on to other targets.

“There’s one position we’re working away on still,” he said this week. “I thought we were done, but that one is just dragging on a little bit, so that could still take a few twists and turns, but we’re only one position away from being done now,”

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