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Comcast (CMCSA) earnings Q4 2025

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Comcast (CMCSA) earnings Q4 2025

Comcast posted mixed results for its fourth quarter on Thursday, beating analyst expectations on earnings but slightly missing on revenue. 

Once again, Comcast’s broadband business showed signs of significant competition facing cable companies. Comcast said it lost 181,000 domestic broadband customers during the period, although it said the losses were offset by an increase in international subscribers. 

The company’s mobile offering remained a bright spot, notching 364,000 additions during the period and bringing its total to more than 9.3 million mobile customers for Comcast’s newest business. 

Last year, Comcast said it was shifting its strategy to focus more on growing its mobile business after facing continued pressure in broadband, mainly due to competition from wireless providers like Verizon and T-Mobile.

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“The competitive environment for broadband remains intense, similar to prior quarters, but we saw wireless competition step up towards the end of the fourth quarter,” said Comcast CFO Jason Armstrong during Thursday’s call with investors. “Against that backdrop, we continue to advance our new go-to-market strategy we launched earlier this year.”

Here’s how Comcast performed in the period ended Dec. 31 compared with average analyst estimates, according to LSEG: 

  • Earnings per share: 84 cents adjusted vs. 75 cents expected
  • Revenue: $32.31 billion vs. $32.35 billion expected 

Net income attributable to Comcast decreased 54.6% to $2.17 billion, or 60 cents per share, compared with $4.78 billion, or $1.24 per share a year earlier. 

Adjusting for certain one-time items — like the value of intangible assets, charges associated with investments and prior-year tax benefits that Comcast said made for an “unfavorable comparison” — the company reported adjusted net income of $3.06 billion, or 84 cents per share. 

Comcast’s adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization were down 10% to $7.9 billion. 

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The company’s overall quarterly revenue was up more than 1% to $32.31 billion. 

Revenue for Comcast’s connectivity and platforms unit – which includes its Xfinity-branded services across broadband, pay TV and mobile – was down 1% to $20.24 billion. 

In particular, revenue fell 1% for the domestic broadband unit to roughly $6.32 billion. While this reflected the decrease in broadband customers, it was partially offset by higher average rates, Comcast said. 

In addition to the broadband customer losses and mobile additions, Comcast lost 245,000 pay TV customers during the fourth quarter. The company now has 11.27 million total pay TV customers. 

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Meanwhile, revenue for the company’s media unit, which includes NBCUniversal, rose 5.5% to $7.62 billion. 

This marks the final quarter that NBCUniversal’s earnings report includes its full portfolio of cable networks, as Comcast spun out most of its pay TV networks, including CNBC and MS Now, into the publicly traded entity Versant

Domestic advertising revenue for the media business was up 1.5% due to the addition of the NBA on NBC, which helped propel overall revenue.  

NBC’s streaming service, Peacock, added 3 million paid customers after three quarters of essentially no change. It ended the year with 44 million paid subscribers. The streaming service reported losses of $552 million for the fourth quarter, wider than the $372 million in losses it recorded in the prior year period.

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Those losses were due in part to the impact of the NBA rights deal which began during the quarter.

Peacock saw $1.6 billion in revenue compared with $1.3 billion the year-ago quarter.

Comcast’s Universal film studio revenue was down 7.4% to $3.03 billion due to a drop in licensing and theatrical revenue when compared with the prior-year quarter. The releases of “Wicked: For Good” and “Black Phone 2” fell short of last year’s “Wicked” and “The Bad Robot.”

Universal theme parks revenue, however, was up 22% to roughly $2.9 billion, driven by last year’s opening of Epic Universe.

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Disclosure: Versant Media is the parent company of CNBC. Comcast was the parent company of CNBC through the fourth quarter of 2025.

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White House Tries To Spin Trump’s Call To Nationalize The Vote

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White House Tries To Spin Trump’s Call To Nationalize The Vote

Asked by reporters about Trump’s unambiguous call “to nationalise the voting,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt attempted to spin his authoritarian urge as merely an endorsement of Republicans’ desire for a voter ID law.

“What the president was referring to is the SAVE Act,” she said Tuesday, referring to Republican legislation that would likely disenfranchise millions of voters. “Because it provides very common sense measures for voting in our country, such as voter ID.”

Leavitt added that Trump “believes there has obviously been a lot of fraud and irregularities that have taken place in American elections.”

Beyond Trump’s constant lies about the 2020 presidential election, there’s no evidence that’s the case.

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Leavitt’s spin is a stark departure from Trump’s actual comments Monday on Dan Bongino’s podcast, where, without any evidence, he claimed to have won states in 2020 he actually lost and urged Republicans “to take over the voting.”

“We have states that I won that show I didn’t win,” Trump told Bongino, who resigned as deputy FBI director in December.

“I won in a landslide. I won everything. I won a thing called counties,” Trump said.

“The Republicans should say, ‘We want to take over — we should take over the voting in at least, many, 15 places,’” he continued. “The Republicans ought to nationalise the voting. We have states that are so crooked, and they’re counting votes.”

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The president then pointed to last week’s FBI raid of the election headquarters of Fulton County, Georgia, and ominously predicted people are “going to see something” result from it.

Federal agents walked off with “24 pallets, which encompassed 656 boxes of 2020 election documents,” WSB-TV reports.

Trump lost Georgia in 2020 and has spent the last six years fuelling conspiracies to the contrary. After he lost, he infamously told Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger during a private phone call to “find” 11,780 more votes so Trump could declare himself the winner.

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Eating one food while you have cancer increases death risk 60 per cent

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Daily Mirror

Increased inflammation and elevated resting heart rate may partially explain the link

People with cancer who eat a lot of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) could be almost 60% more likely to die from their disease, research suggests. Those with the highest intake were far more likely to die earlier than those who consumed the least, researchers in Italy found.

UPFs have been linked to poor health, including an increased risk of obesity, heart disease, cancer and early death. Examples of UPFs include ice cream, processed meats, crisps, mass-produced bread, some breakfast cereals, biscuits, many ready meals and fizzy drinks.

UPFs often contain high levels of saturated fat, salt, sugar and additives, which experts say leaves less room in people’s diets for more nutritious foods. They also tend to include additives and ingredients that are not used when people cook from scratch, such as preservatives, emulsifiers and artificial colours and flavours.

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The new study was published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. Researchers followed 24,325 people from 2005 to 2022 who were 35 or older at the start of the study and living in the southern Italian region of Molise.

Within this group, 802 cancer survivors (476 women and 326 men) had filled in detailed questionnaires on their diet at the start of the study. Experts then calculated UPF food and drink intake by the weight consumed each day, and they also looked at the calories.

People were then divided into three groups based on the weight ratio of how much UPFs they had, with researchers also taking factors such as smoking, body mass index, exercise, medical history, cancer type, and overall diet quality into account. The study found that during an average follow-up of 14.6 years, there were 281 deaths among the 802 cancer survivors.

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Those in the highest third of UPF intake had a 48% higher rate of death from any cause and a 59% higher rate of death from cancer compared with those in the lowest third. A higher calorie ratio of UPFs showed similar results for cancer death, but not other causes.

Dr Marialaura Bonaccio, from the department of epidemiology and prevention, IRCCS Neuromed in Italy, said: “The substances involved in the industrial processing of foods can interfere with metabolic processes, disrupt gut microbiota, and promote inflammation.

“As a result, even when an ultra-processed food has a similar calorie content and nutritional composition on paper compared to a minimally processed or ‘natural’ food, it could still have a more harmful effect on the body.”

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Dr Bonaccio and colleagues also looked at the ways the body may be affected by processing in UPFs, including examining inflammatory, metabolic and cardiovascular biomarkers in people in the study. She said: “These results suggest that increased inflammation and elevated resting heart rate may partially explain the link between higher consumption of ultra-processed foods and increased mortality, and help to clarify how food processing itself could contribute to worse outcomes among cancer survivors.”

The team also examined data for seven specific groups of UPFs such as sugar-sweetened beverages, artificial sweeteners, and spirits; processed meat and salty snacks and savoury foods. Some food groups were linked to higher mortality, while others showed no clear pattern.

Dr Bonaccio said therefore that working out the differences in UPFs can be challenging, but added: “The main message for the public is that overall consumption of ultra-processed foods matters far more than any individual item. Focusing on the diet as a whole and reducing ultra-processed foods overall and shifting consumption toward fresh, minimally processed, home-cooked foods is the most meaningful and beneficial approach for health.

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“A practical way to do this is by checking labels: Foods with more than five ingredients, or even only one food additive, are likely to be ultra-processed.”

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The Investigation of Lucy Letby on Netflix review: a morally egregious use of AI slop

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The Investigation of Lucy Letby on Netflix review: a morally egregious use of AI slop

From the police angle, it all reeks of self-congratulatory back-patting. We’re led, step by step, through how their case came together: babies at the neonatal unit started dying, but those deaths stopped when Letby was taken off the unit. People started getting suspicious. She was arrested three times, and each time, the police trawled through her house in search of evidence. Eventually, they found some, which, paired with apparently suspicious interviews, saw her charged with murder.

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Full list of every change for older drivers who want to keep their licence

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Cambridgeshire Live

Drivers over the age of 70 will be affected by some major changes as the government seeks to make the roads safer

Older drivers could be facing a new slate of rules, tests and mandatory requirements if they want to continue being on the roads once the government’s Road Safety Strategy comes into play. The proposed strategy will have a wide-reaching impact from car manufacturers to town planners and drivers.

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One of the headline proposals in the strategy will introduce mandatory eyesight testing for drivers over the age of 70 as well as options for cognitive testing for older drivers. The strategy notes: “The government is consulting on introducing mandatory eyesight testing for drivers over age 70 and will develop options for cognitive testing for older drivers These measures aim to reduce deaths and injuries involving older drivers, without unnecessarily restricting their mobility and personal freedom.”

As the population ages there is more older drivers on the roads. The strategy recognises the independence driving provides for this age group but warned that issues like declining vision, cognitive function and increased frailty can pose a danger to all road users.

Since 2012, the number of licenses held by people over 70 has almost doubled from 3.9 million to 6.2 million according to DVLA statistics. The Older Drivers Forum noted: “No one wants unsafe drivers on the road, and regular vision checks can actually help people continue driving for longer by identifying issues early and enabling timely treatment.”

When facing these eye tests, a driving licence will only be withdrawn if a person’s eyesight no longer meets the legal standard for safe driving. People over the age of 60 are already entitled to free NHS-funded eye tests in England.

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Older motorists with certain medical conditions could also face cognitive assessments in the future in order to keep their licenses. This is also meant to emphasise the importance of telling the DVLA if you have a notifiable medical condition.

Cognitive tests like this are already available through platforms like Driving Mobility, which provides personalised advice, vehicle adaptation recommendations and clear reports for the DVLA, all in an effort to ensure drivers can be on the road safely for as long as possible.

There is no statutory age at which you’re required to stop driving, although over-70s must renew their licence every three years. When you choose to cease driving or are advised by your GP to do so, you’ll need to inform the DVLA and send them your licence.

Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander, wrote in the foreword of the strategy: “Bereaved families don’t need sympathy, they deserve action. This strategy, the first in over a decade, shows a government that’s not just listening, but leading.

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“Our vision is clear: to ensure that people can travel safely on our roads however they choose. This strategy is not just a document; it is a call to action for government, local authorities, road safety groups, emergency services and the public. Together, we can build a safer future for all road users.”

Other proposed changes in the strategy include stricter drink-drive limits, a minimum three or six-month learning period for new drivers before taking their practical test and the National Work-Related Road Safety Charter for businesses that require people to drive or ride for them.

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MPs meet County Durham pre-pensioners on State Pension age

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MPs meet County Durham pre-pensioners on State Pension age

The meeting forms part of the committee’s inquiry on the State Pension age.

Nineteen people aged over 50, some not yet of State Pension age, met with committee members in a session organised by Age UK County Durham.

Participants spoke openly about the financial pressures they face after leaving work due to health issues or caring commitments, and their struggle to get by without a pension.

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Debbie Abrahams, chair of the Work and Pensions Committee, said: “We heard today from people in their 50s and 60s, some of whom have been forced to retire ahead of State Pension age due to the issues they face, either due to caring responsibilities or health conditions.

“That people approaching State Pension age face particular issues, such as increased hardship, is something we came across in a previous inquiry, which is why we decided to look specifically at this problem.”

Attendees described being pushed into debt or relying on dwindling savings and insecure work to survive.

Many said they felt too proud to seek help, while others criticised the lack of clear, accessible information about their options.

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Robyn Holmes, CEO of Age UK County Durham, said: “This has been an excellent opportunity for people aged over 50 who live and work in County Durham to be heard on many issues that potentially have a huge impact on their well-being.

“We’ve heard some real concerns about income gaps, particularly from those who care for others, and those with long-term health issues.

“We’ve heard very clearly about the need for quality, local advice, for information and support on these issues.”

Gender differences also came to light: women often faced lower retirement incomes due to gaps in their National Insurance record from time taken out to care for family, while men who had spent years in manual work were likely to have fewer healthy years in retirement.

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Participants also raised issues with Jobcentre support and the loss of Carer’s Allowance when they claim the State Pension.

Suggested solutions included better access to free financial advice, simpler communications about retirement, and practical help for those with limited digital skills.

Tackling ageism in the workplace was also flagged as a priority.

One attendee, Steve, said: “I’ve been looking forward to actually have a say to MPs to maybe make a tiny little bit of difference to other people’s lives.

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“We talked mainly about our experiences. We all had things to say and it was absolutely brilliant.

“I think the event was great and I am chuffed to have had the experience and the chance to do this.”

Age UK County Durham runs a support programme for people aged 50 to 69, offering guidance on financial planning, health, and preparing for retirement.

The risk of poverty is high: nearly one in four people over 60 live below the poverty line, and when the State Pension age last rose to 66, poverty rates among 65-year-olds doubled.

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The committee will publish its findings from the inquiry later this year.

Ms Abrahams said: “We needed to hear of the impact that the challenges pre-pensioners encounter as they aim to get the comfortable retirement they deserve.”

Ms Holmes said: “That’s why Chapter 50: Future You, a piece of work initiated by Age UK County Durham, is so important in raising awareness of leaving employment, of impending retirement, and preparing financially, socially, and physically for a more sustainable and enjoyable later life.”

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Man, 23, plunged to his death ‘when the railing he was leaning on broke’ as he looked to see if his pizza had arrived

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Man, 23, plunged to his death 'when the railing he was leaning on broke' as he looked to see if his pizza had arrived

A 23-YEAR-old man plunged five floors to his death after checking on a pizza delivery order from his flat.

Joshua Robbins was at his central London flat on January 29 when he heard his flat buzzer ring.

Assuming it was a pizza deliver, he leaned over a railing to check and fell to his death after the railing reportedly gave way.

In a joint statement, his devastated parents Fiona Garrett and Mr Robbins Snr said: “Josh fell from a height of five floors and died on impact.

“Josh’s father Will witnessed the immediate aftermath of his son’s fall, something no parent should ever have to see. He is deeply traumatised by what he witnessed.

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“This is not an allegation or speculation. The railing gave way. Our son did not climb it or behave recklessly. A safety barrier that was meant to prevent a fall gave way, with catastrophic consequences.”

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The incident occurred at the Holland and Thurston Dwellings apartment block in Holborn London.

Joshua, originally from Claudy, Co Derry in Northern Ireland, was living with his father at the apartment at the time.

After falling five floors while checking on a pizza deliver, police were called to the residency at 8:91pm following reports of a fall from height.

Despite the best efforts of emergency services, Joshua was pronounced dead.

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His next of kin had been informed of his death, who are being supported by specialist officers.

Joshua’s parents said that he loved watching the GAA growing up in Claudy.

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“He had a smile that lit up every room and was widely described as kind, funny, and full of charisma, with impeccable manners and an ease with people that made him instantly likeable,” they added.

The family said that they were grateful for the support they got from The Katie Trust, a charity that supports families following sudden, unexplained or traumatic deaths.

Expressing their sadness, the parents said: “Our family is absolutely devastated.

“We have lost our son. We should not be planning a cremation. We should not be waiting for pathology reports. We should not be writing statements like this or trying to navigate trauma and bureaucracy at the same time. Yet here we are.”

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The parents have been in contact with the Metropolitan Police and Islington and Shoreditch Housing Association for answers surrounding their son’s death.

Pippa Fleetwood-Read, chief executive at Islington and Shoreditch Housing Association, said: “The death of Joshua Robbins is deeply saddening, and everyone at ISHA sends our sincere condolences to his family and friends at this difficult time.

“We are fully cooperating with the police and their investigation, but at this early stage it would be inappropriate to comment further until the full facts surrounding the incident have been established.”

The Met Police has been approached for comment.

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Portrait of a young boy with light brown hair and a red-orange shirt, smiling at the camera with arms crossed.
The 23-year-old fell to his death after checking on a pizza deliver from his apartment on the fifth floor

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Video of Kirk shooting raises worries about biased jurors

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Video of Kirk shooting raises worries about biased jurors

PROVO, Utah (AP) — Graphic videos showing the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk while he spoke to a crowd on a Utah college campus quickly went viral, drawing millions of views.

Screenshots from such videos were offered Tuesday as evidence in the murder case against Tyler Robinson, the man charged in Kirk’s killing. But the full videos were not shown in court, after defense attorneys objected out of concern that the footage would undermine Robinson’s right to a fair trial.

Legal experts say the defense team’s worries are real: Media coverage in high-profile cases like Robinson’s can have a direct “biasing effect” on potential jurors, said Cornell Law School Professor Valerie Hans.

“There were videos about the killing, and pictures and analysis (and) the entire saga of how this particular defendant came to turn himself in,” said Hans, a leading expert on the jury system. “When jurors come to a trial with this kind of background information from the media, it shapes how they see the evidence that is presented in the courtroom.”

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Defense attorneys also want to oust TV and still cameras from the courtroom, arguing that “highly biased” news outlets risk tainting the case.

Prosecutors, attorneys for news organizations, and Kirk’s widow urged state District Judge Tony Graf to keep the proceedings open.

“In the absence of transparency, speculation, misinformation, and conspiracy theories are likely to proliferate, eroding public confidence in the judicial process,” Erika Kirk’s attorney wrote in a court filing.

Prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty for Robinson, 22, who is charged with aggravated murder in the Sept. 10 shooting of Kirk on the Utah Valley University campus in Orem. He has not yet entered a plea.

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An estimated 3,000 people attended the outdoor rally to hear Kirk, a co-founder of Turning Point USA, who helped mobilize young people to vote for President Donald Trump.

To secure a death sentence in Utah, prosecutors must demonstrate aggravating circumstances, such as that the crime was especially heinous or atrocious. That’s where the graphic videos could come into play.

Watching those videos might make people think, “‘Yeah, this was especially heinous, atrocious or cruel,’” Hans said.

Utah County Attorney Jeffrey Gray testified Tuesday that he thought about seeking the death penalty before an arrest had been made. He could not recall exactly when he told the governor and federal officials about his plan. Asked why he announced so early his intent to seek the death penalty, Gray said the case was already drawing enormous public attention.

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“The more delay, then it just creates all this unnecessary public speculation,” he said, adding that he didn’t want Erika Kirk to have to sit with the uncertainty.

Defense attorneys are seeking to disqualify local prosecutors because the adult daughter of Chad Grunander, a deputy county attorney helping prosecute the case, attended the rally where Kirk was shot. The defense alleges the relationship represents a conflict of interest.

Grunander’s daughter testified Tuesday that she did not video the shooting or the aftermath. She said she was looking at the crowd when she heard a loud pop and a man sitting nearby shouted, “He’s been shot.” She never turned to look back at Kirk and did not know he was the person shot until after she ran to safety, she said.

Judge Graf said he would issue his ruling on whether to disqualify prosecutors on Feb. 24.

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Utah State Bureau of Investigation agent David Hull testified Tuesday that DNA on a firearm found wrapped in a black towel in a wooded area just off campus matched Robinson’s. Robinson also reportedly texted his romantic partner that he targeted Kirk because he “had enough of his hatred.”

Robinson’s attorneys have ramped up claims of bias as the case has advanced, even accusing news outlets of using lip readers to deduce what the defendant is whispering to his attorneys during hearings.

“Rather than being a beacon for truth and openness, the News Media have simply become a financial investor in this case,” defense attorneys wrote in a request for the court to seal some of their accusations of media bias.

Further complicating efforts to ensure a fair trial is the rhetoric swirling around Kirk’s death because of his political prominence. Even before Robinson was charged, people jumped to conclusions about who the shooter could be and what kind of politics he espoused.

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“People are just projecting a lot of their own sense of what they think was going on, and that really creates concerns about whether they can be open to hearing the actual evidence that’s presented,” said University of Utah law professor Teneille Brown.

___

Brown reported from Billings, Montana.

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One of NI’s first integrated schools faces upgrade delays amid NI Water ‘national security’ non-disclosure

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Belfast Live

The school was officially launched as one of the first integrated primaries in Northern Ireland by football star and Killyleagh native David Healy in 2016.

A Co Down school’s development plans are being delayed amid a Northern Ireland Water non-disclosure due to “national security”.

Killyleagh Integrated Primary is due for a major enhancement, but its principal has been kept in the dark as he says the Education Authority has failed to keep him informed.

A local parent of a pupil claims he has also been blocked from NIW sewer connection plans as “essential” £9m Waste Water Treatment Work upgrades could delay the future of the school with a planning decision that ultimately rests with Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.

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READ MORE: Man arrested after sinister threats made to Newry, Mourne and Down councillors.

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Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the parent said: “I asked for data on the WWTW in Killyleagh, and NIW has officially refused, claiming it’s a ‘National Security’ risk.

“There are 13 storm overflows in Killyleagh, 10 breach environmental standards and that has been confirmed by Department for Infrastructure, Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs and NIW.

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“DfI -Rivers now has a building block on Killyleagh Integrated Primary, with £9million needed to fix non-compliant sewerage points, but no plans in place to fix them.”

The LDRS has seen the correspondence from the government bodies confirming the environmental breaches.

However, Killyleagh Integrated Primary principal, Jason Milligan says the EA has kept him in the dark over the storm sewer problems, saying:”Unfortunately I know nothing about this issue, as the EA have not been in contact with me in relation to the School Enhancement Programme for almost a year.

“I fail to see how a storm sewer would be an issue – is there not an existing one for the school?

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“The plan for the school was to refurbish the existing building and add on a multi-purpose hall, so I can’t see how this would have a major difference to the school’s existing sewage requirements.”

The school was officially launched as one of the first integrated primaries in Northern Ireland by football star and Killyleagh native David Healy in 2016.

Its enrollment numbers were capped in 2019 by the Department of Education from 175 to 126 children, due to “undersized classrooms and substandard accommodation”.

It is understood that the new enhancement would allow for more pupils of mixed religious backgrounds to enter the school.

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The LDRS contacted the EA for clarity on the matter.

A spokesperson said: “In May 2018 the Minister for Education announced the second call for the School Enhancement Programme.

“Killyleagh Integrated Primary School was announced as part of this SEP call and the project is being taken forward in planning.

“An Integrated Consultant Team are leading the project from technical feasibility through to completion. The Business Case for the proposed project was approved by the Department of Educationin April 2024.

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“The ICT has completed stage two of the design and awaits formal instruction to commence stage three.

“A Pre-Application Discussion meeting was held with Newry and Mourne District Council’s Planning Department, the outcome of which stated that there is ‘no public storm sewer available which can serve this proposal.

“As such the applicant should liaise with DFI Rivers Agency to see if discharge would be possible to any local watercourses’.

“With regard to a potential solution to this issue, once approval to proceed has been received from DE, the Education Authority will instruct the ICT to explore solutions to be submitted for approval as part of the design and planning process.”

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The concerned parent also put forward a Freedom of Information request on Killyleagh WWTC upgrades and stormwater assets due to their concerns over the school upgrade delays.

The NIW responded: “A public authority may refuse to disclose information to the extent that its disclosure would adversely affect international relations, defence, national security or public safety.

“It is the adverse effect on national security and on public safety to which NIW is referring in areas where there is uncontrolled access by the general public.

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The letter adds: “Any information that places the public, public infrastructure and/ or the environment at an increased risk of being targeted must be protected at all costs and carries significant weight in favour of non-disclosure.

“It is felt by NIW therefore that the public interest arguments in favour of disclosure are wholly outweighed by those in favour of safeguarding the withheld information from wider public dissemination.”

The enhancement plans for Killyleagh have been mooted since 2018 with pre-application discussion underway for some time between Newry, Mourne and Down District Council and the EA.

But, due to a said lack of storm sewer water connections and a publicly announced tightening of the NIW purse, it seems Killyleagh Integrated Primary will not be enhanced until at least the turn of the next decade.

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A DfI -Rivers letter reads: “Killyleagh WWTC currently has treatment capacity, however there are 13 discharging assets in the catchment, 10 of which are classified as unsatisfactory intermittent discharges.

“These assets discharge more frequently than designed causing out of sewer flooding and environmental pollution.

“NIW’s high level estimates indicate that around £9m would be required to bring all these assets in the catchment into compliance with environmental requirements.

“NIW further advises it has no plans at present to upgrade these assets, however it has commenced business planning for the next price control period. (2028/29-2032/2033).”

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Furthermore, DAERA has also confirmed that the no enfocement action has been taken against NIW for its existing ‘Innishmore overflow in Killyleagh following pollution incidents at an “unconsented asset”.

The DAERA letter reads:”Regarding pollution incidents from Innishmore combined sewer overflow in Killyleagh.

“NIEA recorded two pollution incidents at Innishmore Wastewater Pumping Station in 2024.

“One was recorded as low severity and the other as no pollution found. No enforcement action was taken against NIW in relation to these incidents.

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“Innishmore is currently an unconsented asset. NIW has applied to DAERA for the asset to be added to the Killyleagh collection system.”

The LDRS contacted NMDDC. A spokesperson said: “The council is unable to comment on the Pre Application Discussion, which is a non-statutory process.

“Once any planning application is made, updates are made available to view on the Northern Ireland Planning Portal.”

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

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‘Nothing changes’ – Pep Guardiola defends Rodri on Man City ref controversy

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Manchester Evening News

Pep Guardiola spoke about refereeing conspiracies and Rodri’s comments in the aftermath of Manchester City’s draw with Tottenham

Pep Guardiola defended Rodri as he played down the idea of a refereeing conspiracy against Manchester City. The Blues boss stands by his beliefs that his team have been on the end of a number of poor calls from the officials in recent weeks, but told his players they cannot use it as an excuse.

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City’s manager has raged at refereeing decisions a number of times in recent weeks, angry at controversial calls that he thinks have not helped them when dropping crucial Premier League points against Newcastle, Brighton and United and even in the win over Wolves. A lengthy delay with a divisive ruling in the Carabao Cup semi-final at Newcastle also upset Guardiola.

He was calmer about Dominic Solanke’s opening goal to start the Tottenham comeback in the 2-2 draw against City on Sunday, even if he expressed at the time that it was a foul. As Guardiola was pouring water onto that fire in the press conference, Rodri was elsewhere with the oil as the midfielder said he had to speak up because ‘referees have to be neutral’ even if ‘people do not want us to win’.

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Guardiola shut down the notion of a refereeing conspiracy against his team as they prepare for the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final against Newcastle. However, he still thinks Marc Guehi was fouled for the Tottenham goal and is happy that everyone can make their own mind up with all of the images.

“Absolutely not. Of course there aren’t meetings between the referees about how they can punish Man City. I’ve never said that,” he said. “I’m saying that despite all the circumstances that happened…if the people are saying that the laws say the right decision was given, as Sky said. The guy was interesting by saying ‘it was a foul’ and now saying ‘after watching more and more, it’s not’. I don’t know, I’m not a referee and never will be.

“Marc has the ball under control and is kicked from behind and makes an own goal. Solanke didn’t score, Marc scored. He was kicked and a goal. If people believe this should be allowed then it is fine. I’m not in agreement but nothing changes.”

Rodri’s comments have been criticised for suggesting that referees were not being fair with City. Guardiola had sympathy for a player being frustrated immediately after a game where the team have dropped points in, but needs his side to focus on being better themselves rather than moaning about referees.

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“In that moment you can feel the situations, when you finish the game and go (to the interviews). How many years with Rodri here? Seven years? Always I’ve said we have to do better. He knows it. Second half score more goals, control ourselves in the second halves a little bit better. That is for sure. That is the message.

“But the images are there. You can agree or disagree. Nothing is going to change, right? For me it is a foul and for you it is not. It’s fine. That’s why football is what it is. I’m not suspicious.

“We have to focus on what we have to do. That’s why we won. I won with my team – 13 or 14 [trophies] – because the excuses were completely out. Last season showed that – no one went on about it. It was not really good. It was on ourselves.

“Here we don’t blame for one day – it’s on our shoulders. Here we have to do better, we have to find a way – like now. Do you think in the second half [the reason] we drop is for the referees? No. The players know it every single day. But it’s a fact that what happened this season.”

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‘Extraordinary’ thriller with unrecognisable Love Actually star now streaming

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The actress is completely unrecognisable in this perfectly-rated thriller available to binge watch now

An actress from Love Actually is barely recognisable in a “remarkable” thriller that has kept viewers on tenterhooks.

German actress Heike Makatsch, best known for her role as Mia, the seductive secretary who entices her boss Harry (Alan Rickman) in the 2003 Christmas film, has undergone a dramatic transformation.

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Despite the romantic comedy’s iconic status, its 65% Rotten Tomatoes rating is overshadowed by Heike’s impeccably-rated 2024 show, Where’s Wanda?

Available now on Apple TV+, the dark comedy follows distraught parents Dedo (Axel Stein) and Carlotta Klatt (Heike) in their quest to find their daughter Wanda, who vanished months earlier.

Disappointed with the police’s failure to locate her, the couple take the initiative and start snooping on their neighbours for clues, reports the Mirror.

READ MORE: Inside Ellen Barkin’s Animal Kingdom exit as star addresses Smurf Cody departureREAD MORE: Strictly Come Dancing star sparks exit fears ‘I don’t know if I’m back’

Fans of Love Actually may need a moment to recognise Heike in the drama as she swaps her dark bob for long blonde locks.

The Apple TV drama quickly won over critics upon its release, earning an impressive 100% score from seven reviews. Casual viewers were also captivated, albeit awarding it a slightly less generous 68% rating.

One fan penned a glowing review, writing: “I was overwhelmingly pleased. It was genuinely funny, aesthetically gorgeous, stupendously well acted, and decidedly fresh, making a story that I don’t think has ever been told before. 11/10 well worth a watch.”

Another viewer concurred, exclaiming: “This show is such a delight! I have never seen such an extraordinary mixture of genres that throws you from one corner of laughter to the other corner of crying and then also exciting puzzle-piecing. A must watch for armchair detectives!”

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A third person labelled it as “fantastic,” while another enthused: “I really enjoyed the unexpected curveballs, dark humour and loveable characters unlike other shows. At times I was giggling my head off while other times I was at the edge of my seat.”

For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new **Everything Gossip** website.

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“The end makes me hope that there will be a season 2. Don’t leave us hanging please! !”.

Luckily, the German drama has been commissioned for a second series, which is expected to comprise another eight episodes.

Where’s Wanda? is streaming now on Apple TV+

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