WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has asked the Army’s top uniformed officer to step down, the Pentagon said Thursday without giving a reason for the departure as the United States wages a war against Iran.

Gen. Randy George “will be retiring from his position as the 41st Chief of Staff of the Army effective immediately,” said Sean Parnell, the Pentagon’s top spokesman. George has held the post of Army chief of staff, which typically runs for four years, since August 2023 under the Biden administration.

The ouster, reported earlier by CBS News, is just the latest of more than a dozen firings of top generals and admirals by Hegseth since he took office last year. Like many of those other firings, Pentagon officials are not offering a reason for George’s departure, which comes nearly five weeks into U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran and with no clear timeline from President Donald Trump on when the war may end.

George is a graduate of West Point Military Academy and an infantry officer who served in the first Gulf War as well as Iraq and Afghanistan. He also served as Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s top military aide from 2021 to 2022 during the Biden administration before taking on top leadership roles in the Army.

George made it through the initial round of firings under the Trump administration in February 2025, when Hegseth removed top military leaders, including Adm. Lisa Franchetti, the Navy’s top uniformed officer, and Gen. Jim Slife, the No. 2 leader at the Air Force. Trump also fired Gen. Charles “CQ” Brown Jr. as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Since then, more than a dozen other top military generals and admirals have either retired early or been removed from their posts.

Among these departures was George’s deputy, Gen. James Mingus, who was in the post of vice chief of staff of the Army for less than two years when Trump suddenly nominated Lt. Gen. Christopher LaNeve for the position. LaNeve was then serving as Hegseth’s top military aide, having been plucked for that post from commanding the Eighth Army in South Korea after less than a year in the job.

LaNeve will be stepping in as acting Army chief of staff, according to a Pentagon official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the move before it has been announced. It is a meteoric rise for an officer who was only a two-star general two years ago.

A spokesman for George could not be immediately reached for comment.

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This story has been corrected to show that Gen. Jim Slife’s name was misspelled Silfe.

The soap star is set to join some famous faces including former Love Island star Tasha Ghouri on BBC Two’s Pilgrimage: The Road to Holy Island

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Patsy Kensit “cried a lot” as emotions ran high during the filming of BBC’s Pilgrimage: The Road to Holy Island.

The 58-year-old actress is among the celebrities participating in the eighth series of the BBC reality programme.

She will be accompanied by six other well-known television personalities of varying faiths and beliefs, as they tackle a 390km network of trails through the heart of North East England, celebrating early Celtic Christian saints while exploring their own spirituality and discovering more about one another along the way.

The celebrities will take in notable landmarks including Whitby Abbey and the UNESCO World Heritage site of Durham Cathedral, before reaching their ultimate destination: the Holy Island of Lindisfarne.

It is evident that the journey proved challenging for Patsy, who openly admitted that she “got emotional a few times.”

When questioned about her favourite landmarks and landscapes, she began by saying:“I loved Runswick Bay on the Way of St Hild.

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“I loved being there and then going down to the beach and finding all the rocks. The ammonites. That was really good. It was so dramatic and cinematic being on this beach, and the weather was beautiful.”

She continued: “And I was quite happy there, hammering away, trying to find these rocks with the ammonites in them, which looked like snakes. The story is that St Hilda cast a spell on the area and all the snakes turned to stone. That to me was great. Durham Cathedral, again, amazing.”

The star added: “Every day I got something good out of it. I cried a lot as well. Yeah, I got emotional a few times.”

Patsy, who was thrust into the public eye at just four years old when she featured in a Birds Eye peas advertisement, shared the experience alongside Diversity star Ashley Banjo, former Love Islander Tasha Ghouri and Cold Feet actress Hermione Norris.

Yet being part of a large group isn’t something she feels entirely at ease with, revealing that “people have hurt me in the past.”

Reflecting on what she gained from her fellow cast members, she began by saying: “I think it’s fascinating, people’s beliefs. We see sometimes how devoted people are to their beliefs, and suddenly this power would come through. It was just interesting to see people being protective over their beliefs and sharing them so openly and just having a great sense of humour about it.

“These are troubled times and it’s just wonderful. My happiest day on the shoot was one day in the middle, where we all stopped for lunch after this mammoth climb.

“We all sat around just eating sandwiches, and the sun was shining, and we were at the side of this beautiful cliff. It was one of the happiest days of my life. It was so, so great.”

She added: “And Banjo said to me that when he first met me, he felt I had a lot of walls up, that there was something there. And he said it was really nice to see them come down.

“And I said, you’re absolutely right. I’ve been hurt by people in the past, and so I might tend to find my way a bit awkwardly into a group activity. It was so good for me. I was reborn on the other side of it.”

Pilgrimage: The Road To Holy Island starts on Sunday, April 5 at 9pm on BBC Two and iPlayer

The Army’s top general will be retiring immediately, according to the Defense Department, an unusual departure amid the ongoing war with Iran.

The Pentagon announced Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George’s exit on X.

“The Department of War is grateful for General George’s decades of service to our nation,” Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell wrote. “We wish him well in his retirement.”

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly demanded George’s resignation.

The apparent ouster comes as the U.S. continues to battle Iran, an extraordinary move that changes military leadership during an ongoing conflict and cuts off George’s expected four-year term, which would’ve ended in 2027.

Under the Trump administration, a string of top military leaders have been removed.

Last year, the president fired U.S. Air Force General Charles Q. Brown as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and removed the Navy’s top officer, Adm. Lisa Franchetti.

The president insisted in a major address this week that the U.S. campaign is “nearing completion,” but the White House hasn’t offered a clear picture of how the war will end. Tehran continues to say it hasn’t negotiated any kind of ceasefire with the U.S.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated with new information.

Family-run Hall Hill Farm near Lanchester offers hands-on experiences with the animals and is winning rave reviews.

The site has earned 521 ‘excellent’ ratings on TripAdvisor and has been repeatedly praised as an ‘award-winning farm attraction of the year.’

Hall Hill Farm near Lanchester won two honours at the 2022 National Farm Attraction Network Awards, including Farm Attraction of the Year. (Image: NQ)

One TripAdvisor reviewer said: “If it was any better I’d be in heaven.

“The whole farm experience should be number one on your bucket list – it’s clean and the staff work tirelessly every day pulling out all the right stops and keeping your little ones happy.”

Animals and activities at Hall Hill Farm

Visitors can meet and feed sheep, goats, donkeys, llamas, Highland cattle, rabbits, and chicks, with petting sessions and bottle-feeding lambs in season.

There are also tractor-trailer rides, a barrel train, bouncy pillows, crazy golf, indoor soft play and outdoor adventure areas.

Another visitor called it “probably the best day out we’ve ever been on.”

They said: “What a wonderful place for families with young children.

“The staff welcome on arrival was second to none.

“The food wasn’t bad for a children’s farm.

“So many activities and so many animals, it was difficult to know where to start.”

Accessibility, facilities, tickets and opening times

It is designed for prams and wheelchairs, with accessible paths, baby-changing, a café, a gift shop and picnic spots.

Hall Hill Farm, near Lanchester. (Image: NQ)

Another reviewer said: “Bring a picnic for sunny days, it’s a wonderful place for kids to enjoy the countryside, learn about animals, and run around.”

Hall Hill Farm holds national accolades for education, alongside VisitEngland Gold and Welcome awards for its visitor experience.

Adult tickets cost £13.50, child tickets cost £12.50, and children aged one and under go free.

It is open every day from 10.30am to 5pm.

Hall Hill Farm first opened to the public in 1981 and recently completed its biggest development for its 45th anniversary, adding new animal barns and a Playbarn Café.

The attraction welcomed more than 100,000 visitors last year, reflecting its growth from the lambing event it began as.

In 2025, it was named Large Farm Attraction of the Year and Large Visitor Attraction of the Year at the North East England Tourism Awards.

BBC Network and BBC Cymru Wales have commissioned Old Town Murders and The Witch Farm, two brand new dramas telling authentic Welsh stories to be made in Wales

Welsh drama fans will be thrilled to hear that the BBC has announced two new commissions set in Wales. In line with the broadcaster’s commitment to expanding content throughout the devolved nations, BBC Network and BBC Cymru Wales have greenlit two fresh dramas that will showcase genuine Welsh narratives and be produced in Wales.

Old Town Murders, a sharp and witty crime series will unfold in Tenby, West Wales, featuring Mark Lewis Jones and Steffan Rhodri. Whilst The Witch Farm, a supernatural mystery situated in the Welsh countryside adapts Danny Robbins’ acclaimed podcast of the same title for television, with Gabrielle Creevy and Michael Socha leading the cast.

Filming for the Old Town Murders has commenced in Tenby, Cardiff and along the South Wales Coastline, as the show’s writer, creator and executive producer Matthew Barry has shared an update on social media teasing that it will on our screens in 2027. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter

The Welsh-born writer and executive producer was responsible for the film Men Up, as well as the thriller The Guest, and has now worked on the new series of six 60 minute episodes alongside Quay Street Productions for BBC iPlayer and BBC One in a co-commission with BBC Cymru Wales.

Matthew Barry said: “I’m thrilled to be reuniting with Nicola, Davina, and the entire team at Quay Street Productions – alongside our friends and colleagues at the BBC – to bring another Welsh series to the screen.

“Old Town Murders is more than a crime drama; at its heart, it’s about friendship, reinvention and the courage to begin again later in life.

“After working together on Men Up, I wrote this series for Mark and Steffan, and I can’t wait for them, alongside the rest of our incredible cast, to bring these characters to life.”

Meanwhile, spooky drama The Witch Farm was written by Danny Robbins, who previously created the successful BBC paranormal podcast and television series Uncanny, docu-drama podcast The Battersea Poltergeist, and the West End production turned international sensation 2:22 – A Ghost Story.

The series will consist of four 60 minute episodes, and filming is due to begin soon.

Writer, creator and executive producer Danny Robbins comments: “Making the original podcast series of The Witch Farm was an exciting, thrill-ride in itself – finding a real- life case that – just maybe – comes close to answering that biggest of all questions, ‘do ghosts exist?’.

“Now things are getting even more exciting, as we evolve the story into a TV drama with this fantastic cast and the brilliant director Stacey Gregg.

“Get ready for a supernatural thriller that plays out as the most deliciously dark detective story – an emotional rollercoaster that will have you gripped, moved and spine- tingled. I can’t wait to spook you out.”

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Head of Commissioning for BBC Cymru Wales, Nick Andrews, commented: “We’re heading into such a rich season of content for audiences in Wales – stories which resonate deeply here but will ricochet across the UK and beyond.

“We promised a slate of high impact scripted shows across the next year and we will be delivering on that promise. Our world class creatives are firing on all cylinders, producing outstanding work.”

Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, added : “Following the recent success of Wales-made hit dramas The Other Bennet Sister and The Guest, we’re delighted to announce two new dramas both filmed and set in Wales.

“With fabulous writers Matthew Barry (Old Town Murders) and Danny Robins (The Witch Farm), we’re extremely proud to have these two fantastic series coming to BBC iPlayer and BBC One, as part of our commitment to produce distinctive, must-see dramas across the UK.”

Roberto De Zerbi has been appointed Tottenham’s third manager of the season, with Spurs in danger of suffering their first relegation since 1977 – but he’ll be sticking around come what may

New Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi has vowed that he’ll be in charge of Spurs next season ‘no matter what’. De Zerbi, 46, has signed a five-year deal in North London but can’t afford to waste time.

Tottenham are just one point above the relegation zone with seven games to play, explaining why the former Brighton boss has become their third manager of the season. Spurs recently parted ways with Igor Tudor, who succeeded Thomas Frank in February, after only five Premier League matches.

Initially, De Zerbi wanted to wait until the summer to take the job, but he was convinced otherwise during negotiations with the club hierarchy, who’ve made him one of the Premier League’s highest-paid managers. It was presumed that the Italian wouldn’t be willing to manage in the Championship, but comments in his first interview since being announced on Tuesday suggest not.

“I believe in the players, I think we have to remember who we are and who the players are, because we have very big players and we have to work on their confidence and their qualities,” De Zerbi stated. “I signed a five-year contract because for me, it is a big challenge and I will be the coach of Tottenham next season no matter what.”

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Those three words will bear weight if Spurs fail to avoid the drop and find themselves playing in the second tier for the first time in 48 years. De Zerbi’s first game in charge is away to Sunderland next Sunday, and Tottenham are worrying still yet to win a Premier League match in 2026.

Come kick-off, they could be in the relegation zone. Nevertheless, their new boss is confident that he’ll win enough games to steer them to safety.

“I am very happy to be here,” De Zerbi added. “I consider Tottenham to be one of the most important clubs in the world and so I am very happy.

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“I have a big responsibility, but it is a big challenge for me and I look forward to starting and working with the players, and to win some games. I have watched a lot of games, especially in the last period.

“I know very well the players, I love football, so I watch many, many games per week. I know everything, I know it is a tough moment for Tottenham but I think we have the right qualities to come out from this moment.”

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