The storm is set to bring strong winds, heavy rain showers and even thick snowfall in some parts of the country

Storm Dave is set to sweep over parts of the UK over the Easter weekend today bringing wind gusts of up to 80mph, heavy rainfall and snow showers.

The storm is hitting the UK from the west with winds ‘strengthening significantly’ throughout Saturday afternoon (April 4). The Met Office has issued yellow severe weather warnings for wind covering the whole of mainland Scotland, Northern Ireland, parts of northern England and North Wales from 5pm today into Sunday morning.

In Greater Manchester, the start of the storm is bringing heavy rain to some parts of the region this morning with showers forecast up around 11am. Cloudier weather is then expected before the strong winds begin to hit from around 6pm tonight.

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Gusts of up to around 50mph are forecast for the region, with the yellow weather warning for wind remaining in place until 7am tomorrow. The weather on Easter Sunday is expected to be more settled.

Scotland and parts of the very north of England are set to be hit the worst by Storm Dave with winds of up to 80mph expected in some areas. Parts of northern Scotland will also see heavy snowfall as the storm sweeps over, with a separate weather warning in place for rain and snow from Saturday afternoon.

People have been warned to expect travel disruption on the roads as well as on rail, air and ferry services. Earlier, the RAC predicted it would be the busiest Easter on the roads since 2022.

Met Office deputy chief Forecaster Tom Crabtree said: “Storm Dave will form and rapidly deepen on Saturday as it approaches the UK from the west. By Saturday afternoon winds will strengthen significantly, with gusts of 60-70mph expected at times across parts of Scotland with the potential for gusts of 80-90mph in exposed coastal locations in Scotland.

“Gusts of 50-60mph are likely more widely in northern Britain. As well as strong winds, Storm Dave will also bring heavy snowfall over the hills in northern Scotland where up to 10-20cm of snow could accumulate.

“Along with the strong winds this will lead to blizzard conditions. Elsewhere there will be heavy spells of rain as the system moves through eastwards across the UK.”

The rugby stories making headlines on Saturday, April 4.

These are your headlines on Saturday, April 4.

O’Driscoll lifts lid on Parling incident

Ireland legend Brian O’Driscoll has given an insider’s take on the main talking point from the last week in rugby.

The former Lions skipper was pitchside at Villa Park for Leicester Tigers’ clash with Gloucester when Geoff Parling and Craig Doyle were involved in an on-air incident which saw the Tigers head coach push the TNT Sports presenter.

Doyle had encouraged fellow presenter Liam McDevitt to make an attempt on goal as a sort of initiation for making his debut on the show – something which incensed Parling and led to him telling Doyle “It’s not f***ing on, get off the pitch, it’s not f***ing on”.

O’Driscoll, who was watching on at Villa Park as it all played out, has now given his version of events.

“Craig is off doing this big, long monologue at the opening of the show,” he said on the Off The Ball podcast.

“So he’s in the bowels of Villa Park, and showing all of the trophies that have been won over the years, the dressing rooms and whatnot. So he’s coming out onto the pitch, not really knowing what’s going on. The best plans in the world are fantastic, except things happen and materialise.”

He added: “Maybe have a quick go when Craig comes out,” when referencing McDevitt’s attempt on goal.

“The problem was that the rest of the team had started warming up close enough to the posts, so when Craig has his spiel with Liam, and then he kicks the goal – or missed it thankfully, because if he’d gotten it, it would have been closer to the players – Geoff comes over and Craig thinks he’s coming up for a chat, how wrong he was.

“Anyway, he was unimpressed by it, to say the least. Gives him a shove, and then Craig comes over and asks me my first question.

“I felt for Craig, because, listen, he’s just following procedure and like his line, ‘would you sign him?’, expecting a bit of banter or something back. And instead, he gets told to f-off.”

O’Driscoll said Doyle dealt with the incident like a consummate professional.

“I have to say, what an unreal pro to be able to deal with that,” admired O’Driscoll.

“Because it didn’t happen to me, and I was like panicking inside, whereas if it had happened to you, and then you had to do a full show for the rest of the day, it would have been brutal.

“I’m not saying it didn’t play on his mind, but I tell you, you would never have known it was. There’s no one like him. There’s really no one like him.”

Farrell backed for England

Anthony Watson reckons Owen Farrell should be picked for the England squad for this summer’s Nations Championship campaign.

Farrell hasn’t played international rugby for his country since 2023 when he took an indefinite break from Test rugby after the World Cup in order to prioritise his and his family’s mental well-being. The fly-half received terrible abuse from his own fans during the tournament, forcing him to take a step back.

He made a return to the international fold for Lions last summer and Watson believes the 34-year-old still has plenty to offer Steve Borthwick.

“Should he be part of things in South Africa or at least offered the opportunity to be? 100 per cent,” Watson said. “I had the same opinion across the Six Nations, across last autumn as well.

“Fitness aside, I didn’t think there is a playing reason for him to not be in the squad. Historically England have played some of their best games with him at 12 and the 12 position is probably the only one which hasn’t been nailed down by anyone yet.”

He added: “For me, Owen is someone who could slot into that 12 shirt immediately and be unshakeable.

“He could provide the gel to that backline, become the final nailed-on England backline player. Then, I would argue, they have one of the top-three backlines in the world.”

Wales star returns to boost Cardiff

Wales backrower Alex Mann will make his first Cardiff appearance since the Six Nations as the Welsh club take on Benetton in the EPCR Challenge Cup.

Mann was one of Wales’ better players during the championship and his return is a big boost for the Blue & Blacks who are riddled with injuries.

Cardiff have handed first starts to second-row Evan Rees and centre Elijah Evans for this round-of-16 clash in Treviso.

Former Ireland international Ed Byrne will also make his first appearance of the season as he starts on the loosehead.

Cardiff lost nine more players to injury on their recent tour of South Africa, with five senior locks on the sidelines and Wales wing Josh Adams struggling with a niggle.

“We took a bit of a battering out in South Africa in terms of injuries but we are here to win games and kick on,” said Cardiff captain Liam Belcher.

“It’s the part of the season when you do get stretched, especially with international boys coming back with battered bodies.

“And if you had said in June or July that we would be in this position in the league and in the round of 16 in the cup then I would have bitten your hand off.”

Cardiff: I Lloyd; Grady, E Evans, B Thomas, Beetham; Sheedy, Bevan; Byrne, Belcher (capt), Assiratti, E Rees, Thornton, Mann, D Thomas, Lawrence. Replacements: D Hughes, Barratt, Wainwright, de la Rua, E Lloyd, I Davies, Jennings, Winnett.

Ospreys suffer injury blow

Wales’ Six Nations captain Dewi Lake is missing from the Ospreys‘ team to face Ulster on Saturday but Jac Morgan will captain the side.

Lake has played his last game for the club after undergoing shoulder surgery but the Ospreys are boosted by the return of experienced Wales loosehead Gareth Thomas.

The Ospreys’ hopes of reaching the play-off’s of the United Rugby Championship are hanging by a thread, which makes this round of 16 Challenge Cup tie all the more important.

“We are delighted to have him back,” said Ospreys head coach Mark Jones when asked about Wales star Morgan.

“I am sure Ulster would have been hoping his name was not on the team sheet this weekend because if I was coaching against him I would be hoping for the same thing. That is the respect people have for Jac.

“It is a big challenge to come back after more than four months out and return to operate at a level he has been.

“That is a sign of class because even the best players sometimes get a while to get warmed up, but Jac has hit the ground running.”

Morgan is joined in the backrow by Morgan Morris and Huw Sutton with Ryan Smith and Rhys Davies in the second-row.

Thomas, Sam Parry and Rhys Henry form a strong scrummaging front-row. Behind the scrum Reuben Morgan-Williams returns to wear the number nine jersey with Dan Edwards at outside-half.

Keiran Williams and Owen Watkin are the centres with Jack Walsh, Daniel Kasende and Luke Morgan in the back-three.

Ospreys: Walsh; Kasende, Watkin, K Williams, L Morgan; Edwards, R Morgan-Williams; G Thomas, Parry, Henry, R Davies, Smith, Sutton, J Morgan (capt), M Morris. Replacements: Daniel, S Thomas, Botha, Fender, Deaves, Hardy, Boshoff, Hopkins.

Dragons avoid big crisis

The Dragons have avoided a scrum-half injury crisis after Niall Armstrong and Morgan Lloyd were passed fit to face Stade Francais on Sunday.

Filo Tiatia’s side travel to Paris for a round of 16 clash in the Challenge Cup and will be relieved both are fit after Rhodri Williams and Armstrong suffered head injuries against the Lions last weekend.

There was a strong possibility they wouldn’t have a specialist nine but Armstrong has passed his head injury assessment and Lloyd has recovered from a hamstring injury.

Tiatia has made three changes to the side that lost in Johannesburg last weekend with Tinus de Beer wearing the number 10 shirt which pushes Angus O’Brien to full-back.

Second-row Levi Douglas also comes into the starting XV while David Richards starts on the wing.

“It’s going to be tough because they are a very good side, especially at home, and ran away with a very good win against Clermont,” said Tiatia.

“They are well coached and I like the way that they play with big forwards in the middle and they love trying to get the ball back with the highest turnovers in the Top 14.

“Stade have threats right across the back line. We have our work cut out but we are looking forward to the challenge.

“There is no point putting the jersey on and going out there without any belief.”

Dragons: O’Brien (co-capt); Richards, Inisi, Owen, Dyer; de Beer, Armstrong; Martinez, Coghlan, Coleman, Douglas, Carter (co-capt), Woodman, Young, Wainwright. Replacements: Dee, W Jones, James, S Davies, Keddie, M Lloyd, Paea, Anderson.

The teams met back in February in the URC, with the Ospreys pulling off a surprise 21-10 win

Ulster return to European action this weekend as the action reaches the knockout stages. Of the Irish provinces, only Leinster remain in the Champions Cup, meaning Ulster, Munster and Connacht are all in the Challenge Cup last 16.

Ulster have been drawn to face Welsh side Ospreys. The teams met back in February in the URC, with the Ospreys pulling off a surprise 21-10 win.

Mark Jones’ team has a reputation for being tough in defence and dynamic in their attack game.

They have British and Irish Lion, Jac Morgan, and Welsh international captain, Dewi Lake, back.

Here’s everything you need to know about the game:

When is the game?

Ulster v Ospreys is on Saturday night at 8pm.

Where is the game?

The game is at the Affidea Stadium, Belfast.

Is the game on TV?

The game will be shown live on Premier Sports.

Is the game being streamed?

Subscribers able to stream it on the Premier Player. The game is also being shown live on the BBC iPlayer, S4C and S4C Online.

Quotes corner

Rob Herring: “It’s a huge week for the club, it’s been a while since we had a home knock out match in front of our own fans. To play those kind of matches in front of our fans is very important to us. We want to take that next step in Europe, we have had a good campaign so far and we’ll be looking to continue that this Saturday night.”

Team news

15. Ethan McIlroy14. Werner Kok13. James Hume12. Stuart McCloskey11. Jacob Stockdale10. Jake Flannery9. Nathan Doak

1. Angus Bell2. Rob Herring3. Tom O’Toole4. Iain Henderson (capt)5. Cormac Izuchukwu6. David McCann7. Nick Timoney8. Juarno Augustus

Replacements:

16. Tom Stewart17. Sam Crean18. Scott Wilson19. Charlie Irvine20. Bryn Ward21. Conor McKee22. Jack Murphy23. Zac Ward

Ospreys

15. Jack Walsh14. Dan Kasende13. Owen Watkin12. Keiran Williams11. Luke Morgan10. Dan Edwards9. Reuben Morgan-Williams

1. Gareth Thomas2. Sam Parry3. Rhys Henry4. Rhys Davies5. Ryan Smith6. Huw Sutton7. Jac Morgan (capt)8. Morgan Morris

Replacements:

16. Efan Daniel17. Steffan Thomas18. Tom Botha19. James Fender20. Harri Deaves21. Kieran Hardy22. Evardi Boshoff23. Iestyn Hopkins

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WASHINGTON (AP) — China is stepping up its diplomacy on the Iran war, putting forward a five-point proposal with Pakistan, rallying support from Gulf countries and opposing a United Nations proposal to use any force necessary to open the Strait of Hormuz.

It is China’s latest push for a more prominent role in global affairs, though it may prove to be more rhetorical than substantive, with the U.S. appearing uninterested in Beijing’s efforts.

“The war with Iran is the priority of all countries in and outside the region,” said Sun Yun, director of the China program at the Stimson Center, a Washington-based think tank. “It is an opportunity China will not miss to demonstrate its leadership and diplomatic initiative.”

Danny Russel, a former senior U.S. diplomat, described China’s diplomacy as “performative” and compared the five-point proposal for ending the Iran war with its 12-point plan for Ukraine in 2023, which was “filled with platitudes but never acted on.”

“Its narrative is that while Washington is reckless, aggressive and heedless of the cost to others, China is a principled and responsible champion of peace,” said Russel, a distinguished fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute. “What we are seeing from China is messaging, not mediation.”

China has been working “tirelessly for peace” since the outbreak of the war, said Liu Pengyu, spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington.

How the US views China’s diplomacy

The Trump administration appears to have little enthusiasm for the prospect of China’s mediation, according to U.S. officials.

The U.S. has soured on third-party mediation efforts, and it has little interest in boosting China’s international stature or giving it an opening to claim success in the Middle East, said three U.S. officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss potential diplomatic options.

One of the officials described the administration’s position on the Chinese-Pakistani effort as “agnostic,” neither endorsement nor rejection, but all three stressed that could change if President Donald Trump weighs in before his planned summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

For Beijing, there could be an incentive to see the war subside before Trump travels to China in mid-May. Citing demands of the war, Trump postponed the trip initially set for the end of March.

“There is no guarantee that Trump may not delay the trip to China again if the war rages on,” Sun said.

The war saw a major escalation Friday when Iran shot down two U.S. military aircraft, a first since the war began five weeks ago. Trump told NBC News that it would not impact negotiations with Iran, just days after declaring in a national address that the U.S. has “beaten and completely decimated Iran.”

Beijing is calculating the pain from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz

For now, China is more insulated from the disruption in the Strait of Hormuz than other countries after diversifying its energy sources and reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

China relies on Iran for only about 13% of its oil imports, and Beijing is working with Tehran to allow the passage of Chinese-flagged vessels through the critical waterway, where Iran’s stranglehold has sent energy prices soaring. China also maintains a large strategic petroleum reserve.

While China has positioned itself to cushion short-term shocks, analysts say Beijing is worried about a protracted war and has an interest in trying to bring it to an end.

“An escalation of the conflict will start to harm Chinese interests,” Russel said. “Because China’s growth model is so export-heavy, prolonged energy shocks and shipping disruption will mean costlier inputs and weaker global demand that damage its vulnerable economy.”

Besides not wanting to see a long war, China “welcomes the opportunity to suggest that it is helping mitigate a crisis of America’s making, especially as the Trump administration’s lack of a considered strategy for containing the fallout becomes more apparent,” said Ali Wyne, a senior research and advocacy adviser on U.S.-China relations at the International Crisis Group.

China has undertaken a flurry of diplomacy

After the war began, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke with counterparts from Russia, Oman, Iran, France, Israel, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. He told Iran that China cherished its friendship, urged Israel to cease military actions and expressed that China would be willing to play a role in seeking peace.

This past week, Wang hosted his Pakistani counterpart in Beijing to hash out their five-point proposal, calling for an end to hostilities and the reopening of the strait.

He has held more than 20 phone calls with regional foreign ministers, and a special envoy has visited several countries in the region, aiming to promote peace and deescalate tensions, Liu said.

Wang sought support for China’s plan from the European Union’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, telling her it represented “broad, international consensus,” the Chinese foreign ministry said. Wang told Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan that halting the fighting was the most urgent matter.

Wang also spoke this week with Bahrain’s foreign minister, Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, to explain why China opposed Bahrain’s U.N. proposal to allow military force to open the Strait of Hormuz. Wang said actions by the U.N. Security Council should help ease tensions “rather than endorse illegal acts of war, still less add fuel to the fire.”

China and Russia argued that the U.S. or other countries could exploit a U.N.-backed mechanism to escalate the deadly war, according to a U.N. diplomat, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss diplomatic conversations.

Both countries appear to have less immediate need to see the strait fully open. While China has been able to pay to get some of its ships through, Russia is benefiting from the high price of oil, its main export.

Hoping to avoid a veto, Bahrain significantly watered down its proposal to authorize defensive — but not offensive — action to ensure vessels can safely transit the strait. A vote was pushed back until next week.

To solve the problem of the strait, China says a ceasefire is needed. But its plan with Pakistan has been met with mostly silence from the U.S.

One of the U.S. officials said the plan is difficult to assess because it is less of a roadmap to peace than a vague appeal for respect for international law and the importance of diplomacy and the U.N.’s role.

___

Amiri reported from the United Nations.

New government data revealed the 10 constituencies with the highest levels of child poverty in the East of England and two Cambridgeshire areas are among them

Two areas in Cambridgeshire with the highest levels of child poverty have been revealed. New government data revealed the 10 constituencies with the highest levels of child poverty in the East of England – and two Cambridgeshire areas are among them.

The new data, published on March 26, 2026, for the years 2022 to 2025, shows that Peterborough and North East Cambridgeshire had the highest levels of child poverty in the region.

According to The Children’s Society’s research, the data showed that 41.1% of children up to and including age 15 in Peterborough live in poverty. In North East Cambridgeshire, 30.8% of children live in poverty.

This new data shows that nearly 1 in 4 children across the East of England are living in poverty, after the cost of housing. Across the UK this figure stands at 27% equating to 4 million children.

Scrapping the two-child limit will come into effect on April 6, 2026. Increasing eligibility for free school meals in England will come into effect from September 2026, alongside other measures which aim to lead to a reduction in child poverty across the East of England.

Andrew Pakes, the Labour MP for Peterborough, said: “Ensuring every child in Peterborough gets the best start in life is a top priority for me and for this government. The reality is that too many families here – the majority of them in work – are still facing the daily reality and pressures of child poverty.”

Mr Pakes added: “That is why I am proud to have voted to lift nearly 10,000 children in our city out of poverty by ending the two-child limit. That cruel cap has been the biggest single driver of child poverty in Peterborough. Scrapping it is an important step in easing the pressures that push families towards Peterborough Foodbank, the Care Zone and others doing such important work supporting those in need.”

Jezz, 22, who is a Youth Ambassador for the End Child Poverty Coalition, and grew up in the East of England, said: “For so many young people like me, life starts with the odds stacked against them. Poverty is a weight they are forced to carry with them throughout childhood, and for many, into later life.

“The disadvantages it deals in education, and the harm it can cause to wellbeing and to health, makes any idea of a fair start in life a fantasy. I hope that behind each data point we can think of the child’s life that is fundamentally shaped and altered by this experience and begin to treat the crisis with the seriousness it deserves.”

Mark Russell, Chief Executive of The Children’s Society, which is a member of the End Child Poverty Coalition, said: “These figures lay bare the reality for families across the East of England – too many children are growing up in poverty which has lasting consequences for their health, education, and futures.

“We welcome steps like scrapping the two-child limit and expanding free school meals, but these numbers are a stark reminder that the work is not even close to being done.”

Mr Pakes continued: “I am determined to make Peterborough a better place for families and children. Last week we opened our fifth new Family Hub in the city and are extending more breakfast clubs at primary schools over the coming months, so no child has to start the day hungry.

“I’m also proud that around 16,000 more local children will benefit from a free school meal every school day come September.”

At 52, the Bolton-born comedian and presenter underwent a “crazy” body transformation, so drastic that some fans even thought it was AI generated.

After finishing the challenge involving two workouts a day, clean eating, lots of water and endless commitment, Paddy didn’t stop there.

He then did a 25-day “cut” to get himself extra trim for a fitness photoshoot with Men’s Health UK, and is now looking to pack on more muscle.

A cutting phase in the fitness world is when athletes strategically focus on losing body fat while maintaining as much muscle mass as possible.

The technique is most commonly used in bodybuilding, in the lead-up to stepping on stage, with athletes putting their best foot forward to get in peak condition.

Paddy said his short mini-cut has given him huge admiration for the industry.

“Massive respect to all you amateur and pro bodybuilders,” he said.

“Your dedication is admirable. After going on a 25-day cutting diet for my Men’s Health UK shoot, I thought putting a bit of size back on would be easy.

“I was wrong. In my opinion, it is so much tougher than the cutting.

“I’ve got big Steve Coleman Fitness back in my corner, so I’m sure we’ll get there.

“But getting those good calories in while keeping an eye on the ‘auld’ waistline is hard work, baby.”

Paddy showed off his impressive 75 day results. (Image: Paddy McGuinness Instagram)

Steve is a renowned personal trainer who has coached several high-profile clients, including Daniel Radcliffe and Ben Shephard.

Steve said: “So proud to have coached Paddy McGuinness for this April’s Men’s Health UK cover.

“The cover is the moment everyone sees, but the real work happens in the weeks and months before.

“The early mornings, the sessions, the structure and the consistency that make it possible.

“Massive credit to Paddy for the discipline and commitment he brought to every session. He showed up, trusted the process and put the work in.

“A huge thank you to the team at Men’s Health for having me involved and capturing all of Paddy’s hard work.

“Career moments like this always feel a little surreal. I am always grateful.

“I’ll share some of the training and nutrition tips that I implemented with Paddy soon.”

Paddy’s age makes his muscle-gaining venture all the more impressive.

Both men and women start losing muscle mass as they age, with most people experiencing a decline of between three per cent and five per cent per decade after turning 30.

Resistance exercise, such as weight training, is one of the best ways to counteract the loss of muscle mass as you age.

Homes at 43 Poplar Street in Tyldesley and 15A Hendon Road in Wigan have been subject to long-running issues despite warnings and intervention, with neighbours reporting serious disruption and distress.

At the property in Tyldesley, problems included persistent drug-related activity, harbouring of wanted offenders, and serious incidents involving weapons and threats.

A kidnap victim was also found at the address, leading to multiple arrests.

Despite ‘years of interventions,’ criminal behaviour continued, and Wigan Council and Greater Manchester Police applied for a full closure order at Wigan and Leigh Magistrates’ Court.

However, only a partial closure order was granted.

A spokesman for Wigan Council said: “Our recent successful applications of these closure orders demonstrates our dedication in protecting residents and communities from harm.

“We take any report of anti-social behaviour very seriously.”

The partial closure order means the tenant can remain at the property, but no visitors are permitted.

The council said the activity had caused “significant and ongoing impact on neighbours, including sleep disruption, fear, intimidation, and health deterioration.”

A second partial closure order was issued at 15A Hendon Road following repeated complaints of noise-related anti-social behaviour.

This included loud music, shouting, arguments, and offensive language.

The behaviour was described as severe enough to cause “sleep disturbance and distress to vulnerable neighbours.”

Interventions at that address included advisory and warning letters, a noise abatement notice, a community protection warning, and joint visits from council officers and police.

The council spokesman said: “Further breaches of orders will not be tolerated.”

Under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, closure orders can restrict access to all persons or allow access only to specific individuals.

They can apply to all or part of a property.

The orders are designed to protect the wider community and reduce harm caused by persistent anti-social behaviour.

Wigan Council continues to encourage residents to report such behaviour and has reaffirmed its commitment to using all available legal powers to keep communities safe.

No further details have been released regarding the occupants of either property.

With a career spanning over two decades, this nineties heartthrob has taken to the stage with a new look – as fans are left gobsmacked over the unrecognisable star

He’s an iconic indie star that had fans swooning in the Noughties – but can you recognise him now?

Fran Healy, frontman of the band Travis, shocked fans with a completely look during a recent performance at Estero Picnic Festival in Colombia.

The 52-year-old rose to fame over two decades ago, and is known for hits such as Why Does It Always Rain On Me? and Sing. Travis heavily dominated the charts during the Nineties and early Noughties.

Swapping his signature bright red locks for a bleached look, the star looked unrecognisable on stage. He also wore a blue jumper and thick rimmed round glasses as he joined a number of artists, including his Travis bandmates Dougie Payne, Andy Dunlop and Neil Primrose at the Columbian festival infront of a bustling crowd.

READ MORE: Gemma Collins posts wedding photo after secret ceremony but fans aren’t convinced

Other performers included The Killers, Sabrina Carpenter, Tyler the Creator and Swedish House Mafia for the three-day festival. Travis joined The Killers for a performance as well as their own set on Sunday.

Fran was born in Stafford but he was raised in Glasgow before he formed Travis in 1991 while studying at the Glasgow School of Art. The band are still going, and are currently performing across South America, with a show in Chile this month and next, and then heading to Viña del Mar, Frutillar and Santiago.

Despite taking breaks throughout their career spanning two decades, they have never parted ways. Travis released their tenth album, L.A Times, in 2024, with Fran writing the majority of their albums.

Away from the bright lights and the stage, the frontman lives in Los Angeles, having moved there in 2017 with his wife Nora Kryst, a German photographer.

The couple split after 23 years together in 2019. They share a 20-year-old son named Clay, who studies at an art school in New York, and has started a band of his own. Of the break-up, Fran said the pair transitioned from ‘lovers to parents’ but still refers to her as his ‘soul sister’.

The star suffered more heartbreak when he lost his best friend Ringan Ledwidge to cancer in 2021. Then, Travis also sacked their long-standing manager after more than 25 years together. “It was like being in a storm and you think you might sink,” he told the BBC in 2024. “Then it clears, because that’s what life does.”

Meanwhile, Fran said sacking their management was one of the “most empowering moments” as it allowed him to take control of the band again.

During a US gig last year, the frontrunner was rushed off stage and taken to hospital after twisting his ankle. He took to Instagram to tell fans it wasn’t broken but just a “gnarly sprain”.

The FA Cup returns this weekend with eight teams competing for a place in the semi-final at Wembley later this month.

Manchester City and Liverpool kick off the action with their tie at the Etihad Stadium at 12:45pm on Saturday.

Chelsea are next up as they host League One side Port Vale at Stamford Bridge at 5:15pm before Southampton host Premier League leaders Arsenal at St Mary’s at 8pm.

In the only FA Cup tie held on Sunday, West Ham play Leeds United at the London Stadium at 4:30pm.

When is the FA Cup semi-final draw?

The FA Cup semi-final draw will be held on Sunday, April 5, after West Ham’s quarter-final tie against Leeds United at the London Stadium.

The match kicks off at 4.30pm and the draw will take place approximately 15 minutes after full-time.

How to watch the FA Cup draw on TV and live stream

The draw will be available for fans to watch on TNT Sports 1 and HBO Max.

The draw will also be streamed live for free on the TNT Sports YouTube channel.

When will the semi-final games be played?

The two semi-final ties will take place on Saturday, April 25 and Sunday, April 26 at Wembley.

Are there replays in the FA Cup this year?

Replays are not in use in any of the full rounds of this season’s FA Cup.

The FA scrapped replays from the first round onwards in last year’s competition and that has continued into the 2025/26 campaign.

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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Easter is around the corner, and it’s time to start thinking about how to decorate your eggs.

Whether you’re dying eggs for your table spread or planning to hide them for an egg hunt, it’s important to follow food safety guidelines to minimize germs and maximize your egg quality.

You have some time to eat your eggs

Eggs are remarkably long lasting, so there needn’t be a giant rush to eat them.

“Stores usually do turn over eggs pretty quickly, so the recommendations is you should consume eggs three to five weeks after you purchase them,” said Kara Lynch, food safety educator with Michigan State University Extension.

There is also a benefit in letting eggs age just a bit, as older eggs can be easier to peel. That’s because eggs shrink over time within the shell, creating an air pocket between the egg and the shell.

Hard boil your eggs

Egg processors clean eggs before they reach store shelves, but it also is important to thoroughly cook eggs to reduce the risk of foodborne illness, especially salmonella. That bacteria lives naturally in the gastrointestinal and reproductive tracts of chickens, said Kimberly Baker, associate extension specialist at Clemson University.

To cook your eggs, place them in a saucepan, fill it with water and bring it to a boil. After that, put the lid on, turn the heat off and let it sit for about 12 minutes. Some also favor turning down the heat and simmering eggs.

You can vary the time in the hot water depending on a desire for harder boiled or slightly creamier eggs, but the yolk should be pretty solid to be safe. Boiling them for too long can risk creating green sulfur development on the outside of the yolk.

How to cool the eggs

After that, Don Schaffner, food science department chair at Rutgers University, said there are two options.

You can run your eggs under cold water to reduce the temperature. From there, you can color them right away or place them back in the fridge until you’re ready. Or, after you’ve boiled them, you can let them air dry until they’ve cooled.

The boiling process sanitizes the eggs, and as long as they are kept out of water, Schaffner said, they will remain safe to eat.

“You’ve boiled the egg, you’ve gotten rid of any bacteria that might be in the egg. And now you’ve air-cooled it, right? So it’s going to cool more slowly, it’s probably going to cook more,” he said. “But most importantly, you don’t have to worry about any bacteria from the water getting internalized into the egg.”

It’s OK to get food dye on your eggs

Either artificial or natural food dye is OK as long as the dye label says it’s food grade. For those keeping track, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has been updating its guidance and regulations regarding certain dyes.

And no, it’s not a problem if the dye seeps through the shell.

“Eggs kind of naturally have their own abilities to absorb only so much,” Baker said.

As you’re decorating the eggs and have the eggs outside, she suggested keeping your eggs in an ice bath, so they can stay at a cooler temperature while you’re decorating.

Follow the 2-hour rule

Eggs should generally be kept at or below 40 degrees (4.4 degrees Celsius) to minimize the risk of contaminants.

Cooked eggs that weren’t air-cooled should spend no more than two hours at room temperature. And that’s cumulative, including the time spent decorating and the time spent hiding during the Easter egg hunt.

But if it’s particularly warm, then that two-hour rule may be shortened to one hour, Lynch said.

Hard boiled eggs are generally good for about a week in the fridge.

Give your eggs a rinse before peeling

Be careful with your eggs as you handle them.

One of the biggest concerns is making sure your eggs haven’t cracked during an Easter egg hunt, making them vulnerable to contaminants. And once the egg has been hard boiled, there’s no way to kill bacteria that get inside, Baker said.

“We don’t want to be putting them in the soil or in lawns where pets have gone to the bathroom,” she said.

Whether the eggs are hidden outdoors or in a corner of your home, you should rinse them in cool water before you peel them. And wash your hands, too, just in case the eggs have picked up something.

Consider using plastic eggs

If the Easter egg hunt means your eggs will be at room temperature for longer than two hours, experts recommended using plastic eggs for the hunt instead of real ones to minimize food safety risk.

“If it’s an outdoor Easter egg hunt at any time, I would say go with the plastic eggs and be safe,” Baker said. “And use your dyed Easter eggs as your centerpiece on your table or your buffet, and enjoy them that way.”