The couple were joined by their three children for the scanning of the ewes

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Kelvin and Liz Fletcher, alongside their three children, came together to discover whether their ewes were carrying lambs. During the latest instalment of Fletcher’s Family Farm, which broadcasts on Sunday, Kelvin acknowledged it was a first for them, as they typically don’t include their children in the scanning procedure.

However, matters took an unexpected turn during the scanning of the ewes after Kelvin and Liz learnt that four of their ewes were barren. The disappointing news arrives after Kelvin and Liz provided a sombre farm update.

Prior to the procedure, the former soap star revealed his aspirations. He said to the camera, “It’s a bit different this time. So we’re all going to scan together, get the kids back from school, and we’re going to scan as a full family.

“So yeah, the kids, I’m sure, will be arguing over who’s doing what job. But if they’ve all got a specific role, I think they’ll be all right, because if they feel that someone else is doing something a little bit more exciting or a bit more important, they won’t like it,” reports the Mirror.

Kelvin went on, “Ideally, we’re looking for each ewe to hopefully have twins. That’s the sweet spot that every farmer is chasing, come scanning.”

“We have not had the smoothest of tupping seasons,” he confessed before adding, “With Viper underperforming and us needing to bring in a sub to serve the Jacob flock.

“So again, just looking at the bums, the more reds Kelvin’s done a better job, the more blues Viper’s done a better job. And already we can see that Kelvin’s pulled through, delivered.”

When the couple’s children returned home from school, the eagerly anticipated moment arrived, and the family gathered in the barn alongside vet James to scan the ewes.

Liz also expressed her enthusiasm, saying: “I know I say this about a lot of moments, but scanning is one of my favourites. It fills me with so much excitement. And we don’t normally do this with the kids around, because, you know, we don’t want to waste the scanners’ time.”

During the process, Kelvin observed: “It looks like Marnie’s on painting duties. So James is scanning, and he’ll have a feel, and then he’ll signal to Marnie what they’ve got, either barren, which hopefully we don’t have any, single, double or triple. They’ll be marked up accordingly.”

However, the scanning brought some “bad news” for the pair, as four ewes turned out to be barren. Liz remarked, “You always get the odd one that’s not in lamb. I’m just surprised that the Jacobs.”

Kelvin reflected: “Viper has definitely had an off year, which isn’t good news.” Despite the minor disappointment, both Kelvin and Liz said they were satisfied with the overall outcome.

Fletcher’s Family Farm airs on Sunday at 11.30am on ITVX.

Hwyl Outdoor Sauna has become a valued wellbeing facility that benefits both residents and visitors

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Plans have been lodged with the national park to permanently site an acclaimed outdoor sauna in a Pembrokeshire seaside village. In June 2024, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park’s development management committee approved a temporary two-year permission for a mobile wood-fired sauna at Saundersfoot harbour.

Now, Kerry Evans of Hwyl Outdoor Sauna has submitted a fresh application to national park planners seeking to make the arrangement permanent.

A supporting statement notes that since its arrival, the sauna has “become a popular and valued amenity for both residents and visitors, offering a space focussed on health, wellbeing and community connection”.

The statement continues: “The overall sentiment within the village has been strongly supportive, with many residents recognising the sauna as a valuable asset that enhances the amenities in Saundersfoot,” before adding: “Hwyl Outdoor Sauna has received positive attention in regional and national press helping to promote Saundersfoot as a destination for coastal wellbeing and outdoor experiences.

“Media coverage has highlighted the sauna as an example of the increasing popularity of sea swimming and sauna culture around the UK coastline.

“Hwyl Outdoor Sauna has been featured in two books on the best saunas in the UK.” Stay in the know by making sure you’re receiving our daily newsletter

It adds: “The business has also been recognised through tourism and hospitality awards, further demonstrating the quality of the experience provided and the positive contribution it makes to the local visitor offer.”

In February, the enterprise, founded by former superyacht worker and mother-of-two Kerry, secured Sauna of the Year 2026/27 at the Wales Prestige Awards.

Kerry reflected at the time: “I could not be more proud of what I have achieved with Hwyl. I am so grateful to my wonderful team, who have made this journey not only possible but genuinely so much fun.”

Kerry invested an inheritance from her cherished late father into establishing a seafront sauna in Pembrokeshire.

The planning application seeking permanent status for the facility stated: “Through the Welsh Government I have been able to secure the funds to install a cold-water shower on Saundersfoot Harbour, which will be open year-round. This will be achieved via Hywel Outdoor Sauna and a weather proofing fund, from the Welsh Government. This facility has also a GoFundMe to raise the remaining costs.”

The submission concluded: “Hwyl Outdoor Sauna has established itself as a valued wellbeing facility that benefits both residents and visitors. It enhances the amenities available in Saundersfoot, supports the local economy by encouraging additional visitor activity, and contributes positively to the community through charitable support and engagement.

“The permanent siting of the sauna would allow this successful local small business to continue operating and provide these benefits to the village in a stable and sustainable way.”

Park planners will consider the application for a permanent facility at a future date.

To understand why Dubois felt she needed to find her voice, you must look at how she started. Long before she was a world champion, she was a nine-year-old girl pretending to be a boy named Colin.

In a world that did not always see a future for female boxers, she tucked her hair into a headguard and lived a lie for months.

“I think it was obviously a reflection of the time, but the thing I find most sad is that they actually thought I was a boy. I mean, that’s devastating,” she quips. “But at the time, I was full Mulan… enjoying it, I didn’t care.”

That “Mulan” spirit served her well. She spent years walking into gyms known only as “Daniel’s little sister,” but soon carved out her own reputation, winning Youth Olympic gold, European gold and qualifying for the Olympics at just 19.

When both siblings were climbing the professional ranks, it was hailed as a family success story. But by the time Caroline beat Maira Moneo in 2024 to become WBC ‘interim’ champion, the relationship had already soured.

Daniel was not there to see his younger sister’s crowning moment. Caroline, meanwhile, was not at Wembley Stadium when Daniel delivered his career-defining knockout of Anthony Joshua, nor was she at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium when he lost his belt to Oleksandr Usyk.

For Caroline, the distance has been a necessary means of self-preservation.

“I haven’t been able to watch him fight – in person or on TV – since I moved out,” she says.

“I don’t watch him as a friend, I watch him as a sister. It is hard if you’re not there to speak to him and check in on him, go up to him afterwards and either console him or give him a slap on the back. It’s been very hard.”

BBC Sport has contacted representatives of Daniel Dubois, who did not want to speak on behalf of father Dave Dubois. He has previously said family “doesn’t always go as smoothly as you would like it to”.

The Rose and Crown pub shared an update with customers last week, saying it has become “increasingly difficult” for patrons to park outside its venue on Cockey Moor Road.

The Greene King venue, which describes itself on Facebook as being at the “heart and soul of Bury”, said it has been working hard to keep the car park exclusively for customers.

However, people struggling to access parking has begun to impact its business, meaning a new parking system will soon be introduced for “genuine patrons”.

It says customers will need to register their car upon arrival, “with no risk at all”, which the pub hopes will sustain trade “in the current climate”.

In a Facebook update, the pub said: “Over the past six years, we’ve worked hard to keep our car park available for our customers.

“Recently, however, it’s become increasingly difficult, with many visitors struggling to find a space – and it’s starting to impact our business.

“To protect parking for genuine patrons, we’ll soon be introducing a car park management system.

“Customers will simply enter their registration number on arrival and park with no risk at all.

“This wasn’t an easy decision, but in the current climate, we can’t sustain costs for a facility that doesn’t serve our customers.

“Thanks for understanding and supporting your local.”

The move was supported by customers in the comments, who said they often see people using the Rose and Crown car park and “going to the other pub or houses across the road”.

One said: “About time. Stop people parking in yours and going over the road.”

Another person agreed, saying: “About time, I’ve often driven up and turned round as there are no spaces.”

A third person also said it’s “about time”, adding: “I’ve been saying this for ages.”

A fourth person added: “I’ve often gone elsewhere because we can’t park.”

Since the time of Britpop, Sarahphotogirl has been well known in the music world, taking pictures of bands and artists such as Blur, Noel Gallagher, Radiohead and The Darkness.

Her work has featured in band biographies, on TV, and in many mainstream magazines and newspapers including the NME and Q.

Now, Sarahphotogirl, who lives near Whitby, has swapped the tour bus for a typewriter, with her first book, The Sleepless Nights of the Boy with No Eyelids.

A collection of dark and fiendishly funny stories the book is beautifully illustrated throughout.

If you delve inside, you will find Roy, a boy with no eyelids who is haunted by all kinds of unsavoury nightly visitors; Herbert, who is addicted to sherbet and Moira who is afflicted by a strange and fast-spreading mould.

Sarah said: “In the age of Instagram and TikTok, the written word doesn’t seem to stand a chance, so I wanted to make my book as different as possible to captivate young readers.

“As a mother myself, I wanted to write something that parents could read to their children and that children would want to read to their parents.

Sarah added:” It’s not the kind of book you will fall asleep reading. The final story is entitled ‘Children’ and was written with parents in mind.

“It’s a devilishly hilarious look at the value of parenthood. I’ve always been a writer – once, backstage with Paul Weller, I had to apologise while I diverted from his photoshoot to scribble down the original idea for this very book.”

Already, there is a video of the title story of the book on social media platforms and students at Edinburgh and Bournemouth Universities are busy making the stories into animated short films as part of their coursework.

Available through independent bookshops, The Sleepless Nights of the Boy with No Eyelids is already starting to take off, all backed up by a social media campaign.

Writing under the name of Marmalade Atkinson, Sarah said she wanted to make the divide between her photography and her writing, and being a big fan of Paddington Bear, Marmalade was an easy choice.

Signed hardback copies of The Sleepless Nights of the Boy with No Eyelids, complete with a limited edition matching bookmark, are now available to buy or order from The Whitby Bookshop, The Poetry Pharmacy in York, plus Old Town Books and Mighty Lancer Games in Bridlington. If you can’t get to any of these, they can also be bought direct from the author via social media and eBay.

A major search and rescue mission was launched after an F-15 fighter jet was shot down in Iran on Friday

Donald Trump has spoken out after the US military successfully pulled off a major search and rescue operation to find a missing service member.

Iran shot down an F15-E Strike Eagle fighter jet on Friday, with one service member getting rescued while a frantic search was launched for the second crew member. It has since been confirmed that the missing airman has been located, but the rescue team must still successfully navigate their way out of Iranian territory to safety.

The US crew member is injured but safe following the “daring” rescue, Mr Trump said.

He also hailed him as a “Brave Warrior!” who found himself behind enemy lines, reports the Mirror.

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Posting on Truth Social, Mr Trump declared: “WE GOT HIM! My fellow Americans, over the past several hours, the United States Military pulled off one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in U.S. History, for one of our incredible Crew Member Officers, who also happens to be a highly respected Colonel, and who I am thrilled to let you know is now SAFE and SOUND!

“This brave Warrior was behind enemy lines in the treacherous mountains of Iran, being hunted down by our enemies, who were getting closer and closer by the hour, but was never truly alone because his Commander in Chief, Secretary of War, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and fellow Warfighters were monitoring his location 24 hours a day, and diligently planning for his rescue.

“At my direction, the U.S. Military sent dozens of aircraft, armed with the most lethal weapons in the World, to retrieve him. He sustained injuries, but he will be just fine. This miraculous Search and Rescue Operation comes in addition to a successful rescue of another brave Pilot, yesterday, which we did not confirm, because we did not want to jeopardize our second rescue operation.

“This is the first time in military memory that two U.S. Pilots have been rescued, separately, deep in Enemy Territory. WE WILL NEVER LEAVE AN AMERICAN WARFIGHTER BEHIND! The fact that we were able to pull off both of these operations, without a SINGLE American killed, or even wounded, just proves once again, that we have achieved overwhelming Air Dominance and Superiority over the Iranian skies. This is a moment that ALL Americans, Republican, Democrat, and everyone else, should be proud of and united around. We truly have the best, most professional, and lethal Military in the History of the World. GOD BLESS AMERICA, GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS, AND HAPPY EASTER TO ALL!”

This followed Trump’s earlier statement on Truth Social claiming US forces had ‘terminated’ several of Iran’s military leaders, accompanied by footage that appeared to depict an airstrike eliminating senior IRGC commanders.

The war began with joint US-Israel strikes on February 28 and has killed thousands, shaken global markets, cut off key shipping routes and spiked fuel prices.

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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Authorities say a fire has broken out at a petrochemicals plant in the United Arab Emirates following an attack on Sunday.

Abu Dhabi authorities responded to multiple fires at the Borouge petrochemicals plant. They say the fires were caused by falling debris following successful interceptions by air defense systems, but production at the plant has halted.

The plant is in Ruwais, near the UAE’s western border with Saudi Arabia. The plant is a joint venture of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. and Borealis of Australia.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A U.S. service member who has been missing since Iran shot down a fighter jet has been rescued, President Donald Trump wrote in a social media post early Sunday.

A frantic U.S. search-and-rescue operation unfolded after the crash of the F-15E Strike Eaglejet on Friday, as Iran also promised a reward for anyone who turned in the “enemy pilot.” “This brave Warrior was behind enemy lines in the treacherous mountains of Iran, being hunted down by our enemies, who were getting closer and closer by the hour,” he wrote.

A second crew member was rescued earlier.

“This brave Warrior was behind enemy lines in the treacherous mountains of Iran, being hunted down by our enemies, who were getting closer and closer by the hour,” Trump wrote.

Trump said that the aviator is injured but “will be just fine,” adding that the rescue involved “dozens of aircraft” and that U.S. had been monitoring his location “24 hours a day, and diligently planning for his rescue.”

The fighter jet was the first U.S. aircraft to have crashed in Iranian territory since the conflict in late February.

Trump said last week that the U.S. had “decimated” Iran and would finish the war “very fast.” Two days later, Iran shot down two U.S. military planes, showing the ongoing perils of the bombing campaign and the ability of a degraded Iranian military to continue to hit back.

Drones hit Gulf energy infrastructure

In Kuwait, an Iranian drone attack caused significant damage to two power plants and put a water desalination station out of service, according to the Ministry of Electricity. No injuries were reported from the attack, the ministry said.

In Bahrain, the national oil company said that a drone attack caused a fire at one of its storage facilities, which was extinguished. It said the damage was still being assessed and no injuries had been reported.

The war began with joint U.S.-Israel strikes on Feb. 28 and has killed thousands, shaken global markets, cut off key shipping routes and spiked fuel prices. Both sides have threatened, and hit, civilian targets, bringing warnings of possible war crimes.

The other jet to go down was a U.S. A-10 attack aircraft. Neither the status of the crew nor exactly where it crashed was immediately known.

Trump renews threat

Trump renewed his threats for Iran to open up the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for global energy shipments that has been choked off by Tehran, by Monday or face devastating consequences, writing Saturday in a social media post: “Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT. Time is running out — 48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them.”

“The doors of hell will be opened to you” if Iran’s infrastructure is attacked, Gen. Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi with the country’s joint military command said late Saturday in response to Trump’s renewed threat, state media reported. In turn, the general threatened all infrastructure used by the U.S. military in the region.

But Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Tahir Andrabi, told The Associated Press that his government’s efforts to broker a ceasefire are “right on track” after Islamabad last week said that it would soon host talks between the U.S. and Iran.

Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said that Iranian officials “have never refused to go to Islamabad.”

Mediators from Pakistan, Turkey and Egypt were working to bring the U.S. and Iran to the negotiating table, according to two regional officials.

The proposed compromise includes a cessation of hostilities to allow a diplomatic settlement, according to a regional official involved in the efforts and a Gulf diplomat briefed on the matter. They spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss closed-door diplomacy.

Iran threatens to disrupt traffic in second key strait

Iran’s parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, issued a veiled threat late Friday to disrupt traffic through a second strategic waterway in the region, the Bab el-Mandeb.

The strait, 32 kilometers (20 miles) wide, links the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. More than a tenth of seaborne global oil and a quarter of container ships pass through it.

“Which countries and companies account for the highest transit volumes through the strait?” Qalibaf wrote.

More than 1,900 people have been killed in Iran since the war began.

In Gulf Arab states and the occupied West Bank, more than two dozen people have died, while 19 have been reported dead in Israel and 13 U.S. service members have been killed. In Lebanon, more than 1,400 people have been killed and more than 1 million people have been displaced. Ten Israeli soldiers have died there.

___

Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Samy Magdy in Cairo; Munir Ahmed in Islamabad; Dasha Litvinova in Tallinn, Estonia; and Seung Min Kim, Will Weissert, Michelle L. Price, Lisa Mascaro and Ben Finley in Washington, contributed to this report.

The free festival will take place on Saturday, April 18 and Sunday, April 19 in Bishop Auckland town centre and is organised by Durham County Council.

Thousands of visitors are expected to attend across the two days, with more than 140 traders selling a wide variety of food and drink, from pulled pork to pancakes, fudge to fried chicken, and craft beer to bubble tea.

Bishop Auckland Food Festival 2025. (Image: Sarah Caldecott)

A number of well-known chefs and television personalities will appear across the weekend, offering cookery demonstrations and sharing their expertise with festivalgoers.

Appearing on the Sunday will be Lumberjaxe, Jasmine Mitchell and Briony May Williams.

Lumberjaxe is made up of brothers Brendon and Jaydon Manders, who together came up with a seasoning and sauce brand, with the purpose of making preservative free products that are lower in salt and sugar.

The brothers, who share a love of outdoor cooking, appeared on BBC Dragons’ Den in February 2025, successfully securing investment from global business leader Emma Grede. Their pitch was described as “one of the most powerful moments in Dragons’ Den history.”

Also appearing on the Sunday line-up is Jasmine Mitchell, the winner of last year’s Great British Bake Off. During her time on the BBC programme she openly shared her journey with alopecia and chose to bake without a wig, a powerful statement of confidence that drew a huge response from viewers.

Briony May Williams, who appeared on series nine of Bake Off in 2018 and finished fourth, will also appear on Sunday. She now presents BBC One’s property series Escape To The Country and is one of the presenters of BBC One’s Morning Live.

Her other television credits include Pointless Celebrities, House Of Games and The Weakest Link. Her first cookbook, The Retro Recipe Society, was published earlier this year.

Celebrity chef Phil Vickery, pictured at the 2023 Bishop Auckland Food Festival will headline the event this year, it has been announced (Image: Supplied)

Saturday’s line-up will feature chef Phil Vickery, Shivi Ramoutar and Aaron Mountford-Myles.

Phil Vickery has appeared on This Morning for over 22 years and returns to the festival having been part of the line-up in 2023.

He has also had two series of his own on ITV, Phil Vickery’s Pudding Club and Save Money: Good Diet, and has appeared on BBC programmes including Holiday, Ready Steady Cook and Proof of the Pudding. He is also a prolific cookery author, having written 19 books which sell worldwide and have won many awards.

Shivi Ramoutar can regularly be found cooking her tropical fare on television, including appearances on Saturday Kitchen, James Martin’s Saturday Mornings and This Morning, as well as on her own series Jimmy and Shivi’s Farmhouse Breakfast.

Bishop Auckland Food Festival 2025. (Image: Sarah Caldecott)

Aaron Mountford-Myles shot to the nation’s attention last year when he reached the final of Channel 4 series The Great British Bake Off.

Hosting the festival across both days will be Chris Bavin, who returns to the role he has held in previous years. Chris is co-presenter of BBC One’s Eat Well for Less? and has also presented Tomorrow’s Food with Dara O’Briain and The Truth about Meat.

He is also co-presenter of BBC One’s Food: Truth or Scare with Gloria Hunniford, was the presenter for two series of BBC Two’s Britain in Bloom and served as a co-judge on BBC One’s Britain’s Best Home Cook. He is also a regular guest and reporter for The One Show and Morning Live.

Bishop Auckland Food Festival 2025. (Image: Sarah Caldecott)

Chocolate lovers will also be able to take part in workshops run by chocolatier Paul A. Young across both days of the festival.

Paul, who was raised in Trimdon Station and went to Wellfield Community School and New College Durham, will host hour-long Perfect Truffles Masterclass and Adventures with Chocolate sessions.

Bishop Auckland Food Festival is attended by tens of thousands. (Image: Sarah Caldecott)

Cllr Karen Allison, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for leisure, tourism, regeneration and high street, said: “We’re really looking forward to Bishop Auckland Food Festival.

“We know how important food and drink are to visitors to County Durham and how many jobs they sustain here, supporting our economy in the process. It’s therefore fitting that we can organise events such as Bishop Auckland Food Festival that recognise and celebrate all that food and drink contribute to our area.

“We can’t wait for everyone to come along and enjoy an amazing selection of food with us.”

Further information about the festival and booking details for the chocolate workshops can be found on the Bishop Auckland Food Festival website.

The rabbit could have been stuck down the narrow pipe for hours before he was rescued

The RSPCA had to rescue a rabbit from a Cambridgeshire home after it got stuck in a pipe. The resident spotted the rabbit in a pipe at the end of his driveway in Gamlingay, South Cambridgeshire, at around 3.30pm on Sunday, March 29.

The resident, along with a neighbour, was unable to reach the rabbit and so he called the RSPCA. The Animal Rescue Officer, Nicole Scott, was able to attend to the scene.

Nicole said: “The rabbit was about down the narrow pipe and unable to get himself free – it must have been scary for him. The pipe had previously been covered by a small piece of slate, which had blown off at some point since the previous evening – so he could have potentially been stuck there for hours before he was finally discovered.

“Thankfully, I was able to hook my fingers around his back legs and support his belly as he wriggled up out of the pipe. He seemed OK, other than a sore patch on his nose where he’d rubbed all the fur off – but otherwise unscathed.

“As we weren’t sure how long he’d been there we took him to a local vet for a once-over and to make sure he didn’t have any ill effects from balancing on his head all day, or go into shock.”

After being rescued from the pipe, the rabbit has made a full recovery and seemed “bright and happy” the next day. He was collected from Henlow Vets in Bedfordshire by the homeowner, who helped release the rabbit back into the wild.

Nicole added: “This was a fantastic example of teamwork between the RSPCA, members of the public and local vets – this must have been very distressing for the poor rabbit, and we’re so pleased he made a full recovery and was able to hop back home for Easter.

“We’d always encourage people to check for and cover any open drains or pipes to help protect wildlife, especially as they become more active in the spring months. This particular rescue needed some specialist help, but there are lots of small wildlife and pets which the public can safely help, and the fastest way to do this is by taking them to a local vet.”

The RSPCA has released advice online on how people can help sick or injured wildlife. The charity is calling on people to become a Local Animal Hero by watching its training video that features RSPCA ARO Emma Baker showing how people can help small wild animals and pets in need and how to create their own rescue box.

The public can also sign up to become an RSPCA Wildlife Friend, which is a volunteering scheme aiming to change the lives of animals for the better. You can sign up to the scheme via the RSPCA website.

Russian drone strikes killed five people and wounded 19 in Ukraine after forces targeted a street market in the Dnipropetrovsk region.

Firefighters worked to extinguish a blaze caused by the attack, which damaged market stalls and a shop in the city of Nikopol on Saturday.

Another attack, in the city of Sumy, targeted houses, cars, and utility networks, and wounded 11 people, the National Police said.

It comes after Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of an “Easter escalation”, with Russian forces firing 286 drones at Ukraine overnight.

Ukrainian air defence forces destroyed or jammed 260 drones in the country’s north, south, east and centre, with hits recorded in 10 locations.

The Ukrainian president had proposed a ‌halt in strikes for Easter, telling Russia it would reciprocate if it stopped attacks on the energy sector.

In a post on social media, Zelensky said: “Not a single hour of peace for our people, and this is Russia’s response to our proposal for an Easter ceasefire. Essentially, the Russians have only intensified their strikes, turning what should have been silence in the skies into an Easter escalation.”

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Slovak PM calls on EU to lift Russian oil and gas sanctions to tackle Iran war energy crisis

Slovak prime minister Robert Fico has called on the European Union to end sanctions on Russian oil and gas imports and restore flows through the Druzhba pipeline, arguing the bloc needs to draw on all available energy sources to address the supply crisis triggered by the US-Iran war.

Fico made the call in a statement after a call with Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán on Saturday, saying the EU should renew dialogue with Russia and ensure member states could access gas and oil from all sources, including Russian ones. “It is not enough to deal with the energy crisis only at the national level,” he said.

Hungary and Slovakia are outliers in the EU for maintaining relations with Moscow, and were the only two member states still importing Russian oil when a Russian drone strike hit pipeline equipment in Ukraine in January, disrupting Druzhba flows. Budapest and Bratislava have accused Ukraine of deliberately delaying repairs to resume the pipeline, triggering a political dispute that has seen Hungary block an EU loan to Kyiv. Ukraine says it is fixing the damage as quickly as possible.

Oil prices have surged since US and Israeli strikes on Iran began on 28 February, creating what the International Energy Agency called the biggest oil supply disruption in history. The EU had cut Russian oil imports to just one per cent of its total supply by the final quarter of 2025 following Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

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Stuti Mishra5 April 2026 07:15

Oil pipeline at Russia’s Primorsk port damaged in Ukrainian drone attack

A Ukrainian drone strike has damaged an oil pipeline at Russia’s Baltic Sea port of Primorsk, local governor Alexander Drozdenko said on Sunday.

No injuries were reported.

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The pipeline was shut down and a fire was safely burning out, Drozdenko said on Telegram. Ukraine has stepped up attacks on Russia’s Baltic Sea ports over the past month.

Stuti Mishra5 April 2026 06:12

Ukraine deploys firefighting robot to extinguish blaze

Ukrainian soldiers deployed a firefighting robot to extinguish a blaze in the Kramatorsk region following a Russian strike on a house.

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After discovering that gas canisters were stored at the scene of the fire, the fire brigade decided to use the robot to prevent putting soldiers at further risk.

“With its help, the fire was extinguished and prevented from spreading to neighbouring homes,” the brigade said.

“Ukrainian [ground robots] prove their uniqueness and effectiveness not only on the battlefield, but also in civilian life.”

The “Zmiy Firefighting” ground robotic systems are created by Ukrainian defence tech company RoverTech and are designed to operate in high-risk environments.

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The system can be remotely controlled at distances of up to 3,000 meters, according to the company.

Harriette Boucher5 April 2026 04:00

Seven injured in Russian drone strike on Sumy as Zelensky warns of ‘Easter escalation’

Harriette Boucher5 April 2026 03:00

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Russia warns citizens against travelling to dozens of countries

Harriette Boucher5 April 2026 02:00

Ukraine rescues eight children from occupied territories

Ukraine has brought back eight children and teenagers from occupied territories, a Ukrainian humanitarian NGO has announced.

Mykola Kuleba, the founder of Save Ukraine, said they had all been living in conditions of pressure and fear, and their lives were under constant threat.

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One 14 year old, Zoryana, was among those rescued. Mr Kuleba said she had been separated from her father by Russians, who was stripped of his documents and deported.

The girl was forced to study in a Russian school, where she was told about the greatness of Russia and taught to use weapons, he said.

Mr Kuleba wrote: “They are all in our Hope and Recovery centers and are receiving psychological support, documentation assistance, housing, and care — everything to help them regain a sense of security and start building a future.

“But thousands of children still remain under occupation. They are forced to be silent, conformed, and prepared for war. But we are not stopping.”

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Harriette Boucher5 April 2026 01:00

Russia offers huge payments to students to join its drone forces in Ukraine

This recruitment drive is further evidenced by documents indicating that companies in Russia’s central Ryazan region have been given quotas to enlist workers for the army.

Top officials also deny any shortage of recruits, despite Ukrainian claims – dismissed by Moscow – that Kyiv is eliminating Russian troops faster than they can be replaced.

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Harriette Boucher5 April 2026 00:00

Five dead after Russian drone hits street market

Ukraine said three women and two men were killed in a Russian drone attack on a market in the city of Nikopol in the Dnipropetrovsk region.

Another 19 people were injured in the attack, the prosecutor general’s office said.

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A strike also wounded 11 people in the city of Sumy, not far from the border with Russia.

Harriette Boucher4 April 2026 23:52

Russia suffers record losses in March, Zelensky says

Nearly 34,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or seriously wounded in March, the highest level since the start of the war, according to Volodymyr Zelensky.

Another 1,363 Russians were “eliminated” in artillery and other strikes over the month, bringing Russian losses to more than 35,000 in March.

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“Importantly, the results in the destruction of Russia’s air defence systems have also significantly increased, with 274 such systems hit in March alone,” Ukraine’s leader wrote on social media.

“There have also been tangible results in the destruction of Russian depots and military logistics. The Ministry of Defence, together with the Armed Forces, will present a detailed report to the public for March – data that may be made public.”

Harriette Boucher4 April 2026 23:00

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Stress from Russian bombardment causing premature birthrates in Ukraine, UNFPA warns

Harriette Boucher4 April 2026 22:00