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Easter Monday supermarket opening hours: Tesco, Asda, Aldi, Lidl and more

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Cambridgeshire Live

Check supermarket opening times for Easter Monday including Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Lidl, Aldi, Co-op and M&S

This bank holiday weekend, shoppers have noticed considerable changes across supermarkets, including reduced trading hours and store closures on Easter Sunday. If your supplies are running low after the festivities and you’ve had your fill of chocolate, it’s advisable to check when your nearest shop is open this Easter Monday to avoid any unnecessary inconvenience.

We’ve compiled a comprehensive list of trading hours for Tesco, Co-op, Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Lidl, and Aldi, amongst others, so you can plan ahead when restocking your cupboards.

Below are the opening hours for supermarkets across Wales this Easter Monday. For the biggest stories in Wales, sign up to our daily newsletter here.

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Tesco

On Easter Monday, most Tesco stores will operate on reduced hours from 8am to 6pm, although Express stores will maintain their standard opening hours of 7am to 11pm. You can check your local Tesco’s opening hours here, reports Wales Online.

Co-op

Co-op will be open during their usual hours of 7am to 10pm or 11pm this Easter Monday, depending on the store. You can check here for details of your local store.

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Asda

On Easter Monday, Asda stores will be open from 8am to 10pm, though this may vary by store. You can check if your local shop is open here.

Morrisons

Morrisons will be operating on reduced opening hours this Easter Monday, with most stores in Wales open from 7am to 8pm. You can check if your local store is open here.

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Sainsbury’s On Easter Monday most larger stores will be open from 8am to 8pm while Sainsbury’s Local stores are generally expected to run as normal. You can check if your local store is open here.

Lidl

Opening times at Lidl will vary on Easter Monday so it is recommended you check your local branch’s details. You can find more information here.

Aldi

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On Easter Monday the majority of Aldi stores will be open with reduced hours from 8am to 8pm. However this may vary by store. You can find the opening hours of your local store here.

M&S Food

Marks and Spencer’s opening hours differ across the UK so shoppers are advised to check their nearest branch. You can find more information here.

Waitrose

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Waitrose will also have reduced bank holiday opening hours this Easter Monday.

They will be open from 9am to 6pm. However convenience alternatives including stores that feature in service stations will be open from 7am to 10pm. You can find your local store’s opening hours here.

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Fun for all the family at K-Woodlands this Easter

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Daily Record

Pond dipping is just one of the exciting things to do.

K-Woodlands is inviting families, young explorers and nature enthusiasts to celebrate the Easter holidays with an exciting programme of outdoor activities designed to inspire curiosity, adventure and a love for the natural world.

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Taking place throughout April, ‘Easter at K-Woodlands’ offers a series of hands-on woodland experiences where children and adults can discover wildlife, learn practical bushcraft skills, and enjoy guided environmental activities in a safe, friendly setting.

Located at the K-Woodlands entrance at 1 Burley Place, the programme encourages families to step away from screens and spend quality time together in the great outdoors during the school break.

Events include:

■ Pond Dipping: Discover Life Beneath the Surface on Wednesday, April 8, from 1pm to 3pm, for over-fives.

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Children will have the opportunity to explore the hidden world of freshwater habitats by carefully catching and identifying the fascinating mini-beasts living in the woodland pond. Guided by experienced staff, participants will learn about aquatic ecosystems, biodiversity, and the important role these tiny creatures play in nature.

This session provides a perfect introduction to wildlife exploration and encourages young people to develop observation skills while having fun.

■Firelighting & Campfire Skills: A Bushcraft Experience on Friday, April 10, from 1pm to 3pm, for children aged over eight.

This popular practical session teaches children essential outdoor survival skills in a safe and supervised environment. Participants will learn how to responsibly gather natural materials, understand fire safety principles, and light their own small campfire.

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The experience concludes with a well-earned treat as attendees toast marshmallows over the fire — a memorable outdoor tradition that combines learning with enjoyment.

K-Woodlands is a community green space dedicated to conservation, outdoor learning, and engagement with nature.

*Don’t miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.

And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own app? Download yours for free here.

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READ MORE: Funding launches for Lanarkshire’s biggest climate festival

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TV drama soars to Netflix number 1 despite fans saying it’s ‘so bad it’s good’

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TV drama soars to Netflix number 1 despite fans saying it's 'so bad it's good'
This teen drama is a bit of a marmite watch (Picture: Young Sol Park/Netflix)

You’ll probably either love or hate this TV drama, but it seems enough people are at least interested, as it’s shot up the Netflix charts.

Despite being described as ‘so bad it’s good’, XO, Kitty has found itself in the streaming platform’s number one spot, days after the release of its third season.

XO, Kitty launched in 2023, proving so popular that it’s been renewed twice since.

It’s a spin-off of the To All the Boys film series, which helped to propel Lana Condor and Noah Centineo to global stardom thanks to their central roles in the teen romance trilogy.

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Canadian actress Anna Cathcart, 22, takes the lead in XO, Kitty as high schooler Kitty Song-Covey. Already extremely knowledgeable on all things romance, she moves halfway across the world to reconnect with her long-distance boyfriend while attending the same boarding school as her late mother.

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However, the teen matchmaker soon discovers that relationships are more complex when it’s your own feelings on the line.

XO, Kitty. (L to R) Gia Kim as Yuri Han, Anna Cathcart as Kitty Song Covey in episode 305 of XO, Kitty. Cr. Youngsol Park/Netflix ?? 2026
XO, Kitty has proven popular figures-wise, despite dividing viewers and critics (Picture: Young Sol Park/Netflix)
XO, Kitty. (L to R) Anna Cathcart as Kitty Song Covey, Sang Heon Lee as Min Ho Moon in episode 205 of XO, Kitty. Cr. Park Young-Sol/Netflix ?? 2024
It follows Kitty Song-Covey (Anna Cathcart) on her quest for love (Picture: Young Sol Park/Netflix)

Other main cast members include Choi Min-young as Dae Heon Kim, Kitty’s ex-boyfriend, Anthony Keyvan as Q Shabazian, Kitty’s best friend, Gia Kim as Yuri Han, a wealthy social media star and paparazzi magnet, Sang Heon Lee as Min Ho, who, despite his privilege, is fiercely loyal to his friends, and Peter Thurnwald as teacher Alex Finnerty.

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, it seems XO, Kitty has generally managed to win over critics more than audiences.

Overall, it boasts an 80% score from critics, while sitting at 63% among the public. The stats remain pretty much the same for each season, with the most recent clocking up an average of 3.3 out of five stars.

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What’s your verdict on XO, Kitty?

Among its reviews, XO, Kitty certainly divides opinion. While @RainbowTulips describes the latest outing as ‘beautiful’ and is keen for more, @RT75366913 was left ‘disappointed’.

Still, despite being predominantly aimed at a teenage audience, the series has been praised for its ’emotional’ development of characters, and, while a bit cringeworthy at times, it’s got enough ‘charm’ and ‘cuteness’ to warrant pressing play.

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‘Xo, Kitty is entertaining and cute. Nobody asked for it — but at least it’s got some charm’, writes Lauren Sarner of the New York Post.

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Angie Han of the Hollywood Reporter brands it ‘a sweet, pretty cupcake of a teen romance’, while Nadira Goffe of Slate says it’s ‘as annoying as it is irresistible’.

‘XO Kitty is chaotic and messy thanks to its numerous love triangles, romantic entanglements, and more, but it stays true to the spirit of author Jenny Han’s comforting world of largely tropey teenage drama’, says S. Poorvaja of The Hindu.

Also heaping praise on the show for another reason, Natalie from Autostraddle pens: ‘Particularly when it comes to queer representation, XO, Kitty is breaking new ground and, hopefully, pushing an entire genre towards greater inclusivity.’

‘The ‘cringiest’ show on Netflix is back – but I’m obsessed with it’

Metro‘s Senior TV Reporter Asyia Iftikhar gives her verdict on XO, Kitty season 3

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‘Unlike other shows, which have put me off for life with how poorly they are written and acted (sorry, Never Have I Ever and Ginny and Georgia – I fear I will never recover from “happy Friday”), XO, Kitty has almost inexplicably charmed me.

‘Once you give it a chance, there are surprising layers to this tale that grapple with grief, the horrors of unrequited love, found family, and the messy ordeal of trying to figure yourself out.

‘After all, although easily dismissed as rubbish by some, there’s a reason season 2 debuted at number one with 14.2million viewers in its first week alone last year.’

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As for whether fans can expect a fourth season, the future of XO, Kitty is currently unknown.

Following season 3’s premiere on April 3, it has yet to be renewed. What’s more, it’s tricky to predict whether it will be at all, given that creator Jenny Hann’s other projects (including To All the Boys and The Summer I Turned Pretty) are based on books. XO, Kitty was an original spin-off project, so the story has not been set.

Speaking to Variety this month about what Kitty’s relationships may look like going forward, showrunner Valentina Garza said it’s likely to be ‘a question that all [their] fans are asking’, but didn’t divulge anything further.

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‘We’re all just trying to live in the moment and bask in season 3 right now,’ she said. ‘We’re very excited for the fans to see what we made this season, and we’ll just have to wait and see.’

XO, Kitty is available to stream on Netflix.

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Former family-run Peterborough party shop set to become gym

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Cambridgeshire Live

A new gym is set to replace a popular family-run party shop. Peterborough City Council’s planning department last week determined that Shadow Strength Gym’s application to take over Units 7 And 8 at the Saville Road Industrial Estate was lawful.

In making their decision, planning chiefs concluded the premises’ new function would be “Commercial, Business and Service” – known as ‘Class E’ – like the previous party shop.

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This means that planning permission is not needed. As such, Shadow Strength Gym can remodel the existing premises to suit its needs.

The units were once home to The Party Place, a popular retail party shop that was run by Paul and Trish Shepherd, along with their daughter Jo, for 34 years.

The Shepherds decided to close the shop in October last year, citing rising costs, decreasing footfall, and the rise of online shopping as key factors.

First opened in 2024, Shadow Strength Gym is a well-established local gym that already has a 2,200 sq/ft unit on the Saville Road Industrial Estate.

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This new acquisition – which is two units of 4,500 sq/ft – will see it more than double its footprint on the estate.

Celebrating the upcoming move on its Facebook page, the 24-hour gym said it was hoping to complete the move by early summer: “We’re aiming to be fully moved into the new unit within the next two months.

“There’s still a lot of work to do – from setup to final touches – but trust us when we say it’s going to be worth it.”

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Investigation launched as top rugby match ends in violent car park brawl

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Wales Online

Tensions are said to have boiled over almost immediately after the final whistle at the Pré-Fleuri Stadium following the match

A brutal relegation battle in France’s ProD2 spiralled into extraordinary scenes after Nevers’ 44-41 win over Béziers allegedly sparked a stadium brawl, a blocked team bus and even a car chase on a major road.

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According to Midi Olympique in France, tensions boiled over almost immediately after the final whistle at the Pré-Fleuri Stadium following a match loaded with survival pressure.

Nevers’ dramatic victory – their first win of 2026 – lifted them above Béziers in the table and cranked up the pressure on the visitors, who remain in deep relegation trouble.

French reports claim the first spark came when Nevers players not involved in the matchday squad taunted Béziers players after full-time, with one official said to have filed a report over the touchline confrontation.

From there, things escalated.

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Midol reports Nevers’ Jason Fraser is alleged to have entered the visitors’ dressing room looking to confront opposite number Otunuku Pauta, although the pair were separated before the situation could turn physical.

The ugliest scenes followed during the post-match reception, where tempers reportedly flared between props Ilia Kaikatsishvili and Youssef Amrouni.

The pair are said to have moved behind the Béziers team bus to settle their differences, where punches were allegedly exchanged, with Nevers’ Kaikatsishvili said to have been left with a broken nose.

Nevers president Régis Dumange later confirmed the Georgian required treatment from the club doctor, while accounts from both sides reportedly differ over exactly how the confrontation began.

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“Later, when I went downstairs, I saw the club doctor treating Ilia,” Dumange told Journal du Centre.

“He told me he’d just been headbutted and had a broken nose. The two coaching staffs met to calm things down. It was decided that Béziers would leave earlier than planned to prevent the situation from escalating.”

What happened next took the chaos to another level.

Senior players and coaches from both teams, including Samuel Marques and Jason Fraser, reportedly stepped in to calm things down as the atmosphere inside the stadium became increasingly heated in front of supporters.

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But according to Midi Olympique, the disorder briefly threatened to spill beyond the ground when two Nevers players allegedly positioned a car in front of the stadium exit in an attempt to block the Béziers team bus from leaving.

Club staff and team-mates again intervened to defuse the situation before it escalated further.

Dumange then claimed Kaikatsishvili later got into a car with two fellow Georgians and pursued the Béziers bus along the N7 between Nevers and Moulins, allegedly trying to force it to stop so Amrouni could apologise.

French reports allege the car pulled in front of the bus and braked in an attempt to make it stop, prompting Béziers staff to urgently contact Nevers boss Xavier Péméja, who is said to have called the player and ordered him to return home.

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The matter was eventually cooled when the two main protagonists reportedly spoke by phone.

For now, Nevers do not intend to file a formal complaint, with Dumange keen to downplay the affair publicly, but the LNR is looking into the incident and have opened an investigation.

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Coronation Street’s Carl finally exposed as Debbie declares the end | Soaps

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Coronation Street's Carl finally exposed as Debbie declares the end | Soaps
The scales fell…and they fell hard (Picture: Danielle Baguley/ITV)

This article contains spoilers for tonight’s (April 6) episode of Coronation Street, which has not yet aired on TV but is available to watch now on YouTube and ITVX.

If there’s one thing that not a single Corrie fan doubts, it’s that Ronnie Bailey’s (Vinta Morgan) will to look after Debbie Webster (Sue Devaney) is simply unshakeable. Another undisputed fact among Weatherfield faithful is that Carl Webster (Jonathan Howard) can not be trusted.

Ever.

It didn’t take Carl long after Debbie was released from the clink, for a crime that he committed, mind you, for him to resume his campaign to extract as much cash from her as possible.

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Visiting her inside and perennially on the beg, the guilt Debbie felt for giving her son away at birth and only recently admitting all to him, led to much money being handed over as she desperately tried to make everything better, but her hope was false.

Carl had almost no interest in building a relationship with his sister-turned-mum – he wanted a cash injection and to be on his way.

Carl Webster standing in front of Debbie Webster, who is sitting on a swing, in Coronation Street.
Carl found Debbie (Picture: Danielle Baguley/ITV)

Debbie was finally set free yesterday, but had her nearest and dearest panicked when she promptly disappeared. With her dementia ever-worsening, Ronnie and brother Kevin Webster (Michael Le Vell) were terrified.

As it turned out, though, Debbie was completely fine, and had taken herself off for a cheeky swing at the precinct. As she seemingly slipped into confusion, though, Carl approached, and she admitted she was playing, managing to talk an ice cream out of him.

Retiring to her flat, Carl and Debbie seemingly began to bond on a very real level, with Carl’s tough-as-nails exterior beginning to crack as he showed real guilt for what he’d put her through, delivering a genuine apology and declaring his love, with him finally accepting her as his mum…

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…until he started asking for money. Again.

Fiona Morley standing with a smirk in front of Carl Webster, who has his head in his hands in Coronation Street
Carl claimed he needs money to pay off dodgy Fiona (Picture: ITV)

Todays trip to the cobbles saw our diminutive dynamo ready to return to work and get cracking. Out of her prison duds and exploding back into the Chariot Square hotel dressed to kill, Debbie was on a mission to reclaim her pre-prison identity, and also to shuffle ten grand out of the hotel’s accounts and into Carl’s.

Carl was jittery, constantly bugging Debbie about the cash, and Ronnie’s hackles turned vertical when he learned about the amount of money his wife was preparing to hand over. As Carl became more and more uncomfortable with how much Debbie was willing to share with Ronnie, especially that the money was being used to pay off Fiona, Ronnie grew more angry and, once alone, he decided to seek the truth from the source.

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With Debbie insisting that Carl work at the hotel to pay off his new debt to her, Ryan Connor’s (Ryan Prescott) nose was seriously put out of joint, having fired Carl previously. Approaching Carl and demanding he put in a shift that evening, the two males traded barbs, with Carl smugly declaring that he’d always come first with Debbie, and battling him would prove to be fruitless.

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But battle Ryan did, and as they approached Debbie while at each other’s throats, Ryan was prepared to walk away, completely unable to deal with Carl, until Debbie offered to fatten his pay cheque.

As things got more heated, Ronnie returned and detonated the bomb that Fiona had handed him: Carl owes her £5,000, not £10,000. He spelt it out clearly as Debbie’s heart broke – Carl was using her to pay his debt, and line his own pockets.

Though Carl spluttered and scrambled, Debbie could take no more, hurting from yet another extortion attempt. She declared to Carl that they were finished as the scales fell from her eyes and shattered on the floor.

Inflicting yet another enormous wound on the only person who loves him in the whole world, has Carl lost his last lifeline? Could this have any bearing on the upcoming murder that’ll lessen Coronation Street of one of it’s many baddies?

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Siberian Tiger dies at Highland Wildlife Park after age-related illness

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Daily Record

Botzman, a male tiger, had been receiving specialist care for over a year.

A Siberian tiger has died at the Highland Wildlife Park aged 14 after a battle with an age-related illness.

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Botzman, a male Amur tiger, was put to sleep on Monday, April 6. He had been receiving specialist veterinary care for the illness for over a year.

Botzman was the sire to seven cubs, including Nishka, who still lives at the park in Kingussie with her mother Dominika.

A statement from Highland Wildlife Park reads: “We are sad to share the news that Botzman, our beloved male Amur tiger, has been put to sleep at the age of 14 following an age-related illness.

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“Our veterinary team and animal keepers had been providing him with specialist geriatric care for more than a year, ensuring he had the best quality of life possible.

“With his health deteriorating in recent days our vet team made the difficult decision to put Botzman to sleep.

“This gentle boy was a father to seven cubs including Nishka, who still lives here at the park with her mother Dominika. We know he will be hugely missed by everyone.”

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I tested the season’s top sporty swimsuits: Here are 10 that actually stay put

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I tested the season's top sporty swimsuits: Here are 10 that actually stay put

Love to swim for fitness? Whether you’re heading to the lido for a few laps, trying open-water swimming on the coast or mixing beach days with water sports, you’ll need swimwear that can keep up with you as you move.

Sporty swimwear is all about balancing function with flattering design — and making sure you don’t flash anyone! Whether you’re swimming, diving or paddling, a good sport-appropriate swimsuit will support your body without feeling restrictive and look good while it’s doing it. The right women’s sporty swimsuits offer comfort, coverage and confidence without compromising on style.

Best sporty swimsuits for women at a glance

What to look for in sporty swimsuits for women

Comfort is key in the water, but performance matters just as much. Well-made sporty swimsuits should feel secure without restricting movement and offer enough stretch for a full range of motion while still holding their shape over time.

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Look for chlorine-resistant fabrics, which help prevent fading and maintain elasticity, as well as UV protection and more coverage for outdoor swimming.

Support is equally important: features like built-in shelf bras, double linings and cross-back straps help keep your suit in place, however you move.

A snug fit will prevent drag and prevent slipping and gaping, while quick-drying, breathable materials will keep you comfortable between swims.

Where to find stylish sporty swimsuits

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Sporty swim style is all about clean lines and practical design, but that doesn’t mean it has to be boring. Some brands, such as Speedo, specialise in suits for swimming, and others, such as Finisterre, are all about surfing, but both have stylish suits that you’ll be happy to wear on holiday.

Classic black and navy are timeless, but modern brands are also embracing bold colours, colour-blocking and retro styles that feel just as at home on the beach as they do in the pool. Ultimately, buy a suit you love the look of, so you can go from laps to sun lounger without getting changed.

I tried my selection of swimsuits and bikinis during swimming sessions at my local lido as well as on wild swims on the Cornish coast, assessing each one for comfort, performance, and a close yet flexible fit.

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North Korea: Kim Jong Un’s teenage daughter could be considered his successor, Seoul’s spy agency reportedly says | World News

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(L-R) Kim Ju Ae and Kim Jong Un fire pistols as they visit a munitions factory. Pic: Reuters

The teenage daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un could be considered his successor, Seoul’s spy agency has been reported as saying.

The child, believed to be named Kim Ju Ae and aged around 13, has accompanied her father to several high-profile events since late 2022.

And the pair rode in a tank together last month, sparking further speculation she is being positioned as the secretive country’s future leader.


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North Korean leader and daughter try out new tank

On Monday, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) director Lee Jong-seok said in a closed-door briefing at the National Assembly the girl could be considered Mr Kim‘s successor, according to Lee Seong Kweun, one of the politicians in attendance.

NIS reportedly said its assessment was based on “credible intelligence” collected by the agency.

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Asked about potential protests from Mr Kim’s sister Kim Yo Jong, who has long been viewed as North Korea‘s number two figure, the NIS director responded that she has no substantial powers, Mr Lee told a briefing.

It is the agency’s strongest assessment yet on the rising political status of the teenager who it believes could extend her family’s rule into a fourth generation.

In early 2024, the NIS described the child as Mr Kim’s likely heir, and in February this year, the agency said it believed she was close to being designated as the nation’s future leader.

Some observers disagree with the assessments, arguing North Korea’s extremely male-centred society will likely not embrace a woman leader.

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Pic: KCNA/Reuters
Image:
Pic: KCNA/Reuters

Who is Kim Ju Ae?

Apart from her age and name, not much else is known about Kim Ju Ae, and even those details are unconfirmed.

While North Korean state media has never published her name, it does refer to her as Kim Jong Un’s “most beloved” or “respected” child.

South Korean media has previously speculated that she is the leader’s second of three children, and that the first child is a son. However, analysts have questioned the credibility of the reports.

North Korea, which is one of the world’s most secretive nations, has not confirmed whether Ju Ae has any siblings.

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The girl made her first public appearance in November 2022, when she watched a long-range missile test launch with her father.

Read more from Sky News:
Kim Ju Ae increasingly visible
Savannah Guthrie to return to Today show

They also say Mr Kim, 42, is too young to name a future leader, a development that could weaken his ruling of the country.

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In a public appearance in March, the pair fired pistols during a visit to a light munitions factory.

Kim Jong Un and his daughter are pictured on a tank at a military training base. Pic: AP
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Kim Jong Un and his daughter are pictured on a tank at a military training base. Pic: AP

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Will Kim Jong Un’s daughter be his successor?

The NIS, during Monday’s briefing, said North Korean authorities appeared to have organised such events to build up her military credentials and “reduce scepticism about a woman successor”, Mr Lee said.

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The girl’s reported name is based on an account by former NBA star Dennis Rodman, who recalled holding Mr Kim’s baby daughter during a visit to Pyongyang in 2013.

Kim Jong Un and daughter Kim Ju Ae. Pic: Reuters
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Kim Jong Un and daughter Kim Ju Ae. Pic: Reuters

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Kim Jong Un unveils ‘most powerful’ missile

North Korea, established in 1948, has been successively ruled by male members of the Kim family.

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Kim Jong Un inherited power upon his father Kim Jong Il’s death in late 2011. Kim Jong Il took control after his father and state founder Kim Il Sung died in 1994.

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Artemis II poised to break Apollo 13’s distance record from Earth

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Artemis II poised to break Apollo 13's distance record from Earth

HOUSTON (AP) — With the moon looming ever larger, the Artemis II astronauts raced to set a new distance record Monday from Earth on a lunar fly-around promising magnificent views of the far side never seen before by eye.

The six-hour flyby is the highlight of NASA’s first return to the moon since the Apollo era with three Americans and one Canadian — a step toward landing boot prints near the moon’s south pole in just two years.

A prize — and bragging rights — awaits Artemis II.

Less than an hour before kicking off the fly-around and intense lunar observations, the four astronauts were set to become the most distant humans in history, surpassing the distance record of 248,655 miles (400,171 kilometers) set by Apollo 13 in April 1970.

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Mission Control expected Artemis II to surpass that record by more than 4,100 miles (6,600 kilometers).

Artemis II is using the same maneuver that Apollo 13 did after its “Houston, we’ve had a problem” oxygen tank explosion wiped out any hope of a moon landing.

Known as a free-return lunar trajectory, this no-stopping-to-land route takes advantage of Earth and the moon’s gravity, reducing the need for fuel. It’s a celestial figure-eight that will put the astronauts on course for home, once they emerge from behind the moon Monday evening.

Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canada’s Jeremy Hansen were on track to pass as close as 4,070 miles (6,550 kilometers) to the moon, as their Orion capsule whips past it, hangs a U-turn and then heads back toward Earth. It will take them four days to get back, with a splashdown in the Pacific concluding their test flight on Friday.

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Wiseman and his crew spent years studying lunar geography to prepare for the big event, adding solar eclipses to their repertoire during the past few weeks. By launching last Wednesday, they ensured themselves of a total solar eclipse from their vantage point behind the moon, courtesy of the cosmos.

Topping their science target list: Orientale Basin, a sprawling impact basin with three concentric rings, the outermost of which stretches nearly 600 miles (950 kilometers) across.

Other sightseeing goals: the Apollo 12 and 14 landing sites from 1969 and 1971, respectively, as well as fringes of the south polar region, the preferred locale for future touchdowns. Farther afield, Mercury, Venus, Mars and Saturn — not to mention Earth — will be visible.

Their moon mentor, NASA geologist Kelsey Young, expects thousands of pictures.

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“People all over the world connect with the moon. This is something that every single person on this planet can understand and connect with,” she said on the eve of the flyby, wearing eclipse earrings.

Artemis II is NASA’s first astronaut moonshot since Apollo 17 in 1972. It sets the stage for next year’s Artemis III, which will see another Orion crew practice docking with lunar landers in orbit around Earth. The culminating moon landing by two astronauts near the moon’s south pole will follow on Artemis IV in 2028.

While Artemis II may be taking Apollo 13’s path, it’s most reminiscent of Apollo 8 and humanity’s first lunar visitors who orbited the moon on Christmas Eve 1968 and read from the Book of Genesis.

Glover said flying to the moon during Christianity’s Holy Week brought home for him “the beauty of creation.” Earth is an oasis amid “a whole bunch of nothing, this thing we call the universe” where humanity exists as one, he observed over the weekend.

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“This is an opportunity for us to remember where we are, who we are, and that we are the same thing and that we’ve got to get through this together,” Glover said, clasping hands with his crewmates.

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

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Four expert-backed steps to surviving the ‘anniversary effect’

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Four expert-backed steps to surviving the ‘anniversary effect’

Every February 11, the anniversary of the untimely death of my 19-year-old best friend hits me and I feel a heaviness that doesn’t lift until the day’s end.

The day when you lost a loved one, had an accident, or experienced another traumatic event can trigger grief, anger, sadness and anxiety – and also cause physical symptoms, like sickness and insomnia. In more severe cases, people suffering from PTSD may relive experiences in vivid flashbacks or dreams.

Experts call this “anniversary syndrome” or the “anniversary effect,” and every person’s experience is unique. Some 70 percent of U.S. adults say they’ve experienced at least one traumatic event, according to the National Council for Behavioral Health.

“During these times, these feelings and reactions can be strong and often ‘take you back,’” the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. The symptoms might begin in the weeks before and intensify as the date nears, the CDC adds. Some may continue for weeks after the anniversary.

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But these symptoms don’t last forever and experts have identified several steps people can take to feel relief, both mentally and physically.

Traumatic anniversaries can bring up feelings of grief, anxiety and sadness. Experts say there are steps to help counter these effects
Traumatic anniversaries can bring up feelings of grief, anxiety and sadness. Experts say there are steps to help counter these effects (AFP via Getty Images)

The rhythms of health

Getting the federallyrecommended seven hours of sleep a night is important but so is sticking to a schedule. If you don’t keep a sleep routine, it can throw off your circadian rhythm – the body’s way of regulating hormones, digestion and temperature, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Disrupting that internal clock can worsen the anniversary effect and also increase the likelihood of developing anxiety and depression.

So stick to a sleep schedule. That means going to bed and waking up at the same time, including on weekends, the Mayo Clinic instructs.

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Going for a walk in sunlight, within the hour you wake up, helps signal to your brain and body that it’s daytime, says Banner Health nurse practitioner Alexandra Lessem, “setting the circadian clock.”

If you can’t be outside, sitting by an open window with direct sunlight has a similar effect.

A balanced diet packed with fruit and vegetables is crucial for a good night’s sleep. Several foods naturally contain melatonin, such as cherries, pistachios, almonds, eggs and fish, the National Institutes of Health says, and can help make you sleepy.

It’s important to drink plenty of water and move your body every day. As little as 10 minutes of moderate or vigorous activity, such as walking briskly or running, is enough to get more restorative sleep, Benjamin Baird, research assistant professor of psychology at the University of Texas at Austin, said.

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Mindful medicine

A few minutes of meditation a day helps with symptoms of anxiety, depression and trauma, and lets people connect with their inner self.

The ancient mind-body practice regulates the sympathetic nervous system, lowers the heart rate and levels of the stress hormone cortisol, the Cleveland Clinic says.

If you are new to meditation, begin with just a minute and build from there. There are a number of styles but some easy places to start include mindfulness meditation, which focuses on the breath, a certain image or feeling, or mantra meditation which has users repeat a certain word or phrase.

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Guided meditation – following an expert in person or in one of many online apps – can help beginners tap into the process.

Journaling is a valuable practice for coping with the “anniversary effect.” It is widely used in therapy to help patients process painful feelings – and focus their minds on what they are grateful for or positive experiences.

“It may feel safest to bury painful feelings and avoid confronting them, but acknowledging what happened and how it has impacted you is an important part of healing,” the non-profit Mental Health America says.

Meditation can help to lower heart rate and levels of the stress hormone cortisol. The practice is thousands of years old
Meditation can help to lower heart rate and levels of the stress hormone cortisol. The practice is thousands of years old (AFP via Getty Images)

Social service

As a difficult date on the calendar approaches, reach out to family and friends.

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“There are some folks that, even months before, are nervous about the anniversary,” Laura Murray, a senior scientist in mental health and a clinical psychologist at Johns Hopkins Medicine, said in a statement. “They’re thinking about it, trying to figure out how to manage it – we sometimes describe this as spinning.”

Telling others not to bring up a death or traumatic event in the days before an anniversary can help friends or family struggling with trauma to avoid undue stress.

Make plans – even if it’s something small like going to a movie with a loved one or a board game night with friends. “It is important not to isolate yourself. Instead make efforts to be with others,” the National Center for PTSD says.

If you don’t want to confide in friends and family, talk to a trauma therapist. These experts are specifically trained in techniques such as eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy. The therapy, first tested in 1989, involves moving your eyes a specific way while you process traumatic memories. It can improve mood without having to talk about negative events, the Cleveland Clinic says.

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All in the technique

Mental health experts recommend some tools that can alleviate the anniversary effect.

If you are feeling stressed or stuck thinking about the event, focus on the five senses – sight, smell, touch, sound and taste – to bring you back to the present, the National Alliance on Mental Illness says. This might start with the feel of your clothing, the sound of bird chirping nearby or the smell of food wafting from a restaurant.

“Then notice four of each, then three of each, and so on,” the alliance advises.

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Being told to stay positive may make you roll your eyes, but thinking positively can reduce stress, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. Bring up some of those silly cat videos on your phone – the simple acts of smiling and laughing fight stress by lowering heart rate and blood pressure.

Or pay it forward: send someone a thoughtful card or buy a coffee for a stranger. Making others feel good can make you feel good about yourself.

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